WDBJ 7 morning news for 03/14/00

[Headlines]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

(----------------)
[VO-NAT]

An apartment fire in Martinsville forces several families from their homes in the middle of the night.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

And Halifax County school officials they may consider changing the policy that keeps students INSIDE their classrooms during bomb threats.
But many parents want the policy changed now.
[ANCHOR=Steve]
(ad lib live tease)
[2-shot]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

Wake up with us--News 7 Morning is next.

[Apartment-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=00-03 TC51:53]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]

Nine Martinsville families were forced from their homes by an overnight fire.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Martinsville]

Fire broke out at the North View Garden Apartments around 11-30.
One apartment was heavily damaged, eight others sustained smoke and water damage.
All of the 15 residents got out of the building, though one elderly woman was treated for smoke inhalation.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 11:02:20]
[IN Q=We got people]
[SUPER=01-Daryl Emberson/Collinsville Fire Chief;]
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q=3000 foot away.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Some 35 to 40 firefighters fought the blaze.
They're not yet sure what caused the fire.
(------------)

[Emergency-Landing]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Passengers are still shaken after last night's emergency landing of Delta Air Lines flight 19-72, on its way to Salt Lake City from San Francisco.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-San Francisco, CA;]

None of the 77 passengers was hurt.
The pilot informed them soon after take- off that there were problems with the plane's landing gear.
The plane circled the airport for an hour and dumped fuel before landing.
Some of those on board say they could hear the wing dragging on the runway as the plane landed, and saw sparks fly as the wing scraped the ground.
Officials are still trying to figure out what caused the landing gear trouble.
(------------)

[Halifax-Schools]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=School Safety]

The policy that keeps nearly 18-hundred Halifax County students inside their classrooms during bomb threats will stay put, for now.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

At last night's meeting, the school board did decide to talk about changing the policy.
But that's not enough for some parents and students who want it changed as soon as possible.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I don't want]
((GAYE LONG/CONCERNED PARENT: I DON'T WANT TO GO HOME AND SAY LET'S THINK POSITIVE THE CHANCES THE SCHOOL WILL BLOW UP IS SLIM.))
[SUPER=01-Gaye Long/Concerned Parent; ]
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=blow up is slim.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Many students agree and have signed a petition against the policy.
But others feel the policy in place is a safe one.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=If you move]
((LT. RICK LOFTIS/SOUTH BOSTON POLICE DEPT.:IF YOU MOVE THE KIDS YOU MIGHT WALK THEM INTO A BOMB THAT'S PLANTED IN THE HALLWAY OR STAIRWELL.))
[SUPER=01-Lt. Rick Loftis/South Boston Police Dept.; ]
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=hallway or stairwell.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Many who attended say there is no perfect solution but they say evacuating is a better one.
In the end, the board did not change the policy, instead they will meet at a later date and re-evaluate it.
(-------------)

[S-Rustburg]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=99-51 1:52:21]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]

Some students in Campbell County thought a classmate had brought a gun to school yesterday. So some kids went home early.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Campbell Co.;]

But when the Rustburg High School principal searched the young man's locker and backpack, he didn't find anything.

None of the students could say they'd actually spoken to the young man about the gun.
But several called their parents and were allowed to go home early.
(------------)

[E-Blacksburg-Baby]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST= morn]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=99-59 56:03]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The mother of the dead baby boy found in a dumpster on Saturday in Blacksburg is a 21 year old Virginia Tech student.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg/Saturday]

So far her name is not being released and charges have NOT been filed against her.
Authorities discovered the baby after responding to an emergency call for a woman who had apparently given birth -- a trail of blood led officials to the dumpster.
Police say there are a variety of charges that could be files in this kind of situation.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 3:10:04]
[IN Q=You can]
((LT. BRUCE BRADBERY/BLACKSBURG POLICE DEPT.: YOU CAN BE CHARGED WITH IMPROPER DISPOSAL OF A FETUS YOU CAN BE CHARGED WITH SOME TYPE OF NEGLECT THAT WILL BE UP TO THE COMMONWEALTH ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.))
[SUPER=01-Lt. Bruce Bradbery/Blacksburg Police Dept.]
[RUNS=10]
[OUT Q=Attorney's office.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Bradbery says they are still unsure if the baby was born alive.
A toxicology report will determine the cause of death -- it should be out later this week.
(------------)

[1-Sports]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=sports cut in]
[GRAPHIC=None]

