[7-SOL-Tests]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#00-36 TC1:13:53]
[GRAPHIC=Standards of Learning]

Fewer than twenty-five percent of Virginia schools are passing the Standards of Learning tests.
Despite those numbers, state education officials couldn't be happier.
Ellen Qualls has more.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=We laughingly]
[SUPER=01-JoLynne DeMary/State Superintendent; :00]
[SUPER=01-Rob Jones/Virginia Education Association; :55]
[SUPER=01-Mark Christie/State Board of Education; 1:12]
[SUPER=@Ellen1; 1:27]
[RUNS=1:40]
[OUT Q=News7, Richmond.]
(([sot 13:14:07 ]

((JOLYNNE DEMARY/STATE SUPERINTENDENT: WE LAUGHINGLY SAY SOMETIMES WHEN WE'RE WORKING WITH THE SCHOOLS WELL SOME ARE HARES AND SOME ARE TORTOISES. BUT IF YOU REMEMBER THAT FAMILIAR CHILDREN'S STORY, THEY ALL CROSS THE FINISH LINE.)) [runs:10]
22 percent statewide are getting 70 percent or better pass rates, which will be needed for full accreditation.
It's up from 7 percent last year and two percent the first year the scores were actually counted.
In our region, 17 percent of schools have hit the full accreditation... five percentage points lower than the statewide number.
Taking a look just at the metro areas, five of 30 schools in the city of Roanoke are at the full accreditation score.
None of Lynchburg's 17 schools is.
One of Montgomery County and Blacksburg's 19 schools is.
None of Danville's 15 schools is.
Worse news for Danville: seven of the 15 are at the warning level, meaning they are 20 or more percentage points below their goal for now-- which isn't even the 70 percent pass rate.
[sot 13:26:59 ]

((ROB JONES/VIRGINIA EDUCATION ASSOCIATION: WE'RE TRYING TO MONITOR TO SEE WHETHER MUSIC PROGRAMS ARE BEING ELIMINATED, WHETHER FINE ARTS PROGRAMS ARE BEING ELIMINATED, WHETHER VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS ARE BEING ELIMINATED. WE'LL CONTINUE TO ENGAGE WITH THE BOARD TO TRY ADDRESS THESE CONCERNS AND OTHER CONCERNS WE HAVE. WE'RE WORKING WITH THEM TO TRY TO IMPROVE THIS EFFORT.)) [runs:18]

[sot 13:30:46]

((MARK CHRISTIE/STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN MUSEUMS AROUND VIRGINIA, LIKE JAMESTOWN-YORKTOWN, AND THE VIRGINIA MUSEUM, THE FRONTIER HISTORY MUSEUM, IS THAT ATTENDANCE IS AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH AT THOSE MUSEUMS. AND THE REASON IT'S AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH IS BECAUSE KIDS ARE TAKING FIELD TRIPS RELATED TO THE STANDARDS OF LEARNING.)) [runs:14]
[standup]
School officials say it's excellent news because they until 2007 before the accreditation even counts.
And it's still not clear what that accreditation will actually mean.
Ellen Qualls, New 7, Richmond. [runs:14] ))

[7-NS-Earnings]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=00-43 TC08:34]
[GRAPHIC=Norfolk Southern]


Norfolk Southern has released its latest earnings report.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/1999;]


The railroad made 99-million dollars in the third quarter, about 26 cents per share.
But that includes the sale of some timber rights owned by subsidiaries.
Take that out, and the earnings come to about 14 cents a share.
N-S Chairman David Goode blames a slowdown in the economy and mild weather for the company's performance.
But he says the figures do show improvements in its rail operations since the Conrail takeover.
(------------)



[7WEATHER]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#none]
[GRAPHIC=none]


Taking a break from the news now to check the forecast...
Partly sunny with light winds and highs near 72.


[SUPER=X5000; SET DISSOLVE]
[SUPER=314-Partly Sunny/Light Wind/70-74/Mostly Clear/Calm Wind/50-54;]
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[ESS C] (EXTENDED)

[45-Botetourt-Fire]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=00-]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]


Fire gutted a home in Botetourt County overnight.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co./This Morning]


Fire crews were called to Harper Lane around 4 this morning. Authorities believe the fire was electrical, but they are still investigating. There were no injuries. Firefighters say the home is a total loss.

(------------)[45-Greenbrier-Casino]



[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=00-33 TC1:36:56]
[GRAPHIC=Greenbrier Gambling]

Election day will decide whether visitors can play the slots at the Greenbriar Resort.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=203-White Sulphur Spr.]


The Greenbrier wants to turn a former Congressional bunker into a Monte Carlo style Casino.
Managers say a Casino will create hundreds of jobs, and give the resort a winter boost.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=That's how we make]

((ALLEY GOODWIN/GREENBRIER RESORT: THAT'S HOW WE MAKE OUR MONEY, PEOPLE COMING HERE, STAYING IN OUR ROOMS, EATING AT OUR RESTAURANTS, GOLFING, PLAYING TENNIS, OUR SPA, SHOPPING. I THINK THAT'S OUR BENEFIT. AND THAT PROVIDES THE OPPORTUNITY FOR 300 OF OUR PART-TIMERS TO GO FULL TIME.))
[SUPER=201-Alley Goodwin/Greenbrier Resort]
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q=go full time.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Some local churches say approving one gambling facility will open the flood gates for hundreds more.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=That's how we make]

