WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 02/21/00

[7-S-Tattoo-Parlor]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]

[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=99-56 1:04:01]
[GRAPHIC=Voting]

It's an uncoventional way to get people involved in politics, but one Roanoke business owner is taking on the challenge.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Joe Hagerty not only offers tattoos at his shop-- but also voter registration forms.
Hagerty owns Alex's New Tattoo in Roanoke and says since so many young adults come to get tattoos -- why not make it easier for them to register to vote.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT5:33]
[IN Q=Well orginally]
((JOE HAGERTY/OWNER: WELL ORIGINALLY I HAD CALLED THE REGISTRAR'S OFFICE AND THEY SAID THAT YOU CAN REGISTER TO VOTE AT THE DMV OR AT THE LIBRARY OR SOMETHING AND I THOUGHT YOUNG PEOPLE AREN'T REALLY HANGING OUT AT THE DMV LIKE THEY SHOULD. WHY NOT HAVE THEM REGISTER AT THE TATTOO STORE))
[SUPER=01-Joe Hagerty/Owner]
[RUNS=19]
[OUT Q=tatoo store]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

While Hagerty says he doesn't push his political thoughts onto anybody-- he believes young adults could really make a difference in this country if they just participated in the electoral process.
(------------)
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT8:13]
[IN Q=If all the kids]
((JOE HAGERTY: OWNER: IF ALL THE KIDS THAT I'VE TATTOOED GOT UP AND VOTED THIS YEAR. IT WILL MAKE A MAJOR CHANGE AS FAR AS THE OUTCOME OF THE NEXT ELECTION))
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=next election]
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]

Hagerty says he just started offering the forms a few weeks ago-- and says a few clients have already registered.
(-------------)

[7-Bush]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jha]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign 2000]

With Virginia's Republican primary only eight days away, one candidate is paying attention to the state.
Polls show Texas Governor George W. Bush comfortably ahead of John McCain, where he has overwhelming support from the state's G-O-P leaders.
Former President George Bush is expected to make a campaign appearance in Virginia on behalf of his son.
Bush is expected to speak at the Salem Civic Center on Wednesday.
Campaign officials are hoping the presidential candidate's father can rally Republican support in a traditionally conservative Southwest Virginia.
Virginia will hold its primary February 29th.
Bush holds the lead in state polls, but John McCain has closed the gap in recent weeks.

[7-S-Abortion-Bill]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Abortion]

A bill dealing with abortion in Virginia will be on the top of the agenda of the General Assembly this week.
(------------)
[VO-NAT 99-58 53:33]
[SUPER=03-Richmond/This Month]

A Senate committee is expected to take up legislation that would require women to wait 24 hours before getting an abortion.
The House of Delegates has already passed the bill by a two to one margin.
Governor Gilmore also supports the bill.
(------------)

[7-First-Union]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Lawsuit]

A partial victory for First Union in the legal battle of a Virginia bank's 401-k plan.
A federal judge ruled yesterday that First Union had the proper approval to merge the 401-k plans from Signet into a similar First Union plan.
The judge still must rule on the lawsuit's claim that First Union breached its duties by investing the Signet 401-k holdings in mutual funds owned and operated by First Union.
The lawsuit was filed last year on behalf of nine former Signet employees.

[7Weather]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

Let's take a look now at your Monday forecast.
Mostly sunny today with light winds.
Highs in the low to mid 50s.
Tonight, mostly clear with light breezes.
Low temperatures in the low to mid 20s.
The extended forecast...

