[Headlines]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]

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

Rescue teams in austria are digging through mountains of snow this morning.. searching for survivors of a massive avalanche.

(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

And Death, or life behind bars. That's the choice a Texas jury is facing, now that it's found John William King guilty of dragging James Byrd Junior to his death behind a pickup truck.
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]


A fairly light blanket of snow is covering the area this morning, with more snow showers likely tonight.
Details on this latest round of wintry weather, coming up. [2-shot]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]


[E-Snow]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=THa]
[TAPE#=98-74 1:59:24]
[GRAPHIC=Snow Returns]


Although many areas saw minor snowfall it was enough to cause a few problems in Montgomery County.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;]


Snow and freezing temperatures made driving conditions treacherous.
Route 460 in Blacksburg was one trouble spot.
Police say the driver of this S-U-V lost control after hitting a slick spot below an overpass.
It also proved to be a trouble spot for other motorists, too.
No one was seriously injured.
(------------)






[Avalanche]


[ANCHOR=kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morning]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]


A frantic rescue effort is under way in the Austrian Alps where workers are trying to save more than 30 people believed buried under tons of snow.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Landeck, Austria;]


Dozens of people are still missing and at least nine people died after the slowslide swept over the small town of Galtuer(gawl-TUR').
Officials hope some of the missing are still alive.. trapped in buried houses.
Avalanche rescue units are being flown to the village by helicopter because the main road is blocked by an earlier avalanche.
The latest avalanche is one of the worst this winter in Central Europe, which continues to endure its heaviest snowfall in 50 years.
(------------)


[Dragging-death]


[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=morning]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]


Jurors in Jasper, Texas consider the fate of convicted killer John William King today.
They needed just two hours yesterday to reach a GUILTY verdict for King, one of three men accused of dragging James Byrd Junior to death by chaining him to the back of a pickup truck.
Jurors must decide whether King will spend the rest of his life in jail or is executed for the grisly crime that shocked the nation.
Andrew Colton reports on the verdict and reaction.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]

[4:02:52]
[SUPER=01-03-Jasper, TX; ]
[SUPER=01-Guy James/Prosecutor;]
[SUPER=01-Ross Byrd/Bryd's son;]
[SUPER=01-Mary Verrett/Byrd's sister;]
[SUPER=01-Andrew Colton/Reporting;]



[RUNS=1:34]
[OUT Q=CBS NEWS JASPER, TX.]

(
LOCATOR: JASPER, TX

IT TOOK THE JASPER JURY JUST UNDER TWO HOURS TO DECIDE THAT JOHN
WILLIAM KING DID MURDER JAMES BYRD.

(NAT SOT OF VERDICT)



IN FIVE DAYS OF TESTIMONY, PROSECUTORS TOLD JURORS THAT KING AND TWO
CO-DEFENDANTS CHAINED BYRD TO THE BACK OF A PICKUP TRUCK, THEN
DRAGGED HIM MORE THAN THREE MILES ON A BACK COUNTRY ROAD . . . UNTIL
HIS LIMBS WERE SEVERED FROM HIS TORSO, AND HIS HEAD WAS DECAPITATED.
.
IN COURT, PROSECUTORS SAID THAT KING DID THIS TO GAIN ATTENTION AMONG
WHITE SUPREMACISTS. THEY SHOWED HIS RACIST TATTOOS, AND REVEALED HIS
PLAN TO START A WHITE SUPREMACIST GROUP.

(SOT: GUY JAMES GRAY/PROSECUTOR)



IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE VERDICT, POLICE TOOK TO THE STREETS TO KEEP
PEACE. TOWN LEADERS FEARED REPEAT DEMONSTRATIONS FROM THE KU KLUX
KLAN OR BLACK PANTHERS.

BYRD'S SON SAID THE DECISION WAS JUST.

