[GE]

[ANCHOR=Kim]

[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=00-23 28:00]
[GRAPHIC=GE Contract Vote]

General Electric Union Employees in Salem are voting on a new contract today. If the contract isn't accepted workers may go on strike as early as Saturday.

[Double Boxes=KimberlyANCHOR/Jen Microwave]

Jennifer Miele is at the I. U. E. headquarters where the voting is taking place.
[Live=Jen Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=@Jennifer1]
[SUPER=05-Salem]

[Live Interview]


[SUPER=01-Roy Rogers/President I. U. E. Local 161]



[Live=Jen Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Salem]
(ad lib)


[Double Boxes=Kim ANCHOR/Jen Microwave]

---

[Celanese]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=00-19 TC36:33]
[GRAPHIC=Celanese]

Celanese management met with union negotiators in West Virginia yesterday, but could not agree on a new contract.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Narrows/June;]

Union members rejected the company's contract last month, saying it failed to address mandatory overtime or improve benefits.
[SUPER=03-Giles Co./June;]

Their old contract is being extended while a federal mediator helps negotiate a new one.
Celanese is the New River Valley's eighth-largest employer, with 12-hundred workers.
Both sides say they hope to resolve their differences next week in a meeting in Charleston, West Virginia.
(------------)

---

[Campbell-Ax]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]


One person is dead, another injured after a truck and car collided this morning near Rustburg. State Police say an open- ended tractor- trailer carrying wood chips was traveling north on 501, when it lost control in a curve.
The truck crossed the center line and flipped over onto a car.
The truck driver was pronounced dead at the scene. The other driver was transported to Lynchburg General hospital with internal injuries.
State Police say Route 501 North of Rustburg will remain closed for several more hours.

---

[Farmville-Murders]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=00-15]
[GRAPHIC=Murder Investigation]

Two Farmville women who owned a popular antique clothing store were found murdered in their homes last night.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Farmville/File Tape]

Authorities say 50- year- old Susan Varner.. seen here from a story News7 reported two years ago.. was killed by her ex- husband with an ax.
52- year- old Reginald Varner was arrested after an officer stopped him for speeding and noticed blood in the vehicle.
Varner's mother, Suzanne Arena, was also found murdered in her home in Cumberland County.
Authorities are not commenting on her killing.
Varner and her mother owned "Suzi's Antiques", an antique clothing store that provided many of the costumes for the movie "Titanic".
(------------)

---

[Claget]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]

A man who killed four people in a 1994 Virginia Beach tavern robbery is scheduled for execution tonight.
(XXXXXXXX)
[Take FS Graphic] Michael Clagett has chosen the electric chair for his death. Unless the Supreme Court grants a stay, Clagett will become the second Virginia death row inmate to die in the chair since lethal injection became an option in 1995.
(XXXXXXXX)
[Anchor=Kim]
[ss=none]

Clagett hasn't asked Governor Gilmore for clemency.

---

[Russia-Explosion]

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

An explosion killed three people and wounded more than 80 others in Russia.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Omsk, Russia;]

A small fire at a gas terminal spread to a train carrying petrol, causing last night's blast.
Firefighters were fighting the gas fire, when the explosion occurred.
Most of the wounded were spectators, who had gathered to watch the firemen.
Officials aren't sure what started the fire.
They'll also investigate why so many spectators were allowed to get so close to the danger zone.
(------------)

---

[Jordan-Hijacking]

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

Investigators say the gunman who tried to hijack a Jordanian Airliner had NO political motives.
Their job now is to figure out HOW he was able to smuggle weapons on board.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Amman, Jordan;]

Witnesses say the man fired random shots inside the plane before tossing a grenade at security guards, who then fatally shot him.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 10:06:07]
[IN Q=All of a sudden]
((ALL OF A SUDDEN, I HEARD LIKE- DA DA DA- A GUN. A SECOND LATER, AN EXPLOSION. I SAW THE FIRE IN THE FLOOR OF THE PLANE. THEN, ONE OF THE SECURITY CAME IN FROM THE SIDE AND SAID, "I KILLED HIM. I KILLED HIM".))
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=killed him (double out).]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The blast wounded 15 of the nearly 100 passengers.
But most of those injured will be released from the hospital today.
Officials say the Syrian man planned to hijack the jet to Germany, where he wanted to seek asylum.
(------------)

---

[Roanoke-Police]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=none]

The Drug Enforcment Administration is investigating the Roanoke Police Department. Authorities declined yesterday to specify the focus of the probe. However, U-S Attorney Bob Crouch said the investigation has been ongoing for about five months. Resident D-E-A agent-in-charge James Gregorius wouldn't say how many officers are targeted, what led to the probe or how long it's expected to last.

