[HEADLINES]

[TALENT=Kimberly]

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


A southside man pleads guilty to shooting his uncle.
David Hutcherson's first- degree murder trial was SUPPOSED to begin today, but instead he entered a surprise plea.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]


And the furniture industry continues to fold in Rocky Mount, as ANOTHER company decides to get out of the business.


(/////////////)
[TALENT=Leo]
[SS=None]


The weather's dry right now but we could see some strong to even severe thunderstorms later this afternoon...I'll have your forecast....
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[SS=None]


News 7 at noon is next.

[Noon-open]
[SUPER=#4054; News 7 Headline Banner]
[SUPER=@Kimberly1;]
[SUPER=@Leo1;]


[Video-Open]


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

Layoffs hit a host of local businesses, for more than a thousand workers in Rocky Mount and Altavista...
(------------)
[ANCHOR=KIMBERLY]
[GRAPHIC=NEWS 7 AT NOON]


Good afternoon, I'm Kimberly McBroom.[Lane-Furniture]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=01-16 1:25:01]
[GRAPHIC=Lane Furniture Closing]


Lane Furniture is planning to close its plants in AltaVista and Rocky Mount, citing cheaper labor costs in other countries.
More than a thousand employees will be looking for work by the end of the summer. News 7's Justin McLeod has more.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Nat sound of ball game]
[SUPER=03-Altavista; :00]
[SUPER=01-Betty Finch/Resident; :12]
[SUPER=01-Jamie Hodges/Lane Employee; :29]
[SUPER=01-James Hodges/Retired Lane Employee; :47]
[SUPER=01-Bryan Foster/Town Manager; 1:13]
[RUNS=1:35]
[OUT Q=News 7, Altavista]

(( ((NAT SOUND OF THE BASEBALL GAME))
The news dominated the talk at the baseball diamond.
For many, its hard to believe the game is over for Lane Furniture in AltaVista.
[SOT 42:42]
[IN Q=I think it will be substantial loss]

((BETTY FINCH/ALTA VISTA RESIDENT: I THINK IT WILL BE SUBSTANTIAL LOSS BECAUSE FROM WHAT I CAN UNDERSTAND THERE'S ABOUT 500-EMPLOYEES DOWN THERE AND MOST OF THOSE EMPLOYEES HAVE BEEN DOWN THERE FOR YEARS.))
[Runs= 09]
[OUT Q=down there for years]

((NAT SOUND OF JAMIES SAYING BASE HIT NOW; :45:18))
Jamie Hodges is one of those employees.
He'll be out of a job by August fourth.
[SOT :45:52]
[IN Q=It was a real bad mood]

((JAMIE HODGES/LANE EMPLOYEE: IT WAS A REAL BAD MOOD. EVERYBODY WAS KINDA DOWN. I DON'T THINK ITS SET IN YET.))
[Runs= 05]
[OUT Q=its set in yet]


After all, Lane Furniture has been here for more than ninety years and was the town's second largest employer.
And Even though the company laid off more than a third of its workforce last year, many felt this day would never come.
[SOT :41:48]
[IN Q=I never felt like it would come to this]

((JAMES HODGES/RETIRED LANE EMPLOYEE: I NEVER THOUGHT THAT IT WOULD COME TO THIS. I WORKED FOR LANE COMPANY FOR 47 YEARS. AND ITS JUST A BIG BLOW TO ME ALTHOUGH I AM RETIRED IT STILL BOTHERS ME A LOT.))
[Runs= 12]
[OUT Q=bothers me a lot]


It also bothers town leaders.
The lay-offs are just another blow to an economy that's already seeing hard times.
The A-O Smith plant is closing this month.
And the town itself had to lay-off 25 percent of its workforce in March.
[SOT :40:23]
[IN Q=We are working to attract]

((BRYAN FOSTER/TOWN MANAGER: WE ARE WORKING TO ATTRACT MORE JOBS AND INDUSTRY. UNFORTUNATELY, THE OVERALL ECONOMY IS NOT THAT GREAT. WE ARE NOT IN A VERY GOOD MARKET FOR THAT IT SEEMS AT THE MOMENT BUT WE'RE STILL WORKING AT IT.))
[Runs= 13]
[OUT Q=working at it]


Town residents belive that optimism will work, that altavista will bounce back and remain in the game.

