In The News Today: June 30, 1999

Global News: NATO: Europe Needs US Help in Crises - U.S. military dominance in Kosovo shows NATO is a two-tier alliance with comparatively feeble European forces relying on Americans to fight their battles, the chairman of NATO's military committee said Wednesday; Anti-Mine Laureate Visits Kosovo- Jody Williams saw sights on Wednesday that she won the Nobel Peace Prize for trying to erase: vacant-eyed patients whose legs were blown off by land mines; Useless Drugs Sent to Kosovo- Refugee camps in Albania are being flooded by useless drugs and medical supplies, the U.N. health agency said Wednesday; Ethnic Albanians Rebuild in Kosovo- At the just-reopened Renaissance Restaurant, a charred bicycle plucked from the surrounding ruins is set into a bed of shocking pink petunias, a makeshift sculpture depicting the Kosovar spirit; Details

Domestic News: Boy Scout Finds Missing Girls Alive- Two girls who got lost on a trip near a Sierra Nevada lake were found safe after spending the night in the rugged wilderness; Man Convicted in Deadly Fire- A man upset that his wife would not agree to a divorce was convicted Wednesday of first degree murder for setting a fire that killed her and his six children; Amish Men Sentenced for Drug Roles- Two Amish men received a year in prison Wednesday for buying cocaine from bikers and selling it among youth groups in their strict religious community; N.Y. Prosecutor Faces Murder Charge- An assistant district attorney was charged Wednesday with murder for allegedly running down a roller skater, then driving a half-mile with the body on the hood of his car; Kirkpatrick Ticketed Over Dog- Former United Nations ambassador Jeane M. Kirkpatrick was ticketed for allegedly locking her poodle in her car with all the windows rolled up; Honduran To Remain in NYC for Now- The 13-year-old Honduran boy who fooled New Yorkers with his tale of journeying thousands of miles to find a dad he'd never met will remain here until authorities figure out what to do with him; 2 Killed in Tenn. Oil Tank Explosion- A crude-oil storage tank exploded Wednesday, killing two workers and critically injuring a third; Low IQ Leads To Death Row Reversal- A three-time killer with an IQ of 65 was taken off Nebraska's death row Wednesday, saved by a law that bans executions of the mentally retarded; Designer Makes Over Hospital Gowns- Finally - someone has beefed up the skimpy hospital gown; Baby Sitter Accused of Murder- A 22-year-old baby sitter was accused of murdering a 3-year-old child in her care by making her swelter in a room with windows closed and the heat on; Details

Science News: Obese and skinny mothers contribute to adult disease- Pregnant mothers who eat right and stay healthy can reduce the risk of their children developing heart disease, stroke and diabetes in later life; Depression study says psychotherapy good as drugs- Psychotherapy could be just as effective at controlling severe depression as antidepressant drugs like Prozac, a new study released on Tuesday suggests;Lighthouse Moving Away from Ocean- The nation's tallest lighthouse has covered half of its 2,900-foot journey away from the Atlantic surf in under two weeks; New Trial in Pa. Radiation Lawsuit- When cancer victims and their families won $36.5 million in a trial against uranium plant operators, their lawyers called it the biggest verdict involving radiation exposure in the country; Man Kills Wife After Stroke- A 78-year-old man has been charged with suffocating his wife of 54 years in a nursing home because he "couldn't stand looking at her'' after her second stroke, police said; Details

