[Headlines]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
For 27 years, he's maintained his innocence.
And now, the three decade nightmare is over for former Black Panther Gernomino Pratt.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
And a baby sitter in Bedford County is charged with manslaughter.
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
You'll need the wet weather gear first thing this morning, as showers continue drifting across the region.
But the clouds won't really being going anywhere..we're gearing up for a new storm system that should arrive by late tomorrow.
[ANCHOR=Steve]
(ad lib live tease)
[2-shot]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[E-Bedford-Death]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=99-6 16:04]
[GRAPHIC=Bedford Baby Death]
ONE YEAR after a 14-month-old girl she'd been caring for died in her home, a Bedford County babysitter has been charged with manslaughter.
Steve Smallshaw has the story.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The day it ]
[SUPER=03-Bedford Co.; :00]
[SUPER=01-Lt. Ricky Gardner/Bedford Co. Sheriff's Dept.; :13]
[SUPER=01-Colton Edmonds/Neighbor; :37]
[SUPER=@ssm1; ]
[RUNS=1:02]
[OUT Q=Smallshaw, News7.]
(( The day it happened.. February 12th, 1998.. Sonja Hickson told police the little girl had fallen over backwards in her chair and struck her head on the floor.
But the severity of the girl's injuries made authorities suspicious..
(////SOT/////)
[SOT 13:51:02]
((LT. RICKY GARDNER/BEDFORD CO. SHERIFF'S DEPT.: TALKING TO DIFFERENT EXPERTS IN THE FIELD OF CHILD INJURIES AND JUST PUTTING TOGETHER THE CASE, WHICH CULMINATED EARLY THIS MORNING WITH MS. HICKSON'S ARREST.))
[RUNS 14]
[OUT Q=Hickson's arrest.]
Police say Hickson made a living taking care of other people's children in her home on Old Station Loop in Hardy.
Neighbor Colton Edmonds used to play there.. he and his mother were shocked to hear of Hickson's arrest.
[SOT 00:10:26]
[IN Q=me and my]
((COLTON EDMONDS/NEIGHBOR; ME AND MY LITTLE BROTHER WOULD GO UP THERE AND EAT LUNCH WITH THEM SOMETIMES, PLAY AROUND AND WATCH THE KIDS OUT THERE RIDING BIKES, NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS OUT OF ANY OF THEM OR HER))
[RUNS 12]
[OUT Q=or her]
[Standup]
((Sonja Hickson remains free after posting a ten- thousand dollar bond. But authorities say it's possible the charge against her could be upgraded to something more serious.. from voluntary manslaughter to murder. Steve Smallshaw, News7.))
[RUNS 12]
[OUT Q=Smallshaw, News7.]))
[E-Food-Tax]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=99-5 18:01]
[GRAPHIC=Food Tax]
Both chambers of the Virginia General Assembly have now signed off on a two cent cut in the sales tax on groceries.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=@File;]
The House of Delegates voted 99 to nothing yesterday to cut the first "half cent" of the four-and-a-half cent tax in January.
Two cents would be fully phased out by April 2003.
(------------)
[TALENT=Kimberly]
[SS=None]
It is the Governor's plan, so he will surely sign the bill.
Southwest Virginia Democrats made a last ditch effort to eliminate the entire tax -- but were rebuffed by House Republicans.
[E-Hugh-Finn]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=98-74 TC1:49:34]
[GRAPHIC=Right to Die]
Governor Jim Gilmore lost eight court hearings and lost in the state Senate on the issue of Hugh Finn.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Richmond;]
But yesterday, a party line vote in a House committee killed a bill that would have reimbursed the Finn family for their legal expenses.
All eight Republicans sided with the Governor for his failed court fight to keep Hugh Finn on feeding tubes after a three and a half year coma.
The Governor says he did NOT pressure the lawmakers.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=No I just]
((GOV. JIM GILMORE: NO I JUST THINK THOSE EIGHT MEMBERS WERE DOING THEIR DUTY. THEY'RE DOING WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO.))
[SOT ]
(( MICHELE FINN/HUGH FINN'S WIDOW: I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY -- I FEEL LIKE HE HAS NO COMPASSION AT ALL FOR WHAT THIS FAMILY IS GOING THROUGH. HE COULD HAVE GRACEFULLY BEEN ABLE TO BE DONE WITH THIS.))
