[HEADLINES]
[TALENT=Melanie]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
A late winter storm is covering much of the state with snow, forcing schools to close and causing a slushy commute to work.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
Before it traveled our way the winter storm left behind several inches of snow in the midwest forcing delays at some major airports.
(/////////////)
[TALENT=Patrick]
[SS=None]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=None]
News 7 at noon is next.
[Video-Open]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
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[LIVE=MICROWAVE From Roanoke]
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke]
An early morning blast of snow brings delays and cancellations.
As you can see, it's tapered off for now.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=News 7 at Noon]
Good afternoon, I'm Melanie Moon.
[SS=Winter Weather]
We'll have all the latest information, including tonight's school closings, over the next few minutes.
But first, let's check in with Patrick Evans for the latest forecast details.
[CK=Full][WX-One]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]
(Melanie tosses to Patrick in CK)
[Patrick in Chroma Key with WX-Pro]
[DOUBLE BOXES=Patrick and Scott/Microwave]
(adlib toss to Scott)
[PM-Snow]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=sgo]
[TAPE#99-12 TC09:08 ]
[GRAPHIC=None]
(ad lib toss to Scott)
[Double Boxes=Patrick and Scott/Microwave]
[Live=Scott Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=@Scott1;]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke;]
( ad lib)
(Rollcue:some delays)
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[SOT]
[IN Q=Anytime]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
[SUPER=01-Colleen Campbell/Delayed Traveler; :07]
[SUPER=01-Jacqueline Shuck/Roanoke Airport Director; :33]
[RUNS=:40]
[OUT Q=thunderstorms.]
(XXXXXXXX)
[TAKE V-DOT Board FULL]
[CHANGE to VALLEY METRO]
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[Live=Scott Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke;]
( ad lib)
[Double Boxes=Scott and Teresa/Microwave]
[NRV-Snow]
[ANCHOR=scott]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=THa]
[TAPE#99-83 TC1:11:07]
[GRAPHIC=None]
(ad lib toss to Teresa)
[Double Boxes=Scott and Teresa/Microwave]
(ad lib)
[Live= Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=@Teresa1;]
[SUPER=05-Blacksburg;]
Scott, the interstates and primary roads are in good shape right now from Blacksburg into Carroll and Wythe counties.
But earlier this morning they were snow covered and, in some spots, definetly slick.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=It was early]
[SUPER=03-Montgomery Co.; :00]
[SUPER=01-Sgt. T. P. Knowlton/State Police; :43 ]
[RUNS=:55]
[OUT Q=down more.]
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(( It was early this morning that this latest snow storm made an appearance in the New River Valley.
By seven o'clock the ground was covered and the roadways, both primary and secondary, were becoming slick.
V-DOT and other road crews were out early spreading chemicals and clearing as many roads, as possible.
(nat sound)
[runs2]
State police and local sheriff's departments report no serious injuries.
But there were some minor fender benders....
Around nine-fifteen a tractor trailer jack-knicked on Interstate 81, between Radford and Christiansburg, blocking the north bound lane.
No one was seriously injured but the accident backed up traffic for several miles.
[in q=Just a (9:44:33) ]
((SGT. T. P. KNOWLTON/VA STATE POLICE: JUST A LITTLE BIT OF PRECIPITATION CAN MAKE IT SLICK.....DOWN MORE.))
[RUNS14]
[OUT Q=down more.]))
[Live=Teresa Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Blacksburg;]
( ad lib)
[Double Boxes=Teresa and Melanie/Microwave]
[Schoolwatch]
[ANCHOR=MElanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=School Info]
We do have some school information to pass along to you this afternoon.
(XXXXXXXXX)
[SCHOOLWATCH FULL SCREEN]
(ad lib boards)
(------------)
[NTL-WX]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Winter Weather]
In Minnesota their used to lots of snow in Minnesota, so you know things are bad when the Twin Cities International
Airport shuts down.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Minneapolis, MN;]
[4:11:42]
Nearly a foot of snow fell on the Minneapolis- St. Paul area last night.
It was coming down so fast-- snow plows just couldn't keep up so all three runways were closed for close to 30 minutes.
But this afternoon the runways are open again.
[super=03-Chicago, IL;]
[4:10:10]
The windy city is living up to its name.
The snow hasn't been FALLING on Chicago , it's been BLOWING in, on 30 mile an hour winds.
And more of the white stuff is in the forecast.
[SUPER=03-Des Moines, IA;]
[4:09:10]
And Some 200 miles of main roads in Des Moines, Iowa had to be cleared after some 10 inches of snow fell.
(------------)
[tease1]
[HARD MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
Another Republican throws his hat in the ring.
Find out who's the latest candidate for President when News-7 at Noon.
(--------------)
[VO-NAT ]
And a major cigarette-maker is selling it's international tobacco business.
That story is next... stay with us.
(---------------)
[music up full]
[comm1]
[RJ-Reynolds]
[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Tobacco]
A big announcement from R-J Reynolds.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=@File;]
[10:07]
It has reportedly signed an agreement to sell its international tobacco business to a Japanese company for eight billion dollars.
