[1-News-Head]

[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

Governor Warner's amendments to the state budget include some money for drug courts.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

And congressional leaders get an on-site tire- fire progress report.
(------------)



[Sports-Head]


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

Tonight on News 7 sports, Radford names Byron Samuels its new head coach in basketball. The Express reflects on its exit from the playoffs.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

And Matt Kenseth, the Wisconsin native, doesn't look much like a Texan - but he is a winner in today's Radio Shack 500.
(------------)


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


Showers are in the forecast, and we may even hear the rumble of thunder tomorrow afternoon, stay tuned for the complete News 7 forecast.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith 3-Shot]


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



(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 58:44]
[IN Q=We have started to restore]

((WE HAVE STARTED TO RESTORE THE FISCAL INTEGRITY OF THE COMMONWEALTH IN A MANNER THAT IS AS EQUITABLE AND FAIR AS POSSIBLE.))
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=equitable and fair as possible.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Keith]


Governor Warner offers up his budget amendments and finds enough money to keep local drug courts afloat.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[GRAPHIC=News7at6]


Good evening, I'm Keith Humphry.
Shannon Young is off tonight.

[Warner-Bills]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=Six]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=02-13 TC12:46]
[GRAPHIC=John Warner]


Today, Governor Warner outlined more than 80 amendments to the budget the General Assembly approved last month.
If lawmakers agree, the changes would restore about 30- million dollars for education, technology and criminal justice programs. [***NEWS 7 @ 6 MB GRAPHIC***]
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith & JoeD /MB SET;]


Tonight, Joe Dashiell reports the Governor's proposal restores partial funding for local drug courts.... enough money to keep them afloat for another year.
[LIVE=JOeD /FULL MB SET]
[SUPER=@joe1;]


Keith, Governor Warner says he was pleased that lawmakers were able to close the three-point eight billion dollar gap in the budget... with no general tax hike and only modest fee increases.
But he said some changes are needed to restore critical programs.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=@markwarner; :00]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/March 18; :16]
[SUPER=01-Diane Strickland/Circuit Court Judge; :38]
[RUNS=:54]
[OUT Q=because it was saving money.]
(([SOT]
[IN Q=I think they made]

((I THINK THEY MADE A VERY GOOD CASE THAT THESE WERE DOLLARS WELL SPENT AND THE ABILITY TO KEEP THESE FOLKS IN AN ALTERNATIVE TO FULL INCARCERATION MAKES GOOD COMMON SENSE AND GOOD FISCAL SENSE.)) [RUNS:14]
[OUT Q=good fiscal sense.]


Advocates of Roanoke's drug court had rallied support after lawmakers failed to fund the program for the next two years.
And though Warner did not restore all of their money, he did find enough to keep the program alive while localities look for other sources of support.
This afternoon, Circuit Judge Diane Strickland told News 7s Meghan Muldoon she was encouraged by the Governor's decision.
[SOT 01:42]
[IN Q=I had the good fortune ]

((I HAD THE GOOD FORTUNE TO MEET WITH HIM LAST MONDAY, A WEEK AGO TODAY AND HE TOLD ME DURING THAT MEETING THAT HE RECOGNIZED IT WAS A VERY VALUABLE PROGRAM FROM A PUBLIC SAFETY STANDPOINT AND THAT ECONOMICALLY IT MADE A LOT OF SENSE BECAUSE IT WAS SAVING MONEY.)) [RUNS:18]
[OUT Q=saving money.]))
(-------------)

[***NEWS 7 @ 6 MB GRAPHIC***]
[LIVE= JoeD /FULL MB SET]


Other amendments include more than a million dollars for two centers that help schools in southside and southwest Virginia meet the standards of quality... two million for higher education financial aid... and two point three million to maintain research projects at Virginia Colleges and Universities.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith & JOeD /MB SET;]


Of course Keith, none of this is official unless lawmakers agree... and they're due back in Richmond for the veto session April 17th.

