WDBJ 7 news at 6 for 03/27/03

[1-News-Head]

[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

Coming up -
The defendant in a capital murder case pleads for life -
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR= Keith 2-Shot]
Officials at the Roanoke Civic Center are "Cheering" a decision by the ABC board.
(------------)

[Sports-Head]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Tonight on News 7 sports - it's "Sweet 16 Time." We'll hear from Duke and Kansas
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
and we'll talk with Tech linebacker Mikal Baaqee - his brother is fighting with the Marines in the Middle East.
(------------)
[WX-Head]
[ANCHOR=Robin]
[SS=None]

Interesting weekend weatherwise with clouds, showers and a snap chill-down all expected. Forecast details coming up.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon 4 shot]
News 7 at 6 is next. [Video-Open]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=Video Open]
[GRAPHIC=News7at6]
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 11:19:15]
[IN Q=Is it real clear]
((IS IT REAL CLEAR TO YOU THAT UNDER THE PLEA AGREEMENT YOU HAVE, YOU'RE LOCKED UP THE REST OF YOUR LIFE? YES, SIR.))

[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=your life, Yes, Sir.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
The judge accepts a guilty plea in a capital murder case.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
Christopher Wade Riley avoids the death penalty with a LIFE sentence and then some.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

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

And I'm Shannon Young.
[Riley]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=02-55 TC1:50:39]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
He and a co-defendant gave conflicting statements when they were questioned by police.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
But in the end they agreed: Riley was the trigger man.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]
[SUPER=02-Judge Clifford Weckstein/Roanoke Circuit Court; :11]
[SUPER=01-David Damico/Riley's Attorney; :40]
[SUPER=04-January; :51]
[SUPER=04-April 19, 2002; 1:02]
[SUPER=01-Sherri Jones/Prosecutor; 1:12]
[RUNS=1:31]
[OUT Q=store at Towers Mall.]
[***NOT STANDARD OUT***] (( The 26-year old Lexington man arrived in court ready to plead guilty to all six counts against him, including capital murder and robbery.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 11:16:25]
[IN Q=Do you understand]
((DO YOU UNDERSTAND CAPITAL MURDER CARRIES A POSSIBLE DEATH SENTENCE? YES.))
[RUNS= 05]
[OUT Q=sentence? Yes.]
But Riley had made a deal with the Commonwealth. In return for his guilty pleas, he would be sentenced to a total of LIFE without possibility of parole, plus 73 years in prison. It's not uncommon for suspects to plea bargain their way out of a death sentence, but in this case Riley's lawyers said he did it for the sake of his three- year old boy.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 11:55:35]
[IN Q=He felt it]
((HE FELT IT WOULD BE EASIER FOR HIS SON AND BETTER FOR HIS SON TO HAVE TO ACCEPT THE FACT THAT HIS FATHER WAS IN THE PENITENTIARY, RATHER THAN HAVE TO ACCEPT THE FACT THAT HIS FATHER HAD BEEN EXECUTED.))
[RUNS= 12]
[OUT Q=had been executed.]
Kip Lamont Walker has made his own deal with the prosecutor, acknowledging his role in the crime, a deal that'll get him no more than 25 years in prison. The two men had driven from Lexington to Roanoke, expecting to buy some cocaine from Ronald Stephen Clark. Clark showed up but he didn't have the powder.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 11:25:40]
[IN Q=According to Kip]
((ACCORDING TO KIP WALKER'S STATEMENT, MR. RILEY BECAME VERY ANGRY, STARTED YELLING, "WHAT KIND OF DRUG DEALER IS HE? WE COME WITH THE MONEY, AND HE DOESN'T HAVE THE PRODUCT."))
[RUNS= :11]
[OUT Q=have the product.]
Riley shot Clark in the head with a .20-guage sawed-off shotgun right in front of the Hollywood Video store at Towers Mall.))

