News stories from Monday September 7, 1981
Summaries of the stories the major media outlets considered to be of particular importance on this date:
- Oil consumption is sharply lower and oil imports have dropped 20 percent since the Reagan administration removed controls on crude oil prices seven months ago. In addition, evidence is mounting that decontrol may help stem the long decline in American oil production. [New York Times]
- A test of the new federalism under which some federal programs will be transferred to the states is taking place in Kentucky. A one-year trial run in which the state took over an urban grant program has shown that the shift in the allocation of money has focused more attention on the powers of the state Governor and also indicated that the states must hire additional people to administer the federal programs. [New York Times]
- Pan Am is sharply cutting fares on all domestic flights in what industry analysts described as a bold effort to improve the airline's flagging domestic earnings. The fare cuts will range from one-half to two-thirds. [New York Times]
- An outcry against nuclear arms by religious leaders is growing around the country. Many of the clerics, including the Rev. Billy Graham, the evangelist, previously refrained from criticism of military programs. But concern over new weapons and the stockpiling of the neutron bomb has stirred a call to pacifist activism on theological grounds. [New York Times]
- Boston teachers voted to strike the city's 119 public schools in two weeks unless the union leadership can reach a new agreement with administrators. The teachers seek to restore many dropped programs and to regain jobs for more than 1,500 dismissed teachers and aides. [New York Times]
- Labor history has been neglected in American schools and colleges, according to labor historians and other specialists. They also say that labor's historic sites are often not honored, marked or maintained. [New York Times]
- Two Americans scored tennis upsets in the United States Open. Vitas Gerulaitis beat Ivan Lendl in five sets, and Bruce Manson beat Jose-Luis Clerc in straight sets. The upsets opened the way for Americans to get seven of the eight spots in the men's quarterfinals. American women have six. [New York Times]
- The President, at Gracie Mansion, presented a stage-prop check to Mayor Koch symbolizing the Reagan administration's commitment to the Westway. The outsized check, made out to both New York City and state for $85 million, represented the federal government's down payment for the west Manhattan project for a super highway and park that are expected to cost $2.3 billion and perhaps much more. Mr. Reagan stressed the many jobs the project would create. [New York Times]
- More than 100,000 unionists marched in New York City's first Labor Day parade in 13 years. The marchers, ranging from striking air traffic controllers to high-kicking Rockettes and brawny ironworkers, staged an enthusiastic celebration of the American labor movement's centennial. President Reagan, who was not invited to the march, was openly snubbed by the labor leaders. [New York Times]
- The latest prison uprising in Poland involved 150 inmates who barricaded themselves inside the main detention center at Bydgoszcz for two days. They presented a list of 28 grievances ranging from shoddy shoes to torture. The protest ended calmly when an accord was reached. [New York Times]
- An aid for Saudi bombing capability is being studied by a Reagan administrationn panel. The issue involves whether Washington should sell advanced bomb racks for Saudi Arabia's F-15 jet fighters. Officials said that approval of the proposed sale was regarded as unlikely. [New York Times]
- State supervision of Egypt's mosques is to be imposed as part of President Anwar Sadat's effort to halt sectarian strife. The gradual takeover affects 40,000 mosques. A total of 1,536 persons have been arrested and accused of inciting violence, directly or indirectly, between the Moslem majority and the Coptic Christian minority. [New York Times]