WDBJ 7 news at Noon for 02/26/98

12:00-01

ANCHOR=Melanie

NEWSCAST=Noon
WRITER=mel
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=Iraq Conflict

The U-N today is drafting a firm warning to Iraq.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=@File;

The resolution warns of the most severe consequences if Baghdad violates the new agreement on weapons inspections.
SUPER=03-Norfolk;

Despite a possible hold on a U-S military attack against Iraq, more reinforcements are headed to the Gulf.
Another aircraft carrier set sail for the Persian Gulf today from Norfolk.
SUPER=03-Iraq;

Meantime, the UNSCOM inspectors are starting their work in Saddam Hussein's Presidential mansions.
But as Allen Pizzey reports, the information previously reported on the size of the mansions may be a bit misleading.
(----------------)
wipe/wipe/wipe

inspectors

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Noon
WRITER=mel
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=WIPE/WIPE/WIPE
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
10:00:00 or 9:59:37
IN Q=
SUPER=03-Baghdad, Iraq; :00
SUPER=01-Steffan DeMistura/UNSCOM;:23
SUPER=01-Riad Quasi/Deputy Foreign Minister;:58
SUPER=01-Allen Pizzey/Reporting;1:26
RUNS=1:37

OUT Q=cbs news Baghad.E-McCloskey

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=sta
TAPE#=97-99
GRAPHIC=Lawsuit

John William McCloskey died two years ago from internal injuries.
His father blames workers at Western State Hospital, charging they violated his son with a broom handle or similar device.
So he's suing the hospital for ten million dollars.
(------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Augusta Co.;

Hospital officials deny any wrongdoing--claiming McCloskey was violated by deputies with the Rockbridge County Sheriff's Department when they arrested him in December of '94.
The teen was charged with disorderly conduct and exposing himself at a store in Arnold's Valley.
Shortly, afterward a magistrate declared McCloskey mentally ill and ordered him to be sent to Western State Hospital.
Sheriff Day denies his deputies did anything wrong.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 13.07.33 - 13.07.59
IN Q=The deputy marked
((ROCKBRIDGE CO. SHERIFF BOB DAY: THE DEPUTY MARKED IN ROUTE FROM THE STORE TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND ARRIVED HERE IN 22 MINUTES WHICH IS NORMAL DRIVING TIME. THE TIME THE DEPUTY ARRIVED UNTIL ABOUT FOUR MINUTES 'TIL THE ARREST WAS MADE. SO, WE'RE REALLY LOOKING AT 30 MINUTES THERE TO ARRIVE HERE AND PUT IN A HOLDING CELL. THE MAGISTRATE CAME AND ISSUED WARRANTS AND THEN HE WAS ADMITTED TO JAIL.))
SUPER=01-Bob Day/Rockbridge Co. Sheriff
RUNS=:26
OUT Q=admitted to jail.
(------------)
VO-NAT

Carl McCloskey is suing the hospital for ten millions dollars.
A hearing date for the trial has yet to be set.
(------------)

Balcony-Collapse

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=lba
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=Lawsuit

Almost two years ago a balcony at a Blacksburg apartment complex collapsed, injuring 16 people.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Blacksburg/April 1996;

Now five of those people are suing the owner of the Terrace View Apartments for one-and-a-quarter million dollars.
A third-floor balcony fell onto a second-floor balcony, and it then gave way.
An inspection by the town concluded that overcrowding, not structural defects, led to the collapse.
(----------------)

CA-storms

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

President Clinton is bringing federal relief to storm-ravaged California today, including a 20 million dollar grant to help rebuild Los Angeles area highways.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Laguna Beach, CA;
4:03:42
Meantime, places like Laguna Beach are drying out and cleaning up from the deadly storms.
SUPER=03-Pacifica, CA ;
4:06:21
Farther north up the coast homeowners are learning about life on the edge as their homes sit inches from crashing into the ocean.
SUPER=03-San Diego, CA;
4:03:33
And in San Diego a huge sinkhole continues to grow and is now 700 feet long.
(----------------)