[SUPER=@Gilmore; :00]
[SUPER=01-Michele Finn/Hugh Finn's Widow; :08]
[RUNS=:18]
[OUT Q=done with this.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Yesterday's vote is the first truly partisan split on the issues around dying-- The Finn case has made the issue a focal point for this year's General Assembly.
(------------)
[E-Rockbridge-Arson]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=sta]
[TAPE#=98-77 TC1:53:30]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Two more Fairfield firefighters are in trouble with the law.
Officials with the Rockbridge County Sheriff's Department charged them with a misdemeanor following an incident during a fundraising drive last year.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 11.26.21 - 11.26.30]
[IN Q=Some of the firemen]
((ROY DAY/ROCKBRIDGE COUNTY SHERIFF: SOME OF THE FIREMEN WENT TO THE GUY'S HOUSE ASKING HIM FOR A DONATION AND HE TURNED THEM DOWN AND THEY STARTED TRASHING THE GUY'S YARD. AND, THERE'S NO EXCUSE FOR THAT--NONE WHAT SO EVER.))
[SUPER=01-Roy Day/Rockbridge Co. Sheriff;]
[RUNS=09]
[OUT Q=none what so ever.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-March 19;]
Last Friday the fire chief's son Matt Wilmer and another juvenile were also charged with setting fire to (Ur-lean) Erline Ritche's barn last year.
The charges come about a year after Wilmer was convicted of burning down another barn in the area.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[SS=none]
If convicted the two could receive up to one year in jail.
Fairfield Fire Chief Stephen Wilmer could not be reached for comment.
[Pratt]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Former black Panther Geronimo Pratt says he's relieved that his three-decade legal battle is over
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Los Angeles, CA;]
[4:02]
The Los Angeles district attorney has decided to drop further prosecution of Pratt who spent 27 years in prison for a murder he says he didn't commit.
The decision by prosecutor Gil Garcetti came a day after a California appeals court upheld a ruling that Pratt was denied a fair trial.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[4;03:13-29]
[IN Q=WE ACCEPT THE DECISION...]
[SUPER=01-Gil Garcetti/Los Angeles District Attorney;]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=ARE DECEASED.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
A judge ruled Pratt didn't get a fair trial because a key witness didn't reveal his status as an ex-con and police informer.
(------------)
[1-Sports]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=ssa]
[TAPE#=sports cut in]
[GRAPHIC=None]
In sports, the Tigers prey on the Cavaliers.
Roy Stanley has details.
Good Morning Roy.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Good morning]
[RUNS=1:35]
[OUT Q=later on mornin]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
(toss to Wx)
[One-Steve]
[ANCHOR=Steve]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=spa]
[TAPE#]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]
[On Record]
[SUPER=15-Steve/Pardon;]
[SUPER=01-Pat Connolly/Three Time Olympian]
(Steve tosses to stocks)
[STOCKS]
[COMM]
((Archive:Olympics))
[E-Star-City]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=99-8 12:33]
[GRAPHIC=Star City Reopens]
The Star City Diner is back in business, after inspectors confirmed the Roanoke restaurant has corrected health code violations.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
The restaurant was closed Friday after inspectors found roaches, rotten food and other problems.
While the latest inspection revealed some minor concerns, health officials say the restaurant has corrected the most serious violations.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 26:54]
[IN Q=All the food is in good condition]
((KAREN CHAPLES/ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SUPERVISOR: ALL THE FOOD IS IN GOOD CONDITION. THE TEMPERATURES ARE GOOD. ALL THE CRITICAL VIOLATIONS ARE UNDER CONTROL. WE WILL LET THEM REOPEN.))
[SUPER=01-Karen Chaples/Environmental Health Supervisor;]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=let them reopen.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Restaurant employees have worked hard to bring the restaurant into compliance, and they're hopeful they can address the health inspectors' concerns on a continuing basis.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 30:40]
[IN Q=Not only to keep it open]
((LAURA BRUBAKER/RESTAURANT MANAGER: NOT ONLY TO KEEP IT OPEN, BUT TAKE IT TO A HIGHER LEVEL WHERE IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN FOR A LONG TIME. WE PLAN ON TAKING IT THERE, KEEPING IT THERE, BUILDING OUR BUSINESS AND JUST GETTING THINGS WHERE THEY NEED TO BE.))
