[HEADLINES]

[TALENT=Melanie]

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


The truck driver involved in a fatal collision with a car and schol bus goes on trial.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]


And A-E-P releases a new route for the high-voltage power line.
(/////////////)
[TALENT=Patrick]
[SS=None]



[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=None]


News 7 at noon is next.

[AEP-Powerline]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=sgo]
[TAPE#99-9 TC1:31:10]
[GRAPHIC=AEP Powerline]


The process of building a new high-voltage power line through parts of Southwest Virginia is moving forward again.


American Electric Power has filed detailed plans for an alternative power line route with state officials in Richmond.
[Double Boxes=Scott and Melanie/Newsroom]


Scott Goldberg is in the newsroom this afternoon to tell us what this means.
[Live=Scott Full/Newsroom]
[SUPER=@Scott1;]


Melanie, A-E-P has been warning people who use electricity for quite some time that the demand for power in this area is skyrocketing...
And a new power line is the best way to meet that demand.
Today, A-E-P took another step in the long process that it hopes will end with the state's blessing to build that new line.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=the power company]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./May 1998; :20]
[SUPER=04-TV Commerical; :31]
[RUNS=:50]
[OUT Q=nearly tripled]

(([pre pro map]
The power company has said all along that the best way to back up this region's power supply is building a 765-thousand volt line between Wyoming County, West Virginia, and Cloverdale.
But last fall the state asked AEP to look at an alternative:
A line that would connect the Wyoming station to the Jacksons Ferry station in Wythe County.
Today, AEP said that alternative route WOULD meet the region's immediate electrical needs ... but would not provide the same long-term protection against power outages.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 3:32]
[IN Q=in the last]

((IN THE LAST 25-YEARS, WE'RE USING 10 TIMES MORE ELECTRICITY THAN WE USED TO.))
[RUNS=05]
[OUT Q=used to]


This week AEP launched a TV ad campaign, saying it has not built a major power line in this area since 19-73.
By the time a new so-called backbone line could be built, AEP says demand for electricity will have nearly tripled.))

(XXXXXXXX)

[TAKE WEBWATCH BOARD]
Later this afternoon AEP said it will post more information on its website, including a map of the Wyoming-Jacksons Ferry line.
You can find a link to AEP's home page at our home page, at WDBJ-7-DOT-COM.
(-------------)
[Live=Scott Full/Newsroom]


This process is far from over.
If the state decides this alternative line is better for the environment and is indeed the line AEP should build, there will be another round of public hearings.
The earliest we might expect to see a new power line would be late in the year 2003.
[Double Boxes=Scott and Melanie/Newsroom]


Melanie.


[Gray]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#99-]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]


The rollback driver who caused the fatal Franklin County school bus crash earlier this year has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter.
[Double Boxes=Tina and Melanie/Starlink]


Tina Tenret is at the Franklin County Courthouse in Rocky Mount with the latest.
[Live=Tina Full/Starlink]
[SUPER=@Tina1;]
[SUPER=06-Rocky Mount;]
( ad lib)

[****ROLLED FROM STARLINK****]
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Rocky Mount; :00]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co./January; :08]
[SUPER=01-Trooper J. Harris/State Police; :20]
[RUNS=:38]
[OUT Q=bus was there]




[Live=Tina Full/Starlink]
[SUPER=06-Rocky Mount;]
( ad lib)



[Double Boxes=Tina and Melanie/Starlink]



[Trigon]


[ANCHOR=Mealnie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#99-]
[GRAPHIC=Trigon]


Trigon Blue Cross Blue Shield will no longer process certain types of Medicare claims in Virginia and West Virginia.
[Double Boxes=Joy and Melanie/Microwave]


Joy Sutton is in Roanoke with the latest.
Melanie, this will affect employees more than it affects patients in our area.
[LIVE=Joy Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=@Joy1;]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke;]


145 Trigon Blue Cross Blue Shield employees from Roanoke, Richmond, and Charleston,West Virginia were told their positions will be eliminated effective September 30-th.
This change will impact the Medicare Part A Program.
(XXXXXXXX)

[TAKE PRE-PRO PAge1]
For those in this program here is how it breaks down
The Medicare benefits will remain the same...but your claims will be processed by a different processing vendor.
(XXXXXXXXXX)

