February 3, 1996

Wicked winds, dangerous cold and misery continued to strangle much of the nation today from the heartland to the Deep South, closing schools, threatening crops, plunging neighborhoods into darkness and making the insurance industry shiver and shake as hundreds of thousands of damage claims continued to pour in from two earlier winter storms.

The unemployment rate rose to 5.8 percent from 5.6 percent, and the number of payroll jobs dropped sharply in January. But analysts said the blizzard that crippled the Northeast made the already sluggish economy appear in worse shape because the storm closed so many businesses. The Government's data left the financial markets baffled.

Strike Order Overturned

Financially troubled Apple Computer said last night that Michael H. Spindler had been dismissed as president and chief executive. He is being replaced by Gilbert F. Amelio, already an Apple board member, who will become chairman and chief executive of the struggling personal computer maker. Stepping down to the post of vice chairman is an Apple founder and its longtime chairman, Armas C. (Mike) Markkula Jr.

Gene Kelly, the dancer, actor, director and choreographer who brought a vigorous athleticism, casual grace and an earthy masculinity to the high romance of lavish Hollywood musicals, died yesterday at his home in Beverly Hills, Calif. He was 83. His longtime publicity agent, Warren Cowan, said Mr. Kelly had never fully recovered from strokes he suffered in 1994 and last year.