[7-11Roanoke-Schools]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

[NEWSCAST=AM CutIn]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=00-41 TC06:38]
[GRAPHIC=none]

A federal investigation has determined the Roanoke City School system has NOT violated the Civil Rights Act. But the school board did agree last night to address some issues of concern.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Among the areas the school board has agreed to review are programs for English Language students, and procedures for grouping students by ability.
The school board has also confirmed its commitment to equitable discipline, funding, and access to certain programs.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It doesn't rise to the level]
[SUPER=01-Wayne Harris/Roanoke School Superintendent]
[RUNS=:20]
[OUT Q=serving all of our students.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The meeting also brought a decision on the Roanoke Academy for Mathematics and Science.
The superintendent recommended, and the school board agreed that a NEW school should be built, rather than renovate the current building.
(------------)

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[7-11L'burg-Council]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM CutIn]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=00-31 TC1:18:27]
[GRAPHIC=Lynchburg seal]

Another cell phone tower is going up in Lynchburg.
But you'll have a hard time seeing this one, unless you like climbing steeples.
Steve Smallshaw has the story.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Since the advent]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg; :00]
[SUPER=01-Jessie Wilmer/CFW nTelos; :15]
[SUPER=01-Rev. Joseph Carson/Centenary Methodist Church; :39]
[SUPER=01-Edward Hopkins/Neighbor; :55]
[SUPER=@ssm2; 1:03]
[RUNS=1:11]
[OUT Q=News7, Lynchburg.]
(( Since the advent of cell phone technology, the towers that transmit those wireless conversations have been popping up all over the landscape.
The problem is many think they're unsightly.. and phone companies have had to get creative to find new locations.

[SOT 20:01:49]
((JESSIE WILMER/CFW nTELOS: AS ALWAYS, NTELOS SEEKS TO FIND OUT CO- LOCATION OPPORTUNITIES FIRST BEFORE BUILDING ANY NEW SITES.))
[RUNS= 08]
[OUT Q=any new sites.]

In this case, opportunity is knocking on the door of Centenary United Methodist Church.
The church's steeple sits in a perfect spot between two existing cells towers.. so the new antenna will be placed inside the spire.. hidden from the public, but just as effective as a new tower.
[SOT 10:16:06]
((REV. JOSEPH CARSON/CENTENARY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH: WE'VE LOOKED INTO, OF COURSE, SOME SAFETY ISSUES.. THAT'S BEEN IMPORTANT. I THINK THE AESTHETICS OF NOT HAVING THE VISIBLE TOWERS EVERY PLACE IS A PLUS.))
[RUNS= 12]
[OUT Q=is a plus.]

But one neighbor says he's worried about potentially harmful radiation.
[SOT 20:05:38]
((EDWARD HOPKINS/NEIGHBOR: NOW THIS MIGHT BE A CASE WHERE ADVERSE HEALTH EFFECTS WILL ONLY BE KNOWN AFTER YEARS OF EXPOSURE.))
[RUNS= 08]
[OUT Q=years of exposure.]

Council was told it could not legally deny the request based on health concerns.. the measure passed 7- to- 0.
Steve Smallshaw, News7, Lynchburg.))

---

[7WEATHER]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=cut-in]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#none]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Taking a break from the news now to check your mid- week forecast..
Sunny and breezy again today, with highs warming into the lower 70s.




[SUPER=X5000; SET DISSOLVE]
[SUPER=314-Sunny/Breezy/70-74/Clear/Calm Winds/35-40;]
[SUPER=#555;RESET]
[ESS C] (EXTENDED)

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[45-11Gas-Pipeline]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=mce]
[TAPE#=00-27]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The Virginia Gas proposal to build a new pipeline through two counties is prompting action from the Roanoke and Montgomery County Boards of Supervisors.
The supervisors plan to petition the State Corporation Commission against the plan.
Meredyth Censullo reports.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Paul Mahoney/Roanoke Co. Attorney;:00]
[SUPER=03-Montgomery Co.;:18]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;:25]
[SUPER=01-Brent Riley/Pipeline Opponent;:47]
[SUPER=@Meredyth1; 1:20]
[RUNS=1:30]
[OUT Q=news7, roanoke.]
(///// SOT /////)
((
[SOT]
[IN Q=To support...]
((TO SUPPORT AND URGE THE SCC TO RECONSIDER AND REOPEN THE CERTIFICATION PROCESS FOR THE GAS PIPE THROUGH ROANOKE AND MONTGOMERY COUNTIES.)) [RUNS:09]
[OUT Q=county.]

With that, Roanoke and Montgomery county supervisors agreed to fight the State Corporation Commission's approval of the Virginia Gas Pipeline project - which proposes a new 50-foot wide easement be cut through the two counties in order to run a new gas pipeline. The supervisors say Virginia Gas didn't properly notify residents of it's plans, and when they DID, they misrepresented the scope of the project. They also say the S-C-C should take a harder look at the environmental impact -

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I'm maintaining...]
((I'M MAINTAINING THAT OF EVERYTHING IN THIS AREA, THAT THIS WILL BE ONE OF THE MAJOR MARKS.)) [RUNS:06]
[OUT Q=marks.]

