ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, August 31, 1996 TAG: 9609030038
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-3 EDITION: METRO
Tobacco executives subpoenaed
WASHINGTON - Top Philip Morris executives have received subpoenas as part of a federal grand jury criminal investigation about whether the company misled Congress and regulators about the effects of nicotine, a source said Friday.
FBI agents delivered the subpoenas as a grand jury in Washington investigates whether tobacco executives lied to Congress about nicotine's addictiveness, according to a person familiar with investigation who spoke on condition he wouldn't be identified.
The subpoenas were delivered this week when most of the executives were at the company's Richmond, Va.-area plants.
There were no details about the number or identities of the executives. A Justice Department spokesman declined to comment. Philip Morris attorneys and spokesmen were unavailable Friday, a company holiday.
Philip Morris last spring warned employees at three Richmond-area plants that Justice officials might contact them as part of the investigation. Former employees last spring filed affidavits with the Food and Drug Administration alleging that the company routinely monitored and adjusted the nicotine levels in cigarettes.
- Associated Press
Rolling billboards warn about air bags
WASHINGTON - Trucks plastered with special billboards hit some of the nation's busiest highways Friday as part of a campaign to teach the public about safety belts and air bags.
The trucks, with billboards that say ``Air Bag Safety. Everyone Buckled. Kids in Back,'' will ride along Interstate Highways 95, 80, 90, 94 and 5 through the weekend.
Air bags are credited with saving 1,500 lives since 1987, but the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has blamed the deaths of 24 children on air bags.
Experts say such injuries can be avoided by properly restraining children, always in the back seat.
- Associated Press
LENGTH: Short : 47 linesby CNB