[1-News-Head]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]

President Bush responds to a deadly attack on an Americna base in Iraq.
(------------)
[ENG#=1]
[VO-NAT :06]

We'll hear from a reporter embedded with a National Guard unit from Virginia that lost two troops.
(------------)



[Sports-Head]


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

Tonight on News 7 sports - the Dukes, the Dolphins and the Dazzle are making news
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

while Frank Beamer and the Hokies can't wait to get to New Orleans and experience some warmed weather as they continue tuning up for Auburn.
(------------)


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


Another storm system's heading our way which will bring in a few rain showers starting late tomorrow. I'll have your forecast.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon 3-Shot]


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



[ENG#=3]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


A U-S base in Iraq is attacked. 19 soldiers are killed, including some from a Virginia-based guard unit.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=this time]

((THIS TIME OF YEAR IS PARTICULARLY SORROWFUL FOR THE FAMILIES.))
[RUNS=:02 ]
[OUT Q=for the families]
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[GRAPHIC=News7at6]


Good evening, I'm Shannon Young. Keith and Jean are off tonight.

[Mosul-Attack]


[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=04-43 TC1:07:30]
[GRAPHIC=Iraq Casualties]
[ENG#=4]


Soldiers were eating lunch at the base near Mosul, when their mess tent was ripped apart.
19 American soldiers are confirmed dead, two of them reportedly from a Virginia National Guard unit.
We start our coverage with J-J Ramberg in Washington.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Lt. Col. Bill Costello/Army Public Affairs Officer; ]
[SUPER=01-Tony Blair/British Prime Minister; ]
[SUPER=01-J. J. Ramberg/Reporting]
[RUNS=1:25]
[OUT Q=standard]

((A SINGLE EXPLOSION RIPPED THROUGH A
DINING HALL AT A US MILITARY BASE NEAR
MOSUL ON TUESDAY AS HUNDREDS OF
AMERICANS AND IRAQIS WERE SITTING DOWN
TO LUNCH.

Lt. Col. Bill Costello ---SOT-COSTELLO---

Army Public Affairs Officer US soldiers, ft lewis based soldiers
and their iraqi counterparts took
immediate action to evacuate the
wounded and prevent further loss of
life.

--TRACK--
THE RADICAL GROUP THE ARMY OF THE
SUPPORTERS OF THE SUNNI, CLAIMED
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE BLAST CALLING IT
A "MARTYRDOM OPERATION" IN A STATEMENT
POSTED ON THE INTERNET.

THE VALIDITY OF THIS MESSAGE HAS NOT
BEEN INDEPENDENTLY VERIFIED.

THE ATTACK CAME SOON AFTER BRITISH
PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR MADE A
SURPRISE VISIT TO BAGHDAD, APPEARING
WITH IRAQI INTERIM PRIME MINISTER AYAD
ALLAWI TO Sunday
SHOW SUPPORT FOR THE UPCOMING ELECTIONS
AND DEFIANCE IN THE FACE OF RECENT
VIOLENCE.

Tony Blair ---SOT-BLAIR---

British Prime Minister Whatever people's feelings or beliefs
about the removal of Saddam Hussein and
the the wisdom of that, there surely is
only one side to be on in what is now
very clearly a battle between democracy
and terror,"

--TRACK--
AFTER VISITING WITH WOUNDED SOLDIERS AT
WALTER REED THIS AFTERNOON PRESIDENT
BUSH EXPRESSED HIS CONDOLENCES TO THE
FAMILIES OF THOSE KILLED TODAY IN IRAQ.


President Bush- no font ---SOT BUSH----


i just want them to know the mission is
a vital mission for peace. ))

[Reporter-React]


[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=11]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=04-52 TC13:08]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]
[ENG#=1]


A reporter for the Richmond Times Dispatch was at the base at the time of the attack.
Jeremy Redmon is embedded with the 276th Engineering Battalion of the Virginia National Guard.
As he reports, two of the unit's soldiers were killed and four were wounded.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=These folks]

((THESE FOLKS ARE FROM OUR STATE OF VIRGINIA, ACROSS VIRGINIA. THERE ARE ABOUT 500 HERE, COMBAT ENGINEERS, NATIONAL GUARD. THEY'RE EXPECTED TO BE GOING HOME IN ABOUT A MONTH. HAD NOT LOST ONE SOLDIER, BUT THEY'VE HAD 26 PURPLE HEARTS FROM VARIOUS THINGS LIKE IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICES. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THEY'D LOST A SOLDIER ON THIS DEPLOYMENT. 2 WERE KILLED TODAY FOUR WOUNDED.))
[RUNS=25]
[OUT Q=four were wounded.]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[SS=HOLD]


So far, the military has not confirmed the identities or hometowns of casualties.

