[1-News-Head]

(------------)

[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
The judge has made a ruling on the Constitutionality of mess hall prayers at V-M-I.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
And Virginia's House Majority Leader- -the delegate from Salem- -suggests a change in the salute to the state flag is about as likely as moving the state Capitol to Roanoke.

---

[Sports-Head]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Tonight on the Big 7, the UVa men get ready to tangle with VMI tonight. The Dazzle is home this evening.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
And JJ is getting for tomorrow night's showdown with GW - or is he?? Details are on the way in sports.
(------------)
[WX-Head]
[ANCHOR=Robin]
[SS=None]

Rain is returning to the region as we speak but will taper off tomorrow with cooler temperatures. Forecast details ahead.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon 4-Shot]

News 7 at Six is next.
[Video-Open]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=Video Open]


(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

Starting tonight, cadets at Virginia Military Institute will no longer take part in a prayer before supper..
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

A federal judge has ruled that saying grace at the state-funded school amounts to a "state-sponsored religious exercise."
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

Good evening, I'm Shannon Young.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

And I'm Keith Humphry.
[VMI-Prayer]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=01-57 TC1:01:41 vo]
[TAPE#=02-01 TC38:14 bite]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

Two cadets.. with the help of the A-C-L-U, had sued V-M-I, claiming the evening prayers violated their Constitutional rights.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-shot]
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith-Shannon & Steve/L'Burg Bureau;]

They argued the case before a federal judge last month.. Steve Smallshaw was at that hearing and he is in Lynchburg tonight to break down this ruling for us..
[LIVE=Steve/FULL L'Burg Bureau]
[SUPER=@ssm1]
[SUPER=05-Lynchburg]

Keith, Shannon, essentially this is a total victory for the A-C-L-U and Cadets Neil Mellen and Paul Knick.
Judge Norman K. Moon agrees that V-M-I's practice of saying grace before supper... even if it's not compulsory... is essentially an attempt at "religious indoctrination."
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]
[***STEVE'S MIC HOT***]
One key sentence in Judge Moon's ruling reads like this: "because the prayers are drafted and recited at the direction of the Institute's superintendent, the result is that government has become impermissibly entangled with religion".
[SUPER=03-Lexington/File Tape]

Judge Moon did not buy V-M-I's argument that the prayers are part of a military ceremony or that they serve an educational purpose by encouraging cadets to reflect and develop their own spirituality.
Even though the prayers are denominationally neutral and voluntary, Moon says the prayers put cadets in the position of choosing between their religious principles and full participation in the activities of the Corps.
(-------------)
[LIVE=Steve/FULL]
[SUPER=05-Lynchburg;]

A-C-L-U director Kent Willis applauded today's ruling, while adding that this was "not" an attempt to remove religion from the V-M-I campus.
Attorney General Jerry Kilgore says the state WILL appeal the ruling.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT ]
((JERRY KILGORE/VA. ATTORNEY GENERAL: WE HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH VMI. THEY WILL NOT BE PRAYING TONIGHT. WHICH IS AN UNFORTUNATE SITUATION, THAT WHILE WE HAVE TROOPS IN AFGHANISTAN THAT THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO GATHER TOGETHER TONIGHT TO PRAY FOR THOSE TROOPS.))
[SUPER=@kilgore]
[RUNS=14]
[OUT Q=pray for those troops.]
(------------)
[LIVE=Steve/FULL L'Burg Bureau]

Judge Moon DID say the defendants were not entitled to any damages or court costs..
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith-Shannon & Steve/L'Burg Bureau;]

.. and a V-M-I spokesman says that the evening prayer will be discontinued starting with tonight's meal.

---

[Tazewell-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=jsc]
[TAPE#=02-06 TC10:22]
[GRAPHIC=Fire Invest.]

