[HEADLINES]
[TALENT=Melanie]
(///////SOT////////)
[IN=]
[7:53:30]
((JERRY JARRELLS/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER:VIRGINIA AND PORTIONS OF THE DEL MAR PENISULA WILL CONTINUE TO BE AFFECTED BY STRONG WINDS, LARGE SWELLS, DANGEROUS BREAKING WAVES THAT LIKELY WILL RESULT IN EXTENSIVE BEACH EROSION." ))
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT=beach erosion.]
(--------------)
[VO-NAT]
Hurricane Dennis is weakening as it slowly heads out to sea-- but forecasters warn it could turn back toward land.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
And a hog farm debate is decided in Halifax County.
(/////////////)
[TALENT=Patrick]
[SS=None]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=None]
News 7 at noon is next.
[Transportation]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Jim Gilmore]
Governor Jim Gilmore announced his two and half Billion dollar transportation plan this morning-- a plan in which Southwest and Central Virginia would fare well.
(XXXXXXX)
[TAKE FULL SCREEN BOARD]
Gilmore wants to spend the two and a half Billion dollars on 90-projects statewide over a period of six years.
Northern Virginia would get the most money-- nearly 140 million dollars.
[ADD LYNCHBURG]
But the Lynchburg District would get the second highest amount-- nearly 109-million dollars for five projects.
Most of that money would go to the Lynchburg-Madison Heights Bypass.
[ADD SALEM]
The Salem District would get 31 million dollars for eleven projects.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=HOLD]
Gilmore said the plan would not require a tax-hike.
We'll have much more on the governor's plan tonight on News-7 at Five and Six.
[HURRICANE]
[ANCHOR=MEL]
[NEWSCAST=NOON]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Hurricane Dennise]
Forecasters are still keeping a close eye on hurricane Dennis.
It's now stalled off the coast of North Carolina, but forecasters say it could very well head back to shore, perhaps around Norfolk, later in the week.
Lee Cowan has the latest from Nags Head.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Nags Head, NC; :00]
[SUPER=01-Edward Rappaport/National Hurricane Center; :17]
[SUPER=01-Lee Cowan/Reporting; 1:08]
[RUNS=1:24]
[OUT Q=CBS News, Nags Head, North Carolina.]
((Dennis may have crawled far out to sea, but it's keeping North Carolina on its hands and knees.
(NAT)
It's winds have slowed, but hardly enough. The rain has remained steady, and the surf has turned mean.
(NAT)
SOT: EDWARD RAPPAPORT/NATL. HURRICANE CENTER
(GRAPHICS)
His eye may be weakening, but Dennis' reach is still far. Tropical Storm warnings remain in effect from Cape Lookout North Carolina, to Chincoteague Virginia., and heavy surf warnings are posted all the way
to Connecticut.
Flooding continues, and so do the power outages, and with them, the exodus of people by car.
(NAT)
For those who had tried to stare Dennis down, the game is now over, and Dennis has won.
(SOT)
"Had enough adventure_"
A sad sight for businesses who had hoped for better: A blast of tourists instead of the wind - a flood of cash, instead of the water.
STANDUP: LEE COWAN/REPORTING))
[WX-One]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]
Let's talk to Patrick Evans for a check on the latest forecast for Dennis.
(toss to Patrick)
[Patrick in CK]
[CK=WxPro]
(Toss back to Melanie)
[TURKEY]
[ANCHOR=MEL]
[NEWSCAST=NOON]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Earthquake]
Another powerful tremor has rocked Turkey.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Kocaeli, Turkey;]
[7:08:00]
At least one person was killed and some 160 injured.
Many of the victims were hurt jumping from windows or balconies in a panic.
It hit exactly two weeks after the devastating quake that killed more than 14- thousand, left thousands missing or homeless, and caused massive destruction.
Officials say the quake's magnitude was five-point-two.
(------------)
[fires]
[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=morn]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Wild Fire]
Wind-driven wildfires are raging in six Western states.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Apple Valley, CA;]
[4:19;53]
In Southern California, firefighters are trying to contain five major blazes, the worst in Apple Valley.
At least 32 homes have been burned and more than 51 thousand acres scorched.
