WDBJ 7 morning news for 08/03/02

[Open-Heads]

[ANCHOR=Marya]

[NEWSCAST=Sat Am]
[WRITER=jen]
[TAPE#=net]
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[roll cold out of the open]

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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=#4070;weekend headline banner]
[SUPER=@Marya1;]
[SUPER=@Brent1;]
Coming up on News 7 Saturday Morning....... Former Governor Wilder reveals a plan that could save the Commonwealth billions of dollars....
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...And hear what one of the girls who was kidnapped by a gunman in California has to say about her ordeal. We will have more on those stories in just a few minutes.
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[2-shot toss to Hello]

[Kidnapped-Girl]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=Sat. a.m.]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]

One of two girls who was kidnapped at gunpoint in California is speaking out about her ordeal.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lancaster, CA;]

Jacqueline Marris was back home Friday, laughing with her friends.
But the 17-year-old says she still can't get Roy Ratliff's face out of her mind.
The fugitive ex-con kidnapped Marris and a 16-year-old girl from a Lover's Lane in Los Angeles early Thursday.
They were rescued when deputies shot Ratliff to death.
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[SOT 5:07:17 - :27]
[IN Q=I take it]
((REPORTER: I TAKE IT YOU HAVE NO REGRETS THAT HE WAS KILLED. JACQUELINE MARRIS/KIDNAPPING VICTIM: NONE AT ALL. I JUST REGRET THAT HE DIDN'T SUFFER. IT WAS TOO FAST. SOMEONE LIKE THAT SHOULD SUFFER FOR WHAT THEY'VE DONE.))
[SUPER=01-Jacqueline Marris/Kidnapping Victim; :04 QUICK!]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=what they've done.]
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[VO-NAT]

Marris says that at one point she and the other girl unsuccessfully tried to escape -- stabbing Ratliff with a knife and hitting him with a whiskey bottle.
She says he tied them up and assaulted them -- but also bought them chips and sodas when he stopped for gas.
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[Economic-Development]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=Sat AM]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=02-22 TC1:54:16]
[GRAPHIC=None]
More cuts are coming to Virginia Tech... in efforts to deal with the budget restrictions.
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[VO-NAT :20]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;]
This time it's the office of economic development. Tech is freezing the job... which linked the school to businesses. The office made it easier for companies to work with Tech faculty, students and research. In five-years it helped link 650-businesses... but the University says it has to react to losing 40-million dollars in funding...
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[SOT 56:33:19]
[IN Q=I don't think]
((LARRY HINCKER/VIRGINIA TECH SPOKESMAN; I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO OBVIOUSLY DESTROY OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH BUSINESSES BECAUSE WE LITERALLY HAVE HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN THE UNIVERSITY WHO INTERACT WITH BUSINESSES.))
[SUPER=01-Larry Hincker/Virginia Tech Spokesman;]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=WITH BUSINESSES.]
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[VO-NAT]
John Phillips headed up the economic development office -- He resigned in the spring. Tech says the job will be left vacant. Hincker says various departments in the University will pick up tasks related to the office. Tech expects another updated budget report from the state this month.
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[Virginia-Power]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=Sat AM]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=02-17 TC1:56:34]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Union workers at Virginia Dominion Power are on strike ...
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Clover]

Members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers went on strike at noon yesterday, after eight months of negotiations and still no agreement.
In Halifax County, 97 hourly workers walked off the job at the Clover Power Plant.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=We're not trying to bankrupt the company]
((MARK NICHOLS/CONTROL ROOM OPERATOR: WE'RE NOT TRYING TO BANKRUPT THE COMPANY OR DO ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE. WE'RE JUST TRYING TO MAINTAIN WHAT WE HAVE.))
[SUPER=01-Mark Nichols/Control Room Operator;]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=maintain what we have.]
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[VO-NAT]
This is the first labor action against Dominion in nearly 40 years... and company officials are hopeful that things can be resolved.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=they do a great]
[SUPER=01-Ken Barker/Dominion Virginia Power Vice-President;]
((KEN BARKER/VICE PRESIDENT OF DOMINION VIRGINIA POWER: THEY DO A GREAT JOB. VERY UNFORTUNATE THAT WE'RE AT A STRIKE WE COULD NOT REACH AN AGREEMENT AT THE TABLE. THEY LEFT UNDER A VERY GOOD SITUATION AS FAR AS THE WAY THEY LEFT. WE WANT THEM BACK AND WE'D BE VERY MUCH WILLING TO GO TO THE TABLE AND TALK SOME MORE.))
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=talk some more]
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[vo-nat]
The union represents 37- hundred workers in Virginia, West Virginia and North Carolina... including linemen, electricians, meter readers, and power plant staff.
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[Wilder-Commission]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=SAT AM]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=02-21 TC1:19:37]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Former Governor Doug Wilder has some ideas that could save the Commonwealth some cash...
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]

