October 28, 1998

Special report, The Spinning Door, finds legalized gambling has created robust new market for politically connected lobbyists and consultants; fast-spinning revolving door has developed as gambling has spread across US, creating world in which politicians, law-enforcement and gambling officials from one state or another have gone on to pursue lucrative casino careers; has developed not only because gambling is growing so fast, but also precisely because it is one of nation's most highly regulated industries at state level; high crossover rate, coming as many states are writing laws to govern industry for years to come, has raised concerns about impartiality of people who oversee gambling; even though states like Nevada and New Jersey have 'cooling-off' periods that prohibit some government employees from immediately going to work for casinos within their jurisdictions, other states, like Mississippi, have no such requirement; in states that have cooling-off periods, officials regularly get around prohibitions by working for subsidiaries in other states; critics of revolving-door practices contend that cooling-off periods, which range from one to four years, are not long enough and do not apply to enough people; some suggest that regulatory positions be filled by people who are either near retirement or financially secure enough to avoid being induced by high-paying jobs; photo (L)

Buffalo Women's Gynecological Services, clinic where Dr Barnett A Slepian performed abortions until he was slain, reopens with Federal marshals posted outside and protestors congregating across street; clinic's director, Marilynn Buckham, vows to continue Dr Slepian's work; photo (M)

Article examines status of NBA labor negotiations; with three bargaining sessions in past four days there are clear signs that both sides are beginning to compromise; as financial losses mount and more game cancellations are about to be announced, league has pulled back on its insistence of hard salary cap and players have offered alternatives to help owners bring salaries in line with league's revenue growth; photo (M)

MONEY SOURCE -- After repeatedly contending that he alone paid his campaign bills this year and in 1994, Eliot L. Spitzer, the Democratic candidate for New York Attorney General, acknowledged that his father had played an extensive role in financing his campaigns. Page B1.

Profits at America Online Surpass Street Estimates America Online's quarterly profit and revenue hit records on strong growth in membership, advertising and electronic commerce. The provider of access to the Internet said it increased its membership by 951,000 during the quarter, bringing its total to 13.5 million. During the last year, America Online has added four million members. [Page C2.]