WDBJ 7 news at 6 for 03/12/01

[1-News-Head]

[TALENT=Keith]

A half- billion dollar blueprint from the Governor to fix the budget and salvage the car tax. Gilmore was in Roan
oke today. We'll hear from him and others.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

And fire destroys several units at the Summit Apartment complex. We've got a live report from South Roanoke.
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[Sports-Head]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Tonight on News 7 Sports - the madness begins big time this Thursday. We'll have the opening round broadcast schedule for the NCAA tournament.
(--------------)
[VO NAT CON'T] And check in with the Tech women and UVa folks and get their thoughts on their dance partners.
(--------------)

[WX-Head]
[TALENT=Robin]
[SS=None]

What's this? Rain in the forecast. It covers the viewing area this evening. Details up next.
[open]
[SUPER=#4054; News 7 at Six Headline Banner]
[SUPER=@Keith1;]
[SUPER=@Mike1;]
[SUPER=@Robin1;]
[RUNS=:20]

[Video-Open]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=Video Open]

(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The budget is balanced]
((THE BUDGET IS BALANCED, THE CRISIS IS OVER.))
[RUNS=:04]
[OUT Q=the crisis is over.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Gov. Jim Gilmore says he has found the money to fill the gap, while Virginia Democrats renew their call for a special session of the legislature.
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[ANCHOR=Keith]
[GRAPHIC=News7at6]

Good evening, I'm Keith Humphry.

[Gilmore-Budget]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=Six]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=01-09 TC19:21]
[GRAPHIC=Jim Gilmore]

Governor Gilmore says he has identified more than 500 million dollars in savings that will cover the state's budget shortfall.
But tonight, Joe Dashiell reports the controversy surrounding the phaseout of the car tax, and Gilmore's stand-off with the State Senate isn't going away.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=By freezing capital construction]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]
[SUPER=@Gilmore; :16]
[SUPER=@Trumbo; :39]
[SUPER=@Joe2; :58]
[RUNS=1:09]
[OUT Q=JD News 7 Roanoke]

((By freezing capital construction, reducing state agency spending, and redirecting other revenues, he says the state can balance the budget without lay-off or severe cuts in services, and without compromising on the 70 percent phaseout of the car tax.
[SOT 12:48]
[IN Q=That wouldn't be a compromise]
[RUNS= :13]
[OUT Q=not at 69.]

There is still no provision for salary increases, and no money for local cultural agencies that depend upon the state for funding.
That troubles Fincastle Senator Bo Trumbo.
[SOT 28:07]
[IN Q=So the question is now]
[RUNS= :19]
[OUT Q=to do earlier.]

While Gilmore was leaving Roanoke, Virginia Democrats were calling for a special session to address the budget impasse...
But at this point, that still appears unlikely.
Joe Dashiell News 7 Roanoke))

[Summit-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6 p.m.]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=01-07]
[GRAPHIC=Fire Invest.]
Investigators are trying to determine what started a fire at a Roanoke apartment complex today. Shannon Young was there when at least four apartments went up in flames shortly after noon.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith and Shannon/Microwave]
She's there now with the latest. Shannon?
[LIVE=Shannon Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=@Shannon1;]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke;]
Keith, it didn't take long for the fast moving fire to char half the apartments in the building behind me. But there WAS enough time to get those in the building out.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=About the time many...]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]
[SUPER=01-Sharon Ball/Witness; :30 QUICK!!!]
[SUPER=01-Nadine Connelly/Fire Victim; :34 QUICK!!!]
[SUPER=01-Bobby Slayton/Roanoke Fire Chief; :48 QUICK!!!]
[RUNS=1:10]
[OUT Q=around me before.]
((About the time many people were preparing to cook lunch, something else at the Summit apartment complex was burning.

