[1-News-Head]
[ANCHOR=Teresa]
Virginia Tech's Board of Visitors meets to re-evaluate a controversial decision regarding affirmative action.
The board's decision is just ahead.
(------------)
(////sot////)
[SOT]
[in q=Nat sound ]
((nat sound))
[runs=03]
[out q=nat sound]
(-------)
[vo-nat]
And hundreds gather in the New River Valley to rally behind U-S troops serving in the Middle East.
(------------)
[Sports-head]
[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Tonight in sports, the Avs go for three straight, Steve Mason makes a connection between ODAC softball and the Easter Seals,
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
plus Dale Earnhardt, Junior makes history at Talladega.
(------------)
[WX-Head]
[ANCHOR=Brent]
[SS=None]
Enjoy the sunshine because it will be hard to find over the next few days. Expect rain and much cooler temperatures for through the first part of the workweek. The forecast, plus your 7-Day planner coming up.
[Video-Open]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=]
[TAPE#=Video Open]
[GRAPHIC=News7at6]
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Our university.]
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q=gays or lesbians.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
A large crowd gathers as the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors holds a special meeting to discuss a controversial issue.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[GRAPHIC=News 7 at 6]
Good evening, I'm Teresa Hamilton.
[Tech-BOV]
[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=03-09 TC-39:45]
[GRAPHIC=Virginia Tech]
It's been nearly a month since the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors unanimously voted to end affirmative action.
Public outcry, though, has prompted the University's rector to hold a special meeting today to reconsider the decision.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg]
The board considered a resolution to rescind the policy to eliminate race and sex as factors in admission and hiring. That recommendation came from university president Charles Steger.
Just minutes ago, board members voted 8-to-5 to allow the school to do away with that policy.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=We're trying to take a step backwards...]
[SUPER=01-Bruce Smith/Board of Visitors Member; :00]
[SUPER=01-David Johnson/Virginia Deputy Attorney General; :10 ]
[RUNS=25]
[OUT Q=to liability.]
[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]
Again, the Board has approved a resolution to rescind the policy adopted at its March 10th meeting.... so affirmative action is back at Virginia Tech. We'll have reaction to that decision tonight on News 7 at 11.
[Short-Investigation]
[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=03-04 TC-1:07:46]
[GRAPHIC=Murder Invest.]
We're learning more about a federal grand jury that met last week to investigate the murders of Jennifer Short and her parents.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-File Tape;]
Friends of Gary Bowman confirm they were called to answer questions before a federal grand jury in Charlottesville last Tuesday.
Bowman's friends from North Carolina -- Danny Sizemore and John Beasley -- were called.
So was Gary Lemons -- the man who first pointed investigators in Bowman's direction.
Sizemore says he's still doesn't understand why investigators continue to focus on his friend.
He says Bowman has moved to Michigan, in part to escape the intense scrutiny he was under in North Carolina.
Authorities say they're in touch with Bowman.
They've returned several times to search the area where Jennifer Short's remains were found in North Carolina.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]
The state crime lab is still conducting DNA tests on items removed from Bowman's van.
Investigators say it could be six months to a year before those tests are completed.
[Henry-Sheriff]
[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=6 PM]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-08 TC-57:18]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Meanwhile, the lead agency investigating the Short case is breathing a sigh of relief.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Henry Co./January]
Next year's Henry county budget proposal includes funding for five vacant positions at the sheriff's office.
Back in January, Sheriff Frank Cassell told News 7 he may have to eliminate as many as fourteen positions.
Cassell says he's "tickled to death" the county found the money to fund these positions.
The department however is still slated to see more than a hundred thousand dollars in cuts next year.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Cassell says because of that he'll have to cut back on the number of new vehicles he had hoped to purchase for the department.
[Red-Cross]
[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=6 PM]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-01 TC-1:39:32]
[GRAPHIC=Homefront]
The American Red Cross is warning military families of a hoax.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=203-Roanoke]
The Red Cross says a caller pretending to be with the Red Cross has notified families that their loved ones in the service have been killed, injured, or taken prisoner.
