[HEADLINES]
[TALENT=Melanie]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
A part of a major Danville employer is going south.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
And the first ever Republican controlled General Assembly convenes in a matter of moments.
(/////////////)
[TALENT=Patrick]
[SS=None]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=None]
News 7 at noon is next.
[XGR-Open]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#00-01]
[GRAPHIC=State Capitol]
It's day one of the 2000 session of the Virginia General Assembly. It's also the first day ever in Virginia that a Republican will preside over the House of Delegates.
[Double Boxes=Melanie and Ellen/Starlink]
Ellen Qualls is at the state capitol where it is all happening.
[Live=Ellen Full/Starlink]
[SUPER=@Ellen1;]
[SUPER=06-Richmond;]
( ad lib)
[****ROLLED FROM STARLINK****]
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Richmond; :00]
[SUPER=01-Al Bedrosian/Roanoke Co. Activist;]
[SUPER=01-Sheila Gay/Bedford Co. Activist;]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=]
[Live=Ellen Full/Starlink]
[SUPER=06-Richmond;]
( ad lib)
[Double Boxes=Melanie and /Microwave]
[Address-Promo]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Jim Gilmore]
As Ellen mentioned, Governor Gilmore gives his State of the Commonwealth address tonight at seven.
(XXXXXXXX)
[TAKE FULL SCREEN BOARD]
You can see it live here on your Hometown Station.
Join Ellen, Keith Humphry and political analyst Tom Morris from seven to eight.
(-------------)
[Dan-River]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=99-46 TC1:18:28]
[GRAPHIC=Textile Industry]
Dan River Incorporated is going to move part of its operations to Mexico.
The company announced a joint venture this morning that could mean the loss of close to 500 jobs.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville/File Tape;]
Dan River will close its Schoolfield weaving operation and open a new plant in the Mexican state of Hidalgo.
The company's news release stressed that it remains committed to keeping the bulk of its manufacturing business in the Danville area.
But it admits that the NAFTA free trade agreement has made it very attractive for textile companies to move jobs overseas.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=HOLD]
Dan River currently has over 4000 employees in Danville, and hires 800 to a thousand each year.
So, some of the 488 jobs that will be moving overseas could be cut through attrition.
[Tultex]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=99-51 TC31:32]
[GRAPHIC=Tultex Chap. 11]
Thousands of former Tultex employees have been on pins and needles since they were laid off last month.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Martinsville]
Last night at Martinsville High School more than 500 people walked through the doors looking for answers from the President of Tultex.
Questions about vacation and severance pay as well as health insurance were on people's minds since the company has filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy.
But many walked out with their questions still unanswered.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:58:57]
[IN Q=]
((FREDDIE WITCHER: I FEEL LIKE THEY ARE JUST TRYING TO MOVE EVERYTHING OVERSEAS AND GET RID OF THE PEOPLE HERE AND MAKE IT CHEAP AND EASY ON THEM.))
[SUPER=01-Freddie Witcher/Former Tultex Employee]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=easy on them]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
In the meantime former employees say they're looking for other work and trying to get by.
(------------)
[81-Repairs]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Interstate 81]
Expect some delays on Interstate 81 in Roanoke County over the next two days.
(XXXXXXXXX)
[TAKE FULL SCREEN MAP]
Today and tomorrow V-Dot is closing one northbound lane from nine in the morning until 3 in the afternoon.
They're repairing a bridge near mile marker 143-- that's just north of the I-81 and I-581 interchange.
(-------------)
[scotus-grandparents]
[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Supreme Court]
At the Supreme Court today, a ruling that gives more power to police officers.
The high court says police can stop and question people, simply because they run away at the sight of police officers.
Chief Justice Rhenquist says police should be able to consider nervous behavior when determining reasonable suspicion.
The high court today is also hearing arguments on whether grandparents have a right to see their grandchildren-- even if the parents object.
A decision is expected by late June.
[microsoft]
[ANCHOR=mel]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Micrsoft]
A breakup proposal may be in Microsoft's future.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=@File;]
[8:51:30]
U-S-A Today reports report Government lawyers want to split up the software giant as punishment for its anti-competitive behavior.
