[News-Heads]

[ANCHOR=Jean]

[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=jja]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
[ENG#=1]


One big local employer may close... Details coming up.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


It may not be his prerogative.. but Singer Bobby Brown is heading to Roanoke for court this week. We'll hear from Brown.
And when local guardsmen are called to duty... where do they go? We'll find out.
Plus a man allegedly robs shoppers at one area mall.
(------------)
[Talent=Jean]


News 7 at Eleven is next.

[Video-Open]


[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=jja]
[TAPE#=VidOpen]



[ENG#=2]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


It appears hundreds of employees in the Roanoke Valley need to start shopping for a new job.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 9:39:38]
[IN Q=If everything were to]

((PHIL SPARKS: IF EVERYTHING WERE TO GO IT WOULD BE A HUGE BLOW.))
[RUNS=:02]
[OUT Q=huge blow]
(------------)
[ANCHOR =Jean]
[GRAPHIC=News 7 at 11]



[Home-Shopping]


[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=11 PM]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=03-51 TC1:56:01]
[GRAPHIC=NEws 7 @ 11]


The official announcement will come tomorrow morning.
But tonight, it appears the days are numbered for the Home Shopping Network in Salem. [***NEWS 7 @ 11 IN MONITOR***]
[DOUBLE BOXES=Jean & Justin /Newsroom;]


Justin McLeod is here now with more. Justin, how many people could be affected?
Jean, the facility employs nearly 400 people.
[LIVE= Justin /FULL NEwsroom]
[SUPER=@Justin1]


It is unclear however how many could lose their jobs.
Company officials are remaining tight lipped and they've told employees to do the same.
[ENG#=4]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem]


Company reps met with some employees tonight at its facility on Brand Road in Salem.
After the meeting several workers told me they were told most of the Salem distribution center would close but its call center in Bonsack would remain open.
As a result, employees are already making future plans.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 13:46:02]
[IN Q=I don't like to be]

((ARDIEN KADRIU/HOME SHOPPING NETWORK EMPLOYEE: I DON'T LIKE TO BE WITHOUT A JOB SO I ALREADY FOUND A JOB AND THIS WEEK WILL ACTUALLY BE MY LAST WEEK HERE.))
[SUPER=01-Ardien Kadriu/Home Shopping Network Employee;]
[RUNS=06]
[OUT Q=my last week here]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Employees had heard rumors for months.
The Home Shopping Network even acknowledged sometime ago it had outgrown its facility in Salem and was looking for a new location, possibly in the area.
That prompted economic leaders to work to keep the company in the Roanoke Valley.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 9:38:35]
[IN Q=We started working]

((PHIL SPARKS/ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP: WE STARTED WORKING WITH THE COMPANY EARNEST ON THE 17TH OF NOVEMBER IN PRIVATE CONVERSATIONS THAT WERE HELD IN RICHMOND. AND SINCE THAT TIME WE'VE WORKED WITH VARIOUS LOCALITIES THROUGHOUT THE VALLEY TO FIND A SITE WORKED ON PROPOSALS FOR THE COMPANY AND I REALLY AT THIS POINT DON'T KNOW WHAT CERTAIN WILL BE ANNOUNCED TO THE EMPLOYEES.))
[SUPER=01-Phil Sparks/Economic Development Partnership; :]
[RUNS=:20]
[OUT Q=to the employees]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Sparks says the company stopped communicating with area leaders about two weeks ago.
City officials in Salem are also out of the loop.
The city manager said tonight he has had no contact with the company and doesn't know whether it is staying or going.
(------------)
[LIVE= Justin /FULL BAM]


A Company spokesperson says it has decided its future in Salem but declined to say what it is.
He says they first want to notify all of the employees.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Jean & Justin/BAM;]


Jean, that should be done by eight o'clock tomorrow morning and the official announcement will be made shortly thereafter.

