December 10, 1998

Many Yonkers, NY, residents are still struggling to accustom themselves to low-income minority housing imposed on middle-class white neighborhoods twelve years after Federal court ordered city to desegregate; interviews with residents and city officials indicate neighbors are co-existing peacefully; most ardent opponents of integration now say effect of housing has not been as bad as they feared; graph of population diversity; map; photos (M)

Ruling Against Pinochet Britain's Home Secretary turned down Gen. Augusto Pinochet's plea to be set free. Page A3.

Federal Reserve Reports Growth Eased in November Economic growth slowed in many parts of the country in November, and inflation remained absent as wage pressures lessened, the Federal Reserve said. Export industries shrank, farms were under stress and retail sales were weaker than expected, the Fed said in its latest economic assessment, known as the beige book. The latest reading could point to a future cut in interest rates. The Fed has reduced borrowing costs three times since the end of September, most recently on Nov. 17. [Page C3.]

Nearly 300,000 acres of privately owned forests, wild rivers, lakes and wetlands in New York's Adirondack region, Vermont and New Hampshire will be opened to public use in $76.2 million land deal announced on Dec 10, with about one-third of that acreage set aside forever as preserves; land was put up for sale last year by Champion International Co; it will be bought by Conservation Fund, private group that acts as go-between in transactions that preserve land with environmental or historic values; New York State Gov George E Pataki and Vermont Gov Howard Dean say land-preservation deal is largest in their states' histories; maps (M)

Harvey Araton Sports of The Times article deplores failed leadership of Patrick Ewing and other stars in National Basketball Association lockout; proposes players take more conciliatory stand, bargaining for contract reopener three years hence, when owners will be seeking new television deal; photo (M)