WDBJ 7 news at 6 for 07/13/04

[1-News-Head]

[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

Virginia lawmakers pat themselves on the back after doing an about face.
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[ENG#=1]
[VO-NAT :04]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]
And, Roanoke could have a methadone clinic in under three months.
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[Sports-Head]

[ANCHOR=Travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=2]

Tonight in sports, we'll preview baseball's 75th all star game, check in on Nascar testing at Indy, and
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[VO-NAT]

hit the links on Day one of the Women's City-County.
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[WX-Head]
[ANCHOR=Robin]
[SS=None]

And be prepared for some showers tomorrow with a cool front moving through. Sunny and dry after that.
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[ANCHOR=Keith 4-Shot]

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

[ENG#=3]
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=every]
((EVERY ONCE IN AWHILE WE'RE GOING TO MISS ONE.))
[RUNS=:03 ]
[OUT Q=to miss one]
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[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Ketih 2-Shot]

It was a costly blunder.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

But now the General Assembly has made amends.
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[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

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

And I'm Keith Humphry.
[XGR]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mmu]
[TAPE#=25:28 on 04-27]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

They are supposed to be a part-time legislature but this year the General Assembly has been putting in a full workload.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

Today state lawmakers met for their second special session in a year. They came back to fix a mistake.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith-Shannon & Meghan/Starlink]

Meghan Muldoon joins us now from the State Capitol with the details.
It was a big oops for Virginia's government.
[LIVE=Meghan Full/Starlink]
[SUPER=@meghan1;]
[SUPER=05-Richmond]

As of twelve days ago, a mistake of law entitled weekend workers in the state to take off the Sabbath. But as of 3:30 today, they no longer have that option. [***ROLLED FROM STARLINK***]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=IT WAS AN EMBARRASSING BLUNDER]
[SUPER=03-Richmond; :00]
[SUPER=01-Sen. Fred Quayle/(R) Suffolk; :]
[SUPER=01-Del. Mitch Van Yahres/(D) Albemarle Co.; :]
[SUPER=@Griffith; :]
[SUPER=01-William Howell/(R) Speaker of the House; :]
[SUPER=@MarkWarner; :]
[RUNS=:]
[OUT Q=SINE DIE OF THE YEAR.]
(( It was an embarrassing blunder for lawmakers and Governor Warner.
But no one was as red-faced as Senator Fred Quayle who had introduced the bill that had caused so much trouble.
[SOT ]
[IN Q=]
((01:46:28 I REGRET THE FACT THAT WE HAD TO COME BACK HAVE LEARNED LESSONS FROM THIS THAT WE INTRODUCE. :40)) [RUNS:12]
[OUT Q=.]

In the end, the Senate voted 36 to zero and the House voted 79 to one to make the necessary changes.
The only hold-out was legislator Mitch Van Yahred who said he was speaking up for Virginia's workers.
[SOT ]
[IN Q=]
((02:52:33 let's calm down let ride in January and see how its played out. :38)) [RUNS:05]
[OUT Q=.]

But most legislators felt that Virginia's business community could not afford to wait.
[SOT ]
[IN Q=]
((15:11:27 It's certainly been somewhat unpleasant we had to come if we had been full-time which I'm glad we're not, we would have just papered over it. :37)) [RUNS:10]
[OUT Q=.]

Lawmakers appeared sheepish about returning to Richmond for a second time.
But Speaker Bill Howell managed to find a bright side to it all.
[SOT ]
[IN Q=]
((15:33 I THINK THE PEOPLE TODAY SAY HOW IF WE MAKE A MISTAKE WE CAN CORRECT IT WITH LITTLE DAMAGE OR HARM DONE TO THE PUBLIC I THINK ITS A POSITIVE THING. :43)) [RUNS:10]
[OUT Q=.]

