WDBJ 7 news at 6 for 05/12/99

[1-News-Head]

[ANCHOR=Keith]

The Governor commutes the death sentence of a mentally-ill Danville man set to have been executed TONIGHT.
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[VO-NAT]

Also on NEWS 7 tonight... Steve Mason's latest report from the Sudan- -and the Virginia school kids who're doing their part to put an end to slavery in the late 20th Century.
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[Sports-Head]

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

Tonight on the Big 7, the Washington Caps are sold, Rick Mast talks about getting some much needed sponsorship help,
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[VO-NAT]

and former New River champ Phillis Morris is looking forward to making a splash in the Busch series tomorrow night in Richmond.
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[WX-Head]
[TALENT=Robin]
[SS=None]

What's this? Rain in the forecast. We will check that out and provide a Wednesday WeatherSchool as well in just a few minutes.

[Swann]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#99-9 1:44:10]
[GRAPHIC=Va Death Penalty]

Two Virginia judges found Calvin Swann incompetent to stand trial.
41 state doctors diagnosed him as schizophrenic.
The weight of 25 years of medical evidence- -not seen at trial- -has compelled Governor Gilmore to cancel tonight's scheduled execution of a Danville killer.
[Double Boxes=Keith & Ellen/Starlink]

Ellen Qualls is at Greensville Correctional Center with the latest.
[Live=Ellen full/Starlink]
[SUPER=@Ellen1;]
[SUPER=06-Jarratt;]
( ad lib)
(Rollcue: instead of death )
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[IN Q=This is]
[SUPER=03-Danville/Last Night; :00]
[SUPER=01-Clyde Swann/Calvin's Brother; :04]
[SUPER=01-John Howley/Swann's Attorney; :40]
[RUNS=:51]
[OUT Q=medical records.]

[Live=Ellen full/Starlink]
[SUPER=06-Jarratt;]
( ad lib)

[Double Boxes=Keith & Ellen/Starlink][Star-Wars]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=THa]
[TAPE#=99-8 2:00:59]
[GRAPHIC=Star Wars]

You can buy Star Wars tickets now, but not in Roanoke. More on that in a moment, but first, we'll go to where you can get them, like the New River Valley Mall in Christiansburg.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg;]

At three o'clock, advance tickets for "Episode One, the Phantom Menace" went on sale at the mall and movie theaters across the country.
The movie itself will hit the big screen a week from today.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 15:20:11-- 15:06:56]
[IN Q=This movie]
((JOSH REID/STAR WARS FAN:THIS MOVIE IS THE MOVIE EVENT OF THE MILLENNIUM, THIS IS GOING TO BLOW EVERYONE'S EXPECTATIONS OUT OF THE WATER. LIZ SCHACK: ACTUALLY MY SON'S THE FAN BUT HE KIND OF CONVINCED US THAT WE WOULD BE REALLY LAME IF WE DIDN'T COME TO SEE IT.))
[SUPER=01-Josh Reid/Star Wars Fan; :00]
[SUPER=07-Liz Schack; :08]
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q=see it.]
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[VO-NAT]

At one point, advance ticket sales had been banned to discourage scalpers but movie reps changed their mind last month.
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[Carmike-Info]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sgo]
[TAPE#=99-17 20:13]
[GRAPHIC=Star Wars]

Star Wars fans who want to see the movie in Roanoke won't be able to buy tickets for almost another week.
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[VO-NAT]
[LAYER TICKET PRE-PRO]
Carmike Theaters will play the Star Wars premiere at midnight next Wednesday.
Tickets for that show go on sale at noon on Tuesday.
After that, you can buy advance tickets...
But you have to use them on the day you buy them.
Each person will be allowed to buy as many as 10.
(--------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[GRAPHIC=Hold]

Carmike says NOT selling tickets a week in advance will help keep them out of the hands of scalpers.

[Arcadia-Academy]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=1:38:53]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A school for troubled boys in Botetourt County got its license back not long ago... following a lengthy investigation.
Now, it's got a new name. The ARCADIA Leadership Academy wants to emphasize education.
And Tina Tenret says the students are learning new ways of building their futures.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=nat sot]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]
[SUPER=01-Bill Hovanec/Student; :12 QUICK!!!]
[SUPER=01-Tony Clifford/Volunteer; :43 QUICK!!!]
[SUPER=@Tina1; 1:12]
[RUNS=1:25]
[OUT Q=Tina Tenret News7]
((
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[SOT 10:16:37]
((NAT SOT: BILL JUMPS OFF LEDGE. I'M YOUR MAN, MAN!))
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[OUT Q=2X MAN]

