[HEADLINES]

[TALENT=Kimberly]

(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
Up next on News 7 at Noon---


It's "Tax Week" in Washington.
President Bush asks the nation's families for support of his trillion- dollar tax cut plan.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]


And one of southside's largest companies reports an earnings shortfall.
(/////////////)
[TALENT=Shannon]
[SS=None]

After a few raindrops and snowflakes this morning the work week looks dry if not clear. I'll have your forecast.
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[SS=None]


All that coming up on News 7 at noon.



[Dan-River]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=12]
[WRITER=justin]
[TAPE#=00-45]
[GRAPHIC=Dan River]


An earnings shortfall for one of southside's largest companies.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville/File Tape]


Dan River Incorporated announced today it will NOT meet its earnings forecast for the 2000 fiscal year.
The company projected annual sales of 670 million dollars in 2000.
Now company officials say earnings were 663 million dollars.
Dan River's CEO blames the shortfall on sluggish retail sales primarily in home fashions.
(------------)


[Bombing-Trial]


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


Extra potential jurors are on hand as the trial starts for four men accused in the fatal bombings of American embassies in Africa.
The federal judge isn't taking any chances after a month- long jury selection.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-New York, NY;]


Security is tight for the New York trial.
Steel barricades and highly- sensitive cameras are among the one- million dollars in security measures at the courthouse.
The four defendants are alleged followers of Osama bin Laden, who's believed to be the mastermind of the bombings which killed 224 people in 1998.
Two of the defendants could face the death penalty.
(------------)


[Tax-Cut]


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


President Bush is back on the campaign trail--
He's looking for public support of his proposed one-point-six- trillion- dollar tax cut plan.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Washington, DC;]

Today Bush is kicking off "tax week" at the White House.
He's meeting with families who he says would benefit from his tax cut.
Bush says under his plan, the average relief for a family of four is 16- hundred dollars.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 2:12:50]
[IN Q=It doesn't tell]

((IT DOESN'T TELL FAMILIES HOW TO SPEND THEIR MONEY. IT DOESN'T SINGLE OUT SOME AMERICANS FOR RELIEF, WHILE LEAVING OTHERS OUT. IT'S TAX RELIEF FOR EVERYBODY WHO PAYS TAXES.))
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=who pays taxes.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


However, the top tax bracket is NOT represented at the meetings.
But in dollar terms, that's the group that would benefit the most.
On Thursday, the President presents an outline of his tax cut proposal to Congress.
(------------)



[Budget]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=00-55 1:02:55]
[GRAPHIC=Budget]


The battle over the car tax continues in Richmond.
The Senate Finance Committee has come up with its own plan to cut the car tax, but it's not exactly what Governor Jim Gilmore was looking for. Richmond Bureau Chief Ellen Qualls reports.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=This year]
[SUPER=03-Richmond; :04]
[SUPER=01-Sen. John Chichester/(R) Stafford Co.; :14]
[SUPER=@Ellen2; :43]
[SUPER=@Gilmore; :54]
[SUPER=01-Adrienne Shiflett/Protester; 1:17]
[RUNS=1:49]
[OUT Q=Qualls, News 7, Richmond.]



((This year, the state is supposed to pick up 70 percent of your car tax tab.
But the Senators say the Governor's budget is an irresponsible slash and grab plan that breaks Gilmore's own promise of no car tax paid for only out of revenue growth.
[sot 14:18:14]

((SEN. JOHN CHICHESTER/R-STAFFORD CO.: I WANT TO BE AS CLEAR AS I POSSIBLY CAN BE ON THIS POINT. WE WILL NOT SUSPEND THE CAR TAX TO SPEND MONEY ON OUR "PET PROJECTS," WHATEVER "PET PROJECTS" MEANS. WE WILL NOT STOP THE CAR TAX REPEAL TO ADD NEW PROGRAMS.)) [runs18 ]
But their version does virtually stop the car tax, increasing it only from 47-point-5 to a 50 percent phase-out... and returning money to essential services for the elderly, disabled, and mentally ill -- including keeping open the Danville facility -- and to boost teacher pay and restore law enforcement cuts.
To the Governor, that's a tax increase.
[SOT 16:54:39]

((GILMORE: THEY HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL SPENDING THAT THEY WANT TO DO. THAT'S PERFECTLY CLEAR. BUT THIS IS THE TIME TO KEEP OUR PLEDGES TO THE PEOPLE OF VIRGINIA. THE HOUSE FELT THAT WAY... RIGHT APPROACH.))
[RUNS= 12]


