The Monitor From The Week Of September 8 - 14, 1997

In passing

Burgess Meredith, the raspy-voiced actor whose memorable characters ranged from guardian of the dimwitted giant in “Of Mice and Men” to the irascible trainer in “Rocky,” died Tuesday. He was 89.

Decisions

The Senate voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to repeal a provision of the recently passed balanced budget bill that would allow tobacco companies to deduct $50 billion in costs associated with their national settlement with states.

Breakthrough

In the first study of its kind, researchers reported Thursday that so-called triple therapy for HIV-positive individuals can not only reduce blood levels of the virus, but also significantly slows the progression from infection to actual clinical symptoms of AIDS.