WDBJ 7 news at 6 for 11/18/03

[1-News-Head]

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
A man's spotted in a stolen vehicle wearing handcuffs. We'll tell you how that story turned out.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
Half of a local police force files complaints against the department.

[Sports-Head]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Tonight on News 7 sports - the Martinsville Speedway is smoking, Keyshawn is fuming, and Frank Beamer is stewing -
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
plus, Barry Bonds is glowing after winning his 6th Most Valuable Player award
(------------)
[WX-Head]
[ANCHOR=Robin]
[SS=None]

The forecast of dense fog followed by heavy rain with a flood watch means folks should keep an eye on the sky for changing weather tomorrow.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon 4-Shot]

News 7 is next.
[Video-Open]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=Video Open]

(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 22:45:57]
[IN Q=Everything was]
((EVERYTHING WAS HAPPENING QUICK. DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO REALLY THINK ABOUT IT, JUST TAKE ACTION AND GO.))
[RUNS=07]
[OUT Q=take action and go.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

Some quick thinking and cooperation help central Virginia police end a high speed chase safely, with the suspects in custody.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

And the driver involved is in trouble for more than just driving too fast.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

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

And I'm Shannon Young.
[Amherst-Chase]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=03-45 TC40:40]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

What started out as a shoplifting charge in North Carolina evolved into a high-speed police chase in Lynchburg this morning.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith-Shannon & Steve/L'Burg Bureau;]

Steve Smallshaw is in our Lynchburg newsroom tonight.. Steve tell us what happened.
Keith and Shannon , it started with a call of suspicious activity,
[LIVE=Steve/FULL]
[SUPER=@ssm1]
[SUPER=05-Lynchburg]
someone could see a man in a car trying to get a pair of handcuffs off his wrists.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Police first spotted]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg; :00]
[SUPER=01-Lt. Bill Dance/Lynchburg Police Department; :11]
[SUPER=03-Amherst Co.; :23]
[SUPER=01-Invest. Jeff Rowe/Amherst Town Police Department; :41]
[SUPER=01-Lt. Tom Lawton/Lynchburg Police Department; 1:21]
[RUNS=1:33]
[OUT Q=one of his handcuffs on him.]
(( Police first spotted the stolen Jeep Cherokee here on Centerdale Street around 9:45.
When the car took off, officers pursued.. keeping in mind the speed, the traffic and public safety.
[SOT 22:53:00]
((LT. BILL DANCE/LYNCHBURG POLICE: WE WERE TAKING THAT INTO ACCOUNT THE WHOLE WAY, THE CIRCUMSTANCES INVOLVED WITH THE SUBJECTS IN THE VEHICLE THAT WAS STOLEN AND WE WERE TAKING THAT INTO ACCOUNT VERY SERIOUSLY.))
[RUNS= 11]
[OUT Q=very seriously.]

The pursuit headed north on Route 29, reaching speeds of more than 90 miles an hour, as the stolen car allegedly bumped and damaged several police cars along the way.
Amherst County deputies joined in and as the suspects tried doubling back, one got ready to roll out spike strips to stop them.
That's when Investigator Jeff Rowe took action.
[SOT 22:43:16]
((INVEST. JEFF ROWE/AMHERST TOWN POLICE: WITH THIS CONSTRUCTION AREA IT'S A DANGEROUS PLACE ANYWAY AND HE'D ALREADY COME THROUGH HERE ONCE AND I WASN'T GOING TO LET HIM COME THROUGH IT TWICE LIKE HE WAS DRIVING, HE WAS GOING 90 AT MOST AND THEN HE WAS SLOWING DOWN AND THAT'S WHEN I TAPPED HIM IN THE REAR AND SPUN HIM AROUND.))
[RUNS= 12]
[OUT Q=spun him around.]