Authorities now say a fire on Tazewell Avenue earlier this week was arson.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Tuesday;]

The fire broke out Tuesday afternoon.
Battalion Chief Rick Trout said the flames started near a basement furnace and quickly spread throughout the one story house.
The fire did about 60 thousand dollars in damage.
The building was being renovated by the owner and his children.
So far, no arrests have been made.
(------------)

---

[Franklin-Fatal]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]

An accident in Franklin County killed a man last night.
(XXXXXXXX)
[TAKE MAP FULL]
State Police say 61 year old Gary Clayton Langwasser ran off the right side of route 945, overcorrected and hit a tree.
He was not wearing a seatbelt.
(-------------)

---

[Pulaski-Gas]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=01-52 TC1:58:52]
[GRAPHIC=None]

At this hour in the Town of Pulaski, the United Cities Gas company estimates a quarter of nearly two-thousand customers once again have gas service. Homes and businesses in the town lost service last night. It was then that crews started fixing the problem and it may be well into tonight and tomorrow before everything is fixed.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Shannon & Rachel /Microwave;]
New River Valley Bureau Chief Rachel Cannon spent the day in Pulaski to see how the problem is affecting residents Rachel?
[LIVE=Rachel /FULL Microwave]
[SUPER=@Rachel1;]
[SUPER=05-Blacksburg; ]
Shannon....it's an inconvenience, and officials with the gas company are not even sure how it started. At this point they believe it was quote "just one of those malfunctions." A command base is set up at the local fire department and from there crews are being dispatched to various parts of the region.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=NATS]
[IN Q=NATS]
[SUPER=03-Pulaski; :00]
[SUPER=01-Cassandra Wyatt/Restaurant Owner; :10]
[SUPER=01-Judy Moss/United Cities Gas Spokesperson; :28]
[RUNS=1:10]
[OUT Q=IT WAS GREAT]
((NATS TC At the Master Chef restaurant in downtown Pulaski, owner Cassandra Wyatt is trying to feed her lunch crowd without her main gas grill.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 11:45:58]
[IN Q=we knew]
((CASSANDRA WYATT/RESTAURANT OWNER; WE KNEW WE HAD OUR HOT BAR BECAUSE IT IS ELECTRIC AND WE HAVE ONE ELECTRIC STOVE SO WE FIGURED, WE COULD DO IT.))
[OUT Q=DO IT.]
The location lost its gas service last night along with nearly two-thousand other businesses and homes in the town. United Cities Gas is bringing in crews from Tennessee and Georgia to help fix the problem.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:58:09]
[IN Q=we ]
((JUDY MOSS/UNITED CITIES GAS SPOKESMAN; WE TURN THE SYSTEM OFF PURGE THE LINE AND BRING A SYSTEMATIC RELIGHT PROGRAM INTO EFFECT. ))
[OUT Q=EFFECT]
NATS Officials don't know what caused the outage, but do know restoring service requires going door to door and getting inside a customer's home to relight pilots.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:59:14]
[IN Q=we are]
((WE ARE GOING TO BE WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK TO BRING THE SYSTEM BACK ON, IT IS SLOW GOING WE THANK THEM FOR THEIR PATIENCE. ))
[OUT Q=patience]
Back in the lunch crowd is 6th grader Travis Cartly, a Pulaski Middle Schooler who is more than happy to get a day off from his studies to wait for lines to be fixed.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 12:00:49 / 12:00:49]
[IN Q=the heat]
((THE HEAT IN OUR SCHOOL IS NOT WORKING OR ANYTHING / I THOUGHT IT WAS GREAT.))
[OUT Q=IT WAS GREAT]))
(-------------)
[LIVE=Rachel /FULL Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Blacksburg;]
Kids from three schools had the day off. Gas service at Claremont and Northwood Elementary as well as the middle school is now back on so classes will resume tomorrow. Officials say now that most people are home from work...they will be concentrating on the town's residential areas.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Shannon & Rachel /Microwave;]
Shannon, they ask that residents leave your porch light on to signal you need gas service fixed.

