[1-News-Head]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]

Until lawmakers reach a budget, students banking on Virginia Tech will have to leave next year's tuition check bl
ank.
(------------)
[ENG#=1]
[VO-NAT :05]


And a Roanoke woman says a city police dog took a bite out of more than crime.
(------------)


[Sports-Head]


[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
[ENG#=2]

Tonight on News 7 sports - a couple of Dodge teams test today at Martinsville,
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


and Billy Miles lives in Salem - but he won't be coaching there - as the veteran football coach decides to stay at Franklin County.
(------------)

[WX-Head]
[ANCHOR=Robin]
[SS=None]


A pleasant weather day but changes tomorrow include plenty of clouds and occasional showers as well. More on the forecast coming up. [Open]
[SUPER=#4054; News 7 at Six Headline Banner]
[SUPER=#303;]
[SUPER=@Keith1;]
[SUPER=@Shannon1;]
[SUPER=@Mike1;]
[SUPER=@Robin1;]
[RUNS=:20]



[Video-Open]


[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=Video Open]
[GRAPHIC=News7at6]
[ENG#=3]
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT:51:23:00 ]
[IN Q=The families]

((CHARLES STEGER: THE FAMILIES OF OUR STUDENTS NEED TO START PLANNING AND THE UNIVERSITY NEEDS TO PLAN.))
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=to plan.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Richmond's budget stalemate keeps Virginia Tech on edge.
The university "will" raise tuition next year, but by how much, is unclear.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon]


Good evening, I'm Shannon Young. Keith is off tonight.

[Tech-Visitors]


[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=04-01 1:26:15]
[GRAPHIC=Va Tech Tuition Hike]

Students at Virginia Tech may want to start saving their dollars. Tuition is going up next year, but no one knows by how much.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Shannon & Rachel/Microwave;]


New River Valley Bureau Chief Rachel DePompa was at today's Board of Visitor's meeting and has the details. Rachel?
[LIVE=Rachel Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=@Rachel1;]
[SUPER=05-Blacksburg;]


Shannon, because Richmond hasn't set a budget, Tech can't set its tuition rates.
The school doesn't know how much money its getting from the state.
So the Board of Visitors voted today to approve a tuition increase with a maximum of 9.6-percent.
[ENG#=4]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It will ]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;:00]
[SUPER=01-Allan Bradley/Tech Senior;:18]
[SUPER=01-Myrna Callison/Graduate Student;:44]
[SUPER=01-Charles Steger/University President;1:10]
[RUNS=1:20]
[OUT Q=Goal for us.]


((It will definitely cost more to go to Virginia Tech next year, but how much more is still the big question.
QUICK NAT- MEETING
The Board of Visitors usually sets rates this time of year, but with lawmakers only agreeing to disagree, Tech officials can really only sit and stew.

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT:58:35:00 ]
[IN Q=The general]

((ALLAN BRADLEY: THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY I DON'T THINK FULLY REALIZES WHAT AN ASSET THE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM IS IN THE STATE AND THEY'RE KIND OF PUTTING IT OFF TO THE BACK BURNER AND ITS DETRIMENT NOW THAT THEY ARE TAKING TOO LONG.)) [RUNS:12]
[OUT Q=taking too long.]


[INSERT GRAPHIC HERE] The board was able to set a maximum tuition increase for next year. It's 9.6-percent. That has in-state undergrad's paying an extra 883 dollars and out of state undergrads dishing out 1,844 more dollars. [END OF GRAPHIC]

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT:56:45:00 ]
[IN Q=The concern]

((MYRNA CALLISON: THE CONCERN IS HOW MANY ARE WE GOING TO ELIMINATE BECAUSE OF THIS RATE HIKE, BUT AGAIN, KNOWING THAT THE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS TO BE SUSTAINED THERE'S SOME HARD DECISIONS BEING MADE HERE. AND I UNDERSTAND WHY THIS IS BEING DONE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME THE CONCERNS ARE STILL THERE REGARDING WHO WILL BE ABLE TO COME AND WHO WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND.)) [RUNS:15]
[OUT Q=not be able to attend.]


Even with a nearly 10-percent hike in tuition Tech would remain the most affordable university in the state. And financial aid packages would also be padded with a little more money.

