[7-School-Info]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=School Info]


We do have one school delay to report this morning. [TAKE SCHOOLWATCH FS] The Mount Rogers School in Grayson county is opening one hour late today.

[7-XGR]


[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=00-]
[GRAPHIC=State Of The Commonwealth]

The message was keep the car tax cut, despite a slowing economy.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT nat sound gavel]
[IN Q=bang]

((bang. bang.))
[SUPER=03-Richmond;]
[RUNS=:02]
[OUT Q=bang.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Virginia's 2001 General Assembly kicked off with a bang.
In his annual State of the Commonwealth speech, Governor Jim Gilmore urged lawmakers to "keep the trust of the people," and continue phasing-out the car tax.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Our greatness]
[sot HOUSE SPEECH 01:35:36]

((GOV. JIM GILMORE: OUR GREATNESS AS A COMMONWEALTH COMES FROM OUR WILLINGNESS TO CHANGE, TO BE BOLD, AND TO THINK "NEW." ))10
[SOT 01:27:40]

((DEL. WHITT CLEMENT/D-DANVILLE: YEAH, THERE'S CHANGE. BUT WE'RE CHANGING FROM PAY AS YOU GO TO DEBT. YEAH THIS MAN IS FOR EDUCATION, BUT THERE'S NO MONEY IN THERE FOR TEACHERS' RAISES. YES, OUR GOVERNOR IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE MENTALLY ILL, BUT HE'S SHUTTING DOWN OUR INSTITUTION WITHOUT THE COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE TO LOOK AFTER THESE PEOPLE.))18
[sot near end]

((GOV. JIM GILMORE: I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT MY DOOR AND MIND ARE ALWAYS OPEN.))03
[SOT 01:34:37 ]

((DEL. TOM JACKSON/D-HILLSVILLE: I WANT TO WORK WITH THE GOVERNOR...BORROW NOW AND PAY LATER.))09
[SUPER=@Gilmore; :00]
[SUPER=@Clement; :11]
[SUPER=@Jackson; :32]
[RUNS=:40]
[OUT Q=borrow now and pay later.]
(-------------)
[TALENT=Kim]
[SS=none]


The Senate Finance Committee is expected to begin chipping away at the budget today -- attacking the part of the budget that's based on borrowing against the tobacco settlement.

[7-NS-discrimination]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Norfolk Southern]


Norfolk Southern has been ordered to pay 28 million dollars to thousands of its African American employees.
The federal judge's ruling comes after a class action lawsuit filed by an employee alleging race discrimination.
Some 77-hundred employees will get part of the 28 million.
Norfolk Southern has also agreed to establish good faith goals for minority promotions.
The company plans to celebrate African-American Railroader month each February beginning in 2002.

[7-Roanoke-Trespassing]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=00-48 TC1:11:47]
[GRAPHIC=None]


The Roanoke City Police Department is trying a new approach to fight trespassing.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]


The department is partnering with landlords to enforce an ordinance that city council approved last summer.
Property owners may authorize police to act as their agent in the enforcement of trespassing laws.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 12:53]
[IN Q=In the past]

((IN THE PAST, WE WOULD HAVE HAD TO ASK THE PERSON TO LEAVE. THEY WOULD LEAVE, AND THEY WOULD COME BACK UNLESS THEY WERE BARRED BY A LETTER FROM THE PROPERTY OWNER. NOW WE CAN BAR THEM ON THE SPOT WITH A BAR NOTICE AND IT CUTS OUT SEVERAL LAYERS OF THAT PROBLEM. AND WE DON'T HAVE TO WAIT FOR THEM TO COME BACK AND CREATE MORE PROBLEMS.))
[SUPER=01-Rick Arrington/COPE Unit Commander]
[RUNS=:20]
[OUT Q=create more problems.]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[GRAPHIC=None]


So far, owners have signed up about 30 business and apartment properties for the program. Anyone interested in signing up should contact the city's COPE unit.

[7WEATHER]


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


Shifting our focus now to weather--
Sunny early, with increasing clouds later in the day.
Highs in the mid 50s.

