WDBJ 7 news at Noon for 05/17/99

[HEADLINES]

[TALENT=Melanie]

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

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fights for his political life in Israel.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

And four Michigan students face serious charges after plotting a massacre at their middle school.
(/////////////)
[TALENT=Patrick]
[SS=None]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=None]

News 7 at noon is next.

[Israel-election]

[ANCHOR=Mel]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=Net]
[GRAPHIC=News-7 at Noon]

Israelis are voting today for a Prime Minister.
At issue is not just the choice of a leader... but the course of the Middle East process.
[SS=Netanyahu]

And all the pre-election polls have shown Prime Minister Netanyahu will be out of a job.
Richard Roth reports.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[10 newspath]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Jerusalem, Israel; :00]
[SUPER=01-Benjamin Netanyahu/Israeli Prime Minister; :16 QUICK]
[SUPER=01-Ehud Barak/Likud Party Candidate; :31]
[SUPER=01-Richard Roth/Reporting; :52]
[RUNS=1:00]
[OUT Q=cbs news, Tel Aviv]
(((SCRIPT)
(Locator: Jerusalem, Israel)
(bibi prays)
NARR: NETANYAHU THIS MORNING PRAYED IN PUBLIC AT JERUSALEM'S WESTERN WALL, AND KEPT HIS PRAYERS PRIVATE.
(bibi votes)
BUT CASTING HIS BALLOT AFTER A CAMPAIGN THAT'S SEEN HIS POPULARITY PLUMMET, THE ONLY TRIUMPH HE WAS PREDICTING TODAY, WAS THE TRIUMPH OF DEMOCRACY.
SOT BENJAMIN NETANYAHU/ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER: the people will decide and i'm sure they'll make the right choice.
(barak votes)
NARR: POLLSTERS' PREDICTIONS SAY THAT CHOICE THOUGH INCREASINGLY LOOKS LIKE NETANYAHU'S OPPONENT LABOR PARTY LEADER EHUD BARAK - THE FORMER ARMY GENERAL WHO TODAY'S FIGHTING A BATTLE AGAINST OVER-CONFIDENCE.
SOT EHUD BARAK/LIKUD PARTY CANDIDATE: the first step for change for unity and for hope.
NARR: PRE-ELECTION POLLS PUT BARAK AS MUCH AS TEN POINTS AHEAD OF NETANYAHU.
MOS SOT WOMAN (no ID): i think we need a change. did that give you a hint?
(var at polls and voting queues)
NARR: FOR THE FOUR MILLION PLUS ISRAELIS ELIGIBLE TO VOTE TODAY, THE ELECTION CAPS A CAMPAIGN THAT'S TURNED MORE ON PERSONALITY THAN ON POLICY. ROTH O/C CLOSE: BUT BARAK SAYS IF HE'S ELECTED A PRIORITY WILL BE TO REVIVE THE PEACE PROCESS, FROZEN SINCE LAST DECEMBER. RR, CBSN, Tel))

[Kosovo-China]

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

U-S officials are confirming they will release two Serb P-O-W's.
They say U-S military authorities in Germany are getting ready to release them to the International Red Cross.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Meantime, NATO says it has even more reason to continue its bombing campaign.
Officials say Serb forces pulled refugees off hills and used them as human shields during last week's NATO bombing of a kosovar village.
87 people died in the bombing.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[10:11;]
[IN Q=]
((DO YOU THINK THE SERBIAN SERVICE ARE USING THE ALBANIAN PEOPLE LIKE HUMAN SHIELDS ?
"YES, THAT'S TRUE. THEY COULD DO THAT. LIKE THEY DID IT IN PRISTINA."))
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=DID IT IN PRISTINA.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Beijing, China;]
[10:14:11]
Meantime, the U-S Embassy in Beijing reopened today for the first time since violent protest over NATO 's bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade.
While embassy staff were back at work on Monday, visa offices have been closed indefinitely.
(------------)

[Reno-crime]

[ANCHOR=mel]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=School Safety]

Backpacks are being checked today at a middle school in Michigan.
Holland Woods Middle School and other school in Port Huron (HYUUR-an) were closed Friday because of what authorities say was a mass murder plot by students.
Four students were arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit murder.
[GRAPHIC=Janet Reno]

Attorney General Janet Reno said today she is making juvenile crime prevention a top priority.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[10:01:03-26]
[IN Q=I think everyone is interested....]
[SUPER=01-Janet Reno/U. S. Attorney General;]
[RUNS=:23]
[OUT Q=violcence in this nation.]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=MELANIE]
[SS=WASHINGTON]

This week Senators will try to hammer out a compromise on gun legislation which is part of the larger juvenile crime bill.

