[7-Franklin-Fatal]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]

[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]


A Franklin County man is dead after an early morning accident.
22 year old Timothy Saint Clair of Moneta died in the accident on route 616. That's Scruggs Road.
The accident happened just after one this morning.
Saint Clair's car ran off the road, hit a utility pole and overturned.
He died at the scene.

[7-Rubatex]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=kwe]
[TAPE#=99-42 1:22:16]
[GRAPHIC=Rubatex Strike]


It was a milestone for Rubatex and it's striking union.
For the first time since September the two sides met face to face.
Kate Weidaw has the details.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=for the first]
[super=03-Bedford; :00 -- QUICK]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg; :10]
[SUPER=01-Jim Laurin/Rubatex Chief Negotiator; :28]
[SUPER=04-File Tape; :49]
[SUPER=@Kate1; 1:07]
[runs=1:17]
[OUT Q=KW NEWS 7]

((For the first time since the union went on strike three months ago negotiation talks took place behind closed doors.

[NAT SOUND 1:35:29]
[RUNS= 3]

The striking steel workers union requested the meeting and brought a new contract proposal to the table, however the details of it were not disclosed. But Rubatex officials said before the meeting they weren't going to budge from their original offer - and that was apparent after the meeting.
[SOT 6:45:01]
[INQ=]

((JIM LAURIN/RUBATEX CHIEF NEGOTIATOR: THERE IS NO CHANGE IN OUR LAST, BEST, AND FINAL OFFER, WE AGREED TO PROVIDE THEM WITH SOME CLARIFICATION MEETING OUR LAST BEST AND FINAL OFFER.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 13]

Federal mediator Clifford Crumb sat in on negotiations. His job is to find ways the two sides can iron out their differences. Meanwhile Rubatex is continuing to hire replacement workers who are looking to become more then just replacements, once drug tests are completed.
[SOT 6:46:11]
[INQ=]

((JIM LAURIN/RUBATEX CHIEF NEGOTIATOR: WE EXPECT TO HAVE THE PERMANENT HIRE SITUATION RESOLVED IN 48 TO 72 HOURS.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS= 8]

[STANDUP]
[INQ=]

((KATE WEIDAW/REPORTING: SOME OF THE ISSUES THE UNION WANTS TO CHANGE IN THE CONTRACT ARE WAGES, FORCED OVERTIME, AND COMPANY CONTRIBUTIONS TO RETIREE HEALTH CARE PLANS. SO FAR THERE IS NO WORD ON WHEN NEGOTIATIONS WILL RESUME. KATE WEIDAW NEWS 7.))
[OUTQ=]
[RUNS=]))



[7-UVA-Lawsuit]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Lawsuit]


A Roanoke couple has lost a half-million dollar lawsuit against the University of Virginia Medical Center.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/File Tape]


David and Mistie Huffman sued after being given the wrong dead infant by the hospital last year.
The body mixup was discovered within a few hours and was corrected.
They claimed financial loss and emotional distress.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=HOLD]


But an Albemarle County judge ruled that their suit lacked legal sufficiency.
Under state law, emotional distress claims are granted only for physical injury, willful and wanton misconduct or a separate monetary claim.

[7Weather]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]


Here's a look at today's forecast.
Mostly sunny and warmer today with highs reaching the low to mid 50s.
Tonight, mostly clear with light winds.
Low temperatures fall to the upper 20s to low 30s.
Taking a look at this weekend's weather...