[Flood-aid]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=02-53 TC1:59:54]
[GRAPH-C=Flooding]

Help is on the way for the victims of recent flooding in Southwest Virginia.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-February]

Governor Warner today announced that President Bush has approved his request for federal disaster aid.
Federal funds are now available for those communities hit hard by this year's severe winter storms and flooding.
The money can be used for temporary housing and home repairs.
Low interest loans are also available to help cover property losses.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 11:15:10]
[IN Q=IT WON'T MAKE PEOPLE]
((GOVERNOR MARK WARNER: IT WON'T MAKE PEOPLE TOTALLY WHOLE BUT IT WILL BE A NEEDED HELP FOR SO MANY OF THE FAMILIES IN FAR SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA THAT RECEIVED DAMAGE FROM THE FLOOD.))
[SUPER=@MarkWarner]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=DAMAGE FROM THE FLOOD.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The areas eligible for federal assistance include the cities of Roanoke and Salem and Montgomery County.
(XXXXXXX)
[WIPE TO FULL SCREEN PINNACLE]
Those in need of flood recovery aid can apply by calling FEMA.
That number is 1-800-621-FEMA.
(------------)

[Civic-Center]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=Six]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=03-05 TC58:30]
[GRAPHIC=Alcohol Sales]

The Roanoke Civic Center has received approval to sell beer and wine at more of its events, but the ABC license won't take effect right away, and opponents say they now plan to appeal.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith / Joe via Microwave;]

Joe Dashiell is outside the civic center tonight with more on where this dispute is heading .
[LIVE= Joe /FULL]
[SUPER=@Joe1; ]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke]

Keith and Shannon, it certainly isn't over.
Yesterday, an ABC hearing officer ruled that the license should be granted, but opponents say they aren't ready to throw in the towel.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=We need to make sure]
[SUPER=01-Chip Snead/Acting Civic Facilities Director; :00]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :13]
[SUPER=01-Rev. Mark Washington/Hollins Road Baptist Church; :45]
[RUNS=1:03]
[OUT Q=by taking this to Richmond.]
(([SOT]
[IN Q=We need to make sure]
((CHIP SNEAD/ACTING CIVIC FACILITIES DIRECTOR: WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE MANAGE IT WISELY, BE CONSERVATIVE AND MAKE SURE EVERYONE AT EVERY EVENT HAS A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE.))
[RUNS= :11]
[OUT Q=has a positive experience.]

Acting Civic Facilities Director Chip Snead says officials felt they made a strong case for the new license, and were pleased that it was granted.
But he says they will consider each civic event on a case by case basis, to decide if the sale of alcoholic beverages is appropriate.
Despite those assurances, opponents say they have not exhausted their options.
The ministers who rallied recent opposition met this afternoon to consider their next step.
While they are disappointed by the hearing officer's decision, they say the license won't take effect while their appeal is pending.
[SOT 25:15]
[IN Q=We want to note]
((REV. MARK WASHINGTON/HOLLINS ROAD BAPTIST CHURCH: WE WANT TO NOTE THAT THEY DON'T HAVE THIS YET. AND WE ARE PREPAREDTO TAKE THIS A STEP FURTHER AND TO USE THE LEGAL RECOURSE THAT WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO EXPRESS OUR DISATISFACTION WITH THIS AND OUR OBJECTION TO THIS BY TAKING THIS TO RICHMOND.))
[RUNS= :20]
[OUT Q=by taking this to Richmond.]))
[LIVE= Joe/Full]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke;]

Opponents have 30 days to appeal the decision of the hearing officer. Then it's up to the three-member Alcoholic Beverage Control Board in Richmond to issue a final order.
[DOUBLE BOXES= Keith/Joe Microwave;]

One interesting note, Keith and Shannon, is the fact that the current chairman of the ABC Board, Vern Danielsen, is a former chairman of the Roanoke Civic Center Commission.
[Tease#1]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
[SS=NONE]

