[1-News-Head]

[TALENT=Keith]

Furloughed N-S car shop workers vow not to go quietly. Also on NEWS 7 tonight:
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


The aliens have landed. One man takes these reports seriously enough to sue state officials for failure to protect its citizens from the alien breeding program... among other things.
(------------)



[Sports-Head]


[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=Sports-Head]
[GRAPHIC=None]


In sports, Steve Mason continues his reports from the Carolina Panther Training camp The Redskins scrimmate the Ravens tonight.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


And Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer talks to over 400 Hokies at the Hotel Roanoke.
(------------)


[WX-Head]
[TALENT=Robin]
[SS=None]


Thunderstorms make for a wet afternoon for some. Tracking the storms coming up. [open]
[SUPER=#4054; News 7 at Six Headline Banner]
[SUPER=@Keith1;]
[SUPER=@Roy1;]
[SUPER=@Robin1;]
[RUNS=:20]



[NS-Layoffs]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=00-21 1:35:37]
[GRAPHIC=NS Job Cuts]


228 Norfolk- Southern Car shop workers are scheduled for furlough on August 9th, but some won't leave without a fight.
Several members of the Brotherhood of Railway Carmen are preparing to file suit against Norfolk Southern.
[Double Boxes=Keith & Jen/Newsroom]


Jennifer Miele is in the newsroom with the details.
[Live= Keith/Jen/Newsroom]
[SUPER=@Jennifer1]


Keith, some union members say the company has violated an agreement signed with the Surface Transportation board during the negotiations of the Conrail merger.
(-----------)
[VO-NAT]


Under terms of that agreement, all repair work of coal cars was to be sent to Pennsylvania, and all repair work of coal car parts was to be sent to Roanoke.
Union members say the coal car parts were never sent to Roanoke.
Local 6061 members are also prodding attorneys to investigate the company's violation of the New York Doc Agreement which mandates Railroads to give workers the option to "go where the work is."
(--------------)
[Live=Jen full/Newsroom]


Under terms of that agreement, the company would have to provide employment to the car shop workers for six years after the plant shuts down.
They say the company is escaping the clause by keeping a skeleton crew in the car shops after layoffs take place.


[Double Boxes=Keith & Jen/Newsroom]


Keith, at a meeting today with company officials, car shop workers say they were told the furlough list would be posted next Wednesday.
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[GRAPHIC=Hold]


Norfolk Southern also announced today that it will layoff several workers who install signal systems and help maintain signals along railroad's tracks in the Eastern region, including Virginia.
Beginning August 9th, 53 members of the Brotherhood of Railway Signalmen in the Virginia Division are being furloughed.


[Bank-America]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=00-28 30:05]
[GRAPHIC=Layoffs]


The nation's largest bank is cutting back seven percent of its workforce.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Charlotte]
[TAPE#598-16 18:01]


Bank of America will layoff as many as ten thousand workers to cut costs.
Its strategy of building through acquisitions failed to deliver the anticipated earnings growth.
Bank of America merged with Nationsbank nearly two years ago.
That acquisition gave the bank a stake in several Virginia banks.
Since the merger, Bank of America has eliminated about 25-thousand jobs.
(------------)


[BWX-Retirees]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=00-17 1:44:27]
[GRAPHIC=None]


Time is running out for retired Babcock and Wilcox employees who must choose between skyrocketing premiums or "no" health insurance at all.
Steve Smallshaw has their story.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=When we last]
[SUPER=03-Campbell Co./Sept. 1999; :00]
[SUPER=04-Last Night; :13]
[SUPER=01-William Wills/B&W Retiree; :23]
[SUPER=01-Marilyn Elliott/Wife of BWXT Retiree; :49]
[SUPER=@ssm1; :54]
[SUPER=01-Ron Hite/BWXT Spokesman; :1:12]
[SUPER=01-George Waksmunski/U.E.W. Representative; :1:36]
[RUNS=1:48]
[OUT Q=News7, Campbell County.]



