July 27, 2001

Pres Bush raises possibility that millions of illegal immigrants from countries other than Mexico might be able to earn legal status over time; White House courting Hispanics, but no decision has been made on task force proposal to allow some three million Mexican illegals to apply for permanent status; Democrats charge discrimination against other migrants; Bush does underscore opposition to blanket amnesty as in 1986; administration is trying to pick its way between Hispanic voters and Republicans opposed to rewarding lawbreakers (M)

John Tierney comments on problem of overzealous prosecutors, citing case of Jose Morales and Ruben Montalvo, who are freed from prison after Judge Denny Chin concludes that they had been wrongfully convicted of murder (M)

The Ford Motor Company tweaked the delicate relationship between its chief executive and president, Jacques A. Nasser, and its chairman, William Clay Ford Jr., with a move intended to increase Mr. Ford's formal role in decision making. Even with the new bureaucratic wrinkle -- the establishment of an office of the chairman and chief executive -- Mr. Nasser will retain his titles and remain in charge of all day-to-day decisions. Mr. Ford will still be referred to as a nonexecutive chairman. The move comes as Ford struggles with a host of challenges.

First of six articles on New York City mayoral candidates discusses Fernando Ferrer's campaign to revive activist government and help those left out of economic boom; Democratic boro president, interviewed by The New York Times, outlines expensive government programs that recall another era in city politics; says he would pay for them with taxes already collected, with more state aid, by weeding out fraud and abuse and by reinstating income tax surcharge; Ferrer indicates he would be more likely to discipline police officers and would ban racial profiling; proposes to raise teacher pay thirty percent and build 150,000 housing units; photo campaigning with Geraldine Ferraro (M)

Alcatel, joining other telecommunications-equipment makers worldwide, said today that it would pare its work force by about 18 percent this year to reduce operating costs, even as it posted an operating profit of 136 million euros, or about $120 million, in the second quarter. The company, which earlier this month outlined plans to shed 3,500 jobs, said it now intended to lay off 20,000 of its 110,000 workers by the end of the year. Alcatel said its goal was to reduce its operating expenses by one billion euros, or about $882 million.