---

[Gas-Prices]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=Six]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=01-60 TC1:43:50]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Legislation that would outlaw predatory pricing at the gas pump has made it out of the State Senate.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg/Monday;]

The fight pits independent gasoline retailers against the large low-cost chains.
The independents say they're being driven out of business by competitors who are selling gasoline below cost.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 01:31:36 :13]
[IN Q=My folks have to travel]
((MY FOLKS HAVE TO TRAVEL 45 MILES SOMETIMES TO GET A GAS STATION. WHY? BECAUSE THE ONES THAT WERE IN THEIR LOCAL VICINITY ARE GONE. THEY ARE GONE.)) [01:49:43 :18] ((COMPETITION DRIVES INNOVATIVE BUSINESS. IT DOESN'T ALLOW IT TO BECOME STAGNANT. IF WE PASS THIS BILL, WE WILL HAVE PUT A ROADBLOCK ON COMPETITION.))
[SUPER=01-Sen. Bo Trumbo/(R) Fincastle; :00]
[SUPER=01-Sen. John Watkins/(R) Chesterfield; :]
[RUNS=:31]
[OUT Q=put a roadblock on competition.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The Senate approved the gas pricing legislation on a vote of 22 to 13.
(------------)


[Tease#1]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
[SS=NONE]

Painful or patriotic? The salute to Virginia continues to raise controversy and tempers in Richmond.
That's next on News 7.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

And some area students give back to their community in a big way.
(----------------)




[Va-Salute]
[NEWSCAST=Six]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=]
[ANCHOR=keith 2-Shot]

Lawmakers have been looking for a compromise.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

But, in Richmond, the flap over the Salute to the Flag continues.
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[GRAPHIC=Flag Salute]

Today, black legislators said they will ask their colleagues to end the controversial practice.
Joe Dashiell reports from Richmond.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Approved without dissent]
[SUPER=03-Richmond; :00]
[SUPER=01-Del. Floyd Miles/(D) Providence Forge; :23]
[SUPER=@Joe2; :37]
[SUPER=01-Del. Morgan Griffith/(R) Salem; 1:01]
[RUNS=1:22]
[OUT Q=JD News 7 Richmond]
[***QUICK OUT***]
((Approved without dissent at the start of the General Assembly session, the salute to the flag of Virginia has become a divisive issue in the days since. [NAT SOUND]
Legislators learned that the oath was written by a member of the United Daughters of the Confederacy in 1954, a fact black lawmakers say they cannot ignore.
[SOT 11:33:33]
[IN Q=The black caucus is concerned with legislating]
((THE BLACK CAUCUS IS CONCERNED WITH LEGISLATING AND DOING THE BUSINESS THAT WE'VE BEEN SENT HERE TO DO, HOWEVER UPON COMING HERE WE WERE FACED WITH AN ISSUE, A FLAG ISSUE THAT RAISES A FLAG WITH US, A RED FLAG WITH US.))
[RUNS= :15]
[OUT Q=a red flag with us.]

Members of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus met with the Republican leaders and offered alternative language, but the compromise was not accepted.
Salem Delegate and House Majority Leader Morgan Griffith says the words of the salute are fine, and if the origins are an issue then the state should remove Harry Byrd's statue, shut down Mr. Jefferson's University and move the capitol to Roanoke.
[SOT 14:12:53]
[IN Q=We have ]
((WE HAVE A SIMPLE LITTLE PLEDGE. IT SAYS WE BELIEVE THAT VIRGINIA IS THE MOTHER OF STATES AND STATESMEN AND THAT HERE IN THE OLD DOMINION WE CHERISH LIBERTY AND INDEPENDENCE. I DON'T THINK THOSE ARE BAD PRINCIPLES.))
[RUNS= :13]
[OUT Q=I don't think those are bad principles.]

The black caucus will propose a change in the House rules to eliminate the daily salute to the Virginia flag. A vote is expected next week.
Joe Dashiell News 7 Richmond))

---

[Barr]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=501-08 TC1:32:54]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A Bedford County plant has a new role in the treatment of Attention Deficit Disorder.
Barr Laboratories in Forest will package and ship a generic drug called Dexedrine Spansule. [***NEWS 7 @ 6 MB Graphic***]
[DOUBLE BOXES=Shannon & Jennifer /MB Set;]

Business Reporter Jennifer Miele has more on that story.
Jen.
[LIVE=Jennifer /FULL MB Graphic]
[SUPER=@jennifer1]

Shannon, Barr Laboratories has been given the go-ahead to manufacture the drug in one of its New Jersey facilities.
From there, it will come to Bedford to be bottled and packaged... then sent to pharmacy shelves.
(-----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[***JENNIFER'S MIC HOT***]
[SUPER=03-Bedford Co./File Tape]

