[Lewis-Gale]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]

[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=00-]
[GRAPHIC=LG Departing Doctors]


New developments this afternoon in the on-going situation involving Lewis Gale Clinic and its family care physicians.
[Double Boxes=Melanie ANCHOR/Teresa Starlink]

Teresa Hamilton just attended a press conference at Lewis Gale Medical Center and joins us live with the latest

[Live=Teresa Full/Starlink]
[SUPER=@Teresa1]
[SUPER=06-Salem]

[TAPE ROLLED FROM TRUCK]


[Super=01-Dr. Clement Binnings/Family Practice Physician]
[Super=03-Salem]


[Live=Teresa Full/Starlink]
[SUPER=06-Salem]
(ad lib)


[Double Boxes=MelanieANCHOR/Teresa Starlink]

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[Floyd-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=00-02 1:22:02]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]

One person reportedly was killed in a fire last night in Floyd County.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Floyd Co.;]

It happened at a home on Route 2-21 -- about one mile from the Roanoke County line.
When firefighters arrived flames were shooting from the structure.
A Floyd County dispatcher confirms that a body was found in the home.
The identity has not been released. Authorities believe that the victim was a cousin of the homeowner.
(------------)

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[Convience-Shooting]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Shooting]

A Henry County convenience store owner has been charged in the accidental shooting of a teenager.
Police say the owner of B-G's Express was showing a 15 year old boy a 9 millimeter gun.
He pulled the trigger believing the gun was not loaded.
The boy suffered a minor shoulder wound.

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The owner has been charged with reckless handling of a firearm.[JAPAN-pm]

[ANCHOR=MEL]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Japan's Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi (kay-zoh oh-boo-chee) is in a coma and on life support this afternoon after suffering a stroke.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Tokyo, Japan;]
[3;01:45]
Japan's Chief cabinet secretary Mikio Aoki (mee-kee-oh ah-oh-kee) has assumed the role of acting prime minister.
[SUPER=03-San Jose, CA;]
[3:03:13]
Early this morning from California President Clinton said he wished Obuchi a speedy recovery.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=He has been a good friend....]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=from it's financial crisis.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Japan's major newspapers are criticizing the government today for waiting more than 24 hours before telling the nation Obuchi (oh-boo-chee) had been hospitalized.
And waiting another 12 before saying today that he'd had a stroke.
(------------)


wipe/wipe/wipe

---

[volcano]

[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=WIPE/WIPE/WIPE]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Toyoura, Japan;]
[10 newspath]
In other news from Japan, more activity today from Mount Usu (oh-zoo).
And now patience is wearing thin among evacuees near the volcano.
Mount Usu has been spewing plumes of ash and other volcanic debris since last Friday, when it first erupted after more than 20 years of silence.
Experts say a bigger explosion is still possible.
(------------)

---

[cuban-boy]

[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Elian Gonzalez]

With another government deadline looming... lawyers representing the Miami family of Elian Gonzalez are meeting again today with Justice Department officials to discuss his fate.
And now.. the Miami relatives are suggesting that Elian's father is an unfit parent.
Cathy Moss reports from Miami.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[11:30-UPDATE WINDOW]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Miami, FL;]
[SUPER=01-Linda Osberg-Braun/Attorney For Miami Relatives;]
[SUPER=01-Greg Craig/Attorney for Elian's Father;]
[SUPER=03-Havanna, Cuba;]
[SUPER=01-Cathy Moss/Reporting;]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=CBS NEWS, MIAMI.]
((

---
(LOCATOR: MIAMI)


(NATZ)

WITH A TUESDAY DEADLINE LOOMING...TALKS BETWEEN GOVERNMENT LAWYERS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF ELIAN GONZALEZ'S MIAMI RELATIVES RESUME TODAY.
IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS ARE SEEKING A SIGNED AGREEMENT FROM THE MIAMI FAMILY...PROMISING TO TURN THE BOY OVER TO HIS FATHER...IF THEY LOSE THEIR CUSTODY BATTLE IN COURT.
A LAWYER FOR THE MIAMI REALTIVES SAYS THE BOY MAY BE TURNED OVER, BUT UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS.