WIPE/WIPE/WIPEUTAH

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Noon
WRITER=mel
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=WIPE/WIPE/WIPE
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Salt Lake City, UT;

The El-Nino storm system has moved east to Utah.
The third largest one-day snowstorm in Salt Lake's history dumped more than 2-feet of snow, shutting down Salt Lake International Airport and stranding hundreds of passengers.
More snow is expected today, but forecasters say it should end by tonight.
(----------------)

E-Black-Farmers

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=tte
TAPE#=98-1
GRAPHIC=Farming

It isn't the weather, but federal loans that are causing problems for black farmers as planting season draws near.
(------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Rocky Mount;

The National Black Farmers Association protested in front of the Farm Service Agency -- saying their loans are always rejected.
They say the Farm Service Agency discriminates against black farmers -- and small farms.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 9:49:42
IN Q=I don't ask
((DOUG WITCHER/FARMER: I DON'T ASK ... ANSWERING UP.))
SUPER=01-Doug Witcher/Farmer;
RUNS=:13
OUT Q=answering up
(------------)
VO-NAT

None of these farmers applied for loans this year -- saying it was too much paperwork for nothing.
But by the end of the rally, many made appointments with loan officers -- who say there's still more than two million dollars available.
Don Davis of the Farm Service Agency says he cannot refute the farmers' claims of racism -- but he would be happy to talk to each farmer one-on-one.
(------------)

GRAMMY

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Noon
WRITER=mel
TAPE#net
GRAPHIC=Grammy awards

The music industry handed out its top honors in New York City last night.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-New York, NY;

The 40th annual Grammy awards show was a family affair for legendary rocker Bob Dylan.. and son, Jakob.
Collectivly they won five Grammys.. including best album of the year going to Dylan senior.
Best new artist went to Paula Cole.
Shawn Colvin's "Sunny Came Home" won both record and song of the year.
(----------------)

Liggett

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=jha
TAPE#=None
GRAPHIC=Tobacco Under Fire

A major tobacco company may be teaming up with the Justice Department's criminal investigation of big tobacco.
But the pairing comes with the price of immunity for the Liggett Corporation.
Liggett has reportedly offered to give the government industry information on nicotine and efforts to hide health risks.
The C-E-O of Liggett's parent company declined to comment on any possible negotiations.
The company sells L- and-M, Chesterfield, Eve and Lark brand cigarettes.

C'burg-Student

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=lba
TAPE#NONE
GRAPHIC=NONE

An investigation at Christiansburg High School turned up some frightening results.
Police say a 16- year- old student had a semi-automatic handgun at school.
The student is charged with possessing a firearm on school property.

E-DayCare-Bills

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=djo
TAPE#=98-2
GRAPHIC=Childcare

Tougher day care standards passed by Virginia's state senate are getting mixed reviews from local child care providers.
(------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Roanoke

Tuesday the Senate approved imposing 500-dollar fines on day care centers who endanger children in their care.
Some who provide day care services out of their homes agree with the legislation... at least in part.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT=05:26:15/00:39:40
IN Q=THINGS THAT ARE
((THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THE HOMES ARE USUALLY BLAMED ON CHILD CARE PROVIDERS, PEOPLE THAT ARE PROVIDING CARE FOR THESE OTHER PEOPLE'S CHILDREN. IT'S JUST GOING TO BE A BIG MESS.)) ((I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE DAY CARE PROVIDERS BEING SET UP BY THE PARENT THAT MAY BE GIVING THEM SOME TROUBLE. OTHERWISE, I FEEL IT'S VERY GOOD BECAUSE EVERYTHING SHOULD BE SAFE IN THE HOME FOR DAY CARE FOR ALL CHILDREN.))
SUPER=01-Barbara Cox/Barbara's Child Care; :00
SUPER=01-Jacqueline Brown/Brown Family Day Care Home; :12
RUNS=:29
OUT Q=ALL CHILDREN
(------------)
VO-NAT
The Senate also approved a bill requiring licensed day care providers to personally spend at least three-quarters of their time taking care of the children, rather than hiring someone else to do it.
(------------)

