WDBJ 7 news at Noon for 12/08/99

[HEADLINES]

[TALENT=Melanie]

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

Tensions between the U-S and Cuba are intensifying every day a six year old Cuban refugee remains in this country.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

And the Clinton administration is putting new pressure on gun makers, hoping to keep guns out of the hands of criminals.
(/////////////)
[TALENT=Patrick]
[SS=None]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[SS=None]

News 7 at noon is next.

[Gun-control]

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

The Clinton administration is taking aim at gun makers with a lethal weapon.... the threat of a mutli-billion dollar lawsuit.
Mika Brzezinski reports.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[6:13:51 or 4:01:17]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-Mika Brzezinski/Reporting; 35]
[RUNS=:46]
[OUT Q=CBS News]
(( REPORTS OUT OF WASHINGTON SAY THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS HELPING DRAFT A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT.. ON BEHALF OF THE NATION'S PUBLIC HOUSING PROJECTS.
IT ALLEGES GUNS ARE A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT.
AND THE WAY THEY ARE MARKETED CONTRIBUTES TO DEADLY VIOLENCE.. ESPECIALLY IN THE HOUSING PROJECTS.
THE SUIT MIRRORS ONE FILED BY TWENTY NINE CITIES AND COUNTIES.
NEW YORK STATE HAS TAKEN THE LEAD IN THAT CASE. AND THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS BEEN TALKING WITH GUN MAKERS ABOUT A NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT.
REPORTS SAY WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS WILL JOIN THOSE TALKS.. AS EARLY AS TODAY.
THE GOAL.. WORK OUT A CODE OF CONDUCT FOR THE INDUSTRY. TO KEEP GUNS OUT OF THE HANDS OF CRIMINALS.
IF SUCCESSFUL.. IT WOULD BE A MAJOR WHITE HOUSE VICTORY OVER CONGRESS WHICH HAS KILLED EVERY EFFORT AT EVEN MILD GUN LEGISLATION.
THAT INCLUDES A BILL THAT PASSED THE SENATE AFTER THE COLUMBINE HIGH SCHOOL MASSACRE.. THAT CALLED FOR A WAITING PERIOD FOR PURCHASES AT GUN SHOWS. IT NEVER PASSED THE HOUSE. MIKA BRZEZINSKI, CBS NEWS.))

[warehouse-fire]

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

Four days after the warehouse fire in Massachusetts, searchers have recovered the body of a second firefighter.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Worcester, MA;]

Four others are still buried in the rubble
Officials say the latest recovery happened shortly after midnight.
The remains have been taken to the medical examiner's office for identification.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[10:06:5-=10:07:04]
[IN Q=we still have....]
[SUPER=01-Ames Callery/Worcester Fire Department;]
[RUNS=:13]
[OUT Q=until they our back.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=04-Friday;]
Officials say a homeless couple living in the abandoned warehouse.... accidentally knocked over a candle and started the fire.
[SUPER=04-Yesterday; :08]

They then fled the scene without alerting police.
Both are in police custody and are charged with involuntary manslaughter.
(------------)

[Vinton-Police]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Vinton Police Protest]

It was round two in the fight between Vinton town council and supporters of former police chief Ricky Foutz.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Vinton]

Supporters presented a petition with 250 names on it, stating Foutz's salary should be paid until he can collect his full retirement package in three years.
Many residents couldn't understand the reasoning behind council's decision.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=When the decision]
((WHEN THE DECISION WAS MADE TO PUT RICK FOUTZ OUT HERE WHY WASN'T THE DECISION MADE TO PAY HIM UNTIL YOU GOT THE REPORT BACK.)) ((YOUR HEMMING AND HOLLERING AND TRYING TO DODGE THE BULLET THE BULLET HAS BEEN SHOT ANSWER IT.))
[RUNS=:16]
[OUT Q=Answer it.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

After an hour of residents and council going in circles-- council decided to vote on the petition at its next meeting.
One council member said if one or both former officers are cleared of wrongdoing, they'll be given full restitution.
(------------)

[School-Prayer]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Lynchburg Seal]

The Lynchburg City School board has a decision to make-- either drop a long tradition of praying before meetings or go to court to protect it.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

But the American Civil Liberties Union says that prayer violates the separation of church and state.
It's willing to represent for free any student who opposes the prayer and wants to take the school board to court.

