[HEADLINES]
[TALENT=Melanie]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
Classes are cancelled today at New Jersey's Seton Hall University following a deadly dorm fire.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
And nearly a quarter-century after the murder of a 15-year-old Connecticut girl, charges are being
filed in the high-profile case and there appears to be a Kennedy connection.
(/////////////)
[TALENT=Patrick]
[SS=None]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=None]
News 7 at noon is next.
[seton-hall]
[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Fire]
Some students thought it was another false alarm.
But then came the smoke, and the screams.
Fire swept through a freshman dorm at Seton Hall University this morning killing three students and injuring more than 50 others.
Bobbi Harley reports.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-South Orange, NJ;]
[SUPER=01-Kathleen Brown/Student;]
[SUPER=01-Vanessa Gomez/Student;]
[SUPER=01-Joe Lopore/Student;]
[SUPER=01-Lisa Girder/Seton Hall;]
[SUPER=01-Bobbi Harley/Reporting;]
[RUNS=1:17]
[OUT Q=cbs news, South Orange, NJ.]
((IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT, FIRE ALARMS WOKE SETON HALL UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN
A FRESHMAN DORMITORY -- WHAT THEY SAW WAS THICK, BLACK SMOKE -- A FIRE THAT'S BELIEVED TO HAVE STARTED IN A THIRD FLOOR COMMONS AREA.
MOS SOT: KATHLEEN BROWN/STUDENT
"THE HALLWAYS WERE JUST FILLED WITH SMOKE, I MEAN EVERYBODY WAS JUST RUNNING AROUND THE BUILDING, PEOPLE SCREAMING OUT THE WINDOWS, IT WAS
HORRIBLE."
WITNESSES SAY AT LEAST ONE STUDENT JUMPED FROM A THIRD FLOOR WINDOW TO
ESCAPE THE BLAZE. OTHERS WERE TRAPPED FOR A TIME IN THE BUILDING UNTIL
FIREFIGHTERS ARRIVED.
sot:VANESSA GOMEZ/STUDENT
"IT WAS REALLY BAD REALLY SCARY, ESPECIALLY WHEN PEOPLE WERE CRYING OUT THE WINDOWS FOR HELP."
sot:Joe Lopore/Student
"PANIC, PANIC ALL OVER, EVERYONE WAS PANICKING."
IN ADDITION TO THE THREE DEAD, MORE THAN 50 PEOPLE WERE HURT. STUNNED STUDENTS GATHERED -- DRAWING COMFORT FROM EACH OTHER AND SETON HALL
OFFICIALS HAVE CANCELED CLASSES TODAY.
SOT: LISA GIRDER/SETON HALL SPOKESPERSON
"THE UNIVERSITY'S FOCUS RIGHT NOW IS TO DEAL WITH OUR STUDENTS, THEIR
FAMILIES AND THAT IS OUR FOCUS FOR TODAY."
(HARLEY STANDUP OR TRACK)
SO FAR THERE'S BEEN NO WORD ON THE CAUSE OF THIS FIRE. TRAGICALLY, IT FOLLOWED AN EVENING OF CELEBRATION HERE.. AFTER SETON HALL'S BASKETBALL TEAM UPSET NATIONALLY RANKED RIVAL, ST. JOHN'S.
BOBBI HARLEY, CBS NEWS, SOUTH ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.))
[Griffin]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=12]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]
A Roanoke man is on trial again for allegedly killing his roommate, then setting his house on fire.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/October 17, 1997]
David Lee Griffin is charged with murder and arson, though the defense theorizes the VICTIM set the fire.
James Cline supposedly told others before he died that he could set off a bomb that might take his own life.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=HOLD]
The prosecution says Cline was beaten and stomped to death before the fire started.
This case ended in a mis-trial last September after the medical examiner referred to the case as a homicide.
The judge said that's up to jury to decide.
[greenwich-murder]
[ANCHOR=mel]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=Net]
[GRAPHIC=Murder Investigation]
In Connecticut, a 25 year old murder mystery, with ties to the Kennedy family is close to being solved.
An arrest warrant was issued today in connection with the 1975 murder of 15 year old Martha Moxley.
The prime suspect is the nephew of the late Robert Kennedy.
Nick Young reports.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Greenwich, CT; :00]
[SUPER=01-Jonathan Benedict/Connecticut State's Attorney; :13]
[SUPER=01-Nick Young/Reporting; 1:21]
[RUNS=1:36]
[OUT Q=Nick Young, CBS News, New York]
(( A twenty-five year old murder investigation involving a nephew of the late Sen. Robert Kennedy remained clouded in secrecy today despite prosecutors announcing the results of a grand jury investigation into the murder.
