June 20, 1977

June 20; Israeli officials say Mondale merely restated Carter's positions; Begin meets with US Amb Samuel Lewis; says he will meet Carter in Washington in mid-July (M)

Worst drought in 25 yrs has hit Deep South; adverse ramifications on specific crops discussed; drought follows longest, harshest winter in Southern memory and has put many of region's farmers in econ difficulty (M)

Americana '77 (NYC Fair): More than 1-million strollers attend festival on NYC's 52d St; festival described; illus (M)

Temporary Comm on City Finances, NYC mayoral panel, finds shortcomings in NYS adm of Medicaid are adding $400-million annually to cost of program; attributes waste to 'fragmented' responsibility of running program and to 'repeated refusal' of Legis to provide enough funding; also attributes waste to fraud and abuse; recommends establishment of natl health ins system to assume Fed level of functions of both public and private med-assistance and health-ins programs; recommends that separate state agency be established to administer Medicaid, consolidating functions of all state and local agencies that currently handle program; State Soc Services Comr Philip L Toia terms recommendation of single agency 'old hat'; disputes suggestion that state assume larger share of city's Medicaid costs; notes state already has assumed some of city's adm burden; other recommendations of panel discussed; panel members noted (M)

Judicial Conduct Comm repts that 250 judges, 1 in every 10 in state, are being improperly influenced in disposition of speeding offenses and are granting favors to friends, relatives, other judges, police officers and people in pol and public office; comm Admr Gerald Stern comments (M)