[7-VOB-Tech-BOV]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=Net]
[GRAPHIC=Virginia Tech]
The Virginia Tech Board of Visitors reversed an earlier decision yesterday, and reinstated the university's previous Affirmative Action policy.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :16]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;]
The meeting last four hours, and it came nearly a month after the Board of Visitors had voted to end Affirmative Action.
The vote to reinstate it was 8 to 5, and it produced a standing ovation from the crowd.
Some board members say it's now time to move on.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=We have to get out]
[SUPER=01-Bruce Smith/VT Board of Visitors;]
((BRUCE SMITH/VT BOARD OF VISITOR: WE HAVE TO GET OUT OF THIS NEGATIVE PUBLICITY FOR THIS UNIVERSITY BECAUSE THIS UNIVERSITY BEFORE ALL THESE DECISIONS CAME ABOUT YOU ONLY GREAT THINGS ABOUT IT AROUND THE COUNTRY.))
[Runs=11]
[OUT Q=around the country]
(------------)
[VO-NAT :06]
But some still believe the March 10th vote to end Affirmative Action was the right one.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Yes I believe]
[SUPER=01-John Rocovich/University Rector;]
((JOHN ROCOVICH/UNIVERSITY RECTOR: YES I BELIEVE WE MADE THE CORRECT DECISION TO PROTECT THE OFFICIALS, THE BOARD, AND THE UNIVERSITY.))
[Runs=05]
[OUT Q=and the university]
(------------)
[VO-NAT :10+]
Virginia's Deputy Attorney General told the board the race-based policies violate federal law, but again, the Tech Board of Visitors has reinstated Affirmative Action.
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[7-11Sat-School]
[ANCHOR=kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-06 TC-1:04:30]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Some students attended school this weekend, but not because they had to.
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[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.
(------------)
[45-11Short-Investigation]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=03-04 TC-1:07:46]
[GRAPHIC=Murder Invest.]
A federal grand jury is looking into the Short Family murders, but there is no word yet on where it may lead.
(------------)
[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=Kimberly]
[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.
[45-Henry-Sheriff]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-08 TC-57:18]
[GRAPHIC=none]
At the same time, the lead agency investigating the Short case is welcoming the likelihood of increasing its force.
(------------)
[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=Kimberly]
[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.
[45-11D'ville-Bridge]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-07 TC-1:17:22]
[GRAPHIC=none]
A major road project in Danville is beginning to LOOK like a bridge, but it will still be a year or so before it is complete.
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[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.
(------------)
[8-11Red-Cross]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-01 TC-1:39:32]
[GRAPHIC=Homefront]
New scams aimed at military families are taking an unnecessary emotional toll.
(------------)
[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.
(------------)
[8-11Support-Rally]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-02 TC-1:48:34]
[GRAPHIC=Homefront]
Prayer and support from the New River Valley were offered to U-S troops, just hours before they entered Baghdad.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=NAT SOUND]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=with faith and hope.]
(------------)
[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.
Yesterday's service attracted several hundred people.
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[8-11FEMA-Aid]
[ANCHOR=kim]
[NEWSCAST=cutin]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-13 TC-11:55]
[GRAPHIC=Flooding]
Those personally affected by the recent flooding can now apply for federal assistance.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem]
F-E-M-A has opened a Disaster Recovery Center in Salem.
Visitors can learn about a variety of disaster assistance programs including temporary housing, funds for home repairs, and other major disaster-related expenses.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 14:36:59]
[IN Q=What we want]
((JUSTO HERNANDEZ/FEMA: WHAT WE WANT IS FOR PEOPLE TO CALL US. DON'T THINK THAT IF YOU ARE IN A WELFARE SYSTEM THAT YOU ARE GOING TO BE AFFECTED BY THAT. DON'T THINK THAT YOUR NEIGHBOR HAD MORE DAMAGES AND THEREFORE HE NEEDS THE ASSISTANCE MORE, THERE'S MONEY THERE'S ASSISTANCE TO EVERYONE THAT GOT AFFECTED.))
[SUPER=01-Justo Hernandez/FEMA]
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=that got affected]
(+++++++)
[TAKE FEMA FS #]
F-E-M-A recommends that you first contact their hotline before coming to the center.
That number is 1-800-621-FEMA.
The Disaster Recovery Center will be in the Virginia Department of Forestry building on Riverland Drive in Salem for at least a week.
(+++++++)
by SS