[1-News-Head]

[TALENT=Keith]

An endorsement of A-E-P's high- voltage power line.
(------------)

[V/O-NAT]
Coming up on NEWS 7 at SIX- -the site of the preferred route and reaction from the power company and opponents.
(------------)
[TALENT=Keith]


And a Philadelphia- to- Atlanta flight makes an emergency landing in Roanoke.

[Sports-Head]


[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

Tonight on News 7 sports, the Big East props once again head to Blacksburg as we bring you the Monday Night Tech 2000 report. Plus, Steve Mason checks in with the Redskins.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

And George Welsh responds to Terry Holland's web site letter to the Sabre dot com.
(------------)


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


If you thought today was warm, check out the forecast for tomorrow. We will have details of that in a moment.

[Video-Open]


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



(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=This is]

((THIS IS A MAJOR STEP.))
[RUNS=:03 ]
[OUT Q=a major step.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


The state endorses a route for American Electric Power's proposed high-voltage line.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[GRAPHIC=News7at6]

Good evening, I'm Keith Humphry.

[Power-Line]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=00-36 TC42:03]
[GRAPHIC=AEP Powerline]


A hearing examiner with the State Corporation Commission says there's a critical need for the line.
And, has given his stamp of approval to the shorter of the two routes proposed by A-E-P.
[Double Boxes=Teresa and Keith/Newsroom]


Teresa Hamilton is our newsroom tonight with more on the examiner's findings and reaction from A-E-P.
[Live=Teresa Full/Newsroom]
[SUPER=@Teresa1]


Keith, a spokesman for A-E-P says the company is happy but is cautiously optimistic.
Although, a hearing examiner has given the project the thumbs up, the S-C-C and several other agencies must still approve the project.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The route]
[SUPER=03-Wythe Co./File Tape;]
[SUPER=01-Todd Burns/AEP Spokesman;]
[SUPER=01-Montgomery Co./File Tape;]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=the power line.]

(( The route approved by the hearing examiner is the shorter of the two routes proposed by A-E-P.
It would carry the high voltage line 57 miles through Virginia... from the Tazewell County area to Jacksons Ferry in Wythe County.
In issuing his report-- Judge Howard Anderson found A-E-P's current transmission system to be seriously overloaded and unreliable by industry standards.
[sot 00:44:13]
(///sot///)
[in q=We know]

((TODD BURNS/AEP: WE KNOW THAT THERE IS A CRITICAL NEED FOR REINFORCING THIS SYSTEM, IT HAS BEEN REITERATED A NUMBER OF TIMES THROUGHOUT THE EVIDENTIARY PROCESS SO, YES, WE'RE ENCOURAGED WITH THE STRONG LANGUAGE AS FAR AS THE NEED FOR THE PROJECT.)) [RUNS15]
[OUT Q= the project.]


Judge Anderson's decision comes after touring the New River... among other sites.
In issuing his findings-- the judge also concluded that the shorter line would be the most cost effective solution.

(///sot///)
[in q=The hearing]

(( THE HEARING EXAMINERS RECOMMENDATION CARRIES A LOT OF WEIGHT. HE'S MET WITH HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE, OVER 500 PEOPLE IN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS SINCE 1997 AND JUST REVIEWED....GOOD NEWS FOR THE POWER LINE.)) [RUNS20]
[OUT Q= the power line.]))
(-------------)
[Live=Teresa Full/NEWSROOM]


A spokesman with the S-C-C says the other agencies that would have to approve the project.. have indicated they also support the shorter of the two routes.
[Double Boxes=Teresa and Marya/Starlink]


Now, judge Anderson does admit the project would have a devastating impact on the people and environment directly affected.
Mayra Jones has been working on that angle of the story.

