[HEADLINES]

[TALENT=Kimberly]

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


Up next on News 7--
A man leads authorities on a pursuit through the Roanoke Valley this morning.
The chase ends with a suicide.
The full story, coming up.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]


And the Roanoke Sheriff's Department will be changing the way it handles inmates on suicide watch.
(/////////////)
[TALENT=Jacey]
[SS=None]


Cold and windy today, with snow showers in many areas. Our update on the winter weather is coming up.
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[SS=None]


News 7 at noon is straight ahead.

[Noon-open]
[SUPER=#4054; News 7 Headline Banner]
[SUPER=@Kimberly1;]
[SUPER=@Jacey1; ]


[Video-Open]


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


An early-morning police chase through a couple of jurisdictions ends when the suspect shoots and kills himself.
(------------)


[Chase-Shooting]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=tbr]
[TAPE#=01-04 1:31:58]
[GRAPHIC=News 7 at Noon]


The chase ended in Roanoke County outside the North Cross school on Colonial Avenue. No one else was injured in the 43 minute car chase.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Kimberly/Marya Microwave;]


Marya Jones is outsisde the Roanoke County police department with more details.
[LIVE=Marya/FULL]
[SUPER=@Marya1;]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke Co.;]


((ROLLCUE:...))
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Chris Nielsen/Roanoke Co. Police Department;]
[RUNS=:26]
[OUT Q=at 8 a.m. this morning.]
(-------------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]


Marya adlibs. We have :30 of vo
(-----------------)
[LIVE=Marya /FULL]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke Co.;]




[DOUBLE BOXES=Kimberly/ Marya Microwave;]




[Jacey-WX]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=tbr]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]


Kim tosses to JACEY in WX Center
Jacey adlibns over Video
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]




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



Jacey does WX Pro[Suicide]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=tbr]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]


Roanoke's sheriff is changing the way it handles inmates on suicide watch.
Sheriff George McMillan says over the next few weeks, inmates on suicide watch will be put in paper gowns and will have all bedding taken away.
Current policy allows inmates to keep their clothes and bedding.
Two inmates in the last year have used their sheets to hang themselves.
McMillan says the jail's psychologist will also become more involved with the suicide watch procedures.

[Beasley]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=01-13 25:37]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]


An elderly Lynchburg man who drove his car into a restaurant in January has been found guilty of reckless driving.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg/January 17]


Nine people were hurt when 83- year- old Clayton Beasley hit the gas instead of the brake and his car crashed into the Golden Corral on Wards Road.
Beasley told the judge he hasn't driven since the accident, and has been given a clean bill of health from his doctor.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 20:40:43]
[IN Q=He's done a]

((MARK PEAKE/BEASLEY'S ATTORNEY: HE'S DONE A DRIVING TEST WITH THE D-M-V, HE'S BEEN CLEARED BY THE D-M-V. SO WE'RE JUST NOT SURE WHAT HAPPENED ON THE DAY OF THIS INCIDENT. HE'S VERY UPSET THAT ANYBODY WAS HURT, FEELS TERRIBLE ABOUT THAT AND HOPES THAT EVERYBODY IS FEELING BETTER AND DOES WELL IN THEIR RECOVERY.))
[SUPER=01-Mark Peake/Beasley's Attorney]
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q=in their recovery.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


For the next three months, Beasley can only drive to and from his doctor's office.
He was also fined 250 dollars.
(------------)



[Benin-Ship]


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


The U-N still isn't sure if the youngsters now staying in a West African children's home were rescued from an actual slave ship.
The vessel docked at Benin this morning.
Officials originally believed it was a child slave ship, but found no proof.
Tom Fenton reports.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Cotonou, Benin; :14]
[SUPER=01-Tom Fenton/Reporting; :52]
[RUNS=1:04]
[OUT Q=Fenton, CBS News.]



