[HEADLINES]
[TALENT=Kimberly]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
Up next--
Florida's Supreme Court wraps up an hour- long hearing on the Presidential ballot dispute.
We'll have the latest.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
And a Roanoke man is charged with setting two fires at a Brambleton Avenue nightspot.
A THIRD blaze is still under investigation.
(/////////////)
[TALENT=Shannon]
[SS=None]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[SS=None]
You'll want to stay tuned for News 7 at noon.
[Video-Open]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
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[VO-NAT]
This could be Judgment Day for Al Gore, as oral arguments over recounts are heard in the Florida Supreme Court.
(------------)
[Recount]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Election 2000]
Good Afternoon, I'm Kimberly McBroom.
Attorneys for both Al Gore and George W- Bush had the ears of Florida's Supreme Court justices this morning.
They ALSO were the recipients of at times aggressive, rapid- fire questioning by the justices.
Each side had 30 minutes to present its case at the hearing on whether hand recounts should be part of the final Presidential vote tally in Florida.
Gore's legal team is hoping the justices will order selective manual recounts, and revive his chances to win the White House.
Bush's attorneys, meanwhile, argue that that the court has no business stepping in and ordering recounts.
Drew Levinson joins us from Tallahassee with an update on the hearing.
[LIVE=Drew Levinson/FULL]
[SUPER=701-Drew Levinson/Reporting;]
[SUPER=705-Tallahassee;]
((ROLLCUE:...))
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=703-Tallahassee, FL;]
[SUPER=701-David Boies/Gore Attorney;]
[SUPER=704-Saturday;]
[SUPER=701-Barry Richards/Bush Attorney;]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=]
((
(LOCATOR: TALLAHASSEE, FL)
(NATSOUND )
"Hear Ye, Hear Ye, Hear Ye."
For the second time in two weeks the worlds eyes were focused on
Floridas Supreme Court. And once again from the beginning-the justices
fired questions at the attorneys.
(SOT, NATSOUND OF QUESTION FROM JUDGE WELLS)
In this high stakes battle for the presidency Al Gores lawyers urged
the seven justices to order the immediate recount of 14-thousand
disputed ballots. They claim those votes went unrecorded in Miami-Dade
and Palm Beach Counties.
(SOT: David Boies/Gore Attorney)
"THIS IS A SITUATION WHERE THERE ARE ERRORS...AND EQUIPMENT."
(SUPER: SATURDAY)
The democrats hope the high court will reverse Judge N. Sanders Sauls'
ruling that rejected the recount bid and certified the Florida vote.
But the Republican attorneys argue Sauls was correct in saying voter
error is not grounds to start counting ballots again.
(SOT BARRY RICHARDS/BUSH ATTORNEY)
))
[LIVE=Drew Levinson/FULL]
[SUPER=705-Tallahassee;]
[Coffee-Pot]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=net D]
[GRAPHIC=Fire Investigation]
A Roanoke man has been charged with setting fires at a Brambleton Avenue nightspot.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/November 30]
42-year-old Gary Francis Ruddick is accused of starting two fires at the Coffee Pot last week.
A third fire at the restaurant is still under investigation.
None of the fires did a lot of damage.
Ruddick is being held in the city jail without bond.
(------------)
[Farmville-Murders]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=00-15 TC1:21:08]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]
The trial for the man accused of killing his ex-wife and her mother will not happen just yet.
He was found temporarily incompetent yesterday.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
53-year old Reginald Varner was also ordered to a mental facility.
His lawyer says he could be found competent to be tried later.
[SUPER=03-Farmville/July]
In July, Varner's ex-wife, Susan Varner, and her mother, Suzanne Arena, were found murdered in their homes.
The two owned Suzi's Antiques, a downtown Farmville shop that supplied Hollywood with movie costumes and sold vintage garments to celebrities.
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[Eminent-Domain]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=mce]
[TAPE#=00-44]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A battle is brewing over the right of eminent domain.