[Line-Reaction]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#00-34 TC40:54]
[GRAPHIC=None]




[Double Boxes=Teresa and Marya/Starlink]



(Teresa tosses to Marya)



[Live=MArya Full/Starlink]
[SUPER=@Marya1;]
[SUPER=06-Wythe Co.;]
( ad lib)

[***ROLLED FROM STARLINK***]
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Debbie Little]
[SUPER=03-Wythe Co.; :00]
[SUPER=01-Debbie Little/Powerline Opponent; :08]
[SUPER=01-William Daugherty/Powerline Opponent; 1:11]
[RUNS=1:30]
[OUT Q=in this together.]
(-------------)



[Live=Marya Full/Starlink]
[SUPER=06-Wythe Co.;]
( ad lib)



[Double Boxes=Keith and Marya/Starlink]



[Airport-Emergency]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=00-37 TC32:50]
[GRAPHIC=Emergency Landing]

A plane headed to Atlanta suddenly touched down in Roanoke when the crew smelled plastic burning.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]

The Boeing 737 took off from Philadelphia with 132 passengers on board.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 13:24:54]
[IN Q=About halfway]

((MIKE EMIG/PASSENGER: ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH THEIR DRINK SERVICE THEY STOPPED SERVING DRINKS AND ALL OF A SUDDEN WE STARTED MAKING A SEVERE DESCENT. THE CAPTAIN SAID THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE PLANE AND WE'LL BE LANDING IN ROANOKE MAKING AN EMERGENCY LANDING.))
[SUPER=01-Mike Emig/Passenger;]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=emergency landing]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Passengers were evacuated and booked on other flights to Atlanta. Investigators found nothing burning on board.
(------------)



[Gay]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=00-28 TC1:59:04]
[GRAPHIC=Ronald Gay]


The suspect in last month's gay- bar shooting in Roanoke has been indicted on a host of new charges.
Ronald Edward Gay was arrested on a first-degree murder warrant immediately after the shooting at the Back Street Cafe.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Last Week]


Late today a city grand jury returned a 13-count indictment against Gay.
There are six counts of aggravated malicious wounding... one for each of the six people injured in the shooting spree at the nightclub. There are also six counts of "use of a firearm." They each carry a MINIMUM mandatory five year sentence, because they're considered "subsequent" to the use of a firearm in the murder of Danny Overstreet.
Gay is also charged with "discharging a firearm within an occupied building."
(-----------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=HOLD]


When it's all done, Gay will face a total of 15 criminal charges that could earn him seven life terms plus 40-some years in prison.

[New-Cigarette]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=00-32 TC1:08:08]
[GRAPHIC=Tobacco]


Smoking can kill you.
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]


But the Virginia-based tobacco company that says that on its new cigarette labels could help save the tobacco industry.
Star Scientific rolled out "Advance" today in test markets in Richmond and Kentucky.
The tobacco leaf has been treated in a way that destroys some of the cancer-causing microbes.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=We can trace]
[sot TAPE ONE 16:05:20]

((PAUL PERITO/STAR SCIENTIFIC: WE CAN TRACE NITROSAMINES, NOT ONLY IN THE URINES OF SMOKERS, BUT IN THE URINES OF NON-SMOKERS WHO LIVE WITH SMOKERS. THEY ARE A VERY, VERY POWERFUL ELEMENT. AND WE THINK RESPONSIBLE CORPORATE STEWARDSHIP MANDATES IF YOU CAN TAKE 'EM OUT, YOU OUGHT TO TAKE 'EM OUT.))
[SUPER=01-Paul Perito/Star Scientific;]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=ought to take 'em out.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Star Scientific is buying almost 30 percent of Virginia's quota this year -- at a price 25 cents per pound above market average.
Some health activists worry that promoting a potentially safer cigarette could just discourage people from quitting.
(------------)



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


An undercover investigation at an area high school leads to some 50 drug charges.
Details are still ahead on News Seven.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]


And Wiley Drive's been closed for more than a year-- now the question is should it re-open.
Hear what residents and Roanoke City Council had to say when we return.
(----------------)



[City-Council]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=mce]
[TAPE#00-29 TC1:52:46]
[GRAPHIC=None]


The debate over Wiley Drive in Roanoke continues.
A portion of the road through Smith Park has been closed for nearly two years while a new sewer line was installed.
Some citizens want it to stay that way.
[Double Boxes=Keith and Meredyth/Microwave]


Meredyth Censullo is outside today's city council meeting where citizens are voicing their concerns.
[Live=Meredyth Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=@Meredyth1;]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke;]
( ad lib)
(Rollcue:reopen Wiley Drive)
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=You folks]
[SUPER=07-William Lavin;]
[SUPER=07-Lisa Knappe]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=sorry.]
(-------------)



[Live=Meredyth Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke;]
( ad lib)



[Double Boxes=Keith and Meredyth/Microwave]



[Supermax-Investigation]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Supermax Prisons]


The U-S Justice Department has launched an investigation into the treatment of inmates at Red Onion State Prison-- one of Virginia's two supermax prisons.
The probe will focus on allegations of excessive force-- including the use of firearms and stun guns.