[SUPER=01-Laura Brubaker/Restaurant Manager;]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=getting things where they need to be.]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[GRAPHIC=hold]
The Health Department is promising UN-ANNOUNCED inspections to insure that the restaurant remains in compliance, and officials are moving forward with a hearing in mid-march that could still revoke the restaurant's food permit.
[KURDS]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=MORNIN]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]
At several diplomatic missions in Europe, the protests go on involving Kurds angry over the arrest of a rebel leader by Turkey.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[super=03-London, United Kingdom;]
Police in London say about 40 demonstrators occupying the Greek embassy have begun a hunger strike. They also continue to hold a clerk hostage.
[SUPER=03-Berlin, Germany;]
Three demonstrators were shot and killed yesterday when they tried to storm the Israeli consulate in Berlin.
The protestors believe Israel helped Turkey capture Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
((BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER, "ISRAEL HAS NOTHING TO DO WHATSOEVER WITH THE APPREHENSION OF OCALAN."))
[SUPER=01-Benjamin Netanyahu/Israeli Prime Minister;]
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=APPREHENSION OF OCALAN.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Meanwhile, Turkey says European countries are paying for taking a soft line against the Kurds' independence fight.
Turkey intends to try Ocalan on terrorism charges for his role in a Kurd uprising that began in 19-84.
(------------)
[Health-Check]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=NET]
[GRAPHIC=Mornin Health Check]
In medical news, a dangerous bacteria may be immune to the last antibiotic used to fight it.
Mika Brzezinski has that story and more in this morning's Health check.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Mika Brzezinski/Reporting; :00 ]
[RUNS=1:14]
[OUT Q=CBS News, New York.]
(( A NEW STUDY QUESTIONS WHETHER GIVING GROWTH HORMONES TO SHORT BUT
OTHERWISE HEALTHY CHILDREN.. IS REALLY WORTH THE TIME AND EXPENSE.
VT=VO
((vo))
A REPORT IN TODAY'S NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE SHOWED THAT ON
AVERAGE... KIDS WHO TOOK GROWTH HORMONES ONLY GAINED ABOUT 2 INCHES IN
HEIGHT DURING A 10-YEAR PERIOD.
AND ABOUT 20-PERCENT DIDN'T GROW AT ALL.
EXPERTS SAY THEY'RE NOT SURE IF THE MODEST RESULTS JUSTIFY THE DAILY
INJECTIONS, OR THE HIGH PRICE TAG.
ONE YEAR OF GROWTH HORMONE THERAPY CAN COST AS MUCH AS 25-THOUSAND
DOLLARS.//
VT=VO
((vo))
HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE LOSING THE WAR AGAINST A BACTERIA KNOWN FOR
CAUSING -SOMETIMES- FATAL HOSPITAL INFECTIONS.
DOCTORS IN THE U-S AND JAPAN SAY STAPH BACTERIA ARE BECOMING
RESISTANT TO THE LAST ANTIBIOTIC NOW USED TO KILL THEM.
IN THE MOST RECENT CASES, DOCTORS WERE ABLE TO WIPE OUT THE
HIGHLY-RESISTANT STRAINS IN PATIENTS.. BY USING A COMBINATION OF DRUGS.//
VT=VO
((vo))
AND A TOMATO A DAY MAY KEEP THE DOCTOR AWAY.
A NEW STUDY FINDS THAT EATING LOTS OF TOMATOES--EITHER FRESH OR
COOKED IN DISHES--CAN LOWER THE RISK OF MANY TYPES OF CANCERS.
RESEARCHERS SAY A COMPOUND FOUND IN TOMATOES PROTECT CELLS FROM
CANCER-CAUSING AGENTS.//
AND THAT IS A LOOK AT TODAY'S MEDICAL NEWS.
I'M MIKA BRZEZINSKI, CBS NEWS, NEW YORK.))
(ad lib to weather)
[Two-Steve]
[ANCHOR=Steve]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=spa]
[TAPE#NONE]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]
[On Record]
[SUPER=15-Steve/Pardon;]
[SUPER=01-Pat Connolly/Three Time Olympian]
[Double Boxes=KMC & SPA]
(toss to Kimberly)
[2-HEADLINES]
[2-shot=Mel/Kmc]
[SUPER=#4049; Morning Headlines]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
Here's a look at today's top stories.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
More American warplanes are headed for Europe in case NATO decides to launch air strikes against Serbs if no Kosovo peace deal is reached.
