[1-News-Head]

[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

Virginia Tech's getting anything BUT affirmation in response to it's new hiring and admissions policy.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

And 60 head of beef cattle appear to have starved to death on a farm in Bland County.
(------------)



[Sports-Head]


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

Tonight on News 7 sports - we'll check in on today's workouts at the ACC tournament in Greensboro. The single a semi-finals were breathtaking in Lynchburg this afternoon.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

and Lee Suggs rips off some fast times for the NFL scouts this afternoon inside Rector Field House in Blacksburg.
(------------)


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


No records were set today, but warm temperatures were felt all across the board. Cooler temeratures are on the way, but not before a few showers and storms move through. Forecast details straight ahead.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon 4-Shot]


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



(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

Students and faculty at Virgina Tech protest the school's new discrimination policy.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

They say they will not be silent until it is changed.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]


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


And I'm Shannon Young.
[Tech-Protest]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=02-54 TC1:54:18]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]


Many people say it was bound to happen. More than 300-Virginia Tech students and faculty rallied today in protest of the school's decision to cut affirmative action.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Myranda & Keith-Shannon/Microwave;]

New River Valley Bureau Chief Myranda Stephens was at the protest, she joins us now with more. Keith and Shannon, university officials had a sense that this was coming.
[LIVE=Myranda/FULL]
[SUPER=@Myranda1;]
[SUPER=05-Blacksburg;]

Affirmative action is a hot topic right now. We've seen how it's affected the University of Michigan...and now, it's hit closer to home.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg; :00]
[SUPER=01-Christopher Clement/Faculty Member; :14]
[SUPER=01-Toby Quaranta/Student; :41]
[SUPER=01-Lisa Patterson/Student; :48]
[SUPER=01-Erik Rodgers/Student; 1:04]
[RUNS=1:27]
[OUT Q= office for approval]
(([SOT 21:50][CHANTS]

[RUNS05] ((TELL ME WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE? THIS IS WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE 21:55)) Hundreds of students and faculty crowded the steps of Tech's administration building, for what many call a slap in the face of democracy.
[SOT 25:38]

[RUNS05] ((CHRISTOPHER CLEMENT: ASST. PROFESSOR: THE SUBSTANCE ITSELF IS UNJUST THE PROCEDURAL MATTER IS UNDEMOCRATIC 25:43)) During a closed meeting Monday, Tech's board of visitors voted to change its discrimination policy, so that it would no longer consider race and gender as a factor in admissions, hiring and financial aid. The board also removed sexual orientation from the policy, because it is NOT protected under law. Many protesters say not only are they upset over the decision, but also by the way it was made.
[SOT 27:01]

[RUNS06] ((TOBY QUARANTA/STUDENT: NO KNOWLEDGE OF THIS RESOLUTION WAS SENT TO THE ADMINISTRATION, THEY WERE SNEAKY AND THEY DID SOMETHING WRONG 27:07))
[SOT 32:01]

[RUNS08] ((LISA PATTERSON: I BELIEVE THAT TECH HAS COME A LONG WAY WITH DIVERSITY BUT NOW IT'S TAKING STEPS BACKWARDS AND REDUCING THE DIVERSITY ON CAMPUS 32:09)) But, not everyone at the protest was against the board's decision. Others believe affirmative action should be eliminated, in order to truly create a fair system.
[SOT 12:02]

[RUNS09] ((ERIK RODGERS: BLACK PEOPLE AND OTHER PEOPLE, MINORITIES, WOMEN WERE ALL DISCRIMINATED AGAINST, NOBODY CAN ARGUE THAT POINT, BUT WHAT I'M SAYING TODAY IS THAT IT IS A BANDAID. 12:11)) Aside from the affirmative action issue, many students also expressed concern over a resolution to ban controversial groups from speaking on campus. That however, must still go through the attorney general's office for approval.))
(-------------)
[LIVE=Myranda/FULL]
[SUPER=05-Blacksburg;]

