[Cuban-Boy]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]

[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=LIVE]
[GRAPHIC=Elian Gonzalez]

It's been an interesting 12 hours in the case of 6-year old Cuban refugee Elian Gonzalez.
After plans for a reunion with his Cuban father were made, then broken, the boy is now visiting the Miami nun who hosted a meeting between him and his grandmothers earlier this year.
Meanwhile, a Cuban exile group says it's still working to set up a meeting between Elian's Florida relatives and the boy's father, who is in Washington.
Jennifer Jones reports from Miami.
[Live=TAKE NEWSPATH FULL]
[SUPER=01-Jennifer Jones/Reporting]
[SUPER=05-Miami, FL]
(rollcue... )
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Miami, FL]
[SUPER=01-Joe Carollo/Miami Mayor;]
[SUPER=03-Miami, FL/Last Night;]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=back to you.]
((---
LOCATOR: MIAMI
(natz)

ELIAN GONZALEZ WAS ON THE MOVE THIS MORNING. WITH HIS GREAT UNCLE LAZARO AT HIS SIDE... THE SIX YEAR OLD BOY WAS TAKEN TO THE HOME OF SISTER JEANNE O'LAUGHLIN (oh-LAWK'-lin). SHE'S THE NUN WHO ACTED AS AN ARBITRATOR WHEN ELIAN'S GRANDMOTHERS VISITED IN JANUARY. SINCE THEN, SHE'S ABANDONED HER NEUTRAL STANCE AND BELIEVES ELIAN SHOULD STAY WITH HIS FLORIDA RELATIVES.
MEANWHILE LAWYERS, FAMILY MEMBERS AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS CONTINUE TO SEARCH FOR THE RIGHT PLAN TO HAND THE BOY OVER TO HIS FATHER.
COMPLICATING THOSE TALKS IS THE FEAR OF VIOLENCE (NATZ)... PERHAPS EVEN WORSE THAN LAST WEEK'S OUTBURST BY CUBAN EXILES.
BUT ON THE EARLY SHOW MIAMI'S MAYOR SAID THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

SOT: JOE CAROLLO/MIAMI MAYOR
"there is not going to be any violence in Miami, miamians have a long tradition of being peaceful and non--violent."
I.N.S. OFFICIALS HAVE REPORTEDLY FINALIZED A PLAN TO RE-UNITE ELIAN THURSDAY WITH HIS FATHER AT A MIAMI AREA AIRPORT, BUT THE PLAN HAS BEEN PUT ON HOLD.
AUTHORITIES ARE GIVING THE GONZALEZ FAMILY WHAT APPEARS TO BE ONE FINAL CHANCE TO WORK OUT A DEAL ON THEIR OWN.
YESTERDAY, IT LOOKED LIKE A DEAL HAD BEEN FINALLY STRUCK TO BRING ELIAN TO WASHINGTON TO MEET WITH HIS FATHER TODAY.

(SUPER: LAST NIGHT)


(NATZ)

BUT.. TO THE DELIGHT OF ELIAN SUPPORTERS...THAT PLAN FELL THROUGH LAST NIGHT WHEN LARARO GONZALEZ ANNOUNCED THE MEETING WAS OFF BECAUSE ELIAN DIND;T WANT TO GO.
IT'S NOT CLEAR WHETHER TODAY'S MOVEMENT HAS ANY SIGNIFICANCE... BUT THAT DIDN'T STOP ELIAN'S SUPPORTERS FROM CHEERING THE LITTLE BOY...THEY HAVE GROWN TO LOVE.
))

[Live=Jones Full/Newspath]
[SUPER=05-Miami, FL]
(ad lib)

---

[Culture-Summit]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=00-05]
[GRAPHIC=none]

An emotional debate is under way today in South Carolina.
Lawmakers in the state Senate are finally taking up the issue of whether to remove the Confederate flag from a top the Statehouse dome.
Meanwhile, Joseph Riley the mayor of Charleston, South Carolina is at Hollins University this afternoon.
[Double Boxes=Melanie ANCHOR/ Kimberly Microwave]

He's the guest speaker at a cultural summit.
Kimberly McBroom joins us with details.
Kimberly, did Mayor Riley address the flag issue?
[Live=Kimberly Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=@Kimberly1]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke Co.]




