[HEADLINES]
[TALENT=Melanie]
(/////sot/////)
[7:02:00]
[IN=Man it was horrible....]
((SOT PASSENGER:
"Man it was horrible... before in my life."
SOT PASSENGER:
"It was chaos.. out my chair"))
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT=and everything]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
Thirteen are dead and several more missing after an Amtrak derailment near Chicago.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
And an interstate 81 accident involving a semi and a pickup leaves one person dead.
(/////////////)
[TALENT=Patrick]
[SS=None]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=None]
News 7 at noon is next.
[Train-Ax]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#None]
[GRAPHIC=Derailment]
Thirteen are dead and at least five still missing after last night's Amtrak wreck near Chicago.
The train was on its way to New Orleans when it collided with a truck at a railroad crossing.
Another 100 have been injured, some critically.
The search for those victims is focusing on one sleeper car-- where the 13 people who are already known dead were all found.
Authorities say they've already searched all of the other cars.
Maureen Maher has the latest.
[Live=Maureen Full/Newspath]
[SUPER=01-Maureen Maher/Reporting;]
[SUPER=05-Bourbonnais, IL;]
( ad lib)
[****ROLLED FROM NEWSPATH****]
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03- Bourbonnais, IL]
[SUPER=01-Cyril Gura/National Trans. Safety Board]
[SUPER=01-Chief Mike Harshbarger/Bourbonnais Fire Department;]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=]
(((LOCATOR: BOURBONNAIS, IL)
SURVIVORS SAY IT ALL HAPPENED VERY FAST, AND WITH NO WARNING.
THE AMTRAK TRAIN BOUND FOR NEW ORLEANS FROM CHICAGO SLAMMED INTO A
FLATBED TRUCK.
A WITNESS DECRIBES WHAT SHE SAW.
SOT: NO NAME, "THEN I SAW FIRE AND EXPLOSION, THEN i SAW CARS FLYING UP
IN THE AIR. I HAVE NEVER EVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS IN MY WHOLE
LIFE." :07
THE BIG QUESTION IS: WHAT WAS A TRUCK DOING IN THE CROSSING AS A TRAIN
APPROACHED.
THE TRUCK DRIVER SURVIVED THE ACCIDENT. HE TOLD AN OFFICIAL FROM THE
NATIONAL TRANSPORTSATION SAFETY BOARD HE SAW NO FLASHING LIGHTS OR
TRAINS AS HE APPROACHED THE CROSSING.
(SOT, CYRIL GURA, NATIONAL TRANS. SAFETY BOARD)
"JUST AS HE'S ENTERING THE CROSSING HE SEES THE FLASHING LIGHTS TURN ON
AND HE LOOKED AND HE SEES THE TRAIN COMING. AND HE TRIED TO GET HER OUT
OF THE WAY AND HE DIDN'T CLEAR. AND THE TRAIN STRUCK HIM." :13
NOT ALL THE PASSENGERS AND CREW MEMBERS HAVE BEEN ACCOUNTED FOR, SO
RESCUE CREWS HAVEN'T GIVEN UP HOPE OF FINDING SURVIVIORS BURIED IN THE
RUBBLE. THEY'VE BEEN MARKING CARS ALREADY SEARCHED BEFORE THEY MOVE ON.
(SOT, CHIEF MIKE HARSHBARGER, BOURBONNAIS FIRE DEPT.)
(MAHER STANDUP CLOSE)))
[Live=Maureen Full/Newpath]
[SUPER=05-Bourbonnais, IL;]
( ad lib)
[Ironto-ax]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=12]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=99-5 TC38:54]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]
A man was killed on Interstate-81 this morning,
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Montgomery Co.]
when his pick-up truck run up under the rear end of a tractor trailer rig that had slowed for north-bound traffic.
State Police say the driver of the pick-up had about a quarter mile line- of- sight, as he crested a hill near the Ironto Rest Area.
