La Scala president and artistic director Stephane Lissner bans tenor Roberto Alagna from rest of run of Aida for stalking off stage in response to heckling from audience; Alagna is threatening to sue La Scala for his fees, which are around $13,000 per performance; photos (M)

After La Scala Boos, a Tenor Boos Back

United Airlines and Continental Airlines have been holding talks on a potential merger, people involved in the negotiations said.

Continental and United in Deal Talks

Saudi Arabia’s warning reflects fears among America’s Sunni Arab allies about Iran’s rising influence in Iraq.

Saudis Say They Might Back Sunnis if U.S. Leaves Iraq

Saudi Arabia reportedly tells Bush administration it might provide financial backing to Iraqi Sunnis in war against Shiites if US pulls out troops; King Abdullah conveyed grim message during Vice Pres Cheney's visit; reportedly also opposed US-Iran talks and pushed for resumption of Israeli-Palestinian talks; warning reflects fears about Shiite Iran's rising influence; Saudis fear massacre of Sunnis, although they are also wary of supporting Sunni insurgents led by Al Qaeda extremists; Amb Prince Turki al-Faisal, who has told staff he is leaving Washington, dismissed consultant Nawaf Obaid over Washington Post article predicting that US pullout would bring 'massive Saudi intervention' and oil production increase to lower prices and destroy Iranian economy; that apparently represents Saudi government view; disarray reportedly over Turki resignation (M)

In 2008, congestion charges will cost about $8 billion, or $40 a person living east of the Rockies except Texas.

Grid Limitations Increase Prices for Electricity

United Airlines and Continental Airlines have been holding talks on potential merger, combination that would create biggest domestic airline, with combined value of $9 billion; talks, apparently initiated by United, recently picked up pace after US Airways' bid in November to buy Delta Air Lines; any effort by two to merge would be complicated by agreement Continental has with Northwest Airlines; agreement could allow Northwest to block certain merger transactions involving Continental, but could allow Continental more freedom to enter combination if it were acquiring party and if approval of its shareholders were not required; Northwest would lose its blocking power over Continental if it entered into merger; AirTran Holdings is expected to make offer for Midwest Air for about $200 million in cash and AirTran stock (M)

NHL goalies, who were once team's most eccentric and colorful characters, are now tame and even mild-mannered; photos (M)

Goalies Gone Normal: A Little South of Sanity

Madison Square Garden chairman James L Dolan says he has faith in New York Knicks coach Isiah Thomas, despite team's 8-15 record and struggle at gate; photo (M)

Dolan Says He’s Sticking With Thomas for Season

Atlanta rapper Young Jeezy has released new album; found success with debut album, that topped charts and hopes second album does same; photo (M)

Streetwise Yet Savvy, and Trying to Stay True

Pierre-Laurent Aimard’s piano recital on Monday at Zankel Hall was a carefully planned, illuminating program that included the surprise premiere of “Caténaires,” a new work by Elliott Carter.

Night of Études: Debussy, Chopin and (Surprise!) Elliott Carter

Officials in Hoboken, NJ, have pieced together unusual plan to keep failing St Mary Hospital, city's only hospital and New Jersey's oldest, afloat financially; supporters, including Assemblywoman Joan M Quigley and Gov Jon S Corzine, say city takeover is financially prudent but plan's detractors worry that venture is expensive gamble that could threaten city's fiscal viability; some specific concerns of residents discussed, including issues related to proposal that venture be headed by Harvey A Holzberg, former board chairman of University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, which is currently under federal supervision for Medicaid fraud; photo (M)

Rescue Plan for Hospital in Hoboken

Explosion of hedge fund wealth creates new financial pecking order in world of art collecting and philanthropy, epitomized by David K Ganek, who raised $4 million for Guggenheim museum in his public debut on New York arts scene; other institutions are also luring hedge fund executives as they spread their wings in New York society; photo (M)

Most Wanted on Museum Boards: Hedge Fund Managers

Patti Solis Doyle keeps Hillary Rodham Clinton’s national political strategy running from behind the scenes.

Adviser to Senator Clinton Stays in Shadows

For bakers everywhere, especially during the season of fruitcake and gingerbread, the distinct spicy, earthy flavor of unrefined cane — the taste of cane syrup, brown sugar and molasses — is irreplaceable.

The Old-Fashioned Secret of Holiday Treats? Sugar Cane.

Two weeks of sophisticated testing has left Taco Bell restaurant chain officials and federal investigators with no definitive identification of source of E. coli contamination that sickened 466 people, vast majority in New York State; state and federal investigators now say they will continue to test samples but that cause of outbreak may never be known with certainty (M)

With Onions No Longer the Top Suspect, the Search for E. Coli Resumes

The Chandler family has begun talks with private equity firms about a joint bid for part of the Tribune Company.

Family With Big Stake Seeks Part of Tribune

Boston Red Sox and Japanese pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka work to reach contract agreement (M)

Matsuzaka Talks With Sox Going Down to Wire

Almost a week after saying it had zeroed in on the probable cause of the outbreak, investigators say that they may never learn the cause with certainty.

Officials suggested that the president’s advisers were locked in internal debates on several fronts about how to proceed in Iraq.

White House to Delay Shift on Iraq Until ’07

Lou Reed will perform “Berlin,” his Brechtian song cycle from 1973, for the first time at St. Ann’s Warehouse in Brooklyn for four nights beginning on Thursday.

Revisiting a Bleak Album to Plumb Its Dark Riches

Peter Applebome Our Towns column on famous 1897 editorial by New York Sun writer Francis Pharcellus Church assuring young Virginia O'Hanlon that Santa Claus does indeed exist; discussion of recent North Chatham, NY, Historical Society tribute to Virginia (M)

Tell Virginia the Skeptics Are Still Wrong

Article in series Power Play explains how electricity prices are increasing because nation's network of transmission lines has not been maintained and expanded enough to meet growing demand; insufficient capacity forces utilities with efficient generating stations to buy from costlier plants; problem already affects about 40 million people in Northeast and 18 million in Southern California and will also bring higher prices to New England, San Francisco area and Seattle-Portland and Phoenix-Tucson corridors; example is Chambersburg, Pa, where rates have soared 31 percent this year; Energy Department estimates congestion charges add $8 billion to costs in Eastern grid, almost $90 per person in New York area last year; congestion frustrates those who supported deregulation; Energy Policy Act of 2005 bars localities from blocking new transmission lines, but protests have erupted where they are planned; photos; maps (M)

A design for the Rutgers University campus in New Brunswick, N.J., by Enrique Norten, can unfold as the money is raised.

Mexican Architect Looks at Historic Rutgers With a Modern Eye

Harvey Araton Sports of The Times column discusses Allen Iverson's anticipated move from Philadelphia 76ers to another team; photos (M)

The Synthetic Jordan Era Has Lost Its Air

Quarterly profits soared 93 percent, and the bank is paying $16.5 billion in compensation this year, roughly $623,418 per employee.

Visions of Bonus Heaven in Goldman Sachs Profit

Lamar Hunt Sr. was an American businessman most notable for his promotion of football, soccer, and tennis in the United States. With his brothers, he also attempted to corner the silver market.

December 13, 2006

Headlines from December 13, 2006

After La Scala Boos, a Tenor Boos Back

Continental and United in Deal Talks

Saudis Say They Might Back Sunnis if U.S. Leaves Iraq

Saudis Say They Might Back Sunnis if U.S. Leaves Iraq

Grid Limitations Increase Prices for Electricity

Billboard 200

Light Grenades

Hannah Montana

Daughtry

NOW 23

Love

Notable Deaths

Historical Context for December 13, 2006