[HEADLINES]
[TALENT=Kimberly]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
Republican George Allen's campaign for U-S Senate officially took off this morning at the Roanoke Regional Airport.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
And it's the end of an era for Miami Dolphins fans as Dan Marino announces his retirement from the grid- iron.
(/////////////)
[TALENT=Patrick]
[SS=None]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[SS=None]
Stay tuned-- News 7 at noon is next.
[Allen]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=12]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=00-05 TC12:38]
[GRAPHIC=Allen Campaign]
Former Republican Governor George Allen made it official today....
(------------)
[V/O-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
declaring his candidacy in a statewide swing of appearances that began at the Roanoke Regional Airport.
Congressman Bob Goodlatte of Roanoke made the formal introduction, but the newest INDEPENDENT member of Congress was also on hand.
Virgil Goode made a six-minute speech, reciting highlights of Allen's career.
Allen attacked Incumbent Democrat Chuck Robb for proposing a bill in 1993 designed to encourage energy conservation.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 9:07:20]
[IN Q=He has proposed]
((HE HAS PROPOSED RAISING GASOLINE TAXES BY 50-CENTS A GALLON, EVERY TIME YOU FILL UP FOR GAS. IF IT WERE UP TO HIM, YOU'D ALREADY BE PAYING $2.00 A GALLON FOR GAS.))
[SUPER=01-George Allen/(R) U. S. Senate Candidate]
[RUNS=13]
[OUT Q=gallon for gas.]
(------------)
[V/O-NAT]
From Roanoke, Allen and his wife went on to NORTHERN Virginia.
(------------)
[Marino]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Marino]
After days of speculation, it's official.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=After 17]
((DAN MARINO/FORMER DOLPHINS QUARTERBACK: AFTER 17 YEARS I'D LIKE TO ANNOUNCE MY RETIREMENT FROM THE MIAMI DOLPHINS.))
[SUPER=01-Dan Marino/Former Dolphins Quarterback;]
[RUNS=:05]
[OUT Q=Miami Dolphins]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Davie, FL;]
As expected, Dan Marino announced his retirement from pro football this morning.
Marino had been pondering retirement after missing five games last season because of a nerve root injury.
He also voided the last two years of his contract with the Dolphins, making him a free agent.
The Minnesota Vikings offered Marino a one-year contract, but he opted to retire instead.
The 38-year-old leaves the game with N-F-L records in completions, pass attempts, and touchdowns.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[SS=Hold]
We'll hear more from Dan Marino later in sports.
[FL-Standoff]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Standoff]
A standoff prompted police to close part of Interstate 95 in Florida this morning.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Deerfield Beach, FL;]
Authorities say a gunman is holed up in a car parked at a motel located just off the highway.
The Broward County Sheriff's department called in a SWAT team and a negotiator to talk with the man.
I-95 is shut down in both directions as a precaution to motorists.
(------------)
[Columbine-Report]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Almost a year has passed since the massacre at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado.
A Denver newspaper has released details from the final police report, and some relatives of the victims are angry.
Sandra Hughes reports.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Golden, CO; :00]
[SUPER=01-Larry Nimmo/Columbine Victim's Stepfather; :38]
[SUPER=01-Sandra Hughes/Reporting; :47]
[RUNS=:59]
[OUT Q=Hughes, CBS News, Golden, CO]
[US-Airways]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=US Airways]
U-S Airways flight attendants are threatening to strike 49 routes if they don't get a new contract by March 25.
The routes include several flights in and out of New York, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Washington, Atlanta and Baltimore.
No flights in or out of Roanoke, Lynchburg or Charlotte were on the list.
U-S Airways says it would shut down all its routes if no accord is reached by the 25-th.
[tease1]
[HARD MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
One of the victim's of the blast at New River Castings is remembered at a memorial service in Shawsville.
That's one of the stories still ahead on News 7 at Noon.
(--------------)
[VO-NAT ]
And for the first time in a quarter century, a U-S defense secretary is in Vietnam.
(---------------)
[Talent=Patrick]
[Wx-Tease]
[Weatherpro]
[music up full]
[comm1]
[Vietnam-Cohen]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]
It's been a quarter- century, the end of the Vietnam War, since a U-S Defense Secretary has set foot on Vietnamese soil...
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Hanoi, Vietnam;]
But Secretary William Cohen is there now, hoping a two- day visit will begin normalizing relations.
Cohen had a first-hand look today at the search for wreckage of a U-S aircraft.
