[News-Heads]

[ANCHOR=Marya]

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

On News 7 at Noon, the President will unveil a plan to give the smallpox vaccine to all Americans.
(-----------)

and a military helicopter crashes in Honduras... the military isn't talking about casualties yet, but some reports say five soldiers are dead.
[WX-Head]
[ANCHOR=Brent]
[SS=None]

A mix of sun and clouds make up your Thursday weather story. But the sunshine and warmer temperatures won't last much longer...I'll have the wet details coming up.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Marya 2-Shot]

We will have that and an interview with singer Randy Travis.
News 7 at Noon starts right now...

---

[Iraq]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=Net]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A report out today says the Bush administration has evidence of a link between Al-Qaeda, Iraq and chemical weapons.
Iraqi officials dismiss the report as "ridiculous."
Teri Okita has the details on that... plus the latest on U-N weapons inspections.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It could be]
[SUPER=01-Hossam Mohammed Amin/Iraqi Military;]
[SUPER=01-Donald Rumsfeld/U. S. Secretary of Defense;]
[SUPER=01-Teri Okita/CBS News;]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=TO, CBS News, Washington.]
(( TRACK: IT COULD BE THE FIRST, SOLID EVIDENCE THAT IRAQ AND THE AL-QAEDA TERRORIST GROUP ARE DOING BUSINESS. ACCORDING TO THE WASHINGTON POST, THE WHITE HOUSE HAS A CREDIBLE REPORT THAT ISLAMIC EXTREMISTS WITH TIES TO AL-QAEDA RECEIVED A CHEMICAL WEAPON IN IRAQ THIS FALL. THE NEWSPAPER SAYS THE CHEMICAL COULD HAVE BEEN THE NERVE AGENT, V-X SMUGGLED INTO IRAQ THROUGH TURKEY.
BUT US OFFICIALS TELL CBS NEWS THE INCIDENT NEVER HAPPENED.
TRACK: AND A SENIOR IRAQI GENERAL DISMISSES THE REPORT:

SOT Lt. Gen. Hossam Mohammed Amin:
They know very well we have no prohibited substances."
TRACK: VISITING U-S TROOPS STATIONED IN NEARBY QATAR, DEFENSE SECRETARY DONALD RUMSFELD, SAID, WHILE HE HASNT READ THE POST ARTICLE, HE HAS SEEN OTHER INFORMATION THAT SUGGESTS IT COULD BE HAPPENING. AND HE REMINDED THE TROOPS OF THEIR MISSION AT HAND.

(Super: Donald Rumsfeld/Defense Secretary)
SOT: Our task is to disrupt the terrorist network, to deal with states
that are providing a haven for terrorists and terrorist networks, to do everything humanly possible to see that they do not get their hands on chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons.
TRACK: AT THE SAME TIME, U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS COMBED SIX SUSPECT SITES NEAR BAGHDAD TODAY, INCLUDING THIS ABANDONED FACTORY OWNED BY THE ARAB COMPANY FOR ANTIBIOTICS. THERES NO WORD ON WHAT THEY FOUND.

(Super: Teri Okita/Reporting)
STANDUP: The inspectors are now in the third week of their mission and have intensified their searches since Iraqs declaration was handed over last Saturday. Teri Okita, CBS News, Washington.))

---

[Smallpox]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=Net]
[GRAPHIC=Noon]

