ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, October 5, 1996 TAG: 9610070069
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-3 EDITION: METRO
Punished kisser gets apology
LEXINGTON, N.C. - A 6-year-old boy who was punished two weeks ago for kissing a girl on the cheek got an apology Friday from his school superintendent.
Accused of ``unwelcome touching,'' first-grader Johnathan Prevette was separated from his class and not allowed to participate in an ice cream party. Johnathan said the girl asked him to kiss her.
His parents, Jackie and Calvin Prevette, want the schools' sexual harassment policy changed to distinguish what is permissible behavior for younger and older students.
Superintendent Jim Simeon said Friday that Johnathan was never accused of sexual harassment, although his parents were told the kiss could pose a problem under the policy.
``In retrospect, I can understand how this could have been confusing, and I apologize to Mr. and Mrs. Prevette and Johnathan for the misunderstanding that the sexual harassment policy was applied in this matter,'' Simeon said.
- Associated Press
Perot loses appeal to get into debates
WASHINGTON - A federal appeals court rejected Ross Perot's attempt Friday to sue his way onto the debate stage with President Clinton and Bob Dole.
The U.S. Court of Appeals upheld a district court order dismissing the lawsuits of Perot and another third-party presidential candidate, John Hagelin of the Natural Law Party.
Perot's attorneys had complained that the Commission on Presidential Debates, which excluded him, used criteria that went beyond Federal Election Commission regulations and that the FEC delegated its power to the private group.
The debate commission's members ruled Perot and Hagelin did not have a realistic chance of being elected and did not invite them to the debates, the first of which is Sunday.
Also Friday, the FCC rejected Perot's attempt to force the major TV networks to sell his campaign more commercial air time. The agency said Perot has been able to buy prime-time blocks for advertising his Reform Party campaign and therefore has had adequate access.
- Associated Press
Mall sets weekend curfew for teens
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. - A teen-age rite of passage - hanging out at the mall on weekend nights - ended Friday when Mall of America began enforcing a curfew for kids under 16.
Officials at the nation's biggest shopping and entertainment complex hope to cut down on rowdy behavior by requiring youngsters to be accompanied by someone 21 or older after 6 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
The policy is unpopular with many teen-agers and some minority leaders, who worry the curfew will be unfairly enforced against minorities. The Twin Cities chapter of Refuse and Resist gathered at the mall Friday evening to protest what it called ``the criminalization of youth and the racism demonstrated'' by the curfew.
``The policy is an attack on youth and minorities,'' said Mark Jefferson, who was handing out T-shirts with anti-mall slogans.
Mall officials said the policy, modeled after one at a mall in Asheville, N.C., was developed after customers and tenants complained about intimidating behavior by some teens.
- Associated Press
Hemophilia drug maker recalls batch
WASHINGTON - A Pennsylvania company is recalling one batch of a drug used by hemophiliacs out of concern that some of the vials may have cracked and become contaminated during the manufacturing process.
Centeon, located in King of Prussia, Pa., is recalling about 1,600 vials of Monoclate-P, which were distributed to 28 health care providers in May. The lot being recalled is P72304, which expires April 12, 1998.
The recall is a precautionary measure, the company and the Food and Drug Administration said Friday. No illnesses have been reported due to the problem with the vials.
Monoclate is used to treat people with hemophilia A, or classic hemophilia, a genetic disease that prevents normal blood clotting.
People or institutions who have the affected medicine should return it to the manufacturer. For questions, call Centeon's customer support center at (800)683-1288.
- Associated Press
LENGTH: Medium: 86 lines KEYWORDS: POLITICS PRESIDENTby CNB