12:00-01

NOON-HEADLINES

TALENT=Melanie
SS=None
(----------------)
VO-NAT


A court appearance for the man accused of killing the Hodges family.
(----------------)


And another letter bomb is intercepted today.
(/////////////)
TALENT=Patrick


The sound of records breaking will be heard all across the Valley, as record warmth is pervasive today. We'll look at that, as well as the battle for the National Football Title coming up.
(/////////////)
ANCHOR=Melanie


Stick around, News 7 at Noon is next.

Bramblett


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=JoeD
TAPE#96-98
GRAPHIC=bramblett


A Roanoke County judge has ordered a mental competency evaluation for Earl Bramblett, the man accused of killing four members of a Vinton family.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Salem;


Bramblett is charged with capital murder and could face the death penalty if convicted.
SUPER=03-Vinton/August 1994;


He is accused of killing Blaine and Teresa Hodges and their two daughters in August of 19-94.
Today in court, Bramblett's attorneys asked for a psychiatric evaluation to determine if he is competent to stand trial.
And Bramblett told the judge he wants the case to move forward quickly.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=I just want

((EARL BRAMBLETT/DEFENDANT: I JUST WANT THIS TO BE FAST. LET'S GET TO A TRIAL.)) ((TERRY GRIMES/BRAMBLETT'S ATTORNEY: MR. BRAMBLETT WOULD LIKE FOR THIS TRIAL TO TAKE ABOUT A DAY AND FOR THE THING ALREADY TO HAVE BEEN OVER BY NOW, BUT THAT'S NOT REALISTIC.))
SUPER=01-Earl Bramblett/Defendant; :00
SUPER=01-Terry Grimes/Bramblett's Attorney; :07
RUNS=:13
OUT Q=not realistic.
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=hold


The trial is still scheduled to begin in mid- February, but the evaluation ordered today could force a delay.

IRA


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=MEL
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=none


Authorities in Northern Ireland have neutralized a large explosive device believed to have been planted by the Irish Republican Army.
The incident has created new worries that the I-R-A may be renewing its campaign of violence.
Tom Fenton reports.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=
SUPER=03-Belfast/Yesterday; :00
SUPER=01-Superintendent Mike Brown/North Ireland Police; :28
SUPER=03-London/File; :44
SUPER=01-Martin MCoukness/Sinn Fein; 1:00
SUPER=01-Tom Fenton/Reporting; 1:10
RUNS=1:25
OUT Q=CBS NEWS LONDON.

((
Northern ireland police accuse ira guerrillas of plotting to commit mass murder with the one thousand pounds of explosive in these plastic bags. the h0me made explosives were stashed in a booby trapped van left on the grounds of belfast castle. police say the ira planned t0 set it off on new year's eve, when the luxury hotel hotel was packed with guests. the plan, police believe, was to first lure security forces to the scene, and then blow them up.
SUPERINTENDENT MIKE BROWN, NORTHERN IRELAND POLICE: I FIND IT HORRIFYING ENOUGH THAT ANYBODY MIGHT WISH TO MURDER MY OFFICERS OR SOLDIERS./THIS WAS NO GAME. WE HAD A DEVICE HERE, AND A MASSIVE DEVICE, AND I HAVE DO DOUBTS OF THE INTENTIONS TO SET THAT DEVICE OFF AND CAUSE MASS MURDER AS A RESULT OF IT.
It could have been the most deadly terrorist action since the ira abandoned its ceasefire with the british government last february. since then, the ira has set off a string of bombs in england and northern ireland.
The hardliners in the ira and its political wing, sinn fein, appear to given up any hope of a deal with prime minister john maj0r's government.
MARTIN McOUKNESS, SINN FEIN: THIS PARTICULAR BRITISH GOVERNMENT'S ATTITUDE OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST TWO YEARS HAS LEFT MANY OF US IN THE NATIONALIST ISLAND OF THE OPINION THAT THE JOHN MAJ0R GOVERNMENT IS NOT GOING TO MOVE."
Reports published here say the ira is planning a series of spectacular terrorist attacks in the run-up to the british general election this spring. the ira failed this time, but the british government believes it will keep trying. Tom Fenton, cbs news, london.))

