PRIVATIZATIONAreLicensePlatesNext?Gov.ChristineToddWhitmansaidNewJerseyhadgivena.2millioncontracttoaprivatecompanytoprovidehealthcareforthestate❼prisonsystem,whichhas26,000inmates.ThedecisiontohireCorrectionalMedicalServicesofSt.Louis,amanaged-health-carecompany,reflectsherdesiretocurbstatespendingbyhiringcontractorstoprovidesomeservices.　　TheAmerigroupCorporation,whichmanagesgovernmenthealthplansforthepoor,mustpayatleast4millionindamagesforwrongfullydenyingcoveragetopregnantwomeneligibleforMedicaid,afederaljuryfoundyesterday.

    --------------------

    RELIEFFORPOPEYEFreshspinachisexpectedtobeginreappearingontheshelvesofsomesupermarketsthisweek.Latelastweek,theFoodandDrugAdministrationsaidthatconsumerscouldresumebuyingandeatingfreshspinach.Severalsupermarketchains,includingWholeFoods,PathmarkandD’Agostino,saidtheyintendedtomakeitavailable.　　SeethearticleinitsoriginalcontextfromMay10,1996,SectionA,Page1BuyReprintsViewontimesmachineTimesMachineisanexclusivebenefitforhomedeliveryanddigitalsubscribers.AbouttheArchiveThisisadigitizedversionofanarticlefromTheTimes’sprintarchive,beforethestartofonlinepublicationin1996.Topreservethesearticlesastheyoriginallyappeared,TheTimesdoesnotalter,editorupdatethem.Occasionallythedigitizationprocessintroducestranscriptionerrorsorotherproblems;wearecontinuingtoworktoimprovethesearchivedversions.TestifyingindefenseofhisformerpartnersintheWhitewaterlandventure,PresidentClintonrepeatedlydeniedinvideotapedtestimonyplayedtodaythatheonceaskedanArkansasbusinessmantogivethepartnersanimproperloan.

    "Theeasythingasweseethechangestakingplaceinourindustryistorestonourlaurelsandsaywearegoingprettywell,"RobertE.Allen,AT&T❼chairmanandchiefexecutive,saidyesterday.

    "Jeff,doyoufeelthatyouareakindofascapegoat?"

    NobodynewwasaccusedofchicanerybyTarangoandnobodyatallwasslappedbyTarango❼wife.Notonlythat,butnoBrithitaballgirlintheheadwithaflyingtennisball,thewayTimHenmanaccidentallydidatWimbledon,andnoAmericanturnedupmissingfordoubles,thewaygoofyMurphyJensendidatWimbledon.

    InChicago,Mr.Blackfaces12chargesofracketeering,moneylaundering,wirefraudandobstructionofjustice.HeisaccusedofmovingmillionfromHollingerInternationalthroughothercompaniesandusingHollingerInc.toenrichhimselfatshareholderexpense.Mr.Blackhasdeniedanywrongdoing.HistrialinChicagoisscheduledtostartinMarch.

    Arecoveryeffortisunderwaytoretrievethedebrisfromunidentifiedobjectsshotdowninrecentweeks,includingthesetwoobjects.

    COLLEGEFOOTBALL

    ImageInBrooklynonSaturday,theheatandhumidityelicitedanold-fashionedresponse.Credit...LucasJackson/ReutersAcrosstheMidwestandthePlains,theauthoritiesurgedpeopletotakeprecautionsandtriedtocopewithagrowingdeathtoll.TheNationalWeatherServicehadnotedatleast33heat-relateddeathsnationwide,andseveralcitiesandstateswerereportingnewnumbersthroughoutSaturday.OfficialsinChicagosaidtheyhadconfirmedatleastsixheat-relateddeaths,MissouriauthoritiesreportedmorethanadozenandhealthofficialsinTennesseesaidtheyhadconfirmedatleastfour.

    ImagePresidentGeorgeW.Bushsignedataxcutintolawin2001.Credit...StephenJaffe/AgenceFrance-PresseIfthegoalisshort-termstimulus,evenRonaldReagan’smuch-lauded1981taxcutdoesn’tappeartohaveworked.Afterhesignedit,theeconomylostjobsfor16straightmonths.Itdidn’tstartgainingjobsuntilafterhehadraisedtaxes,toreducethedeficit,inlate1982.