WDBJ 7 news at 5 for 03/27/01

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[VO-NAT]

Today on News 7 at 5, a merger is approved .. a decision that could determine where a controversial gas pipeline is built.
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[ANCHOR=Jean]

And Kroger workers vote on a new contract.

[Weather-Head]
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Today, sunshine and 40s. Tomorrow, sunshine and 50s. The rather simple weather forecast is coming up.

[Medical-Head]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
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On Healthcheck, something to sleep on .. a new study says we don't sleep enough .. with bad results.
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[VO-NAT]

And bad results for women. They're becoming a much bigger percentage of smokers who die.
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[ANCHOR=Jean]

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[IN Q=You can't make everybody happy]
((YOU CAN'T MAKE EVERYBODY HAPPY, AND OVERALL IT'S A GOOD CONTRACT.))
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[OUT Q=and overall, it's a good contract.]
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[VO-NAT]

Kroger employees in central and western Virginia approve a new contract by an overwhelming margin.
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Good Evening, I'm Jean Jadhon

[5-Kroger]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
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[TAPE#=500-8 1:52:18]
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Members of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union ratified the four- year agreement during a meeting this morning.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem]

They came by the busload to the Salem Civic Center... and 85 percent voted to accept the new contract.
Wages and health benefits were at the top of workers' agenda.
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[IN Q=Our insurance is important]
((JEANNIE BURGESS/KROGER EMPLOYEE: OUR INSURANCE IS IMPORTANT AND WE GET TO KEEP OUR INSURANCE, AND I THINK THAT'S VERY BENEFICIAL TO ALL OF US.)) ((JIM LOWTHERS/LOCAL 400 PRESIDENT: WE APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT KROGER WAS WILLING TO WORK WITH US TO TRY TO RESOLVE ISSUES AND WE THINK THEY DID IT IN A REASONABLE FASHION, AND OBVIOUSLY OUR FOLKS ARE PLEASED.))
[SUPER=01-Jeannie Burgess/Kroger Employee; :00]
[SUPER=01-Jim Lowthers/Local 400 President; :08]
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[OUT Q=obviously our folks are pleased.]
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[VO-NAT]

U-F-C-W Local 400 represents 45- hundred clerks and meatcutters employed at 49 Kroger stores in Virginia, West Virginia and Tennessee. The new contract takes effect immediately.

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[ANCHOR=Jean]
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A merger between two gas companies is approved... that means money for a new gas pipeline is now available.
The State Corporation Commission today approved a merger between Virginia Gas and New Jersey-based N-U-I.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]

The newly merged company is now financially able to build a gas pipeline through South Western Virginia.
Those who oppose construction of a new pipeline say they'll continue to fight it.
They are demanding that N-U-I build a new pipeline alongside an existing one instead of clear cutting a new route.
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[5-Death-Penalty]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
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We've seen it happen before- inmates with mental retardation- sent to their execution.
But that may change-
Jennifer Jones has more from the U-S Supreme Court.
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[SUPER=01-Johnny Penry/Death Row Inmate;]
[SUPER=01-Robert Smith/Penry's Attorney;]
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[Super=01-Jennifer Jones/CBS News;]
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[OUT Q=CBS News, Washington.]
(( As Johnny Paul Penry sits on death row in Texas The US Supreme court is reconsidering a 1989 ruling based on Penry's case that killers who are mentally retarded can be executed. Johnny Penry/Death Row Inmate I asked someone why Im here and they tell me Ive been a bad boy thats all I know. Penry... who has the mind of a 7-year old.... was sentenced to death for the 1979 murder of a 22-year-old woman. Robert Smith/Penrys Attorney Theres something wrong about giving this very severe, this horrifying punishment to someone whose mental state is so much weaker than yours and mine. The justices are considering two issues. First how jurors must consider the mental capacity of a defendant and secondly they must decide if executing the mentally retarded is cruel and unusual punishment. They will use the case of North Carolina death-row inmate Ernest McCarver to weigh their decision. The court recently stayed his execution and that of Antonio Richardson of Missouri both considered mentally retarded. But to reverse the 1989 ruling would mean sparing the life of Johnny Paul PenryHis victims brother says this would be wrong. Mark Moseley/Victims Brother in:I think he should die...That's it he's guilty, he did it. Since the 1977 reinstatement of the death penalty ...just over 700 inmates have been executed...and about 35 of them showed evidence of of mental retardation. JJ CBS Washington.))