There have been 10 victims so far including a Hopewell, Virginia woman who was told her son is now a prisoner of war.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 35:11]
[IN Q=We want to stress to folks]
((AMY WHITTAKER/AMERICAN RED CROSS: WE WANT TO STRESS TO FOLKS THAT WHEN THERE IS A NOTIFICATION LIKE THIS IT IS THE U.S. MILITARY WHO NOTIFIES THE FAMILY, NOT THE AMERICAN RED CROSS. SO ANYBODY SAYING THEY ARE AN AMERICAN RED CROSS REPRESENTATIVE AND OFFERING A NOTICE OF THIS SORT IT IS OBVIOUS A HOAX.))
[SUPER=201-Amy Whittaker/American Red Cross]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=obviously a hoax.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The Red Cross is investigating the matter and will turn over any information to the Defense Department.
(------------)
[Support-Rally]
[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=6 PM]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-02 TC-1:48:34]
[GRAPHIC=Homefront]
There was plenty of red, white, and blue in Christiansburg today as a large crowd gathered to support our troops.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=nat sound of prayer service]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=NAT SOUND OF PRAYER SERVICE]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=203-Christiansburg]
Several area churches in the New River Valley organized a prayer service at the Christiansburg High School stadium.
It was a chance for the community to pray for those who are serving in the military, those who have lost their lives in the war with Iraq and their families.
Today's service attracted several hundred people.
(------------)
[Tease#1]
[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[SS=NONE]
Still to come on the newscast, some school kids hit the books when school is NOT usually in session.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]
and federal officials hope that victims of February's flooding will take advantage of a helping hand.
(----------------)
[Sat-School]
[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=6 PM]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-06 TC-1:04:30]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Some school kids are choosing to spend part of their weekend not in front of the T-V but rather at the head of the class.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
A number of teachers and students at Garden City Elementary School in Roanoke have volunteered to attend school on Saturday.
They're using the time to sharpen their skills for the upcoming Standards of Learning tests.
Several teachers came up with the idea after the students missed so many days of school because of snow.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 3:33]
[IN Q=I had one little]
((DEBRA SPRINKLE/TEACHER: I HAD ONE LITTLE GIRL THAT BEGGED TO COME, SHE SAID PLEASE LET ME I'VE ALWAYS DREAMED OF COMING TO SCHOOL ON SATURDAY. TEACHERS WERE A LITTLE RELUCTANT BUT AFTER THE FIRST SATURDAY WE ALL AGREED THIS IS THE WAY SCHOOL SHOULD BE.))
[SUPER=01-Debra Sprinkle/Teacher]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=school should be]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Teachers and students are hoping the extra work will pay off on the S-O-L's.
Garden City Elementary is very close to becoming fully accredited.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 6:31]
[IN Q=We've been doing]
((ELIZA BRITTON/STUDENT: WE'VE BEEN DOING PRACTICE SOL TESTS ON THE LAPTOPS AND WE'VE BEEN LEARNING SOCIAL STUDY WORDS THAT WE'VE LEARNED A LONG TIME AGO AND TODAY WE DID MATH.))
[SUPER=01-Eliza Britton/Student; ]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=we did math]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
25 students are currently volunteering to come to school on Saturday and plan to do so for another four weeks.
(------------)
[FEMA]
[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=jwi]
[TAPE#=03-14 TC 2:38:46]
[GRAPHIC=Flooding]
[***ANCHOR TAG***]
Flood waters returned to the banks of the Roanoke River weeks ago, but the damage it caused is still fresh in the minds of those who lived through the ordeal.
Flood victims are now able to apply for federal assistance and as Jennifer Wishon explains the money could NOT come at a better time.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Nats of water]
[SUPER=04-February; :00]
[SUPER=01-Charles Moore/Flood Victim; :17]
[SUPER=01-Joli Moore/Flood Victim; :38]
[SUPER=03-Salem; :44]
[SUPER=01-Justo Hernandez/FEMA; :52]
[SUPER=@Jennifer2; 1:33]
[RUNS=1:42]
[OUT Q=JW, News 7, Salem.]