[Northside-Drugs]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6p]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=00-40 TC18:27]
[GRAPHIC=None]


Roanoke County police will take evidence of drug dealing by high school students to the grand jury this week.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]


An officer posing as a student spent ten months looking into drug use at Northside High School.
The undercover investigator went to class and took part in school activities.
Police say eight current and former students will face more than 50 charges, including drug sales on school property.
Five other people will be charged once some lab work is done.
Police say none of the adults who may face charges work for the school system.
(------------)


[ARCOVA]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=00-38 TC21:36]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]


A Radford research firm has admitted defrauding the federal government.
ARCOVA mis-allocated funds in contracts for NASA and the U-S Navy.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Radford/September 26, 1996]


The feds seized boxes of documents from ARCOVA four years ago, reports, time sheets, lab books and journals.
Government investigators say ARCOVA mischarged more than 100-thousand dollars on a highly- technical Navy weather contract.
ARCOVA disputes that figure. The company has accepted responsibility for 60-thousand dollars and will pay back that much.
A possible fine will be determined at sentencing in January.
(------------)



[Stocks]


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


A mixed start to the week on Wall Street. [TAKE DOW, NASDAQ & BLOOMBERG PAGE ]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5102;]
[SUPER=430-x/49.21/10700.13/y/103.92/3568.90/y/0.33/117.41;]


The DOW gianed 49 points, but NASDAQ lost 104.
The Bloomberg News 7 Index fell a third of a point.
(-------------)

[VO]
[SUPER=431-i!/39!/u/29/hr/53!/h!/21%/ia/3a;]
[SUPER=432-id/57@/hg/32*/h%/43@/hf/58#/h2a/39e;]
[SUPER=433-i$/22a/i1/13f/i4@/20@/h@/29c/ha/10;]
[SUPER=434-h@/50!/h4c/57@/i1!/47b/hr/57b/i1d/46e;]



[Roanoke-Fire]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=00-33 TC1:02:45]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]


A Roanoke police officer is recovering from surgery after he leapt from a burning porch this morning.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Sergeant Mac Babb had just knocked on Joan Blankenship's door to wake her up and tell her her house was on fire.
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]

Then a piece of debris fell on Sergeant Babb's head, and he jumped off the porch into a rut -- breaking his leg. A neighbor pulled Joan Blankenship off her porch -- both Blankenship and Sergeant Babb are in stable condition at the hospital. Investigators say faulty electrical wires caused the fire.
(------------)



[Waterworks]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=00-31 TC58:37]
[GRAPHIC=None]


The owner of a Smith Mountain Lake water company may be off the hook with the State Corporation Commission -- but he still faces criminal charges for allegedly overcharging his customers.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co./April;]
[TAPE#=00-08 TC38:58]

Robert Winney charged one of his customers a thousand dollar connection fee. The S-C-C pulled Winney into court but a hearing examiner says the S-C-C failed to show how Winney hurt anyone. Winney has since agreed NOT to charge the thousand dollars. He still owes the state 24-thousand-dollars in fines for overcharging his customers last spring. And he's due in Franklin County court later this month for supposedly failing to follow health department rules.
(------------)



[Sports Tease]


[ANCHOR=mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

Coming up tonight on News 7 sports, George Welsh talks to the media in attempt to silence talk of his immediate retirement. Steve Mason checks in from the Skins win last night.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

And this week's Tech 2000 report is loaded with lots of goodies including another Big East honor for Michael Vick.
(------------)


[S-Tech2000]


[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-75 11141TC]
[GRAPHIC=TECH 2000]


Reflections from Chestnut Hill and changes on Chicken Hill are just two small elements of tonight's Tech 2000 report.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=FIRST AUDIO]
[SUPER=03-Newton, MA; :00]
[SUPER=03-Chestnut Hill, MA/Saturday; :14]
[SUPER=01-Michael Vick/210 Yards Rushing vs. BC; :31]
[SUPER=01-Evan Paoletti/Fiesta Bowl Chairman; :52]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg; 1:07]
[SUPER=01-T.J. Ross/VT Fan from Blue Ridge; 1:21]
[RUNS=2:08]
[OUT Q=...IN PUNT RETURNS."]

