February 19, 1999

Mayor Giuliani administration, in a reversal, announces that it will not evict five community programs from building in Brooklyn where Giuliani had threatened to put a homeless shelter; administration, as part of deal with City Council, also agrees to stop forcing homeless families to sleep on floor of New York City's emergency assistance office in Bronx, pledging to end practice that advocates for homeless have criticized for 16 years (M)

New York State lottery officials, with revenues stagnating, are adopting biggest changes in lottery in years, increasing number of prizes, but making it even more difficult to win Lotto jackpot and effectively raising price of a ticket; changes described; over all, New York lottery sales were $3.8 billion last year, down 4 percent from year before; state's profit, after administrative costs and prize payouts, was $1.6 billion, down $63 million, or 4.6 percent (M)

The mezzo-soprano Jennifer Larmore (below) is known in this country mostly for her technically adroit and vocally lustrous approach to roles in the bel canto repertory. But in Europe she has been heard in a much wider range of music. This weekend, she will display some of that range, singing Mahler's ''Lied von der Erde'' in her performances with the New York Philharmonic, with Kurt Masur conducting. Article by Anthony Tomassini, page 5.

Joel Sachs discusses work of Continuum, new-music ensemble he directs with Cheryl Seltzer, pianist who founded group in 1967; interview; Continuum to perform works of Leon Kirchner, marking composer's 80th birthday; photos; also plans Paul Schoenfield retrospective (M)

George Vecsey, in Sports of The Times, assesses New York Yankee move to send David Wells to Toronto Blue Jays for Roger Clemens; photo of Wells wearing cap worn by Babe Ruth (M)