Ira Berkow Sports of The Times column questions New York Mets general manager Steve Phillips' decision to drop out of negotiations for free-agent shortstop Alex Rodriguez; photo (M)

Sports of The Times; Rodriguez Would Add, Not Subtract

Pedro Espada Jr, state senator-elect from the Bronx, is acquitted of charges that he had misappropriated money from Universal Health Plan, health plan for low-income patients, to pay off expenses for 1996 campaign; co-defendants, Sandra Love and John P Connors, also associated with Universal Health Plan, are acquitted; photo (M)

Senator-Elect Is Acquitted Of Larceny

Six months after New York City Mayor Rudolph W Giuliani withdrew from Senate race, following cancer diagnosis and revelations about his marriage, much in administration is back to normal; he scolded reporters during press conference and sparred verbally with teachers during town hall meeting; speculation about political life following second term as mayor discussed; photo (M)

The Milder Mayor Regains His Roar; Giuliani Returns to His Critical Self

Thunderbolt roller coaster in Coney Island is demolished by New York City, angering owner, coaster aficionados and historic preservationists who made 11th-hour attempt to save it; structure was declared unsafe on Sep 1 by city building inspectors; Thunderbolt was built in 1926 over small house that was immortalized in Woody Allen movie Annie Hall, and carried its last rider in 1983; photo (M)

Relic of a Faded Playgound Meets the Wrecking Ball

Monica Seles defeats Amanda Coetzer in quarterfinals of Chase Championships at Madison Square Garden; photo (M)

Seles Beats Coetzer Easily, But That Really Isn't the Point

Frank Zarb, chairman of Nassau Interim Finance Authority, state board overseeing Nassau County's (NY) troubled finances, gives county until end of November to adopt fiscal rescue plan or face some form of state control of its books; Democrats in County Legislature say they would rather see state takeover than accept plan proposed by County Executive Thomas Gulotta, but will attempt to work out compromise; Republicans and Democrats remain polarized on issue of property taxes and 2001 budget that, Democrats say, relies too much on sales tax revenues and includes no money for emergencies (M)

Nassau County Gets Ultimatum Over Finances

European Union asks World Trade Organization to approve more than $4 billion in trade sanctions on American products to retaliate for what it says is illegal tax break granted to exporters in US; request for punitive tariffs, largest ever sought from trade organization, comes one day after Pres Clinton signs law replacing tax arrangement at issue with another, delaying until at least June time when sanctions could become effective; Europeans submit list of 99 product groups; US trade representative, Charlene Barshefsky, and deputy Treasury secretary, Stuart E Eizenstat, say in joint statement that US will 'contest level of damages alleged by European Union'; World Trade Organization has already ruled against US in trade dispute, agreeing with Europe's contention that tax program favoring US exporters, known as Foreign Sales Corporation, provides illegal subsidies; photo (M)

Europeans Seek $4 Billion in Trade Sanctions Against U.S.

One day after disclosing plans for overhaul of Coca-Cola Co to make sure minorities and women are promoted and pair fairly, plantiffs' lawyers and company officials say many of details are still unclear and caution that tangible results could be long way off (M)

No Instant Results Expected From Coke Bias Case

R W Apple Jr analysis of legal wrangling in Florida over disputed presidential ballots (M)

Sharp Swings In the Battle

Pres Clinton is warmly welcomed to Hanoi by thousands of Vietnamese, many former soldiers who once battled US; he tells them that shard suffering has given Vietnam and US a relationship unlike any other; he and huge entourage of members of Congress and business executives are taken by surprise at warmth of reception on city's chaotic streets, compared with polite but distant formality accorded them by government leaders; Clinton attends state dinner, where he scales back human rights message; touches gingerly on suppression of dissent and limits on emigration; Pres Tran Duc Luong and Prime Min Phan Van Khai reportedly bristled when subject is brought up in private meetings; photos (M)

Huge Crowd in Hanoi for Clinton, Who Speaks of 'Shared Suffering'

A humanities professor and an entrepreneur have devised a multimillion-dollar plan to put college courses online. It's not everybody's idea of progress. A report by James Traub in The Times Magazine.  

VIRTUAL CAMPUS

Handful of elected and appointed officials who could determine outcome of winner-take-all Florida election are being buffeted with aggressive lobbying from lawyers for Gov George W Bush and Vice Pres Al Gore about best way to handle their duties to ensure vote in Florida is fair and accurate; some officials are raising questions about appropriateness of lobbying, complaining that partisanship has often drowned out facts and law; photo (M)

Elections Officials Focus of Lobbying From Both Camps

DaimlerChrysler AG, acknowledging that problems at Chrysler are even worse than when it reported $512 million loss three weeks ago, vows major shake-up that begins with ouster of its American president, James P Holden (M)

Daimler Warns On Earnings; Ousts Executive

In the nation's last undecided Senate race, Washington State Democrats believe that the incumbent Republican will win by a slim margin, depriving them of the seat they need for an even split of the chamber.     With about 50,000 votes still to count, the incumbent, Slade Gorton, and Maria Cantwell, a Democrat, are nearly tied, and neither is conceding.  

