[1-News-Head]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Morning snow gives way to dropping temperatures.
The latest on road and airport conditions-- and what to expect tomorrow morning tops News 7 at Six.
(------------)
[TALENT=Jean]
And more bad news from Norfolk Southern-- another quarter of disappointing earnings.
[Sports-Head]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Tonight on News 7 sports everything from Michael Vick to Steve Mason's Oahu Bowl report, to the latest on the Cavs' coaching situation is one the way.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Plus, what would a day like this be without the Express playing a home game tonight at the Roundhouse.
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[WX-Head]
[TALENT=Leo]
[SS=None]
Temperatures are now dropping across our area ..and the winds will be picking up...I'll tell you what it means for our forecast coming up...
[Video-Open]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=Video Open]
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=What time]
[RUNS=:05]
[OUT Q=midnight tonight]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Trouble for travelers as winter weather hits the region.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=JEan]
[GRAPHIC=News7at6]
Good evening, I'm Jean Jadhon.
[SS=Winter Weather]
The story of the day was FALLING snow.
The story of the night is falling temperatures.
[DOUBLE BOXES=JEan and Leo]
For more on what to expect, let's go right to Leo Hirsbrunner in the weather center.
[Storm]
[ANCHOR=Leo]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=00-39 TC1:38:14]
[GRAPHIC=]
( leo tosses to jen)
[DOUBLE BOXES=Leo and Jennifer/Microwave;]
Jennifer Miele has a travelers' report tonight.
[LIVE=Jennifer/FULL]
[SUPER=@Jennifer1]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke]
Leo, here's the situation with the fog... there's a big patch of it that is hanging over the airport. Now, the airlines aren't necessarily canceling flights, but each is landing on a plane by plane basis, depending on visibility.
Traveling the roadways may not be any easier.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]
[SUPER=01-Rochelle Gandour/Traveler; :15]
[SUPER=01-Jason Bond/VDOT; :38]
[RUNS=:59]
[OUT Q=smiling, I guess.]
(-------------)
[LIVE=Jennifer FULL/Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke;]
(adlib)
[DOUBLE BOXES=Jennifer and Jean /Microwave;]
[L'burg-Storm]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=00-49 TC22:51]
[GRAPHIC=Winter Weather]
The snow tapered off late this afternoon in central Virginia, leaving minor problems-
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]
Lynchburg and the surrounding areas picked up anywhere from two to four inches since early this morning.
Main roads were mostly clear, but some side streets were icy and area police responded to a few minor accidents.
Two people were slightly injured in this crash on Wards Ferry Road in Lynchburg this afternoon.
Police say one of the drivers was unable to stop for a stop sign and slid into another car.
V-DOT says all main roads are clear, but secondary roads may have some slush.
Crews have been putting down chemicals and salt and will monitor conditions throughout the night.
(------------)
[WIPE WIPE WIPE WIPE]
[NRV-Snow]
[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=00-47 TC30:09]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]
[WIPE WIPE WIPE WIPE]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg; :00]
In Blacksburg, most of the students at Virginia Tech have already gone home for the Holidays, and by mid-afternoon the SNOW also had left the area too.
The New River Valley received about three inches of the white stuff this morning.
Schools in the New River Valley also were closed today, giving many an early start to the Christmas break.
(XXXXXXXX)
[TAKE WEBPAGE FS]
We'll keep you updated on school delays and closings tonight on News 7 at Eleven and News 7 Mornin.
You can also find an up-to the minute list on our webpage at W-D-B-J-7- dot- com.
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[VDOT]
[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=00-45 TC41:10]
[GRAPHIC=None]
V-DOT has a lot more than snow and ice on its mind tonight.
A General Assembly report shows its long term road building plan will cost 45-percent more than it thinks.
If true, that's a three and a half BILLION dollar mistake.
Ellen Qualls reports.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Del. Frank Hargrove/(R) Hanover Co.; :]
[SUPER=01-Hal Greer/JLARC Staff; ]
[SUPER=01-Chip Nottingham/VDOT Commissioner; :]
[SUPER=01-Del. Kirk Cox/(R) Colonial Heights; :]
[SUPER=@Ellen2; ]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=Qualls, News 7.]
(( Maybe V-DOT engineers were lowballing projects to drum up public support.
We know that incredibly, they didn't include estimates for inflation before this year.
And now, the Joint Legislative Audit Review Commission's study of some 300 projects over the past four years-- 20 big ones in detail -- shows an epidemic of mistakes at the design level.