[5-Belgium-Trains]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
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The head of Belgium's national railway says human error is the likely cause of a deadly collision.
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[VO-NAT 10NA - 10:16:40]
[SUPER=03-Pecrot, Belgium;]

The wreckage is still being cleared outside Brussels. At least eight people are dead, but rescuers expect to find more victims inside the the rail cars.
A locomotive heading in the wrong direction at 55 miles an hour slammed head-on into a crowded commuter train.
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[5-Germany-Train]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
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[VO-NAT 10NA - 10:18:43]
[SUPER=03-Germany;]

In Germany, train troubles of a different kind today.
This one is loaded with 60 tons of nuclear waste .. and angry protestors were waiting along its route to a waste dump. Some sat down on the tracks and had to be removed.
Germany put 15-thousand police on alert along the train's scheduled path.
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[Robin-Tease] [03/27/2001]
[SS=NONE]ROBIN IN WX-CENTER
[WXPRO/FULL] WEATHER MAP TOMORROW FORECAST FIVE DAY FORECAST

[SS=NONE]ROBIN TOSS BACK[tease#1]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
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There is nothing in the forecast about tornadoes, but some area students are preparing anyway. That story is still ahead.
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And how do you prepare for this .. big-time hailstones ... big enough to damage and even destroy buildings in their way.
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[Commercial Break #1]

[5-Sleep]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
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Ahh.. a good night's sleep. People love to "sleep in" when they can- Cat naps are a prized treasure.
It's no wonder. Did you know that most Americans don't get enough sleep?
In fact the National Sleep Foundation says sleep deprivation is affecting everything from how we work to our sex lives.
Gretchen Carlson has more.
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[SUPER=01-Sidney Rubin/Sleep Apnea Patient; :14]
[SUPER=01-Dr. David Rappaport/NYU Medical Center; :33]
[SUPER=01-Gretchen Carlson/CBS News; :44]
[SUPER=01-James Walsh/V.P. Nat'l Sleep Foundation; 1:12]
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[OUT Q=CBS News, New York.]
(( If this is how you feel in the middle of the day youre not alone. From kids to adults Americans are sleep deprived.
I was walking around in a fog.
Sidney Rubin was so tired he finally came to a sleep clinic for help.
Sidney Rubin - Sleep Apnea Patient I found out I was getting up 30 to 40 times a night not knowing it because I had stopped breathing.
Diagnosis: sleep apnea. Prognosis? With treatment, a good nights sleep. But Doctor David Rapoport says most Americans - whether suffering from sleep disorders or not -- dont take sleeping seriously. Dr. David Rapoport - NYU Medical Center We tend to sacrifice sleep thinking theres no cost. We tend to trade it off for accomplishing our goals. Gretchen Carlson Reporting So how much sleep should we be getting? On average, adults are supposed to get 8 hours a night. But a new study by the National Sleep Foundation says only a third of us are getting the recommended dose. There are other problems too. Less sleep in the bedroom, means Americans are also getting less sex. According to the study, 52% are spending less time having sex than just 5 years ago - and 40% of us say were working longer hours. Theres insomnia too. Half of all Americans say they have trouble falling asleep. One out of five report falling asleep at the wheel. James Walsh - VP National Sleep Foundation These numbers are not going to change for the better until we make sleep a higher priority in our lives. For starters, the National Sleep Foundation says try one more hour of sleep a night. With Americans more than anyone else living by the motto -- you snooze you lose -- these latest study results could be the wake up call many Americans need. Gretchen Carlson, CBS News, New York.))

[5-Women-Smoking]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
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Maybe you remember the old cigarette ad, "You've come a long way, baby."
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The latest surgeon general's report may give those words new meaning.
Women now account for 39 per cent of this country's smoking-related deaths.
It's a proportion that has doubled since 19-65.
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[5-Toupees]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
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[GRAPHIC=Health Insurance]

If a Pennsylvania legislator has his way, health insurance companies will have to cover something new in his state .. toupees.
The lawmaker says his bill would require coverage for hairpieces if a medical condition caused hair loss.
He's introduced a second bill ... to make toupees exempt from Pennsylvania's sales tax.

[5-Tornado-Drill]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
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The fire trucks and ambulances were real.. but the disaster was not.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Campbell Co.]