(rollcue... over the state capitol )
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]
[SUPER=01-Joseph Riley/Charleston, SC Mayor]
[RUNS=:45]
[OUT Q=all applaud]
(())

[Live=Kimberly Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke Co.]
(ad lib)


[Double Boxes=melanieANCHOR/Kimberly Microwave]

---

[Pitts-Ax]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=12noon]
[WRITER=sch]
[TAPE#=00-07]
[GRAPHIC=fatal Accident]

Counselors are available at Dan River High School following the deaths of two teenagers.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

18-year old Crystal Gayle Harris and Ronnie Lee Anderson also 18, died in a head on collision yesterday. The accident involving two pick up trucks happened on Route 7-29 in Pittsylvania County.
[SUPER=03-Pittsylvania Co.]
Authorities say 18 year old Jerry Lee Trammell crossed the double line hitting the truck carrying the two victims.

Trammell is still in critical condition this afternoon.
Many students at Dan River High School did not return to school today. Some went back to the scene of the accident.
(------------)

---

[Missing-Man]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=00-04]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The search continues for a Bedford man who disappeared last week.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford]

54- year- old James Walker was last seen in the Food Lion parking lot at about 9:30 Friday morning.
Search teams spent the weekend combing the neighborhood with no success.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:10:00]
[IN Q=But really there's]
((LT. TONY SULLIVAN/BEDFORD CITY POLICE: WE'RE GOING BACK AND CHECKING OVER EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE DONE JUST TO MAKE SURE THERE'S NOTHING LEFT OUT, BUT ESSENTIALLY WE'RE DEALING WITH A PERSON WHO AS FAR AS WE KNOW LEFT ON THEIR FREE WILL AND NOT MANY MORE AVENUES TO PURSUE.))
[SUPER=01-Lt. Tony Sullivan/Bedford City Police]
[RUNS=13]
[OUT Q=avenues to pursue.]
(XXXXXXXXX)
[TAKE DESCRIPTION FULL SCREEN]
Walker stands 6- feet 7- inches tall and weighs about 150 pounds. [TAKE BEDFORD PD PHONE]
Anyone with information should contact the Bedford city police.
(------------)

---

[M'ville-Murder]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=sch/ejo/nkr]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Murder Investigation]

Police are still looking for a suspect in a Martinsville murder.
Marcus Leroy Stockton is charged with first degree murder in connection with the shooting death of 29-year old Patrick Allen White.
White was found dead Saturday outside the Rivermont Apartments. .(XXXXXXXX) [TAKE Description PINNACLE]
Stockton is a black male... six feet two inches tall... and weighs 185 pounds.
He may use the alias "Shaq." [TAKE MARTINSVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT]
Police ask that you call the Martinsville Police Department at (540) 656-5301 with any information.
(-------------)

---

[CLINTON-GUNS]

[ANCHOR=MELANIE]
[NEWSCAST=NOON]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=gun control]

President Clinton heads to Colorado today to urge voters to approve a state ballot measure requiring background checks for all buyers at gun shows.
It's something the President would like to do nationally.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Littleton, CO/April 20, 1999;]

His visit comes a week before the first anniversary of the Columbine massacre.
[SUPER=03-Annapolis, MD;]

And the day after he stood by as Maryland's governor signed the state's new gun safety bill into law.
It calls for trigger locks, ballistic finger printing and safety courses for new gun owners.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[14:24:15-36]
[IN Q=Every single day Congress waits...]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=should follow maryland's lead.]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=hold]

Yesterday the House did pass Richmond's project exile.

---

It encourages states to enact a minimum 5 year prison sentence for gun related crimes.[rape-trial]

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

A hearing is underway in Germany for a U-S soldier accused of raping and killing an 11 year old girl while on peacekeeping duty in Kosovo.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Vilseck, Germany;]
[10 AM NEWSPATH NA061]
The hearing will help decide if there's enough evidence against Staff Sergeant Frank Ronghi (rahn-GEE') to order a court-martial.
A medical examiner testified today that the girl, who was murdered in January, had been suffocated.
If convicted Ronghi could get the death penalty.
(------------)

---

[china-planes]

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

Israeli officials say they will not cancel the sale of a sophisticated early warning plane to China.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=@File;]
[10 newspath NA059]
The news comes on the eve of Chinese President Jian Zemin's arrival in Israel.
Israel is completing production of one early warning plane for sale to China, and the Chinese have an option on three to seven additional planes.
Israeli Prime Minister Barak has been urged by President Clinton to cancel the deal.
(------------)

---

[Intermet]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=00-03 TC1:38:22]
[GRAPHIC=New River Castins]

It appears New River Castings' parent company Intermet DOES intend to rebuild the plant.
In a recent letter to Radford's Mayor, Intermet C-E-O John Doddridge writes:
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

"Thanks for quickly arranging all of the right people from the community and state to help get the ball rolling on the rebuild of the New River plant."
[SUPER=03-Radford/March;]

