[HEADLINES]

[TALENT=Kimberly]

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


Still no word on what caused the late night fire that force nine families out of a Martinsville apartment complex.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]


And Southwest Virginia is the birthplace of another landmark event in the world of cloning.
Five cloned piglets were born at Blacksburg's P-P-L Therapeutics.
(/////////////)
[TALENT=Patrick]
[SS=None]



[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[SS=None]


News 7 at noon is next.

[Pigs-Cloning]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=netQ]
[GRAPHIC=None]


Another first in the world of cloning and it happened right here in Southwest Virginia.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


P-P-L Therapeutics today announced they've cloned five pigs.
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg/February 1998;]


The piglets were born at the company's facility in Blacksburg.
Just over a year ago, a cloned cow was born at the same facility.
P-P-L is also responsible for the world's first cloned animal-- Dolly the sheep.
Scientists hope one day that pigs could be genetically engineered so that their organs or cells could be used more easily for human transplant.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[SS=HOLD]


We'll have more on the story tonight on News 7 at Five and Six.

[Apartment-Fire]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=00-03 TC51:53]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]


Inveistigators are trying to figure out what caused the fire that drove nine families from a Martinsville apartment building.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Martinsville]


Fire broke out at the North View Garden Apartments around 11-30 last night.
One apartment was heavily damaged, eight others sustained smoke and water damage.
All of the 15 residents got out of the building, though one elderly woman was treated for smoke inhalation.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 11:02:20]
[IN Q=We got people]
[SUPER=01-Daryl Emberson/Collinsville Fire Chief;]
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q=3000 foot away.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Some 35 to 40 firefighters fought the blaze.
(------------)



[Optical-Cable]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=12]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=99-52 TC1:57:52]
[GRAPHIC=Optical Cable]


Customers concerns with the Y-2-K bug may have cost Optical Cable Corporation some business at the end of 1999, but the chairman and C-E-O says the company expects increasing demand for its products through the rest of the fiscal year.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]


Optical Cable manufactures and markets fiber optic cable for the transmission of data, video and audio communications.
Robert (Kop-steen) Kopstein says several large projects and some day-to-day business were delayed until after the new year, because of customers' Y2K worries.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:23:42]
[IN Q=We finished the year out]

((ROBERT KOPSTEIN: WE FINISHED THE YEAR OUT WITH Y2K AND SLOWNESS AT THE END OF THE YEAR, BUT THINGS HAVE PICKED UP DRAMATICALLY, SO IT'S EXCITING TO SEE THINGS PICK UP JUST AS WE EXPECTED.))
[SUPER=01-Robert Kopstein/Optical Cable Corporation]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=just as we expected.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Sales in the first quarter of the fiscal year were up only about five percent... but the company's net income increased more than 40 percent.
(------------)



[Clinton-NRA]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]


Not one, but TWO National Rifle Association officials have the White House up in arms.
Wayne LaPierre has accused President Clinton of using gun victims for political gain.
And a new N-R-A ad campaign featuring actor and president Charlton Heston accuses the President of distorting the organization's image.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:56:17]
[IN Q=What an insult...]

((CHARLTON HESTON/NRA PRESIDENT: WHAT AN INSULT, MR. CLINTON. YOU SAID THE NRA IS QUOTE," AGAINST ANYTHING THAT REQUIRES ANYBODY TO DO ANYTHING AS A MEMBER OF SOCIETY THAT HELPS TO MAKE IT SAFER. ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE THE NRA WHOSE GUN ACCIDENT PREVENTION POLICY HAS BEEN DISTRIBUTED TO 12 MILLION SCHOOL KIDS?))
[SOT 1:55:07]

((THE NRA STARTED RUNNING ALL THESE ADS ATTACKING ME PERSONALLY, WHICH I DIDN'T TAKE PERSONALLY. I FRANKLY WAS HONORED BY IT.))
[SUPER=01-Charlton Heston/NRA President; :00]
[SUPER=03-Cleveland, OH; :19]
[RUNS=:27]
[OUT Q=I was honored by it.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


The President DID take aim against the N-R-A by saying that it's one thing to run a national ad, but it's another to confront the issue with parents who have lost their children to gun violence.
(------------)



[CNN-Poll]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign 2000]


A new poll shows Republican George W- Bush slightly ahead of Democrat Al Gore among voters.
The latest U-S-A Today, C-N-N Gallup Poll says Bush holds a 49- percent to 43- percent edge over Gore.