As several controversial projects move forward in western Virginia, opponents are joining forces to change state law.
They hope to modify the statute that allows local governments and utilities to acquire property without a landowner's consent.
Meredyth Censullo has more.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=SMPAC...]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./File Tape; :00]
[SUPER=01-Brad Allen/"Va. Property Rights Coalition"; :30]
[SUPER=@Meredyth1;]
[RUNS=1:32]
[OUT Q=News7]
(("SMPAC" opposes the Virginia Gas Pipeline Project.
The I-73 "Regional Action Network" doesn't want an interstate crossing the Blue Ridge Parkway.
And there's opposition to new power lines and a proposed biomedical center.
Now members of these groups have formed the Virginia Property Rights Coalition, to insure if their land is condemned, they'll receive what they consider fair and just compensation.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT @ 6:50 - 7:08]
[IN Q=They get that...]
((THEY GET THAT INITIAL OFFER, LOOK AT IT, CALL AN ATTORNEY, THE ATTORNEY SAYS "I'M GONNA CHARGE YOU X, Y, Z...THEY SETTLE BECAUSE THEY FIGURE "I MAKE MORE MONEY IF I SETTLE VERSUS GOING THROUGH ALL THE HEARTACHE OF A COURT CASE - .))
[RUNS:18]
[OUT Q=court case.]
Brad Allen is on the Virginia Property Rights Coalition's board of Directors. He says property owners who take condemnors to court over the value of their land should be compensated for legal fees if they win .. Right now, they aren't, even if a judge rules in their favor.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 7:33 - 7:52]
[IN Q=If they make...]
((IF THEY MAKE A FAIR OFFER THIS NEVER HAPPENS...NO ONE GOES TO COURT, NO LITIGATION EXPENSES ARE AWARDED...THIS IS WHAT WE CALL A FAIR CHECKS AND BALANCES.))
[RUNS:11]
[OUT Q=and balances.]
MEREDYTH CENSULLO: MEANWHILE, THE CITY OF ROANOKE WILL BE KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION..IN IT'S 2001 LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM, CITY COUNCIL WENT ON RECORD OPPOSING NEW RESTRICTIONS ON THE EMINENT DOMAIN POWERS OF STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. MEREDYTH CENSULLO, NEWS7.
))
[Pearl-Harbor]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Today marks the 59th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Oahu, HI/December 7, 1941;]
360 Japanese warplanes attacked the home base of the U-S Pacific fleet located on the Hawaiian island of Oahu.
Japan had apparently been plotting a surprise assault, while pretending to negotiate with the U-S over trade agreements.
Within two hours of the attack, the Japanese hit or severely damaged eight U-S battleships and killed over two - thousand seamen.
(------------)
[USS-Wisconsin]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=12]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=00-48 29:15]
[GRAPHIC=none]
The U-S-S Wisconsin was launched on the second anniversary of the Pearl Harbor Attack... and today the Iowa class Battleship set sail once again.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Norfolk]
The battleship was towed to its new berth alongside Nauticus, the maritime museum on the Norfolk Waterfront.
About 300 veterans were aboard for the ship's final voyage down the Elizabeth River, and others welcomed the ship to its new home.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Let Wisconsin represent]
((LET WISCONSIN REPRESENT NOT ONLY THE LEGACY OF AMERICA'S GREATEST GENERATION, BUT THE CONTINUING COMMITMENT TO THE STRONG BOND BETWEEN THE NAVY AND NORFOLK AND INDEED ALL AMERICANS.))
[SUPER=01-Robert Natter/Atlantic Fleet Commander; ]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=and indeed all Americans.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The Wisconsin saw action in World War Two, the Korean War and the Persian Gulf War.
The deck of the ship will be open for tours this weekend... and it will re-open to the public next Spring.
(------------)
[School-Economy]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=12]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=00-55 11:45:19]
[GRAPHIC=none]
At Huff Lane Elementary School, 10 years old is not too young to work, pay taxes, or go to court.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]
The school has dubbed itself a Micro Village -- everybody works, everybody earns "micro" money and now everybody can save up "real money."