The smallpox vaccine will soon be available to all Americans.
On Friday, the President is expected to announce a plan that would first vaccinate 500-thousand military personnel.
Aleen Sirgany reports.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Dr. Martin Blaser/Infectious Disease Specialist; :54]
[SUPER=01-Meg Gifford/University of Maryland Junior; 1:10 SECOND TIME]
[SUPER=@Sirgany1; 1:21]
[RUNS=1:35]
[OUT Q=CBS NEWS, WASHINGTON]
((PRESIDENT BUSH IS ABOUT TO UNVEIL AN AMBITIOUS PLAN TO REINTRODUCE THE SMALL POX VACCINE -- ONE THAT WILL EVENTUALLY MAKE IT AVAILABLE TO ALL AMERICANS. WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS SAY HALF-A-MILLION MILITARY PERSONNEL WILL GET THE SMALLPOX VACCINATIONS FIRST ... IN CASE OF A BIOTERRORISM ATTACK. NEXT IN LINE -- MILLIONS OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL WORKERS AND RESPONSE TEAMS AROUND THE COUNTRY. AND BY 2004, THE VACCINE WILL BE OFFERED ON A VOLUNTARY BASIS TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
(NAT)
ERADICATED WORLDWIDE IN 1980, SMALLPOX IS HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS AND KILLS A THIRD OF ITS VICTIMS. BUT BRINGING BACK THE VACCINE IS ALSO RISKY. FOR EVERY MILLION SHOTS ADMINISTERED, TWO TO THREE PEOPLE WILL LIKELY DIE. SEVERAL OTHERS WILL SUFFER LIFE-THREATENING COMPLICATIONS. RESEARCHERS TOLD CBS NEWS LAST WEEK THEY ARE NOW TESTING THE VACCINE'S SIDE EFFECTS ON A NEW GENERATION.
(SOT-DR. MARTIN BLASER, CHAIRMAN, DEPARTMENT OF MEDICINE AT NYU MEDICAL CENTER, INFECTIOUS DISEASE SPECIALIST)
IF WE VACCINATE A HALF MILLION PEOPLE WE'LL LEARN SOMETHING ABOUT THE LOGISTICS, THE MEDICAL COMPLICATIONS,
(SOT - Meg Gifford -- Junior, University of Maryland)
"I was pretty miserable for about 2 days." MEG GIFFORD RECENTLY PARTICIPATED IN A UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND STUDY.
(SOT - Meg Gifford -- Junior, University of Maryland)
"My pock mark took right away and I got a little bit of a fever, it got swollen, the lymph nodes on my left side got swollen." BUT DOCTORS SAY THE REACTIONS ARE SIMILAR TO THOSE EXPERIENCED BY PATIENTS DECADES AGO.
(STANDUP)
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS ALSO WORKING ON AN EDUCATION PROGRAM TO HELP PEOPLE DECIDE WHETHER TO GET VACCINATED. PRESIDENT BUSH IS EXPECTED TO FORMALLY ANNOUNCE HIS PLAN THIS FRIDAY. ALEEN SIRGANY, CBS NEWS, WASHINGTON.))

---

[Helicopter-Crash]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A U-S military helicopter crashed in Honduras last night -- but a spokesman isn't saying what the status of the crew is.
Radio reports out of Honduras quote police as saying all five U-S soldiers aboard were killed.
The Black Hawk went down during a training exercise.
The military is calling it an accident, but says its still under investigation.

---

[Burrow]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mjo/ssm]
[TAPE#=02-41 TC1:18:27]
[GRAPHIC=Nat. D-Day Memorial]

The former director of the National D-Day Memorial Foundation begins mounting his defense to fraud accusations today.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

Federal prosecutors rested their case against Richard Burrow after four days of testimony.
Yesterday, former members of the foundation's board of directors testified they were kept in the dark about the financial problems until it was too late.
Prosecutors claim Burrow got bank loans based on undocumented pledges and drove the memorial into debt.
Burrow's lawyers say their client was up front about everything and that things only got behind in the rush to complete the memorial before its June, 2001 dedication.
(------------)

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

Coming up next on the newscast, a part of the World Trade Center is put into place for a local memorial.
(--------------)
[VO-NAT ]
Also, we'll see the faces behind a long-time Christmas tradition in the coalfields of Appalachia.
(---------------)
[music up full] [comm1]

---

[OVB-Memorial]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=02-46]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A piece of World Trade Center history now stands tall as a flagpole in Salem.
(------------)
[VO-NAT - :13.5]
[SUPER=03-Salem;]
Old Virginia Brick Company has memorialized the events of 9/11 with twin beams from the 33rd to the 36th floors of Tower One. The steel beams stand 36 feet tall, and were recovered from the rubble and shipped to Salem.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT - 8:08:34]
[IN Q=We did it to...]
((FLETCHER SMOAT/OLD VIRGINIA BRICK COMPANY; WE DID IT TO REMIND PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE TO REMAIN VIGILANT, WE HAVE TO SUPPORT OUR NATION'S INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES, OUR MILITARY SERVICES, THE PEOPLE WHO PROTECT US. THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO WANT TO DO HARM TO THIS COUNTRY, AND WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT.))
[SUPER=01-Fletcher Smoat/Old Virginia Brick Company;]
[RUNS=17]
[OUT Q=we have to remember that.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT - :11+]
In the next few months, workers will complete the base, and install a plaque honoring the victims of the attack. The memorial is open to the public, and a formal dedication is set for this April.
(------------)

---

[Santa-Train]

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

The true meaning of Christmas can be found in the heart of Appalachia where hundreds of children enjoy a brighter holiday... thanks to a special train and a dedicated group of volunteers.
Harry Smith reports.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Patty Loveless/Singer; :49]
[SUPER=01-Rick Hamilton/Parent; 1:17]
[SUPER=01-Jeanette Blazer/Kingsport, TN Mayor; 1:46 QUICK]
[RUNS=3:46]
[OUT Q=want to come back.]

