[1-News-Head]

[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

No one wants a tax increase... a majority of the voters, say "no," anyway. We'll see what the Governor makes of i
t.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :05]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

And, a local tent manufacturer quite literally has the military covered.
(------------)



[Sports-Head]


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

Tonight on News 7 Sports - the latest on Tech's Michael Crawford - who is back on campus - plus Steve Mason checks in with the Express.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

and the Dazzle cuts its roster and in the process serves up some cold cuts for two area players.
(------------)


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


The northwest winds kicking up some 40 and 50 mph gusts today. It should calm down a bit this evening. The forecast is coming up.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith 4-Shot]


News 7 at Six is next.

[Prosecutors]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=02-34 TC1:35:02]
[GRAPHIC=None]


Commonwealth's attorneys are feeling the pain of the state's budget axe.. and they say cuts could mean some crimes go unpunished.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]


Five central Virginia prosecutors gathered today to protest the latest reduction in state funding which they say will force them to reduce their staffs.
That means some criminal cases could be delayed or dropped altogether.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 13:16:28]
[IN Q=I do not]

((RANDY KRANTZ/BEDFORD CO. COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY: I DO NOT WANT TO HAVE TO BE IN A POSITION WHERE I HAVE TO TELL ONE FAMILY I CANNOT TAKE YOUR CASE IN BECAUSE ANOTHER CASE IS THERE. OR HAVING TO CHOOSE BETWEEN VIOLENT AND NON-VIOLENT CRIMES. EACH ONE OF US HERE HAVE TO MAKE THOSE TRIAGE DECISIONS EVERY DAY, BUT HISTORICALLY WE HAVE NOT HAD TO MAKE THEM BECAUSE WE COULD NOT AFFORD TO PROSECUTE THE CASE OR WE DID NOT HAVE THE STAFF.))
[SUPER=01-Randy Krantz/Bedford Co. Commonwealth's Attorney;]
[RUNS=20]
[OUT Q=have the staff.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Some local governments are opting to make up for the shortfall in state funding.
(------------)



[County-Cuts]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=02-39 TC56:12]
[GRAPHIC=None]


The budget cuts are also hitting home in the form of layoffs, furloughs and fewer services.
You'll recall that county constitutional officers, like the commonwealth attorney, commissioner of revenue, circuit court clerk and treasurer were told to cut their budgets anywhere from 7 to 11 percent.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith & Marya /Newsroom Pod;]


Marya Jones talked to them today to find out where the axe will fall.
Keith, in some places, like Botetourt County, the Board of Supervisors was able to pitch in money and keep the offices going as they are.
[LIVE= Marya /FULL Newsroom Pod]
[SUPER=@Marya1;]


But others like Franklin and Henry County weren't in such a good financial situation.
And the affected departments say citizens may soon notice the difference.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Rocky Mount; :00]
[SUPER=01-Cliff Hapgood/Franklin Co. Commonwealth's Attorney; :18]
[SUPER=01-Judy Crook/Franklin Co. Commissioner of Revenue; :52]
[RUNS=1:05]
[OUT Q=citizens we can.]

(( The doors will close an extra hour each day at the Franklin County Circuit Court Clerk's office.
Clerk Alice Hall says she was forced to lay off one worker and make another part-time.
Her staff will no longer be able to assist people with copies and some records searches.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 7:55 - 8:03]

((CLIFF HAPGOOD/COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY: NOW THINGS ARE GOING TO SLOW DOWN SOME MORE. I DON'T THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE ANY DIFFERENCE IN THE QUALITY OF WHAT WE DO, BUT IT'S JUST GOING TO TAKE A LOT LONGER.)) [RUNS:08]
Commonwealth's Attorney Cliff Hapgood says he's set to lose one prosecutor in an office of four.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 2:40]

