WDBJ 7 news at Noon for 09/30/03

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[VO-NAT]

A Roanoke woman faces up to 20 years in prison after being convicted of stomping her mother to death.
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[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

And a criminal investigation by the Justice Department is focusing on the White House.
[WX-Head]
[ANCHOR=Leo]
[SS=None]
A frosty start in some spots but the afternoon sunshine will allow temperatures to climb back into the 50s and 60s. I'll have your forecast.
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[ANCHOR=MARYA 2-Shot]

News 7 at Noon starts right now...
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[SUPER=@Marya1;]
[SUPER=@Leo1; ]

[CIA-Leak]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

The Justice Department has launched a criminal investigation into who leaked out the name of a covert C-I-A operative.
As Teri Okita reports, the investigation starts at the White House.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=With full consent]
[SUPER=03-Washington, DC;]
[SUPER=01-Scott McClellan/White House Spokesman;]
[SUPER=01-Clarence Page/Chicago Tribune Columnist;]
[SUPER=01-Teri Okita/CBS News;]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=TO, CBS News, Washington.]
((WITH FULL CONSENT OF THE PRESIDENT, WHITE HOUSE LAWYERS SENT AN EMAIL TO STAFF MEMBERS THIS MORNING INFORMING THEM OF THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENTS PROBE INTO THE IDENTITY LEAK OF A C-I-A OPERATIVE.
THE EMAIL INSTRUCTS THE STAFF TO (graphic) "PRESERVE ALL MATERIALS THAT MIGHT, IN ANY WAY, BE RELATED TO THE DEPARTMENTS INVESTIGATION". BUT OFFICIALS THERE CONTINUE TO DENY ANY TRAIL LEADING TO THE WHITE HOUSE.

(Super: Scott McClellan/White House Spokesman - MONDAY)
SOT: (Roberts pkg) Ive made it clear that there has been nothing,
absolutely nothing, brought to our attention to suggest any White House involvement, and that includes the Vice-Presidents office, as well.
TRACK: (graphic) COLUMNIST ROBERT NOVAK DISCLOSED THE INTELLIGENCE OPERATIVES NAME BACK IN JULY - IDENTIFYING HER AS FORMER AMBASSADOR, JOE WILSONS WIFE.
WILSON CALLED THE LEAK "RETALIATION" FOR CHALLENGING PRESIDENT BUSHS CLAIM THAT IRAQ TRIED TO BUY URANIUM FROM AFRICA. WILSON CLAIMS THAT MR. BUSHS TOP POLITICAL ADVISOR, KARL ROVE, HAD, AT THE VERY LEAST, CONDONED THE LEAK AND DID NOTHING TO STOP IT.

(Super: Clarence Page/Chicago Tribune Columnist)
SOT: It raises some really serious suspicions here about politicizing
the identity of our intelligence personnel.
TRACK: DEMOCRATS ARE CALLING FOR AN INDEPENDENT COUNSEL TO OVERSEE THE INVESTIGATION, AND MANY POLITICIANS AND PUNDITS ARENT TAKING THE MATTER LIGHTLY.

SOT: Clarence Page: There are serious felonies here.

(Super: Teri Okita/Reporting)
STANDUP: Serious because identifying intelligence officers, agents, and informants intentionally to someone without security clearance is a crime punishable by up to 10-years in prison. Teri Okita, CBS News, Washington.))

[Coffey]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A Bedford teenager faces up to 16 years in prison, after pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter in a fatal car accident.
19-year-old Michael Channing Coffey avoided a possible 20-year sentence by pleading to a lesser crime.
He WAS scheduled to go on trial today.
Police say Coffey was drunk driving and speeding on September 14th, when his Chevy Blazer ran off Route 122 in Moneta.
One passenger was ejected and killed. Two others were injured.
One victim's family was unhappy with the plea.
We'll have more on that tonight on News-7.

[County-Accident]

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[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=03-45 00:14]
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A traffic accident in Roanoke County sent one car over an embankment this morning.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]