In sports, U-V-A men's and women's basketball gets ready for post season tournament action.
Mike Stevens has more.
Good Morning Mike.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Good morning]
[RUNS=2:54]
[OUT Q=little bit]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
(Kimberly ad lib toss to Steve/Wx)

[One-Steve]

[ANCHOR=Steve]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=spa]
[TAPE#M00-1]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]

[On Set]
[SUPER=15-Steve/Pardon;]
(I'll Intro)
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It started its life]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]
[SUPER=07-Lorna Baker; :14]
[RUNS=2:44]
[OUT Q=enjoy it as well]

[Steve Live]
((Archive: downtown living 2000))

[S-Bloomberg]

[ANCHOR=Steve]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=99-53 1:51:42]
[GRAPHIC=None]

First we want to tell you about something new in out stock report, the Bloomberg-News 7 Local Stock Index.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

It is a list of stocks created to measure our region's economy.
The News 7 Index is administered by Bloomberg News, which provides financial information to thousands of customers in dozens of countries.
Tonight on News 7 at Six, we'll explain the index in greater detail.
(+++++++)
[Pinnacle page]
You can view the index, and its performance, at any time by logging onto our home page at WDBJ-7-dot-com.
Go to News, and click the Bloomberg icon.
(-------------)
[STOCKS] [COMM]

[Clinton-NRA]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Bill Clinton]

It's another round between President Clinton and the National Rifle Association.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

At issue is a new advertising campaign featuring actor and N-R-A President Charlton Heston.
The ad accuses the President of lying about the organization, and using gun violence for political gain.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:56:27]
[IN Q=ARe you talking]
((CHARLTON HESTON/NRA PRESIDENT: ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE NRA WHOSE GUN ACCIDENT PREVENTION POLICY HAS BEEN DISTRIBUTED TO 12 MILLION SCHOOLKIDS? ARE YOU TALKING ABOU THE MILLIONS OF NRA MEMBERS WHO PAY FOR IT? IF THAT'S THE NRA YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT SIR, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.)) ((IT'S QUITE ONE THING TO SAY THAT WHEN YOU'RE ON NATIONAL TELEVISION. IT'S ANOTHER THING TO LOOK INTO THE EYES OF A PARENT WHO'S LOST A 6-YEAR- OLD AND SAY THAT.))
[SUPER=01-Charlton Heston/NRA President; :00]
[RUNS=:29]
[OUT Q=and say that]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Cleveland, OH;]

The President also fired back, saying the N-R-A has made killing gun legislation its "main mission in life".
(------------)

[E-Peta-Beer]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[TAPE=99-60 1:27:19]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Virginia's Attorney General is asking the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals to drop its "Got Beer?" campaign.
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]

The animal rights organization is urging college students to drink beer over milk -- the group says the dairy industry is cruel to cows and calves.
Attorney General Mark Early - who heads the Task Force on Drinking by College Students - hopes "PETA" will discontinue the ad and try other ways of making its point.
Alcohol played a role in the deaths of five Virginia college students in 1997.
(-----------)

[e-Camp-25]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=00-01 1:02:24]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Two officers at a Botetourt County correctional facility saved a two-year-old girl's life this weekend.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Brianna Pontani (Pahn-TAHN-ee) was visiting her father at Camp 25 in Troutville when the little girl choked on a piece of popcorn.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 14:52:50]
[IN Q=We held her]
((WE HELD HER UPRIGHT AND GAVE HER A FEW GENTLE COMPRESSIONS, ASKED HER IF SHE COULD COUGH. AT THAT MOMENT SHE COUGHED AND SCREAMED NO.))
[SUPER=01-Jerome Lovell/Camp 25 Officer;]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=screamed no]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.;]

Officer Pat Fowler helped him perform the Heimlich maneuver.
The little girl is fine.
The officers also taught the girl's father how to rescue a choking victim.
(------------)

[Health-Check]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=NET]
[GRAPHIC=Mornin Health Check]

