December 3, 1999

WITH the New York City region poised to join, quite belatedly, the nation's pickup-truck party, can Long Islanders look forward to a time when Ford F-150's with shotgun racks join the traffic jams on the Southern State Parkway? Will Dodge Dakotas duel with cabs on the F.D.R. Drive? Will manure-crusted Chevy Silverados go mano a mano with well-groomed Range Rovers on the Hutch? The answers may come early next year, when New York's strict laws on pickup registrations are likely to be loosened. For decades, apparently on the assumption that only workmen drove trucks, the state has required pickups to display commercial license plates unless they have camper tops and other modifications. Those rules have remained in place even as trucks have become popular in most of the country for personal and family transportation.

An almost carbonated Marcus Camby, bubbling with energy, spun and dipped into the paint only to find himself fenced in like a bucking horse in a rodeo chute. Frantic in his response, Camby leaped sideways and whipped a wild hook shot over his shoulder that landed softly in the net as he crashed to the floor on his bad knee near the end of the third quarter. He winced and limped and, suddenly, Camby's often-questioned pain threshold was being tested.

Clinton administration fails to rally broad support among nations to add labor standards to World Trade Organization agenda, threatening its most important goal at Seattle meeting that has been plagued by sometimes violent protests; struggles to work out compromise that would have trade organization set up study group on labor standards; Pres Clinton stuns delegates when he says trade group should use sanctions to enforce labor rights around world (M)

Northern Ireland gains right to be master of its political fate, no longer ruled directly from London or subject to territorial claims of Dublin; enters era of hoped-for stability during round of meetings and treay signings in Belfast, Dublin and London; under April 1998 peace agreement that goes into effect, home-rule powers move from London to Belfast, Ireland strikes from its Constitution wish to include North, and Protestant and Catholic rivals exercise authority in government jointly for first time; photo (M)

John Powell, former leader of Suffolk County Republican Party, is found guilty of conspiracy and extortion for taking $20,000 in bribes from a trucking company owner, Michael Cholowsky, in exchange for preferred access to Town of Brookhaven landfill; co-defendant, Dominic Testa, is acquitted of witness tampering charges; Powell still faces charges in a separate indictment for his alleged part in a truck-theft scheme; photo (M)

Some of nation's biggest insurance companies are changing their tactics as they face surging backlash against managed care; say they hope to blunt attack in Congress and states, which has upset investors and depressed stocks of managed care companies; they have eliminated or cut back on unpopular rules; no longer require prior approvals for diagnostic tests or admission to hospital, or referrals by gatekeeper doctor for consultations with specialists; employers and economists are concerned that relaxing these mainstays of cost restraint may unleash new round of inflation (M)

Paris Drake, man accused of attacking Nicole Barrett with a brick on Nov 16, is known in Times Square area as an aggressive street hustler who panhandled and scammed drug users and sought warmth and easy marks in Port Authority bus terminal; photo (M)

THE magic is real, all right, a force that brooks no denial, no resistance. Like most unearthly powers, it doesn't break down into easily defined elements. But when Audra McDonald sings her first notes as the Medea-like heroine of ''Marie Christine,'' Michael John LaChiusa's solemn, sometimes somnolent musical tragedy at Lincoln Center, there is clearly sorcery at work. That opening line of melody, pitched at the low end of Ms. McDonald's wide register, is simple, as are the words it is teamed with: ''My name is my mother's name.'' Yet the phrase shimmers with elemental energies just waiting to be unleashed, and the implicit potency hypnotizes. There is no doubting that this enchantress can make good on every threat and promise she utters. Underestimate her at your peril.

It was as unexpected as one of the freakish injuries that has helped to ruin Nets basketball over the last two seasons. A 2-13 club with chemistry problems, shooting problems and no post power to speak of playing the San Antonio Spurs of Tim Duncan and David Robinson to one final shot. Yet there were the Nets, owners of the second-worst record in the National Basketball Association, with a chance to beat or tie the defending league champions with 6.8 seconds left on the clock.

String of costly and embarrassing accidents in Japan's renowned nuclear, aerospace and railway sectors cause many Japanese to question whether country is losing technological prowess and attention to detail; for many, incidents are not merely coincidental but reflect troubling decline in country's industrial and technology capability, which was cornerstone of its postwar economic success; recent accidents discussed; photos (M)

Gov George W Bush joins his five rivals for Republican presidential nomination for first time in nationally televised debate in Manchester, NH; seeks to preserve his status as front-runner against strong challenge in state by Sen John McCain; presents himself as one candidate who has served public as chief executive and who best knows how to lead; Steve Forbes and Gary Bauer attack Bush on several issues; Alan Keyes says his campaign has not drawn much coverage because he is black; photo (M)

Softbank Corp makes multimillion-dollar offer to acquire large stake in Island ECN, fast-growing electronic network for trading stocks; is seeking to buy stake from Datek Online Holdings Corp, which owns 85 percent of company; financial terms noted (M)