[Hollins-Graduation]

[ANCHOR=MElanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Eliz. Dole]

Presidential hopeful Elizabeth Dole tied to inspire this year's Hollins University graduates-- and gain a few recruits in the process.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]

260 women received diplomas yesterday.
Dole told them they will be leaders and play an important role in society.
She also talked about the struggles she has faced as a woman throughout her life and career.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I aimed]
((ELIZABETH DOLE/COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER: I AIMED A SLEDGE AT THE GLASS CEILING THAT HOLDS DOWN WOMEN AND MINORITIES...A GLASS CEILING WE STILL CRASH INTO FROM TIME TO TIME.))
[SUPER=01-Elizabeth Dole/Commencement Speaker; ]
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q=time to time]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Dole recieved an honorary doctor of laws degree.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=Washington and Lee]

Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rhenquist spoke at Washington and Lee University's law school commencement.
He told graduates to be aware of what he called the dark side of law-- the focus in big law firms on profits. [tease1] [HARD MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

If you don't have Star-Wars fever yet-- get ready.
We'll take you to the Hollywood Premiere in just a few moments on News-7 at Noon.
(--------------)
[VO-NAT ]

And tornados rip through parts of Iowa-- we'll have the dramatic pictures.
But first let's talk to Patrick about our weather.
(---------------)
[Talent=Patrick]
[Wx-Tease] [Weatherpro] [music up full] [comm1]

[Tornado]

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

Iowa resident are trying to recover from Killer tornadoes.
(//////SOT//////)
[in=]
[1:06;24]
[SUPER=03-Pottawattamie Co., IA;]
[RUNS=:03]
[OUT=(NATS OF TORNADO)]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The twisters ripped through the state yesterday killing two people.
This one was reported to be more than a mile wide.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[2 sots---5:50 AND 6:17:27]
((TORNADO WITNESS:IT WAS LIKE HUGE, IT WAS REALLY WIDE AND YOU COULD SEE TREES GOING UP IN IT. TORNADO WITNESS:ACTUALLY WEWERE TERRIFIED, NEPHEW WAS IN A CAR SEAT AND WE HAD TROUBLE GETTING HIM OUT TO GET HIM IN.))

[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=to get him in]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The twisters destroyed or damaged several homes.
(------------)

[S-Botetourt-Fatal]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=sta]
[TAPE#=99-11 TC55:35]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]

Authorities are still investigating a fatal car accident in Botetourt County.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.;]

It happened around two o'clock yesterday afternoon near the intersection of Beaver Dam Road and Route 11.
Authorities say the man was travelling west along Beaver Dam Road when his truck veered off the shoulder, flipped and landed in a creek.
He died at the scene.
(------------)

[E-House-Crash]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=sta]
[TAPE#=99-17; 22:17]
[GRAPHIC=Accident]

Some Roanoke homeowners got an unwelcome visitor last night.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]

A jeep crashed through the front of this house.
It happened at 14-31 Buena Vista Street.
Roanoke police say the jeep was parked along a steep driveway across the street when its emergency brakes failed.
It then sped down the driveway and smashed into the home.
No one was in the jeep or at home at the time and there were no injuries reported.
(------------)

[S-New-market]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=sta]
[TAPE#=99-13; 99:13]
[GRAPHIC=None]

V-M-I cadets and other civil war soldiers charged across the New Market battlefield again.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-New Market;]

The cadets were among almost two-thousand people who participated in the re-enactment of the Battle of New Market this weekend.
The re-enactment is an annual event and history lesson of sorts for the cadets.
During the Civil War the entire cadet corps was called into action by the Confederacy in 1864.
Ten died in battle.
(------------)

[WebWatch]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=eea]
[TAPE#=Web Watch]
[GRAPHIC=Web Watch]

