08:25-01

Thirty-Weather

ANCHOR=Kimberly
NEWSCAST=cut-in
WRITER=kmc
TAPE#
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7S-Operation-Rescue


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Cut in
WRITER=ssm
TAPE#97-96
GRAPHIC=Abortion


The Rev. Flip Benham, national leader of Operation Rescue, spent his first night in the Lynchburg jail last night. He was sentenced Tuesday to six months in jail for trespassing after he staged an anti-abortion rally last fall.
Steve Smallshaw explains.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=Flip Benham
SUPER=03-Lynchburg; :00
SUPER=04-November 10, 1997; :09
SUPER=01-Ethan Ontjes/Prosecutor; :23
SUPER=01-Mike DePrimo/Benham's Attorney; :34
SUPER=@ssm1; :43
SUPER=01-Flip Benham/Operation Rescue Director; :56
RUNS=1:16
OUT Q=News7, Lynchburg.


(( Flip Benham began his long walk to jail around 10:30 Wednesday, but the wheels of justice were set in motion last November.
A judge ruled that's when Benham was trespassing when he and a hundred Liberty University students staged an anti- abortion rally on the campus of E.C. Glass High School.
Prosecutors say it wasn't Benham's message that got him in trouble.. he just didn't follow the rules.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 10:33:36
IN Q=If you're planning

((ETHAN ONTJES/PROSECUTOR: IF YOU'RE PLANNING TO DO A DEMONSTRATION, ANY KIND OF DEMONSTRATION, NO MATTER WHAT YOUR MESSAGE IS YOU NEED TO GO THROUGH THE PROPER PEOPLE AND GET PERMISSION.)) RUNS:10
OUT Q=and get permission.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 10:19:49
IN Q=I think that

((MIKE DEPRIMO/BENHAM'S ATTORNEY: I THINK THAT PERHAPS THE COURT DIDN'T QUITE CONSIDER THE MAGNITUDE OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT IN RENDERING HIS DECISION, AND WE'RE GOING TO APPEAL ON THAT BASIS.)) RUNS:09
OUT Q=on that basis.
(/////SOT/////)

Standup
IN Q=So for the

((So for the next several months, Flip Benham will have to continue his ministry from within the confines of a Lynchburg City jail cell. He says he's not doing this for the publicity or because he considers himself a martyr for the anti- abortion cause.)) RUNS:13
OUT Q=anti-abortion cause.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 10:15:17
IN Q=It is a

((FLIP BENHAM/OPERATION RESCUE DIRECTOR: IT IS A VERY SIMPLE, LITTLE THING AND WHAT THE APOSTLE PAUL SAID I THINK IS TRUE: THAT I PRAY MY CONFINEMENT WILL ENCOURAGE THE BROTHERS AND SISTERS TO STAND UP AND RIGHTFULLY REPRESENT THE HEART OF THE LORD, AND I BELIEVE THAT THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN BECAUSE GOD IS GOD, AND I AM NOT, THANK GOD.)) RUNS:14
OUT Q=thank God.


Co- defendants John Reyes and Jeff Brown remain free on bond, while their appeals are considered.
Steve Smallshaw, News7, Lynchburg.))

7E-Bowman


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Cut in
WRITER=tte
TAPE#=97-97
GRAPHIC=NONE


A fire at the historic Hotel Botetourt last August could have been started by a mentally handicapped resident.
(------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Fincastle;


A judge says there's reason to believe 30- year- old Duane Bowman set fire to the Hotel Botetourt -- destroying the home for handicapped adults.
No one was hurt.
Bowman lived on the second floor of the home -- and apparently admitted he set fire to his curtains.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 14:01:27
IN Q=And then Duane

((VOICE OF CAROL SLOAN/HOTEL BOTETOURT EMPLOYEE: AND THEN DUANE SPOKE UP AND SAID I SET MY CURTAINS ON FIRE WITH A CIGARETTE WHICH AT THE TIME I COULDN'T FIGURE OUT HOW HE DID THIS WITH A CIGARETTE.))
RUNS=:10
OUT Q=with a cigarette
(------------)
VO-NAT


The employee says Bowman later changed his story to say he started the fire with a lighter, not a cigarette.
A fire investigator says he has no doubt Bowman set the fire -- and Bowman told HIM the hotel owed him money.
A grand jury will decide in March if Bowman will stand trial for arson.
(------------)



