[EARLY-WX]

[ANCHOR=Patrick]

[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=pev]
[TAPE#NONE]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]


A powerful storm is barreling its way toward us with heavy rain and heavy snow in a combined mess that has both flood watches and heavy snow warnings issued for many locations.
[WX-PRO/FULL=]REGIONAL ANALYSIS

REGIONAL RADAR
Here on the analysis you can see where the low is currently positioned, and it will continue its push northward along the coast, bringing in even heavier rains than we have seen, and then by nightfall, many areas around the region will see a change-over to snow. By midnight, the Roanoke Valley, up through the Highlands and as far East as Bedford and Martinsville, should be seeing snow.
In the New River and Greenbrier Valleys, as much as 12 to 18 inches of snow is forecast, as heavy moisture combines with cold air to create a very nasty, powerful winter storm.
For the rest of this afternoon, look for rain, and a mixture of precipitation across the viewing area. The Danville Lynchburg corridor seems to be on the fringe of the cold air, so expect rain, occasionally mixed with snow, and bear in mind a Flood Watch is in effect for those localities. Melanie...

[Miami-WX]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=lfi]
[TAPE#net]
[GRAPHIC=Flooding]


People in Florida today are preparing for even more wet weather.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Miami, FL]


A powerful storm packing tornados and heavy rains hit the southern end of the state yesterday, leaving more than 370-thousand people without power. More rain is expected today.
[SUPER=03-Santa Barbara, CA]


It's the same story in parts of California where a storm powered by El Nino is generating a giant surf.
(----------------)


[TUCKER]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=MEL]
[TAPE#net]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]


Time is running out for convicted killer Karla Faye Tucker.
Unless the Supreme Court stays her execution, tonight Tucker will become the first woman to to be executed in United States in 14 years and the first in Texas since the Civil War.
Liz Mullen reports.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Huntsville, TX;]
[SUPER=01-Larry Fitzgerald/Texas Dept. of Corrections;]
[SUPER=01-Richard Thornton/Victim's Husband;]
[SUPER=01-Liz Mullen/Reporting;]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=CBS NEWS, Huntsville, Tx.]

(( AS HER EXECUTION INCHES CLOSER KARLA FAYE TUCKER SPENDS HER LAST HOURS ALIVE MEETING WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS... A REPRIEVE FROM THE US SUPREME COURT MORE AND MORE UNLIKELY. BUT THE COURT IS EXPECTED TO ANNOUNCE A DECISION ON TUCKER'S APPEAL SOMETIME TODAY.
LARRY FITZGERALD./PIO TEXAS DEPT OF CORRECTIONS. "IF WE DON''T HEAR ANYTHING BY MIDNIGHT THERE'S AN AUTOMATIC STAY OF 30 DAYS."
THE 38-YEAR OLD PICK AX MURDERER TURNED BORN AGAIN CHRISTIAN.IS HOPING THE U.S SUPREME COURT WILL ALLOW HER TO SPEND THE REST OF HER LIFE BEHIND BARS AS AN EXAMPLE OF RELIGIOUS CONVERSION AND REHABILITATION. RELATIVES THOUGH OF ONE OF HER VICTIMS SAY THAT LIVING A PRISON LIFE IS HARDLY REHABILITATION
RICHARD THORNTON/VICTIM'S HUSBAND
IF TUCKER DIES BY LETHAL INJECTION SHE WILL BE THE 145TH TEXAN TO BE EXECUTED SINCE 1982.THOUGH SHE INSIST HER GENDER SHOULD PLAY NO ROLE IN WHETHER OR NOT SHE IS SPARED..ITS WORTH NOTING THAT HER STORY HAS DRAWN INTERNATIONAL INTEREST..AS SHE WOULD BE THE FIRST TEXAS WOMAN EXECUTED SINCE THE CIVIL WAR..AND ONLY THE SECOND IN THE COUNTRY IN THE LAST 14 YEARS.
STANDUP/LIZ MULLEN CBS NEWS, HUNTSVILLE, TEXAS.))

