WDBJ 7 news at Noon for 12/20/04

[News-Heads]

[ANCHOR=Kim]

Power outages have been a problem all morning across the region.

We'll have a live update.
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[ENG#=1]
[VO-NAT]

A child playing with matches is said to have caused an apartment fire in Roanoke.
And authorities are still investigating the cause of a blaze in Roanoke County this morning.
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[WX-Head]
[ANCHOR=LEO]
[SS=None]
Pardon adlibs
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

Stay with us. News 7 at noon, starts right now.

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[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
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[VO-NAT]

The first bitter cold blast of the season moves into the area leaving 1500 people without power.
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[WX-Tease] ((KIM TOSS TO LEO)) [12/20/2004]
[SS=NONE]

Stve in WX Center
[WXBUG Full] 2 slides [WXPRO/FULL] STORY
[SS=NONE]

(Steve TOSS TO KIM)

[Cold-Weather]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
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[TAPE#=04-50 34:22]
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[ENG=4]

Temperatures dropped in the single digits last night and strong winds brought branches into power lines... leaving some AEP customers without power.
[ROANOKE DOUBLE BOXES=Kimberly/ Susan Microwave;]

Susan Bahorich is in Roanoke at the corner of Orange Avenue and Williamson Road.
Susan, does AEP have any idea when all the power will be restored?
[LIVE=Susan /FULL]
[SUPER=@Susan1;]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke;]

((ROLLCUE:..a long way off.))
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[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]
[SUPER=01-Jeff Metz/Roanoke Co. Resident;]
[SUPER=01-Todd Burns/AEP Spokesman;]
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[OUT Q=restore those lines]

[TAKE APRISA BOARD FULL]
Susan adlibs
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[SUPER=05-Roanoke ;]
Susan Adlibs

[DOUBLE BOXES=Kim/Susan /Microwave;]
adlibs toss

[ANCHOR=KIMBERLY]
[GRAPHIC=Winter Weather]

The weather has led one child care center to close early.
[TAKE SCHOOLTOUCH FULL]
The Radford Childcare center is closing at one today.

[Fires]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
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[ENG#=2]

A fire yesterday in Roanoke has been ruled an accident.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Yesterday;]
Officials say a child playing with matches started a fire in the upstairs bedroom of this apartment on Indian Village Lane. Three people were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation. Damage was estimated at about five-thousand dollars.
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./This Morning;]
Meanwhile, Roanoke County officials are still trying to determine the cause of a fire this morning. It happened just before seven in the 46-hundred block of Bonsack Road. Firefighters controlled the blaze in about an hour. No one was hurt.
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[MD-Fires]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
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[ENG#=3]

Racial animosity and revenge are said to be the possible motives for the biggest residential arson case in Maryland's history.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Indian Head, MD/File Tape;]

Three of the four suspects charged in the case will appear in a court today.
The fourth will appear tomorrow.
The fires that happened earlier this month destroyed ten houses and damaged 16 others in a development about 30 miles outside D-C.
No one was injured, but the fires caused 10- million- dollars in damage. Many of the homes were still under construction.
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[Stolen-Baby]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
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[ENG#=4]

The woman charged with stealing a baby from her mother's womb is expected to make her first appearance in court today in Kansas.
Following her appearance, Lisa Montgomery will be returned to Missouri, where the crime took place.
And as Kelly Cobiella reports, the baby who survived the ordeal is said to be doing well.
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[SUPER=03-Melvern, KS;]
[SUPER=01-Kelly Cobiella/CBS News;]
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[OUT Q=Cobiella,CBS News, ][Tease1]
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[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[WRITER=tbr]
[ENG#=Aprisa]

Coming up next on the newscast, not one, but two high profile celebrities make appearances in California courtrooms.

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[VO-NAT ]
Plus things got scary at a skating rink last night after a Zamboni exploded.
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[Zamboni-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
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[NO-MINI-OPEN]

[ENG#=2]

A Zamboni machine used to resurface ice exploded last night at an ice rink in Minnesota.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Duluth, MN;]

The blast sent pieces of Plexiglas flying, and eventually ignited a large fire.
About 30 people including two broomball teams, and a few fans were inside when the first explosion occurred.
It was followed by a second and larger blast.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=It sounded like]
((IT SOUNDED LIKE SOMEONE WAS HITTING THE BOARDS AND THEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN YOU CAN TELL SOMETHING WAS GOING ON. YOU COULD HEAR THE EXPLOSION AND SEE THE FLAMES. IT WAS PRETTY WILD. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON, IF THE ROOF WAS GONNA COME DOWN OR WHAT. ))
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=come down or what]
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[VO-NAT]