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT: 53:28:00 ]
[IN Q=We want to]

((CHARLES STEGER:WE WANT TO INCREASE THE FINANCIAL AID SO THAT NO STUDENT IS UNABLE TO ATTEND VIRGINIA TECH BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO DO SO. THAT'S A KEY GOAL FOR US.)) [RUNS:10]
[OUT Q=goal for us.]))



[LIVE=Rachel Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Blacksburg;]


The board will vote on the final tuition increase figure at its June meeting.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Shannon & Rachel/Microwave;]


But Shannon, whether or not it's a nearly 10-percent increase won't be known until lawmakers make up their minds.

A lot of nail biting will be going on in Blacksburg over the next few weeks.

[Student-Fall]


[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=04-06 51:47]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=1]


And speaking of Virginia Tech, another student has fallen out a window.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;]


Blacksburg police were responding to a call Saturday night about a loud party at Foxridge Apartments, when they found 24 year old Brian Allen lying on the ground.
Allen had fallen out of a third floor window.
He was treated for minor injuries. Police say alcohol was a factor. Allen is the 12th person to have a major fall, on or near the Tech campus, in the last 6-months.
As for the party, 21 year old Jason Song was charged with violating the town's noise ordinance.
(------------)


[Jail-Death]


[ANCHOR=]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=None]


An inmate at the Roanoke City Jail was found dead this morning in his cell. Deputies say 37-year-old Darryl Anthony Moyer of Roanoke apparently hanged himself with pieces of his bed sheet. Rescue crews tried to revive Moyer, but he was later pronounced dead at Roanoke Memorial Hospital. Moyer was recently convicted on federal drug and weapons charges, and faced up to 10-years in prison. An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death.

[Death-Penalty]


[ANCHOR=Shan]
[NEWSCAST=6 p.m.]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=04-12 09:06]
[GRAPHIC=Death Penalty]
[ENG#=2]

The Supreme Court is considering whether the length to which some states go to administer lethal injections is unconstitutional. At issue is the death penalty case of convicted triple-murderer David Larry Nelson.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :25]
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg/1997]

But the high court's decision could affect the local murder case of James Edward Reid. Reid was scheduled to die by lethal injection last December for killing an 87-year old Christiansburg woman in 1997. But a federal appeals court stayed the execution. Reid's attorney says it appears his client's veins would need to be sliced to allow for the lethal injection, amounting to cruel and unusual punishment.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[GRAPHIC=Hold]

Virginia is one of 14 states that allows such a practice.

[Police-Dogs]


[ANCHOR=Susan]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sba]
[TAPE#=04-02 1:47:14]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=3]

A Roanoke woman says she paid a painful penalty for a police dog's mistake. And civil rights leaders say the incident raises a lot of questions. Susan Bahorich has the story.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It's been]



[SUPER=01-Betty Ramey/Victim;:11]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;:31]
[SUPER=@SUSAN1;:38]
[SUPER=01-Sgt. Mac Babb/Roanoke Police Dept.;1:01]
[SUPER=01-Rev. Carl Tinsley/Roanoke NAACP;1:20]
[RUNS=1:43]
[OUT Q= SB, NEWS 7, ROANOKE.]


(( It's been more than two-weeks since a Roanoke Police rottweiler attacked Betty Ramey.

[SOT@15:41:18:00]
[INQ=I unlocked the..]

((BETTY RAMEY, VICTIM: I UNLOCKED THE DOOR (NATS) WITH THIS HAND. NOW, I OPEN THE DOOR, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN HE GRABS MY ARM.))
[RUNS= :10]
[OUTQ=... GRABS MY ARM.]


Ramey and her son have filed complaints with the department siting brutality and forced entry. Since the incident is currently under investigation, police won't speak specifically about it, but what they do say is- officers chased a suspect to here on Kellogg Avenue and once the suspect got out of the car, they released the dog.


[SOT@16:10:43:04]
[INQ=Currently there are..]

((SUSAN BAHORICH, REPORTING: CURRENTLY THERE ARE FIVE-DOGS ON ROANOKE POLICE'S K9 UNIT, AND OFFICIALS SAY AS FAR AS THEY CAN TELL - THIS IS THE FIRST COMPLAINT.))
[RUNS= :08]
[OUTQ=.. FIRST COMPLAINT.]


Sgt. Mac Babb of the Roanoke Police Department says dogs in the K9 unit are thoroughly trained. The dogs, like the ones shown here- go through 8 to 12 weeks of initial training and then an additional 16-hours a month.