[TAKE PRE-PRO Page2]
This will not effect..Trigon Blue Cross Blue Sheild's Medicare supplement coverage or Trigon Health Keepers Gold HMO Coverage issued byHealth Keepers.
(-------------)
[LIVE=Joy Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke;]


Trigon says the company will try to move those who lost their jobs into other positions within the company.
And Trigon expects the new vendor that will handle the Medicare claims will hire some of the employees
[Double Boxes=Joy and Melanie/Microwave]


Melanie, [tease1] [HARD MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]


More bad news for Roanoke's employment picture-- the Rainbo Bakery is shutting down.
We'll have more on that story in a just a minute on News-7 at Noon.
(--------------)
[VO-NAT ]


And the three former P-O-W's are headed home this afternoon.
(---------------)
[Talent=Patrick]

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

[jenny-jones]


[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]


A jury in Michigan has found ''The Jenny Jones Show'' negligent and responsible for the death of a guest.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Detroit, MI;]

[11:14:53]
Jurors awarded more than 25 million dollars to the family of Scott Amedure.
Amedure was killed after the 19-95 taping, in which he admitted to having a gay crush on a friend.
That friend, Jonathan Schmitz, faces a retrial on murder charges this August.
(------------)


[Kosovo]


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


President Clinton said this morning that despite diplomatic progress towards peace in Kosovo, the NATO bombings won't stop until the Yugoslav govermnent stops its offensive in Kosovo.
Lisa Hughes has the latest from washington.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Washington DC;]
[SUPER=01-Jamie Shea/NATO Spokesman;]
[SUPER=03-Bogorodica, Macedonia;]
[SUPER=01-Lisa Hughes/Reporting;]
[RUNS=1:12]
[OUT Q=CBS NEWS WASHINGTON]

((Super: Washington, DC (nats_Pres getting on Air Force One) Even as the President and other Western leaders tout a diplomatic breakthrough _NATO is stepping up its attacks on Yugoslav targets.
(Super: Jamie Shea/NATO Spokesman

9:06:44 IT HAS NEVER BEEN SO TRUE THAT NATO NEVER SLEEPS) While most of Yugoslavia was sleeping_NATO stepped up its attacks.
(quick nats of Serb tv/damage 10:06:20)

Bombs struck a bridge outside Belgrade_and an airport at Nis, Serbia's third largest city. But Serb TV also reports NATO has made more deadly mistakes_attacking residential neighborhoods in Pristina, Kosovo and in Nis.
(natstank nats)
(Super: Bogorodica, Macedonia)

NATO is beefing up its military presence at the Kosovo border. And while Russia is urging the allies to stop the airstrikes durings negotiations with Milosevic_President Clinton says they will only end when NATO's key conditions are met. President Clinton (10:44:50-:57 THE REFUGEES GO HOME TO SAFETY AND AUTONOMY. SERB FORCES OUT AND INTERNATIONAL SECURITY FORCE IN)
(Stand up: THE PRESIDENT SAYS THAT SECURITY FORCE MUST HAVE NATO AT ITS CORE. HE ALSO SAYS THERE HAS TO BE A TOTAL W

ITHDRAWL OF SERB TROOPS FROM KOSOVO. NEGOTIATING THOSE TWO ISSUES MAY BE THE TOUGHEST AS ALL SIDES SEEK AN END TO A CONFLICT ENTERING ITS SEVENTH WEEK. Lisa Hughes. CBS News. Washington)))

[tornado-LATEST]


[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Tornado]


The power is back on in many parts of tennessee today--
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


One of the latest states to be hit by killer storms.
But officials say it may take days before power is restored in some badly-damaged areas.
[SUPER=03-Moore, OK;]


Meantime, a few people are still unaccounted for in Oklahoma.. after monstrous tornadoes ripped through that state.