The poll's margin of error is five percentage points.
The new survey also finds Bush picking up more of former G-O-P candidate John McCain's voters.

[Rice-Students]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]


A memorial service is planned today for a student at Rice University in Texas who was killed in a van crash last night.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-The Woodlands, TX;]


Authorities say two university vans were stopped for construction on an interstate, just north of Houston when a pick- up truck slammed into them.
Sheriff's officials say five other students were hurt.
The university vans were carrying debate team members from a meet in Omaha, Nebraska.
11 students and three coaches were inside the vehicles.
(------------)



[Argentina-Blast]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Explosion]


More than 30 people are hurt following an explosion and fire at an industrial park in southern Argentina.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Ushuaia, Argentina;]


No one was killed when the blast ripped through the park yesterday.
Firefighters say the blast occurred in a factory where explosives used in road construction were stored.
A fire than spread to several nearby factories, setting off a second explosion that was captured on camera.
The blasts were so powerful that they reportedly tore the roof off a nearby school, forcing the evacuation of 30 students.
(------------)



[Emergency-Landing]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]


A close call for those aboard a Delta Airlines flight bound for Salt Lake City, when the pilot had to make an emergency landing last night.
As John Lobertini reports, officials are still trying to determine what caused the landing gear to fail.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-San Francisco, CA; :00]
[SUPER=01-Pat Harrison/Passenger; :21]
[SUPER=01-Ron Wilson/Airport Spokesman; :49]
[SUPER=01-Paul Harrison/Passenger; 1:01 QUICK!!!!]
[SUPER=01-Christine Heathman/Passenger; 1:17]
[SUPER=01-John Lobertini/Reporting; 1:24]
[RUNS=1:28]
[OUT Q=Lobertini, CBS News, San Francisco.]


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


Halifax County students will stay in their classrooms during bomb threats, at least for the time being.
Details are still ahead on News 7 at Noon.
(--------------)
[VO-NAT ]


And some relief from high fuel prices could be on the way.
But will it be enough?
First, let's talk to Patrick Evans.
(---------------)
[Talent=Patrick]

[Wx-Tease] [Weatherpro] [music up full] [comm1]

[Fuel-Prices]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Gas Prices]


With the price of gasoline soaring into record territory, lawmakers are scrambling for ways to provide relief to angry drivers.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Troutville/March 2;]


Energy officials say it'll likely get worse at the pumps, before it gets better.
The U-S Secretary of Energy says gasoline PRODUCTION is key to bringing costs down.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 10:07:15]
[IN Q=We're continuing our]

((BILL RICHARDSON/ENERGY SECRETARY: WE'RE CONTINUING OUR ENERGY DIPLOMACY WITH OPEC COUNTRIES, WHICH IS WORKING. THIRTY DAYS AGO, OPEC WAS NOT GOING TO INCREASE PRODUCTION, NOW THEY ARE. WE'RE NOW WORKING ON THE LEVELS AND HOW SOON.))


[SUPER=01-Bill Richardson/Secretary of Energy;]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=and how soon.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Richardson says until OPEC meets in about 10 days, prices may continue going up.
After that, he says there should be some gradual price reductions in both gas and diesel.
(------------)



[Halifax-Schools]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=School Safety]


It's a controversial policy that keeps Halifax County students locked in their classrooms during bomb threats.
And, at least for now, it will stay in place.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


At last night's meeting, the school board did decide to talk about changing the policy.
But that's not enough for some parents and students who want it changed as soon as possible.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I don't want]

