[1-News-Head]
[TALENT=Keith]
George Allen once enjoyed a comfortable 10 or 12 point lead in his quest for the U-S Senate.
The margin seems to have evaporated. We'll look at the latest poll results on NEWS 7 at SIX.
(------------)
[V/O-NAT]
And we'll see how new management plans to fill those empty spaces at Tanglewood Mall.
(------------)
[Sports-Head]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Tonight on News 7 sports, we'll chat with the upbeat VMI Keydets.
The Tech women get some Big East respect in the preseason.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
And unbeatens PH and Pulaski County headline the week 10 action tomorrow night on Friday Football Extra.
(------------)
[WX-Head]
[TALENT=Robin]
[SS=None]
The weekend outlook calls for cooler weather, but not much of a rain threat. Details on the weather coming up.
[Mason-Dixon]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#00-32 TC1:50:08]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign 2000]
Virginia's women are making it a close race for the U-S Senate.
That's what our pollsters are telling us in today's NEWS 7/Mason-Dixon poll on the ever livelier contest between Chuck Robb and George Allen.
[Double Boxes=Keith and Ellen/State Microwave]
Ellen Qualls is in our Richmond newsroom.
Who's on top?
[Live=Ellen Full/State Microwave]
[SUPER=@Ellen1;]
[SUPER=05-Richmond;]
The man who's been leading ever since February of 1998: Republican George Allen.
But in a poll with a margin of error of no more than four points, he's only got a three point lead now, the tightest this race has ever been.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=47 percent]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=dominance over Robb.]
(( 47 percent of likely voters reached Tuesday and Wednesday say they support George Allen.
44 percent support Democrat Chuck Robb.
That leaves nine percent still undecided.
One month ago, Allen had a more comfortable 48 to 41 lead over Robb in our poll -- with 11 percent undecided.
The shift seems to be coming almost exclusively from women voters, 51% of whom are lining up behind Robb... 40% behind Allen.
That's an expansion of Robb's 46 to 40 advantage in September.
And it's a significant change from July, where Allen and Robb were neck and neck with women voters, both polling 43 percent support.
Chuck Robb has also widened his lead in northern Virginia where almost a third of Virginia voters reside, and in Tidewater.
But George Allen leads in every other region of the state.
In Roanoke and the Southwest, Allen holds a 47 - 40 advantage.
In Lynchburg and Southside, Allen polls at 54 percent, Robb just at 38.
And most dramatically, in the Shenandoah/Piedmont region, George Allen has a 62 to 30 dominance over Robb.))
(-------------)
[Live=Ellen Full/State Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Richmond;]
Our Mason-Dixon poll has a half point smaller margin of error than another poll released today, the Virginia Commonwealth University "Commonwealth Poll."
That poll also has Allen on top, but suggests the opposite trend: that Chuck Robb is losing ground.
It shows George Allen with 54 percent, and Chuck Robb well down at 39 percent.
[Double Boxes=Keith and Ellen/State Microwave]
So we don't really know if it's a 15 point race or a three point race...
[Allen-NAACP]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=00-39 TC53:07]
[GRAPHIC=George Allen]
Only 11 percent of black voters in our Mason-Dixon poll support George Allen.
Democrats want to make sure they get to the polls, pointing out today a two-week old press release on the Allen 2000 website.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
In a press release titled "Who are the Donors?" Allen's campaign manager Chris LaCivita (la-sa-VEE-ta) blasts the N-double-A-C-P in a list of special interest groups running ads on behalf of Robb.
LaCivita calls the groups "extremist" and "on the fringe of American politics," and blasts them for "spewing their lies."
(-------------)
[TALENT=Keith]
[SS=None]
When we asked LaCivita about the press release, still on the website today, he says he does NOT consider the N-double-A-C-P an extremist fringe group.
He says Democrats are "stooping to low tactics," trying make race an issue.