[Bobby-Brown]


[ANCHOR=JEan]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=04-07 TC42:37]
[GRAPHIC=Bobby Brown]
[ENG#=4]


Pop singer Bobby Brown is a free man... and it appears he's headed to Roanoke.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-DeKalb Co., GA]


He was released from an Atlanta area jail this afternoon, after the sheriff was presented an order requiring Brown to appear in a juvenile and domestic relations court in Roanoke for an emergency hearing on Wednesday.
[SUPER=@file;]


Last month, Brown was sentenced to 60 days in jail for violating the terms of his probation on a drunken-driving charge.
He addressed his fans as he left the jail today.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I love ]

((BOBBY BROWN/SINGER; I LOVE YOU. THIS IS THE LAST TIME YOU SEE ME COMING OUT OF HERE. I'M GOING HOME.))
[SUPER=01-Bobby Brown/Singer]
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=I'm going home]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


The reason for that hearing here in Roanoke has so far not been revealed.
(------------)



[Mayfield-Scholarship]


[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=11 PM]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=04-02 TC1:36:20]
[GRAPHIC=Ron Mayfield]
[ENG#=1]


Many people were touched by the life of a Roanoke teacher and now that legacy will live on for years to come.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]


This afternoon, friends and family gathered to announce the establishment of the Ron Mayfield scholarship fund.
He is the teacher who committed suicide after being falsely accused of hitting a student.
In response, some of his colleagues decided to set up a scholarship to continue the work Ron loved so much.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 21:29:37]
[IN Q=He was very interested]

((ROBERT MAYFIELD/RON'S SON: HE WAS VERY INTERESTED IN THE WELFARE OF HIS STUDENTS AND TO SEE THEM TO HELP THEM PURSUE THEIR GOALS, TO GO TO COLLEGE WOULD BE VERY IMPORTANT TO HIM.))
[SUPER=01-Robert Mayfield/Ron's Son; :]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=very important to him]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


The first 500 dollar scholarship will be awarded this spring to a Patrick Henry High School senior.
The student must have taken English as a Second language- or be in the course now. E-L-L is what Ron Mayfield taught.
(------------)



[Harris]


[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=04-01 TC1:16:34]
[GRAPHIC=Wayne Harris]
[ENG#=2]


Roanoke School Superintendent Wayne Harris says he is proud of his eleven years at the helm of the City Schools.


But today, Harris said it's time to retire and let someone else "carry the education banner."
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]


Harris announced he will step down at the end of the school year, remaining on paid leave through December.
Harris acknowledged there have been bumps in the road, but said indicators such as rising test scores, and declining dropout rates speak for themselves.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 25:51]
[IN Q=It's been a great eleven years]

((WAYNE HARRIS: IT'S BEEN A GREAT ELEVEN YEARS. I COULD HAVE NEVER DREAMED IN MY WILDEST DREAMS IN FEBRUARY WHEN I STOOD IN THIS ROOM ELEVEN YEARS AGO THAT I WOULD BE STANDING HERE ELEVEN YEARS LATER, BUT I THANK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN WHAT'S TRANSPIRED. GOD SPEED. THANK YOU.))
[SUPER=01-Wayne Harris/Roanoke City School Superintendent;]
[RUNS=:19]
[OUT Q=God speed. Thank you]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Harris says he was not forced out, and says his decision wasn't a reaction to recent controversy.
Today school board members praised Harris accomplishments, but also said they hope new leadership will give the school system a fresh start.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Jean]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]


The school board plans to appoint an interim superintendent, while members search for a permanent replacement.


[Hincker]


[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=11 p.m.]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=03-55 TC1:45:08]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]
[ENG#=3]

The Republican Candidate for Roanoke mayor says with Harris' retirement, Roanoke Schools have an opportunity for positive change.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :16]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]

Alice Hincker today responded to this morning's announcement saying she never thought it would happen. Hincker first drew the spotlight with her criticism of the school board's handling of school violence reports. She says it's satisfying to have affected some change.
(///// SOT at :16 /////)
[SOT 47:57 - 48:10]
[IN Q=IT FEELS GOOD ...]

