WDBJ 7 news at 11 for 12/23/03

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[ANCHOR=Shan]

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Coming up on News 7-
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[VO-NAT]
One of the sounds of the season is falling on deaf ears. Why some Salvation Army bell ringers are scratching the bottom of the bucket. Plus, mad-cow disease appears on a west coast farm. Should you change your eating habits? And, American soldiers celebrate.
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[ANCHOR=Shan]

News 7 is next.

[Video-Open]

[ANCHOR=Jean]
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[ENG#=2]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 5:05:44]
[IN Q=NAT SOUND OF BELL RINGING FOR THREE SECONDS]
[IN Q=If things keep]
((BRYAN DENT/SALVATION ARMY: IF THINGS KEEP THE WAY THEY'RE GOING THEN WE ARE GOING TO END UP 60-THOUSAND DOLLARS SHORT OF OUR GOAL))
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=short of our goal]
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[VO-NAT]

One area charity wishes more people would be in the giving mood this Christmas.
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[ANCHOR =Shannon ]
[GRAPHIC=News 7 at 11]

[Salvation-Army]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
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[WRITER=jus]
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[GRAPHIC=News 7 @ 11]

Bells are ringing, but are you listening?
The Salvation Army says too few people are this holiday season since the kettles are far from full. [***KETTLE CAMPAIGN IN MONITOR***]
[DOUBLE BOXES=Shannon & Justin /BAM;]

Justin McLeod is here to tell us how bad it really is. Justin?
Shannon, as one person put it, he hasn't seen it this bad in 15 years.
[LIVE= Justin /FULL BAM]
[SUPER=@justin1]

Across our viewing area, just about every Salvation Army we checked with says it will either miss its goal or barely match last year's.
The reason is simple, the need is up but donations are down.
[ENG#=3]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

The worst appears to be in the Roanoke Valley.
The Salvation Army's kettle campaign raised 150-thousand dollars last year and this year the organization set a goal of 160-thousand dollars.
But officials now say they will be lucky to reach 100-thousand.
The Salvation Army says the economy, a lack of volunteers, fewer locations, and new rules at area malls have all led to a kettle campaign that is less than perfect.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 5:06:06]
[IN Q=If the people from the]
((BRYAN DENT/SALVATION ARMY: IF THE PEOPLE FROM THE VALLEY WILL SEE THE NEED AND COME THROUGH FOR US THEN WE GOT A CHANCE OF PULLING IT OFF. HERE IN THE VALLEY WE HAVE OVER 100-THOUSAND PEOPLE A DOLLAR OR 50 CENTS FROM EACH ONE OF THEM WOULD HELP, JUST DROP A QUARTER IN THE KETTLE AS YOU GO BY, THAT WOULD HELP.))
[SUPER=01-Bryan Dent/Roanoke Valley's Salvation Army]
[RUNS=:19]
[OUT Q=THAT WOULD HELP]
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[VO-NAT]
[GRAPHIC]
They also need help in other locations.
The Salvation Army in Henry County says donations are down 25-percent despite the fact the need is up due to the recent closing of Pillowtex.
In Lynchburg, the kettle campaign is expected to bring in about 115-thousand dollars, the same amount as last year.

In the New River Valley, the Salvation Army had hope to raise 32-thousand dollars but says it will be lucky to reach the 28-thousand it raised last year.
(------------)
[LIVE= Justin /FULL BAM]

As for what impact fewer donations will have, the Roanoke Valley's Salvation Army says it may have to cut services and will have less money to give out for things like paying rent or electric bills.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Shannon & Justin /BAM;]

So Shannon, officials are hoping there will be plenty of last minute donations since the campaign ends tomorrow. Most bell ringers will be out until about five o'clock.

[Flu-Peak]

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Health officials are cautiously optimistic that Virginia's flu epidemic may have peaked.
A Virginia Department of Health spokeswoman said that the reporting period is the first in which there was no increase in flu activity.

