[HEADLINES]

[TALENT=Kimberly]

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


As the manhunt continues for seven escaped convicts, Texas prison officials attempt to re-trace the steps of the fugitives.
They've released a report of HOW the escapees broke out from behind bars.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]


And it's Decision Day for the Hokies' Michael Vick.
We'll tell you when and where he'll announce his intentions for next season.
(/////////////)
[TALENT=Jacey]
[SS=None]


Our temperatures continue to increase... today we're expecting a high in the mid-fifties... our Thursday forecast is coming up.
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[SS=None]


News 7 at noon, right after this break.


[Video-Open]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


To find seven criminals, these Texas prison officials have to THINK like them.
They've released a report on how the inmates escaped.
(------------)


Good Afternoon, I'm Kimberly McBroom.[Mike]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-85]
[GRAPHIC=Vick]


More on that story in just a moment--
Michael Vick is expected to announce at a news conference this afternoon whether he will enter the NFL draft.
(+++++++)

[TAKE GFX PAGE]
You can watch it right here on your hometown station.
We will carry his announcement live from Newport News. It's scheduled to begin at three o'clock.
(XXXXXXXXX)
[Anchor=Kim]
[SS=HOLD]

Coming up later in the newscast, Steve Mason has Chargers coach Mike Riley's thoughts on Vick, reaction to the quarterback's situation from Frank Beamer, Lee Suggs and Jarrett Ferguson, as well as a statement from receiver Andre Davis.

[Texas-Prison]


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


Texas prison officials began figuring out who's to blame for last month's escape of seven inmates.
Terisa Estacio reports from Austin, where officials released their on report of how the escapees broke out.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Austin, TX;]
[SUPER=01-Gary Johnson/Institutional Director;]
[SUPER=01-Jayne Hawkins/Victim's Mother;]
[SUPER=01-Terisa Estacio/Reporting;]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=Estacio, CBS News, Austin, TX.]

((
---
(LOCATOR: AUSTIN, TX)


�AS THE MANHUNT CONTINUES FOR THE SEVEN ESCAPED CONVICTS, A NEW REPORT REVEALS JUST HOW THEY MANAGED TO ESCAPE A MAXIMUM-SECURITY PRISON.
THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SAYS THAT ON DECEMBER 13TH ... THE PRISONERS USED VARIOUS STORIES TO LURE UNSUSPECTING GUARDS INTO A MAINTENANCE OFFICE AND PRISON WAREHOUSE ... WHERE THEY WERE ATTACKED AND TAKEN HOSTAGE.
WITH THE HELP OF PHOTOS, OFFICIALS DESCRIBED HOW THE FIRST OF SEVERAL EMPLOYEES WAS SUBDUED.

(SOT, GARY JOHNNSON, INSTITUTIONAL DIRECTOR)

"AS ... BENT OVER TO LOOK AT THE MOTOR ... AND FORCED TO LIE DOWN ON THE FLOOR."
AFTER TAKING 11 GUARDS AND THREE INMATES HOSTAGE, PUTTING PILLOW CASES OVER THEIR FACES AND TIEING THEM UP, TWO OF THE PRISONERS -- NOW DRESSED IN CIVILIAN CLOTHES -- APPROACHED A BACKGATE. OFFICIALS SAY WHAT HAPPENED NEXT IS A MAJOR VIOLATION OF PRISON PROCEDURE.

(SOT, JOHNSON AGAIN)

"THE BACKGATE PICKET OFFICER ... ARE SECURED."
THE MOTHER OF A TEXAS POLICEMAN BELIEVED KILLED BY THE ESCAPEES LASHED OUT AT THE PRISON BOARD.

(SOT, JAYNE HAWKINS, MOTHER OF VICTIM, you're blaming low level

employees and they are accountable. but so are you and the governor.)