Wilder heads up a state commission looking at how to streamline government.
The former Governor is proposing the elimination of five agencies and a Cabinet position.
He also says it's about time that the government gives up control of the liquor business.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 11:31:48]
[IN Q=IT'S A QUESTION OF WHETHER VIRGINIA NEEDS]
((FORMER GOVERNOR DOUG WILDER: IT'S A QUESTION OF WHETHER VIRGINIA NEEDS TO BE INVOLVED IN CERTAIN THINGS. AS I POINTED OUT, SHOULD VIRGINIA BE INVOLVED IN THE LIQUOR BUSINESS? SHOULD WE HAVE PRIVATIZATION OF LIQUOR? SHOULD IT BE A STATE ENTITY? THESE ARE THINGS THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT AND TALKING ABOUT AND EVERYONE PASSES THE BUCK.))
[SUPER=01-Doug Wilder/Commission Chairman]
[RUNS=:20]
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[VO-NAT]

Wilder says privatizing the Department of Alcohol Beverage Control and cutting redundant government services could save the state up to a billion dollars.
The Commission on Efficiency and Effectiveness isn't due to release its official recommendations until December.
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[Powell]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=Sat. a.m.]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Secretary of State Colin Powell is calling Southeast Asia an ally in the war against terrorism.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Manila, Philippines;]

Powell is visiting the Philippines today, after signing an anti-terror pact with several Southeast Asian nations.

His visit was met with violent protests outside the Philippine leader's palace.
Anti-riot troops clubbed several protestors, who were shouting, "Powell go home" and attempting to break through lines at the heavily-guarded palace.
The Philippines, a Roman Catholic nation with a Muslim minority, is the U.S.' closest ally in the region.
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[Focus-Health]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=Sat AM]
[WRITER=jen]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=none]
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In today's Focus on Health, the West Nile Virus is taking a toll in the South -- as it spreads across several states.
The virus has infected 58 Louisiana residents -- killing four and putting at least a dozen in the hospital. Mississippi and Texas also have outbreaks.
Chris Lawrence tell us what they're doing to fight it.

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[SOT]
[IN Q=NATs: spraying]
[IN Q=Spraying hasn't stopped]
[SUPER=03-Slidell, LA; :00]
[SUPER=01-Dr. Roy Campbell/Centers For Disease Control; :18]
[SUPER=01-Toni Matherme/West Nile Victim; :52]
[SUPER=@lawrence2; 1:09]
[RUNS=1:23]
[OUT Q=CL, CBS News, NY.]

[2Open-Heads]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=Sat Am]
[WRITER=jen]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]

[roll cold out of the open]

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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=#4070;weekend headline banner]
Coming up on News 7 Saturday Morning...... About two dozen people are injured as a stage collapses during a political rally in Brazil ...
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And a peace activist from Roanoke is on his way to Iraq in hopes of blocking a U-S attack
We will have more on those stories in just a few minutes.
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[2-shot toss to hello]

[Giles-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=Sat AM]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=02-27 TC34:00]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]
Fire caused extensive damage to a home in Giles County last night.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Giles Co.]

The blaze broke out at this house on (Clen-DEN-in) Clendennin Road just after five.
Firefighters were able to contain the flames to one room ... but the rest of the house had extensive smoke damage.

No one was home at the time.
A passerby saw smoke coming from a window and called 9-1-1.
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[WIPE WIPE WIPE WIPE]

[FU-Car-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=Sat AM]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=02-31 TC15:56]
[GRAPHIC=]

[WIPE WIPE WIPE WIPE]

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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Investigators in Roanoke are trying to figure out how much damage a car fire caused to the First Union Tower parking garage.
The fire broke out around six o-clock.
No one was hurt, but the blaze caused quit a commotion because of the nearby First Fridays event.
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[Appox-Farmers]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=Sat AM]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=02-35 TC00:10]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]
Appomattox County farmers have won their battle to use treated human waste to fertilize fields.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Appomattox Co./File Tape]

County supervisors adopted ordinances last winter that severely restrict the use of bio-solids after residents voiced concern about the smell and possible health effects.
But eleven farmers- that already had state permits to use the waste- sued the county, claiming they're losing money and crops.
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[ANCHOR=Marya]
[SS=None]

Yesterday they claimed victory when federal judge Norman Moon issued an injunction prohibiting the county from enforcing the ban.