[SOT@16:06:56:14]
[INQ=TYPICALLY IF THE DOG..]

((SGT. MAC BABB, ROANOKE POLICE DEPARTMENT: TYPICALLY IF THE DOG IS ABLE TO TARGET AN INDIVIDUAL HE WILL TRACK THE SAME PERSON HE'S GONE AFTER, BUT WHEN K9 HANDLERS DO TRAINING- EVEN AMONG THE POLICE DEPARTMENT- THEY AREN'T ABLE TO DIFFERENTIATE EVEN AMONG POLICE OFFICERS.))
[RUNS= :14]
[OUTQ=... POLICE OFFICERS.]


But Reverend Carl Tinsley of the Roanoke NAACP says this incident is a symptom of a bigger problem.

[SOT@15:57:45:05]
[INQ=If they can sit down...]

((REV. CARL TINSLEY, ROANOKE NAACP: IF THEY CAN SIT DOWN AND SAY WE NEED TO CHANGE OUR TACTICS WE NEED TO BE MORE CONSCIOUS OF PEOPLE'S RIGHTS. WE CAN'T TREAT PEOPLE ANYWAY WE WANT TO, WE'RE POLICEMEN, WE HAVE THE POWER- WE ALSO HAVE THE POWER TO TREAT THEM RIGHT.))
[RUNS= :15]
[OUTQ=... TREAT THEM RIGHT.]


And, Betty Ramey says something should be done before the dogs attack the wrong person again. SB, News 7, Roanoke.))

[Tease#1]
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[SS=NONE]
[ENG#=V10]


Spring break is still on. Still ahead, which school district will keep its April vacation days.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]


And it's cleanup time in Richmond, but for some students who lost everything, it's time to start over.
(----------------)

[1st-Wx]



[First-Wx]
[ANCHOR=Robin]



[SS=NONE]WEATHER CENTER Position #1


[WXPRO/FULL]WEATHER MAP TOMORROW FORECAST
[COMMERCIAL]

[Richmond-fire]


[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=03-55 1:57:18]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]
[ENG#=1]
(MINI-OPEN)

[MINI-OPEN]
It was Richmond's most destructive fire in decades.
Residents there are still mopping up after Friday's blaze.
And as Meghan Muldoon reports, some are starting over.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=ONE OF MY ROOMATES CALLED]
[SUPER=03-Richmond; :13]
[SUPER=01-Mark Robbins/Lost Apartment in Fire; :23]
[SUPER=01-Paul Timmreck/VCU Office of Finance; 1:02]
[RUNS=1:34]
[OUT Q=MM, NEWS 7, RICHMOND]



(([SOT :57:54]

((MARK ROBBINS/APARTMENT DESTROYED IN FIRE: ONE OF MY ROOMMATES CALLED ME AND TOLD ME OUR HOUSE IS ON FIRE I TRIED TO RUN BACK TO SEE IF I COULD GET HERE IN TIME TO GRAB ANYTHING FROM MY ROOM BUT I COULDN'T CROSS ANY OF THE STREETS BECAUSE EVERYTHING WAS BLOCKED OFF. WHEN I GOT HERE OUR HOUSE WAS JUST IN FLAMES.))
[RUNS= :13]


It has been three days since a fire raged near downtown Richmond and debris is still falling.
and victims like Mark Robbins, a V-C-U student, are still picking up the pieces.
[SOT :58:27]

((MARK ROBBINS/LOST APARTMENT IN FIRE: ALL OF OUR ELECTRONICAL STUFF ALL OF OUR CLOTHES. TWO OF MY ROOMMATES LITERALLY LOST EVERYTHING THEY OWN.))
[RUNS= :08]


14 buildings have been condemned and nine families displaced.
[SOT :57:09]

((MEGHAN MULDOON REPORTING: THIS ROW OF HOUSES IS THREE BLOCKS FROM WHERE THE FIRE STARTED BUT NOT FAR ENOUGH AWAY TO AVOID THE RAGING INFERNO.))
[RUNS= :07]


The flames destoyed this five-story apartment building under construction and blew out the windows and burned holes in the roof of this academic building across the street.
V-C-U officials say despite the damage their facility, they are feeling lucky.
[SOT :44:44]

