[1-News-Head]

[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

An explosion rattles the Radford Arsenal.
We'll have a live report.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :05]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

And, inmates may be isolated from society but their health problems are not.
(------------)



[Sports-Head]


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

Tonight on News 7 Sports - college baseball and softball news, plus golf and an area Ivy League signing.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

And it doesn't take Steve Park long to find a job, as he's hired to drive for Richard Childress.
(------------)


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


Our one day break from the clouds and showers ends tomorrow and we will likely have rumbly skies through Mother's Day. Show you why in a moment.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon 4-Shot]


News 7 is next.
[Radford-Arsenal]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#03-15 TC1:53:35]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]


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


And I'm Shannon Young.
An explosion apparently shook the Radford Army Ammunition Plant this afternoon.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]


Myranda Stephens is outside the arsenal tonight and joins us on the phone. [TAKE MYRANDA PHONER GRAPHIC]
What can you tell us?
(adlib)

[DAVE WILL CALL FOR VO]
(-------------)

[Vo-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Radford/File Tape]
[RUNS=30]
(-------------)
(Myranda adlibs)



[Fleming-Lockdown]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=03-17 TC13:01]
[GRAPHIC=None]


Two Roanoke schools were locked down for an hour and a half today, as police chased reports of a gunman in the area.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]


Students at William Fleming High School and Ruffner Middle School were released at about 5:30.
School officials decided to lock down both schools at about 3:45, after police told them a man with a gun was seen driving on Ferncliff Avenue near the schools.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I was worried]
[sot 9:11:06]

((RAVEN STEWART: I WAS WORRIED, BUT HAVING THAT THEY HAD ALREADY PREPARED US FOR A LOCKDOWN, WE KNEW HOW TO DO IT AND BE SAFE ABOUT IT, SO IT WASN'T TOO BAD. ))
[sot 9:10:10]

((BLAKE TAYLOR: I'M PROUD OF MY SCHOOL BECAUSE THEY TOOK MATTERS INTO THEIR OWN HANDS AND HANDLED IT WELL. ))
[SUPER=01-Raven Steward/Fleming Senior; :00]
[SUPER=01-Blake Taylor/Fleming Junior; :09 QUICK!]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=handled it well.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


It was a real-life drill for the students, who had been told to expect a practice lockdown soon.
Police are still looking for the alleged gunman.
(------------)



[School-Resource]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=Six]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=03-12 TC46:32]
[GRAPHIC=None]


The prospect of fewer resource officers at each of Roanoke city's high schools brought criticism today from city council.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]


The subject came up as council members met for budget talks with the school board.
Council member Bill Bestpitch said it might be best to delay any action on the issue until high school construction projects are completed.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 10:52:41]
[IN Q=If we're talking about doing that]
[SUPER=@Bestpitch; ]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=safety of the students.]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[GRAPHIC=None]


School Superintendent Wayne Harris and Police Chief Joe Gaskins are now discussing security issues and the proper role for resource officers in the city schools.

[City-Budget]


[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=Six]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=03-10 TC1:16:33]
[GRAPHIC=None]


Roanoke City Council has vetoed a plan to cut funding for six positions in the Fire-EMS Department.
The decision came today during a budget work session and tonight , Joe Dashiell tells us, city officials must now search for savings somewhere else.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=City officials say little would change]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]
[SUPER=@Burcham; :10]
[SUPER=@Smith; :33]
[SUPER=@Wyatt; :48]
[SUPER=@Joe2; :58]
[RUNS=1:09]
[OUT Q=JD News 7 Roanoke]


((City officials say little would change. The plan to leave six positions vacant would not affect staffing at stations or the number of people available to fight fires.
[SOT]
[IN Q=Neither the chief]

((NEITHER THE CHIEF NOR MYSELF WOULD EVER MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO A CITY COUNCIL THAT WE BELIEVED WOULD IN ANY WAY ENDANGER THE CITIZENS OF THIS COMMUNITY.))
[RUNS= :15]
[OUT Q=endanger the citizens of this community.]


Mayor Ralph Smith suggested the fire department is overstaffed with twice as many firefighters per capita than many other Virginia cities.
[SOT]
[IN Q=Somebody needs]

((SOMEBODY NEEDS TO BE TALKING ABOUT THE WELFARE OF ALL OF THE CITIZENS WHO HAVE TO PAY FOR EVERYTHING CITY HALL IS CHOOSING TO USE.))
[RUNS= :07]
[OUT Q=choosing to use.]


