[News-Heads]
[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=jja]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Coming up on News 7-
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Fire at a Lexington landmark.
Tonight people begin to make sense of it all.
In Washington U-S Senators mourn the unexpected loss of one of their own.
And a place used for gladiator games 15 hundred years ago- is now back in business.
(------------)
[Talent=Jean]
Plus Avalanche highlights next on News 7.
[Video-Open]
[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=jja]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=News 7 at 11]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The fire is out at the Lexington Presbyterian church, now the community is dealing with the loss.
(------------)
[Church-Fire]
[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=00-19 TC57:38]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]
It took firefighters more than six hours to put out the flames.
The historic church is being called a total loss.
Kate Weidaw takes us through what happened.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Lexington]
[SUPER=01-Robert Foresman/Lexington Fire Chief;]
[SUPER=01-Joe Martin/Church Member for 44 Years; QUICK!!!!]
[SUPER=01-Cammy Bryan/Church Member;]
[SUPER=@Kate2;]
[RUNS=1:24]
[OUT Q=News 7, Lexington.]
[Casteel]
[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=00-20 TC1:30:43]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]
A wife's forgiveness is keeping a Floyd County man from going to prison for 15 years.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Floyd/June 1;]
Philip Casteel pled guilty last month to attempted malicious wounding.
The former Roanoke County firefighter admitted cutting the brake lines on the family van and letting his wife and children drive away.
They weren't hurt.
Today, a circuit court judge said he was giving Casteel a suspended sentence, because the couple had reconciled.
(------------)
[Marriage-Tax]
[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=jja]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Taxes]
Will married couples get a tax break?
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Washington, DC]
Today the Senate voted to get rid of the marriage penalty tax - but the President has said he will veto it-
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 20:44:12]
[IN Q=]
((SEN. TRENT LOTT/R-MAJORITY LEADER: THIS IS GOING TO BE VERY HARD TO EXPLAIN NOW ITS GONNA BE CLEAR VERY CLEAR MR. PRESIDENT: ARE YOU ELIMINATING THE MARRIAGE PENALTY TAX OR NOT? SIGN IT.))
[SUPER=01-Sen. Trent Lott/(R) Majority Leader;]
[RUNS=09]
[OUT Q=sign it.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Republicans have been introducing tax cuts one at a time- marriage penalty relief, elimination of the estate tax and a proposal to cut the tax on some social security benefits.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=20:44:55]
((REP. RICHARD GEPHARDT/D-MINORITY LEADER: WHEN IT COMES TO TAXES REPUBLICANS HAVEN'T CHANGED THEIR TUNE. THEY ARE MORE INTERESTED IN TAKING CARE OF THEIR WEALTHY FRIENDS THAN WORKING FAMILIES.))
[SUPER=01-Rep. Richard Gephardt/(D) Minority Leader]
[RUNS=09]
[OUT Q=THAN WORKING FAMLIES.]
(-------------)
[Vo-Nat]
But one survey- finds a single teacher making 30 thousand dollars a year who marries a police officer making 30 thousand dollars a year- must pay a thousand dollars more in taxes once they get married.
(------------)
[Coverdell]
[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=jja]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Senators are mourning the loss of one of their own tonight- Georgia Senator Paul Coverdell died today- one day after he underwent brain surgery for a cere-bral hemorrhage.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=20:04;32]
((AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME I WILL ALONG WITH MY COLLEAGUES MAKE TRIBUTE TO PAUL. BUT RIGHT NOW ALL I CAN DO IS MAKE THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.))
[SUPER=01-Sen. Trent Lott/(R) Majority Leader;]
[RUNS=11]
[OUT Q=THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-File Tape;]
Coverdell who had no reported serious medical problems- was admitted to the hospital Saturday night after complaining of severe headaches.
Hospital officials say Coverdell's death was caused by uncontrollable swelling in the brain.
Paul Coverdell was 61.
(------------)
[Distracted]
[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=sbu]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]
Cell phones, mirrors, newspapers-- all occupying drivers and keeping their eyes off the road.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Cutting edge technology for automakers can mean less focused drivers.