(( THE 7% CUT THAT THE STATE DECLARED WE SHOULD TAKE IS ACTUALLY GOING TO HAVE A MUCH GREATER IMPACT IN MANPOWER. IT'LL TURN OUT TO BE A 25% CUT. )) [RUNS:10]
However, some offices dodged the bullet.
At the county Commissioner of Revenue's office, the cuts were made by leaving vacant jobs unfilled.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 10:46]

((JUDY CROOK/COMMISSIONER OF REVENUE: I HAD THOUGHT THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO TAKE SALARY CUTS AND CLOSE ONE DAY A WEEK BUT IT TURNED OUT WE TOOK IT ALL FROM PART TIME FUNDS AND WE'LL STILL BE ABLE TO CONTINUE THE SAME SERVICES TO CITIZENS WE CAN.)) [RUNS:13]))
(-------------)
[LIVE= Marya /FULL Newsroom Pod]


Franklin County's Board of Supervisors could NOT offer help because it already dipped into its reserves to balance THIS YEAR's budget.
Henry County delivered the same bad news to its constitutional officers yesterday.
That will result in one layoff and some workers taking as many as 11 unpaid days off.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith & Marya /Newsroom Pod;]


Of course, they're all bracing for what further cuts lie ahead.
Keith?

[UVA-Budget]


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


The University of Virginia is hurting from the budget cuts too, but won't lay off any workers... at least for now.

President John Casteen says that could change though if the General Assembly orders more cuts.
U-V-A is offsetting some of the cuts with a 385-dollar mid-year tuition surcharge.

[Education-Bond]


[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=02-37 TC1:17:00]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]


Despite the pain of state budget cuts,
[SS=Election 2002]

yesterday's passage of a 900-million dollar education bond has given officials at state colleges something to smile about.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;]


And the smiles couldn't be bigger at Virginia Tech, which will receive 95-million toward ITS renovation projects.


Officials say the money will allow the university to move forward with plans to construct a new research lab for the agriculture and natural resources departments.
The 23-million dollar project has been on hold for about four years, because of the lack of funding.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:49]
[IN Q=the project]

((LARRY HINCKER/UNIVERSITY RELATIONS: THE PROJECT IS DESIGNED, READY TO GO FOR BID, AND AS SOON AS WE GET THE GO AHEAD THAT THE MONEY IS AVAILABLE WE'LL HAVE THE BIDS ON THE STREETS AND THERE'S A POSSIBILITY WE COULD SEE CONSTRUCTION BY THE END OF THE YEAR. 1:58))
[SUPER=01-Larry Hincker/University Relations;]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=of the year]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Other projects include a new engineering facility and a new biology building.
Hincker says all of the projects will span the next five to six years.
(------------)


[Warner-elections]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=02-40 TC1:08:52]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]


Governor Mark Warner was handed a major defeat as voters in Northern Virginian and Hamptons Roads killed his regional sales tax referendum.
[ANCHOR=SHannon 2-Shot]


Will their no-tax message hamper the governor and his handling of the state budget crisis?
Richmond Bureau Chief Meghan Muldoon has more.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Governor Mark Warner's first]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]
[SUPER=01-Del. Bill Howell/(R) Speaker Designate; :]
[SUPER=01-Del. Steve Jones/(R) Suffolk; :]
[SUPER=@MarkWarner]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=MM, News 7, Richmond]

(( Governor Mark Warner's first election day since taking office was a bittersweet one.
Virginians passed the higher education and state parks bond Warner supported.
But his signature issue, the regional transportation tax referendum, the one he campaigned on last year and stumped tirelessly for the last few months was decisively voted down.
[SOT 12:52:03]
[IN Q=IT WAS, I'M SURE, A STINGING DEFEAT]

[RUNS:07]
[OUT Q=FOR THE REFERENDUM.]
[SOT 13:33:09]
[IN Q=YOU COULD MAKE THE ARGUMENT]

[RUNS:05]
[OUT Q=DIMINISHED SOMEWHAT.]


The Governor says he disappointed by the defeat but is moving on.
[SOT 16:36:43]
[IN Q=MY JOB IS TO FIND]

[RUNS:11]
[OUT Q=LOOK FOR ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS.]


