May 13, 1992

The Economy Regulators voted to raise the premiums banks and savings associations pay to their insolvent insurance funds and to make fundamental changes in the way those premiums are assessed. The 3-to-2 decision by the F.D.I.C., which defied heavy pressure from both the Bush Administration and the industry, would raise premiums an average of 22 percent starting in January. [ Page A1. ] Producer prices crept up a modest 0.2 percent in April, the Government said. [ D1. ]

Since Friday, distribution of The New York Times in parts of the New York region has been disrupted because of a labor dispute affecting a wholesale delivery company used by the paper. (Article, page B4.)

It is just before 1 P.M., and Michael Tolkin is sitting in The Ivy with all the Hollywood players. David Geffen, in a T-shirt, is huddled in whispered conversation with a hefty man in an expensive suit. The other tables at the restaurant on North Robertson Boulevard -- one of the most popular hangouts for Hollywood executives -- are filled with the tanned, the blond and the wealthy. A laughing blonde woman in a tight gray sweatsuit enters and table-hops. She resembles one of those only-in-Hollywood early-morning television exercise instructors. Mr. Tolkin stares at the woman with some confusion.

A Federal court today appointed a former Federal judge as a "special master" to draw new Congressional district lines in New York State after the Legislature failed to meet a court-ordered deadline to draw the lines itself. The master, Frederick B. Lacey, served as a United States district judge in New Jersey from 1971 to 1986. He is a registered Republican who was appointed to the bench by former President Richard M. Nixon. Judge Lacey is currently the senior litigation partner with the law firm of LeBoeuf, Lamb, Leiby & MacRae, which has offices in Manhattan and Newark.

Bill Odarty is checking out the competition. He is perched in the front seat of a yellow cab hurtling toward the African Restaurant in the Bronx, with a copy of his book, "A Safari of African Cooking" (Broadside Press, 1991), in his lap. He has a dream. "Now that I have written my beautiful book of African cooking, I want to open a restaurant so that all people can eat together," said Mr. Odarty, who was born in Ghana 54 years ago and received a degree in history from the University of Hawaii and a master's degree in international studies from American University.