WDBJ 7 news at 11 for 12/28/03

[News-Heads]

[ANCHOR=Myranda]

[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE=Heads]
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[ENG#=1]

Coming up on News 7-
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
Some Alleghany County residents hope to bring in the New Year with clean drinking water. The New Year may mean longer lines for some drivers in Virginia. And it won't predict what's to come in 2004, but this crystal ball will help ring it in.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Myranda]
Plus N-F-L highlights. News 7 is next.

[Video-Open]

[ANCHOR=Myranda]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=rle]
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[ENG#=2]
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[SOT - 9:30:59]
[IN Q=THE SAME THING...]
[RUNS=6]
[OUT Q=BACK TO SQUARE ONE.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

New plans trickle in, as both residents and county leaders try to clear up a cloudy situation.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Myranda]
[GRAPHIC=News 7 at 11]
Good evening, I'm Myranda Stephens.

[Valley-Ridge]

[ANCHOR=Myranda]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=jwi]
[TAPE#=03-54 TC-28:52]
[GRAPHIC=News 7 at 11]
[ENG#=3]

Hundreds of Alleghany County residents have been forced to boil their water for more than a month now and as Jennifer Wishon reports, there's no easy solution to the problem.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=There's water everywhere]
[SUPER=03-Alleghany Co.; :00]
[SUPER=01-Sara Lu Snyder/Valley Ridge Water Customer; :05]
[SUPER=03-Alleghany Co./File; :22]
[SUPER=01-Tammy Stephenson/County Administrator; 1:06]
[SUPER=@Jennifer1; 1:24]
[SUPER=01-Chuck Ratliff/Valley Ridge Water Customer; 1:41]
[RUNS=2:14]
[OUT Q=JW, News 7, Alleghany County]
((((NATS OF WATER)) There's water everywhere in Valley Ridge, but not a drop to drink.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 9:34:22]
[IN Q=So basically all you can do]
((Sara Lu Snyder))
[RUNS= 12]
[OUT Q=or wash your clothes]
More than 200 county residents, Alleghany High School and two medical facilities have been boiling their water since before Thanksgiving when heavy rains contaminated the county well. Valley Ridge Water Company owner Doodlebug Dressler has been buying water from the county since July until he can get HIS water system to meet certain health standards.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 9:37:20]
[IN Q=The ideal thing would be]
((Sara Lu Snyder))
[RUNS= 11]
[OUT Q=somewhere in the valley]
Snyder may soon get her wish. The Board of Supervisors is considering a suggestion to extend the county's water line from this industrial park to the high school. Dressler would then have the option of buying CLEAN water from the county on a permanent basis.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 9:55:46]
[IN Q=The board seemed]
((TAMMY STEPHENSON: THE BOARD SEEMED RECEPTIVE TO THAT AND I HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH REVIEWING THE COSTS OF THAT, HOW WE CAN PAY FOR IT, WHAT A RATE WOULD BE TO FACTOR IN THE DEBT PAYMENT.))
[RUNS= 14]
[OUT Q=the debt payment]
In the meantime, some customers are looking to state leaders for help.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 9:48:55]
[IN Q=State senator Creigh Deeds]
((JENNIFER WISHON/JWISHON@WDBJ7.COM))
[RUNS= 14]
[OUT Q=a sanitary district]
That is a special taxing district, governed by a body that is allowed certain powers over specified utilities.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 10:06:58]
[IN Q=Things that are not]
((CHUCK RATLIFF: THINGS THAT ARE NOT GETTING DONE WOULD GET DONE BECAUSE IT'S ALMOST LIKE A LEGAL ACTION.))
[RUNS= 05]
[OUT Q=a legal action]
Meanwhile, Administrator Tammy Stephenson is boiling her water as well. She too lives in Valley Ridge.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 10:01:37]
[IN Q=It is a tough situation]
((Tammy Stephenson))
[RUNS= 09]
[OUT Q=anybody in the county]
Stephenson expects the Board to act quickly on the water problem. Their next meeting is January 6th. Jennifer Wishon, News 7 Alleghany County.))

[Patrick-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Myranda]
[NEWSCAST=Sun AM]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]
State and federal officials are investigating a church fire in Patrick County.
(++++++++)
[take map 100essC FS] The fire broke out at the Liberty Primitive Baptist Church in the Patrick Springs area around 10-thirty on Friday night. State Police and Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms investigators have been called in.
(+++++++++)
[anchor=Myranda]
[ss=hold]

At this point officials are NOT calling the fire suspicious, but say it's still under investigation.
Nobody was injured in the blaze. The 95 year old church is a total loss.

