[HEADLINES]

[TALENT=Melanie]

(////////SOT////////)
[IN=]

[7:03:32] (( SEN. ROBERT TORRICELLI/(D) NEW JERSEY:"There is no precedent for an air war campaign acheiving a desired political result without the use of ground forces." ))
[RUNS=]
[OUT=USE OF GROUND FORCES.]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]


The idea of an air-only campaign against Serbia is losing steam on Capitol Hill.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]


And a double murder trial gets underway in Bedford.
(/////////////)
[TALENT=Patrick]
[SS=None]



[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=None]


News 7 at noon is next.

[Evans-Trial]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=99-2 1:49:33]
[GRAPHIC=Andre Evans]


He allegedly murdered two people during an argument over a pair of sneakers.. this week, Andre Evans goes to trial for the crime, facing a possible death sentence if he's convicted.
[Double Boxes=Steve/Melanie/Microwave]


Steve Smallshaw joins us live from Bedford where Evans' trial got underway this morning.. Steve..
[Live=Steve/Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=@ssm1;]
[SUPER=05-Bedford;]
( ad lib)
(Rollcue: )
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Bedford/Today; :00]
[SUPER=04-September 1997; :07]
[SUPER=01-Randy Krantz/Prosecutor; :23]
[SUPER=01-Web Hoageland/Defense Attorney; :42 ]
[RUNS=:55]
[OUT Q=was not justified]




[Live=Steve/Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Bedford;]
( ad lib)



[Double Boxes=Steve/Melanie/Microwave][Majeus]



[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=98-73 42:05]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]


A suspected bank robber pled guilty in Roanoke's federal court this morning.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/November 2]


(vee-TALL MAY-juss) Vital Majeus pled guilty to the holdup at the First National Exchange Bank in October.
He also admitted driving the getaway car in ANOTHER holdup at the same bank a month later.
No word yet on how much time Majeus will get.
(------------)


[Kosovo]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Serbia Under Attack]


NATO Today released its final report on last weeks bombing of a civilian convoy in Kosovo that left a reported 64 dead.
While officials are owning up to the attack, they say Yugoslavia could have done its part by separating military vehicles from the civilian ones.
Lisa Hughes reports from Washington.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Brussels;]
[SUPER=01-Brig. Gen. Daniel Leaf/U.S. Air Force;]
[SUPER=01-Jamie Shea/NATO Spokesman;]
[SUPER=01-Lisa Hughes/Reporting;]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=cbs news washington.]

((


ARMED WITH DETAILED CHARTS PHOTOS AND VIDEO TAPE, NATO EXPLAINED THE INCIDENT INVOLVED TWO SEPARATE TARGET AREAS WHERE CIVILIAN CASUALTIES MAY HAVE OCCURRED.

SOT: BRIG. GEN. DANIEL LEAF/U.S. AIR FORCE

"NATO AIRCRAFT HIT THE FIRST TARGET AREA WITH TWO BOMBS AND MAY HAVE HIT A CIVILIAN TYPE VEHICLE.
IN THE SECOND TARGET AREA, NATO SAYS JETS ATTACKED THE LEAD ELEMENT OF THE CONVOY, VEHICLES THAT APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN BOTH MILITARY AND CIVILIAN.

SOT: NATO SAYS YUGOSLAV ARMY HAD TIME TO REMOVE MILITARY VEHICLES FROM

MIXED CONVOY
NATO ALSO RESPONDED TODAY TO REPORTS THAT THE U-S IS PUSHING FOR AN OIL BLOCKADE AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA.

SOT: JAMIE SHEA, NATO SPOKESMAN


AT THE BORDER CROSSINGS, SERBS HAVE APPARENTLY ONCE AGAIN SHUT THE GATES... LEAVING THOUSANDS OF REFUGEES IN LIMBO. WITH DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH ALBANIA NOW SEVERED, NO ONE KNOWS IF OR WHEN THE BORDERS WILL BE REOPENED.