It happened on Bent Mountain Road just south of Back Creek Elementary school, shortly after six o'clock.
Complete details were not available this morning, but rescue workers had to negotiate a steep bank to reach the car. We don't know the extent of any injuries.
The accident slowed traffic through the area as emergency crews responded, and later as the wreckage was removed.
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[Countess]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=03-32 TC1:26:13]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales.]
A Roanoke woman could spend the next 20 years in prison. Judge Clifford Weckstein convicted Cindy Countess yesterday of second degree murder for killing her mother. Keith Humphry reports.
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[SOT 15:38:25]
[IN Q=I think the]
[SUPER=02-Judge Clifford Weckstein/Roanoke Circuit Court; :00]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :18]
[SUPER=01-Dr. Kenneth Brasfield/Pharmacologist; :45]
[SUPER=01-Billie Carter/Victim's Sister; 1:19]
[SUPER=@Keith2; 1:25]
[RUNS=1:35]
[OUTQ=Keith Humphry, NEWS 7.]
((((I THINK THE COMMONWEALTH HAS PROBABLY PROVED THAT YOU'RE GUILTY OF RECKLESS, DELIBERATE AND PREMEDITATED MURDER, AND CERTAINLY PROVED THAT YOU ARE GUILTY OF MALICIOUS MURDER. ACCORDINGLY I FIND YOU GUILTY OF MURDER IN THE SECOND DEGREE.)) [RUNS:13]
[OUT Q=in the second degree.]
The judge's verdict sent Countess into the kind of histrionic behavior she'd exhibited the night she killed her mother.
Countess herself had told the court last week about "duking it out" with her mother, 82-year old Edna Dooley. She said they were "flogging one another," though she described it like a hallucination, as if it were someone else involved in the fight. A pharmacologist testified that's not uncommon for people to loose their short-term memory on Paxil, and even become homicidal.
[11:39:25 TAPE #2]
((AND IT'S ALSO COMMON FOR PEOPLE TO FILL IN ON THEIR OWN AND IT'S NOT ALWAYS ACCURATE.)) [RUNS07] Prosecutor Alice Ekirch concluded her closing argument demonstrating how Countess had not only beat her Mother, but stomped her repeatedly. The trial pitted family members against one another. Countess's sister testified on her behalf, while a brother testified for the Commonwealth. One of victim's sisters indicated she was content with the verdict in her niece's case. [12:55:20] ((WELL I PRAY FOR HER AND FEEL SORRY FOR HER, BUT I'M GLAD JUSTICE WAS DONE.)) [RUN:07] Judge Clifford Weckstein will sentence Countess once a pre-sentence report is prepared. She can get up to 20-years for second- degree murder. Keith Humphry, NEWS 7.))

[First-VA]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=tbr]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=Layoffs]

A bank deal will cost 940 people their jobs.
B-B and T says it's eliminating the positions in Virginia and Maryland as part of its acquistion of First Virginia Banks.
The Winston-Salem bank had previously said it would eliminate overlapping jobs to cut costs, but had not detailed its plans.
A spokeswoman says the company is giving employees 60 days notice and providing outplacement help and severance.
The deal became official in July, but bank branches in overlapping territory won't be merged until October 14th.
[Tease1] [HARD MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

Coming up after the break, some soldiers from our region are coming home.
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[VO-NAT ]
Also, California's Governor comes out swinging in an effort to keep his job.
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[music up full] [comm1]

[CA-Recall]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

The recall election in California is just one week away.
While 135 names remain on the ballot, the race appears to have come down to just two: an actor and the incumbent governor.
Jerry Bowen reports.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=The farmers, the business people]
[SUPER=03-Clovis, CA;]
[SUPER=01-Arnold Schwarzenegger/(R) Candidate for Governor;]
[SUPER=01-Gov. Gray Davis/(D) California;]
[SUPER=01-Jack Pitney/Political Scientist;]
[SUPER=01-Jerry Bowen/CBS News;]
[RUNS=1:29]
[OUT Q=CBS News, Los Angeles.]
((THE SCHWARZENEGGER EXPRESS IS ON A ROLL.....TOURING A SECURITY COMPANY LAST NIGHT TO ILLUSTRATE HIS CONCERN FOR THE STATE'S BUSINESS CLIMATE:

(SUPER: Arnold Schwarzenegger/(R)-Candidate for Governor)
SOT Schwarzenegger "The farmers, the businesspeople, small, large,
everyone is suffering because we have the highest workers compensation costs."
TAKING SCRIPTED QUESTIONS AT ANOTHER INVITATION ONLY "ASK ARNOLD" RALLY DESIGNED TO SHOW HIS CONCERN FOR THE ISSUES:

(SOT:/ARNOLD) "We have to clean up the air, clean our water."

ANOTHER MAJOR POLL IS DUE OUT TONIGHT THAT MAY CLARIFY JUST HOW WELL THE ACTOR IS DOING. A WEEKEND SURVEY PUT HIM WELL IN THE LEAD TO REPLACE BELEAGEURED GOVERNOR GRAY DAVIS...A MAJORITY SAYING THEY WANT DAVIS REMOVED. THE GOVERNOR IS SKEPTICAL:

(SUPER: Gov. Gray Davis/(D)-California)
(SOT:/DAVIS) "THERE'S A LOT OF INTERNAL POLLS, SOME BY REPUBLICANS,
THAT HAVE IT AT 50 OR 51%, THE RECALL....THAT'S ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE IT LAST NIGHT. SO WE THINK THE RECALL ISSUE IS CLOSING."