[React-Mosul]


[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=jwi]
[TAPE#=04-45 TC41:15]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]
[ENG#=2]


The 276th includes units from Powhatan and West Point in Eastern Virginia and Cedar Bluff in Southwest Virginia. It's a unit Governor Mark Warner remembers well.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond;]

The Governor says he first learned Virginia soldiers were among those attacked this afternoon.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 3:08]
[IN Q=This was a unit that]

((MARK WARNER: THIS WAS A UNIT THAT ALMOST A YEAR AGO TO THE DAY I SAW OFF OVER AT OLD CITY HALL. MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS GO OUT TO ANY OF THE SOLDIERS WHO'VE BEEN KILLED OR WOUNDED. IT REINFORCES AGAIN WHAT AN ENORMOUS SACRIFICE WE'RE ASKING OF THESE CITIZEN SOLDIERS.))
[SUPER=@MarkWarner;]
[RUNS=20]
[OUT Q=of these citizen soldiers]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Warner calls the attitude of Virginia's citizen soldiers "remarkable."
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[SS=HOLD]

He hopes all Virginians will keep the soldiers and their families in their thoughts this holiday season.

[Free-Clinic]


[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=04-50 TC37:16]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=3]

This week's frigid temperatures have turned the New River Valley Free Clinic into a cold weather casualty.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg;]

Last night a pipe burst in the sprinkler system, flooding the building. There's extensive water damage and a portion of the ceiling even collapsed. The clinic will be closed indefinitely. Tonight's medical services, dental clinics and the Giles satellite Clinic in Pearisburg are also canceled. No telephone calls or refill requests can be received or processed right now. The Clinic serves more than 3-thousand patients a year and had just moved into the newly renovated building a few months ago.
(------------)



[Nance]


[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=myr]
[TAPE#=04-40 TC1:48:10]
[GRAPHIC=Guilty Plea]

A Roanoke man convicted today of murder says he didn't mean to do it. 23-year-old Marcus Jerome Nance pled guilty to second-degree murder, aggravated malicious wounding, and two other related charges for a shooting in July. [***NEWS 7 @ 6 in MONITOR***]
[DOUBLE BOXES=Shannon & Myranda/BAM;]

Myranda Stephens is here with more on today's hearing. Shannon, Marcus Nance and three other men got into a fight at the Stop-In gas station on Hershberger Road, when Nance began shooting.
[LIVE=Myranda/FULL BAM]
[SUPER=@Myranda1;]

24-year-old Joey Lee Joyce was fatally shot. Two other men, Joyce's half-brother Steven Jefferson and Michael Wood were wounded. Today Nance apologized to Joyce's family, saying he never meant to kill anyone
[ENG#=4]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=and i'm very sorry]
[SUPER=01-Marcus Nance/Defendant; :00]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/File Tape; :10]
[SUPER=01-Denise Waker/Witness; 23 QUICK!!!]
[SUPER=04-Police Video; :34]
[SUPER=01-Donald Caldwell/Roanoke Commonwealth's Attorney; :52]
[SUPER=01-Gary Lumsden/Nance's Attorney; 1:06]
[RUNS=1:18]
[OUT Q=in the end]
(([SOT 12:33:29]

[RUNS08] ((AND I'M VERY SORRY THAT HAPPENED... I DIDN'T MEAN FOR NOTHING TO HAPPEN LIKE THIS.))
The shooting apparently stemmed from an incident earlier that night at a club, when Steven Jefferson thought Marcus Nance hit him in the head with a bottle. Jefferson and a group of his friends later met up with Nance at a gas station, where they confronted him.
[SOT 1356]