Firefighters say the blaze is very erratic and very dangerous.
(------------)
[tease1]
[HARD MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
The second dragging-death trial is underway.
More on today's proceedings is still ahead on News-7 at Noon.
(--------------)
[VO-NAT ]
And Al Bedrosian may be off the hook in criminal court, but that doesn't mean everyone's happy about it.
We'll have reaction to yesterday's decision when we return.
(---------------)
[music up full]
[comm1]
[dragging-trial]
[ANCHOR=mel]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]
It's a crime that shocked the nation more than a year ago, the racially motivated dragging death of a black man.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bryant, TX;]
[10newspath na061]
Today in Texas, jury selection is underway in the trial of Lawrence Brewer.
The white supremacist is the second of three men to go on trial for the dragging death of James Byrd Junior.
The first man to be tried, John William King was sentenced to death.
Because of all the publicity around that case, this trial is being held in Bryan some 150 miles west of Jasper.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
((BILLY ROWLES/JASPER COUNTY SHERIFF "..WE'RE ASKING FOR THE DEATH
PENALTY..WE BELIEVE THIS IS A DEATH PENALTY CASE.."))
[SUPER=01-Billy Rowles/Jasper Co. Sheriff;]
[RUNS=:05]
[OUT Q=this is a death penalty case.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Lawyers say it could take two weeks to seat the jury.
Testimony is set to begin on September 15th.
(------------)
[Villarini]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]
The federal trial of a former head teller at the Cave Spring Branch of the Bank of Floyd gets underway today.
Karen Grey Villarini is accused of making off with 83-thousand dollars when she moved to Florida two years ago.
[Bedrosian]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=eea]
[TAPE#=99-26 1:35:10]
[GRAPHIC=Al Bedrosian]
The assault case against Al Bedrosian created a fury of public opinion-- the dismissal of the case may do the same.
A Roanoke prosecutor was seeking a 50 dollar fine for an assault charge against the House of Delegates candidate.
Instead the judge threw the case out.
Eric Earnhart has more.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Al Bedrosian and]
[SUPER=03-Salem; :00]
[SUPER=01-Melissa Campbell/Child's Mother; :18]
[SUPER=01-Cheryl Clifton/Witness; :33]
[SUPER=01-Al Bedrosian/Defendant; :47]
[SUPER=07-Judge James Swanson; 1:07]
[RUNS=1:37]
[OUT Q=EE, News 7]
(( Al Bedrosian and Melissa Campbell had nothing to say to each other as they came into the courthouse...
But both had plenty to say on the stand, Campbell describing what she saw when her son Malik ran past Bedrosian in the Lewis Gale Clinic waiting room, knocking over a container of candy.
[SOT 01:58:17]
[IN Q=Mr. Bedrosian kind of ]
((MELISSA CAMPBELL/CHILD'S MOTHER; MR. BEDROSIAN KIND OF GRABBED HIM AND LIFTED HIM UP OR BENT HIM OVER HIS HAND AND SPANKED HIM ON THE BOTTOM. ))
[RUNS= 10]
[OUT Q=on the bottom]
But a witness in the waiting room testified Bedrosian was protecting his infant from a child running out of control.
[SOT 02:46:46 tape 1]
[IN Q=I believe he]
((CHERYL CLIFTON/WITNESS; I BELIEVE HE WOULD HAVE GONE INTO THE BABY, I MEAN HE WAS JUST SORT OF ON A TILT, FROM WHAT I COULD SEE. ))
[RUNS= 05]
[OUT Q=what I could see]
Bedrosian, while saying he is guilty ONLY of protecting his daughter, also said, in the future he would handle a similar situation differently.
[SOT 03:00:42 tape 2]
[IN Q=I don't think]
(( AL BEDROSIAN/DEFENDANT; I DON'T THINK IT'S EVER GOING TO GET TO THAT POINT, BECAUSE I THINK, THE FIRST TIME THAT THERE'S RUCKUS, I'M GOING TO GO UP AND TELL THE PEOPLE AT THE COUNTER. ))
[RUNS= 09]
[OUT Q=at the counter]
Judge James Swanson, telling Bedrosian he was technically guilty of assault, also said the whole thing should have ended with Bedrosian's apology... A conviction he said, would accomplish nothing.