(GRAPHIC-- Ads in TV SETS)
CLOSING WITH AN AD WAR. DAVIS TAKING AIM ON SCHWARZENEGGER:
AD: "WHY CAN'T SCHWARZENEGGER GET HIS FACTS STRAIGHT?
SCHWARZENEGGER....REVERSING A PLEDGE NOT TO GO NEGATIVE...BLASTING DAVIS:
AD: PEOPLE ARE SICK AND TIRED OF THE WAY GRAY DAVIS HAS MISMANAGED THIS GREAT STATE OF OURS:
NEGATIVE ADS WHICH VOTERS BOTH DISLIKE...AND PAY ATTENTION TO:

(END GRAPHIC)

(SUPER: Jack Pitney/Political Scientist)
(SOT:/JACK PITNEY/POLITICIAL SCIENTIST) "WHEN PEOPLE HEAR SOMETHING
NEGATIVE THEY'RE MORE LIKELY TO RESPOND THAN IF THEY HEAR SOMETHING POSITIVE."

(SUPER: Jerry Bowen/CBS News)
(ON CAM CLOSE)
BUT PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED. MORE THAN 15 MILLION VOTERS REGISTERED...AND CLIMBING. AND MORE THAN ONE MILLION ABSENTEE BALLOTS RETURNED SO FAR WHICH ELECTION OFFICIALS SAY IS AN UNUSUALLY HIGH NUMBER. JERRY BOWEN CBS NEWS LOS ANGELES.))

[Afghanistan-Soldier]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]

An American soldier is dead and two others wounded in Afghanistan.
The U-S military says the casualties happened during a clash with suspected Taliban rebels near a coalition base.

A military spokesman says two enemy fighters were also killed.

[Iraq-Bill]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Iraq]

The Senate Appropriations Committee is expected to vote today on its version of the 87-billion dollar funding package for Iraq and Afghanistan.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Washington, DC;]

There's plenty of support for the 66-billion dollars to pay for U-S troops.
But the 20-billion to rebuild Iraq's infrastructure and government has drawn fire from Republicans and Democrats.

Some lawmakers hope to turn that money into a loan the country would have to repay.
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[11Guard-Return]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-38 TC23:26]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Soldiers from Lexington and Lynchburg are making their way home this afternoon.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blackstone/October 2002; :]

320 National Guardmen from the second battalion, 116th Infantry will return to their home armories.
They've spent the last year in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, providing security for Operation Enduring Freedom.
They're scheduled to arrive back home sometime after 2:30.
The public is invited to attend a homecoming party at the armories in Lexington and Lynchburg.
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[11Homeland-Security]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-41 TC11:28]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Technology is making it possible for residents in one community to be notified quickly in the event of an emergency.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg]

Yesterday, the town of Blacksburg unveiled the Blacksburg Alert project.
It is technology that allows the town to send a single message to residents through e-mail, cell phone, fax, or telephone.
Police say the system could have helped during the disturbance last year between L-S-U and Tech fans.
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[SOT 23:47:42]
[IN Q=What happened during]
((BRUCE BRADBERY/BLACKSBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT: WHAT HAPPENED DURING THAT THING WAS I HAD ONE 911 OPERATOR THAT WAS SITTING THERE MAKING PHONE CALLS AND ANOTHER 911 OPERATOR THAT WAS TRYING TO MANAGE THAT INCIDENT AND THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE.))
[SUPER=01-Bruce Bradbery/Blacksburg Police Department;]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE]
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[VO-NAT]

The software for the project is provided by Tele-works which is based in Blacksburg.
Only six communities across the country now use this system.
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[SOT 23:40:59]
[IN Q=I attend to ask]
((REP. RICK BOUCHER/(D) 9TH DISTRICT: I ATTEND TO ASK BLACKSBURG TO COME TO OUR CONGRESSIONAL INTERNET CAUCUS AND MAKE A PRESENTATION ABOUT THIS EXCITING ELECTRONICAL GOVERNMENT APPLICATION SO THAT OTHER MEMBERS OF CONGRESS CAN LEARN ABOUT WHAT IS ON THE CUTTING EDGE IN TERMS OF EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION TECHNOLOGY.))
[SUPER=@boucher; :]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=emergency notification technology]
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[VO-NAT]

Residents can sign up to use the system by registering on the town's website.
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[Tease2] [SOFT MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
Coming up next on the newscast,
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[VO-NAT ]
we'll tell you what this animal knows about getting on its high horse.
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[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #2]

[Horse-Rescue]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A horse in California took a bad tumble ... but it was flying high soon afterward.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Santa Clarita, CA;]

A helicopter lifted the horse to safety after an accident in the Angeles National Forest.
The horse fell 150 feet down a mountainside over the weekend.
Its rider, a 25-year-old woman, fell about 75 feet and hit her head.
The horse suffered only a minor leg injury.
It was tranquilized and blindfolded, so it wouldn't be rattled during the rescue.
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[Stocks]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly 2-Shot]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE# none]
[GRAPHIC=None]

On Wall Street at Noon, the DOW was DOWN 112 points. The NASDAQ has lost 29.