A northern front is open in Iraq as more U-S troops head to the battle.
The latest on the war and insight from Middle East Expert Dale Davis next on News 7.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
And it's struggling to stay in stride as it deals with less state funding - but the Virginia Horse Center still has lots of hurdles ahead.
(----------------)

[Dale-Davis]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=War in Iraq]
[SUPER=219-Keith Humphry/khumphry*wdbj7.com]

Iraq's capital has come under heavy bombardment again.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=203-Baghdad, Iraq]

Explosions shook the city a little after 11:P-M, Baghdad time.
Buildings close to the Iraqi Information ministry appear to have been hit.
American reinforcements are on the way.
The 4th Infantry Division is heading for the Gulf with more than 12-thousand soldiers.
[SUPER=203-New York, NY]

Two days of U-N speeches on the war have ended with the U-S ambassador walking out.
John Negroponte (neh-groh-PAHN'-tee) said he'd heard enough, when Iraq's ambassador accused the U-S of trying to exterminate the Iraqi people.
(------------)
[2-SHOT] Former Counterintelligence Officer Dale Davis is here with us tonight from V-M-I. What do expect in the pending assault on Baghdad, as a veteran Marine Corps officer?
[SUPER=201-Dale Davis/VMI Dir. of International Programs]
(adlib interview)

[Shepard]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=Six]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=03-03 TC1:34:18]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign 2003]

Brian Shepard has worked in the legislature for the last nine years, but next January the Roanoke Democrat hopes to return to Richmond as a MEMBER of the General Assembly.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Shepard spent eight years as the legislative aide to Delegate Vic Thomas, and Thomas joined him for today's campaign announcement.
Shepard is seeking the Democratic nomination in the 11th House District, the seat that Chip Woodrum is giving up at the end of the year.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 10:56]
[IN Q=I've worked nine General Assembly sessions]
((BRIAN SHEPARD/D- CANDIDATE FOR HOUSE OF DELEGATES: I'VE WORKED NINE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SESSIONS WITH DELEGATE THOMAS AND DELEGATE WOODRUM, AND I THINK ESPECIALLY NOW WITH RETIREMENTS AND THE LOSS OF THE EXPERIENCE THAT THE ROANOKE VALLEY'S DELEGATION IS UNDERGOING, THAT IT'S REALLY CRITICAL WE SEND SOMEONE WITH LEGISLATIVE EXPERIENCE DOWN TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.))
[SUPER=01-Brian Shepard/(D) Candidate for House of Delegates]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=down to the General Assembly.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The Democratic nomination will be decided by a primary on June 10th. Shepard's opponent is Roanoke lawyer and state transportation board member Onzlee (AHNZ-lee) Ware.
(------------)

[Radford-Foundry]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=03-08 TC44:24]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Employees at the Radford Foundry have rejected a new contract.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Radford/2002;]
Workers cited problems over salary raises and pension gains. A company spokesperson is NOT denying claims that the plant may be forced to close if an agreement is not worked out.

Contract negotiations will continue tomorrow. Workers will then vote again on Monday.
(------------)

[STOCKS TEASE NEXT]

[Stocks]

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

Stocks ended little-changed in another choppy session on Wall Street. [TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5000;]
[SUPER=440-y/28.43/8201.45/y/3.20/1384.25;]
[ANCHOR=2-Shot]

The DOW fell 28 points.
NASDAQ lost three.
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[VO]
[SUPER=271-i/0.03/46.36/i/0.10/33.30/h/0.12/22.92/h/0.28/63.18/i/0.26/68.29;]
[SUPER=272-i/0.05/7.17/i/0.01/5.83/h/0.27/56.03/i/0.04/39.90/i/0.16/26.44;]
[SUPER=273-h/0.26/5.31/h/0.13/40.53/i/0.60/13.64/i/0.30/19.10/h/0.16/4.56;]
[SUPER=274-i/0.26/9.55/i/0.32/53.87/h/0.23/36.30/i/0.26/34.46/h/0.21/53.54;]
[SUPER=#555; Reset]

