March 19, 2001

New census figures portray changing face of Queens, borough that has been altered dramatically during 1990's; black neighborhoods have given way to Hispanic influx, while others are home to Indian and other Asian populations; some longtime residents bemoan loss of neighborhood identity and familiarity; local stores reflect changes in ethnic goods they now carry to cater to customers; photo (M)

Conservative establishment, for first time since heady days of Reagan administration, is again receiving extraordinary amount of attention from White House; leaders say they feel like integral part of administration of Pres George W Bush, rather than outside constituent group; say contrast could not be more striking with father, who alienated much of conservative base even before he reneged on pledge not to raise taxes; impact of conservative ascendancy on policy and staffing discussed; leading conservative strategist Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform who has administration's ear, comments; his focus on advancing Bush agenda through Wednesday meetings of powerful and influential conservatives from across religious, social, economic and political spectrum discussed; photo (M)

Sculpture Center board plans to sell center's Manhattan building, which houses school and studios devoted to sculpture, and open Queens center that will explore more experimental three-dimensional art, without students; many of students and artists who have used center for decades see it as vibrant place to learn and work, while board members see it as anachronism that ignores direction of much of today's three-dimensional art; photos (M)

Pres Bush prepares for meeting with China's Deputy Prime Min Qian Qichen in Washington, first with senior Chinese official, as administration faces crucial decisions on military issues that could quickly put US on collision course with Beijing; issues are whether to design national missile defense capable of countering China's small nuclear force or whether to sell Aegis destroyers to Taiwan; China's concern that Aegis system could be used as platform for missile shield for Taiwan and usher in new level of American military cooperation with island, regarded as renegade province, noted; importance of issues among conservative Republicans, who are deeply suspicious of Beijing and who represent important Bush constituency, discussed (M)

Supreme Court is set to hear arguments in suit by freelancers against New York Times, Time Inc and Newsday challenging sale of their work without their consent or added payment to database owner Lexis-Nexis and University Microfilms International, which puts electronic archives on CD-ROMs; writers argue they retain ownership of work; publishers hold payment for work also gives them electronic rights; historians and biographers are split on suit; National Writers Union president Jonathan Tasini is lead plaintiff; New York Times chairman Arthur Sulzberger Jr and others comment; photos (M)