[News-Heads]

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

[VO-NAT]

A grateful family in West Virginia awaits the return of their daughter.
That, after the daring rescue of Private Jessica Lynch.
Plus, the latest on the progress of allied troops as they press on toward Baghdad.
(---------------)
[ANCHOR=KIMBERLY]

And, the World Health Organization announces a travel alert-- the first ever of its kind.
[WX-Head]
[ANCHOR=LEO]
[SS=None]
Get outside and enjoy this beautiful Spring weather as temperatures have already climbed into the 70s. How long will it last? I'll let you know in your forecast.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=KIMBERLY 2-Shot]

News 7 at Noon starts right now...

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[Video-Open]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Received a call last night]
((RECEIVED A CALL LAST NIGHT, A LITTLE AFTER 6 ...OF COURSE, MOM WAS EAR TO EAR WITH DAD TRYING TO FIGURE OUT GOOD NEWS OR BAD NEWS. AND COURSE THE GOOD NEWS CAME THROUGH AND ROOF GOT A LITTLE HIGHER AND DOOR A LITTLE LOOSER.))
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=got a little looser]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Relief and joy from the family of Army Private Jessica Lynch, after her rescue from an Iraqi hospital.
(------------)

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[Iraq]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=Net]
[GRAPHIC=News 7]
[SUPER=219-Kimberly McBroom/kmcbroom*wdbj7.com;]

Good Afternoon, I'm Kimberly McBroom.
[GRAPHIC=War with Iraq]

U-S special operations forces brought the 19- year- old soldier from West Virginia to safety yesterday.
She and her unit were captured a week and a half ago.
In other develoments, U-S ground forces are advancing on Baghdad from two directions.
It's believed that they've destroyed a division of Saddam Hussein's Republican Guard.
Teri Okita joins us now with more from Kuwait City.
[LIVE=NEWSPATH/FULL]
[SUPER=201-Teri Okita/CBS News;]
[SUPER=205-Kuwait City, Kuwait;]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=204-U. S. Army;]
[SUPER=201-Vincent Brooks/U. S. Central Command;]
[SUPER=201-John Kurtz/3rd Infantry Division;]
[SUPER=205-Kuwait City, Kuwait;]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=back to you.]

((
---
(SUPER: U.S. ARMY VIDEO)


(NATZ)

IT WAS A DARING RAID THAT WORKED PERFECTLY. SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES RESCUED AMERICAN P-O-W, JESSICA LYNCH, FROM AN IRAQI HOSPITAL IN NASIRAYAH ... AFTER MORE THAN A WEEK OF CAPTIVITY.

SOT: BRIG. GEN. VINCENT BROOKS/CENTRAL COMMAND
"PFC JESSICA, LYNCH. AT THIS POINT SHE IS SAFE, SHE'S BEEN RETRIEVED AND SOME BRAVE SOULS PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN."
ELEVEN BODIES WERE ALSO RECOVERED DURING THE MISSION AND TESTS ARE UNDERWAY TO DETERMINE IF THEY COULD BE MEMBERS OF LYNCH'S UNIT WHO ARE LISTED AS MISSING.

(NATZ OF TANK)

U-S COMMANDERS SAY OVERNIGHT BATTLES IN KARBALA AND AL KUT ARE AMONG THE MOST SIGNIFICANT TO DATE. THE ARMY'S 3RD INFANTRY DIVISION HAS BEEN FIGHTING REPUBLICAN GUARD UNITS NEAR KARBALA ... AIDED BY A HEAVY DOSE OF ARTILLERY.

(NATZ OF ARTILLERY FIRE)


SOT: SGT. JOHN KURTZ/3RD INFANTRY DIVISION
"IT KIND OF LIKE CLEARS THE WAY FOR US AND IF THEY HEAR IT COMING THEY SHOULD RUN, IF THEY DON'T THEY'RE DEAD, POINT BLANK."
TO THE EAST, MARINES HAVE CROSSED THE TIGRIS RIVER IN AL KUT ... DESTROYING THE REPUBLICAN GUARD'S BAGHDAD DIVISION IN THE PROCESS.

