October 17, 1997

US Labor Sec Alexis Herman reports Federal investigators found almost two-thirds of New York City's garment industry are in violation of overtime or minimum-wage laws; says Government's first compliance survey found wage and hour violations at 59 of 94 garment makers visited at random; paints picture of industry that still resembles sweatshops of early 1900's, when immigrant laborers often toiled 70 hours per week in unsafe conditions for minimal pay; says violators have been cited and will be required to pay back wages (M)

New Philadelphia 76ers basketball coach Larry Brown discusses his team's preparations for season (M)

Analysis of bids by Worldcom, GTE Corp and British Telecommunications for MCI Communications; holds prevailing wisdom on Wall Street was that British Telecom had little choice but to cut a deal with Worldcom until GTE made its unsolicited $28 billion bid; says British Telecom is emerging as potential kingmaker; holds British Telecom now is in position to play Worldcom off against GTE, enrich itself in the process, and perhaps pick eventual winner (L)

Florida Marlins say that infielder Bobby Bonilla, suffering from hamstring injury, is listed as day to day as team prepares to play Cleveland Indians in World Series; photo (M)

Colebrook, NH, has endured and moved on six weeks after four leading townspeople were murdered by recluse nursing twisted grudge over his property rights; Colebrook was preparing for its annual Moose Festival on Aug 19 when Carl Drega, 67, shot and killed Vickie Bunnell, lawyer and part-time judge, Dennis Joos, co-editor of News and Sentinel, and Leslie Lord and Scott Phillips, state troopers; Drega was killed in shootout with police officers; map; photos (M)