Meantime, most schools will be back in session on Monday, as the children try to cope and understand.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]

[8:25:00 PM NEWSPATH FEED]
[IN Q=]

(( GOD FELT TO DO THIS... I THINK THAT SOMETIMES, THAT HIS TORNADOES GET OUT OF CONTROL AND THEY JUST GO WITHOUT HIS PERMISSION.))
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=WITHOUT HIS PERMISSION]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Three people who were injured in the twisters Monday have died, that puts the death toll at 51.
(------------)



[police-shooting]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]


Four California police officers who shot an killed a young black woman earlier this year will NOT face charges.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Riverside, CA;]

[4:12:45]
Tyisha Miller was inside her locked car, apparently unconscious, with a gun in her lap, when officers approached.
Officers say they fired because Miller sat up and reached for her gun when they broke out a car window.
Miller was hit 12 times -- four times in the head.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]

[4:14:40] ((IT WAS A JUDGEMENT CALL AND IT WAS PROBABLY A MISTAKE IN THEIR JUDGEMENT. BUT WHEN MISS MILLER REACHED FOR HER GUN, THE POLICE OFFICERS BELIEVED THAT THEY HAD TO SHOOT IN ORDER TO DEFEND THEMSELVES.))
[SUPER=01-Grover Task/Riverside District Attorney;]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=defend themselves.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


The shooting led to protests by civil rights and religious leaders and residents.
The district attorney says there's no evidence racism played a role in the shooting.
(------------)


[Rainbo-Closing]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=ssi]
[TAPE#=99-24 TC05:09]
[GRAPHIC=Business Closing]

A local bakery is shutting its doors, leaving about 60 workers without jobs.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Rainbo Bakery workers were told of the closing yesterday afternoon and this morning. Their jobs will end when the bakery closes on July 9th.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I guess]

[00:08:20] ((MICHAEL WILLIAMSON/RAINBO EMPLOYEE: I GUESS A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THERE ARE GOING TO HAVE HARD FEELINGS OVER IT. THE WAY I SEE IT, THEY'RE OUT TO MAKE MONEY. IF IT WASN'T WORKING, IT WASN'T WORKING.))
[SUPER=01-Michael Williamson/Rainbo Employee]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=wasn't working.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


The company says it was not working. Senior officials in Kansas City say the Roanoke plant was less efficient and more costly than other facilities. Rainbo local bread production has been shut down February. Now all production will stop, leaving behind some workers who've put in as many as 33 years with the company.
(------------)


[SML-Report]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=99-22 TC13:34]
[GRAPHIC=SML Water Quality]


Volunteers say keeping Smith Mountain lake clean is a big job, so they're looking for a little help.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co.;]


They want to hire someone to monitor water quality, especially levels of silt, debris and bacteria in the lake.
That was the final recommendation of a task force report released yesterday.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 17:05:33]
[IN Q=Safety's a key]

((BOB VILLWOCK/LAKE RESIDENT: SAFETY'S A KEY FACTOR AS WELL AS WATER QUALITY. ALL THE GROUPS LOOKING INTO THIS NEED TO CONTINUE. IT'S A VERY GOOD CAUSE.))
[SUPER=01-Bob Villwock/Lake Resident;]
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q=good cause]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Bill Tanger is investigating the idea of a full-time, paid lake keeper.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 14:45:59]
[IN Q=A RIVERKEEPER]

((A RIVERKEEPER FOR SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE COULD REALLY DO A LOT TO PROTECT WATER QUALITY BUT ALSO TO PROTECT RECREATION, BOATING.))
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=TO PROTECT RECREATION, BOATING]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


A town meeting will be held May 26th to discuss the water quality report.
(------------)

[Tease2] [SOFT MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]


The brush fire in the Shenandoah National Park is nearly contained.
That's the next story on News-7 at Noon.
(-----------------)
[VO-NAT ]


And we'll take a trip to a Tulip Festival in Iowa.
(-----------------)

[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #2]


[Park-Fire]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Brush Fire]


Nearly a week after it began, a 32-hundred acre fire in the Shenandoah National Park is nearly contained.
More than 500 firefighters from 22 states has been working to finish a nine-mile line surrounding the blaze .
Authorities hope to begin releasing some of the firefighters today.
But closed parts of the Skyline Drive and the Appalachian Trail probably will remain blocked off until Monday.


[Tulips]


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


Flower power is alive and well in Pella, Iowa.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pella, IA;]

[ 7:37:13]
The annual Tulip festival is underway.
The event runs through Saturday and there all kinds of events to take in.
There's street and stage entertainment, Dutch Dancers and street scrubbers.
(------------)


[Stocks]


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


On Wall Street at Noon, the Dow was UP 19 points.
[tease3] [SPORTS MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]


Coming up in sports--
The Roanoke Express have their backs against the wall in the kelly Cup Playoffs tonight.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT ]


And the Salem Avalanche were fit to be tied last night--tie-dyed, that is.
We'll take you out to the ballgame after the break.
(---------------)

[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #3]


[KellyCup]


[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=nte]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Express/Richmond]


The Roanoke Express could be on the next train out of the playoff race tonight when they face the Richmond Renegades.

