[Cuban-boy]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]

[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Elian Gonzalez]


The father of Elian Gonzalez has asked for a visa to come to the United States to retrieve his son.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Miami, FL;]

[3:01:08]
Meanwhile, talks between the boy's Miami relatives and the U-S government are on hold until Monday.
Vice President Gore, running for the White House, said Elian and his family should be granted permanent resident status.
That smacks head on with his own administrations view...that the boy should go home.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=But we]

((
Janet Reno, Attorney GeneraL: This case has been heartbreaking for everybody involved, but we believe that the law is clear: the father must speak for the little boy, because the sacred bond between parent and child must be recognized, and Elian should be reunited with his father.))
[SUPER=01-Janet Reno/Attorney General;]
[RUNS=13]
[OUT Q=recongnized and honored]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

[3;02:48]
Dozens of anti-Castro activists have linked arms outside the six-year-old's Miami home, practicing resistance techniques.
Over the past few days, demonstrators have promised to lay down their lives to prevent Elian from being taken away.

(------------)



[11Floyd-Prom]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=99-58 TC1:39:17]
[GRAPHIC=None]


Some Floyd County residents are outraged that a girl at the local high school would bring her girlfriend to the prom.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Floyd Co.;]


The A-C-L-U told the Floyd County high school principal that if he did not let Tiffany (La-Peen) Lapine bring a girl to the prom, he could be sued for discriminating against lesbians.
Tiffany can bring a female date now.
But even other high school students are against the idea.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 13:24:10]
[IN Q=It's her right]

((IT'S HER RIGHT TO HAVE AN OPINION AND DO WHAT SHE WANTS. BUT I DON'T THINK SHE SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT A GIRL TO THE PROM BECAUSE IT'S FLOYD AND IT'S AN OLD TIME TOWN.))
[SUPER=01-Sarah Harris/Student;]
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=OLD TIME TOWN]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Most people on the streets say the idea offends them because they say homosexuality is a sin.
They also say this publicity stains Floyd County's image.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 13:27:03]
[IN Q=Kinda saying]

((KINDA SAYING FLOYD'S OUT OF THE TIMES AND EVERYTHING. STILL STUCK BACK IN TIME. CAN'T ADJUST TO THE TIMES OR ANYTHING.))
[SUPER=01-Sean Peters/Student;]
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q=times or anything]
(------------)
[anchor=Kimberly]
[ss=None]


Tiffany and her family did not want to appear on camera.

[11Fatal-Accident]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=00-03]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]


An elderly man from Shawsville dies in a head-on collision.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Montgomery Co.;]


It happened on Alleghany Springs Road just before 9:30 yesterday morning.
State police say 77-year-old Julius Sisson had just waved to a neighbor... when he veered across the center line and hit an oncoming truck.
Sisson died at the scene.
The passengers in the other truck -- a man and his 12-year-old son -- suffered minor injuries.
(------------)



[11Pulaski-Furniture]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=99-60 TC1:45:14]
[GRAPHIC=Pulaski Furniture]


Pulaski Furniture stockholders' pockets are a little heavier.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pulaski/June 1997;]


The company's C-E-O and senior managers arranged to buy Pulaski Furniture for 125-million dollars... with the unanimous approval of its Board of Directors.
They're buying shares from stockholders at 30-percent above their recent value on NASDAQ.
Pulaski Furniture employs more than two-thousand people in southwestern Virginia.
Analysts call the buyout a "sign of strength and confidence."
(------------)



[11Dan-River]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=sch]
[TAPE#=00-04 TC56:50]
[GRAPHIC=Dan River Negotiations]


Dan River Mills will open new contract talks next month.
The announcement has Dan River employees worried.
Surae Chinn has been looking at union contract talks and the company's finances.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=These negotiations]
[SUPER=01-Joe Bouknight/Dan River Inc. Spokesperson; :00]
[SUPER=03-Danville/January; :14]
[SUPER=01-Wayne Martin/Business Analyst; :33]
[SUPER=@Surae1; 1:28]
[RUNS=1:43]
[OUT Q=News 7 Danville.]

