WDBJ 7 news at Noon for 03/27/01

[HEADLINES]

[TALENT=Kimberly]

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

Kroger employees shop around for a new contract.
We'll have the results from today's vote by union workers in central and southwestern Virginia.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

And a speeding locomotive heading in the WRONG direction kills eight people in Belgium.
Details, coming up.
(/////////////)
[TALENT=Jacey]
[SS=None]

Look out your window... you'll see sunshine. Step out your door... you'll feel unseasonably cold air. We'll tell you why... coming up.
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[SS=None]

News 7 at noon is straight ahead.

[Video-Open]

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

Union employees at Kroger decide a new five- year contract on the table is a good BARGAIN for them.
(------------)

[VA-Gas]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=12]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=none]

The State Corporation Commission will decide today whether or not to approve a merger between Virginia Gas and New Jersey-based N-U-I.
If the merger goes through, Virginia Gas will proceed with plans to build a new gas pipeline through the Roanoke Valley.
The S-C-C's decision today may force the gas companies to look in to "co-locating" the pipelines.
We'll have more tonight on News 7 at 5 and 6.

[Israeli-Blasts]

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

About two dozen people are injured following TWO bombing attacks today in Jerusalem.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Jerusalem, Israel;]

Most of them were injured in an attack outside a bus.
Police say an apparent suicide bomber blew himself up outside a bus, injuring 22 people.
Two of the injured are in serious condition.
Six hours earlier, a CAR bomb explosion injured six people near a shopping mall.
The attacks coincide with the start of the Arab League summit in Jordan.
They also place additional pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to retaliate.
(------------)

[Belgium-Train]

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

Human error is being blamed for a head- on train collision in Belgium that's killed at least eight people.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pecrot, Belgium;]

The accident happened today, about 15 miles outside Brussels.
Authorities say a locomotive heading in the wrong direction at 55 miles-an-hour slammed head-on into a crowded commuter train.
The drivers of both trains were killed.
Meanwhile, rescue workers are combing through the wreckage and expect to find more victims.
Had the trains derailed, they'd have slid down an embankment onto a village directly below.
(------------)

[Mims]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=jha]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Dennis Mims]

Blacksburg police arrested former star Virginia Tech basketball player Dennis Mims last Friday at Terrace View Apartments.
He was later charged with breaking and entering with the intent to commit larceny.
Mims was one of Tech's top players but was dismissed from the team last December for violating team rules.

[Tech-Assault]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=01-03 TC1:27:45]
[GRAPHIC=Virginia Tech]
Virginia Tech Police have arrested a university custodian and charged him with malicious wounding in an assault against a female art student.
James Lee Harris of Pembroke was arrested yesterday.
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;]

The victim, a freshman, was attacked in the basement of Henderson Hall.
She was taken to Montgomery Regional Hospital for treatment.
Harris is NOT a Tech employee.
He works for a private company called Defender Services.
(-------------)

[Missing-Man]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=01-11 TC28:36]
[GRAPHIC=None]

After two weeks, a missing Clifton Forge man is found in Pennsylvania.
(------------)
[VO-NAT ]

Police say Peter Cardinal checked himself into a hospital in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania.
His family became alarmed when he disappeared after leaving work at Liberty House nursing home on March 13.
(------------)

[EMS-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=01-07]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Roanoke's fire and rescue department recognized some new leaders today.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

The ceremony at city hall was for twelve people who've gotten promotions.
There are four new captains, and three new first lieutenants.
The five new lieutenants include Marci Ingram, the first woman to work her way through the ranks to a command position.
(------------)

[Scotland-Jets]

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

Authorities believe they've found the body of one of two U-S Air Force pilots who disappeared over the Scottish Highlands.
Searchers found the body and wreckage in the area where two F-15 jets were reported missing yesterday.
Authorities have identified the wreckage as that of an F-15.
The fighter jets were on a training mission when they lost contact with ground controllers.
Both disappeared about 45 minutes after take- off.

[Comair-Strike]

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

There's no end in sight to a strike by Comair pilots--
All Comair flights are canceled through at least tomorrow morning.
[SS=None]

Meanwhile, new details are emerging about a Comair flight that narrowly averted disaster last week.
Bob Orr reports.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Bob Orr/Reporting; 1:03]
[RUNS=1:24]
[OUT Q=Bob Orr, CBS News, Washington.]
((

(VO GRAPHIC IN - MAP )
Comair Flight 5054 was less than an hour into its trip from Nassau to Orlando when the commuter plane encountered severe icing. (MAP GRAPHIC ENDS)

