WDBJ 7 news at 6 for 09/20/00

[1-News-Head]

(------------)

[V/O-NAT]

Tonight on NEWS 7 at SIX, we hear from Mickey Minor's relatives who claim police killed the man by ramming his motorcycle into a car.
(------------)
[TALENT=Keith]

Also coming up: attack ads... a move to make sure we know who's behind them.

[Sports-Head]

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

And coming up in sports, Mike Stevens has spent the day at the Virginia High School League redistrictitng meeting we'll have a report on that.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

And Dallas Quarterback Troy Aikman will return to the Cowboys starting lineup this Sunday.
(------------)

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

A few showers are heading our way for early tomorrow and maybe some tropical moisture for the weekend...I'll have the details coming up...

[Video-Open]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=Video Open]

(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 00:09:22]
[IN Q=I'm sick]
((I'M SICK AND I'M TIRED AND I'M NOT LOSING ANOTHER FAMILY MEMBER BEHIND THE INJUSTICE OF THIS POLICE DEPARTMENT.))
[RUNS=:09 ]
[OUT Q=police department.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Family members of James "Meekey" Minor unleash a series of allegations against Roanoke police.
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[ANCHOR=Keith]
[GRAPHIC=News7at6]
Good evening, I'm Keith Humphry.

[Minor-Relatives]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=00-36 TC32:47]
[GRAPHIC=News 7 at Six]

Family members claim Minor died as a result of a vendetta against their family.
Minor was killed when his motorcycle collided with a car in Roanoke.
[Double Boxes=Keith and Teresa/Microwave]

Teresa Hamilton spoke with family members today. She's at the scene of the accident tonight.
[Live= Teresa/Microwave]
[SUPER=@Teresa1;]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke;]

Keith, family members say for years they've had a troubled relationship with Roanoke officers... resulting in at least 20 complaints against police.
For that reason-- they believe officers were responsible for the fatal crash.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I need]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
[SUPER=01-Eric Minor/Brother; ]
[SUPER=01-Margaret Patterson/Aunt;]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=is the truth]
(((///sot///)
[sot 00:15:25]
[IN Q=I need]
((MARGARET PATTERSON/AUNT: I NEED SOME ANSWERS AND I'M EXPECTING SOME ACTION.)) [runs05]
[out q= some action.]

Margaret Patterson says her nephew did NOT have to die.
Minor was killed when his motorcycle crashed into a car at the intersection of eleventh and Hanover Streets.
Police admit they were pursuing Minor earlier this month but say they broke off the chase well before the accident.

Minor's brother says witnesses have told him differently... although family members say no one has been willing to give their name.
(/////SOT/////)
[sot 00:26:42]
[in q= The woman]
((ERIC MINOR/BROTHER: THE WOMAN THAT LIVES ON THE CORNER OF ELEVENTH AND SEVERAL RESIDENTS SAID THEY HEARD MICK SAY BACK OFF OF ME, BACK OFF OF ME, AND THE MORE HE WOULD HOLLER THE CLOSER THEY WOULD GET, SAID MICK WENT TO STOP AND THE POLICEMAN HIT THE BACK OF THE BIKE TO CAUSE HIM TO RUN INTO STOKES.)) [runs17]
[out q= into Stokes.]

Donald Stokes is the driver of the car that Minor crashed into.
Stokes told NEWS 7 police did NOT cause the accident.
But Patterson says the day of the crash Stokes told her officers were responsible.
(///sot////)
[sot]
[in q=I'm not here]
((MARGARET PATTERSON/AUNT: I'M NOT HERE TO DARKEN OR BLACKEN ANYONE'S CHARACTER, THEIR NAME OR ANYTHING, ALL I'M DEMANDING IS THE TRUTH.)) [RUNS08]
[OUT Q= the truth.]))
(-------------)
[Live=Teresa Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke;]

Police say the family's allegations are completely false.
The officer who was behind Minor did NOT have the videocamera in his car rolling-- but police say other information that will be revealed later this week exonerates them.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith and Teresa/Microwave]
(QUESTION: Teresa, I understand the family is upset that Minor's autopsy was performed after the body had been embalmed
?)

