[HEADLINES]
[TALENT=Melanie]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
An explosion at a Radford auto parts plants leaves one person dead, two missing and several injured.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
And a decision on the competency of woman charged with killing her baby in a microwave.
(/////////////)
[TALENT=Patrick]
[SS=None]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=None]
News 7 at noon is next.
[Video-Open]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=net]
[ROLL COLD OUT OF OPEN]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The search for anwers and two missing employees continues this afternoon at the New River Castings plant in Radford.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=News 7 at Noon]
Good afternoon I'm Melanie Moon.
[Radford-Explosion]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#00-09 TC19:29]
[GRAPHIC=Explosion]
The automotive parts making plant exploded around 9-40 last night.
[Double Boxes=Melanie and Teresa/Starlink]
Teresa Hamilton is at the scene where tearful family members are still awaiting word on their loved ones.
[Live=Teresa Full/Starlink]
[SUPER=@Teresa1;]
[SUPER=06-Radford;]
( ad lib)
[***ROLLED FROM STARLINK***]
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Radford; :00]
[SUPER=04-Last Night; :10]
[SUPER=01-Lee Simpkins/Radford Fire Chief; :16]
[SUPER=01-Edward Ramsey/Union President; :34]
[SUPER=01-Eric Earnhart/Company Spokesman; :45]
[RUNS=1:00]
[OUT Q=long-term future.]
[Live=Teresa Full/Starlink]
[SUPER=06-Radford;]
( ad lib)
[Double Boxes=Melanie and Teresa/Starlink]
(QUESTION: What's hampering efforts to locate the missing women?)
[Microwave-Baby]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]
The woman who allegedly killed her infant son in a microwave oven is competent to stand trial.
That's the finding of a psychiatric evaluation.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-New Kent Co./December 1]
Elizabeth (Oh-tee) Otte faces a first degree murder charge in the death of her one month old son.
The baby was found dead September 23rd inside the microwave oven in the home where Otte lived with the child's father.
Whether she was sane at the time of the killing is yet to be determined.
(------------)
[plane-landing]
[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A Southwest Airlines jet is still sitting in a Los Angeles intersection, a bizarre reminder of a near disaster last night.
Lisa Hughes reports.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Burbank, CA; :00]
[SUPER=01-Jodi Targon/Passenger; :26]
[SUPER=01-Lisa Hughes/Reporting; :44]
[RUNS=1:07]
[OUT Q=CBS NEWS, LOS ANGELES.]
((Southwest Airlines flight 1455 almost ended in disaster for 137 passengers and 5 crew last night when it barreled off the runway in Burbank, California.
The plane ripped through a perimeter fence and skidded to a halt on a nearby city street, coming dangerously close to a gas station and striking a passing car. A woman and her 4-year-old daughter inside the car were not injured.
SOT: Jodi Targon, Passenger
23:16:29
I was shocked, I thought we were still in the terminal, I had no ideas we were on the street or that there was a car involved or anything like that, it's pretty terrifying.
SOT Jean (Passenger, No last name given)
23:19:18
We didn't know we were on the street until we got outside and these people, I guess they were passers-by, helped us off the plane, just off the wing.
Six men aboard the plane, including the pilot, were treated at a local hospital then released. At a press conference this morning, SW Airlines officials said the cause of the accident is still under investigation.
SOT SW AIRLINES:
(HUGHES STANDUP CLOSE)))
[super-tuesday]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign 2000]
The presidential hopefuls are keeping their eyes on the big prizes in tomorrow's Super Tuesday primaries.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Cranston, RI;]
More than half the delegates needed to lock up the nominations are up for grabs tomorrow.
After campaigning in Rhode Island yesterday, the two Democrats, Bill Bradley and Al Gore, are focusing on New York, which is the next biggest prize after California.
[SUPER=03-Buffalo, NY;]
The two key G-O-P candidates move from New York to California, but not before John McCain again lashed out at campaign ads that he says George W. Bush is using to distort his record in the Senate.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
((GOV. GEORGE W. BUSH, R-PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE; THIS ALLEGATION THAT I AM SOMEHOW INVOLVED IN THIS IS JUST TOTALLY RIDICULOUS. IT IS UNCALLED FOR.))
[SUPER=01-George W. Bush/(R) Presidential Candidate;]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=it is uncalled for.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Late polls show McCain is strong in New England and competitive in New York, but Bush looks to have the edge elsewhere.
Among Democrats, Gore beats Bradley just about everywhere.
(------------)
[E-FALWELL]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=netD]
[GRAPHIC=Jerry Falwell]
Last week, John McCain's attack on conservative religious leaders grabbed campaign headlines.
