Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, September 10, 1993 TAG: 9309100074
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
WINCHESTER - The chairwoman of the Winchester Democratic Committee has asked state Sen. H. Russell Potts, R-Winchester, to reconsider his plan to promote Virginia college basketball games, or resign from office.
"It is time for Mr. Potts to apologize and step aside," Laura Fernandez said Thursday.
Potts, a sports promoter, is attempting to move two basketball games involving Virginia Tech and the University of Virginia from Roanoke to the USAir Arena in Landover, Md.
The state lawmaker is working on the plan with his Winchester-based sports promotion firm, Sports Productions Inc.
Potts accused the Democrat of mudslinging. "I will not apologize to the people of my district, because I have nothing to apologize for," he said.
Fernandez said Potts' plan to promote the Virginia games is not in the best interest of state residents. She said small businesses and others would lose money.
Potts said Virginia Tech would make at least $300,000 from the game at the Maryland arena - about three times the amount it would if the game were held at the Roanoke Civic Center.
The lawmaker said he has promoted eight games involving Virginia teams during his 29 years as a sports promoter. - Associated Press
Wilder wants agency spared from VMI case
RICHMOND - Gov. Douglas Wilder has opposed a request by the U.S. Justice Department that the State Council of Higher Education be brought into the federal sex discrimination suit involving Virginia Military Institute.
In a motion filed in U.S. District Court on Wednesday, Wilder said the state already is being sued by the federal government, and the inclusion of a state agency in the suit is unnecessary.
The council oversees the state's colleges, but it has limited regulatory powers over them because the school's independent boards of visitors control admission policies.
The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled last year that VMI's all-male admission policy faces constitutional problems unless Virginia offers the same educational opportunities for women. The school is state-supported.
The court ruling requires VMI either to admit women or go private, or the state to create a comparable program for women.
U.S. District Judge Jackson Kiser of Roanoke has ordered that a solution be presented Sept. 27.
A Justice Department motion filed Aug. 30 said the education council should be included in the suit because the agency may be involved in VMI's plan.
- Associated Press
Lotto jackpot likely to climb to $7 million
RICHMOND - No ticket matched all six numbers to win a $5.1 million jackpot, a Virginia Lottery spokeswoman said Thursday.
The winning numbers drawn Wednesday night were 3, 9, 11, 27, 29 and 42.
Lottery spokeswoman Cherie Phaup said 117 tickets matched five numbers to win $722 and 5,059 tickets matched four numbers to win $35. Matching three numbers to win a free play were 73,679 tickets.
The estimated jackpot for Saturday's drawing is $7 million.
- Associated Press
by CNB