Students at Tomahawk Elementary School took part in a tornado safety drill today along with emergency responders from around Campbell County.
While teachers and students practiced safe escape routes, teams of firefighters checked the building for missing students.
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((JOHN LARKIN/CAMPBELL CO. PUBLIC SAFETY DIRECTOR: I THINK IT WENT VERY WELL. AS IN ANY INCIDENT, WE'RE GOING TO DEBRIEF AND THERE ARE GOING TO BE POINTS THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO READDRESS, BUT THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF THE DRILL, IS TO FIGURE OUT EXACTLY WHERE YOU HAVE THE PROBLEMS AND CORRECT THEM SO THAT EVERYTHING GOES BETTER IN THE ACTUAL DRILL.. OR ACTUAL SCENE.))
[SUPER=01-John Larkin/Campbell Co. Public Safety Dir.;]
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[VO-NAT]

Students had been studying tornado preparedness for the past week.
School officials say they were pleased with how everyone reacted to today's drill.
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[5-China-Hail]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
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[WRITER=ejo]
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You've heard about "golf ball sized hail" ... even "grapefruit sized hail" ...
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[VO-NAT 10NA - 10:22:49]
[SUPER=03-Guangdong Province/China;]

but you will probably never see hailstones the size that fell down on a portion of China.
News reports say some were more than 10 inches across ... and weighed more than a hundred pounds.
No matter how you measured this hail ... it was destructive.
It was part of a storm that also unleashed tornadoes .. collapsing thousands of homes and injuring hundreds of people.
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[ANCHOR=Jean]
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Things will really be hopping in downtown Roanoke this weekend, and it looks like it's already off to a head start.
Jacey Birch is ready to dance along with the details.
[LIVE=Jacey Full Microwave]
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[5-Feature]

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Many will be rocking around the clock for the Muscular Dystrophy Association this Saturday.
Those who are up for the challenge will be hopping to music from noon till six at the MDA Hop-A-Thon.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Jean & Jacey/Microwave]

Jacey Birch is at the Emporium of Roanoke where some kids are ready to start hopping now.
[LIVE=Jacey Full/Microwave]

((ROLLCUE:...))
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[Stats] [03/27/2001] [CK/ESS]FIVE BACKGROUND [CK/WXPRO] [CK/VIEWERNET] [CK/WXPRO]WEATHER MAPS [CK/CHYRON/5 PAGES]REGIONAL FORECASTS [ESS/FULL]EXTENDED FORECAST [WALK OVER FOR 2 SHOT TOSS] [Forecasts]
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[SUPER=330-Clear And/Cold Again/18-22/Partly Sunny/Wind NW-10/50-55]
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[SUPER=331-Clear And/Rather Cold/18-22/Partly Sunny/Light Winds/54-56]
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[SUPER=332-Partly Cloudy/And Cold/15-18/Sunny Early/Increasing Clouds/48-52]
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[SUPER=334-Partly Cloudy/Very Cold/12-16/Increasing/Cloudiness/46-50]
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The Maroons gun for a repeat trip to the college softball finals. That story is still ahead in sports.
And watch out for the gators!
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((I WOULD PREFER NOT TO SEE THEM IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE OF ALL THE CHILDREN, BUT THAT'S PART OF LIVING IN FLORIDA I GUESS.))
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[OUT Q=in Florida I guess.]
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[5-Marketwatch]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
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Stocks soared again ... and this time tech companies joined in.
Renay San Miguel has the story in today's Marketwatch.
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[S5-Softball]

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[graphic=ticker]

Good afternoon everybody, our ticker begins on the diamond.
[GRAPHIC=Roanoke]
The Roanoke softball team hopes for a second straight trip to the NCAA finals May 17th in Wisconsin. Intern reporter Kara Rucker updates us on the Maroons season.
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[SUPER=01-Priscilla Hill/Sophomore Pitcher; :10]
[SUPER=01-Alan Bayse/Roanoke Softball Coach; :23]
[SUPER=01-Amy Layman/43 Strikeouts This Season; :42]
[SUPER=01-Mary Thomas/Roanoke Freshman Infielder; 1:03]
[SUPER=07-Kara Rucker; 1:16]
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[OUT Q=...News 7 sports"]
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((What does Billy Blanks Tae Bo have to do with Roanoke College softball? Plenty. ((:))
The Maroons are 19 and 4 after the Moyer Sports Complex's east coast college fast pitch classic this past weekend.

((:)) Senior pitcher Amy Layman is the backbone. She's 10 and 2 with a 1.04 ERA but isn't shouldering the entire load. Sophomore Priscilla Hill and junior Meagan Cookston are helping. ((AMY LAYMAN:))
Recruiting local talent is always a focus. Cave Spring's Mary Thomas and William Byrd's Heather Stultz give the Maro

ons 8 local athletes on the roster.))[S5-Test]

[ANCHOR=Steve]
[NEWSCAST=Five]
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[GRAPHIC=Martinsville]

Another extremely busy day at the Martinsville Speedway.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Martinsville;]

