January 5, 1997

Clinton Administration decides not to propose any increase in costs for Medicare beneficiaries, but will try to cut back payments to Medicare health providers; Congressional Republicans say they too are unlikely to seek any increase in premiums or other charges for beneficiaries (M)

Interview with 82-year-old John Werner Kluge, head of Metromedia International Group, who is busy constructing wireless cable television and cellular communications networks throughout Russia, Baltic states, Eastern Europe and China; table; graphs; photos (L)

Jacksonville Jaguars defeat Denver Broncos, 30-27, in American Football Conference playoff game; photo (M)

Parents face numerous obstacles to enrolling children in best New York City public schools; system does not offer central clearinghouse for selecting school or comprehensive lists of gifted programs or of schools that can accomodate children from other neighborhoods; many of good schools are increasingly crowded and cannot take children from outside catchment area; some black and Latino parents complain they are steered away from programs for gifted and talented students; drawings; photos (L)

There are two compelling reasons for Newt Gingrich to be re-elected as Speaker of the House: his record as a very effective leader and fact that there is no obvious candidate to succeed him; in combination, these two factors may outweigh ethics issues; photo (M)