Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, March 28, 1995 TAG: 9503280072
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
WASHINGTON - A $2 million sex discrimination lawsuit has been filed against the NAACP, accusing the civil rights group of giving women employees lower pay and fewer perks than men who do the same work.
The lawsuit, filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Washington, was brought on behalf of about 40 women who held professional or management positions in the NAACP from 1991 through this year.
The lawsuit names as defendants the NAACP, former board Chairman William Gibson, Acting Executive Director Earl Shinhoster, Acting Deputy Director Fred Rasheed, General Counsel Dennis Courtland Hayes, former Executive Director Benjamin Chavis and former Deputy Director Lewis Myers.
The defendants ``failed and refused, in nearly all instances, to properly investigate or redress economic grievances or questions of the women,'' the lawsuit says.
- Associated Press
Governor weakens Md. smoking ban
ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Hours after Maryland's highest court allowed one of the nation's strictest smoking bans to take effect Monday, the governor signed into law a compromise that creates major exceptions.
The ban covers almost all workplaces in Maryland, including factories, stores, malls, colleges, prisons, even company vehicles occupied by two or more people.
Originally, the regulations also would have prohibited smoking in taverns, hotel and motel rooms, and all restaurants. Worried about the effect on tourism and bars, restaurants and taverns, the Legislature approved a bill exempting hotels and motels and all businesses with a liquor license.
But a compromise signed by Gov. Parris Glendening allows smoking in taverns, hotel and motel rooms and, with some restrictions, in all restaurants.
- Associated Press
President has lesions removed
WASHINGTON - As a precaution, doctors removed several precancerous skin lesions from President Clinton's forehead and from behind his ear last week.
The procedure was not mentioned in a report the White House put out on the results of Clinton's annual physical examination Friday, but was disclosed Monday by spokesman Mike McCurry after reporters asked about a red blotch on Clinton's face.
McCurry said doctors removed several actinic keratoses as a precaution while Clinton was at Bethesda Naval Hospital, and "they are not cancerous,'' he said.
- Associated Press
Over-counter sale of Tagamet urged
ROCKVILLE, Md. - A panel of scientists unanimously urged the Food and Drug Administration Monday to allow the popular ulcer drug Tagamet to be sold without a prescription for treatment of heartburn.
But the FDA advisory committee insisted that the over-the-counter Tagamet boxes include warnings that the drug might interact with some prescription medicine for certain lung diseases and seizures, and with blood thinners.
The FDA is not obligated to follow decisions of its advisory committees but usually does.
The drug is known for treating ulcers. But the nonprescription formula will be at a much lower dose - 200 milligrams, a maximum of twice a day - that has proved modestly effective at easing heartburn.
- Associated Press
by CNB