ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, June 27, 1996 TAG: 9606270069
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
RICHMOND - State police special agents in unmarked cars began patrolling Richmond-area highways Wednesday in an attempt to find someone who shot into nearly a dozen cars and vans.
``What we think it is, is a pellet gun that was shooting something like a hollow BB,'' said state police spokeswoman Mary Evans. ``It is being shot with such force that it can shatter a window, which is why we think it was shot while riding along the interstate.''
All the vehicles were hit in the same area, the driver's window or the driver's side rear window, Evans said. No one has been injured in the shootings, she said.
Evans said the first shooting occurred about 4:25 p.m. Tuesday. She did not know where the shooting happened.
About 7:30 p.m., police received five more calls reporting shootings, three on Interstate 95 northbound near Belvidere Street and two several miles south at the Maury Street interchange.
Police received five more reports of shootings Wednesday, Evans said. She said most of them took place on Interstate 64 westbound, one near Highland Springs.
Police did not have full details on the times and locations of all the incidents.
- Associated Press
Parasitic infection reported in Va.
NORFOLK - The state Department of Health has asked doctors to watch for symptoms of a flulike illness linked to California-grown strawberries.
The infection, which is not known to be fatal, has been reported in as many as 400 people in at least 11 states since May.
One case of the infection, caused by the parasite cyclospora cayetanensis, has been reported in Virginia, said Elizabeth Turf, a Health Department epidemiologist. In that case, which occurred on the Eastern Shore, California strawberries could not be confirmed as a cause of the illness, she said.
California strawberries are considered a possible source of some recent cases because 37 people who ate them at a conference in Houston in May became infected with cyclospora.
Health officials said shoppers can buy and eat fruits and vegetables without fear, as long as they wash them carefully.
- Associated Press
College: Councilman never graduated
HAMPTON - The university from which incoming city Councilman Paige V. Washington claimed he earned a degree says he never graduated from the school.
And a Williamsburg-James City County school system document shows Washington used a copier at his job with the school system for his campaign.
A campaign mailing authorized by Washington states under the heading of education: ``Wichita State University - B.S. Degree Business Administration.''
A resume provided to the Daily Press of Newport News when he announced his candidacy also states, ``Wichita State University, 1967-1971, Business Administration, Bachelor of Science.''
But Washington has no degree from Wichita State, said a certification specialist in the registrar's office at the Kansas school.
Glenn Gunnels said records show Washington was enrolled at Wichita State for three full semesters, and withdrew on Oct. 28, 1971, without finishing his fourth semester.
Washington said the problem arose when he didn't double-check information compiled by aides in his first-ever political campaign.
He is to be sworn in Monday for a four-year term on City Council.
Washington resigned last week from his post as manager of office services for the school system. School officials would not comment on whether the use of school system equipment for his campaign led to his resignation.
- Associated Press
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