Three different conservative legal groups have offered to defend the board.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=we are all]
((ELLEN NYGAARD/SCHOOL BOARD CHAIRMAN: WE ARE ALL VERY THOUGHTFUL INDIVIDUALS AND HAVE OUR OWN RELIGIOUS BELIEFS. WHAT WE HAVE TO WRESTLE WITH NOW AS A BODY IS DECIDE HOW DOES THAT FIT INTO OUR ROLE AS PUBLIC SERVANTS AND, AS YOU INDICATED, HOW FAR WE WANT TO GO AS FAR AS PROMOTING THIS, IS IT PART OF OUR MISSION OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS.))
[SUPER=01-Ellen Nygaard/School Board Chairman]
[RUNS=:19]
[OUT Q=missions of public schools.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

The A-C-L-U is giving the board time to make up its mind, but a decision on whether to keep praying could still be weeks away.
(------------)

[cuba-boy]

[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]

The six-year-old Cuban boy who survived a disastrous boat trip to Florida tells reporters he likes it in America -- and wants to stay.
But Elian Gonzales' father in Cuba claims that's not what his son tells him.
The custody battle has become highly politicized by the personal involvement of Fidel Castro.
Byron Pitts reports from Havanna where anti-American demonstrations are underway.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[10:01:31]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Havana, Cuba; :00]
[SUPER=01-Daniel Stein/Amer. Immigration Reform Fed.; :47]
[SUPER=01-Byron Pitts/Reporting; 1:28]
[RUNS=1:49]
[OUT Q=CBS News Havana.]
((TO THE CHANT OF LIBERTY ELIAN... CUBAN MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN PROTESTED ON THE STREETS OF HAVANA BY THE THOUSANDS LAST NIGHT. IT WAS THE LARGEST TURNOUT SO FAR AND THE THIRD NIGHT OF PROTEST ORCHESTRATED BY FIDEL CASTRO. THE CUBAN PRESIDENT'S 72-HOUR ULTIMATUM CAME AND WENT WITHOUT ANY RESOLUTION ON THE FATE OF 6-YEAR OLD ELIAN GONZALEZ. THE LITTLE BOY RESCUED OFF THE COAST OF FORT LAUDERDALE FLOATING IN AN INNER TUBE ON THANKSGIVING DAY. HIS PLIGHT HAS BECOME A TUG OF WAR BETWEEN HAVANA AND WASHINGTON THAT COULD LAST WEEKS. AN INTERNATIONAL SKIRMISH, MOST IMMIGRATION AND LEGAL EXPERTS, SAY WOULD NORMALLY HAVE BEEN RESOLVED DAYS AGO HAD IT INVOLVED ANY OTHER COUNTRY OTHER THAN CUBA.
SOT:
DANIEL STEIN FEDERATION FOR AMERICAN IMMIGRATION REFORM �14 sec.3/4 "Under normal conditions a child brought here, a child who is here against the wishes of his parents would be returned to parents in the home country. The only reason Elian has not been returned to his father is pure politics." NARR: FOR THE TIME BEING ELIAN WILL STAY WITH RELATIVES IN THE LODGE AND POLITICALLY POWERFUL CUBAN EXILE COMMUNITY IN MIAMI.
HIS MOTHER, STEP-FATHER AND NINE OTHERS DROWNED WHEN THEIR POWER BOAT SANK DURING THE 90 MILE TRIP FROM CUBA. HIS FATHER AND BOTH SETS OF GRANDPARENTS WANT THE CHILD RETURNED TO CUBA. EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE THREE SURVIVORS, IT IS THE BOY WHO HAS BECOME A SYMBOL THAT HAS STOKED OLD PASSIONS IN SOUTH FLORIDA AND A NEW GENERATION OF PATRIOTISM IN HAVANA. STAND-UP/ON CAM: BYRON PITTS IT IS STILL UNCLEAR WHAT FIDEL WILL DO NEXT. HE'S THREATENED TO CUT OFF TALKS SCHEDULED BETWEEN THE U-S AND CUBA FOR NEXT WEEK. TALKS AIMED AT INSURING AN ORDERLY FLOW OF IMMIGRANTS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES. SO WHILE ALL THE TALK IS ABOUT A 6-YEAR OLD BOY... THE STAKES ARE MUCH HIGHER. BYRON PITTS, CBS NEWS, HAVANA.))
[tease1] [HARD MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