((((JOE BOUKNIGHT/DAN RIVER INC.: THESE NEGOTIATIONS ARE ABOUT JOB SECURITY REALLY BECAUSE WE WOULD LIKE TO REACH AN AGREEMENT THAT GIVES DAN RIVER A LEVEL OF COMFORT IN INVESTING MORE MONEY IN DANVILLE.)) [RUNS:12]
Ever since the largest employer in Danville decided to move nearly 500 jobs to Mexico job security has become the main issue for the 32-hundred remaining workers. Neither side will say what areas the contract talks will cover. Business analysts like Wayne Martin can only speculate.
[SOT 1:45:06]

((WAYNE MARTIN/BUSINESS ANALYST: I THINK THE QUESTION COMES DOWN TO HOW MUCH DO WE AS EMPLOYEES HAVE TO SACRIFICE TO SECURE SOME OF OUR JOBS.)) [RUNS:16]
And how secure are those jobs? Company officials say Dan River incorporated is healthy and strong. But according to their annual report last year, operating profits dropped 82 percent in its apparel fabrics operation. That's the operation heading to Mexico. However, profits are up 50 percent in its home fashions division. Martin says by focusing on that success, the company has avoided the path other textile businesses have taken.
[SOT 1:41:17]

((WAYNE MARTIN/BUSINESS ANALYST: NARROWING THEIR PRODUCT LINE AND BECOMING MORE SPECIALIZE DID ALLOW THEM TO BECOME COMPETITIVE AND THAT HAS GIVEN THEM SOME STABILITY.)) [RUNS:10]))
(-------------)



[11Dville-school]


[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=sch]
[TAPE#=00-07 TC39:08]
[GRAPHIC=None]


The Danville school board approves the superintendent's budget proposal.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville;]


The 48-million dollar budget is about a five percent increase from last year.
Included in the proposal is money for year round schools and an average five percent increase in teachers' salaries.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 56:12]
[IN Q=We're always]

((ELIZABETH SPAINHOUR/SCHOOL BOARD CHAIRMAN: WE'RE ALWAYS TRYING TO DO MORE FOR OUR TEACHERS AS FAR AS SALARIES. ALTHOUGH IT'S NEVER ENOUGH IT'S MORE THAN WE'VE HAD BEFORE.))
[SUPER=01-Elizabeth Spainhour/Danville School Board Chair; :00]
[RUNS=14]
[OUT Q=had before]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]


The budget goes to city council next.
(-----------)



[11Lewis-Gale]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Departing Docs]


Nine Lewis-Gale Clinic doctors say they have worked out a way to settle their legal and financial obligations with the Clinic and are now forming a group practice. (XXXXXXXXX) [Take FS Board]
The members of Valley Anesthesia say they have "taken the necessary steps" to insure they can leave the clinic and continue to provide services to their patients.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[SS=none]


The anesthesiologists are setting up a practice at Lewis-Gale Hospital next door.
Their clinic contract says they can't practice within 50 miles of Salem, unless they pay a substantial penalty.
A clinic spokesman says it doesn't know what arrangements Valley Anesthesia has made to take care of that.

[Health-Check]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=NET]
[GRAPHIC=Mornin Health Check]


In other medical news, extra weight can affect the accuracy of a mammogram.
Doctor Dave Hnida has that story and more in this morning's Health check.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Dr. Dave Hnida/Reporting; :00 ]
[RUNS=1:26]
[OUT Q=CBS News, New York.]


((ON CAM THERE IS YET ANOTHER HEALTH HAZARD FROM CARRYING AROUND TOO MANY POUNDS.