The referendum could also limit the governor's options as he grapples with a massive revenue shortfall.
Republicans say the voters in Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia may have hammered the final nail in the tax increase coffin.
[SOT 12:53:18]
[IN Q=I THINK THE MESSAGE]

[RUNS:07]
[OUT Q=FURTHER TAX INCREASES.]
[SOT 13:31:49]
[IN Q=IT CERTAINLY]

[RUNS:05]
[OUT Q=NUMBER ONE ISSUE.]


But Warner says he still thinks everything, including tax increases, remain on the table.

[SOT 16:39:30]
[IN Q=WE'RE CONTINUING]

[RUNS:10]
[OUT Q=CAN FIND SAVINGS.]


So with a multi-billion dollar shortfall and a defeat , the governor
may be facing a very long three years.
Meghan Muldoon, News7, Richmond.))

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


What would a pipeline do to Southwest and Southside Virginia?
The federal government weighs in when News 7 at Six returns.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]


Plus keeping the troops covered in the combat zone.
We'll see how a local company is pitching in.
(----------------)


[BMI]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=02-43 TC1:03:35]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

They are designed to work on the battlefield where failure is not an option.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

Military shelters made in Western Virginia are being used on combat missions around the globe. Business Reporter Rachel Cannon takes us inside...
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=NATS]
[SUPER=03-Fairfield; :00]
[SUPER=01-Bea Maurer/BMI President; :16]
[SUPER=01-Brian Dearing/BMI Vice President of Business Devel.; :43]
[SUPER=04-Courtesy: BMI; :50]
[SUPER=@Rachel1; 1:23]
[RUNS=1:52]
[OUT Q=RC, News 7, Fairfield.]

((18:14:49 "ALRIGHT, THAT'S GREAT" Bea Maurer (maui) spends a lot of time on the floor of her company making sure production is running smoothly. She has a lot riding on it. The business Maurer began over 20-years ago bears her name and reputation.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 18:00:56]
[IN Q=this company]

((BEA MAURER/PRESIDENT BMI; THIS COMPANY BEGAN IN MY BASEMENT I THINK I WAS CREATIVE AND ENERGETIC AND I NEEDED SOMETHING TO DO WITH MY LIFE.))
[OUT Q=MY LIFE.]

Small beginnings for a now a well-known company. Bea Maurer Inc. is one of the leading manufacturers of tents and shelters for the U-S military and other federal agencies. It employes about 1-hundred people in the Fairfield facility and ships around 150-tents a month.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 18:00:59]
[IN Q=we have]

((BRIAN DEARING/VP BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT BMI; WE HAVE UNITS IN AFGHANISTAN NOW, WE HAVE UNITS IN EUROPE WE UNITS AS FAR WEST AS HAWAII, WE COVER ALL BRANCHES OF THE MILITARY.))
[OUT Q=BRANCHES OF THE MILITARY.]

The shelters go up in a matter of seconds, earning the term rapid deployment. Not only are they fast, they're tough, withstanding all kinds of elements.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 17:56:50]
[IN Q=the harshest]

((THE HARSHEST WIND, HEAT, COLD RAIN WHATEVER, YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO OPERATE.))
[OUT Q=OPERATE]

The lightweight, portable shelters become active military command posts and surgical suites to treat the injured. In today's climate it's not unusual for BMI to get large rush orders for its products.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 18:03:30]
[IN Q=it has grown]

((IT HAS GROWN STEADILY OVER THE 20-YEARS THAT WE'VE BEEN IN BUSINESS.))
[OUT Q=BUSINESS]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 18:22:29]
[IN Q=the shelters]

((RCANNON@WDBJ7.COM; THE SHELTERS ARE CONSTANTLY BEING UPDATED WITH NEW TECHNOLOGY, THE MOST RECENT BREAKTHROUGH INVOLVES SAFEGUARDING THEM FROM BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL THREATS. OFFICIALS HERE SAY THEY'RE WORKING WITH THE ARMY TO DEVELOP THE PRODUCT AND EXPECT IT TO BE COMPLETED IN 2 WEEKS.))
[OUT Q=2 weeks.]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 18:00:00]
[IN Q=we also]