[Brush-Fire]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=02-17 TC14:55]
[GRAPHIC=Brush Fire]

A brush fire on Fort Lewis Mountain has proven tougher to get ahead of than Roanoke County Fire officials had expected.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]

About 30 acres of trees and brush were still burning late this afternoon along Route 311 near the Dark Hollow Girl Scout Camp.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT @7:20]
[IN Q=There was a crew]

((CHARLIE KING/BATTALION CHIEF; THERE WAS A CREW IN HERE CUTTING SOME TREES OUT ON THE POWER LINE, AND ONE OF THE TREES JUST GOT TOO CLOSE AND TOOK THE POWER LINE DOWN WHICH STARTED THE FIRE.))
[SUPER=01-Charlie King/Battalion Chief; ]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=started the fire.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Power was knocked out to some homes in the area, but A-E-P was working to restore electricity. Three structures at the camp were threatened by the flames, but they are not occupied. The Scout Camp is used only during the Summer months. Today had already been designated brush-fire training day for new recruits. They got to practice on the real thing.
(------------)



[Big-Game]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=Big Game]


The jackpot for tomorrow night's Big Game drawing continues to grow, even as players are still lined up to buy tickets.
After 17 straight drawings with no winner, the top prize in the multi-state lottery is up to 153-million dollars -- the third largest jackpot in Big Game history.
Currently, Virginia and six other states are members of the Big Game. New York and Ohio are set to join next month.

[Tease#1]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=NONE]


They hope it will be a high-tech haven in the New River Valley.
We'll explain when News Seven at Six returns.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]


Plus, a big change is coming to a downtown Roanoke neighborhood... as Carilion prepares to make way for the biomedical center.
(----------------)



[Tire-Fire]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#02-02 TC1:40:48]
[GRAPHIC=Tire Fire]


The Environmental Protection Agency says firefighting efforts at Roanoke County's massive tire dump are going well.
Today, Senator John Warner and Congressman Bob Goodlatte flew in for a first-hand look.
[Double Boxes=Keith and Marya/Microwave]


Marya Jones was there too.
So Marya, what was their reaction?
[Live=Marya Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=@Marya1;]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke Co.;]
( ad lib)
(Rollcue: removed in three.)
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[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]
[SUPER=@johnwarner;]
[SUPER=@goodlatte]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=in the country]
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[Live=Marya Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke Co.;]
( ad lib)
[Double Boxes=Keith and Marya/Microwave]



[Biomedical-Center]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=02-07 TC1:00:53]
[GRAPHIC=Carilion Biomed]

Residents will soon see the first sign of progress on Roanoke's biomedical institute.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]

The first contract has been awarded to make way for the Riverside Centre for Research and Technology. Later this month--crews will begin tearing down two buildings on South Jefferson Street. This will make way for a 500- space parking garage. The garage will be used by the park's first two tenants which are the Carilion Biomedical Institute and Carilion Health System. Supporters of the park say it could create up to 25- hundred jobs.
(------------)



[Telemedicine]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=Medical News]


Imagine going to your local hospital or clinic and having a specialist hundreds of miles away examine you.
That's what will soon be happening in Patrick County.
A new tele-medicine project will link Patrick County Community Hospital with the University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville.
The hospitals will use a 25-thousand-dollar grant from the U-S Department of Health and Human Services to help buy the equipment.
The hospitals hope to have the program running within five months, and say it will let rural patients get specialized care without having to drive to cities.

[NRV-Park]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=02-09 TC58:25]
[GRAPHIC=None]


Officials are breaking ground on what they hope will house future jobs in the New River Valley...
(------------)
[VO-NAT :19]
[SUPER=03-Pulaski Co.;]

Construction on Phase One of the region's Commerce Park was kicked off today. Officials say the site is ideal for technology based companies given its proximity to the NRV Airport and local colleges and universities.
Congressman Rick Boucher says the businesses will provide 21st century jobs for the region.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 42:36:29]
[IN Q=WE HAVE]

((REP. RICK BOUCHER/(D) 9TH DISTRICT; WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTRACT TO THIS COMMERCE PARK A LARGE MICRO CHIP MANUFACTURER ADVANCED ELECTRONICS COMPONENTS MANUFACTURERS OF VARIOUS KINDS COMPANIES THAT WILL BE INVOLVED IN BIO TECHNOLOGY OR BIOINFORMATICS, OR ROBOTICS.))
[SUPER=@Boucher;]
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=OR ROBOTICS.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