((ALICE HINCKER/R-CANDIDATE FOR ROANOKE MAYOR: IT FEELS GOOD BECAUSE I REALLY BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH LEADERSHIP AND I DON'T THINK THAT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO REGAIN THE PUBLIC'S TRUST IF WE DON'T MAKE CHANGES IN ADMINISTRATION..))
[SUPER=01-Alice Hincker/(R) Candidate for Roanoke Mayor;]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=CHANGES IN ADMINISTRATION.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT :08]

Hincker says she hopes Harris' successor is chosen from outside the school system and that the new administration focuses on accountability.
(------------)



[Monty-sewer]


[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=04-05 TC1:04:37]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=4]


Montgomery County supervisors approved a controversial sewer project tonight, over objections from the planning commission.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;]


The Board decided Blacksburg's plan for a 12-mile sewer line through Toms Creek complies with the comprehensive plan.
About 3-miles of the line would run though the county.
The Planning Commission had recommended the request be denied.
(------------)



[Anti-depressants]


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


The F-D-A is warning that people taking anti-depressants may be at greater risk of committing suicide.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Drugs like Prozac, Paxil and Zoloft already carry warning labels, but the government wants them highlighted... and for doctors to watch for ominous symptoms. Phsyciatrists say the first few weeks on a new antidepressant are the most dangerous.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=the first week or two on medication;]

((DR. ADELAIDE ROBB/CHILDREN'S NATL. MEDICAL CTR.THE FIRST WEEK OR TWO ON MEDICATION SOMEONE IS STILL FEELING OVERWHELMINGLY SAD, BUT THEIR ENERGY LEVEL IS HIGH ENOUGH THAT THEY CAN HAVE THE ABILITY TO PLOT AND CARRY OUT A SUICIDE.))
[SUPER=01-Dr. Adelaide Robb/Children's Natl. Medical Ctr.]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=plot and carry out a suicide;]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The F-D-A issued the warning based on testimony from parents whose teenage children had bad experiences on the drugs.

But the F-D-A says that anti-depressants do work and people shouldn't stop taking them-- just that caregivers of those on the drugs should watch for problems.
(------------)



[Tease1]
[ANCHOR=Jean]
[WRITER=dse]
[NEWSCAST=11p]
[SS=None]
[ENG#=V10]


Israel assasinated a militant Palestinian leader... now it's the U-S being threatened with retaliation.
The latest when News 7 returns.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]


Plus a Roanoke police dog takes a bite out of crime... and a suspected armed robber at Valley View Mall.
(-------------)



[Sports-Preview]


[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=MST]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]



[ENG#=2]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[RUNS=:21]
[OUT Q=THE BIG 7."]

(( Hey folks - Mike Stevens back in the News 7 Sports Office as the Trotters make their mark on the valley and pack the house that Harveycutter built. The Tech women are hoping to keep serving up that good ole home cooking tomorrow night at the Cassell. Plus, Atlanta's fans may be called the Braves this season - that and more later on the Big 7.))
[Mall-Robberies]

(MINI OPEN)



[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=03-54 TC1:52:41]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=1]

A man robs shoppers in the Valley View parking lot in the middle of the day- A Roanoke police dog nabs the suspect before he could try it again.
(-------------)
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]

Police say the man robbed two people as they were getting out of their car near Belk around Noon. Apparently just moments before the robbery, the suspect tried to rob several other people, and one of them called police.
[SOT 09:5056]
[IN Q=when officers]

((J.D. DICKINSON/ROANOKE POLICE:WHEN OFFICERS ARRIVED WE SURROUNDED HIM, OFFICER BUCHE' AND HIS DOG FARGO ON ONE SIDE AND MYSELF AND OFFICER HERNON ON THE OTHER CAUGHT THE SUSPECT IN THE MIDDLE 5106))
[SUPER=01-J. D. Dickinson/Roanoke Police Department;]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=in the middle]
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]

The suspect, 24-year-old Anthony Wilder, Junior of Roanoke was taken to the hospital after being bitten in the thigh.
Officers recovered a small semi-automatic handgun and the money he allegedly stole. Wilder now faces several charges, including robbery and use of a firearm in the commission of felony.
(---------------)



[81-Accident]


[ANCHOR=Jen]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=04-09 TC31:22]
[GRAPHIC=81 Accident]
[ENG#=2]


State police say the driver of a tractor trailer was driving recklessly when he caused today's chain reaction crash on I-81.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Montgomery Co.]