[SUPER=X5000; SET DISSOLVE]
[SUPER=314-Sunny/Increasing Clouds/53-57/Cloudy/Chance of Rain/30-35;]
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[ESS C] (EXTENDED)

[45-School-Info]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=School Info]


We do have one school delay to report this morning. [TAKE SCHOOLWATCH FS] The Mount Rogers School in Grayson county is opening one hour late today.

[45-Tech-React]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=00-46 TC1:21:54]
[GRAPHIC=Vick]

Some die-hard Hokie fans say they'll support Michael Vick if he decides to leave Virginia Tech for the N-F-L. Vick is expected to make an announcement this afternoon.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;]


Former Tech football player- turned- Blacksburg- business- owner Bill Ellenbogen says he would hate to see Vick go.
But he says the prospect of being a first round draft pick is too precious to pass up.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:08:25 - :36]
[IN Q=As a Hokie fan,]

((BILL ELLENBOGEN/FORMER TECH PLAYER: AS A HOKIE FAN, I'D LOVE TO SEE HIM STAY HERE AND PLAY FOOTBALL FOR ANOTHER YEAR AND GIVE VT A CHANCE TO WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP, BUT EITHER WAY HE'S GOING TO PLAY FOOTBALL AND CERTAINLY, IT'S VERY TEMPTING TO TAKE THAT BIG POT OF MONEY AS A HIGH DRAFT CHOICE.))
[SUPER=01-Bill Ellenbogen/Former Virginia Tech Player;]
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=a high draft choice.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Student athlete Kayleen Gloor says Vick is just showing good business sense ... and that the Hokies can excel with or without him.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:04:15 - :32]
[IN Q=It will take a lot]

((KAYLEEN GLOOR/TECH SOPHOMORE: IT WILL TAKE A LOT OUT OF THE TEAM HE'S BROUGHT A LOT BUT IT WILL ALSO GIVE A CHANCE FOR THE REST OF THE TEAM TO GET SOME ACTION GOING RATHER THAN HAVE ALL THE ATTENTION ON HIM.))
[SUPER=01-Kayleen Gloor/Virginia Tech Sophomore;]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=attention on him.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Fans say they'll follow Vick's career with pride, knowing that he got his start at Tech.
(------------)



[45-Vick-Conference]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Michael Vick]

You can know immediately what Michael Vick decides this afternoon, by staying tuned to Your Hometown Station.
(+++++++)

[TAKE GFX PAGE]
We will carry his news conference live from Newport News. It is scheduled to begin at three o'clock.
(------------)





[45-Pino's]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=00-50 TC45:31]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Danville's Pino's Pizza is cooking again in a new location.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville/December 11]


Last month, fire destroyed the Pino's Italian restaurant on Westover Drive.
This week, Pino's re-opened in a temporary location a few miles down the road from the old one.
Workers believe their customers played an important role in its comeback.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT :00:10:10, :00:25:19]
[IN Q=I lost everything]

((SAM FOUAD/OWNER: I LOST EVERYTHING IN ONCE. IT WAS, IT SHOCKED WHEN I LOOK AND EVERYTHING WAS GONE. LIKE THIS, IT WAS GOING. BUT THANK GOD I FOUND HELP RIGHT AWAY.)) ((JOANN MAXEY/WAITRESS: I SEEN HIM WHILE I WAS HELPING. THEY WOULD COME IN AN ASK IF THEY CAN DO ANYTHING. THE SUPPORT IN DANVILLE HAS BEEN REALLY GOOD.))
[SUPER=01-Sam Fouad/Owner; :00]
[SUPER=01-JoAnn Maxey/Waitress; :09]
[RUNS=18]
[OUT Q=been really good]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


The owners have already started re-building in his original location.
The project should be completed in four or five months.
Firefighters still don't know what caused the fire.
The fire marshal says the damage was too extensive to determine the exact cause, but he does not suspect arson.
(------------)



[45WEATHER]


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


Checking your Thursday forecast now--
Expect sunshine, with clouds building later one.
Highs will be pleasant again, reaching the mid 50s.
[SUPER=X5000; SET DISSOLVE]
[SUPER=314-Sunny/Increasing Clouds/53-57/Cloudy/Chance of Rain/30-35;]
[SUPER=#555;RESET]

[ESS C] (EXTENDED)

[8-School-Info]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=School Info]


There's one school announcement to tell you about this morning. [TAKE SCHOOLWATCH FS] The Mount Rogers School in Grayson county is opening one hour late today.

