[HEADLINES]
[TALENT=Melanie]
(//////SOT///////)
[IN=These students lost...]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT=09th Bonfire.]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
The president of Texas A-and-M University calls for thorough probe of yesterday's fatal log collapse.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
And the flames on Fort Lewis Mountain are dying down, now it's time for the cleanup.
(/////////////)
[TALENT=Patrick]
[SS=None]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=None]
News 7 at noon is next.
[Bonfire-College]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#None]
[GRAPHIC=News7 at noon]
Flags in Texas are flying at half staff today in memory of the eleven students killed in the bonfire collapse at Texas A and M University.
Another 28 were injured.
The 40-foot tower of logs collapsed early yesterday morning.
The investigation focuses on the 100 foot center pole of the log pyramid.
Witnesses say they heard the center pole crack -- perhaps under the crush of timber.
Drew Levinson joins us from Texas with the latest.
[Live=Levinson Full/Newspath]
[SUPER=01-Drew Levinson/Reporting;]
[SUPER=05-College Station, TX;]
( ad lib)
[***ROLLED FROM NEWSPATH***]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Ray Bowen/Texas A&M President;]
[SUPER=01-Rusty Thompson/Bonfire Advisor;]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=]
(((LOCATOR: COLLEGE STATION, TX)
NOW THAT THE STACK OF LOGS IS COMPLETELY DISMANTLED AND ALL THE VICTIMS
REMOVED... THE SCOPE OF THIS TRAGEDY IS STARTING TO HIT THIS COMMUNITY.
PEOPLE ARE BRINGING FLOWERS TO THE SITE, PAUSING TO PRAY... AND WONDERING HOW THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED.
AS FOR THE OFFICIAL INVESTIGATION... OFFICIALS SAY THEY HAVE NO SHORTAGE OF EXPERTISE ALREADY ON CAMPUS, BUT THEY ALSO TO PLAN GET HELP FROM THE OUTSIDE EXPERTS.
SOT: RAY BOWEN, TEXAS A&M PRESIDENT
"I THINK IT WILL BE USEFUL FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO SIT IN PARALLEL WITH
INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN THE BONFIRE TO TAKE A FRESH LOOK."
THE INVESTIGATION WILL FOCUS ON THE 100-FOOT CENTER POLE... THE CENTRAL SUPPORT OF THE MASSIVE STACK OF LOGS. THERE'S SPECULATION THE POLE MAY HAVE CRACKED, BUT OFFICIALS JUST DON'T KNOW FOR SURE.
SOT: RUSTY THOMPSON/BONFIRE ADVISOR
" ``From students I talked to, all the sounds were pretty much combined. It all happened so suddenly. They didn't hear anything well in advance,''
WHILE THIS YEAR'S BONFIRE HAS BEEN POSTPONED, THE UNIVERSITY STILL HASN'T DECIDED WHETHER THE 90 YEAR BONFIRE TRADITION WILL GO ON.
STILL SCHEDULED... IS THE AGGIES GAME AGAINST TEXAS...IT WILL BE PLAYED HERE ON FRIDAY.))
[Live=Levinson Full/Newspath]
[SUPER=05-College Sta., TX;]
( ad lib)
[Fire-Latest]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Ft. Lewis Fire]
They've packed up the command post on Fort Lewis Mountain now that firefighters appear to have won their battle with the flames.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./Yesterday]
After reinforcing the fireline today, most of the crews are being sent home.
The firefighters from New Mexico will baby-sit what's left through the weekend.
The two 20-man teams from New Mexico get 10-dollars and 12-cents an hour.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=What's in it for you?]
((Scott Goldberg: What's in it for you? JOHN ALBERT: GOOD MONEY. GOOD JOB. AND ADVENTURE -- AN ADVENTURE!))
[SUPER=01-John Albert/New Mexico Firefighter;]
[RUNS=:12]
[OUT Q=an adventure. DOUBLE OUT!!!!!]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The blaze that charred about a thousand acres was 100 percent contained by yesterday evening.
But it could be weeks before the embers still smoldering on the mountain are snuffed for good.
The Department of Forestry will continue to monitor the situation until that happens.
(------------)
[Craft]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=None ]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]
A Danville woman has been convicted of prostituting her 12-year-old niece to teenage boys.
Marie Elizabeth Craft signed a statement admitting that she allowed three boys to pay 25 dollars to have sex with the girl.
