May 20, 2002

Vice Pres Dick Cheney says he will advise Pres Bush against turning over to Congress intelligence briefing in August 2001 that warned of possible hijacking of airplanes by terrorists, and insists investigation into September 11 attacks should be handled by Congressional intelligence committees, not independent commission; says on television news programs it would be mistake to give broad Congressional access to August 6 memorandum, which has ignited political uproar over whether nation could have anticipated attacks on World Trade Center and Pentagon; acknowledges need for Congressional inquiry to examine workings of intelligence agencies and leaves open possibility of discussions with senior members of intelligence committees to satisfy their concerns; debate is seen as part of broader battle being waged by Congress eager for oversight and administration that believes presidential prerogatives and authority have been eroded since Vietnam War and Watergate scandal; photo (M)

Texas and California are moving toward phase-out of junk food in schools, as are many other school districts nationwide, as lawyers who pioneered suits against tobacco companies take on Big Food as next target; class-action lawsuits are filed in New York and Florida, claiming that processed foods with little nutritional value has misled consumers; Congress is debating Obesity Prevention and Treatment Act, that would launch campaign to improve eating habits in nation, where more than 60 percent of adults are overweight; food industry and lobbyists are fighting back; are running radio advertisements criticizing 'food nags' for trying to take away choice; efforts to ban junk food at Freemont High School in Oakland, Calif, discussed; photos (M)

Joe Drape On Horse Racing column discusses why Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner War Emblem, who had rocky career start, could have trouble winning Belmont Stakes, longest of Triple Crown races; photos; chart (M)

New York Yankees defeat Minnesota Twins, 3-0; photos (M)

Star Wars: Episode 2--Attack of the Clones garners $116.4 million in box-office sales in first four days; studio and distributor reportedly are unconcerned that latest episode did not match Spider-Man's $115 million, three-day take; photo (M)