[Lewis]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=00-28 TC1:41:11]
[GRAPHIC=None]

An earlier incident that raised questions about city police pursuit was set for a hearing today on appeal to Circuit Court.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Wilbert Wesley Lewis was SHOT by a police officer during a traffic stop late last year.
Like Minor- -the man on the motorcycle ten days ago- -Lewis failed to stop for police and was driving on a suspended license. Lewis was shot in the stomach, because the officer was afraid he had a gun.
Lewis says the department needs to examine its ranks.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1st response]
[IN Q=I believe they need]
((WESLEY LEWIS: I BELIEVE THEY NEED TO CHECK INTO THEIR OWN. BECAUSE THEIR OWN IS WHAT'S CAUSING THE PROBLEM IN ROANOKE CITY.))
[SUPER=07-Wilbert Wesley Lewis]
[RUNS=06]
[OUT Q=in Roanoke City.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Lewis says he believes there are a lot of prejudiced police officers in Roanoke- -both black and white.
His case was postponed, after he told the judge he was afraid his lawyer's own legal problems might hurt Attorney Rickey Young's credibility. Young is under indictment on federal tax charges.
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[Race-relations]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=00-26 TC1:47:57]
[GRAPHIC=Race Relations]

"Meekey" Minor's family says this is not a racial issue.
At the same time today, city officials renewed their commitment to better race relations in the city.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[NAT]
[IN Q=The struggle is not over]
((THE STRUGGLE IS NOT OVER YET, AND THE TRUTH IS, WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO.))
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
[RUNS=07]
[OUT Q=long way to go.]
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[VO-NAT]

City council affirmed its responsibility to eliminate racism in honor of "Undo-Racism" day.
Officials say Roanoke has come far in stabilizing race relations, but more improvements need to be made.
Members of Southern Christian Leadership Conference in attendance today agree.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=We are all a part]
((RUFUS CALLAHAM/SCLC: WE'RE ALL A PART OF THE HUMAN FAMILY, AND WE SHOULD BE REPRESENTED BY THE POWERS THAT BE IN ALL LEVELS FROM THE FEDERAL, TO THE CITY, TO THE COUNTY, WHATEVER.))
[SUPER=01-Rufus Callaham/Bedford SCLC Vice-President]
[RUNS=13]
[OUT Q=to county, whatever.]
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[VO-NAT]

200 cities across the country offered similar resolutions today.
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[Road-Plan]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=00-27 TC1:19:48]
[GRAPHIC=Highway Improvements]

It's the biggest ever -- 30 percent larger than the last six year construction plan for Virginia's roads, tracks, ports, and airports.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Springfield;]

And it's the first six year plan ever to account for inflation.
But because lawmakers packed the 10 BILLION dollar plan with their own projects this year, the secondary road budget saw a slight dip in the year 2002.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 14:34:49]
[IN Q=We think]
((CHIP NOTTINGHAM/VDOT COMMISSIONER: WE THINK THAT'S VERY FIXABLE. IT'S JUST THAT THIS IS THE MOST COMPLICATED PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT'S COME OUT OF THE STATE IN DECADES. AND PARTICULARLY TRANSPORTATION LEGISLATION, SINCE THE THIRTIES. AND SO WE WEREN'T SHOCKED THAT THERE WAS AN UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE SOMEWHERE IN THE LEGISLATION ))
[SUPER=01-Chip Nottingham/VDOT Commissioner;]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=in the legislation.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The cost for the state's biggest project, the Springfield Mixing Bowl, had to be revised again this week.
Transportation Secretary Shirley Ybarra (why-BARE-uh) says the new plan reflects reality better.
It includes 11-hundred projects, including 90 that were delayed a year ago.
The public gets to comment on the plan in public hearings in Roanoke and Richmond on October 5th.
(------------)

[Switched-Babies]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Switched Babies]

Paula Johnson has lost her bid to legally change the name of one of the girls switched at birth five years ago.
Johnson calls the girl she has raised since birth ``Callie Marie Jewel Conley,'' but the girl's birth name is actually Rebecca Grace Chittum.
Johnson ran into trouble over the name when she enrolled Callie in kindergarten.
When a Stafford judge asked Johnson's attorney to include Chittum in the new name, the lawyer refused and the judge threw out the petition.
Johnson's lawyer plans to appeal the decision to the state Supreme Court.

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

A new poll shows a wide lead for George W. Bush here in the Commonwealth.
That's next on News 7.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]

And later a adults are getting a kick out of a playground game's comeback.
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[Mason-Dixon]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=500-13 TC54:58]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign 2001]
Republican George W- Bush may have a bigger lead over Al Gore than yesterday's Roanoke College poll indicates.
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[VO-NAT]
In a News7 Mason Dixon poll out today, Bush has the support of 49-percent of state voters, while 39-percent back Gore.
Green Party nominee Ralph Nader and Reform Party candidate Pat Buchanan polled one percent, and ten percent remain undecided.
The gender gap remains, with Bush winning an extra 21 percentage points among men and Gore leading by a one percent margin among women. 80 percent of black voters favor Gore. 57 percent of whites back Bush.
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[C'burg-Council]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=00-30 TC1:45:42]
[GRAPHIC=None]

An anonymous attack ad in Christiansburg town council's last election is prompting state legislators to call for tougher campaign laws.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg;]

