[HEADLINES]

[TALENT=Melanie]

(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[4:03:38]
[IN Q=]
((TOM DASCHLE/SENATE DEMOCRATIC LEADER; I THINK THERE IS AN UNDERSTANDING THAT WE WANT IT TO BE FAIR, WE'VE GOT TO WORK WITH THE HOUSE, WE'VE GOT TO WORK WITH THE WHITE HOUSE. ))
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=with the White House.]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]

The Senate is a day away from the start of a historic impeachment trial.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

And N-B-A players and owners reach a last-minute agreement.
(/////////////)
[TALENT=Patrick]
[SS=None]
(ad lib)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=None]

News 7 at noon is next.

---

[Congress]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#None]
[GRAPHIC=Washington DC]

The 106th Congress convenes today on Capitol Hill.
The first order of business in the House will be electing a new speaker.
Meanwhile, the Senate is just a day away from the first presidential impeachment trial since 18-68.
There's still no clear picture of what direction the process will take or how long the trial will last.
And Mr. Clinton may be losing support from members of his own party.
Lee Cowan is in Washington with the latest.
[Live=Lee Full/Newspath]
[SUPER=01-Lee Cowan/Reporting;]
[SUPER=05-Washington DC;]
( ad lib)
[***ROLLED FROM STARLINK***]
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Rep. Henry Hyde/(R) Illinois;]
[SUPER=01-Sen. Orin Hatch/(R) Utah;]
[SUPER=01-Sen. Tom Daschle/(D) South Dakota;]
[SUPER=01-Sen. Patrick Leah/(D) Vermont;]
[SUPER=01-Sen. Robert Byrd/(D) West Virginia;]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=]



[Live=Lee Full/Newspath]
[SUPER=05-Washington DC;]
( ad lib)
((THE BRIEF RECESS SEEMS TO HAVE DONE LITTLE TO CLEAR THE COBWEBS OUT OF CONGRESS'S IMPEACHMENT DILEMA. AS MEMBERS RETURNED, THEY FOUND THE PROBLEM THEY LEFT BEHIND
LAST DECEMBER STILL HERE---
(( SUPER: REP. HENRY HYDE//R-IL )) "Are you going to have a plan??_hope so." (( SUPER: SEN. ORIN HATCH//R-UT ))
(( SOT AT 7:37:03 ))
"I don't know of --- really abysmal."
DESPITE THAT, NOBODY KNOWS QUITE WHAT TO DO WITH THOSE FEELINGS. IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS ARE SCHEDULED TO BEGIN IN THIS CHAMBER TOMORROW - BUT SO FAR THE SENATE LEADERSHIP HAS YET TO HAMMER OUT A PLAN AS TO HOW TO MOVE FORWARD. (( SUPER: SEN. TOM DASCHLE//D-SD ))
(( SOT AT 18:10:00 ))
"I can't overstate the desire - all we can to keep it that way."
(( SUPER: SEN. PATRICK LEAHY//D-VT )) (( SOT AT 8:55:11 ))
"How long do you think it will last? "If you have witnesses it will last a long, long time." (( NAT CLINTON )) THE PRESIDENT'S LEGAL TEAM SAYS IT'S READY FOR ANYTHING - INCLUDING A PROTRACTED TRIAL WITH WITNESSES. BUT IT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN READY FOR WHAT THE SENATE'S LEADING DEMOCRAT HAD TO SAY ABOUT THE END GAME: A VOTE TO REMOVE THE PRESIDENT FROM OFFICE. (( SUPER: SEN. ROBERT BYRD//D-WV ))
(( SOT AT 18:19:07 ))
"I could probably go either way." ANOTHER INDICATION THERE COULD STILL BE SURPRIZES AHEAD. (( LEE COWAN//CBS NEWS )) "The White House is still putting on it's business as usual face - the President's spokesman insisting that he hasn't even met with his legal team this week_a legal team that is growing increasingly frustrated with the Senate's lack of direction. Lee Cowan, CBS News, Washington."))

