[1-News-Head]

[TALENT=Keith]

(------------)
[V/O-NAT]
We'll begin tonight with ankle repair. We'll hear from Tech trainers on how they hope to heal the mighty Vick.
(------------)
[TALENT=Keith]


And we've got a ruling on the Constitutionality of the minute of silence in Virginia public schools.

[Sports-Head]


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

Tonight on News 7 sports the Tech 2000 report for this Monday has news of the Hokies upward mobility in the BCS standings.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Plus, we'll meet the man responsible for getting Michael Vick back on his feet, Tech head athletic trainer Mike Goforth.
(------------)


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


Looking for a very chilly but continued dry forecast as high pressure rules. That story and our Monday WeatherSchool just ahead.

[Video-Open]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]



(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Tech hopes to get a leg up on Miami in the Big East title game this Saturday, but that might not be so easy with Michael Vick's ankle in a walking cast.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[GRAPHIC=News 7 at Six]


Good evening...

[Vick]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=00-38 TC48:26]
[GRAPHIC=MICHAEL VICK]


Virginia Tech's football team has won 19 straight regular season games thanks in large part to the not so regular efforts of Michael Vick. But an ankle injury has his status for Saturday's battle in Miami in question. Mike Stevens shows us what the injured quarterback has been up to this afternoon.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=FIRST AUDIO]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg/This Afternoon; :00]
[SUPER=01-Mike Goforth/VT Head Athletic Trainer; :25]
[SUPER=@mike1; :41]
[RUNS=:56]
[OUT Q=...TECH 2000 REPORT."]
(----------------)



[Minute-Silence]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=00-40 TC45:00]
[GRAPHIC=None]


A federal judge says Virginia's minute of silence law is Constitutional.
(------------)
[VO-NAT 00-12 1:36:09]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./July 5;]


Judge Claude Hilton today upheld the statute saying the law's purpose is secular... NOT religious.
Hilton says the law allows students to think religious thoughts or secular ones.... and does NOT amount to excessive government entanglement in religion.
The A-C-L-U says it will appeal the ruling to the federal appeals court in Richmond.
The A-C-L-U claims the minute of silence was intended to re-introduce prayer into public schools.
(------------)



[Brush-Fire]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6p]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=00-47 TC03:40]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Fire]


A man died in a brush fire at his home in Pittsylvania County today.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pittsylvania Co.]


Firefighters were called to a house on Mount Cross Road in the Tunstall section of the county this afternoon.
The homeowner, 87-year-old Oscar Winn, was burning some brush when the flames got out of hand.
His brother found Winn's body.
Officials aren't sure whether it was the fire that caused his death.
(------------)



[Campbell-Murder]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=00-42 TC21:09]
[GRAPHIC=Murder Invest.]


The search continues for the person who robbed and killed a Campbell County store owner last week... even after Lynchburg police nabbed two suspects in an armed robbery there TODAY.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Campbell Co.]


75- year- old Melvin Giles was murdered in his convenience store last Thursday.
A witness tells police they saw two men running from the parking lot around the time of the shooting.
Police are also talking with people who were in the store just before the crime.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 12:46:11]
[IN Q=Mr. Giles cashed]

((ROBERT MAXEY/CAMPBELL CO. SHERIFF: MR. GILES CASHED A LOT OF CHECKS, PARTICULARLY ON THURSDAY NIGHT AND WE'VE INTERVIEWED SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE AND STILL HAVE SOME MORE TO INTERVIEW THAT WERE TYPICALLY IN THE STORE ON THURSDAY NIGHTS.))


[SUPER=01-Robert Maxey/Campbell Co. Sheriff]
[RUNS=13]
[OUT Q=on Thursday nights.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Two juvenile suspects have been charged with an armed robbery at Evans' Grocery in Lynchburg this afternoon.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 14:39:00]

((LT. WAYNE DUFF/LYNCHBURG POLICE: IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE SUSPECT WITH THE FIREARM ENTERED THE STORE, PRODUCED THE FIREARM AND DEMANDED MONEY. MONEY WAS TAKEN FROM THE SCENE.))
[SUPER=01-Lt. Wayne Duff/Lynchburg Police Dept.]
[RUNS=11]
[OUT Q=from the scene.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Police also recovered what they believe was a pellet gun used in that robbery.
(------------)




[Rail-retirement]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=00-41 TC23:48]
[GRAPHIC=None]