SOT: JONATHAN BENEDICT, CT STATE'S ATTORNEY
The reason for this is because at the time of the offense in 1975 the individual was over the age of 14 yet under the age of 16. (:09)
Michael Skakel, the son of Rushton Skakel, Ethel Kennedy's brother is scheduled to answer allegations in the 1975 murder of his neighbor Martha Moxley. Moxley was 15 when she was found dead on her family's
estate in Greenwich, CT. She had been part of a group of teens visiting the Skakel home the night before Halloween. Her body was found the next day beaten with a golf club and stabbed with the shattered shaft. The club was matched to a set owned by the Skakel family but no arrests were ever made.
After more than twenty years, a judge acting as a grand jury got the case and interviewed more than 40 witnesses. Because Skakel was only 15 at the time of the killing, it's possible that he would be prosecuted
initially as a juvenile, meaning details of the evidence against him and even his name could remain sealed.
SOT, JONATHAN BENEDICT, CT STATE'S ATTORNEY
I wanted to dispel any notion what-so-ever that while those matters are being conducted behind the closed doors of juvenile court, that nothing was actually being done.
After more than two decades of dead ends, prosecutors have filed court documents claiming Skakel made admissions of guilt while residing at a substance abuse treatment center from 1978 to 1980. This information and the judge's findings have brought another Kennedy scandal into the headlines. Nick Young, CBS News, New York.))
[unabomber]
[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Kaczynski]
Unabomber Ted Kaczynski says he's innocent and he's asking for a new trial.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=@File;]
[3:08:27]
He claims he was coerced into pleading guilty to three murders.
In a 58 page brief, he says he entered the guilty plea to avoid a mental state defense.
He also claims his constitutional rights were infringed upon when he was denied the opportunity to defend himself.
Kaczynksi was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
A new trial could result in the death penalty.
(------------)
[fox]
[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]
T-V star Michael J. Fox says he's leaving his hit show "Spin City."
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=@File;]
[10:33:52]
The 38 year old actor, who suffers from Parkinson's disease, says he wants more time to focus on his family and to help in the search for a cure for his disease.
His co-stars are now struggling with how to say goodbye.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[10:37]
[IN Q=I think there are going to be a a lot...]
((BARRY BOSTWICK:I THINK THERE ARE GOING TO BE A LOT OF BIG OPEN HEARTS BECAUSE I THINK WE ALL LOVE HIM AND FEEL FOR HIM.))
[SUPER=01-Barry Bostwick/"Spin City" Co-star;]
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q=and feel for him.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
A-B-C has not commented on the future of the show, which is in its fourth season.
(------------)
[Road-Conditions]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Road Conditions]
There's good and bad news about road conditions--
Most of the snow and ice have been cleared off the roads.
But V-Dot is reporting some icy spots, in the higher elevations
and State Police remain concerned about high winds on Fancy Gap Mountain.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Carroll Co.]
Yesterday, that part of Interstate 77 saw a deadly combination of snow, ice and fog.
The mountian was littered with dozens of wrecked cars and trucks.
A couple from Waynesboro was killed when their car was crushed between two trucks.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=if i was]
[SUPER=07-Matthew Fiebig]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=been dead, so.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
It took hours to get the 11-mile traffic backup moving again.
(XXXXXXXXXXX)
[WIPE TO FULL SCREEN BOARD]
If you'd like more detailed road information you can call V-Dot's hotline at 1-800-367-ROAD.
(------------)
(toss to Patrick)
[WX-One]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Winter]
The bad news is, more snow is on the way.
Let's talk to Patrick Evans.
[Patrick in WX Center]
(adlib)
[WXPro=Full]
(toss back to Melanie)
[tease1]
[HARD MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
The international fight over a six year old boy moves to federal court today.
Thats next on News 7 at Noon.
(--------------)
[VO-NAT ]
And health officials say they've found a major source of P-C-B contamination in the Staunton River.
(---------------)
[music up full]
[comm1]
[Elian-court]
[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Elian Gonzalez]
The legal maneuvering to keep six year old Elian Gonzalez in the United States moves to federal court today.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Miami, FL;]
[10 newspath]
At about 2 o'clock this afternoon lawyers for the boy's Miami family will file papers to block Elian's return to Cuba.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
((SPENCER EIG, MIAMI FAMILY ATTORNEY: 'WE'RE NOT TRYING TO TAKE HIM
AWAY FROM HIS DAD. ELIAN'S MOTHER BROUGHT HIM TO AMERICA AND SHE
SACRIFICED HER LIFE IN THE ATTEMPT TO GIVE HIM FREEDOM AND A DECENT
FUTURE.'))
