12:00-01

NOON-HEADLINES

TALENT=Melanie
(----------------)
VO-NAT


Newt Gingrich will find out today if he will be elected to a second term as Speaker of the House.
(----------------)


And in court a Danville police officer faces the man accused of shooting him.
(/////////////)
ANCHOR=Patrick


Colder air is already moving in, and it's going to stay awhile. In addition, moisture coming up from the Gulf could create one of those snowy scenarios later this week.
(/////////////)
TALENT=Melanie
SS=None


Stick around. News 7 at Noon is next.

gingrich


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=NOON
WRITER=mel
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=gingrich


As the 105th Congress convenes today on Capitol Hill, House members prepare to vote on whether Newt Gingrich will keep his job as speaker.
G-O-P leaders say they expect Gingrich to win re-election, despite admitted ethics violations.
But most Democrats and a few Republicans say Gingrich should step aside, at least until an ethics ruling, which is expected later this month.
Five Republicans have publicly said they won't support Gingrich.
It would take nine no votes to keep him from getting the majority.
Democrats say even if Gingrich wins, he'll be the weakest speaker in history.
Liz Mullen is in Washington with more. ********Take NEWSPATH********
SUPER=01-Liz Mullen/Reporting;
SUPER=05-Washington DC;
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=
SUPER=03-Capitol Hill; :00
SUPER=04-Last Night; :16
SUPER=01-Susan Molanari/(R) New York; :23
SUPER=01-Linda Smith/(R) Washington; :45
SUPER=04-File Tape; 1:00
RUNS=:00
OUT Q=CBS NEWS WASHINGTON;
SUPER=05-Washington DC;

(( IN THE LAST REMAINING HOURS BEFORE THE 105-TH CONGRESS CONVENES.. REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS ARE MEETING BEHIND CLOSED DOORS..REPUBLICANS TRYING TO MEASURE AND RALLY SUPPORT FOR EMBATTLED HOUSE SPEAKER NEWT GINGRICH.

(SUPER: LAST NIGHT)


LAST NIGHT, REPBULICAN LEADERS SPENT NEARLY FOUR HOURS WITH THE SPEAKER.. WHO IS TRYING TO SHORE UP THE VOTES HE NEEDS TO WIN RE-ELECTION.
REP. SUSAN MOLANARI, R-NY "FRANKLY, THE MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS CAME FORWARD TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF NEWT GINGRICH."
TRACK: BUT AT LEAST FIVE HOUSE REPUBLICANS HAVE COME OUT AGAINST GINGRICH. AMONG THEM, JAMES LEACH.. A POWERFUL AND WELL-RESPECTED REPUBLICAN FROM IOWA.. AND LINDA SMITH.. WHO IS FROM WASHINGTON.
REP. LINDA SMITH, &1/8R&3/8 WASHINGTON "RIGHT NOW I THINK THAT HE'S IN THE WAY OF THE AGENDA THAT WE ALL BELIEVE IS SO IMPORTANT FOR AMERICA."

(SUPER: FILE)

TRACK: THE SPEAKER IS FIGHTING FOR HIS POLITICAL LIFE.. AFTER ADMITTING THAT HE VIOLATED HOUSE ETHICS RULES IN USING CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO FINANCE A COLLEGE COURSE HE WAS TEACHING AT THE TIME.
AND SO.. THE 105-TH CONGRESS BEGINS TODAY.. JUST ONE DAY BEFORE THE ETHICS COMMITTEE IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN CONSIDERING A PUNISHMENT FOR THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.
LIZ MULLEN, CBS NEWS, WASHINGTON.))

Plunkett


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=KHu
TAPE#96-104
GRAPHIC=lawsuit


Roanoke police fatally shot a man last year.
Now the officers and the city face a half million dollar lawsuit from his family.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke/March 1996;


Thirty-five- year- old Edwin Plunkett was holding a loaded hunting rifle when officers shot and killed him in the doorway of his home on Cherryhill Circle in northwest Roanoke.
The City Prosecutor ruled the officers believed their lives were in danger.
(----------------)
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=NONE


But the lawsuit states Plunkett's death "is only one incident in a pattern of violent misconduct perpetrated by the police department."