In August, if you remember, Barr won a federal court battle to launch the first generic drug used to fight A-D-D -- fluoxetine (flu-OX-eh-teen).
Dexadrine Spansule will be on shelves next month.
It will be used on patients ages three to 16 years old with short attention spans, hyperactivity and emotional impulsivity.
The drug will also be used to treat narcolepsy.
Capsules will come in 5, 10 and 15 milligram doses.
(------------------)
[***NEWS 7 @ 6 MB Graphic***]
[LIVE= Jennifer /FULL MB Set]

This latest Food and Drug Administration approval is the company's ninth of the year, and is the second for generic drugs.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Shannon & Jennifer /MB Set;]

Sales for Barr reached 58 million dollars last year.

---

[Volvo]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=01-54 TC1:24:08]
[GRAPHIC=Volvo]

Some Volvo workers are using their lunch break to protest layoffs at the Dublin plant.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :]
[SUPER=03-Dublin/File Tape;]
Workers say more than 100 people gathered in front of the plant this afternoon to show support for their union. According to a long time employee at the plant, Volvo is breaking the union contract by reducing the number of salaried workers at the location. Both the Union President and a Volvo representative didn't return calls to News 7.
(------------)

---

[Stocks]

[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Some decent earnings news and positive remarks about the economy from Allen Greenspan sent stocks higher. [TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5000;]
[SUPER=440-x/65.52/9796.48/x/20.38/1942.76;]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

The DOW gained 65 and a half points.
NASDAQ rose 20.
(-------------)
[VO]
[SUPER=271-i/0.65/46.25/i/0.49/41.47/h/1.14/64.00//Unchg/13.57/h/0.47/7.75;]
[SUPER=272-i/0.10/57.80/h/0.43/52.04/i/0.10/37.55/h/0.79/22.97/i/0.35/41.84;]
[SUPER=273-h/0.24/20.72/h/0.98/20.98/h/0.11/1.29/i/0.35/49.35//Unchg/13.29;]
[SUPER=274-h/0.56/61.10/h/0.52/71.99/i/1.05/48.10/h/1.14/33.56/i/0.19/59.67;]
[SUPER=#555; Reset]

---

[Wilcox]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=02-05 TC19:44]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A Bedford County lawyer has surrendered her law license, rather than face disciplinary proceedings.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford Co./May 1999]
Dianne Wilcox was the attorney for the Joco Foundation, a philanthropic trust established by Reid Jones.
Jones died in 1996, leaving a fortune worth at least six million dollars- -including a 700-acre farm in Moneta. The State Bar's Disciplinary Board was set to begin hearings yesterday on charges Wilcox mishandled the estate, including allegations she paid herself hundreds of thousands of dollars in commissions. Wilcox turned in her license last week.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=None]
There were at least three lawsuits contesting Jones' will, but they've all been settled. A judge will review the "global" settlement at a hearing in March.

---

[Miller's-Place]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=01-59 TC38:06]
[GRAPHIC=None]

An old Fincastle landmark will soon be open for beer, burgers and fine dining.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Fincastle;]

The owners of Famous Anthony's are re-opening Miller's Place -- the restaurant started by Fincastle preservationist George Moore in 19-96.
They're busy getting the place ready to open next month.
The building's history can be traced back to 18-70.
Moore leased the restaurant to Famous Anthony's the day before he was killed in a train accident.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 9:55 - 10:03]
[IN Q=He had a vision]
((PETE FILE/MILLER'S PLACE: HE HAD A VISION FOR FINCASTLE THAT HE'D REALLY LIKE TO LEAVE SOMETHING FOR THE TOWN OF FINCASTLE, AND I THINK THIS RESTAURANT WAS IT.))
[SUPER=01-Pete File/Miller's Place;]
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q=this restaurant was it.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

It's new managers say they're following through on Moore's vision.
They'll be open seven days a week for a quick lunch ... and an upscale dinner.
Miller's Place is set to re-open February 5th.
(------------)

---

[Sports Tease]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
UVa gets ready for VMI as the Cavs' freshmen continue to increase their contributions. The Dazzle is home tonight,
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
and the Christiansburg high school wrestling team is primed for this weekend's Big Orange event.
(------------)