The White House comes under attack-- a cyber-attack that is.
You can help out Oklahoma tornado victims over the internet.
And, you can check out clips from the movie Star Wars.
Eric Earnhart has more in Web Watch.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The White House website]
[RUNS=1:20]
[OUT Q=EE, News-7]
(([intro] [RUNS :05]
The White House website is back up and running after hackers shut it down last week posting anti-NATO messages. A person claiming to be the hacker says he did it just because it was easy.
The U.S. is considering ordering a major sattelite company to stop transmitting internet access into Yugoslavia.
If you're looking for a way to connect with Oklahoma tornado victim's online, the Oklahoman newspaper website can help.
You can post messages on the tornado forum, find friends and relatives, and check a list of relief organizations.

The Tour D Festival bicycle race rolls into Roanoke over the Memorial Day weekend, bringing 20 thousand dollars in prizes with it, learn more about the race, even download an entry form at Tourdfestival-dot-com.

[natsot]

If waiting for the Phantom Menace is about to send you into hyperspace.... relax, the official Star Wars episode one website has plenty of video clips, interviews and behind the scenes information to keep you busy for the next few days.

For links to these sites, click on WebWatch, on the WDBJ website, at WDBJ-seven-dot-com.)) [Tease2] [SOFT MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

Almost 85 years after a soldier dropped a message in a bottle into the sea-- it finally reaches its destination.
More on that story later in the newscast.
(-----------------)
[VO-NAT ]

And Star Wars is already raking in Big-Bucks-- for a good cause.
We'll have more on yesterday's premiere fundraiser when News-7 at Noon returns.
(-----------------)
[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #2]

[E-Wilson]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=jha]
[TAPE#=99-17;]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Legendary jazz singer Nancy Wilson brought a huge crowd to the Roanoke Civic Center last night.
(----------)
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=nat sound]
((NAT SOUND))
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
[RUNS=:05]
[OUT Q=nat sound]
(----------)
[VO-NAT]

Wilson lit up the stage with her soft, jazz music and dynamic voice.
The singer said her music seems to have a way of appealing to people of all ages.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:30:52]
[IN Q=Three and four]
((NANCY WILSON/JAZZ SINGER: I HAVE GRANDMOTHERS THAT HAVE BEEN TO SHOWS WITH THEIR DAUGHTER AND HER DAUGHTER AND THAT IS WHAT MAKES IT WORTH WHILE.... YOU KNOW THAT YOU ARE SINGING SONGS THAT LAST AND NOT JUST SONGS FOR TODAY.))
[SUPER=01-Nancy Wilson/ Singer]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q= songs for today.]
(---------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[GRAPHIC=none]

Wilson has been in the business for 60 years and recently released her 60th album.

[Stocks]

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

On Wall Street at Noon, the Dow was DOWN 152 points.
[tease3] [SPORTS MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

Coming up in sports
It was a disappointing weekend for virginia college lacrosse teams--
(----------------)
[VO-NAT ]

And it was pure excitement in the N-B-A playoffs last night as both games went down to the wire.
This and more after the break.
(---------------)
[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #3]

[CollegeLax]

[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=nte]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Lacrosse]

And then there were none.
Three teams from Virginia had high hopes in the Division three Men's lacrosse championships last week--
After this weekend, all are gone.
After beating Lynchburg in the first round earlier in the week, Hampden Sydney lost yesterday to Salisbury State 15 to 10 in quarterfinal action.
In another quarterfinal on Saturday, number two seed Washington and Lee was shocked by Denison 17 to seven.
Not all hope is lost, though.
[GRAPHIC=UVA LAcrosse]

In the Division one tournament, the U-V-A Cavaliers are in the quarterfinals and take on Delaware this coming Sunday.
In women's action.
The Lady Cavaliers ended a stellar season yesterday, losing to top seed and undefeated Maryland in the championship game, 16 to 6. The Terps take home their fifth straight title.