((WE ALSO FABRICATE THE STRUCTURES HERE WITHIN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA WE HAVE OUR WELDING DONE OUR POWER COATING DONE WE DO ALL THE MACHINE AND CUTTING HERE AS WELL AS THE FRAMING AND THE SEWING THE EXTERNAL FABRICS ))
[OUT Q=FABRICS]

A lot of the work is done by hand. Maurer says that human touch ensures high quality and product reliability for life or death situations. Rachel Cannon, News 7, Fairfield.))


[Arsenal-River]


[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6 p.m.]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=02-42 TC1:09:48]
[GRAPHIC=None]


The Army and the Radford Ammunition Plant are compromising on a plan to close the New River for security reasons.

(------------)
[VO-NAT :27]
[SUPER=@file]

Army officials today recommended three levels of access to a four mile stretch of river near the plant. The levels would be based on conditions of military security. The first and most lax level would allow unrestricted access. The second level would allow access to the river once a security checkpoint had been cleared. The third and final level would close the river. The recommendation is being considered by the Army Corps of Engineers.
(------------)



[Stocks]


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


Wall Street had mixed emotions at first, but then decided to welcome the Federal Reserve's unexpectedly generous half-point interest rate cut. [TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5000;]
[SUPER=440-x/92.74/8771.01/x/17.81/1418.98;]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]


The DOW climbed 93 points today.
NASDAQ gained 18.
(-------------)

[VO]
[SUPER=271-i/0.43/52.20/h/1.14/28.58/h/2.29/64.12/i/0.93/70.09/h/0.93/12.26;]
[SUPER=272-h/0.03/6.42/i/0.81/50.18/i/0.65/37.05/h/0.10/26.60/h/0.27/7.61;]
[SUPER=273-i/0.04/44.50/h/0.06/15.21/h/0.76/22.32/h/0.55/2.60/h/0.06/42.74;]
[SUPER=274-h/0.46/10.71/i/1.07/60.42/i/0.70/39.00/i/0.43/35.18/i/0.08/54.34;]
[SUPER=#555; Reset]


[Cline]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=Six]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=02-36 TC1:31:30]
[GRAPHIC=Election 2002]


Delegate-Elect Ben Cline spent the day after the election accepting congratulations, and thanking his new constituents in Rockbridge, Amherst and Augusta counties.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=403-Natural Bridge/Last Night]


Cline won all but a handful of precincts in the 24th House District, as he defeated Democrat Mimi Elrod in yesterday's special election.
[SUPER=403-Buena Vista/Yesterday;]


Among the most satisfying were the two precincts in Buena Vista, where Cline won by 140 votes.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I'm just excited to go to work]

((BEN CLINE/R- DELEGATE-ELECT: I'M JUST EXCITED TO GO TO WORK AND TAKE THE EXPERIENCE I'VE GAINED WITH CONGRESSMAN GOODLATTE AND PUT IT TO WORK IN RICHMOND ON BEHALF OF MY HOME REGION.))
[SUPER=401-Ben Cline/(R) Delegate-Elect]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=on behalf of my home region.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Cline says his first legislative priority is a plan to lower the cost of prescription drugs for seniors. He plans public meetings on the subject before he heads to Richmond.
While he plans to reside in Rockbridge County, he will establish a legislative office in Amherst.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]


Cline is filling the unexpired term of Vance Wilkins. He will be sworn in, as soon as the results of the special election are certified.

[Greenbrier-Pipeline]


[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=02-45 TC15:36]
[GRAPHIC=None]


A natural gas pipeline through Southwest and Southside Virginia would do little permanent harm.
That's the finding of federal regulators in a draft environmental impact study.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Dominion wants to build a nearly 275 mile pipeline from West Virginia into North Carolina.
In Virginia- The Greenbrier Pipeline would cross through seven counties... from Bland to Henry County.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[SS=None]


In its recently released report, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commision shoots down several alternate routes saying they would create an even greater impact on the environment and residents.
However, FERC did suggest co-locating part of the Greenbrier pipeline with the Patriot Pipline project along the Henry-Pittsylvania County border.
FERC will accept public comments on the study until December 16th.