[SOT 4:00-4:04]
[IN Q=I JUST GOT WOKE UP 'CAUSE...]
((I just got woke up 'cause the the smoke alarm was going off.)) [RUNS:04]
[OUT Q=SMOKE ALARM WAS GOING OFF.]
A neighbor noticed some burning brush at the base of the building that housed aparments 171 though 180. She notified the manager's office and then went back to take a second look. That's when she realized the smoking pile had flared into an emergency and that fire crews needed to be called.
[SOT 2:08-2:12]
[IN Q=BY THE TIME THEY GOT UP...]
((BY THE TIME THEY GOT UP THE WHOLE SIDE WAS IN FLAMES AND GLASS WAS BLOWING.)) [RUNS:04]
[OUT Q=GLASS WAS BLOWING.]
[SOT=4:13-4:21]
[IN Q=I WAS GETTING MY PETS...]
((I WAS GETTING MY PETS AND THE APARTMENT WAS GETTING REAL SMOKY. THEN I SAW THE FLAMES UP THERE...)) [RUNS:08]
[OUT Q=I SAW THE FLAMES UP THERE.]
Smoke could be seen all the way from downtown.
[SOT=TAPE 2: 21:21:58-21:22:06]
[IN Q=IT WAS PRETTY WELL BUNCHED UP.]
((IT WAS PRETTY WELL BUNCHED UP AND THEN, WHEN IT BROKE THROUGH IT KINDA VENTED ITSELF... JUST LIKE A WOOD STOVE.)) [RUNS08]
[OUT Q=JUST LIKE A WOOD STOVE.]
Fire fighters searched the buildings for residents and evacuated three units. No people or pets were injured. But for those affected by the blaze, the memory of their home being devoured by the inferno won't be as easily extinguished.
[SOT=4:53-4:58]
[IN Q=I'M ALRIGHT. I'M JUST SHAKEN UP.]
((I'M ALRIGHT. I'M JUST SHAKEN UP. I MEAN, I'VE NEVER HAD ANYTHING CATCH ON FIRE AROUND ME BEFORE.)) [RUNS:05]
[OUT Q=ON FIRE AROUND ME BEFORE.]))
(-------------)
[LIVE=Shannon Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke;]
The Red Cross says 9 families (that's 15-people) were displaced by the fire. Four of those families have been given temporary food and clothing. The others may or may not know about the damage since they weren't home at the time.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Shannon and Keith/Microwave]

Fire investigators estimate the damage at 350-thousand dollars. Five of the ten apartments in the building have been declared "unliveable". Power to the building has been turned off but when it's turned back on those who live in the other five apartments will be allowed to move back home.

[Police-Shooting]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=00-53 TC1:34:50]
[GRAPHIC=Amherst Police Shooting]

State police say the D-U-I suspect who was shot by a state trooper last night apparently did "not" have a weapon on him.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Amherst Co./Last Night]

24- year- old Edgar Jermaine Harvey of Lynchburg was shot during a high- speed chase and foot pursuit in Madison Heights.
Trooper James Scott told investigators Harvey ignored instructions to stop and turned toward him and appeared to reach into his jacket for a weapon.
Scott shot Harvey in the shoulder.. he's still recovering at Lynchburg General Hospital.
Scott has been taken off road patrol duty while an investigation is completed.
Harvey faces charges of being an habitual offender and eluding police.
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[Hairston]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=01-03 TC1:13:46]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]

Jury selection began today for a capital murder case in Martinsville.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Martinsville/File Tape]

Michael Jerome Hairston is charged with capital murder and first degree murder for the shooting death of Evonne Hairston and her 16 year old daughter Melveena.
Prosecutors say the defendant shot Hairston during an argument and then turned the gun on her daughter.
Jury selection was still underway late this afternoon.
Testimony is set to begin tomorrow.
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[Tease#1]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=NONE]

More stores at Valley View Mall are closing their doors.
Some say it's a sign of things to come.
We'll check into that next on News 7 at Six.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]

And later get a glimpse of the future of the Standards of Learning-- on-line.
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[Valley-View]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=00-49 TC2:00:16]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Signs in Valley View mall are changing from "on sale" to "for lease."
One analysts says it's because strip malls are the latest craze, so stores inside the mall are being forced to move out. [2-SHOT]
News 7 business reporter Jennifer Miele is here now with that story.
[ANCHOR=Jennifer]
[SUPER=@jennifer1]

