WDBJ 7 news at Noon for 01/10/03

[News-Heads]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

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

Authorities in California feel they're getting closer to solving the case of a missing pregnant woman.
Their search is focused at the marina where her husband fished the day she disappeared.
(-----------)
[ANCHOR=KIMBERLY]

And thousands more Marines are heading out to the Persian Gulf.
[WX-Head]
[ANCHOR=LEO]
[SS=None]
Cold weather makes a big return especially for the weekend. I'll have your forecast.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=KIMBERLY 2-Shot]

News 7 at Noon starts right now...

[Deployment]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=Net]
[GRAPHIC=News 7 at Noon]

More military personnel are on their way the Persian Gulf.
This time, the Pentagon has ordered seven- thousand Marines from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina to the region.
The deployment includes aircraft, infantry, tanks and amphibious vehicles.
About a-thousand Marines are already in the Persian Gulf.
The Marines have canceled several sets of training exercises to prepare for the deployment.

[Iraq]

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

With war preps continuing, the head of the U-N's nuclear weapons inspection agency is meeting with the Bush administration.
This comes right on the heels of the chief weapon's inspector saying they do NOT have a smoking gun that proves Iraq
has nuclear, chemical or biological weapons.
Teri Okita reports.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Washington, DC;]
[SUPER=03-Baghdad, Iraq;]
[SUPER=01-Abdel-Aziz Al-Rantissi/Hamas Leader;]
[SUPER=01-Teri Okita/CBS News;]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=Okita, CBS News, Washington.]
((
THE HEAD OF THE U-NS NUCLEAR INSPECTIONS AGENCY SAYS HIS TEAMS NEED MORE TIME AND MORE INTELLIGENCE FROM THE U-S AND OTHER COUNTRIES SO HES TAKING HIS CASE TO WASHINGTON.
IN HIGH LEVEL TALKS WITH SECRETARY OF STATE COLIN POWELL AND NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER CONDOLEZZA RICE, MOHAMED EL-BARADEI MAY DISCUSS WAYS TO GAIN MORE ACCESS TO IRAQI SCIENTISTS WHO HAVE INFORMATION ABOUT BANNED WEAPONS PROGRAMS.
TRACK: U-N INSPECTORS DROVE TO THREE SITES NEAR BAGHDAD TODAY. A BRITISH DOSSIER FROM LAST SEPTEMBER CLAIMS ONE OF THE THREE FACILITIES MAY BE DEVELOPING MISSILES TO CARRY CHEMICAL OR BIOLOGICAL WARHEADS.
INSPECTORS ALSO SEARCHED A PHARMACEUTICAL PLANT AND TWO STATE-RUN STORES, BUT AS IN THE PAST, INSPECTORS WOULDNT COMMENT ON WHAT THEY FOUND.
TRACK: BUT ONE DAY AFTER THE CHIEF INSPECTOR SAID THEYVE FOUND NO SMOKING GUN YET, IRAQIS ARE SHOWING THEIR DEFIANCE IN THE FACE OF A POSSIBLE WAR. WHILE PEOPLE PRAYED, ONE MOSQUE LEADER ADDRESSED THE CROWD.

(NATSD UP FOR A COUPLE SECONDS OF ARABIC)

TRACK: HE SAYS THEY HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE: ONE OF TWO: EITHER TO GET VICTORY OVER AMERICA AND JEWS OR MARTYRDOM.
TRACK: AND IN A REFUGEE CAMP IN THE GAZA STRIP, THOUSANDS OF SUPPORTERS OF THE MILITANT PALESTINIAN GROUP, HAMAS, RALLIED AGAINST U-S PREPARATIONS FOR WAR SHOUTING "DEATH TO AMERICA" AND "VICTORY FROM JERUSALEM TO BAGHDAD".

(Super: Abdel-Aziz Al-Rantissi/Hamas Leader)
SOT: (This is) against the policy of America, the aggression of America,
the oppression of America to our brothers in Iraq.

(Super: Teri Okita/Reporting)
STANDUP: There is a break for the U.S. Turkey has granted permission for the U-S military to inspect its ports and airfields ... as a possible staging area for war. Turkey has yet to make a decision on whether it will definitely allow American troops in, but the Pentagon sees this as a positive first step. Teri Okita, CBS News, Washington.
))

[North-Korea]

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

North Korea is now warning of a "Third World War."
That statement after the communist nation pulled out of the global nuclear arms control treaty.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Santa Fe, New Mexico;]

But in the midst of the tough talk, North Korea is HOLDING talks with New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, who used to serve as a U-N ambassador.
[SUPER=04-File Tape;]

Meanwhile, U-S officials say they're not surprised by North Korea's withdrawal from the nuclear treaty.
They say North Koreans have been violating the treaty for years.
The White House says President Bush intends to continue pursuing "steady, steely diplomacy."
(------------)

[Missing-Woman]

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

In California, police hope they're getting close to a break-through in the case of missing pregnant woman.
Scott Rapoport has the latest.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Berkeley, CA;]
[SUPER=01-Roy Wasden/Modesto Police Chief;]
[SUPER=01-Susan Caudillo/Scott Peterson's Sister;]
[SUPER=01-Scott Rapoport/CBS News;]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=rapoport, for CBS News, New York.]
(( Narr: Could these rough waters in berkeley, california... hold the key to the baffling disapperance of 27 year old Laci Peterson...a pregnanant woman missing since Christmas Eve. That's the question cops and search divers are probing ...while remaining tite lipped.