[sot tape one 13:34:23]
((HARGROVE: DID IT OCCUR MORE FREQUENTLY WITH OUTSIDE CONTRACTORS DOING THE DESIGN WORK OR WAS IT MORE FREQUENT IN IN HOUSE DESIGN?))
[runs:11]
[sot TAPE ONE 13:34:34]
((HAL GREER/JLARC: IT WAS REALLY A COMBINATION. IT WAS A MIX OF BOTH IN HOUSE AND CONSULTANTS.))
[runs:04 ]
[sot TAPE ONE 14:06:43]
((HAL GREER/JLARC: SOME OF THE ERRORS IN OUR CASE EXAMPLES IT WOULD APPEAR WERE BASED ON CARELESS DECISIONS.))
[runs:05]
[sot TAPE ONE 14:40:52]
((CHIP NOTTINGHAM/VDOT COMMISSIONER: I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF AND VERY WELL ALONG THE WAY TOWARD PROBABLY THE MOST SIGNIFICANT REFORM OF A LARGE STATE AGENCY IN THE HISTORY OF VIRGINIA.))
[runs:12]
Given the changes the Gilmore administration has recommended in the last few months, J-LARC staffers say the road building plan will probably be better managed.
But it stands by its 3-point-5 BILLION dollar gap in the overall price tage.
[sot TAPE ONE 14:35:36]
((CHIP NOTTINGHAM/VDOT COMMISSIONER: UNFORTUNATELY, AND AS OUR RESPONSE INDICATES, WE DO TAKE STRONG EXCEPTION TO SOME OF THE NUMBERS.))
[runs:06]
[sot TAPE TWO 15:31:47]
((PHIL LEONE/JLARC: I THINK THAT OUR DATA'S GOOD. I THINK THE METHODOLOGY'S SOUND.))
[runs:03]
[sot TAPE ONE 14:00:24 ]
((DEL. KIRK COX/R-COLONIAL HEIGHTS: THEY OBVIOUSLY FEEL LIKE THEY WERE NOT GIVEN ADEQUATE TIME TO RESPOND. YOU'RE SAYING THEY DIDN'T RETURN PHONE CALLS, AND BASICALLY DIDN'T TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND. SOMEONE'S WRONG.))
[runs:13 ]
Meanwhile, in a major
policy shift, Governor Jim Gilmore seems be acknowledging the desperate need for more roadbuilding money, finally backing the idea of northern Virginians voting to tax themselves for more road money.
Last year, he vetoed such a bill.
Now, he says (quote) ``Let the people vote on whether they
want to be taxed further.''
Ellen Qualls, News 7.))
[Death-Penalty]
[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=00-50 TC33:09]
[GRAPHIC=VA Death Penalty]
A long-time Republican supporter of the death penalty in Virginia wants now to end it.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Jarratt/File Tape;]
Hanover County Delegate Frank Hargrove says he will file a bill tomorrow that would abolish the death penalty in Virginia.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT tape two 15:46:00]
[IN Q=Why have I]
((DEL. FRANK HARGROVE/(R) HANOVER CO.: WHY HAVE I COME TO THIS POINT? IT HAS BOTHERED ME ETHICALLY FOR A LONG TIME. AND I JUST SENSE MORALLY THAT WE COULD SO EASILY MAKE A MISTAKE.))
[SUPER=01-Del. Frank Hargrove/(R) Hanover Co.;]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=make a mistake.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Hargrove says he knows he's an unlikely patron of the bill.
He hopes that means he will break the ice and give other lawmakers "the courage" to eliminate the death penalty.
(------------)
[Tease#1]
[ANCHOR=Jean]
[SS=NONE]
Save money on a new library or help save downtown Rocky Mount-- that's the decision facing Franklin County Supervisors.
Details are next on NEws 7 at Six.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]
and later-- a vivid reminder of how dangerous Christmas decorations can be.
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[Web Address Announce]
[Pinnacle 4885ess]
[Comm#1]
[Franklin-Library]
[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=00-43 TC1:07:54]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Franklin County Supervisors could not agree today on whether to expand the library or move it to a larger building downtown --
The current facility has been overcrowded for more than a year.
Tina Tenret reports on the board's deadlock.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The Franklin County library]
[SUPER=03-Rocky Mount; :00]
[SUPER=01-Richard Shoemaker/Community Dev. Corp; :16]
[SUPER=01-Beth Garst/Library Trustee; :38]
[SUPER=@Tina1; 1:01]
[RUNS=1:09]
[OUT Q=Tina Tenret News7 Franklin County]
(( The Franklin County library is bursting at the seams -- cramming children, staff, and 18th century poets into too small a building.
