[1-News-Head]

[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

Results of the controversial vote to honor Martin Luther King.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

And measuring the rainfall:... still not enough in one place; too much in another.
(------------)



[Sports-Head]


[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

Tonight on the Big 7, the Express gets player of the week. Bonnie looks for a new contract. The folks at Hargrave look for the best in the nation.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

And Tony Stewart gets a clean bill of health as he released from a Florence, South Carolina hospital after spending the night there after this wreck yesterday at Darlington.
(------------)


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


And we are not quite finished with the rain just yet as we got from too dry to very wet. Details ahead.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=KEith 4-Shot]


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



(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I think it is]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=we are not ready.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]


Efforts to honor the Rev. Martin Luther King stall today in Roanoke.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]


Members of city council say no to renaming a portion of Elmwood Park.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]


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


And I'm Shannon Young.
[City-Council]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#02-13 TC02:44]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]


A year long study and weeks of debate have produced little agreement.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]


Today city council split over the proposal to rename a section of Elmwood Park after the slain civil rights leader.

[Double Boxes=Keith-Shannon and JoeD/Microwave]


Joe Dashiell is at the Municipal Building with more.
[Live=JoeD Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=@Joe1;]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke;]
( ad lib)
(Rollcue:4-to-3 against.)
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=@Carder; :00]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :12]
[SUPER=01-Helen Davis/Opponent; :24]
[SUPER=01-Brenda Hale/Roanoke NAACP; :35]
[SUPER=01-Rev. E. M. Mitchell/Committee Co-Chair; :47]
[RUNS=:55]
[OUT Q=will not be true to their word.]
(-------------)
[Live=JoeD Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke;]
( ad lib)
[Double Boxes=Keith-Shannon and JoeD/Microwave]



[VA-Flooding]


[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=02-02 TC1:08:52]
[GRAPHIC=Flooding]


We've been praying for rain for weeks.
Now in some parts of Virginia there's too much of it.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :07]
[SUPER=03-Coeburn]


Governor Warner has declared a state of emergency because of flooding for seven far Southwest Virginia counties.

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 16:23:36]
[IN Q=I have directed the full forces]
[SUPER=@MarkWarner]
[RUNS=10]

((GOVERNOR MARK WARNER: I HAVE DIRECTED THE FULL FORCES OF STATE GOVERNMENT TO ASSIST THE CITIZENS, AND I HAVE CALLED OUT UP TO A HUNDRED MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL GUARD TO ASSIST THE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN HARD-HIT.))
[OUT Q=that have been hard-hit.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT :15]


In Wise County, some 400 people were forced into shelters.
Record flooding along the Clinch River and the north fork of the Holston River damaged property and roads as far north as Saltville and Richlands.
Those rivers are now receding.
(------------)


[WIPE TO SCHOOLTOUCH FS]

[Schools]


[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]


[WIPE TO SCHOOLTOUCH FS]

(XXXXXXXX)

[SCHOOLTOUCH FS]
The flooding has forced some schools in the area to change their schedules.
Smyth County schools will be closed tomorrow.
(------------)



(Shannon & Keith toss to Robin)


[Carvins-Cove]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=02-14 TC03:51]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]


Roanoke's main water supply got quite a lift from the wet weather.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Carvins Cove]


The rain over the weekend raised the level in Carvins Cove by almost half a foot.
It's at 24-point-3 feet below the spillway right now; on Saturday, it was at 24-point-7.
Steady rain filled up the creeks that feed the reservoir.
So the water level in the cove should continue to go up over the next day or two.
(------------)



[Tech-Visitors]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=02-07 TC42:36]
[GRAPHIC=Tech Tuition]


Higher tuition rates are now in place at Virginia Tech. The University's Board of Visitors met today...approving a nine percent increase for all students. The higher costs begin in the Fall.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith & Rachel/Microwave;]

New River Valley Bureau Chief Rachel Cannon was at today's meeting and is here to help us understand what it means for students... Rachel?
[LIVE=Rachel /FULL Microwave]
[SUPER=@Rachel1;]
[SUPER=05-Blacksburg;]

Keith, the University community is well aware that Virginia's budget shortfall is hitting Tech hard. Raising tuition is just one way officials are trying to make up for the loss of 13-percent in state funding....
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=NATS]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg; :00]
[SUPER=01-Larry Hincker/Tech Spokesman; :25]
[SUPER=01-Tom Gardner/Tech Sophomore; :34]
[SUPER=01-Erika Kaeten/Tech Freshman; :56]
[RUNS=1:26]
[OUT Q=THEIR BUDGET]