[China-Plane]


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


U-S negotiators have arrived in Beijing, determined to win the return of the American spy plane still held in China.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Beijing, China;]


Military officials dominate the eight-member American team.
It includes an expert on surveillance planes and the U-S embassy's military attache.
Talks are scheduled to begin tomorrow and are expected to be tense.
The U-S and China continue to blame each other for the mid- air collision between the spy pland and Chinese jet fighter.
American officials continue saying they won't apologize for the collision.
(------------)


[Mideast-Peace]


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


Another chapter unfolds in the Middle East battles--
Palestinians are accusing Israel of re- occupying the Gaza Strip.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Gaza;]


The Israelis seized Palestinian-controlled areas in Gaza early today.
It's the first time they've done that in seven months of fighting.
Israeli tanks are firiing on any Palestinians approaching their new positions.
A Palestinian police officer is dead and 36 people are injured after Israel launched the attack.
The Israeli reponse follows a similar attack against Syrian targets in Lebanon.
(------------)

[tease1] [HARD MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]


A proposed Roanoke budget would mean more money in the pockets of city employees, but less for smokers. We'll have the details after this break.
(--------------)
[VO-NAT ]


Also we'll tell you why some spring cleaning at a local cemetery has upset some family members.
(---------------)


[NO JACEY HERE]
[Streaming Video] [music up full] [comm1]

[MS-Flag]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=]
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Will they keep the "stars and bars" in Mississippi?
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-DeSoto Co., MS;]


Voters are heading to the polls today to decide whether the confederate symbol will remain on their state flag.
A local election official says turnout has been high so far.
Mississippi is the last state to feature the Confederate symbol prominently on its flag.
State officials say the controversial flag is an obstacle that might hurt economic progress.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=KIMBERLY]
[GRAPHIC=None]


The Governor says he'll vote for a new design with 20- white stars on a blue square, representing Mississippi as the 20th state.

[11BV-Cemetery]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=01-]
[GRAPHIC=none]


Flags are generating a different kind of controversy in Buena Vista.
The city maintains the Green Hill cemetery where it recently did some spring cleaning.
However some people say the the city went too far when workers removed American flags and crosses.
Teresa Hamilton has more.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It breaks my]
[SUPER=07-Stevan Abernathy; :05]
[SUPER=03-Buena Vista/Yesterday; :13]
[SUPER=07-Lucinda Abernathy; :44 QUICK]
[SUPER=07-Ginger Lanier; 1:03 QUICK]
[SUPER=@Teresa2; 1:10]
[RUNS=1:38]
[OUT Q=News 7, BV.]
(((///sot///)
[sot 00:59:24]
[in q=It breaks]

((IT BREAKS MY HEART YOU KNOW. I NEVER TOOK PART IN THE MILITARY, I HAVE A SON WHO GRADUATES FROM BASIC TRAINING IN THREE WEEKS, MY FATHER WAS IN WORLD WAR TWO AND THIS IRRITATES ME.)) [RUNS14]
[OUT Q= IRRITATES ME.]

Stevan Abernathy says he understands the city's desire to keep Green Hill cemetery attractive. But takes issue with the way personal items were tossed aside... especially crosses and American flags placed on graves of local veterans.
[sot 00:58:24]
[in q=I'll dig it ]

((I'LL DIG IT OUT, THERE IT LAYS.)) [RUNS05]
[OUT Q= there it lays.]

Abernathy's wife, Lucinda, is also upset. Many of the crosses and flags were placed on the graves by her uncle... himself a disabled veteran.
(////sot////)
[sot]
[in q= to see]

((TO SEE THE CROSSES AND THE FLAGS JUST THROWN IT WAS A HORRIBLE WAY TO SPEND AN EASTER.)) [runs10]
[out q= to spend an easter.]

The Laniers are also up in arms. Ginger Lanier's brother-n-law served in Vietnam and was buried here six years ago.
(///sot/////)
[sot 01:15:57]

((THE FAMILY HAS NO IDEA WHERE THIS CROSS IS AT WE'VE PAINTED IT SEVERAL TIMES AND HIS GRAVE HAS ALWAYS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED.)) [runs10]
[OUT Q= well maintained.]

Buena Vista's mayor says the flags should not have been discarded in this manner but says the cemetery has a policy on what is allowed to be placed on and near graves and for how long. Mayor Harold Kidd also says notices did go out in the newspaper and in water bills warning folks that items which violated the policy would be removed... so that the cemetery could be mowed during the summer.

Teresa Hamilton, NEWS 7, Buena Vista.))[11City-Council]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=01-07 TC1:29:47]
[GRAPHIC=Roanoke Budget]


The proposed budget for the city of Roanoke would give employees a pay raise AND raise the tax on a pack of cigarettes by ten cents.
City Manager Darlene Burcham outlined her latest budget yesterday. It included a three and a half percent merit pay increase and the eliminatiion of 23 empty positions.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Last Month;]

It would also raise the city's lodging tax by one percent. Both would generate approximately one million dollars to improve city sidewalks. A portion of the funds would also be used to improve marketing of the city as a tourist attraction.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 13:55:48]
[IN Q=We're also]

((DARLENE BURCHAM/ROANOKE CITY MANAGER: ))
[SUPER=01-Darlene Burcham/Roanoke City Manager; ]
[RUNS=11]
[OUT Q=work with our citizens.]