Justin McLeod, News 7, AltaVista.))[VOB-Rocky-Mount]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=01-]
[GRAPHIC=Lane Closing]

Hundreds of workers at the Lane plant in Franklin County are also losing their jobs.
(------------)
[VO-NAT 12.5]
[SUPER=03-Rocky Mount/Yesterday;]

About 500- employees at the Rocky Mount plant were given the news yesterday. For Franklin County-- it's another devastating blow. Over the past two years-- the area's lost 11- hundred jobs in the textile industry.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 01:37:20]
[IN Q=This is ]
[SUPER=01-Richard Huff/Franklin Co. Administrator;]

((THIS IS DEVASTATION AT THE WORST LEVEL. THESE ARE OUR FRIENDS, IT'S JUST VERY VERY DIFFICULT TO THINK ABOUT THESE FOLKS BEING UNEMPLOYED. IT'S HARD FOR THE COMMUNITIE, IT'S HARD FOR US IN GOVERNMENT TRYING TO HELP THE COMMUNITY.))
[RUNS=15]
[OUT Q=to help the community.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Huff says providing job training for the out of work employees will be key to getting the area back on its feet. He says the town and county have already started a training program.
(------------)



[Cooper-Wood]


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


Another Rocky Mount Company says it's trying to move away from the furniture manufacturing industry and focus efforts on building products instead.
Cooper Wood Products says it was forced to layoff 50 people in April, and make wage adjustments for supervisors.


The company says it expects the growing impact of imported furniture to continue.
Though still primarily a wood product company, Cooper says branching out into building products will help it survive.


[Chatham-Murder]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]


A Southside man has pleaded guilty to shooting a family member.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

David Hutcherson admitted murdering his uncle, tobacco warehouse owner and operator John Whitehead Motley. Hutcherson's first-degree murder trial was supposed to start today, but he entered the surprise plea yesterday.
[SUPER=@File;]

Motley was shot five times last June at a farmhouse he was renting to the 45-year-old Hutcherson. Motley was co-owner and operator of Motley's Warehouse in Danville and was a second-generation tobacco farmer. His warehouse was one of the largest in the country.
(------------)



[Nepal]


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


Many businesses in Nepal are closed for the the official five- day mourning period, in honor of the royal family members shot to death on Friday.
Authorities are also trying to prevent more violent street protests by imposing a new noon to midnight curfew.
They're threatening to shoot any violator on sight.
Melissa McDermott reports.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Katmandu, Nepal; :00]
[SUPER=01-Melissa McDermott/Reporting; 1:25]
[RUNS=1:34]
[OUT Q=McDermott, CBS News.]


[Tease1] [HARD MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

Coming up, The Supreme Court has overturned the death sentence of a mentally retarded Texas killer...
(--------------)
[VO-NAT ]

and President Bush was on his hands and knees in Florida today, pounding nails and promoting his faith-based initiative. We'll have details in a minute, but first, let's check in with Leo in the Weathercenter.
(---------------)
[Talent=Leo]

[Wx-Tease] [Weatherpro] [Streaming Video] [music up full] [comm1]

[Bush-Habitat]


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


President Bush is taking the day off from signing legislation and attending summits--
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Tampa, FL;]


Instead, he's helping Habitat for Humanity workers build a home in Tampa, Florida.
The President IS using the opportunity to promote his faith- based initiative.
He says Habitat for Humanity is an example of the good works religious charities do, with financial help from the government.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 9:38:35 ]
[IN Q=I wish I could]

((I WISH I COULD SPEND MORE TIME BUILDING... IT'S ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS OF LIVE WHERE YOU REALIZE THERE'S SOMETHING GREATER THAN YOURSELF IN LIFE AND YOU GET THE JOY OF HELPING SOMEBODY HELP THEMSELVES.))
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=help themselves.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Habitat for Humanity works in partnership with the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
(------------)



[Texas-Execution]


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


A convicted Texas killer, who's mentally- retarded will NOT face the death sentence.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


The Supreme Court threw out the death sentence of John Paul Penry-- saying jurors were not instructed clearly on how to weigh Penry's mental abilities.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 3:04:57 ]
[IN Q=They say I]

((JOHN PAUL PENRY/CONVICTED MURDERER: THEY SAY I HAVE THE MIND OF A CHILD..I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S TRUE OR NOT.))
[SUPER=01-John Paul Penry/Convicted Murderer;]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=or not.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Penry's lived on death row for over 20 years for fatally raping, beating and stabbing Pamela Mosley Carpenter.
The victim's family says Penry understood the crime and should die for it.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 3:04:43]
[IN Q=You take a life]

((MAE MOSLEY/VICTIM'S FAMILY SPOKESPERSON: YOU TAKE A LIFE, YOU GIVE YOUR LIFE. THAT'S HOW WE FEEL ABOUT IT.))
[SUPER=01-Mae Mosley/Victim's Family Spokesperson;]
[RUNS=:04]
[OUT Q=feel about it.]
(-----------)
[VO-NAT]


