[HEADLINES]
[TALENT=Melanie]
(----------------)
[VO- .NAT]
Pope John Paul the second begins his trop to the Middle East.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
And with oil prices nearing an all-time high, oil ministers from the Persian Gulf region are planning to do something about it.
(/////////////)
[TALENT=Patrick]
[SS=None]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=None]
News 7 at noon is next.
[pope-mideast]
[ANCHOR=mel]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Pope John Paul II]
Pope John Paul the second arrived in Egypt today for a three day Mideast trip.
It is a highly personal pilgrimage that involves retracing some of the most epic passages from the Bible.
Mark Phillips reports.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[10:37:00]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Cairo, Egypt]
[SUPER=01-Mark Phillips/Reporting;]
[RUNS=1:17]
[OUT Q=cbs news, Cairo.]
((Of all the travels of this most traveled of Popes -- and this is his 90th foreign trip -- politics and, ironically, religion have kept John Paul The Second out of the Holy Land until now.
(Cairo Scenes)
But with tentative steps, the Pope finally began his middle east millennium mission with this three day visit to Egypt. Greeted by President Mubarak, The Pope has stressed that he's here for religious not political reasons.
(SOT Pope)
"Thank you, Mr. President for making it possible for me to come here and go to where God revealed his name to Moses.
Despite his frequent pleas for reconciliation, Christians, Muslims, Jews -- Arabs and Israelis -- will know there are consequences to the Pope's every word and gesture. And this visit is just the beginning.
(Jerusalem)
The Vatican is also calling next month's visit to holy sites in Jerusalem, Bethlehem and other evocative locales in Israel and the Palestinian Territory religious, not political. But in the middle east there's little separation between the two as these visits will likely prove again. MP CBS News London.))
[oil-prices]
[ANCHOR=mel]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A sign that oil prices may be on their way down.
Gulf oil ministers have reportedly agreed to increase production in hopes of stabilizing international markets.
OPEC members agreed to cut production last year to raise prices from their lowest level in decades.
[Rubatex-Fire]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Rubatex]
Fire broke out early this morning at the Waltex plant in Bedford, a division of Rubatex.
Investigators say the blaze likely started in a damaged oven, which overheated and caught fire.
Two employees were treated for smoke inhalation.
Damage was limited to equipment and some inventory.
Officials say there is also evidence of vandalism at the plant.
Two fork lifts had slashed tires, and another machine was damaged.
Authorities have a suspect, but charges are still pending.
[E-Area-Code]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=99-57 TC 59:52]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Get ready for the possibility of another area code change.
That's because the 540 area code is filling up.
Kate Weidaw tells us about what's under consideration.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=by the fall]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.; :00]
[SUPER=01-Ken Schrad/SCC Information Director; :14]
[SUPER=01-Barry Snodgrass/Chamber of Commerce; :47]
[SUPER=@Kate1; :59]
[RUNS=1:07]
[OUT Q=kw news 7]
((By the fall of 2001 the 540 area code will run out of available numbers. That's because businesses and residents are using more products that require a phone line.
[SOT 26:11]
[INQ=]
((KEN SCHRAD/SCC INFO. DIRECTOR: WE ENJOY BEING CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET WE ENJOY SECOND LINES IN OUR HOME TO TALK TO OUR CHILDREN WE ENJOY HAVING CELL PHONES AND PAGERS TO BE IN CONTACT WITH OUR EMPLOYEES AT WORK.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 13]
So the State Corporation Commission held a public hearing in Roanoke County to see how residents and business owners think the area code problem should be resolved.
Four plans were displayed.
Three maps show how the Roanoke Valley would be geographically split -- giving each half a different area code. The fourth map displays an overlay approach that would give only new phones the different area code.
[SOT 20:10]
[INQ=]
((BARRY SNIDEGRASS/SALEM ROANOKE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: FROM AN OVERALL BUSINESS LOOK DISTRIBUTIVE OVERLAY SEEMS TO MAKE MUCH SENSE.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 5]
And most businesses agree an overlay could cut back costs of having to change letter heads, business cards, and advertising.