Business News: Shaw's Supermarkets Introduces Online Coupons and Shopping withU-pons(TM) Internet Coupons' and 'U-porium(TM) Internet Mall'- Shaw's Supermarkets, Inc. (www.shaws.com), one of New England's leading supermarket retailers with 127 stores in six states, has partnered with planet U (www.planetu.com) to introduce U-pons(TM) Internet Coupons and the U-porium(TM) Internet Mall to its shoppers. Shaw's is the first supermarket chain in New England to offer this convenient service to its shoppers; toysrus.com Announces E-Commerce Developments; Selects Leo Burnett and Starcom as Agencies of Record- toysrus.com today announced its decision to hire the Leo Burnett Company and Starcom, the independent media services arm of the Chicago-based advertising agency, as its Agencies of Record; Millionaire.com Announces Major Auction July 9th 11th- Millionaire.com (Nasdaq: MLRE) announced today that more than 1,000 company owned items will be auctioned this weekend at its Global Auction Emporium, located on Hwy 278, the main artery leading into Hilton Head, SC. An after hours party and preview will be held for the Chamber of Commerce, July 8th, followed by a preview party on July 9th where a select group of items will be auctioned to the highest bidder; Details

Internet News: Internet Firm Tackles Credit Card Fears- On-line shoppers worried about sending their credit card details over the Internet will be able to charge web purchases to their telephone bill instead if software from a Hong Kong company takes off; yesmail.com Gives Consumers a New Set of Free Email Shopping Tools CalledMy.YesMail- yesmail.com announced today the introduction of My.YesMail, a new set of shopping tools designed to help consumers select and control the kinds of offers and information they prefer to receive through email. My.YesMail, now available at www.yesmail.com, supports the company's overall goal to become the trusted consumer permission email brand in the marketplace; UICI Says Internet Posting Misleading- UICI (NYSE: UCI) employees, agents, stockholders, banks, financial sources and vendors have inquired concerning a "press release" recently distributed by a Richard Schappel over the internet with regard to certain allegations and claims made against UICI and its officers and directors; Details

June 29, 1999

Global News: U.S. offers to send 450 police to Kosovo - On the eve of a U.N.-led meeting to launch the rebuilding of Kosovo, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said on Tuesday the United States would contribute 450 civilian police to the effort and work to ``make that happen quickly; U.N., NATO Work Together in Kosovo- The top civilian and military officials in Kosovo are veterans of Bosnia who are again trying to rebuild a ravaged country and cope with ethnic hatred, revenge killings, and shattered lives. By any measure, it's a daunting task; Protesters Demand Milosevic Resign- Serb discontent with President Slobodan Milosevic and his regime boiled over into a sprawling opposition rally Tuesday, as 10,000 chanting protesters demanded a new government for Yugoslavia; 2,000 Attend KLA Officer's Funeral- Dozens of armed Kosovo Liberation Army fighters in full combat gear led about 2,000 mourners through this Kosovo village Tuesday to bury a slain rebel commander; Gypsies Under Attack in Kosovo- Ethnic Albanians seeking revenge for atrocities committed against them in Kosovo aren't just targeting Serbs. They are attacking the province's Gypsies, accusing them of helping Serbs loot homes and dispose of bodies from mass killings; Details

Domestic News: Small Earthquake Hits Los Angeles- A small earthquake hit the downtown and surrounding areas early Tuesday, swaying high-rises and startling residents. No damage or injuries were reported; Planes Nearly Collide at NY Airport- A jet that was taking off with 185 passengers came within 200 feet of an arriving cargo plane that took an improper turn onto the runway, authorities said Tuesday; Missouri Court Defines Oral Sex- A strip club where two dancers performed simulated oral sex with dollar bills violated state liquor regulations barring lewd acts, Missouri's Supreme Court ruled Tuesday; Man Killed by Ostrich at Farm- The owner of an exotic animal farm says she will not get rid of an ostrich just because it killed her father; New York Bans Wild Animal Ownership- Tasmanian devils, elephants, crocodiles and polar bears have been officially banned as pets in New York City; Man Convicted of Killing Parents- A jury recommended the death penalty on Tuesday for a man who killed his parents, then spent their money as the bodies decomposed in the family garage; Polygamist Jailed for Hitting Kid- A man accused of whipping his 16-year-old daughter for fleeing an arranged, polygamous marriage to her uncle was sentenced to seven months in jail Tuesday for child abuse; Details