But a majority of the council members who were present argued that the six positions are needed to ensure adequate fire protection and department morale.
[SOT]
[IN Q=I don't know]

((PEOPLE DON'T DO THEIR BEST WORK WHEN THEY'RE STRESSED OUT AND I THINK YOU'RE CREATING A VERY, VERY STRESSFUL SITUATION IN OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT.))
[RUNS= :10]
[OUT Q=in our fire department.]


City administrators must now find 240- thousand dollars to pay for the six positions.
Council will vote on the final budget on Monday.
Joe Dashiell News 7 Roanoke))

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


A presidential candidate is in Lexington. A live report is still ahead on News 7 at 6.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

And some unexpected visitors at a New River Valley company. Federal agents enter armed with a search warrant.
(----------------)





[Bond-Cote]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=03-08 TC1:37:12]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

Federal agents searched the offices of a New River Valley company today, amid allegations it violated the terms of a military contract.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pulaski;]

Bond Cote manufactures coated fabrics, or canvas. About 70-percent of its business is with the military. Environmental and Defense Investigators searched the company's corporate offices in Dublin and another facility in Dublin.
[SUPER=03-Dublin;]

A company official says the search followed a complaint that the firm was using a toxic chemical that is banned for military use. He says the chemical is a coloring agent, and though it is legal, it's not supposed to be used in military fabrics.
Officials say investigators will continue their work tomorrow. It's unclear when Bond Cote workers will be allowed to return to their jobs.
(-------------)


[New-Jobs]


[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=03-14 TC3:06:28]
[GRAPHIC=New Jobs]


Roanoke's loss is Franklin County's gain.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :17]
[SUPER=03-Rocky Mount;]

M-W Manufacturers is expanding its business and creating 60 jobs. The window maker is closing a division located in Roanoke and taking production to this Rocky Mount location, a former Lane facility. The one-hundred thousand square foot building should be up and running in June.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 00:11:03]
[IN Q=WE ACTUALLY]

((LYNN MORSTAD/MW MANUFACTURERS; WE ACTUALLY GREW BEYOND OUR MEANS IN TERMS OF FLOOR SPACE IN ROANOKE AND THAT WAS CONVENIENT IT WAS AN ACQUISITION THAT TOOK PLACE BACK IN 1997 SO NOW IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACTUALLY MOVE TOWARD THE HEART OF OUR MANUFACTURING FACILITIES OUT HERE IN ROCKY MOUNT.))
[SUPER=01-Lynn Morstad/MW Manufacturers;]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=IN ROCKY MOUNT.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The new location is across the street from M-W's large production plant. All the Roanoke jobs will be transferred along with the 60-new ones. Positions are available in supervisory, assembly and maintenance.
(------------)



[Mock-Convention]


[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#03-09 TC1:23:55]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The next presidential election may be a year and a half away, but that hasn't kept nine Democratic hopefuls from stepping up the rhetoric. One of the candidates made a campaign stop at a place where early political predictions are routine.
[Double Boxes=Keith & Richard/Starlink]

Richard Lesko is in Lexington tonight with more.
[Live=Richard Full/Starlink]
[SUPER=@Richard1;]
[SUPER=05-Lexington;]
( ad lib)
(Rollcue: address the crowd. )

[**ROLLED FROM STARLINK**]
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Lexington; :00 (QUICK)]
[SUPER=01-Al Sharpton/(D) Candidate for President; :13]
[RUNS=1:06]
[OUT Q=their own necessity.]
(-------------)
[Live=Richard Full/Starlink]
[SUPER=05-Lexington;]
( ad lib)
[Double Boxes=Keith and Richard/Starlink]



[Bolling]


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


The election's still years away, but one potential candidate wants a head start.
State Senator Bill Bolling has formed a campaign fund-raising committee for a 2005 run for lieutenant governor.
He's the first candidate statewide to make a push for the office.
Bolling is a conservative Republican from Hanover County who has served in the Senate for eight years.
He says he'll make a formal announcement on his candidacy later this year.