[anchor=Kimberly]
[ss=HOLD]

A public hearing on the budget will be held next Monday.
[Tease2] [SOFT MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

Two well known country stars are seeing wedding bells- we'll have details later on News 7 at Noon -
(-----------------)
[VO-NAT ]

Plus it's a production like no other - created by some of the youngest playwrites ever... We'll explain after the break.
(-----------------)

[MUSIC UP FULL] [CLOSED CAPTIONING]
[COMM BREAK #2]


[6Opera]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=01-08 TC1:00:35]
[GRAPHIC=None]


When you think of music and young people, Opera is probably not your first thought. But some local students are changing that.
Danville Bureau Chief Justin McLeod explains
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 17:14:26]
[IN Q=Nat sound of kids dancing and singing]
[SUPER=03-Danville; :00]
[SUPER=01-Bernard Tate/Performer; :18]
[SUPER=01-Jason Thompson/Director; :52]
[SUPER=01-Kiara Legrand/Performer; 1:17]
[SUPER=@justin1; 1:25]
[RUNS=1:38]
[OUT Q=News 7, Danville]

((((NAT SOUND OF TWO KIDS DANCING AND SINGING))
This is not your typical opera. ((shot of girl writing in pencil 17:13:55))
But don't write it off that quickly. ((QUICK NAT SOUND OF THE OPERA))
What makes this opera so unique is that it was written, composed, and performed by third graders.
[SOT 16:53:30]
[IN Q=Its really exciting]

((BERNARD TATE/PERFORMER: ITS REALLY EXCITING. ITS REALLY BIG AND EVERYTHING WHEN YOU'RE DOING IT ALL BY YOURSELF.))

[Runs05]
[OUT Q=it all by yourself]


The third graders here at Woodrow Wilson Magnet school began this project back in September.
The first step was to develop a theme and a story. ((NAT SOUND OF KIDS SINGING AT PIANO; 17:01:14))
Then came the music....the students composed all the notes and words themselves.
[SOT 16:45:43]
[IN Q=All of it was easy]

((TOMISHA JOHNSON/PRODUCTION ASSISTANT: ALL OF IT WAS EASY. WELL, EXCEPT AT FIRST.)) [Runs03]
[OUT Q=except at first]


And the hard part? Realizing each role is important and how to work together as a team.
[SOT 16:56:17]
[IN Q=Its very difficult]

((JASON THOMPSON/DIRECTOR: IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO TAKE EVERYBODY'S IDEA AND EVEN THE ONES THAT ARE NOT SO GOOD AND THE ONES THAT ARE WONDERFUL YOU HAVE TO TAKE THEM TOGETHER AND DECIDE AS A GROUP WHICH IS GOING TO BE BEST FOR OUR OPERA.)) [Runs11]
[OUT Q=best for our opera]

((NAT SOUND OF THE OPERA)) An opera that's more about learning than just performing. For example, the light crew doesn't just turn the lights on. Teachers incorporate a lesson on electricity.
And sometimes what takes center stage (shot of stage) is the lessons these kids learn on their own.
[SOT 16:50:28]
[IN Q=We learned about how to treat others]

((KIARA LEGRAND/PERFORMER: WE LEARNED ABOUT HOW TO TREAT OTHERS, THE WAY YOU WANT TO BE TREATED AND HOW TO DO THE RIGHT THING.)) [Runs05]
[OUT Q=how to do the right thing]
[SOT 1:06:02]
[IN Q=After months of rehearsal]

((JUSTIN McLEOD/REPORTING: AFTER MONTHS OF REHEARSAL, ITS SHOW TIME. THERE WIL BE PERFORMANCES FOR THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS HERE IN DANVILLE ON WEDNESDAY AND THEN THE PUBLIC GETS THEIR CHANCE THURSDAY NIGHT BEGINNING AT SEVEN. JUSTIN McLEOD, NEWS 7, DANVILLE.)) [Runs13]
[OUT Q=News 7, Danville]))


[WEATHER]
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[SUPER=#555;reset][Stocks]



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


On Wall Street at Noon, the DOW was DOWN more than 29 points. The NASDAQ has dropped 10.