Fax machines, phones, even navigational services are now regular distractions found in many cars-- By some counts those distractions contibute to four to eight thousand car accidents each day.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 16:46:12]
[IN Q=CONVERSATION ITSELF IS]
((CONVERSATION ITSELF IS THE MOST PREVALENT SINGLE BEHAVIOR ASSOCIATED WITH PHONE RELATED CRASHES - WHAT THIS MEANS IS HANDS-FREE PHONES WILL NOT TOTALLY SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.))
[SUPER=01-W. Riley Garrott/NHTSA Researcher;]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=SOLVE THIS PROBLEM]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The National Highway Traffic Safety Board wants to know more- so hearings are underway on capitol hill.
It'll be up to automakers to balance cutting edge technology in cars- with safety guidelines.
(------------)
[Drowning]
[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=00-16 TC1:49:03]
[GRAPHIC=Drowning]
Nearly 20 hours after he drowned in the New River, searchers recovered the body of a West Virginia boy.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pulaski Co.;]
13-year-old Cody Cash was discovered around one by divers.
His body was found on the river floor -- in water about 20 feet deep.
He was only a short distance from the area where he was sucked under by the strong current yesterday.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 22:43 - :55]
[IN Q=Diving work]
((JOHN CASEY/RESCUE WORKER: DIVING WORK IS A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD. IT'S VERY REWARDING BECAUSE YOU'RE CONTRIBUTING TO CLOSURE FOR THE FAMILY, BUT IT'S ALSO NOT AS REWARDING BECAUSE YOU'RE DOING A RECOVERY VERSUS RESCUE OPERATIONS.))
[SUPER=01-John Casey/Rescue Worker;]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=versus rescue operations.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Cody and his 8-year-old sister went to the river to fish with a 10-year old friend and his mother.
All four got caught in the river's current.
All but Cody were pulled to safety.
About 40 people -- most of them volunteers -- showed up to help with the recovery.
(------------)
[Farrakhan]
[ANCHOR=JEan]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=00-15 1:34:59]
[GRAPHIC=none]
The Sons of Confederate Veterans have found an unlikely ally-- the Nation of Islam.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond;]
Nation of Islam Minister Louis Farrakhan says Virginia's Confederate History Month is a good idea, because history should be remembered.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 16:10:13 ]
[IN Q=Why shouldn't]
((LOUIS FARRAKHAN/NATION OF ISLAM: WHY SHOULDN'T ROBERT E. LEE'S PICTURE BE HELD HIGH? HE FOUGHT FOR WHAT HE BELIEVED. HE LOST. BUT HE'S AN INTEGRAL PART OF AMERICAN HISTORY. THE CONFEDERATE FLAG IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF AMERICAN HISTORY. WHAT IT REPRESENTED YESTERDAY, IT CAN'T REPRESENT THAT TODAY. WE'RE TOO AWAKE. WE'RE TOO AWARE. SO YOU CAN FLY IT ANYWHERE YOU WANT TO AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED.))
[SUPER=01-Louis Farrakhan/Nation of Islam;]
[RUNS=:34]
[OUT Q=I'm concerned.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Farrakhan was in Richmond promoting his October "Million Family March."
But he told reporters African Americans are wrong to focus on symbols of the past.
(------------)
[TALENT=Jean]
[SS=none]
Virginia chapters of the N-double-A-C-P and Southern Christian Leadership Conference are considering a national boycott of the Commonwealth.
The groups they will mobilize after Labor Day if Governor Jim Gilmore does NOT promise he won't declare another Confederate History Month next spring.
[Tease1]
[ANCHOR=Jean]
[writer=chr]
[NEWSCAST=11p]
[SS=None]
Still ahead on News 7, as time runs out on the Mideast peace summit...
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
young Israelis take to the sea to show their support of the peace-process.
We'll have the latest.
(-------------)
[Sports-Preview]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=MST]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=first audio]
[RUNS=:28]
[OUT Q=.....in sports"]
(-----------)
(( Hey folks this is Mike Stevens back in the News 7 sports office as the first place Avalanche goes for another win tonight against the Blue Rocks.
Chris Samuels shows up with corn row and takes home the green as he signs with the Skins.
The Hokies football camp is rocking the campus this week.
And Kyle Petty is Sprinting out of Winston Cup for the rest of the season. Details tonight on the Big 7.))[Mideast-Pe
ace]
[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=jja]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Mideast Peace Talks]
Mideast Negotiators have been up all night almost every night this week- working toward peace.