(SOT: ROSS BYRD/BYRD'S SON)
(sot: MARY VERRETT/BYRD'S SISTER



ANDREW COLTON/STANDUP:))[E-Rowe-Furniture]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=djo]
[TAPE#=99-4 45:48]
[GRAPHIC=Rowe Furniture]

The Rowe Furniture company is moving. After 53-years and 22-additions, The company has outgrown its Salem plant.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem;]

The furniture maker announced plans yesterday to move most of its operations to Montgomery County. Only the plant's furniture frame manufacturing will remain in the Salem facility. Officials say it's good news for the company, its employees and stockholders.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT=14:53:31]
[IN Q=WE WERE REALLY]

((STEVE SHELOR/ROWE SPOKESMAN; WE WERE REALLY EXCITED TO RELEASE......PUTTING OUR MONEY WHERE OUR MOUTH IS.))
[SUPER=01-Steve Shelor/Rowe Spokesman;]
[RUNS=17]
[OUT Q=WHERE OUR MOUTH IS.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

170-jobs will be added to the furniture maker's workforce of more than five-hundred. Officials expect to begin production in the 15-million dollar facility by the first of the new year.
(------------)




[E-General-Assembly]


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


State lawmakers beat a midnight deadline and came through with a budget compromise to spend 275- Million dollars in lottery profits on schools.
Half of that money will go to schools with no strings attached, the other half will be restricted to school construction and other specified needs.
The issue was considered the biggest obstacle for General Assembly budget negotiators trying to beat the clock.

[E-Civic-Center]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=vvo]
[TAPE#=98-81 27:33]
[GRAPHIC=NONE]


Some people who could not get tickets to last weekends elton John concert complained about the ticket lottery system-
Despite the criticism- the Roanoke Civic Center will continue to use the system- for major events.
(-----------)
[VO-NAT tape 98-81 25:58]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/ January 8]


It's the wristband number system.
Workers draw one number to determine who gets the first place in line when tickets go on sale.
Organizers claim it helps prevent fighting to get to the front.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT ub 12:21:08]
[IN Q= when you have;]
[SUPER=01-Robyn Schon/Marketing Director;]

((WHEN YOU HAVE SUCH HIGH DEMAND AND LITTLE SUPPLY: 10-THOUSAND 5-HUNDRED TICKETS BASICALLY, AND 40-THOUSAND PEOPLE WANTING TO SEE THE CONCERT, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE FIGHTING TO BE IN FRONT OF THE LINE. SO THIS WAS AN ORGANIZED WAY FOR US TO SELL TICKETS AND DISTRIBUTE THOSE TICKETS.))
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q= distribute those tickets;]
[ANCHOR=]
[GRAPHIC=none]


As for complaints that the eight-ticket limit was too high, civic center officials say that's a decision made by concert promoters.

[E-County-Supers]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=98-83 55:21]
[GRAPHIC=Roanoke County Schools]


The vote is still a month away, but it now appears a majority of the Roanoke County Supervisors will support construction of a new high school on the Woods End site.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./File Tape;]


The School Board has requested a special use permit for the property. Yesterday, the supervisors advanced the project to the Planning Commission.
Though some of the supervisors had favored property on Merriman Road, it now appears a majority will approve the school board's plan.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 12:17:18]
[IN Q=I think if you don't at this particular stage]

((I THINK IF YOU DON'T AT THIS PARTICULAR STAGE, THEN YOU WOULD BE VOTING AGAINST A NEW HIGH SCHOOL IN SOUTHWEST COUNTY, BECAUSE I DON'T SEE ANY ALTERNATIVE SITES AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME.))
[SUPER=@Johnson]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=at this particular time.]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[GRAPHIC=none]


The county will hold a community meeting on the school project tonight at Cave Spring Junior High. The Planning Commission will consider the issue on Tuesday, and it will be back on the Supervisors' agenda March 23rd.

[E-School-Bond]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=98-82 1:02:12]
[GRAPHIC=None]


The vote over whether Danville schools should receive a bond worth millions is off the ballot, for now.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

[99-9 23:11]
[SUPER=03-Danville/Monday;]


Monday night supporters of the school bond referendum told the public that 36-Million dollars
[super=03-Danville]

is needed to improve and build city schools.
Now the city attorney says a deadline for announcing the referendum wasn't met.
(------------)
[anchor=Kimberly]
[graphic=none]

Legal notice of the vote was published in an area newspaper only 9 days before the scheduled vote.
The law requires at least a 10-day notice.
A special council meeting takes place today to address the problem.



[Health-Check]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=NET]
[GRAPHIC=Mornin Health Check]


In medical news, a new breakthrough for infertile women and a surgery will be performed today on the world wide web.