[Traffic-Deaths]

[ANCHOR=Myranda]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=dgr]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]

Two people were killed in Halifax County early this morning in separate traffic accidents. Shortly after two A-M, 20 year old Benjamin Douglas Langford of Scotsboro, drove off Route 344 and was ejected from his car when it went into the ditch and flipped several times. And about three hours later, 25 year old Derante Dunkley of Alton drove off the right side of Route 701, and flipped his car end-over-end twice, ejecting him from the car. Both men were pronounced dead at the scene.

[Iran-Quake]

[ANCHOR=Myranda]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=dgr]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=4]

The hopes of finding survivors from Iran's earthquake are fading. Thousand of bodies have been recovered so far, but the search will end tomorrow night. 32 members of Virginia Task Force One have been called back -- only 42 members will help with recovery efforts. Scott Rapoport has more.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=HELP.... POURING IN ]
[SUPER=03-Bam, Iran; :00]
[SUPER=01-Jesper Lund/UN Humanitarian Affairs Officer; :10]
[SUPER=01-Cameron Ezadjoo/Citizen of Bam; 1:17]
[SUPER=01-Scott Rapoport/Reporting; 1:33]
[RUNS=1:39]
[OUT Q=SCOTT RAPOPORT...CBS NEWS]
((HELP.... POURING IN FROM AROUND THE WORLD. INTERNATIONAL AID, MEANT TO ASSIST IN THE SEARCH AND RESCUE OF THOUSANDS OF IRANIAN'S TRAPPED IN BAM'S RUIN.
SOT:
U.N. Humanitarian Affairs Officer / Jesper Lund there is not a clear picture on the situation - we have right now 22 international search and rescue teams working in the area. RESCUERS ARE NOW FACED WITH AN ALMOST INSURMOUNTABLE TASK - NEARLY 70% OF BAM IS DESTROYED.
ENCASED WITHIN IT... THOUSANDS OF VICTIMS. (BULLDOZER) THE DECEMBER 26TH EARTHQUAKE, WHICH APPEARS TO BE THE WORLD'S DEADLIEST IN TEN YEARS - MEASURED 6.3 ON THE RICHTER SCALE. THE STAGGERING NUMBER OF FATALITIES - ATTRIBUTED TO IT'S EARLY MORNING ERUPTION...KILLED MANY STILL ASLEEP IN THEIR BEDS. STATE TELEVISION REPORTS 20,000 BODIES HAVE BEEN RECOVERED SO FAR AND SAY THE DEATH TOLL COULD REACH 30,000.

(DIGGING)
AND AS SURVIVORS FIRST FIND... (nats / body being pulled from rubble) THEN BURY THEIR DEAD... RESCUE EFFORTS CHANGE FOCUS - TO THE TENS OF THOUSANDS LEFT HOMELESS AND WOUNDED.
SOT:
U.N. Humanitarian Affairs Officer / Jesper Lund it will very soon turn into a relief operations where we are looking to ahh shelter and food and health and medical supplies. HERE IN THE U-S - FAMILY MEMBERS WAIT FOR ANY NEWS ABOUT THEIR LOVED ONES. Cameron Ezadjoo / Wife in Bam
SOT:
my wife's mother is telling me that a lot of people are dying because the temperature is way below zero at night. That's something that runs through my head all the time, where is she staying?(tear) HAMPERING THE RESCUE EFFORTS IS THE FEAR OF AFTERSHOCKS - WHICH EXPERTS SAY COULD BE AS STRONG AS THE FIRST QUAKE AND OCCUR AT ANY TIME OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. SCOTT RAPOPORT...CBS NEWS.))

[Tease1]
[ANCHOR=Myranda]
[WRITER=rle]
[NEWSCAST=11p]
[SS=None]
[ENG#=V10]
Still to come on the newscast, the Mad Cow scare widens as possible contaminated meat is found farther away from the source...
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
and Michael Jackson speaks out about his arrest on child molestation charges. We'll tell you what he said in just a few minutes.
(-------------)

[Sports-preview]

[ANCHOR=MIKE]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
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[ENG#=1]

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[SOT]
[IN Q=BITES]
[RUNS=:20]
[OUT Q=in sports.]
((Hey, everybody. Travis Wells here in the News 7 Sports Office. Coming up later, the Cavs try to get off on the right foot in their ACC opener in Raleigh. The Tech Ladies don't need any of Lady Luck against Furman and Lee Suggs torpedoes the Bengals playoff hopes. The playoff picture cleared up and a whole lot more on the way in sports.))