A bill that changes railroad retiree benefits has fizzled out, at least for this session of Congress.
With more on the Railroad Retirement and Survivors' Improvement Act of 2000,
[DOUBLE BOXES=Jennifer and Keith/NEwsroom;]


here's Jennifer Miele tonight.
[LIVE=Jennifer FULL/Newsroom]
[SUPER=@Jennifer1]


Under pressure by Senate Majority leader Trent Lott, congress has decided not to vote on the railroad retiree bill.
And railroad and union officials who spent two years creating the act are wondering why.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Joe Sailor]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.;:00]
[SUPER=01-Joe Sailor/Railroad Retiree;:13]
[RUNS=1:10]
[OUT Q=house and senate.]

(( Joe Sailor put nearly 30 years in at three different railroads. He's retired now, and says the railroad retirement act would make things much easier for him and his fellow retirees. [TC:02:09:55]
[SOT]
[IN Q=If I die]

[Tc:01:58:24] ((JOE SAILOR: IF I DIE, OR MY WIFE DIES FOR EXAMPLE, IN STEAD OF RECEIVING 50 PERCENT OF MY RAILROAD RETIREMENT PENSION, MY WIFE WOULD GET 100 PERCENT. SO IT MEANS AT LEAST THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS A MONTH, JUST ANY RAILROAD SPOUSE RETIREE SURVIVOR.))
[OUT Q=retiree survivor.]

[RUNS14] [PRE-PRO PAGE 1]
The railroad retirement act would lower worker retirement age to 60 from 62. It would also cut railroad retiree taxes by 15 billion dollars.... and the tax money saved would then be invested in stocks and bonds. [PRE-PRO PAGE 2]
But those who oppose the bill say the retirement fund is like a mini social security fund.
There are already three times as many retirees as active workers, not enough to support retirees.
The government already subsidizes the fund, and some don't want to spend anymore government money.
And just because the saved tax money would be invested, it doesn't guarantee the fund will make a profit. [END PRE-PRO]
Sailor has written letters to senators, representatives and even the president. He says the Clinton administration backs the bill, as does most of the house and Senate.))
(-------------)
[LIVE= Jennifer FULL/NEwsroom]


While Trent Lott is seen as the main opponent to the bill, he did say he would support it if a measure to repeal a diesel fuel tax was attached to it.
[DOUBLE BOXES=JEnnifer and Keith/Newsroom;]


That did happen, but it's still unlikely it will come up for a vote before the end of the session.

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


Next on News 7, we'll start our look at the men and the money in the 2000 Senate race.
George Allen's in the spotlight tonight.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]


And last week's school bus accident has parents wondering how busses can be made safer.
(----------------)






[Allen]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#00-34 TC1:18:28]
[GRAPHIC=George Allen]


At age 48, George Felix Allen is ahead in the polls with a week before decision day.
Not a bad spot for a man challenging an incumbent U-S Senator.
Ellen Qualls reminds us from whence he came.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Life as Coach]
[SUPER=201-Gov. George Allen/January 1994; :]
[SUPER=241-Ellen/Qualls/equalls*wdbj7.com; :]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=Qualls, News 7.]

(( Life as Coach George Allen's son meant growing up in football towns, from L-A to Chicago.
When Coach Allen took over the Washington Redskins, son George transferred to U-VA and got a spot on the quarterback squad.
He was fourth-year class president.
He lost his first race for the House of Delegates in 1979, but then won five straight elections.
He picked up second wife Susan Allen-- more interested in the political life than his first wife, who agreed to a no-fault divorce on his first victorious election night.
In 1991, he leap-frogged to Congress, only to be redistricted out of the seat within months by Democrats.
It did NOT defeat the periennial player.
He just ran hard as a long shot for governor.
This fall, his sister Jennifer published a book about growing up in Coach Allen's household.
The passage that most tickles Allen's critics alleges that George wanted to grow up to be a dentist, so he could inflict pain on people and get paid for it.
On a cold day in January 1994, he was ready to free Virginians from:
[sot inaugural 94-3 31:34]

((UNDER THE HEAVY GRIMY BOOT OF EXCESSIVE TAXATION AND REGULATION. ... YOU'RE NOT CHEERING FOR THE HEAVY, GRIMY BOOT. YOU'RE WANTING TO GET IT OFF YOUR NECKS. I UNDERSTAND.)) [runs:16]
So a new kind of governor strode into town, kicking off a battle on four fronts: with Washington, against violent criminals, and against the Democrats who had dominated Richmond for decades.
[sot DEBATE TAPE]