(ESTACIO STANDUP, ON GUARDS SAYING THEY'RE BEING SET UP AS SCAPEGOATS)


))

[XGR]


[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=00-47]
[GRAPHIC=Gilmore]


Governor Jim Gilmore will be installed in Washington this week as George W- Bush's hand-picked chairman of the Republican National Committee.
[SS=State Of The Cmmonwealth]


Last night, the Governor was in the spotlight in Richmond where he spoke to lawmakers in his annual State of The Commonwealth address. Gilmore urged them to "keep the trust of the people," and continue phasing out the car tax.
But as Ellen Qualls reports, it was hard to find a lawmaker who really liked the way the Governor's chosen to do it.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I thought]
[SUPER=@Clement; :00]
[SUPER=03-Richmond; :11]
[SUPER=@Gilmore; :25]
[SUPER=@Edwards; :49]
[SUPER=@Griffith; 1:08 Quick]
[SUPER=@Jackson; 1:12]
[Super=@Ellen1; 1:30]
[RUNS=1:40]
[OUT Q=News 7 Richmond]
(([SOT 01:27:27]

((DEL. WHITT CLEMENT/D-DANVILLE: I THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT POLITICAL SPEECH. MIGHTY SHORT ON BEING ABLE TO BACK IT UP.)) [runs:06]
Even his critics say he's politically shrewd.
He blames the lagging economy on the Federal Reserve.
He says his cuts to state agencies will fund mental health priorities... NOT the car tax.
He borrows money to build colleges, so he can't be criticized for borrowing to cut taxes.
And he issues a stark challenge.
[sot HOUSE SPEECH 01:58:21]

((GOV. JIM GILMORE: AS I WAITED IN LINE THERE WAS THIS GIANT OF A WORKING MAN IN FRONT OF ME... DON'T LET THE CAR TAX COME BACK JUST BECAUSE THE ECONOMY IS DOWN.)) [runs:15]

[sot 01:37:24]

((SEN. JOHN EDWARDS: IN ORDER TO CONTINUE ROLLING BACK HE'S SACRIFICING TOO MANY OTHER THINGS. THAT'S WHERE HE'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAVE A PROBLEM...IN PARTICULAR IN THE SENATE. BOTH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS DO NOT THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA. NOW HE'S GONNA HAVE TO MAKE AN ALLIANCE WITH THE HOUSE REPUBLICANS IN ORDER TO GET HIS IDEAS THROUGH.)) [runs:16 ]
Salem's Morgan Griffith is the House Majority Leader.
[sot 01:40:07]

((DEL. MORGAN GRIFFITH/R-SALEM: I AGREE WITH THAT STATEMENT AND I GUESS THAT MAKES MY STATUS VERY IMPORTANT.)) [runs:04]
[sot 01:35:35]

((DEL. TOM JACKSON/D-HILLSVILLE: I DON'T THINK THIS BUDGET'S GOING TO GO VERY FAR AS HE'S PROPOSED IT. I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO BE DEMOCRATS THAT DO IT...KIND OF A MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING BY BOTH PARTIES THAT IT'S REALLY NOT WHAT'S BEST FOR THE FUTURE OF VIRGINIA.)) [runs:16]))
(-------------)


[NS-discrimination]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Norfolk Southern]


Norfolk Southern has been ordered to pay 28 million dollars to thousands of its African American employees.
The federal judge's ruling comes after a seven-year class action suit filed by an employee alleging race discrimination.
Some 77-hundred employees will get part of the 28 million.
Norfolk Southern has also agreed to establish good faith goals for minority promotions.
The company plans to celebrate African-American Railroader month each February beginning in 2002.

[Roanoke-Trespassing]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=00-48 TC1:11:47]
[GRAPHIC=None]


The Roanoke City Police Department is trying a new approach to fight trespassing.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]


The department is partnering with landlords to enforce an ordinance that city council approved last summer.
Property owners may authorize police to act as their agent in the enforcement of trespassing laws.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 12:53]
[IN Q=In the past]

((IN THE PAST, WE WOULD HAVE HAD TO ASK THE PERSON TO LEAVE. THEY WOULD LEAVE, AND THEY WOULD COME BACK UNLESS THEY WERE BARRED BY A LETTER FROM THE PROPERTY OWNER. NOW WE CAN BAR THEM ON THE SPOT WITH A BAR NOTICE AND IT CUTS OUT SEVERAL LAYERS OF THAT PROBLEM. AND WE DON'T HAVE TO WAIT FOR THEM TO COME BACK AND CREATE MORE PROBLEMS.))
[SUPER=01-Rick Arrington/COPE Unit Commander]
[RUNS=:20]
[OUT Q=create more problems.]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[GRAPHIC=None]


So far, owners have signed up about 30 business and apartment properties for the program. Anyone interested in signing up should contact the city's COPE unit.