Sources tell U-S-A Today one company would be for the Windows operating system, another for software such as word processing.
(------------)
[Bedford-NAACP]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A proposal to rename a Roanoke street in honor of Martin Luther King Junior created a storm of controversy a couple of months ago.
A similar proposal in Bedford is causing less of a stir.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford]
The Bedford chapter of the N-double-A-C-P wants to remember the civil rights leader by re-naming Independence Boulevard, a one-point-eight mile stretch of road built in 1993 to bypass downtown Bedford.
While some may ask why name a street after Dr. King, minority leaders respond `why not?'
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Why not seize]
((REV. I.L. WARD/BEDFORD NAACP PRESIDENT: WHY NOT SEIZE THIS MOMENTOUS OPPORTUNITY AND TAKE INDISPENSABLE ACTIONS TO PRESERVE THE LEGACY OF DR. KING FOR THE ENLIGHTENMENT OF OUR FUTURE GENERATION?))
[SUPER=01-Rev. I. L. Ward/Bedford NAACP;]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=our future generation?]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
But city council first wants to examine potential problems with postal delivery and 9-1-1 response before any decision is made-- that will take a couple of weeks.
(------------)
[tease1]
[HARD MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
Janet Reno shoots down a Florida court ruling that Elian Gonzalez should stay in the U-S for now.
That's one story still ahead on news 7 at Noon.
(--------------)
[VO-NAT ]
And problems in Russia once again delay work on the International space station.
No delays on the nice weather today-- let's talk to Patrick Evans.
(---------------)
[Talent=Patrick]
[Wx-Tease]
[Weatherpro]
[music up full]
[comm1]
[station-delay]
[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The much-delayed launch of the international space station is being postponed yet again.
This time flaws were found in a booster rocket for the important crew compartment.
Allen Pizzey reports from Moscow.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[10:02:01]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Moscow, Russia; :20]
[SUPER=01-Allen Pizzey/Reporting; 1:03]
[RUNS=1:16]
[OUT Q=CBS News, Moscow]
(( A Proton booster rocket like this one was supposed to take the next stage of the international space station into orbit. (RTR) The failure of two Proton non-space station launches due to faulty parts has set that back until at least August...holding up the entire project.
(Station parts-CBS)
(Moscow, Russia)
vo: The Russian-built Zvezda or Star module is a key component of the sixty billion dollar...sixteen nation space station project. Financed mainly by the U.S. the station is being called the biggest and most
dangerous construction project ever undertaken.
(NASA Animation)
When its completed...the 400 ton craft will be visible from earth as it whizzes scientists around at some 18,000 miles an hour.
(Crew training - CBS)
(Moscow, Russia)
vo: The first on-board construction crew of Russian and American astronauts has been training for years.
Now...theyll have to wait even longer while the Russians fix the Proton rocket...and NASA sends up a special shuttle mission to refurbish a Russian-made component of the core module already in orbit that the now delayed Zvezda was supposed to replace.
(Allen Pizzey/Reporting)
The project is already 18 months behind schedule because of delays on Russia's part. Nevertheless...NASA officials insist that it will be finished...and that Russian participation is essential...AP, CBS News, Moscow.))
[JUDGE-CONTROVERSY]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=NOON]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Elian Gonzalez]
The latest volley in the battle over six-year-old Elian Gonzalez has been fired by the Justice Department
Attorney General Janet Reno is upholding the rights of a Cuban man to the custody of his six-year-old son.
According to an official, Reno says any challenges to that decision must come in FEDERAL court -- and not in STATE court.
Earlier this week a Miami judge granted temporary custody of Elian Gonzalez to his south Florida family.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Miami, FL;]
And judge Rose Rodriquez is defending that decision.
She says she had no obligation to remove herself from the case even though she had a working relationship with the family's spokesman.
Armando Gutierrez worked as a publicist on her re-election campaign.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[3:07:24-35]
[IN Q=I haven't seen her since she...]
[SUPER=01-Armando Gutierrez/Family Spokesperson;]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=any smoke signals.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Reno says Roriguez's ruling does not affect the federal decision in the case.
