April 1, 2002

Wall Street Journal plans first page redesign that includes use of pastel colors, fancy boxes and main headlines occasionally spanning two or three columns; seeks to reposition its journalism and business with changes and introduction of fourth daily inside section, Personal Journal; move comes at time of falling advertising revenues; Journal seeks to entice new readers, particularly women, and expand beyond aging core of existing subscribers; is committing more resources to consumer-oriented reporting believed to be magnet for advertising; front-page changes will make room for fast-breaking exclusives; photos (M)

Suicide bomber from Islamic group Hamas blows self up in restaurant in Haifa, Israel, killing self and 14 others and wounding more than 40; attack is among deadliest of 18-month intifada and shocks both Arabs and Jews; Arab-owned Matza restaurant was one of rare places in Israel where Jews felt they could find refuge in company of Arabs; dead include Israeli Arabs; suicide bomber also strikes station for paramedics in settlement of Efrat, south of Bethlehem; kills self and wounds four medics; photos; maps (M)

Prosecutors open new phase in investigation of collapse of Enron Corp, advancing beyond indictment of its auditor Arthur Andersen to focus on company executives and their activities; convene special grand jury, charged solely with investigating possible crimes related to collapse; are focusing particular attention on deals involving quarter of partnerships known as the Raptors, as well as Southampton Place, which number of Enron insiders used to enrich themselves; are examining other issues, including whether conversations between company executives and Army Sec Thomas E White, former Enron executive, may have led him to sell Enron stock valued at $3 million in October; are examining whether Enron executives perjured themselves while testifying under oath before Congressional committees; photo (M)

New York City Police Officer Sean Ryan shoots and kills Cesar Mercado, who was breaking into van in Manhattan; Ryan says Mercado threatened him, but Mercado's family disputes this, saying he 'knew the drill' and would not have resisted arrest; photo (M)

All of broadcast television networks are choosing among pilot programs for next season largely produced by own studio affiliates; shift to in-house production is spurred by variety of financial factors; some writer-producers say shift will speed trend toward vapid programming and drive more viewers to cable; table of top shows and studios that created them; graph (M)

Fledgling Internet radio stations oppose music licensing rates recommended by United States Copyright Office; proposed royalties, which copyright office has until May 21 to revise or approve, have radically dimmed outlook for such stations; recording industry dismisses threats to stations; photo (M)

Article on British-born novelist Jasper Fforde, whose latest work, The Eyre Affair, was recently published in US; Fforde comments on his past as assistant cameraman and his evolution into best-selling author; photo (M)

Russia Pledges to Lift Ban On U.S. Poultry by April 10 Russia agreed to lift its ban on American poultry products by April 10, to end a three-week trade dispute that has cramped relations between the two countries. The Agriculture Ministry halted imports of American poultry on March 10, citing concerns over the use of chemicals and antibiotics by farmers. Russia imposed the ban at the same time as the Bush administration adopted punitive steel duties that hurt some Russian steel exports. [Page C2.]

Annika Sorenstam wins fourth major championship and 33rd victory of her career at Kraft Nabisco Championship; photo (M)

Soaring cost of prescription drugs emerges as potent domestic political issue, not only nationally, but also at state level; in election year in which no domestic issue has become centerpiece of voter concern, some strategists say issue, particularly its impact on older people, will loom large in fall campaign and maybe even longer; bills to deal with cost of drugs are under consideration in 37 state legislatures, while on Capitol Hill leaders of both parties are vying to portray themselves as better protectors of older people and other consumers; Business for Affordable Medicine--new coalition of employers, governors and organized labor--is lobbying on Capitol Hill for overhaul of law governing pharmaceutical competition and generic drugs, arguing that current law makes it too easy for industry to stifle competition (M)

New York Mets starting pitcher Al Leiter has become New York City institution over past years, not only involving himself in baseball, but also in politics and philanthropy; photos (M)

Stephen Holden reviews concert by pop-jazz singer and pianist Diana Krall at Radio City Music Hall; photo (M)