Under the plan R-J-R will separate its domestic tobacco businees, R-J Reynolds Tobacco from its Nabisco food operations.
Japan Tobacco will get the international businesses and rights to Camel, Winston and Salem.
(------------)
[Sony]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Layoffs]
Sony is cutting 17-thousand jobs, ten percent of its workforce.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Tokyo, Japan;]
[7:31:12]
The layoffs will take place over the next four years as part of sweeping organisational reform.
Sony is the latest multi-national Japanese corporation to slash its workforce.
Sony will also eliminate 15 manufacturing facilities around the world, leaving it with 55 by 2003.
(------------)
[Clinton]
[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Bill Clinton]
President Clinton's Central American tour has taken him to Honduras today.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-San Salvador, El Salvador;]
[4:02:26]
Last night, in El Salvador Mr. Clinton congratulated that country's leader on the progress being made in the aftermath of Hurricane Mitch.
He also pledged more aid.
The U-S has a spent more than 300 million and the President has asked Congress for another 965-million to aid in the region's reconstruction.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=WE COME TO SEE WHAT WE ...]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=have been subject]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The President also plans to visit Guatemala.
Hurricane Mitch killed at least 9-thousand in the region, left millions homeless and devastated crops.
(------------)
[LAMAR]
[ANCHOR=MELANIE]
[NEWSCAST=NOON]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Republican Lamar Alexander is home in Tennessee to formally announce what everyone already
knows: he's running for president again.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Nashville, TN;]
[10:02:35]
He made the formal announcement this morning at the Capitol in Nashville, where he served two terms as Tennessee's governor.
Alexander served as President George Bush's education secretary.
Most polls show that Bush's son, George -- who is governor of Texas-- is the odds-on favorite to be the G-O-P presidential nominee.
(------------)
[Sweepstakes]
[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The 'prize patrol' has made a detour today -- to Capitol Hill.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Stanton, CA;]
The folks who send you all those sweepstakes mailings that suggest you're already a winner are appearing before a Senate panel today, defending their practices.
Yesterday, witnesses testified about elderly family members squandering their savings on the mail-in contests.
But companies say most people understand that no purchase is necessary.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
(( LILLIAN HOLLIDAY/SWEEPSTAKES LOSER THE WAY ITS WORDED IT SAYS NO PURCHASE NECESSARY, BUT YOU KNOW AND I KNOW THAT IF YOU DONT PURCHASE YOU GET NOTHING AND IF YOU DO PURCHASE YOU MIGHT GET SOMETHING. ))
[SUPER=01-Lillian Holliday/Sweepstakes Loser;]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=you might get something.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Having heard so many horror stories, some members of Congress think its time for the first Federal Legislation aimed at regulating sweepstakes.
The proposal now before lawmakers would prohibit mailings that suggest a purchase will give you a better shot at winning and would requre sweepstakes to tell you no purchase is necessary.
(------------)
[Tease2]
[SOFT MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
The bad weather has forced the Express to cancel tonight's game.
More on that in sports.
(-----------------)
[VO-NAT ]
And we'll see a forty foot monument to Barbie's 40-th birthday.
(-----------------)
[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #2]
[Greenbrier-Gambling]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=99-2 TC48:00]
[GRAPHIC=Greenbrier Gambling]
The movement to bring gambling to the Greenbrier has passed another hurdle.
Last night, the West Virginia House Judiciary committee passed legislation to allow gambling if it's approved by voters.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Wh. Sulphur Springs, WV/File Tape]
The resort in White Sulphur Springs has been pushing the bill for six years.
Owners say a casino would boost its ability to compete with other top resorts. Opponents say it contributes to gambling problems.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=HOLD!!!!]
The full house must approve the measure by Saturday.
[Barbie-40ft]
[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]
The world's best selling doll hits the big four-oh today.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Melbourne, Australia;]
[9:05:02]
And in honor of the big day the Australian City of Melbourne unveiled a 40 foot statue of Barbie.
The massive sculputre marks the start of a whole year of celebrations of four decades of Barbie.
The occasion is being celebrated throughout the world, and the commemorations will include an official Barbie stamp issued by the U-S Postal Service.
Barbie rings up some two billion dollars in sales every year.
(------------)
[Stocks]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE# none]
[GRAPHIC=stocks]
On Wall Street at Noon, the Dow was UP 57 points.
[tease3]
[SPORTS MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
Still ahead in sports, if you were planning on attending tonight's Express game, you'll have to change your plans.
Details on that straight ahead.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
And you won't catch Gretna's Tony Womack running the bases in Arizona any time soon.
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[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #3]
[Express]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-36]
[GRAPHIC=Express/Checkers]
The Weather is also playing havoc with sports as the Express and the Charlotte Checkers found out about two hours ago.
Steve Mason caught up with Express Head coach Scott Gordon this morning.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=first audio]
[SUPER=@Steve1; :00]
[SUPER=01-Scott Gordon/Express Head Coach; :25]
[RUNS=:55]
[OUT Q=...back to the studio]
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[NCAA]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=ssa]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=NCAA]
Saying the practice is unfair to blacks, a federal judge has ruled the N-C-A-A cannot use a minimum test score to keep student-athletes from playing college sports.
