March 10, 1997

Several recent cases of meningitis in Paterson, NJ, have residents worried and Passaic County Freeholder Georgia Scott calls for investigation of St Joseph's Hospital (New Jersey Daily Briefing) (S)

New Jersey Legislature is close to passing bill to allow state ticket brokers to charge concertgoers and sports fans as much as they can (M)

Last month New Jersey announced new regulations governing health maintenance organizations that consumer groups called some of strongest laws in country; legislative committees in both houses will hold joint hearing this week on bill to offer same protections to two million New Jersey residents who belong to other managed-care plans (New Jersey Daily Briefing) (S)

Motion picture distributors are increasingly setting Wednesday night as opening for films starring black actors and appealing primarily to black urban audience, fearing that a Friday opening may incite violence at theaters; Wednesday opening makes 'weekend' longer and so diffuses crowds and lessens prospects of angry patrons being turned away at sold-out opening; goal is to avoid gang violence and shootings that plagued Friday-night premieres in 1991 of New Jack City and Boyz 'N the Hood; in another effort to prevent violence, many studios agree to pay theater owners for extra security guards; blacks represent 12.5 percent of population, but constitute 20 percent of American box-office receipts each year; young black male audience, in particular, is heavily represented; chart (M)

In Fine Print, Americans Are Losing Ability to Sue Americans are increasingly giving up their right to sue, often without realizing that they have done so.