[Stocks]


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


Investors saw weak retail sales reports as an excuse to take profits. [TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5000;]
[SUPER=440-y/69.41/8491.22/y/17.07/1489.69;]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]


The DOW fell 69 points.
NASDAQ dropped 17.
(-------------)

[VO]
[SUPER=271-h/0.58/52.30/i/0.34/31.03/i/0.25/25.25/i/0.63/70.54/i/0.57/73.69;]
[SUPER=272-i/0.16/9.36/i/0.23/6.01/i/0.12/58.96/i/0.56/40.83/i/0.38/28.47;]
[SUPER=273-i/0.39/6.43/i/0.32/31.45/i/0.31/14.02/i/0.31/20.97/i/0.25/4.69;]
[SUPER=274-i/0.01/7.05/i/0.95/57.75/i/1.26/36.33/i/0.76/38.92/i/0.07/55.01;]
[SUPER=#555; Reset]

[Prison-health]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=03-06 TC2:02:00]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]


Virginia's prisons are a breeding ground for the sometimes fatal virus hepatitis C....that is according to a recent study.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]


The study's authors say that's not just a problem for inmates but it is a public health threat as well.
Meghan Muldoon has more.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=THE A-C-L-U SAYS THAT VIRGINIA IS]
[SUPER=03-Wise Co.; :00]
[SUPER=01-Kent Willis/ACLU of VA Director; :16]
[SUPER=@MarkWarner; :29]
[RUNS=1:40]
[OUT Q=MM, NEWS 7, RICHMOND]

(( The A-C-L-U says that Virginia is not doing a good job keeping prisoners healthy or alive.
Their 40-page report charges that a dozen prisoners may have been maimed or died from the lack of proper medical care.
[SOT 02:46:59]
[IN Q=A MEASURE OF OUR CIVILIZATION]

((A MEASURE OF OUR CIVILIZATION IS HOW WE TREAT THOSE WHO WE IMPRISON. WE IMPRISON THEM TO KEEP THEM OFF THE STREETS FROM HARMING OTHER PEOPLE BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE THROW THEM INTO TORTURE CHAMBERS.)) [RUNS:10]
[OUT Q=THROW THEM INTO TORTURE CHAMBERS.]


But Governor Warner says Virginia's prison health care systems are nationally accredited.
[SOT 02:36:23]
[IN Q=THERE HAVE BEEN NO INDICATION]

((THERE HAVE BEEN NO INDICATION TO MY KNOWLEDGE AT LEAST THAT THERE'S BEEN IN THOSE ACCREDIDATION REPORTS ANY EVIDENCE OF SOME OF THE ACCUSATIONS THAT THE ACLU HAS MADE.)) [RUNS:09]
[OUT Q=THAT THE ACLU HAS MADE.]


In fact, since 1995 the cost of providing medical care to prisoners has almost doubled.
The state now spends about 3-thousand dollars a year per inmate in health care costs.
[SOT 02:38:01]
[IN Q=IF OTHER STATES ARE CONTINUING]

((IF OTHER STATES ARE CONTINUING TO BRING ADDITIONAL PRISONERS TO VIRGINIA BECAUSE THEY THINK WE HAVE A SAFE AND SECURE ENVIRONMENT AND AN ENVIRONMENT THAT TAKES CARE OF THEIR CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS, THAT'S PROBABLY THE BEST INDICATION POSSIBLE THAT WHAT THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS IS DOING IS ACTUALLY DOING A PRETTY GOOD JOB.)) [RUNS:17]
[OUT Q=DOING A PRETTY GOOD JOB.]


But the A-C-L-U disagrees.
Their study estimates that 39 percent of the state's 30-thousand prisoners are infected with hepatitis C...giving Virginia one of the highest prison infection rates in the country.
[SOT 02:47:20]
[IN Q=WHILE THEY'RE IN THE SYSTEM]

((WHILE THEY'RE IN THE SYSTEM THEY'RE CATCHING HEPATITIS C THEN THEY'RE LEAVING THE SYSTEM WITH IT BECAUSE THE PRISON DOES NOT TREAT THEM. IT MAY BE IN THE FUTURE WHEN THERE'S SOME KIND OF HEPATITIS C EPIDEMIC IN VIRGINIA THAT EXPERTS WILL LOOK BACK AND SAY WELL THIS ALL STARTED WITH THE PRISON SYSTEM.)) [RUNS:17]
[OUT Q=STARTED WITH THE PRISON SYSTEM.]


