WDBJ 7 news at Noon for 11/07/00

[HEADLINES]

[TALENT=Kimberly]

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

Time is running out if you haven't already decided who you're going to vote for--
We'll catch up with the candidates running for President and U-S Senate.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

And a live report on the latest voter turnout figures, coming up.
(/////////////)
[TALENT=Jacey]
[SS=None]

Light Rain is passing through our area for the moment. We'll find out what's next coming up in the forecast.
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[SS=None]

Stay tuned-- News 7 at noon is next.

[Video-Open]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]

[ROLL COLD OU OF OPEN]

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The polls]
[RUNS=03]
[OUT Q=now open]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

After months of political debates, T-V ads, and campaign appearances, it all comes down to today...
(------------)

[Election-2000]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Election 2000]

Good Afternoon, I'm Kimberly McBroom.
Both Presidential candidates end their campaigns today.
Their fate now lies in the hands of the voters.
Vice President Al Gore is back home in Tennessee after a last minute "get-out the vote" rally in Florida early this morning.
Meanwhile, George W- Bush arrived in Austin, Texas just after midnight after a four- state sprint for votes yesterday.
We have team coverage with live reports from BOTH campaigns.
First, let's go to Terisa Estacio with the Bush Campaign in Austin, Texas.
[LIVE=Terisa Estacio/FULL]
[SUPER=701-Terisa Estacio/Reporting;]
[SUPER=705-Austin, TX;]

((ROLLCUE:...))
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=703-Austin, TX;]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=]
((

(LOCATOR: AUSTIN, TX)

THERE'S NO DOUBT WHO GEORGE W. BUSH VOTED FOR (WILL VOTE FOR) TODAY.... BUT THAT'S CERTAINLY NOT THE CASE WITH MILLIONS OF AMERICAN VOTERS.
IT'S ONE OF THE CLOSEST RACES IN DECADES. THE LATEST CBS NEWS POLL GIVES AL GORE A SLIM LEAD OVER THE TEXAS GOVERNOR, BUT THAT EDGE FALLS WELL WITHIN THE POLL'S MARGIN OF ERROR.

(NATZ OF CHENEY VOTING)

BUSH'S RUNNING MATE, DICK CHENEY CAST HIS BALLOT THIS MORNING IN HIS HOME STATE OF WYOMING. CHENEY WRAPPED UP HIS CAMPAIGN YESTERDAY WITH A SWING THROUGH FOUR KEY WESTERN STATES.
GOV. BUSH'S LAST EVENT WAS A WELCOME HOME RALLY IN AUSTIN EARLY THIS MORNING WHERE HE WAS GREETED BY THOUSANDS OF LOYAL SUPPORTERS.
BUSH PLANS TO MAKE CALLS TO WEST COAST STATES FROM HOME AND THEN WATCH ELECTION RETURNS.
(TERISA ESTACIO: LIVE CLOSE AND TOSS TO DREW LEVINSON WITH THE GORE
CAMPAIGN IN NASHVILLE TENNESSEE) ))

[DOUBLE BOXES= /Microwave;]

[LIVE=Drew Levinson/FULL]
[SUPER=701-Drew Levinson/Reporting;]
[SUPER=705-Nashville, TN;]

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=703-Nashville, TN;]
[SUPER=701-Al Gore/(D) Presidential Candidate;]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=]

(((DREW LEVINSON LIVE INTRO TO INSERT)
LOCATOR: NASHVILLE AFTER ENDURING A WHIRLWIND CAMPAIGN, VICE PRESIDENT AL GORE RETURNED TO HIS HOME STATE OF TENNESSEE TODAY TO CAST HIS VOTE.

(NAT)

EARLY THIS MORNING, GORE OFFICIALLY WRAPPED UP HIS CAMPAIGN IN FLORIDA.

((SOT: VICE PRESIDENT AL GORE))
06:24 -- IT'S ALMOST 5:30 AM TEXAS TIME AND GOV. BUSH IS STILL ASLEEP AND I'M STILL SPEAKING TO PEOPLE IN FLORIDA.
THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT, GORE CRISS-CROSSED THE STATE ... MAKING ONE LAST APPEAL TO FLORIDA VOTERS. FROM A STAR STUDDED EVENT IN MIAMI ... TO A GET-OUT-THE-VOTE RALLY IN TAMPA, GORE STRESSED HOW MUCH HE'S COUNTING ON FLORIDA TO HELP HIM WIN THIS VERY TIGHT RACE.

(SOT)
WE'RE GONNA WIN FLORIDA AND WE'RE GONNA WIN THE WHITE HOUSE.
SO NOW THE BALL IS IN THE HANDS OF THE VOTERS -- AND THE ONLY THING GORE CAN DO -- IS HOPE TO SCORE A TOUCHDOWN WHEN IT'S ALL OVER.))

