European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 27, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 6 the stars and stripes . Monday december 27,1993 medicaid abortion funding to Widen Washington a in a major policy change the Clinton administration will require states to finance medicaid abortions in cases of rape or incest or if the woman a life is endangered. The new rules will cover abortions retroactive to oct. 1 and make it easier for states to obtain Federal reimbursements medicaid administrator Bruch c. Vla deck said saturday. The Bush and Reagan administrations allowed states to decide on their own whether to pay for medicaid abortions for Low income women. States were permitted to seek Federal Matching funds Only if the lift of the woman was endangered. Restrictions on medicaid funding for abortion were eased slightly in the health and human services appropriation Bill this year. The new policy which grew out of a review of that Law by has lawyers makes it mandatory for states to pay for the procedure with Federal Matching funds in cases of rape incest or if the woman a life would be endangered by continuing the pregnancy in the stars and stripes 10 years ago Doc. 27,1983 a the lebanese army and the Muslim shiite militia fought the most Savage Street Battles in three months with the smell and smoke of War rolling across a shaken Beirut. 20 years ago dec. 27,1973 a Arab Oil producers said the Kuwait that they would end monthly production cutbacks that have menaced Europe and Japan but pledged to keep the tap closed to the United states and the Netherlands. 30 years Aco dec. 27,1963 a president Johnson sent All Federal Agency chiefs a Christmas directive to Cut the total payroll within the next 18 months. 40 years ago dec. 27,1953 a As Many As 362 people were reported to have been killed in railway disasters in new zealand Czechoslovakia Peru and on the Indian subcontinent. World War ii j 50 years ago today dec. 27 1 a 9 a 4 #3 Tho . 1 St Marino div expands its beachhead on new Britain Island s Capo Gloucester mooting Little japanese resistance in. A marshy Region the americans dub the a Green hell in Europe soviet. Troops Roll the germans Back in the Koroton sector. Allied warplanes sink the German blockade runner Alsto Rufer in the Bay of Biscay. Source. 2t94 Days out War w h in ugh publishers inc., world almanac Hook of world War ii.  books corp1981 a medicaid coverage for most abortions still would be barred under the Hyde amendment. Vladeck said the new policy will be sent to the states by years end. In an interview he said the Clinton administration a will be doing less harassing of states seeking Matching funds for medicaid abortions. A the Bush and Reagan administrations put up As Many administrative hoops As they could a a Vladeck said. Quot in order to get the Federal government to pay its share states had to go through elaborate documentation processes and a an Independent medical review of each  he said documentation Stilt would be required a but Well be much less bureaucratic about  a the major thing this policy does is to treat these abortions the same As we do for any other services states pay for under the medicaid program Quot he said. A we done to second guess a physicians judgment and substitute our judgment on every medicaid  Kevorkian sets drive against ban new York apr. Jack Kevorkian said he plans to mount a City to City Campaign across Michigan for a state constitutional amendment overturning a ban on assisted suicides. In an interview in sundays editions of the new York times and the Detroit news Kevorkian also repeated his Promise to refrain from assisting any More suicides until courts decide whether Michigan a Law against the practice is valid. A what i am going to do now instead is carry on a whistle Stop Campaign City to City getting this guaranteed by a vote of the people As a fundamental right a Kevorkian told the times. Michigan Law permits such amendments to be placed on a statewide ballot if enough signatures Are gathered by petition. Kevorkian a 65-year-old retired pathologist from Royal Oak mich., has witnessed 20 deaths since 1990. He faces two charges of breaking Michigan s ban on assisted suicide a Taw enacted this year specifically to Stop him. Each charge is punishable by a maximum four years in prison. After he was ordered to stand trial for the 19th death he had witnessed Kevorkian refused solid food during 17 Days in the Oakland county jail. He was released dec. 17 on $100 Bond on the con Dilion he desist from assisting suicides. A i can to help humans who Are suffering anymore because 1 have Given my word a he told the times. �?o1 never once before said id Stop totally but 1 have now a Kevorkian said his stay in solitary confinement changed his mind. A it became Clear to me in jail that the Issue is now at the stage where it needs Resolution a he said. A my decision to desist has helped Clear the Muddy  should he be jailed again Kevorkian said it was unlikely he would fast. A i have doubts about the hunger strike a he told the news. A this Law has been declared unconstitutional twice 1 done to want to dignify their silly games. Beside it offended so Many of my supporters they Felt like 1 was abandoning  Kevorkian who said he never has registered to Vole has yet to draft the language for his proposed constitutional amendment. Ruth Garrett Mayer Waves at a press conference Friday in Antioch Calif. She is flanked by Fri agent Rick Smith left and her husband. Gene. Victim m Al Sobrane Calif. A Dorothy Fredenburg was drinking a morning cup of Coffee when she saw a dazed woman slowly walking up her Street Fredenburg invited the stranger into her Home not knowing it was a woman who had been kidnapped three Days earlier. A she said a do you read the paper a and i said a yes a Fredenburg said a she said a in a Ruth Mayer a and 1 said a my gosh a and it went from  Ruth Garrett Mayer 61, was taken from her Home in Antioch at gunpoint last tuesday then was mysteriously dropped about 30 Miles away in Al so Brante on Friday. The kidnappers had demanded a Ransom but none was paid a she Wasny to crying. She had full control a a Fredenburg said in sunday s Contra Costa times. Quot she said shed probably break Down after she got Mayer the wife of jeweler Gene Mayer called her family and authorities. Then the two women drank Coffee until police and Fri agents arrived. Fredenburg said Mayer was visibly shaken As she told about having her hands and feet bound and her eyes taped shut. Mayer said some of the kidnappers threatened to kill her while others were Piore Friendly Fredenburg said. A she said she Wasny to Hurt or raped or anything. She looked Good Ner color was Good a Fredenburg said. Mayer told Fredenburg she could hear several people talking but Wasny to sure How Many abductors were involved. Authorities were searching for four suspects. Two of them held Mayer and her husband and ransacked their Home last tuesday night. The thieves fled with Mayer and also stole a 200-Pound Safe other belongings and the couples two cars. A Ransom note was found but its contents have not been divulged. Well wishers in Antioch a town of 70,000 about 40 Miles East of san Francisco celebrated Mayer a return by decorating the family a porch with Flowers and balloons and ripping Down missing person fliers. Norman Vincent Peale religious Counselor Dies new York apr the Rev. Norman Vincent Peale who blended Christian and psychiatric principles into a message of a positive thinking Quot heard worldwide has died at age 95. Peale died Christmas eve in his sleep at his farm in Pawling 60 Miles North of new Yolk City from effects of a stroke he sufi Erce about two weeks ago the Peale Center for Christian living said his family including his wife of 64 years Ruth was w Ith him. A Peale guided the poor through the depression and counselled presidents. He preached from pulpits through Best Selling books and in 54 years of weekly radio broadcasts. President Clinton called Peale a an Optimist who believed that whatever the antagonisms and complexities of Modem life brought us that anyone could prevail by approaching life with a simple sense of faith.1 a there is some poetry in his passing on a Day when the world celebrates the birth of Christ an idea that was Central to or. Peale a message and or. Peale a work a Clinton said in a statement. Former president Nixon said Peale was a close Friend and Counselor for nearly 50 years. Peale a unlike some of his contemporaries he believed that the Mission of a minister was to change people rather than to change governments a Nixon said in a statement. A was a result no religious Leader of our time has had a More powerful and positive influence on the lives of millions of people All Over the  Peale wrote More than 46 books