A small band of protesters sided with the Governor's political action committee-- under State Police investigation for alleged eavesdropping on phone calls between voters and Senate offices.
[sot 15;15:30]

((ADRIENNE SHIFLETT/PROTESTER: WE THINK PEOPLE OUGHT TO BE FREE TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES AS WE ARE HERE. AND NOT HAVE LEGISLATORS GIVING THEM A HARD TIME ABOUT IT. SO THAT'S OUR POINT.))
[runs= 08]



[SOT 16:57:10 ]

(( THE COMPANY THAT WAS HIRED BY THE PAC IN ORDER TO DO THOSE PHONE CALLINGS, THAT PHONE AGENCY HAS ASSURED RAY ALLEN THAT THEY WEREN'T BREAKING ANY LAWS. AND RAY ALLEN HAS TOLD ME THAT. HE'S PROBABLY TOLD YOU THAT. I DON'T THINK THAT'S GONNA BE A PROBLEM.))
[RUNS= 14]


What will be a problem is reconciling a House and Senate budget that are $264 million dollars in tax breaks apart.


Ellen Qualls, News7, Richmond.))



[Death-Penalty]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=00-44 2:01:03]
[GRAPHIC=Death Penalty]


A bill that would give condemned inmates MORE time to present evidence goes before the state Senate today.
(-----------)

[vo-nat from 00-43 tc 02:57]
[super=@file]

By a unanimous vote--a Senate panel endorsed the measure yesterday.
The committee said inmates SHOULD have more than the 21-days CURRENTLY allowed to present D-N-A evidence that could clear them. The same committee, in a 9-to-5 vote, decided AGAINST a bill that would have suspended executions in the state.
(-------------)




[6-Motorcycle-Helmets]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=01-03 17:33]
[GRAPHIC=Capitol - Motorcycle Helmets]


Virginia's House of Delegates put the brakes on a bill to repeal Virginia's 35 year old helmet law for adults.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond;]


The state motorcyclists' coalition says it should be a matter of choice.
And despite logic, states without helmet laws actually have lower fatality rates.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 14:56:50 ]
[IN Q=I think]

((ALAN BROOM/COALITION OF MOTORCYCLISTS: I THINK PEOPLE WITHOUT HELMETS ARE MORE AWARE...NOT WEARING A HELMET.))
[SUPER=01-Alan Broom/Coalition of Motorcyclists;]
[RUNS=:18]
[OUT Q=wearing a helmet.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


The bill died Saturday on a 64 to 32 vote.
Opponents say they've seen the results of head injuries in crashes where helmets were NOT worn.
(------------)




[Standoff]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=00-52 1:35:51]
[GRAPHIC=Standoff]

Authorities are still looking for the man who held Martinsville Police at bay for six hours Saturday.
(---------------)

[vo-nat]
Authorities say the suspect Timothy Wade has a violent criminal record.
[super=03-Martinsville/Saturday Night]

Police surrounded Wade's mother's home for six hours Saturday night after receiving a tip he was there. But after using tear gas and searching the house, Wade was still nowhere to be found. He's wanted on three outstanding warrants. Anyone with information is asked to call Martinsville Police.
(-----------------)



[India-Aftermath]


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


After rescuers nearly gave up hope of finding more survivors from the Indian earthquake, they discovered two people alive.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bhuj, India;]


Meanwhile, military engineers have started demolition work in one of the cities hardest hit by the earthquake.
They're assessing buildings to determine which ones are most likely to collapse.
Their work is highly dangerous, as unsteady buildings are already collapsing around them.
They're also having to be sensitive to residents still traumatized by the earthquake.
Engineers are trying to minimize the number of controlled explosions in their demolition work.
(------------)


[Bridge-Prank]


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


Some Canadian engineering students may also have a future in ADVERTISING...
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-San Francisco, CA;]


They demonstrated their skill by dangling an old V-W Beetle over the side of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Even through the fog, you could see the shell of the red V-W hanging by cables.
An "E" and a Canadian flag are painted on the side.
The engineering classmates say they staged the stunt to build international interest in their field.
No comment from officials at their school.
(------------)

[Marina-Closed]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST-=noon]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=01-07 12:00]
[GRAPHIC=None]


The Army Corps of Engineers is closing down a Franklin county marina.
This after a fire destroyed it last year. But this is not necessarily the end for the Twin Ridge Marina.
Officials hope someone with enough cash and commitment will re- build it.
Kate Weidaw has the story.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The only]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co.;:00]
[SUPER=01-Wanda Willard/Twin Ridge Marina Manager;:15]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co./January 21, 2000;:29]
[SUPER=@Kate2;1:36]
[RUNS=2:00]
[OUT Q=kw news 7 Franklin Co.]