SOT: BROOKS
"THAT MEANS ITS LEADERSHIP IS BROKEN. IT MEANS SOME OF ITS' EQUIPMENT HAS BEEN DESTROYED." ))

---

[Jessica-Reax]

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

While her family and friends wait for her to come back home to West Virginia, rescued Army private Jessica Lynch is being flown to a military hospital in Germany.
Meanwhile, her older brother says he was always sure his sister was alive and well.
Jennifer Donelan has more.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=201-Dee Dee Lynch/Jessica's Mother;]
[SUPER=203-Nasiriyah, Iraq;]
[SUPER=201-Ahmad/Iraqi Pharmacist;]
[SUPER=201-Gregory Lynch, Sr./Jessica's Father;]
[SUPER=201-Gregory Lynch, Jr./Jessica's Brother;]
[SUPER=201-Jennifer Donelan/Reporting;]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=Donelan, CBS news.]
(( FAMILY AND A COUNTRY PRAYED FOR THIS....MISSING SOLDIER JESSICA LYNCH...ALIVE, OUT OF ENEMY HANDS, AND BACK IN THE CARE OF THE UNITED STATES.
THE 19 YEAR OLD'S FAMILY - ECSTATIC - THIS SMILE IS COMING HOME SOON.

SOT - DEE DEE LYNCH/MOTHER
"It was just so exciting, a whole different adrenaline feeling. it was wonderful"

(LOCATOR: NASIRIYAH)

SPECIAL FORCES RESCUED THE PRIVATE FIRST CLASS FROM AN IRAQI HOSPITAL. FIREPOWER LIT UP THE SKY AS A DIVERSIONARY TACTIC SO RAID TEAMS COULD GET INSIDE . THEY FOUND JESSICA, BUT SOURCES SAY SHE HAS MULTIPLE GUNSHOT WOUNDS, TWO BROKEN LEGS, AND A BROKEN ARM. AN IRAQI PHARMACIST SAYS HE TRIED TO COMFORT JESSICA WHILE SHE WAS IMPRISONED.

SOT - AHMAD/PHARMACIST
"Every day I see Jessica she's crying about her home. she want to go home."
HER FATHER GREGORY LYNCH HASN'T SPOKEN TO HIS WOUNDED DAUGHTER YET, BUT THERE IS FINALLY SOME PEACE.

SOT - GREGORY LYNCH/FATHER
"We know she is in the hospital being taken care of"

SOT - GREG LYNCH JR./BROTHER
"never questioned ...knew she was alive ..question is where was at
NOW THEY KNOW AT LEAST SHE IS SAFE AND SOON SHE'LL BE ON HER WAY HOME TO PALESTINE WEST VIRGINIA WHERE YELLOW RIBBONS FLY AND A GRATEFUL FAMILY WAITS. JENNIFER DONELAN, CBS NEWS. ))

---

[SARS-Warning]

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

The death count from Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, or SARS , has risen to 78 worldwide.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Hong Kong, China;]

That after 12 more deaths were linked to the mystery flu- like illness in China.
Health experts are now urging travelers to stay away from Hong Kong and a southern Chinese province at the center of the outbreak.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
((DR. DAVID HEYMANN/WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION: WE'VE DECIDED TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE PLANNING TRAVEL TO BOTH HONG KONG AND GUANGDONG, WHICH AS YOU KNOW IS ADJACENT TO HONG KONG, CONSIDER POSTPONING THEIR TRAVEL UNTIL ANOTHER TIME." ))
[SUPER=01-Dr. David Heymann/World Health Organization;]
[RUNS=:18]
[OUT Q=until another time.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

It's the first travel alert that the World Health Organization has ever issued for an illness with no known treatment or cure.
(------------)

