[HEADLINES]
[TALENT=Melanie]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
Pluma workers in Martinsville and Vesta will soon be looking for new jobs.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
And a Roanoke visit from Governor Gilmore in support of higher education.
(/////////////)
[TALENT=DREW]
A hot and steamy afternoon tops the weather headlines today. Plus, we'll take a sneak peak at the latest major atlantic storm.
[SS=None]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=None]
News 7 at noon is next.
[Gilmore-Visitors]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=eea]
[TAPE#99-32 TC49:43]
[GRAPHIC=Jim Gilmore]
Governor Gilmore is trying to gain more control over the spending habits of Virginia colleges and universities.
The governor's blue ribbon commission on higher education is meeting at the Hotel Roanoke.
[Double Boxes=Melanie and Eric/Microwave]
That's where Eric Earnhart is this afternoon.
[Live=Eric Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=@Eric1;]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke;]
( ad lib)
(Rollcue: leaders, not cheerleaders. )
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;]
[SUPER=01-Wilbert Bryant/Education Secretary;]
[SUPER=01-Walter Kucharski/State Auditor;]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=commonwealth's attorney. DOUBLE OUTCUE]
[Live=Eric Full/Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Roanoke;]
( ad lib)
[Double Boxes=Melanie and Eric/Microwave]
[Edwards]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=12]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=99-28 TC1:12:46]
[GRAPHIC=John Edwards]
State Senator John Edwards says the state should dedicate all lottery proceeds to school construction.
Today, he proposed legislation he says would help Roanoke Valley governments raise more than 80 million dollars a year for local construction projects.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.]
Local school officials, and Democratic office holders joined Edwards outside of Cave Spring High School this morning.
Edwards' plan would dedicate lottery revenues to a trust fund, and allow local governments to issue bonds for new construction, renovations, or the purchase of computer technology.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 02:19:28]
[IN Q=It would make it possible to have that new high school]
((IT WOULD MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO HAVE THAT NEW HIGH SCHOOL THEY WANT TO BUILD. IT WOULD MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR ROANOKE CITY TO RENOVATE THE SCHOOLS THAT NEED TO BE RENOVATED. IT WOULD MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO PROVIDE THE SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION NEEDS THAT THE COUNTY AND THE CITY TOGETHER NEED AND THAT THE STATE NEEDS.))
[SUPER=@Edwards]
[RUNS=:14]
[OUT Q=that the state needs.]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign 99]
Edwards is running for re- election.
He faces Republican William Fralin in the November election.
[Wireless]
[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=99-26 TC1:41:24]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Virginia Tech and a private company have taken the wires out of communication.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Blacksburg;]
The university and (wave-trace) Wavtrace demonstrated their work this morning.
The two have developed a system that can transmit information from one point to another through WIRELESS communication.
The system can not only be used with the internet but also television and telephone.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It holds]
[SUPER=@Boucher; ]
[RUNS=15 approx.]
[OUT Q=same time.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Virginia Tech is the only university in the nation to own the license needed to operate this type of wireless communication.
(---------)
[First-Union-Lawsuit]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=First Union]
Eighteen current and former First Union workers are suing the company for the retirement earnings they say they were lost because of the way the bank runs its 4-oh-1-k plan.
The lawsuit filed in Richmond federal court yesterday could draw in 100-thousand current and former members of First Union's 4-oh-1-K plan if it is certified as a class-action.
Attorneys for the plaintiffs say that First Union employees have lost 100 million dollars because they were forced to invest in poorly performing, high-fee First Union mutual funds.
First Union says it will vigorously defend itself in the lawsuit.
[Pluma]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=99-41 TC01:59]
[GRAPHIC=Pluma Closing]
A visit from company executives apparently brought bad news to a Martinsville plant.
Workers at the Pluma textile plant say yesterday they were notified that the company was shutting down stateside and oversees.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=@file]
Pluma filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy several months ago.
Until yesterday, the company had been seeking financial backers.... looking for 60-million dollars in financing to bail the company out of bankruptcy.
But, employees say Pluma told them those investors didn't latch on.
There are three more plants that will close in the area: the Martinsville plant, one in Vesta, and another in Eden, North Carolina.
Plants in Chatham and Alta Vista shut down earlier this summer.
Workers say the company also announced that it will shut down its sewing plants in Mexico and Honduras.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=HOLD]
Some 12-hundred U-S employees will be out of a job.
Sewing employees we spoke to said they were being allowed to continue working for eight to ten weeks.
Distribution workers were told that their last day would be in 13 weeks.