Mika Brzezinski has that story and more in this morning's Health check.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Mika Brzezinski/Reporting; :00 ]
[RUNS=1:15]
[OUT Q=CBS News, New York.]
(MIKA)
(( ONCAM=MIKA


IN WHAT COULD BE A MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH FOR SOME INFERTILE WOMAN.. DOCTORS IN NEW YORK HAVE RE-IMPLANTED A WOMAN'S OWN FROZEN OVARIAN TISSUES.
----VO----
VT=VO


THE EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE COULD HELP THOUSANDS OF WOMEN WHO PREMATURELEY LOST THEIR REPRODUCTIVE FUNCTIONS OR WHO SUFFER FROM PRE-MATURE MENOPAUSE.
SO FAR, THE PROGNOSIS IS GOOD FOR THE ARIZONA WOMAN WHO HAD THE SURGERY LAST WEEK.
DOCTORS SAY HER BEST CASE SCENARIO WOULD BE THE RETURN OF NORMAL MONTHLY MENSTRUAL CYCLES.
----VO----
VT=VO


THE RATE OF BREAST CANCER DETECTION COULD BE TIED TO THE TYPE OF HEALTH INSURANCE WOMAN HAVE.
A NEW STUDY FOUND CERTAIN H-M-O-S TO BE INSTRUMENTAL IN DETECTING AND TREATING BREAST CANCER AT AN EARLY STAGE.
MANY H-M-O'S AGGRESSIVELY PROMOTE ROUTINE SCREENING EXAMS SUCH AS MAMMOGRAMS.. AND RESEARCHERS SAY THAT IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE.
(MIKA)
ONCAM=MIKA


AND THE NEXT GENERATION OF SURGERY WILL BE AVAILABLE LATER TODAY FOR A SELECTED FEW ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB. A DOCTOR IN WASHINGTON, D.C. WILL ASSIST IN SURGERY BEING PERFORMED IN OHIO.
THE 300 MILE SUPER FAST INTERNET LINK WILL INCLUDE VIDEO FROM A CAMERA IN THE PATIENT'S STOMACH.
DOCTORS HOPE THIS EMERGING TECHNOLOGY WILL SOMEDAY PERMIT ROBOTIC SURGERY FROM REMOTE LOCATIONS.
THAT'S A LOOK AT TODAY'S MEDICAL NEWS. I'M MIKA BRZEZINSKI, CBS NEWS, NEW YORK.))


(ad lib to weather)

[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]


It's being called the worst avalanche disaster in the Austrian Alps since World War Two.
Yesterday a wall of snow crashed through a small village, killing at least nine people.
A frantic search continues for 32 people believed buried in the snow and rubble.

(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Kim]

A Jasper, Texas, jury returns in the morning to debate whether John William King should die, or spend the rest of his life behind bars. Tuesday the same panel found King guilty of chaining James Byrd Junior to a pickup truck and dragging him to his death.

(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]


And Violence continues in Kosovo -- even as peace talks in France adjourn until next month. The Serbs agreed in principle to give limited self-rule to majority ethnic Albanians in Kosovo but still refuse to accept NATO peacekeepers.


(----------------)
[anchor=Kimberly]


And that's what's making news on this Wednesday, February 25th..
[anchor=Melanie]


News 7 Mornin' will be right back.




[E-Floyd-Fatal]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=THa]
[TAPE#=98-76 1:56:20]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]


The winter weather was to blame for a fatal accident in Floyd.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Floyd Co.]


90- year Ora Lee Phillips died yesterday when the car she was riding in crashed on Route 221, just outside the town of Floyd.
State police say Phillips' daughter, Eunice Perdue, was behind the wheel.
She reportedly told state police she lost control on the slick roads and crossed into the path of a van.
(------------)




[kosovo]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]


The bloodshed in Kosovo goes on...despite a partial deal at the now concluded peace talks outside Paris.
After 17 days of intense negotiations, the Serbs agreed yesterday to give limited self-rule to ethinc albanians in Kosovo.
In turn, NATO has shelved plans to bomb Serb targets.
More peace talks are scheduled for mid-march.
Jonathan Freed reports.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]

[4:06:38]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-03-Kosovo, Yogoslavia/Tuesday; :00]
[SUPER=03-Rambouillet, France; :16]
[SUPER=01-Madeleine Albright/Secretary of State; :31]
[SUPER=03-Washington DC; :48]
[SUPER=01-Sen. Trent Lott/Majority Leader; 1:11]
[SUPER=01-Jonathan Freed/Reporting; 1:21]
[RUNS=1:30]
[OUT Q=cbs News, Washington.]