Democrats 'Need Miracle' in Crucial Senate Race

Speculation on Bowl Championship Series, college football's race for national title and how rankings are done (M)

On College Football; Only Known Cure for B.C.S. Blues: Victory

Florida's secretary of state, Katherine Harris, has moved to accept vote tallies from heavily Republican Seminole County, where local election officials acknowledge they allowed Republican campaign aides to correct errors in thousands of applications for absentee ballots after they had been signed and submitted; Democratic lawyer has gone to court to throw out those ballots; hearing is scheduled by Judge Debra Nelson of Circuit Court to consider case; Tom Slade, former state Republican chairman, thinks Democrats have serious argument for throwing out absentee votes involved; questions whether public documents can be altered on after-the-fact basis; Harris's predecessor as secretary of state, Sandra Mortham, also Republican, had ruled in earlier case that applications for absentee ballots must be completed by voters or their immediate families; photo (M)

G.O.P.'s Help for Absentees In a County Is in Court, Too

Clyde Haberman NYC column holds that second term of New York City Mayor Rudolph W Giuliani's administration has not had new agenda (M)

Bereft of Hits, Reprising Golden Oldies

New York Knickerbockers defeat Phoenix Suns, 90-85; photo (M)

No Excuses Necessary As Knicks Defeat Suns

 Arafat Orders End to Gunfire  Yasir Arafat said he had given orders for Palestinian gunmen in Palestinian-controlled territories to stop shooting. PAGE A7    New Army Vehicle Is Late  The Army unveiled a new family of light armored vehicles, then announced that they were nearly a year and a half behind schedule. PAGE A10    Anthropology Looks Inward  Rocked by accusations of unethical practices, anthropologists have taken the first step to reexamine their own culture. PAGE A10    A Familiar Tone in City Hall  After six months as the kinder, gentler Rudy, Mayor Giuliani is scolding reporters and political foes with some of his old fervor. PAGE B1    Trade Sanctions Sought  The European Union is seeking trade sanctions on American products worth more than $4 billion in a dispute over a tax break. PAGE C1

INSIDE

US District Court Judge William J Hibbler issues temporary restraining order directing mechanics at United Airlines to stop engaging in what airline asserts is orchestrated campaign that has forced it to cancel scores of flights in recent days; Hibbler denies request by International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers to wait until next week before taking action; United raises last-minute walk-up fares $50 on one-way flights of less than 1,500 miles and $100 on flights more than 1,500 miles; Continental Airlines, American Airlines and Trans World Airlines match United's fare but Delta Airlines proposes more modest increase; photo (M)

United Gets Order Against Its Mechanics

US Labor Department, in proposing new rules to reduce workplace injuries, has set off debate over whether cost of rules will exceed benefit; labor unions have hailed regulations as much-needed, long-delayed step, but business groups have denounced rules and have already gone to court in effort to overturn them; corporate groups, alarmed that new rules will force companies to set up ergonomics bureaucracies and redesign factories and offices, estimate that complying with new regulations will cost American businesses $18 billion to $120 billion a year; graph; photos (M)

Battle Lines Drawn Over Ergonomic Rules; Business Pitted Against Washington

 A Second Round of Layoffs Because of Firestone Recall  Stuck with a huge inventory of Firestone tires and slow sales because of its recall, Bridgestone/Firestone announced its second round of job cuts in a month, saying that nearly 1,100 factory workers would be laid off for at least five months.   The layoffs were the latest sign that sales of Firestone tires have not recovered from the recall on Aug. 9 of 14.4 million Firestone ATX and Wilderness tires that were mounted mainly on Ford Explorers. Firestone estimated that 6.5 million of these tires were still in use when the recall began. [Page C2.]

BUSINESS DIGEST

The tallying of overseas absentee ballots in Florida led to uncertainty, confusion and partisan dispute in a process that added to the lead of Gov. George W. Bush. Page A11.

Confusion in Counting

Florida Supreme Court bars state from certifying official results in presidential election until court rules on disputed ballots; allows manual recount of ballots in three Democratic counties and continued counting of overseas absentee ballots, which more than double 300-vote lead of Gov George W Bush over Vice Pres Al Gore; comes on eve of deadline originally set by state's top election official, Secretary of State Katherine Harris, and sets off fierce race between both sides to accumulate as many votes as possible before November 20 hearing; photo (M)

FLORIDA COURT BARS NAMING A WINNER; BUSH LEAD GROWS WITH OVERSEAS TALLY

New York State appeals court affirms decision that held students at charter and alternative schools in New York City must take state Regents exams, despite effort by schools to be exempt; schools argued that they would have to change curriculum if students are required to take Regents, but court's decision holds that schools are aware of testing requirements when they become charter schools (M)

November 18, 2000

Headlines from November 18, 2000

Sports of The Times; Rodriguez Would Add, Not Subtract

Senator-Elect Is Acquitted Of Larceny

The Milder Mayor Regains His Roar; Giuliani Returns to His Critical Self

Relic of a Faded Playgound Meets the Wrecking Ball

Seles Beats Coetzer Easily, But That Really Isn't the Point

Billboard 200

The Dynasty Roc La Familia (2000 -- )

Stankonia

All That You Can't Leave Behind

Chocolate Starfish And The Hot Dog Flavored Water

Awake

Historical Context for November 18, 2000