[Gilmore-SOLs]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=00-40 TC42:34]
[GRAPHIC=SOL's]
One day after the statewide S-O-L scores were announced, Governor Jim Gilmore is pumping more than a million dollars immediately into the 189 schools at the bottom.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]
Gilmore says he wants to help pay for at least 150 extra hours of instruction for the schools that got "warning" level scores in math and/or English.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 14:16:46]
[IN Q=It would]
((GOV. JIM GILMORE: IT WOULD BE EASY TO STAND BEFORE YOU AND TALK ABOUT JUST THE SUCCESSES. BUT TO DO SO REALLY WOULD BE A DISSERVICE, TO THE SCHOOLS AND THE STUDENTS WHO ARE STILL WORKING AND STRUGGLING TO REACH THE HIGH ACADEMIC STANDARDS THAT WE HAVE SET FOR THEM.))
[SUPER=@Gilmore;]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=for them.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The schools could pay teachers extra for before or after school tutoring.
They could hire new teaching aides.
Or the Governor says they can spend the money however they think it will help.
(------------)
[Area-Code]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6p]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=540 Area Code]
A state official is proposing a new area code for western Virginia.
The available phone numbers in the 5-4-0 region are supposed to run out in two years.
The State Corporation Commission has been studying what to do.
A hearing examiner today recommended a three-way split of the 5-4-0 area.
Far Southwest Virginia would be the first to get a new code.
The Roanoke Valley would keep 5-4-0 for five years, and then get a new number.
The Shenandoah Valley would get to hold onto 5-4-0.
The full commission still has to sign off on all this.
[Kissinger]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
V-M-I was hoping to welcome Henry Kissinger today ... but the former Secretary of State cancelled his speaking appearance just hours before his scheduled arrival.
The institute cites "unforseen circumstances". There is no word yet whether Kissinger's speech can be rescheduled.
[Tanglewood]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=00-37 TC1:05:15]
[GRAPHIC=Tanglewood Mall]
The new management at a local mall says your opinions DO matter.
A store suggestion box is part of Tanglewood Mall's plan to better itself.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith and Jennifer /Microwave;]
Jennifer Miele is at the mall in Roanoke County with details on the rest of the plan.
[LIVE=Jennifer FULL/Microwave]
[SUPER=@Jennifer1]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke Co.]
Keith, over the past few months, about half of the stores at Tanglewood Mall have seen a decline in revenues. And the entire mall has been effected by the numerous vacancies.
A new plan from new mall management is trying to change that.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It impacted us in]
[SUPER=01-Jeff Wendell/John Norman Clothing; :00]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.; :07]
[SUPER=01-Lynda McNutt/McNutt & Assoc. President; :37]
[RUNS=1:07]
[OUT Q=specialists in leasing.]
(([SOT]
[tC: 00:23:32]
[IN Q=It impacted us]
((JEFF WENDELL/JOHN NORMAN CLOTHING: IT IMPACTED US IN TERMS OF TRAFFIC, PEOPLE WALKING BY AND SAYING OH, LOOK AT THAT, MAYBE I'LL GO IN.))
[RUNS06]
[OUT Q=I'll go in.]
Jeff Wendell has owned John Norman Clothing for nearly 30 years. He says bad mall management is responsible for the high number of vacancies at Tanglewood Mall.
[SOT]
[tc: 00:23:59]
[IN Q=Good competition will]
((JEFF WENDELL/JOHN NORMAN CLOTHING: GOOD COMPETITION WILL BE FINE. BECAUSE IT WILL JUST SIMPLY BRING MORE PEOPLE TO THE DOOR.))
[OUT Q=people to the door.]
[RUNS04]
Tanglewood's owners agree. That's why they turned management over to Urban Retail Properties.
Since then, the mall is being re-painted, and its parking lots are being repaired.
Urban Retail Properties is also taking suggestions for new stores to fill the mall's vacancies.
[SOT]
[TC:00:14:44]
[IN Q=What the leasing]
((LYNDA MCNUTT/MCNUTT AND ASSOC.: WHAT THE LEASING COMPANY HAS ASKED US TO DO, WE'RE GOING TO START A NEW PROGRAM AT THE CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER VERY QUICKLY, IS TO HAVE A DRAWING EVERY MONTH, AND HAVE CUSTOMERS SAY WE'D LIKE TO SEE X-Y-Z.))