((TRAINS ARE COMMON IN THESE SMALL APPALACHIAN TOWNS. MOST GO UNNOTICED ... EXCEPT FOR TODAY. THIS TRAIN CARRIES PRECIOUS CARGO AND THE CHILDREN HERE WOULDN'T MISS IT FOR ANYTHING.

(dissolve to Santa walking down the hall)


(nat sound )

"ho, ho ho, Merry Christmas!"
SANTA IS THE HONORARY PASSENGER AND ON BOARD WITH HIM -- 15-TONS OF TOYS. FOR MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY, THE SANTA TRAIN HAS BEEN WINDING IT'S WAY THROUGH THE REMOTE HILLS AND VALLEYS OF APPALACHIA, BRINGING GOOD WILL AND EARLY CHRISTMAS CHEER TO ONE OF THE POOREST PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.

(nat)
"Santa!"
PEOPLE COME TO SEE SANTA OF COURSE, AND RECEIVE PRESENTS -- BUT THIS YEAR, THERE WAS AN EXTRA SURPRISE ......

(PATTY LOVELESS SOT)
"Seeing all those faces looking up at you // it's just a wonderful feeling // () and especially the people that work on the santa train and help santa out. There's a lot of great people here and a lot of good hearts"

(nat sound of patty's "santa train" song weave song throughout piece)
"xmas time and I can't wait, hurry momma don't be late, let's get down to the railroad tracks, santa train is coming back"
THIS IS COAL MINING COUNTRY ... AN AREA WITH A HISTORY OF ECONOMIC HARDSHIP. THINGS ARE BETTER NOW THAN THEY USED TO BE. BUT FOR MANY, JOBS AND MONEY ARE STILL SCARCE. THE SANTA TRAIN MEANS A LOT.

(SOT RICK HAMILTON t4 4:06:39)
"It's a good thing. I'm glad they do it, I'd say there's a lot of people around here that appreciate it"

(SOT DANIELLE MEADE t4 4:08:15)
"I think it's wonderful // because it gives to kids that are needy and kids that doesn't have a whole lot"
JASON VANCE USED TO WAIT FOR THE SANTA TRAIN WHEN HE WAS LITTLE -- NOW, HE'S SHARING THE SAME EXPERIENCE WITH HIS LITTLE GIRL.

(JASON SOT 4:22:56)
"it's just tradition, every year we always come, we can't never miss the santa clause train"
BUT IT TAKES A DEDICATED TEAM TO MAKE THE MAGIC ....

(JEANETTE BLAZIER SOT T1 Jeanette Blazier / Mayor of Kingsport)
"the volunteers who ride the rails that make this train happen work like trojans getting ready for it, they work for hours // (26:06) the people who do this are so dedicated"
PEOPLE LIKE DARRYL RICE ....

(DARREL RICE SOT t1 1:20:20)
"When you see // those little children // and when you hand them a present and see a smile on their face, if you come off the train without tears in your eyes, you're a better person that I am"
SANTA - IN - TRAINING DON ROYSTON'S LOGGED A LOT OF MILES, AND MEMORIES, OVER THE LAST 25 YEARS.

(DON ROYSTON SOT T3 3:23:02)
"this may be the only time they see santa // maybe some of them, the only thing they get for xmas"
AND THEN, THERE'S SANTA'S EXTRA SPECIAL HELPER ...

(REGINA SOT t3 3:01:37)
"they've named me the angel of the santa train"
REGINA SMITH HAS MADE IT HER MISSION TO ENSURE NO CHILD IS LEFT BEHIND WHEN THE TRAIN PULLS AWAY ....

(Regina and child nat sot 5:01:21)
"what are those tears for?"
... SHE MAKES SURE EVERYONE GOES HOME WITH A GIFT, AND A SMILE.

(DON ROYSTON SOT 3:19:36)
"she took it upon herself to find the child that was being missed in the back of the crowd"

(nat sot 7:21:31 regina with handicapped child)
"and you thought you weren't going to get anything today didn't you"
THIS IS REGINA'S NINTH YEAR ON THE TRAIN. SHE COLLECTS GIFTS YEAR-ROUND. MOST ARE DONATED, REGINA FINDS THE REST HERSELF.

(nat sot regina and savannah 5:09:34)
"It's your angel"
SAVANNAH CHURCH GETS SOMETHING SPECIAL EVERY YEAR ...

(nat sot savannah)
"thank you, i love ya"
WITH ALL THE TOYS GONE FROM THE TRAIN ... IT'S REGINA WHO'S LEFT WITH PERHAPS THE MOST VALUABLE GIFT ...