[RUNS04] ((DENIS WAKER/WITNESS: THAT'S WHEN HE SWUNG AFTER THAT, AND A WHOLE BUNCH OF PEOPLE JUST JUMPED ON HIM.)) Witnesses say during the fight, they heard two gunshots from the crowd of people there that night -- although no one could tell WHO was actually doing the shooting. Seconds later, though, they say Nance got his gun, and began firing more than 30-rounds into the crowd. Whether Nance intentionally tried to kill anyone or was simply defending himself is still unclear to both sides.
[SOT 13:01:51]

[RUNS13] ((DON CALDWELL/COMMONWEALTH'S ATTY: WELL THIS IS A VERY CONFUSING CASE, ACTUALLY I BELIEVE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN PRACTICALLY UNSOLVABLE, OR NOT UNDERSTANDABLE, HAD NOT POLICE OFFICERS BEEN ON THE SCENE.))
[SOT 12:51:28]

[RUNS13] ((GARY LUMSDEN/NANCE'S ATTY: AT THIS POINT, IT'S OUR INTENT TO SHOW ALL THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT SURROUNDED THIS EVENT, AND WITH THE HOPE THAT THE JUDGE WILL END UP TAKING CARE OF THINGS IN THE END.))))
(-------------)
[LIVE=Myranda/FULL BAM]

Nance's sentencing is set for February Second.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Myranda & Shannon/BAM]

Shannon, prosecutors have recommended a sentence of 16-years and eleven months.

[Tease#1]
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[WRITER=dse]
[SS=NONE]
[ENG#=APRISA]


Someone's been passing off fake money in the New River Valley.
What to look for when News 7 returns.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]


Plus Roanoke County Supervisors get a closer look at six regional jail sites. So does that mean the list has been narrowed?
(----------------)

[1st-Wx]

[Regional-Jail]

(NO MINI OPEN)



[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sba]
[TAPE#=04-39 TC2:00:08]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Roanoke County supervisors hit the streets today to check out possible sites for a regional jail. While 18 sites have been mentioned, supervisors just checked out six-today. [***REGIONAL JAIL IN MONITOR***]
[DOUBLE BOXES=Shannon & Susan /Newsroom;]

Susan Bahorich was along as they toured Roanoke County. Susan, does this mean the group has narrowed the field?
[LIVE= Susan /FULL Newsroom]
[SUPER=@SUSAN1]

Shannon- In *NO* way does it mean a decision has been made... but as two board members told me these are the sites with the most potential.
[ENG#=1]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=nats- The Roanoke County...]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.; :00]
[SUPER=01-Richard Flora/Roanoke Co. Supervisors Chairman; :18]
[SUPER=01-Butch Church/Roanoke Co. Supervisor; 1:05]
[RUNS=1:16]
[OUT Q=the group says...]

(( [nats] ((on site)) [runs:03]
The Roanoke County Board of Supervisors is on a whirl-wind tour. The group is looking at some of 18-sites for a proposed regional jail. Three of today's six-sites are in the Dixie Caverns area while the others are in the Hollins region.

[SOT@13:07:12.19]
[INQ=Based on what the...]

((RICHARD FLORA, CHAIRMAN ROANOKE CO. SUPERVISORS: BASED ON WHAT THE SHERIFF'S AND THAT COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED- AND WHAT WE'RE HEARING FROM THE CITIZEN'S COMMITTEE. I'M HEARING WE'RE ALL ESSENTIALLY LOOKING AT THE SAME SITES.)) [RUNS:14]
[OUTQ=... the same sites.]


Higginbotham Farms, the Horn property and the CRT site are in West Roanoke County, while the Newbern, Ingersol-Rand and Old Mountain Road sites are in North County.
All are being considered as possible solutions to overcrowdingin the Roanoke, Franklin and Montgomery County jails. The current Roanoke County facility was built in 1980 to house 108-inmates, current capacity hovers near 280.
A 10-member Citizens' Advisory Committee studying the possibilities and supervisor Butch Church says Tuesday's tour takes nothing away from them.

[SOT@13:06:11.13]
[INQ=Critical for them...]