Huff Lane partnered with First Union to make savings accounts a reality.
Telling stations are set up once a week for the students, by the students.
(///// SOT /////)
[tc:10:09:21]
[SOT]
[IN Q=I count their money]
((NIKKI FUHREY/NICROVILLAGE STUDENT: I COUNT THEIR MONEY, AND I PUT IN THERE. AND I HAVE TO WRITE IN ON THIS SHEET OF PAPER WHICH TELLS THEM THEIR NAME, THEIR ACCOUNT NUMBER, AND HOW MUCH THEY ARE DEPOSITING.
PATTY MARTIN/HUFF LANE TEACHER: HOPEFULLY IT WILL DEFINITELY IMPACT THEIR SCORES ON THEIR SOL'S, SO THEY ARE PRACTICING THEIR ADDITION, SUBTRACTION, THESE COMPUTATION SKILLS.))
[SUPER=01-Nikki Fuhrey/MicroVillage Student; :00]
[SUPER=01-Patty Martin/Huff Lane Teacher; :11]
[RUNS=19]
[OUT Q=computation skills.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
50 savings accounts have been set up so far. First Union issues students a checkbook and A-T-M card when they sign up, provided they keep a 25 cent minimum balance.
Tonight on News 7 at 5, find out about Huff Lane's pretend currency that is very real to students.
(------------)
[Gilmore-Education]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Sol's]
Students who "narrowly fail" the S-O-L tests could get a second chance.
They may be allowed to immediately retake the tests in the same academic year.
[SS=VA Budget]
That proposal will be part of Governor Jim Gilmore's final budget- That's according to an administration source who spoke to News 7.
Today, the Governor will also announce he's kept his promise to fund four thousand new teachers.
In previous budgets, the Governor had given localities money for about 39- hundred new teachers.
His new budget will cover the final 100 teachers.
Gilmore will unveil his entire budget in two weeks.
We'll have more Gilmore's proposals tonight on News 7 at 5 and 6.
[SOL-Questions]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=00-39 TC1:27:52]
[GRAPHIC=Standards of Learning]
Students can get an idea of what to expect from future Standards of Learning tests by viewing past questions.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Virginia's Department of Education put last spring's English, math and science questions on the Internet .. along with answers and an explanation of each question's purpose.
(XXXXXXX)
[TAKE WEB WATCH FS]
For a direct link to the S-O-L question site, log onto to WDBJ7-dot-com, and click "Webwatch."
(-------------)
[Goins]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=00-42 TC1:41:01]
[GRAPHIC=Chris Goins]
Convicted murderer Christopher Goins was executed last night.
He was pronounced dead just after nine o-clock.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond/October 1994;]
Six years ago, Goins killed five members of his pregnant girlfriend's family, wounded his girlfriend and her daughter, and killed the fetus she was carrying.
It was the worst mass murder in Richmond history.
Goins turned 27 Tuesday.
(------------)
[Bedford-Murder]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=00-38 TC1:29:36]
[GRAPHIC=Murder]
A 17- year- old is in custody charged with murder.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford Co.]
Authorities were called to the home on Johnson Mountain Road shortly before six yesterday morning.
There they found 43- year- old Peter Kimberly Martinez (MAR-tin-ez) lying on the bedroom floor. He had been shot in the head.
They arrested a 17-year old, who also lived in the home.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 00:15:23]
[IN Q=We have a motive]
((WE HAVE A MOTIVE, BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO COMMENT ON IT AT THIS TIME, DUE TO THE SENSITIVE NATURE OF THE CASE.))
[SUPER=01-Ricky Gardner/Bedford Co. Sheriff's Dept.]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=sensitive nature of the case.]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]
Investigators are not releasing the suspect's name because he is underage.
Neighbors say the victim shared the house with his wife Dawn, and his 17- year-old son Eric. Dawn Martinez was not injured.
