WDBJ 7 news at Noon for 11/20/98

[Beamer]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]

[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Frank Beamer]

Virginia Tech Football Coach Frank Beamer is being considered for the head coaching job at Clemson University.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=@file]

Virginia Tech confirms that Clemson has received permission to talk with Beamer about the position.
But that won't be until after next week's game with Virginia- which is the end of the regular season.
Rumors were swirling around the Tech campus earlier this week that Beamer was a candidate for the head coaching job at Auburn, but sources say he told the team he was not leaving Virginia Tech.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=HOLD]

There's a close connection between Beamer and the President of Clemson- Deno Curris.
Curris was president of Murray State when Beamer was the football coach there and the two have maintained close contact since moving on.

[KC-STANDOFF]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=NOON]
[WRITER=MEL]
[TAPE#net]
[GRAPHIC=Standoff]

A hostage drama is unfolding at this hour in Kansas City.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Kansas City, MO;]
[11:10:31]
Earlier today an armed man took about 20 people hostage in a 12 story building.
The gunman is now reportedly sectioned off from others in the building after opening fire and then holding a gun to himself.
It's not clear yet if anyone has been injured.
Earlier there was a report that at least one person has been shot.
There is no word yet on a motive or if any demands have been made by the gunman.
(----------------)

[VA-Tobacco-Deal]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Tobacco Under Fire]

Virginia Attorney General Mark Earley has accepted a national tobacco settlement.
The 206-Billion dollar settlement would bring Virginia up to 4 Billion dollars over the next 25 years.
The deal would place new limits on tobacco advertising and reimburse the states for health related costs.
It would also provide some as-yet unspecified aid to farmers.
There was a noon deadline for Virignia to accept or decline the settlement.
Attorney General Mark Earley will meet with reporters in a few minutes to explain his decision.
We'll have more on that tonight on News-7 at Five and News-7 at Six.

[impeach]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=]
[WRITER=MEL]
[TAPE#]
[GRAPHIC=WIPE/WIPE/WIPE]
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=04-February 1998; :00]
[SUPER=03-McLean; :25]
[SUPER=01-Kenneth Starr/Independent Counsel; :31]
[SUPER=01-Rep. Marty Meehan/(D) Massachusetts; :46]
[SUPER=01-Lee Cowan/Reporting; 1:44]
[RUNS=2:00]
[OUT Q=CBS NEWS WASHINGTON]
(((SUPER: FEB. 1998) (( NAT )) ONE OF KEN STARR'S CLOSEST CONFIDONTS - AND A VETERAN OF THE WATERGATE IMPEACHMENT HEARINGS - ABRUPTLY RESIGNED HIS POST AS KEN STARR'S ETHICS ADVISOR THIS MORNING, IN PROTEST OF HIS BOSS'S DECISION TO TESTIFY BEFORE THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE. IN A LETTER, DASH TOLD STARR, "You have violated your obligations under the independent council statue, and have unlawfully intruded on the power of impeachment."
(SUPER: THIS MORNING, MCLEAN, VA)
(( STARR NAT )) BUT STARR GENTLY DISAGREED, SAYING ALL HE DID YESTERDAY WAS VERBALLY EXPLAIN HIS WRITEN REFERRAL TO CONGRESS. (( SUPER: KENNETH STARR//INDEPENDENT COUNCIL )) "I think I had a duty to do what I did .. very different judgement." DASH'S CRITICISM IS NOTHING NEW. IT EVEN CAME UP YESTERDAY DURING STARR'S MARATHON SESSION BEFORE THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE.
(( SUPER: YESTERDAY, REP. MARTY MEEHAN//D-MA )) (( SOT ))
"Mr. Starr, your own ethics adviser, Sam Dash, is on the record stating that while your conduct in many of these respects violated no technical legal ethics rules, that conduct, and I quote ``does have an odor to it."
(( STARR SOT ))
"I know my judgment has been called into question by some. And I think Sam was very honest. Sam said: I just don't think you should be practicing law at all."
(SUPER: LAST NIGHT)
(( NAT APPLAUSE )) IT TOOK MOST OF THE DAY AND DEEP INTO LAST NIGHT BEFORE THE COMMITTEE DEEMED IT HAD FINISHED WITH STARR. BUT SOON AFTER THE REPUBLICAN APPLAUSE DIED DOWN, THE COMMITTEE MOVED ON TO EXPAND ITS INVESTIGATION SUBPEONAING 4 MORE WITNESSES - INCLUDING THE PRESIDENT'S CLOSEST ADVISOR BRUCE LINDSEY AND HIS ATTORNEY BOB BENNET. BRINGING TO MIND A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT ATTORNEY CLIENT PRIVLEDGE. (( LEE COWAN//CBS NEWS )) "Despite the extensive T-V coverage the impeachment proceedings were nota ratings bonanza. Less than half the American
public said they watchedANY of the proceedings live yesterday---that's far fewer than the number of people who tuned in
to hear the President's side of the story. Lee Cowan, CBS News, Washington."))

