[1-News-Head]
[TALENT=Keith]
Re-drawing the lines.
On NEWS 7 Tonight, we'll get the first look at some radically different state delegate districts-- and the rationale behind them.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
"Grace under pressure." Before they sit down to eat they MUST pray. Some cadets say that's not right.
(------------)
[Sports-Head]
[ANCHOR=mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Tonight on News 7 sports, the Martinsville Speedway is already buzzing with fans three days before the cars and trucks even arrive.
Former UVa great Jamie Sharper gets a big raise.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
And the Duke Blue Devils get a heroes' welcome as they return home to Cameron Indoor Stadium this afternoon.
(------------)
[WX-Head]
[TALENT=Robin]
[SS=None]
Another soggy day. We will check rainfall totals in a moment and the new long range forecast is warm, warm, warm.
[Video-Open]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=Video Open]
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 14:16:14]
[IN Q=Armstrong, Day, and Jackson.]
((ARMSTRONG, DAY, AND JACKSON .. ALL IN ONE DISTRICT. ))
[RUNS=:04 ]
[OUT Q=all in one district. DOUBLE OUT!!!]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The maps are out, and the writing's on the wall for some venerable Virginia lawmakers.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[GRAPHIC=News7at6]
Good evening, I'm Keith Humphry.
[Redistricting]
[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=01-08 TC47:48]
[GRAPHIC=VA Redistricting]
A House of Delegates map that lumps seven southside and southwest Virginia Democrats into three districts.
A state Senate map that teleports Madison Marye's seat out of western Virginia entirely-- landing it in Fairfax.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond;]
The Republican maps for the redistricting session that begins Thursday are finally out.
Bath County's Creigh Deeds is lumped in with Blacksburg's Jim Shuler.
Deeds calls the political payback "a failure of leadership" on the part of the Republican leaders from the western half of Virginia.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 14:26:51]
[IN Q=If you do the numbers]
((DEL. CREIGH DEEDS/D-BATH CO.: IF YOU DO THE NUMBERS...IT'S NOT -- UM -- IT'S VERY INTERESTING. ))
[SUPER=@Deeds;]
[RUNS=:24]
[OUT Q=It's not --um-- it's very interesting.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Dick Cranwell and Chip Woodrum are lumped together in the Roanoke area.
Madison Marye's senate district is completely gone.
Harrisonburg Republican Kevin Miller drew those lines.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT tape two 14:37:16]
[IN Q=I hope everone understands]
((KEVIN MILLER/R-HARRISONBURG: I HOPE EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS THAT THERE'S JUST NOT THE PEOPLE. AND WE STARTED BACK HERE AND YOU START GATHERING 177 THOUSAND PEOPLE.))
[SUPER=01-Sen. Kevin Miller/(R) Harrisonburg; ]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=start gathering 177 thousand people.]
[TALENT=Jean]
[SS=]
The biggest political score may be a district along Southside, that lumps Democrats Tom Jackson, Barnie Day, and Ward Armstrong together.
Carving Armstrong out of Martinsville creates a new district with NO incumbent.
[Hickson]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=01-05 TC1:38:34 ]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]
A Bedford County woman will have to visit the grave of the small girl she killed as part of the punishment handed down in court today.
Sonya Hickson was convicted last year of involuntary manslaughter and child abuse for the death of 13- month- old Frances Vermillion in 1998.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford]
Hickson was babysitting Vermillion in her home near Vinton when prosecutors say, in a fit of anger, she struck the child's head on a blunt object several times.
A judge today sentenced Hickson to five years in prison on both charges, with all but one year suspended.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 10:17:02//10:31:58]
[IN Q=I think it's]
((TONY ANDERSON/DEFENSE ATTORNEY: I THINK IT'S A SENTENCE THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY IN THE GUIDELINES FOR INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER BUT UNDER ALL THE CIRCUMSTANCES, I WOULD SUBMIT, A FAIR SENTENCE.))
((RANDY KRANTZ/PROSECUTOR: TO ALSO FACTOR IN OTHER THINGS THAT DEFINE ACCOUNTABILITY, I THINK HE TAKES INTO ACCOUNT THAT SONJA HICKSON HAS NEVER SET FOOT IN JAIL BEFORE SO 12 MONTHS IN JAIL FOR HER IS GOING TO BE A VERY LONG TIME.))
