[HEADLINES]
[TALENT=Melanie]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
It looks like at least one more full day of impeachment deliberations will keep the Senate behind closed doors again today.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
And Montgomery County fails to get a One-point 2-5 million dollar lawsuit filed by Shelor automotive dismissed in court.
(/////////////)
[TALENT=Patrick]
[SS=None]
(ad lib)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=None]
News 7 at noon is next.
[Grayson-Schools]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=School Information]
We have on school note to pass along this afternoon.
All Grayson county schools with the exception of Mount Rogers Elementary are closing by 12:30 this afternoon.
[JPS-Converter]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#98-79 TC 1:17:25]
[GRAPHIC=Plant Closing]
About 180 people are losing their jobs at Rocky Mount's last textile plant.
JPS Converter and Industrial Corporation will shut down by June.
[Double Boxes=Melanie and Tina/Newsroom]
Tina Tenret has the details.
[Live=Tina Full/Newsroom]
[SUPER=@Tina1;]
Melanie, plant officials say they'll try to find jobs for the Rocky Mount employees in their South Boston plant, but they're not sure how many jobs are available or if people will make the 70 mile commute.
(Rollcue: 70 mile commute )
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=JPS makes]
[SUPER=03-Rocky Mount;]
[SUPER=01-Ronnie Brown/JPS Human Resources;]
[SUPER=01-Keith Holland/Rocky Mount Town Manager;]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=of a trend]
(( J-P-S makes materials for women's clothing.
But the company's closing the Rocky Mount plant and consolidating the work into the more modern and versatile South Boston branch.
Some employees have worked here for decades.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 10:20:35]
[IN Q=WE have]
((WE HAVE A VERY SEASONED WORKFORCE HERE AND WE FEEL THESE ARE EXCELLENT EMPLOYEES THAT WILL BE OUT IN THE JOB MARKET SEEKING JOBS AND WE HOPEFULLY THINK THEY WILL FIND SOME JOBS.))
[RUNS:13]
[OUT Q=SOME JOBS]
This is the third textile plant that's decided to close in Franklin County in the past year.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 10:42:00]
[IN Q=We understand]
((WE UNDERSTAND IT'S MORE OF AN INDUSTRY PROBLEM THAN HAS TO DO WITH ROCKY MOUNT ITSELF AND FRANKLIN COUNTY. THE TEXTILE INDUSTRY HAS SUFFERED A LOT OF DOWNTURNS WITH WORK MOVING TO MEXICO AND OVERSEAS. WE HOPE THIS WILL BE THE END OF A TREND.))
[RUNS:28]
[OUT Q=of a trend]))
[Live=Tina Full/Newsroom]
The town manager says Rocky Mount needs to diversify -- away from textiles -- into markets like computer software and communications.
[Double Boxes=Melanie and Tina/Newsroom]
The town is also working on a job training program with Franklin County and local colleges.
[Shelor-Suit]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#98-80 TC1:33:60]
[GRAPHIC=Lawsuit]
Shelor Automotive can proceed with its one-point-25 million dollar lawsuit against Montgomery County.
That was the ruling this morning made by Circuit Judge Ray Grubbs.
[Double Boxes=Melanie and Teresa/Microwave]
Teresa Hamilton joins us live from the Montgomery County Courthouse with more on the judge's decision.
[Live=Teresa Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=@Teresa1;]
[SUPER=05-Christiansburg;]
( ad lib)
(Rollcue:judge's decision. )
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Robert Parker/Montgomery Co. Spokesman; :00]
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg; :10]
[RUNS=:53]
[OUT Q=business decision.]
[Live=Teresa Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Christiansburg;]
( ad lib)
[Double Boxes=Melanie and Teresa/Microwave]
[impeachment]
[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Senate Trial]
The Senate is back behind closed doors for a third day of deliberations in President Clinton's impeachment trial.
A number of Senators are still waiting for their chance to speak, so a vote isn't likely until tomorrow.