Farmer


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=THa
TAPE#net (edit of 96-99)
GRAPHIC=Legal Scales


The lawyer for the man accused of shooting a Danville police officer in the neck says Marlowe Andre Farmer never intended to shoot the officer.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Danville;


Thirty one year- old Dennis Haley told a judge he was executing a search warrant at a home on Moffett Street when he was shot in late November.
Farmer's nephew Roy Womack was also in the house.
He testified both thought someone was trying to break in.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=The gunshots

((ROY WOMACK/DEFENSE WITNESS:THE GUNSHOTS JUST STARTED RINGING OUT, I SEE ANDRE GO BACK TO THE ROOM, AND GUNFIRE JUST STARTED RINGING OUT, IT KNOCKED THE WINDOWS, I MEAN THE MIRRORS, OFF THE WALLS, AND ALL THIS, AND I JUST, TELL THEM TO CALL THE POLICE, THAT'S MY GIRLFRIEND NAME THAT I'M ON THE PHONE, CALL THE POLICE, CALL THE POLICE, WE'RE BEING ROBBED))
SUPER=01-Roy Womack/Defense Witness; :00
RUNS=:19
OUT Q=we're being robbed.
(----------------)
VO-NAT


Farmer's fate now rests with a grand jury which will hear the case in March.
In the meantime, he remains in jail, charged with attempted capital murder.
(----------------)



Va-Marijuana


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=equ
TAPE#96-102
GRAPHIC=Marijuana


California and Arizona are not the only states to legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes.
It's been the law in Virginia for nearly two decades.
Ellen Qualls reports the 19-79 law has apparently never been used.
And its chief patron wants to point out it's virtually impossible to do so.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=Hold on
SUPER=@file; :00
SUPER=01-Sen. Joe Gartlan/(D) Fairfax; :21
SUPER=@Wilkins; :46
SUPER=@Beyer; :58
SUPER=@Ellen1; 1:13
RUNS=1:24
OUT Q=News 7, Richmond


(( Hold on to your hat.
That chief patron is southwest Virginia Congressman, then state senator Rick Boucher.
Boucher says even HE doesn't recall the marijuana portion of the law -- but he says it would require a doctor's prescription in capsule form.
NO pharmacies we've found have the federal drug trial designation necessary to fill them.
Boucher's co-patron is still in the Senate.
SOT 05:02:00

((SEN. JOE GARTLAN/D-FAIRFAX: AS I RECALL IT. WELL, AS I'VE BEEN TOLD, BECAUSE I REALLY DON'T RECALL IT, IT WAS ONE OF A PACKAGE OF BILLS IMPLEMENTED RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CRIME COMMISSION FOR MAKING A GENERAL REVISION IN CRIMINAL SENTENCES RELATING TO DRUG OFFENSES.))
RUNS=:17


Gartlan warns we should expect what he calls law and order types to try to repeal the law.
What about the House Republican leader?
sot 05:24:49

((DEL. VANCE WILKINS/R-AMHERST: IN CERTAIN CASES, IF THAT IS THE BEST AND MOST EFFECTIVE TREATMENT, I SEE NO REASON TO PROHIBIT OUR CITIZENS FROM GETTING THE BEST AND MOST EFFECTIVE TREATMENT.))
runs=:08


Hmmm.
The Democrat running for governor takes a different view.
SOT 05:23:00

((LT. GOV. DON BEYER: WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP KIDS AWAY FROM MARIJUANA. WE DON'T WANT THEM TO DRINK UNDERAGE. WE'RE IN A MAJOR STRUGGLE NOW ABOUT THE RIGHT WAY TO KEEP KIDS FROM SMOKING. I MEAN THE LAST THING WE WANT TO DO NOW IS DO ANYTHING TO SAY VIRGINIA STATE GOVERNMENT SAYS IT'S OKAY TO USE MARIJUANA FOR THIS OR THAT MEDICAL PURPOSE.))
RUNS=:14



sot standup

((REPUBLICAN ATTORNEY GENERAL JIM GILMORE'S RUNNING AGAINST DON BEYER FOR GOVERNOR THIS YEAR. HIS SPOKESMAN SAYS IT'S ENTIRELY CONCEIVABLE HE'LL TAKE A STAND TO REPEAL THE LAW. ELLEN QUALLS, NEWS 7, RICHMOND.))
RUNS=:00

))

WESTERN-WX


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


Crews in California are struggling to shore up levees to prevent flooding on the state's rich farmland.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Meridian, CA;