[SUPER=01-Tony Anderson/Defense Attorney; :00]
[SUPER=01-Randy Krantz/Prosecutor; :14]
[RUNS=25]
[OUT Q=very long time.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
For five years after she's released from jail, Hickson must also visit the little girl's grave on February 13th, the anniversary of her death.
Hickson's attorney says he's considering an appeal of the sentence.
(------------)
[81-Accidents]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=01-09 TC49:34]
[GRAPHIC=81 Accidents]
A Blacksburg man was struck and killed on Interstate-81 today.
State Police say 40-year-old Gillet Garner Ford, Junior, fell into traffic.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Montgomery Co.;]
Ford pulled over after his pickup broke down. Troopers say he leaned back, falling into the path of a Southbound truck.
The driver tried to stop. NO charges are being filed against him.
The accident brought traffic to a standstill and resulted in a second accident just a few miles back.
Rescue officials struggled to remove a U-P-S driver from a truck whose front end was badly damaged.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT-4:29:16]
[IN Q=the white truck]
((TROOPER S. K. CAUDELL/VIRGINIA STATE POLICE; THE WHITE TRUCK HAD STOPPED IN THE TRAFFIC FOR THE BACK-UP, THE UPS TRUCK DID NOT SEE IT IN TIME HE ATTEMPTED TO STOP BUT WAS UNABLE TO AND STRUCK THE WHITE TRUCK IN THE REAR.))
[SUPER=01-Trooper S. K. Caudell/State Police]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=truck in the rear]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The driver suffered non-life threatening injuries and was treated at Montgomery Regional Hospital.
(------------)
[VMI-Prayer]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=Lexington]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=01-10 TC29:30]
[GRAPHIC=VMI Prayer]
School Prayer. The issue threatens to besiege Virginia Military Institute.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lexington]
What started out with a couple of second-classmen challenging the evening prayer before the evening meal has become a cause taken up by the A-C-L-U.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 23:22:50]
[IN Q=I'm offended by]
[SUPER=02-Neil Mellen/VMI Cadet]
[SUPER=01-Paul Knick/VMI Cadet]
[RUNS=1:15]
[OUT Q=prayer is being said.]
((((I'M OFFENDED BY THE FACT THAT THIS PUBLIC INSTITUTION IS PROMOTING FAITH OVER NON-FAITH.))
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 23:22:05]
[IN Q=And I think]
((AND I THINK THAT KIND OF STATE ENDORSEMENT OF RELIGION IS OFFENSIVE.))
[RUNS04]
[OUT Q=religion is offensive.]
There's a standard prayer for each day of the week. Before cadets sit down to eat they stand "at ease" while the prayer of the day is read by a student Chaplain.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 23:24:10]
[IN Q=Such words as]
[RUNS07]
[OUT Q=Jewish faith.]
Paul Knick says their he never thought it would go this far.
It's not just saying, "grace," they object to... it's what the A-C-L-U says amounts to a "captive audience... where the only alternative to going to the mess hall is going hungry."
Cadet Mellen says members of the Regimental Staff have cursed him, others have thrown, violating the spirit of prayer.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 23:25:10]
[IN Q=I think it's amusing]
((I THINK IT'S KIND OF AMUSING THOSE WHO ARE MOST BELLIGERENT ABOUT IT ARE THE ONES WITH THE MOST NON CHRISTIAN ATTITUDES ABOUT MAINTAINING THE PRAYER.))
[RUNS10]
[OUT Q=maintaining prayer.]
Both cadets consider themselves men of faith, but they question the Constitutionality of imposing traditions of the majority on the entire corps.
V-M-I declined to address the issue directly today, issuing a letter the Superintendent sent the A-C-L-U that says cadets are not compelled to participate in this prayer, nor to remain at attention or bow their heads while the prayer is being said.))
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=HOLD]
State Attorney General Mark Early says he intends to "vigorously defend the Institute and the tradition of saying grace before supper."
[Tease#1]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=NONE]
Norfolk Southern is bringing more than trains to parts of Virginia-- in some cases, it's bringing thousands of dollars.
Now the question is who should get the money. That's next on News 7 at Six.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]
And PETA comes to Roanoke to protest the circus...
while some Roanokers come to Protest PETA.
We'll explain all that a little later in the newscast.
(----------------)
[NS-Payments]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=01-13 TC15:35]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Living beside a railroad track COULD prove to be profitable for some local residents.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Troutville;]
Norfolk Southern is paying some towns for an increase in train traffic that it says may never come.
It's offering 10-thousand dollars for each house within 73-feet of its Shenandoah line, which runs from Front Royal to Roanoke.