Keith, what's really interesting is why shoppers are turning their nose up at traditional malls and heading strait for strip malls these days.
The analyst we spoke to says its because Generation "Y" is now calling shots... so days of the baby boomers are drawing to a close.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=In the Roanoke area]
[SUPER=01-Ken Gassman/Retail Analyst;:00]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;:22]
[RUNS=1:09]
[OUT Q=think you were really crazy.]
(([00:04:17] ((IN THE ROANOKE AREA, YOU'LL SEE MALLS THAT HAVE A NUMBER OF FOR LEASE SINGS OUT FRONT OF THEM. THAT'S BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT CONSUMER DEMAND IS MOVING AWAY FROM MALLS AND TOWARD THE STRIP CENTERS.)) [RUNS12]
Being a mall these days is no picnic. Three stores at Valley View are going out of business... Bostonian, Paul Harris, and World of Science.
Analysts say it's because of the dawn of a new era... shoppers ages 40 to 4 are Generation "y".
Experts say they like strip malls because they like convenience and stores there are just plain cheap. [tc:00:06:10] ((GENERATION Y HOLDS THE PURSE STRINGS IN THE NEXT TWO TO THREE DECADES.)) [RUNS04]
The bulk of Gen "Y'ers" are around the age of 24. They're building homes, buying cars and having kids. For them WalMart is the latest craze.
But analysts are quick to remind Gen "Yer's" that things won't always stay the same. [00:05:33] ((IF YOU HAD ASKED YOUR GRANDFATHER IF SEARS WOULD NOT BE A DOMINANT MERCHANT,, HE WOULD HAVE LOOKED AT YOU LIKE YOU'RE CRAZY. AND IF YOU WOULD HAVE TOLD YOUR GRANDFATHER THAT MONTGOMERY WARD WOULD BE CLOSING ALL OF ITS STORES IN THE FIRST YEAR OF THE NEW MILLENNIUM, HE'D PROBABLY THINK YOU WERE REALLY CRAZY.)) [RUNS17]))
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Jennifer]

This isn't just a local trend, Keith, it's national. [2-SHOT]
So you can bet that new stores in and around Valley View are going to be catering to the Gen "Y'ers."
And Valley View has been able to replace most of the stores that left.

[Stocks]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]

A series of profit warnings sparked a huge sell-off on Wall Street. [TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5000;]
[SUPER=440-y/436.37/10208.25/y/129.39/1923.39;]

The DOW plunged 436 points, its fifth worst point-loss ever.
NASDAQ fell 129, closing below the two-thousand level for the first time since 1998.
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[VO]
[SUPER=271-i/0.18/46.46/i/0.94/22.67/i/0.88/51.62/i/0.77/19.34/i/0.07/8.72;]
[SUPER=272-i/1.69/65.20/i/2.20/31.05/i/1.35/43.85/i/4.21/39.60/i/0.92/37.10;]
[SUPER=273-i/0.22/24.73/i/0.39/17.34/i/0.44/9.56/i/2.15/49.60/h/0.19/11.00;]
[SUPER=274-i/2.66/63.55/i/0.74/55.90/i/0.28/47.46/i/1.91/60.23/i/2.47/48.31;]
[SUPER=#555; Reset]

[Corneal-Transplant]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=00-55 TC1:38:16]
[GRAPHIC=None]

For the first time in 57 years a local man is finding out what it's like to see out of his left eye.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Radford]