[E-Cruz]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=KHu]
[TAPE#97-97]
[GRAPHIC=Cruz]


Tapes allowed the jury in the Javier Cruz cocaine conspiracy case to hear a conversation between Cruz's wife and a local realtor accused of laundering drug money.
Keith Humphry has the story.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Cruz bought a]
[SUPER=03-Floyd Co./File Tape; :00]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :10]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./File Tape; :16]
[RUNS=1:40]
[OUT Q=Humphry, News 7.]

((
Cruz bought a 100-acre farm in Floyd County in 1989- -to get away from fellow Columbian drug peddlers in New York who'd threatened to kill him.
Realtor Earl Frith had listed the property and made the sale.
The two men hit it off. Before long Cruz was buying livestock from Frith.
[SOT]

((HERE'S THE WAY I REMEMBER IT, EVERY TIME I DEALT WITH HIM, THERE WAS SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNTS OF MONEY.))
[RUNS=:04]


In a conversation monitored and recorded by the I-R-S, Frith recalled how Cruz had always paid in cash. ((HE GAVE IT TO ME. AND AT THAT TIME WE WROTE TWO RECEIPTS THAT I THINK WE DATED THE RECEIPTS A DAY APART OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I DON'T THINK I HAVE ANY RECORD OF EVER GETTING MORE THAN $8,000 AT ONE TIME. IF I DID, I'M DUMBER THAN I THINK I AM.))
[RUNS=:15]


Frith is talking to Pamela Cruz, the drug dealer's wife- -unaware that she's wearing a wire.
She later showed up at his office with 40-thousand dollars in cash, seeking help in getting around the requirement to report large cash transactions. ((WE COULD WRITE AN AGREEMENT WHEREBY YOU PUT LESS THAN TEN, AND LESS THAN TEN AND A MONTH LATER, YOU KNOW, LATER SOMETHING ELSE ...OVER TIME THEY VERIFY IT, I'VE FOUND. I'M NOT A DAMN POLICE OFFICER. THAT'S NOT MY FUNCTION. I'M NOT INTO THAT.))
[RUNS=:16]


Pam Cruz had told Frith her husband got busted in Miami- -which was true- -but she didn't say the two of them had agreed to work for the D-E-A.
Cruz transported hundreds of kilograms of cocaine from Columbia to New York- -by way of a stash house at the foot of Bent Mountain.
Shannon Wilson lived in the house and testified she made up to three thousand dollars a trip for transporting coke.

Keith Humphry NEWS 7.))[Annuities]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=98-6]
[GRAPHIC=Rke City]


Debate also focused on the compensation offered top administrators in the Roanoke City School System.
But last night they couldn't decide what to do about the controversial annuities.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Last Night]


Some board members oppose the deferred compensation as an excessive benefit that takes money away from teacher salaries and classroom expenses.
But others say the annuities are simply part of a compensation package that's required to attract and retain top administrators.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=What was to make up]

(( HARRY DAVIS/SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER: WHAT WAS TO MAKE UP A LOSS ONE TIME HAS NOW BECOME AN EXTRAVAGANT BURDEN, AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, ON THE TAXPAYERS. WE COULD TAKE THAT MONEY AND USE IT FOR CHILDREN, WHATEVER, AND I JUST THINK THESE ANNUITIES NEED TO BE PUT TO AN END. )) ((WEBSTER DAY/SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER: THERE'S BEEN SOME ALLEGATIONS OR DISCUSSION THAT SOMETHING WAS DONE UNDERHANDED, AND I THINK THE RECORD HAS BEEN SHOWN CLEAR THAT THAT'S NOT THE CASE.))
[SUPER=01-Harry Davis/School Board Member]
[SUPER=01-Webster Day/School Board Member]
[RUNS=:24]
[OUT Q=that's not the case]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=NONE]


Ultimately, board members could not decide whether to keep, cap or eliminate the annuities, so they tabled the issue until a future meeting.