[SUPER=01-Spencer Eig/Miami Family Attorney;]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=And a decent future.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
It is a future complicated by legal maneuvers and politics. When or lose in Federal Court -- Republicans in Congress plan to file legislation to make Elian a U.S. Citizen when Congress reconvenes next week.
(------------)
[E-Cuban-Woman]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=99-58 31:02]
[GRAPHIC=wipe]
[WIPE WIPE WIPE WIPE WIPE]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
A Cuban woman in our area says Elian should grow up in the U-S, even without his father.
Rosa Hadden was a year younger than Elian -- only five years old -- when her father smuggled her to Roanoke from Cuba.
Her mother did not fight to bring her back.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 16:07:43]
[IN Q=All in all]
((ALL IN ALL I'M MUCH BETTER OFF BEING HERE THAN IN CUBA ESPECIALLY WITH MY BIG MOUTH BECAUSE I'D PROBABLY HAVE LANDED IN JAIL SO YEAH I'M MUCH BETTER OFF HERE.))
[SUPER=01-Rosa Hadden/Former Cuban Refugee;]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=off here]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Hadden says if Elian's returned to Cuba he will not be able to choose his own college.
She's studying to be a doctor in Roanoke and hopes to bring her mother to the U-S someday.
(------------)
[Andrew-Lewis]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=00-01 TC12:43]
[GRAPHIC=Education]
A public hearing to discuss the future of Andrew Lewis Middle school drew a small but one sided group in Salem last night.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem;]
Less than a dozen people signed up to speak before the school board, but those who did were opposed to renovating the aging middle school.
Those who spoke believe a NEW middle school would be in Salem's best interest.
(///// SOT ///// 00:56:23)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The kids]
(( MIKE CHIGLINSKY/OPPOSES RENOVATION: THE KIDS NEED A STABLE ENVIRONMENT WHERE THERE'S GOING TO BE CONSISTENCY AND WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A SENSE OF IDENTITY, A SENSE OF CONNECTION AND IF YOU HAVE A TRANSITIONAL RENOVATION PROCESS THAT DISRUPTS A LOT OF THE NORMAL SOCIAL CONTEXT THAT KIDS HAVE.))
[SUPER=01-Mike Chiglinsky/Opposes Renovation; ]
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q= kids have.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Superintendent Wayne Tripp expects the board to hold two more public hearings before possibly making a decision... as early as this summer.
(------------)
[E-City-Council]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=99-59 13:40]
[GRAPHIC=Roanoke]
Roanoke residents packed a series of public hearings and raised concerns about planned development, neighborhood zoning, and crime.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
Representatives of several neighborhood watch groups held a rally in Lee Plaza before the council meeting.
They're calling on city officials to use existing public nuisance ordinances to crack down on illegal drug activity.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=You have no life]
((KATHY EL-ATTAR: YOU HAVE NO LIFE. YOU'RE BARRICADED IN YOUR HOME AND YOU HOPE THAT THEY DON'T COME IN THERE.))
((SEAN ARJOMANDINIA: AND IF WE DON'T WORK QUICK AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT NOW, THEN IT MIGHT BE TOO LATE IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE.))
[SUPER=01-Kathy El-Attar/Roanoke Resident; :00]
[SUPER=01-Sean Arjomandinia/Roanoke Resident; :07]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=then it might be too late in the very near future.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Members of council asked city manager Darlene Burcham to review the residents' concerns, and report back to council at its next meeting in early February.
(------------)
[E-PCBs]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=99-60 48:25]
[GRAPHIC=None]
They're making progress in identifying the source and the extent of PCB contamination in the Staunton River.
Concerned citizens met with state and federal officials last night to discuss the problem.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Campbell Co.]
Authorities say much of the cancer-causing chemical is seeping into the river from property owned by B-G-F Industries.
B-G-F says clean-up could cost more than a quarter-million dollars.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Herman Rogers/BGF Plant Manager]
[super=01-Shelton Miles/Concerned Citizens Committee]
[RUNS=26]
[OUT Q=the problem less severe.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
A 79-mile stretch of the Staunton River remains under a state health advisory.
Residents are asked to limit their consumption of fish caught there.
Six species have been shown to contain serious levels of P-C-B contamination.
(------------)
[Tease2]
[SOFT MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
Good attendance pays off, especially at one local furniture-maker.
Find out how much when News 7 at Noon returns.
(-----------------)
[VO-NAT ]
And a U-S missle test misses its mark.
(-----------------)
[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #2]
[missile-failure]
[ANCHOR=mel]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]
An apparent setback in the Pentagon's drive to develop a national missile defense system.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Vandernberg AFB, CA;]
Last night, the pentagon launched a prototype missile interceptor.