[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Mostly Sunny/& Milder/50-55/Mostly Clear/Light SW Winds/28-32;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]




[45-E-Missing-Student]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=99-54 29:06]
[GRAPHIC=None]


It's been almost a week now since a Virginia Tech student disappeared while on Thanksgiving day vacation.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

20-year-old Rebecca Myers was last seen in Key West where she got off on a cruise ship with her family. Friends at Tech say Rebecca rowed crew and played guitar. Her calendar shows she planned to be back last Friday.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 14:12:51]
[IN Q=She loves school]

((SHE LOVES SCHOOL AND SHE LIKES IT HERE. SHE SAID DURING SPRING OR CHRISTMAS BREAK SHE WANTS TO TRAVEL SOMEWHERE ELSE BUT NEVER RUN OFF AND NOT TELL ANYONE WHERE SHE'S GOING.))
[SUPER=01-Kira Pedersen/Roommate;]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=where she's going]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

But a book in Rebecca's dorm room talks about the Rainbow Family --
[super=03-Pocahontas Co., WV/File Tape]

a hippie-like national group that promotes peace and love. Detectives say Rebecca may have left Key West with members of that group.
(------------)



[45-E-Race-Relations]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=99-43 1:17:52]
[GRAPHIC=Race Relations]


Roanoke Valley residents are hoping for better relations and change following a conference yesterday in the star city.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]


Meeting in small groups, more than 100 participants discussed racial and ethnic diversity in the community, the classroom and the workplace.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 01:53:21]
[IN Q=If we're not going to make suggestions]

((DAVID BOWERS/ROANOKE MAYOR: IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE SUGGESTIONS AND OFFER POSITIVE CRITICISM OF WHAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE THIS A BETTER PLACE FOR EVERYONE, OF ALL KINDS OF RACES AND ALL KINDS OF BACKGROUNDS, THEN WE'RE NOT GOING TO IMPROVE.))
[SUPER=@Bowers]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=then we're not going to improve.]
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[GRAPHIC=Hold]


The conference will produce a plan of action, and organizers will measure their progress when the group meets again in May.

[45-E-Reyes]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=99-52 9:48]
[GRAPHIC=None]


A former LIberty University student who was jailed for three months for trespassing says he'd do it all over again.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]


Reyes was jailed for helping stage an anti- abortion rally at E.C. Glass High School two years ago.
He and Operation Rescue director Reverend Flip Benham both served time for trespassing on school grounds.
Yesterday, Benham warned school superintendent Jim McCormick that more protests are planned.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 21:40:36]
[IN Q=We'll be back]

((REV. FLIP BENHAM/OPERATION RESCUE DIRECTOR: WE'LL BE BACK AT E.C. GLASS HIGH SCHOOL, THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT IT. MR. MCCORMICK HAS DECIDED TO PICK THIS FIGHT, LYNCHBURG I GUESS IS THE CITY AND THE VENUE FOR THE BATTLE.))
[SUPER=01-Rev. Flip Benham/Operation Rescue Director]
[RUNS=08]
[OUT Q=for the battle.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


Reyes says he helped bring twelve fellow inmates to Christ while he was in jail.
(------------)



[45-S-Radford-Cop]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tha]
[TAPE#=99-46 29:38]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]


A Radford police officer faces charges for allegedly taking advantage of a female co-worker.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Radford/November 10;]


A grand jury has indicted (Gay-thur) Gaither Blackburn on one felony count relating to an incident at a party in Floyd County.
State police began their investigation after a female patrol officer at the Radford P-D came forward-- alleging that Blackburn took advantage of her in a sexual manner.
(--------------------)
[anchor=Melanie]
[ss=HOLD]


Blackburn has been with the Radford Police Department for about 12- years.
No one there was available for comment.

[45Weather]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]


Taking a break from the news to check weather...
Mostly sunny and milder today, with highs in the low to mid 50s.
Staying clear tonight, with lows near 30.
The five day forecast is gradually warmer...with highs in the 50s and 60s.
Rain is likely by Sunday.

[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Mostly Sunny/& Milder/50-55/Mostly Clear/Light SW Winds/28-32;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]




[8-Franklin-Fatal]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]


An early morning accident has claimed the life of a Franklin County man.
22 year old Timothy Saint Clair of Moneta died in the accident on route 616. That's Scruggs Road.
The accident happened just after one this morning.
Saint Clair's car ran off the road, hit a utility pole and overturned.
He died at the scene.

[8-E-FDA-Tobacco]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=99-39 1:14:38]
[GRAPHIC=Tobacco-Drug Decision]


It is widely known that tobacco products are dangerous and addictive and now the tobacco industry acknowledges it.

