[HEADLINES]
[TALENT=Melanie]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
The White House is calling a U-S official's trip to Belgrade today "a last chance at peace."
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
And the F-B-I could reveal the names today of the two victims pulled from the charred rental car belonging to thee missing California sightseers.
(/////////////)
[TALENT=Patrick]
[SS=None]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=None]
News 7 at noon is next.
[Kosovo]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=News-7 at Noon]
Chances for a last-minute peace deal appear bleak as fighting rages in Kosovo and the Yugoslav
government remains defiant.
Senior U-S envoy Richard Holbrooke meets with Yugoslavia's president today to give him a stark choice
-- accept the peace plan or face NATO attacks.
Tom Fenton reports.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[10:05:00]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Brussels, Belgium; :00]
[SUPER=01-Richard Holbrooke/U. S. Special Envoy; :12]
[SUPER=01-General Wesley Clark/NATO Supreme Commander; :35]
[SUPER=01-Tom Fenton/Reporting; 1:11]
[RUNS=1:25]
[OUT Q=cbs news, London;]
((Richard Holbrooke, America's toughest negotiator, was in Brussels this morning to brief NATO and allied officials. He got their strong backing.
And issued a grim warning.
SOT: AMBASSADOR RICHARD HOLBROOKE, U-S SPECIAL ENVOY WE ARE AS EVERYONE HAS SAID, ON THE BRINK OF MILITARY ACTION. IT
IS NOT TOO LATE TO AVOID IT BUT THE WINDOW IS NARROWING. I DO NOT WANT TO LEAVE YOU WITH THE IMPRESSION THAT WE ARE OPTIMISTIC.
The tension was heightened by the announcement that response time for the NATO strike force has been shortened to a matter of hours.
SOT: GENERAL WESLEY CLARK, NATO SUPREME COMMANDER WE KNOW WHAT SERB CAPABILITIES ARE. WE KNOW WHAT SERB VULNERABILITIE
S ARE AND, IF REQUIRED, WE WILL STRIKE IN A SWIFT AND SEVERE FASHION.
(File of Holbrooke and Milosevic meeting)
Holbrooke, who squeezed a ceasefire agreement out of Milosevic last fall, will have one more session with him in Belgrade this evening. To deliver an ultimatum.
(Kosovo pix)
Either Milosevic stops the Serb offensive now underway in Kosovo and agrees to the American peace plan, or his military becomes a NATO target.
(Fenton O/C close)
THE TIMING OF THE AIR STRIKES IS STILL NOW CLEAR. THEY COULD BE DELAYED BY THE VISIT TO WASHINGTON THIS WEEK OF RUSSIAN PRIME MINISTER PRIMAKOV. BUT IF THE SITUATION GETS MUCH WORSE IN KOSOVO, PRESIDENT CLINTON MAY DECIDE NOT TO WAIT. TF, CBSN, London.))
[kEVORKIAN]
[ANCHOR=MEL]
[NEWSCAST=NOON]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Jack Kevorkian]
In Michigan, Jury selection is underway at Doctor Jack Kevorkian's murder trial.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pontiac, MI;]
And apparently the assisted suicide advocate needs no assistance in court.
Kevorkian is representing himself in his first- degree murder trial.
[SUPER=@File;:09]
Kevorkian is charged with killing a Michigan man suffering from Lou Gehrig's disease, a death that was videotaped and later aired on 60 Minutes.
(------------)
[Tourists-latest]
[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]
This afternoon F-B-I evidence technicians are again scouring the charred remains of the rental car driven by three missing tourists.
On Friday, Federal investigators announced two charred bodies had been found in the trunk of the car.
The identies of the victims could be released today.
Yesterday, was a day of mourning as family members made a painful visit to the area where the car was found.
Sharon Chin reports.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[7:20:17]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Tuolumne Co., CA; :00]
[SUPER=01-Francis Carrington/Carole Sund's Father; 1:02]
[RUNS=1:46]
[OUT Q=village, California]
[Salem-Shooting]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=shooting]
Two men are hospitalized after an early morning shooting in Salem.
It happened a little before two o'clock at a home on Kessler Mill Road.
Gregory Hankins and Anthony B. Walker were taken to Roanoke Memorial Hospital, where Walker is in critical condition, and Hankins in stable condition.
Police aren't saying little, except that the shooting appears to be "domestic."
[tease1]
[HARD MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
The proposed South Roanoke county high school faces a major hurdle tomorrow.
More on that in just a moment.
(--------------)
[VO-NAT ]
But next on News-7 at Noon, we'll find out which stars went home with Oscar last night.