When completed the Park will be about 1-thousand acres. Officials say it has taken about 4-years to get to this point and that actual building construction will depend on how long it takes to attract companies to the site.
(------------)



[Stocks]


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


Investors shook off a profit and revenue warning from I-B-M, and sent stocks to a mixed close. [TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5000;]
[SUPER=440-y/22.56/10249.08/x/15.75/1785.78;]


The DOW fell 22 and a half points.
NASDAQ gained 16.
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[VO]
[SUPER=271-h/0.50/45.00/h/0.30/47.12/h/0.56/69.48/i/0.02/20.43/h/0.09/6.74;]
[SUPER=272-h/0.13/66.00/h/0.79/54.18/i/0.24/36.86/i/0.05/22.96/h/0.10/45.10;]
[SUPER=273-h/0.07/22.07/h/0.17/23.00/h/0.01/1.00/i/0.33/52.33/h/0.24/14.50;]
[SUPER=274-h/0.18/66.85/h/1.19/75.63/i/0.60/44.21/h/0.30/36.28/h/0.64/59.78;]
[SUPER=#555; Reset]


[Flood-Relief]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=02-06 TC1:06:56]
[GRAPHIC=Flood RElief]


Federal inspectors have begun inspecting flood-damaged properties in Southwest Virginia.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-Last Month]


Nine Southwest Virginia communities ravaged by last month's floods are eligible for federal disaster assistance.
President Bush granted a major disaster declaration for the area last week.
Federal Emergency Management Agency and American Red Cross inspectors are now meeting with residents who have applied for disaster assistance.
(------------)



[Historic-Tours]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=02-10 TC37:48]
[GRAPHIC=None]


Mention the phrase "historic district" to a Lynchburg resident, and you're likely to get a strong reaction: one that's either in favor or opposed to historic designation.
But one woman is trying to educate people about the beauty of the districts.. and she's taking her argument to the streets.
Steve Smallshaw reports.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Mary Kathryn]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg; :00]
[SUPER=01-Mary Kathryn McIntosh/Historic Districts Tour Guide; :37]
[SUPER=@ssm2; :53]
[RUNS=1:20]
[OUT Q=News7, Lynchburg.]

(( Mary Kathryn McIntosh makes her living talking about other people's houses.
Ordinarily, the owner of Lynchburg Historic Tours does her speaking from the front of a bus.. but this month, McIntosh is hitting the bricks.
[natsot 14:49:04]

((THIS IS R.G.H. KANE'S HOME ACROSS THE STREET FROM HERE.. HE WAS THE SECRETARY OF WAR DURING THE CONFEDERACY..))
[RUNS= 07]


McIntosh.. who makes her home on Diamond Hill.. is offering walking tours of three of the city's six historic districts on three Sundays in April.
This is more than just pointing out the unique architecture of the neighborhoods.. it's reminding people just how much history the Hill City has to offer.
[SOT 14:44:39]

((MARY KATHRYN MCINTOSH/HISTORIC DISTRICTS TOUR GUIDE: I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT LED ME TO DO THESE TOURS IS YOU DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND THE HOUSES UNTIL YOU'RE WALKING THE STREET. WHEN YOU'RE IN A BUS AND YOU'RE HIGH UP, YOU DON'T GET THE SAME PERSPECTIVE THAT YOU DO WHEN YOU'RE WALKING ON THE SIDEWALK.))
[RUNS= 15]
[OUT Q=on the sidewalk.]


So from street level McIntosh will share the stories of the people who built these houses and helped to build Lynchburg.. it's information that anyone should find interesting.
[SOT 15:01:11]

((MCINTOSH: I HOPE THAT THE PEOPLE WHO COME ON THE TOUR WILL GET A FLAVOR FOR WHAT IT'S LIKE TO LIVE DOWN HERE AND HAVE A REAL SENSE OF PRIDE IN OUR HISTORY AND PERHAPS BE ABLE TO LOOK AT A BUILDING AND THINK THAT IT COULD BE A PARTICULAR STYLE.))
[RUNS= 16]
[OUT Q=a particular style.]


Steve Smallshaw, News7, Lynchburg.))

