August 28, 1997

Democratic mayoral candidate Ruth W Messinger and Schools Chancellor Rudy Crew clash over condition of city's public schools in confrontation that seems likely to help set tone for last 12 days of Democratic primary and perhaps general election itself; Messinger shrugs off Crew's assertion that she is 'denigrating the public school system for political gain'; she visits Public School 19 in Queens, which she describes as most crowded school in city, to offer vote of no confidence in Crew's leadership and to accuse Mayor Rudolph W Giuliani of hiding behind popular Schools Chancellor; photos (M)

Gas stations in 13 northern counties of New Jersey, despite contention by some workers that it makes them ill, will be forced under Federal law to continue to sell oxygenated gasoline (New Jersey Daily Briefing) (S)

A mother and her adult daughter were charged with child abuse and endangerment yesterday after their four children were rescued from a burning apartment where three of the children had been locked in a bedroom by using bent nails to hold the door shut. A 22-year-old casino employee, Blanca Guzman, who lives nearby and was on her way to work on Tuesday when she saw the fire, knew there were children who lived there. Ms. Guzman went inside and found that the 8-year-old son of Emily Bruno, 41, of Atlantic City, had managed to open a door to a bedroom in which children ages 3, 4 and 5 were locked, the authorities said.

Several prominent executives in old media businesses like television and publishing were lured away in recent years to take jobs in new interactive media ventures; but so far, profits have been elusive and most executives have returned, sadder but wiser, to their roots; article focuses on executives Stephen A Weiswasser, Walter Isaacson, Howard Stringer, Robert M Kavner and Paul Sagan; photos (L)

Debate rages in Montclair, NJ, over ramifications of lunchroom incident ten months ago at Bradford Academy involving teacher Brad Turner and black student Chandler Dennis 3d; Turner, who grabbed boy's arm and marched him to principal's office, has lost his job and license to teach in New Jersey; boy's parents have sued Turner, Montclair Board of Education and long list of school officials, teachers and residents who they say mistreated and maligned their son after incident; photo (M)

BLAZE KILLS 2 BROTHERS -- A fire in Secaucus, N.J., above, took the lives of two brothers who played prominent roles in the life of the town. B5. INQUIRY INTO MOB LINKS -- The investigation into the slaying of a housing police officer continues to focus on his widow's link to organized crime. B3.

Federal prosecutors announce arrest of three men on charges of intercepting sensitive information sent to pagers of top police and fire officials in New York City; Steven Gessman, Vinnie Martin and Jeffrey R Moss of news tip service Breaking News Network are charged with illegally intercepting private communications (M)

Coalition of health care advocates, hospital employees and patients' families accuses Bergen County, NJ, of violating privacy laws by releasing names, diagnoses and costs of treatment of psychiatric patients at Bergen Pines Hospital (New Jersey Daily Briefing) (S)

Developers planning 32-story condominium on land now occupied by Cottages, row of eight miniature residences and a private garden on Manhattan's East Side, run into fierce legal and public-relations opposition from elderly tenants of five occupied rent-controlled units and residents of neighboring 11-story building; residents insist that late owner, Arthur W Diamond, assured them their homes were safe; Trevor Davis and Aby Rosen, developers, defend their plan; photos; drawing (M)

Toby Thompson article describes his log cabin overlooking Potomac River in Cabin John, Md, which was designed by architect Rocky Wood; photos (M)

Two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles and onions on a sesame-seed bun: It may sound like a Big Mac, but the new Big King, right, is actually Burger King's latest salvo in the intensifying burger wars. McDonald's may counterattack with its own version of the Whopper. Page D1.

North Korea withdraws from long-standing negotiations over its exports of missiles in protest against Clinton Administration's decision to grant asylum to its Ambassador to Egypt, Chang Sung Gil, and his brother, Chang Sung Ho; negotiations were to begin in New York City on Aug 28; defections also appear to throw into question whether broader talks including North Korea, South Korea, US and China to negotiate formal end to Korean War will take place (M)