Today's protest lasted more than two hours. Right after it was over many students took their views inside to the president Charle's Steger's office, who wasn't there.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Myranda & Meghan /Microwave;]

But, other university officials told the students that they are working with the state on the issue...and Meghan Muldoon has more on that aspect.
[React-protest]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=03-01 TC52:10]
[ANCHOR=Myranda]


Attorney General Jerry Kilgore issued the legal opinion that led to the change in policy that brought out the protesters today.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Myranda & Meghan/State Microwave;]


Meghan Muldoon talked to him about it and has the Democrats' reaction.
[LIVE= Meghan /FULL State Microwave]
[SUPER=@Meghan1]
[SUPER=05-Richmond]


Myranda, Capitol Square may have appeared quieter today than Virginia Tech's campus, but many elected officials today, like the protesters, were making their voices heard.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=.]
[SUPER=@kilgore; :09]
[SUPER=@kaine; :40]
[RUNS=1:26]
[OUT Q=SOME PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT.]

(( Attorney General Jerry Kilgore says he did not expect the type of uproar that has followed Virginia Tech's recent decision to change their affirmative action policy.
[SOT 13:48:08]
[IN Q=I'M SURPRISED THAT]

((ATTORNEY GENERAL JERRY KILGORE: I'M SURPRISED THAT PEOPLE DON'T WANT INDIVIDUALS TREATED EQUALLY AND FAIRLY. I THOUGHT THAT'S WHAT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES WOULD ALL BE ABOUT.)) [RUNS:08]
[OUT Q=WOULD BE ALL ABOUT.]


Governor Mark Warner broke his 3-day silence on the matter by issuing a statement.
In it he says he is "extremely concerned about the policies."
And the governor criticized Tech's Board of Visitors for making the decision without public input.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Governor Tim Kaine suggested the attorney General acted with a heavy hand when he warned trustees of their potential liability.
[SOT 14:10:30]
[IN Q=THE WAY THAT ITS WRITTEN]

[RUNS:10]
[OUT Q=BEING MUSCLED A LITTLE BIT]


Both the governor and lieutenant governor raised questions about why Kilgore and Tech's board acted before waiting for a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court.
[SOT 14:09:44]
[IN Q=THERE'S GOING TO BE CLEAR]

[RUNS:10]
[OUT Q=FIGURED THAT OUT.]


Kaine says Tech should be concerned about maintaining a diverse student body.
But Kilgore says there are other ways to achieve it.
[SOT 13:47:39]
[IN Q=WE'RE SELLING OUR STUDENTS]

[RUNS:08]
[OUT Q=SOME PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT.]))
(-------------)
[LIVE= Meghan /FULL State Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Richmond;]


Although Governor Warner appoints the board of visitors but has no authority over what they do
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith-Shannon & Meghan /State Microwave;]



[L'burg-Accident]


[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=03-06 TC38:42]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]


One person is dead and two others injured after a two-car crash on the Lynchburg Expressway this afternoon.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]


It happened just before three in the southbound lanes near Graves Mill Road.
Authorities say one car was headed north when it swerved across the median and hit a southbound car head-on.
One person in the Mitsubishi was pronounced dead at the scene and another was injured.
The crash also injured the driver of the Toyota Corolla.. both were transported to Lynchburg General Hospital.
No names have been released.
The southbound lanes of the Expressway were closed for about two hours while emergency crews worked to clear the scene.
(------------)




[Giles-Search]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=02-50 TC1:58:33]
[GRAPHIC=None]


Authorities in Giles County are still looking for two men whose boat capsized in the New River.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Giles Co.]


