[HEADLINES]
[TALENT=Melanie]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
An early morning fire forces hundreds to evacuate a Baltimore high rise apartment
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
And A source in Jordan gives King Hussein only a ``matter of hours'' to live, in his battle with cancer.
(/////////////)
[TALENT=Patrick]
[SS=None]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=None]
News 7 at noon is next.
[HUSSEIN]
[ANCHOR=MELANIE]
[NEWSCAST=NOON]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=News-7 at Noon]
In Jordan, Unofficial reports from the palace say that the king is clinically dead.
King Hussein arrived home this morning after undergoing more cancer treatment at the Mayo clinic in Minnesota.
Jesse Schulman has reaction.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[10:02:01]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Amman, Jordan; :07]
[SUPER=01-Jesse Schulman/Reporting; 1:19]
[RUNS=1:27]
[OUT Q=cbsnew amman.]
[apartment-fire]
[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Fire Investigation]
Investigators say a deadly high rise apartment fire in downtown Baltimore was caused by careless smoking.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Baltimore, MD;]
The blaze began on the 15th floor of the 30 story building early this morning.
Close to 400 were evacuated.
About 20 fled to the building's roof, and were eventually led to safety down stairwells by firefighters.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[7:06:35:48]
[IN Q=The Challenge obviously was.]
[SUPER=01-Tom Frazier/City Police Commisioner]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=problems inside]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
An elderly women on the 23rd floor died of a heart attack, and at least nine people were hospitalized for smoke inhalation.
(------------)
[Fire-Station]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=99-5 TC13:19]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A new road has paved the way for a new Roanoke city fire station...
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
City officials and residents broke ground this morning on the new FIRE- E-M-S Station Number Four, that will be located on the Peters Creek Road Extension.
It will serve such areas as the Edgewood-Morwanda- Summit Hills neighborhoods and Raleigh Court.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 10:47:05]
[IN Q=Of course]
((ROBIN MURPHY KELSO/EDGEWOOD-MORANDA-SUMMIT HILLS NEIGHBORHOOD: OF COURSE, OUR NUMBER ONE CONCERN IS THE RESPONSE TIME. SO, THAT SEEMS TO BE EVERYONE'S CONCERN. AND WE DO UNDERSTAND THAT THE CITY IS NOT GOING TO JEOPARDIZE ANYBODY'S HEALTH OR SAFETY. BUT YEAH, THAT'S A BIG CONCERN.))
[SUPER=01-Robin Murphy Kelso/Neighborhood Leader;]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=a big concern]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Fire officials say the Peters Creek Road Extension improves their flexibility getting between the northern and southern sections of the city, and led to the construction of the new fire station.
The 75- hundred- square foot facility is scheduled to be up and running by January of next year.
(------------)
[Webster-Fire]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=99-4 TC36:25]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]
Fire damaged a home in Botetourt County this morning.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.]
It happened just after seven, on Webster Road in the Blue Ridge area.
The flames and smoke filled the upper floors of the brick house.
No one was hurt.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
(------------)
[E-Campground-Fire]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=99-2 31:40]
[GRAPHIC=Fire Investigation]
There's no word on what sparked the blaze at a Southside campground.
(/////////SOT//////////)
[SOT]
[IN-Q=Nat Sound Popping]
[SUPER=03-Pittsylvania Co.]
[Runs=:04]
[out-q=Nat Sound Popping]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Electrical popping noises kept firefighters out of the main building at the Swan Lake Campground in Pittsylvania County as flames shot through the roof and 2nd-story windows.
The building housed the campground's main office along with a laundry and game room.
No one was in the building at the time.
It took firefighters from 4 departments nearly two hours to put out the blaze.
(------------)
[D'Ville-Shooting]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=chu]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Shooting]
Danville Police have arrested the man they say fired a shot inside the Piedmont Mall.
The incident happened yesterday afternoon around quarter-to-five.
Shawn Christopher Pritchett is charged with discharging a firearm inside a building.
Police say he was attempting to shoot another man on the upper level of the mall near the elevator.
No one was injured.
[E-Fry]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=sta]
[TAPE#=98-73 1:50:01]
[GRAPHIC=Va. Death Penalty]
Another death row inmate has been executed in Virginia.
(--------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Jarratt/Last Night]
Tony Leslie Fry was pronounced dead at nine minutes after nine last night.
He died of a lethal injection.
[SUPER=03-Chesterfield Co./File Tape]
Fry was sentenced to death for the 1994 robbery and murder of Leland Jacobs-- a car salesman in the Richmond-area.
Fry was 19 at the time of the crime.
