January 7, 1998

New York Rangers defeat Carolina Hurricanes, 4-2; photo (M)

Ford Motor Co says truck sales rose 2.1 percent, to 183,342 in December, a record for the month, compared with period a year ago; Ford's overall sales fell 3.6 percent, to 299,984 in December, pulled down by weak sales; Ford sold 116,642 cars, down 11.4 percent from year-earlier period; Chrysler Corp says sales of sport utility vehicles, minivans and pickup trucks rose 8.2 percent, to 137,567, also setting record for month; car sales dropped 12.2 percent, to 52,624, compared with corresponding period a year ago; over all, Chrysler sales rose 1.7 percent, to 190,191 (L)

For Chief Allan H. Hoehl of the New York City police, a quest to impose order on Manhattan's willful chaos is moving from dream to reality. Take the peaceful New Year's Eve celebration. Or the pedestrian barricade experiment in midtown.

Pres Clinton proposes significant expansion of Medicare to allow thousands of early retirees, laid-off workers and uninsured Americans between ages of 55 to 65 to enroll; says program will pay for itself and, for first time, make health care coverage available for hundreds of thousands of people who could not otherwise find or afford it; proposal, which is immediately criticized by many Republicans, addresses problem of growing group of near elderly Americans, who are too young for Medicare and not poor enough for Medicaid, and who are at risk of losing health insurance through layoffs or reductions in corporate benefits; individuals who choose to buy into expanded program would pay $3,600 to $5,000 per year, depending on their ages; photo (M)

Tenor Anthony Dean Griffey steps into title role of Peter Grimes at Metropolitan Opera with just two weeks notice; he had been on standby for part when scheduled tenor, Chris Merritt, withdrew; until now, Griffey has had only walk-on roles at the Met; Anthony Tommasini reviews production; photo (M)