[Noon-open]
[SUPER=#4054; News 7 Headline Banner]
[SUPER=@Melanie1;]
[SUPER=@Patrick1; ]
[Tornado]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=chu]
[TAPE#98-42 TC 2:14]
[GRAPHIC=Tornado]
More severe weather today in Southside Virginia.
This after reports of tornado touchdowns last night.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pittsylvania Co.; :00]
Severe thunderstorms rolled through Pittsylvania County and Danville just within the last hour.
There was heavy rain, hail, and lightning.
Things are beginning to quiet down now... but there are some roads closed because of flooding.
[SUPER=03-Mount Hermon/Last Night; :16]
Last night, there were at least two reports of tornado touchdowns.
A tornado is believed to have ripped the roof off of this house in Mount Hermon.
Other homes on this street also sustained moderate damage.
[SUPER=03-Caswell Co., NC/Last Night; :26]
And a tornado in Caswell County, North Carolina destroyed a mobile home and a barn.
(----------------)
[E-Lee-Co-Water-Tower]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=JJA]
[TAPE#98-45 :16]
[GRAPHIC=Severe Weather]
Severe weather also caused extensive damage in Lee County.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lee Co.;]
Lightning reportedly struck a water tower in Cumberland Gap.
The explosion sent 400-thousand gallons of water crashing through a home...even collapsing a brick wall.
Other homes in the neighborhood had to deal with flooding, but no one was hurt.
(----------------)
[wipe wipe wipe][carolina-wx]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#net-]
[GRAPHIC=Wipe/wipe]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Edgefield, SC;]
[10:05:26]
The same storm spawned tornadoes in South Carolina.
At least six twisters touched down. One crushed a mobile home, killing a woman inside.
The storms claimed one more life and injured close to two dozen.
[SUPER=03-Western North Carolina;]
[4:26:08]
And in North Carolina high winds and a possible tornado knocked down trees and power lines, and tossed around tractor trailer rigs and mobile homes like toys.
No injuries were reported in the state.
(----------------)
[Afton-WReck]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Accident]
A 21-vehicle pile-up on Afton Mountain yesterday is being blamed on fog and reckless driving.
Three tractor-trailers and 18 cars were involved in the accident on Interstate 64.
No serious injuries were reported.
State police said the highway's fog lights were on at the time and visibility was about 100 feet -- but police said a tractor-trailer was driving too fast and clipped several vehicles.
[Tobacco-Settle]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=tobacco under fire]
Details have not yet been released concerning a reported 6-(B) billion dollar settlement in a tobacco lawsuit in Minn
esota.
An attorney confirmed the tentative agreement this morning.
John Coale -- who helped negotiate the national settlement that
was announced last summer -- says details of the agreement will be
announced later.
[IRS]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=MEL]
[TAPE#net-]
[GRAPHIC=none]
After hearing hours of taxpayer horror stories last month the Senate has taken drastic steps to overhaul the Internal Revenue Service.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Capitol Hill/Last Night;]
In a rare unanimous vote the Senate approved legislation that strengthens taxpayers' rights.
It also includes the creation of a special panel to watch over the I-R-S.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
((
SEN. WILLIAM ROTH/R-DE: THE PROBLEM, MR. PRESIDENT, IS THAT THE AGENCY ITSELF HAS TOO MUCH POWER AND NOT ENOUGH SUNSHINE. IT'S MARKED BY AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE EVEN A FEW OVERLY AGGRESSIVE, VINDICTIVE, ARROGANT PR POWER HUNGRY INDIVIDUALS CAN GET AWAY WITH TRAMPLING THE RIGHTS OF HONEST AMERICANS. ))
[SUPER=01-Sen. William Roth/(R) Delaware;]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=the rights of honest Americans.]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
Before the measure makes it to the President's desk it must be reconciled with similar legislation passed last year by the House.
Supporters hope to wrap it all up by Memorial Day.
(----------------)
[UNEMPLOYMENT]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#none]
[GRAPHIC=Unemployment]
Good News for job seekers.
