WDBJ 7 news at 6 for 11/20/02

[1-News-Head]

[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

The Governor drives home the importance of closing certain D-M-V offices.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
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[VO NAT] And a local police chief fails to garner support from the rank and file.
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[Sports-head]

[ANCHOR=steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

In sports, we are just over a half hour away from the Tech/West Virginia kick off, a live report coming from Blacksburg, The Terps and the Cavs talk about Saturday's ACC clash
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[VO-NAT]

and the Redskins have named a quarterback for Sunday's game against the Rams.
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[WX-Head]
[ANCHOR=Robin]
[SS=None]

A major east coast storm will develop this weekend and produce windy and cold conditions for most of our viewing area. Details ahead.
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[ANCHOR=Shannon 4-Shot]

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

(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 14:52:29]
[IN Q=THEY ARE SPREAD ACROSS THE STATE. CLEARLY THERE ARE MORE REPUBLICANS]
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.]
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[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

The governor responds to Republican attacks.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

As the battle over D-M-V closings heats up.
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[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

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

And I'm Shannon Young.
[DMV-cuts]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=02-34 TC1:54:58]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

Controversy continues to brew over the closing of twelve D-M-V offices by Governor Mark Warner.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

The governor says politics was not a factor but Republicans aren't buying it.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith-SHannon & Meghan/State Microwave;]

Richmond Bureau Chief Meghan Muldoon has been following this story. She joins us now with the latest.
House Republicans are not planning to sit this one out quietly.
[LIVE= Meghan /FULL State Microwave]
[SUPER=@Meghan1]
[SUPER=05-Richmond]

And, in the end, they're hoping that some of closed offices will be reopened.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=REPUBLICANS HAVE RAISED BOTH.]
[SUPER=03-Richmond; :00]
[SUPER=@Kilgore; :]
[SUPER=@MarkWarner; :]
[RUNS=:]
[OUT Q=OH MY GOSH.]
(( Republicans have raised both legal and political questions about the D-M-V closings.
Last week Attorney General Jerry Kilgore was forced to notify the U-S Justice Department about the closings in order to comply with the Voting Rights Act.
That's because D-M-V offices also serve as places to register to vote.
Still, Kilgore says he expects the changes to be approved.
[SOT 14:24:53]
[IN Q=UNDER THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT]
[RUNS:13]
[OUT Q=WITHIN 60 DAY TIME PERIOD.]

Still some GOP lawmakers find it suspicious that the vast majority of the D-M-V closings were in Republican districts.
The governor says that the D-M-V was responsible for deciding which offices to close.
But he says he supports the decision and that the process was fair.
He says the Republican lawmakers complaining about closings in their districts are engaging in hypocrisy.
[SOT 14:50:50]
[IN Q=I THINK ITS SOMEWHAT INTERESTING]
[RUNS:13]
[OUT Q=OH MY GOSH.]))
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[LIVE= Meghan /FULL State Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Richmond;]

At least one Republican lawmaker met late this afternoon in Richmond with the Commissioner of the D-M-V about the closings.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith-Shannon & Meghan /State Microwave;]

According to a few Republican lawmakers I talked to today this fight is far from over.

[Social-Services]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=Six]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=02-47 TC14:47]
[GRAPHIC=Budget Cut]

Community service agencies in the Roanoke Valley are fearful a new round of state budget cuts will compromise important programs.
Today, they asked local lawmakers to fight for their funding, and consider raising taxes if necessary.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

House Majority Leader Morgan Griffith and State Senator John Edwards took part in the legislative forum organized by the Council of Community Services.
Speakers warned that major cuts to important social programs will cost the state much more in the long run.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=This is the worst budget crisis]
((SEN. JOHN EDWARDS: THIS IS THE WORST BUDGET CRISIS THAT WE'VE HAD SINCE THEY'VE BEEN KEEPING RECORDS ON THESE THINGS, MUCH WORSE THAN THE BUDGET CRISIS OF TEN YEARS AGO, AND I THINK WE NEED TO REALIZE THAT, IN ORDER TO FIND A WAY TO MEET THESE IMPORTANT NEEDS ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO PEOPLE.)) ((DEL. MORGAN GRIFFITH: WELL WE'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO SEE WHEN WE GET TO RICHMOND IN JANUARY WHAT WE CAN DO. A LOT OF NEEDS NEED TO BE MET, BUT WE'LL DO THE BEST WE CAN.))
[SUPER=@Edwards; :00]
[SUPER=@Griffith; :16]
[RUNS=:21]
[OUT Q=do the best we can.]
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[ANCHOR=Keith]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]

A number of speakers said the state should consider raising new revenues, with an increase in the tobacco tax at the top of their list.