((BUTCH CHURCH, ROANOKE CO. SUPERVISOR: IT'S CRITICAL FOR THEM TO KNOW WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT THEY VALUE THEM SO MUCH 'CAUSE THIS BOARD MEMBER IS GOING TO PUT A LOT OF WEIGHT INTO WHAT THE GROUP SAYS...)) [RUNS:12]
[OUTQ=... the group says...] ))
(---------------)
[LIVE=Susan /FULL NEWSROOM]

Church also says today's tour helps the administration look at sites and rule out their viability based on finacial or topographical difficulties...
[DOUBLE BOXES=Shannon & Susan /Newsroom;]

Shannon- the Citizens' Advisory Committee is meeting as we speak - coming up tonight on News7 at 11, Justin McLeod will have the latest on their meeting.

[Campbell-Fire]


[ANCHOR=]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=04-41 TC1:29:04]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]
[ENG#=2]


Members of a Campbell County family were Christmas shopping this morning when they got news that their house had burned to the ground.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Campbell Co.]


Firefighters from two area companies could do little to save this home on Maddox Road near Naruna.
The fire was reported just before ten, and the house was already engulfed in flames when the first crews arrived.


(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:38:56]
[IN Q=The house was]

((CARTER ROAKES/GLADYS V.F.D. CHIEF: THE HOUSE WAS FULLY INVOLVED AND THE MOTOR HOME RIGHT NEXT TO THE HOUSE, THAT HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE AND THAT WAS FULLY INVOLVED. YOU CAN SEE IT TOTALLY DESTROYED EVERYTHING.))
[SUPER=01-Carter Roakes/Gladys V.F.D. Chief]
[RUNS=11]
[OUT Q=totally destroyed everything.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Authorities don't know what started the fire.
The family ... a father and three children ... will probably spend the next week in a motel.
The home is insured, but all of their Christmas presents were lost when fire destroyed the motor home in the front yard.
(------------)



[WIPE WIPE WIPE WIPE]


[Bonsack-Fire]


[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=04-51 TC27:02]
[GRAPHIC=]



[ENG#=3]

[WIPE WIPE WIPE]

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./Yesterday]


Officials believe an electrical short caused the fire that left a Roanoke County family homeless.
Crews contained the fire to the kitchen and back porch of the house on Bonsack Road.
Dana and Ed Cook were at work when it broke out.
A passer-by saw smoke and helped their 17-year-old son get out safely.
The family lost most of what they own.
Co-workers have set up a fund for donations at the Salem Credit Union.
(------------)



[Stocks]


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


Blue chips climbed to their best levels since June 2001. [TAKE DOW & NASDAQ PAGE]
[RUNS=:30]
[SUPER=x5000;]
[SUPER=440-x/97.83/10759.43/x/23.06/2150.91;]


The DOW jumped 98 points today.
The NASDAQ gained 23.
[SUPER=271-i/0.17/41.26/h/0.79/61.04/h/0.24/35.08/h/0.79/46.31/h/0.35/42.48;]
[SUPER=272-h/0.25/16.90/h/0.12/6.56/i/0.06/67.98/h/0.06/37.17/h/0.09/14.65;]
[SUPER=273-h/0.03/39.10/h/0.05/17.00/h/1.06/36.21/h/0.04/5.66/h/1.45/21.57;]
[SUPER=274-h/1.39/73.79/h/0.42/41.16/h/0.61/52.76/h/0.40/52.60/h/2.20/116.80;]
[SUPER=#555; Reset]


[SPONSOR ANNOUNCE]
[COMMERCIAL]

[Amherst-Wreck]


[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=04-42 TC1:19:00]
[GRAPHIC=Accident]
[ENG#=1]


Charges are pending after a two-car wreck tied up traffic on Route 29 in Madison Heights this morning.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Amherst Co.]


State police say around 9:15, 18-year-old Antoine Pennix was trying to turn south onto Route 29 from a parking lot.

One driver had stopped to let him through, but another northbound vehicle struck Pennix's Maxima and flipped over.