The girl was living with Craft and her husband at the time.
Craft says her niece was willing to go through with the deal and her husband arranged the meetings.
She'll be sentenced in January.
[Neighborhood]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Residents of a Roanoke neighborhood say they are fed up with a developer violating city ordinances.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
Some folks who live on Autumn Lane say it's been an ongoing struggle getting city officials to crack down on a developer.
Aubrey Butler say the developer is putting up homes over a dumping site -- which was labeled not suitable for building.
Many people who live on Autumn Lane boycotted last night's meeting with the developer and city officials.
Those who did show up say they are fed-up with the city's empty promises.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 2:34:10]
[IN Q=We want them]
((WE WANT THEM TO BE TRUTHFUL WITH US AND MAKE THE CONTRACTOR GO BY THE CITY CODES, AND QUIT GIVING HIM ANYTHING HE WANTS))
[SUPER=01-Douglas Woody/Autumn Lane Resident]
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=he wants]
(----------)
[VO-NAT]
City officials say they developer did have past violations -- but those violations have been fixed and the developer has been approved to build 11 homes on the site.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 2:23:46]
[IN Q=Subsoil conditions]
((SUBSOIL CONDITIONS OF THE SITE WERE REQUESTED AND PROVIDED AND IT WAS DETERMINED BY DOING CERTAIN THINGS TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS THAT OF THE BUILDING CODE THAT THE LOTS COULD BE DEVELOPED.))
[SUPER=01-Tom Taselli/City Development Review Coord.]
[RUNS=10]
[OUT Q=could be developed]
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]
City officials say the site is inspected on a regular basis and all violations are handled promptly.
(-------------)
[EGYPTAIR-LATEST]
[ANCHOR=MEL]
[NEWSCAST=NOON]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Egyptair Crash]
Good weather should allow investigators to spend the entire day searching the crash site of EgyptAir Flight 9-90.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Newport, RI;]
[6:15:24-video near end of pkg]
Using a salvage vessel and an underwater robot, Navy officials will continue scouring the bottom of the ocean for plane debris and human remains.
[SUPER=03-Washington DC;]
Meantime, more Egyptian officials have arrived in the U-S Amid growing Egyptian criticism of how American inspectors are handling the crash probe.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[9:04:46]
[IN Q=]
(( OUR CONCERN IS THAT WE GET THE WHOLE TRUTH AND THAT THIS BE DONE AS EXPEDITIOUSLY AS POSSIBLE. WE'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS TO ACHIEVE THAT AND I THINK IT'S ALSO A BIG CONCERN OF THE AMERICAN SIDE AS WELL. ))
[SUPER=01-Nabil Fahmy/Egyptian Ambassador to the U. S.;]
[RUNS=:11]
[OUT Q=American side as well.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[6:16]
U-S investigators say the prayer spoke by relief pilot Emil el-Batouty is only half the puzzle.
The flight Data recorder shows the plane's elevators moved in opposite directions during the dive into the Atlantic...something that would happen if the two pilots were working against each other.
Seconds later...someone cut the plane's engines...dooming the jet and all 217 people on board.
(------------)
[Clinton-Greece]
[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Bill Clinton]
On the last day of the European summit in Turkey President Clinton and other world leaders have rewritten a Cold War treaty.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Istanbul, Turkey;]
[10:12:16]
They've signed an agreement that cuts in half the number of warplanes, tanks and other heavy non-nuclear weapons in much of Europe.
But Mr. Clinton said Senate ratification depends on a Russian pullback from Chechnya.
The President's next stop is Greece, where marches are planned to denounce the U-S role in the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[10:11:23]
[IN Q=]
((CLINTON:GREECE IS THE WORLD'S OLDEST DEMOCRACY. IF PEOPLE WANT TO PROTEST THEY SHOULD HAVE A CHANCE TO DO IT.))
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=important to us.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Some Greeks have given President Clinton the name``Planet Lord.''
It symbolizes Greek antagonism toward America's dominant role in the world.
(------------)
[tease1]
[HARD MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
A Huddleston post office is shut down today.
Find out why when News-7 at Noon returns.
(--------------)
[VO-NAT ]
And after a five year ban, the corrections department is allowing an inside view of Virginia's prisons.