[Henry-Shooting]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=Murder Invest.]
Authorities are investigating an apparent murder/suicide in Henry County. Sheriff's officials say it appears 77- year old George Barker shot his 73- year old wife and then turned the gun on himself. The incident happened earlier today in the front yard of the couple's home in Axton. George Barker was a former Henry County supervisor and current member of the county public service authority.

[L'burg-Police]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=02-39 TC1:09:10]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Lynchburg police officers have little confidence in the police chief, his command staff or city leaders. That's the finding of a recent survey.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg/File Tape;]
Many of those who responded said Chief Charles Bennett was out of touch with the department. But the most negative comments were aimed at Bennett's command staff-- which many accused of promoting and disciplining officers using the "good ol' boy network" and "favoritism". 55- percent of the officers said they were looking for another job-- citing low morale as the main reason, along with poor pay and benefits. Nearly one third of those who responded also felt the police department was NOT doing a good job of protecting citizens.
City officials are expected to respond to the survey tomorrow.
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[Morris]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=02-43 TC1:19:03]
[GRAPHIC=Neal Morris]

For first time in more than 30 years Danville has to choose a new police chief ...
And black leaders say it's time for an African American.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville;]

Neal Morris will retire in May, ending his reign as Virginia's longest-serving police chief.
He's led the department for 31 years ... marked by occasional criticism from members of the black community.
Leaders of Danville's Southern Christian Leadership Conference say they'll miss working with Morris, but they view his retirement as an opportunity.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 16:16:55]
[IN Q=Over the years]
((REV. WILLIAM AVON KEEN/DANVILLE SCLC PRESIDENT: OVER THE YEARS THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY HAS BEEN EXCLUDED IN THE HIGHER POSITIONS AND ONE POSITIVE STATEMENT THAT CAN BE MADE IS TO GET A QUALIFIED AFRICAN AMERICAN MALE TO COME INTO THIS POSITION AND HE CAN ACTUALLY HAVE AN IMPULSE ON THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY.))
[SUPER=01-Rev. William Avon Keen/Danville SCLC President;]
[RUNS=:20]
[OUT Q=African American community.]
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[VO-NAT]

Danville's City Manager hopes to name the Chief's replacement before he retires on May 31st.
We'll talk to Morris about his career tonight on News-7 at 11.
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[Tease#1]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
[SS=NONE]

Some of the first Virignia troops called into the war on terrorism are some of the first to come home.
We'll hear from them next on News 7 at Six.
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[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

Plus Virginia Tech battles W-V-U tonight... but how are the Hokies tackling the graduation drill?
We'll look at the latest numbers that suggest they may have some more work to do.
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[Afghan-Troops]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=02-36 TC1:52:13]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-SHot]

A year ago, more than 75 Virginians put away their computers, picked up their rifles and went off to war.
[ANCHOR=SHannon 2-Shot]

Today, they came home.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bowling Green]

A Special Forces unit of the Virginia National Guard returned to Fort A.P. Hill today after serving in Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.
During their five months in the war against terrorism, these Green Berets captured over 20 Taliban and Al-Qaida fighters, confiscated weapons and provided food and medicine to hundreds of civilians.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=Well it's great to be home]
((SGT. HOWELL HOWARD/VA. ARMY NATIONAL GUARD: WELL IT'S GREAT TO BE HOME SIR, TO BE BACK ON FAMILIAR GROUND, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, VIRGINIA. IT'S A GREAT FEELING. GOV. MARK WARNER: I THINK THEY DO A GREAT JOB. THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE BASICALLY OUR NEIGHBORS. THEY SIGN UP FOR THE NATIONAL GUARD WHEN DUTY CALLS AND PUT EVERYTHING ON HOLD.))
[SUPER=01-Sgt. Howell Howard/VA Army National Guard; :00]
[SUPER=@MarkWarner; :10]
[RUNS=18]
[OUT Q=everything on hold.]
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[VO-NAT]

The company came under fire several times, but suffered no casualties.
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[581-Accident]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=02-46 TC24:28]
[GRAPHIC=581 Accident]