7S-Annie's-Bill


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Cut in
WRITER=THa/EQu
TAPE#97-94
GRAPHIC=Death Penalty


Capital punishment could soon be the sentence for torturing a child to death.
The House of Delegates approved "Annie's Bill" yesterday on a vote of 93 to five.
It's named for four- year- old Annie Leftwich.
(----------------)
VO-NAT


The Dickenson County girl died after months of repeated abuse by her mother and stepfather who were tried in Montgomery County.
SUPER=03-Christiansburg/January;


When the four- year- old died she was gagged and bound to her urine- soaked baby bed in a cramped utility room with wild squirrels.
The child's parents were each sentenced to the maximum 50- years in prison.
(----------------)
ANCHOR=Kimberly
SS=Death Penalty


The bill would make such a killing a capital crime.
It now goes to the state Senate.

7Weather


ANCHOR=Melanie
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Taking a look now at your Thursday forecast, a mix of sun and clouds are in store for today, with a chance of rain...
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Showers/40-44;
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7BIRTHDAYS! 2/20/98
Friday:

SUPER=130-8/Holly Conner/Buena Vista;



SUPER=130-47/David Harris/Blacksburg;



SUPER=130-5/Meagan Jefferson/Covington;



SUPER=130-6/Keeya Craighead/Penhook;



SUPER=130-7/Amanada Overstreet/Roanoke;



SUPER=130-10/Cory Fisher/Roanoke;



SUPER=130-18/Renee Cook/Pulaski;



SUPER=130-16/Kristal Rutledge/Boones Mill;



SUPER=130-/Jeffrey Hairston/Roanoke;



SUPER=130-53/Steve Murray/Roanoke;


No Picture:

SUPER=131-/Charles Gibson/Charlottesville;



SUPER=131-/J. C. Martin/Snow Creek;



SUPER=131-/Valerie Overstreet/Snow Creek;



SUPER=131-/Ricky Davidson/Snow Creek;



SUPER=131-/Lonnie Kelly/Troutville;



SUPER=131-79/Christine Witcher/Rocky Mount;



(Anniversary)
SUPER=131-/Landis & Lottie Walker/Sago;



SUPER=131-/Howard & Geraldine Ferguson/Snow Creek;

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455-Robb


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Cut in
WRITER=equ
TAPE#598-5
GRAPHIC=chuck Robb


The U-N chief heads for Iraq today to meet with Saddam Hussein, hoping to resolve the standoff over weapons inspections.
Meantime, Democratic Senator Chuck Robb has strong words for Saddam.
Robb says the U-S should either repeal or modify its ban on assassinating foreign leaders.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=@File;


Robb says that would deprive Saddam Hussein of the peace of mind that comes from knowing U-S law prohibits an attack on him personally.
Robb says he's NOT advocating assassination -- just trying to make Saddam "more receptive" to negotiations.
(--------0--------)


45S-Annie's-Bill


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Cut in
WRITER=THa/EQu
TAPE#97-94
GRAPHIC=Death Penalty


Torturing a child to death could become a capital offense under a bill that's making its way through the General Assembly.
The House of Delegates approved "Annie's Bill" yesterday on a vote of 93 to five.
It's named for four- year- old Annie Leftwich.
(----------------)
VO-NAT


The Dickenson County girl died after months of repeated abuse by her mother and stepfather who were tried in Montgomery County.
SUPER=03-Christiansburg/January;


When the four- year- old died she was gagged and bound to her urine- soaked baby bed in a cramped utility room with wild squirrels.
The child's parents were each sentenced to the maximum 50- years in prison.
(----------------)
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=Death Penalty


The bill now goes to the state Senate.