---

[UN-Iraq]

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

It's reported today that U-N inspectors in Iraq have been spying for the U-S.
So far, the United Nations has not made any official comments on the allegations.
Byron Pitts reports.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[9:10:51]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Byron Pitts/Reporting; :00]
[SUPER=@File; :11]
[SUPER=03-Baghdad, Iraq; :43]
[RUNS=1:20]
[OUT Q=CBS NEWS, Baghdad]
((There was little surprise here over today's published reports ... alleging U.N. weapons inspectors were used by the U.S. to undermine Saddam Hussein.
(Super: FILE)
(File of Annan meeting Saddam Hussein)

In stories published in this morning's Washington Post and Boston Globe-- U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan reportedly has evidence that U.N. Weapons Inspectors helped collect eavesdroping intelligence for the United States.
(File Butler/UN inspectors)

There are also reports Annan will presure Executive Director Richard Butler to resign in favour a successor and a fresh start.
The UNSCOM inspectors were pulled out of Iraq in November. The Iraqi government had long complained the inspectors were overzealous and were here to do more than look for Saddam Hussein's Weapons of Mass distruction.
(Super: Baghdad, Iraq)
(Army Day ceremony)
Meantime in Baghdad this morning --- Iraqi soldiers and government
officials gathered at 'Tomb of the Unknown Soldier' in honor of Army Day.
Afterward's Iraq's Defense Minister said Iraq is still opposed to the NO FLY ZONE'S now patroled by American and British Pilots OT IN ARABIC/SULTAN HASIM AHMED, IRAQI DEFENSE MINISTER/(PITTS TRANSLATES)
'We shall defend Iraq to the death' General Ahmed. 'We will continue to defend ourselves whether the others like it or not."
(Pitts on-camera close)

Yesterday ... U.S. Fighter pilots fired at Iraqi planes in the Southern NO FLY ZONE. It was the first aerial confrontation here in six years. BP, CBSN, Baghdad.))

---

[NBA-Agreement]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=ssa]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=NBA lockout]

The N-B-A lockout is over.
After an all-night bargaining session, the Associated Press is reporting that a deal was struck between league commissioner David Stern and union head Billy Hunter.
The settlement comes just a day before the N-B-A's threatened deadline to cancel the season.
And while the deal will salvage many games, it's unclear exactly when the season will begin.

---

[Patterson-Fire]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=98-81 TC22:57]
[GRAPHIC=Fire Investigation]

Fire investigators are calling last night's house fire suspicious -- but they still don't know what caused it.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]

Marshals DO know the fire started in the upstairs bedroom.
But they say it's tough to clear away the ice and debris to find out WHAT or WHO started it.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 10:34:51]
[IN Q=So you think]
((TINA TENRET/NEWS7: SO YOU THINK SOMEONE LIT A MATCH? IS IT THAT KIND OF FIRE? MARLAN MORRIS/ASS'T FIRE MARSHAL: COULDA BEEN, COULDA BEEN SOMETHING LIKE THAT. COULDA BEEN AN ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION. THERE WAS AN INDICATION AN IRON COULD HAVE BEEN LEFT ON WHEN SOMEONE WAS PRESSING CLOTHES. ANYTHING LIKE THAT'S A POSSIBILITY SO WE'RE CONSIDERING THOSE THINGS.))
[SUPER=01-Marlan Morris/Assistant Fire Marshal;]
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=considering those things]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Residents of the downstairs apartment carried away what was left of their belongings but were not allowed inside.