Although it was no laughing matter for the state's business community, the governor found a light-hearted way to sum up the day.
[SOT ]
[IN Q=]
((15:41:46 I THANK YOU FOR DOING IT I HOPE THIS IS THE LAST SINE DIE OF THE YEAR. :52)) [RUNS:06]
[OUT Q=.]))
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[LIVE=Meghan Full/Starlink]
[SUPER=05-Richmond]

were disc
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith-Shannon & Meghan/Starlink]

[581-Bridge]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=Six]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=04-19 TC1:14:05]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=1]

A bridge on Interstate 581 is receiving attention, after small pieces of concrete fell onto Williamson Road this afternoon.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Engineers from the Virginia Department of Transportation were planning to inspect the bridge this afternoon, while crews worked to remove any other loose pieces of concrete.
No one was injured by falling debris, but the incident blocked two lanes of traffic on Williamson Road.
Crews will resume their work under the bridge at 9:30 tomorrow morning.
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[Pulaski-Drowning]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=04-20 TC1:13:05]
[GRAPHIC=Drowning]
[ENG#=2]

A second person in less than a week has drowned in the New River.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pulaski Co.;]
A Dublin man drowned this morning in the Parrot section of Pulaski county. Rescue workers say 56 year old Roger Wayne Hinkley was fishing with his young son this morning when he fell into the water. Several people at the scene tried to rescue him. The body was found about two hours later. They say the river can be more dangerous than you might think.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT:4:45:09:00]
[IN Q=Just be extremely]
((JOHN CASEY/PULASKI CO. EMS: JUST BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL AROUND THE RIVER IF YOU'RE OPERATING IN AND AROUND THE NEW RIVER. EVEN IF YOU'RE FISHING OR JUST WADING IN SHALLOW WATER PLEASE WEAR A LIFE SAFETY REST AND MAKE SURE YOU'RE WITH OTHER PEOPLE.))
[SUPER=01-John Casey/Pulaski Co. EMS;]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=other people.]
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[VO-NAT]
Another man drowned last Wednesday in the New River near Radford.
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[Merchant's-Tax]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=04-16 TC1:55:26]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=3]

One of Montgomery County's mega- auto dealers says he will not avoid the next assessment of the county's controversial merchant's tax.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Montgomery Co.;]
David Hagan of the Shelor Motor Mile told New 7 today that his cars will stay put January first. For several years, dealers have moved their cars to other counties to avoid paying the Capital Merchant's Tax. Last night the board of supervisors cut the tax in half. Hagan says he thinks the county will actually reap more revenue next year because of the lowered rate. Though the dealership won't be moving its cars, Hagan says he will continue to hold tax- day sales to reduce his inventory before the assessment.
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[Alleghany-Vandalism]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sba]
[TAPE#=04-17 TC1:11:35]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=4]
Three more teenagers have been charged in connection with vandalism at Alleghany High School. The boys who range in age from 15 to 17- join two other teens charged yesterday. Today, Susan Bahorich visited the school where the priorities are clean-up and recovery.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=There's an empty space...]
[SUPER=03-Low Moor]
[SUPER=04-September 12, 1997]
[SUPER=01-Dale Muterspaugh/Alleghany Co. Sheriff]
[SUPER=01-Kenny Higgins/Alleghany H. S. Principal]
[SUPER=@SUSAN2]
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=SB, News7, Low Moor.]
((There's an empty space in the trophy case at Alleghany High School...
[NATS@9:30:06.23] ((THIS IS WHERE THE BRACKMAN CUP WAS LOCATED...)) [RUNS:04]
Named for late, local sportswriter Emory Brackman- the cup was awarded every year to the winner of the Alleghany - Covington football game. It's a prized possession the school wants back.

[SOT@9:27:11.16]
[INQ=It symbolizes...]
((DALE MUTERSPAUGH/ALLEGHANY COUNTY SHERIFF: IT SYMBOLIZES WHAT'S GOOD- THE GOOD THINGS IN THE COMMUNITY- THAT'S THE BEST WAY TO SAY IT.)) [RUNS:07]
[OUTQ=... way to say it.]