[super=460-y/29/y/10;]




(x=up y=down)[tease3]

[SPORTS MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

Coming up on News 7 - It's down to the wire for the Express - But will they have enough steam to pull it off on the road -
(----------------)
[VO-NAT ]

And - She's barely old enough to drive - and she's already making tracks in the racing world. We'll have more on those stories after the break.
(---------------)

[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #3]


[S-Express]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-83 ]
[GRAPHIC=Express/toledo]

The Express storms into Toledo tonight for the final game of the round one in the E-C-H-L playoffs.
Roanoke offered a few final words before leaving for Toledo Sunday night.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="i think]
[SUPER=01-Mike Peron/Express Center; :00]
[SUPER=01-Perry Florio/Express Head Coach; :16]
[RUNS=:30]
[OUT Q=......try to do"]
(-------------)



[S-Girl]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=sp-81 tc 1:31:55]
[GRAPHIC=NRV Speedway]

A 16 year old GIRL raced her way to ninth place in the Late Model Truck Race at the New River Valley Speedway on Saturday - And as Denise Allen tells us, the teen hopes to shift into NASCAR.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=@Denise1; :11]
[SUPER=01-Brianne Cronrath/Late Model Truck Driver; :27]
[SUPER=03-Radford; :38]
[SUPER=01-Jon Wood/Wood Brothers Racing; :52]
[SUPER=01-Bret Cronrath/Brianne's Dad; 1:22]
[RUNS=1:38]
[OUT Q=News 7 Sports]
(((///// SOT /////)
[SOT 18:34:14]
[IN Q=she's 100 % girl]
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=different things]


Those different things included climbing into a race car at the age of seven.
Brianne started in quarter midgets. The Fleetwood, Pennsylvania, native has spent the past couple season on the dirt track.
The Late Model Truck class at the New River Valley Speedway is her first experience at racing on asphalt.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 18:44:06]
[IN Q=i'm used to]
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=big differnce]


Jon Wood, former Rookie of the Year at New River, is helping Brianne get use to those differences.
Teaching her how to take the corners and when to ease up or put on the speed has been a learning experience for him as well.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 18:52:09]
[IN Q=it's pretty cool]
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=here's what I know]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=]


Brianne caught the racing bug from her dad,Bret. He drove until Brianne wanted to take the wheel.
Bret says the danger surrounding the sport doesn't worry him. They've taken every precaution to keep Brianne safe.

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 18:34:49]
[IN Q=when we]
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=past couple of months]


Dale Earnhardt was Brianne's favorite driver and she wants to follow in his footsteps.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q= NASCAR]
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=ultimate goal]


Denise Allen News 7 Sports. ))

[Elian-Photo]


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


You probably remember the jaw-dropping photo of federal agents seizing the home of Elian Gonzalez's Miami relatives.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Miami, FL;]


A year has passed since the picture was taken.
The photographer, Alan Diaz was caught up in the drama at the Little Havana home where Elian was staying.
After jumping a fence and running through an open door, Diaz snapped the photo of an armed federal agent pointing a gun at the boy.
The picture won Diaz this year's Pulitzer Prize for spot news photography.
(------------)


[Morgan-Kershaw]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=tbr]
[TAPE#=01-06 1:48:53]
[GRAPHIC=None]


Finally today, country singers Lorrie Morgan and Sammy Kershaw are on the road promoting their new album of duets.

(----------------)
[SUPER=04-"Live with Regis and Kelly"]


But this morning, Morgan had even bigger news. She told a national television audience Kershaw recently proposed.

(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 34:10]
[IN Q=Very romantic]

(())
[SUPER=01-Lorrie Morgan/Country Singer;]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=...AHHH...applause]
(----------------)


They will tie the knot on September 29th.
Kershaw was recently divorced. He will be Morgan's fifth husband.
Their new album due out today is called, "I Finally Found Someone."
(---------------)



[Mike-Regis]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=tbr]
[TAPE#=1-14 24:05]
[GRAPHIC=None]

******WIPE*****WIPE*****WIPE
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-"Live with Regis and Kelly"]


And if you looked quickly this morning you might have seen a familar face on the Live with Regis and Kelly show.
Our own Mike Stevens was in the audience with his family.
Mike is in New York preparing for this Saturday's N-F-L draft.
(------------)


[REPRS&CL]
[SUPER=X4030; e-Mail/Copyright Noon/Weekends]

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