4:03;53
Floodwaters are pressuring eleven hundred miles of levees in California's Sacramento- San Joaquin (wah-KEEN') Delta.
SUPER=03-Olivehurst;


Flooding has already caused an estimated 775 million dollars in damage in NORTHERN California and forced thousands to evacuate.
SUPER=03-Santa Monica;


SOUTHERN California, meantime, has been hit with strong winds knocking out power to 25-thousand homes.
(----------------)

WIPE/WIPE/WIPE

SNOW


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=mel
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=Wipe/wipe/wipe
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Dallas, TX/Last Night;


Meantime, it's tough driving in parts of Texas today after a storm system last night left behind snow and ice.
Downtown Dallas received up to an inch.
And about thirty miles south of Dallas residents were reporting up to four inches.
More snow is expected today.
(----------------)



PERU


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


In Peru today, the sound of gunfire was heard coming from inside the Japanese ambassador's residence where leftist rebels are holding 74 hostages.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Lima, Peru;


One police officer at the scene told reporters the shots seemed to be from an A-K-M rifle similar to those carried by the rebels.
So far there are no reports of injuries.
The hostage crisis began December 17th.
(----------------)



Cranwell


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=KHu
TAPE#96-100
GRAPHIC=Legal Scales


There's more trouble for Roanoke Attorney Dean Cranwell.
He was suspended from practicing law for four months last year.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=@file


Now a subcommittee of the State Bar has reprimanded Cranwell for twice failing to file claims for clients within the statute of limitations.
(----------------)
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=hold


A "public reprimand" is far short of disbarment, revocation or suspension of a license, but it does create a disciplinary record against Cranwell. That means those complaints are now on file with the State Bar and are open to the public.

Green


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=tal
TAPE#96-103
GRAPHIC=Legal Scales


Charges stemming from her animal breeding business are apparently not new for one local woman.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Franklin Co./Saturday;


Franklin County authorities say last week they rescued about 100 dogs and cats from Valery Green's home.
They say the house was covered with animal waste, and puppies were piled into plastic crates.
(----------------)
TALENT=Melanie
SS=hold


In 19-95, Green was convicted of 12 misdemeanors in RADFORD, including harboring barking dogs, allowing dogs to run at large, and permitting animals to become unsanitary.
In Montgomery County, Green is charged with obtaining an animal by false pretenses and threatening to set fire to a residence.
And in ROCKBRIDGE County, the Animal Control Officer says Green still owes boarding fees for loose dogs which he picked up.

SAP-Cutbacks


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=eea
TAPE#96-101
GRAPHIC=Education


Roanoke City Schools are finding fewer resources as they tackle a growing problem of teen drug use.
Over the past three years Roanoke drastically cut its Student Assistance Program as federal money dried up.
Eric Earnhart reports.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=As government figures
SUPER=@file; :00
SUPER=01-Lissy Runyon/Roanoke City Schools; :12
SUPER=01-Jo Ann Burkholder/SAP Coordinator; :43
SUPER=01-Jan McLeod/Principal; 1:02
RUNS=1:17
OUT Q=News 7

(( As Government figures show eighth grade drug use doubling in five years, and high school drug abuse up 40 percent, Roanoke Schools are left with one SAP coordinator.

SOT 13:34:49
IN Q=so the board

((LISSY RUNYON/ROANOKE CITY SCHOOLS; SO THE BOARD HAD TO MAKE A TOUGH DECISION AND PLACE THAT ONE INDIVIDUAL IN EACH OF THE HIGH SCHOOLS. ))
RUNS=:06
OUT Q=each of the schools



Runyon says guidance counselors, teachers, DARE officers and community services are taking over the job.

SOT 13:35:53
IN Q=so there are

((LISSY RUNYON/ROANOKE CITY SCHOOLS; SO THERE ACTUALLY ARE A LOT OF STRATEGIES AND RESOURCES OF A PRO-ACTIVE NATURE THAT ARE IN PLACE TO PICK UP THE SLACK A LITTLE BIT. ))
RUNS=:08
OUT Q=slack a little bit



Roanoke County schools face the same funding cuts, but decided to support the program with local money, and added another counselor this year, with the ultimate goal of a full time counselor in every school.