Now, The Reverend Jerry Falwell has fired back-- without directly taking aim at the Arizona senator.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:05:49]
[IN Q=I never]
((JERRY FALWELL: I NEVER MET SENATOR MCCAIN BUT I RESPECT HIM AS A HERO AND HE HAS NOTHING BUT MY ADMIRATION I THINK THIS IS ALL POLITICAL AND I DON'T TAKE IT PERSONALLY.))
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=it personally.]
(--------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=hold]
Falwell went on to add that McCain is right... the Republican party doesn't belong to one single person.
[tease1]
[HARD MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
Still ahead on News 7 at Noon, the General Assembly prepares to go down to the wire as the 2000 session winds up.
(--------------)
[VO-NAT ]
And U-S troops join in the effort to help flooding victims in Mozambique.
First, let's talk to Patrick Evans.
(---------------)
[Talent=Patrick]
[Wx-Tease]
[Weatherpro]
[music up full]
[comm1]
[MOZAMBIQUE]
[ANCHOR=MELANIE]
[NEWSCAST=NOON]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#net]
[GRAPHIC=Flood Aftermath]
U-S troops are joining the relief effort to help survivors of the floods that swamped Mozambique.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Cheaquelane, Moz.;]
[10:18:17]
A military official says up to 100 U-S troops in South Africa are setting up a 40 million-dollar relief mission dubbed "Operation Atlas Response.''
The flooding has killed tens of thousands and left half a million homeless.
It is estimated that the refugees will need supplemental feeding for at least ten months, until they can get a new set of crops in the ground.
(-----------------------)
[E-Church-Ties]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=00-10 6:13]
[GRAPHIC=none]
A local church has broken ties with its parent organization.
But as Joy Sutton reports the church does NOT plan to leave the Episcopalian faith.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.; :00]
[SUPER=01-Scott McLucas/Associate Pastor; :13]
[SUPER=@Joy1; 1:32]
[RUNS=1:43]
[OUT Q=js news 7]
(( Associate pastor Scott McLucas told the congregation of the Church of the Holy Spirit that the last few weeks have been trying, because of the conflict with the U-S Episcopal Church -- and the difficult decision on whether to leave the church.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:01:40]
[IN Q=To have that ]
((SCOTT MCLUCAS/ASSOCIATE PASTOR: TO HAVE THAT DIVISIVENESS GOING ON DURING THAT TIME WAS PRETTY TOUGH. WE DIDN'T WANT IT TO BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD SEPARATE OUR BODY HERE))
[RUNS= 10]
[OUT Q=here]
(///// SOT /////)
[NAT SOT]
[IN Q=Nat sound]
((NAT SOUND OF SINGING/WORSHIP))
[RUNS= 4]
But just a few days after the decision was made to join the Episcopal Church of Rwanda -- service was packed as usual -- with dozens coming to worship.
The vestry, the church's governing body made the final decision -- after consulting with the congregation which supported the decision unanimously.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:03:30]
[IN Q=The bishop made it clear]
((SCOTT MCLUCAS: THE BISHOP MADE IT CLEAR THAT THERE WERE THINGS WE NEEDED TO DO TO BE PART OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH AND PART OF THE DIOCESE OF SOUTH WEST VIRGINIA AND IF WE WEREN'T ABLE TO DO THOSE THINGS THEN WE WOULD NEED TO SEPARATE))
[RUNS= 9]
[OUT Q=to separate]
McLucas says one of the factors was the congregation had a hard time financially supporting some the ministries that the diocese supported.
McLucas says the other factor dealt with differences over theological issues.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:04:33]
[IN Q=I think people like to ]
((SCOTT MCLUCAS; I THINK PEOPLE LIKE TO USE THE ABORTION ISSUE OR THE HOMOSEXUALITY ISSUE AND THAT'S NOT IT AT ALL. THAT'S ALL SYMPTOMATIC OF A GREATER ISSUE AND THAT'S THE AUTHORITY OF THE SCRIPTURES. AND WHETHER THE BIBLE IS TRUTH OR NOT SO THAT'S REALLY WHAT IT BOILS DOWN TO))
[RUNS= 10]
[OUT Q=it boils down to]
He also believes other churches will follow their lead.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:05:58]
[IN Q=We want to continue]
((WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO BE EPISCOPALIAN. WE WANT TO HOLD THE TRADITION OF THE FAITH AND WE BELIEVE WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO THAT. WE DON'T VIEW THIS AS US LEAVING THE CHURCH, BUT LEADING THE CHURCH))
[RUNS= 9]
[OUT Q=leading the church]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=McLucas says he]
(( MCLUCAS SAYS HE DOESN'T WANT THIS TO BECOME A DIVISIVE ISSUE -- SAYING THE BISHOP HAS BEEN EXTREMELY SUPPORTIVE AND EVEN OFFERED HIS BLESSING REGARDLESS OF THE DECISION.))