((
Information: LOCATOR: KOSOVO, YUGOSLAVIA/TUESDAY.

NATSOT: VIOLENCE.


Gunshots were still echoing in Kosovo as word spread from the peace talks in France...that the ethnic-Albanians had agreed to a deal in principle...trying to stop a year of bloody battles with the Yugoslavian Serbs.
Both sides will return to a new round of negotiations in mid-March. Between now and then, the Kosovars will consult their people...and pressure will increase on the Serbs to allow the deployment of a NATO peacekeeping force...including 4-thousand Americans.
LOCATOR: RAMBOUILLET, FRANCE.

SOT (MADELEINE ALBRIGHT/SECRETARY OF STATE): WE WILL LEAVE RAMBOUILLET

WITH SOMETHING THAT MONTHS OF SHUTTLE NEGOTIATIONS AND YEARS OF INTERNATIONAL CONCERN HAD NOT ACHIEVED: A VIABLE PLAN FOR AUTONOMY AND DEMOCRACY IN KOSOVO THROUGH AN INTERIM POLITICAL SETTLEMENT.
LOCATOR: THE WHITE HOUSE.

NATSOT: PHOTO-OP FLASHES.


At the White House, the President was meeting with the Congressional leadership...the first time he had sat down with the G-O-P in a year and a half. It was meant to help move beyond impeachment.
Mr. Clinton sent a message to the Kosovars and the Serbs.

SOT (CLINTON): THEY'VE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS AND THEY DON'T NEED TO LET

THIS THING GET AWAY FROM THEM.
Following the meeting, the Republicans were asked if they felt they could trust the President after the Lewinsky scandal.

SOT (SEN. TRENT LOTT/MAJORITY LEADER/R-MS.): I'll TELL YOU WHAT I TRUST.

I TRUST THE ABILITY OF THE PEOPLE HERE IN THE CONGRESS, IN THE GOVERNMENT, TO WORK TOGETHER AND TO DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO FOR THE PEOPLE.
STAND-UP (JONATHAN FREED/CBS NEWS): ASIDE FROM KOSOVO, THE LAWMAKERS AND THE PRESIDENT ALSO DISCUSSED EACH OTHER'S PLANS FOR THE BUDGET SURPLUS. J-F...WASHINGTON.))

[E-XGR-Wrap]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=99-1 43:53]
[GRAPHIC=Vistar-Legislature]


Salem eye doctors fighting for their own surgery center are not getting support from Richmond.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem/1998]


Vistar Eye Clinic will NOT get legislative help to open an eye surgery center outside of Carilion.
[SUPER=03-Richmond;]


That's despite a passionate plea from Botetourt's state senator.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 13:28:33]
[IN Q=Are we going]

((SEN. BO TRUMBO/R-FINCASTLE: ARE WE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE DEEP, DARK RECESSES OF THIS BUREAUCRACY AND SAY LADIES AND GENTLEMEN WAKE UP? NO!))
[SOT 13:32:46]

((SEN. TOMMY NORMENT/R-WILLIAMSBURG: WILL THAT FACILITY TREAT HYPERVENTILATION? trumbo laughs))
[SUPER=@Trumbo; :00 ]
[SUPER=01-Sen. Tommy Norment/(R) Williamsburg; :11]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=laughs]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Another local issue... the Character Counts program that teaches values to kids at Roanoke's Fallon Park Elementary School got House okay to be a model for other state schools.
And southwest cattle farmers won one in the House.
The Delegates voted to place a bounty on the heads of coyotes.
About 28- hundred coyotes are now legally killed each year in Virginia.
The bounty would pay hunters to do the job.
(------------)




[E-Animal-Bills]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=98-78 1:20:17]
[GRAPHIC=Animal Bills]


In the dog-eat-dog world of the Virginia State Capitol, some very Fido-friendly measures are making their way into law.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Yesterday, a bill to stiffen the penalties for animal cruelty got final legislative approval.
The link to human violence has made more lawmakers pro-animal rights.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[sot tape animal bills 14:05:07 ]