VT=VO

A NEW STUDY FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN FINDS MAMMOGRAMS IN WOMEN WHO ARE OVERWEIGHT ARE NOT AS ACCURATE AS THEY SHOULD BE. IN FACT, THE IMAGES ON A MAMMOGRAM ARE ABOUT 80% LESS CLEAR THAN A WOMAN OF NORMAL WEIGHT. RESEARCHERS SAY THIS OBVIOUSLY MEANS THERE IS A GREATER CHANCE A SMALL CANCER BEING MISSED ON A ROUTINE MAMMOGRAM. THE BEST THING TO DO BESIDES LOSING WEIGHT- IS HAVING REGULAR MAMMOGRAMS DONE SO THE PICTURES CAN BE COMPARED YEAR TO YEAR.

VT=VO

ALSO- WHAT SHOULD WOMEN ON ANTIDEPRESSANT MEDICINE DO IF THEY BECOME PREGNANT. WELL ACCORDING TO A STUDY FROM SWEDEN- THE ANSWER IS CONTINUE THE MEDICATION. THE OBVIOUS CONCERN IS WHETHER ANTIDEPRESSANT MEDICATION INCREASES THE RISK OF BIRTH DEFECTS, IN THIS STUDY OF ALMOST ONE THOUSAND NEW MOTHERS WHO USED ANTIDEPRESSANTS DURING PREGNANCY- THE RATE OF BIRTH DEFECTS WAS 4%- EXACTLY THE SAME AS IT IS IN THE GENERAL POPULATION.

VT=VO

AND FINALLY- ARE YOU KIDS GETTING BIGGER OR IS IT JUST YOUR IMAGINATION? OBVIOUSLY THEY ARE GROWING- BUT ACCORDING TO RESEARCHERS IN LOUISIANA THEY ARE GROWING AT PACE FASTER THAN YOU OR I DID WHEN WE WERE KIDS, IN FACT. THE AVERAGE CHILD BORN IN THE 70'S AND 80'S IS ONE QUARTER INCH TALLER THAN KIDS BORN IN THE 50'S AND 60'S.
ON CAM THATS A LOOK AT SOME OF THE DAYS TOP HEALTH STORIES. IM DR DAVE HNIDA FOR CBS NEWS.))

(ad lib to weather)

[2-HEADLINES]
[2-shot=Mel/Kmc]
[SUPER=#4049; Morning Headlines]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]


Here's a look at today's top stories.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]


Discussions between immigration officials and the Miami relatives of Elian Gonzalez ended last night without a resolution.
The talks are set to resume Monday.
Meanwhile, the six year old's father has asked for a visa to come to the United States.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Kim]


People living around Mount Usu (oo-soo) in northern Japan are being told that the danger is far from over.
The volcano erupted today for the first time in more than 20 years, sending volcanic ash raining down on nearby towns.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]


And in Floyd County the high school prom is a topic of controversy.
After it was threatened with litigation by the ACLU, the school has given a lesbian student permission to bring her girlfriend to the prom.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]


And that's what's making news on this Friday March 31-st.
[ANCHOR=Melanie]


News 7 Mornin' will be right back.

[car-bomb]


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


Four people have been killed and fourteen others injured in truck bomb explosion in Colombia.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Cachipay, Colombia/Thursday;]

[3:13:08]
It happened in a resort area west of Bogota.
So far no one has claimed responsibility.
It is the second fatal car bombing in the are in less than a week.
Officials blamed both attacks on the country's largest leftist
insurgency, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia.
(------------)


[2-cuban-boy]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Elian Gonzalez]


The Cuban father of six year old Elian Gonzalez has asked for a visa to come to the United States.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Miami, FL;]

[3:16:01]
Meanwhile, talks between the U-S government and the boy's Miami relatives are expected to resume on Monday.
The government wants a promise in writing that the family will turn Elian over if they lose their case in court.
And a change of heart from Vice President Gore.
He now supports legislation allowing Elian to stay in the U-S while his case is resolved in the courts.