[Rumsfeld]


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


Unlike Bush's previous cabinet nominees, his pick for Defense Secretary is expected to have no trouble being confirmed.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Washington, DC;]


Still, Donald Rumsfeld is facing some tough questions today from a Senate panel.
Despite concern among Democrats, Rumsfeld tells the Senate Armed Services committee he wants to prepare the U-S military for the 21st century by building a missile defense system.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 0:55:26 ]
[IN Q=If confirmed]

((DONALD RUMSFELD/DEFENSE SECRETARY DESIGNATE: IF CONFIRMED, I LOOK FORWARD TO DEVELOPING A CLOSE WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THIS COMMITTEE AND THE COUNTERPART COMMITTEE IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO ACHIEVE THESE GOALS AND TO FASHION STEPS TO HELP TO TRANSFORM OUR DEFENSE POSTURE TO ADDRESS THESE NEW CHALLENGES.))
[SUPER=01-Donald Rumsfeld/Defense Secretary Designate;]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=those new challenges.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Rumsfeld has prior experience--
He served as Secretary of Defense before, during the Ford administration.
(------------)



[Education-Summit]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=George W. Bush]


It's a busy day in Washington--
President- Elect Bush is getting an education ON education.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Washington, DC;]


He's been meeting with superintendents, teachers and corporate executives at a summit to get an idea of how children best learn.
Bush says educators should be held accountable through testing.
He hopes an education- testing bill earns a passing grade in Congress.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=If you don't test, ]

((IF YOU DON'T TEST YOU DON'T KNOW AND IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHETHER CHILDREN ARE LEARNING TO READ AND WRITE GUESS WHO GENERALLY SUFFERS. INNER-CITY CHILDREN, IT'S SO MUCH EASIER TO PASS THEM THROUGH. OR CHILDREN WHO'S PARENTS MAY NOT SPEAK ENGLISH AS A FIRST LANGUAGE. IT'S SO MUCH EASIER TO SAY IN A SOCIETY, HECK, IT'S HARD TO TEACH A LATINO CHILD TO READ THEREFORE LETS JUST MOVE THEM THROUGH.))
[RUNS=:24]
[OUT Q=move them through.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Bush has vowed to make education a priority in his new administration.
(------------)



[Mideast-Peace]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Mideast Peace Talks]


Palestinian sources say peace talks will resume in the coming days.
At the same time, Israel is loosening its grip on Palestinian areas in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Jerusalem, Israel;]


Despite the positive developments toward peace-- today has NOT been without violence.
Officials say an Israeli woman saw a Palestinian throw a bag into a trash can in a Jerusalem neighborhood.
Her brother found a pipe-bomb inside, attached to a cellular phone, and dismantled it just in the nick of time.
Police believe the ringing of the phone was meant to set off the bomb.
Two Palestinians are being questioned about the incident.
(------------)


[Pino's]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=00-50 TC45:31]
[GRAPHIC=Fire Aftermath]


A Danville restaurant is back in business in a new location.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville/December 11]


Last month, fire destroyed the Pino's Italian restaurant on Westover Drive.
This week, Pino's re-opened in a temporary location a few miles down the road from the old one.
Workers believe their customers played an important role in its comeback.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT :00:10:10, :00:25:19]
[IN Q=I lost everything]

((SAM FOUAD/OWNER: I LOST EVERYTHING IN ONCE. IT WAS, IT SHOCKED WHEN I LOOK AND EVERYTHING WAS GONE. LIKE THIS, IT WAS GOING. BUT THANK GOD I FOUND HELP RIGHT AWAY.)) ((JOANN MAXEY/WAITRESS: I SEEN HIM WHILE I WAS HELPING. THEY WOULD COME IN AN ASK IF THEY CAN DO ANYTHING. THE SUPPORT IN DANVILLE HAS BEEN REALLY GOOD.))
[SUPER=01-Sam Fouad/Owner; :00]
[SUPER=01-JoAnn Maxey/Waitress; :09]
[RUNS=18]
[OUT Q=been really good]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