SOT: LINDA OSBERG-BRAUN/ATTORNEY FOR ELIAN'S MIAMI FAMILY
"AS LONG AS IT'S DONE IN A PROFESSIONALLY HEALTHY WAY, OVER A PROCESS, NOT IN TEN MINUTES THE WAY CASTRO IS DEMANDING."
ELAIN'S MIAMI REALTIVES ARE ALSO NOW QUESTIONING WHETHER THE BOY'S FATHER IS FIT TO BE A PARENT.... BUT THAT'S BEING CALLED A LAST DITCH EFFORT BY AN ATTORNEY ON THE OPPOSING SIDE.

SOT: GREG CRAIG/ATTORNEY FOR ELIAN'S DAD
"NO ONE SAID FOUR MONTHS AGO THAT THE SON WAS AFRAID OF HIS FATHER, SOMEHOW SOMETHING HAS HAPPENED WITHIN THE LAST FOUR MONTHS, THAT HAS PROMPTED THEM TO SAY THAT THE SON IS AFRAID OF HIS FATHER."

(NATZ OF DAD TALKING TO ELAIN)


(LOCATOR: CUBA)

IN CUBA....JUAN MIGUEL GONZALEZ CONTINUES TO CALL HIS SON...HEARING ABOUT THE BOY'S NEW RABBIT IN THIS CONVERSATION. FIDEL CASTRO NOW SAYS THE BOY'S FATHER IS WILLING TO TRAVEL ALONE TO THE U-S...BUT ONLY IF HE

---

CAN PICK UP ELIAN AND RETURN HOME IMMEDIATELY.))[confederate-flag]

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

Marchers in South Carolina are on a 120- mile journey to get the Confederate flag removed from atop the statehouse.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Charleston, SC;]
[3;18:01]
More than 600 began their march yesterday from Charleston.
They arrive in Columbia on Thursday and hope to convince state lawmakers that the confederate flag is a sign of racism.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[10:12:24 8 pm newspath] ((I am here to see that the flag is taken down. The south lost and it's time they go to the idea. ))
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=THEY GO TO THE IDEA.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Tourism is South Carolina's number 1 industry and though stimates vary statewide, the N-double-A -C-P's economic sanctions have cost Charleston here at least 3 million dollars in lost bookings.
There are fears that those losses could skyrocket unless the flag issue is resolved.
(------------)

---

[microsoft]

[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Microsoft]

Market analysts are keeping a close eye on Microsoft stock today.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[3:10:]
A ruling is expected at anytime in the government's antitrust case against the software giant.
This, after settlement talks collapsed over the weekend.
U-S District Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson earlier found that Microsoft was a monopoly that stifled innovation and hurt consumers.
Microsoft has mad it clear it's ready for a long battle to keep the company intact and on top.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
(( /BILL GATES, MICROSOFT CHAIRMAN "Now we'll have to win the case through the legal system. We continue to believe we have a strong legal case and that the judicial system will ultimately rule in our favor."))

[SUPER=01-Bill Gates/Microsoft Chairman;]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=rule in our favor.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The worst case scenario for Microsoft is a court-ordered breakup of the company.
At the very least that would mean changing the way it does business .
(------------)

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[Gas-Prices]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=00-01 1:31:07]
[GRAPHIC=Gas Prices]

Energy Secretary Bill Richardson says consumers should start to see a slow, steady decline in gasoline prices.
They're expected to drop by eleven cents a gallon by the end of September, and 18 cents by the end of the year.
As Joy Sutton reports, for now motorists are paying at the pump.
And so are some convenience store owners.

(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Charlie]
[SUPER=03-Montvale;00]
[SUPER=01-Charlie Bailey/Convenience Store Owner;14]
[SUPER=@Joy1;1:45]
[RUNS=1:51]
[OUT Q=n7 Montvale]
(( Charlie Bailey has been selling food and gas for seven years at his store Minit Saver in Montvale.
He says high gas prices -- are not just affecting his customers.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT5:55:44]
[IN Q=I pay for it]
((CHARLIE BAILEY/CONVENIENCE STORE OWNER: I PAY MORE FOR IT JUST LIKE THEY DO AND I RAISE MINE IF THEY PRICE OF GAS GOES UP AND I REALLY DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH UNTIL I GET IT DELIVERED))
[RUNS= 12]
[OUT Q=it delivered]

