[HEADLINES]

[TALENT=Melanie]

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


The T-V cameras are turned off and the doors shut to the public for a second straight day in the Senate.
Lawmakers are deliberating whether President Clinton should be convicted in his impeachment trial.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]


And there's a settlement offer on the table in the switched-babies case, but at least one side isn't biting.
(/////////////)
[TALENT=Patrick]
[SS=None]



[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=None]


News 7 at noon is next.

[impeachment]


[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Senate Trial]


The U. S. Senate has gone back into closed session to continue deliberating the impeachment of President clinton.

The private deliberations continue to frustrate some Senators who are choosing to make their speeches before T-V cameras.
Lee Cowan has the latest.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]

[11:30- UPDATE WINDOW]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Washington DC;]
[SUPER=01-Sen. Phil Gramm/(R) Texas;]
[SUPER=01-Sen. Trent Lott/(R) Majority Leader;]
[SUPER=01-Joe Lockhart/White House Spokesman;]
[SUPER=01-Lee Cowan/Reporting;]
[RUNS=1:16]
[OUT Q=CBSN Washington.]

((THE SENATE OPENED TO PRAY - THEN SWIFTLY CLOSED TO DEBATE. ANOTHER DAY OF SECRET DELIBERATIONS GOT UNDERWAY BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. (( SUPER: SEN. PHIL GRAMM/R-TX ))
(( SOT ))

ONE OF THE MAIN ARGUMENTS FOR PULLING THE PLUG ON THE PUBLIC PORTION OF THIS TRIAL WAS TO ENCOURAGE A FREE GIVE AND TAKE OF IDEAS.
(( SUPER: SEN. TRENT LOTT//SENATE MAJORITY LEADER )) (( SOT AT 13:31:35 ))

"I would hope that we won't just have speeches, that we will in fact have debate." BUT SO FAR THERE HAS BEEN VERY LITTLE OF THAT - MOST SENATORS HAVE CLEARLY MADE THEIR DECISIONS AND ARE ONLY USING THEIR 15 MINUTES AT THE MICROPHONE TO OUTLINE A THOUGHT PROCESS, RATHER THAN ELICIT DEBATE. WITH YESTERDAY'S VOTE TO KEEP THE PROCEEDINGS UNDER LOCK DOWN, SENATORS ARE STRUGGLING TO STEER CLEAR OF DESCRIBING THE GOINGS ON, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, GIVING VOICE TO THEIR OPINIONS. (( SUPER: SEN TOM HARKIN//D-IA ))
(( SOT AT ))

(( NAT )) AT THE WHITE HOUSE, A CAREFUL ATMOSPHERE IS BREWING AS THE PRESIDENT TRIES TO FIND A WAY TO DEAL WITH THE POST-IMPEACHMENT REALITY- WALKING A FINE LINE BETWEEN RELIEF AND GLOATING THAT THE WHITE HOUSE WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY EMERGE VICTORIOUS.
(( SUPER: JOE LOCKHART//WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN )) (( SOT ))

(( LEE COWAN//CBS NEWS )) "It is looking more and more likely that the last word in the impeachment trial will be acquital, not censure. Talk of reprimanding the President has been few and far between so far in these deliberations. As one Senator put it, it seems to be out-shined by the glare of the light at the end of the tunnel. Lee Cowan, CBS News, Washington."))


[American]


[ANCHOR=mel]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=American Airlines]


Passengers scheduled to fly American airlines today are finding themselves grounded.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Dallas, TX]


For the second day in a row American is scratching hundreds of flights as pilots continue to call in sick and refuse overtime.
The protest is over the carriers failure to increase the pay of pilots from a small west coast airline owned by American.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=HOLD]


Within the last hour, American asked a federal judge to force pilots to stop their slowdown.