[Horse-Center1]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=03-03 TC1:34:18]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

It was hailed as the new wave of public-private partnership.
[anchor=Shannon 2-Shot]
But now money from the state is drying up, and officials at the Virginia Horse Center have some large hurdles ahead of them. [HORSE CENTER IN MONITOR]
[DOUBLE BOXES= Keith & Shannon/Richard BAM ;]
Richard Lesko has been working on this story, and joins us with more. The General Assembly has ponied up the money for the Virginia Horse Center's debt service for the each of the past 15 years, except one.
[LIVE=Richard/FULL]
[SUPER=@Richard1;]
Now, the facility must raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to survive, at a time it is already saddled in debt.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Rockbridge Co.; :00]
[SUPER=10-Sen. John Chichester/Budget Conferee/February 20; :25]
[SUPER=10-Del. Morgan Griffith/(R) Salem/February 20; :40]
[SUPER=01-John Scott/VHC Interim Director; 1:15]
[RUNS=1:24]
[OUT Q=have to go that route.]
(( The Virginia Horse Center clears enough money for its operations, and so far this year has a surplus of nearly 1-hundred-ninety thousand dollars. But for years the state has been funding its debt service payments that this year will be 1-point-2 million dollars. The state has had an understanding with the facility to take care of the debt, but is under NO obligation to pay it off.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT - 03-02 TC32:54]
[IN Q=WE CAN'T HAVE TUITION]
((SEN. JOHN CHICHESTER/BUDGET CONFEREE: WE CAN'T HAVE TUITION GOING UP FORTY TO FIFTY PERCENT, WE CAN'T HAVE MEDICAID WAIVERS NOT BE FUNDED BUT YET DO A MILLION-POINT-TWO ON AN ENTITY FOR WHICH WE HAVE REALLY NO INTEREST.)) ((DEL. MORGAN GRIFFITH/R-SALEM: WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION AS A STATE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HELP PAY THEIR DEBT. WE PROMISED THAT YEARS AGO AND WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO DO SO.))
[RUNS= :22]
[OUT Q= SHOULD CONTINUE TO DO SO.]
[INSERT PREPRO 2003-2004 FISCAL YEAR PAGE] That promise was only honored partially this year, with the horse center receiving about 8-hundred thousand dollars. But that's still more than 400-thousand less than it needs to meet this year's debt payments. [INSERT PROJECTED STATE APPROPRIATIONS] Also, this Fall the horse center will have to submit a business plan that will make the organization self-sufficient by 2008, and deal with dwindling state contributions until then. Horse Center officials say an aggressive fund raising effort will have to make up that difference.
(//////SOT/////)
[SOT - 30:24]
[INQ=Even though fundraising...]
((JOHN SCOTT/VHC INTERIM DIRECTOR; EVEN THOUGH FUNDRAISING FOR DEBT IS DIFFICULT, WE WOULD HAVE TO GO THAT ROUTE.))
[RUNS= 7]
[OUTQ=go that route.]))
(------------)
[LIVE=Richard full]
If the General Assembly has its way, by 2008 the center will have to sustain its debt without state money. If that happens, some board members say it is likely the Virginia Horse Center would default on its bonds, the facility would revert to the state, and most likely be sold off. Dwindling state money comes at a time where the center's debt has grown dramatically, and some investors are worried the center won't be able to pay it off alone. We'll take a closer look at that tomorrow on News 7 at 6. Richard Lesko, News 7.

