December 10, 1994

In a case that could resolve crucial questions about the role of race in redistricting, the Supreme Court agreed to hear an appeal of a ruling in which a Federal District court last July threw out Louisiana's congressional districting plan. The lower court said the state used an unconstitutional "racial gerrymander" to produce a black-majority district of "bizarre and irregular shape." Article, page 8.

With the City Council suing the Mayor over who has control of New York City's budget, City Comptroller Alan G. Hevesi has quietly used the municipal computer system to impose his own temporary solution. For weeks, the Council and Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani have fought over whose list of cuts should be used to address a $1.1 billion budget gap. They are to take their fight to court next week.

About once a week, one or two Cubans housed in refugee camps here attempt an escape back to the Cuban side, either by diving into a cove and swimming to the border or by sprinting for it. Having risked their lives to leave their country in August by taking to the sea on flimsy rafts and boats, at least three refugees have already died trying to return.

President Clinton opened the Western Hemisphere summit with talk of cooperation, but officials were finding agreement elusive on issues like drug trafficking. Page 6.

The Federal Aviation Administration yesterday banned two models of propeller-driven commuter planes from flying in conditions when ice is likely to build up on their wings, the first time the agency has issued such an order. The F.A.A. made the decision after conducting wind tunnel tests in recent weeks on the ATR-72 aircraft, the type of plane that crashed in Roselawn, Ind., in late October, killing all 68 people on board. The plane was operated by American Eagle, a commuter division of American Airlines.