New York Knicks defeat Phoenix Suns, 84-79; photo (M)

With Childs Yelling Charge, Knicks Storm Back

*Giuliani administration plans to replace 850-bed 30th Street Men's Shelter in Manhattan, city's largest shelter for homeless men, in part with shelter in former factory in East Williamsburg section of Brooklyn; nonprofit Doe Fund will buy building, renovate it and run new shelter under $180 million, 22-year contract; fund pres George McDonald says new 400-bed shelter is expected to open in Oct 2001; map; photo (M)

City to Replace Largest Homeless Shelter in Part With Brooklyn Site

 U.S. Criticizes China  An annual State Department report on human rights sharply criticized China, saying its record had deteriorated throughout the year.   PAGE A8

INSIDE

Custom Service Comr Raymond Kelly says seizures of MDMA, synthetic psychoactive drug known as Ecstasy, increased 450 percent between 1998 and 1999; predicts 1,500 percent increase this year from last; Drug Enforcement Administration reports widespread use of drug in virtually every US city; law enforcement officials say Ecstasy has become cult drug among teenagers; graph (M)

Drug Experts Report a Boom In Ecstasy Use

A step-by-step guide to completing Form 1040, with articles focusing on some of the thorniest issues: stock options, disaster losses and filing in more than one state. Also: A look at the tax proposals of contenders for the presidency. A special Part 2 of Money & Business.  

YOUR TAXES

 Dow Jones Falls 230 Points, To End the Week at 9,862  The Dow Jones industrial average, which last month reached a peak of 11,723, closed below the 10,000 mark for the first time in 10 months and is down 14.22 percent for the year. The Nasdaq composite index fell 27.15 points, to 4,590.50, and the Standard & Poor's 500-stock index declined 20.07 points, to 1,333.36.    Previously the Nasdaq has been impervious to the selling pressures seen in the Dow. But now investors believe Alan Greenspan, the chairman of the Federal Reserve, is serious about raising interest rates until he has curbed the economy's growth, and that these rate increases will hurt some industry groups far more than others.   [Page A1.]    Automakers Form Online Venture  General Motors, Ford and DaimlerChrysler said they would set up the world's biggest online marketplace, a giant auction site like eBay that they plan to use for buying the nearly $250 billion worth of auto parts and other goods that they need each year. The automakers hope that the move will save time and money and make it easier to build cars to order.   [A1.]

BUSINESS DIGEST

James Barron article on $12,500-a-plate fund-raising dinner attended by Pres Clinton at Manhattan restaurant Daniel; notes that dinner is expected to raise $625,000 for Democratic National Committee; photos (M)

Le Big Mac, This Was Not; Meal Fit for a President With the Aid of a Chef Barely Fit for the Kitchen

Gap in screening of newborns for hereditary diseases on state-to-state basis have become so great that federal health officials, parents' groups, some doctors and some state legislators are trying to step in; experts say screening varies greatly from state to state because it presents classic, politically charged dilemma over whether money directed to fight rare, incurable diseases might be better spent on other programs; see grappling with dilemma as excellent rehearsal for even bigger one in years to come, over what to test for when DNA-based technology makes it possible to screen for thousands of genetic diseases; photos (M)

Big Gap in Screening U.S. Infants for Hereditary Ills

Speculation abounds over possible alliance between Republican presidential candidate Sen John McCain and Reform Party in aftermath of party's recent rowdy meeting in Nashville and because McCain's presidential bid has attracted more votes from independents; some party leaders say if McCain wins Republican nomination, he should run on reform ticket; others say he should run on ticket even if he loses, to create serious three-way contest in November; any serious discussions about establishing political bonds between McCain and party founder Ross Perot must factor in their personal relationship, which has ups and downs over years; McCain insists he wants Reform nomination only if he wins Republican race; photo (M)

McCain and Perot Stealing Glances, Some Say

General Motors, Ford and Daimler-Chrysler will establish world's biggest online marketplace for auto industry's private use; will buy nearly $250 billion worth of parts and other goods they need each year through giant auction site, which will dwarf all previous commercial activity on Web; hope to cut costs and save time by streamlining purchasing operations and putting them online; system will help them build more cars to customer specifiucations by allowing them to order parts for assembly plants far more quickly (M)

CARMAKERS TO BUY PARTS ON INTERNET

US gross domestic product grows at surprisingly fast 6.9 percent annual rate in 1999 fourth quarter; inflation gauge tied to gdp rises at 2.5 percent annual rate in quarter (M)

U.S. Surprise: 6.9% Growth In 4th Quarter

William C Rhoden Sports of The Times column talks with Donn Clendenon, star first baseman with Pittsburgh Pirates in 1960's, who views Darryl Strawberry's plight with knowing compassion; Clendenon also had midlife addiction to cocaine, and battle with leukemia; Clendenon says baseball has helped Strawberry maintain sobriety; hopes he gets suspensions rather than being expelled from game; says flaw in Strawberry's relapses has not been treatment but weak aftercare, especially in appointment of sponsors; Clendenon himself is now certified addiction counselor; photo (M)

Sports of The Times; Compassion From One Who Knows

Joyce Purnick column notes that Albany jury acquitted four police officers in fatal shooting of Amadou Diallo; holds that outcome of trial, however legally just, adds to aggrievement of people who believe that that there is no justice for minorities in country (M)

'Not Guilty' Is Not the End, Not Nearly

Dow Jones industrial average, which reached peak of 11,723 in January, closes below 10,000 for first time in 10 months as investors dump shares of companies most vulnerable to higher interest rates; declines 230.51 points to 9,862.12, down 3.5 percent for week on New York Stock Exchange; other indexes follow suit; Nasdaq falls 27.15 points, to 4,590.50, and Standard & Poor's 500 index 20.07, to 1,333.36; graphs (M)