(---------------)
[Philippines-execution]
[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=NOON]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Meantime, The Philippines today, executed its first prisoner in 23 years following months of legal battles and nationwide debate.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Manila, Philippines;]
[7:13:32 ]
As demonstrators outside a prison welcomed the return of the death penalty, officials put to death by lethal injection a house painter convicted of raping his ten-year-old stepdaughter.
President Joseph Estrada refused to stop the execution, despite pleas from the Vatican, European Union and human rights groups.
(------------)
[tease1]
[HARD MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
Good news on unemployment.
That story is still ahead on News-7 at Noon-- and later we'll find out how Wall Street is taking the news.
(--------------)
[VO-NAT ]
And Elton John concert tickets sold out in less than an hour.
It didn't take long for scalpers to get a hold of some either.
Now lets check in with Patrick Evans.
(---------------)
[Talent=Patrick]
[Wx-Tease]
[Weatherpro]
[music up full]
[comm1]
[impeachment]
[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Senate Trial]
The written transcripts of this week's impeachment depositions were released this morning.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Washington DC;]
Monica Lewinsky's Q and A session includes an admission of mixed feelings for the President now.
She also called herself a pest in trying to get Vernon Jordan's help in finding a job.
Portions of the three videotaped depositions will be played Saturday in the Senate.
Meantime, it's a day of rest for the Senators as they prepare for the home stretch of the trial.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[11:30-UPDATE PKG]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Sen. Kay Hutchinson/(R) Texas;]
[ RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q= are interested.]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
Yesterday's string of rapid fire votes has put the president's trial on the fast track - with a decision up or down on the articles of impeachment predicted to take place a week from today.
(--------------------------)
[unemployment]
[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Unemployment]
The jobless rate remains at a 28-year-low.
The government says it held at four-point-three percent last month.
There were job gains in many sectors -- including retail, financial, real estate and construction.
[E-Elton-John-Tickets]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=sta]
[TAPE#=99-3 32:13]
[GRAPHIC=Scalping]
Five people face charges for scalping Elton John concert tickets.
Stacey Martin has the story.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=About three weeks]
[SUPER=04-Rocket Records; :00]
[SUPER=04-January 9; :19]
[SUPER=01-Tom Bowers/Asst. Commonwealth's Attorney; :35]
[RUNS=1:26]
[OUT Q=SM, News 7.]
(( About three weeks after it was announced that Elton John was coming to the Star City--the crowds started gathering at the Roanoke Civic Center.
It took only 46 minutes for the concert to sell out.
But, in a recent statement, officials claimed some of the lucky winners bought more tickets than they needed and then tried to sell them at inflated prices.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 19.00.02 - 19.00.16]
[IN Q=I think everybody]
((TOM BOWERS/ASST. COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY: I THINK EVERYBODY KNEW THIS PARTICULAR ELTON JOHN CONCERT WAS GOING TO BE SOLD OUT AND IT WAS GOING TO BE VERY TOUGH TO GET TICKETS. AND, I DON'T THINK WE'VE HAD THIS SITUATION VERY OFTEN. ))
[RUNS 14]
[OUT Q=this situation very often.]
Shortly afterwards investigators placed an ad in a local newspaper asking for tickets to the concert.
They were quoted prices ranging from 75 to 400 dollars per ticket.
Undercover officers bought a total of 20 tickets then charged five adults with ticket scalping.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 18.59.37 - 18.59.51]
[IN Q=It is breaking]
((TOM BOWERS/ASST. COMMONWEALTH ATTORNEY: IT IS BREAKING THE LAW AND THE CITY HAS PASSED AN ORDINANCE WHEN YOU RESELL TICKETS IN EXCESS OF A POSTED OR THE LISTED PRICE ON THE TICKET. I GUESS IN ORDER TO PREVENT GOUGING OR MAKE IT ALL FAIR TO EVERYBODY. ))
[RUNS 14]
[OUT Q=fair to everybody.]
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
((STACEY MARTIN/REPORTING: IF CONVICTED EACH PERSON COULD RECEIVE A MAXIMUM 500 DOLLAR FINE. AND, POLICE ALSO PLAN TO PATROL THE CONCERT LOOKING FOR SCALPERS AND WILL LIKELY MAKE A FEW MORE ARRESTS THERE. STACEY MARTIN, NEWS 7.))
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=SM, NEWS 7.]))
[Tease2]
[SOFT MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
What's in a name?
Apparently a lot to the folks who run Patrick Henry Community College.
We'll tell you what we mean in just a moment.