One option is to move them all into the old Peebles department store.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:37:03]
[IN Q=There's basically]
((THERE'S BASICALLY MORE SPACE ... WOULD BE A MAGNET.))
[RUNS:14]
[OUT Q=WOULD BE A MAGNET]
A downtown library could draw new business to the deteriorating Main Street -- but library trustees says that's not a good reason to move.
They'd rather expand the current building.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:35:31]
[IN Q=The building is designed]
((THE BUILDING IS DESIGNED TO FUNCTION .... AS A LIBRARY.))
[RUNS:09]
[OUT Q=AS A LIBRARY]
The Peebles building would cost almost three times as much -- and the county would pay about half a million dollars more. But it also offers about eight thousand more feet of library space.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 16:03:07]
((tina tenret/news7: standup))
[RUNS:11]
[OUT Q=tina tenret news7 franklin county]))
[Liberty-Bombs]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Legal scales]
Two Liberty University students are facing criminal charges after they allegedly set off three home-made bombs on campus in the last two weeks.
20-year olds Justin Boucher and Jeff Wilson each face one felony count of conspiring to make a bomb.
Wilson is also charged with manufacturing a bomb, while Boucher is charged with two counts of possessing bomb materials.
Authorities say the explosives consisted of two-liter soda bottles filled with aluminum foil, water and a type of cleaner.
They allegedly were set off in the woods near the L-U campus.
[D'ville-Body]
[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=6p]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=00-48 TC47:43]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Authorities are investigating the death of a man at a Danville business today.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville]
An employee of the Kent Thomas Auto Body shop on Loyal Street found the body around noon.
Officials say 34-year-old Charles Percy Arnold was on the floor in a back room.
There was no sign of foul play, but police have not ruled it out.
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[NS-Earnings]
[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=6p]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Norfolk Southern]
Norfolk Southern is joining the list of companies that expects reduced earnings in the fourth quarter.
The railroad says earnings should be in the range of five to 10 cents a share.
That's less than what it had projected earlier.
N-S blames a slowing economy and rising fuel prices.
[Stocks]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]
The Federal Reserve today left rates unchanged but signaled future rate cuts.
That wasn't the news Wall Street wanted to hear.
[TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5000;]
[SUPER=440-y/61.05/10584.37/y/113.07/2511.45;]
The DOW lost 61 points.
NASDAQ dropped 113, for its lowest close of the year.
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[VO]
[SUPER=271-h/0.75/44.69/h/0.25/20.56/h/0.75/44.25/h/0.06/13.50/h/0.38/4.50;]
[SUPER=272-/Unchg/62.06/h/0.94/28.13/h/0.25/45.44/i/0.88/50.13/h/0.16/40.65;]
[SUPER=273-i/0.44/25.94/h/0.13/13.44/i/1.81/10.38/h/1.75/43.06//Unchg/10.88;]
[SUPER=274-h/0.81/56.81/i/1.50/69.00/i/3.94/51.88/h/0.63/52.00/i/2.56/48.00;]
[SUPER=#555; Reset]
[Holiday-Fire]
[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=00-44 TC56:18]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The glow of a Christmas tree can be beautiful but there's also a downside to this holiday tradition.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Martinsville;]
Martinsville fire fighters drove that point home with a demonstration today.
Fire fighters built a room complete with a decorated tree to show how carelessness can cause this- a tree going up in flames.
This afternoon-- they used a simulated spark to catch the bottom of the tree on fire and within seconds the room was in flames.
Firefighters say folks should always make sure live trees get plenty of water.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 01:59:49]
[IN Q=And, don't]
((CLARENCE MONDAY/FIRE MARSHAL: AND DON'T OVERLOAD YOUR CIRCUITS, MAKE SURE YOU DON'T OVER EXCEED THE NUMBER OF PLUGS THAT'S ON YOUR RECEPTACLE AND ANOTHER POINT IS NEVER GO TO BED WITH THE LIGHTS PLUGGED IN OR SHOULD YOU LEAVE HOME WITH YOUR CHRISTMAS LIGHTS PLUGGED IN.))
[SUPER=01-Clarence Monday/Fire Marshal;]
[RUNS=13]
[OUT Q=plugged in.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The event was held at the City of Martinsville Warehouse.
(------------)
[Salvation-Army]
[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=00-42 TC1:57:50]
[GRAPHIC=Salvation Army]
The Roanoke Salvation Army is looking for wanna-be Santa Clauses.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
The agency is expected to serve thousands of less fortunate people during its three day gift distribution this week.
Not even this morning's snow could keep recipients away.