Fifty-one more aircraft will go within 48 hours, including a dozen stealth fighter-bombers.
The order follows a Clinton administration warning of "swift and severe'' consequences if the Serbs continue to reject NATO peacekeepers in Kosovo.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
In Danville, police were in hot pursuit of a possible murder suspect when the man took his own life.
Police wanted to question Kenneth Thomas Bailey the second about a weekend murder.
Bailey was also wanted for escaping from a Danville mental hospital.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
It's expected that about 90-people will lose their jobs at the Radford arsenal.
Some of the layoffs are the result of the Arsenal losing out on a contract to a Canadian company.
(----------------)
[anchor=Kimberly]
And that's what's making news on this Thursday, February 18th.
[anchor=Melanie]
News 7 Mornin' will be right back.
[E-Danville-Chase]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=chu]
[TAPE#=98-81 1:07:22]
[GRAPHIC=Murder Investigation]
[****ANCHOR TAG*****]
A high speed chase in Danville ends with a crash, and a murder suspect taking his own life.
Police think the man who led them on the chase may be connected to a weekend murder in Danville.
Christy Hubley takes us to the scene.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The victim with the]
[SUPER=03-Danville/Last Night; :00]
[SUPER=03-Danville/Sunday; :17]
[SUPER=01-T. Neal Morris/Danville Police Chief; :33]
[SUPER=@Christy2; :40]
[RUNS=1:19]
[OUT Q=News 7, Danville.]
((The victim with a self-inflicted gunshot wound is Kenneth Thomas Bailey the Second.
Police say they had three warrents out for his arrest, including one for escaping from a Danville mental hospital.
But more recently, police were looking at Bailey in connection with a murder that happened last weekend.
The body of Anthony Broadnax was discovered Sunday morning in a Walker Street backyard.
Someone killed him with a single gunshot to the head.
Police believe the murderer then stole a car belonging to the victim's mother.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 2:17:08-:18]
[IN Q=We found that car]
((CHIEF MORRIS: WE FOUND THAT CAR IN THE COUNTY AND HAD THAT UNDER SURVEILANCE. THE INDIVIDUAL GOT IN THE CAR TOOK OFF BEFORE THEY COULD STOP HIM AND HE FLED INTO THE CITY WITH DEPUTIES IN PURSUIT.))
[RUNS :10]
[OUT Q=deputies in pursuit.]
The pursuit ended when the suspect ran a red light at the intersection of Piney Forest Road and the Franklin Turnpike and crashed head on into another vehicle, injuring the driver.
Police say the suspect got out of the stolen, now smashed car and took off running.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 2:17:26-:34]
[IN Q=When he was approached]
((CHIEF MORRIS: WHEN HE WAS APPROACHED BY AN OFF DUTY DEPUTY WHO THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A SIMPLE HIT AND RUN ACCIDENT, HE PUT THE GUN TO HIS HEAD AND SHOT HIMSELF.))
[RUNS :08]
[OUT Q=shot himself.]
This turn of events does not close the murder investigation.
Instead, it opens a whole new probe into the chase, the accident, and the suicide.
Christy Hubley, News 7, Danville.
(-------------)))
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=none]
The driver who was hit by Bailey during the police pursuit is Katherine Tosh.
She has been discharged from Danville Regional Medical Center.
[E-Radford-Arsenal]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=THa]
[TAPE#=99-4 41:10]
[GRAPHIC=Radford Arsenal Layoffs]
Some changes are in store at the Radford Arsenal.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Montgomery Co.]
It's expected that about 90-people will lose their jobs at the end of the work week.
50-of the layoffs are the result of the Arsenal losing out on a contract to a Canadian company.
Those workers make powder for tank ammunition.
The remaining 40-layoffs are NOT connected to the contract.
Arsenal officials say those layoffs had been in the works for sometime.
(-------------------)
[Dragging-death]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=mornin]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]
More testimony will be heard today.. in the trial of a white supremacist accused of dragging a black man to his death in Texas.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Jasper, TX;]
[4:05:29]
Yesterday, prosecutors pointed out dozens of racist tattoos scrawled on John King's body.. as proof of his guilt.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
(((GUY JAMES GRAY/DISTRICT ATTY) "THEY SHOW THE WAY THESE GUYS THINK. IF YOU'VE GOT A HANGING BLACK MAN ON YOUR ARM, YOU'RE MORE LIKELY TO COMMIT A CRIME AGAINST A BLACK MAN."))