((NATS 17:28:56 ((MOTIONS BEEN MADE AND SECOND ALL IN FAVOR I, I.)) In a Torgenson Hall meeting room, a 9-percent tuition hike decision is unanimous. Undergraduate students who live in Virginia will see an increase of 252-dollars...for a total tuition of 3,044.....Nonresidents will pay 1,044 dollars more...that's 12,660 in tuition.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 17:30:47]
[IN Q=we've been]

((LARRY HINCKER/TECH SPOKESMAN; WE'VE BEEN TALKING STUDENTS GROUPS THROUGHOUT THIS PAST WEEK AND THEY'VE GOT A PRETTY GOOD GRASP OF THE MAGNITUDE OF SOME OF THESE REDUCTIONS AND THE NEED FOR THESE INCREASES.))
[OUT Q=FOR THESE INCREASES.]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 17:39:57]
[IN Q=I THINK]

((TOM GARDNER/TECH SOPHOMORE; I THINK VIRGINIA TECH STILL HAS A PRETTY GOOD VALUE FOR HOW MUCH WE PAY AND IF IT GOES UP IT'S NOT A WHOLE LOT, SO, I DON'T THINK IT'S THAT BAD.))
[OUT Q=THAT BAD.]

The board also raised mandatory fees...18-dollars more for each student. Officials say to help...financial aid is being increased by the General Assembly and the University. It may reach people like Erika Kaeten, an out of state student.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 17:38:09]
[IN Q=I KNOW]

((ERIKA KAETEN/TECH FRESHMAN; I KNOW IT WILL AFFECT US A LOT IT'S ALREADY A LOT OF MONEY TO COME OUT OF STATE WE PAY TWICE AS MUCH AS IN STATE SO THAT WILL BE HARD FOR MY FAMILY I THINK.))
[OUT Q=I THINK.]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 17:31:42]
[IN Q=the board]

((THE BOARD IS CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT MAY HAPPEN TO ENROLLMENT THIS COMING YEAR PROBABLY MORE LIKELY THE FOLLOWING YEAR.))
[OUT Q=following year.]

[BUTT BUTT]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 17:36:10]
[IN Q=we saw]

((WE SAW WHAT HAPPENED IN THE 1990'S WHEN YOU RAISE TUITION TOO FAST TOO QUICKLY STUDENTS BEGIN TO VOTE WITH THEIR FEET. ))
[OUT Q=THEIR FEET.]

Officials say the tuition hikes will produce about 11-million dollars. They still need to find 13-million more in cuts to meet their budget. NATS.))
(-------------)
[LIVE=Rachel /FULL Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Blacksburg;]

To do that Tech must make cuts in programs, personnel and budget reductions will be necessary...
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith & Rachel /Microwave;]

Keith, , Hincker says by May First they'll know what departments and how many people are affected.

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


Still ahead on News 7, Governor Warner reverses course on Redistricting.
Now he says he'll appeal, but on his own terms.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=NAT Demolition]

((NAT DEMOLITION))
[RUNS=02]
[OUT Q=NAT DEMOLITION]
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]


And some tried to save it... but today a downtown Roanoke building came down.
(----------------)



(///// SOT /////)

[Web Address Announce] [Pinnacle 4885ess]

[Comm#1]


[Redistricting]
[NEWSCAST=6 PM]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=02-05 TC1:01:32]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]


Governor Warner has made up his mind....he will appeal a judge's decision to throw out the state's new redistricting plan.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]


Warner intends to hire his own lawyer to do it.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]


Warner said today he will not join forces with Republican Attorney General Jerry Kilgore who last week refused to meet with the governor to talk about the issue.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=First, due to the]

((GOV. MARK WARNER: FIRST, DUE TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S UNPRECENDENTED FAILURE TO PROVIDE BASIC AND REQUIRED LEGAL SERVICES TO THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH, I WILL APPOINT A SPECIAL COUNSEL TO REPRESENT THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH: THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR AND THE SECRETARY OF THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS IN THIS MATTER. PROFESSOR PAM KARLAN WILL SERVE AS A SPECIAL COUNSEL TO THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR AT NO CHARGE TO TAXPAYERS.))
[SUPER=@markwarner]
[RUNS=:23]
[OUT Q=state board of elections]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


The governor says he'll appeal because, in his words, a decision this significant shouldn't be left to a single judge.
He is referring to Salem Judge Richard Pattisall's ruling that said the redistricting plan was unconstitutional because the new district lines were drawn according to race.
(------------)



[Red-House]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=02-01 TC1:23:50]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The government today released what it says are photographs of a reputed al Fuqua member shopping for an assault rifle in Central Virginia.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-Surveillance Photo]

Bilal Adbullah Ben Benu was charged in a four- count indictment just one week after September 11th, though the charges have no direct link to the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. The U-S Magistrate in Roanoke today declined to release the suspect today, citing his criminal history, the fact that he has resisted arrest on prior occasions and his use of multiple aliases.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith ]
[SS=None]

The trial is set for next month.