Tonight they're under a deadline imposed by the President who is scheduled to head to Japan tomorrow- Jennifer Jones has an update.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Washington, DC; :13 QUICK!!!]
[SUPER=01-Joel Singer/Former Israeli Negotiator; :17]
[SUPER=01-Edward Abington/Advisor to Palestinian Delegation; :41]
[SUPER=01-Jennifer Jones/Reporting; :57]
[RUNS=1:11]
[OUT Q=CBS News, Washington.]
((One Israeli official is calling it the most serious moment in the Jewish State's history since the Arab-Israeli Wars.
Negotiators are racing against the clock to come up with an agreement before President Clinton leaves for an economic summit Wednesday morning.
Joel Singer/fmr Israeli Negotiator:
They are spending their time together in a conference room surrounded by hundreds - virtually hundreds of versions of various paragraphs to be inserted in what ever agreement they're working on.
The apparent sticking point is the fate of Jerusalem. Officials say Israeli Prime Minister Barak will never relinquish sovereignty. And Palestinian Leader Arafat will not budge on the sacred Temple Mount.
Edward Abington/Advisor to Palestinian Delegation:
Both sides are expected to negotiate right down to the wire. And President Clinton is expected to forgo a night of sleep to help reach a deal.
Jennifer Jones CBS News Washington.))
[Flotilla]
[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=jja]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]
A message to peace-makers from Young Israelis-
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Sea of Galilee, Israel;]
Around one thousand young people sailed onto the Sea of Galilee today to show their support for the Camp David summit.
The teenagers build 40 rafts from scratch and launched them today to send their message to Israeli and Palestinian negotiators.
Many of the rafts carried signs some saying Peace Now- the rafts made a symbolic trip toward the opposite shore- as a unique way of asking for peace.
(--------------)
[Wythe-Deputy]
[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A grand jury has indicted a former Wythe County deputy on charges of having sex with a 15-year-old girl.
Trenton Davis is charged with one count of aggravated sexual battery.
Davis resigned from the sheriff's department in May, days after the alleged incident occurred.
Sources say a friend set the deputy up on a date with the teen.
Davis is free on 5-thousand dollars bond.
[Mason-Dixon]
[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=5]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign 2000]
Republican George W. Bush is leading Democrat Al Gore in the presidential race here in Virginia.
In the latest poll conducted for News 7, more than 600 Virginians were asked whom they would vote for if the election were held today.
(XXXXXXX)
[TAKE FULL SCREEN BOARD #1]
Statewide Bush has an eleven point lead over the Vice-President, though that's dropped a few points since the last poll in September.
[TAKE PAGE #2]
The poll conducted by Mason Dixon shows Bush leading in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads by a relatively small margin.
48 percent of those polled in the Lynchburg area said they would vote for the Texas Governor.
According to the survey, Bush would take 51 percent of the vote in the Roanoke area and Southwest Virginia.
The poll has a four percent margin of error.
(------------)
[Tease2]
[ANCHOR=Jean]
[writer=chr]
[NEWSCAST=11p]
[SS=None]
A new incubator is helping small businesses blossom in the Danville area.
Find out how when News 7 returns.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
And later-- find out what's drawing paying crowds to Rome's Coliseum for first time in centuries.
Here's a hint-- it's not blood or battle.
(----------------)
[Incubator]
[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=sch]
[TAPE#=00-18 TC1:30:35]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Small businesses in the area have more reasons to stay in Danville and Pittsylvania County.
As Surae Chinn tells us there's a plan to help those businesses survive.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Mark Gignac is]
[SUPER=03-Danville;]
[SUPER=01-Mark Gignac/E. D. S. President; :19]
[SUPER=01-Harold Garrison/Dan River Business Dev. Center; :45]
[SUPER=@Surae1; 1:13]
[RUNS=1:44]
[OUT Q=News7, Pittsylvania County.]
(( Mark GIGNAC is president of Engineering Design and Sales or E.D.S. It's become a thriving business in Danville.
He never thought it would be this way when his dad started the business in their basement years ago.
[SOT 12:13:06] (NATS OF WORKERS)
((MARK GIGNAC/E.D.S. PRESIDENT: 25 YEARS AGO VIRTUALLY NO HELP YOU WERE ON YOUR OWN.))