[super=460-y/112/y/29;]

[tease3] [SPORTS MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
Up next in Sports, the rivalry continues for Virginia Tech and West Virginia as their series gets salvaged.
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[VO-NAT ]
And two coaches in American League Baseball strike out- as they get canned by their teams.
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[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #3]

[Monday-Night]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=tbr]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

The Green Bay Packers spoiled the party as Chicago opened the new Soldier Field last night.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Chicago;]

The new stadium was highlighted for the first time on Monday Night Football, but it was Brett Favre and Ahman Green who stole the show.
Green scored the Packers first two T-D's and finished with a career 176 yards on just 19 carries.
Favre threw for three touchdowns in including two in the fourth quarter.
The Packers won it easily -- 38 to 23 to even their record at two and two.
The Bears drop to OH and three.
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[S-Hokies]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-159 5725TC]
[GRAPHIC=COLAS]

Virginia Tech senior starting defensive end Cols Colas (Kohls Kohl-uss) has been suspended from the Rutgers' game for violating team policies. Frank Beamer made the announcement last night. Sophomore Darryl Tapp will start in his place.
[GRAPHIC=LALLIS]
The injury news concerning defensive tackle Jason Lallis is encouraging. His MRI was negative. That means he does NOT have a torn ligament -- just a sprain. Virginia Tech head athletic trainer Mike Goforth expects Lallis to miss 2-4 weeks.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg/Saturday; :00]
Also, Mike Imoh (Ee-mo) , who returned the opening kickoff of the second half against U-Conn 91 yards for a touchdown has been named the Big East Conference's special teams player of the week. Imoh is a five-seven sophomore from Fairfax.
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[S-Tech]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=sp-157 4413tc]
[GRAPHIC=tech/west virginia]

Tech may be getting ready for Rutgers, but the big news in the early part of this week is that the West Virginia series has been salvaged. The official announcement that the two game series is set will come this afternoon. The contract was signed over the weekend, and Jim Weaver confirmed it on Saturday after the U-Conn game.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=BITE]
[SUPER=01-Jim Weaver/Virginia Tech Athletic Director; :00]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=...tact next year."]
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[VO-NAT con't]
[SUPER=03-Morgantown, WV;]
The Hokies and Mountaineers first began playing football back in 1912. They have played 48 times over the years and now they will play for at least 50. Weaver now must turn his attention from an old rival to a new conference. Today and Wednesday he will be in Charlottesville for two days of meetings with his new ACC counterparts. The hope is that when they finish up on Wednesday, the football schedule will be completed, along with the format for men's and women's basketball. He is confident both he and Miami A-D Paul Dee will be welcomed with open arms.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=YOU KNOW I...]
[RUNS=:27]
[OUT Q=...wants to do."]
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[S-ACC]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=ACC/BIG EAST LAWSUIT]

While the Athletic directors get ready to meet today, the lawsuit against the ACC and Miami rolls on. Yesterday in Rockville, Connecticut, attorneys for the ACC argued that the case should be dismissed due to jurisdictional grounds. The Judge did not rule on the motion and gave no indication when they would have a decision.

[S5-Cavs]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=5pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-155]
[GRAPHIC=UVA]

The UVa Cavaliers can thank kicker Connor Hughes for its win over Wake Forest.
Hughes is a Williamsburg native, but as Steve Mason tells us he has historical ties to Pulaski County and former coach Joel Hicks.
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(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=FIRST AUDIO]
[SUPER=03-Charlottesville; :00]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg/2001 Division Four Title Game; :06]
[SUPER=01-Connor Hughes/ACC's Second Leading Scorer; :18]
[SUPER=01-Heath Miller/18 Catches for 214 Yards This Year; :46]
[SUPER=01-Al Groh/UVa Head Coach; 1:05]
[SUPER=@steve1; 1:11]
[SUPER=01-Kwakou Robinson/UVa Defensive Lineman; 1:26]
[SUPER=01-Wali Lundy/95.2 Yards a Game Average; 1:31]
[RUNS=1:42]
[OUT Q=...NEWS 7 SPORTS."]

[S-MLB]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-152 10301tc]
[GRAPHIC=MLB]
Two coaches in the American League were fired just hours after the end of the season.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-MLB; :00]
Mike Hargrove - who once managed Kinston in the Carolina League - was fired yesterday by the Baltimore Orioles. The O's have had six straight losing seasons, the last four under him.
He was told that he would not be offered a new contract. Hargove lost about 100 more games than he won with the Os. The Whitesox almost made the playoffs, but close isn't good enough in the windy city. Jerry Manuel (Manual) was also fired yesterday. He was the American League manager of the year just two seasons ago.
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