Several crews today scoured the water between Ripplemead and Narrows.
They're looking for two men from the Roanoke Valley who may have drowed last Friday night.
Relatives identify the men as 50-year-old John Wagner of Roanoke and 36-year-old Ty Hodges of Vinton.
Rescue workers say they'll be back on the river again tomorrow.
(------------)



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


An area farmer is under scrutiny tonight after half of his herd of cattle died.
That's next on News Seven at Six.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Ketih 2-Shot]


And they could be first on the scene of a terrorist attack.
Now state police say they're ready for a chemical or biological assault.
(----------------)


[Bland-Cattle]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=03-04 TC29:58]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]


Officials in Bland County are waiting for lab results before they decide whether to charge a farmer with animal cruelty.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

About 60-animal carcasses were found at the Willow Brook Farms.
[ANCHOR=Keith ]
[SS=None]


The cattle still living are in poor shape. Rachel Cannon has the story.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=WHOLE ANIMAL CARCASSES]
[SUPER=01-Lorin Hanshew/Bland Co. Sheriff's Deputy; :00]
[SUPER=03-Bland Co.; :10]
[SUPER=@Rachel2; 1:09]
[RUNS=1:14]
[OUT Q=RC, News 7, Bland County]
(((///// SOT /////)
[SOT 00:38:00]
[IN Q=whole animal]

((LORIN HANSHEW/BLAND CO. SHERIFF'S DEPUTY; WHOLE ANIMAL CARCASSES THAT WE WERE FINDING SOME OF THEM HAD BEEN THERE FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME AND AGAIN THERE WERE SOME THAT WERE JUST BONES.))
[OUT Q=JUST BONES.]

When the counting was done, the numbers were staggering. Almost 60.
Farmers are required to either bury or burn dead animals. Officials say these were scattered around the property.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 00:38:42]
[IN Q=I've never]

((LORIN HANSHEW/BLAND CO. SHERIFF'S DEPUTY; I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING OF THIS MAGNITUDE AS FAR AS THIS MANY DEAD ANIMALS ON ONE FARM AND THAT'S WHY WE WERE CONCERNED))
[OUT Q=CONCERNED.]

They're also concerned because some were found in a nearby stream. The Department of Health is at the property on a daily basis and say there are no immediate concerns. Harry Thompson, the farm's owner, is being given time to dispose of the bodies properly. Many are piled deep in the property. The Sheriff's Department says it's waiting for lab results on why they all died.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 00:39:02]
[IN Q=HE THINKS]

((HE THINKS THE CATTLE WENT UP INTO THE WOODS AND ATE SOME RODEDENDRUMS THAT CAUSED ITS DEATHS.))
[OUT Q=ITS DEATHS.]

butt/butt
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 00:36:47]
[IN Q=we could]

((WE COULD CHARGE HIM FOR ANIMAL CRUELTY FOR NOT FEEDING THE ANIMALS PROPERLY.))
[OUT Q=PROPOERLY]

((NATS 00:48:53)) Investigators with the Department of Environmental Quality are also looking into violations involving sludge. We called Harry Thompson at his home in Bluefield, West Virginia home but did not get an answer. Rachel Cannon, News 7, Bland County.))

[Patsel]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=03-05 TC36:34]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]


A Franklin County man convicted of sexually abusing five boys could face life in prison.
(------------)

[VO]
56-year-old Danny Lee Patsel (PATE-sul) was a friend of the boys' families.
His victims, now adults, testified that Patsel molested them during hunting and fishing trips and sleepovers at his house.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]


According to testimony, the abuse occurred between 1980 and 1994 and involved boys as young as six and as old as 14.
Patsel's attorneys say they're considering an appeal.
His sentencing is set for May 9th.

