August 26, 1997

Brian J Blaine is charged with strangling Erin H Fox in Resorts International hotel room in Atlantic City (New Jersey Daily Briefing) (S)

Scientists say at least 500 million people live dangerously close to earth's 1,500 active volcanoes, any one of which could erupt at any time; in United States, people of Seattle and Tacoma live in shadow of Mount Rainier; scientists under auspices of International Assn of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior made video that depicts what volcanoes can do to people and property, to show to mayors and other public officials in charge of getting people to evacuate when volcanoes threaten to explode; scientists picked 15 volcanoes around world to study intensely, and they have made effort to make better predictions of when volcanoes will erupt; volcanologists face sheer perversity of volcanoes and tendency for people to deny danger even when it is obvious; in 1985, 26,000 people died in Colombia because they ignored warning that large volcanic mudflow was headed for their villages; photos; diagrams; map (L)

Newark City Council Pres Donald Bradley threatens to pull about $35 million in city funds from accounts at First Union National Bank to protest its new policy of charging noncustomers to cash government checks (New Jersey Daily Briefing) (S)

Profile of Labor Sec Alexis M Herman, new Labor Secretary who was widely praised for her role in keeping talks going in Teamsters' strike against United Parcel Service of America; says Herman's newfound celebrity is providing her an opportunity to advance a more progressive agenda affecting business and workers; Herman comments on some of her goals; photo (L)

Major cigarette producers will pay $11.3 billion to settle smoking-related lawsuit brought by Florida officials, and they will undertake sweeping slate of public health moves, regardless of fate of proposed national tobacco settlement; will begin eliminating cigarette advertising billboards near schools, finance anti-smoking campaigns, remove vending machines from places accessible to children, and stop advertising at sports events and on trains and buses (M)