(HUGHES STANDUP CLOSE, DEALING WITH WHEN THE APACHE CHOPPERS WILL ARRIVE)))



[Delegation-returns]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]


Congress is getting ready to debate how to pay for the conflict in Kosovo.
Some lawmakers believe there is strong bipartisan support to approve and estimated six BILLION dollars in funding.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Andrews AFB, MD/Last Night;]

[7:09:43]
Meantime, a Congressional delegation is back home after a three day visit to the Balkans.
The Senators and Congressmen met with U-S Armed Forces at NATO bases in Germany and Italy, visited refugees in camps in Albania and Macedonia and held meetings with NATO officials in Belgium.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]

(( REP. HOYER: IN MACEDONIA THE CRISIS IS OF GREAT MAGNITUDE, GREATER THAN ANYTHING WE HAVE SEEN SINCE THE SECOND WORLD WAR.
REP. YOUNG: REP. YOUNG: AFTER VISITING THE REFUGEE CAMP A REPORTER ASKED ME WHAT I THOUGHT AND WHAT I THOUGHT WAS I WANT TO GO HOME AND HUG MY KIDS. ))

[SUPER=01-Rep. Steny Hoyer/(D) Maryland;]
[SUPER=01-Rep. Bill Young/(R) Florida;]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=and hung my kids.]
[ANCHOR=MELANIE]


Congress will also likely take up the issue of sending in ground troops. [City-Budget]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=12]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=99-??]
[GRAPHIC=Roanoke City Seal]


Roanoke's Acting City Manager is proposing a budget that includes more money for public education, pay raises for city employees and a modest reduction in the real estate tax rate.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]


Jim Ritchie outlined the 176- million dollar spending plan at a news conference this morning, and he will present it to city council this afternoon.
While it won't make everyone happy, Ritchie says the proposal will maintain the city's financial health, while addressing many of city council's priorities.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 43:28]
[IN Q=We were able to sort through]

((WE WERE ABLE TO SORT THROUGH A LOT OF GOOD IDEAS AND WE BELIEVE WE'VE LISTENED AND WE HAVE ALL OF THE MAJOR PRIORITIES THAT THIS CITY, ESPECIALLY EDUCATION FUNDED. MAYBE NOT FUNDED TO EVERYONE'S SATISFACTION, BUT I THINK EVERYTHING'S FUNDED IN A FAIR AND EQUITABLE MANNER.))
[SUPER=01-Jim Ritchie/Acting City Manager]
[RUNS=:19]
[OUT Q=in a fair and equitable manner.]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[GRAPHIC=]


The budget proposal includes an average four percent pay raise for city employees. In addition, it would increase the pay scale for fire fighters, police officers and sheriffs deputies. The budget also includes a one- cent reduction in the real estate tax rate. [tease1] [HARD MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

Still to come on News 7 at noon.....

the former home of Dr. Pepper goes up in flames

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


and
the weather is offering no help to firefighters battling a blaze in the Florida Everglades. But first let's check in with Patrick in the weather center.

(---------------)
[Talent=Patrick]

[Wx-Tease] [Weatherpro] [music up full] [comm1]

[DrPepper-Fire]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=sta]
[TAPE#=99-7; 1:10:31]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]


Still no word this afternoon on what caused a fire at the former home of the real Dr.Pepper.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Rural Retreat;]


The fire started around three o'clock yesterday afternoon and four hours later firefighters were still battling the flames.
The building is now called "The Rural Retreat Drug Store."
However, it's best known as the former home of Dr. Charles Pepper--the man for whom the soft drink was named.
There were no injuries, however the town's fire chief said much of the soft drink's early memorabilia was lost. Authorities are still investigating.
(------------)


[WILDFIRES]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Mornin]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Fire]


The Florida Everglades are still on fire this afternoon.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Broward Co., FL;]