A bug could turn out to be a speed bump on the road to peace in Northern Ireland.
We'll explain when News-7 at Noon returns.
(--------------)
[VO-NAT ]

And as former tultex employees begin looking for work in Southside, there's a little good news to report.
First, let's talk to Patrick Evans.
(---------------)
[Talent=Patrick]
[Wx-Tease] [Weatherpro] [music up full] [comm1]

[E-Tultex]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=99-43 1:26:13]
[GRAPHIC=Tultex Chpt. 11]

A Henry County company is giving the local job market-- and laid off Tultex workers-- a small boost.
Tri State Foam Products-- a company that makes insulation-- announced ten to fifteen new jobs today.
That announcement comes as twenty-six hundred workers laid off by Tultex last week begin their job searches.
They're getting some help from their former employer.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Martinsville;]

Tultex called in career advisors to meet with displaced workers from its five area plants this week.
Eleven-hundred in Martinsville and Henry County lost their jobs.
More than 250 of them showed up yesterday in Martinsville for some career counseling.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:20:22 - :29]
[IN Q=It really looks grim]
((WENDY AMOS: IT REALLY LOOKS GRIM FOR EVERYBODY HERE AT THE HOLIDAY SEASON, BUT I'M GOING TO HOLD MY HEAD UP HIGH AND I'M GOING TO KEEP GOING ON. ))
[SUPER=01-Wendy Amos/Former Tultex Worker;]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=keep going on.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Since last week's layoffs, several furniture companies and another textile plant have also announced they're expanding.
That will create more than 600 new jobs.
(------------)

[S-M'ville-Taxes]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=99-49 23:57]
[GRAPHIC=Hold]

Meanwhile, Martinsville city officials are trying to figure out what Tultex's troubles will mean to the city's future.
City taxpayers soon may be feeling the results.
Tultex WAS the city's largest employer.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

It produced roughly nine percent of the city's real estate and property tax revenue.
Tultex still owes the city more than 650-thousand dollars in real estate and property taxes for THIS year.

It was also the city's biggest water customer-- accounting for about half of all Martinsville water and sewage use.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]

Martinsville doesn't know yet if it will ever get the money Tultex owes.
Any hole in the city budget could have an impact on taxes city residents pay.

[E-Richwood]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=99-46 35:36]
[GRAPHIC=None]

One of the owners of a Botetourt County adult home is responding to accusations that her mother stole residents' money.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.;]

Richwood Acres Adult Home has 23 elderly and handicapped residents.
Sheriff's deputies say at least two thousand dollars never showed up in residents' accounts over the past two months.
According to search warrants, the home's owner (Careen) Caren Simpson was responsible for the money.
But Simpson's daughter, who also owns the home, chalks it up to sloppy bookkeeping.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 10:45:32]
[SOT 10:48:41]
[IN Q=THEY HAVE THE MONEY]
((THEY HAVE THE MONEY IN THE SAFE OR IT'S BEEN IN THE BANK. COULD SHE HAVE BEEN TAKING THE MONEY ALL THE TIME? NO SHE HASN'T.))
[SUPER=01-Linda Housman/Co-Owner;]
[RUNS=:07]
[OUT Q=no she hasn't]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Detectives say they'll decide within the next two weeks whether to file criminal charges.
(------------)

[E-Gatekeeper]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=equ]
[TAPE#=99-39 1:20:44]
[GRAPHIC=medical News]