15 Winston Cup teams checked into the track for a full day of testing.
The drivers are attempting to get dialed in for the April 8th Virginia 500.
Coming up tonight at six Mike Stevens will talk with Jeff Gordon, not so much about the test session, but about having his patience tested by rival Tony Stewart.
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[anchor=steve]
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That's it for the ticker, but don't go away, there is more news 7 at five to come.[5-Alligators]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
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Some unwelcome neighbors for people in South Florida- Alligators.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Ft. Myers, FL]

They're not just sitting around sunning themselves. These gators are on the move.
That's because it's mating season- males are on the prowl for females.
The gators are also searching for water- Dry conditions have forced them to move around to find it.
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[SOT 10:30:08]
[IN Q=]
((DAVE REGAL/TRAPPER: YOU HAVE SMALL KIDS IN A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT LOVE WATER. THEY'RE GONNA GO FISHING, THEY'RE GONNA GO PLAY AOUND THE WATER. AT ANY GIVEN TIME IF AN ALLIGATOR DECIDES HE WANTS THAT ANIMAL, HE'S GOING TO GO AFTER IT.))
[SUPER=01-Dave Regal/Trapper;]
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[OUT Q=going to go after it.]
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[VO-NAT]

Regal removed an eight and half foot gator from a golf course community a few days ago.
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[5-Rankin]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=5]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=Net]
[GRAPHIC=None]

It's time for the roadies to get busy.
Several musical groups are getting ready for some big tours.
VH1's Rebecca Rankin has touring news on three big-time acts in today's "Rankin Report."
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[SOT 14:27:41]
[IN Q=Matchbox 20's been out]
[SUPER=01-Rebecca Rankin/VH1; :00]
[SUPER=01-Joe Perry/Aerosmith; :22 (QUICK)]
[SUPER=07-Jon Bon Jovi; :36]
[SUPER=01-Rob Thomas/Matchbox 20; :56]
[SUPER=07-Dave Matthews; 1:26]
[RUNS=1:46]
[OUT Q=I'm VH1's Rebecca Rankin.]
((MATCHBOX 20'S BEEN OUT ON THE ROAD FOR ABOUT A MONTH... AEROSMITH, BON JOVI, AND THE DAVE MATTHEWS BAND ARE ALL GETTING SET TO TOUR THIS SUMMER... EACH ONE OFFERING A LITTLE SOMETHING DIFFERENT FOR THE FANS.
PKG: ROCK LEGENDS AEROSMITH ARE GEARING UP FOR A MAJOR TOUR IN SUPPORT OF THEIR LATEST ALBUM, "JUST PUSH PLAY."
AFTER WRAPPING UP THE "CRUSH" TOUR LAST NOVEMBER... BON JOVI'S HEADING BACK OUT ON THE ROAD FOR THEIR "ONE WILD NIGHT TOUR." AND THEY'RE PROMISING FANS SOMETHING SPECIAL.

SOT;BON JOVI: "I think the vibe on this tour is going to be a
summertime party. it's a beach party. // it's the biggest thing we've ever done."
MATCHBOX 20 IS ON THE ROAD. THIS MULTI-PLATINUM SELLING GROUP HAS ENLISTED THE HELP OF UP-AND-COMERS LIFEHOUSE AND TOURING VETS EVERCLEAR FOR THEIR LIVE SHOWS.

SOT;ROB THOMAS/MATCHBOX TWENTY: "You've got guys like Everclear who we
respect immensely. They've been doing this for a long time, and doing it really well."
"And, and, you know, these are, you know, these guys, Lifehouse, they'll be selling more records than we are in a couple of weeks. So, yeah
(laughs),
it's, it's, you know, it will be good to bring them out and let people see that they're, they're a live band as well."
DAVE MATTHEWS BAND'S NEW ALBUM "EVERYDAY" DEBUTED AT NUMBER ONE ON THE BILLBOARD CHARTS... SELLING OVER 700 THOUSAND COPIES IN ITS FIRST WEEK. THEY'VE GOT AN EXTREMELY LOYAL FAN BASE THAT ALWAYS TURNS OUT FOR THEIR SHOWS. NOW THEY'RE HITTING THE ROAD IN SUPPORT OF THEIR LATEST ALBUM.

SOT;DAVE MATTHEWS: "We'll tour the way we tour which is uh somewhat
focused on this album and then also focused on lots of other things. // So so I guess now, there'll also be more variety in our shows."
REBECCA ON CAMERA TAG: GO TO VH1.COM TO SEE WHEN YOUR FAVORITE BANDS WILL HIT YOUR TOWN. JUST GO TO "ARTISTS A TO Z"... THEN "TOURFINDER" AND TYPE IN THE BAND'S NAME. IT'S THAT SIMPLE! IN NEW YORK... I'M VH1'S REBECCA RANKIN.))
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