Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, November 19, 1994 TAG: 9411210061
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
ALEXANDRIA - The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers usually battle evil aliens from outer space, but lately they've been fighting companies that are trying to cash in on their popularity.
Saban Entertainment Inc., which owns rights to the TV series and merchandising spinoffs that feature the gang of costumed superheroes, is suing an Alexandria-based entertainment business for alleged copyright and trademark infringement.
The lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Alexandria alleges that Class Acts Inc. charges $180 an hour for appearances by actors masquerading as Power Rangers or their friends.
``We've had reports of severely overweight people running around in these Spandex costumes,'' said Angela Small, Saban's vice president for legal affairs. ``They have no athletic skill, and children cry when they see them.''
Lauren Alderson, a manager at Class Acts, denied the allegations, saying the business cards had been changed to ``Power Pals'' and that there had been far fewer performances.
- Associated Press
Bay friends' fund needs allocators
RICHMOND - The Chesapeake Bay Foundation asked state officials Friday to establish a citizens' advisory committee to help Virginia spend money gained from sales of a special license plate.
In a letter to state Secretary of Natural Resources Becky Norton Dunlop, the foundation urged that the state use $385,000 in proceeds from the ``Friend of the Chesapeake'' plates to help restore oyster reefs and wetlands, assist farmers and homeowners and develop educational programs about the bay.
Joseph H. Maroon, executive director of the foundation's Virginia chapter, said his group wants to work with the state to ensure that the money is ``used in a responsible fashion rather than for administrative overhead or to simply replace already committed state funds for Bay-related efforts.''
- Associated Press
Missing child found safe with mother
VIRGINIA BEACH - A 17-month-old girl who had been missing from Newport News since Oct. 20 was found safe Friday with her mother in Virginia Beach.
The mother was arrested on a parental abduction warrant.
Ashilei Ross was returned to her father after being found, said Newport News police spokesman Bill Roth. The father, Stephon Ross, had been awarded temporary custody of the child.
According to Roth, the girl's mother, Laurie Ann Evans, asked for a ride to a friend's house in Virginia Beach and told the driver that she was wanted for abducting her daughter in Newport News.
The person took Evans and the toddler to their destination and then notified police, Roth said. They were located shortly after noon.
Evans was being held in the Newport News jail, Roth said.
- Associated Press
Suspect faces his 3rd murder charge
NEWPORT NEWS - A Newport News man has been charged with murder for the third time in three years.
Malicious wounding charges against Paul Taylor were upgraded to murder after Julius Jegede, the man he is accused of shooting on Nov. 9, died Thursday.
A man walked up to Jegede as he stood outside his house and fired as many as 14 shots, at least four of which hit Jegede.
As he lay bleeding on the front lawn, Jegede blurted out Taylor's name as his assailant, witnesses said.
Jegede's death accounts for the third murder charge in as many years against Taylor.
Taylor, 26, wasn't tried in the previous cases because key witnesses either failed to appear or prosecutors dropped the charge for lack of evidence.
- Associated Press
Allen: GOP must change Washington
WASHINGTON - Virginia Gov. George Allen lauded the new Republican-run Congress but warned his GOP colleagues Friday that they must now change the way Washington works.
``The Republicans have a tremendous opportunity, but the people are watching,'' Allen said in a speech to the National Taxpayers Union.
``They aren't just going to say, 'We're happy we changed leadership.' They want to see action; they want to see results. That's what they demand, that's what they deserve.''
Allen assailed Washington's bureaucracy and lamented that his first year in office has been marked by the ``constant battle with our friends across the Potomac.''
He urged the new Congress to cut back on the ``meddling and pestering'' and return more responsibility to the states, particularly on such issues as welfare and education.
``The federal government is getting into a lot of places that are none of their business,'' Allen said.
- Associated Press
by CNB