Troopers say smoke from a brush fire slowed down and backed up traffic on the interstate near milemarker 124 in Montgomery County.
Officers say the driver of a tractor trailer couldn't stop in time and started the chain reaction that involved five vehicles and sent three people to the hospital.
The tractor trailer driver from New Jersey has been charged with reckless driving.
Crews will be working in the area tomorrow to clean up diesel fuel spilled in the wreck.
(------------)



[Hamas-Latest]


[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=jja]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=3]


Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge says any threat from the Islamic Group Hamas must be taken seriously.
The group threatened the U-S today- after the assassination of Hamas founder Sheik Ahmed Yassin.
As Melissa McDermott reports, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians took to the streets in protest.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Gaza City, Gaza Strip; :00]
[SUPER=01-Brig Gen. Ruth Yaron/Israeli Defense Forces Spokesperson; :41]
[SUPER=01-Melissa McDermott/Reporting; 1:24]
[RUNS=1:36]
[OUT Q=CBS News.]

((PALESTINIANS COULD NOT HOLD BACK THEIR TEARS -- OR THEIR ANGER AS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OPENLY MOURNED THE DEATH OF HAMAS SPIRITUAL LEADER, SHEIK AHMED YASSIN, THE MILITANT GROUP HE FOUNDED BEGAN AVENGING HIS DEATH. MORTARS AND ROCKETS WERE FIRED AT ISRAELI TOWNS AND JEWISH SETTLEMENTS. ISRAEL RESPONDED BY MOVING TANKS INTO NORTHERN GAZA. THIS NEW ROUND OF VIOLENCE IGNITED EARLY MONDAY. ISRAELI HELICOPTERS FIRED MISSILES AT YASSIN AS HE LEFT A NEIGHBORHOOD MOSQUE...KILLING HIM AND SEVEN OTHER PEOPLE. THE ATTACK WAS PART OF ISRAEL'S ONGOING EFFORTS TO WIPE OUT HAMAS AND ITS WAVE OF SUICIDE BOMBINGS. BRIG. GEN. RUTH YARON/ISRAELI DEFENSE FORCES SPOKESPERSON: "We are glad and happy that the leader for evil, the mastermind of the suicide bomber for terrorism is gone." ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER ARIEL SHARON PERSONALLY ORDERED THE ASSASSINATION OF THE 67-YEAR OLD DISABLED CLERIC. AND NOW, PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY PRESIDENT, YASSER ARAFAT, FEARS HE COULD BE NEXT. PALESTINIAN OFFICIALS GATHERED AT ARAFAT'S COMPOUND TO EXPRESS THEIR SORROW. ARAFAT ALSO EXPRESSED DISAPPOINTMENT: WE CAME HERE TODAY TO SAY THAT THE INCIDENT IN GAZA IS NOT GOING TO SOLVE ANYTHING, ARAFAT SAID. AND WE CALL ON THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT TO STOP THE KILLINGS AND TO START NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE PALESTINIANS. STILL, THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT SAYS IT WILL CONTINUE ITS TARGETED ATTACKS AND RAIDS UNTIL HAMAS IS DEFEATED -- A GROUP LINKED TO HUNDREDS OF ISRAELI DEATHS. MELISSA MCDERMOTT, CBS NEWS. ))

[Tease2]
[ANCHOR=Jean]
[WRITER=dse]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[SS=None]
[ENG#=V10]


Local National Guard troops get used to active duty.
We'll see how they're training at Fort Bragg when News 7 returns.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]


Plus as the temperatures drop... farmers across the South scramble to save their crops.
(----------------)


[Commercial]

[Bragg-Guard]


[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=04-08 TC53:30]
[GRAPHIC=In Training]
[ENG#=1]

Replacement troops for U-S soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan often come these days from the ranks of the National Guard.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Ft. Bragg, NC]

About 500 men from Central and Western Virginia have been in training now a little over two weeks. They don't know exactly where they're headed or when. The "call up" to active duty was certainly a disruption to their civilian routine... men like Jacob Hawkins who'd been on the Roanoke Police force just 15 days when he was deployed.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Short career]