(/////SOT/////)
SOT 14:08:32
IN Q=the sap program

((Jo Ann Burkholder/SAP Coordinator; THE SAP PROGRAM COORDINATOR IS THE PERSON WHO HAS THE EXPERTISE IN DEALING SPECIFICALLY WITH DRUG AND ALCOHOL DIFFICULTIES ))
RUNS=:08
OUT Q=alcohol difficulties



The program is credited with helping to lower the county schools' dropout rate, and principals say having a SAP counselor in the building makes a big difference.

(/////SOT/////)
SOT 14:11:13
IN Q=

((JAN MC LEOD/PRINCIPAL I THINK IF YOU ASKED EVERY PRINCIPAL IN ROANOKE COUNTY WE'D ALL LIKE TO HAVE OUR OWN SAP COUNSELOR EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK AND WOULDN'T WANT TO HAVE TO SHARE AMONG BUILDINGS. :08 ))
RUNS=:08
OUT Q=share among buildings.



City school officials say despite their cuts, Their records show a drop in drug abuse referrals and disciplinary hearings.
Eric Earnhart, News 7.))

GRAMMYS


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


The Grammy nominations were announced this morning in New York City.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-New York, NY;


Producer, songwriter and recording artist Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds received 12 nominations, tieing a record set by Michael Jackson.
Smashing Pumpkins got seven, including album of the year.
The awards will be handed out February 26th.
(----------------)



Singer-Scam


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=kmc
TAPE#96-107
GRAPHIC=NONE


The Grammys are prestigious awards for recording artists, but not all award ceremonies carry the same clout.
Cynthia Angell's experience with one such event turned out to be nothing more than a scam.
Kimberly McBroom has her story. (/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=nat sound of singing
SUPER=03-Salem; :00
SUPER=07-Cynthia Angell; :31
SUPER=@Kimberly1; :59
RUNS=1:27
OUT Q=McBroom, News 7

((
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=nat sound of singing (first song)

((SINGING ))
RUNS=:05


Cynthia Angell is one of many singers who dreams of hitting the big time.
So, when she received nominations for Female Vocalist of the Year and Songwriter of the Year from the Academy of Independent Recording Artists, Angell thought her time had come.
The catch was-- she had to BUY tickets and pay membership dues to claim her award in Nashville.
But Angell says that's NOT normal practice for nominees of other awards, such as the Grammy's.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 18:07:26

((THROUGH THAT, THE RECORD COMPANY PAYS FOR IT. THE PERSON, THEMSELVES DOES NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. SO, I SHOULD HAVE SMELLED A SCAM RIGHT THERE. ))
RUNS=:11


After spending nearly one- thousand dollars attending the event, Angell didn't win anything.
She says only scheduled performers actually walked away with awards.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 18:05:51

((THERE WAS, LIKE, NO COMPETITION. IT SEEMED THEY KNEW EXACTLY WHO WAS GOING TO WIN BEFORE THEY DID. ))
RUNS=:07
SOT standup here, last one please


Angell says she hasn't spoken with her record producer, since the awards show. We tried to contact Silver Wing Records, but its phone number is no longer in service-- and there was no forwarding number. End Standup
Angell says the experience hasn't lessened her ambition to pursue a musical career-- but it has made her more cautious.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 18:10:09

((IF SOMEBODY TELLS YOU SOMETHING, AND YOU THINK THAT IT'S TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, MOST OF THE TIME, IT IS. ))
RUNS=:08


Kimberly McBroom, News 7.))

Blue-Grass-Studio


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=JoeD
TAPE#96-98
GRAPHIC=NONE


Fire may have destroyed Tim Austin's recording studio, but the memories are bringing the Doobie Shea (DOO-bee SHAY) studios back to life.
(----------------)
VO-NAT


Doobie Shea has recorded some of the best- known names in bluegrass.
But on August 24th, lightning struck the studio and burned the building to the ground.
SUPER=03-Franklin Co.;


Now a new studio is under construction near Boones Mill... and the crew includes some of the musicians who recorded with Austin before the fire.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=It was like the worst thing

((TIM AUSTIN/DOOBIE SHEA STUDIOS: IT WAS LIKE THE WORST THING THAT EVER COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO YOU I GUESS IN BUSINESS. AFTER THE FIRE WE WERE TWO OR THREE DAYS AT LEAST TRYING TO PICK UP THE PIECES OF WHAT WE WERE GOING TO DO AND IMMEDIATELY AFTER ABOUT A WEEK, "WE'VE GOT TO GET BACK.")) ((GARY WAUGH/FIVE FOR THE GOSPEL: WE LEARN AS WE GO BACK IN HISTORY THAT A LOT OF TIMES WHEN SOMEONE HAD A PROBLEM OR WAS BURNED OUT THAT THE NEIGHBORS SORT OF CHIPPED IN AND CAME AROUND AND TRIED TO HELP GET BUILT BACK AND I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TODAY.))
SUPER=01-Tim Austin/Doobie Shea Studios; :07
SUPER=01-Gary Waugh/Five for the Gospel; :14
RUNS=:29
OUT Q=needs to be done today.
(----------------)
VO-NAT