[STANDUP]
[INQ=]
((KATE WEIDAW/REPORTING:The commission will be traveling across the state to hear public input before making its decision sometime this summer. Kate Weidaw News 7.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 8]))
[Bomb-Scare]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Bomb Threat]
Heritage High School in Lynchburg was the target of another bomb threat this morning.
An anonymous caller made the threat around 7:15.
The school was evacuated and busloads of other students were diverted to Sandusky Middle School.
No bomb was found, and students returned to class about an hour later.
A bomb threat on Monday delayed classes at Heritage for about three hours.
Critzer (CRY-ZER) Elementary School in Pulaski County was also evacuated for several hours this morning due to a phoned-in bomb threat.
The 500 students were taken to Pulaski Middle School while state police searched the building with bomb-sniffing dogs.
State police say the building is secure and kids will be going back after lunch.
The superintendent says authorities have traced the phone threat and are still investigating.
[US-Airways]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=US Airways]
U-S Airways says if it can't reach a contract agreement with its flight attendants, it will shut the airline down rather than endure a strike.
Both sides are now beginning a 30-day cooling-off period.
If there's no deal, attendants will be free to strike at a minute past midnight on March 25th.
The union says if there's no agreement, it may stage a mass walkout, or strike individual flights without warning to management or passengers.
[kosovo-unrest]
[ANCHOR=mel]
[NEWSCAST=]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]
France is sending up to 700 additional troops to a troubled city in Kosovo and a U-S Marine unit may be next.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Mitrovica, Kosovo;]
[from top stories 3:21:30]
That word comes from U-S and French officials.
Violence has racked the city of Mitrovica (mee-troh-VEET'-sah) since a grenade attack on a U-N bus earlier this month.
Two elderly Serbs were killed, triggering revenge attacks that have left at least nine dead and scores more injured.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[from last night's 8 PM 20:11:30]
[IN Q=]
((COHEN: "THE REINFORCEMENT AT THIS POINT IS IN THE FRENCH SECTOR, IN TERMS OF THE ADDITIONAL BATTALION THAT WILL GO THERE, AND THEN WHATEVER OTHER FORCES ARE REQUIRED FROM THE RESERVE, SHOULD IT BE NECESSARY."))
[SUPER=01-William Cohen/Secretary of Defense;]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=SHOULD IT BE NECESSARY.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The United States currently has 55-hundred troops in Kosovo.
(------------)
[tease1]
[HARD MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
Still ahead on News 7 at Noon-- a fast-track diabetes drug may on the fast track off the market.
(--------------)
[VO-NAT ]
And a deadly riot forces a California prison under lockdown.
First, let's talk to Patrick Evans.
(---------------)
[Talent=Patrick]
[Wx-Tease]
[Weatherpro]
[music up full]
[comm1]
[prison-riot]
[ANCHOR=mel]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A California prison Prison remains under a lockdown this afternoon, after a deadly riot.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=@File;]
[yesterday 8 pm 20:14;40]
Prison officials say about 200 black and Hispanic inmates started fighting with homemade weapons yesterday in an exercise yard.
Guards opened fire to quell the disturbance.
One inmate was shot to death and 12 others were wounded.
Guards used tear gas, pepper spray and rubber bullets before
opening fire.
Pelican Bay State Prison houses some of California's most dangerous criminals.
(------------)
[E-Munsey-Murder]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=00-01 47:49]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Link Thomas was devastated when his son was arrested last week for allegedly killing 16- year old Tara Munsey.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]
Thomas says his son, Jeff, is a devoted family man-- who's more interested in helping than hurting people.
It's a feeling echoed by Thomas' stepmother, Martha, who says Jeff told her he did NOT kill the Radford High School sophomore.
Whatever the case... the Thomas' say their heart and prayers go out to the Munseys.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I can]
((I CAN HONESTLY SAY IF IT WASN'T FOR SOME OF MY FRIENDS AND FOR THEIR PRAYERS AND THE CLOSENESS THAT I FEEL WITH THE LORD, I DON'T THINK I COULD MAKE IT TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.))