[Sports Tease]


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

Coming up tonight on the Big 7 - Radford University plays it close to the vest in naming its new head hoop coach from within. Matt Kenseth starts last and finishes first in the rain delayed Texas Cup event.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

And the Express players and head coach Perry Florio talk about another disappointing early exit from the playoffs.
(------------)


[S-Radford]


[ANCHOR=MIke]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-114 1:35:25]
[GRAPHIC=Radford]


Radford University named Byron Samuels the school's fifth head basketball coach today.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Radford; :00]


Samuels served as an assistant coach under Ron Bradley this past season and during the 1991-92 season. He spent the last three seasons before coming back to RU on Jerry Green's staff at Tennessee. The Vols reached the NCAA tournament each of those seasons. Samuels says he's excited about the chance to coach the Highlanders.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Byron Samuels/New Radford Men's Basketball Coach; :]
[RUNS=:20]
[OUT Q="out of ourselves"]
(--------------)
[VO-NAT(con't)]


Samuels goal is to build a team with top notch recruits and an incredible work ethic that will generate excitement around campus, in the Radford community and around the state.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=..grow your basketball program"]
(----------------)



[S-Race]


[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-111 11810tc]
[GRAPHIC=TEXAS]

The Samsung-Radio Shack 500 was washed out yesterday due to a persistent rain in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area.
The rescheduled event got underway at Noon today.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke, TX/Fox 21-27; :00]

The wicked one and a half mile tri-oval was high and dry for today's rescheduled event, and one of the guys who has been struggling all season long came out smoking in this event. Dale Jarrett led _______ laps and was the man to beat for the first one third of the race. But he ran out of gas late and finished 24th. Bill Elliott, started on the pole and led for ____ circuits. Elliott finished a strong ninth. Wrecks wiped out several of the contenders including Ward Burton, who had this to show for his efforts, and Dale Earnhardt, Junior who hit the outside wall, tried to come back but finished 42nd. The final caution of the day was brought out when Kurt Busch had a tire go down and he was involved in a single car spin. 25 laps remained after the final pit stops in which some teams took on just two tires. Matt Kenseth was one of those as he held off Jeff Gordon to win his second race of the season. Kenseth started the race dead last and wins the Cowboy Boots trophy from the 43rd position
(------------)
[Anchor=MIKE]
[GRAPHIC=TEXAS]

Jeff Burton was 39th, Stacy Compton was 19th, and Rick Mast 29th.
[GRAPHIC=MARTINSVILLE]

The circuit pulls into Martinsville later this week for the Virginia 500 and Advance Auto Parts 250 weekend. Qualifying is on Friday, the truck race on Saturday and the Cup event on Sunday. Tickets are still available for all events.

[S-Warner]


[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=sp-115]
[GRAPHIC=wendell scott]


NASCAR legend Wendell Scott, one of the most talented, yet under appreciated drivers in the history of racing is being immortalized on the big screen again tonight. John Warner, the son of Senator John Warner has produced a documentary detailing the life of the man who grew up in the "Crooktown" section of Danville. This afternoon Senator Warner, who narrates the piece of work has this to say about the production.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=bite]
[SUPER=@johnwarner; :00]
[RUNS=:32]
[OUT Q=...THE FAMILY CAME."]
(------------)



[S-Ice]


[ANCHOR=mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-119 45:12]
[GRAPHIC=Express]


The Roanoke Express will take some time off, regroup and then start preparing for next season. But the season ending loss to Trenton last night will take some time to get over.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Last Night; :00]


The Titans beat Roanoke 5-2 and won the ECHL opening round playoff series 3 games to 1. The Express battled for first place in the Northeast but struggled late in the season to reach the playoffs. However, the franchise has reached the post season in each year of existence.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Mike Peron/Express Center; :00]
[SUPER=01-Joe Dusbabek/Express Left Wing; :19]
[SUPER=01-Perry Florio/Express Head Coach; :33]
[RUNS=:49]
[OUT Q=......be with the team"]
(----------------)



[S-MLB]


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


And finally, the Major League season is barely a week old and already a manger has been fired. The Detroit Tigers, who are 0-and-6 so far this year - today fired manager Phil Garner and general manager Randy Smith .
by SS