[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Mostly Sunny/Light NW Winds/50-55/Mostly Clear/Light Breeze/22-26;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]

[45-S-Robot-Competition]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=99-52 1:24:26]
[GRAPHIC=none]

In Blacksburg, high school and college students have joined forces for a national competition.
Their objective: To create a robot.
Joy Sutton reports.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Everyday for the]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg; :00]
[SUPER=01-Douglas Atwater/High School Student; :13]
[SUPER=01-Jonathan Durr/High School Student; :16]
[SUPER=01-Alisha Wallenstein/Virginia Tech Student; :29]
[SUPER=@Joy1; 1:46]
[RUNS=2:03]
[OUT Q=js news 7]
(( Everyday for the past 6 weeks these Blacksburg High School students have been designing and constructing a robot -- to compete in a national robotics competition.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:50:38]
[IN Q=I've been here]
((DOUGLAS ATWATER/BLACKSBURG HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT: I'VE BEEN HERE FOR 28 HOURS STRAIGHT TRYING TO FINISH THIS))
[RUNS= 7]
[OUT Q=This]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT1:47:37]
[IN Q=We were' stuck for 3 hours]
((JONATHAN DURR/BLACKSBURG HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT: WE WERE STUCK FOR 3 HOURS JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE THE ROBOT PULL ITSELF UP ON THE BAR))
[RUNS= 8]
[OUT Q=the bar]

But these students are not facing their troubles alone.
Virginia Tech students are helping them out.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:40:35]
[IN Q=It's been a huge learning experiencing]
((ALISHA WALLENTSTEIN/TECH STUDENT: IT'S BEEN A HUGE LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR THE COLLEGE STUDENTS LIKE HOW YOU LEAD HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT, HOW YOU LEAD THEM IN THEIR THOUGHTS AND DESIGN PROCESS AND TO GET THEM TO WORK AS A TEAM))
[RUNS= 11]
[OUT Q=a team]

Altogether there are 15 college and high school students involved in the project... Their team is called -- Virginia Tech Power Surge.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:41:45]
[IN Q=Spent about a week]
((ALISHA WALLENSTEIN: SPENT ABOUT A WEEK DESIGNING IT , PUTTING IT ON PAPER, MAKING A PROTOTYPE TO SEE IF IT WILL ACTUALLY WORK AND THEN ENDING UP PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER))
[RUNS= 6]
[OUT Q=]

The robot has to be able to perform certain tasks to compete against other robots in a points game.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:42:00]
[IN Q=It need s to be]
((ALISHA WALLENSTEN: IT NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO SOME HOW COLLECT THE BALLS, CARRY THE BALLS AND BE ABLE TO GET TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PLAYING FIELD))
[RUNS= 10]
[OUT Q=playing field]

But there are guidelines to follow -- the robot can't weigh more than 130 pounds -- and each team competing is given a starting set of supplies to work with.
The students say this is an opportunity to use the knowledge they've learned in the classroom and put it to good work.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT1:47:14]
[IN Q=It's different]
((JONATHAN DURR: IT'S DIFFERENT THAN ANY OTHER THING THEY OFFER IN BLACKSBURG REALLY THEY DON'T HAVE MUCH STUFF LIKE THIS WHERE YOU CAN WORK WITH MECHANICAL PARTS AND ELECTRONICS, AND ENGINEERING))
[RUNS= 12]
[OUT Q=and engineering]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:49:15]
[IN Q=Using physics]
((DOUGLAS ATWATER: USING PHYSICS, IF WE COULD GET ENOUGH FORCE OUT OF THIS ONE MOTOR TO DO THIS OPERATION.))
[RUNS= 5]
[OUT Q=this operation]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:53:26]
[IN Q=The students have until]
((JOY SUTTON/REPORTING: THE STUDENTS HAVE UNTIL 4 O'CLOCK MONDAY AFTERNOON TO TURN IN THEIR ROBOT TO SEE IF IT HAS WHAT IT TAKES TO COMPETE AGAINST MORE THAN 250 ROBOTS AT A NATIONAL COMPETITION IN APRIL IN FLORIDA. JOY SUTTON,NEWS 7 BLACKSBURG))
[RUNS= 16]
[OUT Q=n7 blacksburg]))

[45-Rest-Stops]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Governor Gilmore wants to spend eight million dollars in state money to improve four of the state's ten highway rest areas.
Officials fear conditions at some of rest stops may be turning away tourists.
The governor would also like to set aside funds to create the state's first high- tech regional tourism centers.
Improvements would include adding computers and providing facilities for visitors to set up hotel reservations and tee times.