[Mad-Cow]

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[NEWSCAST=11 p.m.]
[WRITER=syo]
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Japan is temporarily banning imports of U-S beef after an American cow tested positive for mad cow disease. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says the animal on a farm near Yakima, Washington has been quarantined. Chris Lawrence reports.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=For Americans who raise cattle or eat beef...]
[SUPER=01-Ann Veneman/Secretary of Agriculture; :18 QUICK!!!!]
[SUPER=01-Dr. Elsa Morano/Undersecretary for Food Safety; 1:12]
[SUPER=01-Chris Lawrence/Reporting; 1:35]
[RUNS=1:40]
[OUT Q=CBS News, Los Angeles]
((For Americans who raise cattle or eat beef, its the worst possible news at the worst possible time: Just two days before Christmas, officials suspect a single cow in Washington state has contracted this country's first case of Mad Cow Disease.
(Ann Veneman/Secretary of Agriculture)
It's too early to say now whether this will be an isolated case. The Secretary of Agriculture says a single cow has initially tested positive for the illness. Mad Cow Disease eats holes in the brains of cattle, and more than a hundred people have died from its human form, most of them in the United Kingdom. In this case, the cow was going to slaughter and was never going to enter the food supply. But the farm it came from shipped meat to two other processing plants in Washington, where investigators are now tracing the supply.
(Veneman)
The risk of spread is low because of the safeguards and controls we have already put in place. Last year alone, the government tested more than 20-thousand head of cattle, twice the number of the year before. And the Washington farm has already been quarantined. Mad Cow Disease goes by several names, including Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy or BSE. But scientists say one thing is almost certain: it cannot be transmitted through muscle cuts of meat and those are the only parts of these cows ever shipped out.
(Dr. Elsa Morano/Undersecretary of Food Safety)
The brain, spinal cord, distal illium which is where the BSE agent resides, these materials did not enter the food supply. With that in mind, the Agriculture Secretary says its safe to go ahead with holiday shopping.
(Veneman)
I plan to serve beef for my Christmas dinner, and we remain confident in the safety of our food supply. Right now the infected cow is being shipped to London, where experts will confirm or toss out the initial positive results. Chris Lawrence, CBS News, Los Angeles.))

[Warner-terrorism]

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[GRAPHIC=Terror Alert high]
[ENG#=1]

A defense official says there are signs al-Qaida terrorists are eyeing attacks at U-S dams, power plants, and other facilities that may be far away from urban areas.
One place that may be in the cross hairs is a rural county in Northern Virginia.
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[VO-NAT]

Rappahannock County and its seven-thousand residents could be a terrorist target.
About the same time the administration raised the alert level this past weekend, the F-B-I sent a warning to County Administrator John McCarthy.
[SUPER=@file;]

According to McCarthy, officials intercepted a phone conversation in which the word Rappahannock popped up.
In response to the increased threat level, Governor Warner put additional state troopers on patrol.
He also says the state is in constant contact with the Department of Homeland Security.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 14:56:05]
[IN Q=WE'VE GOT MORE PEOPLE PATROLLING]
((GOVERNOR MARK WARNER: WE'VE GOT MORE PEOPLE PATROLLING AIRPORTS, BRIDGES, TUNNELS AS WELL AS THE APPEAL I'M MAKING TO VIRGINIANS, BE ALERT, IF YOU SEE SOMETHING UNUSUAL, REPORT IT.))
[SUPER=@MarkWarner]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=SOMETHING UNUSUAL, REPORT IT.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Despite the threat, Warner says Virginians should go about their daily lives and enjoy the holidays.
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[Jail-Death]

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[ENG#=2]
Her brother died in the Roanoke County-Salem jail, now one local woman says she wants justice.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; QUICK!!!]
Peggy Hartman is in the process of forming a lawsuit against the jail, for the wrongful death of her brother, 50-year-old Leslie Gross. Hartman says the jail denied Gross his diabetes medication, which she says caused him to have a stroke, and eventually led to his death.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 3910]
[IN Q=innocent or not]
((PEGGY HARTMAN/GROSS' SISTER INNOCENT OR NOT, HE STILL HAD RIGHTS. AND THEY VIOLATED HIS RIGHTS WHEN THEY DIDN'T GIVE HIM NO MEDICAL ATTENTION.))
[SUPER=01-Peggy Hartman/Gross' Sister;]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=no medical attention]
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]
Gross' autopsy revealed he actually died of advanced lung cancer. But Hartman's lawyer says if Gross had received the proper medical treatment he was entitled to in jail, he may have lived longer. Because there is a pending lawsuit against the jail, county officials would not comment on this story.
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[Gift-Cards]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
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The people have spoken and Barnes and Noble says it got the message.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Last night, we told you how some companies charge a non-use fee on their gift cards.
They deduct a set amount each month from the remaining balance of the card if you fail to use it within a certain time limit.
Although the policy's still posted on gift cards and it's website, Barnes and Noble says it's no longer in effect.
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[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[SS=None]