But they say there's no indication he tried to stop. Police have not released the name of the victim, yet.
While police were clearing the wreckage from that accident, another three-vehicle pile-up injured one person.
(------------)
[Power-Outages]
[ANCHOR=MElanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=99-2 53:49]
[GRAPHIC=Winter Storm]
The work to repair the damage from yesterday's winter storm continues this afternoon.
In the New River Valley yesterday, nearly 23 hundred customers were without electricity at one point.
This morning, fewer than a dozen were still without power.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bath Co.]
In Bath County - more than 25-hundred homes and businesses lost power yesterday... Full service isn't expected to be restored until later today.
Bath, along with northern Botetourt and Rockbridge Counties, got more than a foot of snow yesterday morning.
(------------)
[dow]
[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Stock Market]
There were cheers this morning on Wall Street.
(////SOT/////)
[IN=]
[SUPER=03-New York, NY;]
[RUNS=:03]
[OUT=NATS OF BELL RINGING AT OPEN]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
For the first time ever the Dow crossed the ten thousand level.
It closed at a record high of about 99-58 yesterday and gained another 42 points within the first half hour of trading today.
But within a couple of minutes the Dow fell back to just below ten-thousand.
The Dow closed above five-thousand for the first time in November 19-95.
(------------)
[Forbes]
[ANCHOR=mel]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Steve Forbes]
Steve Forbes has announced another run for the presidency.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=@File;]
He made his announcement today on the Internet, saying it's the most natural place to begin his campaign for the G-O-P nomination.
(------------)
[anchor=melanie]
[ss=gore]
In the race for the Democratic nomination, New polls suggest Al Gore's presidential campaign has some hard work ahead.
The surveys show Gore trailing the Republican front-runners, Texas Governor George W. Bush and former Red Cross president Elizabeth Dole.
[tease1]
[HARD MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
Billy, Bruce and Paul had a big night-- More on their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is still ahead on News-7 at Noon.
(--------------)
[VO-NAT ]
And it's a Hokie High in Blacksburg as tickets go on sale for the women's basketball team's next appearance.
(---------------)
[Talent=Patrick]
[Wx-Tease]
[Weatherpro]
[music up full]
[comm1]
[Tech-Tickets]
[ANCHOR=Mel]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=THa]
[TAPE#=99-6 TC43:53]
[GRAPHIC=Women's Final Four]
Tickets for Saturday's match-up between the Lady Hokies and Tennessee Lady Volunteers are going fast.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg]
More than a thousand fans signed up for tickets on campus, this morning.
Saturday's game will be played at the Greensboro Coliseum.
Tech was originally allotted just 200- tickets but ticket office officials made it clear they'd definitely be needing more.
It seems fans can't get enough of the Lady Hokies.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=They've been]
[SUPER=01-Sandy Smith/Tech Ticket Office Manager; :00]
[RUNS=16]
[OUT Q=it's super.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Late this morning, officials at the Tech ticket office got word from the Greensboro Coliseum that the university would be allotted MORE tickets, although the exact number available is unclear.
The cost is 30- dollars through the university.
Eric Earnhart has more on last night's excitement at the Cassel.
(------------)
[Tech-Women]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=eea]
[TAPE#99-4 1:08:53]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[WIPE WIPE WIPE WIPE WIPE]
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=They lined up]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg]
[SUPER=01-Kathy Hayden/Hokie Fan; :11-quick]
[SUPER=01-Jackie Pugh/Hokie Fan; :23]
[SUPER=01-Al Feinman/Hokie Fan; :48]
[SUPER=01-Nancy Gilmore/Former Player; 1:06]
[SUPER=01-Ruth Humes/Grandmother; 1:22]
[SUPER=@Eric1; 1:28]
[RUNS=1:36]
[OUT Q=EE, News 7]
(([natsot]
They lined up for one, two, even three hours in the cold outside the Cassell, for one reason.