Just hours before the decision to petition the S-C-C, Roanoke County Supervisors met with a group of citizens who say they want to preserve the beauty of Poor Mountain. Virginia Gas' proposed pipeline route cuts across the mountainside. In the past the group has suggested Virginia Gas co-locate on an existing easement owned by Duke Power. But Virginia Gas says that would affect more people... The supervisors say they'll ask the S-C-C to reconsider co-location anyway. ((MEREDYTH CENSULLO: THE PETITION BY BOTH BOARDS OF SUPERVISORS IS EXPECTED TO BE DRAWN UP AND TURNED OVER TO THE SCC WITHIN THE WEEK. MEREDYTH CENSULLO, NEWS7, ROANOKE.)) ))

---

[45-11Ramdass]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=monr]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=VA Death Penalty]

Eight years after killing a Fairfax county convenience store clerk, Bobby Lee Ramdass was executed by lethal injection last night.
(XXXXXXXX)
[TAKE FULL SCREEN PICTURE]
29- year- old Ramdass was condemned to die for killing the clerk during a 1992 robbery.
Governor Gilmore denied his petition for clemency at the last minute yesterday evening.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[SS=none]

In the clemency request, four jurors who recommended the death penalty now say they would have called for life in prison instead, had they known Ramdass could never be paroled.

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[8-11Floyd-Murder]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM CutIn]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=00-35 TC52:28]
[GRAPHIC=Murder Investigation]

Authorities begin this day looking at least two people they want to question ... regarding the death of a Pennsylvania woman.
The 18-year-old was found murdered in Floyd County Monday.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Floyd Co.;]

Deputies discovered the body of Leslie Rae White, a college student from East Waterford, Pennsylvania, in the trunk of a junked car near an abandoned house.
Investigators still are NOT disclosing the cause of death OR identities of their suspects.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:05:37 - :47]
[IN Q=It's very important]
((GINO WILLIAMS/FLOYD CO. COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY: IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE ABLE TO TALK TO PEOPLE. WE DON'T WANT TO SAY THIS PERSON WAS INVOLVED IN THE CRIME OR THIS PERSON WAS INVOLVED TILL WE TALK TO THEM AND FIND OUT WHAT THEY'VE GOT TO SAY.))
[SUPER=01-Gino Williams/Commonwealth's Attorney;]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=they've got to say.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Leslie White was found early Monday after a man spotted her abandoned Jeep nearby in a field off of Sandy Flats Road.
Investigators say they'll withhold any information about possible suspects until they can talk with them.
(------------)

---

[8-11NS-Layoffs]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM CutIns]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=00-38 TC27:59]
[GRAPHIC=N-S Layoffs]

Many Norfolk Southern workers are waiting to hear who may be next.
Sources say that up to 750 workers system wide will be laid off by next Thursday, and Norfolk Southern has confirms it is considering more cutbacks.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/File Tape]

Union representatives say corporate officials were prepared at first to lay off production workers, but the company tells NEWS 7, Engineering is the most likely target.
Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way representatives say the company has been plagued by financial trouble \since it merged with Conrail.
But Norfolk Southern says the layoffs are the result of a declining coal export business.
(------------)

---

[8-11Univ-HQ]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM CutIn]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=00-34 TC53:48]
[GRAPHIC=Virginia Tech]

Two former Virginia Tech students are hoping college sports fans will help their new Internet company thrive. For now, they're counting on Hokie fans to come through.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Jaret Mutter and Jonathan Mitchell left their studies at Tech to start University Headquarters dot com.
Their Roanoke-based e-commerce company sells Virginia Tech merchandise on the net.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Jonathan and I]
((JONATHAN AND I ARE YOUNG, WE FEEL LIKE WE HAVE A LOT OF VISION. WE'RE AMBITIOUS, BUT WE NEEDED SOME EXPERIENCE ON BOARD.)) ((WE HIRED SOMEONE THAT HAS 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE IN THE FIELD, AND WE HOPE THAT WE PUT TOGETHER A TEAM THAT EQUATES SUCCESS.))
[SUPER=01-Jaret Mutter/universityheadquarters.com]
[RUNS=13]
[OUT Q=equates success]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Customers can create a wish list to be forwarded to perspective "gift-givers."
The Website also boasts being an industry leader in credit card security.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=When a customer]
((KYLE ENSLOW/UNIVERSITY HEADQUARTERS.COM: WHEN A CUSTOMER PLACES AN ORDER WITH US, THEIR CREDIT CARD INFORMATION IS ENCRYPTED, SENT STRAIT TO OUR BANK. WE DO NOT STORE CREDIT CARD NUMBERS IN THE STORE.))
[SUPER=01-Kyle Enslow/universityheadquarters.com]
[RUNS=08]
[OUT Q=numbers in the store.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The nine person company plans to market products from other colleges within a year. (-----------)