LETTER-BOMBS


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=MEL
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=none


Another letter bomb has turned up in Leavennworth, Kansas.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Washington DC;


That makes eight bombs sent since yesterday to a federal prison in Kansas and to the Washington offices of an Arabic newspaper.
All the bombs carried Egyptian postmarks.
None exploded.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=

7:16:24 ((WE CAN NOT DISCUSS THE COMPOSITION OF THE BOMBS THAT IS PERTINENT TO OUR ONGOING INVESTIGATION, I WILL SAY THAT THEY COULD KILL. ))
SUPER=01-Joe Gentile/Washington DC Police;
RUNS=:06
OUT Q=THEY COULD KILL.
(----------------)
VO-NAT


Officials are now warning the public to be on guard for suspicious packages.
(----------------)
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=none


Investigators say the bomb probe will include taking a close look at the prison's inmate population at Leavenworth.
The prison is home to one of the four men convicted in the 19-93 World Trade Center bombing.

Allen-Morrison


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=ssm
TAPE#96-100
GRAPHIC=Business Closing


One hundred or so Lynchburg workers are now unemployed.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Lynchburg;


Employees arrived at the Allen- Morrison company yesterday morning to find a letter explaining the plant was closed due to "cash flow" problems.
The workers have not been paid for the last two weeks.
They did reportedly receive a small Christmas bonus.
The shutdown caught city economic officials by surprise, but they expressed hope for the displaced employees.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 5:32:02
IN Q=It's a tragedy

((LEE COBB/LYNCHBURG ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: IT'S A TRAGEDY FOR ALL THOSE PEOPLE INVOLVED. FORTUNATELY FOR THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE, WE HAVE A RELATIVELY LOW UNEMPLOYMENT RATE RIGHT NOW, AND THE POTENTIAL TO ABSORB THOSE FOLKS INTO OTHER JOBS.. IF THAT'S WHAT THEY CHOOSE TO DO.. IS GREATER THAN IT WOULD HAVE BEEN FIVE OR SIX YEARS AGO WHEN OUR UNEMPLOYMENT RATE WAS SEVEN OR EIGHT PERCENT.))
SUPER=01-Lee Cobb/Lynchburg Economic Development; :00
RUNS=:21
OUT Q=seven or eight percent.
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=HOLD


Allen- Morrison had been in business in Lynchburg for more than 65 years.
Its president, Barney Reams, told News 7 yesterday he still hopes to find the financing to re-open the company in the near future.

DC8-Crash


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=spr
TAPE#96-103
GRAPHIC=Airborne Crash


Pilot error could be to blame for the devastating plane crash in Giles County last week.
And according to officials at the National Transportation Safety Board, that's the direction in which the investigation is now heading.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Giles Co./Last Week;


The Airborne Express, D- C- 8 crashed into a mountain side near Narrows on December 22nd.
A day later, investigators ruled out weather as a possible factor.
And the company overhauling the aircraft-- Triad Maintenance Corporation-- has been cleared of any wrong- doing... at least initially.
All six people aboard the plane were killed.
A final crash report might not be completed until the fall.
(----------------)



Plane-Crash


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=lba
TAPE#none
GRAPHIC=plane crash beechcraft


And another plane has crashed in Virginia killing all its occupants.
The twin-engine plane went down last night shortly after taking off from Chesapeake Municipal Airport.
Witnesses say the plane burst into flames after the crash.
All four people aboard were killed.

jewell


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=mel
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=jewell


Published reports today say it took half a million dollars to end Richard Jewell's threat of a libel suit against N-B-C.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=@File;


Today's Wall Street Journal also reports that Jewell is now taking other media Outlets to court.
His lawyers say he was libeled by being labeled a suspect in the bombing.
(----------------)



PACIFIC-WEATHER


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=MEL
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=flooding


Damage costs are rising along with flood waters in the west.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Reno, NV;


Nevada's governor estimates damage will be in the hundreds of millions of dollars in his state alone.
Seven inches of rain forced the Truckee River into the streets of Reno, closing casinos and the airport.
SUPER=03-Yuba Co., CA;


The flooding has forced up to 95-thousand from their homes in Northern California.
(----------------)

WIPE/WIPE/WIPE

EUROPE-COLD


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=MEL
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=WIPE/WIPE/WIPE
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-United Kingdom;

7:16:20
The death toll from a bitter cold snap in Europe now tops 200.
The cold wave which began eleven days ago has halted nearly all forms of transportation.
And Meteorologists forecast at least three more days of the icy conditions and further snowfalls.
(----------------)



Stoval


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=THa
TAPE#96-107
GRAPHIC=Legal Scales