The Brackman Cup was taken sometime late last week after deputies say a group of Alleghany teens vandalized their own school.
[NATS@9:46:05.24] ((NOISE- VACUUMING)) [RUNS:04]
While the search continues for the trophy- clean up efforts are ongoing.
[NATS@9:38:59.00]
[INQ=This whole area..]
((THIS WHOLE AREA WAS COVERED WITH GLASS, PAPERS EVERYWHERE, FIREEXTINGUISHERS DISCHARGED ON TOP OF THE DESK.)) [RUNS:09]
[OUTQ=... top of the desk.]

The estimated 25-thousand dollars in damages will be covered by insurance and will eventually be repaired, but Principal Kenny Higgins worries the actions of a few students will ruin the reputation of the other 800 kids who attend the school.

[SOT@9:34:14.14]
[INQ=Our students have...]
((KENNY HIGGINS, ALLEGHANY H.S. PRINCIPAL: OUR STUDENTS HAVE DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB. STUDENTS ARE VERY CONCERNED AND WANT TO FIND OUT WHO DID THIS TO THEIR SCHOOL. IT SHOWS A LOT FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE AT THIS HIGH SCHOOL.)) [RUNS:11]
[OUTQ=... this high school.]
Officials say the destruction won't affect the start of the new school year. Susan Bahorich, News 7, Low Moor. ))

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

Why was a Wythe County woman allowed to return home from a nursing home... only to be neglected and die?
We'll have some answers in just a moment on News 7 at Six.
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[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

And you might say he's leaving the nest. What's ahead for the curator of Mill Mountain Zoo.
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[1st-Wx]
[Wythe-Abuse]
(MINI OPEN)
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=04-22 TC54:52]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]
Since we first reported the story of a Wythe County woman partially eaten by her own dogs, people have been asking why she was released from a nursing home in the first place.
[ANCHOR=Shannon 2-Shot]

65 year old Esther Crigger was found dead last week. Her family is charged with abuse and neglect.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith-Shannon & Rachel/Microwave;]
New River Valley Bureau Chief Rachel DePompa is in Blacksburg. Rachel, why didn't social services step in?
[LIVE= Rachel /FULL Microwave]
[SUPER=@Rachel1;]
[SUPER=05-Blacksburg;]
Keith and Shannon, because... legally... they had NO right to. I spoke with the director of the Wythe County Social Services this afternoon. Mike Hall tells me because of the ongoing investigation and patient confidentiality issues, he can not say much. But he does says, social services was aware that 65 year old Esther Crigger was released from the Asbury Place Nursing home. He says it was Esther's decision and she was fully aware of the circumstances. He says the state could not have intervened unless a judge ruled her mentally incompetent.
[ENG#=1]
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Wythe Co./Last Week;]
Esther arrived home on a Saturday and was found dead on Tuesday. Deputies say her respirator was unplugged and her diaper had never been changed. They say, when she was found, her dogs had partially eaten her left arm. Her husband, 79 year old Elmer Crigger and her sons, Daniel and Donald Crigger are all charged with felony abuse and neglect of an incapacitated adult and one count of animal cruelty. Their 22 dogs are being held at the Wythe County Animal Shelter. They are said to be in good condition.
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[LIVE= Rachel /FULL Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Blacksburg;]
Hall plans to discuss this case in closed session at this Thursday's Social Services board meeting. He says the case could prompt new laws that would allow the state to step in... in a case like this and help.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Keith-Shannon & Rachel/Microwave;]
Keith and Shannon, Hall says it's a balancing act between a patient's rights and their potential safety.

[Vick]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=Marcus Vick]
Suspended quarterback Marcus Vick won't be back in court in this part of the state until November. That's the earliest Montgomery County Circuit Court could schedule his NEW trial for taking advantage of under-age girls. Vick is appealing his Juvenile Court conviction where he got time to serve plus a fine. He was suspended from the Virginia Tech football team last week, after being arrested for reckless driving and possession of marijuana.

