Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, August 27, 1995                   TAG: 9508280078
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

IN VIRGINIA

RICHMOND - State officials say it is unnecessary to remodel all of Virginia's 21 prisons to make them accessible by wheelchair, a project estimated to cost $20 million to $35 million.

The U.S. Justice Department issued a report in November saying that all the state's prisons needed to be wheelchair accessible.

There are 40 state inmates in wheelchairs, in addition to three others who are temporarily using wheelchairs. The state has three prisons that are wheelchair accessible: Deep Meadow Correctional Center, Dillwyn Correctional Center and Greensville Correctional Center.

Attorney General Jim Gilmore has filed a response to the Justice Department saying that Virginia's prisons provide an adequate standard of care for all inmates.

- Associated Press

Virginia Beach has gay anti-bias policy

VIRGINIA BEACH - The city has joined a handful of others in Virginia to protect its gay and lesbian employees against job discrimination and sexual harassment.

The city's equal opportunity and sexual harassment policies were amended by city staff to include gays and lesbians.

Though the decision has pleased gays and lesbians, one local pastor says he hopes to collect thousands of signatures to convince the Virginia Beach City Council to reverse the policy amendments.

There are at least three other localities in the state that have amended their policies to extend employment protection to gay and lesbian employees, according to the Virginia Municipal League: Alexandria, Arlington and Charlottesville.

- Associated Press

Coach suspended over racist symbol

WOODBRIDGE - The Prince William County School Board has suspended an assistant coach of a high school baseball team over a racist symbol the team used as a good luck charm.

Friday's suspension came a day after the Potomac News released tapes of an interview with assistant coach Matt Ondrof in which he said that team members informed him of the symbol's meaning.

The Washington Post reported Saturday that Ondrof has been placed on administrative leave with pay while the investigation continues into the Brentville High School team's use of a symbol similar to one known as ``the well.'' The well, a circle with an X and eight dots, represents four hooded Ku Klux Klansmen looking down a well where they have just thrown a black man.

- Associated Press