(------------)
[Patrick-Community]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=tfl]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A bankrupt Patrick Community Hospital is dealing with another blow.
Acting administrator and senior vice president Carol Stevens has resigned effective January 28th.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Patrick Co./November 17; ]
The Board appointed her acting administrator of the hospital in June 1999.
Stevens is leaving on friendly terms.
She says she plans to move out of state.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=HOLD]
A meeting is scheduled this afternoon to discuss the hospital's finances.
An important announcement is expected to be made at that meeting.
We'll have the latest tonight on News 7 at 5 and 6.[E-Lewis-Gale]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=sgo]
[TAPE#=99-60 47:21]
[GRAPHIC=Lewis Gale Departing Docs]
The number of doctors departing Lewis-Gale has risen...
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem]
But the clinic won't say much about why 18 doctors are leaving.
Its executive director says he's surprised.
But as long as Lewis-Gale is holding discussions with PhyCor ... the parent company ... clinic management says it can't talk about what made the doctors leave.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 2:26:30]
[IN-Q=It is not the intention]
((JON NESS/LEWIS-GALE CLINIC EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: IT IS NOT THE INTENTION TO SAY THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE. THE PURPOSE OF THIS MEETING TODAY IS TO SAY THIS IS AN ISSUE, AND TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.))
[SUPER=01-Jon Ness/Lewis-Gale Clinic Executive Dir.]
[RUNS=08]
[OUT Q=ACKNOWLEDGE THAT]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Here's the list of the 18-doctors who have resigned so far.
Four practice at the main clinic in Salem.
The rest are at Lewis-Gale satellite clinics:
One doctor is leaving Back Creek, two are from Fincastle, one resigned in Floyd and one in Fort Lewis
Five are from the Lee-Hi clinic and four at West Salem.
Meanwhile ... doctors tell us they're under a gag order.
They can't talk to each other or to their patients for fear of getting sued.
But Internet chat rooms echo what doctors tell us privately ... that the company mismanages clinics and takes too much of their profits.
(------------)
[S-Crash-Cause]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=99-56 TC24:04]
[GRAPHIC=Crash Investigation]
Two years after a fatal plane crash near the Roanoke Regional Airport, the National Transportation Safety Board has ruled on the cause, but the final report is inconclusive.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/December 10, 1997]
47- year- old James Notch of Arlington, Texas was killed when his plane crashed into a Roanoke neighborhood.
No one on the ground was injured, but one house was totalled and two others were damaged.
The crash happened shortly after the small plane took off and disappeared into a cloud bank.
Witnesses said the plane sounded like it was having engine trouble, but investigators did not find any evidence of a mechanical malfunction.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=HOLD]
The N-T-S-B determined the probable cause as loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. The final report also indicates the low ceiling was a related factor.
[Declaration-online]
[ANCHOR=mel]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A first printing of the U-S Declaration of Independence will be auctioned online by Sotheby's.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-New York, NY;]
[7:01:52]
It's one of only 25 first printings of the document, and could be one of the most expensive items put up for auction via the internet.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
((DAVID REDDEN, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, SOTHEBY'S: IT IS A DOCUMENT THAT SAID 'ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL'. IT IS A D
OCUMENT WHICH SAID 'PEOPLE DO NOT LIVE TO SERVE THEIR GOVERNMENT. GOVERNMENT LIVES TO SERVE THE PEOPLE' SO WHAT IS THAT WORTH?... FOUR MILLION TO SIX MILLION DOLLARS IS THE ESTIMATE.))
[SUPER=01-David Redden/Sotheby's Vice President;]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=is the estimate.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
It's not the price tag, but the way the document was discovered that is stealing all the attention.
It was found behind a framed painting that a Pennslyvania man purchased at a flea market for four dollars.
(------------)
[Hillary-Clinton]
[ANCHOR=mel]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Hillary Clinton]
Hillary Clinton is taking on late-night talk TV.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Rochester, NY;]
[3:12:48]
The First Lady and candidate for the U-S Senate from New York has agreed to appear on David Letterman's show tonight.
Mrs. Clinton apparently booked the CBS appearance hours after a poll showed her positive rating dropped under 50 percent for the first time.