A company spokesperson says because of complaints Barnes and Noble is reimbursing those customers who had money deducted from their cards.
[Tease1]
[ANCHOR=Jean]
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[NEWSCAST=11p]
[SS=None]
[ENG#=V10]

Lynchburg has plenty of firefighting equipment... it doesn't always have enough firefighters to run it.
What that means for one Hill City fire station... and residents when News 7 returns.
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[VO-NAT]

Plus a jury decides convicted sniper Lee Malvo's sentence... but many survivors and relatives are unhappy with the decision.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=I think he]
((I THINK HE SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN THE DEATH PENALTY, I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY DID THAT. ))
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[OUT Q=they did that.]
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[Sports-preview]

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[ENG#=4]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=BITES]
[RUNS=:23]
[OUT Q=BIG 7."]
((Hey folks Mike Stevens back in the News 7 sports as the Hokies host the Tribe tonight at the Cassell. We'll chat with William & Mary freshman Adam Trumbower, plus VMI gets a rude welcome in Freedom Hall tonight. Ga. Tech rolls to its 11th win of the season, and it's official the BCA classic between Tech and Southern Call will be played at Fed Ex field. That and more tonight on the Big 7.))
[Malvo]

(NO MINI)

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=11]
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[GRAPHIC=Lee Malvo]
[ENG#=1]

Life in prison...that's the sentence handed down to convicted teenage sniper Lee Boyd Malvo.
Scott Rapoport has the latest from Chesapeake.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=after two days of deliberation;]
[SUPER=03-Chesapeake; :00]
[SUPER=01-Craig Cooley/Defense Attorney; :14]
[SUPER=01- Jim Wolfcale/Jury Foreman; :34]
[SUPER=01-Paul LaRuffa/Victim; 1:07]
[SUPER=01-Vijay Walekar/Victim's Brother; 1:15 ]
[SUPER=01-Scott Rapoport/CBS News; 1:25]
[RUNS=1:38;]
[OUT Q=Scott Rapoport, CBS News, Chesapeake;]
(( AFTER TWO DAYS OF DELIBERATION, THE JURY DID AS THE DEFENSE ASKED AND SPARED THE LIFE OF LEE BOYD MALVO, SENTENCING HIM TO LIFE IN PRISON WITHOUT PAROLE. CRAIG COOLEY/Defense Attorney He was, on one relieved that a death penalty was not imposed, on the other hand he's 18 and contemplating living the rest of his natural life in a penitentiary cell. THE PANEL OF EIGHT WOMEN AND FOUR MEN REJECTED A DEATH SENTENCE AFTER LISTENING TO SEVEN WEEKS OF POWERFUL EVIDENCE ...AND TWO EMOTIONAL CLOSING ARGUMENTS. JIM WOLFCALE/JURY FOREMAN this case was both mentally chal and exhausting., deep thought went into our consid THE JURY DELIBERATED 13 HOURS LAST WEEK BEFORE FINDING MALVO GUILTY IN THE MURDER OF FBI ANALYST LINDA FRANKLIN. SHE WAS SHOT IN THE HEAD OUTSIDE A HOME DEPOT STORE IN VIRGINIA, PART OF A 3-WEEK SHOOTING SPREE THAT LEFT 10 DEAD AND 3 OTHERS WOUNDED IN THE WASHINGTON AREA. SOME OF THE VICTIMS AND RELATIVES ARE DISAPPOINTED BY THE SENTENCE. Paul LaRuffa/Victim There were two people who commited the ultimate crime: one got the ultimate penalty and one didn't. I ask you why. Vijay Walekar/Victim's brother We go through the pain and suffering, i am not pleased at all. i'm not happy at all about this whole thing. REPORTER: WITH CHRISTMAS JUST TWO DAYS AWAY, THIS WAS THE JURY'S LAST DAY OF WORK BEFORE BREAKING FOR THE HOLIDAYS. WHETHER THAT TIMING PLAYED A FACTOR IN THEIR DECISION REMAINS TO BE SEEN. SCOTT RAPOPORT, CBS NEWS, CHESAPEAKE, VIRGINIA.))