[CLINTON-INTERN]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=MEL]
[TAPE#net]
[GRAPHIC=Clinton]


More details continue to emerge in the White House sex scandal.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Washington, DC;]


Former intern Monica Lewinsky reportedly visited the White House 37 times after she was transferred to the Pentagon in the Spring of 19-96.
The New York Times says she came in the late afternoon and early evening and
[SUPER=03-Andrews AFB, MD;]

[8:15;00] was authorized by Mr. Clinton's personal secretary.
Meantime, former top advisor George Stephanopolous appears before a grand jury today.
The panel is looking at accusations that the president tried to hide an alleged sexual relationship with Lewinsky.
(----------------)




[E-Charter-Schools]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#98-3]
[GRAPHIC=Education]


Is full steam ahead for charter schools in Virginia after a House committee changes its tune and gives the concept the green light.
Ellen Qualls has the story.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Two minds changed.]
[SUPER=03-Richmond; :00]
[SUPER=@Ellen2; :03]
[SUPER=@Baker; :12]
[SUPER=@Jackson; :27]
[SUPER=01-Cheri James/Va. Education Assoc.; :47]
[SUPER=01-Del. Phil Hamilton/(R) Newport News; 1:07]
[SUPER=03-Rocky Mount, NC/File Tape; 1:23]
[RUNS=1:33]
[OUT Q=Qualls, News 7, Richmond.]

(( Two minds change, and the bill gets a green light.
Halifax Democrat Ted Bennett crosses party lines to support charter schools.
And last year's lone Republican opponent in the House Education committee comes around.
[sot TAPE TWO 02:04:49]

((DEL. TOM BAKER/R-PULASKI: WE'VE GOT TO EITHER FISH OR CUT BAIT WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO GETTING STATE MONEY TO COME DOWN TO THE LOWER CLASS SIZES. BECAUSE IF WE DON'T, THE DELEGATION IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA'S NEVER GONNA VOTE TO CHANGE THE FORMULA. AND IF WE'RE GONNA GET THERE, THIS MAY BE THE VERY VEHICLE WE NEED.))
[runs=:13]


Carroll County Democrat Tom Jackson disagrees.
[sot 02:11:27]

((DEL. TOM JACKSON/D-HILLSVILLE: WELL I THINK RURAL SCHOOLS RIGHT NOW ARE STRUGGLING FOR RESOURCES, TO HAVE THE TYPE CLASSROOMS WE NEED. AND I SEE CHARTER SCHOOLS AS A PROGRAM THAT'S GONNA PULL FURTHER RESOURCES AWAY FROM WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE. AND IF WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO MAKE THE CURRENT SYSTEM WORK WELL I CAN'T UNDERSTAND HOW THE CHARTER SCHOOL SYSTEM'S GONNA SUDDENLY BE A LOT BETTER.))
[runs=:18]



[sot 02:10:48]

((CHERI JAMES/VA. EDUCATION ASSOC.: IT'S BEING PUT OUT THE PUBLIC THAT IT'S A SILVER BULLET. THAT IT'S A PANACEA. THERE'S NO GUARANTEE THAT THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. AND THAT'S THE PROBLEM. PEOPLE ARE "WHOO! CHARTER SCHOOLS. WE'RE GONNA DO SOMETHING." AND THEY DON'T HEAR ALL THE STORIES ABOUT THE CHARTER SCHOOLS THAT AREN'T SUCCEEDING.))
[runs=:17]


The bill's sponsor is optimistic.
[sot TAPE TWO 02:06:07]

((DEL. PHIL HAMILTON/D-NEWPORT NEWS: SO WHAT'S UNUSUAL. I'VE BEEN PICKED AT FOR FIVE YEARS. AT LEAST THE RHETORIC THIS TIME WAS NOT AS INTENSIVE AS IT'S BEEN IN THE PAST AND NOT AS PERSONAL. YOU KNOW, FOLKS HAVE CONCERNS. I CAN CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THOSE CONCERNS. THOSE CONCERNS WERE EXPRESSED. THE COMMITTEE VOTED UP OR DOWN.))
[runs=:16]


Now if the full House and Senate say yes, local school boards in Virginia would get to approve two per district, for three year contracts to sink or swim.