STOCKS IN TURMOIL AS WORRIES GROW ON HIGHER RATES

Four New York City police officers are acquitted of all charges in shooting death of Amadou Diallo, unarmed African immigrant shot 19 times in fusillade of 41 bullets in lobby of Bronx apartment building in February 1999; jury of four blacks and eight whites deliberated for three days; officers Sean Carroll, Edward McMellon, Kenneth Boss and Richard Murphy remain grim-faced as verdicts are read; scene in courtroom described; Bronx district attorney Robert Johnson says jurors were fair in reaching decision but that case raises many issues about police tactics; former Mayor David N Dinkins expresses outrage; Rev Al Sahrpton says he will push Justice Department to bring federal civil rights case; urges calm, along with Kadiatou Diallo, Amadou's mother; father Saikou Diallo expresses disappointment; Mayor Rudolph Giuliani expresses sympathy for Diallo family but also praises jury for its work; demonstrations are held outside Albany County Courthouse and outside building in Bronx where Diallo died; US attorney Mary Jo White says Civil Rights Division of Justice Depoartment will review shooting to determine whether any civil rights laws were violated; Diallo's family plan civil lawsuit against city; officers could also face administrative charges within Police Department; photos (M)

4 OFFICERS IN DIALLO SHOOTING ARE ACQUITTED OF ALL CHARGES

New York Rangers defeat Buffalo Sabres, 6-3; Rangers' Petr Nedved scores hat trick; photo (M)

Nedved's Hat Trick Trumps Peca's in Rangers' Rally

Battle for Hong Kong's Leading Phone Company May Be Near End

Richard L Huber resigns as Aetna Inc chief executive under pressure from shareholders frustrated by stock price slide; is succeeded by William H Donaldson, board member who will step down as senior adviser at Donaldson Lufkin & Jenrette; Donaldson, 68, says he will not be interim chief; board waives its mandatory age 65 retirement policy for him; photo (M)

Aetna's Chief Steps Down Under Pressure From Shareholders

Fox Television Network faces problem in reining in Michael H Darnell, executive vice president of specials and alternative programming, who is under fire for his handling of highly rated program Who Wants to Marry a Multimillionaire?; affiliates are likely to oppose abandoning his highly rated reality-based programs to improve network's image; such programs attract young males coveted by advertisers, but advertisers will not pay as much for them as for content-based drama; ratings graph; photos (M)

Fox's Point Man For Perversity; 'World's Scariest Programmer,' Starring Mike Darnell as Himself

 MARCH TOWARD ACQUITTAL -- The judge's instructions to the jury on the charges the officers faced and the three legal reasons that could justify the shooting shifted the atmosphere in court and seemed to come down on the side of the defense.   PAGE B6    GIULIANI SEEKS BALANCE -- Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani expressed ''deep, heartfelt sympathy'' to the family of Amadou Diallo and said it would take the accused officers ''a long time to recover from what they've gone through.''   PAGE B7  

MORE ON THE VERDICT

Strong and deeply polarized emotions ripple across New York City metropolitan area as politicians, community leaders and ordinary New Yorkers react swiftly to acquittal of four white police officers in shooting death of unarmed African immigrant Amadou Diallo in lobby of Bronx apartment building in February 1999; reactions are spontaneous, vehement and largely negative; photos (M)

Verdict Bares Sharp Feelings On Both Sides

Correction of chart accompanying February 10 Business Day article on attacks against several Web sites

Corrections

Correction: February 25 NYC column on high emotions surrounding fatal shooting of unmarmed black African Amadou Diallo by for white New York City police officers in 1999 referred imprecisely to remarks by Bronx district attorney, Robert Johnson

National Westminster Bank PLC says its profit increased 6.4 percent, to 1.67 billion pounds, up from 1.57 billion pounds a year ago; second-quarter net income dropped to 853 million pounds from 876 million pounds a year earlier (S)

NATWEST POSTS A GAIN

New York Times Co announces plans to sell some of its small newspapers and all nine of its telephone directories to devote more attention to larger regional newspapers; company intends to sell seven newspapers with circulation below 46,000, collection that includes Santa Barbara News-Press, Daily World in Opelousas, La, and five papers in Florida; chief executive Russell T Lewis comments; Florida newspapers up for sale are Daily News in Palatka, Lake City Reporter, News-Sun in Sebring and Avon Park, News-Leader in Fernandina Beach and Marco Island Eagle (S)

Times Co. to Sell 7 of Its Small Newspapers

Noah Olivier Smith, known professionally as Yeat, is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, and record producer. He is known for his experimental sound—most notably the rage sound, unique word choice, and unconventional fashion sense featuring a mix of designer brands and balaclavas.

Yeat, American rapper

Yeat

George Levick Street III was a submariner in the United States Navy. He received the Medal of Honor during World War II.

George L. Street III, American captain, Medal of Honor recipient (born 1913)

George_L._Street_III

Balkrishna Mahadev Gogte, known colloquially as Raosaheb Gogte, was an Indian lawyer, industrialist, philanthropist and educationist.

February 26, 2000

Headlines from February 26, 2000

With Childs Yelling Charge, Knicks Storm Back

City to Replace Largest Homeless Shelter in Part With Brooklyn Site

INSIDE

Drug Experts Report a Boom In Ecstasy Use

YOUR TAXES

Billboard 200

Supernatural

Dr. Dre -- 2001

All The Way...A Decade Of Song

Voodoo

Christina Aguilera

Notable Births

Notable Deaths

Historical Context for February 26, 2000