August 28, 1999

David Rohde, in About New York column, notes that Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Donna G Recant has been criticized by defense lawyers, court employees and members of Manhattan District Attorney's office for handcuffing defense lawyer to courtroom bench for being disrespectful, sentencing defendant to seven months in prison for cursing her, and for eating while hearing cases (M)

Transit officials are confronted with lingering anger and questions about why they were so ill-equipped to handle deluge of rain that paralyzed regional transportation on Aug 26; say subway and rail lines have returned to normal (M)

Selena Roberts Sports of The Times column criticizes Hall of Fame basketball player Julius Erving for denying that he is father of 18-year-old tennis player Alexandra Stevenson; photo (M)

Northeastern states, led by New York, propose to settle long-running dispute over smokestack pollution from Midwest, and accept less stringent standards on windborne pollutants; states have EPA encouragement to negotiate ways to meet criteria of Clean Air Act; less stringent standard would still mandate significant reduction in nitrogen oxides that travel east and contribute to ozone and acid rain; New York commissioner John P Cahil takes lead; environmentalists are furious at apparent retreat, charging New York Gov George Pataki is trying to enhance his stature within Republican party by taking pro-business stance; Cahill insists litigation is still possible (M)

Article on efforts by manufacturers and retailers to hone in on clothing tastes of estimated 70 million teenagers known as Generation Y; market analysts predict colored sneakers, bright-colored, high-tech vests and roomy backpacks will be popular; estimates are that newest group of consumers, those born in 1980s and 1990's, has spending power of about $150 billion to $250 billion each year; photos; graph; chart (M)