September 8, 2003

One Fewer Race for Senator Ending months of speculation, Senator John Edwards of North Carolina said he would not seek re-election in order to focus on his presidential aspirations. PAGE A14 New York City Schools Open More than a million New York City students return this morning to a public school system altered by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg's far-reaching overhaul. PAGE B1

AOL Europe Turnaround Helps Offset Parent's Woes In a role reversal, AOL Europe is emerging as an upbeat counterpoint to AOL's sagging business in the United States. In the last two and a half years, AOL Europe has more than doubled its subscribers, to 6.2 million, and nearly doubled its revenue, to about $1.4 billion. Michael Lynton, the chief executive of AOL Europe, above, said his division had turned around in part by tailoring its marketing and content to local cultures. [Page C11.]

Article on La Cenicienta (Cinderella), new Spanish-language prime time reality television show that is being aired by Telemundo; photo (M)

Andy Roddick defeats Juan Carlos Ferrero in three sets to win US Open and first Grand Slam singles title; Ferrero becomes No.1 in rankings and Roddick takes symbolic torch from Pete Sampras, who retired at beginning of Open, as new star of American men's tennis; photos (M)

Magazine companies, facing stiff competition for advertisers, are investing more time and money, and sometimes their editorial staffs, in creating special advertising sections for clients; sections, know as advertorials, are as glossy as editorial spreads, with high-level photography, writing and design, blurring line between editorial content from advertising; are less lucrative than regular advertising; photos (M)

Center for an Urban Future says New York City should stopping offering large industries and corporations tax incentives to stay in city; says city should improve climate for small businesses, tap immigrant population and academic and research institutions, improve services to retain middle class and encourage growth in outer boroughs; many economists and Bloomberg administration agree (M)

Sen Charles Schumer, Democrat of New York, has raised more campaign money from securities and investment industry than any other member of Senate Banking Committee during last Congressional session; Schumer's $17 million war chest includes $6 million from securities and investment houses, lawyers and law firms, real estate outfits and commercial banks; photo (S)

New York Times poll of 976 adult New Yorkers underscores how much lasting damage 9/11 inflicted on city's psyche; on second anniversary of terrorist attacks, most New Yorkers feel no safer, no more convinced that terror will not come back than they felt on first anniversary; two-thirds say they are very concerned about another attack in New York; say they are thinking and talking less often about terrorist attack, but subtext of discomfort is every bit as intense; some people continue to avoid subway, some stay away from skyscrapers, some sleep fitfully and some find new solace in religion; many still get teary at memory; nearly one-third of those questioned say their lives have still not returned to normal; findings detailed; photo; chart (L)

New York City school year begins with more confusion than usual because of far-reaching overhaul undertaken by Mayor Michael R Bloomberg in curriculum and registration procedures; chaos is aggravated by unexpected overcrowding in high schools, which is due to increase in ninth graders citywide and reconfiguring of some huge failing schools; there is also confusion and some anger over increasing number of students transferring between schools under federal No Child Left Behind law; photo (M)

Some of Latin America's best-known pop, folk and rock stars perform in two concerts at National Stadium in Santiago, Chile, commemorating 30th anniversary of bloody coup that overthrew government of Salvadore Allende; photos (M)

Article on letters and diary of Chicago debutante Ginevra King, whom F Scott Fitzgerald met in 1915 when she was 16 and he was 19; letters, which Fitzgerald had typed and bound and which were returned to King after Fitzgerald died, have been donated by King's family, along with diary and unpublished short story by King, to Princeton; Penn State University Prof James L W West 3rd, expert on Fitzgerald, is preparing essay on Princeton donation; photos (M)

Consumer advocates say phone companies are failing to warn subscribers signing up for new unlimited calling plans that some 15 percent or more will be added to flat charge in taxes and surcharges, often bringing total above cost of traditional plans; say surcharges should be included in advertised rate; telecommunication companies defend practices, holding bills are easier to understand when some added fees are itemized separately; some say they do not include fees in advertised rates because they do not want to seem uncompetitive; photos (M)