[Civic-Center]


[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6 p.m.]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=02-08 TC41:39]
[GRAPHIC=None]

"The City of Champions" is saluting the man who helped it earn its nickname.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :20]
[SUPER=03-Salem;]

Salem today announced it will rename the City's Civic Center, baseball and football stadiums as the James E. Taliaferro Sports Complex and Entertainment Center. Taliaferro left the city's top office in 1992 after 22-years in office. He says he's proud of the condition in which he left he city and feels it's still in good hands.
(///// SOT at :20 /////)
[SOT 6:53:00-6:53:13]
[IN Q=I have no regrets...]

((JIM TALIAFERRO/FORMER SALEM MAYOR: I HAVE NO REGRETS. I DON'T KNOW OF ANYTHING WE LEFT UNDONE. I LEFT AT A TIME I THOUGHT WE HAD GOOD COUNCIL MEMBERS, GOOD BOARDS AND GOOD COMMISSIONS AND I HAD A REAL GOOD, FUZZY FEELING ABOUT IT AND I STILL DO.))
[SUPER=01-Jim Taliaferro/Former Salem Mayor;]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=fuzzy feeling about it and I still do.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT :19]

The road leading up to the Civic Center will also sport Taliaferro's name. The former mayor, who has liver cancer, is credited with turning an empty hillside into a sporting facility that brings an estimated 70-80 million dollars a year into the local economy. Those who know him say Taliaferro has always put the city first.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon ]
[SS=None]

In a side note, the Taliaferro Sports Complex and Entertainment Center will host the final concert of the Statler Brother's Farewell Tour this coming October.

[Rockbridge-Jobs]


[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=Rockbridge New Jobs]

Rockbridge county beat out two sites in West Virginia and Tennessee for a new manufacturing facility.
A company called Power Systems International has decided to locate its facility in the Natural Bridge Industrial Park, and begin operations in April.
The company makes mobile power generating systems for military use.
The two point five million dollar investment will create 64 new jobs.

[Stocks]


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


Stocks started the week in mixed territory a day ahead of the Federal Reserve's meeting on interest rates. [TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5000;]
[SUPER=440-y/29.48/10577.75/x/8.76/1877.06;]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]


The DOW fell 29 and a half points.
NASDAQ gained nine.
(-------------)

[VO]
[SUPER=271-i/0.10/44.25/h/0.24/45.01/i/0.37/68.81/i/0.45/21.45/i/0.01/7.23;]
[SUPER=272-h/0.25/62.25//Unchg/54.60/i/0.29/39.90/i/0.07/27.44/i/0.07/43.98;]
[SUPER=273-i/0.12/22.22/i/0.05/24.03/i/0.06/0.95/i/0.64/51.65/h/0.49/13.60;]
[SUPER=274-i/0.05/67.80/h/1.20/73.81/i/0.08/47.62/h/0.14/37.12/i/0.20/63.55;]
[SUPER=#555; Reset]


[Calvary-Lot]


[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=01-12 TC24:18]
[GRAPHIC=None]


Prayers finally got them a parking lot....
(////////SOT///////)

[NAT SOUND] ((NAT DEMOLITION))
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
[RUNS=05]
[OUTQ=NAT DEMOLITION]
(--------------)
[VO-NAT]


Demolition began today on two vacant buildings near the corner of Campbell and 6th to make room for Calvary Baptist Church's new parking lot.
The church lobbied to buy and clear the property.
Some opposed demolition saying the buildings were historic.
But Roanoke city council gave the go-ahead in late January.
(------------)



[Hospital-Sale]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6 PM]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=01-58 TC1:54:09]
[GRAPHIC=None]


The deal is signed, sealed, and delivered.
Province Healthcare will buy Memorial Hospital of Martinsville and Henry County.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Martinsville/File Tape]


As part of the deal, Province plans to renovate the top three floors of the hospital inpatient tower.
Province also agrees to keep the number of current employees and services.
In fact, the company must first get the approval of a local governing board before eliminating any service.
Proceeds from the sale will be put in a foundation to be used for charitable purposes in the area.
The hospital currently employees 900 people.
(------------)



