[HEADLINES]

[TALENT=Kimberly]

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[VO-NAT]


Thousands more cattle will be slaughtered and burned, as British officials try to get the upper hand on the Foot-and-Mouth disease epidemic.
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[ANCHOR=Kimberly]


And a pair of hijackers overtake a Russian plane in Turkey...they've told officials they have a bomb.
(/////////////)
[TALENT=Jacey]
[SS=None]


Showers continue throughout today and even longer... stay right here to find out whether or not we have a wet weekend in the forecast as well.
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[SS=None]


News 7 at noon is next.

[Turkey-Hijack]


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


A Russian plane hijacked from Turkey has landed in Saudi Arabia.
The hijackers say they have a bomb.
Officials say two Chechens overtook the plane at Istanbul's airport earlier today.
They say the aircraft plunged 13- hundred feet during a struggle, in which a passenger was injured.
More than 170 people are on board.

[Foot-Mouth]


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


In hopes of reigning in the highly contagious Foot-and-Mouth disease,
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Hungerford, England;]


the British government has announced at least 100-thousand more farm animals will be destroyed.
Earlier today British officials confirmed three more outbreaks of the fast-spreading disease.
That brings the total to 234, since the first case was detected last month.
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[Hairston]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=jha]
[TAPE#=01-10 TC07:42]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]


Jury deliberations are underway in the trial of a man accused of killing his girlfriend and her daughter.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Martinsville/March 2000]

Michael Hairston is on trial for capital murder and first degree murder in the death of Evonne Hairston and her 16-year-old daughter Melveena.
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[Rubatex]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=01-17 TC00:13]
[GRAPHIC=Rubatex Agreement]


Union members and Rubatex have reached an agreement that may end their labor dispute.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford]


The Local 240 Union presented the new contract to its members yesterday afternoon.
No details have been released, but both sides agree they "gave in a little" on their demands.
A vote on the contract has not been scheduled.
Workers walked off the job in September 1999 in a dispute over benefits and overtime.
They returned to the plant last June, but without a new contract.
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[Summit-Fire]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=01-14 TC02:03]
[GRAPHIC=Fire Invest.]


Officials have released the cause of Monday's fire at the Summit apartment complex.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Monday;]


Investigators have traced it to a discarded cigarette in a flower pot on a deck.
The fire destroyed two apartments and heavily damaged three others.
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[Stock-Market]


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


In business news--
It appears Wall Street is taking its cue from a rallying Tokyo market.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-New York, NY;]


Stocks are moderately higher so far today, with the Dow moving past the 10- thousand level.
Investors are putting aside their fears of a global recession, which sent blue chips plunging yesterday.
[SUPER=03-Tokyo, Japan;]


Today's gains follow a great Nikkei performance.
The Japanese index advanced by more than two-and-a-half percent.
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[Stocks]


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


On Wall Street at Noon,

[super=460-x/41/x/30;]


, the Dow was up 41 points. Nasdaq up 30 points.


(x=up y=down)[S-NCAA]



[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=Boards]
[GRAPHIC=MEN'S FINAL FOUR]


And finally , News 7 at Noon is wrapping up early today in order to accommodate NCAA basketball. Today's schedule on Your Hometown Station is as follows....
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[WIPE TO PINNACLE THURSDAY AFTERNOON] Kentucky takes on Holy Cross in just a few minutes beginning AT 12:10. Maryland and George Mason will follow at three right here on WDBJ-7.
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[WIPE TO PINNACLE THURSDAY NIGHT] Then tonight Duke takes on Monmouth at 7:30 followed by the Iowa State - Hampton game.
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(Good-bye!!!!!)
by SS