A former South Boston police officer convicted of embezzlement will only have to spend 60 days in jail, instead of two years.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Halifax/File Tape;


A jury recommended a two year sentence for 42- year- old Larry Jerome Stoval when he was convicted last year.
But yesterday a judge changed the sentence to 60- days in jail.
Stoval was convicted of taking more than one thousand dollars seized in drug raids as well as misappropriating state police funds used for drug investigations.
The judge also ordered the former South Boston narcotics investigator to pay the money back and pay court costs.
(----------------)



Bedford-Sheriff


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=ssm
TAPE#96-102
GRAPHIC=State Police Investigation


A complaint of Police Brutality has State Police investigating the Bedford County Sherrif's office.
A Bedford resident says deputies roughed him up when he and others were arrested for disorderly conduct at a Smith Mountain Lake restaurant in June.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=04-File Tape;


David Fielder says he hit his head as Lieutenant John McCain pulled him from his car to make the arrest.
An internal investigation turned up no wrong- doing, but Lieutenant McCain himself asked state police to look into the matter, in his words "to put it to rest".
(----------------)



HOWARD


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=mel
TAPE#none
GRAPHIC=legal scales


A Plea agreement leads to five years in prison for Ronnie Lee Howard.
The 22- year- old pleaded no contest yesterday to holding two women at knifepoint outside their apartments.
He apparently let them go when they screamed.
Howard also pleaded guilty to breaking into a third woman's apartment.
A plea agreement kept Howard from facing a more serious charges of attempted rape.
All three incidents happened in June.

Gay-Marriage


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=equ
TAPE#96-104
GRAPHIC=Virginia State Seal


Same sex marriage is NOT an option in Virginia.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=@file;


Now, Abingdon Delegate Joe Johnson wants to make sure gay marriages from other states will not receive any legal recognition in Virginia.
SUPER=03-Richmond;


Governor George Allen says he'd sign that bill if it reaches his desk.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 03:10:37 tape two
IN Q=Yes I would.

((GOV. GEORGE ALLEN: YES I WOULD. Why? WELL I DON'T THINK YOU SHOULD RECOGNIZE A SAME SEX MARRIAGE AS THE SAME AS A NORMAL, REGULAR MARRIAGE.))
SOT 04:14:56

((DAVID PERRY/VIRGINIANS FOR JUSTICE: A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WOULD SUPPORT BILLS SUCH AS JOHNSON'S SAME SEX MARRIAGE BILL WILL SAY THAT THEY'RE NOT PREJUDICED AGAINST GAYS AND LESBIANS. THAT THEY'RE NOT TRYING TO PROMOTE BIGOTRY. AND I'D INVITE THEM TO PROVE THAT BY SUPPORTING OUR BILL TO ENHANCE PENALTIES FOR BIAS-MOTIVATED VIOLENCE FOR LESBIAN AND GAY VIRGINIANS.))
SUPER=@Allen
SUPER=01-David Perry/Virginians For Justice; :11
RUNS=:32
OUT Q=and gay marriages.
TALENT=Melanie
SS=None


The state of Hawaii is embroiled in a legal debate over allowing gay marriages.
It's NOT expected to be resolved before next year.

State-Budget


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=THa
TAPE#net (edit of 96-93)
GRAPHIC=State Seal


Danville voters had a chance to tell lawmakers how they'd like approximately 250- million dollars in excess revenue spent.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Danville;


Funding for schools, the mentally handicapped and disabled, as well as pay raises for state workers were among the ideas expressed.
Danville Mayor Linwood Wright also put in a request.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=We are

((LINWOOD WRIGHT/DANVILLE MAYOR:WE ARE GOING TO REQUEST FUNDING TO DEVELOP A SMALL BUSINESS INCUBATOR TO SERVE PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY AND THE CITY OF DANVILLE, AND ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS, HOPEFULLY WE CAN FOCUS THIS ON RELATIVELY HIGH TECH ISSUES PARTICULARITY SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT.))
SUPER=01-Linwood Wright/Danville Mayor; :00
RUNS=:20
OUT Q=software development.
(----------------)
VO-NAT


Another hearing is scheduled today in Norfolk.
(----------------)



Plaster


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=JoeD
TAPE#96-95
GRAPHIC=Plaster


Phil Plaster has a lot of ground to cover in the next two weeks, but the Patrick County Republican says he's up to the challenge.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Henry Co.;