(-----------------)[11Blacksburg-Baby]



[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=00-01 TC1:25:56]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]


The woman accused of throwing her newborn baby's body in a dumpster was arraigned in Blacksburg.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;]


Rosetta Elizabeth Clark plead NOT guilty yesterday to the misdemeanor charge of improperly disposing of the infant.
The 21-year-old Virginia Tech student declined to comment on her case.
[SUPER=04-March 11;]


Police found the baby boy's body in a dumpster at Clark's apartment complex nearly three weeks ago.
A medical examiner later ruled that the baby was dead at birth.
Clark will be tried in Blacksburg next month.
(------------)



[2-Development]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morning]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=00-]
[GRAPHIC=None]


How does Uncle Sam spend your tax dollars? Some of it comes back into your community in form of block grants.
And as Joy Sutton reports some local organizations are hoping to get a chunk of it.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The West End]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;00]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/File Tape;08]
[SUPER=01-Kaye Hale/West End Center;20]
[SUPER=01-James Lesniak/NW Neighborhood Env. Org.;49]
[SUPER=01-Barbara Riggs/Blue Ridge Housing Dev. Corp.;1:20]
[SUPER=@Joy1;1:30]
[RUNS=1:39]
[OUT Q=j7 news 7]

((The West End Center is place where kids can go for free tutoring, and after school and summer programs.
The Center is just one several organizations hoping to get portion of the more than 3-million dollars up for grabs through the Community Development Block Grant.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT2:55:04]
[IN Q=We have a huge waiting list]

((KAYE HALE/WEST END CENTER: WE HAVE A HUGE WAITING LIST. IT TAKES ALMOST TWO YEARS TO GET INTO OUR PROGRAM AND THAT'S BECAUSE OF SPACE AND WE DON'T HAVE MONEY. SO IT WILL HELP US TO EXPAND OUR CURRENT FACILITY)) [RUNS14]
[OUT Q=facility]


At a community meeting Roanoke City's Office of Grants Compliance released its draft plan outlining how the funds for the Community Development Block and Home Entitlement Grants should be distributed for 2000 and 2001.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 2:53:18]
[IN Q=The recommendations]

((JAMES LESNIAK/NNEO: THE RECOMMENDATIONS WE RECEIVED WAS LESS THAN WE REQUESTED. I KNOW THERE IS A SHORTAGE OF MONEY OUT THERE. BUT IT SEEMS THERE IS PLENTY OF MONEY TO SUPPORT THOSE PROJECTS THAT ARE POLITICALLY ON THE CITY LEVEL)) [RUNS13]
[OUT Q=on the city level]


The Northwest Neighborhood Environmental Organization which builds affordable housing like these apartments on Loudon Ave. requested around 900 -thousand -- but they may get less than half that amount.
While the Western Virginia Foundation for the Arts and Sciences may get 250-thousand dollars to renovate the Old Shenandoah hotel for Center in the Square and Mill Mountain Theater-- the Blue Ridge Housing Development Corporation says it's satisfied with the more than 90-thousand dollars it may receive.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT2:56:02]
[IN Q=When we do]

((BARBARA RIGGS/BLUE RIDGE HOUSING DEV. CORP: WHEN WE DO CONSTRUCTION OF NEW HOMES THOSE FUNDS HELP DOWN THE CONSTRUCTION COSTS WHICH ALLOWS US TO SELL HOME FOR REAL REASONABLE PRICES)) [RUNS08]
[OUT Q=prices]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]

((JOY SUTTON/REPORTING:MORE THAN 30 ORGANIZATIONS APPLIED FOR A PORTION OF THE MONEY. CITY COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER THE RECOMMENDATIONS BUT WILL ULTIMATELY MAKE THE FINAL DECISION. JOY SUTTON, NEWS 7))
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=N7]))







[volcano]


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


After two decades of silence Japan's Mount Usu (oo-soo) came to life today, sending volcanic ash raining down on nearby towns.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Japan;]

[3:05:59]
Most residents have remained calm, following directions to stay at evacuation centers or at their homes.
There have been no reports of injuries or damage.
But there are fears of landslides and mudslides in the area.
Before the eruption, a foot of snow covered the volcano.
Scientists had predicted the eruption, so evacuations around the volcano began on Wednesday.
(------------)


[2-11Blacksburg-Baby]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=00-01 TC1:25:56]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]