In medical news, climbing stairs could help you live longer.
Doctor Dave Hnida has that story and more in this morning's Health check.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Dr. Dave Hnida/Reporting; :00 ]
[RUNS=1:33]
[OUT Q=CBS News, New York.]
((A NEW STUDY FROM THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF CARDIOLOGY CHALLENGES AN IDEA WE'VE BELIEVED IN FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS: TAKING ESTROGEN AFTER MENOPAUSE WILL CUT YOUR RISK OF HEART DISEASE.
VT=VO
THE STUDY FOLLOWED A GROUP OF WOMEN WITH HEART DISEASE WHO TOOK ESTROGEN- AND FOUND THE HORMONE DID LITTLE TO PREVENT MORE PLAQUE BUILDUP THE STUDY DID NOT SEE IF ESTROGEN WOULD HELP PREVENT CHOLESTEROL BUILDUP IN YOUNGER WOMEN WHO STARTED THE ESTROGEN RIGHT AT MENOPAUSE.
VT=VO
ALSO TODAY- SAY GOODBYE TO THE ELEVATOR AND HELLO TO THE STAIRS. A STUDY FROM HARVARD FINDS PEOPLE WHO CLIMB AT LEAST 20 FLIGHTS OF STAIRS A WEEK CUT THEIR RISK OF DEATH FROM ALL CAUSES BY 20% PLUS- THE PEOPLE IN THE STUDY HAD A LOWER RISK OF KNEE ARTHRITIS SINCE STAIR CLIMBING STRENGTHENS THIGH MUSCLES AND TAKES PRESSURE OFF THE KNEE JOINTS. ON CAM AND FINALLY TODAY- YOUR KIDS OR YOU BOSS IS BUGGING YOU TODAY- GOOD OR BAD FOR YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM? GOOD- AT LEAST SO SAYS A STUDY FROM OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY. ITS SEEMS A DOSE OF ACUTE STRESS ACTUALLY BOOSTS YOUR IMMUNE FUNCTION- MAKING IT LESS LIKELY YOU'LL GET SICK. THE PROBLEM- IT SEEMS- IS WHEN THOSE KIDS OR YOUR BOSS MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU WANT TO PULL OUT YOUR HAIR DAY IN - AND DAY OUT. CHRONIC STRESS APPARENTLY WEAKENS THE IMMUNE SYSTEM- JUST LIKE A CAR ENGINE THAT NEVER SHUTS OFF- IT EVENTUALLY RUNS OUT OF GAS. THATS A LOOK AT SOME OF THE DAYS TOP HEALTH STORIES. IM DRDH FOR CBS NEWS.))

(ad lib to weather)

[Two-Steve]

[ANCHOR=Steve]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=spa]
[TAPE#NONE]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]

[On Set]
[SUPER=15-Steve/Pardon;]
(I'll Intro)
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Downtown Living 2000]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]
[SUPER=01-Elizabeth Bower/Downtown Living 2000; :19]
[RUNS=1:22]
[OUT Q=if your living downtown]

[Steve Live]
[SUPER=04-Saturday & Sunday;]
[SUPER=16-(540) 342-5790/Arts Council of the Blue Ridge;]

(adlib to weather)
[2-HEADLINES]
[2-shot=Kmc/Spa]
[SUPER=#4049; Morning Headlines]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

Here's a look at today's top stories.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Kim]

An overnight fire in Martinsville forced nine families from their homes.
Fire broke out at the North View Garden Apartments around 11-30.
All 15 residents got out of the building, though one elderly woman was treated for smoke inhalation.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Kim]

Authorities say the mother of the dead baby boy found in a dumpster on Saturday in Blacksburg is a 21 year old Virginia Tech student.
So far her name is not being released and charges have NOT been filed against her.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Kim]

After an explosion killed three of their colleagues-- finally, some good news for employees of New River Castings.

The Radford plant's parent company - Intermet - says it will continue to pay health benefits for out of work employees until further notice.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

And that's what's making news on this Tuesday, March 14th.
[ANCHOR=Steve]

News 7 Mornin' will be right back.

[2-Apartment-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=00-03 TC51:53]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]

An overnight fire in Martinsville forced nine families from their homes.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Martinsville]

Fire broke out at the North View Garden Apartments around 11-30.
One apartment was heavily damaged, eight others sustained smoke and water damage.
All of the 15 residents got out of the building, though one elderly woman was treated for smoke inhalation.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 11:02:20]
[IN Q=We got people]
[SUPER=01-Daryl Emberson/Collinsville Fire Chief;]
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q=3000 foot away.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Some 35 to 40 firefighters fought the blaze.
They're not yet sure what caused the fire.
(------------)

[2-Halifax-Schools]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=School Safety]

It's a controversial policy that keeps Halifax County students locked in their classrooms during bomb threats.
And, at least for now, it will stay in place.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