Jack Gillispie had a corneal transplant about a month ago.
Doctors replaced the cornea, the transparent front part of his eye -- with one from a donor.
Gillispie was six years old when punctured his eye with a pair of scissors and lost his vision.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT52:25]
[IN Q=You just can't image after all those]
((JACK GILLISPIE: YOU JUST CAN'T IMAGE AFTER ALL THOSE YEARS LOOKING AT SOMEBODY OUT OF AN EYE YOU'VE NEVER SEEN OUT OF BEFORE))
[SUPER=01-Jack Gillispie/Transplant Recipient]
[RUNS=14]
[OUT Q=seen out of before]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Doctor Tedd Puckett says anyone can be a potential candidate for a transplant-- as long as the nerve in the eye and retina are normal.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT1:11:35]
[IN Q=There is reallly no limit to]
((DR. TEDD PUCKETT: THERE IS REALLY NO LIMIT TO THE VISION THE PATIENT WILL GET BACK. MANY PATIENTS WILL SEE 20-20 IF THERE EYE HAS THE POTENTIAL))
[SUPER=01-Dr. Tedd Puckett/Corneal Surgeon]
[RUNS=07]
[OUT Q=eye has the potential]
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[VO-NAT]

Last year more than 46-thousand Americans had their sight restored by a corneal transplant.
Old Dominion Eye Bank says there is always a need for donors.
(---------------------)

[SOL-Web]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=01-01 TC1:40:58]
[GRAPHIC=SOL's]
[***ANCHOR TAG***]
Students who take the SOL's will soon have to trade their pencils for a keyboard.
Thats because students will one day take the test on-line.
This new method promises quicker test results and exposure to new technology.
But as Danville Bureau Chief Justin McLeod shows us the world wide web can lead to a world of security concerns.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 16:33:33]
[IN Q=Nat sound]
[SUPER=03-Martinsville; :00]
[SUPER=01-Ubiad Haq/Student; :15]
[SUPER=01-Sarah Susbury/VA Dept. of Education; :39]
[SUPER=01-Jody Dalton/Martinsville High School; :53]
[SUPER=@justin1; 1:17]
[RUNS=1:31]
[OUT Q=News 7, Martinsville]
((((NAT SOUND OF TESTER TALKING ABOUT GEOMETRIC SYMBOLS))
Students will soon have to master more than complicated math problems, they'll also have to master a new way of answering them.
The state plans to implement online SOL testing.
[SOT 16:42:20]
[IN Q=I think its a good]
((UNBAID 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.)) [Runs06]
[OUT Q=with the technology]

That new technology is being tested at several schools across the state including Martinsville High School.
Here's how it works.
Students log in using an id number and password.
The content from the test remains the same.
The only difference? Students answer by clicking a mouse rather than shading in a circle.
[SOT 16:34:43]
[IN Q=One of the main points]
((SARAH SUSBURY/VA DEPT OF EDUCATION: ONE OF THE MAIN POINTS IS TO BE ABLE TO GET INFORMATION BACK MORE QUICKLY.)) [Runs05]
[OUT Q=more quickly]

But that involves adding several security measures.
Students will take the test on secure severers.
But what happens if a computer crashes or the power goes out?
[SOT 16:39:35]
[IN Q=I think there are some contigency]
((JODY DALTON/MARTINSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL: I THINK THERE ARE SOME CONTIGENCY IN PLACE THAT THE TEST WILL NOT BE LOST IF WE LOSE POWER FOR A SHORT LENGTH OF TIME. THEY ARE TRYING TO PLAN FOR ANY TYPE OF EMERGENCY LIKE THAT SO WE DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM.)) [Runs12]
[OUT Q=have a problem]

Students may also have a problem such as figuring out how to use the online caculator or graphing tools.
Thats why State Education officials believe testing beforehand is the key to success. (shot of typing)
[SOT 16:44:02]
[IN Q=Right now, administrators and teachers]
((JUSTIN McLEOD/REPORTING: RIGHT NOW, ADMINISTRATORS AND TEACHERS ARE TESTING OUT OF THE NEW SOL'S. STUDENTS GET THEIR CHANCE NEXT WEEK. THE GOAL IS TO HAVE EVENTUALLY TO HAVE EVERY HIGH SCHOOL DOING IT FOR REAL WITHIN TWO YEARS. JUSTIN McLEOD, NEWS 7, MARTINSVILLE.)) [Runs14]
[OUT Q=News 7, Martinsville]))
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[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=HOLD]

Martinsville High School is showing off online SOL testing tonight.
Demonstrations go on until 7:30 in the Media Center.