The building's owner still thinks someone deliberately set the fire.
The tenant upstairs had been recently evicted but says he did not start the fire.
(------------)

---

[Church-Closings]

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

The cold temperatures and left over ice that closed and delayed schools this morning are cancelling some church services tonight.
(XXXXXXXXXXXXX)
[Take Homepage FULL SCREEN]
You can find a complete listing on our homepage at W-D-B-J-Seven dot Com.
Click on the Weather Cancellations link.
Of course, you can always call your home church.
(-------------)



[tease1] [HARD MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

Still more delays are expected in Rockbridge County today.
Still ahead on News-7 at Noon, we'll have more on the effort to clean up Sunday's wreck and clear the minds of rescue workers.
(--------------)
[VO-NAT ]

And Roanoke reverses course on paying the organizer of Local Colors.
(---------------)
[Talent=Patrick]
[Wx-Tease] [Weatherpro] [music up full] [comm1]

---

[Local-Colors]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=98-70 TC1:55:13]
[GRAPHIC=None]

After stepping down last year as the chief ambassador of Roanoke's "Local Colors" event, Pearl Fu is back.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]

Fu announced this morning she's been hired as a PAID consultant for Local Colors.
This after Center in the Square passed the torch to the Roanoke Chapter of the Council for Community and Justice, which will now sponsor Local Colors as a year- round multicultural program.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 10:23:15 ]
[IN Q=You remember]
((PEARL FU/LOCAL COLORS CONSULTANT: YOU REMEMBER, I HAD LEFT LOCAL COLORS, BUT I WAS REALLY SADDENED BECAUSE MY HEART IS COMPLETE WITH LOCAL COLORS AND THEN N.C.C.J. APPROACHED ME AND I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT. THIS WAS JUST LIKE, HEAVEN SENT. I SAID SOMEBODY UP THERE IS WATCHING OUT FOR LOCAL COLORS.))
[SUPER=01-Pearl Fu/Local Colors Consultant;]
[RUNS=:18]
[OUT Q=out for Local Colors]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Fu joked that she's happy she'll have her own office.
Her first responsibility will be coordinating this year's Local Colors event in April.
Local Colors began in 19-90, with only four countries represented, now there are more than 50.
(------------)

---

[Martin]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]

More than twenty years after he fled the Martinsville prison farm, Alfred Martin's attornies plan to ask for his release on bond.
(------------)
[VO-NAT cut from 98-72 or 98-63]
[SUPER=03-Livonia, MI/File Tape]

Martin is scheduled to appear in Martinsville court for a hearing later this afternoon.
Authorities say in 1974, Martin walked away from from the Martinsville prison farm
He was serving a one year sentence for selling marijuana.
Last year, he was found living in Michigan and extradited to Virginia.
(------------)

---

[GLASGOW-RESCUE]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=NOON]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=98-80 TC1:02:29 and 99-1]
[GRAPHIC=Deadly Crash]

Sunday's deadly accident in Rockbridge County continues to tie up traffic on Instertate 81.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Rockbridge Co.]

One northbound lane will be closed today for guardrail repairs.
Both lanes will reopen tonight, but guardrail installation work may continue tomorrow.
The wreckage may be cleared from the roadway, but the visions of the mutli-vehicle pileup and the many victims remain on the minds of area rescue workers.
To help them deal with the emotional impact, they meet with members of the Critical Incidence Stress Debriefing Team.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
((EDWARD TILMAN/DEBRIEFING TEAM DIRECTOR: TO REDUCE WHAT WOULD END UP BEING POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER, WHICH WE SAW SO MUCH IN THE VIETNAM VETERANS, SO EARLY INTERVENTION, TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THEIR FEELINGS ARE NORMAL, WHAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH IS NORMAL, IT'S A RESPONSE TO AN ABNORMAL SITUATION. ))
[SUPER=01-Edward Tilman/Debriefing Team Director; ]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q= to an abnormal situation. ]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]

The meetings are private.
In addition to providing emotional support, team members also hope it will prevent some volunteer rescue workers from burning out after stressful calls.
(----------------)

---

[E-Interstate-Safety]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=98-65 1:48:35]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Interstate-81 is a vital artery through western Virginia...
But recent accidents are spurring the search to make it a safer place to drive.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Rockbridge Co./Sunday]