[SOT]
[IN Q=to see]
((KATHY HAYDEN/TECH FAN; TO SEE THE LADY HOKIES WIN, I WORK HERE ON CAMPUS SO I JUST CAME STRAIGHT OVER AFTER WORK. ))
[OUT Q=after work]
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
(( THEY'VE GOTTA DO IT, THEY'VE GOTTA DO IT TONIGHT. ))
[OUT Q=]
Combine that excitement, the cold, the two to three hour wait, and general admission seating.
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
(( EVERYBODY'S GOING TO MOB IN... FALL ON EVERYBODY. ))
[OUT Q=]
[NATSOT]
The rush was on at 7:30 sharp, the ticket takers hands were a blur as the stubs piled up on the floor, the crowd flooded the arena, bottlenecking in the tunnel, then fanning out for the best seats, the lady hokie's popularity seems to know no bounds.
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
(( AL FEINMAN/HOKIE FAN; BOY THEY'RE WONDERFUL, EVERY ONE OF THE, TOO BAD I'M AS OLD AS I AM... ))
[OUT Q=]
Fan's gathered at Champ's sports bar to watch on satellite, but to their dissappointment the game apparently was blacked out.
Still Nancy Gilmore who played for tech 9 years ago is glad to see the team come this far.
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
(( NANCY GILMORE/FORMER PLAYER; A LONG WAYS, A VERY LONG WAYS, BONNIE HENRICKSON HAS DONE AMAZING THINGS WITH THIS TEAM, I THINK SHE REALLY CONNECTS WITH THE LADIES, I THINK SHE'S EVERYTHING THEY NEED. ))
[OUT Q=]
Game high scorer Amy Weitzel's grandmother watched the victory celebration proudly from the stands.
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
((RUTH HUME/GRANDMOTHER; I'M SPEACHLESS, I'M JUST SO HAPPY FOR THEM...WONDERUL. ))
[OUT Q=]
[standup]
Amy's grandmother and the rest of the Tech fans have about a week to catch their breath before the lady Hokies take the next big step.
In Blacksburg, Eric Earnhart, News 7.))
[Democrats]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=State Seal]
Local Democrats are pushing the Governor to sign certain bills.
They say local lottery profits should go specifically for school construction and that a full four-and-a-half cents should be chopped off the food sales tax rather than the two cents proposed by Republicans.
Democrats also want to give patients the right to sue their H-M-Os.
Republican Delegate Morgan Griffith responds that cutting the food tax more drastically will take money away from education, local governments and highway funds.
And he says letting patients sue H-M-O's would raise the cost of health care.
The Democrats hold a press conference at one o'clock at the Vinton library.
[5-Parole-Board]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=599-7 15:00]
[GRAPHIC=Parole Down]
Virginia abolished parole in 1995.
But for inmates whose crimes pre-date that, the rate at which eligible parolees are getting paroled is now down in the single digits.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=@File;]
In 1993, inmates who came up for parole were getting it 40-percent of the time.
Under Governor George Allen, who abolished parole, the rate was in the teens and twenties.
In the past year, it has been in the single digits.
Parole officials say they're simply down to the worst case inmates left in the parole-eligible system.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 14:25:43]
[IN Q=When I sit]
((RICK ALDERMAN/VIRGINIA PAROLE BOARD CHAIRMAN: WHEN I SIT DOWN WITH...RARELY GET ANY BODY THAT DISAGREES WITH ME.))
[SUPER=01-Rick Alderman/Virginia Parole Board Chairman;]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=with me.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Chesterfield Co.]
A Virginia inmate advocacy group is concerned about the trend.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 15:49:43 ]
[IN Q=Virginia is]
((REV. DOW CHAMBERLAIN/VIRGINIA CURE: VIRGINIA HAS A CRIME RATE OF ABOUT 37TH. WHICH PUTS US ON A PAR WITH MINNESOTA,
WHICH HAS AN INCARCERATION RATE OF ABOUT 25-PERCENT...SPENDING FAR LESS THAN WE DO.))