[CA-Mudslide]

[ANCHOR=Myranda]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=1]

California authorities have discovered five more bodies near a church camp hit by flash flooding Christmas day.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-San Bernardino, CA;]
That now brings the total number of victims from the camp to at least eleven. Authorities say two are still missing -- an eight-month old boy and a teenage boy. Corpse-sniffing dogs and heavy equipment are being used in the search. Authorities say although it's unlikely they will find the two missing alive, they are not giving up hope.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=at this point]
[SUPER=01-Cindy Beaver/San Bernardino Co. Sheriff's Dept.;]
[RUNS=09]
[OUT Q=missing people]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Authorities once believed the camp was hit by mudslides, but now say it was actually flash flooding. More rain is expected in the area tomorrow as a new storm moves in. Officials are concerned the storm may trigger even more flash floods.
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[Mad-Cow]

[ANCHOR=Myranda]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Mad Cow]
[ENG#=2]

Meat from a holstein that had Mad Cow disease has now reached eight states, but Agriculture Department officials say it poses `essentially zero risk'' to consumers. Joie Chen has the story.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Dr. Ken Petersen/USDA Chief Food Safety Veterinarian; :12]
[SUPER=01-Dr. Ron Dehaven/USDA Chief Veterinarian; :54]
[SUPER=01-Chandler Keys/National Cattleman's Assoc.; 1:15]
[SUPER=01-Joie Chen/CBS News; 1:29]
[RUNS=1:48]
[OUT Q=STD]
((TRACKING THE PATH OF THE INFECTED COW... INVESTIGATORS TODAY WIDENED THE VOLUNTARY MEAT RECALL... EVEN AS THEY OFFERED NEW ASSURANCES THAT THE NATION'S FOOD SUPPLY IS SAFE.
(DR. KEN PETERSEN/USDA CHIEF FOOD SAFETY VETERINARIAN )
the recall beef presents an essentially ZERO risk to american consumers.

(VO)
BUT TODAY OFFICIALS SAID MEAT FROM THE SICK COW HAS REACHED TWICE AS MANY STATES AS FIRST REPORTED.
(GRAPHIC)
JUST YESTERDAY... THE RECALL WAS LIMITED TO FOUR WESTERN STATES. AFTER MORE RESEARCH... OFFICIALS WARNED CONSUMERS IN ALASKA, HAWAII, IDAHO, MONTANA AND GUAM THAT BEEF-- PARTICULARLY GROUND BEEF-- ON THEIR STORE SHELVES MIGHT BE INVOLVED AS WELL. STORES IN A NINTH STATE-- UTAH-- JOINED IN THE RECALL-- EVEN THOUGH OFFICIALS DID NOT SAY IT WAS NECESSARY
(GRAPHIC OUT)
(JC/DR. RON DEHAVEN/USDA CHIEF VETERINARIAN )
(JC) on one hand you are saying the meat is safe, on the other hand if you've got this meat take it back to the store.
which is it?
(RD) there are public perception issues and out of an abundance of caution it's on that basis that this recall has been
instituted.

(VO)
MEANTIME... INVESTIGATORS ARE STILL TRYING TO LOCATE DOZENS OF OTHER COWS FROM THE DISEASED ANIMAL'S 'BIRTH' HERD... WHILE THE BEEF INDUSTRY... FRESH OFF A RECORD YEAR IN SALES... SCRAMBLES TO KEEP CONSUMERS CONFIDENT

(CHANDLER KEYS/NATIONAL CATTLEMAN'S ASSOC/)
this is a very very low risk but don't get us wrong, it is very very important from the cattle industry standpoint that we never have this disease in this country and that we do everything we possibly can to keep it out.