If the railroad doesn't settle with local governments, it can negotiate with the 63 affected homeowners.
Troutville residents Lowell and Alta (AL-tuh) Cole live 30 feet from the tracks.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 11:52:24 - :30]
[IN Q=We think that]
((ALTA COLE/HOMEOWNER: WE THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE COMPENSATED WHEN WE'RE THE ONES THAT ARE MOST AFFECTED BY THE NOISE AND THE VIBRATION.))
[SUPER=01-Alta Cole/Troutville Homeowner;]
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=and the vibration.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The payments are part of the 1997 merger deal between Norfolk Southern and Conrail.
Like many towns and counties all along the line, Troutville will decide whether the money should go to the town or directly to the residents after a public hearing later this month.
(------------)
[Rubatex]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=01-14 TC17:41]
[GRAPHIC=Rubatex Agreement]
The ink is just about dry on a new contract between Rubatex and its union.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford/File Tape]
After a YEAR and a half of debate over forced overtime and benefits, Bedford's Steel Workers have signed a new contract.
The company is signing on the dotted line today.
The International Steelworker's union in Pittsburgh will finish with signatures over the next day or so.
Rubatex's parent company R-B-X is in the process of filing for bankruptcy.
New financing and a new labor agreement are expected to take pressure off the struggling Bedford facility.
(------------)
[Stocks]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]
A seemingly relentless stream of earnings warnings let the bears out to play on Wall Street.
[TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5000;]
[SUPER=440-y/292.22/9485.71/y/109.97/1673.00;]
The DOW plunged 292 points.
NASDAQ dropped 110 for its lowest close since the fall of 1998.
(-------------)
[VO]
[SUPER=271-h/0.41/48.02/i/1.04/20.04/i/1.76/52.25/i/0.72/16.56/i/0.66/6.69;]
[SUPER=272-h/1.13/66.88/i/0.62/32.28/i/0.49/43.11/i/2.12/39.68/i/0.73/39.48;]
[SUPER=273-i/0.36/24.88/i/0.05/16.72/i/1.56/9.50/i/1.68/44.51/i/0.25/14.13;]
[SUPER=274-i/0.68/63.12/i/1.19/49.93/i/1.05/47.60/i/0.97/59.55/i/1.45/49.19;]
[SUPER=#555; Reset]
[Circus-Protest]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=Six]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=01-04 TC1:13:17]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Groups promoting animal rights have found success using protest as a public spectacle.
Today, a half-naked demonstrator vied for attention in downtown Roanoke, while a local radio station served up hot dogs and hecklers.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
Tarina (tuh-REE-nuh) Keene was protesting the treatment of animals in the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus.
Shortly after noon, she climbed into a makeshift cage carrying a sign that read, "wild animals don't belong behind bars."
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I'm not sure exactly]
((CRAIG SANDRAS: I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO PROVE WITH THIS, BUT IT DEFINITELY IS AN INTERESTING WAY TO GET SOME ATTENTION.))
((TARINA KEENE/PETA ACTIVIST: WHOEVER SEES THIS . THEY'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT IT TONIGHT. THEY'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT IT TOMORROW. AND THEY'LL ESPECIALLY BE TALKING ABOUT IT WHEN THE CIRCUS COMES TO TOWN.))
[SUPER=07-Craig Sandras;]
[SUPER=01-Tarina Keene/PETA Activist; :06]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=when the circus comes to town.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Radio station WROV encouraged listeners to turn out for the PETA protest, and the station served free hot dogs across the street.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The circus comes to town later this month, and in a news release this afternoon, Feld Entertainment said the organization is committed to the highest standards of animal care.
A spokesman said PETA is pushing an ideology which most Americans do not accept.
[Sports Tease]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Coming up tonight on the Big 7 - Duke return to Durham, the Vols have a new head coach, a former UVa star gets a $22 million dollar deal.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
And the race weekend is still a long way off, but already the campground is starting to fill up at the Martinsville Speedway.
(------------)
[S-Duke]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6PM]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=SP-90 13319TC]
[ss=Duke National Champion]
The Duke Blue Devils arrived home to Durham this afternoon a little blurry eyed but anxious to celebrate the school's third national title under coach Mike Krzyzewski.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Durham, NC;]
The fans showed their appreciation for game MVP Mike Dunleavy who score 21 points, by repeatedly chanting his name.
The packed house also got a good look at the championship trophy, and team captain Shane Battier told the fans none of the team's accomplishments would have been possible without their support.