A regional meeting on interstate safety was scheduled before Sunday's pile-up in Rockbridge County.
But officials say the most recent deaths highlight the urgency of the issue.
Virginia Transportation Commissioner David Gehr (gear) says construction now in the planning stages will make the biggest difference.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The construction is really]
((DAVID GEHR/VA. TRANSPORTATION COMMISSIONER: THE CONSTRUCTION IS REALLY WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE WHETHER IT'S THE ULTIMATE CONSTRUCTION OR SOME INTERIM CONSTRUCTION WHICH WE HAVE SOME UNDERWAY NOW. POSSIBLY PROVIDING SOME ADDITIONAL TRUCK CLIMBING LANES AND THAT SORT OF THING. WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT WHAT TECHNOLOGY CAN DO.))
[SUPER=01-David Gehr/Va. Transportation Commissioner;]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=what technology can do.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Other ideas include separating car and truck traffic, improving drivers education and stepping up law enforcement.
(------------)

---

[Jefferson-Controversy]

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

Critics of the D-N-A study that concluded Thomas Jefferson fathered a child with one of his slaves will spell out their concerns later today.
The critics maintain Jefferson's younger brother or another relative was more likely the father of Sally Hemmings' son.
Amateur historian Herb Barger believes Jefferson's brother Randolph is the most likely father.

[Tease2] [SOFT MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

A Roanoke firefighter severely injured in the line of duty is back on the job today.
More of Robert Early's story is next on News-7 at Noon.
(-----------------)
[VO-NAT ]

And there's a royal wedding in the works.
Stay with us.
(-----------------)
[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #2]

---

[Early-Returns]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=djo]
[TAPE#=98-68 TC1:55:25]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A Roanoke City firefighter is back on the job six months after a crippling accident.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/July 12, 1998]
Robery Early broke his back when a porch collapsed on him while fighting a fire.
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/July 23, 1998]
Early returned home from the hospital two weeks after having fusion surgery. He has made a full recovery and was cleared by doctors to return to work yesterday.
(------------)

---

[ROYAL-ENGAGEMENT]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=NOON]
[WRITER=MEL]
[TAPE#net]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Another royal wedding in Great Britain.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-London, England;]
[7:12:08]
Queen Elizabeth's youngest son Prince Edward announced his engagement toay to his long time girlfriend Sophies Reese Jones.
The two met with reporters this morning at Buckingham palace.
The 34-year-old prince is a T-V producer, and 33-year-old Reese- Jones is a public relations executive.
No official wedding date has been set but the couple hopes for a late spring or summer ceremony at Windsor Castle.

(----------------)

---

[Stocks]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE# none]
[GRAPHIC=stocks]

On Wall Street at Noon, the Dow was UP 151 points.
[tease3] [SPORTS MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

Still ahead in sports, William Fleming heats up the Salem Civic Center.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT ]

Plus, it's been another banner day for some of baseball's greatest.
We'll tell you who's making the trip to Cooperstown this year, coming up when News 7 at Noon continues.
(---------------)
[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #3]

---

[Fame]

[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-23 4311tc]
[GRAPHIC=MLB]

The Baseball Hall of Fame is welcomed three new stars today-- Nolan Ryan, George Brett and Robin Yount.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-MLB; :00]

Ryan, who's considered to be the greatest power pitcher of all-time, received the second highest number of votes ever. He was named on just under 99 percent of the ballots.
Ryan had 5714 strikeouts and seven no hitters.
Infielder George Brett was named on over 98 percent of the ballots. That's fourth best all-time behind Ty Cobb, Ryan and Tom Seaver.
The other player to make it in this year is Robin Yount, the two-time american league MVP, who spent 20 years with the Milwaukee Brewers.
This is the biggest class of first- time candidates to get in the Hall of Fame since Babe Ruth and four others were voted in it's first year-- back in 1936.
(-------------)
[talent=Patrick]
[graphic=hold]

Former White Sox catcher, Carlton Fisk, missed the cut by 43 votes.

