December 29, 2006

Gregory Maher fights Greenwich, Conn, over its decision to transfer his eight-year-old coffee concession at Metro-North station to Adam Fairbanks, who is blind; Greenwich cites federal and state laws giving preference to blind regarding opertion of concessions on government property; Fairbanks participated in state-run training program; Maher concession operates on month-to-month lease; photo (M)

Under new rules, more than a dozen local and state governments will have to provide a more realistic estimate of how much they owe retirees over time.

American and Iraqi officials suggest that Saddam Hussein could be hanged within days rather than weeks; Iraq's Constitution requires that Iraqi president and two deputies sign all execution orders, but government official familiar with process says little objection would be raised if execution takes place almost immediately; national security adviser Mowaffak al-Rubaie says there would be no advance notice of execution because of fears that any announcement could set off violence; says news media will not be invited to attend hanging; says execution would be videotaped but he doubts that tape would be released; American officials are referring all formal queries on matter to government of Iraq (M)

"Pan's Labyrinth" is a political fable in the guise of a fairy tale. Or maybe it's the other way around.

A trip to Kentucky became a catalyst for investigations into the business activities of the majority leader of the New York State Senate.