(-----------------)
[VO-NAT ]
And how big of a chunk of the national tobacco settlement will go to Virginia farmers?
We'll find out when News-7 at Noon returns.
(-----------------)
[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #2]
[E-Tobacco-Deal]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=chu]
[TAPE#=98-79 1:12:06]
[GRAPHIC=Tobacco Settlement]
The tobacco-growing states could soon get their share of a multi-billion dollar fund intended to help farmers hurt by a dwindling tobacco market.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Danville/Last Year;]
The states agreed yesterday on a plan to divvy up the five-billion dollar fund created last month as part of the national tobacco settlement.
The deal uses the 1998 basic quota set by the U-S Department of Agriculture as it's ruler for splitting up the money.
Virginia will get 6-point 65 percent.
Most tobacco experts in Southside Virginia agree it's a fair deal, because it's based on each state's tobacco production.
(------------)
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 1:49:17-:34]
[IN Q=And I want the growers]
((C.D. BRYANT/CONCERNED FRIENDS OF TOBACCO: AND I WANT THE GROWERS TO UNDERSTAND THAT GOING BACK AND PICKING UP ADDITIONAL YEARS AND TAKING AN AVERAGE WOULDN'T REALLY MEAN A WHOLE LOT AT THIS PARTICULAR INSTANCE. NOW THE MONEY THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE PAID ON AFTER IT COMES TO VIRGINIA, IT DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE IF YOU GO BACK AND PICK UP THE YEARS THAT WE'VE LOST THE QUOTA ON.))
[SUPER=01-C. D. Bryant/Concerned Friends of Tobacco; ]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=lost the quota on.]
(------------)
[anchor=Melanie]
[graphic=HOLD!!!!]
The tobacco-growing states could start receiving payments from the fund as early as April.
But it will probably be months before each state figures out how to dole out the cash to individual growers.
[E-Patrick-Henry]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=98-81- 55:22]
[GRAPHIC=None]
"Give me liberty or give me death!"
Those famous fighting words are from Patrick Henry... a favorite son of Virginia and the namesake for Martinsville's Patrick Henry Community College.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond;]
Martinsville's state Senator had some fighting words of his own yesterday-- confronting the state's approval of a new "Patrick Henry College" in northern Virginia.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT senate 12:23:45]
[IN Q=I would]
((I WOULD LIKE TO URGE ALL MY COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE COMMUNITY COLLEGES IN MY SYSTEM TO BE AWARE THAT THERE MAY BE SOMEONE WHO WILL PIRATE THAT NAME.))
[SUPER=@Reynolds;]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=that name.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The new "Patrick Henry College" is the creation of former Lieutenant Governor candidate Mike Farris.
It's slated to open in the summer of 2000.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Farris tells NEWS 7 he thinks Senator Reynolds opposes him using the Patrick Henry name because Farris campaigned against him in his last election.
Governor Jim Gilmore sides with fellow Republican Farris, saying the name "Patrick Henry" shouldn't be owned by anyone.
Patrick Henry COMMUNITY College President Max Wingett says his school is resigned to future name confusion with Farris's school... no matter what Senator Reynolds is able to do in the legislature.
[Stocks]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE# none]
[GRAPHIC=stocks]
On Wall Street at Noon, the Dow was DOWN two points.
[tease3]
[SPORTS MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
Still ahead in sports, it's another appointment in front of the judge for boxer Mike Tyson.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
We'll tell you how his fights outside the ring could land him back behind bars, coming up, when News 7 at Noon continues.
(---------------)
[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #3]
[Tyson]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=ssa]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Tyson]
Former Heavyweight Champ Mike Tyson is back in a Maryland courtroom today.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-File Tape;]
Tyson faces possible jail time for two assault convictions after getting into a fight following a car accident last August.
A Maryland judge will decide today whether Tyson returns to an Indiana prison. Tyson is still on probation for a 19-91 rape conviction.
If he stays out of prison, Tyson still faces the threat of losing his boxing license.
(------------)
[UNC]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-40]
[GRAPHIC=ACC Logo]
On to the hardcourt, where the Clemson Tigers made victims of the twelfth-ranked Tarheels.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Clemson, SC/JP-RAYCOM; :]
North Carolina was without Jason Capel-- who's still suffering from a case of mono.
But Terrence Newby stepped up. He hits the three pointer, but the Heels still trailed by four.
Clemson answers with Tony Christie's three pointer, to put the Tigers up ten.
And when Terrell McIntyre stepped up and hit this trey, the Tigers led by 15.
Carolina would rally late in the second half. Ed Cota drives to the hoop and gets the bucket and the foul.