[22:16:15] ((JACOB HAWKINS/SOLIDER FROM ROANOKE; SHORT CAREER AS A POLICE OFFICER RIGHT OUT OF THE ACADEMY. BUT THEY'VE BEEN REAL SUPPORTIVE OF ME. THEY'RE WAITING FOR ME TO COME BACK AND START OVER.)) ((STAFF SGT DOUG MOORE/NCO FROM ROANOKE; WE'RE IN THE INFANTRY. USUALLY WHEN YOU'RE IN THE INFANTRY YOU LIKE TO GO PLACES. THAT'S WHY YOU JOINED THE INFANTRY. WE'RE ALSO IN THE ARMY. SO WE DON'T MIND IF WE HAVE TO GO SOMEWHERE.))
[SUPER=01-Jacob Hawkins/Solider from Roanoke; :00]
[SUPER=01-Staff Sgt. Doug Moore/NCO from Roanoke; :08]
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=to go somewhere.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The men are being housed in World War II -era barracks, up every morning at oh-five-30.
(------------)



[NC-Strawberries]


[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=jja]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=2]


The race is on to save the strawberries in North Carolina and beat mother nature.
(------------)
[VO-NAT 05.5]
[SUPER=03-Guilford Co., NC]


Farmers are watering their strawberry crop to save them from overnight freezing-
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]

((JONATHAN RUDD/STRAWBERRY FARM OWNER; IF YOU CAN GET ENOUGH WATER ON IT, THE WATER FREEZES ACTUALLY KEEPING THE TEMPERATURE AT 32 DEGREES AND 32 DEGREE TEMPERATURES WON'T HURT THE STRAWBERRY BLOOM. IF IT GETS TO 30 DEGREES IT WILL HURT IT SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE WATERING IT TRYING TO SAVE THE STRAWBERRY BLOOM.))
[SUPER=01-Jonathan Rudd/Strawberry Farm Owner;]
[RUNS=12]
[OUT Q=the strawberry bloom]
(------------)
[VO-NAT 10 plus pad]


Rudd says if temperatures go below freezing it could wipe out the entire harvest. He hopes the watering technique and a little help from the weatherman will help.
(-----------)



[S-Extra]


[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=EXTRA & SP-170 2313tc]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]
[ENG#=V10]

The Tech women get ready to turn up the burner in the Casell tomorrow night, and the Trotters were in town tonight. But first your Extra Point -
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lake Buena Vista, FL/ESPN; :00]

Opening day in the big leagues is just 7 days away - and I'm not sure if Braves' fans are excited or scared to death. Today the team's record dropped to 7 and 11 as the Cardinals hit just about everything in sight - and most of it went into the outfield. Reggie Sanders' two-run double off Russ Ortiz keyed a Cardinals' four-run first inning that propelled them to a 7-2 win over the Braves. Ortiz, who is the Braves' Opening Day starter was touched for 7 earned runs. The Cards are 4-and-0 against the Braves this preseason.
(------------)

[GO TO SCORES]
(------------)

[GO TO SCORES]
[SUPER=#556;]
[SUPER=x5027;]
[SUPER=0098-/West Virginia/64/j/Rutgers/67//Men's NIT/j/Notre Dame/77//Saint Louis/66//Men's NIT/;]
[SUPER=x5009;]
[SUPER=0098-j/Tennessee/79//DePaul/59//NCAA Women's Midwest/j/Vanderbilt/60//Chattanooga/44//NCAA Women's Midwest/;]
[SUPER=x5009;]
[SUPER=0098-j/Boston College/63//Ohio State/48//NCAA Women's Mideast/j/Georgia/85//T.C.U./71//NCAA Women's West/;]
[SUPER=x5029;]
[SUPER=0104-/Charlotte/1/j/Greensboro/4////Greenville///Roanoke///Wednesday Night at 7pm/;]
[RUNS=:20]
[OUTCUE=last score."]
(------------)




[S-Trotters]


[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=sp-163 13534tc]
[GRAPHIC=odac]
[ENG#=1]

The ODAC men's and women's tournaments couldn't do it.
[graphic=d3 final four]

The just completed NCAA division three final four couldn't pull it off.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem; :00]

But the world famous Harlem Globetrotters did it tonight - selling out the Salem Civic Center. The Trotters have been traveling the globe since 1927 with their entertaining brand of roundball - and they are in the final weeks of a brutal 220 date tour of North America. In the team's nearly 80 years of performing to more than 120 million fans - little has changed. The act that young fans saw tonight in Salem is basically the same one their parents saw 30 years ago. But the Trotters attendance and merchandise sales are up significantly this year - and part of that can be attributed to the fact that little has changed. It's still basic, good clean fun. By the way, the Trotters will be part of the Final Four weekend festivities in San Antonio on Friday night, April 2nd.