((((Nats of Water))
It's been more than a month since flood waters invaded the Willow River Apartment Complex.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 19:53:29]
[IN Q=And this is actually]
((AND THIS IS ACTUALLY PART OF THE WALL, I MEAN IT JUST FELL DOWN.))
[RUNS= 03]
[OUT Q=just fell down]
Charles and Joli Moore lived in a first floor apartment like this one and lost everything.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 14:57:29]
[IN Q=Everything was thrown]
((CHARLES MOORE/FLOOD VICTIM: EVERYTHING WAS THROWN AROUND THE CEILING IN THE BEDROOM WAS LAYING IN THE FLOOR. IT WAS LIKE SOMEONE CAME IN AND JUST TOSSED STUFF ALL OVER THE PLACE.))
[RUNS= 10]
[OUT Q=over the place]
The Moore's say they were lucky because they had a lot of friends who pulled together to help them.
They also got a lot of immediate help from the Red Cross, but now they're looking to FEMA for financial assistance.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 18:26:13]
[IN Q=We had money in savings]
((JOLI MOORE/FLOOD VICTIM: WE HAD MONEY IN SAVINGS, LUCKILY, SO IT WILL PUT THAT MONEY BACK.))
[RUNS= 05]
[OUT Q=that money back]
FEMA has set up a Disaster Recovery Center at the Department of Forestry building in Salem.
There, federal money is available for both renters and homeowners.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 14:35:55]
[IN Q=Anyone that suffer]
((JUSTO HERNANDEZ/FEMA: ANYONE THAT SUFFER ANY KIND OF LOSSES. ANYONE THAT WAS DISPLACED BY THE FLOODING, ANYONE THAT COULDN'T GET HOME, THAT HAD TO STAY IN A HOTEL. ANYONE THAT HAD A DEATH IN THE FAMILY.))
[RUNS= 12]
[OUT Q=in the family]
Hernandez says it only takes about 15- minutes to register and there's up to 25- thousand dollars in assistance money available.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 17:40:07]
[IN Q=You can still]
((YOU CAN STILL SMELL IT, THAT'S A SMELL YOU DON'T EVER WANT TO SMELL.))
[RUNS= 04]
[OUT Q=want to smell]
Back at the Moore home memories of the flood are still all too clear.
They say federal help is coming just as the shock of losing everything sets in.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 19:00:21]
[IN Q=My kids lost everything]
((JOLI MOORE/FLOOD VICTIM: MY KIDS LOST EVERYTHING AND SO REPLACING THAT RIGHT NOW IS MORE IMPORTANT TO ME RIGHT NOW THAN REPLACING, YOU KNOW, A FEW MORE MATERIAL THINGS FOR US.))
[RUNS= 08]
[OUT Q=THINGS FOR US]
And while no amount of money will ever replace the memories damaged by the water, it will help some families get back on their feet.
Jennifer Wishon, News 7, Salem.))
(+++++++)
[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[TAKE FEMA FS #]
If you qualify for federal disaster money or would like more information on the funds available you can call 1-800-621-FEMA.
(+++++++)
[Tease#2]
[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[SS=NONE]
Still ahead on the newscast, a large scale construction project in Danville hits its halfway point.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]
plus, music can have healing qualities after national disasters, even for artists hundreds of miles away. We'll have that and more coming up.
(----------------)
[D'ville-Bridge]
[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=6 PM]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-07 TC-1:17:22]
[GRAPHIC=none]
The first phase of a major road project in Danville is nearly complete.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville]
The structure for the new Main Street bridge in downtown is in place.
Workers will now spend the next several months laying down the concrete on the deck.
V-DOT hopes to have motorists on the new bridge by mid-July.
After that, they'll begin renovating the current Main Street bridge.
The entire project is costing more than 14-million dollars and should be completed by next spring.
(------------)
[VA-Profile]
[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=Profile 6 tc 1:04]
[GRAPHIC=Virginia Profile]
[****ANCHOR TAG****]
Music has always been an outlet for emotions.