[House-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=04-29 TC19:54]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]
[ENG#=2]

Authorities have determined what caused a house to explode yesterday morning in Franklin County.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co./Yesterday]
Officials say a propane leak led to the explosion and fire at the home on Pine Haven Lane, near Smith Mountain Lake. The home is a total loss with damage estimated at about 125-thousand dollars.
The house was unoccupied, and no one was hurt. Officials say the owner lives in Florida.
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[Methadone-Clinic]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=Six]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=04-28 TC26:38]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=3]

The company planning a methadone clinic in Roanoke now says it hopes to be "up and running in 90 days or less."
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

CRC Health Corporation is moving forward with plans for the facility on Hershberger Road.
Today CRC Vice President Joe Pritchard said the company has slowed down the process because it wants "the opportunity to meet with local groups and develop working relationships."
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[ANCHOR=Keith]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Members of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and residents of the neighborhood continue to oppose the project.

[Stocks]

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

A quiet day on Wall Street ahead of an earnings report from Intel. [TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5000;]
[SUPER=440-x/9.37/10247.59/y/5.26/1931.66;]
[ANCHOR=Keith 2-Shot]

The DOW gained nine points.
NASDAQ lost five.
[SUPER=271-i/0.60/40.30/i/0.47/49.27/h/0.04/31.43/h/2.89/91.31/h/0.28/85.13;]
[SUPER=272-i/0.12/37.26/h/0.23/19.09/i/0.12/5.39/i/0.03/62.57/h/0.24/32.84;]
[SUPER=273-h/0.19/9.71/h/0.53/40.65/h/0.09/17.20/i/0.13/25.67/i/0.20/4.76;]
[SUPER=274-i/0.04/14.45/h/0.11/66.11/i/0.35/35.40/h/0.44/44.80/h/0.80/53.01;]
[SUPER=#555; Reset]

[SPONSOR ANNOUNCE]
[COMMERCIAL]

[L'burg-Council]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=04-21 TC38:22]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=1]

Finding ways to get around downtown Lynchburg dominated much of city council's work session this afternoon.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

Council approved spending more than 160-thousand dollars on a pedestrian bridge that would connect two sections of the Blackwater Creek bike and hiking trail.
It also will provide another way for tourists to walk from the Amazement Square children's museum to the Point of Honor historical site.
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[SOT 10:20:18]
[IN Q=So this bridge]
((TOM LEDFORD/LYNCHBURG MUSEUMS DIRECTOR: SO THIS BRIDGE, EVEN THOUGH IT IS A PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE, WILL BECOME A VERY IMPORTANT ACCESS POINT. POINT OF HONOR AS AN OPEN-EVERY-DAY MUSEUM WOULD LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING MORE CLOSELY WITH AMAZEMENT SQUARE WITH SHARED PROGRAMS.))
[SUPER=01-Tom Ledford/Lynchburg Museums Director]
[RUNS=16]
[OUT Q=with shared programs.]
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[VO-NAT]

Council also will spend 15-thousand dollars to study converting Main and Church Streets to two-way traffic.
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[Zoo-Curator]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6 p.m.]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=04-18 TC1:27:45]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=2]

Mill Mountain Zoo will soon try to catch a new curator.
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[VO-NAT :22]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
Dave Wood has been what he calls "conductor" of the Roanoke attraction for more than four years. But next month he'll leave the Star City to take over the curator position at Virginia Safari Park in Natural Bridge.