SOT: Chief Roy Wasden/Modesto Police Chief
"at this point...the best we can do to make sure the information is accurate is to describe accurately where were at.
Narr:Modesto police say a sonar search of the Berkeley marina waters overnight...revealed a "suspicious object" -- possibly a human body. but bad weather forced fatigued divers to suspend the search until the weekend.

nat/sot

Narr:It is the first hint of a clue in the 2 and a half week search for laci peterson...who was eight months pregnant...when she vanished on december 24th... her dog found walking alone in the neighborhood...her car still parked in her driveway. Her parents devestated.

nat/sot Laci's father/Dad ("please let us have her back")

Laci's husband Scott Peterson...who reported her missing...says he was on a fishing trip at the berkeley marina that day...but a week after police displayed pictures of his pick-up and boat...no one has come forward to back up his story. Police have not labled Peterson a suspect...however...

SOT: Chief Wasden
"Scott has not been eliminated from the invstigation."
Narr; This morning...Scott sister ...says she understands the police need to question the family ....including her brother.

SOT: Susan Caudillo / Scott Peterson's sister
"we are patient....understand police need to do a thorough job and we are fine with that"
Narr:Police say divers will resume their search of these waters on Saturday...determined to discover precisely...what lies beneath. Scott Rapoport...for cbs news...new york.
))

[DirecTV]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=03-03]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Customers of DirecTV in our region should be getting local channels by the end of June. The satellite TV company says it plans to add the service in close to fifty new markets by the end of the year. The first twenty markets to be serviced in the next six months include Richmond and Roanoke.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :04]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
A local satellite TV dealer says customers will be thrilled.
(///// SOT at :04 /////)
[SOT :42-1:02]
[IN Q=Now that one of the satellite providers...]
[SUPER=01-Matt Whitcomb/ACS Home Entertainment President;]
((MATT WHITCOMB/ACS HOME ENTERTAINMENT PRESIDENT: NOW THAT ONE OF THE SATELLITE PROVIDERS WILL BE CARRYING THAT WE LOOK TO SEE A MIGRATION OF PEOPLE FROM CABLE TO SATELLITE THAT HAVE BEEN WATIING FOR A LONG TIME.))
[RUNS=:20]
[OUT Q=waiting a long time.]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Mike Pedelty (PEDAL-tee), a spokesman for local cable provider Cox Communications, says the company's competed with DirecTV for years, and that cable has always been able to provide superior service.

[AM-Police-Chase]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=02-51 TC 42:15]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Authorities in Roanoke are investigating a police chase that resulted in an accident.
It began after undercover officers attempted to make a drug bust.
But investigators say the suspect fled instead, resulting in an accident that injured the suspect and another driver.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

The chase began at the corner of 21st Street and Moorman Avenue just after five o'clock yesterday afternoon.
It ended four blocks away at the intersection of 19th Street and Orange Avenue.
Officers say that is where the driver 42 year Christopher Powell ran a red light and crashed into a Chrysler New Yorker.
This is the fifth police chase in Roanoke since last April that resulted in an accident.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 7:57:57]
[IN Q=At this point]
((SHELLY ALLEY/ROANOKE POLICE SPOKESPERSON: AT THIS POINT, WE WILL CONDUCT A FULL INVESTIGATION INTO THE INCIDENT, INVESTIGATING THE PURSUIT LIKE WE DO ALL OUR PURSUITS AND INVESTIGATE THE TRAFFIC CRASH LIKE WE DO ALL TRAFFIC CRASHES. REPORTER: AND WHEN YOU SAY INVESTIGATE YOU WILL SEE WHETHER YOU GUYS WERE IN THE WRONG OR IF YOU GUYS WERE IN THE RIGHT? WE INVESTIGATE PURSUITS, EVERY PURSUIT WE HAVE WE DO AN INVESTIGATION.))
[SUPER=01-Shelly Alley/Roanoke Police Spokesperson;]
[RUNS=:20]
[OUT Q=to do an investigation]
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[VO-NAT]

Investigators declined to say how fast officers were going when the crash happened.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[SS=none]

The suspect Christopher Powell is in custody.
The driver of the other vehicle, 67 year old Clifton Jones, is listed in fair condition at Roanoke Memorial Hospital.
[Tease1] [HARD MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

Coming up after this break, a mother is accused of leaving her small children home alone for three weeks as she crosses the country for a blind date.
(--------------)
[VO-NAT ]

But first we will speak live with C-B-S Correspondent Jane Clayson. She has new information about the kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart.
(---------------)
[music up full] [comm1]

[48-Hours]

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

Nearly seven months have passed since 14- year Elizabeth Smart
(----------------------)
[SUPER=04-File Tape;]
was kidnapped at gunpoint from her bedroom in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The case has proven to be extra challenging to authorities, especially after the death of a potential suspect.
Tonight, "48 Hours Investigates" is airing an exclusive interview with Elizabeth's sister, the only eyewitness to the kidnapping.
(-----------------------)
[DOUBLE BOXES=Kimberly/Jane via Satellite]

Jane Clayson interviews Elizabeth's family, she joins us now with a preview.
Good Afternoon, Jane, it's a pleasure to talk with you.
[SUPER=01-Jane Clayson/"48 Hours Investigates" Correspondent;]

(Elizabeth has been missing for so many months now, is her family still holding on to any hope that she'll be found ali
ve?)