Lee Cowan reports.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[11:30 UPDATE WINDOW]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Washington DC;]
[SUPER=01-Sen. Trent Lott/(R) Majority Leader]
[SUPER=01-Sen. John Chaffee/(R) Rhode Island;]
[SUPER=01-Sen. Arlen Specter/(R) Pennsylvania;]
[SUPER=01-Lee Cowan/Reporting;]
[RUNS=1:42]
[OUT Q=CBS NEWS WASHINGTON.]
((close the doors .. clear the galleries _
IF THERE'S ANY SUSPENSE LEFT BEHIND THE SENATE'S CLOSED DOORS,
IT'S JUST HOW BAD THE HOUSE MANAGER'S CASE WILL GO DOWN TO DEFEAT, AND
WHEN IT WILL COME CRASHING DOWN.
WITH SOME 30 SENATORS STILL WAITING TO SPEAK THEIR MIND, MOST ARE
PUTTING THEIR MONEY ON FRIDAY.
(( SUPER: SEN. TRENT LOTT/R-MAJORITY LEADER )) (( SOT AT ))
"It's possible that we could conclude --- don't think that's going to be
possible at this time."
THE CRACKS IN THE PROSECUTIONS CASE BEGAN SHOWING YESTERDAY, AS A
TRIO OF REPUBLICAN MODERATES ANNOUNCED THEY HAD NOT BEEN CONVINCED OF
THE PRESIDENT'S GUILT.
(( SUPER: SEN. JOHN CHAFEE//R-RI ))
"Absent the proof that I find necessary to justify the removal of a
president, I will vote to acquit on both articles."
(( SUPER: SEN. ARLEN SPECTER//R-PA )) (( SOT ))
"That is not to say that the President is not guilty, but to
specifically say that the charges in my judgment have not been proved."
IT WAS AN INDICATION THAT EVEN A SIMPLE MAJORITY IN THE SENATE
MAY NOT BACK EITHER ONE OF THE HOUSE MANAGER'S ARGUMENTS - PERJURY OR
OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE.
AS FOR THE WHITE HOUSE - THE PRESIDENT IS SAID TO BE SO ANGRY WITH
REPUBLICAN HOUSE MANAGERS, THE NEW YORK TIMES REPORTS HE PLANS TO LAUNCH
AN ALL OUT OFFENSIVE TO KNOCK AS MANY REPUBLICANS OUT OF THE HOUSE AS
POSSIBLE.
THE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER REACTED WITH A TERSE STATEMENT: "It is
deeply troubling," HE SAID, "that the President views closure of this Constitutional process as an opportunity for revenge."
(( LEE COWAN//CBS NEWS ))
"But even support for censuring the President is fast losing steam - Democrats now all but conceding it may never even see the light of day. 'It is on life support,' one Senator suggested. The end of this trial
is the same as pulling the plug all together. Lee Cowan, CBS News, Washington."))
[S-81-Patrol]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=98-77 1:23:06]
[GRAPHIC=I-81 Crackdown]
Drivers on Interstate 81 should be prepared for a crackdown.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond;]
Governor Jim Gilmore has directed 50 new state troopers to patrol 81, with support from the air.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 12;51:03]
[IN Q=The aircraft]
((COL. WAYNE HUGGINS/VIRGINIA STATE POLICE: THE AIRCRAFT HAS A STEALTH EFFECT. NOT MANY PEOPLE RIDE DOWN THE ROAD LOOKING UP IN THE AIR. AND AS A RESULT, THE AIRCRAFT CAN SEE FLAGRANT TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS OCCURRING, RADIO GROUND UNITS, POSITIN THEM IN SUCH A WAY THAT THEY CAN CATCH THOSE PEOPLE IN THE ACT OF FLAGRANT SPEEDS, CHANGING LANES, FOLLOWING TOO CLOSELY, SO ON AN SO FORTH.))
[SUPER=01-Col. Wayne Huggins/Virginia State Police;]
[RUNS=:23]
[OUT Q=so forth.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Also part of the Governor's directive: aggressive driver education efforts and more safety signs.