The suspect is being held in the Lynchburg Detention Center.
[Estrada-Impeachment]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
There's ANOTHER presidential crisis...
This one on the other side of the world.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Manila, Philippines;]
An impeachment trial is under way for Philippine President Joseph Estrada.
Prosecutors say Estrada is a "thief" who lives an extravagant lifestyle at the expense of his people.
But it's believed that Estrada has enough allies in the Phillipine Senate to win acquittal on all charges.
Meanwhile, thousands of angry protesters have been taking to the streets, demanding the President's ouster even if he's not convicted.
(------------)
[BWX-Union]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=00-51 TC23:36]
[GRAPHIC=BWX Technologies]
Half of the employees at B-W-X Technologies in Lynchburg have expressed interest in joining a union.
They say unionizing would secure vacation and overtime pay.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Campbell Co.]
Retirees rallied in support even though there's no guarantee a union would help them.
Some of their insurance premiums have jumped from 14 dollars to 11 HUNDRED dollars a month.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[TC:0:54:41]
[IN Q=They've been promised]
((GEORGE WAKSMUNSKI: THEY'VE BEEN PROMISED THIS RETIREE HEALTH CARE. NOW IT'S BLATANT SWITCH. FOR THIRTY YEARS THEY THOUGHT THEY WOULD HAVE IT. NOW WHEN THEY GO TO USE IT IT'S BEEN TAKEN AWAY. SO IT SHOWS A WEAKNESS THAT THE WORKERS INSIDE HAVE TO PROTECT WHAT THEY DO HAVE. AND THAT'S WHAT THEY PEOPLE JOINING THE UNION WANT TO DO, THEY WANT TO PROTECT WHAT THEY DO HAVE.))
[SUPER=01-George Waksmunski/Union Organizer]
[RUNS=16]
[OUT Q=what they do have. DOUBLE OUT!!]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The company says employees enjoy steadily increasing benefits, and are virtually the highest compensated workforce in the area.
Still, retirees are encouraging current employees to vote for a union within the next few months.
(------------)
[Winesett]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=00-37 TC1:52:15]
[GRAPHIC=none]
The Wythe County man who fell through the floor of his outhouse back in August is getting a new home.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Wytheville;]
75-year-old Coolidge Winesett spent three days trapped under his privy in August, after the floorboards broke.
[SUPER=03-Wythe Co.;]
Next month, he'll move into his new, FREE home with indoor plumbing.
It was paid for with state grants made available through a community assistance program.
(///// SOT /////)
[BUMP SOTS]
[IN Q=The Bible says]
((COOLIDGE WINESETT: THE BIBLE SAYS BEWARE OF THE UNEXPECTED. AND THAT WAS THE MOST UNEXPECTED THING THAT HAPPENED TO ME.))
((MAXINE WALLER/VA WATER PROJECT PROGRAM DIRECTOR: MR. WINESETT WHEN HE FELL IN THE PRIVY, IT WAS A TRAGEDY, BUT OUT OF THAT TRAGEDY, WE'VE HAD A MIRACLE.))
[SUPER=07-Coolidge Winesett; :00]
[SUPER=01-Maxine Waller/Virginia Water Project; :07]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=had a miracle.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Waller says that many people who heard about Winesett's accident and need indoor plumbing are seeking help.
People around the country sent Winesett more than three-thousand dollars in checks and cash.
He plans to use it to buy furniture and a new porch where he can play the fiddle with friends.
(------------)
[Troop-Cards]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=00-47]
[GRAPHIC=none]
A Roanoke company is helping to send some holiday greetings to America's armed forces.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
Advance Auto is collecting cards for service men and women stationed overseas.
Hundreds of them have been turned in so far, and were being sorted and addressed today.
Each of the company's 65 stores will accept greeting cards for the troops through January 5th.
(------------)
Since the program started more than 120-thousand cards have been collected and sent out.
by SS