Officers quickly handcuffed the two men..
The driver.. who's been identified as 32-year-old James Edward Sinclar Junior from Greensboro, North Carolina, told us he didn't know why police were after him.
[natsot 22:26:25]
((THEY STARTED CHASING ME.. Reporter: Why? SUSPECT: I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T KNOW YET. WHY'D DO YOU GUYS START CHASING ME?))
[RUNS= 08]

But police say Sinclair is a shoplifting suspect from a Home Depot in Greensboro where authorities have been looking for him.
[SOT 16:14:09]
((LT. TOM LAWTON/LYNCHBURG POLICE: THEY INFORMED ME THAT HE WAS GOING TO BE FACING SOME CHARGES FROM THEM DUE TO THE FACT THAT HE WAS ALLEGEDLY INVOLVED IN SOME TYPE OF SHOPLIFTING AND ENDED UP IN A STRUGGLE WITH A SECURITY GUARD AND THE SECURITY GUARD MANAGED TO SLAP ONE OF HIS HANDCUFFS ON HIM.))
[RUNS= 14]
[OUT Q=handcuffs on him.] ))
(-------------)
[LIVE=Steve/FULL L'Burg Bureau]
[SUPER=05-Lynchburg;]

Sinclair was still wearing those cuffs when he was arrested..
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith-Shannon & Steve/L'Burg Bureau]

Authorities say his passenger was just a transient who happened to be along for the ride.. he's been released from police custody.

[Floyd-Fatal]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]

A four-vehicle accident in Floyd County left two people dead.
(+++++++)
[TAKE MAP FULL] State police say it happened late this morning on Route 221, north of Floyd. Officers say 72-year-old Lowell Lawson of Patrick Springs drifted across the center line. His car sideswiped an an oncoming vehicle, which then hit a third car head-on.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[GRAPHIC=Hold]
The collision killed both people in that third car, Sherman and Iris Thompson of Floyd. Police say Lawson then collided with a fourth car. There is no word on whether any of those injured in that vehicle were seriously hurt.

[77-Ax]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=I 77 Accident]

Traffic is still tied up along Interstate-77 in Carroll County, where a tractor-trailer overturned earlier today.

(+++++++)
[I 77 Accident Map FS] It happened around eleven this morning, about 12 miles north of Hillsville. State police say a tractor-trailer carrying wood overturned, blocking one of the northbound lanes.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Crews are still working to clean up the wreck, but officials say it will take another three or four hours before the lane is reopened.

[Tax-reform]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=03-41 TC53:44]
[SS=Tax Reform]

The wait is nearly over.
Governor Warner is expected to reveal his tax reform plan within the next two weeks.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith & Meghan/State Microwave;]

For more on that, we turn to Richmond Bureau Chief Meghan Muldoon.
Meghan, what can Virginians expect in the governor's plan?
Keith, there is much speculation about that.
[LIVE= Meghan /FULL State Microwave]
[SUPER=@Meghan1]
[SUPER=05-Richmond]

Will he raise taxes? which ones?
The governor says we will know soon.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Virginians will have to wait another week]
[SUPER=03-Richmond; :00]
[SUPER=01-Bob Holsworth/Political Analyst; :11]
[SUPER=@Griffith; 1:10]
[SUPER=@MarkWarner; 1:37]
[RUNS=1:47]
[OUT Q=UP THEIR SLEEVES AND DOING THE WORK NOW.]
(( Virginians will have to wait another week or more before they learn what is in Governor Warner's tax reform plan.
But many political observers are already betting, it won't be revenue neutral.
[SOT 06:31:16]
((BOB HOLSWORTH/POLITICAL ANALYST: I THINK THE GOVERNOR IS GOING TO TRY AT A MINIMUM TO COME UP WITH A PACKAGE OF TAX CUTS AND YOU MIGHT SAY TAX INCREASES THAT HE HOPES IN THE LONG RUN WILL PROVIDE MORE REVENUE TO THE STATE THEN ITS GETTING RIGHT NOW.)) [RUNS:14]
Many believe that the governor may push for an increase in the state's cigarette tax.
Another potential target is the tax credit that allows all Virginians 62 years of age or over, rich or poor, to write off $6,000 of their income.
The deduction doubles at age 65.
But how can will the Democrat governor get any tax increases through the Republican-controlled legislature?
[SOT :35:19]
((BOB HOLSWORTH/POLITICAL ANALYST: HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO INCLUDE, TO GET ANY REPUBLICAN SUPPORT, TAX CUTS IN THIS. HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO REDUCE THE TAX BURDEN ON LOWEST INCOME OR FULFILLING PROMISES ON FOOD TAX OR CAR TAX. )) [RUNS:18]
The House Majority Leader says most Republicans are not going to fall for that.
[SOT 23:34:40]
((DEL. MORGAN GRIFFITH/R-SALEM: NOW IF THE GOVERNOR IS PROPOSING A MASSIVE TAX INCREASE AND USING THE ELIMINATION AS A SMOKE SCREEN I THINK THAT IS GOING TO RUN INTO DIFFICULTIES IN THE HOUSE.)) [RUNS:13]
Warner says that without tax reform, the state faces annual budget shortages through the end of the decade.
And he says if lawmakers can't agree on a tax reform package before they adjourn in March, he will call them back to Richmond to finish the job.
[SOT 53:38]
((GOVERNOR MARK WARNER: I THINK THERE IS GOING TO BE MORE THAN ENOUGH TIME FOR THE LEGISLATORS IF THEY WANT TO TAKE MORE TIME THAT WILL BE THEIR CHOICE BY NOT ROLLING UP THEIR SLEEVES AND DOING THE WORK NOW.)) [RUNS:09]
[OUT Q=UP THEIR SLEEVES AND DOING THE WORK NOW.]))
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[LIVE= Meghan /FULL State Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Richmond;]