(------------)
[tease1]
[HARD MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
Jerry Falwell responds to the furor over Tinky-Winky.
That's just one of the stories still ahead on News-7 at Noon.
(--------------)
[VO-NAT ]
And more than 40 people are still missing after fire sweeps through a Russian police station.
(---------------)
[Talent=Patrick]
[Wx-Tease]
[Weatherpro]
[music up full]
[comm1]
[Russia-fire]
[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Fire]
At least 16 people are dead and some 40 missing after a fire swept through a police station in Russia.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Samara, Russia;]
[7:05:38]
Another thirty three are hospitalized.
The fire broke out last night.
Investigators believe it was sparked by an electrical short but they haven't ruled out arson.
It's not know yet how many prisoners were being held in the jail or if any escaped.
(--------------)
[SHIP-AGROUND]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=MORN]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]
If an approaching storm holds off, a Navy demolition team could try again to set fire to the remaining fuel oil on a cargo ship grounded in the Oregon surf.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Coos Bay, OR]
A first try fizzled yesterday.
It's hoped the fuel will burn off, minimizing damage to beaches.
The ship ran aground off the oregon coast last week-- spilling hundreds of thousands of gallons of oil.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=This internal burn...]
[SUPER=01-Gov. John Kitzhaber/(D) Oregon; :00 ( quick)]
[SUPER=01-Capt. Mike Hall/U. S. Coast Guard; :11]
[RUNS=:18]
[OUT Q=pristine beaches]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Since the ship ran aground, three of its five fuel tanks have ruptured, fouling six miles of beach.
(------------)
[Falwell-responds]
[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Jerry Falwell]
The Reverand Jerry Falwell is calling it much ado about nothing.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-Itsy Bistsy Entertainment;]
Falwell says he is not saying that one of the Teletubbies is gay.
He says his newspaper is only warning parents that Tinky Winky's sexuality has been the subject of a number of media reports.
Tinky Winky is the purple Teletubby who carries a purse.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[9:04:41]
[IN Q=]
((REVEREND JERRY FALWELL:OUR EDITOR WAS QUOTING FROM THE NEW YORK
TIMES, THE WASHINGTON POST, PEOPLE MAGAZINE, THE WASHINGTON BLADE - THE
GAY NEWSPAPER, CNN, E-ONLINE, AND OTHERS, AND HE SAID HE WAS JUST
PASSING ON TO OUR READERS WHAT SOME OF THE NATIONAL MEDIA WAS SAYING,
WHICH IS THAT THE GAY COMMUNITY HAS ACCEPTED TINKY WINKY AS A GAY ICON.))
[SUPER=01-Rev. Jerry Falwell/National Liberty Journal;]
[RUNS=:31]
[OUT Q=as an icon.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
If Tinky Winky is gay, Falwell says, that would be the wrong message to send to children.
(------------)
[E-Covington-Bomb]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=sta]
[TAPE#=98-76 1:34:09]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]
A judge should decide today if charges from a 22-year old murder case should be thrown out.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lewisburg, WV;]
Robert Vernon Brown, convicted killer Gene Gaylor and former husband and wife Carrol Eugene Humphries and Kitty Abshire Humphries are all charged with conspiracy to commit murder.
Prosecutors believe they were all involved in the 1976 bombing death of Billy Ray Abshire.
But, yesterday defense attorneys claimed the state waited too long to charge them with the crime.
And, they're asking a judge to dismiss the cases.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 17.20.18 - 17.20.31]
[IN Q=It's my opinion]
((BARRY BRUCE/GENE GAYLOR'S ATTORNEY: IT'S MY OPINION WITH A PRETRIAL DELAY ISSUE AFTER 22 YEARS WITH ALL THE EVIDENCE BEING AVAILABLE AT LEAST AT THE END OF 1981, THAT IF IT APPLIES, IT APPLIES IN THIS CASE.))