(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Washington DC]


But in arguments before the U-S Supreme Court yesterday, it claimed the Food and Drug Administration has NO jurisdiction to start regulating nicotine as a drug.
If it did, the tobacco companies argue, cigarettes should be completely banned.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 11:27:16]
[IN Q=We just think]

((MARK BERLIND/PHILIP MORRIS ATTORNEY: WE JUST THINK IT DEFIES CREDIBILITY FOR THEM TO SAY THAT ALL OF A SUDDEN IN 1995 THEY REALIZED THAT IT CAN BE VERY DIFFICULT TO QUIT SMOKING.))
[SOT 11:18:54 ]

((DAVID KESSLER/FORMER FDA COMMISSIONER: I FIND IT A LITTLE IRONIC THAT THE INDUSTRY IS THE ONE THAT ARGUES THAT THE AGENCY, IF IT FINDS THAT IT'S A DRUG, THEN IT SHOULD BE BANNED. THERE'S A CERTAIN IRONY IN THAT STATEMENT.))
[SUPER=01-Mark Berlind/Philip Morris Attorney ; :00]
[SUPER=01-Dr. David Kessler/Former FDA Commissioner; ; :09]
[RUNS=:18]
[OUT Q=that statement.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


The high court will rule on FDA regulation of tobacco by the end of June.
(------------)



[8-E-Missing-Student]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=99-54 29:06]
[GRAPHIC=None]


Almost one week ago a Virginia Tech student disappeared while vacationing with her family.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


20-year-old Rebecca Myers left her family on a Thanksgiving vacation in Key West.
Friends at Virginia Tech say Rebecca rowed crew and played guitar under her loft.
Her calendar shows she planned to be back last Friday.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 14:12:51]
[IN Q=She loves school]

((SHE LOVES SCHOOL AND SHE LIKES IT HERE. SHE SAID DURING SPRING OR CHRISTMAS BREAK SHE WANTS TO TRAVEL SOMEWHERE ELSE BUT NEVER RUN OFF AND NOT TELL ANYONE WHERE SHE'S GOING.))
[SUPER=01-Kira Pedersen/Roommate;]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=where she's going]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]


But a book in Rebecca's dorm room talks about the Rainbow Family --
[super=03-Pocahontas Co., WV/File Tape]

a hippie-like national group that promotes peace and love.
Detectives say Rebecca may have left Key West with members of that group.
(------------)



[8-UVA-Lawsuit]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Lawsuit]


A judge has thrown out a Roanoke couple's half million dollar lawsuit against the University of Virginia Medical Center.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/File Tape]


David and Mistie Huffman sued after being given the wrong dead infant by the hospital last year.
The body mixup was discovered within a few hours and was corrected.
They claimed financial loss and emotional distress.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=HOLD]


But an Albemarle County judge ruled that their suit lacked legal sufficiency.
Under state law, emotional distress claims are granted only for physical injury, willful and wanton misconduct or a separate monetary claim.

[8-Microwave-Baby]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=99-40 1:52:53]
[GRAPHIC=Legal Scales]


Next month, a New Kent County grand jury will hear the first degree murder case against the woman accused of killing her baby in a microwave oven.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-New Kent Co./October]


Yesterday, 19-year old Elizabeth Otte (OAT-ee) waived her right to a preliminary hearing.
Her case will move on to a grand jury.
Otte (OAT-ee) allegedly placed her one month old baby in the microwave in September.
(------------)



[8Weather]


[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=AM Cutins]
[WRITER=tar]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]


We've got a warmer forecast for you today....
Mostly sunny skies with temperatures reaching the low to mid 50s.
Mostly clear overnight, with lows dropping to around 30.
The weekend looks partly to mostly sunny with highs in the lower 60s...showers are likely by Sunday.
[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Mostly Sunny/& Milder/50-55/Mostly Clear/Light SW Winds/28-32;]
[SUPER=#555; reset]

by SS