18 year old Bill Hovanec is the only student who enrolled HIMSELF into the Arcadia Leadership Academy.
He quit public school two years ago.
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[SOT 10:29:26]
[IN Q=FAIRFAX COUNTY]
((BILL HOVANEC/STUDENT: FAIRFAX COUNTY, THERE'S A LOT OF DRUGS AND ALCOHOL TO GET INTO. I KIND OF WANTED TO AVOID ALL THAT AND SEEK REFUGE DOWN AT ARCADIA LEADERSHIP ACADEMY.)) [RUNS06]
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[SOT 9:59:24]
[IN Q=I wanna]
((NAT SOT: I WANNA STRING THEM ACROSS TO MAKE SURE THESE ARE LEVEL WITH THE OUTSIDE PLATES. RIGHT.))
[RUNS04]
[OUT Q=RIGHT]

Now Bill is one of five young men earning course credit for helping Habitat for Humanity.
He says he's straightened his life out.
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[SOT 10:17:15]
((nat sot straightening with square))
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[IN Q=RIGHT NOW]
((BILL HOVANEC/STUDENT: RIGHT NOW WE'RE AT A CONSTRUCTION SITE. THAT'S SOMETHING I NEVER DONE. BEFORE I WORKED AT JIFFY LUBE. THIS IS ACTUALLY HANDS ON.)) [RUNS06]
[OUT Q=HANDS ON]
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[SOT 10:26:21]
[IN Q=They're the greates]
((TONY CLIFFORD/VOLUNTEER: THEY'RE THE GREATEST HELP IN THE WORLD. THEY'RE YOUNG AND STRONG AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED IS MUSCLE.)) [RUNS04]
[OUT Q=MUSCLE]
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[SOT 10:00:30]
((nat sot measuring tape))
[RUNS03]
You can measure these students' success by their goals --
Dusty Manning now wants to become a computer programmer so he can support his family.
And Bill's finished two years worth of school in seven months.
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[SOT 10:31:03]
[IN Q=I'M GOING]
((BILL HOVANEC/STUDENT: I'M GOING TO TAKE MY SAT'S IN THREE WEEKS. THAT'S SOMETHING I NEVER THOUGHT OF DOING. AND THEN THEY'RE GOING TO HELP ME FINISH MY COLLEGE APPLICATIONS.)) [RUNS09]
[OUT Q=COLLEGE APPLICATIONS]
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[SOT 10:52:52]
[IN Q=THIS IS NOT]
((TINA TENRET/NEWS7: THIS IS NOT THE ONLY NEW PROGRAM AT THE ACADEMY. THE STUDENTS ARE ALSO WRITING A NEWSLETTER TO SEND THEIR PARENTS. THIS SUMMER, THEY'LL START OUTDOOR WOODWORKING. THEY'LL ALSO START BUILDING TRAILS AND SHELTERS. TINA TENRET NEWS7)) [RUNS13]
[OUT Q=TINA TENRET NEWS7]))

[Tease#1]
[HARD MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=NONE]

Help is on the way for Kosovo refugees. Still ahead, some Virginia generosity makes a big difference.
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[VO-NAT]

Next ... a REALLY big difference. Steve Mason reports from Sudan, where local students are helping children half a world a way.
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[ANCHOR=Robin]
[wx ad lib] [Roll] [Lake Level] [MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM#1]

[Tornado-Victims]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=99-5 2:01:30]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Some Dan River area residents are sending relief to Oklahoma tornado victims.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville; ]

Members of the River-oak Church of God in Danville are loading two large trailers with supplies to drive out to Oklahoma early next week.
They've already filled half a trailer with items donated by local businesses and 30 other churches.
Randy Johnson, who owns a trailer business, is leading the effort.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 58:12-58:29]
[IN Q=The response has grown]
((RANDY JOHNSON: THE RESPONSE HAS GROWN SO MUCH, BUT MY DAD WHO LIVES IN FRIES AND THE GALAX AREA, THOSE CHURCHES OVER THERE, HE CALLED ME LAST NIGHT AND SAID "I'M GOING TO QUIT. WE'VE GOT SO MUCH STUFF, YOU AREN'T GOING TO BE ABLE TO TAKE IT." AND I SAID, "DON'T YOU DARE, WE'LL GET IT THERE. JUST KEEP GETTING IT," SO...WE NEED ALL WE CAN GET.))
[SUPER=07-Randy Johnson]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=all we can get.]
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[VO-NAT]

They still need tools, paper products, cleaning supplies, diapers and other items.
If you'd like to help out, you can make donations at the River-oak Church of God in Danville through Monday.
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[Kosovo-Relief]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=99-15 22:08]
[GRAPHIC=None]

