April 27, 2001

John Tierney The Big City column discusses probable nomination by Libertarian Party of Kenny Kramer for mayor of New York City; inspiration for character of Kramer on television show Seinfeld, he promises less government; compares real-life Kramer to fictional character and finds similarities (M)

Listing of upcoming antique-car exhibitions and related events in New York metropolitan region and Pennsylvania; photo (M)

New York State Appeals Court rules that gun industry cannot generally be held liable for shootings involving guns that were bought and sold illegally; ruling will likely overturn landmark jury award of $522,000 to Steven Fox, New York City teenager brain-damaged after being shot in head (M)

Scientists are reporting two major advances in using embryonic cells to regenerate human tissues, results that are expected to sharpen the clash between advocates of biomedical research and opponents of abortion. The advances come as the Bush administration is deciding whether to let government-financed scientists continue such research. Article, Page A21.

Floodwaters rolling down Mississippi River through Midwest revive debate about how or even whether government should try to protect areas in its path; federal and state governments have spent hundreds of millions of dollars to buy and demolish nearly 13,000 homes and businesses along rivers since devastating floods of 1993, but communities near St Louis have since experienced surge of new development along flood plain, and want federal money to raise levees even higher; critics see dangerous hubris about power to tame mighty rivers and say money would be better spent keeping structures away from banks; Bush administration sends mixed signals, scolding Davenport for not building permanent flood wall while cutting funds for acquiring flood-prone property and ending program that restores farmland to wetlands; Army Corps of Engineers is, at same time, going forward with $58-million plan to raise one levee west of St Louis to protect strip malls and other development; is also proceeding with controversial $60-million levee in southern Missouri that will close off one of last remaining natural flood ways on lower Mississippi; spending graph; map; experts on both sides comment (M)