January 23, 1999

Hospital officials says that number of vital organs being donated in New York area has fallen so precipitously in recent weeks that transplant programs across region have virtually ground to a halt; shortage of livers, hearts, kidneys and other organs has been a growing national problem in recent years, in part because of falling homicide rates and improved auto safety at same time that demand for organs has risen; but officials say that since beginning of year, supply in New York has taken a severe--and unexplained--downward turn; since start of year, there have been just 9 organs donated in New York region; last year at this time, there were 22 donors; photo (M)

Internet stocks, which have soared in recent months, fall sharply from recent highs, and many analysts are warning of steep decline that could rattle wider market; most Internet stocks are still ahead for year, but Internet fever has spread to other kinds of technology companies and even to companies with only most tangential connections to Internet; prices of Internet stocks have risen so high so fast that even analysts enthusiastic about Internet's long-term effect on economy warn that prices in entire sector are likely to fall more than 50 percent; sharp, widespread decline would cause problems for regulators and for many on-line investors, who dominate trading in many Internet stocks; photo (M)

Latrell Sprewell, officially reinstated by National Basketball Association, is introduced as New York Knickerbockers' latest acquisition; seeks to boost image with repeated apologies for Dec 1997 attack on Golden State coach P J Carlesimo, news conference; does not plan to drop suits against NBA and agent; photos (M)

Hughes Electronics Inc's DirecTV Inc unit to buy troubled Primestar Inc in major consolidation of satellite television broadcasting industry; purchase would leave Echostar Communications Corp as only other significant industry rival; Hughes, General Motors Corp unit, is paying $1.6 billion in cash and $220 million in GM stock (M)

William C Rhoden Sports of The Times article on Latrell Sprewell's joining New York Knickerbockers; hopes his contrition for past bad behavior does not cost him needed edge (M)