[Sports Tease]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Coming up tonight on the Big 7 - we'll check in with Tech linebacker Mikal Baaqee - a Muslim whose brother is fighting with the Marines in theMiddle East.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Plus, Duke is young - Kansas is seasoned - the two collide tonight in the Sweet 16 right here on Your Hometown Station.
(------------)

[S-Devils]

[ANCHOR=mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-147 53:07]
[GRAPHIC=NCAA road to final four]

Duke brings a 26 and 6 record into its sweet 16 match up with 27 and 7 Kansas tonight in their west regional semi-final contest.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Greensboro, NC; :00]
From January 18th until February 5th the Blue Devils went 2 and 3. Despite a few ups and downs with such a young team, Duke managed to put it all together to win the ACC tournament.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-J.J. Redick/Duke Freshman Guard; :00]
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=......NCAA tournament"]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The Jayhawks are led by two veteran seniors in Nick Collinson and Kirk Hinrich. Duke's second and third leading scorers are freshman J.J. Redick and sophomore Daniel Ewing.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Roy Williams/1-3 NCAA Tourney Record vs. Duke; :00]
[SUPER=01-Kirk Hinrich/Kansas Senior Guard; :17]
[RUNS=:31]
[OUT Q=.......overated"]
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[WIPE TO PINNACLE 12998]

[S-WDBJ]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
(XXXXXXXXX)
[WIPE TO PINNACLE 12998] The Duke-Kansas game is second tonight. Kentucky and Wisconsin get tonight's action started.
(XXXXXXXXX)
[WIPE TO PINNACLE 12999] Tomorrow night it's Texas and UConn followed by Maryland and Michigan State here on WDBJ-7.
(--------------)

[S-Clemson]

[ANCHOR=mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-140 TC11230]
[GRAPHIC=ACC]

Clemson Athletic Director Terry Don Phillips has apparently offered the Tigers head coaching job to former Iowa State and Chicago Bulls coach Tim Floyd. But Floyd is also a candidate for the job at Penn State.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Greensboro, NC; :00]

If Floyd doesn't end up in South Carolina, Maryland assistant Dave Dickerson appears to be the Tigers top choice.
The former Radford and James Madison assistant is in San Antonio with the Terps as they prepare for Michigan State in the Sweet 16. Phillips was scheduled to meet with Dickerson, a South Carolina native, today.
(------------)

[S-Tyler]

[ANCHOR=mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-144 41:07]
[GRAPHIC=]

(------------)
[VO-NAT Wipe to #eng!!!!!!]
[SUPER=03-Clemson, SC; :00]

Former Cave Spring baseball player and now Clemson pitcher Tyler Lumsden was one of the first eight players invited to try out for the USA National Team.
Lumsden is 5 and OH this season. All eight invitees are sophomores. The USA National team will play in the PAN AM Games in the Dominican Republic in August. The official roster will be announced June 27th.
(------------)

[S-Mikal]

[ANCHOR=mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-148 TC2013]
[GRAPHIC=war in IRAQ]

The war in Iraq is just over a week old and the conflict is hitting close to home for Virginia Tech linebacker Mikal Baaqee.
[GRAPHIC=TECH]

Baaqee's brother is a Marine in the Middle East. Travis Wells caught up with the sophomore, whose thoughts are thousands of miles away.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=203-Blacksburg; :00]
[SUPER=201-Mikal Baaqee/Virginia Tech Linebacker; :20]
[SUPER=219-Travis Wells/twells*wdbj7.com; 1:34]
[RUNS=1:44]
[OUT Q=News 7 Sports."]
((The smile on Mikal Baaqee's face cannot mask his concern for his 28 year old brother Shakir. Shakir is a lance corporal in the Marines, serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom. So as Mikal goes through spring football practice, he wonders how Shakir's week is going half a world away.
Mikal:
Mikal sent his brother two letters last week, but he hasn't seen him in nearly two months. While he is anxious to know about developments in the war, he's tried to distance himself from the constant media coverage.
Mikal:
Ironically, Baaqee is a practicing Muslim, which is seen in a much different light since September 11th, 2001.
Mikal:
Travis: In another twist of fate, Baaqee's brother wasn't even supposed to ship out from Camp Pendelton a few weeks ag o. Shakir was scheduled to be discharged this past February. Travis Wells, News 7 Sports.))