[SUPER=01-Link Thomas/Jeff Thomas' Father;]
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q=with you.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The Thomas' say they believe their son knows something about the crime but do NOT believe he's capable of murder.
(------------)
[E-Missing-Girl]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=00-03 37:50]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Family members, nieghbors and schoolmates are mourning the death of a little Nelson County girl who spent two days lost in the woods.
Steve Smallshaw reports.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Just 24 hours]
[SUPER=03-Nelson Co./Tuesday; :00]
[SUPER=01-Henry Conner/Holden Family Friend; :16]
[SUPER=01-Nina Garrett/Principal; :44]
[SUPER=@ssm2; :55]
[RUNS=1:02]
[OUT Q=News7, Nelson County.]
(( Just 24 hours earlier, the road to the Holden family home had been a beehive of activity.. on Wednesday it was eerily quiet.
The scores of searchers and volunteers are gone, leaving family members alone with their grief.
[SOT 00:40:04]
((HENRY CONNER/HOLDEN FAMILY FRIEND: THEY'RE GOING THROUGH THE FIVE OR SIX STAGES OF GRIEF AND THEY'RE STILL AT NUMBER ONE, DENIAL, AND THAT TYPE OF THING.))
[RUNS= 09]
[OUT Q=type of thing.]
Jackie Holden had been a second- grader at Rockfish River Elementary School.
The flags there are at half- staff, but spirits are even lower.
Faculty and students already had been mourning the loss of an assistant principal, killed in a car accident over the weekend.
Jackie's death has brought another wave of flowers and a new set of ribbons.. pink this time, her favorite color.
[SOT 00:45:44]
((NINA GARRETT/ROCKFISH RIVER E.S. PRINCIPAL: BUT IT'S A VERY SAD SITUATION FOR US. MY FACULTY IS DEVASTATED BUT THEY'RE VERY PROFESSIONAL AND THEY'RE VERY CHILD- ORIENTED AND SO THEY'VE BEEN WORKING VERY HARD TO DEAL WITH THE SITUATION.))
[RUNS= 11]
Garrett says students will plant a memorial garden in Jackie's honor this spring.
Steve Smallshaw, News7, Nelson County.))
[E-Sodomy]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=99-52 1:32:24]
[GRAPHIC=Va. Capitol]
Virginia's centuries-old sodomy law remains intact.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]
A Senate committee shot down the bill that's come the closest to modifying it this decade.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[sot 15:15:55]
((JACK KNAPP/VA. ASSEMBLY OF INDEP. BAPTISTS: IT'S A TIME FOR STRENGTHENING THE MORAL FIBER OF OUR COMMONWEALTH AND REDUCING THE PENALTY AGAINST THIS WILL NOT DO THAT. THANK YOU.))
[SUPER=01-Jack Knapp/Va. Assembly of Ind. Baptists;]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=Thank you.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The bill would have made sodomy a misdemeanor instead of a felony.
A Richmond woman in a wheelchair argued the law makes her a felon.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=People in wheelchairs]
[sot 15:14:27]
((LOREE ERICKSON/BILL SUPPORTER: PEOPLE IN WHEELCHAIRS ARE TYPICALLY THOUGHT OF TO BE NON-SEXUAL. ALSO, CRIMES AGAINST NATURE LAWS CRIMINALIZE THE TYPE OF SEX I AM ABLE TO HAVE. IT DEMEANS MY INTIMATE RELATIONSHIPS.))
[SUPER=01-Loree Erickson/Bill Supporter;]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=intimate relationships.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The bill's sponsor says she hopes the sodomy law will be shot down in court-- since it keeps failing in the General Assembly.
(------------)
[REZULIN]
[ANCHOR=MELANIE]
[NEWSCAST=NOON]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Medical News]
A drug given fast track approval by the F-D-A may soon be pulled from the shelves.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=@File;]
[TOP STORIES 3:21:30]
C-B-S news has learned that rezulin, used by thousands of Americans to control their diabetes, has been linked to liver failure in 85 patients.
Fifty-eight died and ten required transplants.
Safety concerns prompted British officials to take the drug off the market two years ago.