[SUPER=33-Clemson/78/North Carolina/63/;]
But it was too little too late. Christie goes to the hoop again and Clemson wins it 78- 63.
(------------)
[Cave]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-33 (32:01)]
[GRAPHIC=HS Hoops]
Locally, the Lady Knights played host to district rival Patrick Henry.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./Cave Spring vs Patrick Henry; :]
And Cave Spring was ready for this one.
The Knights use good ball movement and find Sherri Rickman underneath for the hoop.
P-H would then get out on the break. Shena Casey drives the paint for the easy lay- in.
But Cave Spring would extend the lead. Jessica Caldwell cuts across the lane and hits the jumper.
[SUPER=33-Cave Spring/65/Patrick Henry/31/;]
Patrick Henry's Keeda Hale beats the buzzer from the wing for two, but Cave Spring wins big 65 to 31.
(------------)
[Express]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-35]
[GRAPHIC=Express/Johnstown]
If your plans for the weekend are still up in the air, you probably aren't a member of the Express family. The team will play three games at the Roundhouse, starting with Johnstown tonight.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]
In January, defenseman Calvin Elfring had nine points on three goals and six assists in 13 games. He's been a crucial member of the squad, after arriving in Roanoke via the Chris Lipsett trade.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=""it's]
[SUPER=01-Calvin Elfring/Express Defenseman; :00]
[SUPER=01-Scott Gordon/Express Head Coach; :15]
[RUNS=:29]
[OUT Q=...Mark Cadotte"]
(------------------------)
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[SS=hold]
And you can catch Scott Gordon's skaters at the Roundhouse tonight-- face off is set for 7:30.
[Pits]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-26 115TC]
[GRAPHIC=Martinsville Speedway]
The Winston Cup cars are revving up for Daytona, but the folks at the Martinsville Speedway are looking a bit farther ahead.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Martinsville/Last Season; :00]
Track President Clay Campbell announced yesterday that all 43 pit stalls will be in place on the front stretch by the April Cup race.
To give you an idea of how much of an expansion this will be, consider that there are currently only 22 pit spots on the front stretch.
The new configuration will strectch the pits from turns 3 and 4 all the way to turn 1.
The grass area in the infield will be paved and the acceleration lanes will also be widened.
(------------)
[Daytona]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=sp-43]
[graphic=Daytona Speedweeks]
Speaking of Daytona, the 14 pole winners from last season who are eligible
[graphic=Bud Shootout]
for Sunday's Bud Shootout all-star race drew starting positions for the 25 lap dash.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Daytona Beach, FL/Yesterday;:00]
Budweiser is sponsoring the event so, the drivers picked "Fake Frogs" off a log and then peeled up the frog's tongue to discover their starting spot.
Defending champ Rusty Wallace will start on the pole.
Here's the rest of the starting grid.
(------------)
[WIPE TO MOTION]
[SUPER=#556]
[SUPER=X5013;]
[SUPER=0107-1. Rusty Wallace//2. Kenny Irwin//3. Rick Mast//4. Ken Schrader//5. Derrike Cope//;]
[SUPER=X5009;]
[SUPER=0107-6. Ricky Craven//7. Jeremy Mayfield//8. Jeff Gordon//9. Bobby Labonte//10. Bobby Hamilton//;]
[SUPER=X5009;]
[SUPER=0107-11. Ward Burton//12. Ernie Irvan//13. Mark Martin//14. Dale Jarrett//15. Qualifier Winner//;]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=......last driver."]
(-------------)
[talent=Patrick]
[graphic=Bud Shootout]
The winner of the preliminary Bud qualifying race will get that 15th spot in the shootout.
[Mast]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Rick Mast]
As you saw, Rick Mast will start 3rd in the shootout. He is driving for Cale Yarborough and the team will have Budweiser as its sponsor for this one race only.
(-----------------------)
[wipe to pinnacle page 1020]
And don't forget about our News 7 sports NASCAR special this Saturday at Noon.
Catch "Back to the Beach" right before Daytona 500 qualifying.
(------------------------)
[Marshals]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-31 3511TC]
[GRAPHIC=DAYTONA]
Two famous faces will be on hand in Daytona to give the drivers the green light.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The Grand Marshals this year will be Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre, who has part ownership in Dale Jarrett's Busch Series team. Favre will serve as the Grand Marhsal for the Napa Auto Parts 300 Busch race on Saturday.
And U-S Supreme Court justice Clarence Thomas will be on hand to give the starting command for the Daytona 500.
(------------)
Thomas says he grew up with NASCAR and is a big racing fan.
by SS