[HEADLINES]

[TALENT=Melanie]

(----------------)
[VO-NAT]


The south braces for more winter weather, including the Superbowl host city Atlanta.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]


And a decades old tradition gets underway at Washington and Lee.
(/////////////)
[TALENT=Patrick]
[SS=None]



[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=None]


News 7 at noon is next.

[nc-snow]


[ANCHOR=mel]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Winter Weather]


The Southeast is in the grips of a winter storm unlike any seen before.
Atlanta, which is hosting Sunday's Super Bowl, is bracing for ice and possibly snow.
This storm is also expected to push through the Carolinas and Virginia-- states still digging out from Tuesday's massive storm.
Cathy Moss reports.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]

[11:30-UPDATE WINDOW]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Tupelo, MS;]
[SUPER=03-Cullman, AL;]
[SUPER=03-Little Rock, AR;]
[SUPER=01-Cathy Moss/Reporting;]
[RUNS=1:00]
[OUT Q= Cathy Moss CBS News]

(( It's pretty rare they say.
A powerful winter storm now hitting the Southeast is dumping more than a foot of snow in parts of Mississippi - like here in Tupelo.
Nats - more Miss.
Ice -covered roads are so bad -- even the National Guard is being called out in the region.
From Alabama -- to the Carolinas -- heavy sleet and ice are coating power lines. Locator: Cullman, Ala
In Alabama -- schools and colleges are shut down and the governor is even urging residents to stock up and stay in.
This latest blast comes right on top of a winter storm that hit the area last week -- leaving half a million customers without power and an estimated 55 million dollars in damage.
Nats- arkansas Locator: Little Rock, Ark.
In Little Rock Arkansas -- the weather's no better.
About a thousand motorists have been stranded on major highways.
State offices are closed -- except for essential workers who still have to make it in.
Some say -- this snow came so hard -- some office workers aren't even able to see across the street. Locator Starkeville Miss
Nats of Snowball fight
But at least some are using this most unusual winter storm to have fun -- while it lasts. Cathy Moss CBS News))


[WX-One]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]


Let's talk to Patrick Evans and find out what we can expect here. [Patrick in WX Center]
(adlib)
[WXPro=Full]



(toss back to Melanie)



[israel-snow]


[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD ]


In Israel's Negev (NEH'-gehv) Desert, people awoke this morning to snow on the ground.
That hasn't happened in half a century.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Jerusalem, Israel;]

[7:03:10]
And 45 miles to the north, Jerusalem got at least 15 inches.
With temperatures just below freezing, the snow was wet --sticking to trees, and toppling power lines.
Schools scheduled to reopen after a teacher's strike were closed for a snow day.
(---------------)



[Pakistan]


[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Bombing]


Terror in Pakistan -- two bombs exploded in Karachi today, killing four and injuring 32.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Karachi, Pakistan;]

[8:05:56]
Police say the first bomb was hidden in a motorcycle parked in front of a court building.
That blast injured four.
Minutes later a bomb exploded at a mosque, killing four people and injuring at least 28.
One witness says he saw four men enter the mosque and leave behind a bag.
Within minutes he heard a loud explosion.
(------------)


[WIPE/WIPE/WIPE]

[sri-lanka-bo]


[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=wipe/wipe/wipe]


[WIPE/WIPE/WIPE]

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Vavuniya, Sri Lanka;]

[7:04:49]
A mail bomb in Sri Lanka has killed 11 and injured some 73 others.
The device exploded in a packed post office.
Officials believe its the work of Tamil Tiger rebels, the separatist rebels fighting for an independent homeland in northern Sri Lanka.
(------------)



[STATE-ADDRESS]


[ANCHOR=MEL]
[NEWSCAST=MORN]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Bill Clinton]


President Clinton heads to Illinois today, to keep the spotlight on the economic success he talked about during last night's State of the Union address.
He's visiting the city of Quincy, which has experienced an economic turnaround over the last decade.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Washington, DC;]

[3:01:00]
In his hour and half speech last night he also asked Congress to make gun control legislation a top priority.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]

[3:03:51-4:06]
[IN Q=Specifically i propose a plan....]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=help me pass that.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Other highlights of the speech include a three hundred and fifty billion dollar tax cut as well as new health care initiatives.
The Republican response was delivered by Senator Susan Collins of Maine and William Frist of Tennessee.
They also pushed for tax cuts and health care reform.
However the G-O-P is calling for deeper cuts and a different approach to fixing the health care system.
(------------)



[Mock-Convention]


[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Mock Convention]


The Washington and Lee University mock convention opens today.
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lexington/1996]


It may not be the real thing, but it is still nationally known for correctly predicting the nominees of the major parties.
Students have correctly picked the nominee for the party out of power 11 out of 12 times since 1952.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=HOLD]


Speakers this year include Bob Dole and Oklahoma Congressman J. C. Watts.
We'll have more on today's festivities on News 7 at Five and Six.