(------------)
[Dental-Program]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=00-05 3:40]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Some 7-thousand Roanoke children from low income families are in jeopardy of losing their dental care.
Roanoke's the latest locality to lose funding
(----------------)
[vo-nat]
for a pediatric dental program.
Child Health Investment Partnership, or CHIP, is working to get help from the city... because many private sector dentists will not treat low-income patients.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT tc 15:00:10]
[IN Q=It's a huge]
((ROBIN HALDIMAN/CHIP EXEC. DIRECTOR: IT'S A HUGE NEED, IT'S A HUGE PUBLIC HEALTH NEED AND I FEEL LIKE IT'S A CRITICAL ONE THAT WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO MEET.))
[SUPER=01-Robin Haldiman/CHIP Executive Director;]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=obligation to meet.]
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]
CHIP has many providers that work with them, but dentists are harder to get.
Factors like transporation prohibit many low income families from keeping scheduled appointments.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT tc 15:02:11]
[IN Q=We have]
((ROBIN HALDIMAN/CHIP EXEC. DIRECTOR: WE HAVE AN INITIATIVE WITH THE COALITION TO RECRUIT A PEDIATRIC DENTIST WHICH WOULD HELP TAKE CARE OF THE MORE COMPLICATED...THE NEED FOR PREVENTATIVE CARE.))
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=preventative care.]
(-------------)
[anchor=Melanie]
[graphic=None]
Dental problems are reportedly the second-leading cause of school absenteeism.
[Tease2]
[SOFT MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
Tonya Harding is in trouble with the law yet again.
More on her most recent arrest later in Sports.
(-----------------)
[VO-NAT ]
And the Grammy Awards prove some old-timers still got it.
(-----------------)
[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #2]
[awards]
[ANCHOR=mel]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Grammys]
The youth movement in pop music got a lesson from some old-timers at the Grammy awards last night.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Los Angeles, CA;]
[3:02:29]
Teen pop idols Britney Spears, Ricky Martin and the Backstreet Boys were among the young nominees expected to win awards.
All were shut out by music veterans like Santana, Cher and Sting.
Carlos Santana was the night's big winner.
The Latin-flavored guitarist took home eight Grammys, tieing Michael Jackson's 19-83 record.
Among them, album of the year for his chart-topper ``Supernatural.''
He also won for best record and song of the year.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[3:06]
[IN Q=]
((SANTANA:THIS PROVES THAT QUALITY AND QUANTITY CAN GO TOGETHER. TO ME IT'S A REAL HONOR TO BE OF SERVICE TO PEOPLE.))
[SUPER=01-Carlos Santana/Grammy Winner;]
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=TO BE OF SERVICE TO PEOPLE.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Sting pulled the upset of the evening, beating Ricky Martin and Marc Anthony for best pop vocal performance with ``Brand New Day.''
In a mild upset for the younger stars, Christina Aguilera beat out Britney Spears as best new artist.
Other winners included the Dixie Chicks for best Country album.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=HOLD]
And a Grammy is on its way to Virginia.
A professor at Shenandoah University in Winchester won a Grammy in the Best Choral Performance
category.
[Stocks]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE# none]
[GRAPHIC=stocks]
On Wall Street at Noon, the Dow was DOWN 166 points.
[tease3]
[SPORTS MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
Still to come in sports, figure skater Tonya Harding joins Marty McSorley and Darryl Strawberry on the list of athletes in trouble,
(----------------)
[VO-NAT ]
and no trouble on the Roundhouse ice as the Express quiets the Storm.
Patrick returns with the highlights.
(---------------)
[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #3]
[McSorley-Strawberry]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=News 7 Sports]
It was discipline day in the N-H-L and Major League Baseball.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Vancouver, Canada/Monday]
The N-H-L suspended Boston Bruin Marty McSorley for the rest of the regular season and the playoffs.
It's the harshest punishment the N-H-L has ever handed out for on ice violence.
McSorley hit Vancouver's Donald Brashear in the head with his stick on Monday.
[SUPER=04-MLB;]
Darryl Strawberry arrived at spring training yesterday, but could not work out with the Yankees.