[8-XGR]


[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=00-]
[GRAPHIC=State Of The Commonwealth]

[****ANCHOR TAG*****]
Virginia lawmakers are back to work in Richmond this week.
Last night, Governor Jim Gilmore addressed the 2001 General Assembly in his annual State of The Commonwealth address. Gilmore is standing firm on his plan to continue phasing out the car tax.
Ellen Qualls has the highlights.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I thought]
[SUPER=@Clement; :00]
[SUPER=03-Richmond; :11]
[SUPER=@Gilmore; :25]
[SUPER=@Edwards; :49]
[SUPER=@Griffith; 1:08 Quick]
[SUPER=@Jackson; 1:12]
[Super=@Ellen1; 1:30]
[RUNS=1:40]
[OUT Q=News 7 Richmond]
(([SOT 01:27:27]

((DEL. WHITT CLEMENT/D-DANVILLE: I THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT POLITICAL SPEECH. MIGHTY SHORT ON BEING ABLE TO BACK IT UP.)) [runs:06]
Even his critics say he's politically shrewd.
He blames the lagging economy on the Federal Reserve.
He says his cuts to state agencies will fund mental health priorities... NOT the car tax.
He borrows money to build colleges, so he can't be criticized for borrowing to cut taxes.
And he issues a stark challenge.
[sot HOUSE SPEECH 01:58:21]

((GOV. JIM GILMORE: AS I WAITED IN LINE THERE WAS THIS GIANT OF A WORKING MAN IN FRONT OF ME... DON'T LET THE CAR TAX COME BACK JUST BECAUSE THE ECONOMY IS DOWN.)) [runs:15]

[sot 01:37:24]

((SEN. JOHN EDWARDS: IN ORDER TO CONTINUE ROLLING BACK HE'S SACRIFICING TOO MANY OTHER THINGS. THAT'S WHERE HE'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAVE A PROBLEM...IN PARTICULAR IN THE SENATE. BOTH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS DO NOT THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA. NOW HE'S GONNA HAVE TO MAKE AN ALLIANCE WITH THE HOUSE REPUBLICANS IN ORDER TO GET HIS IDEAS THROUGH.)) [runs:16 ]
Salem's Morgan Griffith is the House Majority Leader.
[sot 01:40:07]

((DEL. MORGAN GRIFFITH/R-SALEM: I AGREE WITH THAT STATEMENT AND I GUESS THAT MAKES MY STATUS VERY IMPORTANT.)) [runs:04]
[sot 01:35:35]

((DEL. TOM JACKSON/D-HILLSVILLE: I DON'T THINK THIS BUDGET'S GOING TO GO VERY FAR AS HE'S PROPOSED IT. I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO BE DEMOCRATS THAT DO IT...KIND OF A MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING BY BOTH PARTIES THAT IT'S REALLY NOT WHAT'S BEST FOR THE FUTURE OF VIRGINIA.)) [runs:16]))
(-------------)
[Anchor=Kim]
[ss=none]


Governor Jim Gilmore will now spend much of next week in Washington, being installed as George W- Bush's hand-picked chairman of the Republican National Committee.

[8WEATHER]


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


Time once again to look at the Thursday forecast--
Sunshine early, then increasing clouds with highs near 55.

[SUPER=X5000; SET DISSOLVE]
[SUPER=314-Sunny/Increasing Clouds/53-57/Cloudy/Chance of Rain/30-35;]

[ESS C] (EXTENDED) [SUPER=#555;RESET]
by SS