Ellen Qualls, News 7, Richmond.))[S-Education-Board]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#98-2]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]


The conservative firebrand who led Governor George Allen's state Board of Education did NOT find favor with Jim Gilmore.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=@file;]


A spokesman for Governor Jim Gilmore says he offered to re-appoint Michelle Easton -- but he did NOT want her to continue as the Board's president.
Easton apparently waited too long considering the demotion.
Yesterday, Gilmore appointed a replacement.
The conservative Family Foundation calls Easton's ouster "devastating."
A spokeswoman calls her the architect of Virginia's new academic standards and testing program.
The board's only black member, Rayford Harris, was also replaced.
(--------0--------)


[E-Liberty-Debt]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=sly]
[TAPE#597-55]
[GRAPHIC=Liberty University]


The identity of the donor who paid off Liberty University's 70 million dollar debt has been revealed.
(----------------)
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg/File Tape]


He has been identified as Florida insurance executive Arthur Williams.
The Washington Times reported yesterday Liberty' s founder Jerry Falwell had been barred from revealing the source of the gift when it was announced in September.
The school was placed on probation last year by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools as it struggled to contain its debt--its accreditation status has since been restored.
(----------------)


[Nagano-Flutist]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=djo]
[TAPE#98-4]
[GRAPHIC=Nagano 98]


A Cave Spring Junior High School teenager will be one of at least 30-Americans representing her country in the Winter Olympics this weekend.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem;]


Erin Culpepper is not competing for an olympic medal.
She's a flutist and one of a thousand musicians performing in a special concert during the olympic festivities preceding opening ceremonies.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT-05:44:58]
[IN Q=I DON'T KNOW]

((ERIN CULPEPPER/PERFORMING IN NAGANO; I DON'T KNOW. I'M EXCITED ABOUT SEEING THE OLYMPICS. I'M NERVOUS ABOUT THE CONCERT THOUGH--laughter. ))
[SUPER=01-Erin Culpepper/Performing in Nagano;]
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=THOUGH--laughter.]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]


The family has been preparing for this trek since Erin was invited last July.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT-05:48:20]
[IN Q=IT HAS BEEN]

((LINDA CULPEPPER/ERIN'S MOM; IT HAS BEEN HECTIC BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO PACK LIGHTLY AND STAY WARM DURING THE WINTER MONTHS OVER THERE, DURING THAT ONE WEEK.))
[SUPER=01-Linda Culpepper/Erin's Mom;]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=THAT ONE WEEK.]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]


Erin and her family leave tomorrow and will spend nine days in Japan.
She says she would like to have a future with the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra one day.
(----------------)


[Ferrum]


[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=Mike]
[TAPE#net (edit of BB98-3)]
[GRAPHIC=FERRUM]


The Ferrum College Panthers hosted Chowan.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT eng#]
[SUPER=03-Ferrum/Chowan vs. Ferrum; :00]


Michael Hunter would go right at the Braves as he cuts in the lane and gets the sweeping hook shot to fall.
The Panthers' Rodney Ponzo would then beat his defender off the dribble and hit the tough shot.
The Braves' Alphonso Taylor knocks down this triple from the right wing.
The Panthers answer that on the baseline with Basheen Byrd powering his [SUPER=33-Chowan/102/Ferrum/75;]

way to the rim for two of his team high points.
But Ferrum shoots just 23 percent and gets spanked by Chowan 102 to 75.