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=j7 news 7]))
[S-General-Assembly]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=netG]
[GRAPHIC=State Capitol]
This is the final week of the 2000 General Assembly session.
And today is the deadline for committee work on bills. From here on, it'll be marathon floor sessions and
conference committees trying to work out differences between House and Senate bills.
(------------)
[VO-NAT 00-10 00:28:03]
Lawmakers must reach a compromise on a two year, 48-billion dollar state budget.
They also have to resolve such issues as raises for public employees and how much extra money to provide mental health programs.
The assembly must also select at least one judge for both the Virginia Supreme Court and the state Court of Appeals.
(-----------)
[Webwatch]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=webwatch]
[GRAPHIC=webwatch]
It's spent a century under water and a deacade in court-- but the cargo of the SS Central America has finally come to market.
Joe Dashiell has that story in Webwatch.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It was October of 1989]
[SUPER=03-Norfolk/October 9, 1989; :00]
[SUPER=04-April 3, 1990; :24]
[SUPER=01-Dwight Manley/California Gold Group; :44]
[SUPER=@Joe2; :54]
[RUNS=1:20]
[OUT Q=JD News 7]
((It was october of 1989... more than 130 years after the SS Central America went down in a hurricane off the Carolina Coast.... that the ship's precious cargo finally arrived in port.
A marriage of high tech equipment and historic research helped a group of treasure hunters from Ohio locate the largest sunken treasure in American history.
But that may have been the easy part.
[SOT 19:40 90-22]
[IN Q=So your case]
((SO YOUR CASE IS THE INSURANCE COMPANIES NEVER GAVE IT UP... NEVER ABANDONED IT.))
[RUNS=:05]
[OUT Q=never abandoned it.]
The legal fight stretched on for 11 years, making it the longest running case in Norfolk federal court.
Only now are the coins and gold bricks resurfacing...
On display and up for sale, the 1857 S Double Eagles are dazzling collectors...
[SOT 12:09:57]
[IN Q=A 20 dollar gold piece]
((A 20 DOLLAR GOLD PIECE THAT IS SO LUSTROUS AND SO BRIGHT AND SO SHARP YOU CAN FEEL THE EDGES OF THE COINS JUST LIKE IT WAS MADE AT THE MINT YESTERDAY.))
[RUNS= :09]
[OUT Q=was made at the mint yesterday.]
Three dealers are now selling the coins and their websites offer more on the history of an ill-fated voyage, and an eye-opening discovery.
But this piece of history doesn't come cheap. The 20 dollar gold pieces are now selling for three thousand to thirty thousand dollars each.
To find out more about the SS Central America, and it's amazing cargo... visit our home page at WDBJ7-dot-com, and click on the Webwatch icon.
Joe Dashiell News 7))
[Tease2]
[SOFT MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
Still ahead on News 7 at Noon, Patrick will be here with the work-week forecast.
(-----------------)
[VO-NAT ]
And if you haven't had your fill of winter sports, we'll take you ice racing.
(-----------------)
[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #2]
[S-Car-Show]
[ANCHOR=]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=00-07 13:24]
[GRAPHIC=none]
This year's Muscular Dystrophy Association Car Show raised some 30-thousand dollars.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
This is the second largest fundraising effort for the local M-D-A.
About 80 vehicles were out for show -- including some motorcycles.
M-D-A officials say this event helps it meet its budget every year.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT18:05:30]
[IN Q=What they're using]
((DAVID WOOD/PUBLICITY CHAIRMAN: WHAT THEY'RE USING THIS FOR IS THEY SEND KIDS TO SUMMER CAMP TO MAKE THEM FEEL THAT THEY'RE NORMAL KIDS, THEY GET TO GO SWIMMING AND THINGS LIKE THIS. THEY HAVE A PERSON WHO HELPS THEM. IT'S EXPENSIVE AND WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO PAY FOR THAT.))
[SUPER=01-David Wood/Publicity Chairman]
[RUNS=13]
[OUT Q=for that]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The funds will also go to pay for items like wheelchairs and braces.
Over the past 20 years the event has raised more than 400-thousand dollars for the association.