Republicans say if there is a special session, it won't be their fault.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith & Meghan /State Microwave;]

They say Warner has waited too long to present his plan.

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

Tired of communting between the Roanoke and New River Vallies? You may be able to let someone else do the driving by this Spring.
The latest on commuter bus service when News 7 returns.
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[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

And just in time for the holidays, a national supermarket chain delivers ...for local food banks.
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[City-Police]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=03-42 TC1:01:45]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

It's called "pay for performance."
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

But many Roanoke employees say the city's pay system is about pinching pennies.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]

Sergeant Bob Chandler says about half of the city's 300 police officers are filing grievances against the department.
It's because of a pay system that gives employees raises based on evaluation scores from their supervisors.
The problem is, supervisors and officers say they're being instructed to lower scores to save the city money.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 2:31:58]
[IN Q=It became apparent]
((SGT. BOB CHANDLER/ROANOKE CITY POLICE: IT BECAME APPARENT THAT PERFORMANCE WAS SECONDARY TO BUDGETARY NEEDS. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT THE OFFICER'S PERFORMANCE WAS, HOW THEY DID, SUPERVISORS WERE BEING PRESSURED TO LOWER SCORES AND KEEP THEM DOWN WITHIN CERTAIN LIMITS SO THEY COULD FUND PROJECTS THE CITY MANAGER HAD. ))
[SUPER=01-Sgt. Bob Chandler/Roanoke City Police Department;]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=the city manager had.]
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[VO-NAT]

Councilwoman Linda Wyatt says the officers' complaints confirm her worst fears about the pay system ... and she'll be discussing it with other council members.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:51:33]
[IN Q=I think it's unfair]
((LINDA WYATT/ROANOKE CITY COUNCIL: I THINK IT'S UNFAIR TO ASK PEOPLE TO RISE TO THE CHALLENGE AND NOT FULFILL YOUR SIDE OF IT. TO ME, IT'S A CONTRACT OF GOOD FAITH AND IF YOU PUT A CAP ON IT, YOU'VE KIND OF BROKEN THE CONTRACT. ))
[SUPER=@Wyatt;]
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=broken the contract.]
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[GRAPHIC=None]

City Manager Darlene Burcham says none of the police officers has complained to HER about it.
Burcham says she's NOT trying to control raises or asking anyone else to.
And by her calculations, 60 percent of police employees actually earned raises HIGHER than the 2-point-two-five percent average for all city workers.