[SOT 03:20:46 tape 2]
[IN Q=I just see ]
(( JUDGE JAMES SWANSON; I JUST SEE ABSOLUTELY NO REASON TO CONTINUE THIS ANY FURTHER, IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM, AND I'M GOING TO DISMISS IT. ))
[RUNS= 06]
[OUT Q=going to dismiss it]
Campbell left the courtroom without comment.
Bedrosian, while pleased with the verdict, was not celebrating.
[SOT 03:21:40-tape 1]
[IN Q=people are saying]
(( AL BEDROSIAN/DEFENDANT; PEOPLE ARE SAYING CONGRATULATIONS, I DON'T THINK IT'S REALLY ONE OF THOSE TYPES OF THINGS, IT'S A TOUGH SITUATION, I WAS FROM THE VERY START, JUST A BAD SITUATION ALTOGETHER THAT YOU GET PUT INTO, AND IT'S OVER, FOR NOW. ))
[RUNS= 12]
[OUT Q=over for now.]
Bedrosian won't speculate on how this will affected his campaign for the house of delegates, but says he'll accept whatever happens.
Eric Earnhart, News 7.))
[React-Bedrosian]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=eea]
[TAPE#=99-32 TC40:42]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD ]
We spoke with Melissa Campbell this morning, she said she has no comment on the trial at this time.
But Roanoke's N-double-A-C-P chapter is speaking out.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
About a half dozen members attended the trial, including President Martin Jeffrey, who called the verdict a case of biased judgment.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 03:10:39]
[IN Q=If it had been]
((MARTIN JEFFREY/NAACP PRESIDENT; IF IT HAD BEEN DIFFERENT, AND IT HAD BEEN AN AFRICAN AMERICAN MALE AND A WHITE CHILD, THE JUDGE WOULD NEVER HAVE DONE THAT, NEVER, AND WE HAVE HISTORIC EVIDENCE TO PROVE THAT,))
[SUPER=01-Martin Jeffrey/NAACP President]
[RUNS=:10]
[OUT Q=evidence to prove that]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Jeffrey says the N-double-A-C-P is trying to determine if any civil rights violations were committed by the court.
[E-Reyes]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=99-21 2:02:05]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]
Former Liberty University student John Reyes (RAY-iss) must turn himself in to Lynchburg authorities this afternoon.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg/Nov. 1997]
Reyes was convicted of trespassing during an anti- abortion rally at E.C. Glass High School two years ago.
His appeals have run out and Reyes must begin serving a six- month jail term.
During a rally today, Reyes questioned why he and Operation Rescue director Flip Benham were singled out for prosecution weeks after the rally took place.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 00:38:10]
[IN Q=Are they going]
((JOHN REYES/CONVICTED PROTESTER: ARE THEY GOING TO TELL ME THAT THESE POLICE OFFICERS DID NOT KNOW HOW TO DO THEIR JOB? IF WE WERE DOING SOMETHING ILLEGAL, WOULDN'T THEY HAVE ARRESTED US?))
[SUPER=01-John Reyes/Convicted Protester; :00]
[RUNS=09]
[OUT Q=have arrested us?]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Reyes says he'll be bringing his Bible with him to jail today and hopes to spread the gospel among his fellow inmates.
With good behavior, he could be released in three months.
(------------)
[Tease2]
[SOFT MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
Smokers should be prepared to shell out extra money for a pack of cigarettes.
Find out how much next on News-7 at Noon.
(-----------------)
[VO-NAT ]
And a former white house intern is making her mark in the fashion world.
We'll have more in a just a moment..
(-----------------)
[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #2]
[Cigarette-Prices]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Cigarette Prices]
Smokers should get ready to pay another quarter a pack.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=@file;]
The costs of a tobacco settlement with states continue to filter down to cigarette users.
The big cigarette companies are hiking prices because they expect higher costs stemming from their 206 (B) billion dollar deal with states over health care expenses related to smoking.
They're also anticipating a ten-cent increase in the federal tax.
(------------)
[Appomattox-Schools]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=None]
It's a controversy that could lead to legal battle.