The nation's unemployment rate dropped to a 28- year low last April
to 4-point-3 percent.
The Labor Department says some
262-thousand jobs were added to
The jobless number was much more dramatic than economist anticipated and could add pressure on the Federal Reserve to start raising interest rates.
But so far the stock market doesn't seem too worried just yet, stock prices were higher in early trading.[Textile-P
lant]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=98-30]
[GRAPHIC=None]
While the national unemployment numbers go down, several textile plant workers in Botetourt County will say good bye to their jobs next week.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Eagle Rock;]
The Turner and Minter apparel plant is closing for good on Monday, leaving 47 people unemployed.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 10:06:32]
[IN Q=There was a woman]
((THERE WAS A WOMAN IN HERE THAT SAID THE OTHER DAY SHE'D BEEN HERE SINCE 68, 1968, AND SHE WAS 55 YEARS OLD. DIDN'T GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL. SHE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT SHE WAS GOING TO DO.))
[SUPER=01-Debbie Helmintoller/Employee;]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=she was going to do]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
This plant used to make uniforms for the Halmode company -- which closed last month.
And the plant manager here says most other sewing contracts are going to foreign countries, where labor is less expensive.
The base pay at Turner and Minter is five-fifty an hour, with no benefits.
The plant manager says the Virginia Employment Commission might be able to help the women earn high school or college credits.
(------------)
[E-Botched-Robbery]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=am cutins]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=98-37 25:00]
[GRAPHIC=None]
In Roanoke, a robbery suspect picked the wrong getaway car.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
He tried to steal a car belonging to Roanoke police Detective Ron Jones.
Police say 20-year old Antuan Taylor first stole a money bag from a depositor at First Virginia Bank on Orange Avenue.
When Taylor's stolen getaway car wouldn't start, he ran to the bank across the street.
Jones was there in his unmarked car, getting ready to cash a check.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=And I noticed]
((DET. RON JONES/ROANOKE POLICE DEPARTMENT: AND I NOTICED A SUBJECT RAN UP TO THE SIDE OF THE CAR WITH A PLASTIC BAG AND JERKED MY DOOR OPEN AND SAID "GET OUT, I NEED YOUR CAR, GET OUT." AND I JUST PUSHED THE DOOR AND THE SUBJECT TURNED AND STARTED RUNNING.))
[SUPER=01-Det. Ron Jones/Roanoke Police Department]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=started running.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Jones chased Taylor for about ONE hundred yards, tackled him and recovered the loot.
Taylor faces robbery and other charges.
(------------)
[E-Cave-Spring]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=tst]
[TAPE#=98-26 1:16:42]
[GRAPHIC=NOne]
Roanoke COunty police officers say they didn't violate students rights yesterday during a surprise inspection at Cave Spring High School.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]
Police officers made a surprise visual sweep of cars in the Cave Spring parking lot yesterday morning.
A county lieutenant says officers found marijuana in three vehicles.
They also found what may be a crack pipe.
Several more cars contained tobacco products, which are prohibited on school grounds.
Several students may be charged later as a result of yesterday's search.
(------0------)
[E-Hawkins]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=KHu]
[TAPE#98-29 1:00:46]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The executive director of a boxing Association for young people in Roanoke is speaking out about criminal charges against him.
(-------------)
[VO NAT SOT]
Rick Hawkins would NOT discuss specifics at Victory Stadium yesterday, but he says he's prepared to fight.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 13:26]
[IN Q=Like I say]
((LIKE I SAY, I'M NOT LETTING THESE KIDS DOWN. WE TEACH THEM TO GET UP WHEN THEY FALL DOWN, AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I'M DOING RIGHT NOW. ))
[SUPER=01-Rick Hawkins/Roanoke Boxing Assoc. Director]
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=right now.]
(-------------)
[VO NAT SOT]
One of the Boxing Association's board members made it clear he's still in Hawkins' corner, despite Monday's indictment.
