July 25, 1993

Responding to accusations by a former House official that he embezzled $21,300 from the post office of the House of Representatives, a defiant Representative Dan Rostenkowski today categorically denied doing anything illegal or unethical. "I want to make it absolutely clear that I have committed no crime and have engaged in no illegal or unethical conduct," the influential Illinois Democrat said in his first statement since the accusations by the former postmaster of the House were made public last Monday.

CAPE OF STORMS The First Life of Adamastor. By Andre Brink. 141 pp. New York: Simon & Schuster. $16.

The players call it "the black." No one sits there, not ever. The bleachers sit behind the center-field wall, between the bullpens, more than 425 feet away. They are painted black to provide a backdrop for the hitters, and no fans are allowed in, lest they wear white and become distractions. Almost no one hits the baseball to these seats in Yankee Stadium. It is Reggie Jackson's spot, the place where he hit his mammoth home run in the 1977 World Series, a shot off Charlie Hough that just happened to be his third homer of the game. Jackson landed another ball there during the 1981 season, but no other Yankee had been able to duplicate the feat.

Politics and Crown Heights To survive the damage from Crown Heights, Mayor Dinkins must frame the election as an active choice between him and Rudolph W. Giuliani, experts say. Political Memo, page 29. Political Destiny in Japan The political turmoil in Japan, experts say, signals a farewell to its last old-guard Prime Minister and perhaps to the rigid adherence to the nation's economic policies. Page 12. Another Senate Filibuster Senate Republicans have mounted their fourth major filibuster this year, refusing to schedule a vote on the national service bill. Page 21.

As the rain keeps falling and the water keeps rising, it is becoming clear that the terrible flooding of 1993 will have a considerably bigger effect on the nation's economy than seemed likely just a short time ago. "Seems like we get bombarded with heavy rain and heavy rain; in between, we get light rain," said Roy R. Arends, a farmer in Alexander, Iowa. "It's been hard to get the crops in, it's hard on equipment, it's hard on nerves. The financial impact is yet to be seen, but right now it really looks bleak."