[News-Heads]

[ANCHOR=Jean]

[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=jja]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]


Coming up on News 7-
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


A gun is fired at a parking lot of a Roanoke school today-
Well over one hundred people come out tonight- They're worried that firefighters won't be able to get their house fast enough.
And fire in Roanoke- Tonight nine families are homeless.
(------------)
[Talent=Jean]


News 7 is up next.

[Video-Open]


[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=jja]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]



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


Many questions.. very few answers tonight after a military mistake- An American crew attacks one of its own.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Jean]
[SS=News 7 at Eleven]


Good evening...

[Navy-bombing]


[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=jja]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=News 7 at Eleven]


Pentagon officials are already trying to figure out how a training exercise could have gone so wrong....
Five american soldiers and one from New Zealand are dead after the accidental bombing.
It happened over Kuwait- as Teri Okita reports
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=04-File Tape; :00]
[SUPER=@Warner; :53]
[SUPER=01-Teri Okita/Reporting; 1:20]
[RUNS=1:35]
[OUT Q=standard outcue.]

((THE F-18 WAS ON A JOINT U-S-KUWAITI EXERCISE OF "CLOSE AIR SUPPORT"...AT THIS DESERT RANGE IN KUWAIT...WHERE FOR YEARS-- AMERICAN TROOPS HAVE PRACTICED. THE NAVY HORNET TOOK OFF FROM THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER-- USS HARRY TRUMAN IN THE PERSIAN GULF... AND ACCORDING TO THE PENTAGON-- MISTAKENLY DROPPED ITS 500-POUND BOMB ON OR NEAR THE VERY OBSERVATION POST TRYING TO GUIDE IT. PRESIDENT BUSH WAS IN FLORIDA-- TALKING TO MILITARY AUDIENCE AT THE TIME OF THE BOMBING: THE TRAINING GROUND IS IN THE NORTHWEST...LESS THAN 30-MILES FROM THE BORDER WITH IRAQ. IT WAS AFTER 7:OO AT NIGHT...WHICH MEANS IT WAS DARK AND THE PILOT WOULD'VE BEEN WEARING NIGHT VISION GOGGLES LIKE THESE-- TO HELP HIM PICK OUT THE TARGET. SEN. JOHN WARNER/R-CHMN., ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE FROM WHAT I KNOW THIS IS A SKILLED AVIATOR....A SERIOUS ERROR IN JUDGEMENT. THE U-S MILITARY HAS BEEN IN KUWAIT SINCE THE ALLIES DROVE OUT THE IRAQI ARMY DURING THE GULF WAR IN 1991. ITS PRESENCE THERE IS MEANT AS A DETERRENT TO IRAQ.))

[Fleming-Gun]


[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=jha]
[TAPE#=00-54 TC1:33:41]
[GRAPHIC=None]


Roanoke Police are searching for a William Fleming student who fired a gun on campus today.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]


A police spokesperson says the student fired a gun in the school's parking lot during extra-curricular activities between five and six o'clock tonight.
The student did not point the gun at anyone or hit anyone.
Police have not released the student's name.
(------------)



[Bedford-Budget]


[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=01-13 TC03:12]
[GRAPHIC=Bedford Taxes]


Paying school teachers more money could mean higher taxes in Bedford County.. but not as high as originally feared.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford]


The board of supervisors tonight voted to advertise a proposed real estate tax hike of eight cents.. that would bring the rate to 75 cents for every hundred dollars of assessed value.
That would generate more than two and a half million dollars in new revenue which would go directly to the school system.
But educators had been asking for twice that amount.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 12:34:32]
[IN Q=The key thing]

((ROBERT BASHORE/BEDFORD CO. SUPERVISOR: THE KEY THING WILL BE TO SET PRIORITIES ON THE HIGHEST, MOST- NEEDED ITEMS AND THEN JUST GO FROM THERE. IT SEEMS AS IF THERE'S ALWAYS MORE NEED THAN THERE IS RESOURCES.))
[SUPER=01-Robert Bashore/Bedford Co. Supervisor; :00]
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q=there is resources.]
(--------------)
[VO-NAT]