[Bus-Service]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=03-40 TC1:16:17]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Plans are moving forward for a new bus route connecting Roanoke and the New River Valley.
Blacksburg Town Council got a look at the latest proposal this afternoon.
New River Valley Bureau Chief Rachel DePompa has details.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;:00]
[SUPER=01-Rebecca Martin/Blacksburg Transit;:14]
[SUPER=01-Morgan Beale/VA Tech Student;:45]
[SUPER=01-Eric Perez/Blacksburg Resident;:51]
[SUPER=@Rachel1; 1:05]
[RUNS=1:37]
[OUT Q=News 7, Blacksburg.]
((NATS- BUS TAKING OFF...
By this Spring, you could be taking a bus from the New River Valley to Roanoke.
NAT-POP- PEOPLE GETTING ON....
Blacksburg's now deciding whether to get on board a new transit route.

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT:7:31:55:00]
[IN Q=So we're actually]
((REBECCA MARTIN: WE'RE ACTUALLY STARTING TO KIND OF GET A PICTURE OF WHAT'S BEEN ROANOKE'S VISION FOR THIS ROUTE. SO NOW WE CAN KIND OF TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND SEE HOW OUR PEOPLE HERE CAN ACCESS IT.)) [RUNS:11]
[OUT Q=can access it.]
[PRE-PRO HERE] Under the proposal, 2- buses would run Monday through Saturday, taking an hour and 30 minutes one way. Riders would pay 6-dollars round trip. [END PRE-PRO HERE] With local stops planned for Virginia Tech, the Christiansburg KMart, the park and ride and the airport. The whole proposal's riding on people... going back and forth.

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT:7:38:27:00]
[IN Q=I think it's a]
((MORGAN BEALE: I THINK IT'S A NICE IDEA, BUT USUALLY I KNOW MOST PEOPLE AROUND HERE USUALLY HAVE A CAR, THEY HAVE SOMEONE TO TAKE THEM UP TO ROANOKE.)) [RUNS:06]
[OUT Q=to Roanoke.]

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT:7:40:00:00]
[IN Q=It's gonna take]
((ERIC PEREZ: IT'S GONNA TAKE A LITTLE BIT BEFORE IT REALLY BECOMES COMMON PLACE AND YOU'LL SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE USING IT. BUT EVENTUALLY I THINK IT WILL REALLY HELP SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE TRANSPORTATION WHO WOULD OTHERWISE NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE THE TRIP AND SAVE PEOPLE A LOT OF MONEY TOO. )) [RUNS:14]
[OUT Q=of money too.]

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT:7:41:18:00]
[IN Q=This whole plan's]
(( RACHEL DEPOMPA: THIS WHOLE PLAN'S FUELED BY A STARTUP GRANT AND THAT WON'T COME THROUGH IF THE BLACKSBURG TOWN COUNCIL VOTES NO)) [RUNS:07]
[OUT Q=votes no]

So far, the council's biggest concern is who will foot the bill after the 3-year grant runs out.

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT:7:32:13:00]
[IN Q=As with anything.]
((REBECCA MARTIN: AS WITH ANYTHING WITH TRANSIT IT ALWAYS GETS DOWN TO WHO'S GONNA BE SUPPORTING IT. AND I THINK, IT'S A ROANOKE INITIATIVE SO WE WANT GIVE EM A CHANCE TO GET IT OUT THERE AND SEE HOW SUCCESSFUL IT IS AND THEN BASED ON THEIR CRITERIA OF SUCCESS IT'LL GIVE US A CHANCE TO EVALUATE IT.)) [RUNS:13]
[OUT Q=to evaluate it.]

Council's agreed to vote on the transit plan in December. Rachel DePompa, News 7, Blacksburg.))

[Stocks]

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

Wall Street continued its slide for the fourth straight trading day. [TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5000;]
[SUPER=440-y/86.67/9624.16/y/27.86/1881.75;]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

The DOW lost 87 points.
NASDAQ fell 28.
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[VO]
[SUPER=271-i/1.22/79.25/i/0.48/49.87/i/0.27/26.73/i/0.10/67.78/i/0.62/73.95;]
[SUPER=272-i/0.26/38.81/i/0.43/14.81/h/0.26/6.75/i/1.11/59.36/h/0.63/28.44;]
[SUPER=273-i/0.30/6.34/i/0.02/40.33/h/0.07/17.89/i/0.12/20.75/i/0.52/5.78;]
[SUPER=274-h/0.01/9.41/i/0.90/68.60/i/0.28/32.46/i/0.45/44.05/i/0.28/54.72;]
[SUPER=#555; Reset]
[Food-Bank]
[NEWSCAST=6 p.m.]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=03-38 TC1:36:46]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