S-Women's-Caucus

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=equ
TAPE#98-4
GRAPHIC=Session 98

Typically women's issues have been chagning direction in Virginia's General Assembly lately.
Ellen Qualls reports on this trend.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q=I want to say
SUPER=01-Sen. Yvonne Miller/(D) Norfolk; :00
SUPER=03-Richmond; :12
SUPER=01-Sandra Duckworth/Virginia Women's Network; :25
SUPER=@ellen2; :35
SUPER=01-Robin DeJarnette/Family Foundation; :48
RUNS=1:26
OUT Q=Qualls, News 7.
((
SOT 01:02:50 TAPE ONE
((SEN. YVONNE MILLER/D-NORFOLK: I WANT TO SAY WOMEN AND CHILDREN ARE NOT FIRST IN VIRGINIA. THEY ARE LAST.)) RUNS:05
On the Virginia Women's Network version of the Titanic, the good ole boys are off in the lifeboats, and the women and children are going down with the ship.
But how can that be happening with their strongest numbers ever: 15 women in the House, including Lynchburg's Kathy Byron, and seven in the Senate.
The allegedly non-partisan Women's Network blames the Republican takeover.
SOT TAPE TWO 01:22:27
((SANDRA DUCKWORTH/VA. WOMEN'S NETWORK: EVEN BEFORE WE HAD THIS MANY REPUBLICANS ELECTED, I THINK WE WERE BEGINNING TO SEE THE EROSION OF SUPPORT FOR WOMEN, AND CHILDREN, AND FAMILIES.)) RUNS:10
But wait a minute, almost half the women in the House are Republicans themselves.
And boy are the women at the conservative Family Foundation glad to see them.
SOT tape 3 02:45:51
((ROBIN DEJARNETTE/FAMILY FOUNDATION: VERY MUCH SO. I FEEL LIKE WOMEN HAVE MADE SO MUCH PROGRESS OVER THE YEARS... FROM THE STATE.)) RUNS:38
So finally in Virginia's General Assembly -- women's issues depend on the woman.

Ellen QUalls, News 7.))Oprah

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=lba
TAPE#=
GRAPHIC=

Texas cattle raisers have lost their defamation lawsuit against Oprah Winfrey.
An Amarillo jury today disagreed with plaintiffs who alleged beef prices plunged as a result of an Oprah program about mad cow disease.
The panel concluded that Winfrey, her production company and a vegetarian activist guest were not liable for the cattlemen's losses.

S-Bedford-Judge

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=ssm
TAPE#=98-5
GRAPHIC=Legal Scales

New jobs could be in the works for some Bedford County lawyers thanks to a legislative deal in the works.
(------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=04-File Tape

General District Court judge Jim Updike is now in line to succeed retiring circuit judge William Sweeney later this year.
Updike had served as Bedford County prosecutor for 15 years before ascending to the bench in 19-95.
Bedford attorney Harold Black is expected to take Updike's place on the General District court bench.
The deal was worked out between House Democratic leader Dick Cranwell and Lynchburg senator Steve Newman.
Legislators will vote on the judgeships March 5th.

(------------)S-Thurber

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=ssm
TAPE#=97-100
GRAPHIC=Lynchburg City Seal

A woman has joined four men in the race for a spot on Lynchburg's city council.
(------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Lynchburg

Jane Thurber announced yesterday she'll seek one of the three at- large seats up for grabs in May.
Thurber says she wants to take on corruption and partisanship in city government.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 1:32:04
IN Q=I've felt that
((JANE THURBER/LYNCHBURG COUNCIL CANDIDATE: I'VE FELT THAT WHEN PEOPLE GOT MAD ENOUGH, I WOULD WIN. AND I HOPE AND WOULD LIKE TO THINK THAT BY NOW, MAYBE, THEY'RE MAD ENOUGH.))
SUPER=01-Jane Thurber/Lynchburg Council Candidate
RUNS=:11
OUT Q=they're mad enough.
(------------)
VO-NAT