The Virginia Tech student accused of throwing her baby's body in a dumpster was arraigned in Blacksburg.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;]


Rosetta Elizabeth Clark plead NOT guilty yesterday to the misdemeanor charge of improperly disposing of the infant.
The 21 year old student declined to comment on her case.
[SUPER=04-March 11;]


Police found the baby boy's body in a dumpster at Clark's apartment complex nearly three weeks ago.
A medical examiner later ruled that the baby was dead at birth.
Clark will be tried in Blacksburg next month.
(------------)



[2-11Floyd-Prom]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=99-58 TC1:39:17]
[GRAPHIC=None]


Controversy in Floyd County over a high school student's choice for a prom date.
School officials have given Tiffany Lapine (LA-PEEN) permission to take her girlfriend to the prom.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Floyd Co.;]


The A-C-L-U told the Floyd County high school principal that if he did not let (La-Peen) Lapine bring her date to the prom, he could be sued for discriminating against lesbians.
But some people int he community, even other students at the school are against the idea.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 13:24:10]
[IN Q=It's her right]

((IT'S HER RIGHT TO HAVE AN OPINION AND DO WHAT SHE WANTS. BUT I DON'T THINK SHE SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT A GIRL TO THE PROM BECAUSE IT'S FLOYD AND IT'S AN OLD TIME TOWN.))
[SUPER=01-Sarah Harris/Student;]
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=OLD TIME TOWN]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Some say the idea offends them because they believe homosexuality is a sin.
They also say this publicity stains Floyd County's image.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 13:27:03]
[IN Q=Kinda saying]

((KINDA SAYING FLOYD'S OUT OF THE TIMES AND EVERYTHING. STILL STUCK BACK IN TIME. CAN'T ADJUST TO THE TIMES OR ANYTHING.))
[SUPER=01-Sean Peters/Student;]
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q=times or anything]
(------------)
[anchor=Melanie]
[ss=None]


Tiffany and her family did not want to appear on camera.

[Local-Recap]
[SUPER=#4059;Local Recap]
[2-Shot=Mel/Kmc]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]


Now here's another look at today's top local stories:
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]


The 21 year old Virginia Tech student accused of throwing her newborn baby's body in a dumpster was arraigned in Blacksburg. Rosetta Elizabeth Clark plead NOT guilty yesterday to the misdemeanor charge of improperly disposing of the infant.
Clark will be tried in Blacksburg next month.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]


An elderly Shawsville man died after a head-on collision.
It happened yesterday on Alleghany Springs Road.
State police say 77-year-old Julius Sisson had just waved to a neighbor... when he veered across the center line and hit an oncoming truck.
He died at the scene.
The passengers in the other truck suffered minor injuries.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]


Pulaski Furniture's C-E-O and senior managers arrange to buy the company for 125-million dollars... with the unanimous approval of its Board of Directors.
They're buying shares from stockholders at 30-percent above their recent value on NASDAQ.
Analysts call the buyout a "sign of strength and confidence."
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
(Kimberly mic hot)
(///////////////)
(Kimberly ad lib weather)
(-------------)

[2-SHOT]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]


Now here's Keith Humphry with a preview of News 7 at Six.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Modern day]
[RUNS=18]
[OUT Q=Tonight on news 7 at 6.]
(-------------)

[Desk 3-Shot]
(toss)
[ANCHOR=Steve]
(live ad lib, tease tomorrow)



(ad lib bye)


[Promo]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=Time Off]
[GRAPHIC=Time Off]


There's a cottage in Natural Bridge that offers a place to relax and maybe more notably, a place to SHOP.


(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Natural Bridge;]


The Braford Cottage can accommodate up to five people.
It features a fully- equipped kitchen, two bedrooms, and a picturesque view.
Next door, is well- established "Antiques by Braford", where you can purchase or just browse through a collection of 18th and 19th century items.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=KIMBERLY]
[GRAPHIC=TIME OFF]

inning at 8. We'll have more on the Braford Cottage in this week's "Time Off" coming up tomorrow on News 7 Saturday Morning beg

by SS