[OUT Q=we'd like to see X-Y-Z]
[RUNS14]
Wendell says he welcomes the leasing changes.
[SOT]
[tc:00:24:35]
[IN Q=It's an item]
((JEFF WENDELL: IT'S AN ITEM THAT YOU JUST CAN'T LET GO. YOU'VE GOT TO CONCENTRATE ON IT ALL THE TIME NO MATTER WHAT THE REST OF THE MALL LOOKS LIKE. THAT WILL TAKE CARE OF ITSELF, VIRTUALLY, IF THE LEASING IS THERE. AND THESE PEOPLE APPARENTLY ARE SPECIALISTS IN LEASING.))
[RUNS13]
[OUT Q=specialists in leasing.]))
(-------------)
[LIVE=Jennifer FULL/Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke Co.;]
Urban Retail Properties manages 60 thousand square feet of shopping center across the country.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith and Jennifer /Microwave;]
Keith, the company hopes to see most if not all of the empty leasing space filled by next year.
[Tease#1]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=NONE]
If you wanted a Playstation Two, you're probably out of luck.
More on that later on News 7 at Six.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]
And a Bedford County woman gets a ten-thousand dollar visit from Publisher's Clearing House-- and is the running for millions more.
(----------------)
[Cropp]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=00-36 TC1:18:14]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A Wytheville doctor may continue his practice, but he could still face future review .. for his alleged treatment of patients over the past two years.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
Doctor Craig S. Cropp is accused of mishandling 13 cases.
The allegations range from mistakes while treating mothers in delivery to leaving pieces of equipment inside a patient.
Cropp has already been suspended from practicing at Wythe County Community Hospital and New River Valley Medical Center.
Today, he appeared before an informal conference committee -made up of three Virginia Board of Medicine members.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT56:14]
[IN Q=What this panel can do today is determine]
((DR. WILLIAM HARP/VA BOARD OF MEDICINE EXEC. DIR.; WHAT THIS PANEL CAN DO TODAY IS DETERMINE THE FACTS OF THIS MATTER, TO DECIDE WHETHER THERE HAVE BEEN ANY VIOLATIONS OF MEDICAL LAW, AND THEN TO CRAFT A DISCIPLINARY ORDER IF THEY FEEL IT'S NECESSARY))
[SUPER=01-Dr. William Harp/VA Board of Medicine Exec. Dir.]
[RUNS=18]
[OUT Q=its neccessary]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The panel made no determinations today. The board will conduct further review of the case and monitor Doctor Cropp's practice for a year .. to determine if the matter should be closed or subject to further procedings.
(-----------------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Cropp's attorney told us the decision was fair and vindicates and exonerates his client, who may continue his private practice.
[Moonshine]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Moonshine Indictments]
The judge has disqualified two of the lawyers in the big federal moonshine case.
Ralph and Judy Hale, and their son- -Ralph, Junior- -had been represented by Bill Davis and Marshall Mundy.
In addition to the conflict of representing members of the same family, Davis has represented four of their co-defendants.
The Hale's said they weren't concerned about it. Davis and Mundy said they didn't anticipate a problem, but Judge Sam Wilson ruled them out of the case.
Though he referred to them as "experienced, able trial lawyers," the judge said the potential for conflict is "mind boggling."
[Botetourt-Fire]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6p]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=00-35 TC1:11:02]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]
Fire damaged a home in Botetourt County early this morning.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.]
The fire on Harper Lane in the Blue Ridge section of the county was spotted just after 4 am.
Officials believe it may have started as an electrical fire.
No one was hurt.
Firefighters say the home was a total loss.
(------------)
[Dinosaur]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6p]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=00-33 TC1:38:12]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The king of the dinosaurs is coming to Danville.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville]
The state science center plans to host a popular exhibit on Tyrannosaurus Rex.