When we last met this group of B&W retirees, they'd been hit hard by a sudden increase in their health insurance premiums.
[natsot from 9/99 meeting 1:16:24]

((I'M NOT HAPPY WITH THIS MESS AND I DON'T GIVE A DAMN WHO KNOWS IT.))
[RUNS=04]


Ten months later, their premiums are going up again.
Under the new rates, which take effect August 1st, one family's coverage could cost more than 12- hundred dollars a month.
[SOT 10:07:07 #1]

((WILLIAM WILLS/BWX RETIREE: WE THOUGHT ALL ALONG THAT WHEN WE RETIRED THAT OUR HEALTH INSURANCE BASICALLY WAS GOING TO BE PAID FOR, THE MAJORITY OF IT, BY THE COMPANY.))
[RUNS=11]
[OUT Q=by the company.]


In fact, the promise of affordable, long- term health insurance lured many of these workers into early retirement.
Some weren't aware of the fine print that said the company reserved the right to raise the prices at any time.
[SOT 13:54:55 #2]

((MARILYN ELLIOTT/WIFE OF B&W RETIREE: BWXT HAD A FIDUCIARY DUTY TO DO THE BEST FOR THESE GENTLEMEN, BUT EVIDENTLY THAT DOESN'T COUNT.))
[RUNS=07]
[OUT Q=doesn't count.]

[Standup ] ((But BWXT says it's doing all it can. The problem is this group doesn't yet qualify for Medicare and many have pre-existing medical problems.. so it's been nearly impossible for the company to find an insurance carrier willing to take them on.. and when it finally did, the costs were high.))
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q=were high.]
[SOT 9:24:03]

((RON HITE/BWXT SPOKESMAN: IT'S BEEN VERY DIFFICULT BECAUSE THESE HAVE BEEN GOOD EMPLOYEES AND IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE THIS HAPPEN.))
[RUNS=09]
[OUT Q=see this happen.]


Now, if 85 percent of the retirees don't buy into the new coverage, it could be dropped altogether.
So they're exploring other avenues-- meeting with members of Ralph Nader's Green Party, and wondering whether to encourage current employees to unionize.
[SOT 10:21:34 #1]

((GEORGE WAKSMUNSKI/U.E.W. REPRESENTATIVE: WITH AS MANY RETIREES AS YOU HAVE, I THINK YOU CAN PUT A LOT OF HEAT ON THIS COMPANY, IF PEOPLE WANTED TO GET INVOLVED AND WANTED TO GET ORGANIZED, TO GET ACTIVE IN AN ORGANIZED WAY.))
[RUNS=09]
[OUT Q=organized way.]


Retirees say their fight may also some day find its way into a courtroom.
Steve Smallshaw, News7, Campbell County.


[M'ville-Unemployment]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sch]
[TAPE#=00-20 1:37:57]
[GRAPHIC=Unemployment]


Martinsville still has Virginia's highest unemployment rate ... 13-point-7 per cent in June.
The good news is that it's DOWN more than two-per-cent from May ..
And this is the lowest rate Martinsville has seen since Tultex shutdown.
But the picture is not entirely rosy.
[Double Boxes=Keith and Surae/Microwave]


Surae Chinn is in our Danville Newsroom.
[Live= Surae Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=@Surae1;]
[SUPER=05-Danville;]


Keith, those decreasing numbers are encouraging, but state officials are looking closedly at several companies that could change the trend.
(rollcue... )
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Martinsville;]
[SUPER=01-Robert Wooding/Pulaski Furniture Employee;]
[SUPER=01-Joyce Snead/VEC Manager]
[SUPER=01-Robert Wooding/Pulaski Furniture Employee;]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=on Fridays? No, no.]


Martinsville is enjoying a lower unemployment rate than last month but there is a cloud of uncertainty in the area.
[SOT 23:15:26]

((ROBERT WOODING/PULASKI EMPLOYEE: I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON I JUST HEARD THAT SOMEONE'S GOING TO BUY IT OR SOMETHING.))
[RUNS=:05]


The concern comes from employees of several companies and it can be explained by the Virginia Employment Commission.

