WDBJ 7 news at 6 for 05/10/04

[1-News-Head]

[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

It seems Blacksburg Town Council got the message and won't wait for new members to scrap Toms Creek Sewer plans.
(------------)
[ENG#=1]
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
And the Governor comes to town, declaring the new state budget as sweeping tax reform.
(------------)

[Sports-Head]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
[ENG#=2]
Tonight on News & Sports - Hockey, a Hot game, and Highlanders are all making news.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Plus, after a week off - the Cup cars are ready to invade Richmond.
(------------)

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

Raindrops and hailstones highlight the weather story tonight. We will check in the stormiest locations with Skytracker 7 in a moment.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith 4-Shot]

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

[ENG#=3]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
Blacksburg could be flushing its plans for a new sewer line down the drain.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
Town council may stop the controversial Tom's Creek Sewer project.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

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

And I'm Shannon Young.
[B'burg-Sewer]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=04-09 TC1:08:34]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
Blacksburg Town Council meets tomorrow night and IS expected to take a vote on whether to end the controversial Toms Creek Sewer project.
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

The issue's been debated for months and and there's even a lawsuit pending against the town because of the plan.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith-Shannon & Rachel/Microwave;]
New River Valley Bureau Chief Rachel DePompa has details on the town council's next move. Rachel?
[LIVE= Rachel /FULL Microwave]
[SUPER=@Rachel1;]
[SUPER=05-Blacksburg]
Keith/Shannon, Many in the town have said, the May 4th election really sealed the projects fate. Three outspoken candidates against the Toms Creek project were elected by a landslide and it now appears the current town council is taking that vote to heart.
[ENG#=4]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg/File Tape]
The plan was to extend a 12 mile sewer line along the Tom's Creek Basin to bring much needed service to that end of town and to prepare for future growth. Those against the project didn't like the type of sewer system that was to be used and wanted the line to travel down route 460 INSTEAD OF along the creek. Listed on tomorrow night's agenda are plans to reject all bids, reject the sale of the bond and terminate all offers to purchase land needed to extend the line. The council still has to vote, but the items are listed in the consent agenda, where there's usually no discussion and just a quick vote to accept it.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT:50:44:00]
[IN Q=BASICALLY ]
((HEATHER BROWNING: BASICALLY WHAT IT DOES IS JUST CANCEL THE TOM'S CREEK SEWER PROJECT AND LEAVES THE ISSUE UP FOR DISCUSSION WHEN OUR NEW COUNCIL COMES ON JULY FIRST. ))
[SUPER=01-Heather Browning/Blacksburg Spokesperson;]
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q=ON JULY FIRST.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The new council members have already told me they plan to revisit the sewer issue and discuss all options out there. They say they DO plan on bringing a sewer line to Tom's Creek.
(------------)
[LIVE= Rachel /FULL Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Blacksburg;]
There's also a lawsuit still pending against the town. It's STILL on the court docket for this Thursday. Sources tell me the judge will cancel the hearing and the case will be officially withdrawn IF council formally votes to cancel the project tomorrow night.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith-Shannon & Rachel /Microwave;]
Keith and Shannon, The meeting's tomorrow night at town hall at 7:30.