[E-Danville-Murder]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=99-58 34:14]
[GRAPHIC=Murder Investigation]


Police are still investigating the death of a Danville women.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville;]


Authorities say it appears that 45 year old Mary Deloris Johnson was stabbed - but they're not sure.
Police found Johnson's body in her bedroom at 731 Memorial Avenue - after receiving calls from friends concerned that they had not heard from her.
Police say there were no signs of forced entry, but that her apartment had been ransacked.
Johnson's body will be sent to the Medical Examiner to determine an exact cause of death.
(XXXXXXXXX)

[TAKE FS GRAPHIC]
Anyone with information is asked to call Danville Police at 804-799-5111 or Crimestoppers at 804-793-0000.
(-------------)


[tease1] [HARD MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]


Should educators have to pass their own Standards of Learning Tests?
Some General Assembly members think so.
Details are still ahead on News-7 at noon.
(--------------)
[VO-NAT ]


And fewer high schoolers are smoking, but more younger kids are lighting up.
(---------------)

[music up full] [comm1]

[teen-smoking]


[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Smoking]


Good and bad new this afternoon on the war against teen smoking.
First the good news.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=@File;]

[4:04:19]
A government survey taken last fall found an eight percent drop in the number of high school age students lighting up.
But now the bad news, a survey by the Centers for Disease Control says nearly one in ten middle schoolers are already smoking.
Experts credit the drop in High School smokers to the 45 cent increase in the price of a pack of cigarettes.
(------------)



[E-Lewis-Gale]


[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=sgo]
[TAPE#=99-54 53:55]
[GRAPHIC=L-G Departing Docs]


The Lewis-Gale Clinic is holding a new round of high-level talks this weekend -- aimed at keeping more doctors from departing.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem]


This, after Wednesday's announcement that all 10 doctors in the anesthesiology department are quitting ...following 18 doctors resigning earlier this month.
All accuse Nashville-based PhyCor of mismanaging their practices.
The clinic held a special meeting last night with its board of directors.
Next ... on Saturday ... News-7 has learned a top-level PhyCor executive will come to Salem.
He's coming to town for "serious and critical" negotiations.
In those talks ... the clinic will consider "all options" for the clinic's future.
That includes a possible change in ownership ... and one option is cutting the clinic's ties to PhyCor.
(------------)



[E-Textile-Aid]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=99-51 54:14]
[GRAPHIC=Va. Capitol Textile Aid]


Members of the General Assembly are still fighting for a major textile relief package.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Mr. Chairman]

((SEN. ROSCOE REYNOLDS/D-HENRY CO.: MR. CHAIRMAN, I LEAVE WITH THE TENDER MERCIES OF THIS COMMITTEE THESE CONCERNS, THESE BUDGET AMENDMENTS, SO WE CAN PRAYERFULLY ASK FOR A FAVORABLE CONSIDERATION.)) ((SEN. JOHN CHICHESTER/R-STAFFORD CO.: ALL OF US UP HERE UNDERSTAND AND I THINK THROUGHOUT THE COMMONWEALTH UNDERSTAND THE DILEMMA THAT YOU FIND YOURSELVES IN.))
[SUPER=@Reynolds; :00 ]
[SUPER=01-Sen. John Chichester/(R) Stafford Co.; :12]
[RUNS=:19]
[OUT Q=yourselves in.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Martinsville/File Tape;]


The Senate Finance committee heard 13-point-8 million dollars in requests for Medicaid coverage and increased unemployment benefits.
That's just the dollars that would back up the Textile Workers Relief Act of 2000.
The rest must be approved by other committees.
(------------)
[TALENT=Melanie]
[SS=None]


Additionally, Senator Reynolds says the tobacco settlement will now NOT be able to pay for capitol improvements to the Natural History Museum.
So that's another 12-million dollar request of state budget money.
Reynolds says a new museum would mean a lot to new employers who want to locate in the Martinsville area.