[SOT 1:15:16]

((JOYCE SNEAD/VEC MANAGER: TYPICALLY THEY ARE OFF JUST ONE WEEK BUT WE'VE SEEN A COUPLE OF COMPANIES TAKE AN ADDITIONAL WEEK.))
[RUNS=:05]


That means an additional week of unpaid vacation.
Ridgeway Clocks is one of them. it employes 280 people.
Pillowtex has also taken two consecutive weeks off in July. It employs about 1300.
VEC says those companies including Pulaski Furniture normally do not take so much time off.
Pillowtex CEO issued this statement to news 7: "We are not contemplating shutting down...there is no reason to build inventory if the sales aren't there."
[SOT 1:16:56]

((JOYCE SNEAD/VEC MANAGER: SOME COMPANIES WHEN THERE IS A LACK OF ORDER SHUT DOWN ADDITIONAL WEEKS. FIELDCREST/PILLOWTEX WORK PRETTY STEADY.))
[RUNS=:10]


But the biggest question marks come from Pulaski Furniture where a neighboring company, Hooker Furniture has toured the facility several times. We interviewed Robert Wooding last Friday.
[SOT 23:16:57]

((ROBERT WOODING/PULASKI EMPLOYEE: WE ARE GETTING A WEEK OFF A DAY OFF I HAVE A DAY OFF TODAY. AND YOU ARE NOT USUALLY OFF ON FRIDAYS..NO, NO.))
[RUNS=:10]
[Live= Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Danville;]


The VEC has told us Pulaski Furniture will shut down for another week next month.

[Double Boxes=Keith and Surae/Microwave]

Question: Has Pulaski Furniture officials spoken to you? [Surae full/Microwave]
They have not said either way if they will or will not shut down. The VEC heard either and it's one of the first a

gencies who is notified.[Unemployment]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=00-19 1:13:49]
[GRAPHIC=Va Unemployment]


Virginia's overall employment picture is still strong.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]


The statewide unemployment rate stands at 2-point-9 per cent, the lowest figure for June in 47 years.
The Roanoke area had its lowest June jobless rate ever: 2- per cent.
Lynchburg was also at an all-time low at 2-point-2 per cent.
The New River Valley is hurting from layoffs at Volvo... with 3-point-8 per cent of the work force OUT of work.
(--------------)




[Tease#1]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=NONE]


Two main figures in a moonshining case are brought into court today. The details are still ahead on News 7 at 6.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]


And how much should Virginia protect its citizens from aliens? We'll talk with the man who has filed suit, saying it's not doing enough.
(----------------)





[First-Wx]
[TALENT=Robin]
[SS=NONE]WEATHER CENTER

[WXPRO/FULL]WEATHER MAP TOMORROW FORECAST
[WEB-ADDRESS]
(///// SOT /////)

[Web Address Announce] [Pinnacle 4885ess]

[COMMERCIAL][Earley-Abortions]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Abortion]


Virginia Attorney General Mark Earley has thrown in the towel on the legal fight over a ban on so-called "partial birth" abortions.
Last month, the U-S Supreme Court overturned Nebraska's ban on the procedure.
Today, a panel of judges on the Fourth U-S Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond agreed the Virginia law was similar enough to NOT withstand high court review.
Attorney General Earley says he will work with the General Assembly to try to draft a new law that will pass Constitutional muster.



[Alien-Abductions]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=00-18 1:45:16]
[GRAPHIC=None]


Fauquier County's Sheriff has a report of aliens landing in Woodbridge last June and abducting a Virginia woman.
The F-B-I has a 1967 report of a Chesapeake T-V repairman seeing an egg-shaped object land and small humanoids disembark.
Believe them or not, these reports are just the tip of the iceberg of years of extraterrestrial invasions of Earth, and government cover-ups.
That's all according to a lawsuit filed in Alexandria Circuit Court.
Ellen Qualls spoke with the plaintiff.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Everyone's given]
[SUPER=04-"UFO: The Footage"; :00]
[SUPER=01-Larry Bryant/Plaintiff; :13]
[SUPER=@Earley; :38 QUICK]
[SUPER="The Day the Earth Stood Still; :53]
[SUPER=@Gilmore; 1:02 ]
[SUPER=@Ellen2; 1:49 ]
[RUNS=1:56]
[OUT Q=Qualls, News 7, Richmond.]