(---------------)
[Talent=Patrick]
[Wx-Tease]
[Weatherpro]
[music up full]
[comm1]
[Oscars]
[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Academy Awards]
Hollywood is in love with "Shakespeare In Love."
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Los Angeles, CA;]
[7:08:10]
The Romanitic comedy won seven Academy Awards last night, including Best PIcture, and Best Actress for Gywenyth Paltrow.
Italian Actor, Roberto Benigni, provided the night's comic relief.. as he jumped through the seats--literally--to get his two oscars.. including one for Best Actor.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[7:12:24]
[IN Q=]
((ROBERTO BENIGNI:OH THIS IS A PRESENT. A WONDERFUL GIFT. OSCAR'S THEY CHANGE YOUR LIFE FOR GOOD. "))
[SUPER=01-Roberto Benigni/Best Actor;]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=THINK IN GOOD.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
But Saving Private Ryan didn't go home empty-handed.
The World War Two epic picked up five awards, among them.. a Best Director nod for Steven Spielberg.
(------------)
[Cassell]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=99-1 TC1:18:32]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign 99]
Ron Cassell says he's no politician...he simply wants to make Botetourt county's sheriff's department the best in Virginia.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Troutville;]
This morning Cassell announced his INDEPENDENT candidacy in the race to become the next sheriff in Botetourt.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 9:56:04 ]
[IN Q=I can be loyal]
((RON CASSELL/(I) BOTETOURT CO. SHERIFF'S CAND.: I CAN BE LOYAL TO THE COUNTY AND THE PEOPLE OF BOTETOURT AND NOT REALLY HAVE TO ANSWER TO ANY CERTAIN PARTY. I WANT TO BE IMPARTIAL IN MY ENFORCEMENT IN MY DUTIES AS SHERIFF.))
[SUPER=01-Ron Cassell/(I) Botetourt Sheriff's Candidate; ]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=duties as sheriff]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Cassell also says he wants to make the department more efficient.
The 47-year- old is a Botetourt county native, and has served as a Roanoke city police officer for more than two decades.
(------------)
[E-New-School]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=98-83 1:30:24]
[GRAPHIC=Roanoke County Schools]
A major decision on a new South Roanoke County high school may be just a day away, as the Roanoke County Supervisors consider a special use permit for the Woods End property tomorrow.
But even as the project appears to be moving forward, some county residents who live near the site are saying not so fast.
Joe Dashiell has their story.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Residents of Pleasant Hill Drive]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.; :00]
[SUPER=@Joe2; :19]
[SUPER=01-Dr. Craig Mitchell/Kingston Court Resident; :31]
[SUPER=01-Mary Lucas/South County Resident; :53]
[SUPER=01-Tom Leggette/School Board Member; 1:02]
[SUPER=01-Cheryl Myers/Kingston Court Resident; 1:15]
[RUNS=1:30]
[OUT Q=JD News 7 Roanoke County]
((Residents of Pleasant Hill Drive and the Kingston Court subdivision gather in a neighbor's living room to air their concerns about the new high school.
[NAT SOUND OF RESIDENT]
[SOT #1 16:13]
[IN Q=So we thought all along]
((SO WE THOUGHT ALL ALONG THAT IT WAS NEVER GOING TO BE PLEASANT HILL AND THEN WE GO TO THIS MEETING AND IT'S SLAMMED RIGHT THROUGH THERE.))
[RUNS :07]
[OUT Q=right through there]
The residents say they aren't opposed to the new school, but they believe a single entrance that will carry hundreds of cars and buses through their neighborhood to route 221 is a bad idea that threatens the safety of school children and residents.
They want more than simple assurances from county officials.
[SOT 20:48]
[IN Q=Hopefully if we get a light there great.]
((DR. CRAIG MITCHELL/KINGSTON COURT RESIDENT: HOPEFULLY IF WE GET A LIGHT THERE GREAT. IT WOULD BE BETTER FOR ALL INVOLVED I THINK IF WE HAD TWO ACCESSES IN AND OUT. IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE THE VOLUME OF PEOPLE COMING IN THERE IF YOU HAVE ONE WAY IN AND ONE WAY OUT.))
[RUNS :15]
[OUT Q=one way out.]
But on Tuesday the supervisors will also hear other voices, like those of south county residents who believe the school is long overdue and the Pleasant Hill entrance the best alternative.
[SOT 01:43:20]
[IN Q=And I understand]
((MARY LUCAS/SOUTH COUNTY RESIDENT: AND I UNDERSTAND THE CONCERNS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD , BUT I FEEL LIKE THIS IS THE BEST WAY TO GET THE ENTRANCE TO THE NEW HIGH SCHOOL AND I JUST DO NOT WANT TO DELAY THE HIGH SCHOOL ANY LONGER.))