(---------------)
[Talent=Patrick]
[Wx-Tease]
[Weatherpro]
[music up full]
[comm1]
[Prison-Cameras]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=99-41 45:07]
[GRAPHIC=VA Prisons]
The five year broadcast news blackout from Virginia's prisons has ended-- that is for all but the most dangerous prisons.
Ellen Qualls reports.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=nat sound]
[SUPER=03-Powhatan Co.; :00]
[SUPER=01-Ron Angelone/Virginia Corrections Director; :20 ]
[SUPER=01-Laura Rinier/Inmate Advocate; :54 ]
[SUPER=@Ellen1; 1:09]
[RUNS=1:27]
[OUT Q=News-7 Richmond]
(([nat sot gate]
[runs:04]
41 low and medium security institutions are finally re-opened to cameras and recording devices... for tours and interviews and limited inspection.
The prisons director says it's NOT just to generate good publicity at a time when juvenile prisons are under fire.
[sot 23:54:55]
((ANGELONE: WELL I BEEN GETTING BEAT UP FOR SIX YEARS. ... ADVANTAGE OF AN OPPORTUNITY.))
[runs:23]
Inmate advocates say the new policy is good news-- for inmate families and taxpayers.
But why are the state's seven most hard-core prisons still off-limits?
[sot 16:06:21]
((LAURA RINIER/INMATE ADVOCATE: THE PLACES WHERE ARE THE MOST ALLEGATIONS OF INHUMANE, CRUEL TREATMENT...NOTHING TO HIDE, WHY NOT LET YOU IN?))
[runs:15]
[STANDUP]))
[S-Post-Office]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=99-38 1:12:16]
[GRAPHIC=Postal Service]
A contract post office in Bedford County has been shut down after some clerks were accused of running a scam.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Huddleston;]
Postal inspectors closed the post office located in a Huddleston convenience store.
Residents say clerks post-dated money orders, possibly to use the money in the meantime.
Investigators say convenience store employees may have also mixed money from the store and the post office.
They have not yet decided whether to file criminal charges.
All mail is being forwarded to the main Huddleston post office.
(------------)
[Grand-Jury]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Vinton Police Investigation]
They're taking more testimony in the grand jury investigation of retired Vinton Police Lieutenant Bill Brown.
The special prosecutor in the case said it could be next year before grand jurors complete their investigation into allegations of wrong-doing on Brown's part.
He also said town officials reviewed the case with State Police before convincing Lieutenant Brown and Chief Ricky Foutz to quit.
[S-Pluma]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=99-39 1:00:35]
[GRAPHIC=Pluma Liquidation]
A longtime player in the Southside textile business employer inched closer to its demise by selling off two of its plants.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Martinsville/September; ]
A bankruptcy court judge approved the sale of Pluma's Martinsville and Altavista plants for a total of about two-million dollars.
The Martinsville plant was bought by a Pennsylvania company that plans to sell off all of Pluma's remaining sewing equipment.
The Altavista plant was purchased by a local printing company.
Pluma is going out of business and selling all its assets.
(------------)
[OSHA-Rubatex]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Rubatex]
OSHA inspectors are checking out Rubatex, reportedly after a series of recent accidents at the Bedford plant.
The United Steelworkers of America Local 240 says it asked inspectors to investigate.
The Union says Rubatex employees have suffered injuries three times in the past month: Two had fingers cut off, and another person's hand was caught in a mill.
[Tease2]
[SOFT MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
The eyes and ears of the bluegrass world are on Roanoke this weekend.
Find out why in a moment.
(-----------------)
[VO-NAT ]
And in Britain today the talk is about great expectations.
We'll explain next on news 7 at Noon.
(-----------------)
[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #2]
[Blair-Baby]
[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
They'll be changing diapers at Ten Downing Street, for the first time in 150 years.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair and his wife, Cherie, are expecting their fourth child in May.
It will be the first child born to a prime minister and his wife since 1848, when Lord John Russell was prime minister.
Mark Phillips reports.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[10:22:18]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-London, UK; :00]
[SUPER=01-Mark Phillips/Reporting; :51]
[RUNS=1:07]
[OUT Q=CBS News, London.]
((PHILLIPS O/C OPEN:
Tony Blair's election slogan last time around was New Britain, New Labour -- in reference to his reformed political party. But today here that slogan as taken on a whole new meaning.