A key focus of the visit will be accounting for some of the two- thousand American servicemen still listed as missing- in -action.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 10:09:41]
[IN Q=The continuing efforts]
((PETE PETERSON/U.S. AMBASSADOR TO VIETNAM: THE CONTINUING EFFORTS BETWEEN THE U.S. AND VIETNAM ON THAT ISSUE, WHICH HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR MANY MANY YEARS, HAS NOW GRADUATED FROM A LEVEL OF COOPERATION TO A LEVEL OF PARTNERSHIP. ))
[SUPER=01-Pete Peterson/U. S. Ambassador to Vietnam;]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=level of partnership.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Peterson says the U-S is also working with Vietnam on human rights issues.
(------------)
[Papal-Apology]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The Vatican issued its own "Mea Culpa" this weekend for past sins of Roman Catholics.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Rome, Italy;]
Pope John Paul, the Second called the unprecedented event the "Day of Pardon."
Repentance of past errors, the Pope said, was essential for the Church to cross into the new Millennium.
As the cardinals read out the acts of contrition, they mentioned treatment of heretics during the Crusades and the forced conversion of native people.
But the Vatican's failure to directly apologize for the Holocaust left many Jews less than satisfied.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 3:10:10]
[IN Q=I think that]
((GIACOBO SABAN/ITALIAN NAT. JEWISH UNION: I THINK THAT A REFERENCE, FOR INSTANCE, TO WHAT HAPPENED TO THE JEWS IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN AMISS.))
[SUPER=01-Giacobo Saban/Italian National Jewish Union;]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=not have been amiss]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Toward the end of the service, Pope John Paul prayed that "nevermore" would such sins be committed in the name of the Church.
(------------)
[Media-Merger]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Business news]
There's another big media marriage in the works.
The "L-A Times" says its parent company -- Times Mirror -- has agreed to be taken over by the Tribune Company, owner of the "Chicago Tribune".
Pending approval by shareholders, the deal would create the nation's third-largest newspaper company.
The agreement is estimated at between six and eight- billion dollars.
[E-Grooms-Memorial]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=99-53 1:51:11]
[GRAPHIC=New River Castings]
[***ANCHOR TAG***]
It's been a week since an explosion took the lives of three workers at New River Castings.
One of them was remembered yesterday.
Joy Sutton was there.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Leaning]
[SUPER=03-Shawsville; :00 Quick!!!]
[SUPER=01-John Buchanan/Victim's Friend; :09]
[SUPER=01-Michelle Grooms/Victim's Wife; :24]
[SUPER=01-John Brumberg/Victim's Friend; :48]
[SUPER=01-Jimmy Valiant/Camp Owner; 1:10 Quick!!!]
[RUNS=1:16]
[OUT Q=n7 shawsville]
(( Leaning on each other for comfort -- dozens gathered to remember Curtis Grooms -- the man they called Jack Spade inside the wrestling ring.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT59:29]
[IN Q=Jack Spade was one]
((JOHN BUCHANAN/FRIEND: JACK SPADE WAS ONE OF THE BEST AND WE'RE GOING TO MISS HIM GREATLY))
[RUNS= 4]
[OUT Q=him greatly]
Grooms wife Michelle say Boogies Wrestling Camp in Shawsville was one of her husband's favorite places to go.
She says he loved to wrestle -- and that's why he was here last Sunday training.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT1:09:31]
[IN Q=]
((MICHELLE GROOMS: HE COULD COME OUT AND THE CROWD WOULD BE DEAD AND HE WOULD LIVEN IT RIGHT UP. EVERYBODY WANTED TO REACH OUT AND TOUCH HIS HAND))
[RUNS= 9]
[OUT Q=his hand]
(///// SOT /////)
[NAT SOT1:17:22]
[IN Q=On this day]
((NAT SOT: ON THIS DAY WE REMEMBER A FELLOW WRESTLER AND CLASSMATE WHO PASSED THROUGH HEAVEN'S GATE))
[RUNS= 7]
[OUT Q=heaven's gate]
Grooms graduated from the camp in 19-98 -- and to these wrestlers he was family -- and a man they admired.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT1:02:40]
[IN Q=He made me feel]
((JOHN BRUMBERG/VICTIM'S FRIEND:HE MADE ME FEEL LIKE I WAS A PART. I FELT LIKE REALLY NERVOUS MY FIRST DAY. HE KIND OF BROUGHT ME IN AND SAID DO NOT WORRY ABOUT IT JUST BE CALM COOL AND COLLECTIVE))
[RUNS= 9]
[OUT Q=collective]
This Sunday, while the wrestlers gathered inside the ring -- they give Curtis -- Jack Spade his final bell.
They say although Curtis is gone -- his memory and legacy inside the ring live on.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT1:21:29]
[IN Q=This was Curtis dream ]
((JIMMY VALIANT: THIS WAS CURTIS' DREAM, TO BECOME A PROCESSIONAL WRESTLER AND HE WAS LIVING OUT THAT DREAM))
[RUNS= 4]
[OUT Q=living out that dream.]