[Rockbridge-Courthouse]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=Sat AM]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=02-18 TC1:57:11]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Rockbridge County and Lexington officials want to build a new courthouse... and they are asking voters to approve a referendum to make it possible.
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[VO-NAT - :13]
[SUPER=03-Lexington;]
In the past 20 years, Rockbridge County's case load has increased from fewer than 100 cases a year, to more than 800.
The increased demand as well as improved technology have put a strain on the workers and building.
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[SOT - 21:16]
[IN Q=This is an old building...]
((GORDON SAUNDERS/ROCKBRIDGE CO. COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY; THIS IS AN OLD BUILDING, AS COMPUTERS HAVE COME ALONG IT'S BEEN VERY HARD FOR THEM TO UPGRADE, IT'S REQUIRED MORE CIRCUITRY AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, THE WIRING IN THE BUILDING IS OLD, THERE WAS A FIRE THAT STARTED IN THE BASEMENT, PART OF THAT MAY HAVE DUE TO THE WIRING OR THE FURNACE.))
[SUPER=01-Gordon Saunders/Rockbridge Co. Commonwealth's Attorney;]
[RUNS=16]
[OUT Q=wiring, or the furnace.]
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[VO-NAT - :12]
To build the new courthouse, voters would have to approve two issues: One that would approve the 12 million dollars for construction, and another that would officially move the courthouse to the new location.
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[Caracas-Clash]

[ANCHOR=Marya ]
[NEWSCAST=Sat. a.m.]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Political tension has once again erupted in violence on the streets of Venezuela.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Caracas, Venezuela;]

At least five people were wounded Friday in a poor Caracas neighborhood, after armed gunmen ambushed police.
It's the most serious outbreak of street violence since the attempted coup against president Hugo Chavez last April.
Chavez was ousted, but quickly restored to power by army factions loyal to him.
Violence erupted again this week after the country's Supreme Court postponed a trial for four military officers accused of trying to oust the Venezualan leader.
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[Stage-Collapse]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=Sat. a.m]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]

A stage collapsed during a political rally ... injuring a Brazilian presidential candidate and several of his supporters.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Rio de Janiero, Brazil;]

About 200 people were on the stage when it collapsed and fell about 13 feet.
Early estimates were that 18 people had been injured.
Anthony Garotinho, the fourth-place candidate for president -- and a former Rio de Janiero state governor -- was seen limping away after the collapse.
Brazil's presidential and general election will be held in October.
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[Musselman]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=Sat AM]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=02-25 TC1:09:15]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The young peace activist from Roanoke- -held prisoner by Israeli forces last May- -has a new mission.
Deported by Israel for siding with Palestinian protesters, Nathan Musselman is now preparing to take part in a project to block a U-S attack on Iraq.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]
He leaves for Chicago tomorrow to join a group headed for Iraq, despite the fact that U-N sanctions prevent Americans from going to Iraq without special permission.
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[SOT 17:20]
[IN Q=If we do]
((IF WE DO THE JOB RIGHT AND WE'RE TO SOME DEGREE LUCKY AND WE GET SUPPORT FROM OTHER AMERICANS, MAYBE OUR HIGHEST HOPES WE BE WE COULD EVEN PREVENT A U.S. ATTACK ON IRAQ.))
[SUPER=01-Nathan Musselman/Peace Activist]
[RUNS=16]
[OUT Q=a U.S. attack on Iraq.]
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[ANCHOR=Marya]
[GRAPHIC=None]
He hopes Voices in the Wilderness- -as the group is called- -can at least let Iraqis know that not all Americans favor U-S bombing of Baghdad.
(XXXXXXXXX)
[TAKE PROMO FS] Musselman responds to some tough questions on Iraq and his unconventional views on the Midddle East... in an exclusive extended interview right here tomorrow on News-7 Sunday morning.
(XXXXXXXXX)

[Tease#2]

[ANCHOR=Marya 2 shot]
[NEWSCAST=Sat Am]
[WRITER=jen]
[SS=None]
[BOTH MICS HOT] Coming up a little later.... mysterious "Signs" might have drawn audiences to the theater... but Anna Wentworth will tell us if it was worth the wait...
[ANCHOR=Brent]
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[VO-NAT]
And an upcoming golf tournament and auction is benefiting the Roy Stanley Miller memorial fund... we'll have a preview of some of the items up for bid... But first if you are traveling today... [Brent ad-lib the travel forecast -- WX PRO]
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[Brent MIC hot] [ No 2-shot toss go straight to Travel Bump] [soft music under]