[E-Baby-Switch]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=Net-C]
[GRAPHIC=Baby Swap]


The state has reportedly offered a 2-Million dollar payoff to each of the families of the two girls switched at birth at the University of Virginia Medical Center.
The only living mother, Paula Johnson, has apparently rejected the offer.
Meanwhile, there was more fallout for the hospital yesterday over the baby switch incident.
The hospital's Medicare program is under a form of probation.
The federal government's action came after an investigation by the state health department.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Charlottesville/File Tape]


That report, made public today, found "siginificant deficiencies" in quality control and nursing services at the hospital.
The hospital will continue to receive Medicare funding. But it's loss of full Medicare accreditation means state officials will be monitoring the steps UVA plans to take to correct its problems.
The state will review the situation in April.
(------------)



[Falwell-Tinky]


[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net ]
[GRAPHIC=Jerry Falwell]


The Reverend Jerry Falwell is taking aim at one of the world's most popular children's TV characters.
(//////SOT/////)
[IN=]

[10:14:46]
[SUPER=04-Itsy Bitsy Entertainment Co.;]
[RUNS=:04]
[OUT=NATS OF TELE TUBBY]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Falwell is warning parents that the purple, purse toting teletubby Tinky Winky is a gay role model.
This month's National Liberty Journal, edited and published by Falwell, reads Tinky Winky has the voice of a boy but carries a purse, has an antenna shaped like a triangle -- the gay-pride symbol, and is purple -- the gay-pride color.

Itsy Bitsy Entertainment calls the accusations outlandish and adds Tinky Winky's purse is actually a magic bag.
(------------)


[City-Schools]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#99-10 TC10:07]
[GRAPHIC=Roanoke City Seal]


Interpreters for hearing-impaired students in Roanoke need better pay.
That's what their students and parents told the school board last night.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 04:57:57 tape 1]
[IN Q=If I am in a class with an awesome teacher]

((JACKIE CARL/FIFTH GRADE STUDENT: IF I AM IN CLASS WITH AN AWESOME TEACHER, BUT I HAVE AN INTERPRETER WHO'S NOT QUALIFIED, THEN I'LL BECOME VERY FRUSTRATED.))
[SUPER=09-Jackie Carl/Fifth Grade Student/Voice of Interpreter;]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=become very frustrated.]
(------------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]


Jackie Carl is a fifth grader at Virginia Heights Elementary School.
She told the school board how important interpreters are to the 29 hearing impaired students in the city schools.


A parade of parents asked the board to improve salaries, so interpreters will stay.
(/////////////////////)
[SOT 04:45:13 tape 1]
[IN Q=As soon as they have reached]

((LESLIE ADAMS/PARENT: AS SOON AS THEY HAVE REACHED A QUALITY SCREENING OF A LEVEL THREE WHERE THEY SHOULD BE CONSIDERED PROFESSIONALS AND PAID AS SUCH, THEY'RE BOUGHT AWAY AND I'M SERIOUS WHEN I SAY THAT, IT COMES DOWN TO MONEY. THEY'RE BEING BOUGHT AWAY BY SYSTEMS AND PROGRAMS WHO SEE THEM AS PROFESSIONALS.))
[SUPER=01-Leslie Adams/Parent;]
[RUNS=:21]
[OUT Q=see them as professionals]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]


School Superintendent Wayne Harris says he is sympathetic to the parents' concerns, and he's promising budget adjustments that he hopes will help attract and retain interpreters.


[School-Searches]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=99-10 TC07:08]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]


A new search policy appears to be keeping guns and drugs out of Roanoke city school buildings, but the parking lots are a different matter.
(------------)
[VO-NAT FROM 98-28]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/April 1998;]


Police and school officials have conducted searches at five schools.
They found a broken pellet gun and some marijuana seeds in two cars at Patrick Henry High School.
Small amounts of what appeared to be marijuana and crack cocaine turned up in two cars at William Fleming.
School officials say they believe the policy is working.
(//////////////)
[SOT TC 5:22:00]
[IN Q=I'm disappointed]

((WAYNE HARRIS/ROANOKE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT: I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT WE FOUND SOMETHING IN THE CARS ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, BUT IN FACT IT SENDS A STRONG MESSAGE THAT IF YOU BRING DRUGS ON CAMPUS WHETHER IT'S IN A CAR OR NOT, YOU'RE GOING TO GET CAUGHT AND YOU'RE GOING TO PAY THE PRICE.))
[SUPER=01-Wayne Harris/Roanoke School Superintendent;]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=to pay the price.]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD!!!!]