[Bus-Accident]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=04-14 TC1:06:25]
[GRAPHIC=Bus Accident]
[ENG#=1]
The bus driver involved in a school bus accident in Montgomery County is back on the road.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Montgomery Co./April 27;]
61 year old Bradford Charles Grems of Blacksburg was at the wheel when this school bus overturned on Camp Carrysbrook road in the Riner Section of Montgomery County. No one was injured. The school board has ruled the accident was not his fault although state police charged him with reckless driving. Members believe the road is too narrow. The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors is meeting with V-DOT tonight to discuss several future road projects including fixing Camp Carrysbrook Road.
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[Morris]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6 p.m.]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=04-03 TC1:33:49]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=2]
A James River High School student who died this weekend was most likely the victim of a fall or drowning.
(------------)
[VO NAT :19]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.;]
17-year old Aaron Morris of Buchanan disappeared after a party at a private campground on the James River near Springwood Drive late Saturday night. His body was found about 20-hours later. Authorites say it appears he fell over a 14-foot drop and ended up in a water-filled drainage way. An autopsy is being conducted.
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[Radford-Shooting]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=04-10 TC1:03:34]
[GRAPHIC=Shooting]
Radford Police are still looking for a second suspect in connection with last week's fatal shooting.
(XXXXXXXXX)
[TAKE BROWN FS ] Aamir Darrin Lewis Brown turned himself in this weekend. He's charged with capital murder in the death of Brian Keith Gray.
[ENG#=3]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Radford/May 4;]
Gray and his roommate ,Forrest Hart, were both shot in what police are calling an apparent home invasion robbery. Hart is expected to recover from his injuries. Investigators say they are still looking for one more person. If you have any information call the Radford Police.
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[Warner]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=Six]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=04-07 TC1:39:49]
[GRAPHIC=VA Budget]

Governor Mark Warner says last week's budget compromise reflects the most sweeping tax reform of any state in the nation.
Today, in Roanoke he thanked supporters who helped win General Assembly approval. [***NEWS 7 @ 6 IN MONITOR***]
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith & JoeD/Newsroom;]

Joe Dashiell has more tonight on the Governor's visit and the reaction of local lawmakers.
[LIVE= JoeD /FULL Newsroom]
[SUPER=@Joe1;]

Keith, Governor Warner has been counting the days, 168 in fact, since he outlined his tax reform plan at a southeast Roanoke firehouse.
He didn't get everything he wanted, but today he argued the compromise includes meaningful tax relief for many, provides new revenues for education and other important services and preserves the state's fiscal integrity.
[ENG#=4]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Over the course]
[SUPER=@markwarner; :00]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :]
[SUPER=01-Sen. Brandon Bell/(R) Roanoke; :]
[SUPER=01-Del. Onzlee Ware/(D) Roanoke; :]
[RUNS=1:14]
[OUT Q=so I am happy about that.]
((
[SOT]
[IN Q=Over the course]
((OVER THE COURSE OF THIS LAST 168 DAYS,THERE WERE MANY NAYSAYERS. FORTUNATELY THOSE CRITICS AND CYNICS WERE IN THE MINORITY.))
[RUNS= :10]
[OUT Q=were in the minority.]

Governor Warner said the visit wasn't a Victory Tour, instead a chance to report on the recent compromise and to thank the bipartisan coalition that made it happen.
But as state lawmakers, local officials, and Democratic supporters gathered outside of the Roanoke Higher Education Center, Warner said he got most of what he wanted.
[SOT]
[IN Q=In terms of tax reform]
((IN TERMS OF THE TAX REFORM WE GOT ABOUT 80 PERCENT OF WHAT WE ASKED FOR AND CONSIDERING HOW ROCKY THIS PROCESS WAS 80 PERCENT IS PRETTY GOOD. IN TERMS OF THE INVESTMENT WE GOT EVEN MORE THAN WE WERE LOOKING FOR IN TERMS OF INVESTMENT IN K-12 AND HIGHER EDUCATION AND PUBLIC SAFETY AND HEALTH CARE.))
[RUNS= :17]
[OUT Q=public safety and health care.]

If the budget compromise brought a sigh of relief from some who feared a government shutdown, local lawmakers say the plan represents a starting point.
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
((SEN. BRANDON BELL/(R) ROANOKE: I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SEEN MORE REFORM AND LESS TAX INCREASES, AND I THINK THAT SOMETHING FOR US TO CONTINUE TO DEBATE OVER TIME, DO WE HAVE A FAIR SYSTEM.)) ((DEL. ONZLEE WARE/(D) ROANOKE: BUT IT IS A STEP FORWARD, A HISTORICAL STEP FORWARD, BECAUSE WE HADN'T EVEN SERIOUSLY TALKED ABOUT ANY TYPE OF TAX REFORM IN VIRGINIA, SO I WOULD GIVE THE GOVERNOR AN A PLUS ON MOVING THE DEBATE FORWARD SO I AM HAPPY ABOUT THAT.))
[RUNS= :22]
[OUT Q=so I'm happy about that.]))
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[LIVE= JoeD /FULL Newsroom]
The budget compromise may ease the immediate financial pressure on state agencies, but Warner says his administration will not retreat from efforts to make state government more efficient.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith & JoeD /Newsroom;]
Now, the Governor says the challenge is to demonstrate that the additional investment is money well- spent.