(REGINA SOT - READING LETTER FROM SAVANNAH)
"Regina, you're a wonderful person and an angel thanks for all you've done for all the kids Love Savannah and Tina"

(REGINA SOT - OPENING GIFT)

"It's a gorgeous angel, I can't cry I gotta get out and give these kids some toys, I can't be crying now"

(nat sound train whistle and song)

AS LONG AS THERE'S A SANTA TRAIN WITH TOYS TO DELIVER AND CHILDREN IN NEED .. YOU'LL FIND REGINA AND THE REST OF THE SANTA TRAIN VOLUNTEERS RIGHT HERE.

(REGINA SOT over broll BROLL OF HER HUGGING SAVANAH)
"It makes me feel that I've accomplished something and brought a smile to their face // all they say is thank you and that means a lot right there // it just touches your heart, you can't help but want to come back." ))
[Tease2] [SOFT MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Marya]
Coming up next on the newscast,
(-----------------)
[VO-NAT ]
we will speak live with country singer Randy Travis about his latest project.
(-----------------)
[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #2]

---

[Randy-Travis]

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

Country music artist Randy Travis has a new album out. And while he has remained popular over the years selling more than 21 MILLION albums and winning numerous Grammys and C-M-A Awards, record sales are not the leading motivation for his latest work.
[DOUBLE BOXES=Marya/Randy/satellite;]

For "Rise and Shine," he takes his inspiration from a source higher than the top of the Billboard charts.

Randy Travis joins us now live via satellite.
[LIVE=Randy /FULL]

You have been credited with bringing country music back to its traditional roots, but this album is considered more inspirational than simply country. What lead to the shift in the focus of your music?
This is your second Christian album, how are fans receiving the shift to gospel?
You've been doing a lot of acting roles ... is that your next career direction?
You wrote or cowrote several of the songs on this album. Which one has the most personal meaning for you?
You've been very open about you days as a troubled teenager. Did your faith play a part in turning your life around?
Your marriage.

[SUPER=01-Randy Travis/Singer;]

---

[Stocks]

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

On Wall Street at Noon, the half hour, the DOW was DOWN 57 points. The NASDAQ was down THREE.

[super=460-y/57/y/3;]

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

Coming up in Sports, we will see why a busy schedule has the Express feeling like it's skating on thin ice.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT ]
Plus, a local high school football team could have to forfeit all its wins.
(---------------)
[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #3]

---

[New-Jobs]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A company that makes communications components for the military is coming to Martinsville.
Axiom Technologies says it will create 250 jobs with a new 5 million dollar headquarters building and factory.
Governor Warner made the announcement this morning in Martinsville.
Axiom Technologies makes ceramic parts for use in communications equipment for the defense industry.
The governor says Virginia competed with Nevada and Maine for the project.

---

[S-Magna]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-138 10TC]
[GRAPHIC=FFE]

One of Friday Football Extra's top teams will likely have its championship season tarnished.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-Friday Football Extra; :00]
Magna Vista, the division four, Region Four champs who finished the regular season 9-and-1, captured the Piedmont district title and then lost last Saturday in state semi-finals, has informed the Virginia High School League that it used an ineligible player this season. The student-athlete in question violated the semester rule that says athletes cannot be enrolled more than 8 consecutive high school semesters. Magna Vista likely will have to forfeit all wins in which the player participated.
(------------)

---

[S-Express]

[ANCHOR=Marya]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-140 1:08]
[GRAPHIC=Express]

You would think with a season that lasts six months - you would NOT have to play games every other night in the month of December. But that has almost been the case recently for the Roanoke Express.
Steve Mason has more in Round House Wrap up.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=first audio]
[SUPER=@steve1; :00]
[SUPER=01-Perry Florio/Express Head Coach; :16]
[SUPER=01-Rick Kowalsky/Express Right Wing; :46]
[SUPER=01-Duncan Dalmao/Express Defenseman; 1:02]
[SUPER=01-Joe Dusbabek/Express Center; 1:26(QUICK!!!!)]
[SUPER=01-Dan Carlson/Express Center; 1:32]
[RUNS=1:49]
[OUT Q=..round house wrap up"]
(--------------)
((:)) ((:))
((The mash unit prompted Florio to call off practice Wednesday morning. The players went through voluntary workouts with weights. ((:)) ((:))
Through 25 games this season the Express is outscoring opponents 36 to 29 in the opening period. ((:))
Roanoke is seventh out of 27 ECHL teams in both the power play and the penalty kill. The Express is scoring on 22 percent of it's man up opportunities and is successful in killing off penalties 83 percent of the time.)) ((:)) ((:))
[REPRS@CL] SUPER=X4031; Fax/Copyright Noon/Weekends [SUPER=X4030; e-Mail/Copyright Noon/Weekends]