School officials say they plan four or five more searches before the end of the school year. [tease1] [HARD MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]


Is it an urban legend or frightening reality?
The Pulaski police chief thinks it's real.
The full story is still ahead on News-7 at Noon.
(--------------)
[VO-NAT ]


And a helicopter crashes into an office building-- the details in just a moment.
First let's check in with Patrick Evans.
(---------------)
[Talent=Patrick]

[Wx-Tease] [Weatherpro] [music up full] [comm1]

[avalanche]


[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]


The death toll has risen to at least ten in France, after two avalanches roared down a mountainside north of an Alpine ski resort yesterday.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Chamonix, France;]

[7:05:44]
The snow slides destroyed 17 chalets and buried others.
Rescue workers who spent the night digging for victims have rescued a number of people buried alive, including one young man who had spent hours trapped beneath snow.
The avalanche was the largest recorded in the region since 19-08.
(------------)


[wipe wipe wipe]

[chopper-crash]


[ANCHOR=mel]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=wipe/wipe/wipe]



(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Cape Town, South Africa;]


A helicopter crashed onto the roof of an office building today in Cape Town, South Africa, killing all four on board.
Parts of the helicopter flew off and struck a luxury hotel , but no one inside was injured.
The helicopter narrowly avoided crashing into the Cape Sun, one of Cape Town's major hotels.
(------------)

[Needles]

[retopped for noon]


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


Is an urban legend turning into reality in southwest Virginia?
Authorities in Pulaski are looking into reports of people sticking themselves with hypodermic needles left in coin slots.
Police chief Herb Cooley says it reportedly happened to two people in the past week, in different parts of town.
He says they claim when they put their fingers in the coin return of a pay phone, they were pricked by a syringe.

Cooley says they both sought medical treatment.
Cooley adds, he DOESN'T think this is a hoax.

[E-Food-Tax]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=98-81 1:00:23]
[GRAPHIC=Food Tax]


Virginia's four-and-a-half percent tax on groceries is well on its way to only two-and-a-half cents.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond;]


But a Democratic gamble in the House yesterday came up just two votes shy of eliminating the entire four-and-a-half cent food tax, starting this year.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 01:56:00]
[IN Q=Let's don't]

((DEL. DICK CRANWELL: LET'S DON'T DO IT HALFWAY. LET'S TAKE IT ALL OFF.))
[SUPER=@Cranwell; :00]
[RUNS=07]
[OUT Q=all off.]
(------------)
[TALENT=Melanie]
[SS=HOLD]


But Republicans warned a full phase-out would jeopardize the CAR tax cut.
After the Democratic plan failed yesterday, all one hundred delegates voted for a partial food tax phase-out, starting in January.

[E-HMO-Bills]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=99-07 17:11]
[GRAPHIC=Va. Capitol]


Tempers flared in the state Senate last night, as lawmakers neared a midnight deadline that marks the halfway point in this year's General Assembly session.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]


The Senate passed a major package of health care reforms.
But the versions passed had Republican names on them-- while Democratic bills were sent to the legislative graveyard.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 04:52]
[IN Q=To come]