The case now goes to a federal appeals court.
The Texas legislature recently passed a bill banning the execution of the mentally- retarded.
However, the governor has NOT signed it.
(------------)



[McVeigh]


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


Tomorrow, a federal judge will hear arguments on Timothy McVeigh's request to postpone his June 11th execution.
Prosecutors say the convicted Oklahoma City bomber is "undeniably guilty", despite the F-B-I's withholding of evidence.
Rick Sallinger has the latest.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Denver, CO; :00]
[SUPER=01-Beth Wilkinson/Former Prosecutor; :25]
[SUPER=01-Rob Nigh/McVeigh's Attorney; :49]
[SUPER=01-Dan Caplis/Legal Analyst; 1:12]
[SUPER=01-Rick Sallinger/Reporting; 1:23]
[RUNS=1:39]
[OUT Q=Sallinger, CBS News, Denver.]

((

THE GOVERNMENT SAYS THE ONLY THING NEW IN THE TIMOTHY MC VEIGH CASE IS HIS ADMISSION THAT HE CARRIED OUT THE OKLAHOMA CITY BOMBING.
"Rather than answer for his own proven and admitted murderous conduct,
(IT READS) Mc Veigh would like to put the federal government on trial."



BETH WILKINSON WAS ONE OF THE PROSECUTORS IN THE MC VEIGH TRIAL. SHE DOWNPLAYS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE NEWLY DISCOVERED FBI DOCUMENTS.

(wilkinson tape)
(15:01:25) BETH WILKINSON/FORMER PROSECUTOR

"What's important here is that none of that information is exculpatory or would otherwise change the outcome of mr. mc veigh's trial. the evidence is overwhelming and he has now confessed to participating in this crime."

LAST WEEK MC VEIGH'S ATTORNEYS WENT TO COURT ASKING FOR A POSTPONMENT OF THE JUNE 11TH EXECUTION DATE. THEY ALSO WANT A HEARING ON THEIR CLAIM THAT A FRAUD WAS COMMITTED ON THE COURT BY THE WITHHOLDING OF FBI DOCUMENTS FROM THE DEFENSE.

(indiana p.c. tape 11:28:13)Rob Nigh-Mc Veigh Attorney-last Thursday

"It is mr. mc veigh's belief that this action is necessary in order to promote integrity in the criminal justice system"

THE GOVERNMENT RESPONDED...
"No one, much less an 'enemy of the Constitution' is entitled to to use the federal courts to advance his personal agenda."

IT CONTINUES," REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THAT AGENDA IS TO "PROMOTE INTEGRITY IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM."
LEGAL ANALYST DAN CAPLIS BELIEVES THE JUDGE WILL DELAY THE EXECUTION.

(BISSET 41:35) Dan Caplis-legal analyst

"it's more important to get it done right than to get it done quickly."

PROSECUTORS AGAIN INSISTED ALL OKLAHOMA CITY BOMBING DOCUMENTS HAVE NOW BEEN TURNED OVER AND THERE WAS NEVER ANY INTENT TO DEFRAUD THE COURT.

(stand up: in its filing the government says there is no case in which

the death sentence could be more appropriate than this one. Soon judge richard matsch will decide whether timothy mc veigh's execution should be postponed once again..rick sallinger for cbs news denver)
)) [Tease2] [SOFT MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

After years of planning and construction,
(-----------------)
[VO-NAT ]

it's getting down to the wire for the folks at the D-Day Memorial in Bedford. We'll have details coming up in just a bit.
(-----------------)

[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #2]


[Blake]


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


The spotlight remains on actor Robert Blake--
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Los Angeles, CA;]


The NEWS cameras were rolling as Blake moved back into his home.
The actor had been living in seclusion at his daughter's home ever since his wife, Bonnie Lee Bakley was shot to death a month ago.
L-A police are still investigating Bakley's murder.
No one's been arrested.
(------------)


[LA-Mayor]


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


The polls have been open for about two hours in Los Angeles for the city's most hotly- contested mayoral race in DECADES.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Los Angeles, CA/Last Month;]


L-A is a city with deep Hispanic roots.
Antonio (vee-uh-ray-GOH-suh) Villaraigosa is hoping to become the city's first Latino mayor since 18-72.
He's a high school drop-out who eventually became the speaker of the state assembly.
(vee-uh-ray-GOH-suh) is running against longtime city attorney Jim Hahn, whose family has created a local political dynasty.
The race between the two Democrats has featured negative campaign ads, with both spending a total of 13- million dollars since the primary.
(------------)


[D-Day]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=01-09 2:01:27]
[GRAPHIC=D Day Memorial]

The city of Bedford is bracing for what could be the biggest party the city has ever seen.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford]