((REV. MICHAEL ESTEP: THUS, OUR STATE BECOMES MORE AND MORE DEPENDENT ON TAX REVENUE FROM THE GAMBLING INDUSTRY. BEFORE YOU KNOW IT, WE'RE DEPENDENT UPON THEM AND CAN'T GET RID OF THEM, PERHAPS.))
[SUPER=201-Rev. Michael Estep/Trinity United Meth. Church;]
[RUNS=09]
[OUT Q=rid of them, perhaps.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


The Greenbrier spent 300 thousand dollars on television ads promoting limited gambling.
About 15 thousand residents are expected to vote on the referendum on November seventh.
(-----------)



[45-Fincastle-mayor]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=00-32 TC1:49:08]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Fincastle's town council voted to convert a historic home into apartments, and the issue is shaking up the council.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Fincastle;]

Members gave Jeff (Bowls) Bowles the go-ahead to turn this house on Main Street into four apartments. But they'll have to redo the vote because the meeting was not properly advertised. The planning commission wants town council to nix the apartment proposal, afraid that every historic home on Main Street will be turned into apartments. But Bowles says if his project is defeated, the town will miss out on affordable rental housing.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 9:24:55]
[IN Q=We won't]

((WE WON'T BE ABLE TO RENOVATE IT. WE'LL HAVE TO STOP WHAT WE'RE DOING THUS FAR. LIKE THE REST OF THE ASBESTOS ON THE OUTSIDE, UNLESS WE GOT MONEY FROM THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO REMOVE IT.))
[SUPER=01-Jeff Bowles/Homeowner;]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=to remove it]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The public hearing will be held November 14th.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=]
[SS=None]

The mayor of Fincastle and councilwoman Mary Bess Smith both announced at the last meeting that they were resigning from council. The mayor won't comment but Smith says she'll stick around for this vote. They both oppose the apartments.

[45WEATHER]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#none]
[GRAPHIC=none]


Let's take another look at your Thursday forecast...
Partly sunny today with light winds...mild temperatures reaching the lower 70s this afternoon.
[SUPER=X5000; SET DISSOLVE]
[SUPER=314-Partly Sunny/Light Wind/70-74/Mostly Clear/Calm Wind/50-54;]
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[ESS C] (EXTENDED)

[8-SML-Trailers]


[ANCHOR=kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=00-40 TC42:00]
[GRAPHIC=None]


A couple who manages a Smith Mountain Lake campground faces a two- week deadline to remove their campers from Mitchell's Point Marina.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Hardy/September;]


American Electric Power sued the couple in federal court, saying the structures were so close to the water's edge that they'd be under five feet of water if the lake reaches full pond.
Judge James Turk signed an order yesterday giving A-E-P the right to remove the trailers, if Richard and Ann Longnecker don't move them themselves within 14 days.
(------------)
[ANCGHOR=Shannon]
[GRAPHIC=None]


Their lawyer said last night that he thought he had a verbal understanding with the power company's attorneys for more time.

[8-Solonevich]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=00-37 TC1:02:38]
[GRAPHIC=None]


Roanoke College is displaying the works of a Russian artist, who's lived in the Roanoke Valley for nearly a half- century.
George Solonevich has painted some of the most famous faces of modern times.
Joe Dashiell gives us a look.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=From John F. Kennedy to the Ayotollah Khomeini]
[SUPER=03-Salem; :00]
[SUPER=07-George Solonevich; :17]
[SUPER=04-1984; :37]
[SUPER=07-Inga Solonevich; :59]
[SUPER=@Joe2; 1:16]
[RUNS=1:31]
[OUT Q=JD News 7 Salem]


((From John F. Kennedy to Adolph Hitler, the series "Movers and Shakers" includes many of the pivotal figures of the last century... 20 portraits painted by artist George Solonevich.
An image of Martin Luther King in shackles was the first.
[SOT 01:51:03]
[IN Q=When I saw that picture]

((WHEN I SAW THAT PICTURE IN THE PAPER, I JUST SHOOK MY OWN HEAD. THIS IS RIDICULOUS YOU KNOW.)) [RUNS:12]
[OUT Q=this is ridiculous you know.]


Winston Churchill was his favorite.
[SOT 01:53:11]
[IN Q=Churchill, I just loved ]

[RUNS:07]
[OUT Q=pretty good too.]


Solonevich and his wife Inga have lived on a Roanoke County mountain top since 1955... but the artist' journey began in communist Russia... and included stops in Finland, Bulgaria, Germany, and South America.
By the time the couple arrived in the United States in 1953... Inga Solonevich says her husband could paint anything.
[SOT 02:05:52]
[IN Q=We had a very short training]

((WE HAD A VERY SHORT TRAINING, AND WE WENT TO SCHOOL TOGETHER AT THE ART ACADEMY IN HELSINKI. AND THEY REALLY SOCKED IT TO US. FOUR YEARS WE HAD EVERY DAY ANATOMY AND WE HATED IT, BUT AFTERWARDS YOU KNOW WE DISCOVERED THAT IS REALLY WHAT YOU NEED AND YOU CAN PAINT ANYTHING ANYTIME.)) [RUNS:20]
[OUT Q=paint anything any time.]


, opening a window on world history and one artist's impressive technique.
Joe Dashiell News 7 Salem))

[8WEATHER]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#none]
[GRAPHIC=none]


Shifting gears once again to weather--
Partly sunny skies today and pleasant afternoon highs in the 70s...

[SUPER=X5000; SET DISSOLVE]
[SUPER=314-Partly Sunny/Light Wind/70-74/Mostly Clear/Calm Wind/50-54;]
[SUPER=#555;RESET]

[ESS C] (EXTENDED)
by SS