Buckwalter says the practice, commonly known as Proposition 16, is unfair to blacks.
He cites the N-C-A-A's own research showing the practice harmed black students' chances of being declared academically eligible.
Until this point, the organization has required incoming freshmen athletes to score a minimum of 8-20 on the S-A-T's.
[Winthrop]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-39]
[GRAPHIC=Men's final four]
Most teams that have never been a part of March Madness usually say stuff like - We're just glad to be here or We'll play anybody-- we don't care who it is.
But Big South champ Winthrop isn't that easy.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Rock Hill, SC/Sunday; :00]
Winthrop is taking part in the Big Dance for the first time in school history.
In the team's first year under head coach--and Cave Spring graduate-- Gregg Marshall, the Winthrop Eagles were hoping for just one thing - to play anyone BUT Duke.
They face Auburn on Thursday.
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[SOT]
[IN Q="I was....]
[SUPER=01-Gregg Marshall/Winthrop Head Coach; :00]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=....so good."]
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[GRAPHIC=hold!!!]
Thursday afternoon's broadcast schedule is as follows: Starting just after twelve, you can catch the Valparaiso- Maryland game. That will be followed by the Siena- Arkansas game, which will tip off around 2:40.
Penn and Florida take to the court Thursday evening at 7:40. And Thursday's coverage wraps up with the Weber State- North Carolina game.
And on Friday, look for the Florida A&M-Duke battle at 7:30, right here on WDBJ-7.
[VHSL]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=VHSL]
The Virginia High School League is counting down to the Final Four at the Norfolk Scope, and four area teams are still alive.
(-------------)
[wipe to pinnacle aaa 7505]
In the Group Three-A boy's ranks, G-W Danville will try to defend its crown against Grant Hill's alma mater-- South Lakes. That semifinal takes place Thursday night at seven.
The Cave Spring girls play in the semi-finals at three o'clock on Thursday against West Springfield.
(--------------)
[wipe to pinnacle aa 7506]
Then on Friday night, in the Group Two-A semi-finals, Salem battles Caroline County in a seven o'clock tip.
(--------------)
[wipe to pinnacle a 7507]
And Friday afternoon in the Group A semi-finals, Glenvar goes up against Woodstock Central in a one o'clock game.
(--------------)
[Sixers]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-40]
[GRAPHIC=NBA]
A last-second shot topped off a long comeback for the Miami Heat, as they handed George Lynch and the Sixers their third loss in a row.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Miami, FL/Sixers vs. Heat;]
Tidewater's Allen Iverson was dominating for Philly. Here, he turns the steal into a layup off the glass. In the third quarter, the Sixers had a comfortable lead.
In fact, the Sixers were still loking good when Lynch swatted down this P.J. Brown dunk attempt in the closing minutes.
[super=32-Philadelphia/89/Miami/91;]
But with time running out, the Heat stole the win. Dan (Marley)Marjerle puts back Tim Hardaway's miss. Miami wins it 91- 89
(------------)
[Hornets]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-41]
[graphic=Hornets]
Dave Cowens departure has opened up the door for Paul Silas in Charlotte.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Fort Mill, SC; :00]
Silas took over the four- and- eleven Hornets yesterday after Cowens quit Sunday.
Silas was the head coach of the San Diego Clippers from 1980 to 1983.
He admits there isn't much he can do right now to save this sinking ship.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="It's very...]
[SUPER=01-Paul Silas/Hornets Interim Coach; :00]
[SUPER=01-Bobby Phills/Hornets Guard; :15]
[SUPER=01-J. R. Reid/Hornets Forward; :25]
[RUNS=:35]
[OUT Q=....but Paul."]
(------------)
[TALENT=Patrick]
[GRAPHIC=hold!!!]
Ironically, Silas begins his tenure tonight against his old team - the Boston Celtics.
And a big rumor circulating through Charlotte has Dean Smith and Michael Jordan in the market to buy the Hornets from George Shinn.
[Womack]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=ssa]
[TAPE#=net-]
[GRAPHIC=MLB]
Former Gretna High School star Tony Womack's adjustment to the Arizona Diamondbacks won't come any time soon.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=@File;]
The two-time National League stolen base leader will be out six weeks with a broken wrist.
Womack was traded by the Pittsburgh Pirates to Arizona last month. He was expected to be the Diamondbacks opening day left fielder.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[ss=hold!!!]
Meantime, Pittsburgh's Jose (GEE'-ehnz)Guillen's visa problems are keeping him away from spring training in Bradenton.
U-S officials denied Guillen's visa after questioning the validity of his marriage license. The Pirates' press guide list him as single.
Guillen is appealing the decision.
[Joe]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=extra]
[GRAPHIC=DiMaggio]
Joe DiMaggio's death yesterday at the age of 84 brought back memories for those who met Joltin' Joe during his 19-88 trip to V-M-I.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lexington/April 1988;]
In April of that year, the Yankee Clipper arrived on post to dedicate VMI's new baseball diamond.
(------------)
He took time to pose for pictures with the team and gave a short talk, but only after a lot of coaxing.
by SS