[Tease#1]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
[SS=NONE]
[ENG#=V10]

Air force investigators continue working on the puzzle of last week's fighter jet crash.
Find out what pieces they've found when News 7 returns.
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[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

And one local police department goes high-tech... because criminals are too.
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[1st-Wx]
[Tech-Minorities]
(MINI OPEN)
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=04-13 TC39:45]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

Next year's freshman class at Virginia Tech won't be as diverse as last year's.
[ENG#=1]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;]
The number of minority students entering Tech next fall will drop to just under 13-percent. Applications from both Hispanic and African American students were significantly down. Officials say the controversy over affirmative action last year, the hike in the application fee and the elimination of the application fee WAIVER for minorities could be reasons for the decline.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT4:38:32:00]
[IN Q=With minority]
((MARK MCNAMEE: WITH MINORITY STUDENTS ESPECIALLY I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE EVEN A GREATER EFFORT TO REACH OUT TO THOSE STUDENTS AS WE DO ALL TO STUDENTS. AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO SEE THE BENEFITS OF A VIRGINIA TECH EDUCATION. AND IF WE DO THAT WELL, WE'LL BE ON THE ROAD TO SEEING MUCH GREATER NUMBERS OF MINORITY STUDENTS CHOOSING TO COME HERE. ))
[SUPER=01-Mark McNamee/University Provost;]
[RUNS=:18]
[OUT Q=TO COME HERE.]
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[VO-NAT]
Colleges around the country are also reporting a new trend. More students are opting against telling the schools their race when they apply. 14-percent of Tech's applicants did not declare a race.
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[Vick]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=04-06 TC1:57:20]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=2]
Three Virginia Tech football players may have to wait a little longer to find out their fate.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Quarterback Marcus Vick along with wide receiver Brenden Hill and tailback Mike Imoh are charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg/File Tape;]
The Commonwealth's Attorney is asking for Friday's trial date to be pushed back. Vick is accused of having sex with a 15 year old girl, while Imoh and Hill face charges for allegedly serving alcohol to minors.
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg/File Tape; ]
The Commonwealth says it hasn't had enough time to go over subpoenaed documents or meet with the attorney for the underage girls. A judge will decide whether to postpone the trial tomorrow.
(------------)

[Check-kiter]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A Radford businessman has pled guilty to check kiting more than 900-thousand dollars. Forty-nine year old Robert Adam Sypniewski (sip-NESS-ski) had been passing checks between a couple of banks. The First Century Bank of Bluefield, West Virginia, got stuck holding the bag for 932-thousand dollars. As part of a plea agreement entered today in federal court, Sypniewski agreed to pay the money back. He also faces what the agreement calls a "substantial period of incarceration" when he's sentenced in August.

[Plane-Crash]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=04-12 TC51:14]
[GRAPHIC=F15 Crash Invest.]
[ENG#=3]
Air Force investigators say they're slowly putting together the pieces from last week's fighter jet crash in Franklin County.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co.;]
Investigators located the jet's canopy and ejection seats over the weekend, but they say it still may take several weeks before they find a cause. In the meantime, officials say they're glad to see people are following their requests to direct them to any debris.