Radford Council members say that Intermet has made NO commitment to reconstruct the plant, destroyed in a March 5th explosion.
But Intermet submitted permit applications late last week with the Department of Environmental Quality that would help clear the way toward rebuilding.
(------------)

---

[Hogan]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]

Don Hogan withdrew as a Republican candidate for Roanoke City Council last month.
He says he was forced out of the race by a handful of party leaders who learned he had a misdemeanor embezzlement conviction in 1994.
(------------)
[VO-NAT 00-08 17:49]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/February 23]
Party leaders neither confirmed nor denied Hogan's account.
Hogan said he had forgotten about the embezzlement case when he accepted the council nomination in February.
(------------)
[Anchor=Melanie]
[SS=None]
The case arose while Hogan was working as a life insurance agent.
It involved insurance funds, but Hogan said he never took money for personal use.

---

He had to pay about 13-hundred dollars in restitution ordered to perform community service.[County-Supervisors]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Roanoke County Seal]

Roanoke County officials have apparently put plans to charge for ambulance service on hold.
Last month, a majority of the Supervisors said they couldn't support the idea unless the county's volunteer rescue squads approved.
Last night, County Administrator Elmer Hodge confirmed that the plan will NOT be part of next year's budget.

---

The board also heard a request for ten new paid positions at Mount Pleasant and Back Creek.[Online-Class]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=00-09]
[GRAPHIC=Education]
Taking a college course can be as easy as clicking a mouse. Online classes are taking off across the country for busy students and parents. Kate Weidaw has the story.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=so this is one]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;:04]
[SUPER=01-Sarah Airey/Virginia Tech Online Student]
[SUPER=01-Virgil Cook/Virginia Tech Online Professor]
[SUPER=01-Kim Snider/Virginia Tech Online Student]
[SUPER=@Kate1]
[RUNS=1:31]
[OUT Q=News 7 Blacksburg.]
(([SOT 3:01:01 #1]
[INQ=]
((SARAH AIREY/VT ONLINE STUDENT: SO THIS IS ONE OF HIS LECTURES.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS:03]
Sarah Airey is a third year student at Virginia Tech majoring in computer engineering. Her busy schedule lead her to register for an online class in Technical Writing.

[SOT 2:59:13]
[INQ=]
((SARAH AIREY/VT ONLINE STUDENT: I'M A BUSY STUDENT AND IF I CAN TAKE A REQUIRED COURSE ONLINE AND DO THE WORK THAT IS REQUIRED AND DO IT WHEN I HAVE TIME IT'S GOOD FOR ME.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS:09]
Her professor Virgil Cook has been teaching online classes for Virginia Tech for 7 years. A a veteran teacher of 37 years-- his computer reads the material to him because he is blind. Cook says he finds online classes improve student's writing.

[SOT 2:08:02]
[INQ=]
((VIRGIL COOK/ONLINE PROFESSOR: THEY'RE FORCED TO COMPOSE FOR THEIR ONLINE RESPONSES OF COURSE SOMETIMES YOU CAN TELL THEY HAVEN'T COMPOSED.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS:08]
Cook e-mails his lecture material along with discussion questions twice a week to his 52 students -- the assignments are due once a week.
Students like Kim Snider who is a mother of a two year old finds the online class an opportunity to take a course she normally wouldn't have time for.

[SOT 3:58:57]
[INQ=]
((KIM SNIDER/VT ONLINE STUDENT: IT OFFERS PEOPLE WHO CAN'T BE AT A UNIVERSITY OR WANT TO TAKE ONE COURSE AND HAVE A DAY JOB TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS10]

[SOT 3:30:29]
[INQ=]
((KATE WEIDAW/REPORTING: AND IT'S NOT JUST AT VIRGINIA TECH YOU CAN FIND ONLINE CLASSES. MOST MAJOR UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES ARE OFFERING THEM AS WELL. TO FIND OUT ABOUT THE CLASSES YOU CAN LOG ONTO THE SCHOOLS WEB PAGE OR CALL THEM. KATE WEIDAW NEWS 7 BLACKSBURG.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS14]))

---

[lovesick-seal]

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

In New Zealand, an elephant seals loneliness has resulted in aggressive behavior.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Gisborne, New Zealand;]
[10:20:13]
He was named Homer, after the Simpson cartoon character, but he is hardly a HARMLESS Homer.
Animal experts say Homer needs companionship and without it he's quit aggressive.
Despite warning signs some people are still getting close.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
((We had people standing their children with a meter of him and getting the prize photo, absolutely ridicules, this animal is around 2000 kilograms in weight and small child around 10 kilograms it is not going to be much of a contest"))
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q=a contest]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

This veterinarian says so far Homer has damaged three vehicles and flattened a couple of boat trailers. (------------)