((GAYE LONG/CONCERNED PARENT: I DON'T WANT TO GO HOME AND SAY LET'S THINK POSITIVE THE CHANCES THE SCHOOL WILL BLOW UP IS SLIM.))
[SUPER=01-Gaye Long/Concerned Parent; ]
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=blow up is slim.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Many students agree and have signed a petition against the policy.
But others feel the policy in place is a safe one.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=If you move]

((LT. RICK LOFTIS/SOUTH BOSTON POLICE DEPT.:IF YOU MOVE THE KIDS YOU MIGHT WALK THEM INTO A BOMB THAT'S PLANTED IN THE HALLWAY OR STAIRWELL.))
[SUPER=01-Lt. Rick Loftis/South Boston Police Dept.; ]
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=hallway or stairwell.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Many who attended say there is no perfect solution but they say evacuating is a better one.
In the end, the board did not change the policy, instead they will meet at a later date and re-evaluate it.
(-------------)



[S-Radford-Explosion]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=00-02 1:00:32]
[GRAPHIC=NR Castings]


More than a week after an explosion killed three of their colleagues - New River Castings employees have some good news.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Radford/March 6]


The Radford plant's parent company - Intermet - says it will continue to pay health benefits for out of work employees until further notice.
Any vacation pay that employees have accrued will be paid immediately.
The company also announced that 40 displaced workers will be moved to an adjacent plant - the Radford Foundry.
(------------)
[anchor=Kimberly]
[graphic=Hold]


The news answers some questions for employees.
But questions about the plant's future probably won't be answered for some time.

[E-Mental-Illness]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=00-07 21:24]
[GRAPHIC=Mental Health]


He went from living in back-room seclusion at a mental facility to running a psychology department.
Last night Frederick Frese told a crowd at the Lewis Gale Medical Center how he overcame his mental illness.
Kate Weidaw has the story.
(////////SOT//////////)
[SOT]
[INQ=this is the]
[SUPER=03-Salem; :00]
[SUPER=01-Frederick Frese/Clinical Psychologist; :14]
[SUPER=01-Mary Lou Brown/Attended Speech; :37]
[SUPER=01-Penny Frese/Wife; 1:10]
[SUPER=@Kate2; 1:25]
[RUNS=1:36]
[OUTQ=kwe news7salem]

((This is the face of a man who was diagnosed with schizophrenia in his early 20's -- now Frederick Frese is a psychiatrist and a director of an Ohio Psychiatric Hospital. [nat sound of him talking at meeting]
[runs= 5]



[SOT 1:25:20 FROM 5 O'CLOCK TAPE]
[INQ=]

((FREDERICK FRESE/CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST: MANY OF THE PATIENTS TEND TO IDENTIFY WITH ME KNOWING THAT I'VE BEEN IN THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCES THEY'VE BEEN AND I TO SOME DEGREE THEY TELL M E THEY TAKE AN IF YOU CAN DO IT, I CAN DO IT RECOVERY SORT OF HOPEFULNESS.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 17]


Frese's openness about dealing with the different stages of schizophrenia made some look at the disorder in a different light.

[SOT 23:13:38]
[INQ=]

((MARY LOU BROWN/ATTENDED SPEECH: HE HAS COME SO FAR WITH HIS DISABILITY AND HE DID NOT USE IT AS AN EXCUSE TO JUST LIE THERE AND DO NOTHING, I THINK THAT'S VERY ADMIRABLE.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 10]


His wife of 24 years knows first hand the ups and downs of living with someone with a mental illness. Not only does her husband battle schizophrenia - their four children have all been diagnosed as clinically depressed. Penny says she has her own style of coping with her family.

[SOT 1:41:08 FROM 5 O'CLOCK TAPE]
[INTQ=]

((PENNY FRESE/WIFE: ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK WE LEARN AS A FAMILY IS TO PUT THINGS ON HOLD SOMETHING THAT IS NOT POPULAR IN THIS COUNTRY WE WANT TO GO CRASHING THROUGH AND GET THINGS DONE AND TO LEARN TO BACK OFF, WE HAVE A LITTLE SAYING, WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH, THE TOUGH GO TO BED.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 19]


Frese says educating the public about schizophrenia may not make the disorder go away but it will make people understand it better. Kate Weidaw News 7 Salem.))
[Tease2] [SOFT MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]