((The only noise you'll hear at Philpott Lake is the lapping of the waves.
[NAT SOUND OF WAVES]
[RUNS= 3]


And the occasional fishing boat passing by.
[NAT SOUND]
[RUNS= 3]


But things weren't always this way.

[SOT 48:05]
[INQ=]

((WANDA WILLARD/PHILPOTT LAKE MANAGER: THIS LAKE USED TO BE JAMMIN IN THE SUMMER TIME, JET SKIES, BOATS SKIERS, EVERYBODY.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 8]


[vids 99-54 50:53] Willard says she's seen many folks decide to dock their boats in other lakes after the marina went up in flames last January. She and her husband have managed the lake for the last five years - but after the fire - they lost everything, including long time visitors to the lake.

[SOT 47:52]
[INQ=]

((WANDA WILLARD: NOW THAT'S BURNT DOWN IT'S BEEN LIKE A GHOST TOWN HERE LAST YEAR YOU COULD COUNT ON BOTH HANDS HOW MANY BOATS I'D SEEN THE WHOLE YEAR.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 9]



Willard says she offered to build a new 225-thousand-dollar marina - but the lake's owner - the Army Corps of Engineers - turned her down. Earlier this year she received a letter from the Corps saying her five year lease would not be renewed. Now everything she's worked to take care of the last five years will be torn down.

[SOT 49:19]
[INQ=]

((WANDA WILLARD: I HAVE TO TAKE ALL THE DOCKS OUT, THE SLIPS OUT, THE CAMP GROUNDS HERE HAVE TO BE VACATED, THE SHEDS HAVE TO BE TORN DOWN AND RESTORED BACK TO IT'S NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 17]


But this doesn't mean it's the end of the Twin Ridge Marina.... the Corps is looking for someone who wants to invest a minimum of 150--thousand dollars to rebuild the marina and it's surroundings.
For Willard it's something she wants to see happen - even though she's saying good-bye to a job she loved.

[SOT 51:52]
[INQ=]

((WANDA WILLARD: I HOPE YEARS TO COME SOMEONE WILL GET THE MARINA AND MAKE IT OPERATIONAL AGAIN AND MAKE IT LIKE IT USED TO BE, IT USED TO BE A LOT OF FUN TO COME HERE.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 14]


Kate Weidaw News 7 Franklin County.))


[Box-Office]


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


Valentine's Day is right around the corner. So it's no wonder a traditional romance won the hearts of movie goers this weekend.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I've been doing this]

(())
[SUPER=04-"The Wedding Planner"; HOT CHANGE]
[SUPER=04-Columbia;]
[RUNS=23]
[OUT Q=matrimonial suicide right now.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT 03NA - ]

"The Wedding Planner" starring Jennifer Lopez and Matthew McConaughey is the nation's top-grossing movie for the second straight week. It made an estimated eleven million dollars this weekend.

(++++++)

[TAKE FS SUPER]
[SUPER=77-The Wedding Planner/Valentine/Cast Away/Save The Last Dance/Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon;]
(------------)
[Anchor=Kim]
[ss=none]
[Super=#555;reset]


The horror flick "Valentine opened at number two. Cast Away is number three. Save the Last Dance and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon wrap up this week's list.


[Regis]


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


It's a new starring role for soap star Kelly Ripa.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-New York, NY;]


Regis Philbin announced this morning that the "All My Children" actress will become his new permanent co- host.


Ripa has co-hosted several times since Kathie Lee Gifford quit last July.
Philbin opened the show by saying ``say hello to my new co-host!''
At the end of the show, Philbin joked about Ripa's performance.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 2:22:34]
[IN Q=Kelly Ripa's first]

((REGIS PHILBIN/"LIVE WITH REGIS": KELLY RIPA'S FIRST DAY. I DON'T KNOW IF IT WORKED OUT. IF YOU DON'T SEE HER TOMORROW, DON'T BLAME ME!))
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=don't blame me!]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Ripa won't be quitting her OTHER day job--
She'll continue working on "All My Children".
But she'll probably need a replacement soon....she is four months pregnant. (------------)

by SS