The building was evacuated, and one broomball player was taken to the hospital with injuries.
Electric sparks flew as the fire made contact with power lines, causing several blocks around the building to lose power.
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[Bush]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
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President Bush says he considers the past year to be a success both at home and abroad.
He faced questions from reporters today at the White House, and spoke about what he sees as the highlights of 2004 and the future.
Aleen Sirgany reports.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Washington, DC;]
[SUPER=01-Aleen Sirgany/CBS News;]
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[OUT Q=Sirgany, CBS News, Washington.]
(( WITH 30 DAYS BEFORE HE'S SWORN INTO A SECOND TERM, PRESIDENT BUSH HELD A NEWS CONFERENCE TO OUTLINE HIS PLANS FOR THE
COUNTRY....TOPPING THE LIST.... A FAMILIAR THEME.....A SECURE AMERICA. (SOT)BUSH THE PRESIDENT SAYS HE'LL CONTINUE TO
FOCUS ON SOCIAL SECURITY REFORM AND MEDICAL MALPRACTICE....BOTH TOP TOPICS ON THE CAMPAIGN TRIAL....... (SOT) AS THE
PRESIDENT PAINTS A PROSPEROUS PICTURE FOR THE UNITED STATES, IN IRAQ...........(NAT) THE VIOLENCE IS AS BAD AS ITS EVER BEEN. THIS WEEKEND ALONE NEARLY 70 PEOPLE WERE KILLED BY INSURGENTS. MORE U.S SOLDIERS HAVE BEEN KILLED SINCE SADDAM HUSSEIN WAS CAPTURED THAN WHEN HE WAS STILL IN HIDING. BUT WITH THE IRAQI ELECTIONS QUICKLY APPROACHING, AND EVEN MO
RE VIOLENCE EXPECTED, PRESIDENT BUSH CONTINUES TO INSIST THE SITUATION WILL IMPROVE. (SOT) (STAND-UP) AND FOR THE SEC
OND TIME...PRESIDENT BUSH HOLDS THE TITLE OF TIME MAGAZINE'S PERSON OF THE YEAR.....HE WON THE FIRST TIME IN 2000 JUST AFTER WINNING PERHAPS THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL U.S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN RECENT HISTORY. HIS JOINS SIX OTHER PRESIDENT'S WHO HAVE TWICE MADE THE MAGAZINE'S COVER AS PERSON OF THE YEAR. ALEEN SIRGANY, CBSNEWS,WASHINGTON. ))

[Blake]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
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[ENG#=]

Another high- profile murder case gets underway in California with opening arguments today.
Actor Robert Blake is standing trial for the murder of his wife, Bonny Lee Bakley.
Bakley was found shot to death more than three years ago, but as Teri Okita reports, Blake says he's innocent of the murder.
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[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Teri Okita/CBS News;]
[SUPER=01-Gerald Schwartzbach/Defense Attorney;]
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[OUT Q=Okita, CBS News, Los Angeles.]
(( TRACK: IT'S A HOLLYWOOD WHO-DUNIT FILLED WITH CRIME AND PASSION. ACTOR ROBERT BLAKE . THE STAR OF THE 70'S SHOW "BARETTA" . SAYS HE DIDN'T KILL HIS WIFE, BONNY LEE BAKLEY. NOW, AFTER MORE THAN THREE YEARS, HE'S FINALLY GETTING HIS DAY IN COURT. TRACK: BACK IN EARLY 2001, BLAKE SAYS, AFTER THE COUPLE DINED TOGETHER, HE WENT BACK IN THE RESTAURANT TO RETRIEVE HIS GUN THAT HE FORGOT IN THE BOOTH. WHEN HE CAME OUT, HE FOUND BAKLEY SHOT IN THE HEAD INSIDE HER CAR. TRACK: THE PROSECUTION SAYS 71-YEAR-OLD BLAKE FIRST TRIED TO HIRE TWO STUNT MEN TO SHOOT HER BUT ENDED UP KILLING BAKLEY HIMS
ELF. FONT: FROM: PRELIMARY HEARING SOT: nat sot/COURT. What else did he say? WitnessThat if I don't do it, then
he was. attorney; Who was? Witness: That he himself, Robert. (Super: Teri Okita/Reporting) STANDUP BRIDGE: Prosecutors say the motive was pure hatred . and that Blake didn't want Bakley to have contact with their young daughter, Rosie. TRACK: BUT DEFENSE ATTORNEYS SAY BAKLEY HAD PLENTY OF ENEMIES PLUS THERE'S NO PHYSICAL EVIDENCE LINKING BLAKE TO THE KILLING . OR WITNESSES TO THE MURDER. TRACK: THE CASE HAS HAD MANY DELAYS, INCLUDING RECENTLY . WHEN THE DEFENSE LAWYER'S COMPUTER . CONTAINING VITAL INFORMATION . WAS STOLEN. TWO TEENAGERS LATER CONFESSED TO THE BURGLARY . WHICH POL
ICE NOW SAY APPEARS TO BE COINCIDENTAL. (Super: Gerald Schwartzbach/Defense Attorney) SOT: There was absolutely, abso
lutely no connection between myself, Mr. Blake, or anyone remotely connected with us and the burglary and theft in my apartment. TRACK: PROSECUTORS ARE NOT SEEKING THE DEATH PENALTY, BUT BLAKE COULD GET LIFE IN PRISON, WITHOUT PAROLE. TERI OKITA, CBS NEWS, LOS ANGELES. ))

