April 11, 2000

Article on National Football League coaches and scouts preparing for upcoming college player draft (M)

Voluntary ban adopted in New York State Legislature on lobbyists' gifts of meals and items worth more than $25 produces profound change in Albany's longstanding political culture, where contacts were cultivated and businesses conducted over expensive dinners at handful of favored restaurants; more legislators are making own meals, and pricey restaurants have gone begging for customers; shrinking waistline of State Sen Thomas W Libous, who adopted new code of ethics after years of late-night dinners, is seen as one indication that deeply entrenched lobbying culture has begun to change (M)

Versatile instrumentalist Herbie Mann to celebrate his 70th birthday on April 16, final night of an engagement that begins April 11 at Blue Note; photo; Smithsonian Institution's Traveling Exhibition Service is presenting new show, Heart and Hands: Musical Instrument Makers of America, featuring 85 photographs by Jake Jacobson of instrument makers at work; photo; Columbia University Film Festival to hold Screenwriters Night with readings by professional actors from six screenplays by students in university's graduate film division; sixth annual 92d Street Y Harkness Dance Project to present premiere performances by Erick Hawkins Company (M)

Chancellor May Stay On The interim schools chancellor, Harold O. Levy, is expected to seek the job permanently and appears to be the front-runner. PAGE BI

Bernard Holland reviews Ton Koopman conducting Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra and Choir in performance of his reconstruction of Bach's St Mark Passion at Church of St Ignatius Loyola; photo (M)

George Vecsey Sports of The Times discusses reaction to news that New York Yankees pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre is being treated for cancer; photo (M)

Texas has had one of nation's worst public health records for decades, ranking near top in nation's rates of some major diseases and near bottom in terms of prevention; its Mexican border is hotbed of contagion, and more than quarter of its population lacks health insurance; Gov George W Bush, Republican presidential candidate, has not made health priority since taking office in 1995 and has failed to tackle problems despite large state budget surplus; his administration opposed patient's bill of rights in 1995 before grudgingly accepting it in 1997; fought unsuccessfully to limit access to new Children's Health Insurance Program in 1999; health care remains near top of election agenda, and Democrats are already attacking Bush for Texas record, pointing out that state's lack of health insurance is among most severe in country; Vice Pres Al Gore's proposal for vast expansion of insurance coverage for children noted; Texas health officials comment; photo (M)

Philadelphia Museum of Art's exhibition on art in 18th-century Rome challenges art-historical tenet that Rome ceded its position as center of art universe to Paris at end of 17th century; photos (M)

NEAR Shoemaker, robotic spacecraft that has spent about 11 days orbiting the asteroid Eros at distance of 62 miles from its center, will now take another downstep on its way to settling in a height of 31 miles for months of close-up observations; understanding structure of asteroids will be important if they are ever to be mined for minerals or deflected from a course toward Earth; spacecraft has been renamed in honor of late Dr Eugene M Shoemaker, pioneer in study of asteroid and comet impacts on planets; drawings (M)

Bruce Weber reviews Beth Henley play Family Week, directed by Ulu Grosbard, at Century Center on East 15th Street; photo (M)

Official returns show Pres Alberto K Fujimori approaching first-round victory in Peru's presidential election, prompting cries of fraud and threats of civil disturbance; National Election office reports Fujimori leading challenger Alejandro Toledo 49.6 percent to 40.6 percent with 56.4 percent of vote counted; Fujimori's closeness to outright majority, coupled with unexplained delays of up to several hours in getting ballot boxes and tally sheets to computer centers, some of which were shut down for more than day, have led to suspicions of fraud; Eduardo Stein, head of observer team from Organization of American States, expresses misgivings; says something sinister has happened; Fujimori rejects charges of fraud; says vote is totally normal and just; Toledo calls for annullment of election results; ballots have already been destroyed as allowed by Peruvian law; photos (M)

Drosophila fruit fly researchers gain higher profile as fly becomes second animal to have its full genome decoded; fly has attained this prominence in human affairs because it is one of principle model organisms studied by biologists as a means of understanding general design of life; photo of Human Genome Project members, including Dr J Craig Venter of Celera Corp (L)