In this week's Virginia Profile, Myranda Stephens tells us how a Bland County man turned his sorrow over the space shuttle Columbia disaster into a song for all to share.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=nats of guitar]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg; :00]
[SUPER=01-Sammy King/Songwriter; :23]
[SUPER=@Myranda2; :59]
[RUNS=1:29]
[OUT Q=last mile of the way]
(([NATS OF GUITAR @ 1:55-1:58]
[RUNS=04]
Sammy King is no musician.
But you wouldn't know it after listening to a song he wrote,
inspired by the space shuttle Columbia accident.
[SOT 18:05-18:14]
[RUNS :09]
((SEVEN ASTRONAUTS LOST THEIR LIVES THAT DAY. NO ONE UNDESTOOD IT WAS MEANT TO BE THAT WAY.))
[BACK TO VIDEO!!!]
[SOT 7:59]
[RUNS :12]
((SAMMY KING/"COLUMBIA" SONGSTER: 7:59 I WENT IN THE BEDROOM AND I WROTE THE WORDS ABOUT THIS THAT HAPPENED AND I PUT IT TOGETHER AND PUT THE MUSIC TO IT AND IT'S JUST LIKE BOOM THERE IT IS 8:11))
[NATS OF SONG @ :12]
[RUNS :03]
King recorded and produced his song just days after the accident.
And before he knew it, the song was being played all over the local radio stations...and in places not so close to home.
[SOT 12:30]
[RUNS :13]
(( I HAVE SENT A CD TO AFGHANISTAN, I GOT A COUSIN OVER IN AFGHANISTAN AND I GOT A BUDDY OVER IN KUWAIT AND SENT THOSE FOLKS A CD OVER THERE BY THEIR FAMILIES 12:43))
And while the retired corrections officer says he's happy his song has spread to so many different people,
what's more important is that they understand the meaning behind it.
[SOT 13:55-14:08; 14:18-14:21]
[RUNS :16]
[DROP SHUTTLE VIDEO :05 INTO THIS BITE ONLY!!!]
((AND THAT'S WHAT THIS SONG TALKS ABOUT. IT TALKS ABOUT HOW THEY DON'T WANT FOLKS TO MOURN FOR 'EM, BECAUSE THEY'RE IN A BETTER PLACE THAN WE ARE AND THEY'VE DONE IT, THEY WENT AND SAW WANT THEY WANTED TO SEE 14:08 14:18 TO THEM THAT WAS WORTH LIVING FOR RIGHT THERE 14:21))
[BACK TO VIDEO!!!!]
[SOT 1:50]
[RUNS :04]
((WELL I'VE GONE THE LAST MILE OF THE WAY...1:54))))
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Teresa]
[SS=none]
That was Myranda Stephens reporting.
King has sold nearly seven-hundred copies of his song.
He says he plans to also send one to NASA.
[Sports tease]
[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Coming up, Dale Earnhardt, Junior turns Talladega into his own personal playground, we'll hear from both Syracuse and Kansas on tomorrow night's championship, and
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
the softball teams from Roanoke College and Randolph-Macon team up with the Easter Seals in a game where everyone was a winner.
(------------)
[S-Race]
[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-149 TC3153]
[GRAPHIC=Nascar 2003]
Dale Earnhardt, Junior was gunning for an unprecedented 4th straight Talladega win this afternoon in the Aaron's 499, but Junior had to start from the back of the pack after changing an engine following Saturday's Happy Hour practice session.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Talladega, AL/Fox Sports; :00]
Jeremy Mayfield started on the pole, but just four laps in, things got ugly. Ryan Newman cuts down a tire and triggers a 27 car pileup. Over half the field was taken out, but fortunately there were no serious injuries.
With just 2 laps to go, Junior led the pack when Jimmie Johnson got turned around by Kenny Wallace, but the caution never came out. Dale, Jr. then held off Kevin Harvick to complete the weekend sweep.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Dale Earnhardt, Jr./4th Straight Talladega Win; :]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=it was crazy."]
