April 20, 2005

A FEW months ago, a television reporter stood on a sidewalk in front of the Queens home of City Councilman Allan W. Jennings Jr. to film a segment about the legislator, who is -- hmm, what's the word? Let's go with unpredictable. Anyway, the camera was rolling and the reporter was talking when a lanky man skulked into camera view from the side of the house. Suddenly, he threw a handball-size object at the reporter, striking him square in the back of his heavy winter coat.

General Motors Reports $1.1 Billion Quarterly Loss General Motors reported a $1.1 billion first-quarter loss, its worst quarterly performance since 1992, citing a stark reversal in its North American operations. The company said it was no longer certain enough of its outlook to provide earnings guidance for the year, backing away even from the bleak revisions it made last month. [C8.] In Asia, General Motors' profits plummeted in the first quarter, but the first hints of a rebound are starting to become visible in China, its most important Asian market. [C8.] Court Limits Basis for Stock Suits The Supreme Court ruled in a closely watched fraud case that an accusation that a company's misrepresentations caused an inflated share price was insufficient as a basis for a lawsuit. Justice Stephen G. Breyer, left, writing for the court, said that the purpose of permitting private suits for securities fraud was ''not to provide investors with broad insurance against market losses, but to protect them against those economic losses that misrepresentations actually cause.'' [C3.] New Food Pyramid Has 12 Forms The Agriculture Department introduced a food pyramid that comes in 12 versions, depending on activity level and caloric need. [A23.] Stocks Gain on Earnings News Stocks rose as companies' earnings beat analysts' estimates. The Dow Jones industrial average gained 56.16 points, to 10,127.41. The Standard & Poor's 500-stock index added 6.80 points, to 1,152.78. The Nasdaq composite index rose 19.44 points, or 1 percent, to 1,932.36. [C9.] Core Inflation Rate Is Modest The government reported a smaller-than-expected increase in prices excluding energy and food. Another report that said that home construction plunged last month. [C20.] Longtime Producer to Join Disney Scott Rudin, a longtime producer whose films last year included ''The Stepford Wives'' and ''Closer,'' said he would end his long-standing deal with Paramount Pictures and begin making movies for Walt Disney Studios when his contract expires in 2006. [C4.] Time Out New York Editor to Leave Cyndi Stivers, the founding editor in chief of Time Out New York, said that she was stepping down as president and editorial director to join Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia as an executive vice president. [C4.] Coca-Cola Earnings Fall 6 Percent In its first-quarter earnings announcement, Coke reported sales growth in Asia, Africa and Latin America that far outweighed growth in the United States and Europe. These positive results allowed Coke's chief executive, E. Neville Isdell, to project a note of optimism amid otherwise lackluster results. Coke's overall earnings fell 6 percent, to $1.5 billion, slightly exceeding forecasts. Revenue rose 4 percent, to $5.3 billion. [C20.] Pfizer reported sharply lower first-quarter earnings, while Johnson & Johnson, reported a doubt-digit earnings increase. [C2.] Merrill Lynch said that its first-quarter earnings fell 3 percent from a year earlier, exceeding analysts' estimates. It also announced a $4 billion stock buyback program. [C20.]

Tucked into the 2005 state budget is an unusual new program that seems especially out of place in a year when public schools are wailing for more money: $150 million for private colleges to aid fund-raising and construction. The money is the result of years of aggressive lobbying by private colleges, as well as shrewd tactics by their lead strategist, Abraham M. Lackman, an influential Albany figure who has personally donated more than $40,000 to legislators since starting work for the colleges.

Article on movies and television projects, in works and ready for viewing, about trauma of 9/11; The Great New Wonderful, low-budget independent film directed by Brooklyn native Danny Leiner, focuses on handful of New Yorkers year after attacks as they struggle to cope with emotions; NBC and ABC are working on mini-series based on September 11 commission's report; other projects described; photo (M)

G.M. Reports Worst Quarterly Results Since 1992 General Motors, citing a stark reversal in its North American operations, reported a $1.1 billion first-quarter loss, its worst performance since 1992. The company said it was no longer certain enough of its outlook to provide earnings guidance for the year. G.M. also appeared to be inching toward a confrontation with the United Automobile Workers over health care costs, which are expected to approach $6 billion this year. Union leaders have said they would not agree to sharp cuts, though they left room for modest concessions. BUSINESS DAY, PAGE C8 A Decade Later, Remembering the Oklahoma City Victims All around the sloping lawn that is the centerpiece of the Oklahoma City memorial, families, friends, rescue workers and survivors of the bombing of the federal courthouse 10 years ago, gathered around the bronze and glass chairs that memorialize the victims. Stephanie Pope, left, sat next to the chair of her mother, Brenda Faye Daniels. PAGE A14 House Bill Aids Oil Research A little-noted provision in a House energy bill would bypass Congress's normal spending process to funnel $2 billion over 10 years into research for recovering oil and gas from the Gulf of Mexico. PAGE A20 Enough Protests, China Says China's foreign minister called for an end to anti-Japanese protests, the first direct call by a top official to wind down the urban demonstrations. PAGE A4 Emission Laws for City Fleet New York City is set to impose strict environmental standards on cars and vans it buys, and to modify its diesel trucks and buses with high-efficiency filters. PAGE B1 New Look for Food Pyramid The federal government released a new food pyramid in what it called a customized, interactive program to offer instant nutrition advice to Americans. PAGE A23