(OC)
THE MAD COW SCARE HAS STEPPED UP CALLS FOR A BETTER WAY TO TRACK DOWN SUSPECT ANIMALS. WITH SO MUCH ATTENTION NOW FOCUSED ON WHERE THIS DISEASED COW CAME FROM... AND WHERE THE MEAT WENT... INDUSTRY AND GOVERNMENT EXPERTS MAY BE PRODDED INTO QUICKLY GETTING A NATIONAL I-D SYSTEM IN PLACE. JC CBS NEWS WASHINGTON.))

[Jackson]

[ANCHOR=Myranda]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Jackson]
[ENG#=3]

Michael Jackson says he was roughed up and belittled during his arrest last month on child molestation charges.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-60 Minutes;]
In tonight's interview with C-B-S's "60 Minutes'', Jackson said he suffered a dislocated shoulder from being handcuffed and that the pain keeps him from sleeping at night.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=they manhandled me]
[SUPER=01-Michael Jackson;]
[RUNS=09]
[OUT Q=pain all the time]
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]
Jackson also says authorities tried to belittle him when he was taken into custody. Representatives of the Santa Barbara County sheriff's department did not immediately return a call seeking comment about the allegations. In the interview, Jackson continued to deny the charges against him and said he still believes it's acceptable to have children sleep in his bed.
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[Tease2]
[ANCHOR=Myranda]
[WRITER=rle]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[SS=None]
[ENG#=V10]

Up ahead, D-M-V officials say the lines will likely be longer in the New Year...
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
and also, the clock is ticking until the ball drops on 2004. We'll wrap up the preparations a little later in the newscast.
(----------------)

[Commercial]

[Biz-Review]

[ANCHOR=Myranda]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=dgr]
[TAPE#=Biz Review 11/02 tc 1:34:27]
[GRAPHIC=Business Review]
[ENG=1]
New fire regulations hurt local Christmas tree retailers, plus positive economic news for southside and the New River Valley. Donald Graham has more in News 7's Business Review.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=MUSIC AND GRAPHICS]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :06]
[SUPER=01-Bill Huffman/Tree Lot Owner; :25]
[SUPER=03-Martinsville/File Tape; :43]
[SUPER=03-Pulaski; :57]
[SUPER=01-Charles Stewart/Pulaski Mayor; 1:16]
[SUPER=01-Donald Graham/Reporting; 1:26]
[RUNS=1:36]
[OUT Q=MUSIC AND GRAPHICS]

(([MUSIC AND GRAPHICS] The holiday season wasn't as green as some Christmas tree retailers had hoped. Regulations that were eventually reversed prohibited live-cut trees in buildings without an approved fire sprinkler system, including many older apartment buildings and hotels. Many tree growers and sellers said they didn't know about the regulations until after they had set up shop.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The rules hurt...]
((BILL HUFFMAN/TREE LOT OWNER; THE RULES HURT. NOT KNOWING THE RULES HURT EVEN MORE. BY NOT KNOWING THEM UNTIL WE HAD ALL BOUGHT OUR TREES AND PUT THEM ON THE LOTS TO SELL. THEN YOU FIND OUT THAT A GOOD PORTION OF YOUR BUSINESS ISN'T GOING TO HAPPEN BECAUSE SOMEONE HAS A NEW LAW OUT.))
[RUNS= 17]
[OUT Q=has a new law out.]
Hooker Furniture says it had a good year.
The Martinsville company says sales hit a record 309 million dollars last year.
Net income was off about 8 cents per share compared to 2002, which was the company's best year ever. Christmas was a little brighter for unemployed workers in the New River Valley. Governor Mark Warner announced that Global Contract Services will move a customer contact center to Pulaski, and bring 300 new jobs. G-C-S will begin hiring on December 29 and plans to open the new call center by the end of January.
(///// 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.))
[RUNS=: 10]
[OUT Q=after this.]
Anyone interested in the new jobs can call the Virginia Employment Commission office in Radford.
For News 7, I'm Donald Graham and that's Business Review. [MUSIC AND GRAPHICS]))

[DMV-Law]

[ANCHOR=Myranda]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=03-45 TC-1:30:53]
[GRAPHIC=DMV]
[ENG#=2]
Heading to the D-M-V could be full of some more headaches next year.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=@file;]
Beginning January 1st, the state's new Legal Presence Law will require applicants for a driver's license or photo identification card to provide documents proving they are in the United States legally. The law will NOT affect renewals of valid driver's licenses, but it could increase wait times an average of five minutes. A D-M-V official say immigrants are likely to feel the most impact of the law.
(------------)

[Pole-to-Pole]