[Sports Tease]


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

Coming up tonight on the Big 7 - an update on Tech's Michael Crawford, plus the Dazzle chops its roster.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

And these Three Amigos have been carrying the load so far for the Express with another big weekend homestand on the horizon.
(------------)


[S-Crawford]


[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-128 15312TC]
[GRAPHIC=MICHAEL CRAWFORD]


Michael Crawford returned to campus today and rejoined his Virginia Tech teammates as preparations for this week's game with Syracuse continue.
Crawford has been diagnosed with Lymphoma, and he spent all of Monday, Tuesday and most of this morning meeting with doctors in Baltimore - his hometown.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg; :00]

Next week doctors plan to perform an open biopsy on the lymph node in question. Once they know exactly what they are dealing with - the treatment will begin.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=BITE]
[SUPER=01-Dr. Gunnar Brolinson/Va. Tech Team Physician; :00]
[RUNS=:38]
[OUT Q=AGAIN NEXT YEAR."]
(------------)
[ANCHOR=MIKE]
[GRAPHIC=CRAWFORD]

Practice is wrapping up at this hour at Rector Field House - we'll have some comments from Michael Crawford tonight on News 7 at 11.

[S-Dazzle]


[ANCHOR=mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-130 TC13905]
[GRAPHIC=Dazzle]


The Roanoke Dazzle wrapped up its fourth day of training camp practice this morning before leaving for Charleston, South Carolina where the team will play its first exhibition game tomorrow night. Before boarding the bus, Coach Kent Davison trimmed the roster from 25 players to just 15. Among the cuts were former Radford star Ryan Charles and Jeff Boese who played with the Dazzle last year.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/2001-02 Season; :00]


Also released this morning was Roanoke native Derrick Hines, who spent last season with the Dazzle. Hines appeared in 35 games a year ago, averaging just under 5 points per game.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Kent Davison/Dazzle Head Coach; :00]
[RUNS=:31]
[OUT Q=for us as coaches."]
(------------------)
[ANCHOR=mike]
[GRAPHIC=hold Dazzle]


Virginia Tech product Mibindo Dongo is still on the roster. The Dazzle must cut five more players between now and opening day.

[S-Express]


[ANCHOR=mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-127 1:30:26]
[GRAPHIC=Express]


The Roanoke Express is 6-3 and 1 on the season and Steve Mason says three players are the main reason for the solid start.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=THE EXPRESS...]
[SUPER=@Steve1; 00]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/This Afternoon; :18]
[SUPER=01-Dylan Gyori/Leads Express with 17 Points; :26]
[SUPER=01-Jason Jaffray/7 Goals and 9 Assists; :36]
[SUPER=01-Rick Kowalsky/Team's Leading Goal Scorer with 8; :51]
[SUPER=01-Perry Florio/Express Head Coach; 1:04]
[RUNS=1:33]
[OUT Q=...News 7 sports"]
(-----------------)



[S-Stuff]


[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-126 14252tc]
[GRAPHIC=ncaa fb]


Ferrum College plays its final home game of the season this Saturday at one. Today, Moncrief Holmes and Adrian Dailey picked up offensive player of the week honors in the Dixie Conference.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-This Season;:00]

Also, Virginia Tech's Willie Pile has been named one of 14 semi-finalists for the Jim Thorpe award that is given annually to the best defensive back in College football. "Willie P" has 53 tackles, three interceptions and two fumble recoveries.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=MIKE]
[GRAPHIC=CENTERED]

And in the big leagues this afternoon - the baseball writer's of American named Mike Scioscia the American League mana ger of the year, and Tony LaRussa the top skipper in the National League.
by SS