Coach George Miller did say some of the grant money may have been used to buy food for boxers and to house them during tournaments.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 13:18:30]
[IN Q=I'll emphasize]
((GEORGE MILLER/ROANOKE BOXING ASSOCIATION BOARD MEMBER: I'LL EMPHASIZE THE FACT THAT THE MONIES HAVE BEEN USED IN OTHER DIRECTIONS OTHER THAN WHAT THEY WERE APPROPRIATED FOR.))
[SUPER=01-George Miller/Roanoke Boxing Assoc. Board;]
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT=appropriated for.]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=None]
Hawkins says whoever's responsible for bringing down the boxing program for inner-city kids "should be ashamed of t
hemselves."[E-Blevins]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=THa]
[TAPE#98-33 33:00]
[GRAPHIC=Blevins]
A former Smyth County teacher accused of having sex with one of his students will face trial this summer.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Marion;]
A July court date was set yesterday for 34-year old Michael Dwayne Blevins.
He's charged with 30-counts of consensual oral sodomy and 15-counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Prosecutors say the teenage girl was a former student of Blevins when he taught in Rural Retreat although the alleged crimes happened in Smyth County.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=none]
Blevins is also charged with having sex with three students while working as a teacher in Montgomery County.
[Hubbell]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#net-]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Following his indictment last week Clinton friend Webster Hubell made a court appearance this morning.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-File Tape; :00]
Hubbell along with his wife and two associates were formally charged with trying to dodge taxes on thousands of dollars paid to Hubbell by Clinton supporters.
(----------------)
[Italy-mudslides]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=NOON]
[WRITER=MEL]
[TAPE#net-]
[GRAPHIC=none]
A convoy of U-S navy servicemen are heading into Southern Italy today to help rescue mudslide victims.
At least 81 people are dead and hundreds missing.
Allen Pizzey reports.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[9:04:43]
[IN Q=Rescuers are]
[SUPER=03-Sarno, Italy/This Morning; :00]
[SUPER=01-Allen Pizzey/Reporting; :45]
[RUNS=1:08]
[OUT Q=cbs news, Rome.] [E-Black-Nurses]
[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=ssa]
[TAPE#=98-31 46:00]
[GRAPHIC=Medical News]
The problems are common, but people still don't quite understand such health challenges as substance abuse, heart disease, and diabetes.
That's where one local group comes into the picture.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
The mission of the Roanoke Valley Black Nurses Association is to educate people on health issues that affect the community.
At the group's annual meeting yesterday, topics ranged from teen depression to children living with HIV.
One hot topic was preventative medicine.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]14:44:55
[IN Q=To know...]
((ROSA HARDY/BLACK NURSES ASSOCIATION:TO KNOW THE RESOURCES FOR HIV. TO KNOW THE RESOURCES FOR DIABETES AND WHAT'S OUT THERE IN THE COMMUNITY. I THINK THAT'S REAL IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TODAY.))
[SUPER=01-Rosa Hardy/Black Nurses Association;]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=people today]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The group sponsors educational events throughout the year, as well as health screenings and wellness activities.
(------------)
[E-Chocolate-Shortage]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=sta]
[TAPE#=98-41 2:17]
[GRAPHIC=NOne]
There may be a worldwide shortage of cocoa, but don't worry about it having much of an effect locally.
That advice according to one local chocolate maker.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lexington]
Fungal diseases and insects are hurting large, international corporate cocoa farmers.
They supply companies with the cocoa needed to make chocolate.
But, a Lexington company says inspite of the diseases-- prices and supplies should remain steady.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 10.09.15 - 10.09.29]
[IN Q=We're not worried]
((SUSAN PETRIELLA/COCOA MILL CHOCOLATE FACTORY: WE'RE NOT WORRIED ABOUT MEETING DEMAND OR ABOUT HAVING TO INCREASE PRICES. WE FEEL PRETTY COMFORTABLE AND CONFIDENT THAT OUR SUPPLIER IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO HOLD HIS PRICING AND BE ABLE TO SUPPLY US WITH WHAT WE NEED TO KEEP OUR BUSINESS GOING.))