[ANCHOR=Myranda]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=dgr]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=3]

Two attempts at flying from the North to the South pole in a single engine plane have been unsuccessful.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Baltimore,MD;]
But, Gus McLeod believes he can still complete the 28 -hundred mile flight. The 49 year old will pilot an experimental Korean built plane that is considered a design descendant of the "Wright Flyer."
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT :32]
[IN Q=THIS IS NOT ]
((GUSTAVUS MCLEOD/AVIATOR-THIS IS NOT A PRODUCTION AIRPLANE. THIS IS A ONE OF A KIND. THERE'S ONLY ONE OF THESE THINGS FLYING AND THIS IS IT))
[SUPER=01-Gustavus McLeod/Aviator;]
[RUNS=05]
[OUT Q=AND THIS IS IT]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
McLeod currently holds the record for the first North Pole flight in an open cockpit. He leaves next week, and hopes to finish the trip by late February.
(------------)

[S-Extra]

[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
[ENG#=]

Coming up, Suggs has a career day in just his second start, we'll clear up the NFL playoff picture, and hoops from the Lady Luck Classic and Tobacco Road, but first tonight's extra point,
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

For the second straight year, cyclist Lance Armstrong has been named the male athlete of the year by the Associated Press. Armstrong won his record tying 5th Tour de France title, in what was probably his most grueling win in the race. He edged out Barry Bonds for the award.
(------------)
[go to scores]
[SUPER=#556;]
[SUPER=x5022;]
[SUPER=0100-j/Kansas City/31//Chicago/3///j/Cleveland/22//Cincinnati/14///;]
[SUPER=x5009;]
[SUPER=0100-j/Indianapolis/20//Houston/17////N.Y. Jets/21/j/Miami/23///;]
[SUPER=x5009;]
[SUPER=0100-/Jacksonville/14/j/Atlanta/21////Tampa Bay/13/j/Tennessee/33//;]
[SUPER=x5009;]
[SUPER=0100-/Saint Louis/20/j/Detroit/30////Dallas/7/j/New Orleans/13///;]
[SUPER=x5009;]
[SUPER=0100-/Oakland/14/j/San Diego/21////Denver/3/j/Green Bay/31///;]
[SUPER=x5009;]
[SUPER=0100-/Minnesota/17/j/Arizona/18///j/Carolina/37//N.Y. Giants/24///;]
[SUPER=x5009;]
[SUPER=0100-/Pittsburgh/10//Baltimore/10/4//;]
[SUPER=x5027;]
[SUPER=0098-/Furman/70/j/Virginia Tech #15/83//Lady Luck Classic/j/Wake Forest/85//Holy Cross/56//Lady Luck Classic/;]

[SUPER=x5009;]
[SUPER=0098-/Virginia/69/j/N.C. State/86////Maryland #24/75/j/Florida St./79///;]
[SUPER=x5009;]
[SUPER=0098-j/North Carolina #9/71//UNC-Wilmington/54////Liberty/91/j/Arizona #5/107///;]
[RUNS=:50]
[OUTCUE=last score."]
(--------------)

[S-Ladies]

[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-157 TC13056]
[GRAPHIC=Tech Hoops]
[ENG#=1]

Let's start tonight on the hardwood at Cassell Coliseum where the 15th ranked Virginia Tech women took care of Furman this afternoon in the Lady Luck Classic to move to 9 and oh.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg/Hokies vs. Paladins; :00]

About 25 hundred fans showed up for this one on the holiday weekend.
Ieva Kublina scored a season high 25 points for Tech to move into 6th on the Hokies all time scoring list with 1 thousand 3 hundred 54.
Then check out Kerri Gardin with the push to Dawn Chriss for the hoop and the hack on the break as Tech built on a nine point halftime lead.
[SUPER=33-Furman/70/Virginia Tech #15/83/;]

Carrie Mason finishes things off with the pull up jumper as Bonnie Henrickson's club stays unbeaten with an 83 to 70 win.
(------------)
[anchor=travis]
[graphic=tech hoops]

Tech will now face Wake Forest in tomorrow night's championship. William Fleming and RU grad Charlene Curtis and her Deacs took out Holy Cross 85 to 56.