The A-C-L-U says that by taking care of our inmates, we take care of ourselves.
Meghan Muldoon, News 7, Richmond.))

[Sports Tease]


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

Coming up tonight on News 7 sports - Tech tangles with RU in baseball. An area hoopster is headed to the Ivy League -
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

and the Virginia Tech golf is a week away from the NCAA regionals in Alabama. We'll see how they're limbering up for the event when we come back.
(------------)


[S-Childress]


[ANCHOR=mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-138 TC11948]
[GRAPHIC=big east Softball]


The Big East Softball Tournament is underway at this hour over in Salem.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]


This morning the league held its post season awards brunch.
Notre Dame and Boston College were honored as the regular season co-champs.
Former Cave Spring star and current Rutgers catcher, Nikki Childress, was among the players named to the All Big East First Team.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Nikki Childress/All-Big East Selection; :00]
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=and we are good."]
(------------)
[TALENT=MIKE]
[GRAPHIC=BIG EAST SOFTBALL]

The Hokies Rachel Pacheco was named to the second team all-Big East squad and Tech's Kelly Brown made the Big East all-rookie team. Boston College is playing Villanova right now. At seven, number one seed Notre Dame takes on Seton Hall at the Moyer Complex.

[S-Brown]


[ANCHOR=mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-149 TC5231]
[GRAPHIC=Basketball]


The Carlisle School in Martinsville has its first Division One signee since Jeff Adkins took over as head basketball coach nine years ago. This afternoon, Marcus Becker announced that he will attend Brown University of the Ivy League. Becker scored 1954 career points and was the state player of the year twice.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Marcus Becker/Signs with Brown University; :00]
[SUPER=01-Jeff Adkins/Carlisle School Head Coach; :]
[RUNS=:35]
[OUT Q=athleticism to Brown."]
(-------------------)


[S-Baseball]


[ANCHOR=mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-148 44:26]
[GRAPHIC=Tech]


The Virginia Tech baseball team played host to Radford in a rain make up game this afternoon at English Field.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg/Highlanders vs. Hokies; :00]


This would mark the second meeting of the season between the two cross town rivals and the Hokies were looking for their seventh straight win over RU.
In the bottom of the first, the Hokies go up one nothing when Wyatt Toregas doubles to left field. The hit is gonna bring Marc Tugwell home from second base. Tech shows some defense in the top of the second when the Hokies turn the double play with ease to get out of the inning.
[SUPER=34-Radford/0/Virginia Tech/9;]


In the bottom of the third, Brad Bauder connects on this shot. The sacrifice fly scores another run and Tech wins it 9-to-nothing.
(------------)


[S-Golf]


[ANCHOR=mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-145 1:16:41]
[GRAPHIC=Big east generic]


Big east golf power Virginia Tech is ranked 33rd in the nation. The Hokies are preparing for NCAA tournament this week in Blacksburg.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg; :00]


Tech is the 11th seed in the 27 team field in the East Regional Golf Tournament that will be played May 15th through the 17th at Auburn University. The Hokies earned an automatic NCAA regional berth by winning the Big East golf tournament back in April.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Jay Hardwick/Big East Coach of the Year; :00]
[SUPER=01-Brendon de Jonge/Virginia Tech All-American; :12]
[RUNS=:20]
[OUT Q=.....different story"]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


The Hokies will enter a team in the NCAA tournament that combines youth and experience. Three players have competed in the last two golf national championship tournaments. But former William Byrd star Scott Wise, now a Tech red-shirt sophomore will be getting his first taste of NCAA action.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Scott Wise/Virginia Tech Number Four Golfer: :00]
[RUNS=:20]
[OUT Q=..looking forward to it"]
(------------)


[Update]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=03-15 TC2:53:35]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2 Shot]
[GRAPHIC=None]


More details are coming in about this afternoon's explosion at the Radford Arsenal.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Myranda & Keith-Shannon/Microwave;]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2 Shot]

Myranda Stephens is outside the plant. Myranda, so far it appears that there were no serious injuries?
[LIVE=Myranda/FULL]
[SUPER=@Myranda1;]
[SUPER=05-Montgomery Co.]



(------------)
[VO-NAT :31 Max]
[SUPER=03-Montgomery Co.]



(------------)
[LIVE=Myranda Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Montgomery Co.;]


[DOUBLE BOXES=Myranda & Keith-Shannon/Microwave;]
by SS