PEOPLEWATCH

Presidential Medals: Blues musician B. B. King, soprano Beverly Sills and actress Jessica Tandy were among the 12 Americans and one corporation named Friday as recipients of the sixth annual National Medal of the Arts. The award, proposed by Ronald Reagan and created by Congress, is designed to honor those who have encouraged the arts through achievement or support. Recipients of this year’s awards will receive their medals today at a White House ceremony hosted by President and Barbara Bush. Other winners include actor George Francis Abbott, actor Hume Cronyn, choreographer Merce Cunningham, artist Jasper Johns and Southwestern Bell Corp. of St. Louis.