[Jackson]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
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[ENG#=2]

Michael Jackson's lawyers head to court today, hoping either to stop or delay his child molestation trial.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Los Olivos, CA/Last Friday;]

That comes after the pop star hosted more than 200 children at his Neverland ranch last Friday.
They were brought to Jackson's home by a charity group.
Today the singer's lawyers will be in court, arguing for a delay in his trial.
The defense wants to postpone the start of the trial from January 31st to sometime in March-- allowing time to go through 14- thousand pages of evidence.
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[Tease2] [SOFT MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[WRITER=tbr]
[ENG#=Aprisa]

After nearly a decade of packing up and moving every week, a local church finally finds a place to call home.
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[VO-NAT ]

And another church takes its holiday cheer and message of unity into the neighborhood.
Those stories and more coming up after the break.
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[11Century-Church]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=jbu]
[TAPE#=04-39 TC-1:55:01]
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[ENG#=3]

After years of holding Sunday service in a temporary location, a Roanoke congregation is now settling into its new permanent home. As Jeremy Butterfield reports, the church members played an important part in the move.
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[IN Q=For eight years the]
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[SUPER=01-Peter Givens/Church Member; :39]
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[SUPER=01-Jay Owens/Pastor; :57]
[SUPER=01-Jonathan Moreno/Executive Pastor; 1:21]
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[OUT Q=News7, Roanoke.]
((The New Century Community Church has held services in the Wyndham Hotel and the North Cross School for the last eight years. The congregation packed up their church after each Sunday Sermon and hauled it away in a moving truck. That is no more.
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[SOT 11:31:13]
[IN Q=We've functioned alright but]
((PASTOR OWENS:WE'VE FUNCTIONED ALL RIGHT BUT WE ARE EXCITED TO FINALLY HAVE OUR OWN PARKING LOT.))
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[OUT Q=our own parking lot.]
Along with that parking lot comes a brand new facility on Melrose Avenue in northwest Roanoke.
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[IN Q=NAT SOUND SINGING]
((NAT SOUND CONGREGATION SINGING))
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Members of the congregation say it's nice not having to set up and tear down after each service and now they can sleep in on Sunday morning.
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[SOT 11:22:47]
[IN Q=We have been coming to]
((PETER GIVENS:WE HAVE BEEN COMING TO CHURCH AT 7:30 OR SO SUNDAY MORNING FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, SO WE WILL HAVE TO GET USED TO WHAT TO DO WITH THAT EXTRA TIME.))
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[OUT Q=with that extra time.]
[BUTT BUTT BUTT]
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[IN Q=The church pastor says]
((JEREMY BUTTERFIELD:THE CHURCH PASTOR SAYS THE CITY HOPES THE NEW FACILITY WILL START A BUILDING TREND IN THIS PART OF ROANOKE. THAT'S WHY CITY OFFICIALS GAVE THEM A SMALL GRANT TO WORK ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE BUILDING.))
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[OUT Q=the outside of the building.]
[BUTT BUTT BUTT]
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[SOT 11:29:29]
[IN Q=We are very glad]
((PASTOR JAY OWENS:WE ARE VERY GLAD TO BE A PART OF HELPING THIS AREA OF ROANOKE KIND OF BE A LITTLE BETTER, BE A LITTLE MORE ATTRACTIVE, AND RAISE SOME OF THE VALUES OF THE PROPERTIES AND THE CITY OF ROANOKE HELPED US DO THAT AND OUR UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THEY ARE VERY PLEASED-- THEY'RE VERY PLEASED WITH WHAT WE HAVE DONE HERE.))
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[OUT Q=what we have done here.]
A lot of free time was given up by members of the church to get the facility to this point, but they say still need to put on the finishing touches.
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[SOT 11:17:52]
[IN Q=A lot of our folks]
((JONATHAN MORENO:A LOT OF OUR FOLKS VOLUNTEERED IN PAINTING AND PLUMBING AND A LOT OF THINGS, AND IT'S FUN TO START SEEING IT ALL COME TOGETHER. THERE ARE STILL LOOSE ENDS, THAT NEED TO BE FINISHED BUT WERE REALLY PLEASED BY HOW WELL IT'S COMING TOGETHER.))
[RUNS= :13]
[OUT Q=well it's coming together.]
Everyone involved is proud of their new facility and say they are pleased with the final product. But as Pastor Owens put it-- it's not the building that makes the church, it's the people. Jeremy Butterfield, News 7, Roanoke.))