[RUNS:07]
Gignac is not alone anymore, he employs 80 people in his power supply and battery charge manufacturing business. But it took his family a quarter of a century. Now Danville and Pittsylvania County have teamed up to help new and struggling small business owners get to the top quicker.
[SOT 16:40:31]
((HAROLD GARRISON/DAN RIVER BUSINESS DEV. CENTER PRES: AN INCUBATOR IS APLACE WHERE SMALL BUSINESS CAN START UP AND NUR
TURED.)) [SOT 1:40:40](( WE ARE ACTUALLY AND MOVE OUT WITHIN A 3 YEAR PERIOD.))
[RUNS:10]
[nats of ground breaking]
And plans are currently in the works for that. The Dan River Business Development Center broke ground for an incubator.
[SOT 12:14:00]
((MARK GIGNAC/E.D.S. PRESIDENT: WHAT WE HOPE TO DO WITH THE INCUBATOR IS HELP WITH IDEAS AND ENSURE THEY SUCCEED SOMETHING THAT DID NOT EXIST YEARS AGO.))
[RUNS:09]
[SOT 23:38:58]
((SURAE CHINN/REPORTING: THIS IS CONSIDERED BY MANY A LAND OF OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME 30 INCOMING SMALL BUSINESS OWERES A PLACE THAT COULD INCREASE THE ODDS FOR STRUGGLING SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS.))
[RUNS:10]
[SOT 16:43:16]
((HAROLD GARRISON/DAN RIVER BUSINESS DEV. CENTER: IT IS THE ONLY AND BEST PLACE TO START A BUSINESS QUADRUPLE RATE OF SUCCESS FOR STARTING ON YOUR OWN WITHOUT ASSISTANCE.))
[RUNS:10]
And the assistance is what these business savvy people say will make or break your success. Surae Chinn, News7, Pittsylvania County.))
[S-Extra]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=extra]
[GRAPHIC=none]
The first place Avalanche looks to put Wilmington on the Rocks again tonight.
We'll hear from signed, sealed and delivered Chris Samuels at the Skins' camp.
Kyle Petty swithces gears and the Tech football camp is full of sweaty men.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=75-St. Andrews, Scotland; :00]
But first in tonight's Extra Point, two men weren't even close to prespiring today.
Seve Ballesteros and Colin Montgomery each received honorary doctorate degrees at St. Andrews today.
Only Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player have ever received this honor.
The British Open begins play on Thursday.
(------------)
[GO TO SCORES]
[WIPE TO MOTION]
[SUPER=#556]
[SUPER=X5011;]
[SUPER=0093-j/Wilmington/6//Salem/3////Potomac/8/j/Lynchburg/9//Final In 11/;]
[SUPER=X5012;]
[SUPER=0105-/Pulaski Co./9/j/Martinsville/10///j/Danville/10//Princeton/1///;]
[SUPER=X5010;]
[SUPER=0113-j/Cincinnati/5//Detroit/4////Oakland/3/j/Colorado/18///;]
[SUPER=X5009;]
[SUPER=0113-j/Florida/7//Baltimore/0////Philadelphia/1/j/N.Y. Yankees/3///;]
[SUPER=X5009;]
[SUPER=0113-/Montreal/1/j/Boston/3///j/Atlanta/8//Tampa Bay/2//6 Late Games/;]
[SUPER=X5009;]
[SUPER=0113-j/Anaheim/3//San Diego/2//Final In 11/j/N.Y. Mets/11//Toronto/7///;]
[RUNS=:30]
[OUT Q=...last score."]
(------------)
[S-Avalanche]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=11p]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=SP-65 tc 1:26:09]
[GRAPHIC=salem]
Salem was looking to increase its lead in the Southern Division when Wilmington came to town.
The Avalanche came into the contest with a one and a half game lead over Winston Salem.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem/Blue Rocks vs. Avalanche;]
The programs are an easy sell, when your team is number one in the division and riding a three game win streak.
But the Blue Rocks jump out to an early lead when Henry Calderon gets one to drop. Wilmington is up two-nothing in the second.
Salem takes its turn at bat and makes good use of it. Josh Bard's single puts the Avalanche on the board when Matt Holiday crosses the plate.
[super=37-Wilmington/6/Salem/3;]
Still in the second, Choo Freeman gives the home team the lead. His single down the first baseline brings home Scott Seal and Bard. But Wilmington win game two of the series 6-to-3.