((SEN. EDD HOUCK/D-STAFFORD CO.: TO COME HERE AT THE 11TH HOUR, AFTER WE PASSED THEM BY DAY AFTER DAY AFTER DAY, STEAL THE IDEA...)) [07:42] ((SEN. JANE WOODS/R-FAIRFAX: THE WORD STEAL IS A BIT OVERSTATED.)) [09:18] ((SEN. EDD HOUCK: STEALING IS STEALING.)) [25:40] ((SEN. KEN STOLLE/R-VIRGINIA BEACH: THE COMMENTS HAVE BEEN STEALING CREDIT, AND GOD KNOWS I DON'T WANT TO DO THAT.))
[12:13] ((SEN. YVONNE MILLER: THE CITIZENS OF THE COMMONWEALTH LOOK AT US UNDRESS OURSELVES IN PUBLIC. MR. PRESIDENT AND MEMBERS OF THE SENATE, I DON'T THINK WE WANT TO BE NAKED BEFORE THE PEOPLE OF THE COMMONWEALTH.))
[SUPER=01-Sen. Edd Houck/(D) Stafford Co.; :00]
[SUPER=01-Sen. Jane Woods/(R) Fairfax; :10 QUICK!]
[SUPER=01-Sen. Ken Stolle/(R) Virginia Beach; :16 ]
[SUPER=01-Sen. Yvonne Miller/(D) Norfolk; :21]
[RUNS=35]
[OUT Q=the Commonwealth.]
(-------------)
[TALENT=Melanie]
[graphic=HOLD]


The reform bill would give HMO patients easier access to specialists and allow them to appeal coverage denials to an independent board.
Republicans killed a measure to let patients sue HMOs for malpractice, saying it would drive up costs for all.

[E-Michelle-Finn]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=99-05 14:54]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]


Virginia's state senate has sided with the surviving relatives of Hugh Finn.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond]


Several Republicans DEFECTED from Governor Jim Gilmore in a 34-to-6 vote.
[SUPER=04-Wednesday]


The bill would reimburse Michelle Finn 48-thousand dollars for her costs fighting the Governor in court over ending life support for her comatose husband.
The bill would also reimburse Finn family members who requested the Governor's help in fighting Michelle Finn.
(------------)
[TALENT=Melanie]
[SS=HOLD]


The Governor says he won't decide on signing the relief bill until the House of Delegates votes on it. [Tease2] [SOFT MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]


They're standing by their mom--
(-----------------)
[VO-NAT ]


The daughters of Tammy Wynette want their mother's body exhumed.
We'll find out why when News-7 at Noon returns.
(-----------------)

[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #2]


[Franklin-Fatal]


[ANCHOR=Mel]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=None ]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]


A man was killed as he crossed Route 220 in Franklin County this morning.
State police are not releasing the man's name until his family is notified.
But officials say shortly after six this morning, the 31-year-old man was walking from the Franklin Manor Restaurant across Route 220 to Dudley's Truck Stop when a truck hit and killed him.

[WYNETTE]


[ANCHOR=MELANIE]
[NEWSCAST=NOON]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]


A medical examiner in Tennessee could decide today whether to exhume the body of country singing legend Tammy Wynette to confirm the cause of death.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=@File;]


Three of the singer's daughters want an autopsy performed to make sure it was a blood clot that killed Wynette last April.
One of them says her mother was taking narcotics and wanted a divorce from her husband at the time of her death.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]

((JACKIE DALY/WYNETTE'S DAUGHTER:THIS IS SOMETHING I WANT; IT'S SOMETHING MY SISTERS WANT, AND I THING IT'S WHAT MOM WOULD HAVE WANTED - TO FIND OUT THE TRUTH... ))
[SUPER=01-Jackie Daly/Wynette's Daughter;]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=how she died.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Meanwhile, the widow of Conway Twitty says Wynette had tried to avoid a family feud over her estate.
Dee Jenkins says Wynette confided in her, and thought she was protecting herself by signing a will giving her husband and manager, George Richey, nearly total control over her estate.
(------------)


[Stocks]


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


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


Still ahead in sports, a former Hokie paves the way in Cleveland.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]