((PAUL TIMMRECK/VCU OFFICE OF FINANCE: WE DODGED A HUGE SILVER BULLET ON THIS. WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE FACT THAT THE FLAMES WERE A HUNDRED FEET IN THE AIR COMPLETELY ARCED OVER SIX LANES HERE ON BROAD STREET. WE WERE VERY VERY FORTUNATE THAT THINGS WERE NOT WORSE.))
[RUNS= :10]


Property damage from the blaze has already reached 20 million dollars and that figure is expected to rise.
The fire has been linked to one death... that of a woman who lost her oxygen supply when power to her home was cut off.
This is what the fire ended up leaving behind but officials still don't know how it started.
Meghan Muldoon, News 7, Richmond.))




[School-Funding]


[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=04-04 1:04:18]
[GRAPHIC=VA Budget]
[ENG#=2]


Local educators are doing a slow burn as lawmakers in Richmond continue the budget stalemate.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Giles Co.;]


Giles County's superintendent say the budget impasse is even starting to affect the classroom.
Bob McCracken says he's supposed to tell teachers by April 15th if they have a job next year.
With no set budget, he says he can't make any guarantees. A lack of job security is keeping teachers from giving their full attention to helping students.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT: 32:29:00 ]
[IN Q=We're coming]
[SUPER=01-Bob McCracken/Giles Co. Superintendent;]

((BOB MCCRACKEN:WE'RE COMING INTO THE LAST WINDOW OF SOL TESTING. WE NEED FULL CONCENTRATION BY OUR FACULTY AND STUDENTS TO DOING THE BEST WORK THEY CAN AND BEING DIVERTED BY THINGS LIKE THE SERCURITY OF MY JOB DOES NOT HELP US IN WORKING WITH CHILDREN.))
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=with children.]
(+++++++)

[TAKE FS GRAPHIC]
Tonight at 7:00, Delegate Jim Shuler will host a public meeting at the Montgomery County Government Center to update citizens and elected officals about the budget.
(------------)


[Franklin-Schools]


[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=04-11 25:47]
[GRAPHIC=School Information]
[ENG#=3]


Students in Franklin County WILL get a Spring Break after all.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co./February 16;]

School officials announced today they will NOT use part of the Spring break schedule next month to make up for snow days. Students have missed 13-days of class this year because of snow. But officials say the kids will still have to spend Memorial Day in school to help accomodate for the lost days.
(------------)


[Stocks]


[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The promise of strong corporate profits gave stocks a boost today. [TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5000;]
[SUPER=440-x/116.66/10329.63/x/32.55/1992.57;]

The Dow climbed 117 points. Nasdaq rose more than 32.
[SUPER=271-h/0.20/39.38/h/0.67/54.28/h/0.14/32.89/h/1.45/89.65/h/0.94/81.04;]
[SUPER=272-h/0.18/35.07/h/0.34/18.95/h/0.05/7.09/h/0.87/63.37/h/0.38/30.48;]
[SUPER=273-h/0.35/7.89/h/0.51/40.01/h/0.17/16.33/h/0.24/21.76/h/0.29/6.19;]
[SUPER=274-h/0.10/14.08/h/0.99/69.88/h/0.26/36.28/h/0.67/46.67/h/0.72/60.13;]
[SUPER=#555; Reset]


[SPONSOR ANNOUNCE]
[COMMERCIAL]

[Smith-Dam]


[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=cja]
[TAPE#=04-08 59:35]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=1]


Naturally-generated electricity was restored in Martinsville today, with just the flick of a switch.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Henry Co.]


The city re-started the hydroelectric dam that had been out of service for more than four months.
A faulty hydraulic line caused the dam to shut down its power generation last November. The city says the much-needed repairs came just in time.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 20:49:04]
[IN Q= Its always]


((WADE BARTLETT/INTERIM CITY MANAGER: IT'S ALWAYS A CRITICAL TIME TO SAVE MONEY FOR THE CITY BUT OUR PEAK LOADS DO OCCUR IN THE SUMMER SO THAT IS AN ISSUE AND WE WANTED TO GET THIS UP AND RUNNING BEFORE THE SUMMER HEAT.))
[SUPER=01-Wade Bartlett/Interim City Manager]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q= summer heat.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


The dam meets only two percent of the city's electrical need. But officials say generating during peak times saves the city a significant amount of money.
(------------)


[New-Stadium]