School children today got a taste of what to expect.
Some of the interactive exercises will include a life-size cast of a T-Rex skull, real fossils, and dinosaur artwork.
The exhibit on the meat-eating giant that once ruled the earth will open this weekend.
(------------)
[Stocks]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]
Another wild day on Wall Street.
[TAKE DOW, NASDAQ & BLOOMBERG PAGE ]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5102;]
[SUPER=430-x/53.64/10380.12/x/42.59/3272.16/y/0.43/110.36;]
The DOW gained 54.
Earlier in the day, NASDAQ was down some 200 points but by the closing bell it managed a 43 point gain.
(-------------)
[VO]
[SUPER=431-i!/38b/i1%/21&/ir/43b/ia/20b/ia/2g;]
[SUPER=432-i1b/57/ir/28@/i%/39$/i&/52a/i!/40;]
[SUPER=433-i!/21@/h$/13!/i1/16g/hb/36/he/10;]
[SUPER=434-i&/45!/h4e/70/h1a/51/i1$/51@/i2f/43$;]
[Prize-Patrol]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=kth]
[TAPE#=00-38 TC45:22]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Publisher's Clearing House says, "It can happen to you," and it did happen to one lucky lady in Bedford County this afternoon.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford Co.]
Ruth Barrows woke up yesterday thinking she might have a shot at a big prize from The Publisher's Clearing House.
But the prize was awarded to someone in Richmond instead.
So when the prize patrol pulled into Barrows driveway, she was a little confused.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q= When I walked in]
((WHEN I WALKED IN I SAID TO MY DAUGHTER, WELL I DIDN'T WIN, MAYBE NEXT TIME. CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT!))
[SUPER=01-Ruth Barrows/Clearing House Winner]
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q= can you beleive that!]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Barrows was a second lucky winner in the state and was awarded a ten thousand dollar prize today.
Her luck doesn't stop at ten grand.
She is still eligible to win the ten million dollar prize that will be awarded at the Super Bowl on January 28th.
(------------)
[Play-Station]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=00-41 TC20:05]
[GRAPHIC=None]
People with this year's hottest Christmas toy probably didn't get much sleep last night.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
They were too busy standing in line for the new Sony Play Station Two to hit the shelves at midnight.
The 300-dollar toy sold out in minutes.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 10:31:04]
[IN Q=It was the]
((MAURICE FLINT/CUSTOMER: IT WAS THE BIGGEST THING SINCE THE TELEVISION. I DIDN'T WANT TO BE LEFT BEHIND. EVERYONE'S GOING TO HAVE ONE. 2000, I GOTTA HAVE ONE!))
[SUPER=01-Maurice Flint/Customer;]
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=gotta have one]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The Sony Play Station 2 plays not only video games, but D-V-D's and C-D's.
Store managers say they've never seen such a craze.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 10:39:17]
[IN Q=I really haven't]
((I REALLY HAVEN'T IN MY LIFETIME. WE HAD PEOPLE CAMPING OUT OVERNIGHT LAST NIGHT. WHEN WE GOT OUT AT SIX IN THE MORNING WE HAD 30 PEOPLE STILL STANDING IN THAT LINE FROM LAST NIGHT.))
[SUPER=01-Wayne Hall/Best Buy Manager;]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=from last night]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Store managers won't say when they expect the next shipment of Sony Play Station 2 -- only that they will keep arriving throughout the Christmas season.
(------------)
[2Kissinger]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]
We have just learned why Henry Kissinger could not speak at V-M-I today.
The Associated Press reports Kissinger is recovering in New York from an apparent heart attack.
The former Secretary of State suffered the attack yesterday. A hospital in New York says Kissinger is doing well.
[Sports Tease]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Coming up tonight on News 7 sports, the Tech women get their preseason props in the Big East.
The week 10 schedule for Friday Football Extra is on the way.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
And Roy Stanley talks with the rejuvenated VMI Keydets - who hope that winning feeling sticks with them for more than a week.
