June 5, 2004

Informed sources say Vice Pres Dick Cheney was interviewed by federal prosecutors, who asked whether he knew of anyone at White House who had improperly disclosed identity of undercover CIA officer; say Cheney was also asked about conversations with senior aides, including his chief of staff I Lewis Libby; say Cheney was asked whether he knew of concerted effort by White House aides to name officer; it is not clear how Cheney responded; interview is part of grand jury investigation into whether anyone at White House violated federal law that makes it crime to divulge name of undercover officer intentionally; White House officials have denied that senior aides to Pres Bush disclosed name of officer, Valerie Plame, wife of former Amb Joseph C Wilson IV, to syndicated columnist Robert Novak; photo (M)

More Real Estate An expanded section begins this weekend, with a new spotlight on residential properties. It introduces columns on personalities and deals, on the extravagant and the affordable, and on what it takes to live in New York City.

As the proposal to build a stadium for the New York Jets on Manhattan's West Side moves forward, three groups hope to influence the debate with television commercials. Article, Page B4

Average response time of emergency services in Suffolk County is slower than in Nassau and Westchester Counties; Mitchell Savino, former chairman of Suffolk's Regional Emergency Medical Services Council, says system is failing; paramedics, rescue officials and patients' families say it imperils people when they are at their most vulnerable; system relies solely on dozens of independent volunteer companies, and some people have to wait 30 minutes or more for ambulance; county was recently awarded state grant to overhaul its computer dispatch system; photo (M)

US government reports that 248,000 jobs were created in May and 947,000 jobs were added to work force over last three months, signaling end to long period of almost uninterrupted job losses under Pres Bush; employment gains provide Bush with fresh dose of positive economic news as election campaign heats up; accelerating job growth, if it continues at or near pace of last three months, would save Bush from becoming first president since Herbert Hoover to preside over decline in jobs during four-year term (M)