[Safety-Patrols]


[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=Six]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=02-53 TC1:38:11]
[GRAPHIC=None]


State budget cuts are having a fresh impact on Interstate 81.
Today, the Virginia Department of Transportation announced it will reduce safety service patrols along the highway.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Ironto/1999]


Brought to the Roanoke Valley in 1999, the patrols assist thousands of drivers each year.
V-DOT officials say it was difficult to cut a popular program, but that mandated reductions gave them little choice.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Statewide we had to make]

((LAURA BULLOCK/VIRGINIA DEPT. OF TRANSPORTATION; STATEWIDE WE HAD TO MAKE 94- MILLION DOLLARS IN CUTS. WHEN WE GOT TO THE 90 MILLION MARK THERE WAS VERY LITTLE LEFT TO DO, SO RATHER THAN LET PEOPLE GO WE'VE CUT BACK THE HOURS.))
[SUPER=01-Laura Bullock/Virginia Dept. of Transportation]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=cut back the hours.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


No one will lose their job because of the cuts, but patrols are now working reduced hours and covering fewer miles.
On July first, service will be reduced from five days a week to Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
(------------)



[Stocks]


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


A huge rally gave the Dow Jones industrial average its biggest one-day point-gain so far this year. [TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5000;]
[SUPER=440-x/269.68/7821.75/x/61.54/1340.78;]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]


The DOW jumped 270 points.
NASDQ rose 61 and a half.
(-------------)

[VO]
[SUPER=271-h/1.87/41.79/h/0.48/21.95/h/2.08/60.48/h/1.76/67.60/h/0.03/6.51;]
[SUPER=272-h/0.19/6.25/i/0.03/54.09/h/1.39/40.13/h/1.41/25.21/h/0.11/3.98;]
[SUPER=273-h/0.58/40.63/h/0.05/12.64/h/0.50/18.20/h/0.24/3.54//Unchg/35.72;]
[SUPER=274-h/0.04/9.19/h/1.49/54.24/h/1.28/34.75/h/1.05/33.80/h/2.05/49.55;]
[SUPER=#555; Reset]



[Gas-Masks]


[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6 p.m.]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=03-02 TC1:06:02]
[GRAPHIC=None]


Virginia State Police are breathing a little easier about the possibility of a terrorist attack on the Commonwealth thanks to some new equipment.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :20]
[SUPER=03-Elliston;]

By the end of the day tomorrow all sworn personnel will be outfitted with a gas mask designed to filter out chemical and biological agents. Today was the third day of a local training exercise in which officers were given a mask and shown how to make it fit.
Then they plunged into a room full of tear gas for the ultimate test.
(///// SOT :20 /////)
[SOT 14:03:11-14:03:19]
[IN Q=That's being done to make sure...]

((SGT. BOB ROSS/STATE POLICE: THAT'S BEING DONE TO MAKE SURE THE SEAL ON THE MASK IS TIGHT, THAT THE OFFICER KNOW HOW TO PUT IT ON AND THAT IT WORKS.))
[SUPER=01-Sgt. Bob Ross/State Police;]
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q=and that it works.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT :04]

Trainers say the seal is the key to the mask's effectiveness.
(///// SOT at :04 /////)
[SOT 14:20:11-14:20:19]
[IN Q=Anyplace that didn't have the mask...]

((SGT. C. DANIEL JESSEE/VIRGINIA STATE POLICE: ANYPLACE THAT DIDN'T HAVE THE MASK, LIKE THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD AND UNDER YOUR NECK, THERE'S A BURNING SENSATION BUT NOTHING INSIDE THE MASK. NO PROBLEM BREATHING AT ALL.))
[SUPER=01-Sgt. C. Daniel Jessee/State Police;]
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q=no problem breathing at all.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT :08]

The masks were paid for by a federal grant. Sgt. Ross says the same grant will provide troopers with a new, light-weight, military-style rifle.
(------------)



[Obenchain]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=six]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]


The number of Republicans who hope to succeed Bo Trumbo in the state senate is increasing by one.
Assistant Roanoke County Attorney Joe Obenchain has scheduled a Friday news conference to announce his interest.


Republicans plan a firehouse primary on May 10th. Catawba Supervisor Butch Church has already announced his campaign, and former State Senator Brandon Bell says he plans to run as well.