Plus, Pirates fans will recognize this man from Pittsburgh's glory days of the 70s.
We'll tell you what Pops was doing in our area, when News 7 at Noon continues.
(---------------)

[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #3]


[Express]


[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-42]
[GRAPHIC=Express/Chesapeake]


The Express broke the ice at the Roundhouse, improving to 28-12 and 5 on the season with a victory over the Chesapeake.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Icebreakers vs. Express;]


Already up 2-1 in the second period, Roanoke adds to the lead when Mike Peron gives it up to Chris Cantu who finds the hole. Cantu's eighteenth goal of the season puts the Express ahead 3-1.
[SUPER=34-Roanoke/4/Chesapeake/1;]


Then, Dave Gagnon went to work, he stopped 33 shots to stop the Icebreakers threats.
Travis Smith puts the icing on the celebratory cake at the end of the second, and Roanoke coasts 4-1.
The Express now leads Hampton Roads by five points.
(------------)


[Browns]


[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=SP-29]
[GRAPHIC=Browns]


A former Hokie became the first Cleveland Brown chosen in the 19-99 expansion draft.
The new franchise loaded up its roster yesterday with a draft of unprotected players from the other teams around the league.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Canton, OH;]


Dallas defensive end Hurvin McCormack and Patriots tackle Scott Rehberg were the number two and three picks.
But number one was former Virginia Tech offensive lineman Jim Pyne, who started all 16 games for the Detroit Lions last season.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="]
[SUPER=01-Jim Pyne/Cleveland Brown Center;]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=....for everybody"]
(------------------------)
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[ss=hold!!]


Cleveland used 19 of its 37 picks on defensive backs and offensive lineman. The Browns begin play this season.

[Stargell]


[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=SP-31]
[GRAPHIC=Pirates]


He was known as the leader of the Pittsburgh team that came from behind to beat the Orioles in the 19-79 World Series.
And last night, former Pirate and Hall of Famer Willie Stargell.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]


joined his old teammate Jim Bibby in the Hill City. The two were featured at the annual Lynchburg Hillcats Hot Stove League banquet.
"Pops" took the opportunity to sum up the 19-98 baseball season, saying Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa gave baseball a much- needed boost.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 17:48:37]
[IN Q=I was more]

((WILLIE STARGELL/PITTSBURGH PIRATE HALL OF FAMER: I WAS MORE IMPRESSED WITH THE WAY THEY HANDLED THEMSELVES. I THOUGHT THEY DID A WORLD CLASS JOB AS FAR AS GENTLEMEN, AMBASSADORS AND STUDENTS OF THE GAME AND TO BE SOMETHING THAT KIDS COULD LOOK AT AND SAY `THAT'S THE WAY I WANT TO CARRY MYSELF ON AND OFF THE FIELD'.))
[SUPER=01-Willie Stargell/Pittsburgh Pirate Hall of Famer]
[RUNS=18]
[OUT Q=off the field.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Stargell currently serves as an assistant to Pirates General Manager Cam Bonifay.
(------------)


[Daytona]


[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-35]
[GRAPHIC=Daytona]


The younger drivers are trying to steal the torch from the establishment in Daytona.
Mike Stevens has more on the Busch Grand National Series qualifying.
(------------------)
[IN Q=first audio]
[SUPER=03-Daytona Beach, FL/NAPA 300 Qualifying; :00]
[SUPER=01-Ken Schrader/NAPA 300 Pole Winner; :28]
[SUPER=01-Dale Earnhardt, Jr./Qualified 17th; :47]
[SUPER=01-Adam Petty/Qualified 22nd; 1:05]
[SUPER=01-Casey Atwood/Qualified Fourth; 1:24]
[SUPER=@Mike1; 1:40]
[SUPER=01-Chad Tilley/Advance Auto Parts Vice Pres.; 1:49]
[RUNS=2:01]

(-------------------) [OUT Q=news 7 sports"]
by SS