[E-Prices-Fork]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=99-46 TC1:52:22]
[GRAPHIC=none]


A three judge panel says the community of Prices Fork in Montgomery County will not be a town, at least for now.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Montgomery Co.;]


Some of the nearly two-thousand residents of Prices Fork petitioned for the community to become a town.
They said it would preserve its heritage and keep Prices Fork from being annexed by Blacksburg.
Some residents ... and county officials ... argued that was NOT a threat.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 1:11:00 - :13]
[IN Q=I've survived there]

((HAROLD DUDLEY/PRICES FORK RESIDENT: I'VE SURVIVED THERE FOR A GOOD MANY YEARS AND I'VE HAD FOOD, AND SHELTER ALL THAT TIME AND I SEE NO REASON TO CHANGE ANYTHING. I BELIEVE THE COUNTY'S QUITE CAPABLE OF TAKING CARE OF IT. ))
[SUPER=01-Harold Dudley/Prices Fork Resident;]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=taking care of it.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


The judicial panel agreed.
But the citizens in favor of town status for Prices Fork can still appeal the decision to the Supreme Court.
(------------)



[5-Board-SOL]


[ANCHOR=MElanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=500-4 TC08:40]
[GRAPHIC=SOL's]


Do you think the people who make Virginia school children take the S-O-L tests could pass them themselves?
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Patrick County delegate Barnie Day wants to know.
[SUPER=03-Richmond/May 1997;]


He has a bill that would require the nine members of the State Board of Education to take the tests just like the kids-- and publicly release their grades.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I think]
[SOT 14:41:36]

((DEL. BARNIE DAY/D-PATRICK CO.: I THINK NUMBER ONE IT WOULD SUBJECT THEM TO SOME OF THE ANXIETY THAT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PARENTS, AND ADMINISTRATORS, AND KIDS ACROSS VIRGINIA HAVE EXPERIENCED.))
[SOT 17:34:43]

((KIRK SCHRODER/VIRGINIA BD. OF EDUCATION: IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE SOLS, WHAT WOULD YOU PROPOSE OTHERWISE TO HAVE STANDARDS AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM?))
[SUPER=@Day; :00]
[SUPER=01-Kirk Schroder/Virginia Bd. of Education; :14 ]
[RUNS=:20]
[OUT Q=school system.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Board President Kirk Schroder calls Day's bill a "stunt."
But Schroder took the tests himself last year.
We asked how he did.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I'm not]
[SOT 17:38:30]

((KIRK SCHRODER/VIRGINIA BD. OF EDUCATION: I'M NOT AN ALGEBRA TWO PERSON. SO I BARELY GOT ALONG WITH THAT. I'VE HAD BIOLOGY, AND I'VE HAD CHEMISTRY, AND I THOUGHT EARTH SCIENCE WAS PRETTY GOOD. AND THE ENGLISH WERE PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD. SO REALLY THE MATH, THE HIGHER MATH, WAS MY ONLY BRUSHING UP THAT I NEED TO DO.))
[RUNS=:20]
[OUT Q=need to do.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Schroder says he did pass through the eighth grade tests.
(------------)



[Teacher-Pay]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Education]


Democrats in the State Assembly announced plans to give teachers a big pay raise...
Ten percent, over two years.
It would cost an estimated 400 million dollars.
But it would bring teacher salaries in Virginia up to the national average.
Republicans are backing a much smaller increase, 2-point-two five percent.

[E-Moment-Silence]


[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=99-52 TC57:14]
[GRAPHIC=Education]


"One minute for silent meditation, prayer, or reflection."
That's what Virginia teachers could be instructing students.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Chesterfield Co.]


A state Senate committee referred that bill out to the full Senate yesterday on a 10 to 4 vote.
A moment of silence is a local option now.
In Chesterfield County, they have that, but the teacher is NOT allowed to suggest prayer.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 09:09:43]
[IN Q=I think]

((JESSIE PERRY/CHESTERFIELD CO.: I THINK IT'S A FREE COUNTRY. SO YOU CAN PRAY OR JUST STAND THERE AND LOOK.))
[SUPER=01-Jessie Perry/Chesterfield Student;]
[RUNS=:04]
[OUT Q=and look.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


The A-C-L-U believes the bill may be UNconstitutional as it's worded now.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 14:01:55 ]
[IN Q=We do not]

((RICHARD FERRIS/VIRGINIA ACLU: WE DO NOT OPPOSE MOMENTS OF SILENCE IN GENERAL. WE THINK THAT A RELIGIOUSLY NEUTRAL MOMENT OF SILENCE WOULD BE PERFECTLY ACCEPTABLE. HOWEVER, ONE THAT PROMOTES RELIGIOUS PURPOSES, WE WOULD HAVE TO TAKE ISSUE WITH.))
[SUPER=01-Richard Ferris/Virginia ACLU;]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=issue with.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Current Virginia law allows any child to pray alone or with other students -- as long as school officials don't get involved.
(------------)


[Tease2] [SOFT MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]


