April 4, 1997

Hepatitis Worries Eased Health officials said concerns about the spread of hepatitis A by tainted strawberries had been eased because many lots would be heated, killing the virus. Page A18. German Leader to Run Again After much speculation about his intentions and health, Chancellor Helmut Kohl said that he would run for an unparalleled fifth four-year term next year. Page A12. Race to Invigorate a City Tom Hayden's campaign for mayor of Los Angeles seems a page from the past, but it is really an effort to shake up the city. Page A18. Defending a Swamp Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt opposed the Du Pont Company's plans to strip mine titanium near the Okefenokee Swamp. Page A14.

Federal Communications Commission formally begins transition to digital, high-definition television, a changeover that will, in time, affect virtually every American household; commission votes to lend each of nation's nearly 1,600 television stations a second channel to broadcast digital versions of the programming that now appears only on conventional channels; introduction of digital television will render obsolete all 240 million television sets now in use across the country, since under commission's order the television signals they now receive will no longer be broadcast after 2006; every consumer will most likely have to buy new digital set by 2006 to continue watching television; these sets are expected to go on sale in late 1998; 53 percent of households will be able to receive digital programming on at least three television stations by end of 1999 (L)

Herbert Muschamp reviews Cartier: 1900-1939, display of more than 200 pieces of fabulous jewelry, mostly drawn from Cartier's own collection, at Metropolitan Museum of Art; photos (M)

Company called Tanks for the Memories is unveiling advertisement for Broadway musical Bring In da Noise, Bring In da Funk on water tank atop five-story building in Queens; Hal Drucker and Scott Hochhauser, partner's in new venture, say of estimated 8,000 to 10,000 water tanks on New York City roofs, fewer than 1,000 are suitable for advertising; photo (M)

Pres Clinton says his then chief of staff Thomas F McLarty 3d and his current chief of staff Erskine B Bowles acted 'just out of human compassion' when they helped line up employment for Webster L Hubbell after he resigned from Justice Dept in 1994 and was coming under scrutiny of Whitewater investigators; Whitewater independent counsel Kenneth W Starr and Congressional committees are examining whether any of over $400,000 Hubbell was paid after resigning was part of effort to discourage him from cooperating with investigators; also at issue is what Clinton himself knew about payments (M)