[CLINTON]

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

While the President's future is being weighed in Washington he's talking economics in Asia.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Seoul, South Korea;]
[10:11:00]
He arrived in Seoul, South Korea this moring
He plans to meet with South Korea's president tomorrow to talk about security related to North Korea.
[SUPER=03-Tokyo, Japan;]

During a speech in Tokyo Mr. clinton told the japanese to do more to pull themselves -- and Asia -- out of recession.
[SUPER=03-Capitol Hill/Yesterday;]

Back on Capitol hill Kenneth Starr's testimony yesterday before the House Judiciary Committee has prompted the resignation of his ethics adviser, Sam Dash.
Lee Cowan has the latest.
(----------------)

[WIPE/WIPE/WIPE]

[VA-Impeachment]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Impeachment Inquiry]

Two Southwest Virginia Congressmen sit on the Judiciary Committee.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Washington DC/Yesterday]

Roanoke's Republican Congressman used his five minutes in the spotlight to ask questions that helped Ken Starr make his case.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=There are those]
((THOSE WHO HAVE SAID, INCLUDING SOME HERE TODAY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE, THAT THE PRESIDENTS EFFORTS COULD BE MERELY INTERPRETED AS SOMEONE HELPING AN EX-INTIMATE OR EX-FRIEND WITHOUT CONCERN FOR HER TESTIMONY AND I DON'T THINK YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE FULL OPPORTUNITY TO INDICATE WHY IT IS YOU HAVE COME TO THE FIRST CONCLUSION RATHER THAN THE SECOND AND I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE YOU THAT OPPORTUNITY NOW. STARR WHEN THAT JOB OPPORTUNITY WAS THE EXTENDED MR. JORDON, ACCORDING TO HIS OWN TESTIMONY INDICATED HE CALLED THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND SAID 'MISSION ACCOMPLISHED'.))
[SUPER=@Goodlatte; :00]
[SUPER=01-Kenneth Starr/Independent Counsel; :23]
[RUNS=:34]
[OUT Q=Mission Accomplished]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Democrat Rick Boucher said impeachment is unnecessary to uphold the rule of law in this case because citizen Bill Clinton may still face the court.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Impeachment was never]
((IMPEACHMENT WAS NEVER INTENDED TO BE A PUNISHMENT FOR INDIVIDUAL MISCONDUCT INSTEAD IT WAS INTENDED TO PROTECT THE COUNTRY. IT WAS DESIGNED TO ENHANCE THE PUBLIC'S INTEREST.))
[SUPER=@Boucher; :05]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=the public' interest]
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]

Of course the work of Southwest Virginina's Congressmen is not over yet.
(------------)

[ISRAEL]

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

More of the West Bank is now in the hands of the Palestinians.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Jenin, West Bank;]

Israeli troops moved out of some northern areas today.
The pullback stopped for a time because of questions over a redeployment map.
But it resumed a few hours later.
The Israeli Cabinet narrowly approved the transfer yesterday.
It's a key part of the Mideast peace deal signed last month in the United States.
(----------------)

[SPACE-STATION]

[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=MEL]
[TAPE#net]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Russia ushered in a new era in space exploration this morning.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Baikonur, Kazakhstan;]

After a year's delay, a Russian rocket launched the first section of the international space station into orbit.
Sixteen nations are taking part in the 40 billion-dollar project.
In all it will take 45 assembly flights to lift 100 sections of the station into space before its scheduled completion in two thousand and four.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
(( JOHN PIKE, FEDERATION OF AMERICAN SCIENTISTS: IT DEMONSTRATES AMERICAN LEADERSHIP, IT DEMONSTRATES THE COLD WAR IS OVER AND RUSSIA IS NOT AN ADVERSARY AND IT A GOOD WAY OF KEEPING RUSSIAN ROCKET SPECIALISTS IN RUSSIA AND NOT NORTH KOREA. ))
[SUPER=01-John Pike/Federation of American Scientists;]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=and not North Korea.]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]

The U-S space shuttle "Endeavour" is set to deliver the next component December third.
(----------------)

[AEP]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=AEP]

The city of Roanoke says it has NOT raised the utility service tax for American Electric Power customers.
Customers are apparently calling city management because they've noticed an increase in their bills.
City officials attribute the rise to a previous error on AEP's part; the city claims AEP has been UNDERCHARGING some Roanoke customers on tax for several months.
And now that the error's been corrected, bills seem to have increased.

[Bent-Mtn-Teacher]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=sta]
[TAPE#=98-65 TC55:24]
[GRAPHIC=Education]

Some elementary school students say they're tired of having a rotating teacher for their small fifth grade class.