New life could be dancing into an old Lynchburg building.
Find out why when News 7 at Noon returns.
(-----------------)
[VO-NAT ]


And accress Katherine Zeta-Jones recently got engaged, now she may be pregnant.
(-----------------)

[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #2]


[E-Dance-Studio]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=99-45 TC1:56:07]
[GRAPHIC=None]


A Lynchburg man who has dedicated his life to teaching inner city children the joys of dancing now has his sights set on a bigger and better dance floor.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]


Keith Lee hopes to raise 100- thousand dollars to purchase this century- old vacant building in downtown Lynchburg.
The building used to house a dance school and its two ballrooms are perfect for what Lee wants to do.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 00:14:57]
[IN Q=The floor]

((KEITH LEE/DANCE THEATER: THE SPACE, THE FLOOR AND THE OPENNESS, THERE ARE NO POLES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROOMS AND SO THIS IS WHAT THIS BUILDING WAS USED FOR BEFORE AND SO THAT'S WHAT IT SHOULD BE USED FOR AGAIN.))
[SUPER=01-Keith Lee/Dance Theater]
[RUNS=10]
[OUT Q=used for again.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Lee's dance school has been in the basement of a local Y-M-C-A for the past year.
A fundraiser will be held in March to raise money for a down payment on the new building.
(------------)



[zeta-jones]


[ANCHOR=mel]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]


She's engaged and now there's word that Welsh actress Katherine Zeta Jones is pregnant.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=@File;]

[7:05;59]
According to London's Sun Tabloid, Zeta Jones is three months pregnant with fianc� Michael Douglas's baby.
The newspaper says morning sickness forced the actress to withdraw as a presenter from Sunday's Golden Globe film awards.
Douglas recently announced the couple's engagement on his Internet site.
(------------)



[Stocks]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE# none]
[GRAPHIC=stocks]


On Wall Street at Noon, the Dow was DOWN 118 points.
[tease3] [SPORTS MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]


Still to come in sports, the Radford Highlanders dish out a lesson in fundamentals to Big South opponent High Point,
(----------------)
[VO-NAT ]

and former Jets coach Bill Belichick finally has a new place to call home...New England.
Patrick has the details, when we return.
(---------------)

[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #3]



[S-Radford]


[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=sp-56]
[GRAPHIC=radford]


Radford had no problems handling High Point last night.
In fact, the Highlanders ran over High Point, winning by 22 points.
Mike Stevens has the damage report from the Dedmon Dome.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=first audio]
[SUPER=03-Radford/High Point vs. Radford; :00]
[SUPER=01-Ron Bradley/151 Wins at Radford; :40]
[SUPER=01-Jason Williams/14 Points & 5 Rebounds; :46]
[SUPER=01-Peanut Arrington/14 Points & 2 Assists; :55]
[SUPER=33-High Point/74/Radford/96; 1:12]
[SUPER=01-Ryan Charles/19 Points & 5 Steals; 1:20]
[SUPER=@mike1; 1:26]
[RUNS=1:38]
[OUT Q=NEWS 7 SPORTS.]
(--------------)



[S-Greene]


[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-45 (1:42:01)]
[GRAPHIC=Panthers Logo]


Carolina Panther linebacker Kevin Greene has decide to hang up his cleats.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=@File; :]


Yesterday in Atlanta, Green announced his retirement from football.
Green Ranks third in N-F-L history with 160 sacks.
He could have become an unrestricted free agent next month.
Green trails Reggie White and Buffalo end Bruce Smith in sacks.
He's also third in fumble recoveries with 26.
(------------)




[S-Belichick]


[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-48 (1:55:21)]
[GRAPHIC=Patriots Logo]


After some controversy, Bill Belichick is settling into a new home in New England.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=@File; :]


Belichick is the head head coach of the N-F-L's New England Patriots.
Three weeks ago Belichick was appointed head coach of the New York Jets. However, he resigned a day later in an effort to pursue the New England job.
The Patriots and Jets reportedly worked out a deal for Belichick involving draft picks, which includes New England's number one pick this year.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="All I...]
[SUPER=01-Bill Belichick/Patriots Head Coach; :]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=....how to win."]
(-----------------)



[Meeks-Skins]


[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Redskins]


A lot of new faces will be on the Washington Redskins sidelines next season.
The team has hired Ron Meeks as defensive backs coach.
Meeks replaces Tom Hayes, who was fired last week.
He spent the last three seasons coaching the Atlanta Falcons secondary.
Under Meeks, the Falcons were one of three N-F-C teams to allow fewer than 200 yards passing per game. Meeks joins Ray Rhodes who is taking over as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Foge Fazio.
by SS