November 16, 2002

Rep Jerrold Nadler, Manhattan Democrat, loses 61 pounds after undergoing stomach-reduction surgery in August; has struggled for decades with health-threatening obesity and futile dieting; number of bariatric operations has gone from 20,000 in 1995 to 60,000 in 2000 despite pain, risk and changes in eating habits that operation entails; photos; drawing (M)

Twelve Israelis are killed in Hebron on West Bank when Palestinian snipers ambush Jewish settlers walking home from Sabbath prayers and then attack policemen, security guards and soldiers rushing to rescue; gunfight rages for more than three hours as Israeli rescue workers struggle to evacuate wounded; soldiers kill at least three Palestinians whom they identify as killers; Islamic Jihad claims responsibility for attack; Israeli leaders hold Palestinian leadership of Yasir Arafat responsible; photos; map (M)

William C Rhoden Sports of The Times column contends that competitive edge most athletes use to play professional sports also drives decisions to take banned dietary supplements or steroids, as in case of Carolina Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers, just suspended for using ephedra-based stimulant; photo (M)

New York University, which lags far behind other institutions in reported support from alumni, is planning many annual universitywide reunions; university's new president John Sexton comments; chart; photo (M)

California State Teachers' Retirement System suit against online real estate company Homestore.com contains new accusations of financial fraud at AOL Time Warner, including detailed descriptions of conversations among senior executives who allegedly planned to inflate revenue improperly; new complaint portrays former AOL Time Warner executives David M Colburn and Eric Keller as conspiring with their Homestore counterparts to overstate companies' revenues; both companies acknowledge accounting problems (M)