[11Xmas-Caroling]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=sra]
[TAPE#=04-51 TC-24:50]
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[ENG#=2]

Mother Nature wasn't enough of a grinch to keep some Roanoke Christmas carolers from spreading holiday cheer.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; ]
Members of all ages from the East Gate Church of the Nazerene bundled up as they sang to the local neighborhood. Santa was also on hand passing out treats to all the good little boys and girls.
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[SOT 10:00:12]
[IN Q= It's something]
((GEORGE STEVENSON/SENIOR PASTOR: IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE DO EVERY YEAR, THIS IS ABOUT THE THIRD YEARS AND WE THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO SHARE WHAT WE EXPERIANCE IN OUR HEART, THE JOY THE HAPPINESS OF CHRISTMAS))
[SUPER=01-George Stevenson/Senior Pastor; ]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=happiness of christmas]
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[VO-NAT]

Residents say they enjoy the carolers and believe it's a good way to bring the community together during this holiday season.
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[Stocks]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly 2-Shot]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE# none]
[GRAPHIC=None]

On Wall Street at Noon, the DOW was UP 30. The NASDAQ has lost two.

[super=460-x/30/y/2;]
[Tease3] [SPORTS MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[WRITER=tbr]
[ENG#=Aprisa]

Coming up in Sports, Philly clinches homefield advantage for the playoffs.
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[VO-NAT ]

And Virginia Tech's defense puts the pressure on U-N-C with double digit turnovers.
But it's not enough against one of the A-C-C's premiere teams.
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[S-Hokies]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-187 TC2700]
[GRAPHIC=ACC]

[ENG#=2]

Virginia Tech managed a tough defense for their first match- up with A-C-C powerhouse North Carolina -- forcing 22 turnovers, and keeping Rashad McCants to ONLY 3 points. But it wasn't enough -- with the team shooting only 36 percent, and only one player in double figures.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg/Tarheels vs. Hokies; :00]

The Hokies matched the Heels' intensity for most of the opening half, as did the Cassell Coliseum crowd of just over 98 hundred.
Jawad Williams scored 7 of the Heels first ten points, finishing with 17.
But the Hokies work the glass, with Zabian Dowdell getting a career high 21 points to lead the way for the home team. The Fighting Gobblers trailed 41-27 at the break.
The Heels asserted themselves inside in the second half, with Sean May topping out at 17 points on the night.
He also had 8 boards.
[SUPER=33-North Carolina/85/Virginia Tech/51/;]
Fifth- ranked Carolina shot nearly 65 percent, and rolled past the Hokies 85 to 51.
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[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Zabian Dowdell/Scored 21 Points vs. UNC; :02]
[SUPER=01-Sean May/17 Points, 8 Rebounds for UNC; :14]
[RUNS=:35]
[OUT Q=with a win."]
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[anchor=Kim]
[graphic=va tech]

The Tech women were able to pull a huge upset today out in Las Vegas. Beth Dunkenberger's team squeaked by 12th rated Texas Tech 71-70 in overtime. Carrie Mason scored 12 points and Erin Gibson 11 to lead the Hokies.

[S-Eagles]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-189]
[GRAPHIC=NFL]

[ENG#=3]

Philladelphia's defeat of Dallas gives them homefield advantage throughout the playoffs.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Philadelphia, PA/Fox Sports; :00]

Donovan McNabb threw for 223 yards and a touchdown to tight end Chad Lewis, as the Eagles set a franchise record with 13 victories this season.
As for Terrell Owens, he went down with a severely sprained right ankle after a catch in the third quarter.
X-rays were negative, and Owens will have an MRI today.
He will likely be out until the playoff opener, which would be January 15th.
[SUPER=30-Dallas/7/Philadelphia/12/;]
Dorsey Levens added a short touchdown run to ice things for Philly in a 12-7 win.
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[SUPER=01-Donovan McNabb/Eagles Quarterback; :00]
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[OUT Q=execute when we need it."]
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