Roanoke's Second Harvest Food Bank is celebrating its biggest donation of the year.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
(------------)
[VO-NAT :19]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
Kroger today dropped off 100-thousand pounds of food in its annual Produce Frenzy. It took three fully-loaded tractor trailers to haul all the boxes into the donation center. The food bank's executive director says donations are always welcome but now more than ever, and not just because of the approaching holidays.
(///// SOT at :19 /////)
[SOT 3:13:19-3:13:37]
[IN Q=The food lines are growing.]
((PAMELA IRVINE/SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK: THE FOOD LINES ARE GROWING. WHAT'S HAPPENING IS ALL OF THE PLANT CLOSINGS. BASICALLY, PEOPLE ARE WORKING BUT MAKING MINIMUM WAGE. SO, MORE FAMILIES ARE HAVING TO STAND IN FOOD LINES JUST TO GET FOOD FOR AN ADEQUATE FOOD SUPPLY.))
[SUPER=01-Pamela Irvine/Second Harvest Food Bank;]
[RUNS=:18]
[OUT Q=food for an adequate food supply.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT :10]
The produce will be divied up among more than 350-local non-profit agencies that, along with the Food Bank feed about 15-thousand households a month.
(------------)

[Sports Tease]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Coming up tonight on the Big 7 - Beamer says its time for his team to get out of its funk. Keyshawn gets punted for his attitude,
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
and the Martinsville Speedway fires up yet another sponsorship deal - this one for its late model stock car event.
(------------)

[S-Beamer]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-160 13430tc]
[GRAPHIC=BIG EAST]

The Hokies play their final game ever in the Big East this Saturday against Boston College. It's also BC's last game in the league. But more than that it's a must win for the Eagles' post season chances.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=BITE]
[SUPER=01-Frank Beamer/8 and 2 Against Boston College; :00]
[RUNS=:32]
[OUT Q=...GET THOSE THINGS BACK."]
(----------)
[ANCHOR=Mike]
[GRAPHIC=BIG EAST]
The Hokies are favored by 15 points.

[S-Heath]

[ANCHOR=mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-154 1:07:12]
[GRAPHIC=UVa]
UVa tight end Heath Miller is a semifinalist for the John Mackey award.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Charlottesville; :00]
The award is given annually to the nation's best tight end. Miller is one of eight players on the ballot. The Honaker product leads all ACC tight ends with 47 catches and 496 yards and he is fourth and sixth in the nation in those categories. He also has 13 career touchdown receptions, another ACC record. The winner will be announced December 9th.
(------------)

[S-NFL]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-161 2147TC]
[GRAPHIC=NFL]

The defending Super Bowl champs are two games under 500 and now they are without one of their top players.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Landover, MD; :00]
Keyshawn Johnson was deactivated today by Tampa Bay and will NOT play with the team the rest of the season. Johnson WANTS to leave the team at season's end, and the Bucs are tired of hearing him complain. They say he has become a negative influence and a distraction. The 8 year pro likely will be traded at season's end.
(------------)

[S-Dazzle]

[ANCHOR=steve]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-164 TC1955]
[GRAPHIC=Dazzle]

The Roanoke Dazzle is just over an hour away from its first exhibition game of the season against the University of Maryland. Each of the 6 NBDL teams will play a preseason contest against a college team and the Dazzle's Kent Davison thinks it's a good idea.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Kent Davison/Dazzle Head Coach; :00]
[RUNS=:35]
[OUT Q=quality program like Maryland."]
(----------------)

[S-MLB]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-157 11352TC]
[GRAPHIC=MLB]
What was supposed to be a close race turned out to be anything but that today as
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-MLB; :00]
Barry Bonds won the National League's Most Valuable player award for the sixth time in his career. He got 28 of the 32 first place votes cast by the Baseball Writer's of America to easily win the award over Albert Pujols and Gary Sheffield. Surprisingly, Pujols only received 3 first place votes. Bonds is now the only player to win the MVP three years in a row. (------------)