[SUPER=01-Guy James Gray/District Attorney;]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=AGAINST A BLACK MAN.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Prosecutors also connected King to the murder scene.
They say James Byrd's blood was found on King's sandal.
And King's ex- girlfriend identified the sandal and told jurors she saw King and his co- defendants, in the pickup truck the night Byrd was murdered.
(------------)
[clinton]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=mornin]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The U-S beefs up its military presence across the Atlantic, in preparation for possible airstrikes against Serbia.
The Pentagon has ordered 51 warplanes to Europe.
The Clinton administration is warning Serb leaders that they face swift and severe consequences if they continue to reject NATO peacekeeping efforts.
Meantime, the President will be in New Hampshire today.. to discuss taxes.
Yesterday he tried to move his Social Security agenday forward as a judge in Little Rock weighed a possible contempt of citation against him.
Jonathan Freed reports.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Washington DC; :00]
[SUPER=01-Joe Lockhart/White House Press Secretary; :58]
[SUPER=01-Jonathan Freed/Reporting; 1:25]
[RUNS=1:37]
[OUT Q=CBS NEWS The White House]
((It was the President's first public event in Washington since the end of the impeachment trial...and since the First Lady admitted she may make a run for the Senate.
In a speech beamed to college campuses around the country, Mr. Clinton pushed his message of using the budget surplus to strengthen social security.
SOT 15:25:00 (CLINTON): SHOULD OUR PRIORITY BE TO SAVE SOCIAL SECURITY
AND MEDICARE AND HAVE TARGETED TAX RERLIEF TO HELP FAMILES...WHO NEED
MORE?
As the President tried to shift the Washington focus back to his national agenda...questions about the Paula Jones lawsuit refused to go away.
The federal judge in that case, Susan Webber Wright, is considering whether to hold the President in contempt of court...for providing misleading testimony in his now infamous deposition in January of last
year.
The White House was saying don't ask us, talk to the President's private lawyer, Robert Bennett.
SOT 13:22:35 (JOE LOCKHART/WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY): THIS IS AN
ISSUE THAT WILL COME BEFORE JUDGE WRIGHT...I'LL LEAVE IT TO MR. BENNETT.
But Bennett says he won't comment while the judge is deciding what to do.
SUPER: WASHINGTON, D.C./TUESDAY.
NATSOT: KYLE BROWNING NEWSER.
Meanwhile, another woman's case continues in court. Dolly Kyle Browning has been accusing the White House of interfering with her trying to publish a book claiming that she and Mr. Clinton had a long, secret
relationship.
STAND-UP (JONATHAN FREED/CBS NEWS): IF THE PRESIDENT IS HELD IN
CONTEMPT, HE COULD FACE PENALTIES COULD INCLUDE A REPRIMAND, A FINE, OR
LOSING HIS LAW LICENSE. J-F...WHITE HOUSE.))
[Three-Steve]
[ANCHOR=Steve]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=spa]
[TAPE#NONE]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]
[On Record]
[SUPER=15-Steve/Pardon;]
[SUPER=01-Pat Connolly/Three Time Olympian]
[double Boxes=SPA & MEL]
(toss to Melanie)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=None]
(ad lib toss to bump)
[BUMP-Chyron]
[COMM #6]
((Archive:Olympics))
[E-Elton-Watch]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=eea]
[TAPE#=99-10 TC12:22]
[GRAPHIC=Elton John]
Elton John won't be in town until tomorrow, but workers began setting the stage for his concert last night.
Eric Earnhart has more.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It looks like the international]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]
[SUPER=@Eric1; :52]
[RUNS=1:44]
[OUT Q=EE, News 7]
((It looks something like the international space station, waiting on the pad... but this network of steel, wires and computerized parts only has to rise 30 feet to launch the Rocket Man into orbit at the Roanoke civic center.
(natsot?)
Roadies hit town a day early because this is a new arena for them... and this is a new SHOW... They say Elton has only performed in this intimate piano-only setting once before... and he liked it, so he decided to try it again here.
A glittering semi-circle of lights hovers over the spot where that piano will stand... IT's not here... the roadies say Elton carries it with him...