(There are also some new revelations as to how the kidnapping took place, apparently it didn't happen exactly as Elizab
eth's sister described it.)

(The police also gave you some information about a possible escape route the kidnapper took...)

(Why do you think her sister, Mary Katherine was ready to talk at this point?)

(The primary suspect in the case, Richard Ricci, died in August. Did that provide a major roadblock in the investigati
on?)

(And you also spoke with a neighbor of the Smarts, who say that Ricci also broke into her home...)

[ANCHOR=KIMBERLY]

Thanks so much for talking with us today, Jane.
Again, the segment, "Searching for Elizabeth" airs tonight on "48 Hours Investigates."

[Home-Alone]

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

An innocent plea has been entered on behalf of a New Jersey woman who's charged with child endangerment.
One boy was found dead, his two brothers were found starving last weekend in the home of Sherry Murphy, who was supposed to be taking care of the boys while their mother was in jail.
In another child abuse case, a mother in California is accused of leaving her two children home alone for weeks, so she could visit a man she met on the Internet.
Dave Lopez has that story.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Placentia, CA; :00]
[SUPER=01-Corrine Loomis/Placentia Police Department; :19]
[SUPER=01-Melissa Nordillo/Neighbor; :56]
[SUPER=01-Dave Lopez/Reporting; 1:20]
[RUNS=1:37]
[OUT Q=Dave Lopez, for CBS News]

[Tease2] [SOFT MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

Coming up next, Leo has our chilly forecast,
(-----------------)
[VO-NAT ]
Also we will tell you what was behind some tense moments last night in Salem.
(-----------------)
[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #2]

[11Leak-Gas]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=02-52 TC 1:15:50]
[GRAPHIC=none]

A natural gas leak caused some tense moments last night for a Salem neighborhood.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem]

Authorities say over-pressurization at the J-M Mason substation on Lakeside Circle created the leak and a lot of noise.
The incident happened around 10:30 last night.
Because of the wind, the gas could be smelled miles away.
The line was shut off quickly and no homes were evacuated.
(------------)

[Gas-Rates]

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

Meanwhile, natural gas costs are going up in Roanoke.
The State Corporation Commission approved the rate increase.
The two- point- three percent adjustment is less than Roanoke Gas requested, but it will add a dollar-seven a month to the average residential bill.
The S-C-C also approved a program that's designed to protect the company and its customers from wide fluctuations in gas bills.

[Stocks]

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

On Wall Street at Noon, the DOW has gained three points. The NASDAQ is UP nine.

[super=460-x/3/x/9;]

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

This is a good weekend for fans of arena cross and big trucks. We'll tell you why after the break.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT ]
Plus V-M-I loses one of its star athletes. We'll tell you where he is going in just a moment.
(---------------)
[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #3]

[S-Conley]

[ANCHOR=kim]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=sp-142 336tc]
[GRAPHIC=VMI]

Yesterday morning, VMI basketball star Jason Conley and his mother packed up his belongings and left school.
Conley has withdrawn from VMI.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lexington/This Season; :00]
Conley, the leading scorer in the nation a season ago, asked for his release from the Institute.
He was given permission to transfer to another school.
The six foot five inch guard from Maryland cited personal reasons for his departure.
Sources have told News 7 Sports that he's transferring to Missouri to play for Quin Snyder.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Bart Bellairs/VMI Head Basketball Coach; :00]
[RUNS=27]
[OUT Q=...we go on"]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Conley was leading the Southern Conference in scoring, knocking down 22 points a game.
He missed the last two contests with a foot injury.
VMI lost the last two games without Conley by an average score of 81- 52.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q=.....i'm encouraged"]
(------------------)

[S-Arenacross]

[ANCHOR=kim]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-141 16:18]
[GRAPHIC=Arenacross]

And don't race off just yet..
Motor-cross fanatics, do we have something for you.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]

Today, tomorrow, and Sunday, the Arenacross indoor racing circuit will dig up tons of dirt at the Roanoke Civic Center.
The Regional tour is making its second stop in the Star City, and fans will witness some exciting riding.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Billy Jurevich/Professional Arenacross Rider; :00]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=freestyle jump contest"]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Fans can win monster truck tickets and will watch professional and amateur riders compete in heats with 8 to 15 riders.
They will jump 30 feet in the air, and perform other stunts, as well.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=not race in the main event]
(------------)

[Quickcast]

[WXPRO/FULL] FINAL LOOK AT THE WEATHER
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