(( Everyone's given it a thought.
Hard to explain phenomena that suggest something else is out there.
[sot 12:54:20]

((LARRY BRYANT/PLAINTIFF: THE ALIEN ABDUCTORS HAVE AN AGENDA WHICH TO SOME PEOPLE MAY SEEM BE BIZARRE, BUT IT'S ALSO FRIGHTENING IF IT'S TRUE. THE AGENDA CONSISTS OF A BREEDING PROGRAM AT ITS CORE.))
[runs=18 ]


Retired Army civilian Larry Bryant lives in Alexandria.
He's taken the state to court for dereliction of duty in the alien wars.
[sot 12:08:30]

((ATTORNEY GENERAL MARK EARLEY: WELL LOOK. THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE SERIOUS WHO THINK ELVIS IS STILL ALIVE.))
[runs=05 ]



[sot 13:03:18]

((LARRY BRYANT/PLAINTIFF: NO I'VE SEEN A UFO. I'VE NEVER SEEN AN ALIEN. BUT I'LL TELL YOU THIS, I'VE NEVER SEEN CALIFORNIA EITHER. BUT I KNOW CALIFORNIA EXISTS.))
[runs=10 ]


Attorney General Mark Earley says he was a bit of a U-F-O nut when he was younger-- and he's sure it's all bunk.
So's the man who's actually the target of the suit.
[sot 12:18:06]

((GOV. JIM GILMORE: THE PROBLEM IS NOT ALIEN ABDUCTIONS. THE PROBLEM IS THEY'RE TAKING THE WRONG PEOPLE.))
[runs=06 ]



[sot 13:06:11]

((LARRY BRYANT/PLAINTIFF: MAYBE THE GOVERNOR KNOWS MORE THAN HE'S WILLING TO TELL US ABOUT THE PROBLEM.))
[runs=04 ]


Bryant had to use the Freedom of Information Act to get a government record of the alleged Woodbridge abduction.
[sot 12:52:12]

((LARRY BRYANT/PLAINTIFF: THEY WEREN'T COMING HERE ON A FRIENDLY HOW DO YOU DO, TAKE ME TO YOUR LEADER EXCURSION. THEY WERE DOING THIS UNDER COVER OF DARKNESS, THEY WERE DOING THIS SURREPTITIOUSLY FOR WHATEVER REASON, AND IN THE PROCESS VICTIMIZING A CITIZEN OF VIRGINIA.))
[runs=17 ]


The suit asks for a National Guard strike force, State Police and grand jury investigations, and some assistance for the aliens' victims.
The state has asked the judge to dismiss the suit and sanction Bryant for his frivolity.
For now, the outcome remains up in the air.
Ellen Qualls, News 7.))




[Stocks]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]


Stocks took a pounding today. [TAKE DOW, NASDAQ & BLOOMBERG PAGE ]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5102;]
[SUPER=430-y/74.96/10511.17/y/179.23/3663.00/y/2.31/108.48;]


The Dow lost 75 points. NASDAQ fell 179, more than four-and-a-half per cent. The News 7 Bloomberg Index dropped more than two.
(-------------)

[VO]
[SUPER=431-i!/33!/i1b/30c/ib/46b/ie/23!/i!/2r;]
[SUPER=432-i&/46@/ib/25%/ie/39#/i1c/50d/hf/33b;]
[SUPER=433-ic/21!/h!/18g/i2c/26*/h!/25r/u/12;]
[SUPER=434-ie/48#/id/52r/u/47/i1#/54!/i1b/58r;]

(--------------)[Moonshine]



[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=Six]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=00-13 1:59:47]
[GRAPHIC=None]


Two of the central figures in a federal moonshining case were arraigned today, as one of the defense attornies described the government's case against his client: "pure fantasy."
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]


Twenty seven people now face federal charges in the wake of Operation Lightning Strike. Among those pleading not guilty today were Dee Stanley, and William Lewis Helms.
Helms' attorney said his client is innocent.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 00:36:48]
[IN Q=Having summarized the indictment]

((JONATHAN ROGERS/HELMS' ATTORNEY:HAVING SUMMARIZED THE INDICTMENT, I THINK A LOT OF IT IS PURE FICTION. A LOT OF IT IS SPECULATION, AND GIANT EXXAGERATION. AND IT'S VERY THIN ON THE FACTS AND I EXPECT MY CLIENT WILL BE FOUND INNOCENT AT THE END OF THIS ORDEAL.))
[SUPER=01-Jonathan Rogers/Helms' Attorney]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=at the end of this ordeal.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Also pleading not guilty today was Barbara Ellen Hale. Twelve more defendants are due in court next week.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[GRAPHIC=None]


