October 27, 2005

CBS replaces Andrew Heyward as president of its news division with Sean McManus, its top sports executive; McManus, who is credited with reviving network's sports division, will continue to head that department as well; changes are announced by Leslie Moonves, chairman of CBS, who has openly complained about Heyward's lack of progress in pursuing goal set by Moonves to change single-anchor format of CBS Evening News; during Heyward's decade as news president, network collected numerous awards, but end of his tenure has been characterized by much internal turmoil and uncertainty; photos (M)

THE eucalyptus leaves manage to droop impressively on a rainy October afternoon, but they aren't Spanish moss. This manicured, affluent Southern California town, with its sea-scrubbed air, seems more than a continent away from the humid, venerable, devastated streets of New Orleans. Yet this is where the novelist Anne Rice, one of that city's best-known daughters, now lives, perched in a 12-year-old, 12,000-square-foot Tuscan-style villa halfway up a hill from the beach. Ms. Rice, 64, bought the house for $8 million and moved here six months before Hurricane Katrina struck her hometown. A relative was in the process of relocating 300 paintings by the author's late husband, Stan Rice, to a gallery in Dallas when the storm hit. The paintings were undamaged, and Ms. Rice considers this significant. ''The very suddenness with which I jumped up and said, 'I have to go to California,' was very spooky,'' she said, sitting on the sofa under the two-story coffered ceiling of her living room. ''It was as if he'' -- her husband -- ''were telling me, 'You have some things you have to do, and it's best you leave here now.'''

Jury finds Port Authority of New YorK and New Jersey negligent in safeguarding World Trade Center before first terror attack on twin towers, 1993 bombing that killed six people and injured 1,000; finds 'substantial factor' was agency's failure to heed warnings that underground garage was vulnerable to terrorist attack and should be closed to public parking; in attack, on Feb 26, 1993, Islamic terrorists detonated van packed with explosives in basement garage below trade center; victims of attack never received outpouring of public support or government compensation that went to those of much more devastating 9/11 attacks; more than 400 plaintiffs, including injured, victims' families and businesses, have lawsuits pending against Port Authority; negligence verdict clears way for them to press forward with claims for lost wages, damage to businesses, pain and suffering; plaintiffs' lawyers say they seek total of $1.8 billion; Port Authority lawyers say they will appeal; timeline; photos (L)

He has ferreted out what he celebrates as New York's three best cuff-link stores, its two most reliable bookbinders and its finest selection of exotic Malaysian spices. Of all the things that are good and can be bought in New York City, Gerry Frank tracks them down, then writes them down. But the author of one of New York City's premier guidebooks happens to have been chairman of the Oregon Tourism Commission for four years. He is currently a proud resident of Salem, the capital of Oregon. And for 46 years, he has judged the chocolate cake contest at the Oregon State Fair.

David Pogue column on Olive Symphony, $900 hi-fi digital jukebox for the home; photo (M)