---

A city police spokeswoman declined to comment. [Goodlatte]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=12]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=00-25]
[GRAPHIC=Goodlatte]

Local governments have little control over the high cost of gasoline, but the problem is hitting home for some local officials.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Gas prices have recently fallen a few cents, but with prices hovering around a dollar fifty gallon locally, there is still plenty of concern at the pump.
The issue came up this morning, as the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors sat down with Sixth District Congressman Bob Goodlatte.
Supervisor Fuzzy Minnix said he's been hearing about high prices from his constituents.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 20:01]
[IN Q=When it costs you one week]
[SUPER=01-Fuzzy Minnix/Cave Spring Supervisor;]
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=especially those on limited incomes.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Goodlatte said he's hopeful that an increase in oil production will have an impact at the pump later this year. But at this point, the congressman said he doesn't favor tapping into the nation's petroleum reserves or suspending the federal gas tax, as some have suggested.
(------------)

---

[Pitts-Schools]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Pitts Co. New Schools]


In November, Pittsylvania County voters may have to decide if they want four new schools.
Last night county supervisors recommended a referendum on the subject.
The school board wants to build four new middle schools at a cost of more than forty million dollars.
The county has five middle schools. The School Board says they're are outdated and inadequate.

---

[Northern-Ireland]

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

Tensions remain high in Northern Ireland today, despite rainy weather and the presence of Army patrols.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Belfast, Northern Ireland;]

Hard-line Protestants are trying to overturn a ban on an Orange Order march through hostile Catholic territory.

They've clashed with security forces for the past four days.
Yesterday, thousands of Protestant demonstrators blocked roads at rush hour, causing a huge traffic jam.
That protest ended with young people in masks throwing firebombs at police and hijacking vehicles.
Leaders of the Orange Order refuse to stop the protests unless they're allowed to parade through a Catholic neighborhood.
(------------)

---

[Falwell-Clinton]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=00-14 TC1:48:28]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]

A federal judge in Lynchburg is expected to rule next week on a motion seeking to remove the White House as a defendant in a lawsuit brought by the Reverend Jerry Falwell.
Steve Smallshaw has more from yesterday's court hearing.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=At first]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg; :00]
[SUPER=01-Larry Klayman/Judicial Watch Attorney; :25]
[SUPER=01-Rev. Jerry Falwell/Liberty University Chancellor; 1:04]
[SUPER=@ssm1; 1:20]
[RUNS=1:31]
[OUT Q=News7, Lynchburg.]
(( At first it sounds like the Reverend Jerry Falwell is just being paranoid.. worried that the government is keeping secret files on him.
But a so-called high source has told Falwell the Clinton White House has indeed compiled a database with information on him and other religious leaders who oppose abortion.
With the help of the conservative watchdog group Judicial Watch, Falwell is suing for the release of those files.

[SOT 15:17:40]
((LARRY KLAYMAN/JUDICIAL WATCH ATTORNEY: WE ASKED THE WHITE HOUSE, THE CLINTON WHITE HOUSE, TO GIVE US A COPY OF THE FILE WHICH THEY OBVIOUSLY HAVE ON DR. FALWELL, HE'S BEEN VERY CRITICAL OF THAT WHITE HOUSE, WITH GOOD REASON. INSTEAD OF SAYING THEY DON'T HAVE THE FILE, THE WHITE HOUSE CAME BACK AND SAID WE DON'T WANT TO GIVE IT TO YOU BECAUSE WE'RE NOT COVERED BY THE LAW. SO COMMON SENSE DICTATES THAT THEY HAVE A FILE OR WE WOULDN'T BE HERE TODAY.))
[RUNS= 20]
[OUT Q=be here today.]

The issue is whether the office of the President is exempt from the 1974 Privacy Act, which prohibits the government from maintaining files on private citizens without their knowledge and requires the government to hand over those files on request.
Falwell says he's not worried about what information HIS file might contain, but its existence bothers him.
[SOT 15:21:53]
((REV. JERRY FALWELL/LIBERTY U. CHANCELLOR: I'VE NEVER SPIT ON THE SIDEWALK THAT THERE WASN'T A CAMERA FILMING THAT, SO THAT IS NOT THE ISSUE.. THE ISSUE IS THAT IT IS ILLEGAL TO MAINTAIN FILES INTENDED FOR CLANDESTINE AND ADVERSARIAL PURPOSES ON PRIVATE CITIZENS.))
[RUNS= 15]
[OUT Q=private citizens.]
[Standup ] ((Even if Judge Wilson rules the President is exempt from the Privacy Act, the lawsuit will still move forward because it also names the F-B-I, which is "not" exempt.
A ruling is expected in a few days. Steve Smallshaw, News7, Lynchburg.))
[RUNS= 12]
[OUT Q=News7, Lynchburg.]))

---

[D'ville-Murder]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=sch/ejo]
[TAPE#=00-22 TC44:32]
[GRAPHIC=Murder Invest.]