The driver of a tractor trailer faces reckless driving charges after an accident on Interstate 581 today.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
Traffic came to a standstill downtown when a tracotr-trailer hit the back of a V-DOT truck. The accident blocked the three Southbound lanes near downtown for several hours. All lanes are now open to traffic. State Police say the rig rear-ended the V-DOT truck, as it was slowly cleaning the left shoulder of 581. Injuries were described as minor, though two cars traveling north were damaged by flying debris. A 50-gallon diesel fuel spill from the rig was also cleaned up without problem.
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[Crazy-Joe's]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=02-40 TC1:24:22]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A Chinese- American man has admitted bringing fake Oakley sunglasses and Hilfiger clothes into southwest Virginia.
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[V/O]
[SUPER=03-Buena Vista/May 10, 2001 - FBI Photo]
Po Hong Wu was trafficking in counterfeit goods. The F-B-I watched him unload cartons of counterfeit items at a store called "Crazy Joe's" in Buena Vista. The government says the merchandise inside the boxes was indistinguishable from goods with genuine trademark symbols.

[SUPER=03-Roanoke/April 22]
Crazy Joe- -or Yousef Bahhur- -pled guilty last Spring. The government had delayed sentencing Bahhur, so he could testify against Wu, but Bahhur died in August at the age of 40.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=None]
Yesterday the medical examiner ruled Bahhur had died of an accidental overdose of OxyContin. Wu- -who turns 50 tomorrow- -will serve five years on supervised probation and pay a fine of 10-thousand dollars.

[Stocks]

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

Stocks staged a big rally following two days of losses. [TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5000;]
[SUPER=440-x/148.23/8623.01/x/44.84/1419.35;]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

The DOW climbed 148 points.
NASDAQ gained 45.
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[VO]
[SUPER=271-h/0.35/53.30/i/0.13/26.70/i/0.25/62.25/h/1.28/69.50/i/0.01/11.29;]
[SUPER=272- /Unchg/6.06/i/0.18/49.51/h/0.69/36.64/h/0.90/24.80/h/0.07/7.00;]
[SUPER=273-h/0.59/42.26/h/0.15/15.10/i/0.01/19.99/i/0.02/2.32/i/0.27/37.83;]
[SUPER=274-h/0.45/10.25/h/0.98/60.06/h/1.06/39.05/h/0.66/35.45/h/1.48/54.40;]
[SUPER=#555; Reset]

[Patriot-Pipeline]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=02-42 1:25:00]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The federal government is giving the green light to a controversial pipeline.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Patrick Co./April 2001]

Duke Energy now has approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission build a 95-mile natural gas pipeline. Called the Patriot Extension, it would begin in Wythe County and end in Rockingham County North Carolina.
The line will run along and extend an existing pipeline operated in Virginia and Tennessee by Duke subsidiary East Tennessee Natural Gas.
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[Graduation-Rates;]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=02-38 TC1:47:44]
[GRAPHIC=Virginia Tech]

The N-C-A-A's yearly graduation rates for Division One athletes are out.
And once again, the picture isn't pretty for Virginia Tech football.
Myranda Stephens has more.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=TECH'S FOOTBALL TEAM...]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg/File Tape; :00]
[SUPER=01-Jon Jaudon/VT Assoc. Athletic Director; 1:03]
[SUPER=@Myranda1; 1:52]
[RUNS=2:05]
[OUT Q=MS, NEWS 7, BLACKSBURG]
(([INSERT FOOTBALL VIDEO] Tech's football team has earned its share of bragging rights out on the field, but, apparently not in the classroom. [INSERT GRAPHIC: VT FOOTBALL PLAYER GRADUATION RATES] Take a look at the scoreboard for Tech and ALL Division One schools. In 19-99, 33-percent of Tech scholarship players finished school within six years of starting. In 2000, it dropped to 29. And while there have been significant gains within the last two years, the numbers still fall short of the 60-percent average for ALL Division One schools. [INSERT GRAPHIC: 4 YEAR GRADUATION RATES] Here's how Tech compared to some other schools. In the last four years, Tech graduated 40-percent of its players. At UVA, the average was 78-percent.. Florida State, 51. And at West Virginia...54-percent. [INSERT FOOTBALL VIDEO] But, graduation rates reported to the NCAA only reflect SCHOLARSHIP athletes that start as freshman and remain at Tech for their ENTIRE college career. Players who leave to go pro or otherwise are counted AGAINST the school's rate.
[SOT 32:31]
[RUNS :13] ((JON JAUDON/VT ASSOC. ATHLETIC DIR.: THEY MAY HAVE A 3-0 GPA..THEY MAY GO ON AND GRADUATE FROM AUSTIN P OR EAST TENNESSEE STATE OR WHEREVER THEY GO THEY'RE A NEGATIVE STATISTIC FOR US AND A NO STATISTIC WHEREVER THEY WENT 32:43)) [INSERT FOOTBALL VIDEO] The NCAA isn't the only organization that reports yearly football graduation rates. [WEBSITE VIDEO HERE!!!!] The American Football Coaches Association does a similar study...but, takes into consideration all of the things the NCAA doesn't.
[SOT 37:28]
[RUNS :15] ((THIS SAME YEAR, THE 95-CLASS GRADUATED OVER 70-PERCENT IN THEIR METHOD OF CALCULATION WE WERE ONE OF ONLY 20 COLLEGES IN THE DIVISION ONE RANKS TO HAVE A RATE OF SEVENTY PERCENT OR MORE 37:43)) The fact that one organization's rates could be so different from another's shows it's really how you manipulate the numbers. [STANDUP HERE] But, in professional football, the only numbers that seem to matter are not the years it took an athlete to earn a degree...but, how many points he can put on the scoreboard. Myranda Stephens, News 7, Blacksburg.))