(------------)
[S-NBA]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-79 1352TC]
[GRAPHIC=NBA]
The NBA didn't know exactly what to say when Allen Iverson came out with his controversial rap CD earlier this ye
ar, but the league sure came down hard on Minnesota Timberwolves today for illegally signing Joe Smith.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Minneapolis, MN; :00]
The T-Wolves made a secret deal with Smith which is a no-no. As a result they will lose him as a player and five number one draft picks in the future.
Plus, the team has been fined $3.5 million dollars, and general manager Kevin McHale also may be suspended.
(------------)
[S-Women]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-76 13232tc]
[GRAPHIC=BIG EAST]
The Virginia Tech women's basketball team is getting plenty of respect as it gets ready for its first season in the Big East.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Newark, NJ; :00]
Coach Geno Auriemma and his UConn Huskies were picked to once again win the Big East regular season title.
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;]
Bonnie Henrickson and her Hokies were picked to finish 5th in the 14 team league.
The Hokies tied with Georgetown in the preseason poll in which the coaches did the voting.
We'll hear from Bonnie Henrickson tonight at 11.
(------------)
[S-Tech]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-73 (2:00:30)]
[GRAPHIC=Tech Hoops]
The Virginia Tech Hokies will start from the bottom in their first season in the Big East.
During the conference media day yesterday, The Hokies were picked to finish last in their division which includes Connecticut and St. John's the number one and two picks.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg; :]
Tech head coach Ricky Stokes will not argue the pick in the preason coaches poll.
Forward Dennis Mims is one of two starters returning from last years team.
And the other Brian Chase has missed preseason practice because of a leg injury.
That means the Hokies will start the season young and inexperienced.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="These Kids...]
((RICKY STOKES/VIRGINIA TECH HEAD COACH:))
[SUPER=01-Ricky Stokes/Virginia Tech Head Coach; :]
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=......out on the floor.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
With Chase sidelined, Freshman Chris Exilus has been handling the point guard duties in practice.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="Yes, it's...]
((CHRIS EXILUS/VIRGINIA TECH POINT GUARD:))
[SUPER=01-Chris Exilus/Va. Tech Freshman Point Guard; :]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=....happens with us."]
(---------------)
[S-VMI]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-72 (2:00:26)]
[GRAPHIC=VMI Logo]
VMI got the monkey off its back this weekend breaking a 16 game losing streak with a win over Charleston Southern.
The Keydets are not ready to claim a Southern Conference championship but they look at the win as a spring board to better things in the future.
Roy Stanley has more.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="First audio...]
[SUPER=03-Lexington; :00]
[SUPER=01-Cal McCombs/VMI Head Coach; :20]
[SUPER=01-Matt Maxey/VMI Placekicker; 1:08]
[SUPER=01-Richard Holland/VMI Cornerback; 1:34]
[SUPER=@Roy1; 1:34]
[RUNS=1:44]
[OUT Q=.......news 7 sports."]
((The Keydets were stepping a little higher on Monday after Saturday's win in Lexington. And the win definetly a boost to teams confidence that had lost 16 straight games dating back to September 11-th 1999.))
((CAL MCCOMBS/VMI HEAD COACH:))
((Not that confidence was lacking, The Keydets say the win has added to their confidence and made them believe they can win football games.
But while the momentum of the win carried over to the practice field the Keydets must still go out on Saturday and execute to continue the victories.
And their goal is to make a winning season out of the three remaining games.))
((MATT MAXEY/VMI PLACE KICKER:))
((RICHARD HOLLAND/VMI CORNERBACK:))
((ROY STANLEY:))
(-------------)
[S-FFE]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-74 13428TC]
[GRAPHIC=FFE]
The high school football regular season is almost over.
Tomorrow night marks the next to last Friday night of the regular season.
And what a night it should be as the only two remaining unbeatens in the area battle for 1st place in the Rke. Valley District on Friday Football Extra.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=LOGO AND MUSIC FULL]
[RUNS=:30]
(--------------)
[OUT Q=logo comes full.]
by SS