Lynchburg Republicans will nominate their candidates Saturday.
(------------)

5-Schools

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Mnoon
WRITER=equ
TAPE#598-6
GRAPHIC=education

Hookups all around...
The Commonwealth made a deal with the nation's largest producer of hardware to connect computers to the Internet and to company networks.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=04-Cisco Systems;

Cisco Systems of California is donating about one million dollars of computer equipment to Virginia.
Cisco will then get to run networking academies in all 350 public high schools in the state, and teach faculty for those academies in all 27 state community colleges.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 44:45
IN Q=As I travel
((ROBERT MORGRIDGE/CISCO SYSTEMS: AS I TRAVEL AROUND AND CALL ON OUR CUSTOMERS, THE BIGGEST PROBLEM THEY HAVE IS QUALIFIED PEOPLE. AND THERE'S NO QUESTION IN OUR MINDS THAT WE'LL SELL A LOT MORE EQUIPMENT TO A LOT MORE FOLKS IF WE CAN HELP SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF HUMAN CAPITAL THAT IS TECHNICALLY TRAINED. THAT KNOWS HOW TO INSTALL, MAINTAIN, AND USE THIS EQUIPMENT. SO IT'S SELF-SERVING. I DON'T DENY THAT.))
SUPER=01-Robert Morgridge/Cisco Systems;
RUNS=:25
OUT Q=deny that.
(----------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Richmond;

It's projected that Virginia will have 100-thousand un-filled high tech jobs in the next three to five years.

(------0----------)E-Eclipse-Advice

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=Noon
WRITER=tfl
TAPE#=98-3
GRAPHIC=NONE

If you look out your window now you should be able to see the beginning s of a partial eclipse, but be cautious.
(------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=03-Christiansburg;

A local optometrist has some advice on how to get the full benefit of the moon covering the sun, without hurting your eyes.
Doctor Scott Mann says there are many safe ways to indirectly view the eclipse, but only two methods of looking directly into the sun.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT 11:17:39
IN Q=One is a mylar
((DR. SCOTT MANN/OPTOMETRIST:ONE IS A MYLAR FILTER WHICH IS A SPECIAL FILTER USED BY NASA QUITE A BIT AND THERE MADE IN SPECIAL CLIP SUNGLASSES, THEY'RE ACTUALLY AVAILABLE IN THIS AREA, I TALKED TO THE PEOPLE AT THE PLANETARIUM AND THEY HAVE SOME PAIRS AVAILABLE AT THIS SHOP AT CENTER IN THE SQUARE AND YOU CAN VIEW THE ECLIPSE SAFELY THROUGH THOSE.))
SUPER=01-Dr. Scott Mann/Optometrist
RUNS=:18
OUT Q=through those.
(-------------)
VO-NAT

Eclipse watchers can also use Number 14 welder's goggles for protection.
(-------------)
ANCHOR=Melanie
SS=None

The best time to see the parital eclipse is a little after one this afternoon. 2 shot-Melanie reads
People in other parts of the world will see a full eclipse.
This phenomenon has produced a panic in Haiti, where fear of blindness has led schools to cancel classes and businesses to shut down.Forecasts
SUPER=X5000;
SUPER=330-Increasing/Clouds/38-42/Cloudy/Scattered Showers/55-58;
SUPER=331-Increasing/Clouds/40-43/Mostly Cloudy/A Few Showers/57-60;
SUPER=332-Cloudy/Late Showers/37-40/Cloudy/Showers Possible/53-56;
SUPER=333-Increasing/Clouds/34-37/Cloudy/Afternoon Showers/53-56;
SUPER=334-Cloudy/Showers Late/38-42/Cloudy/Showers Early/54-57;

SUPER=X5001;Tech

ANCHOR=Patrick
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=Mike
TAPE#net (edit of TB98-1)
GRAPHIC=ATLANTIC 10

George Washington knocked Virginia Tech's record fall to 9-and-16 last night.
(----------------)
VO-NAT eng#
SUPER=03-Blacksburg/Colonials vs. Hokies; :00