A New York doctor found passed out, with a needle in his arm, went on to give anesthesia to patients in Virginia for three weeks this summer.
Yesterday, Dr. Peter Lipsius (LIP-see-us) inspired a joint state and federal task force.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=@file]

Operation Gatekeeper will investigate and prosecute medical practitioners who engage in fraud to get licenses or jobs in Virginia.
The gross example is a New York anesthesiologist, nabbed this summer in Richmond after showing up for an operation with slurred speech and an unsteady gait.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=Dr. Lipsius]
((DR. LIPSIUS CAME IN AND PROVIDED INCORRECT INFORMATION ABOUT HIS BACKGROUND TO PRIVATE HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS IN VIRGINIA. HE WAS COMING FROM ANOTHER STATE. AND AS A RESULT, A NUMBER OF PATIENTS IN VIRGINIA WERE POTENTIALLY PUT IN DANGER BY HIS ACTIONS. HE HAD A DRUG ABUSE PROBLEM AND IT WAS OCCURRING WITHIN THE MEDICAL SETTING.))
[SUPER=@Earley;]
[RUNS=:22]
[OUT Q=medical setting.]
(-------------)
[TALENT=Melanie]
[SS=HOLD]

The New York doctor now faces 15 federal counts in Virginia, and has prior convictions in New York.

[Adams-bugging]

[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A bugging scandal threatens to throw Northern Ireland's fledgling government into disarray.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Belfast, Northern Ireland;]
[10:24;23]
Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams has made a formal protest to the British and Irish governments over the discovery of an alleged listening and tracking device in a car used by his party.
The allegations threaten to sour the atmosphere in the first week of Northern Ireland's new power-sharing government.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
((GERRY ADAMS/SINN FEIN:"IT CLEARLY FOR US IS A HUGE BREACH OF PEACE THAT WE COULD BE SUBJECTED TO THIS TYPE OF SURVEILLANCE AND IT HAS PROVED ONCE AGAIN THAT THE 'SECUROCRATS' ARE STILL FIGHTING THEIR LITTLE WAR."))
[SUPER=01-Gerry Adams/Sinn Fein Leader;]
[RUNS=:17]
[OUT Q=THEIR LITTLE WAR.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Adams has demanded that British Prime Minister Tony Blair finds out who was responsible.
(------------)

[Tease2] [SOFT MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

Norfolk Southern is putting some new cars on the rails.
That's just one of the stories still ahead on News-7 at noon.
(-----------------)
[VO-NAT ]

And collecters from around the world pack Sotheby's auction house for a shot at works by two master painters.
(-----------------)
[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #2]

[E-NS-Cars]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=sgo]
[TAPE#=99-42 TC1:31:17]
[GRAPHIC=NS]

A group of Norfolk Southern coal cars is growing -- along with national demand for coke.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

The N-S shops in Roanoke are adding four-foot walls to the tops of 725-cars.
The so-called "high tops" are specially designed to move coke.
Coke is a byproduct of coal that's used to make steel -- and Norfolk Southern says its acquisition of Conrail opened up new markets for coke along the east coast.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 3:39:12]
[IN Q=it's a direct]
((ANTHONY WADE/NORFOLK SOUTHERN: IT'S A DIRECT RELATIONSHIP TO THE NEW MARKETS THAT WE'VE ACQUIRED DUE TO THE ACQUISITION OF CONRAIL. TO SERVE THE STEEL CONSUMERS FORMERLY UNDER CONRAIL AND NOW UNDER THE NEW NORFOLK SOUTHERN .))
[SUPER=01-Anthony Wade/Norfolk Southern]
[RUNS=14]
[OUT Q=new norfolk southern]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

N-S is not hiring more workers to build the coke cars.
In April, the railroad laid off 110-Roanoke workers ... because international demand for COAL was -- and still is -- slumping.
(------------)

[cezanne-versace]

[ANCHOR=melanie]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=mel]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=None]

In London an art auction that was as much about murder, mystery and intrigue.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-London, UK;]
[10:27:55]
21 years after it was stolen, a Cezanne was sold at Sothebys for 30 million.
The painting was stolen from a private collection in Massachusetts and recovered just last month.
Sotheby's describes the Cezanne as one of the most important paintings offered in London this decade.
Also on the auction block, 25 Picassos which belonged to murdered fashion designer Gianni Versace.
(------------)