---

[Express]

[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-31]
[GRAPHIC=Express/Toledo]

The Express picked up a point, but fell to Toledo 3 to 2 in a shootout.
Steve Mason reports on an event that may have led tells us how Roanoke did so much more than just stay a float in a Red Storm Rising.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=first audio]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Storm vs. Express; :00]
[SUPER=01-Tim Christian/Scored 1 Goal; :15]
[SUPER=01-Tony Mancuso/Express General Manager; :24]
[super=01-Dave Gagnon/Express Goalie; :47]
[SUPER=38-Toledo/3/Express/2; :53]
[SUPER=01-Perry Florio/Express Assistant Coach; 1:03]
[SUPER=@Steve1; 1:08]
[RUNS=1:21]
[OUT Q=news 7 sports"]
(((----------------)

With Scott Gordon absent for his wife's birth of their first child, Perry Florio joined Tony Mancuso and Calvin Alfring in new Express roles. Dave Gagnon and others have already played the part Gordon assumes. and parenting beats a loss anytime. ((TIM CHRISTIAN:)) ((TONY MANCUSO:)) Florio took over with some help from Mancuso, who made sure the D-lines changed up.
The Express took the games first lead on Nicholas Windsor's goal in the first period.
But the storm would raise the roof and climbed back in to the game to lead 2-1 after two periods. ((DAVE GAGNON:))
Tim Chistian would score the game's final regulation goal late in the third. Florio divised his shootout plan that came up just short, but tthe Express family is a little bigger and better on this night. ((:))))

---

[Girls]

[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=SP-28 tc 1:04:27]
[GRAPHIC=hs hoops]

At the valley's other civic center, a doubleheader featured the men and the ladies of William Fleming and Patrick Henry.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem/William Fleming vs. P.H.;]

The Lady Patriots tried to get things going early for the duo from P-H.
Here, Fleming uses good ball movement to get the ball to Teontae' Henderson for the jumper.
But P-H didn't give up easily. Tanisha (Tah-NEE-sha) Durham finds Keeda Hale all alone underneath for the easy two.

[super=33-William Fleming/53/Patrick Henry/28;]

But, the Lady Colonels are just too powerful. Shaunarey Walker fake the defense and Fleming beats P-H 53-to-28.
(------------)
[wipe wipe wipe]

---

[Fleming]

[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=SP-27 tc 54:58]
[GRAPHIC=wipe wipe wipe]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem/William Fleming vs. P. H.;]

The nightcap was a star-studded affair, as our own Roy Stanley braved the icy cold to catch some action on the court.
Fleming gets the the quick passes around the perimeter before Nick Harrington pulls up and sinks the three.
But P-H comes right back. Gubbie Ferrell wrestles for the rebound and then finds the number 10 for the Patriots. Mike Peery hits nothing but net for three.
Patrick Henry on the move again. Tyson Hawkins looks to Ray Johnson--Johnson with the dribble knocks it off the glass.
[super=33-William Fleming/55/Patrick Henry/39;]

But the Colonels overcome the Patriots and run away with this game 55-to-39.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[SS=hs hoops]

Many other games were cancelled last night because of the icy conditions, but G-W Danville was able to get to the court and hammer Person County 74 to 57. Jerian Younger scored 21 for Danville.
Defending state champ-- Liberty-- beat Staunton River 94-to-46. Lord Botetourt topped Salem by 2. Galax beat Rocky Gap, and Rustburg lost to Heritage by 11.

---

[WVU]

[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-29]
[GRAPHIC=BIG EAST]

On to the Big East, where an overtime battle left the Mountaineers out in the cold.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Providence, RI/ESPN-Plus; :00]

Former P-H star Brooks Berry gets this free throw to sink with four minutes to go to get the Mountaineers within two.
It looked like Providence would win in regulation, but with time running out, Jarett Kearse would throw up a running 30 footer and make it-- to send the game to overtime tied up at 69.
[super=33-West Virginia/87/Providence/90/Overtime;]

He led all scorers with 31, but Providence is able to pull it out in O-T 90-to-87.
(------------)
[talent=Patrick]
In the A-10, Virginia Tech hosts Xavier tonight at eight at the Cassell. [graphic=tech]