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 2517]
[IN Q=OH YEAH]
((CAPT. JEFF JONES/AIR FORCE SPOKESMAN: OH YEAH, ABSOLUTELY! WE'VE HAD SEVERAL CALLS TO THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE ACTUALLY FOUND PIECES OF THE AIRCRAFT, SO WE'RE ASKING THEM TO ONCE AGAIN MARK IT OFF AND GIVE US A CALL.))
[SUPER=01-Capt. Jeff Jones/U. S. Air Force Spokesman;]
[RUNS=12]
[OUT Q=GIVE US A CALL]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The F-15 Eagle crashed Thursday near a home in Callaway. No one was hurt. The crew of the plane that crashed and another one flying with it are still being questioned to determine what happened.
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[Stocks]

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

For the first time in five months, the DOW Industrials closed below the ten-thousand mark. [TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5000;]
[SUPER=440-y/127.32/9990.02/y/21.89/1896.07;]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

The DOW fell 127 points today.
NASDAQ lost 22.
[SUPER=271-i/1.28/40.50/i/0.76/54.89/i/0.56/29.01/i/2.29/85.99/i/0.63/77.92;]
[SUPER=272-i/0.46/33.54/i/0.75/18.51/h/0.02/6.77/i/0.98/62.00/h/0.03/30.03;]
[SUPER=273-i/0.47/8.00/i/1.22/39.55/h/0.04/17.03/i/0.21/23.46/i/0.19/5.43;]
[SUPER=274-i/0.08/12.12/i/5.08/61.80/i/0.43/36.35/i/0.06/44.84/h/1.32/55.22;]
[SUPER=#555; Reset]

[SPONSOR ANNOUNCE]
[COMMERCIAL]

[City-Police]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sba]
[TAPE#=04-08 TC1:51:05]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=1]
New technology is helping a local police agency save time and money, while helping them catch criminals.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
Today the Roanoke Police Department unveiled its Criminal Intelligence and Technology Unit. Right now, the unit is confined to this *small* room, but this high tech editing equipment will be a *big* help to the department by helping to freeze and enhance video. Officials say businesses and crooks have upgraded their technology and now they need to catch up.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT@15:26:37:12]
[IN Q=We put the..]
((DET. MARC CHANDLER/ROANOKE POLICE DEPT.: WE PUT THE THREE TOGETHER SO YOU CAN WATCH IT- ALMOST LIKE YOU'RE WATCHING THE SUSPECT FROM THE BEGINNING TO THE END, INSTEAD OF THREE SEPARATE VIEWS AND IT WILL COME THROUGH RIGHT HERE.))
[SUPER=01-Det. Marc Chandler/Roanoke Police Dept.]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=.. through right here.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The unit was made possible by grants and more than 70-thousand dollars from the city. Right now, the team is made up of seven part-time officers and detectives, but officials hope to add some full-time manpower in the future.
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[New-Badges]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=04-11 TC1:07:02]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=2]

For two and a half centuries they've been protecting the citizens of Bedford County.. and today they have a new badge commemorating those years of service.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford Co.]

Bedford County sheriff Mike Brown today unveiled a 250th anniversary badge members of his department will be wearing for the rest of this year.
It's all part of the county's ongoing 250th birthday celebration.
The badge was created by Lieutenant Tony Martin who incorporated different parts of previous sheriff's badges into the design.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:52:37]
[IN Q=Traditionally for]
((LT. TONY MARTIN/BEDFORD CO. SHERIFF: TRADITIONALLY FOR THE LAST THIRTY OR FORTY YEARS, VIRGINIA SHERIFFS HAVE ALWAYS WORN THE FIVE-POINT STAR. SO WE NEEDED THAT IN THERE AND WE NEEDED THE SHIELD. SO WE BROUGHT BOTH STYLES TOGETHER. WE TRIED TO ADD TO THE VINTAGE LOOK WITH THE BEADED EDGE AND THE SCROLLWORK ON IT.))
[SUPER=01-Lt. Tony Martin/Bedford Co. Sheriff's Dept.]
[RUNS=16]
[OUT Q=scrollwork on it.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Two former sheriffs, Jack Cundiff and Carl Wells, were also presented with new badges.
The badges cost about 38-hundred dollars to produce.
The money came from assets seized from drug dealers.
(------------)

[Sports Tease]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=V10]
Coming up tonight on News 7 sports - John Tortorella's Lightning look to strike twice tonight. Steve Mason checks in with the localized RU baseball team,
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
and Jacksonville is one of nine cities vying to play host to the inaugural ACC football title game.
(------------)

