On this day
Revisit the news, notable people, and historical moments connected to this date.
In 1998, the world population was approximately 6,007,066,690 people[†]
1998Nikolas Cruz, American mass murderer[†]
Nikolas Jacob Cruz is an American mass murderer who perpetrated the Parkland high school shooting, where he shot and killed fourteen students and three staff members while injuring seventeen others on February 14, 2018. In November 2022, Cruz was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for the shooting, which remains one of the deadliest high school shootings in the United States.
1998Jeff Moss, American composer and screenwriter (born 1942)[†]
Jeff Moss was an American composer, lyricist, playwright and television writer, best known for his award-winning work on the children's television series Sesame Street.
New York Federal Reserve Bank, in rare move, has helped organize rescue of Long-Term Capital Management LP, indication that regulators believe liquidation of huge hedge fund facing big bond-trading losses would damage already fragile world markets; speculative fund, founded by John Meriwether, will get over $3.5 billion from consortium of commercial banks and investment firms; bank may have acted quickly because many of world's hedge funds and most of big brokerage houses face same kind of bond-trading losses (M)
Gun control advocates urge New Jersey Legislature to pass bill that would require that handguns sold in state use a tiny radio devise embedded in the gun handle that would prevent the weapon from firing unless activated by another transmitter in the owner's ring or lapel pin; 'childproof gun' bill is opposed by National Rifle Assn and other gun owner groups, who say they support development of new safety devices but contend that bill would unfairly limit the right to buy a gun by mandating technology that is not even available (M)
New York Yankees defeat Cleveland Indians, 8-4; photo (M)
Coca-Cola Co executives have summoned Wall Street analysts for hastily scheduled meeting on Sept 25, suggesting that Coca-Cola is about to deliver ominous news about earnings; Coke derives most of its fortunes from overseas, where economic crises have ravaged earnings of many American multinational companies (Market Place column) (M)
Hudson Valley Foie Gras and Duck Products, company formed by Michael A Ginor and Izzy Yanay eight years ago, has become largest producer of fresh duck foie gras in US; Ginor, a former bond trader, and Yanay, an Israeli-born duck breeder, have had to overcome numerous obstacles, including disease and protests by animal-rights groups; Yanay says treatment of ducks is no crueler than many other things done to animals raised and killed for food; photos (M)
Hudson, NY, home of two of oldest active volunteer fire companies in the state, is saddened by the decline in number of recruits, which mirrors national trend; experts cite a number of factors, including less spare time in families with two working parents, more entertainment choices, even in small towns, and the training now mandated by government; photo (M)
Peter Marks reviews Samuel Beckett play Waiting for Godot presented by Studio Theater in Washington, directed by Joy Zinoman and starring Thomas W Jones and Donald Griffin; photo (M)
Intel Corp contributes $6 million to Whitney Museum of American Art to stage The American Century: Art and Culture 1900-2000, which opens in April; gift is thought to be largest made to art museum for specific exhibition; it will be accompanied by further contribution of staff and technology for computer enhancements for show; show will include more than 1,400 works--paintings, sculptures, photography, architecture and design--and related materials in music, dance, literature and film; it will fill Whitney's main building for nine months, then go to San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (M)
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is expected to vote today to put the World Trade Center, its flagship property and the largest office complex in the country, on the market. Gov. George E. Pataki of New York said he was confident that the plan, under which developers would bid for a 99-year lease on the vast complex, would be adopted. Article, page B1.
Prime Min Nawaz Sharif says Pakistan would sign treaty banning nuclear testing within next year, if sanctions imposed on it for testing nuclear weapons were lifted, speech to United Nations General Assembly; United States hails stand; speech follows Sharif's meeting with Indian Prime Min Atal Bihari Vajpayee, at which they agreed on steps to cut tensions, including resumption of high-level talks on dispute over Kashmir; Sharif renews calls for UN to get involved in Kashmir; Vajpayee opposes UN role (M)
Construction manager, relatively new breed of home improvement specialist, acts like homeowner's eyes and ears during reconstruction; he scouts for materials and manpower, helps establish budget for project, and oversees tradesmen to be sure they live up to their estimates on job; unlike general contractors, construction managers brainstorm with their clients, and go shopping with them; so-called CM's claim their more relaxed approach is well suited to sohisticated homeowners who can read balance sheet; detractors cite potential pitfalls, including fact that CM's do not have to be licensed; photos (M)
Hundreds of sellers of co-ops and condominiums in Manhattan drop their prices in response to declining stock market; Clark Halstead, managing partner of Halstead Property Co, sees these reductions as real estate market correction rather than beginning of decline; claims stock market volatility brought some 'greedy' sellers to their senses; photo (M)