(------------)
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=WE ALL...]
((SHANE BATTIER:))
[SUPER=01-Shane Battier/Duke Senior Captain; :00]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=...YOU GUYS."]
(--------------)
[S-Vols]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=TENNESSEE]
One of the Michael Jordan's best friends is the new head basketball coach at the University of Tennessee.
Buzz Peterson, who played with Jordan at North Carolina, was officially named the post this afternoon.
Peterson leaves Tulsa for UT where he reportedly will make $750 thousand a season.
He is expected to keep Chris Ferguson on his staff. Ferguson was an assistant under Bill Foster at Virginia Tech.
Cave Spring grad Gregg Marshall also interviewed for this job.
[S-Sharper]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-82 1:34:34]
[GRAPHIC=Baltimore ravens]
Former Virginia standout and now Baltimore Raven linebacker Jamie Sharper has signed a five year-22 million dollar contract.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Owings Mills, MD; :00]
Sharper, an unrestricted free agent, interviewed with several teams before deciding to return to the Ravens. The 6 foot 3, 240 pound outside linebacker had 102 tackles, third most on the team, in Baltimore's Super Bowl season.
[SUPER=03-Oakland, CA;]
Sharper also led the Ravens past Oakland in the AFC championship game with nine tackles, two sacks and an interception. The 26 year old had started 57 straight games for Baltimore.
(------------)
[S-Trucks]
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-92 3739tc]
[GRAPHIC=MARTINSVILLE]
The race weekend in Martinsville doesn't officially begin until Friday morning, but today we found a few folks who are determined to get a jump on the competition.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=FIRST AUDIO]
[SUPER=03-Martinsville; ;00]
[SUPER=01-Moe Kelly/Race Fan From New Hampshire; :16]
[SUPER=01-Bob Gerard/Race Fan From Maine; :38]
[SUPER=01-Randy Tolsma/Sixth in Truck Points; 1:12]
[SUPER=01-Clay Campbell/Martinsville Speedway President; 1:21]
[SUPER=04-April 1999; 1:40]
[RUNS=1:57]
[OUT Q=...LEFT BEHIND DOT COM."]
(----------------)
[S-Express]
[ANCHOR=mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-87]
[GRAPHIC=Express/Toledo Storm]
The Express begins the ECHL best of five first round playoff series this Friday at Toledo.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]
Roanoke went through an hour and a half workout this morning at the Ice Station. While the team seemed relaxed and loose during practice, the Express knows the Storm is no push over.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=it's gonna be]
((BEN SCHUST/EXPRESS RIGHT WING:IT'S GONNA BE A TOUGH SERIES FOR BOTH TEAMS I DON'T THINK EITHER TEAM IS FAVORED IN THE SERIES, WE EACH HAVE A GOOD MIXTURE OF SKILL GUYS, GOALTENDING, AND TOUGHNESS ALSO, GOING IN THERE TO HAVE TO PLAY THE FIRST TWO GAMES IS GONNA BE A DIFFICULT CHALLENGE AND WE'RE JUST LOOKING FOR A VICTORY.))
((MIKE PERON/EXPRESS CENTER:WE'RE DEFINITELY GONNA HAVE TO BE THE MORE PHYSICAL TEAM, THEY ARE ALSO A PHYSICAL TEAM THAT HAS A, LOT OF TOUGHNESS AND SKILL. I THINK IT'S GONNA COME DOWN TO WHOEVER IS OUT THERE BANGING THE MOST AND CREATING TURNOVERS OFF BEING PHYSICAL.))
[SUPER=01-Ben Schust/Right Wing; :00]
[SUPER=01-Mike Peron/Express Center; :16]
[RUNS=:31]
[OUT Q=......being physical"]
(---------------)
[Promo]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The dollar debate begins in Lynchburg tonight as city council and the school board sit down to crunch some budget numbers.
Jean Jadhon's got a preview for us.
[LIVE=Jean/Monitors Set]
[SUPER=@JEan1;]
Keith, Hill City residents will get their chance to speak out about the city's 114- million dollar budget at tonight's public hearing.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Some of the issues that may spark some debate include the recent real estate reassessments where property owners saw values rise by as much as six percent.
And the local firefighters association plans to voice its concern about a proposal to eliminate four positions within the Lynchburg fire department.
(------------)
[LIVE=Jean/Monitors Set]
It all gets underway at 7 at Heritage High School.
We'll have more for you on News7 at 11.
by SS