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[Glass-Trip]

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

The ongoing health crisis in Asia and the war in Iraq mean a group of local theater students will "not" be making a trip to China in June.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg/February]

Forty-five students with the E.C. Glass High School drama department had planned to spend two weeks performing in China and Hong Kong.
But the recent outbreak of the "SARS" disease had organizers concerned about the health and safety of the students.
Principal Susan Morrison announced today the school was canceling the trip.
Glass would have been the first American high school students to perform in that country.
(---------------)

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[YWCA-Grant]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=03-13 4:18]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Every twelve days, a child in Virginia dies from abuse and neglect.
Every week, a Virginia teenager commits suicide.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

Those statistics have local violence prevention coordinators worried.
In Lynchburg, three community agencies have banded together to qualify for a grant that will help publicize their services.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 17:28:28]
[IN Q=I think it]
((SHEILA ANDREWS/YWCA DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION: I THINK IT WILL MAKE PEOPLE MORE AWARE. BECAUSE ANY TIME WE EVEN RUN A LETTER TO THE EDITOR OR ANYTHING IN THE PAPER WE GET MORE CALLS. SO I THINK PEOPLE WILL BE AWARE AND NOT SO AFRAID TO CALL THE HOTLINE BECAUSE IT'S A BIG, BIG DEAL TO CALL THE HOTLINE, OUR HOTLINE OR CRISIS LINE.))
[SUPER=01-Sheila Andrews/YWCA Domestic Violence Prevention]
[RUNS=16]
[OUT Q=or Crisis Line.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The four thousand dollar grant will pay for a month's worth of public service announcements on radio and television.
Mayor Carl Hutcherson also proclaimed April as Child Abuse Prevention Month in Lynchburg.
(------------)

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

Someone talking on a cell phone while driving may be responsible for an accident that killed four people. We'll have the details after the break.
(--------------)
[VO-NAT ]

Plus as the Supreme Court debates the merits of affirmative action, we'll look at a different plan used by two large states.
(---------------)
[music up full] [comm1]

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[FL-AX]

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

Four women were killed when a collision sent their car plunging into a South Florida canal.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Miami, FL;]

A fifth woman is in critical condition.
Police say the women were carpooling home from work when they were hit by another vehicle.
The driver of the other car was talking on a cell phone when the accident happened.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=We saw the thing]
((CHRISTIAN HERNANDEZ/WITNESS:WE SAW THE THING, THE LADY, THE CAR, AND THE WHOLE CAR GOING INTO THE CANAL AND WE JUST JUMPED IN TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO, BUT WE CAN DO NOTHING. ))
[SUPER=01-Christian Hernandez/Witness;]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=can do nothing.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Rescue divers recovered the women, who were all still trapped inside the car.
(------------)

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[VOB-Shepard]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=net R]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Five years ago a 21 year old University of Wyoming student was beaten to death because of his sexual orientation. But despite the passage of time, Matthew Shepard's mother remains committed to speaking against discrimination on all levels.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;]
Last night, Judy Shepard brought her message of acceptance to Virginia Tech. She was invited to speak by the group known as "The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Alliance" which also invited members of Tech's Board of Visitors to attend. The group extended the invitation after the Board of Visitors recently revised the university's non-discrimination clause, removing protection for gays, lesbians and bisexuals.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 00:03:32]
[IN Q=A lot of them ]
[SUPER=01-Justin Wienckowski/Student;]
((JUSTIN WIENCKOWSKI/STUDENT: A LOT OF THEM ARE NOT AS DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN THIS COMMUNITY AS THEY SHOULD BE SOME OF THEM ARE BUSINESS OWNERS, WHO DO NOT LIVE LOCALLY SO BY INVITING THEM TO SEE A PORTION OF THIS COMMUNITY THAT THEY DON'T INTERACT WITH MUCH, BUT THAT FORMS... AND LEARN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT SEXUAL MINORITIES HAVE TO FACE.))
[RUNS=21]
[OUT Q=have to face.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
A number of people attended the speech-- so it's unclear whether any members of the board of visitors were in the crowd.
(--------)
[anchor=Kimberly]
[ss=none]
A university spokesman says the board was following the advice of Attorney General Jerry Kilgore when it changed the policy.