Crews spent a half hour freeing 27-year-old James Anderson from his overturned van.
He's been treated and released for minor injuries.
Pennix may be charged with failing to yield the right of way.
(------------)



[Fake-Money]


[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=rde]
[TAPE#=04-49 TC35:11]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=2]

Some funny money is floating around Pulaski County.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Fairlawn;]

Investigators with the Sheriff's office say several counterfeit 100 dollar bills have been passed to at least five businesses. Several of the fake bills were spent at the Walmart in Fairlawn and the Dogwood Lodge. Some fakes have even turned up in the town of Pulaski. If you have any information call the Pulaski County Sheriff's Office. You can even leave an anonymous message.
(------------)


[Sports Tease]


[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=mst]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ENG#=APRISA]

Coming up tonight on News 7 sports - the bowl season fires up tonight, JMU reflects on its title, while the Hokies continue Sugar workouts in Blacksburg.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


And if you'd like to go the Sugar Bowl, but don't have the cash, the lodging or the tickets - you need to be at the Roanoke Dazzle game tonight.
(------------)



[S-Dazzle]


[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-185 15219tc]
[GRAPHIC=DAZZLE]



[ENG#=]


The Roanoke Dazzle is home tonight at the Roanoke Civic Center taking on Huntsville Flight in a seven o'clock tip. It is the first of two home games this week for the Dazzle. It's tough to attract fans the week of Christmas, so the Dazzle is getting help from the Hokies.
(-------------)
[vo nat eng#]
[super=04-This Season;]

Tonight fans who attend the game will have a chance to register for an all-expense paid trip to the January 3rd Sugar Bowl. They get registered tonight, and then come back Thursday night for the drawing.

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=WE DIDN'T...]
[SUPER=01-Dennis Robarge/Roanoke Dazzle President; :00]
[super=03-New Orleans, LA; :08]
[RUNS=:22]
[OUT Q=...A GREAT TRIP."]
(------------)
[talent=mike]
[graphic=dazzle]

Again, you have to get registered at tonight's game to have your name drawn on Thursday. By the way, Thursday night fans get in FREE. They are simply asked to bring a toy or food item for the rescue Mission.

[S-Bowl]


[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-189]
[GRAPHIC=NCAA]
[ENG#=2]


The College bowl season heats back up tonight in Orlando in the Champs Sports Bowl. Remember this is the game UVa should be playing in instead of the one out in Boise. Instead tonight, it's Georgia Tech and Syracuse.
[GRAPHIC=TECH/AUBURN]

The Hokies meanwhile are busy getting ready for their January 3rd date with Auburn in the Sugar Bowl.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg/This Afternoon; :00]

Frank Beamer said he wanted the practices to be brisk heading up to the big game - but he was talking about the pace not the air temperature. This afternoon the weather in Blacksburg was very Blacksburgish with wind gusts up to 33 miles an hour. Fortunately, Tech has just one more practice in Blacksburg before taking a Christmas break and resuming workouts in New Orleans on the 29th.
(------------)



[S-Dukes]


[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-186 2659TCtc]
[GRAPHIC=JMU]
[ENG#=3]


The final division one double A football rankings of the season are out, and the James Madison University Dukes are the number one team in the nation. Last Friday night the Dukes beat Montana to claim their first national championship and finish the season at 13-and-2. Head coach Mickey Matthews sat down with the media to talk about a number of topics including Montana's cocky attitude heading into the game.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=BITE]
[SUPER=01-Mickey Matthews/JMU Head Football Coach; :00]
[RUNS=:20]
[OUT Q=...WE WERE GONNA CHECK THEM OUT."]
(------------)

[vo-nat con't]
[super=03-Chattanooga, TN/Last Friday; :00]

Of course the Dukes not only checked them out, but took them out rolling to a 31-to-21 win. Now comes the hard part... maintaining the high level of play and possibly repeating.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=BITE]
[RUNS=:19]
[OUT Q=...talk about getting better."]
(------------)



[S-Fins]


[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-182 14642tc]
[GRAPHIC=NFL]
[ENG#=4]


Even if you stayed up later last night, you probably missed the finish in the Dolphins - Patriots game.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Miami, FL/Last Night-ABC; :00]

Miami needed 2 TDs to beat the mighty Patriots with just under four minutes to play, and Tom Brady did his best to help the cause as he threw this very uncharacteristic interception falling down. Miami then finished off the playoff bound Patriots as AJ Feeley hit Derrius Thompson on the 21 yard TD toss. The Dolphins win 29-to-28 as Brady throws four interceptions.
[SUPER=03-Green Bay, WI/Sunday;]

Also, tonight the N-F-L is fining Jacksonville safety Donovin Darius $75-thousand dollars for this hit across the neck of Green Bay's Robert Ferguson on Sunday that left the Packers wide receiver temporarily paralyzed. Darius is not being suspended (------------)
by SS