Ann Hess lost her bid for town council by 71 votes ... just two days after an ad attacking her appeared in a local newspaper.
The illegal ad was placed by a phony group.
State police put together a rough sketch of the man who paid for the ad. But they still haven't found out who's responsible.
That's why Hess has asked Senator Madison Marye and Delegate Jim Shuler to sponsor a bill requiring groups placing political ads to prove they're authentic.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 20:34 - :50]
[IN Q=I want to see]
((ANN HESS/FORMER COUNCIL CANDIDATE: I WANT TO SEE THAT THIS NEVER HAPPENS TO ANYONE AGAIN. AND I THINK THAT IN OUR DEMOCRACY, ANYBODY HAS A WAY TO STATE THEIR OPINIONS ANY WAY THEY WANT TO AS LONG AS THEY ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THOSE OPINIONS.))
[SUPER=01-Ann Hess/Former Council Candidate;]
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=with those opinions.]
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[ANCHOR=Keith]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Placing fake political ads is a misdemeanor that could result in a 25-hundred-dollar fine or one-year jail term.

[Stocks]

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

Corporate profits hurt blue-chips, but tech stocks continued their rebound. [TAKE DOW, NASDAQ & BLOOMBERG PAGE ]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5102;]
[SUPER=430-y/101.37/10687.92/x/31.80/3897.44/y/0.28/117.23;]

The DOW plunged 101 points, while NASDAQ rose 32.
The bloomberg News 7 Index fell about a quarter-point.
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[VO]
[SUPER=431-ig/35c/i*/30/i1!/53&/i1%/21c/ha/2*;]
[SUPER=432-i1a/54r/i!/30b/ha/41f/ib/56c/i#/35@;]
[SUPER=433-i@/22e/i!/15#/i$/38f/i1a/26!/i#/10*;]
[SUPER=434-ir/49r/h&/50*/if/43@/ib/56e/i1$/48$;]

[Kickball]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=00-29 TC1:38:25]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A favorite playground game is making a comeback among adults.
Kickball leagues are popping up around the country ... and now one has come to our area.
Marya Jones takes a turn around the bases with Blacksburg's kickball enthusiasts.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=A few days]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg; :00]
[SUPER=01-Heather McElrath/Team Organizer; :08 QUICK!]
[SUPER=01-Winston Matthews/Kickball Fan; :44]
[SUPER=01-DeeDee Bender/Kickball Fan; :57]
[SUPER=@Marya1; 1:02]
[RUNS=1:32]
[OUT Q=MJN7, Blacksburg.]
(([CAN USE SHOT AT 8:03]
A few days each month, Heather McElrath and other young Blacksburg professionals get their kicks playing a game they last played in elementary school.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 10:12 - :17]
((HEATHER McELRATH: IT'S A GROUP OF 20-50 YEAR OLDS WHO ARE RELIVING THEIR PLAYGROUND DAYS.))
[RUNS= :04]

The game is kickball ... where the rules are part softball, part dodgeball.
(/////SOT/////)
[NATSOUND: GAME 2:59 - 3:01] ((NATS: GO, GO, GO. AAAUGH!))
[RUNS= :03]

McElrath, a Virginia Tech graduate, formed the Blacksburg kickball group after hearing about others in Charlottesville, Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C.
The goal is fun exercise.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 10:23 - :27]
((HEATHER McELRATH: YOU'D BE AMAZED HOW CHILDHOOD GAMES ARE ACTUALLY A LOT OF FUN AND GET YOU IN SHAPE.))
[RUNS= :04]
(/////SOT/////)
[NATS: 1:18 - :20] ((NATS: LAUGHTER))
[RUNS= :02]

Players say it's just as much fun as it used to be...
Perhaps even more so.
Just ask electrical engineer Winston Matthews.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 13:58 - 14:05]
((WINSTON MATTHEWS: THE BALL IS A LOT SMALLER, THE BASES ARE A LOT EASIER TO RUN TO AND I'M A LITTLE BIT MORE SCARED WHEN PEOPLE THROW THE BALL AT ME.))
[RUNS= :07]

For Virginia Tech graduate DeeDee Bender, it's a shot at redemption.
Back in elementary school, she was the last one picked for the team.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 16:38 - :43]
((DEEDEE BENDER: I COULDN'T KICK IT VERY FAR. SO, NOW THAT I'M MUCH OLDER, MUCH TALLER, MUCH STRONGER, I CAN KICK IT.))
[RUNS= :05]
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT20:47 - :55]
((MARYA JONES/NEWS-7: AND WITH THIS PLAYGROUND SPORT GAINING IN ADULT POPULARITY, TEAM ORGANIZERS SAY IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THIS TEAM GETS OFF THE GROUND. (KICK).))
[RUNS= :08]

McElrath has been getting lots of e-mail from interested players.
Right now, there are only enough to play pick-up games.
And the budget is low.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 11:47 - :53]
((HEATHER McELRATH: THE BALL I WENT TO WALMART AND BOUGHT. AND BASES, RIGHT NOW THEY'RE CARMATS.))
[RUNS= :06]
[USE SHOT AT ABOUT 7:42]
Kickball is giving these adults one more chance to chase their youth ... and catch it for a little while. [NATS: LAUGHING] ((NATS: LAUGHING))
[RUNS= :02]

Marya Jones, News-7, Blacksburg.))

