July 24, 2000

Closing of Fox Animation Studios, 20th Century Fox unit, may he sign that studios are losing interest in competing with Disney in traditional animated films after costly five-year cycle in which several major studios built own animation divisions; Fox executives say audiences are demanding computer-generated digital magic and are transferring future animation hopes to stake in Blue Sky Studios, which produces computer-generated films; photos (M)

Cincinnati Reds shortstop Barry Larkin rejects trade to New York Mets; signs three-year, $27 million contract extension with Reds (M)

Big computer software companies seek to woo outside programmers to use their software tools and technology as software industry again has up-for-grabs feel of early days of personal computer industry; want to supply 'platforms' on which large numbers of programmers for old-line companies will develop software applications for Internet; graph of shortage of qualified applicants for technology jobs; photos (M)

A Traditional Fault Line Divides Parties on Medicare Deciding how to provide drug benefits to Medicare recipients is a powerful election-year issue. And the main question dividing the political parties is an old one: How big a role should government play? PAGE A12 A Neighborhood's Tale Ends Saving face before the Republican Convention, Philadelphia is bulldozing the last of 957 houses that have been sinking for years. PAGE A15

New York City's war on the West Nile virus is intensifying, with Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani announcing plans to use helicopters and to expand the use of pesticides on the ground in Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island. Article, Page B4.