((TOM LEGGETTE/SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER: SO WE'VE TRIED TO LOOK FOR A FAIR STANDARD AND WE BELIEVE THE ENTRY WAY AT PLEASANT HILL IS THE ONE THAT WILL AFFECT THE LEAST NUMBER OF PEOPLE.))
[RUNS :14]
[OUT Q=any longer.]
All of that is small consolation to the residents of the Pleasant Hill Kingston Court neighborhood...
[SOT]
[IN Q=we're welcome to compromise]
((WE'RE WELCOME TO COMPROMISE, BUT WE THINK THEY'RE JUST ASKING US TO COMPROMISE SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T WANT TO DO, THE SAFETY OF OUR CHILDREN.))
[RUNS :07]
[OUT Q=of our children.]
And they fear that unless safeguards are spelled out now, they'll be fighting this battle for years to come.
Joe Dashiell News 7 Roanoke County))
[E-Gas-Prices]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=98-78 1:49:24]
[GRAPHIC=Gas Prices Up]
In case you haven't noticed, gas prices are going up again.
It's one of the biggest jumps in years.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
The Lundberg Survey reports it's the fastest increase at the pumps since Iraq upset oil markets by invading Kuwait in 19-90.
Lundberg says the average price per gallon shot up about eight and a half cents in the past two weeks.
That's pretty close to the increases at many Roanoke area stations over the same time.
But prices nationwide are still about 24 cents below those just a year-and-a-half ago.
(------------)
[Tease2]
[SOFT MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
Jeff Burton has Mother Nature to thank for his latest NASCAR win.
That story is ahead in sports.
(-----------------)
[VO-NAT ]
And a day after completing the first around the world balloon flight, two Swiss balloonists are welcomed home.
(-----------------)
[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #2]
[WebWatch]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=eea]
[TAPE#=WW-2]
[GRAPHIC=Webwatch]
One of the senators who helped pass the Brady Bill is taking aim at internet gun sales.
And we found a website that'll keep you tied up for hours.
Eric Earnart has more in Webwatch.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Senator Charles Schumer]
[RUNS=1:19]
[OUT Q=EE, News-7]
(([intro]
[RUNS05]
Senator Charles Schumer is proposing legislation to regulate internet gun deals, saying they bypass background check laws.
Auction site E-bay recently stopped gun sales.
The National Rifle Association says there's no proof ANYONE is buying guns illegally online.
Take a peek into college life at the WebDorm... Students across the country agreed to put their dorm rooms online... they got a free web-camera in return. Not much studying going on here... of course spring break is just wrapping up.
Celebrate the 80's with Dan.. Dan's website features a weekly 80's hit song.... this week, remember Scandal?
[natsot]
[RUNS05]
More 80's memories are a click away on Dan's long list of flashback melodies.
If you're into knots, you canNOT pass up Roper's knots page. Here you can learn how to tie a double overhand... the Flemish Eight... or the VERY popular Monkey's fist.
Its NOT hard to find these websites... just click on WebWatch on the WDBJ web page, at WDBJ-dot-com.))
[Balloonists]
[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]
It was a hero's welcome today for two record -breaking balloonists.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Geneva, Switzerland;]
[10:13]
Switzerland's Bertrand Piccard and Britian's Brian Jones arrived at their control center in Geneva and were welcomed by an adoring crowd.
They also had emotional reunions with their family, after their three week journey.
[SUPER=03-Mut, Egypt/Yesterday;]
[7:35]
The two floated more than 26-thousand miles around the world non stop, landing in Egypt yesterday.
In a press conference after they arrived said that he was grateful to what he called the "invisible hand" that guided them.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[10:16:09-20]
[IN Q=When you have thunderstorms...]
[SUPER=01-Bertrand Piccard/Co-Pilot;]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=That was guiding us.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Black boxes stowed aboard the balloon will be examined by international aviation officials before the record is officially recognized.
(------------)
[Stocks]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE# none]
[GRAPHIC=stocks]
On Wall Street at Noon, the Dow was UP three points.
[tease3]
[SPORTS MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
Still ahead in sports, South Boston celebrates a victory on the track.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
Plus, the final four is set.
Will Kentucky be making its fourth- straight trip to the finals, or did the Spartans earn their first free pass since the "Magic" days of the seventies?
(---------------)
[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #3]
[State]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-34 (26:55)]
[GRAPHIC=Final Four]
It isn't often that it happens, but this year, the N-C-double-A seeding committee almost got it right.