((ALVINA PITCHES/VIRGINIA FED. OF HUMANE SOCIETIES: MOST OF YOUR SERIAL KILLERS, FROM JEFFREY DAHMER TO CHILD ABUSERS AND OTHER CRIMINALS, THEY HAVE A PREVIOUS HISTORY OF ABUSE TO ANIMALS. AND ALL THE RECENT SCHOOL SHOOTINGS, THE CHILDREN INVOLVED IN THOSE CASES-- AT LEAST ONE INVOLVED IN EACH CASE WAS INVOLVED WITH ANIMAL CRUELTY IN THE PAST.))
[sot tape animal bills 16:42:39 ]

((SEN. RUSS POTTS/R-WINCHESTER: I'M AN ACTIVE ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVIST. BECAUSE I BELIEVE STRONGLY THAT WE MUST PROTECT ALL OF GOD'S CHILDREN AND ALL OF GOD'S ANIMALS.))
[SUPER=01-Alvina Pitches/Virginia Fed. of Humane Societies; :00]
[SUPER=01-Sen. Russ Potts/(R) Winchester; :19]
[RUNS=:29]
[OUT Q=God's animals.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Also among the animal-friendly measures: -- a bill that would ban the sale of domestic pet fur in Virginia, -- a bill to study improving animal shelters -- and a bill to make it easier to prosecute people who set up dog fights.
(------------)




[Finn]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]


The fight to award Michelle Finn legal fees continues.
State Legislators have revived a 48-thousand dollar payment to Finn who fought Governor Gilmore in court over her right to let her husband die.
(------------)
[VO-NAT 98-74 TC 1:49:34]
[SUPER=03-Richmond;]


Last Week, The House Claims Committee rejected a bill to pay the money to Finn.
But Last night, House and Senate budget negotiators restored the money while working out a compromise spending package. Since the money can't be stripped from the budget in a floor amendment, Governor Gilmore will have to use his line-item veto to prevent paying Finn.
(------------)
[Anchor=Melanie]
[ss=none]


Hugh Finn died in a Mannasas nursing home last October after Gilmore sued to try to keep the man's feeding tube

from being removed.[Mexico-J]


[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=sgo]
[TAPE#=98-77 TC 1:49:57]
[GRAPHIC=Going South-4735]


It's a place where they can visit the doctor, have someone watch their kids while they work, and socialize in a cafeteria with good prices on food.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Matamoros, Mexico;]


It's a Mexican sewing plant where they're doing the sort of work that used to be done in Southwest Virginia.
A job here is a step up the economic ladder for people who might otherwise work out in the fields.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT novalink 1:47:09]
[IN Q=these kids]

((BILL WOLFE: THESE KIDS BRING TO THE PICTURE EVERY DAY A SENSE OF MOTIVATION, DESIRE AND HUNGER TO LEARN THAT'S PRETTY OVERWHELMING.))
[SUPER=01-]
[RUNS=07]
[OUT Q=OVERWHELMING]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


The man who manages this Mexican factory said his employees have a "great work ethic" --
Even if some are only earning seven dollars a day. Tonight, we'll show you how someone lives making so little money. [take still store -- TONIGHT--4738]
It's part of our ongoing look at the apparel industry called "Going South."
Watch it tonight on News-7 at six.
(------------)


[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]

The Rowe Furniture plant is moving most of it's operations from Salem to Montogomery County.
After 53 years and 22 additions the company has outgrown the Salem plant.
The Plant's furniture frame manufactoring will remain in Salem.
170 new jobs will be added to the company's workforce.
Official expect to begin production on the new facility by the first of the year.

(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]


Even though the vote is a month away It looks like a majority of Roanoke County Supervisiors will support the construction of a new High School on the Woods End Site.
Yesterday the supervisors advanced the project to the planning commision.
Roanoke County will hold a community meeting on the school project tonight at Cave Spring Junior High.

(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]


The Roanoke Civic Center says they will continue to use the lottery system to sell tickets for major events despite complaints.
It is called the wristband number system.
Workers draw one number to determine who gets the first place in line when tickets go on sale.
Organizers claim it helps prevent fighting to get to the front.

(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
(Kimberly mic hot)
(///////////////)
[2 shot=Mel/Kmc]
(Kimberly ad lib weather)
(-------------)

(ad lib bye) [Double Boxes=Melanie/Kimberly ]
by SS