[45Weather]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

Taking a break from the news now to check the forecast...
Mostly sunny skies today with highs in the low to mid 50s.
Tonight looks clear with a light breeze, and lows in the mid 20s.
The five day forecast includes a mixture of sunshine and clouds, with highs warming into the 50s and 60s.
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Mostly Sunny/Light NW Winds/50-55/Mostly Clear/Light Breeze/22-26;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]

[8-S-Tattoo-Parlor]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=99-56 1:04:01]
[GRAPHIC=Voting]

Tattoo parlors usually aren't a place to think of politics, but one Roanoker is using his business to get area young people involved.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Joe Hagerty not only offers tattoos at his shop-- but also voter registration forms.
Hagerty owns Alex's New Tattoo in Roanoke and says since so many young adults come to get tattoos -- why not make it easier for them to register to vote.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT5:33]
[IN Q=Well orginally]
((JOE HAGERTY/OWNER: WELL ORIGINALLY I HAD CALLED THE REGISTRAR'S OFFICE AND THEY SAID THAT YOU CAN REGISTER TO VOTE AT THE DMV OR A THE LIBRARY OR SOMETHING AND I THOUGHT YOUNG PEOPLE AREN'T REALLY HANGING OUT AT THE DMV LIKE THEY SHOULD. WHY NOT HAVE THEM REGISTER AT THE TATTOO STORE))
[SUPER=01-Joe Hagerty/Owner]
[RUNS=19]
[OUT Q=tatoo store]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

While Hagerty says he doesn't push his political thoughts onto anybody-- he believes young adults could really make a difference in this country if they just participated in the electoral process.
(------------)
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT8:13]
[IN Q=If all the kids]
((JOE HAGERTY: OWNER: IF ALL THE KIDS THAT I'VE TATTOOED GOT UP AND VOTED THIS YEAR. IT WILL MAKE A MAJOR CHANGE AS FAR AS THE OUTCOME OF THE NEXT ELECTION))
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=next election]
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]

Hagerty says he just started offering the forms a few weeks ago-- and says a few clients have already registered.
(-------------)

[8-Bush]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jha]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign 2000]

While both George W. Bush and John McCain are campaigning in Michigan, Bush is already looking toward Virginia's primary.
Polls show the Texas Governor comfortably ahead of McCain in Virginia, where he has overwhelming support from the state's G-O-P leaders.
Former President George Bush is expected to make an appearance in Virginia on behalf of his son.
Bush is expected to speak at the Salem Civic Center on Wednesday.
Campaign officials are hoping the presidential candidate's father can rally Republican support in a traditionally conservative Southwest Virginia.
Virginia will hold its primary February 29th.

[8-S-Abortion-Bill]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Abortion]

The Virginia General Assembly will see a number of bills this week, but a bill dealing with abortion is on the top of the agenda.
(------------)
[VO-NAT 99-58 53:33]
[SUPER=03-Richmond/This Month]

A Senate committee is expected to take up legislation that would require women to wait 24 hours before getting an abortion.
The House of Delegates has already passed the bill by a two to one margin.
Governor Gilmore also supports the bill.
(------------)

[8-Rest-Stops]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Some of Virginia's highway rest areas may get a much needed face lift.
Governor Gilmore has proposed spending eight million dollars to renovate four of the state's ten welcome centers.

Officials fear conditions at some of the state's rest stops may be turning away tourists.
The governor would also like to set aside funds to create the state's first high- tech regional tourism centers.
Improvements would include adding computers and providing facilities for visitors to set up hotel reservations and tee times.

[8Weather]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

Taking a moment now to look at the President's Day forecast...
Mostly sunny with highs in the low to mid 50s this afternoon.
Mostly clear overnight with a light breeze and low near 25.
The five day forecast includes a mixture of sunshine and clouds, with highs warming into the 50s and 60s.
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Mostly Sunny/Light NW Winds/50-55/Mostly Clear/Light Breeze/22-26;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]