(-------------------)
[go to boards]
[SUPER=#556;]
[SUPER=X5013;]
[SUPER=0106-1. Dale Earnhardt, Jr.//2. Kevin Harvick//3. Elliott Sadler//4. Ricky Craven//5. Terry Labonte//;]
[SUPER=X5009;]
[SUPER=0106-6. Sterling Marlin//7. Ward Burton//8. Jeff Gordon//9. Matt Kenseth//10. Robby Gordon//;]
[SUPER=X5009;]
[SUPER=0106-11. Kyle Petty//12. Dale Jarrett//13. Bill Elliott//14. John Andretti//15. Jimmie Johnson//;]
[SUPER=X5009;]
[SUPER=0106-16. Tony Raines//17. Kenny Wallace//18. Jeremy Mayfield//19. Kurt Busch//20. Steve Park//;]
[SUPER=X5009;]
[SUPER=0106-21. Joe Nemechek//22. Greg Biffle//23. Dave Blaney//24. Michael Waltrip//25. Tony Stewart//;]
[RUNS=:25]
[OUT Q=.....last driver."]
(-----------)
[S-Avalanche]
[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-144 TC5024]
[GRAPHIC=Avalanche]
The Salem Avalanche closed out a three game set with Potomac this afternoon at Salem Memorial Stadium.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem/Cannons vs. Avalanche; :00]
The Avs were hoping to rustle up their third straight win to open the season.
The visiting Cannons got on the board first when Brian Petersen smokes a homerun off the foul pole in left field. The two run shot put Potomac on top.
To the bottom of the fourth now. Salem strikes back as T-J Soto bloops a single to right field. Michael Rodriguez and Brandon Carraway cross the dish cutting the Cannons lead to 3-2.
[SUPER=37-Potomac/10/Salem/8/;]
Still in the fourth, Joe Lydic lifts a sac fly to center scoring Todd Self, tying things at 3, but the Cannons won a slugfest this afternoon 10 to 8.
(------------)
[S-Softball]
[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-148]
[GRAPHIC=ODAC]
ODAC softball competitors Roanoke College and Randolph-Macon played a double header in Salem today. Sandwiched in between the double dip was the second annual Roanoke College softball Easter seals benefit game. Steve Mason has more.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Salem; :00]
[SUPER=01-Wendy Trail/Roanoke Catholic Softball Coach; :13]
[SUPER=01-Sid Witt/Challenger Baseball League; :40]
[SUPER=01-Alan Bayse/Roanoke College Softball Coach; :44(QUICK!!)]
[SUPER=01-Michele Seher/Randolph Macon Pitcher; :58]
[SUPER=01-Robin O'Connor/Roanoke College Second Base; 1:07]
[SUPER=@Steve2; 1:19]
[SUPER=01-Amy Layman/Roanoke College Softball Assistant Coach; 1:26]
[RUNS=1:39]
[OUT Q=....news 7 sports"]
(------------)
((The Moyer Sports Complex welcomed competitors, encouragers, fund raisers and all willing to help Easter Seals. Roanoke Catholic's softball team worked the gate for coach Wendy Trail, mother to a three year old with autism.
((:))
Only the auction was silent for Easter seals that also included a 50/50 raffle. On the field bonds were being made as players extended a hand in a one inning game. Many of these kids play in the Challenger league.
((:))
((:))
Roanoke beat the Yellow jackets in game one, but the game of life and overcoming the adversities that come with it put perspective on wins and losses.
((:))
((:))
Thanks to sponsors Advance Auto and Southern Health, the benefit game raised over seven thousand dollars.
((:))
The money raised will go towards sending 10 of these kids to t he Easter Seals camp this summer. In Salem, Steve Mason news 7 sports.))
[S-Final]
[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-143 TC5548]
[GRAPHIC=Women's Final Four]
The Women's Final Four takes center stage tonight in Atlanta. Duke and Tennessee square off in game one just after seven, while Connecticut and Texas wrap things up in the nightcap.
[GRAPHIC=Men's Final Four]
The table is set for Monday night's final on the men's side. Roy Williams and Jim Boeheim will each be looking for that elusive national title as the Kansas transition game meets up with the Syracuse zone.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Jim Boeheim/Syracuse Head Coach; :00]
[SUPER=01-Nick Collison/Kansas Center; :20]
[RUNS=:43]
(------------------)
[OUT Q=who plays better."]