Supervisor Dale Wheeler doesn't want to increase taxes at all.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 12:33:43]
[IN Q=You don't hear]

((DALE WHEELER/BEDFORD CO. SUPERVISOR: YOU DON'T HEAR A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE SCREAMING FOR A TAX INCREASE. ESPECIALLY WHEN WE HAVE THAT MUCH NEW REVENUE TO PASS AROUND. I THINK WE WOULD DO VERY WELL AS IS, THAT'S PRETTY GOOD TOWARDS CATCHING UP.))
[SUPER=01-Dale Wheeler/Bedford Co. Supervisor]
[RUNS=14]
[OUT Q=towards catching up.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Eight cents is only the advertised rate hike.. the board could decide on a lower figure or no tax hike at all.
A public hearing on the budget is set for April 5th.
(------------)



[Gilmore-Budget]


[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=01-09 TC20:46]
[GRAPHIC=VA Budget]


Governor Jim Gilmore says the state's budget is balanced. And the crisis is over.
But others fear his standoff with the State Senate will have a lasting impact on the Commonwealth.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]


Gilmore met with reporters in Roanoke this afternoon, during a fly-around tour of the state.
He said he's identified enough savings to balance the budget without layoffs or severe cuts in services... and without retreating from the next installment of the car tax cut.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 00:16:19]
[IN Q=It was the Senate]

((IT WAS THE SENATE THAT AGREED TO THIS SCHEDULE OF THE CAR TAX CUT. IT IS THE SENATE WHICH IS NOW RENEGING ON THAT. THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ANYTHING NATIONAL OF ANY KIND. THIS HAS TO DO WITH THE TRUST OF THE PEOPLE OF VIRGINIA.))
[SUPER=@Gilmore; ]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=of the people of Virginia.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


There is still no provision for teacher, faculty or employee raises. And no money for local cultural agencies that depend upon the state for funding.
Fincastle Senator Bo Trumbo says he fears the long-term impact of the cuts and believes most Virginians support the Senate's position on the car tax.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 00:29:47]
[IN Q=They recognize that it's not]

((THEY RECOGNIZE THAT IT'S NOT A TAX INCREASE BY TAKING IT TO 55 PERCENT. THEY RECOGNIZE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO GET MORE MONEY BECAUSE IT WAS 47 1/2 PERCENT. AND THEY'RE WILLING TO DELAY IT BECAUSE THE REVENUES JUST AREN'T THERE.))
[SUPER=@Trumbo;]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=the revenues just aren't there.]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Jean]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]


Today, Virginia Democrats blamed the state's troubles on Republican infighting, and party officials renewed their call for a special session of the General Assembly to resolve the budget impasse.
Right now, that doesn't appear likely.

[Wall-Street]


[ANCHOR=JEan]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=jha]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=Wall Street]

The market took a sharp plunge today. And for investors- it wasn't an easy thing to watch.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-New York, NY]

The Dow dropped 430 points and Nasdaq closed below the two-thousand mark for the first time in more than 2 years. Weak corporate earnings have spooked the markets and analysts predict earnings will fall more.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Technology is]

((CHUCK HILL/ANALYST; TECHNOLOGY IS NOW SUCH A BIG PART OF THE ECONOMY THAT TECHNOLOGY ITSELF MAYBE WHAT GIVES US THE FINAL SHOVE INTO RECESSION OVERALL.))
[SUPER=01-Chuck Hill/Analyst]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=into recession overall]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

A deepening recession in Japan has Wall Street worried too. And with the U-S market in trouble, the future remains cloudy.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=We don't think]

((JIM WEISS//STATE STREET RESEARCH: WE DON'T THINK THERE'S A DISASTER OUT THERE. BUT IT IS QUITE POSSIBLE WHEN THE DUST CLEARS WE WON'T LIKE WHAT WE SEE.))
[SUPER=01-Jim Weiss/State Street Research]
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=like what we see]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Analysts say it could months before the picture starts to clear.
(-------------)



[Valley-View]