(------------)



[S-Hokies]


[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=sp-171 1931tc]
[GRAPHIC=women's final four]
[ENG#=2]

The women's NCAA March Madness resumes tomorrow night as number one seeded Penn State takes on eighth seeded Virginia Tech with a spot in the Sweet 16 on the line. Steve Mason talked with both teams this afternoon inside Cassell Coliseum.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=FIRST AUDIO]
[SUPER=@steve1; ;00]
[SUPER=01-Kerri Gardin/VT Sophomore Guard; :23]
[SUPER=01-Kelly Mazzante/Averages 20 Points a Game for Penn State; :37]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg/Sunday; :45]
[SUPER=01-Bonnie Henrickson/Virginia Tech Head Coach; :1:09]
[SUPER=01-Rene Portland/Penn State Head Coach; 1:33]
[RUNS=2:05]
[OUT Q=...NEWS 7 SPORTS."]
(---------------)



[S-NCAA]


[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=men's final four]

The Men's madness resumes on Thursday night here on WDBJ-7.
(XXXXXXXX)

[GO TO PINNACLE THURSDAY NIGHT] The U-Conn Huskies take on the Vanderbilt Commodores in the opening game - while the night cap on Thursday will feature Wake Forest and number one seed St. Joes.
(XXXXXXXXX)

[GO TO FRIDAY PINNACLE] Friday fans will get a chance to see Kentucky killer - UAB take on Kansas in the early game that will be followed by Duke and Illinois.
(-------------)
[TALENT=MIKE]
[GRAPHIC=JMU]

JMU is of course not in the NCAA tournament, but the Dukes are in the market for a coach.
[GRAPHIC=LARRY EUSTACHY]

And this past weekend - Larry Eustachy was on campus in Harrisonburg. He's the former Iowa State coach who lost his job after pictures of him partying with coeds showed up on the internet.

[S-NFL]


[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=sp-167 413]
[GRAPHIC=NFL]
[ENG#=3]


Need more proof that life in the NFL is really all about the money. Less than 15 months after winning their first Super Bowl title the Tampa Bucs are breaking into pieces. Tonight, John Lynch signed with the Broncos -
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-NFL; :00]

while Warren Sapp met the media in Los Angeles today to talk about why he's a Raider with Norv Turner. And Keyshawn Johnson, officially played Meet the Press in Dallas with his new team the Cowboys.
(------------)



[WIPE TO ENG#]



[S-Fame]


[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=11pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=sp-168 2253tc]
[GRAPHIC=NFL]



[ENG#=4]

[WIPE TO ENG]
(-----------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Canton, OH; :00]

This year's Hall of Fame preseason game in Canton, Ohio on August 9th will feature Joe Gibbs and the Redskins taking on the Denver Broncos. It will mark the first time in history that a hall of famer will coach in the hall of fame game. Gibbs was inducted into the hall in 1996.
(------------)


[TOSS TO BREAK]

[Robot-Olympics]


[ANCHOR=Jean]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=jja]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=1]


The term 'olympic medal' usually refers to the awards... not so in San Francisco where the COMPETITORS are made of metal.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-San Francisco, CA]

These games are known as the robo-olympics.
Check out this fighting- robot style.
Other events include soccer, sumo wrestling and running performed by .. you guessed it... robotic athletes: 4-hundred in all.
Professional engineers from 11 countries brought their toughest competitors.
Most of the brains behind the metal brawn are hobbyists.
About 100 children also entered their robots in the competition.
The Robotic Society of America sponsors this competition. (------------)
by SS