(-------------) [Western]



[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=Dal]
[TAPE#net (edit of VB98-1)]
[GRAPHIC=college hoops]


Some Roanoke Valley high school basketball players now play for Virginia Western Community College.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem;]


Kwam Lewis starred for Salem last year, now he starts for Western.
Adam Gray played center for Northside two years ago, now he's with V-W-C-C.
And former P-H player, Rashad Myers, is looking to take his game to another level.
Coach Ron Marsh says the quality of play will surprise you.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 1:55:15]
[IN Q=VIRGINIA WESTERN COMMUNITY]

((RON MARSH/VWCC HEAD COACH: VIRGINIA WESTERN COMMUNITY COLLEGE WILL BE GETTING SOME OF THE TALENTED BALL PLAYERS THAT DIDN'T GET A SCHOLARSHIP. THEY'LL BEGIN TO COME TO THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE LEVEL TO BUILD UP THEIR GRADES AND THEIR GAME. ))
[SUPER=01-Ron Marsh/VWCC Head Coach;]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=UP THEIR GAME]
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Patrick]

[SS HOLD]

Virginia Western's next home game is the 26th.[Extra]


[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=Mike]
[TAPE#EXTRA/GIRL97]
[GRAPHIC=collge hoops]


Former Fleming and Radford star Charlene Curtis
(----------------)
[VO-NAT eng#]
[SUPER=03-Durham, NC/HTS; :00]


is in her first year as head coach at Wake Forest. She had another rough night despite a strong 15 point effort from reserve Kristin Shaffer, the Lady Deacons lost to Duke 79-to-55.
Charlene is now 4-and-17 in her first season.
(----------------)


[Grizzlies]


[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=Mike]
[TAPE#net (edit of S8-1)]
[GRAPHIC=NBA]


A former area high school star is making his mark in the N-B-A.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT eng#]
[SUPER=03-Dallas, TX/Fox Southwest; :00]


The Mavericks hosted the Grizzlies.
Shareef Abdur-Raheem would waste little time going baseline on the Mavs with his quickness and scoring.
But Hubert Davis, the former Tarheel would step out beyond the arc and knock in the three pointer to shoot the Mavs in front.
[SUPER=32-Vancouver/90/Dallas/104;]


George Lynch would get loose on a breakaway and hammer down the one handed jam.
But the Grizzlies lose it 104 to 90.

(-------------)[Gibson-Stamp]



[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=chu]
[TAPE#97-92]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]


A piece of Danville history gets its own U-S postage stamp.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville;]


The famous Gibson Girl is included in a new 15-stamp set commemorating the 1900's.
The stamp set is part of the U-S Postal Service's "Celebrate the Century" series.
Illustrator Charles Dana Gibson drew this picture of his wife Irene.. his portrayal of the ideal American woman.
There will be a special cancellation of the stamp available this Friday at the Langhorne House on Broad Street.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 1:28:04-:22]
[IN Q=They can bring]

((TOM GIFFIN/DANVILLE POSTMASTER: THEY CAN BRING AN ENVELOPE WITH THE GIBSON GIRL STAMP ON IT. AND OF COURSE REMEMBER YOU HAVE TO BUY 15 STAMPS TO GET THE GIBSON GIRL STAMP. AND AS LONG AS IT'S AFFIXED TO AN ENVELOPE OR ANY FIXED OBJECT THEN WE CAN GO AHEAD AND PUT THE SPECIAL CANCELLATION ON IT.))
[SUPER=01-Tom Giffin/Danville Postmaster;]
[RUNS=:18]
[OUT Q=cancellation on it.]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]


Other stamps featured in this 1900's collectors set are President Teddy Roosevelt and crayola crayons.
(----------------)


[WIPE WIPE WIPE[DI-STAMP]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=MEL]
[TAPE#net]
[GRAPHIC=WIPE WIPE WIPE]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-London;]


Post Office officials in London think it'll be the biggest selling set in history.
Stamps commemorating Princess Diana are on sale today.
The Post Office has agreed to an initial donation of at least ten million dollars to the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund. (----------------) All other profits also will go to the charity.
by SS