April 23, 2001

Last of four articles in series The Democratic Field discusses New York City Comptroller Alan G Hevesi's career and his campaign for Democratic mayoral primary; photo (M)

New Jersey Devils defeat Carolina Hurricanes, 5-1, to win NHL playoff series, 4-2; photo (M)

US Navy inquiry into February 9 collision between nuclear submarine Greeneville and Japanese fisheries training vessel off Hawaii has sidestepped crucial factor in fatal crash, namely, program hugely popular with Navy brass in which thousands of sometimes wealthy and influential civilians are invited on excursions aboard warships in hopes of bolstering support for services; Adm Thomas B Fargo, commander of Pacific Fleet, is expected to recommend review of visitors program and suggest few rules acting on report by three-admiral court of inquiry; military officials say, however, program is regarded as so vital not only by Navy but by all other services that it is likely to continue virtually unchanged; photo (M)

Two gay proms scheduled at high schools on Long Island, NY, are expected to attract about 150 gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and heterosexual students; events, among first of their kind in area and organized independent of schools, are latest in string of similar celebrations to emerge in national growing trend that has recently spread from big cities to suburbia; underscore presence of gay communities in high schools, and highlights welter of emotions that surround gay issues for adolescents; some parents violently oppose accommodation for sexual identity they reject, while others sympathizze but are unsure whether impressionable adolescents are best served by seeing gay sexuality as suitable choice; many are supportive, viewing special proms as opportunity for gay children to embrace identities in way unthinkable just few years ago; photo (M)

34 leaders of Western Hemisphere, including Pres George W Bush, close international trade summit in Quebec; reinforce commitment to Vast Free Trade Area of the Americas, vowing to ensure that its benefits are shared by hemishphere's 800 million people; vow to uphold democratic principles or risk losing economic and political support, though some may have trouble meeting standard; propose 'action plan' backed by billions of dollars in support from international financial institutions; commitment of more than $20 billion by World Bank and Inter-American Development Bank to strenghten democratic foundations in Americas and prepare for free trade despite disparate levels of development noted; leaders also agree to release draft of agreement, giving organizations that oppose it chance to review it for first time; photo (M)