[SUPER=01-Susan Petriella/Cocoa Mill Chocolate Factory;]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=our business going]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The Cocoa Mill has been in operation for about five years.
Owners say they called their supplier after hearing reports of the cocoa shortage.
They've been keeping tabs on the situation ever since.
(------------)
[Ralph-Stanley]
[ANCHOR=none]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=net-]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Ralph Stanley has been in the music business for more than 50 years, but the Bluegrass legend says his latest recording could be the biggest of his career.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem]
Stanley's new release on Rebel Records is titled "Clinch Mountain Country," and today he visited WSLC radio in Salem to talk about it.
Due out in mid May, the album includes duets with 30 artists, ranging from Vince Gill to Bob Dylan.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=NAT SOUND FULL LEADING INTO INTERVIEW]
((RALPH STANLEY: I'VE BEEN IN THIS BUSINESS 52 YEARS, AND I'M HOPING IT'LL BE THE BIGGEST THING THAT'S EVER HAPPENED TO ME.))
[SUPER=07-Ralph Stanley;]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=that's ever happened to me.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The southwest Virginia native appeared last night at Festival in the Pines in Franklin County.
And we'll feature Ralph Stanley in Sunday's installment of Virginia Profiles.
(------------)
[Soccer]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-7]
[GRAPHIC=SOCCER]
The Blue Ridge District Soccer tournament isn't until next Tuesday, but last night two old district rivals weren't about to wait to kick up a storm.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg/Indians vs. Blue Demons; :05]
Christiansburg hosted Blacksburg in a 7:30 start on a field that offered both teams a chance to reflect on their seasons.
The Indians would attack the wet turf and the Demons with Braden Powell taking the pass and blasting a shot - that is just high over the cross bar.
It would be a physical game of inches all night long as the Blue Demons' Todd Smart makes a great slide tackle to stop an Indian break.
Both net minders played well. Here Christian Duke stops the Dustin Bond shot. And lightning would stop
[super=34-Blacksburg/0/Christianburg/0;]
the game suspending it with 9:07 to play.
It ends in a scoreless tie.
(------------------)
[Knicks]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-12]
[GRAPHIC=NBA PLAYOFFS]
The New York Knicks were hoping history would repeat itself last night as they took on the Indiana Pacers in game two of their playoff series.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[super=03-New York, NY/May 5, 1970; :00]
On almost the same night 28 year ago, New York's Willis Reed hobbled out with an injury and helped the Knicks win the title over the Lakers.
[SUPER=03-Indianapolis, IN/TNT; :00]
Last night Pat Ewing was the Knick center coming back from an injury - and to be honest they should have called back Reed.
Reggie Miller blistered the nets for 21 points and
[super=32-New York/77/Indiana/85/Pacers 2-to-0;]
Ewing was held to just 10 points as the Pacers take game two 85-to-77. They lead 2 games to none.
(------------)[Jordan]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-2]
[GRAPHIC=JORDAN]
The Chicago Bulls are heading into hostile territory as game three of their playoff series moves to the home court of the Charlotte Hornets.
Bulls Superstar Michael Jordan says Chicago's loss Wednesday was the wakeup call the team needed.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=When...]
((MICHAEL JORDAN:))
[SUPER=01-Michael Jordan/Bulls Captain; :00]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=...wake us up."]
(-------------)
[Caps]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-13]
[GRAPHIC=STANLEY CUP]
It wasn't exactly an old timers game, but the Washington Caps turned to their veterans last night as they opened their Eastern conference semi-finals series with Ottawa.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Washington DC/Senators vs. Caps;:00]
Adam Oates, Peter Bondra, and Brain Bellows - all members of the 30-something club scored goals to break a open a close game and propel the Caps to a 4-to-2 win.
[SUPER=31-Ottawa/2/Washington/4;]
(------------) The Caps are trying to make it to the conference finals for just the second time in franchise history.
by SS