October 4, 1996

New York City Enters Fray In Rancorous Cable Feud New York City has thrust itself into the middle of a rancorous dispute between Time Warner and Rupert Murdoch by asking for permission to carry Mr. Murdoch's new 24-hour news channel on a public-access cable station the city controls. Time Warner immediately rejected the request, raising the prospect of a showdown between City Hall and New York's dominant cable television provider, whose franchise agreement with the city is up for renewal in 1998. City officials said they were supporting Mr. Murdoch's efforts because it would mean jobs for the city. $(Page B1.$) Little Progress In G.M. Strike Negotiations between General Motors and the Canadian Automobile Workers union showed little progress after 15,000 assembly workers began walking picket lines. Jane Armstrong, a union spokeswoman, said negotiators met twice during the day, but were accomplishing very little. ''Talks are continuing, but absolutely no progress,'' she said. $(D2.$) Markets Pause Before Jobs Data The stock market's record-setting advance paused, pulling most indexes lower as investors waited to see if today's employment report justifies an optimistic outlook on inflation and interest rates. The Dow Jones industrial average, which closed at new highs on Tuesday and Wednesday, slipped 1.12 points, to 5,932.85. $(D6.$) The bond market also waited for today's employment data and few investors seemed willing to make large commitments. The yield on the 30-year bond fell to 6.83 percent, from 6.84 percent on Wednesday. $(D16.$) Factory Orders Down Sharply New orders to factories tumbled 1.9 percent in August, the sharpest fall in three and a half years, the Commerce Department said. $(D4.$) Kohlberg Kravis to Buy Kindercare Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. agreed to buy Kindercare Learning Centers, the nation's largest child care company, for $467 million, or $20.25 a share. Kohlberg Kravis will also assume $130 million of Kindercare debt. $(D3.$) Kodak in Talks to Buy Wang Unit Eastman Kodak is in negotiations to buy Wang's document imaging software business. Analysts said Kodak would pay between $300 and $400 million for the Wang unit. $(D3.$) Authentic Fitness Takes Charges Authentic Fitness, owner of the Speedo trademark in North America, said it was abandoning the skiwear business, closing its outlet stores and restating second- and third-quarter results to add $18.8 million in reserves to cover potential losses. $(D3.$) U.S. to Rescue Pension Plan The Government announced a rescue plan for the battered pension fund covering 70,000 unionized workers in the men's suit industry. The plan, the first of its type involving an entire industry, is supported by the Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees and by the Clothing Manufacturers Association. $(D6.$) Ratings Pressure at WCBS The abrupt dismissal of seven anchors and reporters from WCBS-TV illuminated the intense pressure for ratings among television stations competing in the enormously lucrative local news market. $(B4.$)

Saltwater that surrounds Cape May, NJ, on three sides is leaking into drinking water supply; two of city's wells are unusable and remaining one is in danger; City Council authorizes sale of $5 million in bonds to finance New Jersey's first desalination plant, which could provide one million gallons of fresh water a day (S) (New Jersey Daily Briefing)

Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City, long known as fortress of careless management, obstinate unions and excessive costs, is luring back trade shows after overhauling operations and end practices that often left exhibitors fuming; officials and show organizers credit Gov George Pataki's initiatives with ending much of featherbedding, corruption and shoddy services; center, which is expected to make profit for first time since 1991-92, is fully booked for next year and has turned away more than twenty shows; Comptroller H Carl McCall releases audit praising new managers and Pataki; costs are still higher and some exhibitors still shun center that was notorious for exorbitant charges and byzantine union rules; president Robert E Boyle reports he has used new work rules to oust organized crime; photo (M)

Special report, High Rolling on the River, describes billion-dollar casino industry that has sprung up in Tunica County, Mississippi; stretch limousines roll through county where three-quarters of residents are black, many still living in sharecropper's tumbledown shacks; county now has more jobs than people and welfare payments have been halved, but few casino employees are from county, because most of local people are uneducated and unskilled; ten casinos run round the clock, drawing 1.2 million visitors a month; newest, Grand Casino, spreads across 2,200 acres; photos; town of Tunica itself is bypassed as casinos are built closer to Memphis but county draws in huge tax revenues; industry came in almost unnoticed when county supervisors board, headed by wealthy cotton planter Paul Battle, published legal notice; Ronnie and Ricky Schilling then opened gambling riverboat in 1992, clearing $25 million in five weeks and attracting big companies; County Admr Kenneth M Murphree says Tunica wasn't smarter than anyone else, 'just more desperate' (M)

Giuliani administration thrusts itself into middle of rancorous dispute between Time Warner and Rupert Murdoch by asking for permission to carry Fox Broadcasting's new 24-hour news channel on public-access cable channel city controls; Time Warner immediately rejects request; but city officials say they are not ready to give up, raising prospect of showdown between City Hall and New York's dominant cable television provider, whose franchise agreement with city is up for renewal in 1998 (M)