Joy Sutton, News 7, Shawsville))
(----------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[GRAPHIC=hold]
Meanwhile, investigators are making progress.
They say the've pinned down the type of gas that led to the explosion -- and plan to release that information this week.
[S-Infant-Death]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=99-49 2:03:13]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Authorities are still searching for answers in the case of a dead newborn found in a Blacksburg dumpster.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg/Saturday;]
The baby boy was discovered Saturday morning wrapped in several plastic shopping bags.
Police discovered the newborn after tending to a woman at the same apartment complex who appeared to have given birth.
The baby's mother has NOT been charged.
An autopsy was inconclusive as to how the baby died or if he was born alive.
Right now, police are awaiting the results of lab tests to answer that question.
(------------)
[E-Gas-Prices]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Gas Prices Up]
The debate over rising gas prices is now a campaign issue.
Republican George W. Bush blames the Clinton administration and a federal gas tax hike -- which he says he would suspend.
Democrat Al Gore says the solution to high gas prices is "tough negotiating'' with OPEC.
In the past two weeks prices have soared a record 12 cents per gallon -- that's according to a national survey.
(------------)
[VO-NAT 99-51 1:33:53]
[SUPER=03-Troutville/March 2]
The average cost at the pump is around a dollar- 59 per gallon.
Prices are higher in the west because there's been a smaller supply of gasoline thanks to refinery problems last year.
Officials say don't look for a dip in prices anytime soon -- warmer weather is on the way and that means there will be a higher demand for gas.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[SS=HOLD]
The high prices are also affecting the airlines.
Led by Continental, many airlines have been raising fares in recent days by as much as 40 dollars a flight.
[Tease2]
[SOFT MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
An N-F-L legend passes on another season on the field.
More on Dan Marino's retirement later in sports.
(-----------------)
[VO-NAT ]
And, get ready for another wild day on Wall Street, thanks to some bad news from Japan.
(-----------------)
[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #2]
[Webwatch]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=webwatch]
[GRAPHIC=webwatch]
If you ever wondered what it would take to become a police officer... all you have to do is log onto your computer to find out.
In this week's Webwatch Joe Dashiell shows us how the Cardinal Criminal Justice Academy's website allows you to follow a class of recuits from orientation to graduation.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=OPENS WITH WEBWATCH ANIMATION]
[SUPER=03-Salem/1996; :07]
[SUPER=04-1994; :12]
[RUNS=:52]
[OUT Q=Joe Dashiell News 7]
((The Cardinal Academy is one of ten regional criminal justice training programs in Virginia. The center in Salem serves 1200 police officers and deputies in 36 law enforcement agencies.
The Academy has a comprehensive website with information on its courses, and links to other interesting law enforcement sites, but the spotlight is focused directly on the officers in training.
Director Richard Schumaker says the Academy wanted to give friends and family members who live outside the Roanoke Valley a way to follow the progress of each class... but he's heard from others who've made those updates one of the most popular features on the website.
You can find a link to the Cardinal Criminal Justice Academy, on our home page. Go to WDBJ7 dot com and click on the Webwatch Icon.
Joe Dashiell News 7))
[SAG-Awards]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#net]
[GRAPHIC=None]
There are still two weeks to go before the Academy Awards, but Hollywood's already in a giving mood...
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-Screen Actors Guild - TNT;]
Last night, The Screen Actors Guild handed out honors to the best in T-V and film.
"American Beauty" was showing its good side...picking up best motion picture.
Its stars Kevin Spacey and Annette Bening each picked up best acting awards.
HBO's hit "The Sopranos" picked up three awards... Best Actor James Gandolfini, Best Actress Edie Falco and Best Drama.
T-V's "Frasier" won for Best Comedy.
(------------)
[Asian-Markets]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Stock Market]
Fasten your seat belts--
It's looking like another bumpy ride on Wall Street today.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-New York, NY;]
The Nasdaq fell by 200 points in the opening minutes, while the Dow dropped more than 170- points.
This, after steep declines overseas.
[SUPER=03-Tokyo, Japan;]
This morning, the Japanese government announced the plunge of their Gross Domestic figure for the winter quarter.
The announcement dashed hopes of a quick recovery from the country's deepest slump since the end of World War Two.
[SUPER=03-Taipei, Taiwan;]
Meanwhile, in Taiwan, stocks plummeted to a record one- day low as the country approaches the final days of its presidential campaign.
(------------)
[Stocks]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE# none]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]
Wall Street has rebounded since this morning. At Noon, the Dow was down eight points.
[tease3]
[SPORTS MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
Still to come in sports, the men's and women's field of 64 is set.