Three Danville murder suspects are in custody after police caught them riding around in the victims sport utility vehicle
That's according the Danville Register and Bee.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

25 year old Quincy Edward Glenn, 24 year old Kwan Mondell Wakefield and a 16 year old suspect are all charged with murder.
[SUPER=03-Danville;]

Danville authorities found Early Wayne Watlington inside his Highland Heights apartment Tuesday with several knife wounds.
The three suspects were stopped in his S-U-V that night.
(------------)

---

[Blair-Arrest]

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

The teenaged son of Britain's prime minister was arrested for public drunkeness.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-London/File Tape;]

Tony Blair's spokesman says 16- year- old (YOO-ihn) Euan Blair was found lying the ground last night in London's (LEH-stur) Leicester Square.
Police say an ambulance came because officers were worried about the boy's condition.
Authorities released him early today without charging him.
The teen was said to have been celebrating the end of school exams.
The arrest is probably embarrasing to Blair, who recently called for police to have the power to levy on-the-spot fines for people who are drunk in public.
(------------)

---

[Harry-Potter]

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

If you're the parent of a "Harry Potter" fan, no doubt you'll be racing to the bookstore this weekend.
The fourth book in the Potter series goes on sale at midnight tomorrow night.
Hattie Kauffman says the DEMAND for the book is a story in itself.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Seattle, WA; :00]
[SUPER=03-Beverly Hills, CA; :22]
[SUPER=01-Matthew Kaye/"Harry Potter" Fan; :30]
[SUPER=01-Melissa Vipperman/"Harry Potter" Fan; :35]
[SUPER=01-Holly Daniels/Barnes & Noble; :53]
[SUPER=01-Cheryl Lindner/Parent; 1:14]
[SUPER=01-Diane Roback/Children's Book Editor; 1:20]
[SUPER=01-Hattie Kaufman/Reporting; 1:29]
[SUPER=01-Lyn Blake/amazon.com; 2:19]
[RUNS=2:32]
[OUT Q=Hattie Kauffman, CBS News. ]

---

[Salem-Fair]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The Salem Fair is in full swing. But the fun wouldn't be possible without the work and dedication of the carnival's workers. Kate Weidaw has the story of one man who puts his heart and soul into the carnival.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Salem;:00]
[SUPER=01-Scott MacNeill/Ride Superintendent;:9]
[SUPER=01-Sally MacNeill/Carnival Teacher;1:16]
[SUPER=@Kate2;1:34]
[RUNS=1:39]
[OUT Q=News 7, Salem]
(([NAT SOUND CARNIVAL] [RUNS5]
The sights and sounds of the carnival are what Scott MacNeill grew up with.

[SOT 18:06:03]
[INQ=]
((SCOTT MACNEILL: I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN IT, MY GRANDFATHER, GRANDMOTHER, MOTHER, FATHER, MYSELF ALL MY LIFE I'VE BEEN OUT HERE.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS10]
As the ride supervisor he spends his days driving through the crowds of people checking to make sure everything is running smoothly. But like any job he started at the bottom and worked his way up.

[SOT 18:10:36]
[INQ=]
((I STARTED OUT AS A HIMOLA MAN I WAS LOW MAN I CARRIED ALL THE BOARDS I DID ALL THE DIRTY WORK.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS8] [BUTT, BUTT, BUTT]
[SOT 18:10:51]
[INQ=]
((I SET GOALS I WANTED TO BE A FOREMAN BY THE TIME I WAS 21 I WAS A FOREMAN BY THE TIME I WAS 18.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS4]
Scott describes the days of setting up and taking down the rides as routine, like changing a tire. And with 175 people in the carnival family moving from town to town keeps life interesting.

[SOT 18:06:36]
[INQ=]
((WE'RE LIKE A PORTABLE TOWN WE MOVE FROM HERE NEXT WEEK WE'LL BE IN FORT BRAGG, NORTH CAROLINA IT'S A CLOSE NET PEOPLE OUT HERE.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS12]
His wife Sally teaches at the carnival's own portable school.

[SOT 18:19:24]
[INQ=]
((SALLY MACNEILL: WE DO MOST OF OUR TEXT BOOK TEACH HERE, PIANO FOR MUSIC.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS8]
And just because you go to school that doesn't mean you can't help out.

[SOT 18:13:27]
[INQ=]
((SCOTT MACNEILL: EVERYBODY PITCHES IN TO MAKE SURE THE JOB GETS DONE.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS4]


[SOT 18:07]
[INQ=]
((IT'S A DIFFERENT LIFE IT'S A LOT OF HARD WORK.))
[outq=]
[runs3]
And from the smiling faces in the crowd you can tell their work is appreciated. Kate Weidaw News 7 Salem.))