[S-Wrath]

[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-35 (1:02:27)]
[GRAPHIC=Roanoke Wrath]

The Roanoke Wrath is now 2 and 1 in early season Open Cup qualifying round play.
Delaware scored in the last minute of a second overtime yesterday to beat the Wrath 2 to 1.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Roanoke vs Delaware; :]

Goal Keeper Danny Briton warming up before the game.
The Wrath would count on him early as he turns the Wizards shot away early in the first half of the game.
The Wizards would strike first in the second half when Peppy Ramirez crosses the ball to David Pogemiller who heads it in for the one to nothing lead.
[SUPER=34-Roanoke/1/Delaware/2/;]

Minutes later the Wrath would even it up off the throw in the ball lands at Derrick Shockely's feet and he would score to tie it at 1. But Delaware goes on to win it 2 to 1 in overtime.
(------------)

[Radford]

[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Radford Univ.]

The Radford baseball team has been sanctioned by the Big South Conference.
The move is the result of an on-field altercation in the second game of Saturday's double header with Coastal Carolina.
Radford's Mike Potter is suspended for three games and will miss the first two games of the Big South tournament which begins Thursday.
All other players involved, including at least one from Coastal Carolina, are suspended for one game.

[S-MEET]

[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=SP-34 tc 54:05]
[GRAPHIC=News 7 Sports Generic]

The Virginia State Championship Gymnastics meet wrapped up yesterday at the Roanoke Academy of Gymnastics.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;]

More than 280 athletes from all over the state competed in the floor exercise, balance beam, uneven bars and vault.
These level four gymnasts are looking forward to the day when they can be like Kearstin Myers.
Myers, a level nine, was one of only two Virginia gymnasts to compete in the USGA regionals last week.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I just]
[SUPER=01-Kearstin Myers/Gymnast;]
[RUNS=10]
[OUT Q=helped me a lot (video freezes)]
(-------------)

[S-NBA]

[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-38 (53:26)]
[GRAPHIC=NBA PLAYOFFS]

The New York Knicks became the second number 8 seed to win a playoff series when Allan Houston hit a last second shot in a 78 to 77 win over Miami.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Miami, FL/NBC Sports; :]

Pat Riley and the Heat fighting to advance to the second round of the playoffs.
Miami led at the half but when New York's Allan Houston busted this three pointer the game was tied at 60 to 60.

The Heat's Alonzo Mourning then went to the hoop to open the fourth quarter scoring on the jump hook and drawing the foul for the three point play.
New York answered getting the ball to Patrick Ewing who hits the jumper to make it a one point game.
But the Heat came up with a couple of three pointers Dan Marjerlie's made it a 3 point lead and the Heat looked in control.
[SUPER=32-New York/78/Miami/77/;]

Then New York had 18 seconds to get the win and Houston breaks free and hits the jumper and the Knicks win it 78 to 77.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="People were...]
[SUPER=01-Jeff Van Gundy/New York Head Coach; :]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=.....deserve that."]
(---------------)

[S-Jazz]

[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=rst]
[TAPE#=SP-40 (1:01:31)]
[GRAPHIC=NBA PLAYOFFS]

The Utah Jazz survived a huge scare from Sacramento and advanced to the second round of the N-B-A playoffs with a 99 to 92 win over Sacramento in overtime last night.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salt Lake City, UT/NBC Sports; :]

Early on in the game, Karl Malone and Corliss Williamson get involved in a pushing match.
The Kings Vernon Maxwell pulls up and hits this three pointer but Sacramento still trailed 16 to 8.
Utah's Brian Russell gets out on the fast break after the steal and throws down the jam and the Jazz led by 12.
But the Kings rallied in the second quarter Chris Webber with the nice post up running hook and foul giving the Kings a 2 piont lead.
[SUPER=32-Utah/99/Sacramento/92/;]

The Jazz would out score the Kings 11 to 4 in the overtime period to get the 99 to 92 overtime win.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="We concentrated...]
[SUPER=01-Bryan Russell/Jazz Forward; :]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=....took over."]
(-------------)

[Message-bottle]

[ANCHOR=Mel ]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=Net]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Eighty-five years after it was sent, a message in a bottle has finally reached its destination.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Auckland, New Zealand;]
[10:22:03]
It was sent by a soldier, who had left to fight in World War One.
Private Thomas Hughes' letter was addressed to his wife in England, but it was delivered to his daughter Emily Crowhurst, who now lives in New Zealand.
The green bottle was recovered from the Thames (TEMZ) River in London.
It reads, ``Dear Wife, I am writing this note on the boat and dropping it into the sea just to see if it will reach you.'' (------------) Huges died two days after writing the letter in a battlefield in France.