455-Umpire-Battery


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Cut in
WRITER=equ
TAPE#597-56
GRAPHIC=NONE


It was a close call in the House of Delegates as lawmakers took up Virginia sports.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=@file;


A bill that would have mandated jail time for anyone who battered a referee, coach, or umpire went down on a 48 to 49 vote.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 14:19:04
IN Q=We are

((DEL. JACK REID/R-HENRICO CO.: WE ARE GOING TO START LOSING PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO CALL HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL GAMES, HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL GAMES, HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING MATCHES IN THIS STATE, IF WE DON'T TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT THEM.))
sot 14:19:58

((DEL. TOM JACKSON/D-HILLSVILLE: HOW ABOUT TEACHERS? HOW ABOUT STATE JUDGES? HOW ABOUT LAWYERS? HOW ABOUT DOCTORS? AND I GUESS HOW ABOUT THE AVERAGE CITIZEN WALKING UP AND DOWN THE STREET? WHY AREN'T THEY JUST AS IMPORTANT AS A REFEREE?))
SUPER=01-Del. Jack Reid/(R) Henrico Co.; :00
SUPER=@Jackson; :14
RUNS=:26
OUT Q=a referee?
(----------------)
VO-NAT


There is NO similar bill in the Senate, so the measure appears to be dead for the year.
(-----0-----------)


45E-Mason-Dixon


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Cut in
WRITER=equ
TAPE#97-98
GRAPHIC=News 7 poll


The Governor's tax cut proposal continues to be up for debate among state lawmakers.
But Virginia residents still appear to be in favor of the proposal according to the latest NEWS 7/Mason-Dixon poll.
(----------------)
VO-NAT


Stacked up head to head, 45-percent said they favor repealing the car tax.
37-percent they would favor repealing the sales tax on food.
18-percent say neither, or they're not sure.
But the breakdown along gender lines is interesting.
52-percent of men favor repealing the car tax, versus 30-percent who'd get rid of the food tax.
Only 38-percent of women would repeal the car tax.
44-percent picked the food tax cut.
The Governor has the positive spin.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 11:48
IN Q=If you

((GOV. JIM GILMORE: IF YOU LOOK AT THE ELECTION, YOU WILL SEE THERE WAS NO GENDER GAP IN THE ELECTION. SO I THINK THE WORKING WOMEN OF THIS STATE DEFINITELY WANT TO SEE TAX RELIEF. AND LET'S FACE IT, WE WOULDN'T BE TALKING ABOUT TAX RELIEF AT ALL IF I HADN'T RUN ON A PROGRAM OF TAX RELIEF.))
SUPER=@Gilmore;
RUNS=:14
OUT Q=tax relief.
(----------------)
VO-NAT


But if state revenues decline and paying for the car tax cut requires new revenue-
only 30-percent of those polled would pay higher sales or income taxes to make that happen.
And only 14-percent would agree to higher local property taxes to pay for the car tax cut.
(----------------)



45WEATHER


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cut-in
WRITER=kmc
TAPE#
GRAPHIC=


Shifting your attention now to weather--
Partly sunny skies today, with highs in mid to upper 50s.
Becoming cloudy overnight, with a chance of showers.
Lows in the lower 40s.
The four day outlook is mild..
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8S-Operation-Rescue


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Cut in
WRITER=ssm
TAPE#97-96
GRAPHIC=Abortion


The Reverend Flip Benham's ministry is now in a jail cell.
The national director of the anti- abortion group Operation Rescue is serving a six- month sentence for a trespassing conviction.
Steve Smallshaw has more on the story.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=Flip Benham
SUPER=03-Lynchburg; :00
SUPER=04-November 10, 1997; :09
SUPER=01-Ethan Ontjes/Prosecutor; :23
SUPER=01-Mike DePrimo/Benham's Attorney; :34
SUPER=@ssm1; :43
SUPER=01-Flip Benham/Operation Rescue Director; :56
RUNS=1:16
OUT Q=News7, Lynchburg.


(( Flip Benham began his long walk to jail around 10:30 Wednesday, but the wheels of justice were set in motion last November.
A judge ruled that's when Benham was trespassing when he and a hundred Liberty University students staged an anti- abortion rally on the campus of E.C. Glass High School.
Prosecutors say it wasn't Benham's message that got him in trouble.. he just didn't follow the rules.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 10:33:36
IN Q=If you're planning

((ETHAN ONTJES/PROSECUTOR: IF YOU'RE PLANNING TO DO A DEMONSTRATION, ANY KIND OF DEMONSTRATION, NO MATTER WHAT YOUR MESSAGE IS YOU NEED TO GO THROUGH THE PROPER PEOPLE AND GET PERMISSION.)) RUNS:10
OUT Q=and get permission.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 10:19:49
IN Q=I think that