Still ahead on News 7 at noon, Patrick will be here with the forecast.
(-----------------)
[VO-NAT ]


And Attorney General Mark Earley enters the debate over PETA's "Got Beer" campaign.
(-----------------)

[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #2]


[E-Peta-Beer]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[TAPE=99-60 1:27:19]
[GRAPHIC=None]


Virginia's Attorney General is asking the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals to drop its "Got Beer?" campaign.
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]


The animal rights organization is urging college students to drink beer over milk -- the group says the dairy industry is cruel to cows and calves.
Attorney General Mark Earley- who heads the Task Force on Drinking by College Students - hopes "PETA" will discontinue the ad and try other ways of making its point.
Alcohol played a role in the deaths of five Virginia college students in 1997.
(-----------)



[e-Camp-25]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=00-01 1:02:24]
[GRAPHIC=None]


Two officers at a Botetourt County correctional facility saved a two-year-old girl's life this weekend.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Brianna Pontani (Pahn-TAHN-ee) was visiting her father at Camp 25 in Troutville when the little girl choked on a piece of popcorn.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 14:52:50]
[IN Q=We held her]

((WE HELD HER UPRIGHT AND GAVE HER A FEW GENTLE COMPRESSIONS, ASKED HER IF SHE COULD COUGH. AT THAT MOMENT SHE COUGHED AND SCREAMED NO.))
[SUPER=01-Jerome Lovell/Camp 25 Officer;]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=screamed no]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.;]


Officer Pat Fowler helped him perform the Heimlich maneuver.
The little girl is fine.
The officers also taught the girl's father how to rescue a choking victim.
(------------)



[Stocks]


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


On Wall Street at Noon, the Dow was UP 13 points.
[tease3] [SPORTS MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]


Still to come in sports, the N-C-double-A tournaments are set to begin and Liberty's Lady Flames have their bags packed for Louisiana,
(----------------)
[VO-NAT ]

and the U-V-A women and men hope for continued success in post season tournament play.
Patrick returns with the details.
(---------------)

[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #3]



[S-Cavs]


[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-55 1:33:36]
[GRAPHIC=UVA]


One team is going dancing, the other isn't. But both the U-V-A men's and women's basketball teams are headed to the post season.
Steve Mason has more on the state of both programs as they prepare for the N-I-T and the Field of 64.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=first audio]
[SUPER=03-Charlottesville; :00]
[SUPER=01-Debbie Ryan/17th Straight NCAA Appearance; :17]
[SUPER=01-Lisa Hosac/UVa Senior Forward; :48]
[SUPER=01-Pete Gillen/UVa Men's Basketball Coach; 1:05]
[SUPER=01-Roger Mason/UVa Freshman Guard; 1:14]
[SUPER=@Steve1; 1:25]
[RUNS=1:41]
[OUT Q=News 7 sports"]
(-------------------)