[Limbaugh]

[ANCHOR=Shan]
[NEWSCAST=11 p.m.]
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[TAPE#=Net]
[GRAPHIC=Rush Limbaugh]
[ENG#=2]

Prosecutors in the case against Rush Limbaugh will be allowed to look at the radio host's medical records.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :19]
Against Limbaugh's objections, a Palm Beach County judge today ruled attorneys may check to see if Limbaugh went "doctor shopping" for prescription painkillers. Meantime, Limbaugh's attorney says his client was blackmailed by a former maid who later told authorities and a tabloid about his addiction to the drugs.
(///// SOT at :19 /////)
[SOT :1:04-1:20]
[IN Q=Rush was extorted...]
((ROY BLACK/RUSH LIMBAUGH'S ATTORNEY: RUSH WAS EXTORTED FOR LARGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY FROM THESE PEOPLE, WHO SAID THEY WERE GOING TO REPORT THE FACT OF HIS ADDICTION TO THE NATIONAL ENQUIRER, UNFORTUNATELY SOME OF HIS ADVISORS TOLD HIM HE HAD TO PAY THIS AND IF HE HADN'T WE WOULDN'T BE IN THIS SITUATION TODAY.))
[SUPER=01-Roy Black/Rush Limbaugh's Attorney;]
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=in this situation today.]
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Shan]
[GRAPHIC=Hold]
No charges have been filed. Limbaugh's attorney plans to appeal the ruling.

[Firefighters]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
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[TAPE#=03-45 TC1:26:39]
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[ENG#=3]

Manpower shortages are apparently forcing the city of Lynchburg to close one of its eight neighborhood fire stations on Christmas Day.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

The head of the local firefighters union says a combination of vacation time, sick leave and lack of personnel routinely forces the department to take equipment out of service.
Station Two on Grace Street usually has staffing for one engine and a reserve medical unit.
But a sign outside informed residents today the building will be closed on December 25th.
Emergency calls for that neighborhood will have to be handled by other nearby fire stations.
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[Tease2]
[ANCHOR=Jean]
[WRITER=dse]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[SS=None]
[ENG#=V10]

Hundreds of new jobs are coming to the New River Valley.
Find out how you can get one when News 7 returns.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]

Plus Governor Warner gets a little cookie decorating experience from the kids at a Richmond Shelter.
(----------------)

[Commercial]

[Pulaski-Jobs]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=03-46 TC1:06:25]
[GRAPHIC=NEw Jobs]
[ENG#=1]

An early Christmas present today for the New River Valley. 300-new jobs are coming to the town of Pulaski.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pulaski]

Governor Mark Warner announced today that Global Contract Services will locate a customer contact center in the old Advanced Health Services office building.
G-C-S will begin hiring on December 29 and plans to open the new call center by the end of January.
That's around the same time the Renfro Corporation plans to close the doors to its sock-making factory, putting more than 300 employees out of work.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT:3:10:50:00 ]
[IN Q=We've had]
((CHARLES STEWART:WE'VE HAD PEOPLE COME AND APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT WE ARE WORKING AS HARD AS WE CAN TO GET JOBS IN HERE AND THIS IS GOING ON THIS ISN'T THE END. WE'LL CONTINUE AFTER THIS.))
[SUPER=01-Charles Stewart/Pulaski Mayor]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=after this.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Anyone interested in the new jobs can call the Virginia Employment Commission office in Radford.
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[WIPE WIPE WIPE]

[Delta-Dental]

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[TAPE#=03-48 TC50:51]
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[ENG#=2]
[WIPE WIPE WIPE]

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-Delta Dental Video]

A Roanoke-based dental insurance company has a new contract that will bring about 30 more jobs to the Star City.