Close to 20- thousand people are expected to attend tomorrow's dedication of the national D-Day Memorial.
If you're one of them, officials say you'd better show up early if you want to get in.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 14:04:13]
[IN Q=The cutoff point]

((RICHARD BURROW/D-DAY FOUNDATION DIRECTOR: THE CUT-OFF POINT IS.. ...20- THOUSAND PEOPLE ON THIS SITE.))
[SUPER=01-Richard Burrow/D-Day Foundation Director]
[RUNS=13]
[OUT Q=on this site.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Crews were still putting the finishing touches on the site yesterday.
Part of President Bush's advance team also was on site working out the logistics of his speech.
The ceremony gets underway at 11:30 tomorrow.
(------------)



[DDay-Promo]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=D-Day Memorial]


We hope you will join us for our extended coverage of the National D-Day Memorial dedication.
(+++++++)

[Take Pinnacle FS 2502]
We'll begin with News 7 at 5 and 6, live from the Memorial today. [Nex FS 2503]
Then we invite you to join us at 11:00 tomorrow morning for "Their Sacrifice, Our Freedom" .. live coverage of the dedication ceremony. [Next FS 2506]
And we'll complete our special D-Day coverage tomorrow with a 90-minute edition of News 7 from 5 until 6-30.
(++++++++)

[tease3] [SPORTS MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

Coming up, New Jersey be-devils the Avalanche, and a Virginia Tech star goes home for a bit of history.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT ]

and it's full steam ahead for Roanoke's arena football team. We'll catch up with the fast- rising Steam in just a minute.
(---------------)

[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #3]


[S-NHL]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-99 311tc]
[GRAPHIC=STANLEY CUP]


The New Jersey Devils are one win away from going back-to-back with the Stanley Cup. Last night the Devils again smothered the Avalanche and posted a 4-to-1 win in game five on the Avs' home ice.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Denver, CO/ABC; :00]

After playing even in the first part of the opening period, Alexander Mogilny broke the one-all tie with the shot from the right side.
It goes right between the pads AND the legs of keeper Patrick (wah) Roy. It was 2-to-1 at that point. Then at the 15:21 mark of the second period, Sergei (SER-gay) Brylin (BREE-lin) deflects the high, hard one from outside into a low trickler that rolls past (wah) Roy to make it a 3-to-1 game.
[super=31-New Jersey/4/Colorado/1/Devils Lead 3-2;]

And that was all the Devils would need as they win it 4-to-1, and lead the series 3 games to 2.
(------------)


[S-Steam]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-96 3910TC]
[GRAPHIC=STEAM]


The Roanoke Steam - winners of four straight games in the Arena 2 league, were back on the practice field inside the Roanoke Civic Center last night.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]

and what a difference a month makes for this team... In early May the team was headed nowhere in a hurry. Then coach Steven Jerry brought in 10 new players, and more importantly, a new attitude. Now the team is 5-and-4 on the season.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=We've just...]
[SUPER=01-Steven Jerry/Roanoke Steam Head Coach; :00]
[RUNS=21]
[OUT Q=...TO GAMES."]
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[GRAPHIC=steam]

The Steam will be on the road again this weekend, traveling to Louisville to take on the Fire, a team that's also been on a winning streak.

[S-Noel]


[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=sp-98 tc 1:52:16]
[GRAPHIC=vt football]


Grant Noel got a real taste of what it means to be a college quarterback off the field yesterday, when he faced a full blitz from children at his old elementary school in Low Moor.
Denise Allen was in Alleghany County for Noel's homecoming.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Low Moor; :06]
[SUPER=01-Grant Noel/Virginia Tech Quarterback; :23]
[SUPER=01-Alpha "Granny" Averill/Grant's Great Grandmother; :34]
[SUPER=01-Susan Rice/Grant's Kindergarten Teacher; :45]
[RUNS=1:51]
[OUT Q=news 7 sports]
(((///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=nat sot]

(())
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=]


Averill's store is a familiar stomping ground for Grant Noel.
It's run by his grandparents and 94 year old great grandmother.
A popular lunch spot in Low Moor, it's also right across the street from Central Elementary.
The Virginia Tech quarterback went to kindergartner there in 1984.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]

(())
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]

(())
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=nat sot]

(())
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=]


Grant was a part of a special day at his old school.
A 25 year old time capsule was unearthed and its contents shared with students during an assembly.
Many of the kids and adults as well, donned Tech shirts. It was clear they were waiting to hear from Grant.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]

(())
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]

(())
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]

(())
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=]


The school closes at the end of the week and the students will go to a new elementary school next year.
But Granny and her children will continue to run Averill's, so Grant is sure to keep coming back to Low Moor.
Denise Allen News 7 Sports. ))
(-------------------)


by SS