[Stocks]

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

On Wall Street at Noon, the Dow was UP 18 points.
[tease3] [SPORTS MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Melanie]

Still to come in sports, Roanoke College men's basketball enters the national spotlight,
(----------------)
[VO-NAT ]
and the Radford's mens team looks to upset Virginia Tech in the Cassell Thursday night.
Patrick has more on the Highlanders progress, next.
(---------------)
[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM BREAK #3]

[S-Fleming]

[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=Sp-57 tc 19:34]
[GRAPHIC=high school basketball]

It was a battle down to the last minutes, but William Fleming got past G-W Danville 67-to-60 last night.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Wm. Fleming vs. GW Danville;]

Colonel football coach Kila Miller was on hand to mug for the camera and cheer the Fleming basketball team.
The Colonels go inside on Danville. The strong move underneath gets the points and draws the foul.
The Eagles then soar...on the fast break now, the sweet spin move coverts into a bucket for GW.
The Eagles continue to battle back, this jump shot ties it up and sends the game into overtime.
[super=33-GW Danville/60/William Fleming/67/Final In Overtime;]

But the Colonels take control in the extra minutes and come out of the dog fight with the 67-60 win.
(------------)

[S-Roanoke]

[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=dal]
[TAPE#=Sp-54 tc 50:24]
[GRAPHIC=Roanoke College]

Roanoke College's men's basketball team is ranked in two national division three college basketball polls.
The Maroons are 25th in the Columbus Multimedia Division Three poll and the D-Three Hoops Online national rankings.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem/November 28;]

Both polls were compiled before Monday night's 75-55 win over Lynchburg College.
The Maroons are now three and oh in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference and six and one overall.
Junior Jason Strickland also earned a spot on the D-Three Team of the week with a 23 point, 15 rebound performance against Emory and Henry and 20 points in the Virginia Wesleyan game.
(------------)
[anchor=Patrick]
[ss=ODAC]

Roanoke is one of three ODAC schools ranked by the Columbus Multimedia Poll. Hampden Sydney is second and Bridgewater is ranked 24th.

[S-Radford]

[ANCHOR=Patrick]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-58 2126tc]
[GRAPHIC=RADFORD]

The Radford men's basketball team is getting set to take on Virginia Tech Thursday night.
And Mike Stevens says after the way RU has opened the season, traveling to the other end of Price's Fork Road will be a breeze.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=FIRST AUDIO]
[SUPER=03-Radford; :00]
[SUPER=@mike2; :10]
[SUPER=01-Peanut Arrington/Radford Guard; :37]
[SUPER=01-Ron Bradley/Radford Head Coach; :45 quick]
[SUPER=01-Andy Savtchenko/Radford Center; 1:46]
[RUNS=1:57]
[OUT Q=...NEWS 7 SPORTS."]
(------------)
(( The Highlanders have taken on the tag of Road Warriors so far this season. They have yet to play at the Dedmon Center this year, and this Thursday night's game with Tech will mark the team's fifth straight away from home. At this point - several things are obvious. For starters, Ryan Charles is all the way after knee surgery. He's averaged 27 a game in his last two starts. Point guard Rian Everett has been outstanding hitting 54 percent of his threes. And Peanut Arrington has been as good as advertised, if not better, playing almost 30 minutes a game ((PEANUT ARRINGTON:)) ((RON BRADLEY:)) The mystery to date is the play of sophomore center Andy Savtchenko. The team's leading rebounder last season, bulked up over the summer adding over 30 pounds of muscle and increasing his bench press to 300 pounds. But through four games his level of play has dropped. ((RON BRADLEY:))
At 7-feet and 265 pounds Savtchenko has the potential to dominate games. RU fans hope to see him and the rest of the deepest team in school history blossom in the Cassell on Thursday. ((ANDRE SAVTCHENKO:)) In Radford Mike Stevens News 7 Sports.))