[LIVE=Drew Levinson/FULL]
[SUPER=705-Nashville, TN;]

[Allen]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=00-35]
[GRAPHIC=George Allen]
Virginia's Republican candidate for Senate is a bit nervous about the outcome of today's election.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=703-Midlothian;]
George Allen was one of the first voters to cast a ballot at an elementary school in a Richmond suburb this morning. He was accompanied by his wife, Susan. After dropping his vote in the ballot box, Allen commented about his feelings of anxiety.
(///// SOT AT :14/////)
[SOT 00:19:32-00:19:46]
[IN Q=It feels good...]
((It feels good, but nevertheless, you do have a nervousness about it while people are making these decisions. Nevertheless, I'm relatively confidant the people of Virginia will ask me to go to work for them in the U.S. Senate and I'm looking forward to doing so.))
[SUPER=701-George Allen/(R) U.S. Senate Candidate;]
[RUNS=14]
[OUT Q=to doing so.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The former Virginia governor plans to greet voters at various polling places today. Allen's stops include Alexandria and Norfolk before an election night celebration in Richmond.
(------------)

[Robb]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=00-51]
[GRAPHIC=Chuck robb]
Allen's democratic challenger was greeted by chanting supporters as he cast his ballot this morning.
(///// SOT AT TOP/////)
[SOT 00:08:25-00:08:28]
[IN Q=Six more years...]
[SUPER=703-McLean;]
(((chanting) Six more years! Six more years!))
[RUNS=03]
[OUT Q=six more years.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Senator Chuck Robb entered the polls in McLean with his wife, Lynda, by his side. The two-term senator spent yesterday on a whirlwind tour across the state, trying to convince voters to cast a ballot.
Robb will hold an election night party in McLean.
(------------)

[Voter-Turnout]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=00-40]
[GRAPHIC=Election 2000]

Voters and election officials have been bracing themselves for long lines at the polls due to a tight presidential race and a new Virginia law asking people to show I-D before voting.

[DOUBLE BOXES=Kim / Tina Microwave;]

Tina Tenret is at the Westside precinct in Roanoke. Tina what kind of crowds are you seeing?
[LIVE=Tina/FULL]
[SUPER=740-Tina/Tenret/ttenret*wdbj7.com;]
[SUPER=705-Roanoke]

[Turnout boards]
[back on camera]
((ROLLCUE:...sign your name))
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=703-Roanoke; :00]
[SUPER=701-Kianna Price/Voter; :11]
[SUPER=701-Donald Shepherd/Voter; :30]
[SUPER=701-John Craggett/Voter; :52 :QUICK]
[RUNS=:55]
[OUT Q=one time.]

[LIVE=Tina /FULL]
[SUPER=705-Roanoke;]

[DOUBLE BOXES=Kim /Tina Microwave;]

[Young-Voters]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mce]
[TAPE#=00-45]
[GRAPHIC=Election 2000]
While voter turnout could be up today... analysts say, don't expect to see many young voters in line. Meredyth Censullo explains why.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The topic..]
[SUPER=703-Salem;:00]
[SUPER=701-Ashley Brown/Roanoke College Freshman;:16]
[SUPER=740-Meredyth/Censullo/mcensullo*wdbj7.com;;:22]
[SUPER=704-1996;:34]
[SUPER=701-Harry Wilson/Political Science Professor;:53]
[SUPER=701-Brandon Linthicum/Rke. College Sophomore;1:32]
[RUNS=1:42]
[OUT Q=News 7 Salem]
((The topic tossed around most college cafeteria tables isn't the Presidential election. That's according to a Harvard University study - which finds most young voters aren't inspired to cast their ballots - or even bother to register.

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT @ 18:49:32 - 18:49:37]
[IN Q=I guess I...]
((I GUESS I DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH ENCOURAGEMENT OR I JUST DIDN'T FEEL IT WAS SUCH A BIG DEAL.))
[RUNS= :05]
[OUT Q=such a big deal.]

((BUTT BUTT BUTT))

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 18:54:24 - 18:54:37]
[IN Q=According to...]
((MEREDYTH CENSULLO/NEWS 7: ACCORDING TO THE U-S CENSUS, IN THE 1996 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, LESS THAN HALF OF VIRGINIANS AGED 18-24 REGISTERED TO VOTE...OF THOSE, ONLY A THIRD CAST THEIR BALLOTS.))
[RUNS= :13]
[OUT Q=cast their ballots.]

Middle aged voters are another story. In '96, 75-percent of Virginians aged 45 to 65 registered .. almost all voted. Political Science professor Harry Wilson says that's because most candidates target seasoned voters - and don't bother appealing to young ones ..

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 17:35:17 - 17:35:29]
[IN Q=But most...]
((HARRY WILSON: BUT MOST OF WHAT WE'RE HEARING ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL IS SOCIAL SECURITY, MEDICARE, DRUG PRESCRIPTION COVERAGE PLANS...THINGS OF THAT NATURE THAT ARE NOT REALLY IMPORTANT ISSUES TO THE 18 TO 24, 18 TO 29 VOTER.))
[RUNS= :12]
[OUT Q=18 to 29 voter.]

Wilson calls it a "vicious cycle" that's not likely to change in future elections.

