June 12, 1997

New York State Sen Joseph L Bruno, easing stand on rent decontrol, unveils bill almost identical to Gov George E Pataki's plan; move potentially gives Pataki more room to negotiate compromise with Democrats on extending rent laws; Bruno agrees to higher income ceiling for deregulating apartments of wealthy tenants and would let unmarried domestic partners, including homosexuals, inherit regulated apartments; photo (M)

Essex County Democratic Party chmn Thomas P Giblin will be named state chairman of party (New Jersey Daily Briefing) (S)

For the first time in major league baseball, teams from the American League will play teams from the National in regular-season games, beginning with four games tonight. Conceived as a way to generate interest and revenue, interleague play will bring together geographic rivals, including the Mets and the Yankees, who will play three games at Yankee Stadium next week, the Cubs and the White Sox in Chicago, and Toronto and Montreal in Canada.

Article describes interior decor of International style house on Manhattan's East Side, owned by late writer/photographer Dorothy Norman; house was designed in 1941 by Swiss modernist architect William Lescaze; photos (M)

PARKING GARAGE COLLAPSES -- The first floor of a parking garage at a Queens shopping center collapsed, snarling traffic and disrupting subway service. B3. SUIT ON HOSPITAL MERGER -- The Justice Department filed suit to block the merger of two of Long Island's largest hospital networks, citing antitrust concerns. B4. EXPERIMENTAL TREATMENTS -- Governor Pataki proposed legislation to make it easier for terminally ill people to receive coverage for experimental medical procedures. B7. URBAN VS. SUBURBAN -- A Federal Aviation Administration plan for a suburban-style office building has stirred a dispute over a policy that Federal agencies should consider downtown areas when moving employees. Metro Business, B10.