Host David Letterman has made a running joke of Mrs. Clinton, calling her a carpetbagger from Arkansas.
(------------)
[worst-dressed]
[ANCHOR=mel]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]
What do Cher, Martha Stewart and Queen Elizabeth the Second have in common?
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Los Angeles, CA;]
[3:37:05]
They're all on Mr. Blackwell's 40th annual worst dressed women list.
Cher tops the list as the "ultimate fashion fiasco," followed by Celine Dion, Queen Elizabeth and Martha Stewart.
Blackwell says Queen Elizabeth is "just a royal clown" and Martha Stewart is "dull, dowdy and devastatingly dreary."
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=none]
Other's who made the list include teen singer Britney Spears, Actresses Jennifer Anniston and Cameron Diaz and the Dixie Chicks.
[Stocks]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE# none]
[GRAPHIC=stocks]
On Wall Street at Noon, the Dow was UP 82 points.
[tease3]
[SPORTS MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
Still to come in sports, we'll have highlights from high school and college hoops, including Radford's stomping of Concord,
(----------------)
[VO-NAT ]
and Dallas Cowboy head coach Chan Gailey joins the list of coaches looking for new jobs.
Patrick has details, next.
(---------------)
[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #3]
[Gailey]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Dallas Cowboys]
Add the Dallas Cowboys to the list of teams looking for new head coaches.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-NFL]
Last night, Dallas fired head coach Chan Gailey, just two days after the team finished a disappointing 8 and 8 season with a first-round playoff loss to the Vikings.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones announced the decision at a news conference, citing the team's lack of offense as one of the reasons for Gailey's dismissal.
Gailey's tenure was the shortest of any Cowboy's coach and he's the club's only field general not to win a Super Bowl.
(------------)
[S-Radford]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=sp-58 tc 45:17]
[GRAPHIC=Radford]
The Radford Highlanders returned to their home court last night to take on visiting Concord. The Radford fans left the Dedmon Center happy.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Radford/Concord vs. Radford;]
Former Liberty high school star, Peanut Arrington made his first start for the Highlanders last night, as injuries plague Radford.
Cory Watkins makes the steal and passes off to Jason Williams for the uncontested slam.
Radford continues to extend its lead, as Watkins goes inside to Ryan Charles, who drains the nice left hook.
Concord ties to keep it close, Keyod Rogers goes straight to the rim for two cutting the Radford lead to nine.
[super=33-Concord/66/Radford/96;]
But the Highlanders were untouchable last night as Williams goes straight down the lane for the jam and Radford reaches the 500 mark with the 96-66 win over Concord.
(------------)
[WIPE WIPE WIPE WIPE]
[S-Bradley]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=sp-61 tc 18:01]
[wipe wipe wipe wipe]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=going into]
[SUPER=01-Ron Bradley/Radford Head Coach;]
[RUNS=21]
[OUT Q=we'll be all right]
(----------------)
[anchor=Patrick]
[ss=HOLD]
The injured players coach Bradley was talking about--Senior Rian Everett who underwent an MRI yesterday on his knee is likely out for the season. And his backup Lamar King has a broken foot.
Radford begins conference play Saturday against Winthrop.
[S-High]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=sp-45 tc 1:35:18]
[GRAPHIC=HS Hoops]
On the high school hard wood, G-W Danville made the trip to Roanoke for a meeting with the Patrick Henry Patriots.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/GW Danville vs. Patrick Henry;]
Danville had a strategy session for the second half and whatever they planned seemed to work.
P-H working the ball around, gets it to Tony Stovall. Stovall drains the three pointer for three of his 17 on the night.
G-W answers as Lawrence Williams dishes to Richard Thomas for the layup in transition.
The Patriots try to cut into Danville's lead, Mike Peery drives and serves to Sidney Logan for the Deuce.
[super=33-GW Danville/89/Patrick Henry/79;]
The Eagles' Antonio Fitzgerald gets three of his 17 at the end of the third and Danville goes on to beat P-H 89-to-79.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[SS=HOLD]
Charlotte Hornets guard Bobby Phills was killed this morning in a car accident near the Charlotte Coliseum.
by SS