August 11, 1999

New York Mets defeat San Diego Padres, 4-3; photo (M)

Article discusses series of water regulations imposed by New Jersey Gov Christine Todd Whitman under statewide drought emergency; special telephone lines have been set up by New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection to deal with public's questions concerning what and what not they can do; photo (M)

Judge Robert P Ruwe rules that United Parcel Service took inflated tax deductions in 1984 and must pay taxes, penalties and interest that company says might total nearly $300 million for that year; ultimate liability could be much larger--perhaps growing into one of biggest corporate tax cases ever--because decision covers only first year of business practice that has continued ever since; decision is rare victory for Internal Revenue Service in its efforts to prevent companies from taking tax deductions when they move money to subsidiaries overseas for sole purpose of avoiding taxes; at issue in case are deductions that UPS took for costs of insuring each parcel worth over $100 against damage or loss; IRS claims that UPS charged customers three times competitive market price for insurance in scheme to funnel money to insurance company it created in 1984 in Bermuda, thereby inflating its tax deductions (M)

Prominent Republican candidates for President are creating atmosphere that is subtly but fundamentally more inviting to gay and lesbian voters than party leaders have been in recent memory; Gov George W Bush, Sen John McCain and Elizabeth Dole have signaled openness to gay supporters, including willingness to appoint them to positions like ambassadorships in their Administrations; lower-key, more inclusive approach is designed to appeal beyond conservative base of party to independent and Democratic voters; it also reflects continued growing political influence of gay donors and gay voters across party lines (M)

Rep Rick A Lazio will suspend his campaign for Republican nomination for US Senate in New York, clearing way for Mayor Rudolph W Giuliani to become party's uncontested choice for 2000; reaches his decision after Gov George E Pataki says Giuliani is best Republican candidate to run against Hillary Rodham Clinton; photo (M)