At last night's meeting, the school board did decide to talk about changing the policy.
But that's not enough for some parents and students who want it changed as soon as possible.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I don't want]
((GAYE LONG/CONCERNED PARENT: I DON'T WANT TO GO HOME AND SAY LET'S THINK POSITIVE THE CHANCES THE SCHOOL WILL BLOW UP IS SLIM.))
[SUPER=01-Gaye Long/Concerned Parent; ]
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=blow up is slim.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Many students agree and have signed a petition against the policy.
But others feel the policy in place is a safe one.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=If you move]
((LT. RICK LOFTIS/SOUTH BOSTON POLICE DEPT.:IF YOU MOVE THE KIDS YOU MIGHT WALK THEM INTO A BOMB THAT'S PLANTED IN THE HALLWAY OR STAIRWELL.))
[SUPER=01-Lt. Rick Loftis/South Boston Police Dept.; ]
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=hallway or stairwell.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Many who attended say there is no perfect solution but they say evacuating is a better one.
In the end, the board did not change the policy, instead they will meet at a later date and re-evaluate it.
(-------------)

[S-Radford-Explosion]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=00-02 1:00:32]
[GRAPHIC=NR Castings]

More than a week after an explosion killed three of their colleagues - New River Castings employees have some good news.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Radford/March 6]

The Radford plant's parent company - Intermet - says it will continue to pay health benefits for out of work employees until further notice.
Any vacation pay that employees have accrued will be paid immediately.
The company also announced that 40 displaced workers will be moved to an adjacent plant - the Radford Foundry.
(------------)
[anchor=Kimberly]
[graphic=Hold]

The news answers some questions for employees.
Questions about the plant's future probably won't be answered for some time.

[2-E-Blacksburg-Baby]

[2-Emergency-Landing]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Passengers are still shaken after last night's emergency landing of Delta Air Lines flight 19-72, on its way to Salt Lake City from San Francisco.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-San Francisco, CA;]

None of the 77 passengers was hurt.
The pilot informed them soon after take- off that there were problems with the plane's landing gear.
The plane circled the airport for an hour and dumped fuel before landing.
Some of those on board say they could hear the wing dragging on the runway as the plane landed, and saw sparks fly as the wing scraped the ground.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 5:02:14]
[IN Q=I was just]
((CHRISTINE HEATHMAN/PASSENGER: I WAS JUST SHAKING. I WAS SO SCARED.....BUT I WAS SHAKING.))
[SUPER=01-Christine Heathman/Passenger;]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=but I was shaking]
(-----------)
[VO-NAT]

Officials are still trying to figure out what caused the landing gear trouble.
(------------)

[E-Mental-Illness]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=00-07 21:24]
[GRAPHIC=Mental Health]

He went from living in back-room seclusion at a mental facility to running a psychology department.
Last night Frederick Frese told a crowd at the Lewis Gale Medical Center how he overcame his mental illness.
Kate Weidaw has the story.
(////////SOT//////////)
[SOT]
[INQ=this is the]
[SUPER=03-Salem; :00]
[SUPER=01-Frederick Frese/Clinical Psychologist; :14]
[SUPER=01-Mary Lou Brown/Attended Speech; :37]
[SUPER=01-Penny Frese/Wife; 1:10]
[SUPER=@Kate2; 1:25]
[RUNS=1:36]
[OUTQ=kwe news7salem]
((This is the face of a man who was diagnosed with schizophrenia in his early 20's -- now Frederick Frese is a psychiatrist and a director of an Ohio Psychiatric Hospital. [nat sound of him talking at meeting]
[runs= 5]

[SOT 1:25:20 FROM 5 O'CLOCK TAPE]
[INQ=]
((FREDERICK FRESE/CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST: MANY OF THE PATIENTS TEND TO IDENTIFY WITH ME KNOWING THAT I'VE BEEN IN THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCES THEY'VE BEEN AND I TO SOME DEGREE THEY TELL M E THEY TAKE AN IF YOU CAN DO IT, I CAN DO IT RECOVERY SORT OF HOPEFULNESS.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 17]

Frese's openness about dealing with the different stages of schizophrenia made some look at the disorder in a different light.

[SOT 23:13:38]
[INQ=]
((MARY LOU BROWN/ATTENDED SPEECH: HE HAS COME SO FAR WITH HIS DISABILITY AND HE DID NOT USE IT AS AN EXCUSE TO JUST LIE THERE AND DO NOTHING, I THINK THAT'S VERY ADMIRABLE.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 10]

His wife of 24 years knows first hand the ups and downs of living with someone with a mental illness. Not only does her husband battle schizophrenia - their four children have all been diagnosed as clinically depressed. Penny says she has her own style of coping with her family.