Find out who's in and who's out.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT ]
and an N-F-L legend says good bye after 17 years in a Miami Dolphins uniform.
Patrick returns with details.
(---------------)
[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #3]
[2-Marino-Retires]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Marino]
Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino officially announced his retirement from pro football this morning.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Davie, FL]
The announcement comes after days of speculation.
The 38 year old Marino had been pondering retirement since last season after an injury.
This morning he thanked the Dolphins organization and said he's proud of his accomplishments in Miami.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I'm extremely]
((DAN MARINO/FORMER DOLPHINS QUARTERBACK: I'M EXTREMELY PROUD OF THE FACT THAT I WAS ABLE TO PLAY 17 YEARS FOR THE MIAMI DOLPHINS. AND I'M GOING TO MISS IT. I'M GOING TO MISS EVERYTHING ABOUT IT.))
[SUPER=01-Dan Marino/Former Dolphins Quarterback;]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=about it]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Marino leaves the game as one of the N-F-L's most prolific passers.
During his career, he amassed over 60-thousand yards and threw for 420 touchdowns.
The future Hall of Famer also leaves without winning a Super Bowl.
(------------)
[Astros-Robbery]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Astros]
Six Houston Astros minor-leaguers were tied-up and robbed at gunpoint early this morning.
Kissimmee, Florida police officers arrived at their hotel after one of the players was able to free himself and call 9-1-1.
Officers shot one of the gunmen, and the other gunman fled the scene.
None of the players were hurt.
[UVA-Men]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=ACC]
The field of 64 is set for the NCAA men's tournament and the Virginia Cavaliers were left out.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-This Season]
Instead, the Cavaliers will face Georgetown in Charlottesville in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament. The game is Wednesday night at University Hall.
U-V-A currently has a 19 and 11 record.
(------------)
[S-ACC]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-62 (16:33)]
[GRAPHIC=ACC LOGO]
Third ranked Duke is the number one seed in the East Bracket. The Blue Devils won the A-C-C title beating Maryland 81 to 68.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Charlotte, NC/RAYCOM; :]
The two teams traded basket for basket in the first half.
Duke's Chris Carrawell takes it inside for the jam and a 27 to 21 Blue Devil Lead.
And when Carlos Boozer scored two of his 21 the Duke lead was 33 to 29.
But the Terps came back Juan Dixon scores the layup and Maryland trailed by one at the half.
The Terps went down by six to open the second half but Terence Morris scores inside and the lead was cut to four.
[SUPER=33-Duke#3/81/Maryland#20/68/;]
But Jason Williams hit two key three pointers in the second half and the Blue Devils win it 81 to 68.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="Our Half court...]
[SUPER=01-Mike Krzyzewski/Duke Head Coach; :]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=........for us."]
(----------------)
[UVA-Women]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]
The U-V-A women are headed to the dance.
(-----------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-This Season;]
The nineteenth ranked Lady Cavaliers are the number four seed in the Mideast.
They will take on 21 and 9 Pepperdine Friday in Charlottesville.
Virginia is 23 and 8.
(-----------)
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[SS=HOLD]
Liberty and old Old Dominion are the other state schools in the field.
The Lady Hokies will play in the Women's N-I-T.
Tech will host a first round game against Georgia State.
[S-Race]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-58 (1:28:16)]
[GRAPHIC=Atlanta Logo]
Dale Earnhardt crossed the finish line less than 2 feet ahead of Bobby Labonte to win the Cracker Barrel 500.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Hampton, GA/ABC Sports; :]
Dale Earnhardt, Junior led early in the race but he hits the wall and has to take his car to the pits. He overshot his area because he had no brakes.
Then Jeff Burton took over the lead but he apparently blew a tire and hit the wall while he was leading the race and Burton was through for the day.
Dale Earnhardt senior was coming on strong and he was running in second place behind his teammate Mike Skinner.
Dale Jarrett had some problems in the pits when he hit Stacy Compton Jarrettt was running 23-rd later in the race.
Skinner would lead over 100 laps and he crossed the line as the leader at the halfway point of the race.
Then Tony Stewart gets loose at the top of the track he slides into traffic and gets hit by Robert Pressley. Rusty Wallace and Stacy Compton also got together bringing out the caution.
Skinner was in control but his car blew an engine with just under 20 laps left in the race.
Earnhardt would lead on the re-start and he and Bobby Labonte would run side by side but Earnhardt crosses the line first by the nose of the car winning the Cracker Barrell 500.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="I knew...]
[SUPER=01-Dale Earnhardt/Cracker Barrel 500 Winner; :]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=......was just awesome."]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[GRAPHIC=Hold Logo]
Bobby Labonte was second Mark Martin third and Steve Park fourth.
by SS