[S-Richmond]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=sp-169 11413TC]
[GRAPHIC=NEXTEL CUP]
[ENG#=1]
The Nextel Cup series rolls into Richmond later this week for the Chevy Revolution 400.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond; :00]
A number of teams tested at the track - but two in particular have tested each others patience of late. Rusty Wallace says he plans to talk with Tony Stewart about his use of the chrome horn when the two arrive for practice on Friday.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=WE'LL DEFINITELY...]
[SUPER=01-Rusty Wallace/Miller Lite Dodge Driver; :00]
[RUNS=:19]
[OUT Q=...HALF AS BAD."]
(----------)
[ANCHOr=mike]
[GRAPHIC=hold nextel]
Rusty has fallen from 8th to 14th in points.

[S-RU]

[ANCHOR=mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-167 1:14:37]
[GRAPHIC=Radford]
[ENG#=2]

Radford University has already clinched a spot in the Big South baseball tournament. The Highlanders are 11 and 7 in conference play and poised to win the school's first ever tournament title. Steve Mason has more.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Radford; :00]
[SUPER=01-Kellen Wohlford/Radford Junior Outfielder; :20]
[SUPER=01-Stuart Ritchie/Radford Senior Shortstop; :41]
[SUPER=01-Justin Tubb/Radford Junior Pitcher; :52]
[SUPER=@Steve1; :57]
[SUPER=01-Lew Kent/Radford Head Baseball Coach; 1:18]
[SUPER=01-Alan Ashworth/Radford Junior Second Baseman; 1:34]
[RUNS=1:48]
[OUT Q=...News 7 sports"]
(----------------)

((They are not the best hitting team or the best pitching team. Their overall record hovers around 500. But RU is 10 and 3 against in state teams Virginia Tech, Richmond, VMI, Liberty, JMU and UVa. The Highlanders lost seventh ranked Virginia 3-2. ((:)) Radford has made one conference championship appearance in its baseball history and the team's defense, which is rated in the top 25 in the nation, will earn the Highlanders their second. ((:)) ((STEVE MASON:THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER RADFORD TEAMS THAT HAVE GRABBED MORE HEADLINES THAN THIS ONE. THE 1995 TEAM, LED BY FORMER NORTHSIDE GREAT KELLY DAMPEER WON A SCHOOL RECORD 30 GAMES AND THEN THERE WAS THE 2000 SQUAD WHICH HAD 6 MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL DRAFT PICKS. BUT COACH LEW KENT WILL MATCH THIS TEAM WITH FOUR SENIORS AGAINST ANYONE.)) ((:)) Perseverance has to have made them stronger also. The Highlanders started the season 3 and 12, losing their first 11 games. ((:)) ((:))
The Big South tournament championship runs from may 26th through the 30th at Winthrop. in Radford Steve Mason news 7 sports.))

[S-NHL]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-171 10253tc]
[GRAPHIC=NHL PLAYOFFS]
[ENG#=3]

The march to the Stanley Cup continues tonight as the Tampa Bay Lightning looks to take a two games to none lead on the Philadelphia Flyers in their best of seven game Eastern Conference final.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Tampa, FL; :00]
Many believe that a win by Tampa Bay tonight will almost assure the franchise of its first ever finals appearance. But true to his coaching form - former Virginia Lancers boss John Tortarella isn't making a big deal of game two on his home ice tonight.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I THINK...]
[SUPER=01-John Tortorella/Lightning Head Coach; :00]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=...every game is important."]
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[S-W&L]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-168 5702tc]
[GRAPHIC=ACC]
[ENG#=4]

The ACC is not having a bit of trouble getting interest in venues to host its first ever football title game. Nine cities have emerged as interested contenders for the inaugural game
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Jacksonville, FL; :00]
including Jacksonville, Florida. Nextel Stadium has recently expanded it would like to host the ACC game a year after it plays host to Super Bowl 39 this coming January. Jacksonville is getting in state competition from Tampa, Miami and Orlando. (------------)