[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=00-49 TC2:01:39]
[GRAPHIC=None]


Even malls are struggling with the slowing economy.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]


Three stores at Valley View are going out of business -- Bostonian, Paul Harris and World of Science.
Analysts say shoppers are turning away from high prices at malls and heading straight for cheaper stores in strip malls.
Stores like WalMart and Best Buy are becoming favorites for Generation "Y"... those are shoppers under the age of 40.
They are buying homes and cars, and having kids.
Analysts say Gen "Y-ers" will control the economy for the next two to three decades.
(------------)



[Mount-Pleasant]


[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=01-016 TC1:24:03]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Roanoke County will be getting 20 new fire and E-M-S workers. But none of the new hires will be assigned to the Mount Pleasant Community. Tonight-- well over a hundred residents turned out to show their objections to county officials.
[TWO-SHOT=JEAN and TERESA;]

Teresa Hamilton attended the meeting. Is the county planning to reassign anyone? Jean, the county is not planning to make any changes.
[ANCHOR=TERESA]
[SUPER=@Teresa1;]

County officials say the call volume and population simply doesn't support having any additional personnel in Mount Pleasant... a position that isn't sitting well with residents in that community.
(///SOT///)
[SOT 01:39:14]
[IN Q=You give us]

((YOU GIVE US NOTHING FOR THE MONEY THAT WE PAY IN TAXES. APPLAUSE))
[SUPER=01-Ona Early/Mt. Pleasant Resident; :00]
[RUNS=05]
[OUT Q= APPLAUSE.]
(--------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]

Ona Early is one of several people who voiced their concerns before Roanoke County officials. Residents argue that their community is growing and also has an aging population.
(//////SOT/////)
[sot 01:45:06]
[in q=I'm 59 ]

((TOMMY DUNCAN/MT. PLEASANT RESIDENT: I'M 59 AND I GOT HEART PROBLEMS AND OTHER PROBLEMS AND SURE IT'S AN ISSUE FOR ME AND THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE A LOT OLDER THAN ME.))
[SUPER=01-Tommy Duncan/Mt. Pleasant Resident;]
[RUNS=08]
[OUT Q=than me.]
(---------)
[VO-NAT]

What angers residents even more-- is that the county also plans to reassign Mount Pleasant's only paid position to another community. County officials say Vinton and Clearbrook would be able to step in when volunteers were unable.
(//////SOT/////)
[sot 01:42:03]
[in q=Monday morning]

((MONDAY MORNING WE HAD AN EMS CALL THE CAREER GUY GOT HERE IN 2- MINUTES, IT TOOK VINTON'S AMBULANCE OVER EIGHT MINUTES TO GET HERE.))
[SUPER=01-Robert Early/Mt. Pleasant Assist. Fire Chief;]
[runs=12]
[out q= get here.]
(------------)
[ANCHOR=TERESA]

The plan proposed by Roanoke County's fire and E-M-S chief will be presented to the board of supervisors tomorrow.
Other communities which would also NOT benefit under the plan-- include Catawba, Bent Mountain, Read Mountain and Cave Spring-- which will get to keep its current 13 paid spots.
[TWO-SHOT=JEAN and TERESA]

Jean, a supervisor tonight said perhaps now is the time to consider charging residents' insurance companies for rescue calls in the county.
[Tease1]
[ANCHOR=Jean]
[writer=chr]
[NEWSCAST=11p]
[SS=None]


While folks in Mount Pleasant hope for more E-M-S personnel...
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]

residents of a Roanoke apartment complex had to call on them today.
The latest on the fire at The Summit when News 7 returns.
(-------------)



[Sports-Preview]


[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=MST]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]



(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Hey Folks...]
[RUNS=:27]
[OUT Q=....THE BIG 7"]
(---------------)

((Hey folks this is Mike Stevens back in the News 7 Sports office on this Monday night with the maddening happening of March as we check in with the UVa men and women in Charlottesville and get up close and a little too personal with the Harlem Globetrotters - who were in Salem tonight. Plus, Primetime is stroking it again - this time in St. Petersburg. Tonight on the Big 7.))