[SUPER=01-Rev. Dow Chamberlain/Virginia CURE]
[RUNS=:20]
[OUT Q=than we do.]
(-------------)
[TALENT=Melanie ]
[SS= Hold]
Both parole board members and inmate advocates say Virginia needs to spend more on halfway houses to help ex-convicts return to society.
[Henry-Robbery]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=chu]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Armed Robbery]
Police have nabbed two men wanted for the armed robbery of the Speedway Convenience Store in Henry County.
William Dudley Smith, Jr. of Martinsville turned himself in Sunday.
Randy Lee Campbell, also of Martinsville, was arrested Sunday in North Carolina.
When Campbell tried to flee a motel armed with two handguns, Greensboro police shot him.
He was treated for his injuries, and both men are now in jail.
[Tease2]
[SOFT MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
If you've ever thought about moving abroad-- stay tuned.
The list of the world's most expensive places to live is still ahead on News-7 at Noon.
(-----------------)
[VO-NAT ]
And we'll show you what's touted as the safest car ever made.
So safe it can withstand hand grenades and bullets.
(-----------------)
[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #2]
[Hall-Of-Fame]
[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Superstars spanning several decades are inducted into the rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-New York, NY/Last Night;]
[7:09:08]
Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteeen, Paul McCartney picked up their awards at an all-star celebration in New York.
The late Dusty Springfield was also inducted.
Elton John payed tribute to the singer who died two weeks ago.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
((ELTON JOHN: I FELL IN LOVE WITH HER VOICE THE MOMENT I HEARD IT. HER BEEHIVE,
PURPLE SKIRT AND PINK SHIRT NO AFFECT ON ME WHATSOEVER..))
[SUPER=07-Elton John;]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=on me whatsoever.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The inductees also belted out a few of their famous tunes.
(///////SOT//////)
[IN=]
[RUNS=:05]
[OUT=(Nats of billy joel)]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Ray Charles inducted Joel with a great hug and smile.
(-------------)
[Expensive-cities]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]
If you're looking to live abroad -- be prepared to shell out lots of cash.
Tokyo, Hong Kong and Beijing top the annual list of the most expensive cities.
In fact, eight of the top ten are all in Asia.
Moscow comes in number six and London number eight.
New York is the highest- ranked American city, in 16th place.
Chicago, Miami and San Francisco came in at number 53, 54 and 58.[Bullet-Proof]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]
You say you want a safe car?
(------------)
[VO-NAT 10:30:00]
[SUPER=03-Sindelfingen, Germany]
Then Mercedes-Benz has the answer-- a car that can withstand revolver and rifle fire as well as hand grenades, explosives and Molotov cocktails.
The new cars are designed to combat the growth in drug-related crimes and the increasing use of guns in violent assaults.
The company has not yet given a price for the bullet-proof cars.
(------------)
[Stocks]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE# none]
[GRAPHIC=stocks]
On Wall Street at Noon, the Dow was UP 8 points, but still below the 10-thousand level.
[tease3]
[SPORTS MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
Still ahead in sports, is it a return to the NBA for Phil Jackson?
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
Plus, the Hokies are standing proud after a stellar finale at the Cassell.
We'll have the details on last night's win, plus a look ahead to the sweet sixteen, when News 7 at Noon continues.
(---------------)
[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #3]
[Tech]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-32]
[GRAPHIC=Women's Final Four]
The Lady Hokies have played their final game in the Cassell this season.
This, after a second round victory over Auburn in the N-c-double-A women's tournament has the team headed to Greensboro, and the Sweet Sixteen.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg/NCAA; :00]
Bonnie Henrickson and her team were blown out in the second round last year by Florida.
And for a while, it looked like they would suffer a similar fate. The Auburn Tigers dominated the boards, especially on the offensive end.
But Tech had the advantage on the shot.
