December 18, 1997

Comr Kenneth S Apfel says Social Security Administration will re-examine cases of 60,000 poor children denied disability benefits in last year, holding many of them may be disabled enough to qualify for benefits under tough new standards set by 1996 welfare law, news conference; says separate group of 75,000 to 80,000 families will be given new chances to appeal loss of children's disability benefits; cites concern that children could be harmed by agency's erroneous decisions; expects new reviews and appeals will increase number of children on rolls by 35,000; orders review of all children with mental retardation dropped from rolls or denied benefits; advocates for handicapped children hail moves (M)

Justice Dept accuses Microsoft Corp of violating recent antitrust ruling, and seeks rarely used authority to review in advance new products by Microsoft; at issue is Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson's decision requiring company to stop forcing computer manufacturers to install its Internet browser along with its Windows 95 system; Justice officials claim Microsoft failed to comply by offering three unworkable choices to personal computer manufacturers; say Court should hold Microsoft in civil contempt and impose $1 million a day fine on company; Microsoft says it complied fully with court order and accuses prosecutors of seeking to impose new and unreasonable demands on company (M)

Dave Anderson Sports of The Times column discusses Prince Naseem Hamed preparing for featherweight boxing championship fight against Kevin Kelley; photo (M)

Mexican bus companies have monopoly on growing cross-border business, ferrying estimated four million people from major cities in Mexico to major cities in US and back again, to chagrin of Greyhound Lines Inc; no American bus line has permission to cross Texas border and offer direct service to Mexican interior, in spite of North American Free Trade Agreement; Mexican officials reportedly let Mexican buses pass, in return for payments that they consider a cost of business; buses service growing number of Mexicans who want to work in US but live in Mexico; Mexicans take 10 times as many bus trips as Americans; Tex-Mex bus lines are so significant for Hispanic community that Commerce Dept has given Houston $75,000 grant to study their potential for furthering economic development; photos; map (M)

New York Rangers defeat Florida Panthers, 4-2; photo (M)