The court has set aside three weeks for the moonshining case. It's now scheduled to go to trial in late Septemb

er, but a continuance is likely.[Sports Tease]


[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=Sports Tease]
[GRAPHIC=None]


And coming up, Dell Curry pays a visit to Page Moir's basketball camp Tech head coach Frank Beamer speaks to the Valley Hokie club.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


And Steve Mason catches up with former Tech defensive back Anthony Midget at the Atlanta Falcons training camp.
(------------)




[S-Camp]


[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-67 1:03:30]
[GRAPHIC=Atlanta Falcons]


Anthony Midget is just one of many Hokies from last seasons top rated defense that is trying to make the NFL grade. Steve Mason and photographer Mark Hollandsworth caught up with him at Falcons training camp.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=first audio]
[SUPER=03-Greenville, SC; :00]
[SUPER=01-Anthony Midget/Falcons Rookie Defensive Back; :10]
[SUPER=03-New Orleans, LA/Sugar Bowl; :41]
[SUPER=01-Dan Reeves/Atlanta Falcons Head Coach; :54]
[SUPER=01-Dwayne Stukes/Falcons Rookie Defensive Back; :18]
[SUPER=@Steve1; 1:26]
[SUPER=03-Spartanburg, SC/Carolina Panthers Camp; 1:52]
[RUNS=1:58]
[OUT Q=news7 sports"]
(-----------)



[S-Autograph]


[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-75 2537TC]
[GRAPHIC=REDSKINS TRAINING CAMP]


The Washington Redskins take their training camp actitivies to Fed Ex field tonight for a scrimmage with the Baltimore Ravens. Rest assured that fans will still be on the prowl with pen and paper in hand looking for autographs from their heroes.

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Ashburn; :00]

Since training camp opened, hopeful signature searchers have stood in line for hours hoping to get a keepsake from some of their favorites. Most of the players take a little time to sign a few autographs after every practice. But no one has signed more than newcomer Jeff George. The 10 year veteran quarterback has even played catch with fans.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=BITE]
[SUPER=01-Jeff George/Redskins Quarterback; :09]
[RUNS=:19]
[OUT Q=...part of that."]
(------------)




[S-Beamer]


[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=dwi]
[TAPE#=SP-71 (54:45)]
[GRAPHIC=Virginia Tech Football]


Over 400 Virginia Tech faithful attended a Hokie Club banquet today at Hotel Roanoke.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :]


Hokie Football Coach Frank Beamer was the guest of honor, only one day after being picked second to Miami in the Big East Conference.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="It's certainly..."]
[SUPER=01-Frank Beamer/Virginia Tech Head Football Coach; :]
[RUNS=:28]
[OUT Q="...it's probably legit."]
(----------)



[S-Dell]


[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=dwi]
[TAPE#=SP-65 (1:30:32)]
[GRAPHIC=Basketball]


The 11th annual Roanoke College basketball camp came to an end today after a very successful three-week run.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem]


The camp utilizes current Roanoke players to teach fundamentals at all levels to the kids ages 8-15 who attend. Former Virginia Tech star and 14-year NBA veteran Dell Curry was on hand today to bring the camp to a close.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=First audio...]
[SUPER=01-Dell Curry/Toronto Raptors; :]
[SUPER=01-Page Moir/Roanoke College Men's Basketball Coach; :17]
[RUNS=:24]
[OUT Q=.........enjoyed themselves."]
(------------)



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[WEATHER] [6PM WEATHER] [07/28/2000] [SS NONE] [ENG/FULL]LOCAL WEATHER VIDEO [ADD CHYRON/ENG/FULL]HIGHS & LOWS CURRENT STATS [CHYRON/FULL]LAKE LEVELS [MUSIC UNDER] [COMMERCIAL] [CK/CHYRON/VIEWERNET] [CK/WXPRO]WEATHER MAPS [CK/CHYRON/5 PAGES] FORECASTS [ESS/FULL] EXTENDED FORECAST[Forecasts]
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[ANCHOR=]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=]
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(Weekday 6 only)
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by SS