[4:10:31]
A huge wind driven wildfire has already burned 70- thousand acres and is threatening to consume more.
Flames have come very close to Interstate 75, forcing authorities to close the main coast to coast highway known as Alligator Alley.
(//////sot////)
[IN=]

((Erin Albury, Florida Forestry Division: "We had two concerns, these powerlines which feed a good portion of South Florida and of course the smoke on interstate 75"))
[RUNS=06]
[SUPER=01-Erin Albury/Florida Forestry Division;]
[OUT=ON INTERSTATE 75.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


The Everglades fire is the largest of nearly 25-hundred blazes that have burned 130-thousand acres in the state this year.

(---------)[OK-BOMBING]



[ANCHOR=MELANIE]
[NEWSCAST=MORNIN]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Bombing]


Today marks the four year anniversary of the deadliest terrorist attack on U-S soil.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Oklahoma City, OK;]

[10:53:48]
A quiet ceremony was held this morning to remember the victims of the Oklahoma City bombing.
[super=03-April 19, 1995;]

[10:29:57]
On the morning of April 19th, 1995 a massive car bomb went off outside the the Alfred P. Murrah federal office building killing 168.
More than 400 were injured.
(////////SOT/////)

[10:28:17-26]
[IN=MY COLLARBONE WAS...]
[RUNS=:07]
[SUPER=01-Patti Hall/Bombing Survivor;]
[OUT=LEGS WERE CRUSHED.]
(-------------)
[VO-NAT]

[10;30:47]
Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols were arrested days after the bombing, and both were later convicted in separate trials.
[SUPER=03-Waco, TX/April 19, 1993;]


Today also marks the six year anniversary of the fiery end to the 51- day seige at the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas.
(-----------)[Tease2]

[SOFT MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

Still to come on News 7 at noon....
A local high school band comes home from a competition with 9 trophies....

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

and

this may look like a polar bear club gathering, but the objective here is not to get wet. We will tell you what these people are doing in just a few minutes.

(-----------------)

[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #2]


[Fleming-Band]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=jmc]
[TAPE#=99-21]
[GRAPHIC=none]


The William Fleming band marched through the competition in Georgia this weekend.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]


The students came home early this morning from a trip to Atlanta, where they went up against bands from several states.
And they brought home NINE trophies.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=This is the most awards]

((JOHN WRIGHT/BAND DIRECTOR: THIS IS THE MOST AWARDS ANY BAND I'VE EVER HAD HAS RACKED UP AT ONE TIME IN COMPETITION. EVERYTHING WE ENTERED WE WON SOMETHING IN, SO THAT'S NICE.))
[SUPER=01-John Wright/Band Director]
[RUNS=11]
[OUT Q=that's nice.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


The Colonels placed first in the parade competition, second for drum line and third in concert band.
The flag girls, drum line and drum majors also picked up best in show awards.
(------------)



[Youth-Governor]


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


A junior from Heritage High school in Lynchburg is Virginia's new Youth Governor. Mark Schweitzer, won a two way race over the weekend defeating a student from Exmore. As youth governor, Schweitzer will preside over next year's Model General Assembly. About 725 students attended the Y-M-C-A-sponsored event at the state capitol.

[Alaska-Slush]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]


In Alaska, it's an event that leaves most participants all washed up.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Girdwood, AK;]
[RUNS=:04]
[OUT Q=(NATS OF EVENT)]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

[7:43:37]
It's the slush cup, a pit full of slush, and not the kind you get at the convenience stores.
The object of the games is to make it across in one piece, compeletely dry, by using all sorts of equipment, including skis, costumes and whatever else you can get your hands on.
Some make it across, others, well, lets just say they aren't so lucky.
But everyone seems to have a good time.
(------------)


[tease3] [SPORTS MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]


Still ahead in sports, the King regains his throne in Martinsville.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT ]


