News stories from Monday April 13, 1981
Summaries of the stories the major media outlets considered to be of particular importance on this date:
- Two astronauts cruised through a second day in space aboard the Columbia, enjoying the panoramas and putting the smooth-flying craft through critical tests in preparation for a planned landing early tomorrow afternoon in California's Mojave Desert. The wheeled landing is to follow 36 orbits in a journey of 54½ hours.
The loss of all or part of 17 tiles that protect the space shuttle from the extreme heat of re-entry into the earth's atmosphere was a subject of debate. Space officials said attempts to photograph the underside of the craft had failed, but they expressed confidence that all the critical tiles were firmly in place and posed no hazard.
[New York Times] - Nearly ideal weather was expected for the Columbia's return to earth. The craft is to be met by a convoy of vehicles carrying specialists who, after determining that there are no dangerous amounts of explosive or toxic gases emanating from the craft, will cool it and remove any residual fuel from its engines and tanks. [New York Times]
- Adherence to tax cuts over three years was stressed by President Reagan at his first working White House meeting since the attempt on his life two weeks ago. He ordered his staff to repudiate a report that the administration was willing to compromise on the tax-reduction part of his economic program and accept a one-year cut. [New York Times]
- Efforts to renew the budget offensive were pressed by the administration. Strategists have invited nearly 900 regional editors and broadcasters to Washington for briefings, prepared an intensive speaking schedule for Vice President Bush, urged cabinet members to double public appearances and laid plans to lobby three Republican Senators who voted against the budget resolution last week. [New York Times]
- Students became lobbyists in protesting the administration's plan to reduce federally assisted loans and grants to college students by about $1 billion a year. About 1,200 young people pressed their case on Capitol Hill. [New York Times]
- Nearly all of the former hostages in Iran appear to be resuming their lives with little difficulty. Three months after the 52 Americans were released by Teheran, government officials say they know of only three or four of the group who are experiencing any serious problem. [New York Times]
- The center of the nation's population has moved into southern Missouri, signifying that the typical American is no longer a Northerner. For the first time, a majority of Americans live in the South and the West, according to the 1980 census. [New York Times]
- Political gains by Southern blacks have been dramatic and widespread since the enactment of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Now, however, with the approaching expiration of key parts of the act, and with evidence that some powerful members of Congress are determinedly opposed to renewal, many blacks are fearful of losing their advances and of the repression that they say might follow. [New York Times]
- Premier Rene Levesque won a sweeping victory in Quebec elections. About four million voters, who rejected Quebec's separation from Canada in a referendum last year, turned around and expressed broad confidence in the ability of Mr. Levesque and his Parti Quebecois to lead Quebec as a Canadian province. [New York Times]
- The Soviet Union interceded in Warsaw two weeks ago to insure that two hard-liners were not purged from the Poliburo, according to reliable sources in the Polish capital. They said that the hard-liners were retained at a Central Committee meeting of the Polish Communist Party despite strong criticism of their leadership. [New York Times]
- Afghan rebels are moving openly and confidently in two widely separated provinces of Afghanistan and are apparently well armed with new supplies, according to Western travelers returning from clandestine trips. A photographer said that, in eight days in one region, he saw no sign of central government authority. [New York Times]
- Spain's membership in NATO is sought before the end of this year by Leopoldo Calvo Sotelo, the new Prime Minister. He also wants to complete negotiations for a revised military treaty with the United States that will provide increased American aid. [New York Times]
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Stock Market Report
Dow Jones Industrial Average: 993.16 (-7.11, -0.71%)
Arms Index is the ratio of volume per declining issue to volume per advancing issue; a figure below 1.0 is bullish. | |||||||||||||||
| Market Index Trends | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | DJIA | S&P | Volume* |
| April 10, 1981 | 1000.27 | 134.51 | 58.12 |
| April 9, 1981 | 998.83 | 133.92 | 59.54 |
| April 8, 1981 | 993.43 | 134.31 | 48.04 |
| April 7, 1981 | 992.89 | 133.91 | 44.54 |
| April 6, 1981 | 994.24 | 133.93 | 43.11 |
| April 3, 1981 | 1007.11 | 135.49 | 48.68 |
| April 2, 1981 | 1009.01 | 136.32 | 52.57 |
| April 1, 1981 | 1014.14 | 136.57 | 54.89 |
| March 31, 1981 | 1003.87 | 136.00 | 50.97 |
| March 30, 1981 | 992.16 | 134.28 | 33.49 |