It was supposed to hit a mock warhead but it failed to find its target.
The exercise was meant to simulate a nuclear attack on the united states.
Had it worked, it would have boosted the Pentagon's efforts to develop a comprehensive system.
(------------)
[E-Rowe-Furniture]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=99-56 30:50]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Perfect or "near perfect" attendance does have its rewards... especially if you work for Rowe Furniture.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem;]
Last night the company threw a party at the Salem Civic Center to honor its employees with perfect or "near perfect" attendance.
Those who made it through 1999 without missing more than three days were eligible to win a year two- thousand Chevy Blazer.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 41:29:17]
[IN Q=We just]
(( STEVE SHELOR/SR. VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS: WE JUST DECIDED TO PUT A RETURN INTO OUR EMPLOYEES AND THEY MEAN SO MUCH TO OUR COMPANY THAT WHY NOT MAKE IT FUN AND GIVE SOMETHING BACK. ))
[SUPER=01-Steve Shelor/Senior VP of Operations; :00]
[RUNS=07]
[OUT Q=something back.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Mark Wood, who's been with Rowe for 14- years, walked away with the keys to the blazer.
By the way... Rowe also gave away other gifts including televisions, home stereos, cash, furniture and gift certificates.
(------------)
[Stocks]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE# none]
[GRAPHIC=stocks]
On Wall Street at Noon, the Dow was DOWN 64 points.
[tease3]
[SPORTS MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
Still to come in sports, the "Air" is set to make his official return to the N-B-A,
(----------------)
[VO-NAT ]
and Jordan's alma mater may still be hurting after last night's 87-to-85 upset loss to Virginia.
Patrick has the highlights, next.
(---------------)
[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #3]
[Jordan-Wizards]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Michael Jordan]
It looks like the N-B-A's greatest player will officially join one of the league's worst teams today.
W-T-O-P radio is reporting Michael Jordan will become head of basketball operations and part owner of the Washington Wizards.
The announcement will be made at a news conference this afternoon.
[S-Radford]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-48 14958tc]
[GRAPHIC=RADFORD 6637]
Radford could have used a player like Michael Jordan to get past the visiting Richmond Spiders.
Mike Stevens takes us to the action at Dedmon.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=FIRST AUDIO]
[SUPER=03-Radford/Spiders vs. Highlanders; ;00]
[SUPER=01-Meredith Bowman/Jeff Burton's Mom; :34]
[SUPER=01-Doug Bowman/Jeff Burton's Step Dad; :43]
[SUPER=01-Jeff Burton/Exide Ford Driver; :54]
[SUPER=33-Richmond/71/Radford/62; 1:33]
[SUPER=@mike1; 1:40]
[RUNS=1:51]
[OUT Q=...NEWS 7 SPORTS."]
(-----------------)
(( A big crowd settled in under the big top to see if the Highlanders could avoid getting caught in the Spiders web yet again.
Many in attendance also came to visit with Winston Cup star Jeff Burton, who was on hand for pregame fundraising dinner.
His duties were defined but his mission was a secret until halftime, when he announced that the $10 thousand dollars raised was earmarked for an endowed scholarship in the name of his mom and step dad - long time RU supporters Doug and Meredith Bowman.
((BITES))
Unfortunately, neither the Bowmans nor the Burtons got to see the Highlanders at their best.
Ryan Charles tallied 16 points on an off-night inside as the Highlanders shot just 33 percent as a team.
Richmond on the other hand shot 52 percent and out rebounded the Highlanders by 22 caroms.
Jason Williams' jam off the feed from Peanut Arrington gave RU its final ray of hope. But Richmond drops Radford to 7-and-7 on the season with the 9 point win.))
((MIKE STEVENS:))
[s-uva]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=sp-51 tc 1:39:30]
[GRAPHIC=uva]
U-N-C fans may still be crying today after last night's upset loss to Virginia.
The Wahoos won their second straight conference game with the 87-85 win over the Heels.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Charlottesville/JP Sports;]
The Tarheels' woes continued as U-N-C dropped its third straight game.
This North Carolina turnover started a Cavalier streak. Donald Hand gets the great bounce pass to Chris Williams for the exclamation point, two of his team high 24.
Hand drives in among the trees and dishes off to Travis Watson. Watson gets it on the second try.
With the Tarheels down by 11, Joseph Forte goes inside to Jason Capel. The bucket's good and the foul shot finishes the three point play.
[super=33-UNC/85/UVA/87;]
Donald Hand helps coach Pete Gillen get his 300th career win and U-V-A holds off 21st ranked North Carolina 87 to 85.
(------------)
by SS