[Sports Tease]

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

And in sports, Troy Aikman will start for the Dallas Cowboys this Sunday The Virginia High School League redistricting committee has been busy in Charlottesville today.
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[VO-NAT]

And we'll check in with the undefeated Roanoke College men's soccer team that's ranked 17-th in the country.
(------------)

[S-VHSL]

[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-74]
[GRAPHIC=VHSL Logo]

The Virginia High School Leagues executive committee met today in Charlottesville to try and decide which high schools will be on the move next year.
The vote takes place tomorrow Mike Stevens has details of today's meeting.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=First audio]
[SUPER=@Mike1; :00]
[SUPER=03-Charlottesville; :17]
[SUPER=01-Paul Hale/Pulaski Co. Principal; :33]
[SUPER=01-Ken Tilley/VHSL Ececutive Director; 1:06]
[SUPER=01-Rose Flaugher/E. C. Glass Athletic Director; 1:40]
[SUPER=01-Don Thompson/Halifax Athletic Director; 1:49]
[SUPER=01-John Vasvary/Brookville Athletic Director; 2:00]
[SUPER=01-Vern Barker/G. W. Athletic Director; 2:30]
[RUNS=3:00]
[OUT Q=....news 7 sports."]
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[S-Roanoke]

[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=six]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=sp-64 tc 2:00:43]
[GRAPHIC=Roanoke College]

Roanoke College is putting its national ranking on the line in Bridgewater today.
The Maroons are ranked 17th in Division Three men's soccer.
(----------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem;]

Roanoke has jumped out to a six and oh start this season. The Maroons are just two wins away from their total number of victories in the 1999 campaign.
It might surprise some since the 2000 team only has three seniors.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=these kids]
[SUPER=01-Todd Smith/Roanoke Senior; :04]
[super=01-Scott Allison/Roanoke Head Coach; :12]
[RUNS=23]
[OUT Q=with eachother]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The Maroons return home on the 26th to face conference rival Randolph Macon.
(------------)

[S-HOCKEY]

[ANCHOR=ROY]
[NEWSCAST=SIX]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=sp-77 tc 1:07:31]
[GRAPHIC=Roanoke college]

Roanoke College's field hockey team is ranked 18th in the nation. Today the Maroons played host to 17th ranked ODAC rival Eastern Mennonite.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem/E. Mennonite vs. Roanoke Col.;]

Before this afternoon's game Roanoke had outscored its opponents 35 to nothing. But the Royals weren't going to take it easy on the young upstarts.
Eastern Mennonite gets it front of the Maroon goal. Senior Sara Nissley gets a stick on the ball and passes Jodi Godbout for the Royals score.
Roanoke had plenty of first half shots. This one is still going on, it was one nothing Eastern Mennonite at the end of the first half.
(------------)

[S-Aikman]

[ANCHOR=Roy]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-72 (1:38:22)]
[GRAPHIC=Dallas Logo]

Dallas Quarterback Troy Aikman was cleared today and he could start Sunday for the first time since sustaining his 8-th concussion in the season opener.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-NFL; :]

Aikman practiced today and said he expects to be in the starting lineup this Sunday.
He has not played since the opening game 41 to 14 loss to Philadelphia missing two games including Monday night's 27 to 21 win at Washington.
The Cowboys put in a game plan on Tuesday suited to Aikman's abilities and not those of Randall Cunningham who started in the Cowboys win over the Redskins.
(------------)

[Promo]

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

Where's "Lotto Virginia?"
It's officially here, tonight.
The first drawing of the state's newest lottery game will be held in just a few hours.
[Double Boxes=Keith and Jean/Newsroom]

Jean Jadhon is here with more on the redesigned game.
[Live= Jean Full/Newsroom]
[SUPER=@Jean1]
Virginia Lottery officials say fewer and fewer people are trying their odds for the Lotto's one-to-ten million dollar jackpot.
(-------------)
[VO-NAT @ 00-29 TC 1:36:41]
So they've revamped the game to offer jackpots as large as 30-million bucks. But, they've also made it tougher to win. Players now have a one in 14-million chance of walking away with the cash.
(-------------)
[Live= Jean Full/Newsroom]
Tonight at 11, we'll talk to some folks who are trying out the new game, and find out if they think Lady Luck will strike.
[Double Boxes=Keith & Jean/Newsroom]
Plus we'll have the winning numbers in the first "Lotto Virginia" drawing.