[chained-girl]
[ANCHOR=mel]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]
A six-year-old California girl is hospitalized in serious, but stable condition after authorities
found her chained to a bed.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Norco, CA;]
[shot of chain 6:07:36]
Police say she had been chained to the bed on and off for five years.
She was malnourished and living in a room littered with trash and animal waste.
Police rescued her yesterday after receiving a call from a neighbor.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[2 s0t 6:07;48 and 6:07;11-22]
[IN Q=Hopefully through my...]
((HOPEFULLY THROUGH MY....CAN BE OKAY NOW... IT'S HORRIBLE...SINCE SHE WAS ONE YEAR OLD.))
[SUPER=01-Zoltan Dvorsky/Mailman;]
[SUPER=01-Dave Beck/Neighbor;]
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=she was one year old.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The child's mother and grandmother have been arrested on charges of felony child endangerment.
(------------)
[Bradley-2000]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Campaign 2000]
Bill Bradley makes it official today.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=@File;]
The former basketball star and Senator is in his home town of Crystal City, Missouri to announce his bid for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Bradley is challenging Vice President Gore for the nomination.
The latest poll has Bradley neck and neck with Gore in New Hampshire.
(------------)
[tease1]
[HARD MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
He's been on the run for weeks.
Now the man wanted in connection with a Roanoke murder is in custody and faces a court appearance today.
That's still ahead on News-7 at Noon.
(--------------)
[VO-NAT ]
And an strong earthquake and hundreds of aftershocks rock Greece.
First let's talk to Andrew about the mid-week forecast.
(---------------)
[Talent=Andrew]
[Wx-Tease]
[Weatherpro]
[music up full]
[comm1]
[Greece]
[ANCHOR=mel]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Earthquake]
Greek officials fear the death toll from yesterday's earthquake in could reach at least 80.
Fifty three, including 14 children, are confirmed dead, but dozens are missing.
The 5 point 9 quake was centered just outside Athens.. and was followed by hundreds of strong aftershocks.
Tom Fenton has more.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Athens, Greece;]
[SUPER=01-Tom Fenton/Reporting;]
[RUNS=1:28]
[OUT Q=]
((The worst hit area was in the northern suburbs of Athens. The shock was not as strong as the devastating quake that killed 15,000 people three weeks ago in neighboring Turkey. This one registered 5.9 on the Richter scale -- but many of the scenes were similar.
Flattened buildings -- rescue crews working through the night -- searching and cutting through the wreckage -- urgently looking for survivors and carefully freeing those they found. Dozens were trapped under flattened apartments and factories. Each successful rescue a small victory against the odds.
Hands rather than heavy equipment are doing most of the work. Often there is no other way to locate and reach survivors .. And then gently lift them out without further injury.
Although the building code in Athens is more strictly enforced than in Turkey, there is evidence of shoddy construction in the working class neighborhood that was hit the hardest. Some of the rescue crews had
also worked in Turkey. Because of the recent quake there, there had been widespread panic in Athens after the initial shock.
And just as in Turkey, the hundreds of aftershocks forced many people to camp out rather then return home. The government said that homeless families would be put up in hotels and given emergency aid. Fortunately, despite the cracks and widespread damage to many private buildings, the city's unique historic buildings have escaped unscathed.))
[5-Buford-Arrest]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=599-10 1:17:06]
[GRAPHIC=Timothy Buford]
Timothy Buford will make a court appearance in North Carolina this afternoon.
The man accused of murder in a Roanoke resturant was found in Raleigh yesterday.
(++++++++++)
[TAKE FULL SCREEN]
Timothy Lee Buford was arrested at a motel yesterday by Raleigh police, acting on a tip from investigators in Roanoke.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/August 22]
Buford is the main suspect in the fatal shooting of 19-year old Prentice Jordan at Easley's Restaurant on Shenandoah Avenue.
He faces murder and firearms charges.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]
Roanoke authorities are planning to have him brought back to Virginia as soon as possible.
We'll have more from Raleigh tonight on News 7 at Five and Six.
[waco]
[ANCHOR=mel]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]
We could learn today who will head the independent inquiry into the 19-93 siege at the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[7:23:20]
Government sources say Attorney General Janet Reno has asked former Republican Senator John Danforth to take the job.
[SUPER=04-"Waco, A New Revelation"/MGA Films;]
[7:18;30]
The inquiry was ordered after a group of Colorado filmmakers discovered flammable devices in the Waco evidence vaults.
The discovery was startling because the F-B-I denied using pyrotechnic devices during the Waco raid.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
(("WHEN I STARTED TAKING A LOOK AT SOME OF THE EVIDENCE I REALIZED THERE WAS AN UNBELIEVABLE STORY HERE THAT HAD NEVER BEEN TOLD."))