Delta Dental will manage dental benefits for 120-thousand state and local government employees.
The contract is the biggest in the company's 40-year history.
(------------)

[S-Extra]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=EXTRA POINT]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=V10]

Tech-Tribe highlights from the Cassell, we'll get caught up with former Cave Spring star Adam Trumbower, check out another win by the Jackets and Tire Bowl ticket worries for some Cavalier players. But first tonight's Extra Point -
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-NFL; :00]
Marty Schottenheimer will be back next season to coach the San Diego Chargers despite a two disappointing seasons that have seen the Chargers lose 20 games and win just 11. For all this great coaching he's due $5 million over the next two years.
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[GO TO SCORES] [go to break]
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[SUPER=0097-j/Ft. Chiswell/71//Bland Co./57///j/Carroll Co./67//Rural Retreat/36///;]
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[SUPER=0097-j/Radford/74//Tazewell/42///j/Galax/73//George Wythe/57///;]
[SUPER=x5009;]
[SUPER=0099-j/Brookville/86//Appomattox/63///j/Stuarts Draft/77//Buffalo Gap/68//Overtime/;]
[SUPER=x5009;]
[SUPER=0098-/William & Mary/54/j/Virginia Tech/80////V.M.I./56/j/Louisville #20/107///;]
[SUPER=x5020;]
[SUPER=0101-/T.C.U./31/j/Boise State/34//Fort Worth Bowl/;]
[RUNS=:25]
[OC=...LAST SCORE]
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[S-Tech]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=sp-160 15439tc]
[GRAPHIC=TECH]
[ENG#=1]

The Virginia Tech Hokies hosted William & Mary tonight - a team that had knocked Tech off in each of the last two meeting between the two schools.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg/Tribe vs. Hokies; :00]
Tonight, Tony Shaver, the first year Tribe head coach was in the Cassell for the first time in his career. It would be a house of horrors as the Hokies' Bryant Matthews put on a clinic again. Tonight he threw in 32 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Tech led 46-to-21 at halftime. Freshman Adam Trumbower would get this assist to Nick D'Antoni. Trumbower had 7 points and 2 assists. But Tech had everything else. Marcus Sailes spots up from the beyond the arc on the left side and he will knock in the three ball for Tech. Jamon Gordon would tie the single game steals record with 8
[SUPER=33-William & Mary/54/Virginia Tech/80;]
steals. This one leads to an Allen Calloway slam. Tech rolls over William and Mary 80-to-54.
(------------)

[S-Tribe]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-150 15119TC]
[GRAPHIC=Trumbower]
[ENG#=2]

The fact that Trumbower was in the Cassell playing tonight is amazing considering the turns his hoop dreams have taken in the past 6 months. Earlier today we talked with the freshman walk-on and his freshman head coach.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=FIRST AUDIO]
[SUPER=01-Adam Trumbower/William & Mary Freshman Guard; :00]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg/This Afternoon; :18]
[SUPER=01-Tony Shaver/First Year W&M Head Coach; 1:05]
[RUNS=1:21]
[OUT Q=...TO HAVE HIM THERE."]
(-----------)

[S-VMI]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-161 3924TC]
[GRAPHIC=VMI]
[ENG#=3]

William and Mary plays 13 games against in state teams this season, but VMI is not one of them. Too bad - VMI was out of its league, as well tonight.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Louisville, KY/Fox; :00]
The Keydets were at Freedom Hall in Louisville tonight taking on the 20th ranked Cardinals. Louisville's Taquan Dean and Francisco Garcia just dominated the game from start to finish ad Rick Pitino's team jumped out to a 58 to 24 halftime lead. VMI's Matt Murrer had a moment or two for the visitors with 11, but
[super=33-VMI/56/Louisville #20/107;]
Louisville was just in another world tonight beating VMI 107 to 56. Keydets are now 2-and-7.
(------------)

[S-Jackets]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=sp-152 15216TC]
[GRAPHIC=ACC]
[ENG#=4]