But, Appomattox County's school board intends to continue its plan to post the Lord's Prayer in county schools.
More attorneys, including the top attorney for the conservative Rutherford Institute, are saying the plan would not stand up to a court challenge.
The American Civil Liberties Union said it will sue if the board adopts policies promoting religion in the schools.
[Lewinsky-bags]
[ANCHOR=mel]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Monica Lewinsky]
The world may have thought it had heard the last of Monica Lewinsky - but it's not so.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[monicea in Marie Claire Magazine]
The former White House intern who nearly brought down a president is trying to make her mark in the fashion industry.
She's putting her name on a line of handbags and totes and she's selling them on the Internet.
The bags sell from 70 to 130 dollars and most bags carry the washing instructions, "Dry Clean Only."
(------------)
[Stocks]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE# none]
[GRAPHIC=stocks]
On Wall Street at Noon, the Dow was DOWN 123 points.
[tease3]
[SPORTS MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
Still ahead in sports-- ranked players aren't the only people on the court at the U-S Open...
A local star is trying to make a big showing at the tournament too.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT ]
And Martinsville takes the first of a three game playoff series with Pulaski.
(---------------)
[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #3]
[S-KJ]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-34 1:42:44]
[GRAPHIC=US Open]
First-round play in the U-S Open continues this afternoon.
Todd Martin and Lindsay Davenport are among the ranked players who take the court during the day session.
Serena Williams, Monica Seles and Patrick Rafter play in the night session.
One unranked player looking to make an impact is former North Cross student K.J. Hippensteel
(---------------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
A few weeks ago, K.J. returned to Roanoke and served as the featured guest at a tennis clinic.
He will be a sophomore at Stanford this season and is coming off a freshman year in which he won the national championship in doubles, prompting the question...will he turn professional in the near future.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="this]
[RUNS=:24]
[OUT Q=.....year or two"]
(--------------------)
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]
K-J is competing in the main draw of the U.S. Open along with the top 32 doubles teams in the world this week.
Late night open highlights begin tonight on WDBJ-7 at 12:35.
[S-Appy]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-47]
[GRAPHIC=APPY LEAGUE]
The Appalachian League best of three game championship series opened last night in Pulaski County with the Rangers hosting the Martinsville Astros.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Pulaski Co./Martinsville vs. Pulaski; :00]
After a smoking summer, fans had to break out the stadium blankets.
The hot Rangers would take the early lead in the bottom of the first on Kevin Mench's sacrifice fly to short center field.
The runner tags and scores. It's 1-to-nothing.
The Rangers big Aaron Harang, the six-seven pitcher was tough early on, as well, as he sits down Jonathan Andrianoff to end the second inning.
[SUPER=34-Martinsville/6/Pulaski/5; ]
But the Astros Garrett Gentry hits this bomb to centerfield in the third scoring 2 runs. The Astros win game one 6-to-5.
Game 2 is tonight at Hooker Field in Martinsville.
(------------)
[S-Cavs]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-42]
[GRAPHIC=VIRGINIA FOOTBALL]
UVa takes on North Carolina in the season opener for both teams Saturday in Chapel Hill, and while
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-Last Season; :00]
emotions will be running high, they won't be out of control like they were last season when Ronald Curry came into Charlottesville labeled a traitor.
This year UVa isn't worried about teaching Curry a lesson, but rather containing him. The Cavs hope to make Curry attack them with his arm and not his legs.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=BITE]
[SUPER=01-Travis Griffith/UVa Defensive End; :00]
[SUPER=01-Shannon Taylor/UVa Linebacker; :16]
[SUPER=03-Chapel Hill, NC; :25]
[SUPER=01-Dwayne Stukes/UVa Defensive Back; :36]
[SUPER=01-George Welsh/UVa Head Coach; :44]
[RUNS=:58]
[OUT Q=except them.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT ]
[SUPER=03-Charlottesville/Yesterday Afternoon;]
The Cavs play their first 2 games on the road at Carolina and Clemson.
Constructions crews are still on schedule to have the first phase of the Scott Stadium expansion completed by the home opener on September 18th.
More than 200 workers are on site daily to make sure everything is set for that Wake game.
(------------)
by SS