[Summit-Fire]


[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=jja]
[TAPE#=01-07 TC47:02]
[GRAPHIC=Fire Invest.]

[***Anchor tag***]
Fire at a Roanoke apartment complex today- leaves more than a dozen people without a home tonight-
Now the investigation is on to figure out what caused the blaze.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; 00]
[SUPER=01-Sharon Ball/Summit Resident; 12]
[SUPER=01-Nadine Connelly/Summit Resident; 37 quick!!!]
[RUNS=1:18]
[OUT Q=anything catch fire on mebefore.]

(( The Fire broke out at lunchtime at the Summit apartments- off Route 220- Flames shot through the roof.
Karen Ball was on her way home for lunch when she spotted smoke. KAREN BALL: I WAS COMING OT LET MY DOGS OUT AND I SAW SMOKE SO I INVESTIGATED AND SAW A TRAIL OF FIRE.
That trail of fire soon took off- before firefighters could get there, the blaze was out of control. BY THE TIME THEY GOT THERE THE WHOLE SIDE WAS UP AND THE GLASS WAS BLOWING
One woman was sleeping at the time- she says a smoke detector woke her up. NADINE CONNELLY: I WAS GETTING MY PETS AND THE APARTMENT GOT REAL SMOKY.. I GOT OUT.
Everyone got out safely... so did all the pets- But many apartments are gone.
Five units on one side of the building are unlivable-
Those who live in the five apartments on the other side of the building are also being kept out until the power is turned back on. JEAN JADHON/NEWS 7: IT'S POSSIBLE THIS FIRE STARTED OUTSIDE THE BUILDING WITNESSES AT THE SCENE SAID THEY SAW WHAT THEY THOUGHT WAS BRUSH FIRE UNDERNEATH ONE OF THE BALCONIES.
Fire investigators say they don't know yet though what caused the blaze- the fire marshal's been called in to check it out.
Meanwhile many residents are struggling to keep their emotions in check - I'M ALRIGHT I'M IN SHOCK UP UNTIL I'VE NEVER HAD ANYTHING CATCH FIRE BEFORE.))
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Jean]
[SS=HOLD]


Nine families- fifteen people in all are without a home tonight- The Red Cross is helping those who need it.

[Phone-Scam]


[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Scam]


Bedford cops are warning residents about a phone scam that's cost one victim thousands of dollars.
Officers say at least two people have received phone calls saying they've won a large amount of money, but they need to send a cash installment to cover the taxes.
One victim lost three thousand dollars to the scheme.
Police say the calls originate in Canada and are extremely hard to investigate.

[Puff-Daddy]


[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=jha]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Combs]

Closing statements today in the case against rapper Sean "Puffy" Combs-- Lawyers for Combs say witnesses against their client lied because of money.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-New York, NY]

Today, Combs' lawyer said the witnesses who testified against Combs just wanted to make money. Combs' attorney is referring to the billions of dollars worth of lawsuits that have been filed against Combs since the 1999 nightclub shooting that injured three people. Combs is accused of possessing a gun and bribery. Ealier today in a surprise admission - co-defendant Jamaal "Shyne" Barrow's lawyer said that Barrow fired a gun that night - but it was in self defense.
(------------)


[Tease2]
[ANCHOR=Jean]
[writer=chr]
[NEWSCAST=11p]
[SS=None]


The Standards of Learning move into the Internet Age.
Get a glimpse of the future-- when News 7 returns.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]


And see how one man regained his eyesight thanks to a corneal transplant.
(----------------)



[Corneal-Transplant]


[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=01-04 TC42:52]
[GRAPHIC=None]


For most of his life he's only been able to see out of his right eye-- but a month ago all that changed for one man.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Now for the first time in 57 years, Jack Gillispie can see out of both of eyes, because he had a corneal transplant.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT55:06]
[IN Q=It's amazing to me]