(------------)
[ice-racing]
[ANCHOR=mel]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The Colorado Rockies are known worldwide as a winter playground and offer everything from skiing to ice fishing and this.
(//////SOT/////)
[IN=]
[10:39:00]
[SUPER=03-Georgetown, CO;]
[RUNS=:05]
[OUT=nat Cars racing]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
For 24 years folks have gathered on the frozen Georgetown Lake for a little ice racing.
They race all types of vehicles, includes everything from street S-U-V's with rubber tires,-- to highly modified jeeps with one and a half inch metal studs sticking out of
the tires called "cheaters."
It's fun for the entire family - even the children race their toy cars.
(--------------)
[Stocks]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE# none]
[GRAPHIC=stocks]
On Wall Street at Noon, the Dow was DOWN 60 points.
[tease3]
[SPORTS MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
Still to come in sports, Cleveland Indians skipper Charlie Manuel is out of the hospital,
(----------------)
[VO-NAT ]
and call him Rain Man.
Jeff Burton benefits from the weather and wins the Cars-direct-dot-com 400.
Patrick returns with the highlights.
(---------------)
[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #3]
[S-Manuel]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-52 (1:41:39)]
[GRAPHIC=Charlie Manuel]
Cleveland manager Charlie Manuel is at home after being released from a Florida hospital yesterday.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=@File; :]
Manuel underwent emergency colon surgery on February 28-th.
The Indians do not know when the 56 year old Buena Vista native will return to the dug out.
Manuel will rest at his home in Winter Haven, Florida.
While he's out the team has been managed by bench coach Grady Little, third base coach Jim Riggleman, and pitching coach Dick Pole.
(------------)
[S-Race]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-49 (1:48:15)]
[GRAPHIC=Las Vegas Logo]
The track resembled a slip and slide yesterday for the Carsdirect-dot-com 400.
And Jeff Burton certainly had the most fun.
The wet weather was an advantage for the second time in less than a year, as Burton wins in Las Vegas.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Las Vegas, NV/ABC; :]
Dale Earnhardt Junior took the lead after 10 of the 267 laps to be run in the race.
At twenty laps in, the yellow flag comes out because of showers on different parts of the track.
The cars would run several laps before NASCAR red flagged the lap for about 20 minutes.
The race restarted on lap 43 and Jeff Burton made his move and took the lead after 59 laps in the book.
Burton's teammate Mark Martin moved into second place and Martin led later in the race.
But Burton passed Martin on lap 136 of the 267 laps race and it turned out to be the winning move as the race was red flagged 9 laps later.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="I know...]
[SUPER=01-Jeff Burton/Carsdirect.Com 400 Winner; :]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=....for the green."]
(--------------)
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[GRAPHIC=Hold]
Tony Stewart finished second, Martin third, Bill Elliott fourth and Bobby Labonte fifth. Stacy Compton finished 32-nd.
[S-UVA]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-56 (1:38:19)]
[GRAPHIC=ACC]
Virginia's Lady Cavaliers must wait for the N-C-A-A tournament selection committee to decide if they will be amongst the teams headed to the women's field of 64.
Yesterday, North Carolina upset Virginia in the A-C-C tournament semi-finals 67 to 63.
The Lady Cavaliers have not been to the tournament's championship since 19-94.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Greensboro, NC/HTS; :]
Debbie Ryan and the Cavs looked to end that streak and play in the title game.
But Carolina's Correta Brown gave the Tar Heels a 4 point lead when she hits this jumper.
Moments later, Nikki Teasley hit the jumper at the top of the key and the lead was six.
But Virginia kept it close. Schyue (sky) Larue takes it inside and the lead was four.
[SUPER=33-Virginia/63/North Carolina/67/;]
Then U-V-A point guard Renee Robinson take it to the hoop and score the basket but Carolina goes on to win it 67 to 63.
(------------)
[S-Golf]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-45 (2:03:01)]
[GRAPHIC=PGA TOUR LOGO]
Jim Furyk picked up his 5-th career win on the P-G-A tour today.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Miami, FL/NBC Sports; :]
It was in Miami at the Doral Open.
Furyk overcame a six shot deficit with 7 holes to play to win the event taking advantage of Franklin Langham's collapse.
He had six birdies on the back nine for a 30 shooting a 7 under par 65 for a total of 23 under par and a two shot win over Langham.
(------------)
[TALENT=Patrick]
[GRAPHIC=SENIORS LOGO]
Meantime, On the Seniors tour, Allen Doyle is the winner of the Seniors Classic. He was declared the winner after rain canceled the final round.
He was 6 under par.
by SS