[SUPER=01-Jason Van Vleet/MGA Films;]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=had never been told]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Waco, TX/April 1993;]
Meantime, It's reported that someone fired military illumination flares during the Waco siege six years ago.
The Dallas Morning News says Texas Rangers found one of the expended flares when they searched the evidence storage site Friday.
(------------)
[Millenium-Diamond]
[ANCHOR=mel]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
You'll have to travel to London to see one of the worlds most valuable and beautiful diamonds.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-London, England;]
[10:26:22]
It's a 203 caret jewel dubbed the Millennium Star.
And it's the centerpiece of a collection of twelve diamonds on display at the Millennium Dome in London.
The Millennium Star, described as the largest flawless pear-shaped diamond in the world, is so rare, experts say it's priceless.
The Millennium Collection will be on in London through the year 2000.
(------------)
[Tease2]
[SOFT MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
Next on News-7 at Noon we'll talk with best selling author Stephen J. Cannell about his latest work.
(-----------------)
[VO-NAT]
And later in sports, some big name drivers turned out to help tee-off Rick Mast's Charity Golf tournament.
(-----------------)
[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #2]
[Cannell-Interview]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=feed]
[GRAPHIC=None]
[ROLL COLD OUT OF BREAK]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=He's created]
[SUPER=01-Stephen J. Cannell/Author; :25]
[SUPER=03-Miami, FL; HOT CHANGE]
[RUNS=3:11]
[OUT Q=day out there]
(Tape tosses to Andrew)
[Stocks]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE# none]
[GRAPHIC=stocks]
On Wall Street at Noon, the Dow was UP 57 points.
[tease3]
[SPORTS MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
Still ahead in sport, more U-S Open quarterfinal matches are being settled this afternoon.
(----------------)
[VO-NAT ]
And it's a big milestone for one Lady Terrier and a big win for the team.
(---------------)
[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #3]
[US-Open]
[ANCHOR=Andrew]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=US Open]
More quarterfinal action is on tap today at the U-S Open.
In the day session, Mary Pierce takes on defending champ Lindsay Davenport while on the men's side, Richard Krajicek plays third-seed Yevgeny Kafelnikov.
Tonight, Serena Williams battles Monica Seles and Nicolas Escude takes on second-seed Andre Agassi.
Martina Hingis and Venus Williams advanced to the semi's yesterday.
[S-Charity]
[ANCHOR=Andrew]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=SP-49 tc 6:00 ]
[GRAPHIC=Rick Mast Classic]
Thousands of race fans packed the Virginia Horse Center, but the ponies weren't the draw.
It was top NASCAR drivers who were the attraction as festivities surrounding the Rick Mast Golf Classic kicked off last night in Lexington.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lexington;]
This is the fifth year for Mast's charity concert and autograph session.
The Rockbridge County Free Clinic is the beneficiary.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=it's all]
[SUPER=01-Rick Mast/Charity Organizer;]
[RUNS=11]
[OUT Q=doctor tomorrow]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Fans traveled from as far away as Christiansburg and Waynesboro to meet the drivers.
Mast, points leader Dale Jarrett and Ken Shrader signed autographs for more than three hours.
Truck Series driver and Hurt, Virginia native, Stacey Compton ran out of his supply of 15-hundred pictures halfway through the night.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=rick sort of]
[SUPER=01-Stacey Compton/Fourth in Truck Series; :00]
[SUPER=01-Dale Jarrett/Winston Cup Points Leader; :10]
[RUNS=20]
[OUT Q=accomplish anything]
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Andrew]
[SS=Rick Mast Classic]
Mast's sixth annual charity golf tournament is today.
He hopes this year's event will surpass last year's 66-thousand dollar total.
[S-Byrd]
[ANCHOR=Andrew]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-48 21:45]
[GRAPHIC=hometown hoops weekly]
A Monumental night in girls basketball for William Byrd's Andrea Gay.
She reaches a milestone and leads the Lady Terriers to a win over Staunton River.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Vinton/Golden Eagles vs. Terriers; :00]
On this free throw Gay scores her one thousandth career point. The game was stopped and the senior guard was presented with the ball, accompanied by her mom and dad.
On to the action. In the third period watch Byrd's Dawn Chewning dish to Whitney Yates and she buries the three pointer to extend the Lady Terriers advantage.
[SUPER=34-William Byrd/53/Staunton River/20;]
The thousand point scorer was everywhere. Here, Gay shows off her handles by taking the rock coast to coast for the lay up.
Staunton River fought back and never gave up, scoring on this play, but Byrd was too much,
Yates again with the J, Byrd wins 53-20.
(------------)
by SS