[Sports tease]

[ANCHOR=steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

The Redskins name a new quarterback to start against the Rams, the Virginia cavaliers talk about the Terps, but hey, we got a big game brewing down in Blacksburg.
(XXXXXXXX)
[LIVE=Mike Full Microwave]
[SUPER=@Mike1;]
[SUPER=05-Blacksburg]
(MIKE AD LIBS LIVE TEASE!!!!!!!)
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[S-WVU]

[ANCHOR=Steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-128 29406TC]
[GRAPHIC=tech/wvu 6135]

The Virginia Tech Hokies haven't lost three straight games in a single season since 1992. But a loss tonight against West Virginia - and the Hokies will find themselves back in that very unfamiliar territory.

[DOUBLE BOX ES=Mike & Steve/Microwave]
Mike Stevens is standing by at Lane Stadium as the countdown to tonight's Tech-WVU kickoff is well underway.
[LIVE=Mike Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=@Mike1; ]
[SUPER=05-Blacksburg;]
(adlib)
((ROLLCUE: THE INTERESTING THING TO WATCH FOR TONIGHT IS WHETHER OR NOT WEST VIRGINIA WILL STACK THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE WITH EIGHT AND SOMETIMES NINE MEN - SIMPLY DARING TECH TO PASS.))
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[SOT]
[IN Q=FIRST AUDIO]
[SUPER=01-Frank Beamer/10 & 5 Against WVU; :00]
[SUPER=01-Ernest Wilford/279 Yards Receiving vs. Syracuse; :15]
[SUPER=01-Rich Rodriguez/West Virginia Head Coach; :28]
[SUPER=01-Bryan Randall/504 Yards Passing vs. Syracuse; :36]
[RUNS=1:30]
[OUT Q=...OVER UVA."]
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[LIVE=Mike Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=@Mike1; ]
[SUPER=05-Blacksburg;]
(adlib)
[DOUBLE BOX ES=Mike & Steve/Microwave]

[S-UVA]

[ANCHOR=steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-132 1:39:30]
[GRAPHIC=ACC]

Virginia and 18th ranked Maryland battled Sautday at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville in a 5:30 kick off.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-College Park, MD; :00]

The Terps beat UVa 41-21 in College Park and ended the cavaliers nine game winning streak over the Terps. Their is a lot or respect from both camps coming into the game.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Ralph Friedgen/Maryland Head Coach; :00]
[SUPER=01-Al Groh/UVa Head Football Coach; :21]
[RUNS=:31]
[OUT Q=.....rrythm of things"]
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[S-Skins]

[ANCHOR=steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-124 1:57:37]
[GRAPHIC=Redskins]

Today, Redskins coach Steve Spurrier announced that Danny Wuerffel will start Sunday against the Rams.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Carlisle, PA; :00]

Wuerffel marks the fourth quarterback change made by Spurrier this season. The QB is making his second start. In his first start he was 8 for 14 for 82 yards and two interceptions before getting hurt.
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[S-Forest]

[ANCHOR=steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-133 1:40:54]
[GRAPHIC=Baseball]

One baseball note. Jefferson Forest standout Alan Bryant signed a letter of intent to play baseball at North Carolina A & T this morning.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-]

Bryant is a first baseman, outfielder and a designated hitter who earned all Seminole District, all region and secon(------------) d team all state honors this past season for the Cavaliers. He batted .417 with seven homeruns and 34 RBI's.