---

[S-Redick]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-113 4251TC]
[GRAPHIC=REDICK]

The state's top player, Duke Bound Cave Spring senior J.J. Redick, has suffered an injury that may keep him out tomorrow night and possibly the rest of the season.
Redick hurt his foot in Tuesday night's win over Halifax and doctors are still trying to determine the extent of the problem.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.; :00]
As of this afternoon strong consideration was being given to putting the foot in a cast for three weeks. Doctors at Duke also are expected to evaluate the injury which could not have come at a worst time for Redick or his teammates. Tomorrow night they host GW Danville is a first place showdown in the Western Valley District.
(------------)

---

[S-Cavs]

[ANCHOR=mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-117 ]
[GRAPHIC=UVa]

The seventh ranked Virginia Cavaliers game with 6 and 11 VMI tonight at 7:30 is sold out. Steve Mason says a pair of freshman guards are partly responsible for UVa's four game ACC winning streak.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Charlottesville; :00]
[SUPER=01-Jermaine Harper/UVa Freshman Guard; :07]
[SUPER=01-Keith Jennifer/UVa Freshman Point Guard; :38]
[SUPER=@Steve1; :47]
[SUPER=01-Pete Gillen/UVa Head Coach; 1:11]
[SUPER=04-Last Season; 1:28]
[RUNS=1:51]
[OUT Q=.....News 7 sports"]
(-------------)
((Jermaine Harper's holiday trip home to California earned him a new leather jacket for Christmas. ((:)) In the last three ACC wins, the freshman dropped UVa some presents in the form of nearly 10 points a game. ((:)) Keith Jennifer is also benefiting from ACC experience. He scored six a game in those same ACC contests. ((:)) ((STEVE MASON:)) ((:)) ((:)) ((PETE GILLEN/UVA HEAD COACH:)) The temporary loss of senior Adam Hall to a foot injury and the absence of now graduated shooting guard Keith Freil has exposed the need for a third shooter to help with the zone defense the Cavaliers are facing. ((:)) Freshman forward Elton Brown averaged 13 points a game in wins over Wake, FSU and Georgia Tech. Steve Mason News 7 sports.))

---

[S-NBDL]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-109 10914TC]
[GRAPHIC=DAZZLE]

The Roanoke Dazzle is home at the Roanoke Civic Center tonight hosting the Columbus Riverdragons. The game tips off at seven. And after losing by 28 to this same team last Friday night - Roanoke is anxious to get it on.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=BITE...]
[SUPER=01-Andre McCollum/Dazzle Point Guard; :00]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=...ARE ALSO."]
(------------)

---

[S-Demons]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-108 (1:10:36)]
[GRAPHIC=Wrestling Logo]

Kevin Dresser took over the wrestling program at Christiansburg High School six years ago and now the program is respected through-out the state.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg; :]

The Blue Demons are ranked second in the state behind Group Two A power Grundy.
Dresser introduced wrestling to the youth in Christiansburg beginning at the elementary school level. And now he's reaping the benefits at the high school level.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="We're through...]
[SUPER=01-Kevin Dresser/Christiansburg Head Wrestling Coach; :]
[RUNS=:22]
[OUT Q=.....in the state."]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Roy Stanley...
(-----------)

[Mural]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=jsc]
[TAPE#=01-55 TC1:28:19]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

A Hollins University art class is giving back to the community.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]

As a part of their January Term, six students painted murals for display in the Grandin Road area.
This is the second effort by the group.
They also painted a mural for the Brian Center Nursing Home in Fincastle.
Their professor said the project helps strengthen the relationship between Hollins and its host city.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I think]
((BILL WHITE/HOLLINS ART PROFESSOR: I THINK HOLLINS AS A WHOLE, MYSELF INCLUDED, I THINK ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT BEING GOOD CITIZENS IN THE COMMUNITY. AND, PROJECTS LIKE THIS, I THINK HELP TO CEMENT THE RELATIONSHIP QUITE WELL.))
[SUPER=01-Bill White/Hollins Art Professor;]
[RUNS=12]
[OUT Q=quite well.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

White said the project gives the students a life experience outside the classroom and hopes to continue the process for future January Terms. (------------)