ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, January 30, 1996 TAG: 9601300103
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: GENERAL ASSEMBLY NOTEBOOK
DATELINE: RICHMOND
SOURCE: DAVID M. POOLE STAFF WRITER
A bill giving Roanoke City Council the authority to ban handguns in city parks is headed for defeat in the General Assembly for the second straight year.
The House of Delegates on Monday rejected, 58-40, a move by Del. Clifton "Chip" Woodrum, D-Roanoke, that would have let the bill pass with a simple majority instead of the two-thirds required for city charter changes.
Woodrum now faces the unlikely prospect of gaining enough votes for the bill, which is opposed by the powerful National Rifle Association.
Woodrum told his colleagues the bill would give Roanoke police one more tool in heading off "constant calls" about shooting in city parks.
He sought to appease critics by allowing people with concealed-weapon permits to carry handguns onto park property.
A final - and likely fatal- vote on the bill is scheduled today.
Deeds targets Kim-Stan Landfill
For several years, Del. Creigh Deeds, D-Warm Springs, has tried many ways, from pleading with the House Appropriations Committee to playing footsie with riverboat casino proponents, to shake loose at least $10 million to clean up the polluting mound of trash known as Kim-Stan Landfill in Alleghany County.
This year, Deeds has decided to take more modest steps toward cleaning up Kim-Stan.
He has introduced a bill to help clarify who owns the land, which was abandoned after the landfill shut down six years ago.
He also offered legislation that could open the door for the Virginia Resources Authority, which helps localities build sewage treatment plants, to provide loans for landfill cleanups.
"While I'm tempted to make my spiel to Appropriations for the big money, I think we would be better off with some smaller things," he said.
LENGTH: Short : 44 lines KEYWORDS: GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1996by CNB