((GEORGE ALLEN: IN A MANNER OF SPEAKING, LET'S ENJOY KNOCKING THEIR SOFT TEETH DOWN THEIR WHINING THROATS.)) [runs:08]
And against the bloated, business as usual bureaucracy he perceived state government to be.
The "knife before Christmas" request for resignations earned him the nickname the Grinch.
He preferred:
[sot 93-9 1:00:]

((THE GENTLEMEN WHO WANTED TO CHANGE VIRGINIA FOR VIRGINIANS.)) [runs:03]
He abolished parole.
He built prisons.
He launched a back to basics movement in Virginia classrooms.
He brought jobs.
He mastered the folksy, outdoorsy, activist image that elevates a regular politician to Republicans' favorite label for their rising star: Reaganesque.
In 1995, midway through his term, General Assembly Democrats decided his mandate had run out, and squelched an income tax cut he hoped to hand the "hard-working, taxpaying families of Virginia" with which he so identifies.
That summer, a game of football with the interns at the mansion cost him his anterior cruchet ligament. [96-1 1:07]
It literally hobbled him.
In the fall, voters failed to give him a Republican-controlled legislature, a defining experience, that aides say "depressed" him.
He says he learned a lesson.
[sot 96-1 02:17]

((I THINK DIPLOMACY'S VERY IMPORTANT.)) [runs:03]
It was time to dispel what he considered a crippling myth.
[sot 96-1 5:18]

((THE PORTRAYAL OF ME AS THIS HARD-HEARTED... AND WANTS TO CUT THINGS WHICH I CONSIDER IMPORTANT.)) [runs:13]
Allen liked being governor, and thought about a repeat stint next year.
But he moved to Richmond's suburbs, added daughter Brooke to the family, and secured a partnership in one of the city's Richmond's toniest law firms.
And kicked off what's been essentially a two year campaign to topple the man once considered a rising star himself.

Ellen Qualls, News 7.))

[Robb]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=Six]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=00-46 TC07:56]
[GRAPHIC=Chuck Robb]


Senator Chuck Robb called out some high-ranking Marines and a former Navy SEAL today as he worked to shore up support among Virginia veterans and the state's military families.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=203-Arlington/Campaign Video]


Four retired Marine Corps Generals, two retired Majors and Nebraska Senator Bob Kerrey joined Robb at the Iwo Jima Memorial.
The veterans gave Robb their endorsement, describing him as an experienced leader on issues of national defense.


(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:05:02]
[IN Q=Many of our citizens]

((MANY OF OUR CITIZENS TAKE FOR GRANTED THAT WE HAVE THE FINEST FIGHTING FORCE THAT THE WORLD HAS EVER KNOWN, BUT IT WON'T STAY THAT WAY IF WE DON'T PROVIDE THE SUPPORT, AND THERE ARE MANY AREAS THAT ARE IN NEED OF SUPPORT.))
[SUPER=201-Chuck Robb/(D) U. S. Senate Candidate;]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=are in need of support.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Robb and Kerrey also made stops today in Richmond and Norfolk before returning to Washington for evening votes in the Senate.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=HOLD]


We'll look at Chuck Robb's background tomorrow night on News 7 at Six.


[Decimal-Stocks]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6:00]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=none]


We've revamped our stock report. From now on, we'll show the closing prices in dollars and cents rather than dollars and fractions.
We are following the lead of the major stock exchanges which are already converting to decimal stock prices.

All stock reports- -print and broadcast- -are expected to convert to dollars and cents within the next year.
A good day for Blue Chips today.... [TAKE STOCKS]

[Stocks]


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



[TAKE DOW, NASDAQ & BLOOMBERG PAGE ]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5000;]
[SUPER=270-x/245.15/10835.77/y/87.03/3191.33/x/2.89/115.47;]


The DOW climbed 245 points, but NASDAQ dropped 87.
The Bloomberg News 7 Index gained nearly three points.
(-------------)

[VO]
[SUPER=271-h/1.88/41.81/h/0.63/22.63/h/2.06/47.00/h/1.63/21.94/h/0.13/3.00;]
[SUPER=272-h/1.63/59.88/h/1.00/29.81/h/0.88/41.44/h/1.75/54.00/h/2.00/41.56;]
[SUPER=273-h/1.00/22.00/h/0.63/13.63/i/1.06/15.94/h/1.25/37.94/h/0.38/10.50;]
[SUPER=274-h/2.38/48.44/h/3.44/74.50/h/2.31/55.38/h/2.25/54.94/h/0.50/43.75;]



