February 21, 2000

Election returns indicate that Iran's reformers should have a significant, probably dominant, place in new Parliament, and they signal their confidence by paying homage to Abdullah Nouri, the most outspoken clerical advocate of change and democracy; Nouri is serving sentence for apostasy but is allowed home for a few days; his visitors include chief of staff of Pres Mohammad Khatami, several ministers, head of Iran's Central Bank, and a few provincial governors; photo (M)

Talent agencies in Hollywood reach tentative agreement with Screen Actors Guild, in first significant step in decades to expand industry's power as well as financial strength; pact will allow agencies to participate in financing and distribution of films and television shows as well as have noncontrolling interest in production companies; enables them to open door for first time to investors, giving agents not only capital to grow but vehicle to make them wealthier; photo (M)

NBC News is reaching more viewers more often than ever before as it straddles both broadcast and cable news worlds; round-the-clock capability has given its some advantages in covering presidential primary campaigns; political correspondent David Bloom, whose coverage of primaries is spread over various network broadcasts, two cable channels and Web site, comments; photos (M)

Joyce Purnick column holds aggressive tactics of New York City police's elite Street Crime Unit should be on trial with four white police officers accused of murdering Amadou Diallo, unarmed African immigrant, in his Bronx apartment building; notes trial has revealed little about unit (M)

Oscar De La Hoya, former World Boxing Council welterweight champion, will fight Derrell Coley in 12-round bout at Madison Square Garden; it will be his first fight in New York since he leveled Jesse James Leija five years ago; photo (M)

New Jersey Nets defeat Minnisota Timberwolves, 91-89; photo (M)

Sen John McCain and Gov George W Bush are both wooing an unlikely mix of moderate suburban Republicans, urban Democrats and blue-collar independents in southeastern Michigan; that part of state accounts for 40 percent of state's primary voters; photo of McCain with Gary L Bauer, former rival, who has endorsed him; photos (M)

When Senator John McCain describes the people who shaped his life, he invariably mentions his father and grandfather, both distinguished Navy admirals. Less widely known are two other powerful men who helped launch his political career: his wealthy father-in-law, James W. Hensley, and Darrow Tully, an Arizona newspaper publisher who was part of a group of self-appointed kingmakers. Article, Page A14.

Dale Jarrett, defending Winston Cup Series champion, has won his third Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway; just 24 hours before race, his Ford Taurus sustained damage to fenders, hood and rear bumper as result of collision during practice session; car's body was virtually rebuilt by three fabricators flown in by Robert Yates Racing, team owner; photo (M)

Marriage Show Canceled Reacting to new questions about the man who married a woman on television last week, Fox canceled a planned rebroadcast. PAGE A16 Crowd Attacks U.S. Soldiers Serbs in the Kosovo city of Mitrovica stoned and punched American troops searching for weapons, forcing them to retreat. PAGE A3

Christie's and Sotheby's face mounting number of class-action lawsuits from clients alleging that they have conspired to fix commissions they charge buyers and sellers at auctions; suits, based on criminal antitrust investigation by Justice Department, could wind up costing aution houses tens of millions of dollars; there is also concern that publicity from antitrust case will shake public's confidence at a time when the art market has been booming (M)

New York City Buildings Departments has been turning over much of responsibility for inspections and safety monitoring to engineers and architects hired by developers; Fire Department repeatedly warned Buildings Department about dangerous practices of builder Eugene Ostreicher before worker died when floor collapsed in Nov at his Brooklyn project; case highlights dangers of self-policing policy at time when construction is booming across city; photos; diagrams (L)