And a few weeks ago we told you about a Bedford County group that's working to send relief supplies to refugees fleeing Kosovo.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Forest]

Officials at World Help say the public response has been tremendous, and today they loaded up their THIRD forty-foot container of supplies to be shipped to Albania within the next few weeks.
Most of the supplies today included pharmaceuticals, food and clothing.. all of which are desperately needed in the refugee camps.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 11:37:16]
[IN Q=A lot of]
((NOEL YEATTS/WORLD HELP: A LOT OF ITEMS WE'VE BEEN ASKING FOR-- NEW CLOTHING, NEW BEDDING, FOOD ITEMS, SOME OVER THE COUNTER MEDICINES, WE'VE ALSO HAD SOME HOSPITALS AND PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES GET INVOLVED SO WE WERE ABLE TO SEND A LOT OF SUPPLIES THAT A HOSPITAL OVER THERE CAN USE.))
[SUPER=01-Noel Yeatts/World Help]
[RUNS=13]
[OUT Q=there can use.]
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[VO-NAT]

Yeatts (yates) says World Help has enough materials to fill another two containers, but they need donations of cash to pay for the shipping.
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[Sudan]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=99-16 13:47]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Slavery in the United States ended more than a century ago.
But it continues in the Sudan.
Africa's largest country is thousands of miles from Virginia, but distance has not stopped a Botetourt County elementary school from pitching in to help the plight of African slaves.
Our Steve Mason has been following this story both here and abroad and has this report.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=first audio]
[SUPER=03-Sudan/April; :00]
[SUPER=01-Juma/Former African Slave; :]
[SUPER=01-Paul/Sudanese Medical Assistant; :]
[SUPER=03-Troutville; :]
[SUPER=01-Judy Deel/Troutville Elementary Teacher; :]
[SUPER=01-Lisa Davis/Troutville Elementary 3rd Grader]

[SUPER=@Steve1;]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=News 7"..]
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((Juma is one of the lucky children. He escaped Muslim slavery. But even in freedom, the horrible memories inbedded in his mind by his captors have imprisoned this child's innocence forever. ((:)) A civil war between Muslims and Christians has been raging in the Sudan for decades. slavery began about four years ago. Christian Villiages are raided by Muslims who take Sundanese Christian boys and girls from their families. Boys are used as workers, girls as prostitutes. While enslaved Christians are killed or tortured. ((:))
Judy Deel's third graders at Troutville Elementary studied slavery in early April, and when the students learned that there was still slaves today in Sudan they decided to help. They raised 210 dollars to free some slaves. Dave Fuller led a relief team into Sudan and delivered the money.))

[Heavy-Rescue]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=99-14 48:35]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Rescuing people from a collapsed building or a trench cave-in is all part of a firefighter's job, but finding the right personnel to do the job can be difficult.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

So Lynchburg has established its first Heavy Technical Rescue Unit, made up of 36 firefighters, twelve for each shift.
Each has undergone additional training for specialized rescues and will be available at a moment's notice.
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[SOT 9:34:56]
[IN Q=So that the]
((FRED MILLS/LYNCHBURG FIRE CHIEF: SO THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAN DO EVERYTHING THAT IT CAN TO RESPOND TO WHATEVER TYPE INCIDENT, WHETHER IT'S A FIRE, MEDICAL EMERGENCY AND IN THIS CASE, SOME TYPE OF SPECIAL RESCUE SITUATION, AND OTHER THINGS THAT MAY COME DOWN THE ROAD, SUCH AS HAZARDOUS MATERIALS AND OTHER TYPES OF OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE MAY HAVE TO SERVE THE CITIZENS IN TIMES OF NEED.))
[SUPER=01-Fred Mills/Lynchburg Fire Chief; :00]
[RUNS=20]
[OUT Q=times of need.]
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[VO-NAT]

The rescue unit's new equipment truck was outfitted for a cost of just 65- hundred dollars.
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[VMI]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=VMI]

Applications for admission to Virginia Military Institute have risen 25-percent over the four years the current senior class has been at V-M-I.
More than 11-hundred new applications have been submitted- -including applications ftom 83 women. Seventy- five women applied last year.

