May 6, 1998

Federal Judge Norma Holloway Johnson deals major setback to Pres Clinton's efforts to limit scope of investigation of alleged affair involving former White House intern Monica Lewinsky by ruling that he is not entitled to invoke executive privilege or any attorney-client privilege to stop prosecutors from questioning his closest advisers, officials and lawyers involved in case; White House also loses on claim that some protections should be afforded to conversations between Hillary Rodham Clinton and aides; broadly-worded decision strikes down Clinton's assertions that inner workings of White House are off-limits to investigators because he must be able to rely on candid advice of aides; leaned heavily on earlier case, in which White House was forced to turn over notes taken by lawyers of conversations with Mrs Clinton, by ruling that general right of President to enjoy confidentiality may be overridden by criminal investigations; ruling means that Bruce R Lindsey, perhaps Clinton's closest confidant, and Sidney Blumenthal, top adviser close to Mrs Clinton, will probably be summoned to appear again before grand jury; photos (M)

Chorus in Roundabout Theater's revival of Cabaret performs nonstop throughout show; six Kit Kat Girls and four Kit Kat Boys are required to sing, dance, act, serve as stagehands and play in the band; Sam Mendes, director of Cabaret, comments on difficulties in casting such versatile performers; photos (M)

Connecticut Legislature, in effort to trim its overcrowded prisons and to stop drug using felons from committing new crimes, passes bill that will drastically cut prison time for nonviolent offenders on condition that they undergo frequent testing for drug use (M)

Fugitive Linked to Bombings After searching vainly for a North Carolina fugitive for three months, Federal investigators publicly linked him to three bombings in the Atlanta area and put his name to the F.B.I.'s most wanted list. Page A16. Ewing Expected to Return Patrick Ewing, out since December with a wrist injury, is expected to play against the Pacers, who beat the Knicks, 93-83, in Game 1 of their series. SportsWednesday, page C1.

Auto industry turns in unexpectedly strong April sales results, first month is year in which customer bought more cars and trucks than they did during same period of last year; industry sales rose 6.3 percent in April, compared with April 1997; sales hit seasonally adjusted annual rate of 15.5 million, above 15 million rate in March and well up from 14.5 million pace in April 1997; General Motors Corp's sales rose 8.5 percent, with car sales edging up seven-tenths of 1 percent and sales of sports utility vehicles, pickup trucks and mini-vans rising 18.9 percent compared with April 1997; Ford Motor Co's sales rose 1.6 percent, with car sales up 2.3 percent and sales of light trucks up 1 percent; chart (L)