Three number-one seeds have picked up free passes to this weekend's final four in St. Petersburg.
Top-ranked Duke, Connecticut and Michigan State are joined by Ohio State, which was coming off an 8-and-22 season. That gives the Big Ten Conference two entries in the Buckeyes and the Spartans.
Michigan State will be making it's first final four appearance in twenty years, after coming from behind to beat Kentucky 73 to 66.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-St. Louis, MO/CBS Sports; :]
The Wildcats, denied a fourth straight trip to the final four, took control early. Heshimu Evans gets the jam to make it 13 to 4 Kentucky.
But the Spartans would answer. A-J Granger hits this three pointer and Michigan State trailed by 1 at the half.
[SUPER=33-Michigan St./73/Kentucky/66/;]
Michigan State took a 1 point lead halfway through the second half. The Spartans hold on for the 7 point win.
(------------)
[Duke]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-28 (1:48:52)]
[GRAPHIC=Final Four]
Michigan State moves on to meet Duke in the first national semifinal on Saturday.
The Blue Devils captured the East Regional championship with an 85 to 64 win over Temple.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-East Rutherford, NJ/CBS Sports; :]
The band and fans were all fired up for the game.
And the Owls would get out to an early lead. Lamont Jones takes it in for the jam to make it 8- 5 Temple.
But Duke went on one of its trademark runs. Trajan Langdon hits three of his game high 23 and the Blue Devils took the five-point lead.
[SUPER=33-Duke/85/Temple/64/;]
And Blue Devils were just too strong. Corey (ma-GETTY) Maggette with the followup jam off the William Avery miss. Duke wins it 85 to 64.
(------------)
[NBA]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-29 (53:10)]
[GRAPHIC=NBA LOGO]
On to the pros, where the Lakers rallied from a 24- point deficit to beat the Magic 115 to 104.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Orlando, FL/NBC Sports; :]
Dennis Rodman returned after an eight day absence from Los Angeles.
And in the first quarter he gets the pass from Shaquille O'Neal for the easy layup, but the Lakers trailed by one.
Then, Orlando's Penny Hardaway cuts to the basket and scores on the jam. The Magic was up 41- 29 in the second quarter.
[SUPER=32-Los Angeles/115/Orlando/104/;]
But Kobe Bryant scored 33 of this career-high 38 points in the second half. The Lakers mount the big comeback and win it 115 to 104.
(------------)
[Race]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-39 (27:45)]
[GRAPHIC=Darlington Logo]
Jeff Burton's rain dance at Darlington seemed to do the job.
The pride of South Boston took home a win in the TranSouth 400, after heavy rains brought out the red flag after just 164 laps.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Darlington, SC/ESPN; :]
The race was red-flagged after 45 laps, and when the green flag came out, Jeremy Mayfield would take a short lead over Burton.
Jeff Gordon was on the pole. He passes Mayfield in traffic, but then falls back into second.
Burton would take his second lead of the day with 136 laps left in the race.
Then on lap 163, Ernie Irvan and Kenny Irwin get tangled up. They collect Burton, Gordon and several other cars along the way.
And that's when the showers returned. Burton was the leader at the time, after suffering major damage to the right side of his car. He wins the TranSouth 400, after rains force the drivers off the track for good.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="We're going...]
[SUPER=01-Jeff Burton/TranSouth Financial 400 Winner; :]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=....right now."]
(----------)
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[GRAPHIC=Hold!!!]
Jeremy Mayfield was second, Dale Jarrett third, Jeff Gordon fourth and Mark Martin fifth. Ward Burton finished eighth and Rick Mast was thirteenth.
Jeff Burton now leads the Winston Cup points race for the first time in his career.
[Golf]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-40 (27:31)]
[GRAPHIC=Golf Logo]
The Legends of Golf took to the tees this weekend, and the pairing of Hubert Green and Gill Morgan proved to be the best.
The two shot a 6 under par 66 to finish with the three-shot win at 22 under par.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Orlando, FL/NBC Sports; :]
At Florida's Bay Hill Invitational, two extra holes were needed to determine the winner.
Tim Herron won the event on the second hole of a sudden death playoff with Tom Lehman. Both golfers finished regulation tied at 14 under par. Herrron shot a 72.
[SUPER=03-Phoenix, AZ/ESPN; :]
The LPGA was in Phoenix for the Standard Ping Register tournament.
Karrie Webb shot a final round 69 to finish at 14 under par. She gets the four shot win over Lorie Kane.
(------------)
It's Webb's third win in six tour events this year.
by SS