(VO - GRAPHIC IN: cockpit's windshield/planes rolls left/right/360
degrees/drops/lands) The pilots of the Brazilian-made Embraer 120 told federal investigators when ice covered their windshield and began building up on the wings...the plane got dangerously close to stalling -- and not being able to stay in the air.
The Captain switched off the autopilot and began a dive in an effort to pick up speed. Instead, the aircraft slowed even more and started gyrating wildly.
First, the plane...with 28 people on board....rolled 90 degrees to the LEFT...before briefly returning to wings level.
Then the plane rolled LEFT again..... rocked violently back to the RIGHT...and finally...as the nose continued dropping....the aircraft did a complete barrel roll to the RIGHT...360 degrees wing over wing.
After dropping eight-thousand feet in just 24 seconds....the pilots managed to pull the plane out of the dive. And twelve minutes later Comair flight 5054 made a precautionary landing in West Palm Beach.
(graphic out)

ORR LIVE CLOSE: Four years ago...the same type of Comair plane crashed in icing conditions in Michigan killing all 29 people on board. After that, federal authorities ordered more deicing equipment for the Embraer 120...and beefed up training for pilots. Now investigators want to know HOW the Comair pilots came so close to losing flight 5054. Bob Orr, CBS News, Washington.

))[L'burg-Schools]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=01-08 TC36:47]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Lynchburg community leaders are examining how educators handle students - especially those enrolled in alternative education.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

Last month, school board chairman Tracey Shaw and superintendent Jim McCormick were quoted as describing alternative ed students' behavior as "thuggish".
It's a term minority leaders find offensive.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 12:03:34]
[IN Q=When they put]
((DANNY MCCAIN/CONCERNED CITIZENS COMMITTEE: WHEN THEY PUT THEM IN THE ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS, THEY'VE ALREADY SPOKEN ABOUT THEIR BEHAVIOR BECAUSE THEY'RE STATING THAT THEY CANNOT MAKE IT IN THE REGULAR SCHOOL. SO WHY LABEL THEM AGAIN? BUT AGAIN, WHEN YOU LABEL KIDS AS THUGS, CUTTHROATS AND ASSASSINS, STUFF LIKE THAT.. THEY ARE NOT THAT.))
[SUPER=01-Danny McCain/Concerned Citizens Committee]
[RUNS=16]
[OUT Q=they are not that.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

McCain wants Shaw and McCormick to resign, or be removed from their positions.
Both men say they were only describing behaviors, NOT actual students.
The Reverend Al Sharpton is expected in town Friday to talk about the situation.
(------------)

[Kroger]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=01-14 TC 7:40]
[GRAPHIC=Kroger Contract Vote]

Kroger employees in central and western Virginia have approved a new contract. Voting at the Salem Civic Center concluded within the hour.

[DOUBLE BOXES=Kim /Joe Starlink;]
And that's where Joe Dashiell is this afternoon. Joe, what can yout tell us?
[LIVE=Joe /FULL]
[SUPER=@Joe1]
[SUPER=06-Salem]

((how the vote will go...ROLLED FROM TRUCK))
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Buses brought]
[SUPER=03-Salem; :00]
[RUNS=:35]
[OUT Q=a lot of questions.]

[Live Interview]

[SUPER=01-Jim Lowthers/Union President;]

[LIVE=Joe /FULL]
[SUPER=06-Salem;]

[DOUBLE BOXES=Kim /Joe Starlink;]

[Biblical-Archeology]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=jha]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The state Office of Consumer Affairs is asking Virginians to think before donating to the Biblical Archeology Society of Washington D-C. The organization has not registered or been granted an exempt status as required by law.
So contributions to the organization MAY be used for non-charitable purposes.

[Boucher-Edwards]

[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=rca]
[TAPE#=01-06]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign 2001]
State Senator John Edwards campaign for Virgina's Attorney General got a strong backing from Congressman Rick Boucher.

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;]

At a news conference yesterday, Boucher cited experience and dedication to Southwest Virginia as the main reasons he will be backing Edwards at the June 12th Democratic primary.
Edwards, a former U-S Attorney and Roanoke City Council member, faces Henrico Delegate Donald McEachin (muh-KEE-chin) for his party's nomination...
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT- 1:49]
[IN Q=John knows]
((U.S. REP. RICK BOUCHER/(D) 9TH DISTRICT; JOHN KNOWS AS WE KNOW THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EDUCATION EQUALITY AND TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS ARE THE MAJOR ITEMS ON THIS REGION'S AGENDA. STATE SEN. JOHN EDWARDS/CANDIDATE ATTORNEY GENERAL/THE PEOPLE OF SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA KNOW ME, THEY KNOW MY RECORD AND THEY CAN BE ASSURED THAT SOUTHWEST VRIGINIA WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN IF I'M ATTORNEY GENERAL OF VIRGINIA.))
[SUPER=@Boucher; :00]
[SUPER=@Edwards; :11]
[RUNS=:18]
[Out Q=attorney general of Virginia.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

State Senator Madison Marye and other New River Valley officials also attended yesterday's event.
The democratic candidate for Attorney General will face unopposed Republican Jerry Kilgore.
(------------)