And it's as if no one wanted him to leave the ice. The "Great One" took his team to overtime before giving the fans one final salute.
(---------------)

[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #3]


[Gretzky]


[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=ssa]
[TAPE#=SP-35 (43:30)]
[GRAPHIC=Wayne Gretzky]


The Great One has left the arena.
The hockey world said good bye to Wayne Gretzky last night, and as expected, he was the center of attention in last night's game from start to finish.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-New York, NY/FOX Sports; :]


Gretzky's Rangers hosted the Penguins at Madison Square Garden.
After the game, the N-H-L retired his number-99 jersey. Fans erupted into applause, while Gretzky burst into tears as he skated around the rink.
The thirty-eight year old thanked the fans and mentioned several players that shared the ice with him. He also said he intended for the day to be a celebration.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="I appreciate...]
[SUPER=01-Wayne Gretzky/"The Great One"; :]
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=...thank you."]
(--------------)

[VO NAT]
It's the hockey world that should thank Gretzky. The center holds 61 records, nine Hart Trophys as the N-H-L's most valuable player, ten Art Ross Trophys as the leagues top scorer. He won four Stanley Cups, and made 18 trips to the All-Star game.
And the "Great One" went out in style-- boosting his career point total to 2-thousand 857 points on an assist in New York's lone goal in their overtime loss to Pittsburgh.
(----------------)


[Braves]


[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-38 (36:50)]
[GRAPHIC=Braves/Rockies]


A ten-run ninth inning make the Braves king of the Rockies today. It was all part of a 20 to 5 thrashing of Colorado in the hitters' paradise of Coors Field.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Denver, CO/WTBS; :]


Jim Leyland was unsuspecting as the game began.
But in the first inning, Brian Jordon sends this line drive over the right field wall. The two-run shot put the Braves up 2- nothing.
[SUPER=35-Atlanta/20/Colorado/5/;]


Atlanta also got homers from Andruw Jones, Brian Hunter and this solo shot deep over the left field wall from Chipper Jones. The Braves dominate the Rockies in the 20 to 5 win.
(------------)




[Race]


[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#SP-36 (37:47)]
[GRAPHIC=Goody's 500]


The red carpet was rolled out at Martinsville this weekend. The NASCAR court paid homage to the King, in the form of a Richard Petty sweep.
Steve Mason has more on John Andretti's win in the Goody's Body Pain 500.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=first audio]
[SUPER=03-Martinsville/Goody's 500; :00]
[SUPER=01-Richard Petty/STP Pontiac Team Owner; :14]
[SUPER=01-Frank Beamer/Virginia Tech Football Coach; :32]
[SUPER=01-Jeff Burton/Finished Second; :49]
[SUPER=01-John Andretti/Goody's 500 Winner; 1:57]
[SUPER=@Steve1; 2:12]
[RUNS=2:33]
[OUT Q=News 7 Sports"]
(-----------------------------)



[Draft]


[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-29 (1:10:48)]
[GRAPHIC=NFL Logo]


UVa's Patrick Kerney was the state's sole N-F-L draft pick on Saturday. But yesterday, things looked brighter in the Commonwealth, as four players were chosen in the fourth round.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Chestnut Hill, MA/ESPN; :]


Virginia Tech's Peirson Prioleau was drafted by San Francisco as the 110-th pick overall.
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg/Last Season; :]


He was joined a short while later by Virginia quarterback Aaron Brooks, who went to the Packers as the 131-st pick.
(------------)
[Anchor=Patrick]
[ss=Hold!!!]


And with the 124-th pick, the Cleveland Browns selected Virginia Linebacker Wali Rainer.
Virginia Tech offensive tackle Derek Smith was the 165-th pick. He'll go to the Redskins.
Pittsburgh took Virginia's Antonio Dingle as the 214-th pick in the seventh round. And after a season-ending knee injury in '98, UVa's Anthony Poindexter was picked 216-th overall by Baltimore.
by SS