Plaster is running for the 10th District House seat that Roscoe Reynolds left behind when he was elected to the State Senate.
On a swing through Carroll, Patrick, Henry and Pittsylvania Counties yesterday, Plaster said he will claim the seat one vote at a time.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 13:14:21
IN Q=We're organized

((PHIL PLASTER/R- HOUSE OF DELEGATES CANDIDATE: WE'RE ORGANIZED. WE CAME UP RUNNING FAST. WE'RE ORGANIZED AND I THINK WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO IT. WE'VE GOT A PLAN LAID ALREADY. COMMITTEES ARE ASSIGNED IN ALL FOUR LOCALITIES AND THEY'RE WORKING. I THINK IT'S ENERGIZED US.))
SUPER=01-Phil Plaster/(R) House of Delegates Candidate;
RUNS=:11
OUT Q=energized us.
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=HOLD


Plaster is a former member of the Patrick County Board of Supervisors. His opponent is a current member.
Plaster will face democrat Barnie Day in the special election January 14th.

Library


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=equ
TAPE#96-97
GRAPHIC=NONE


The public got its first look at Virginia's new State Library this morning.
Ellen Qualls got a preview with the Governor and Mrs. Allen yesterday.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=The Virginia
SUPER=03-Richmond; :00
SUPER=@Allen; :27
SUPER=01-Nolan Yelich/State Librarian; :54
SUPER=@Ellen1; 1:18
RUNS=1:34
OUT Q=Qualls, News 7, Richmond.


(( The Virginia State Library moved two blocks down Richmond's Broad Street... and picked up enough space for two side by side football fields to fit on each of its six floors.
In fact, its shelving, laid end to end, would stretch for 55 1/2 miles.
Governor Allen wanted to know if he brought his laptop, could he plug into the library's rapidly expanding computer archives?
Yes he can.
In fact it's encouraged.
SOT 03:07:03

((GOV. GEORGE ALLEN: COME TO THIS MUSEUM OF THE MIND AND BE EDUCATED. CAN BE ENTERTAINED...EVEN I CAN FIGURE SOME OF THESE THINGS OUT.))
RUNS=:15


The overwhelming crowd- pleaser is the architecture... the space.
NAT SOT 02:28:41

((GOV. ALLEN: BOY ISN'T THIS NICE? YOU KNOW WHAT ELSE IS GREAT IN HERE IS YOU HAVE NATURAL LIGHT.))
RUNS=:05


But the real reason for the move was for the books themselves.
SOT 03:43:41

((NOLAN YELICH: THE HVAC CONDITIONS IN THE OLD BUILDING WERE NOT AT THE LEVEL...SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS.))
RUNS=:12


And if the HVAC system's working... the books are dry.
A little too dry for the Governor.
NAT SOT 02:21:08

((THESE ARE TWO DREARY. VERY NICE LITERATURE. BUT IT'S NOT FOR PUBLIC READING.))
RUNS=:07



sot tape three 03:53:27

((IF THE 46 MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF ARCHITECTURE OR THE 85 MILLION OBJECTS STORED IN THIS LIBRARY INTEREST YOU, HERE'S NEWS YOU CAN USE. THERE ARE 97 FREE PARKING SPACES UNDER THE BUILDING. AND THEY'RE OPERATING ON SATURDAY HOURS. ELLEN QUALLS, NEWS 7, RICHMOND.))
runs=:17))


Citizens-Academy


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=ssm
TAPE#96-106
GRAPHIC=Lynchburg Seal


You can find out what it's like to be a police officer without becoming a cop yourself.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=04-File Tape


Starting in February, Lynchburg will offer its first "citizens police academy".
The eight- week course will take participants through the same kind of classroom and field training that police recruits go through.
It's designed to give residents a better understanding of the police officer's job and the criminal justice system.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 5:14:22
IN Q=We have not

((CAPT. GARY REYNOLDS/LYNCHBURG POLICE: WE HAVE NOT HAD REQUESTS BEFORE FROM THE STANDPOINT THAT ESSENTIALLY NO ONE IN THIS AREA WAS AWARE OF SUCH A THING, AND SO WE FEEL LIKE WE'RE BREAKING NEW GROUND WITH THIS IN LYNCHBURG AND THAT WE WILL PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR CITIZENS TO ATTEND AND PARTICIPATE IN THE TRAINING AND BASED UPON THE THE RESPONSE, WE HOPE THAT THIS WILL NOT BE A ONE- SHOT THING.))
SUPER=01-Gary Reynolds/Lynchburg Police; :00
RUNS=:27
OUT Q=a one-shot thing.
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=HOLD