(( As News 7 sports caught the Hokies heading out of the Boston Marriott in Newton, Massachusetts on Saturday morning, you could tell by looking at Michael Vick that he was thinking about more than the music flowing through his Walkman. Vick dazzled his first northern audience of the season by rushing for a career high 210 yards and three scores. On Friday he signed dozens of autographs for BC students and during the game on Saturday he was urged to turn pro immediately and join the Patriots. ((MIKE VICK:)) The BC students weren't the only ones trying to get a piece of Vick! Fiesta Bowl's chairman Evan Paoletti attended the game - he desperately wants Vick out in Tempe, Arizona for the new year. ((EVAN PAOLETTI:)) He's an attraction all right! Thanks mainly to Vick, Tech sold out every home game in advance this year for the first time ever. The success of the program also has forced Tech to make its alumni up the ante if they want to keep the same privileges they enjoyed in the lean years. ((T.J. ROSS/VT SUPPORTER FROM BOTETOURT:)) Frank Beamer likely will be making a few changes this week. Larry Austin has a sprained knee and an MRI scheduled He could miss a month. Lee Suggs and Chad Beasley are both fighting a case of turf toe, but Vick's knee appears to be OK. Not surprisingly, he is this week's Big East offensive player of the week - again. And Andre Davis is the conference's special teams player of the week for the second time this season. He leads the nation in punt returns.))

[S-George ]


[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-68]
[GRAPHIC=george welsh]

Last week UVa athletic director Terry Holland wrote a letter on the Sabre.com website concerning football coach George Welsh's future at the university. Today, Welsh responded to that letter.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="I am convinced]

((GEORGE WELSH/19TH SEASON AT UVA:I AM CONVINCED THAT WHAT TERRY HOLLAND EMAILED LAST WEEK WAS INTENDED TO SUPPORT THE FOOTBALL PROGRAM AND ME. I WOULD RATHER HE NOT HAVE RAISED THE ISSUE BUT AM SATISFIED WITH HIS COMMENTS TO ME AFTER MEETING WITH TERRY ON FRIDAY. AS WE NORMALLY DO, THE FUTURE OF THE PROGRAM WILL BE DISCUSSED AT THE END OF THE SEASON. OUR FOCUS RIGHT NOW NEEDS TO BE ON OUR UPCOMING GAME WITH MARYLAND AND THE FOR THE WREST OF THE SEASON.))
[SUPER=01-George Welsh/19th Season at Virginia; :00]
[RUNS=:27]
[OUT Q=.....rest of the season"]
(-----------)
[VO-NAT]

Welsh says he will decide whether or not to coach next year at the end of this season. Before this year, he said he would like to coach 4 more years as long as his health remained good. UVa Players are off limits to the media this week.

(------------)[S-Defense]



[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-76 1:13:41]
[GRAPHIC=Redskins]


The Redskins are tied for first in the NFC East thanks to last night's thrilling 20-17 overtime win against Tampa Bay. Steve Mason was there.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=first audio]
[SUPER=03-Landover, MD/Last Night; :00]
[SUPER=01-Chris Samuels/Redskins Offensive Tackle; :12(QUICK!!!!!)]
[SUPER=01-Marco Coleman/Three Sacks Last Night; :30]
[SUPER=01-LaVar Arrington/Redskins Rookie Linebacker; :41]
[SUPER=@Steve1; :51]
[SUPER=01-Mark Carrier/Redskins Free Safety; 1:02]
[RUNS=1:21]
[OUT Q=...news 7 sports"]

(-------------)
by SS