((JACK GILLISPIE/TRANSPLANT RECIPIENT: IT'S AMAZING TO ME BE TO BE ABLE TO SEE ANYTHING. I'M PROUD EVEN IF I DON'T GET ANYMORE))
[SUPER=01-Jack Gillispie/Transplant Recipient]
[RUNS=07]
[OUT Q=don't get anymore]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Doctors say many patients who have a corneal transplant will end up with 20-20 vision.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT1:13:45]
[IN Q=Any condition that scars the surface]

((DR. TEDD PUCKETT/CORNEAL SURGEON: ANY CONDITION THAT SCARS THE SURFACE OF EYE CAN JUST ABOUT BE IMPROVED. THE MORE COMMON ARE COLD SORES OF THE EYE -- POST INJURY TYPES OF SCARING OR DEGENERATIONS OF THE WINDOW OF THE EYE.))
[SUPER=01-Dr. Tedd Puckett/Corneal Surgeon]
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q=of the window of the eye]
(-----------------)
[VO-NAT]


Old Dominion Eye Bank says the donation of just one eye can help 10 people.
As part of the Eye donor month --the organization is encouraging people to become organ and tissue donors.
(------------)



[SOL-Web]


[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=01-01 TC1:42:42]
[GRAPHIC=SOL's ]


The SOL's are about to go high tech.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Martinsville]


Students will soon take the standards of learning test online.
Educators believe this new method will provide quicker results and expose kids to new technology.
The state hopes to have all high school students taking the test online within two years.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 16:36:07]
[IN Q=The testing environment is not]

((SARAH SUSBURY/VA DEPT. OF EDUCATION: THE TESTING ENVIRONMENT IS NOT THAT MUCH DIFFERENT IN THE SENSE OF THE CONTENT BUT IT WOULD BE DIFFERENT IN TERMS OF HOW THEY ARE SEEING IT.)) ((UBAID HAQ/STUDENT: I THINK ITS A GOOD IDEA SINCE WE ARE MOVING INTO A NEW MILLENIUM AND WE NEED TO KEEP UP WITH THE TECHNOLOGY.))
[SUPER=01-Sarah Susbury/VA Dept. of Education; :00]
[SUPER=01-Ubaid Haq/Student; :08]
[RUNS=14]
[OUT Q=up with the new technology]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Eventually, kids as young as elementary age will take the test online.
Right now, the state is testing the new technology at eight schools across the state including Martinsville High School.
(------------)



[S-Extra]


[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=EXTRA]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]

March Madness thoughts from the Tech women and the UVa men, along with the WDBJ-7 NCAA broadcast schedule are on the way along with tonight's madness with the Harlem Globetrotters. But first in tonight's Extra Point -
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=75-St. Petersburg, FL; :00]

Primetime Deion Sanders is still contemplating returning to the Redskins next season while he takes his cuts in preseason for the Reds. Today against the Devil Rays, Deion went one for 2 for a single. But the not so big Red machine lost today to the Ray 7-to-0 nothing in St. Pete.
(------------)

[GO TO SCORES]
(--------------)

[MOTION]
[SUPER=#556]
[SUPER=X5028;]
[SUPER=0096-/Miami/77/j/Minnesota/94////Chicago/94/j/Charlotte/102///;]
[SUPER=X5009;]
[SUPER=0096-/L.A. Clippers/81/j/San Antonio/99////Denver/32//Golden State/24/2//;]
[SUPER=X5031;]
[SUPER=0103-/Pittsburgh/3//N.Y. Rangers/3//Final In Overtime//Montreal/0//San Jose/0/1//;]
[SUPER=x5012;]
[SUPER=0095-/Richmond/4/j/Virginia Tech/5//Baseball//Liberty/2/j/Wisconsin/5///Softball/;]
[RUNS=:20]
[OUT Q=...last score."]
(-------------)


[S-Trotters]


[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-92]
[GRAPHIC=NEWS 7 SPORTS]

Since 1927, the Harlem Globetrotters have been canvassing the world with their magical brand of basketball and entertaining fans of all ages. Last night, the Trotters brought their road show to the Salem Civic Center and played in front of a packed house. News 7 photographer Matt Neese and intern reporter Kara Rucker give us a taste of some of tonight's sights and sounds.