[S-Cavs]

[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-163 TC3614]
[GRAPHIC=Uva Hoops]
[ENG#=2]

The Virginia men tried to cap off a successful Wahoo weekend with a win in their ACC opener at NC State. The road was a miserable place for Pete Gillen's crew last season and UVa hadn't won a conference opener on the road since 1995.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Raleigh, NC/Fox Sports Net; :00]

The Pack came in having won 5 of the last 6 against the Cavs.
Elton Brown led the Cavaliers with 18 points in this one, as Virginia jumped out front early.
Devin Smith tallied 14 of his own, but Virginia committed 18 turnovers and the Pack capitalized.
State nailed 11
[SUPER=33-Virginia/69/N.C. State/86/;]
three balls. Julius Hodge scored 23 points and the home team pulled away down the stretch to win it 86-69, handing Virginia its first loss of the season.
(------------)

[S-Terps]

[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-156 TC13701]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=3]

[WIPE to ENG!!]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Tallahassee, FL/Fox Sports Net; :00]

Elsewhere in the ACC, Florida State opened league play with an upset of 24th ranked Maryland.
Coach Leonard Hamilton got 14 points from freshman Alexander Johnson including the jami-jam right there.
[SUPER=33-Maryland/75/Florida State/79/;]
Florida State hung on down the stretch to knock off the Terps 79 to 75 improving to 11 and 1 on the season.
(------------)

[S-Suggs]

[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-164 TC3924]
[GRAPHIC=Lee Suggs]
[ENG#=4]

Roanoke's Lee Suggs had his NFL coming out party today in Cincinnati, as the former Virginia Tech Hokie almost single handedly destroyed the Bengals playoff hopes.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Cincinnati, OH/Browns vs. Bengals; :00]

Suggs, the rookie rushed for 186 yards on 26 carries in just his second NFL start. His 78 yard gallop down the right sideline gave the 5 and 11 Browns a 13-7 lead at the break.
In the second half, Suggs helped ice the 22-14 victory with this 25 yard scoring run.
[SUPER=30-Cleveland/22/Cincinnati/14/;]
Afterwards, he put the moment in perspective, 7 months removed from a somber draft day.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Lee Suggs/186 Yds. Rushing, 2 TD's; :02]
[RUNS=:30]
[OUT Q=don't let up."]
(---------------)

[S-AFC]

[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-158 TC14425]
[GRAPHIC=NFL]
[ENG#=1]

The AFC wildness was also in full effect down in Houston where the Colts kicked their way to the AFC South title by slipping past the Texans.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Houston, TX/Colts vs. Texans; :00]

Peyton Manning and Indy were in trouble, down 17-10 late. But Manning found Brandon Stokely in the endzone with just under 4 minutes left.
Mike Vanderjagt then took over, booting his NFL record 41st consecutive field goal. The 43 yarder
[SUPER=30-Indianapolis/20/Houston/17/;]
as time expired lifted Indianapolis over Houston 20 to 17. The Colts host Denver next week in the wildcard game.
(------------)

[S-NFC]

[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-150 TC15516]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[ENG#=2]

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Green Bay, WI/Fox Sports; :00]

The Packers will crash the NFC playoff party thanks to their win over the Broncos and a little help from the Cards. The Pack got 218 yards on the ground and 2 scores from Ahman Green and Brett Favre threw for a touchdown as Green Bay routed Denver 31 to 3.
[SUPER=03-Tempe, AZ/Fox Sports; :]

But the Pack's playoff fate turned on a play over a thousand miles away. Arizona's Josh McCown found Nate Poole o
n a 28 yard TD strike on the last play of the game as the Cardinals shocked Minnesota 18-17, booting the Vikes from the
playoffs.
[SUPER=03-Detroit, MI/Fox Sports; :]

And finally, the Rams lost out on a chance to grab homefield throughout the post season, by losing 30 to 20 at Detroit. Joey Harrington tossed three TD passes. The Eagles are now the top seed in the NFC.
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[Crystal-Ball]

[ANCHOR=Myranda]
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[WRITER=dgr]
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[ENG#=1]

The new year is just a little more than 72 hours away.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-New York, NY;]
This weekend, the final touches were put on the Time's Square ball. Workers installed new bulbs and attached new crystal pieces to the ball that drops in Times Square to mark the New Year. It's covered by 504 crystal triangles made by Waterford Crystal of Ireland. This ball is the fourth version to ring in the new year since the celebrations began in 19-07. A motor and winch controlled by a computer will drop the half ton ball. (------------)