May 29, 2000

Rep Rick Lazio's Senate candidacy has revived plan for New York State to join new program Lazio sponsored to let disabled people remain on Medicaid after getting jobs, if they do not earn more than $45,000 a year; Gov George E Pataki, who had balked at cost, is reconsidering to boost Lazio (M)

Historic drop in crime rate begins to take hold in even most blighted urban areas of US, transforming cities as neighborhoods that have been frightening wastelands show glimmers of renaissance; people in nine cities from Boston to New Orleans and Los Angeles report homes are being built, transit service is expanding and banks and shopping strips are breaking ground; neighborhoods have less graffiti and fewer abandoned cars and vacant lots, people are sitting on front porches and parents are allowing children to walk to school; Prof Robert Sampson points to sense that cities are safer, although most of areas surveyed are still struggling with crime and poverty; improvements in one West Side Chicago neighborhood described; photo; graph on crime (M)

Boston Red Sox defeat New York Yankees, 2-0;

Latrell Sprewell has injured foot and may not be able to play for New York Knickerbockers in playoff game against Indiana Pacers; availability of injured Patrick Ewing and Marcus Camby will also be decided at game time; coach Jeff Van Gundy is preparing as if all three players will miss game; photos (M)/

France Telecom is expected to acquire Orange PLC from Vodafone AirTouch for more than $37 billion; Vodafone is required to sell Orange, Britain's third-largest wireless phone operator, as part of its acquisition of Mannesmann AG; photo (M)