And he says competing with larger gas stations hasn't made it any easier. Because larger stations purchase more gas-- they're able to buy it at a cheaper price.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT6:01:03]
[IN Q=It's really hard to]
((IT'S REALLY HARD TO COMPETE WITH THEM. THEY'LL DROP THEIR PRICES BEFORE I AM OUT OF GAS AND BEFORE I ORDER AGAIN. IT'S HARD FOR ME TO DROP MY PRICE DOWN BELOW WHAT I PAID FOR IT. YOU JUST CAN'T DO THAT YOU JUST HAVE TO LET IT SIT IN THE GROUND AND HOPE YOU CAN SELL IT))
[RUNS= 20]
[OUT Q=for it]

In fact, Bailey says these days gas is costing him twice as much-- and people aren't buying as much either.
And that's taking a toll on sales inside his store, as well.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 5:56:35]
[IN Q=If they were putting]
((CHARLIE BAILEY: IF THEY WERE TO PUT 10-DOLLARS OF GAS IN THEN THEY COME IN AND BUY OTHER ITEMS. BUT IF THEY GOT TO PUT 20 DOLLARS IN THAT'S LESS MONEY IN THEIR POCKET TO SPEND ON OTHER THINGS))
[RUNS= 18]
[OUT Q=other things]

He says his loyal customers are his saving grace-- but nevertheless business is down between 15 and 20 percent partly because of the gas price situation.
But he's still hopeful things will get better soon.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 6:02:48]
[IN Q=I think they'll]
((I THINK THEY'LL COME DOWN ABOUT 15 TO 20 CENTS. IT WILL NEVER GO BELOW A DOLLAR AGAIN))
[RUNS= 3]
[OUT Q=a dollar again]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 6:17:24]
[IN Q=And Bailey says]
((JOY SUTTON/REPORTER: AND BAILEY SAYS AS GAS PRICES CONTINUE TO DROP THAT'S NOT ONLY GOOD NEWS FOR MOTORIST BUT FOR HIS BUSINESS AS WELL))
[RUNS= 11]
[OUT Q=n7 montvale]))

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[VT-Earthquake]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Virginia Tech]

It's been more than 100 years since a major earthquake has rocked the southeastern United States. Still two Virginia Tech researchers have established an earthquake engineering center to study the probability and effects it happening again.
(---------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Istanbul, Turkey/Last Year]
The researchers believe that if a large earthquake hit the region, the scene would look much like last summer in Turkey, when 18-thousand people were killed. That's because buildings in the region have similar designs.
(-----------)
[ANCHOR=MELANIE]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]
An earthquake centered in Charleston, South Carolina in 1886 reached an estimated seven-point-three on the Richter scale and caused damage from Richmond to Atlanta.

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[Poplar-Forest]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=00-06 31:53]
[GRAPHIC=none]

One of Bedford's better- known tourist attractions re-opened this weekend.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford Co.]

Crews have been putting the finishing touches on Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest retreat. The 200- year- old home that attracts more than 20- thousand visitors every year.
Because the house is still in the process of being restored, many of those visitors are repeat customers.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 17:58:20]
[IN Q=It's a place]
((KARIN SHERBIN/POPLAR FOREST: IT'S A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME BACK TIME AND TIME AGAIN TO WATCH THE PROGRESS. SOME PEOPLE COMMENTED TO US THAT THEY DON'T WANT US TO EVER FINISH THE RESTORATION PROCESS BECAUSE THEY ENJOY SEEING THE CHANGES SO MUCH, AND SO THAT TO ME AND TO THE PEOPLE WHO WORK HERE IS PART OF THE CHARM OF POPLAR FOREST, IS THAT IT IS EVER- CHANGING.))
[SUPER=01-Karin Sherbin/Poplar Forest]
[RUNS=19]
[OUT Q=is ever-changing.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Sherbin says new attractions this year include refinished floors in the main house and a hands- on history exhibit.
Poplar Forest is open daily from 10 to 4.
(------------)

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[beatles]

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

The ``Fab Four'' is making a comeback-in print.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=@File;]

The three surviving Beatles have written a book called "Beatles Anthology."
The 360 page book took six years to write and covers everything from the music, the tours, the drugs and the breakup in 1970. (------------) The book will go on sale in the fall for 80 dollars.