[SUPER=01-Barry Bruce/Gene Gaylor's Attorney;]
[RUNS=13]
[OUT Q=it applies in this case.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Prosecutors, meanwhile, claim they're only now able to press charges thanks to recent developments in the case.
(------------)
[E-Julian-Bond]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=djo]
[TAPE#=98-78 1:03:14]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The national chair of the N-double-A-C-P wants to make the civil rights group better, bolder and stronger.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]
Julian Bond was at Hollins University last night--talking about the 20th century struggle for equal rights.
[SUPER=04-File Tape;]
Bond says the burning and beheading of a Grayson County man and the dragging death of a man in Jasper, Texas are just SOME of the signs that the fight for equal rights did not end during the civil rights movement of the 1960s.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT=16:54:44]
[IN Q=THE ENORMOUS]
((JULIAN BOND/NAACP NATIONAL CHAIR; THE ENORMOUS DISPARITY BETWEEN BLACK AND WHITE INCOME, EDUCATION, LIFE CHANCES, LIFE EXPECTANCY. THESE GAPS ARE CLOSING, BUT THEY'RE STILL WIDE. AND AS LONG AS THEY REMAIN WIDE, THAT'S AMPLE EVIDENCE THAT A VIGOROUS NAACP IS NEEDED, NOT ONLY IN VIRGINIA, BUT ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. SO WE DON'T HAVE TO TELL PEOPLE IT'S HERE. I THINK PEOPLE WITH EYES TO SEE AND EARS TO HEAR KNOW THAT IT'S HERE.))
[SUPER=01-Julian Bond/NAACP National Chair;]
[RUNS=22]
[OUT Q=THAT IT'S HERE.]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[GRAPHIC=None]
One of Bond's main goals is to build an endowment within the organization, so it will be financially stable.
[Tease2]
[SOFT MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
A lawsuit against Richmond -based Phillip-Morris ends in a 51 million dollar judgement against the company.
That story is next on News-7 at Noon.
(-----------------)
[VO-NAT ]
And tourism leaders are hoping to make Southwest Virginia a top golf destination.
More on that when the news returns.
(-----------------)
[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #2]
[tobacco-suit]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Tobacco Under Fire]
Cigarette maker Philip Morris has been hit with the biggest verdict ever in a smoking case -- more than 51 million dollars.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-San Francisco, CA;]
A California woman, with terminal lung cancer, claims Philip Morris hooked her on cigarettes when she was young and misled her about the dangers of smoking.
Henley says she'll donate any money she receives to help educate kids on the dangers of smoking.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I feel wonderful..]
[SUPER=01-Patricia Henley/Plaintiff;]
[RUNS=:04]
[OUT Q=for the children.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
A smoker since 15, the 52-year-old has been diagnosed with inoperable cancer.
Her suit was the first to reach trial in California since 1997, when the state lifted a ban on individuals suing tobacco companies.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=it's obviously a...]
[SUPER=01-William Ohlemeyer/Philip Morris ]
[RUNS=:05]
[OUT Q=with a case like this.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Richmond-based Philip Morris says it plans on appealing the case.
(------------)
[Tourism]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=djo]
[TAPE#=Net A]
[GRAPHIC=None]
If you show them, they will come.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]
That's the kind of the attitude the Roanoke Valley Convention and Visitor's Bureau has taken about the area's hotels and golf courses.
That's also why they have put together a "Golf Package Program".
The bureau is trying to aggressively attract more tourists to the area by taking advantage of the valley's sporting successes.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT=01:20:31]
[IN Q=SALEM HAS OBVIOUSLY]
((DAVE KJOLHEDE/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR; SALEM HAS OBVIOUSLY DONE SOME GREAT THINGS....AND BRING OTHER TYPES OF EVENTS IN.))
[SUPER=01-Dave Kjolhede/Executive Director;]
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=OF EVENTS IN.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The bureau will use this new niche to capture more marketing dollars from motorists between Canada and Northern Virginia as they travel south on I-81.
The cities of Roanoke and Salem and the counties of Bedford, Franklin, Pulaski and Roanoke have commited a total of six golf courses and ten hotels to the program.