(------------)
[S-Carolina]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=CAROLINA]
The Avalanche came in last night a game and a half in front of the Winston-Salem Warthogs.
They beat Myrtle Beach tonight 5-to-4 to cut Salem's lead to just a half game.
[S-Redskins]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=sp-70 5109TC]
[GRAPHIC=redskins]
The Washington Redskins welcomed rookie offensive tackle Chris Samuels to training camp in Ashburn yesterday.
The number three pick in this year's draft gets $30 million bucks over the next six years, including that $10 million dollar signing bonus.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=IT'S JUST A BLESSIN...]
[SUPER=01-Chris Samuels/Signs With Skins for $30 Million; :00]
[SUPER=01-Norv Turner/Redskins Head Coach; :33]
[RUNS=:39]
[OUT Q=...for us early."]
(------------)
[talent=mike]
[graphic=redskins]
The Skins still hope to sign their other top draft pick Lavar Arrington by the time the veterans report on Thursday. And there is still the small issue of coming to terms with Stephen Davis.
[S-Tech]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=SP-71]
[GRAPHIC=Tech football]
The Tech football team is getting more publicity than ever before this preseason. All home games at Lane Stadium are also already sold out, so it's only natural that the Hokie Football Camp is bustnig at the seams. Steve Mason checks in tonight from Blacksburg.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=first audio]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg; :00]
[SUPER=01-Robert Prunty/Gretna Football Coach; :15]
[SUPER=01-John Ballein/Hokie Football Camp Director; :40]
[SUPER=01-Frank Beamer/Virginia Tech Head Coach; :55]
[SUPER=01-Todd Creasy/Northside Center; 1:15]
[SUPER=@Steve1; 1:24]
[RUNS=1:33]
[OUT Q=....news 7 sports"]
(---------------)
[S-Petty]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SPP-63 11642TC]
[GRAPHIC=PETTY]
Kyle Petty is still grieving, but the wheels of NASCAR won't stop long enough for him to catch his breath.
As a result, KP announced yesterday afternoon that Petty Enterprises will undergo a major shake-up for next year and the remainder of this season, as well.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Level Cross, NC; :00]
Kyle says beginning with the series stop at Darlington, he will stop driving the Hot Wheels Pontiac and only drive his late son Adam's Busch car the rest of this season.
Starting next year, Kyle will return to the Winston Cup ranks and drive the number 45 Dodge that will be sponsored by Sprint.
Steve Grissom will drive the Hot Wheels car the remainder of this year and likely next season, although Hot Wheels will be leaving the Petty's as a primary sponsor in 2001.
(---------------)
[S-Common]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=SP-66 10222tc]
[GRAPHIC=Commonwealth Games]
The Commonwealth Games two day, 36 hole golf competition wrapped up today at Hanging Rock.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.; :00]
Mitch Chandler won the 13 & 14 year old group with a one under total.
Kenny Hyatt captured the gold in the 15 & 16 year old group.
Drew Arney won the 17 & 18 year old division.
And all 88 golfers who participated learned a valuable lesson.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="BITE]
[SUPER=01-Billy McBride/Golf Coordinator; :10]
[RUNS=:22]
[OUT Q=......to win"]
(--------------)
[S-France]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-67]
[GRAPHIC=FRANCE TOUR]
Lance Armstrong finished 8th in yesterday's 16th stage of the Tour De France.
His lead is still more than five and a half minutes with 5 stages to go.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-New York, NY/MSG-MLB; :00]
In New York last night, Denny Neagle made his debut for the Yankees and was awesome.
He pitched 8 innings and gave u just five hits to get the win.
[SUPER=35-Philadelphia/1/New York/3;]
Another New York newcomer Dave Justice aided the cause with this blast off loser Curt Schilling.
(------------)
[Video]
[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=net h]
[GRAPHIC=None]
For the first time in 15-hundred years, a paying audience will be treated to a performance in the Coliseum.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Rome, Italy]
It won't be gladiator games drawing spectators, but a festival of Greek tragedy.
Workers are preparing seats and standing room for 700 spectators near the podium where the emperor used to give the thumbs-up or down to decide the gladiators' fate.
A stage has been built over part of the floorless Coliseum to make the performances possible.
(------------)
by SS