June 11, 2004

Mayor Michael R Bloomberg's decision not to move into Gracie Mansion, home of every New York City mayor since Fiorello H La Guardia, has transformed it into bustling retreat for scores of municipal workers, celebrators, schoolchildren and elected officials; it has housed traveling dignitaries and been used as quite hideaway where officials can conduct city business away from prying eyes at City Hall; mansion has undergone $7 million renovation, with Bloomberg paying most of cost; Bloomberg has also expanded areas open to public and increased number of mansion tours; mansion is still used for dinners and receptions; photos (M)

Article on visit to Roanoke Island, NC, where annual summer performances of The Lost Colony, musical history of short-lived early settlement on island, have been staged since 1937; popular show has helped transform island's commercial center, Manteo, from fishing village to theater company town; scene at Festival Park, a living history attraction telling the story of an even earlier failed English colonial settlement, described; photos; map (M)

Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative investigation reveals that many track and field athletes who could be banned from competition for drug use go to great lengths to hide steroid use and pass drug tests, making efficacy of drug testing questionable; various types of banned substances are discussed; photos (M)

R W Apple Jr appraisal of Ronald Reagan and what history may eventually conclude about his presidency; observes that Reagan died respected man, although affection is far from universal, and popularity is never reliable test of greatness; notes that Harry Truman, now counted among near-greats, left office with 23 percent approval rating, while Warren G Harding, now disdained, was much loved at his death; recalls Reagan as chief of state, 'often ignorant of or impatient with' policy minutiae, but succeeding mightily with his extraordinary communication talents, intuitive understanding of Americans, unfailing geniality and ability to build friendships across partisan lines; photos; chart explaining memorial service at National Cathedral (M)

George Wein, who originated Newport Jazz Festival and also originated idea of mixing musical genres, will celebrate its 50th anniversary by devoting entire festival in Newport, RI, which opens runs from August 11 to 15, to jazz; JVC Jazz Festival in New York, which continues to mix genres, opens on June 15; New York schedule highlights; photos (L)

Lawyers for Stewart Request New Trial Again Martha Stewart's lawyers requested a new trial for her, arguing that lies told by a government witness prevented her from receiving fair treatment. The lawyers also asked for a hearing to determine whether any prosecutors knew that the witness was lying. It is Ms. Stewart's second attempt at overturning the verdict against her. An earlier request, in which Ms. Stewart's lawyers said a juror had lied on a screening questionnaire, was rejected last month. [Page C4.]

China has become massive magnet inexorably drawing scrap metal from across Asia; market forces are cleaning up Asian landscapes that have been long littered with Soviet-era junk; steel is lifeblood of China's booming economy; China's steel production is to nearly double during rest of decade; China's iron ore production is forecast to remain flat; China is signing long-term multibillion-dollar supply contracts with Australian and Brazilian mining companies; China's scrap imports have almost doubled since 2000; map; photo (M)

Shiite Militia Seizes Iraqi Police Station Militiamen loyal to the renegade Shiite cleric Moktada al-Sadr seized an Iraqi police station in Najaf, setting prisoners free and allowing residents to loot the building. Later, the militants set eight police cars on fire. At least five people died in the violence, which broke a cease-fire between the cleric's militia and American military and Iraqi police in the city. PAGE A10 11 Chinese Road Workers Murdered in Afghanistan A group of 20 gunmen in cars murdered 11 Chinese road construction workers and an Afghan guard as they slept in their tents. It was the deadliest attack against foreigners since the fall of the Taliban. The men were among more than 100 Chinese engineers and construction workers recently arrived to work on a World Bank road rebuilding project from Kabul to Tajikistan. PAGE A13

New York Yankees defeat Colorado Rockies, 10-4; photo (M)

Japan's corporate goods price index rose 1.1 percent in May from year earlier (S)

IN THE CAPITOL -- All night long and through the blistering day, thousands of mourners streamed through the Capitol Rotunda. PAGE A24

Cayuga Indian Nation settles lawsuit against New York State over 64,000 acres in Cayuga Lake area in exchange for revenues from proposed $500 million gambling casino in Monticello; tribe will receive $279 millon over 14 years starting in 2007; will also be allowed to purchase 10,000 acres within disputed area; Seneca and Cayuga Counties will receive $3 million a year each from state and tribe for 21 years; map (M)