European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 7, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wednesday March 7, 1990 the stars and stripes a Page 5 Flag burning Law again struck Down As unconstitutional Washington apr a Law passed by Congress last year making it a Federal crime to Burn the american Flag has been ruled unconstitutional for the second time in less than a month. . District judge june Green on monday dismissed charges against three defendants accused of violating the statute saying the Law violated the first amendment s Protection of free speech. Congress passed the Law after a supreme court ruling struck Down a similar Texas statute. The Justice department has said it would ask the supreme court to review the feb. 21 ruling of a Federal judge in Seattle who struck Down the Law on the same ground. Green rejected Justice department arguments that the Flag Protection act was intended to protect the Flag As a Symbol rather than to regulate speech. A however compelling the government May see its interests they cannot justify restrictions on speech which shake the very Cornerstone of the first amendment a she wrote. A for in protecting the Flag for those who wish to wave it in support of these causes but preventing the defendants from burning it in opposition the government has created a regulation which cannot be justified without reference to the Content of the defendants message a Green said. The judge dismissed Flag burning charges against Shawn d. Eichmann David g. Blalock and Scott w. Tyler who were arrested oct. 30 after setting several . Flags afire on the Steps of the . Capitol to protest the Law. Conviction under the Law carries a one year sentence. A the right to dissent is sometimes an Albatross which burdens our society with its offensive sounds a Green wrote. A yet political dissent lies at the heart of the first amendments  William Kunstler a new York lawyer who handled both the Washington and Seattle cases for the Center for constitutional rights hailed the ruling. A we have knocked out an offensive statute a he said. But Kunstler said that even if the defendants win in the supreme court there will be a renewed fight Over a constitutional amendment to outlaw Flag burning. Upshot shocked the face of 10-year-old Christy Pace the disease have been reported in Liv shows exactly How she feels about get Ingston in recent months prompting Ting a shot for meningitis at Livingston state officials to offer free Inocula High school in Illinois. Four cases of tons to the town s 900  can to get it their Way in fast food chains Washington apr four Large fast food chains arc breaking an agreement to offer on the spot nutritional information about their menus and to make sure customers know the brochures Are available a consumer group said monday. A we Are sorry to report. That after initial compliance the voluntary program has broken Down a the Center for science in the Public interest said in letters to the attorneys general of Texas California and new York. The three state officials won agreement from five chains in july 1986 to provide ingredient and nutrition information at All outlets. The consumer group said that the companies were supposed to Post signs alerting diners to the availability of a brochure and that the policies were supposed to apply nationwide. The Washington based Center a non profit health advocacy organization with 200,000 members said Only the Jack in the Box Chain remains in substantial compliance with the agreement. Based on a Survey of outlets in eight states and the District of Columbia the consumer group said. Burger King Mcdonald a Wendy a and Kentucky Fried Chicken have  Jacobson the centers executive director said in a statement that his organization had a urged the attorneys general to consider prosecuting the companies unless they resume full compliance within 60  Leslie Gersing a spokeswoman for new York attorney general Robert Abrams said the information program was the result of a an informal out of court agreement and said she did not know if there were grounds to sue. However she said All three attorneys general have asked officials from the four companies to meet with Texas attorney general Jim Mattox to discuss Why they have discontinued the program. A this is something wed like to do without having to resort to litigation a she said. A spokesman for Kentucky Fried Chicken said brochures Are sent to restaurants but they arc not required to give them out. A the Deal was that the 1986 agreement was voluntary a said Dick Dutwiler. The company s director of Public affairs. In his letter to the state officials. Jacobson said Consumers need to know for example that Mcdonald s and Burger King Fry their potatoes in beef fat that Mcdonald s Chicken a nuggets contain ground up Chicken skin and that Burger Kings whopper with cheese contains 711 calories. The consumer group surveyed restaurants in Virginia. Louisiana Ohio Wyoming. New Mexico. Texas California and new York in addition to Washington. Jacobson said the centers Survey showed that a of 14 Burger King outlets surveyed none had signs and Only six had brochures. Customers who requested information were told to write or Call corporate Headquarters. Spokeswoman Cori Zywotow said Burger King provides All its restaurants with nutritional guides and requires company owned outlets to distribute them. A this is the first complaint that we be received a she said. A we certainly will go Back and take a look ourselves and. If they arc not being Given out. Remedy the  a Kentucky Fried Chicken is creating a new brochure. And not distributing the old one. Which did t contain ingredient information anyway. Customers who requested information were told to Contact corporate Headquarters. Stores were not required to keep brochures on hand and Only three of 13 Surv eyed had any. Del incr. The company spokesman said monday that the new brochure has been sent to outlets which May or May not distribute them. Asked about ingredient listings and signs he said. A i m not aware that we Ever agreed to provide anything other than nutritional  a Mcdonald s has a policy that All outlets Are supposed to have booklets and signs but the policy is being ignored by Many of their stores. Only eight of 18 stores surveyed had brochures. Spokeswoman Terri Capatosto said Mcdonald s never entered into any agreement except a one year program to distribute nutrition information in new York. But she said that a we provide Complete ingredient information at our restaurants. We Send it to our restaurants regularly and it is available at All limes from the nutrition information Center at corporate Headquarters. A Wendy s tells customers who want information to write to corporate Headquarters. One California Wendy s had a sign noting the availability of product information but had no brochures on hand. None of 14 stores surveyed had  they might have run out of  said Wendy s spokesman Denny Lynch. Coca cola bringing out a gatorade Type drink Sands of time Atlanta up a coca cola co. Said monday it would introduce a new non carbonated sports drink this month called Power de the second new beverage in As Many weeks to be announced by the giant soft drink maker. The Lemon Flavoured drink will compete with gatorade a Lemon Lime product. It will also be available in Orange and fruit punch flavors. Last week coca cola announced that it would introduce a caffeine free version its Coke classic. Charles r. Frenette coca Colas senior vice president for Fountain sales said Power de would be sold As a Fountain product primarily through convenience stores. There Are no plans now to sell Power de in cans or bottles. A it is important for coca cola Usa to be fully represented in the emerging sports drink segment a said Frenette. Power de was Given a four month Market test in Bakersfield Calif. Coca cola said the beverage is designed to rapidly replace body fluids lost through perspiration during physical exertion. Sports drink beverages Are particularly popular among males especially people Active in sports or those whose work requires heavy physical labor coca cola said. Coca cola has sold a similar sports drink called aquarius overseas since 1983.in the stars and stripes 40 years ago today. March 7, 1950 a John l. Lewis and mine operators signed a contract ending the Coal strike and sending 372.000 ump soft Coal miners Back to the pits with higher wages.30 years ago today. March 7, 1960 a cuban president Fidel Castro declared . Interests opposed to his revolution were responsible for explosions aboard a French munitions ship in Havana Bay. At least 54 persons died in the blasts.20 years ago today. March 7, 1970 a president Nixon defended american involvement in Laos but said there were no american ground combat troops in that country and that he had no plans to Send any there.10 years ago today. March 7, 1980 a a special commission has been set up by the iranian government to take Over responsibility for the 50 american hostages in the . Embassy. Foreign minister Sadigh Ghotb Zach announced