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[Sanchez-Schools]

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

The Supreme Court should decide by July if an affirmative action program at the University of Michigan is Constitutional.
While colleges in many states have admission procedures similar to Michigan's, those in two very large states do not. Colleges in Texas and California do not consider race when giving admission slots to top high school students. And as Elizabeth Sanchez reports, opinions differ on how well diversity holds up.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Austin, TX; :05]
[SUPER=01-Greg Esparza/Student; :16]
[SUPER=01-Bruce Walker/University of Texas; :43]
[SUPER=01-Elizabeth Sanchez/CBS News; :53]
[SUPER=01-Pascale Belizaire/Student; 1:05 VERY QUICK***]
[SUPER=01-Doug Laycock/University of Texas Professor; 1:09]
[SUPER=01-Kelsey Stokes/Student; 1:28]
[RUNS=1:49]
[OUT Q=Sanchez, CBS News Austin]
(( While the Supreme court puts Affirmative Action to the test .states like Texas are being closely watched. Nearly 35 percent of the students at the University of Texas are minorities, but they didnt get here under an affirmative action plan.
Sot Greg Esparza, student Theres something to be said about it because it gives you a chance to really cash in for your accomplishments in high school.
Track: Texas, California and Florida have banned race conscious admission policies and replaced them with percentage plans guaranteeing admission to students based on their high school class rank.

SOT Dr. Bruce Walker, University of Texas
It has worked to the degree that it can work and were close to the same levels of diversity that we were in 1996.
Stand up: Critics of percentage plans say they are not a substitute for affirmative action. They say they rely on segregation in high schools and although it may work in Texas it may not work in all states.

SOT: Pascale Belizaire, student
Theres been a slight increase but I dont think its increasing fast enough.

SOT. Prof. Doug Laycock, Univ. of Texas
Its all we have in a world without affirmative action but it is a terrible plan. Its a step towards lower admission standards and very much distorted admission standards.
Track: Like at the Supreme Court, the topic continues to be debated on campus some dont want a percentage plan or affirmative action.

SOT: Kelsey Stokes, student
I think affirmative action is reverse descrimination and it should be equal for everybody.
Track; ...Equal for everyone....but the question is how to achieve that. Here in Texas ...they say the answer lies in percentages. If your in the top percentage of you high school class...then your a winner. Elizabeth Sanchez, cbs news, Austin. ))
[Tease2] [SOFT MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]

Coming up next on the newscast,
(-----------------)
[VO-NAT ]
we will tell you how some Americans are letting their patriotism get under their skin.
(-----------------)
[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #2]

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[Patriotic-Tattoos]

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

Some people have found a PERMANENT way to show their support for U-S troops.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Champaign, IL;]

Tattoos are taking on a red, white, and blue flavor across the country.
Requests for patriotic tattoos have been surging since the war began.
People are getting everything from the basic stars and stripes to screaming eagles.
Tattoo artist Ron Rawhoof has friends who are Marines.
He says he believes that troops in Iraq are fighting for his right to artistic freedom.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=There are kids]
((RON RAWHOOF/TATTOO ARTIST: THERE ARE KIDS OVER THERE YOU KNOW? SO THEY WANT TO SHOW THEIR SUPPORT THAT WAY.))
[SUPER=01-Ron Rawhoof/Tattoo Artist;]
[RUNS=:05]
[OUT Q=support that way.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The patriotic tattoos can cost anywhere from 50 to 500 dollars.
(------------)

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[Stocks]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly 2-Shot]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE# none]
[GRAPHIC=None]

On Wall Street at Noon, the DOW was UP 227 points. The NASDAQ has gained 48.