((MIKE DEPRIMO/BENHAM'S ATTORNEY: I THINK THAT PERHAPS THE COURT DIDN'T QUITE CONSIDER THE MAGNITUDE OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT IN RENDERING HIS DECISION, AND WE'RE GOING TO APPEAL ON THAT BASIS.)) RUNS:09
OUT Q=on that basis.
(/////SOT/////)

Standup
IN Q=So for the

((So for the next several months, Flip Benham will have to continue his ministry from within the confines of a Lynchburg City jail cell. He says he's not doing this for the publicity or because he considers himself a martyr for the anti- abortion cause.)) RUNS:13
OUT Q=anti-abortion cause.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 10:15:17
IN Q=It is a

((FLIP BENHAM/OPERATION RESCUE DIRECTOR: IT IS A VERY SIMPLE, LITTLE THING AND WHAT THE APOSTLE PAUL SAID I THINK IS TRUE: THAT I PRAY MY CONFINEMENT WILL ENCOURAGE THE BROTHERS AND SISTERS TO STAND UP AND RIGHTFULLY REPRESENT THE HEART OF THE LORD, AND I BELIEVE THAT THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN BECAUSE GOD IS GOD, AND I AM NOT, THANK GOD.)) RUNS:14
OUT Q=thank God.


Co- defendants John Reyes and Jeff Brown remain free on bond, while their appeals are considered.
Steve Smallshaw, News7, Lynchburg.))

8S-Police-Accreditation


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Cut in
WRITER=sta
TAPE#=98-3
GRAPHIC=None


The Lexington Police Department is the smallest in the Commonwealth to receive state accreditation.
Tonight, they'll be honored at a city council meeting.
(------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Lexington


They've been trying for the honor since January of 19-96 and got approved after changing some department policies and passing a recent review.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 12.04.29 - 12.04.42
IN Q=This is the

((CHIEF BRUCE BEARD/LEXINGTON POLICE DEPT.:THIS IS THE HIGHLIGHT OF MY CAREER. I'VE BEEN HERE WITH THE LEXINGTON POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR 28 YEARS AND I'VE BEEN CHIEF OF POLICE FOR 11 YEARS AND I'M VERY HAPPY THAT WE WERE ABLE TO COMPLETE THIS TASK.))
SUPER=01-Chief Bruce Beard/Lexington Police Dept.
RUNS=:13
OUT Q=complete this task.
(------------)
VO-NAT


Chief Beard says accreditation will standardize department operations and improve the department's standing in the community of 7,000 people.
(------------)



8Future-Medalist


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Cut in
WRITER=djo
TAPE#=98-14
GRAPHIC=NONE


One gold, one silver-- Team U-S-A figure skaters Michelle Kwan and Tara Lipinski are favored to become medal winners in the Winter Olympics in Nagano.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke;


But the champion skaters could one day have a little competition here in the Roanoke Valley.
Seven- year- old Coral Wood was taught to skate by her father less than a year ago.
But she says it won't be long before she takes on some opponents.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT-17:03:23
IN Q=I REALLY

((CORAL WOOD/FUTURE FIGURE SKATER; I REALLY DON'T KNOW. I GUESS NEXT YEAR OR SOMETHING.))
SUPER=01-Coral Wood/Future Figure Skater;
RUNS=:04
OUT Q=OR SOMETHING.
(----------------)
VO-NAT


According to her mom, Coral has cruised through her seven ice skating lessons and excels in just about anything she tries.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT-17:08:28
IN Q=SHE'S A GOOD

((FRAN WOOD/CORAL'S MOM; SHE'S A GOOD MOUNTAIN BIKER. I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO TAKE HER A WHILE ON THAT. BUT SHE GOT ON HER BIKE AND TOOK OFF, SO. SHE'S A PRETTY TOUGH COOOKIE.))
SUPER=01-Fran Wood/Coral's Mom;
RUNS=:10
OUT Q=TOUGH COOKIE.
(----------------)
VO-NAT


Coral says she would like to compete for olympic gold one day.
Her parents say, whatever the sacrifice, they're in her corner all the way.
(----------------)



8weather


ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=cut-in
WRITER=kmc
TAPE#
GRAPHIC=


Taking a moment away from news to check the forecast--
Partly sunny and mild today with highs in the mid to upper 50s.
Clouding up tonight, with a chance of showers.
Lows in the lower 40s.
The extended forecast is calling for...
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by SS