The Tech that plays in Atlanta is putting on quite a show so far this season.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Atlanta, GA; :00]
This afternoon Georgia Tech hammered Marist 90-to-40. The 4th ranked Yellow Jackets got 16 from Isma'il Muhammad and had four other players score in double figures. Georgia Tech is now 11 and 0 having opened the season with 11
[super=33-Ga. Tech #4/90/Marist/40;]
straight wins for the first time since 1962. The team has won each game by 13 or more points.
(------------)

[S-BCA]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-151]
[GRAPHIC=TECH]
[ENG#=1]

The Tech football team is getting ready for its Insight Bowl date with Cal -
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Landover, MD; :00]
but tonight the team's season opener next year was made OFFICIAL. The Hokies will open the 2004 season on Saturday night August 28th against Southern Cal at Redskins' Fed Ex Field in Landover, Maryland. The game will kickoff at 7:45 that night and ESPN will televise it. The Tech-USC game will be the 8th BCA football classic.
(------------)

[S-Tickets]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-158 1:31:28]
[GRAPHIC=tire]
[ENG#=2]
The Tire Bowl has sold about 50 thousand tickets for this coming Saturday's game. They're now available only through Ticket Master. But if you're a UVa player - you're at the mercy of a different master. Steve Mason explains.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=first audio]
[SUPER=@Steve1; :00]
[SUPER=03-Charlottesville; :16]
[SUPER=01-Ottowa Anderson/UVa Receiver; :34]
[SUPER=01-Chris Canty/Parents Paid $1,000 for Tickets; :53]
[SUPER=01-Alvin Pearman/Has 20 Tickets and Getting More; 1:20]
[SUPER=03-Charlotte, NC; 1:34]
[SUPER=01-Andrew Hoffman/Being a Scrooge with His Tickets; 1:40]
[RUNS=1:58]
[OUT Q=....News 7 sports"]
(-----------------)
((STEVE MASON:ACCORDING TO UVA EACH VIRGINIA PLAYER IS GIVEN SIX TICKETS FOR EACH GAME INCLUDING THE TIRE BOWL. BUT THOSE NEARLY 700 STUBS ALLOTTED TO THE FOOTBALL TEAM ARE THE CENTER OF A SERIOUS SUPPLY AND DEMAND, BARTER AND TRADE GAME WITHIN THE UVA LOCKER ROOM.))
((one would think that the highly valuable footballs signed by the UVa football team would go like hot cakes. But they are safe. However, the UVa ticket office where ticket books are packaged and stored should be behind an iron vault considering how much they are valued by the players. ((:))
And we think players pay a hefty price on the field during a bruising season. Just ask Charlotte native and UVa defensive end Chris Canty the hit his parents wallet took for the Tire Bowl. ((:))
And when it comes to tickets, especially in your hometown, its every Charlotte man for himself according to Charlotte Country Day graduate and UVa tailback Alvin Pearman who has kept his Tire Bowl ticket collection a secret from Canty.
((:)) Both Pearman and Canty have had to work hard for their tickets and receiving little sympathy from teammates. ((:))
For Al Groh, a win is just the ticket for the coach shooting for his second straight Tire Bowl win. Steve Mason News 7 sports.))
[TOSS TO BREAK]

[Iraq-Christmas]

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[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=cdo]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=1]

Soldiers in the Middle East got a head start on Christmas festivities.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=let earth recieve;]
((SINGING: LET EARTH RECEIVE HER KING))
[SUPER=03-Mosul, Iraq;]
[RUNS=:06;]
[OUT Q=her king;]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
U.S. soldiers in Iraq took a break today to rehearse for their upcoming Christmas celebrations. Troops brushed up on their carols, hung decorations and even prepared for a gift exchange.
[SUPER=03-Basra, Iraq;]
Meanwhile, British troops in Basra did their best to get in the spirit as well. Despite the attacks they face daily, the soldiers are trying to make the most of the holiday season.
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[SUPER=03-Richmond]

Closer to home, Governor Warner joined a group of children for some cookie decorating.
The kids are residents of a Richmond shelter for battered women.
The governor, who has three daughters of his own, proved that he was no novice when it comes to garnishing holiday treats.
The decorated snowmen were promptly sampled and declared "melt-in-your-mouth" good. (------------)