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 17:35:47 - 17:35:58]
[IN Q=You have...]
((YOU HAVE YOUNG PEOPLE NOT VOTING, YOU ALSO HAVE CANDIDATES NOT MAKING APPEALS TO YOUNG PEOPLE INDIVIDUALLY BECAUSE IF YOU MAKE APPEALS TO YOUNG VOTERS AS OPPOSED TO OLDER ONES YOU LOSE THE ELECTION.))
[RUNS= :11]
[OUT Q=lose the election.]

But just because the candidates aren't focusing on Generation X isn't driving ALL young people from the polls - its just making them work a little harder.

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT @ 18:48:08 - 18:48:14]
[IN Q=I think its]
((I THINK ITS PRETTY MUCH UP TO EVERYBODY TO GO OUT AND FIGURE THINGS OUT FOR THEMSELVES AND LEARN THE ISSUES FOR THEMSELVES SO THEY CAN MAKE UP THEIR OWN MIND...))
[RUNS= :06]
[OUT Q=own mind.]

And that's food for thought. Meredyth Censullo, News7, Salem. ))
(-------------)

[Singapore-Crash]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Singapore crash]

Investigators in Taiwan are presenting a detailed description of the final moments aboard Singapore Airlines flight double-oh-six.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Taipei, Taiwan;]

This is the first time reporters have been allowed at the crash site.
Investigators say as the plane took off, a wheel hit a concrete barrier on the runway before slamming into a construction crane.
The runway was supposed to be closed for repairs.
The plane then skidded along the runway, hit other concrete blocks and burst into flames.
Last week's crash killed 82 people.
(------------)

[L'burg-Shooting]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=shooting]

A man was shot and killed at a convenience store in Lynchburg last night.
Police got a call about a shooting at the Sunshine Market on Pollard Street at about 10:15.
They found 21-year-old Leon Alphonzo Strange lying on the floor with a gunshot wound.
Strange died at the hospital.
Police aren't saying what might have led to the shooting.
So far, no arrests.

[DeMoranville]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=00-44 TC14:06]
[GRAPHIC=None]

He helped plot to kill a judge and got three years' probation.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Radford/October 8;]

But a 10-hour standoff with police last month could sock Christopher DeMoranville with a much tougher sentence this time around.
That incident resulted in seven NEW counts of assault on police officers yesterday.
Police went to his Radford trailer to arrest him on three misdemeanor warrants.
They ended up in the standoff after DeMoranville allegedly told them he had a gun.
DeMoranville pleaded guilty to conspiring to kill a Montgomery County Circuit judge just three months before the standoff.
(------------)

[City-Council]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=00-42 TC31:47]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Roanoke city council members want the public to have its say in Virginia Gas's proposed pipeline.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Montgomery Co./October 4;]

Virginia Gas wants to build a 55- mile pipeline through Roanoke and Montgomery Counties.
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]

Council members plan to ask the State Corporation Commission to hold a public hearing on the matter in Roanoke.
The decision was reached after hearing from project opponents.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 21:04:39]
[IN Q=When the ]
((BRENT RILEY/PIPELINE OPPONENT: WHEN THE TAKING OF PUBLIC LAND OCCURS, THIS RIGHT GIVEN BY THE STATE, FOR A PROFIT ENDEAVOR, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE NEED IS TRULY THERE, BEFORE WE WANT TO PROCEED WITH THIS.))
[SUPER=01-Brent Riley/Pipeline Opponent;]
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q=with this.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

City Council voted unanimously to send a letter to the S-C-C this week, asking that a hearing be held in Roanoke.

(------------)

[British-Twins]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]

A three-month-old girl is in critical but stable condition in a British hospital, after a day- long operation to separate her from her twin sister.
(-----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-London, England;]

As expected, the other baby girl died.
Doctors say the surgery was the only way to save the stronger sister, known as Jodie.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 10:38:46 ]
[IN Q=As with all]
((YVONNE KING/HOSPITAL SPOKESWOMAN: AS WITH ALL MAJOR SURGERY, THE FIRST FEW DAYS FOLLOWING A MAJOR OPERATION ARE THE MOST CRITICAL AND OUR THOUGHTS REMAIN WITH JODIE AND HER PARENTS.))
[SUPER=01-Yvonne King/Hospital Spokeswoman;]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=and her parents.]
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]

The twin girls had been joined at the hips.
The life and death procedure followed weeks of moral and legal arguments over medical ethics and parental rights.
The twins' parents, identified only as Roman Catholics had opposed the surgery for religious reasons.
Doctors aren't sure how healthy Jodie will be after the surgery, or how many other surgeries she'll need to be a healthy little girl.
(---------------)

[Lane-Stadium]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=00-38 TC53:58]
[GRAPHIC=Virginia Tech]

Virginia Tech's Board of Visitors gives the go ahead for Lane Stadium's expansion .
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Yesterday, the Board approved an 83-million price tag for the South End and West End Zone expansions.
The work will add more than 11-thousand seats by September 2002 and 900 more in Fall 2003.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[SS=HOLD]

The university plans to pay for the expansions with an ambitious fundraising campaign, athletic department revenues, AND by carrying a LOT of debt. Tech is sending the plans to the General Assembly for approval to go forward.