[Movie-Open]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=Sat AM]
[WRITER=jen]
[TAPE#=Movie Open]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Mel Gibson's latest long-awaited flick hit theatres this weekend... but are the "Signs" worth reading? Here's Brent and Anna with this week's movie review...
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[SOT]
[IN Q=animation]
[RUNS=:05]
[OUT Q=stop animation]

[BRENT AND ANNA AT PULPIT]

[Movie-Review]

[ANCHOR=Brent @ Pulpit]
[NEWSCAST=Sat Am]
[WRITER=jen]
[TAPE#=Movie Review #3; TC ]
[GRAPHIC=None]

[2-SHOT Brent and ANNA BAM]
[SUPER=07-Anna Wentworth;]

BAM Monitor -- FS Movie Review
BAM Monitor -- Movie Clip
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[vo-nat]

TAKE MOVIE CLIP FS

[SUPER=04-"Signs"]HOT CHANGE TO
[super=04-Touchstone Pictures;]
((Signs Touchstone Pictures
"Signs" is a major disappointment. It is slow moving to the point of complete boredom. There is a pretentiousness to the movie that gives the impression the director, M.Night Shyamalan, is attempting to deal with IMPORTANT ISSUES, like a man's loss of faith; but at the same time, he has included enough horror-movie-style cheap shots to undermine any claim to a serious theme. There are strange moments of humor that don't fit the movie's tone, and everyone in the cast behaves oddly, although there is no explanation as to why they should. Mel Gibson plays Graham, a minister who has lost his faith after his wife was killed in an accident. He is raising two odd little children, Morgan and Beau; and his brother, Merrill, played by Joaquin Phoenix, has moved in with them to help out. Beau has weird dreams and worries about the quality of her drinking water. Morgan seems dreamy and weird. No one suggests therapy. Crop circles appear in the corn field beside their house. Other crop circles appear world wide. Aliens come. Aliens threaten the family. Aliens go. End of story. This may be the only movie with a sci fi theme that has virtually no special effects. Joaquin Phoenix is believable, but Gibson seems strangely flat here. Maybe he realizes this movie makes no sense. "Signs" fails on practically every level. We wait and wait for something to happen, but nothing much does. There is no payoff for sitting through this pompous and preposterous movie. Rated PG-13 Grade D+.
))

[VO RUNS=2:00]
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MB Monitor -- FS N7 Movie Review

[SUPER=07-Rating: PG-13;]
[SUPER=07-Anna's Grade "D+";]

AD LIB WRAP

[DOUBLE BOXES]

TOSS BACK TO MARYA

(++++++++++)
[ANCHOR=Joy]
[take webaddress fs] And just a reminder that you can find all of our movie reviews on our website at wbdj7.com and click on the weekend morning icon.
(+++++++++)

[Profile-Promo]

[ANCHOR=Brent 2-shot PS]
[NEWSCAST=Sat AM]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Radford University is hiring a familiar face to take over as police chief...
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[VO-NAT :18]
[SUPER=03-Radford;]
43-year-old Grandville Hampton has been with the University Police Department for 17-years. He has worked his way up from student dispatcher, to Sergeant, Lieutenant and now Chief. Hampton says he would like to train more officers on bike patrol to make it easier to get to calls on campus...
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[SOT 16:48:15]
[IN Q=it has]
((GRANVILLE HAMPTON/RADFORD UNIVERSITY POLICE CHIEF; IT HAS GROWN QUITE A BIT WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR A LOT MORE TERRITORY FOR WHAT WE USED TO BE WHEN I FIRST CAME HERE THE DEDMON CENTER WAS JUST BEING BUILT AND NOW WE BOUGHT A LOT OF OFF CAMPUS PROPERTY AND WE'VE ADDED A LOT OF ACADEMIC BUILDINGS AND IT REALLY HAS GROWN QUITE A BIT.))
[SUPER=01-Granville Hampton/Radford University Police Chief; :]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=QUITE A BIT.]
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[VO-NAT]
Hampton is expecting an enrollment of 93-hundred students this Fall. He received both his Bachelors and Masters degree from RU.
(XXXXXXXXXX)
[TAKE PROFILE PROMO FS] More on the new man in charge is coming up tomorrow in our Virginia Profile... (------------)