(File of Blair family)
They are -- by any standard -- busy people. He's a Prime Minister. She's a high powered lawyer. They already have three kids. But it seems the romance of last summer's vacation in Italy was just too much to resist for Tony and Cherie Blair. A fourth Blair baby is now on the way and scarcely anything else is being talked about here this morning.
(TV Headlines)
Brief sots headlines
(Big Breakfast ref to Brosnan holding headline)
Movie Stars got in on the act.
(Clip: Johnny Vaghn)
Political reporters gathered at dawn at the Prime Minister's official residence to break the news to a grateful nation.
(SOT GMTV)
a bit of a surprise for all of us and a bit of a surprise to tony and cherie blair apparently. 085350
PHILLIPS O/C CLOSE:
And -- according to the new 'family friendly' package of employment rules is entitled to thirteen weeks of paternity leave after the birth of his child. Leave, though, would be unpaid. MP, CBS NEWS, LONDON.))
[E-Bluegrass-Music]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=99-36 TC2:01:59]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Roanoke will be a center of bluegrass music this weekend.
The Hotel Roanoke is playing host to an unusual seminar.
Musicians are coming from as far away as Germany for the Roanoke Bluegrass Weekend.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]
The first arrivals were checking in this afternoon, looking forward to an event that will bring together at least 75 pickers with some of the best in Bluegrass.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Lonesome River Band]
((LONESOME RIVER BAND AND BLUE HIGHWAY IN PARTICULAR ARE VERY POPULAR GROUPS. TO BE ABLE TO GET ONE OR TWO NUMBERS OF A VERY POPULAR GROUP, WHEN THEIR BAND IS NOT PERFORMING AND DO THAT OVER THE COURSE OF AN ENTIRE WEEKEND, I FEEL LUCKY I GUESS TO BE ABLE TO PULL IT OFF.))
[SUPER=01-John Lawless/AcuTab Publications]
[RUNS=:19]
[OUT Q=be able to pull it off.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
The weekend will include two public concerts and jam sessions both Friday and Saturday night at 7:00.
(------------)
[Stocks]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=chr]
[TAPE# none]
[GRAPHIC=stocks]
On Wall Street at Noon, the Dow was DOWN 32 points.
[tease3]
[SPORTS MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
Still to come in sports, the high school football post season continues.
We'll have a preview of the games you'll see tonight on Friday Football Extra,
(----------------)
[VO-NAT ]
and the remainder of the N-F-L season is crucial for Norv Turner's future with the Washington Redskins. Patrick has the details, next.
(---------------)
[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #3]
[Redskins-Turner]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Redskins]
The Washington Redskins' up and down season could cost Norv Turner his job.
Reports out of Washington say that Skins owner Daniel Snyder is actively searching for Turner's replacement if the team fails to make the playoffs.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Landover, MD/September;]
Snyder has not denied his intent to fire Turner if the team doesn't reach the post season.
The Skins won two of the first three games of the season, but have dropped three of their last four.
The team last made the playoffs in 1992, and Snyder has said that is his goal for the season.
(------------)
[S-FFE]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=SP-48 (1:21:00)]
[GRAPHIC=FFE]
The regional finals highlight this weekend's high school football schedule.
Here are the six big games we'll have for you tonight on Friday Football Extra.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=FIRST AUDIO]
[RUNS=:43]
[OUT Q=LOGO COMES FULL.]
(------------)
[S-UVA]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=sma]
[TAPE#=SP-46 (1:11:53)]
[GRAPHIC=ACC]
The Virginia Cavaliers hope to end the regular season on a good note when they face Maryland at College Park tomorrow.
One major key for U-V-A will be stopping Maryland running back Lamont Jordan.
(------------)
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="we]
((GEORGE WELSH/UVA HEAD COACH:))
[SUPER=01-George Welsh/UVa Head Coach; :00]
[RUNS=:35]
[OUT Q=....for him"]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[SS=ODAC]
In other college gridiron news, Hampden-Sydney football Coach Philip Culicerto is stepping down as the Tigers' head coach.
He made the announcement yesterday.
Hampden Sydney won just one game this year and just four during his three years as head coach.
[S-WDBJ]
[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=None]
(---------------)
[TAKE Pinnacle 7501]
And don't forget to tune in to Your Hometown Station tomorrow for college football.
The Florida State at Florida match up has huge B-C-S implications for the nation and Virginia Tech.
Coverage begins at 3 p-m.
(--------------)
by SS