[SOT 1:41:08 FROM 5 O'CLOCK TAPE]
[INTQ=]
((PENNY FRESE/WIFE: ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK WE LEARN AS A FAMILY IS TO PUT THINGS ON HOLD SOMETHING THAT IS NOT POPULAR IN THIS COUNTRY WE WANT TO GO CRASHING THROUGH AND GET THINGS DONE AND TO LEARN TO BACK OFF, WE HAVE A LITTLE SAYING, WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH, THE TOUGH GO TO BED.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 19]

Frese says educating the public about schizophrenia may not make the disorder go away but it will make people understand it better. Kate Weidaw News 7 Salem.))

[Three-Steve]

[ANCHOR=Steve]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=spa]
[TAPE#M00-1]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]

[On Set]
[SUPER=15-Steve/Pardon;]
(I'll Intro)
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I choose to live ]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]
[SUPER=07-Jon Thomas; :21]
[RUNS=2:43]
[OUT Q=I'm gonna stay where I am]

[Steve Live]
[SUPER=04-Saturday & Sunday;]
[SUPER=16-(540) 342-5790/Arts Council of the Blue Ridge;]

(ad lib toss to bump)
[BUMP-Chyron]
[COMM #6]
((Archive: downtown living 2000))

[Southern-Tuesday]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign 2000]

Texas is one of six states holding Presidential primaries today on what's being called "Southern Tuesday."
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

It should be an easy win for the Lone Star State's Republican Governor George W- Bush.
Bush spent yesterday criss-crossing the south in search of votes for his party's nomination.
Meanwhile, Vice- President Al Gore campaigned in Florida, where he attacked Bush for not having a comprehensive health care agenda.
The latest polls show Gore and Bush in a tight race among Florida voters.
(------------)

[E-Allen]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=00-05 15:55]
[GRAPHIC=Allen 2000 Campaign]

Former Governor George Allen has gone on the attack to open his campaign to unseat Senator Chuck Robb.
Allen was surrounded by Republicans in Roanoke yesterday as he began another day of campaigning.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

The supporter who won the most attention was not a card-carrying member of the G-O-P.
Congressman Virgil Goode read a list of reasons HE's voting for Allen over Chuck Robb in November.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 8:50:35]
[IN Q=I look forward]
((I LOOK FORWARD ON ELECTION DAY TO VOTE FOR GEORGE F. ALLEN FOR U.S. SENATE, A GREAT VIRGINIAN AND SOMEONE WHO'LL MAKE A GREAT U.S. SENATOR.))
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT @ 8:55:35]
((AND LET ME SAY HOW PROUD I AM AND HONORED I AM THAT YOU'RE STANDING WITH ME AS WE EMBARK ON THIS U.S. SENATE CAMPAIGN.))
[SUPER=01-Rep. Virgil Goode/(I) Fifth District; :00]
[SUPER=01-George Allen/(R) U. S. Senate Candidate; :14 QUICK!!!!!]
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=U.S. Senate campaign.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Allen is running on a campaign to improve education, protect social security and reduce taxes.
(------------)

[Robb-Prices]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Hold]

Allen also took a swing at Democratic incumbent Chuck Robb's one-time support of a gas tax increase.
Allen said that Robb's support for a 50-cents per gallon increase shows he is out of touch.
[SS=Chuck Robb]

But Robb was quick to fire back.
A Robb campaign spokesman says Robb talked about that gas increase seven years ago - in the wake of the Persian Gulf War.
The Robb camp also charges that Allen has already set a shrill tone for the campaign.

[3-Sports]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=sports cut in]
[GRAPHIC=None]

In sports, Liberty's womens hoops team prepares to dance.
Mike Stevens has details.
Good Morning Mike.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Morning folks]
[RUNS=2:05]
[OUT Q=you later]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
(weather toss)

[Local-Recap]
[SUPER=#4059;Local Recap]
[2-Shot=Kmc/Spa]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

Now here's another look at today's top local stories:
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

Fire forced nine Martinsville families out of their homes last night.
The blaze broke out at the North View Garden Apartments around 11-30.
Everyone got out of the burning building, though one elderly woman was treated for smoke inhalation.
Firefighters are not yet sure what caused the blaze.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

The policy that keeps nearly 18-hundred Halifax County students inside their classrooms during bomb threats will stay put, for now.
At last night's meeting, the school board did decide to talk about changing the policy.
But that's not enough for some parents and students who want it changed as soon as possible.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Steve]
(Steve mic hot)
(///////////////)
(Steve ad lib weather)
(-------------)
[2-SHOT]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

Now here's Keith Humphry with a preview of News 7 at Six.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It's been a]
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=on News 7 at Six.]
(-------------)
[2-SHOT] (ad lib bye) (live ad lib, tease tomorrow)