But the weather did keep some volunteers from making it to the event.
Those who showed up say handing out gifts reminds them of the true meaning of the holidays.
(///////SOT///////)
[SOT AT :19]
[SOT 7:51:23-7:51:34]
[IN Q=It's a great feeling.]
((DARLINE KINGERY/VOLUNTEER; IT'S A GREAT FEELING. BEING ABLE TO COME OUYT HERE AND HELP PEOPLE AND JUST KNOWING THAT THEY GENERALYY REALLY NEED THIS HELP... IT'S JUST, IT'S AWESOME.))
[SUPER=01-Darline Kingery/Volunteer;]
[RUNS=11]
[OUT Q=it's awesome.]
(-----------------)
[VO-NAT]
Volunteers are still needed.
If you're interested you can go to the old Legget Building in the Roanoke-Salem Plaza between 8:30 and 5:30 through Thursday.
Thousands of people in Roanoke alone are expected to benefit from the program.
(---------------)
[Anchor=Jean]
[SS=Hold]
Meantime, The Pulaski distribution of Angel Tree gifts will be delayed until Thursday.
[Sports Tease]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Coming up tonight on News 7 sports, the Express is in the house tonight playing checkers with Charlotte.
The UVa men's basketball team faces a tough test against UT tonight.
We'll hear from Michael Vick and
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
our Oahu bowl previews continue as Steve Mason takes a look at the unsettled quarterback situation on both sides of the ball in this Christmas Eve game.
(------------)
[S-Express]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=sp-80]
[GRAPHIC=EXPRESS/CHARLOTTE]
The Roanoke Express is back in the Raoundhouse tonight skating against the Charlotte Checkers.
There was some discussion about playing this one in the parking lot, but they decided to stay on the ice inside where they can better offer drink specials and keep the Checkers power play in check.
Faceoff tonight is set for 7. Highlights on News 7 at 11.[S-Wahoos]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-86 20:25]
[GRAPHIC=UVa]
The 14th ranked Virginia men's basketball team faces it's stiffest challenge of the season tonight when the Wahoos tangle with the fourth ranked Tennessee Volunteers in the Jimmy V Classic in East Rutherford, New Jersey at seven.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lexington; :00]
The Cavaliers are 6 and 0, as are the Volunteers, who should provide the Wahoos with some real clues as to how good they really are.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="This is]
[SUPER=01-Keith Friel/UVa Shooting Guard; :00]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=....true test"]
(-------------)
[S-Coach]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=UVa football]
Just moments ago, Steve Mason confirmed for us that Virginia athletic director Terry Holland formally interviewed Ohio State defensive coordinator John Tenuta about becoming George Welsh's replacement.
Holland has been in Columbus, Ohio this afternoon. Tenuta now appears to be the top choice for the job. He is a former three year letterman at UVa and he says this is the one head coaching job he really wants. Out of respect to Wel
sh, Holland likely will not make any formal announcement until after the bowl game.[S-Quarterback]
[ANCHOR=MIke]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-87 17:29]
[GRAPHIC=UVa football]
The Virginia football team flew out of Dulles at 4:15 today and will arrive in Honolulu Wednesday morning. Steve Mason says sunny skies won't cloud the fact UVa and Georgia have questions at quarterback.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=first audio]
[SUPER=03-Charlottesville; :00]
[SUPER=01-Bryson Spinner/1 TD Pass, 436 Yards Passing; :22]
[SUPER=@Steve1; :32]
[SUPER=01-Ahmad Hawkins/UVa Senior Cornerback; :45]
[SUPER=01-Donny Green/UVa Senior Linebacker; 1:03]
[SUPER=03-Athens, GA/Georgia 2000 Season; 1:19]
[SUPER=01-Corey Phillips/Georgia Quarterback; 1:28]
[RUNS=1:41]
[OUT Q=....News 7 sports"]
(------------)
[S-Vick]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-]
[GRAPHIC=GATOR BOWL 6663]
The Virginia Tech Hokies went through their next to last pre-Christmas workout in Blacksburg this afternoon.
Before the workout, I had a chance to speak with quarterback Michael Vick, who says he feels like a new man since announcing last Friday that he's staying in school for another year.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=IT'S LIKE A...]
[SUPER=01-Michael Vick/Va. Tech Quarterback; :00]
[RUNS=:22]
[OUT Q=...WON'T LOOK BACK."]
(------------)
[TALENT=MIKE]
Vick says his biggest worry right now is Christmas shopping - liek many folks he has yet to start.
[GRAPHIC=VICK]
by SS