[Sports Tease]


[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]


An update on Tony Stewart's health and his temper as we hear from Joe Gibbs. Plus, an Express player earns ECHL player of the week honors.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

And some of the top high school football prospects in the nation were in Chatham today trying to impress new Hargrave coach Robert Prunty.
(------------)



[S-Stewart]


[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-118 3911TC]
[GRAPHIC=TONY STEWART]


Tony Stewart is out of the hospital after the results of an MRI test performed this morning proved to be negative.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Darlington, SC/Fox Sports-NASCAR; :00]

Stewart spent the night in a Florence, South Carolina hospital for observations purposes after he was involved in this wild wreck yesterday at Darlington. Stewart was briefly knocked unconscious and later complained of numbness in his lower back and left foot. At this time he plans to race at Bristol.
(---------------)



[S-Gibbs]


[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-120]
[GRAPHIC=GIBBS]


Even before Stewart survived yesterday's hard hit - folks knew he was "hard headed" both literally and figuratively. This year his season has either been "Win or Spin." His car owner, Joe Gibbs, says he too has to balance Tony's high strung temper and his high level of driving skill.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I THINK I...]
[SUPER=01-Joe Gibbs/Stewart's Car Owner; :00]
[RUNS=:44]
[OUT Q=...growing process."]
(------------)



[S-Jeff]


[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-112 116110TC]
[GRAPHIC=JEFF GORDON]


Jeff Gordon is also doing some healing these days.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Concord, NC/1999; :00]

Over the weekend word got out that his wife of 7 years, Brooke, had filed for divorce. Jeff finally released a statement today in responds to his the divorce papers that have been filed in Palm Beach County, Florida. Gordon asks his fans to respect his privacy and adds that it would be completely inappropriate to comment details of this matter publicly.
(-------------)



[S-Combine]


[ANCHOR=mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-108 1:41:11]
[GRAPHIC=FFE]


The Friday Football Extra high school season is almost six months away but today, 38 high profile athletes got a head start.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Chatham; :00]


Hargrave Military Academy held one of it's combines on campus.
Some of the nation's top high school prospects were put through drills ranging from the 40 yard dash to the vertical jump.
Only five to ten of these football players will earn a spot on the Hargrave football roster for next season.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Robert Prunty/Hargrave Post Graduate Football Coach; :00]
[RUNS=:26]
[OUT Q=.....athletic scholarship"]
(-------------)



[S-ECHL]


[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-115]
[GRAPHIC=ECHL]


The Roanoke Express is home tomorrow night against Wheeling. As John Brophy returns to the Roundhouse! Today Roanoke got some good news as newcomer Jeff Johnstone was named the league's Player of the Week. Roanoke right winger Jeff Johnstone is the league's Player of the Week for March 11-17. Playing in his first games for the Express since being acquired from Toledo for future considerations, Johnstone scored eight points in three games. On behalf of Jeff Johnstone, a case of pucks will be donated to a Roanoke area youth hockey organization by InGlasco, the official puck supplier of the ECHL.

[S-Bonnie]


[ANCHOR=mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-106 1:40:34]
[GRAPHIC=Tech basketball]


The Virginia Tech women's basketball team takes on Vermont for the first time in school history Wednesday night at seven at Cassell Coliseum in the WNIT quarterfinals.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg; :00]


In reaching this round of the WNIT, the Hokies have now put together five straight seasons with 20 or more wins. Bonnie Henrickson has also taken Tech to five consecutive post season appearances. She has two years remaining on her contract and will begin new negotiations at season's end.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Bonnie Henrickson/112 Wins in Five Years; :00]
[RUNS=:20]
[OUT Q=and we can get quality people here"]
(----------------)



[S-WDBJ]


[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=FINAL FOUR]


The Road to the Final Four resumes right here this Thursday night with doubleheader action from the Sweet 16.
(XXXXXXXXXXXX)

[go to pinnacle 6998] The games begin Thursday night with Duke and Indiana from the South region with coverage beginning at 7:30. The second game has Pittsburgh and Kent State - a team that has now won 20 straight contests.
(XXXXXXXXXXXXX)

[go to pinnacle 6999] Friday night U-Conn carries the Big East banner against one of the remaining Cinderellas - Southern Illinois and former Hokie Rolan Roberts. And Friday night late - Maryland takes on Kentucky. All the action is right here on WDBJ-7. (----------------)
by SS