[Sports Tease]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]

Coming up tonight on News 7 sports, a rundown of the March Madness with the broadcast schedule and words from UVa.
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[VO-NAT]
Plus, the Tech seniors talk about extending their season in Texas.
(------------)

[S-Cavs]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-86]
[GRAPHIC=Final 4]

This week, the UVa men and women begin their roads to the final four. The men play Gonzaga Friday in the South Region, the women play Michigan Saturday. Steve Mason has more from C-ville.
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[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"]
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[S-WDBJ]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]
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[WIPE TO PINNACLE FRIDAY NIGHT] And bosses beware - there will be a number of extended lunch hours this Friday as the UVa-Gonzaga game tips off right here on WDBJ-7 this shortly after high noon. Also, Friday afternoon the Tennessee Vols battle UNC Charlotte after the UVa contest.
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[WIPE TO PINNACLE THURSDAY AFTERNOON] The March Madness really begins Thursday afternoon at 12:10 with the streaking Kentucky Wildcats taking on Holy Cross.
Maryland and George Mason will follow at three here on Your Hometown Station.
(---------------)
[WIPE TO PINNACLE THURSDAY NIGHT] Then Thursday night Duke takes on Monmouth at 7:30 followed by the Iowa State - Hampton game. Of course you also will get bonus look-in coverage of other games each day.
(---------------)

[S-Coaches]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=SOUTH CAROLINA]
The Madness isn't always a positive thing. South Carolina wasn't good enough to get into the big dance this year with a 15-and-14 record. Today Eddie Fogler was told he was no longer needed. He spent the last 8 years in Columbia, and will receive $750 thousand as a contract buyout.

[S-Lancers]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=LONGWOOD]
Former UVa big man Colin Ducharme, excelled on the division two level this season at Longwood. Today Ducharme was named the runner-up for national player of the year honors in all of D-2. He also was named a first team all-American today by Basketball Time magazine Ducharme averaged 20 points and 16 rebounds, four blocks and three assists a game this year while shooting 60 percent from the floor.

[S-Hokies]

[ANCHOR=Denise]
[NEWSCAST=Six]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=sp-82 tc 1:23:50]
[GRAPHIC=women's final four 6635]

The 25th ranked Virginia Tech women are headed to Lubbock, Texas, for 6:30 tip off against Denver on Friday.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg/Yesterday;]

The two schools have never met. The Pioneers are 24 and eight and received an at large bid after losing to Louisiana Tech in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament Finals.
For two Hokie seniors, the who and where isn't as important as just being to keep playing.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=it's been]
[SUPER=01-Amy Wetzel/5th Year Senior; :00]
[SUPER=01-Tere Williams/Va. Tech Senior; :14]
[RUNS=23]
[OUT Q=atmosphere]
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[GRAPHIC=hold]

The Liberty women are headed to Athens, Georgia, for a date with the East region second seed Georgia Bulldogs.

[S-Race]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=sp-85]
[GRAPHIC=nascar]

The NASCAR Winston Cup season took an unexpected turn yesterday as Dale Earnhardt's replacement driver won in just his third start. Check out these comments Kevin Harvick and his car owner made the day he was name Dale's replacement.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Kevin is a...]
[SUPER=10-Richard Childress/Harvick's Car Owner/Feb. 23; :00]
[SUPER=03-Hampton, GA/Fox; :10]
[SUPER=10-Kevin Harvick/Goodwrench Chevy Driver/Feb. 23; :20]
[RUNS=:31]
[OUT Q=...OUR FIRST RACE."]
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[Promo]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]
20 new Fire and E-M-S employees are joining the payroll in Roanoke County.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The employees have not been told where they'll be assigned. Tonight-- residents of Mount Pleasant will meet with Roanoke County officials. They want to ensure their community is not ignored.
(------------)
[anchor=Keith]
[ss=None]
The meeting will be at seven P-M at Mount Pleasant Elementary school. We'll have reaction tonight on NEWS 7 at eleven.