((Some of the Lady Cavaliers energy and bounce will have to come from within. The UVa students are on spring break. Debbie Ryan played both coach and promoter during her Monday news conference as a Friday St. Patty's day NCAA Mideast Region opener against Pepperdine draws closer. ((DEBBIE RYAN/17TH STRAIGHT NCAA APPEARANCE: I CAN'T PROMISE GREEN BEER BUT, MAYBE WE CAN GET SCOTT WARNER AT WJC TO SEE WHAT HE CAN DO. ANYWAY, WE REALLY WANT YOU GUYS OUT THERE AND PUTTING LOTS OF FANS IN THE STANDS AT UNIVERSITY HALL.))
The regular season ACC champs lost in the second round in 1998, the first round last year, a trend these ladies feel is over with their high four seed and home court advantage where UVa doesn't have to pack it's bags until the sweet 16. ((LISA HOSAC/UVA SENIOR FORWARD: IT'S IN OUR HANDS THIS YEAR WHERE AS THE PAST WE'VE REALLY HAD TO DO SOMETHING SPECIAL TO GO ON BUT THIS YEAR WE GOT WHAT WE WANTED, WE COULDN'T ASK FOR A BETTER DRAW.))
While the women were quite open about their goals, the UVa men's team closed practice after being snubbed by the NCAA.)) ((PETE GILLEN/UVA MEN'S BASKETBALL COACH: WE'RE DISAPPOINTED WE DID NOT MAKE THE NCAA TOURNAMENT. WE FELT LIKE WE DESERVED IT, MAINLY BECAUSE OF OUR 9 AND 7 CONFERENCE RECORD.)) ((ROGER MASON/UVA FRESHMAN FORWARD: WE DON'T WANT TO LOOK AT THE SELECTION COMMITTEE, WE HAD A CHANCE TO SOLIDIFY A NCAA TOURNAMENT BID AND WE DIDN'T DO IT, SO INSTEAD OF PLACING THE BLAME WE NEED TO LOOK AT OURSELVES.)) ((STEVE MASON: UVA HAS MET GEORGETOWN JUST TWICE IN THE LAST TWO DECADES, THE LAST TIME WAS 1991. THEN THEIR WAS THE 1983 GAME THAT MATCHED RALPH SAMPSON AGAINST PATRICK EWING. BY THE WAY UVA WON THAT GAME. TIP OFF WEDNESDAY NIGHT IN THE NIT OPENER IS SET FOR SEVEN PM. IN CHARLOTTESVILLE, STEVE MASON NEWS SEVEN SPORTS.))

[S-Liberty]


[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=SP-49 tc 1:53:07]
[GRAPHIC=Liberty]


Like the U-V-A women, Liberty is also preparing to dance.
The road to the Final Four starts in Louisiana on Friday.
L-S-U is the Lady Flames' first stop on their fourth consecutive trip to the N-C-Double-A Tournament.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg/Yesterday Afternoon;]


This will be no small task as the 23 and seven Flames hope to burn the 15th ranked Tigers on their home court.
Liberty's first year coach Carey Green says his squad will need to get back on defense in transition and win the battle on the boards.
But Green says L-S-U is vulnerable.
He's hoping the Tigers will look past Liberty.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=they're a team]

((CAREY GREEN/LIBERTY HEAD COACH: THEY'RE A TEAM THAT WILL HOPEFULLY FALL ASLEEP. THEY'RE A TEAM THAT GETS INTO FOUL TROUBLE. IF THEY GET INTO FOUL TROUBLE THEY ARE NOT VERY DEEP OR SHE HASN'T USED HER BENCH VERY MUCH.))
[SUPER=01-Carey Green/Liberty Head Coach;]
[RUNS=12]
[OUT Q=VERY MUCH]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


The Flames are playing their best ball of the season.
Liberty is on an eleven game win streak. And the Flames are getting use to playing top ranked opponents at the big dance.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=we're playing]

((ELENA KISSELEVA/LIBERTY SENIOR: WE'RE PLAYING BETTER AND BETTER EACH YEAR AS WE GET MORE EXPERIENCE PLAYING THAT TYPE OF COMPETITION. THIS YEAR WE'VE IMPROVED SO MUCH AND LEARNED SO MUCH WITH A NEW COACH. I BELIEVE WE HAVE A REALLY REALLY GOOD CHANCE.))
[SUPER=01-Elena Kisseleva/Liberty Senior;]
[RUNS=12]
[OUT Q=really good chance]
(------------)



[S-Labonte]


[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-53 15006TC]
[GRAPHIC=LABONTE]


Winston Cup points leader Bobby Labonte finished second by a nose to Dale Earnhardt last weekend in Atlanta, and he's now ready to extend his hot streak at Darlington.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Hampton, GA/ABC - Sunday; ]


Labonte has been the hottest driver on the circuit to date with one win, two top 5 finishes and another just out of the top five in 6th.
Running that well has made it much easier to tolerate NASCAR's taxing schedule that features 10 non-stop cross country weeks of racing to open the season.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="I don't...]
[SUPER=01-Bobby Labonte/Winston Cup Points Leader; :00]
[RUNS=:20]
[OUT Q=...TEN WEEKS."]

(------------)
by SS