[SUPER=#555; Reset]


[Bus-Belts]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6 p.m.]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=00-45 TC05:10]
[GRAPHIC=School Bus Crash]

Some parents of students injured in an accident last week are calling for increased safety features on school buses.
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Smyth Co./Friday]

The bus was hit by a car that ran a stop sign Friday. 46-children and 3-adults were hurt. Now, some parents say seatbelts could have cut down on the number of injuries.
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

But at least one transportation expert disagrees. The Director of Transportation for Roanoke City Public Schools rules out seatbelts because they can trap kids on a bus. But David Prince says other safety ideas ARE being considered.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 14:38:00-14:38:12]
[IN Q=The main word, the buzz word...]

((DAVID M. PRINCE/ROANOKE TRANSPORTATION DIRECTOR; THE MAIN WORD, THE BUZZ WORD OUT NOW IS COMPARTMENTALIZATION WHERE THEY'RE TRYING TO DESIGN SEATS WHERE AS, IF THERE IS AN ACCIDENT FROM BEHIND OR FROM THE SIDE, THAT IT'LL LESSEN THE IMPACT OF THE CHILDREN HAVING ANY DAMAGE OR INJURIES.))
[SUPER=01-David M. Prince/Roanoke Transportation Director]
[RUNS=12]
[OUT Q=damage or injuries.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Prince says high seat backs and safety cushions are already designed to protect students from injury in the event of a crash. He adds that those features coupled with the bus's steel frame make school bus travel one of the safest means of transportation.
(-------------)



[Sports Tease]


[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=Six]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=sports tease]
[GRAPHIC=none]


Coming up in sports, more on Michael Vick's ankle injury and an update on Andre Davis, plus the latest on the BCS poll.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


We'll hear from Winthrop's Head Coach and Cave Spring gradaute, Gregg Marshall as the Big South Conference invades the Roanoke Civic Center.
(------------)


[S-Tech2000]


[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-84 103tc]
[GRAPHIC=TECH 2000]

Welcome folks to tonight's Tech 2000 Report. The new BCS standings are out, but honestly the complicated Bowl Championship Series formula pales in comparison to the medical jargon being used to describe Michael Vick's ankle injury. ` This afternoon, he underwent an MRI exam at Montgomery Regional hospital. Tonight, we offer up some good and bad news concerning number 7.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=FIRST AUDIO]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg/This Afternoon; :00]
[SUPER=04-September 4, 1999; :10]
[SUPER=01-Mike Goforth/VT Head Athletic Trainer; :19]
[SUPER=01-Chuck Zatarain/Sugar Bowl Committee Member; 2:01]
[RUNS=2:19]
[OUT Q=...BY THE END OF THE SEASON."]
(------------------)
[TALENT=MIKE]

[WIPE TO PINNACLE 13043] The only place to catch the Hurricanes and Hokies is right here on WDBJ-7 - this Saturday at Noon.
(--------------)



[S-Big]


[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-73 2:03:40]
[GRAPHIC=Big South]

The Big South Conference basketball media day tipped off right here in Roanoke today.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]

February 28th, the Big South men and women play out the conference tournament at the Roanoke Civic Center. On the men's side, Winthrop is picked first, Radford second and Liberty fourth.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="]
[SUPER=01-Gregg Marshall/42-17 in 2 Years at Winthrop; :00]
[SUPER=01-Ron Bradley/Radford Head Coach; :15]
[RUNS=:33]
[OUT Q=.....no place"]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

On the women's side, Liberty is picked first and Radford fifth.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="i was]

(())
[SUPER=01-Carey Green/Liberty Women's Head Coach; :00]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=.....to win"]
(------------)



[S-PARADE]


[ANCHOR=MIKE]
[NEWSCAST=SIX]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=sp-67 tc 2:05:26]
[GRAPHIC=world series]


Big Apple sports fans played hookie from work and school today to celebrate another world champion in New York.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-New York, NY;]


For the fourth time in five years, tons of paper fell in in Manhattan to honor another New York Yankees World Series win.
There was also a ceremony at City Hall to celebrate the Yankees win over the Mets in the first Subway Series in 44 (------------) years.
by SS