The Express go into tonight's contest down three games to none in the best of four semifinal series.
Roanoke coach Scott Gordon tried to keep the team loose with an optional practice yesterday--even with the pressure mounting.
The Express would have to rattle off a four-game-win streak starting tonight to advance to the Kelly Cup finals. A loss ends the series and the team's season.

[S-Avalanche]


[ANCHOR=patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-34]
[GRAPHIC=AVALANCHE]


The Salem Avalanche finished a four game set with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans last night as they continue their current seven gome home stand at Salem Memorial.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem/Pelicans vs. Avalanche]


It was Grateful Dead night at the yard and one needed only to look into the Salem dugout to figure that out. If you're still not convinced - take a look at Salem General manager Dave "Garcia" Oster.
We pick it up with Salem down two-zip. Myrtle Beach's Mark Mortimer singles to center and drives in a run from second. It's now three to nothing in the 4th.
The Pelicans Jeff Spencer would add one more in the frame as he singles to center. Jody Garrett will show off his arm and accuracy with a strike to the plate, but Rogelio Arias can't hold on and it's now 4-nothing.
[SUPER=37-Myrtle Beach/13/Salem/2;]


Salem would come back and cut the lead in half on a double to center off the wall by Mark Hamlin. Two runs score, but Salem falls 13-to-2.
(------------)


[S-Softball]


[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-40]
[GRAPHIC=tech softball]


The Virginia Tech Softball team begins the Atlantic 10 tournament this afternoon against St. Joseph's at the Moyer Sports Complex in Salem.
But last night, the Hokies got a head start on taking home some conference hardware.
Head coach Scot Thomas was named coach of the year in the A-10, and pitcher Ashley Dobbe was named rookie of the year after pitching Tech to 28 wins on the mound.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem; :00]


Tech comes in as the number two seed behind UMass. The Lady Hokies are 52 and 14 overall, 14 and 2 in conference play. One reason; pitching. Klarisa Crowell and the pitching staff are ranked third nationally with a 1.03 ERA.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="we've]
[SUPER=01-Scot Thomas/Va. Tech Softball Coach; :00]
[SUPER=01-Michelle Meadows/Va. Tech Second Base; :23]
[RUNS=:36]
[OUT Q=....on their toes"]
(-------------------------)
[ANCHOR=mike]
[GRAPHIC=hold tech softball]


Crowell, Kara Krumhardt, Dobbe and Bronwyn Blair each earned first team all-conference honors last night.
Tech and St. Joe's square off at 2pm today. UMass and Dayton are playing in the opener right now.

[S-IRL]


[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-41]
[GRAPHIC=CHARLOTTE]


Officials at the Charlotte Motor Speedway are still wondering if this past weekend's disaster was avoidable.
The Speedway's insurance company K&K Insurance Group says it plans to reenact the fatal accident at the track by using a crane to retrace the path the errant wheel travled into the stands.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Concord, NC/Last Saturday Night; :00]


This past Saturday, three fans were killed during the Indy Racing League's Visionaire 500 when a tire flew into the stands along with other debris in turn four.
[SUPER=04-Yesterday;]


Ironically, during the first moments of this GM test session, Michael Waltrip hit the wall in almost the same spot, but his car did not fly apart.
Still safety is on the minds of everyone at the track.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="We know...]
[SUPER=01-Jeff Gordon/Reigning Winston Cup Champ; :02]
[RUNS=:27]
[OUT Q=...TO ENJOY."]
(------------)
[VO-NAT CON'T]


Raising then fence may help, but it may not.There is still teh chance that one of these Indy cars will fly through it.
The real problem is more likely SPEED!
When Gordon won the pole for the 600 last May he ran a lap at just under 183 miles an hour.
In contrast, Greg Ray's pole winning speed for the Indy event last Friday night was 40 miles an hour faster, at ne(------------) arly 223 miles an hour.
by SS