February 7, 1998

Thousands of people pay last respects to Junior Hernandez, one of most popular radio hosts in city; Hernandez's show on Spanish-language station WSKQ-FM was second-highest rated in city; colleagues credit Hernandez with helping make station third-highest rated station in city and bringing recognition to growing Spanish-language radio industry; Hernandez was 34; photos (M)

William M Flynn, top lieutenant in New York State Atty Gen Dennis C Vacco's office, repeatedly failed bar examinations for five years and claimed to be lawyer before finally passing and being licensed to practice law in 1992; disclosures about Flynn come in sworn deposition he gave in connection with suit filed by Amy Schallop, one of 100 lawyers dismissed by Flynn; Flynn contended lawyers' qualifications were deficient, but Schallop claims dismissals were politically motivated; Flynn's admissions about his own resume revive issues of staff qualifications and patronage in District Attorney's office just as Vacco is campaigning for re-election; Vacco voices support for Flynn (M)

Navy Concedes Jet Error A top official acknowledged that the jet that sheared ski lift cables in Italy was flying ''well below the approved minimum altitude.'' Page A4.

Blue Bell Creameries Inc seeks to expand market for its ice cream beyond its regional base in Texas and neighboring states; hopes to retain quality and homespun image while gradually expanding into national brand; expansion efforts of other regional brands recalled; photos (M)

IT'S been a long time since the Best Games Ever were held in Lillehammer, Norway, in February 1994, if any of us can remember back that far. When Juan Antonio Samaranch proclaimed the 1996 T-Shirt Shack Jubilee as the greatest Games ever held in Fulton County, Ga., the damnation-by-faint-praise did not escape the locals.

Troubled Oxford Health Plans reportedly seeks doctor to run company in bid to quiet complains from doctors in network; Norman C Payson reportedly is leading candidate; mutual fund manager Michael Price's Franklin Mutual Advisors reports amassing 5 percent of Oxford; news spurs sharp rise in Oxford stock; photo (M)

US economy adds 358,000 jobs in January, far above 235,000 forecast by economists, and average hourly earnings of production and nonsupervisory employees rise by 4 cents, to $12.51, 3.8 percent higher than a year earlier; economists say wage increase is not enough to raise concerns about higher inflation; Labor Department analyzes figures by educational level for first time and reports that unemployment rates have been dropping steadily with higher levels of education (M)

Snowboarders are relatively recent innovation in sports generally; men and women who will be involved in half-pipe and grand slalom during Winter Olympics are pioneers because sport is making its debut as Olympic event; photos (M)

Pres Clinton and Prime Min Tony Blair of Britain warn Pres Saddam Hussein of Iraq that he will face substantial military action unless he complies with United Nations weapons inspectors and Security Council resolutions; say they would prefer a diplomatic solution but would block any diplomatic solution worked out by Russia and France that does not provide unrestricted access to all sites; photo of Clinton and Blair at joint news conference at White House (M)

January Job Gains Reflect Economic Vibrancy The economy created jobs at a surprisingly strong pace in January, evidence that America's economic stamina has withstood any disruptions caused so far by the financial crisis in Asia.

Pres Clinton says he would never consider resigning over accusations involving Monica S Lewinsky and insists that he did not improperly seek to influence the testimony of his personal secretary, Betty Currie, about Lewinsky during meeting with Currie the day after his deposition in the Paula Jones sexual harassment case; Prime Min Tony Blair of Great Britain joins Clinton in news conference, giving him an emotional boost while providing little in the way of defense against accusations of sexual and legal misconduct; White House officials say Clinton used meeting with Currie to refresh his own recollection of events, not to influence hers; photos (M)

Bank of Thailand nationalizes three leading banks, First Bangkok City Bank, Siam City Bank and Bangkok Bank of Commerce, after failing to attract foreign investors to bail them out; says it will restructure and sell banks; banking analysts laud move, holding Government must reform problem banks that have played pervasive role in economic crisis; First Bangkok City had earlier been candidate for alliance with Citibank and Siam City for alliance with ING Bank of Netherlands (M)