[SOT 01:46:08]
[IN Q=you always travel]
((ROADIE; YOU ALWAYS TRAVEL WITH YOUR OWN, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO YOU ARE, ANY MUSICIAN YOU TRAVEL WITH YOUR OWN HORN, YOUR OWN DRUM... ))
[RUNS 08]
[OUT Q=your own drum]
(concert natsot)
(02:09:00
standup)
So since it's a one man, one piano show, you may be wondering what happens if disaster strikes, and something goes wrong with the piano? Well just like Jeff Gordon would never travel without a spare race car, Elton John has a spare piano, it's stored in an undisclosed location, and in the event of an extreme emergency , it will be airlifted to Roanoke.
But even in the best of circumstances, this concert presents a challenge... how do you transform a hockey arena, into an intimate evening with Elton?
The key is in the lighting....
[SOT 02:04:04]
[IN Q=a lot of our]
((LIGHT DESIGNER; A LOT OF OUR INTERPRETATIONS OF WHAT THE MUSIC SOUNDS LIKE, WE TRY TO MAKE IT LOOK LIKE THAT SOUND, AND A LOT OF TIMES WE'LL ACTUALLY TAKE IT LITERALLY, IF THE LYRIC SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT BLUE, ALL OF A SUDDEN THINGS WILL GO A LITTLE BIT BLUE AND GIVE YOU THAT SENSATION.))
[RUNS 21]
[OUT Q=that sensation]
Another important rule he says... the lights should NEVER outshine the star.... though, there's not much danger of THAT happening in this show.
In Roanoke, Eric Earnhart, News 7 ))
[Baker]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Tommy Baker]
Pulaski County Republican Tommy Baker has served in the House of Delegates since 1990.
Now, sources close to Baker say he will NOT seek re-election this fall.
Baker is NOT commenting publicly.
But he did tell Republicans this week he's interested in a judicial opening on the Virginia Court of Appeals.
In a chamber evenly divided along party lines, the balance of power could be affected if Baker steps down.
[TAKE VO HERE]
[Harrison]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=11p]
[WRITER=djo]
[TAPE#=99-1 36:34]
[GRAPHIC=TAKE TAKE TAKE]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]
Fenton "Spike" Harrison says he hasn't finished what he helped start, so yesterday the Democrat announced he's running for re-election.
Harrison wants to help Roanoke County continue to make strides in economic development, regional cooperation and school construction.
He represents the Catawba District on the County's board of supervisors.
(-------------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Harrison will be challenged in November by republican Joe "Butch" Church.
[3-Sports]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=ssa]
[TAPE#=sports cut in]
[GRAPHIC=None]
In sports, Radford gets ready to head into the Big South tournament on a high note.
Roy Stanley has details.
Good Morning Roy.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Good morning]
[RUNS=2:05]
[OUT Q=day everybody.]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
(weather toss)
[Local-Recap]
[SUPER=#4059;Local Recap]
[2-Shot=Mel/Kmc]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
Now here's another look at today's top local stories:
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
A suspect in the weekend murder in Danville led police on a high speed chase before taking his own life last night.
Police say Kenneth Thomas Bailey the Second was spotted in Pittsylvania County in a car belonging to the murder victim's mother.
The chase ended in Danville near the intersection of Piney Forest Road and the Franklin Turnpike when Bailey crashed head on into another vehicle.
When a deputy approached, he shot himself in the head.
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[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
A year after a 14-month old baby died while in her care, a Bedford County baby sitter faces manslaughter charges.
The day it happened Sonja Hickson told police the little girl had fallen over backwards in her chair and struck her head on the floor.
But the severity of the girl's injuries made authorities suspicious.
The charge could be upgraded to murder.
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[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
The stage is in place, now they're just waiting for Elton John and his piano to arrive.
Roadies hit town a day early because this is a new arena for them and it's a new show.
Elton John takes the stage tomorrow night.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
(Kimberly mic hot)
(///////////////)
[2 shot=Mel/Kmc]
(Kimberly ad lib weather)
(-------------)
[Double Boxes=Melanie/Kimberly and Steve]
(toss)
[ANCHOR=Steve]
(live ad lib, tease tomorrow)
(ad lib bye)
[Double Boxes=Melanie/Kimberly and Steve]
by SS