[Goodlatte]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=01-13 TC1:26:54]
[GRAPHIC=Bob Goodlatte]
Sixth District Congressman Bob Goodlatte also got backing from a political ally - even though he dosen't face re-election until next year.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Goodlatte brought in California Congressman David Dreier for a midday fundraiser. The Chairman of the House Rules Committee, Dreier has worked closely with Goodlatte on issues of technology and trade.
Yesterday, he talked tax cuts with reporters.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 01:25:13]
[IN Q=Many of us]
((REP. DAVID DREIER/R- CALIFORNIA: MANY OF US, AND THE PRESIDENT HAPPENS TO BE AMONG THEM, REALIZE THAT WE NEED TO HAVE BROAD TAX CUTS WHICH WILL GO INTO PLACE THIS YEAR, WHICH WILL STIMULATE ECONOMIC GROWTH. AND I'M CONVINCED THAT CLEARLY IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.))
[SUPER=01-Rep. David Dreier/(R) California;]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=to be able to do that.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The House begins general debate on the budget, and members are also scheduled to take up the marriage tax penalty later this week.
(------------)

[Gas-Merger]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=12]
[WRITER=jmi]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]

We just got word from the State Corporation Commission.... the S-C-C HAS APPROVED the merger between Virginia Gas and New Jersey-based N-U-I.
The S-C-C did not include a condition which would force the companies to examine the possibility of building a new pipeline next to an existing one through southwest Virginia.
We'll have the full story tonight on News at 5 and 6.

[11Remicade]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=01-12]
[GRAPHIC=None]

There's a new treatment available for people who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis. It's called Remicade and in some cases, it is able to stop the progression of the disease.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem]

The drug is taken through an I-V.
Carl Lowe says after his first treatment the pain was gone.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT26:23]
[IN Q=Within a day or two]
((CARL LOWE/PATIENT: WITHIN A DAY OR TWO I NOTICED A TREMENDOUS DIFFERENCE. I HAD GOOD FLEXIBILITY, I COULD MANEUVER AROUND))
[SUPER=01-Carl Lowe/Patient]
[RUNS=09]
[OUT Q=i could maneuver around]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Lowe goes for treatments at Lewis Gale Clinic every 8 weeks.
Doctor Joseph Lemmer say it's one the first medications on the market that treats more than just the symptoms of the disease.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT16:12]
[IN Q=It indeed may stop]
((DR. JOSEPH LEMMER/RHEUMOTOLOGIST: IT INDEED MAY STOP THE DISEASE FROM GETTING WORSE. IF THERE HAS ALREADY BEEN DAMAGE TO THE JOINT IT CAN'T UNDO THAT BUT IT MAY PREVENT FURTHER DAMAGE ONCE TREATMENT HAS BEEN INITIATED))
[SUPER=01-Dr. Joseph Lemmer/Rheumotologist;]
[RUNS=09]
[OUT Q=treatment has been inciated]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Right now Remicade is taken with other medications, but Lewis Gale Clinic is conducting clinical trials to determine if the medication can be effective alone.
(------------)

[S-Elliott]

[ANCHOR=/kim]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=sp-87 tc 1:20:00]
[GRAPHIC=sadler]

Just 15 hours after dancing in the confetti, Elliott Sadler and the Wood Brothers Racing team were back at the track.
The win was just a memory as the team set up shop in Martinsville for testing.
And that's where Denise Allen caught up with them.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Elliott]
[SUPER=03-Bristol, TN/FOX; :00]
[SUPER=01-Elliott Sadler/First Winston Cup Win; :15]
[SUPER=@Denise1; :26]
[SUPER=01-Eddie Wood/Wood Brothers Team Owner; :36]
[RUNS=1:36]
[OUT Q=News 7 Sports]
(( Elliott Sadler's triumphant cheers in the winners circle of the Food City 500 ended a seven season dryspell for Wood Brothers Racing and made history.
No other driver has ever won at Bristol from as far back as the 38th starting position.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 17:12:49]
[IN Q=oh man]
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=tough now a days]
DENISE ALLEN/NEWS 7 SPORTS: WOOD BROTHERS RACING NOW FEELS IT HAS PUT TOGETHER A TEAM THAT CAN BE A SUCCESS ON A CONSISTENT BASIS.
THE ADDITION OF CREW CHIEF PAT TRYSON AT THE END OF LAST SEASON WAS THE FINAL PIECE OF THE PUZZLE.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:49:53]
[IN Q=we've got]
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=in eachother]

Sadler took the lead on lap 431. He held back John Andretti for the win.
Watching the number 21 and 43 cars battle it out made Eddie Wood a little nostalgic.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 15:50:55]
[IN Q=it was a dodge]
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=full circle]

The Wood Brothers are hoping to bring a little of that Bristol magic to the unfriendly confines of their home track, the Martinsville Speedway, where the Woods have just two career wins - One with Cale Yarborough back in 1968 and another with David Pearson in 1973. In Martinsville, Denise Allen News 7 Sports.))