The owners have already started re-building in his original location.
The project should be completed in four or five months.
Firefighters still don't know what caused the fire.
The fire marshal says the damage was too extensive to determine the exact cause, but he does not suspect arson.
(------------)



[Exit-150]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=12]
[WRITER=bre]
[TAPE#=00-55]
[GRAPHIC=none]


Virginia's Department of Transportation has a proposal to cut down congestion at exit 150 in Daleville.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Fincastle]

The plan would involve a re-route of US 11 and 220. VDOT held an informational meeting today at the District Courthouse in Fincastle. No specific plans have been made yet. Many are concerned about the economic impacts the re-route would have on businesses in Botetourt.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT07:31:46.09]
[IN Q=WE WANTED TO]

((WE WANTED TO MAKE A POINT TO THEM TODAY THAT WE STILL HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE ELIMINATION OF BUSINESSES AND THE RESULTING IMPACT ON BOTETOURT COUNTY'S TAX BASE))
[SUPER=01-Gerald Burgess/County Administrator]
[RUNS=09]
[OUT Q=COUNTY'S TAX BASE]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

VDOT officials recognize these concerns and want to meet with the Botetourt Board of Supervisors as well as land and business owners before they go further with the idea.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 07:38:26.15]
[IN Q=WE PROPOSE TO]

((WE PROPOSE TO DO THE SAME COORDINATION WITH THE LOCAL PROPERTY OWNERS AS WE HAD DONE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE INTERCHANGE))
[SUPER=01-Pete Sensabaugh/VDOT]
[RUNS=08]
[OUT Q=OF THE INTERCHANGE]
(-------------)
[Anchor=Kimberly]

[SS-none] If the plan is approved in the coming months, construction is expected to start in 2006.





[Coffee-Counselors]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=00-51 TC1:00:36]
[GRAPHIC=None]


Giving up a cup of coffee a day could give you some legal peace of mind.
A new legal service in Roanoke is working to make that happen.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]


These so-called "coffee counselors" provide legal service for a retainer fee that costs less than a cup of coffee per day.
For about a dollar a day, Pre-Paid legal services provide free legal advice, a will, and selected court appearances.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Pre-paid legal is]

((DAVE WHICHARD: PRE PAID LEGAL IS THERE TO LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD. PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS WE OFFER TO THE AMERICAN PUBLIC IS 24-HOUR A DAY COVERAGE.))
[SUPER=01-Dave Whichard/Pre-Paid Legal Services]
[RUNS=08]
[OUT Q=a day coverage.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


While the service is new to Roanoke, it's been around for almost 30 years.
So far, about a million people in America pre-pay for the their legal service.
(------------)



[CA-Weather]


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


California isn't living up to its reputation for sunny weather this week--
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Los Angeles, CA;]


Flash flood warnings are in effect for southern parts of the state.
In the L-A area, more than five inches of rain have fallen today.
A powerful winter storm has downed trees and power lines, knocking out electricity to more than 20- thousand customers.
Local forecasters say they haven't seen a storm of this magnitude since El Nino three years ago.
But there's some good news on the horizon...forecasters expect the storm to weaken later today as it moves inland.

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


[Couch-Potato]


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


And finally--
It's a dream come true for couch potatoes and Internet addicts...
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Chicago, IL;]


If you're tired of hunching over a computer screen, check out the Explorer.
It's the latest in Web-surfing furniture developed by Microsoft and La-Z-Boy.
The "E-Cliner" as it's known, comes equipped with a wireless keyboard and Sony set- top receiver for Microsoft's Web T-V Plus Service.
Prices range from around a thousand dollars to 15- hundred, depending on the fabric.
You also get two free months of inter-active connection... (------------) Sorry, soda and potato chips are NOT included.
by SS