(------------)
[Stocks]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE# none]
[GRAPHIC=stocks]
On Wall Street at Noon, the Dow was UP 84 points.
[tease3]
[SPORTS MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
Still ahead in sports, after days of practice,
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
the Winston Cup cars are on the track at Daytona.
We'll have an update from the first of the twin one-twenty-fives, when News 7 at Noon continues.
(---------------)
[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #3]
[Daytona]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=ssa]
[TAPE#=net-]
[GRAPHIC=Daytona Speedweeks]
The first of the twin one-twenty-fives gets underway in about five minutes at Daytona.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Daytona, FL;]
Defending Winston Cup points champion Jeff Gordon started on the pole just after noon.
Rookie Tony Stewart will have the top spot in the second race.
Beside the two pole winners, only the top 15 drivers in each race are guaranteed starting spots in Sunday's Daytona 500.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Well, there's a four letter word]
((WELL, THERE'S A FOUR-LETTER WORD CALLED FORD, AND A TWO- LETTER WORD CALLED GM...THEY'RE GONNA BE HARD TO BEAT IN THE DRAFT...THEY CAN ROLL OUT OF THE THROTTLE, ANTICIPATE THE PASS AND PASS YOU.))
[SUPER=07-Jimmy Spencer;]
[RUNS=20]
[OUT Q=and pass you.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Defending 500 champ Dale Earnhardt will take to the track in the second race of the day. He's trying to keep a nine- year winning streak alive.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=We never really]
((WE NEVER REALLY THINK ABOUT IT. MAYBE IF IT GETS BROKEN SOMEDAY, MAYBE WE'LL LOOK BACK AND SAY, MAN, THAT WAS AN ACCOMPLISHMENT.))
((IT'S VERY UNIQUE. IF YOU DON'T WIN IT, WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN. PEOPLE WILL THINK, HE'S REALLY LOST IT NOW, HE DIDN'T WIN THAT RACE.))
[SUPER=01-Richard Childress/Earnhardt's Car Owner; :00]
[SUPER=01-Dale Earnhardt/9 Straight Wins; :13]
[RUNS=23]
[OUT Q=didn't win that race.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
More than one hundred thousand fans are expected to pack the stands at the track today.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[ss=hold]
Stay tuned to News 7 for live updates from the track.
Mike Stevens will join us with all the results and highlights, coming up on News 7 at five and six.
[Ray]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-28]
[GRAPHIC=NBA]
It's not often a professional athlete gets a 70 million dollar deal without the help of an agent.
Milwaukee Bucks guard Ray Allen did it yesterday, signing a six year, 70.9 million dollar contract extension. It's the maximum salary allowed a third year player by the new collective bargaining agreement.
Allen had several offers but chose to remain in Milwaukee.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="You look]
[SUPER=01-Ray Allen/Signs $71.9 Million Contract; :00]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=.....here in Milwaukee."]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[ss=hold!!]
Allen would have had to shell out two- point- eight million dollars to an agent.
[Tech]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-26]
[GRAPHIC=Atlantic 10]
The Rhode Island Rams won an emotional victory at the Cassell last night, ending Virginia Tech's three- game winning streak.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg/Virginia Tech vs Rhode Island; :]
A moment of silence before the game for John Bennett, who played for Rhode Island last season and died Tuesday from injuries sustained in a car accident.
After the tip-off, it appeared Tech had control. Brendan Dunlap gets it to Rolan Roberts who hits for two.
But Antono Reynolds-Dean keeps Rhode Island in the game. He backs in and hits the fade away jumper to cut into the Hokie lead in the first half.
Dunlap then passes to Dennis Mims, who takes one dribble and jams it home to incite the crowd.
But the Rams had fate on their side. Freshman Lamar Odom takes it to the
[SUPER=33-Rhode Island/76/Virginia Tech/67/;]
hoop and hits the tough jumper in the lane.
(------------)
Rhode Island wins it 76 to 67.
by SS