While the construction is not complete, Austin is already booking new projects and he hopes to have Doobie Shea studios back in business by the end of February.
(----------------)


WEATHER
SUPER=300-37/34/NW 14mph/30.10f/63/1982/ 8/1970;
SUPER=301-40/33/W 12-17mph/30.09f/76/1907/ 2/1884;

Forecasts
SUPER=X5000;
SUPER=330-Partly Cloudy/& Colder/22-26/Turning/Mostly Cloudy/36-40;
SUPER=331-Partly Cloudy/& Colder/24-28/Becoming/Mostly Cloudy/38-42;
SUPER=332-Mostly Clear/& Colder/20-24/Increasing/Clouds/34-38;
SUPER=333-Mostly Clear/& Cold/20-24/Becoming/Mostly Cloudy/34-38;
SUPER=334-Clear/& Cold/18-22/Increasing/Clouds/32-36;
SUPER=X5001;


SOCIAL-SECURITY


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


Invest in the stock market.
(----------------)
VO-NAT

4:17:14
That's about all a panel charged with devising a plan to save social security could agree on.
One year behind schedule and unable to reach a consensus, the panel yesterday issued three separate recommendations for managing social security's revenues.
Financial experts say without major changes social security will go broke by 2030.
(----------------)



NBA


ANCHOR=Patrick
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=sma
TAPE#=net (edit of BB97-3)
GRAPHIC=NBA


Two of the N-B-A's premiere teams battled it out last night in the Windy City as Utah took on Chicago.
(----------------)
VO-NAT #eng
SUPER=03-Chicago, IL/Jazz vs. Bulls;


Michael Jordan fakes out the defender and puts up the baseline jumper that falls.
Then, it started raining three pointers. Scottie with the pull up,
Tony Kokoc then snaps the nylon from the perimeter...
SUPER=32-Chicago/102/Utah/89;

Even Dennis Rodman would display his shooting touch.
Jordan and John Stockton would have words, but the situation fizzled,
Stock did nail this shot in the lane, but no stopping the Bulls, they win 102-89.
(-------------)


Draft


ANCHOR=Patrick
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=sma
TAPE#=net (edit of S6-24)
GRAPHIC=NFL Draft


The list of college underclassmen leaving early for the N-F-L draft continues to grow.
(----------------)
VO-NAT #eng
SUPER=04-NCAA; :00


Three more top college players have put their names in the hat. Northwestern Running back Darnell Autry will leave the Wildcats a year early.
And Ohio State will lose two players with this years draft.
Defensive back Shawn Springs, the Big Ten defensive player of the year, and Offensive lineman Orlando Pace, the Outland trophy winner, who says he wants to be the number 1 pick.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=At

((ORLANDO PACE/WILL ENTER 97 DRAFT: AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SEASON I SET OUT TO GET THESE GOALS THAT I WANTED TO GET IN LIFE, AND ON THE PLAYING FIELD. I DID IT, I DID EVERYTHING I WANTED TO DO IN COLLEGE, AND I FEEL IT'S TIME I GO TO THE NEXT LEVEL))
SUPER=01-Orlando Pace/Will Enter '97 Draft; :00
RUNS=:13
OUT Q=...next level"
(-------------)


Agent


ANCHOR=Patrick
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=sma
TAPE#=S6-24
GRAPHIC=tech football


Two former Virginia Tech Hokies are still hoping that the hard work of their agent, Pulaski native Rick Clark, will pay dividends in the N-F-L.
(----------------)
VO-NAT #eng
SUPER=03-Blacksburg; :00


Clark represents former Virginia Tech linebacker Ken Brown. Brown spent two years with the Denver Broncos but was released last year. Yesterday, he was resigned.
His former Tech teammate and running back Dwayne Thomas hopes to be signed by either the Buccaneers, the Falcons or the Saints. (-------------)
by SS