Applications are now being accepted, and each person WILL undergo a criminal background check.
WEATHER
SUPER=300-68/54/W 12mph/29.80f/68/1997/ 4/1979;
SUPER=301-65/65/S 8mph/29.78f/71/1910/ 2/1887;

Forecasts
SUPER=X5000;
SUPER=330-Fair &/Very Mild/50-54/Partly Sunny/& Mild/62-66;
SUPER=331-Mostly Clear/Very Mild/50-54/Partly Sunny/Very Mild/64-68;
SUPER=332-Partly Cloudy/& Mild/48-52/Mostly Cloudy/Breezy & Warm/62-66;
SUPER=333-Mostly Clear/& Mild/50-54/Partly Cloudy/& Mild/58-62;
SUPER=334-Partly Cloudy/& Mild/48-52/Breezy & Warm/Showers Possible/62-66;
SUPER=X5001;



Sugar


ANCHOR=patrick
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=afr
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=Sugar bowl
The #3 Florida Gators clobbered #1 Florida State in the Sugar Bowl last

night.
And as a Result the new A-P poll out this morning has FLORIDA ending the
year in the #1 spot.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-New Orleans, LA/ABC Sports;


At the half last night in New Orleans, the Gators held a 24-17 lead,
But Danny Wuerfell and the Gators scored 28 straight points in the second half to blow the game wide open.
This play exemplified the Seminoles woes last night-- Ike Hilliard makes
SUPER=36-Florida/52/Florida State/20; the Florida State defense look like the

Keystone Kops on this incredible Touchdown catch.
(----------------)


poll


ANCHOR=patrick
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=afr
TAPE#none
GRAPHIC=news 7 sports


While Florida closes out the year in the top spot in the polls,
Virginia Tech ends its Big East Championship season #13 in the Associated

Press Poll.
The Hokies were #10 going into the Orange Bowl, but lost to Nebraska 41-21

on New Years Eve.

Tech


ANCHOR=Patrick
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=sma
TAPE#=net (edit of TB97-1)
GRAPHIC=Tech Hoops


The Virginia tech men's basketball team beat Atlantic 10 rival Saint Bonaventure at the Castle last night.
(----------------)
VO-NAT #eng
SUPER=03-Blacksburg/Bonnies vs. Hokies; :00


The Hokie crowd was enthused about making the transition from the gridiron to the hard wood official.
In the first half, Myron Gillory makes the long pass to Jim Jackson for the break away slam.
The Bonnies made a run of their own. Shawndo Mcneil feeds ReShawn Palmer under the iron.
But this was Tech's night. Action Jim Jackson knocked down the trey.
Hokies win it by 8, 90 to 82 over St. Bonaventure.
(-------------)


Gov


ANCHOR=Patrick
NEWSCAST=morn
WRITER=sma
TAPE#=S6-23
GRAPHIC=Tech/Nebraska


While the new recruits are filing in, the current ones, the fans and even our governor were understandably, still nursing their wounds.
Governor Allen was especially disturbed because he lost a bet to Nebraska's governor and must now wear a Nebraska T-shirt!
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=In

((GEORGE ALLEN/GOVERNOR:))
SUPER=@Allen; :00
RUNS=:22
OUT Q=...in the world"
(----------------)



barber


ANCHOR=patrick
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=afr
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=ronde barber


The U-V-A football team may lose a 3 time all-A-C-C performer--
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=@file;


Word from Charlottesville has defensive back Ronde Barber set to announce his future plans this afternoon.
The former Cave Spring standout has one year of college eligibility remaining.
(----------------)



VEGAS-NY


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=MEL
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=none


The latest must-see attraction in Las Vegas looks a lot like the Big Apple.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Las Vegas, NV;


The 460 million-dollar "New York- New York resort" and casino opened today.
It features featuring a 47-story knockoff of the Empire State Building, a 150-foot Statue of Liberty and a Coney Island-style roller coaster.
(----------------)



SUPERMAN


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=MEL
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=none


America's favorite super hero is getting a new look.
(----------------)
VO-NAT


After 60 years of wearing the same red, yellow and blue costume come March Superman will be dressed in a white and blue outfit with no cape.
D-C- Comics also says the Man of steel will have different powers now.
For instance, bullets don't bounce off him anymore.
Instead, they pass right through.
(----------------)


by SS