[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=Six]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=04-05 1:11:42]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=2]


The proposed stadium is still on hold, but the heavy equipment is rolling again on the site near the Roanoke Civic Center.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]


City Council recently put the brakes on the project until after the May elections, but members did allow the contractor to complete site work that was already under way.
The work has been delayed because of winter weather, and more recently, spring rain.
Officials say crews needs another seven to ten days of sunshine to complete the work.
(------------)


[Sports Tease]


[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
[ENG#=V10]

Coming up tonight on News 7 sports - we'll hear from Billy Miles who today turned down the chance to coach football at Salem high school.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

and Evernham Motorsports gives the Martinsville Speedway a workout today. Travis Wells will have that story as well when we return.
(------------)


[S-Salem]


[ANCHOR=mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-170 2711TC]
[GRAPHIC=SALEM COACHING SEARCH]
[ENG#=1]


The Salem high school football coaching search is still ongoing. Three weeks after Willis White's resignation - the top candidate to replace him has told the City...thanks, but no thanks.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-Friday Footbal Extra; :00]

Billy Miles, the head coach at Franklin County for the past four seasons, and an assistant at Salem for 18 years - withdrew his name from consideration for the job today - saying while he torn between two communities - he's staying in Rocky Mount.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=THE PEOPLE...]
[SUPER=01-Billy Miles/Will Stay at Franklin Co.; :00]
[RUNS=:20]
[OUT Q=...been supportive."]
(------------)
[VO-NAT CON'T]

Miles has built the Eagles into annual contenders - now the challenge is to maintain.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=YOU KNOW WE HAVE...]
[RUNS=:20]
[OUT Q=...about it."]
(----------)


[S-Racing]


[ANCHOR=mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-167 TC4649]
[GRAPHIC=Martinsville Speedway]
[ENG#=]


Evernham Motorsports gave the Martinsville Speedway a workout today in preparation for the April 18th Advance Auto Parts 500. That will be the first Martinsville race for rookie driver Kasey Kahne, who has been a quick study in the first 6 races of the season. Travis Wells has more.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Martinsville; :09]
[SUPER=01-Kasey Kahne/11th in Points Standings; :16]
[SUPER=@travis1; :30]
[SUPER=01-Tommy Baldwin/Kahne's Crew Chief; :59]
[SUPER=01-Jeremy Mayfield/8th in Points Standings; 1:24]
[RUNS=1:41]
[OUT Q=News 7 Sports."]

((Despite being wrecked out of yesterday's Food City 500 early, Kasey Kahne is 11th in the Nextel Cup Points chase and is just one of 5 Nascar drivers to have recorded 3 top 5 finishes in his first four races.
Kasey:
Travis: Tommy: Kasey:
One driver who isn't the least bit surprised at Kahne's success is teammate Jeremy Mayfield, who has gotten off to his own solid start this season. Mayfield is 8th in points, just 25 out of 5th.
Mayfield:
Testing continues next week with as many as ten teams scheduled to hit the track Tuesday and Wednesday. In Martinsville, Travis Wells, News 7 Sports.))

[S-Express]


[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=sp-168]
[GRAPHIC=EXPRESS]
[ENG#=3]

Last month when it looked like the only way the Express could make the playoffs was to play perfect hockey - no one expected them to do it. But with just two games left in the regular season - Roanoke has gone from 6th place to 2nd and hasn't lost in its last 12 games. Now the team must stay focused for Friday night's date with slumping Charlotte.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=BITE]
[SUPER=01-Tony MacAulay/Express Head Coach; :00]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=...AS IT COMES."]
(----------)

[WEATHER] [6PM WEATHER]
[SS NONE]
[WEATHERNET/FULL] CLIMATE STATS CURRENT STATS
[MUSIC UNDER] [COMMERCIAL]
[CK/WXPRO] WEATHER MAPS LOCAL FORECASTS EXTENDED FORECAST

[Close]


[ANCHOR=]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=]
[TAPE#]
[GRAPHIC=]
(Weekday 6 only)
[SUPER=x4032; e-mail/Most Watched/Copyright/WEEKDAYS]
SUPER=x4033; Fax/Most Watched/Copyright/WEEKDAYS
(Weekend 6 only)

SUPER=x4031; Fax/Copyright/WEEKENDS SUPER=x4030; e-mail/Copyright/WEEKENDS
by SS