April 8, 1998

Atlanta Hawks defeat New York Knicks, 92-79; photo (M)

Silverite Construction Company, subject of Federal probe about links between $97-million New York State contract and donations to Gov George Pataki's campaign, was accused of mismanaging earlier repairs to Queens-Midtown Tunnel, but was not penalized and even received extra money after owner raised more than $100,000 for Republicans in 1995; MTA, which operates New York City tunnel, settled with Silverite after Pataki attended campaign party at home of company owner, Angelo J Silveri; donors connected to Silverite later gave another $100,000 to Republicans around time company got $97-million contract, also for tunnel work; Pataki and MTA aides deny link; Silveri and related donors have given Republicans more than $335,000 since 1994; MTA originally chastised company for serious violations of asbestos procedures (M)

Electronic book of the future is being developed at Media Laboratory at Massachusetts Institute of Technology; fine wires on its pages will carry electricity that will cause electronic ink, or E-ink, to form the text of whatever book is selected from those stored in a computer concealed in the book's binding; Joseph M Jacobson, who head project, envisions a single volume that will be able to store the entire Library of Congress; drawing (M)

Madison Square Garden pres Dave Checketts says New York Rangers absence from National Hockey League playoffs, despite player payroll that peaked at $44 million during season, means that Garden will lose home games that each account for estimated $1 million in revenue and $250,000 to $300,000 in profit (M)

Columbia University has agreed to pay nearly $300,000 a year to lure Robert J Barro, one of nation's most distinguished economists, away from Harvard University; market for top economists resembles big-time deals in sports and Hollywood; focus on money has moved into upper-most tier of schools, which have traditionally counted mostly on their reputations to lure talent; other economists being courted by major schools include Drew Fundenberg, Alvin E Roth, Paul Krugman, Thomas J Sargent and Paul Romer; charts; photos (L)