[super=460-x/227/x/48;]

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

Coming up in sports, the Martinsville speedway revs up for a truck-cup double header....
(----------------)
[VO-NAT ]
and It's back to the drawing board for Virginia Tech's athletic director.
(---------------)
[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #3]

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[S-Nascar]

[ANCHOR=kim]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=twe]
[TAPE#=SP-142 TC10301]
[GRAPHIC=Martinsville Speedway]
The Martinsville Speedway is all set for a huge Truck-Cup doubleheader weekend on April 12th and 13th. A number of teams tested at the track yesterday, while some others checked out a place they hope they NEVER have to visit.
Travis Wells has our story.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Martinsville; :00]
[SUPER=01-Kyle Petty/Georgia Pacific Dodge Driver; :26]
[SUPER=01-Clay Campbell/Martinsville Speedway President; :42]
[SUPER=@travis1; 1:12]
[SUPER=01-Ricky Craven/2001 Old Dominion 500 Winner; 1:19]
[RUNS=1:37]
[OUT Q=News 7 Sports."]
((Eight drivers took testing turns around the half mile Martinsville Speedway on Tuesday. Not among the drivers behind the wheel was Kyle Petty, who is still recovering from two cracked ribs suffered in a crash at Bristol on March 23rd. Like most drivers, Petty can appreciate the value of a quality health care facility at the track. Which is why the unveiling of a new infield care center at Martinsville is big news.
Kyle: Clay:
Travis: While the new facility is a definite improvement, it would be hard to improve on the competition level at Nascar's shortest track. In the past eleven races here, there have been eleven different winners.
Ricky:
The Virginia 500 takes the green flag a week from Sunday. At the Martinsville Speedway, Travis Wells, News 7 Sports.))

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[S-Baron]

[ANCHOR=kim]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=sp-148 2427tc]
[GRAPHIC=tech hoops]
The Virginia Tech head basketball coaching search rolls on this afternoon without a coach. 24 hours after he was talking about how flattered he was to be considered for the Tech job -
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Kingston, RI; :00]
Jim Baron was patting his agent Rob Ades (A-DEES) on the back, and celebrating a new contract that will keep him at Rhode Island through 2013. Baron is getting a big raise and a commitment from the University to improve the weight room, do a complete renovation of the basketball offices, improve the academic advising facility, and purchase video editing equipment. The University says officially the new deal will give him a total package worth $430 thousand a year. In short, Baron played the Hokies against the Rams, and came out smelling like a rose.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=kim]
[GRAPHIC=EVERHART]
As for where Tech turns now - Former Hokie Ron Everhart would like the job.
Everhart has turned two programs around at McNeese State and Northeastern. He was an assistant at VMI, Tulane and Georgia Tech, and he played at DeMatha. Both Frank Beamer and Dell Curry have spoken on his behalf.
And while it's being reported that he just signed a new two year contract extension at Northeastern, News 7 Sports has learned he has not signed anything at this time.

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[S-UNC]

[ANCHOR=kim]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-141 11045tc]
[GRAPHIC=acc]

The ACC suffered its second coaching casualty since the end of the season, as Matt Doherty resigned yesterday at North Carolina with three years left on his contract.
This also comes just 2 years after he was named college basketball's coach of the year.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=THIS IS AN...]
[SUPER=01-Dick Baddour/UNC Athletic Director; :00]
[SUPER=01-James C. Moeser/UNC Chancellor; :31]
[RUNS=1:02]
[OUT Q=...GET DUE CONSIDERATION."]
(-----------)

[Quickcast]

[WXPRO/FULL] FINAL LOOK AT THE WEATHER
[REPRS@CL] SUPER=X4031; Fax/Copyright Noon/Weekends [SUPER=X4030; e-Mail/Copyright Noon/Weekends]