[Sports Tease]

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

Coming up tonight on News 7 sports, the Washington Caps are sold, Canseco goes yard for his 12th homer of the year. We'll hear from former New River champ Phillip Morris and Rick Mast, plus
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[VO-NAT]

The Lowe's Motor Speedway has just unveiled a new super comfortable camp ground outside track. Details are just ahead.
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[S-Mast]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-40]
[GRAPHIC=RICHMOND]

The Winston Cup series rolls into Richmond on Friday morning for this Saturday night's Pontaic Excitemrnt 400.
[GRAPHIC=CHARLOTTE]

But for most of this week, the Cup Ford Family has been setting up camp in Charlotte for two days of testing for the upcoming Winston and Coke 600.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=first audio]
[SUPER=03-Concord, NC; :00]
[SUPER=01-Rick Mast/Gets Three Race Sponsorship; :36]
[SUPER=01-Ann Robinson/Camp Resort Sales Manager; 1:42]
[RUNS=1:51]
[OUT Q=...sold out this week."]
((nat sound)) ((Rookie Elliott Sadler and the Wood Brothers left Charlotte with the fastest test time as they turned a lap at 181 point 769 mile an hour lap.
Fellow Virginian Rick Mast wasn't quite as quick, but he left the Queen City with something better than speed - fast cash!
The Yarborough-Burdette Motorsports team for which Rick is driving this season picked up sponsorship from a Houston based industrial pipe manufacturing company for both upcoming races at Charlotte and this week's event in Richmond. ((RICK MAST/GETS THREE RACE SPONSOR:))
Hobas Pipe inc. will have to kick in over $1 million to fund these three events, but Mast knows it will take even bigber bucks from a bigger name to carry this team through the summer. ((RICK MAST:))
Speaking of funding, the big money Ford teams and drivers aren't the only ones showing off in Charlotte.
The speedway is putting the finishing touches on a brand new 16 acre camping resort located on Speedway Boulevard directly across from the track.
Among other things, the campground has two stocked lakes for fishing and 246 camp sites equipped with water, sewer, electricity and cable TV hookup.)) ((ANN ROBINSON/CAMP RESORT SALES:))

[S-Richmond]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-42]
[GRAPHIC=RICHMOND RACEWAY]

The Cup drivers won't arrive in the city of monuments until Friday, but the Busch Grand National division will be at the track tomorrow for practice and first round qualifying.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond; :00]

Among those who will be trying to make the 43 car field for Friday night's Hardee's 250 is former New River valley rookie of the year and 1997track champion Phillip Morris.
Morris is running a 10 race limited Busch schedule this year for the Blue Ridge Motorsports team based out of Waynesboro.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="I just can't wait...]
[SUPER=01-Phillip Morris/Drives in Richmond Tomorrow; :00]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=...I'm ready."]
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[ANCHOR=MIKE]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD RICHMOND LOGO]

Morris is receiving sponsorship help this week from the internet marketing firm ValueAmerica.

[S-Caps]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-34]
[GRAPHIC=WASHINGTON CAPS]

Washington Capitals owner Abe Pollin has agreed to sell the team to Ted Leonsis, the founder of America Online.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-NHL; :00]

Pollin who is 75 years old will also reortedly sell minority interest in his NBA team the Washington Wizards.
He also is giving up part of his interest in the MCI center, the building in downtown DC he built with $200 million dollars of his own money.
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[S-Rays]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-35]
[GRAPHIC=TWINS/RAYS]
The Minnesota Twins beat the Tampa Bay Devil Rays this afternoon 9-to-4 in the Homerdome.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Minneapolis, MN/MLB; :00]

The homers were flying out courtesy two very different players. Doug Mint-KAY-vich drove in four runs, with three coming on this three run homer in the fifth inning - his first in the big leagues.
[SUPER=35-Tampa Bay/4/Minnesota/9;]

Jose Canseco tried his best to rally the Rays with his 12th homerun of the season. He leads thet American League but the Twins get the win 9-to-4.
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[S-Stuff]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=5pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-26]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]
[WIPE TO ENG#!!!!!]
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-MLB; :00]

In one other basbeall note, Cal Ripken Junior is scheduled to return to the Orioles' lineup tomorrow night in Texas against the Rangers.
Ripken has been out with back problems since April 17th. It's the first time in his 18 year career he has been on the disabled list.
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[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=ssi]
[TAPE#Promo]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The United States has already started taking in refugees from Kosovo, and dozens of them will be coming here.
[Double Boxes=Keith/Jean--Newsroom]
Jean Jadhon is live in the newsroom with more.
[Live= Full/Jean--Newsroom]
[SUPER=@Jean1;]
Keith, a local Refugee and Immigration Services director says 50 refugees will resettle in this area.
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[VONAT] [99-1;1:39:45] The main challenge is where to house all the Kosovars. At least two local families - one from Albania and one from Bosnia - are willing to open their doors to the refugees.

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[TAKE JEAN FULL]
Tonight on News 7 at 11, we'll bring you the stories of these families
[Double Boxes=Keith/Jean--Newsroom]

and tell you why they're so eager to help out. Keith?