(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Amy Miller is a fifth grader at Bent Mountain Elementary School and so far she's had four teachers this year.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 02.44.13 - 02.44.22]
[IN Q=It's not fair]
((AMY MILLER: IT'S NOT FAIR BECAUSE I GET CLOSE TO ALL MY TEACHERS THEN I HAVE TO LEAVE THEM AND IT MAKES ME UPSET BECAUSE YOU NEVER REALLY HAVE YOUR OWN TEACHER REALLY.))
[RUNS=09]
[OUT Q=your own teacher really.]

It makes some parents upset too and worried that it's hurting their children's education.
School administrators say the former principal's unexpected retirement led to many of the changes.
And, officials have been trying to resolve the situation ever since.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 03.31.57 - 03.32.10]
[IN Q=We tried to]
((DR. JIM GALLION/ASST. SUPT. FOR ADMINISTRATION: WE TRIED TO PUT PEOPLE IN THE SCHOOL WHO WOULD BE THERE FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME SO THEY COULD PROVIDE THE INSTRUCTION AND THE ADMINISTRATION THAT WAS NEEDED. AND, IT JUST HAPPENED THAT THAT DIDN'T COME ABOUT.))
[SUPER=01-Dr. Jim Gallion/Asst. Supt. for Administration;]
[RUNS=13]
[OUT Q=didn't come about.]
(--------------)
[VO-NAT]

Dr. Gallion said a new principal will begin her duties Monday and he doesn't expect further changes,
(--------------)

[E-Bomb-Threat]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=98-64 1:08:29]
[GRAPHIC=Bomb Threat Charges]

Authorities say three teenagers are responsible for a string of Giles County bomb threats.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pearisburg]

Everything was back to normal yesterday at Giles High, where administrators say they hope the disruptions have ended.
Three times in the last ten days, classes were cancelled after someone used local pay phones to make the bomb threats.
Investigators believe two male students, 15 and 17 years old, are responsible.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 03:39:20]
[IN Q=From my perspective]
((ROBERT MCCRACKEN/SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT: FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, BECAUSE I SHARE A PARENT'S HAT AS WELL AS A SUPERINTENDENT'S HAT, THE KIDS ARE FED UP WITH IT AND I THINK THAT THIS HAS BEEN A BIG ASSET IN HELPING US WITH THE INVESTIGATION.))
[SUPER=01-Robert McCracken/School Superintendent;]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=with the investigation.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

But even as investigators and school officials were speaking with reporters, employees of the local Wal-Mart were waiting in the parking lot, while emergency crews investigated another bomb threat there.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]

Police have also charged a 17-year-old student at Narrows High School with making a bomb threat at his school.

All three juveniles were held overnight at the New River Valley Detention Home.

[E-Baby-Switch]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#98-69 1:02:26]
[GRAPHIC=Baby Swap]

There may not have been any criminal wrong doing, but that doesn't mean the fallout from the switch of two baby girls is over.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Charlottesville]

That according to the lawyer for one of the mothers involved, Paula Johnson.
Paula's attorney, CYNTHIA Johnson, told News7 that even human error must have consequences.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 3:21:14]
[IN Q=Somebody didn't]
((CYNTHIA JOHNSON/PAULA JOHNSON'S ATTORNEY: SOMEBODY DIDN'T DO THEIR JOB AND THEY LOST.. THEY MIXED UP THESE PEOPLE'S CHILDREN. AND IT'S VERY, VERY SERIOUS AND IT CONCERNS ME THAT THEY'RE NOW TAKING STEPS TO CORRECT IT, BUT WHAT HAPPENED THEN IS STILL A MYSTERY.))
[SUPER=01-Cynthia Johnson/Paula Johnson's Attorney; :00]
[RUNS=:20]
[OUT Q=still a mystery.]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]

Charlottesville commonwealth's attorney Dave Chapman is expected to meet with the families this afternoon to discuss the details of the state police investigation.
(----------------)

[E-Roanoke-Symphony]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=ame]
[TAPE#=98-76 11:22]
[GRAPHIC=Roanoke Symphony]

Two Roanoke music organizations are splitting up.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[from 97-26 4/29/97 or 96-108 2/17/97]
[SUPER=@file]

The Roanoke Symphony Orchestra and the Roanoke Valley Choral Society have agreed to resume their status as separate organizations.
This decision was made after 6 years of working together.
Boards of the organizations failed to reach a merger agreement after two years of discussions.
(------------)
[anchor=Melanie]
[graphic=HOLD]

Symphony president Jim Ford, expressed regret but said there will be many opportunities for the two organizations to work together in the future.

[MVP]

[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=SP-15 tc 1:51:39]
[GRAPHIC=MLB]

He may have behind Mark McGwire in the homerun race, but Sammy Sosa finished first in voting for the National League's Most Valuable Player.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-MLB;]

McGwire finished a distant second- getting just two first place votes, and those came from writers at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Sosa got 30 first place votes after leading the Cubs to the playoffs for the first time in six years- smacking 66 h(------------)omeruns and 158 RBI along the way.