Watch Maria Albertson step behind the arc and hit the big three pointer.
Then (Terry)Tere Williams goes to work in the low post, moving without the ball and scoring inside to put Tech in front.
Lisa Witherspoon then shows her versatility by beating three defenders and scoring the hoop.
Tech shot sixty-seven percent in the opening half to take a 42-to-31 lead at the break.
Auburn would never get closer than eleven in the second half.
[super=33-Virginia Tech/76/Auburn/61;]
Michelle Houseright takes the steam out of the Tigers with this three. The Hokies had five players in double figures, as they destroy Auburn 76-to-61.
They now move on to meet defending champ Tennessee in the Sweet 16.
(------------)
[Duke]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-27]
[GRAPHIC=Women's Final Four]
Old Dominion was the first women's team to advance in the East region.
Then it was up to Duke and St. Joseph's to battle it out for the right to meet the Monarchs.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Durham, NC/NCAA Productions; :00]
St. Joe's would keep the tempo down and stay in the game thanks in part to efforts like this one from Susan Moran.
But the lady Devils looked like their male counterparts on the court.
[SUPER=33-St. Joseph's/60/Duke/66;]
Lauren Rice feeds Michelle Van Gump with the perfect high -low entry pass. Duke get the 66 to 60 win over St. Josephs and the Blue Devils advance to Greensboro to meet O-D-U on Saturday.
(------------)
[Midget]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-26 13321TC]
[GRAPHIC=Express]
The Roanoke Valley Junior Express hockey team is also in the hunt for a championship banner.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.; :00]
This team of 16 to 18 year olds leaves for the district tournament in Fort Myers today. If the team wins the tournament, it qualifies for the hockey national championships.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="we...]
((JOE MALINE/JUNIOR EXPRESS COACH:))
[SUPER=01-Joe Maline/Junior Express Coach; :00]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=...and intensity"]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The Junior Express, made up of players from Roanoke, Blacksburg and Appomattox, qualified for Districts by winning the Mid-Atlantic Hockey League title in Charlotte in February.
The Carolina Hurricanes were so impressed with the Junior Express that the NHL team donated nearly five-hundred dollars to pay for Roanoke's entry fee in the Florida tournament, coming up this weekend.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="Well]
((JARED MALINE/JUNIOR EXPRESS CAPTAIN:))
((JESSE LONG/JUNIOR EXPRESS ASSISTANT CAPTAIN:))
[SUPER=01-Jared Maline/Junior Express Captain; :00]
[SUPER=01-Jesse Long/Junior Express Assistant Captain; :05]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=...getting in the valley"]
(------------)
[Anchor=Patrick]
[Graphic=Express/Richmond]
The big Express is town tonight hosting the Richmond Renegades in a seven o'clock faceoff.
Roanoke is still first place in the Northern Conference and the Northeast division despite picking up a loss and two shootout defeats over the weekend.
[Coaches]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=sp-29]
[GRAPHIC=NBA]
New Jersey head coach John Calipari is looking for a new job.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-NBA]
The Nets are in the middle of a seven-game losing streak, and off to a horrible 3 and 17 start.
The decision comes less than a year after Calipari led the Nets to their first playoff appearance since the early nineties.
(----------)
[Anchor=Patrick]
[ss=Hold!!!]
New Jersey is reportedly trying to lure former Bulls coach Phil Jackson back to the NBA, but for now, an interim assistant will take over.
[Wood]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=ssa]
[TAPE#=net-]
[GRAPHIC=MLB]
It looks like Chicago Cubs phenom Kerry Wood is out of baseball for the next two seasons.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=@File;]
The team says the National League Rookie of the Year suffered a significant injury to a ligament in his right elbow.
Published reports out of Chicago say Wood will undergo "Tommy John" surgery, and is not expected to return to the majors until after the two-thousand season.
(------------)
The twenty-one year old tied a major league record last season by striking out 20 batters in one game.
by SS