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=FIRST AUDIO]
[SUPER=03-Salem; :00]
[RUNS=1:17]
[OUT Q=...BACK TO YOU."]
(--------------)



[S-Cavs]


[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-86]
[GRAPHIC=Final 4]


The UVa men are getting set for their first ever trip to the NCAA tournament under Pete Gillen. The Cavs get tournament tested Gonzaga in their opening game in the South region on Friday. Yesterday they got a lesson in proper preparation from the UVa women's team.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=first audio]
[SUPER=03-Charlottesville; :00]
[SUPER=01-Pete Gillen/8-8 in NCAA Tournament Play; :24]
[SUPER=01-Keith Friel/UVa Senior Guard; 1:15]
[SUPER=01-Donald Hand/UVa Senior Point Guard; 1:24]
[SUPER=@Steve1; 1:35]
[RUNS=1:45]
[OUT Q=...News 7 sports"]
(--------)



[S-WDBJ]


[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]
(---------------)

[WIPE TO PINNACLE THURSDAY AFTERNOON] The March Madness kicks into high gear Thursday afternoon at 12:10 here on WDBJ-7 with the Kentucky Wildcats taking on Holy Cross. The Maryland Terrapins battle George Mason in the second game Thursday afternoon.
(---------------)

[WIPE TO PINNACLE THURSDAY NIGHT] Then Thursday night Duke takes on Monmouth at 7:30 followed by Iowa State & Hampton. The Hampton Pirates are in the big dance for the first time in school history.
(---------------)

[WIPE TO PINNACLE FRIDAY NIGHT] And as Steve said the UVa-Gonzaga game tips off right here on WDBJ-7 Friday -shortly after high noon. And right after that game the Tennessee Vols battle UNC Charlotte.
(---------------)



[S-Roanoke]


[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=ROANOKE LAX]


The Roanoke College men's lacrosse team is up to 13th in the nation in the brand new division three poll. That's an upward move of one place from last week for the 2-and-0 Maroons who play Cortland State tomorrow.

[S-Coaches]


[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-97 11540TC]
[GRAPHIC=SOUTH CAROLINA]

South Carolina wasn't good enough to get into the big dance this year with a 15-and-14 record. And today head coach Eddie Fogler was told that the contract extension he coveted wasn't going to happen. Fogler will leave the Gamecocks after this year's NIT.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="hE WAS NOT...]
[SUPER=01-Mike McGee/South Carolina A. D.; :00]
[SUPER=01-Eddie Fogler/Resigns at South Carolina; :12]
[RUNS=:26]
[OUT Q=..good head coach here."]
(---------)
[talent=mike]
[graphic=hold sc]

Fogler didn't get the rollover of his contract but he will get a $750 thousand dollar settlement.




[S-Tech]


[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=11PM]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=sp-90 tc 1:15:56]
[GRAPHIC=]


After receiving a bid to the NC-Double-A Tournament, the Virginia Tech Women have broken the Top 25 for the first time this season.
Tech is tied for 25th in the Associated Press poll with Arizona State.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg/Yesterday;]


The Hokies found out yesterday they will be playing Denver in Lubbock, Texas.
Tech is a seventh seed in the Mideast region. However, Big East foe Villanova is a fifth seed in the East region even though the Hokies beat the Wildcats twice.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Villanova's]
[SUPER=01-Bonnie Henrickson/Va. Tech Head Coach;]
[RUNS=11]
[OUT Q=as much]
(----------------)
[anchor=mike]
[ss=WOMEN'S FINAL FOUR]

The Tech women's game against the Pioneers will tip-off at 6:30 eastern time. The Liberty and UVA women also must hit the road for their first round game. Liberty plays the Georgia Bulldogs, while the UVa women take on Michigan in South Bend, Indiana.

[S-Express]


[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=Roanoke Express]

It's been nearly a month, a college basketball tournament and a car show ago, but the Roanoke Express finally returns to the Roundhouse tonight for the team's first home game since February 19th. The Express hosts Toledo tonight in a 7 o'clock faceoff.
by SS