News stories from Saturday September 18, 1982

Summaries of the stories the major media outlets considered to be of particular importance on this date:

A proposal to cut Medicare costs by requiring elderly people to demonstrate financial need as a condition of receiving benefits is being studied by the Office of Management and Budget, federal officials said. Officials acknowledged that the "means test" would make the Medicare less of an insurance program and more of an income assistance program. [New York Times] A long-term economic plan for America that emphasizes public and private investment as well as business, labor and government participation in a new institution charged with overseeing the economy has been put forth by all 241 House Democrats. The aim of the economic policy plan, a task force spokesman said, is to "move away from a temporary economic policy of redistribution" of wealth "to a long-term policy of growth and opportunity." [New York Times] A football players strike within the week is a possibility unless the National Football League Players Association and representatives of the owners of the league's 28 teams agree on the terms of a new contract. Some 1,500 players who are represented by the union have been without a contract since July 15. The union's executive committee has called a meeting for Monday to discuss the possible starting dates of a strike. [New York Times] Palestinians were massacred by Lebanese Christian militiamen in a refugee camp on the southern edge of west Beirut, according to witnesses and reporters who visited the camp. President Reagan condemned the killings of Palestinians in Beirut and called again for an immediate Israeli withdrawal from west Beirut. In a separate statement, the United States joined with France and Italy in calling for United Nations observers to be sent immediately to the sites of the murders. [New York Times] Israel denounced the massacre of Palestinians in refugee camps in Beirut and said that Israeli troops intervened to keep Christian Phalangists from killing more people. In a statement, the Israeli government said it "will to the best of its power, try to prevent the recurrence of such acts between the Palestinians and Lebanese." [New York Times] A funeral mass for Princess Grace was said in the cathedral where she married Prince Rainier 26 years ago and where their children were baptized. The funeral brought representatives of many governments and royal families to the principality of Monaco. [New York Times] Honduran guerrillas released about 14 of the approximately 100 hostages they are reported to be holding in a siege of an office building in a city 90 miles from Tegucigalpa, the capital. The guerrillas, who are believed to number about 10, are said to be seeking the release of a number of political prisoners held be the government. There are conflicting reports as to whether or not any Americans were among the remaining hostages. Among those who are known to be hostages are two government hostages and the president of the central bank. [New York Times]