The Hokies freshman sensation Rolan Roberts gave Mike Jarvis an eyeful working the perimeter and finding Jenis Grindstaff. He gets the 3 to drop, plus he draws the foul.
G-W would counter as Shawnta Rogers gets the loose ball, drives, and dished to 7-1 Alexander Koul for the powerful slam.
Tech would continue to fight as Brendan Dunlap drives through four Colonials and makes the underhanded scoop.
SUPER=33-George Washington/64/Virginia Tech/50;

But GW was just too much. The Colonials win it 64 to 50.
(-------------)

WIPE WIPE WIPEExtra

ANCHOR=Patrick
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=Mike
TAPE#EXTRA/S8-1
GRAPHIC=WIPE WIPE WIPE
(----------------)
VO-NAT eng#

Also last night at halftime, the Hokies welcomed back Ace Custis!
The injured Dallas Maverick returned home to watch his retired jersey be unveiled by the Hokies Bird alongside Dell Curry and Bimbo Coles.
(/////SOT/////)
SOT
IN Q="I feel...
((ACE CUSTIS/1706 POINTS & 1177 REBOUNDS: I FEEL VERY HONORED TO HAVE MY NUMBER BESIDE THE GREAT PLAYERS OF VIRGINIA TECH. WHEN I HAD IT RETIRED LAST YEAR IT WAS A DIFFERENT FEELING THAN IT IS TODAY, TO ACTUALLY SEE IT UNVEILED WAS A GREAT FEELING FOR ME.))
SUPER=01-Ace Custis/1706 Points & 1177 Rebounds; :00
RUNS=:16
OUT Q=...FOR ME."
(-------------)

Liberty

ANCHOR=Patrick
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=Mike
TAPE#net (edit of BB98-2)
GRAPHIC=BIG SOUTH

Liberty burned up the court in the men's Big South tournament by beating Coastal Carolina.
(----------------)
VO-NAT eng#
SUPER=03-Lynchburg/Coastal Carolina vs. Liberty; :00

Coastal's Marcus Stewart drives in the scores.
Liberty Freshman Jeremy Day would answer that with an inside bucket of his own, plus he draws the foul.
The Chanticleers come back as Andrew Hinton moves outside and knocks in the shot from just inside the three point line.
SUPER=33-Liberty/78/Coastal Carolina/70;

But Liberty is able to pull out the 78 to 70 win as Jay Boykin scores. The Flames play U-N-C Asheville tomorrow night in the semi-finals.
(-------------)
ANCHOR=Patrick
SS=HOLD

Radford University also earned a Big South semi final spot last night.
The highlanders beat Charleston Southern and will now face U-M-B-C on Friday night.
And don't forget the women's Big South tournament opens later today in the

Vine's Center.Blacksburg

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

The one game a night format in the Region 3 continued last night with Blacksburg and Dan River meeting in the quarterfinals at Rustburg high school.
(----------------)
VO-NAT eng#
SUPER=03-Rustburg/Blacksburg vs. Dan River; :00

Early in the game Alan Petty with the dish to six-five Lloyd Tillman who hammers down the alleyoop slam.
Blacksburg would have to play catchup as Randy Cross gets the rock to Matt Maher and the Indians cut the Wildcats lead down to four points.
But Dan River would win this one
SUPER=33-Dan River/57/Blacksburg/45;
57-to-45 as Petty scores and the Wildcats advance to play Liberty tonight at 7pm.
(-------------)

Titanic-trip

ANCHOR=Melanie
NEWSCAST=noon
WRITER=jha
TAPE#=net
GRAPHIC=None

Titanic fans may get to take the experience one step further.
(------------)
VO-NAT
SUPER=04-"Titantic"-Paramount Pictures;

After the record- breaking movie astonished millions, a British Travel agency is making it possible to view the real thing.
Begining next August, you'll be able to hitch a ride on a deep- diving submarine for a close- up look at the luxury liner. (-------------) But the trip won't be cheap, the price is 30- thousand dollars.