The opportunity will allow him to work with his wife, Laurie, who'll leave her position with Roanoke City to handle the park's education and marketing programs.
(///// SOT at :22 /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=We love this area...]
((DAVE WOOD/CURATOR, MILL MOUNTAIN ZOO: WE LOVE THIS AREA AND OUR HOME AT SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE AND THIS GAVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK TOGETHER AGAIN SO THAT WAS THE SELLING POINT.)) [BUTT BUTT BUTT] ((LAURIE SMITH WOOD/ROANOKE OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS: WE SPENT ABOUT EIGHT YEARS WORKING TOGETHER AND HAVE FOUND IT'S GOOD FOR OUR MARRIAGE.))
[SUPER=01-Dave Wood/Mill Mountain Zoo Curator; :00]
[SUPER=01-Laurie Smith Wood/Roanoke Office of Communications; :12]
[RUNS=:22]
[OUT Q=have found it's good for our marriage.]
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[VO-NAT :10]
Of his time at Mill Mountain Wood says he's most proud of acquiring Bo the Wolverine and Lian (LEE-inn), the Szechuan Takin (TOCK-inn), a relative of oxen and mountain goats.
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[Sports tease]

[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=V10]

Coming up, Joe Torre recounts some All Star memories, Dot Bolling and Sara Cole top the leaderboard at the Women's City-County Championship and
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[VO-NAT]

Over 20 teams give the Indianapolis Motor Speedway a workout to get ready for next month's Brickyard 400.
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[S-Golf]

[ANCHOR=Travis]
[NEWSCAST=6:00]
[WRITER=ape]
[TAPE#=sp-181 tc2256]
[GRAPHIC=golf]
[ENG#=1]

The annual Women's City-County golf tournament got underway today over at Hidden Valley Country Club. Intern reporter Allison Perry has more.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Salem; :00]
[SUPER=01-Meg Davies/2003 Women's City-County Winner; :19]
[SUPER=01-Dot Bolling/12 Time Women's City-County Winner; :50]
[SUPER=01-Allison Perry/Intern Reporter; 1:09]
[RUNS=1:19]
[OUT Q=News 7 sports."]
((Sixty one golfers came out to participate in the first round of the Women's City-County, including last year's champion Meg Davies. The rising JMU senior started off strong, posting a 77 to put her only two off the lead. Davies played in the same group with twelve-time winner Dot Bolling.

But it was Bolling's day to lead, firing a three-over 75. She shares the top spot with Countryside's Sara Cole. Bolling managed to shoot par 36 on the front nine despite having to use her husband's clubs. After flying home from Ireland yesterday, Bolling is not only fighting jet lag, she is waiting on her own clubs to make it home. But she still enjoyed playing with her younger competitor, Davies.
Cathi Carter came in at one off the lead with a 76, and Countryside's Marilyn Bussey rounded out the top four with a 79.))

[S-Testing]

[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-167 TC14854]
[GRAPHIC=Nextel Cup]
[ENG#=3]

Kasey Kahne's crew chief Tommy Baldwin has been fined 10 grand for his part in the brawl on pit road during Sunday's Cup race in Chicago. Baldwin has also been placed on probation until December.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Indianapolis, IN; :00]

Kahne is one of 22 drivers testing at Indy this week for the August 8th Brickyard 400.
It's the rookie's first look at the historic track, where he'd like nothing better than to pick up his inaugural Cup win.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Kasey Kahne/14th in Points Standings; :05]
[SUPER=01-Jeff Gordon/3rd in Points Standings; :24]
[RUNS=:33]
[OUT Q=a very special place."]
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[S-Tour]

[ANCHOR=travis]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-170]
[GRAPHIC=Tour de France]
[ENG#=4]

With some tough climbs through the Alps still to come, the Tour de France rolled through the central part of the country today as Lance Armstrong continued to lay back.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Gueret, France/OLN; :00]

The Texan was 44th in today's undulating, hilly 9th stage.
Australian Robbie McEwen became the first two stage winner this year, using a burst of speed at the end.
The 32 year old passed about a dozen riders down the stretch, and then threw his bike ahead of Norway's Thor Hushovd for the victory in a photo finish. (------------)