[Sports Tease]


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

Coming up tonight on News 7 sports - highlights from the Group A semi-finals in Lynchburg. Suggs and company workout for the NFL scouts this afternoon.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

and Steve Mason checks in from the 50th annual ACC tournament. Where some top assistants in that league have their eyes on the vacant Tech job.
(------------)



[S-Radford]


[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=sp-134]
[GRAPHIC=group a]

We begin tonight in Lynchburg - where Liberty University is again hosting this year's state basketball tournaments. The Group A semi-finals took center stage this afternoon.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg/Maroons vs. Bobcats; :00]

with George Wythe taking on Radford in a rematch of their region C title game. Radford's big man Terrell Dobbins will open things up for the Bobcats as he knocks in this hoop in the first half. Radford again, the other big man Todd Woods bangs in a jumper as the Cats were playing well. George Wythe's Lamar Davis will then bring the Maroons right back into it.
[SUPER=33-George Wythe/ /Radford/ ;]

The _______. advance to meet Nandua with the ___ to __ win.
(------------)


[S-Altavista]


[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=sp-136]
[GRAPHIC=group a]


The opening game of the tournament went right down to the buzzer - literally as defending state champ Nandua took on Altavista.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg/Nandua vs. Altavista; :00]

The Colonels came in hoping to avenge a loss to this same team a year ago. But B.A. Walker would cause the team more problems this afternoon as he gets free inside and converts the layup. Kenny Hunt would bring the Colonels right back as he knocks down the five foot jumper in tight on the drive. Alatvista's A.B. Hubbard then fired in this long three with 10 seconds to go. And the Colonels are looking good. But with two seconds to go - A.J. Custis drops in the baseline jumper.
[SUPER=33-Nandua/57/Altavista/56;]

Nandua ends Altavista's season in the 57-to-56 thriller.
(XXXXXXXX)

[wipe to pinnacle group aa] Tonight the Group Two A semi-finals gets underway at the Vines center. Cave Spring and Graham tip-off their final four battle at 8:45.

(------------)[S-Hoops]



[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-148 1423TC]
[GRAPHIC=ACC]

The ACC tournament opens tonight with the play-in game. All of the teams practiced this afternoon at the Greensboro Coliseum where we find Steve Mason tonight.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=BITES]
[SUPER=@steve1; :00]
[SUPER=03-Greensboro, NC; :27]
[SUPER=01-Josh Howard/All ACC First Team Selection; :37]
[SUPER=01-Julius Hodges/N.C. State's Leading Scorer; :53]
[SUPER=01-Dave Dickerson/Maryland Assistant Coach; 1:18]
[SUPER=01-Dean Keener/Ga. Tech Assistant Coach; 1:39]
[RUNS=2:05]
[OUT Q=...NEWS 7 SPORTS."]
(-----------)



[S-NFL]


[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=cpa]
[TAPE#=SP-147 4413TC]
[GRAPHIC=TECH]


26 scouts representing many of the N-F-L's 32 teams were in Blacksburg today as Virginia Tech held the first of its two-part combine workout.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg]


Lee Suggs was expected to be the center of attention at Rector Field House today and he was clocked at four point 4 seconds in the 40. However, his former backfield mate was also wowing the scouts. Keith Burnell participated in the events, the same man that replaced Suggs after his A-C-L injury nearly two seasons ago. And Suggs was happy to have him back.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="We came in together..."]
[SUPER=01-Lee Suggs/Ran 4.46 Forty Yard Dash; :00]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q="...push each other."]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Burnell rushed for nearly 1-thousand yards and nine TD's as a Delaware Blue Hen last season, and he also gives his former teammate credit for his drive to succeed.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="I think we are..."]
[SUPER=01-Keith Burnell/9 TDs at Delaware Last Season; :00]
[SUPER=01-Willie Pile/Former Virginia Tech Safety; :12]
[RUNS=:20]
[OUT Q="...in his life."]

(------------)
by SS