July 15, 2001

New York Times probe finds Republican drive in days after presidential election to persuade canvassing boards in George W Bush strongholds to waive Florida's election laws when counting overseas absentee ballots and to disqualify oversees ballots in counties won by Vice Pres Al Gore played key role in election outcome; notes Florida officials, under intense Republican pressure, accepted hundreds of ballots that did not comply with state law; analysis of 2,490 ballots counted as legal votes after Election Day finds 680 questionable votes, with 80 percent of them accepted in counties Bush carried; Bush won state by 537 votes; probe finds overseas ballots were judged by markedly different standards, depending on where they were counted; some voters admit casting illegal ballots after Election Day, interviews; probe finds no evidence either party organized effort to solicit late votes; table; photos; time line (L)

Comment on thrice-weekly runs in hills of Ramapo Valley County Reservation engaged in by New York Giants Greg Comella and Tiki Barber; photos (L)

'Organic style,' former oxymoron, has become marketing mantra to pitch high-end fashions, as well as more familiar cosmetics and food; photos; Maria Rodale, founder of new women's magazine Organic Style, calls target consumers 'conscious sensualists' who are as committed to living in style as to living 'green'; Gallup Poll finds 80-90 percent of Americans say they participate in eco-conscious behavior such as recycling and reducing energy use, while 73 percent purchase environmentally beneficial products (M)

Recent death of Tony Haynes, 14, in Arizona desert is increasing calls for stronger regulation of some 400 outdoor boot camps for troubled youths; at least 13 teenagers in 11 states have died at these camps since 1980, including three this year; camps, attended by thousands of children each year, seek to use rugged conditions and tough discipline to break antisocial behavior or even criminal habits; photos (M)

IMAX auditorium of American Museum of Natural History is being renovated with $8-million gift from Samuel J LeFrak and will reopen as Samuel J and Ethel LeFrak Theater; rendering; LeFrak includes funds to speed work for his own 60th wedding anniversary party there next May(S)