The league is investigating the outfielder's recent failed drug test.
Straw could be suspended for the season. Baseball commissioner Bud Selig (SEE'-lihg) is expected to make a final decision sometime today.
(------------)
[Harding]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]
From the bad boys to the bad girl, former Olympic figure skater Tonya Harding had a court appearance minutes ago.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Camas, WA;]
She's facing charges in Washington state, for allegedly assaulting the man she'd been living with.
She plead "not guilty," and was released on her own recognizance.
Harding gained national attention in 19-94 when she pleaded guilty to covering up for her former husband and his friends, who hatched a plot to injure Harding's chief skating rival, Nancy Kerrigan.
(------------)
[S-Providence]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-62 (02:00)]
[GRAPHIC=ExpressToledo]
The Roanoke Express took on Toledo last night looking for their 10th straight win at the Roundhouse.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Tuesday; :]
But the team was without leading scorer Dion Del Monte who was called up yesterday to the American Hockey League's Providence Bruins.
Del Monte's departure was bad enough, but to make matters worse, Mike Peron, the team's toughest player pound for pound, was also called up to Providence.
(------------)
[WIPE WIPE WIPE WIPE]
[S-Express]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-51 1:58:30]
[GRAPHIC=none]
[WIPE WIPE WIPE WIPE]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Storm vs. Express; ]
With five of their top eight scorers out of the lineup due to call ups or injury, the Express sure didn't play like a team lacking anything.
Toledo scores first when Rob Thorpe beats Dave Gagnon on the Storm power play at the 11:04 mark of the opening period.
Roanoke's Duane Harmer evens the count at 5:09 of the second on this shot that slips past Kevin St. Pierre.
[SUPER=38-Roanoke/5/Toledo/2;]
Roanoke went up 2-1 on Troy Lake's power play tally half way through the second, Express wins 5-2.
A scary moment when St. Pierre was hit in the chin by a Harmer shot. He was out cold on the ice for a few minutes, but did get up and is OK.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=He....]
((DAVID COSSABOON/PHYSICIAN'S ASSISTANT:HE SUFFERED A MINOR CONCUSSION, HE'S ALERT AND MOVING AROUND AND HE'S DOING WELL.))
[SUPER=01-David Cossaboon/Physician's Assistant; :00]
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=do well"]
(-----------)
[S-Boys]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-56]
[GRAPHIC=RVD TOURNEY]
The boys' Roanoke Valley District semifinal double header began with the Fleming Colonels and Franklin County.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem/Fleming vs. Franklin Co.; :00]
The Eagles got swept by Fleming during the regular season and last night they fell into a big hole early.
As the Colonels came out hot, hitting their first four shots of the game.
And when Jermaine Hardy pulled up and drained this jump shot the Colonels were on top 8 to nothing.
The Eagles got hot from the outside, as well. Nathan Angle hits two three pointers to get Franklin County back in the game.
[SUPER=33-William Fleming/68/Franklin Co./54;]
But Fleming keeps stroking from the perimeter. Cedric Preston bottoms out the three and Fleming wins it 68-to-54.
(------------)
[S-Cave]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-54 (1:33:06)]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[WIPE WIPE WIPE WIPE]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem/Knights vs Patriots; :]
Cave Spring and Patrick Henry wrapped up the semi finals at the Salem Civic Center.
The Patriots would score the first two baskets of the game and take a 4 to nothing lead.
But Cave Spring's J.J. Reddick's first shot of the game is nothing but net from three point range and the Knights trailed by 1.
[SUPER=33-Cave Spring/59/Patrick Henry/51/;]
The Knights played defense as well, Tyle Lumbsden makes the steal and takes it to the hoop for the score and Cave goes on to win it 59-51.
(------------)
[Scores]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=RVD Tourney]
The R-V-D girls tournament was in full swing also yesterday.
Cave Spring got past William Fleming 36 to 34.
And Pulaski County routed Franklin County 77 to 52.
[GRAPHIC=Piedmont Tourney]
In the Piedmont District boys semi-finals Martinsville beat Basset 62 to 58.
by SS