Science News: Tests For Babies in Embryo Mix-Up- A judge has ordered tests to see if two 6-month-old boys -one white and one black, and born to the same woman in a laboratory mistake - need to spend more time together even though they now live with their genetic parents; DNA Test May Uncover Lincoln Clues- For years, the blood-spattered velvet cloak that Mary Todd Lincoln is believed to have worn on the night President Lincoln was shot has mostly hung untouched; Vial of Tuberculosis Stolen- Police searched trash bins and planned to warn the homeless after a doctor's bag containing a vial of tuberculosis was stolen from a researcher attending a medical conference; Arthritis drug may help heart failure -study - A drug approved for treating rheumatoid arthritis may also work against congestive heart failure, researchers said on Tuesday; Studies find tiny gene changes that make us sick- Researchers said on Monday they had identified changes in nearly 200 genes involved in heart disease, diabetes and schizophrenia and said their findings are an important step in discovering how genes make people susceptible to disease; Gene Therapy Gives Dogs a New Bone- Sponge-like devices that helped repair broken bones in dogs by inserting bone-building genes may one day benefit the thousands of elderly people who suffer fractures every year; Details

Business News: OLM Adds Online Credit Card Services to its Comprehensive Collection of E-commerce Tools and Web-Hosting Services-OLM's Complete Line of Online Resources Enable Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses to Maximize Internet Revenue Opportunities; Company Broadens Reach in U.S. Market; Announces Key Customer Wins: Harvard Management Company and Key Bank - In an effort to assist companies in addressing the software complexity crisis, CAST U.S. today announced the availability of a starter kit version of its revolutionary CAST Workbench software, designed to help IT professionals manage the evolution of their business-critical applications and effectively extend the life-cycle of those applications; Details

Internet News: E-Commerce Pioneer Makes Wall Street Debut;World Shopping Network, Inc. Merges with USA Growth Inc..- One of the first E-Commerce sites on the Internet joins forces with a Company established specifically to pursue aggressive growth opportunities unfolding in E-Tailing (selling over the Internet). World Shopping Network, Inc. (WSN) of Santa Ana, CA and USA Growth, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: USAG) of New York, NY announce the merger of their operations via reverse merger; Xlibris Continues to Help Writers Self-Publish with Ease;The Digital Publishing Revolution Comes to Philadelphia- Xlibris Corporation carries its vision, of a world where all writers will publish, from Princeton to the "Birthplace of America." The company's new headquarters is now located just a few blocks from where the Declaration of Independence was signed, an appropriate backdrop for Xlibris' revolutionary approach to the act of self- publishing; Onsale Shares Rise on Speculation of Offer From Amazon.com- Shares of Onsale Inc., which sells computer equipment and other goods online, rose as much as 41 percent on speculation it may be bought by Amazon.com Inc., the largest Internet retailer; Details

June 28, 1999

Global News: Kosovo Graves To Be Exhumed- Those who survived the late March slaughter on the banks of the Belas River that cuts through fields in western Kosovo say the river ran red for two hours after the Serb police left; Ethnic Albanians Reopen Hotel Bar- The media circus in Kosovo turned into a theater of the absurd when Albanian-born Americans allied with the Kosovo Liberation Army occupied the bar of the capital's main hotel and began serving drinks; Serb Orthodox Patriarch Holds Mass- Serbia's Orthodox patriarch held an incense-scented Mass in troubled Kosovo today, saying he was reclaiming for his church the emotionally volatile anniversary of a battle defeat that has been hijacked by nationalist Serb politicians; Traumatised Kosovans to get medical charity's help- "There was a Serb guy who was just killing and killing, 15 people that I know of. He raped some of my friends,'' Aida, 24, said in one of the busy bars reopened since an uneasy peace came to Kosovo; U.N. Begins Organized Refugee Return- After two weeks of watching ethnic Albanian refugees flood home on their own, the United Nations began organized convoys today, while Serbs observed the 610th anniversary of their loss of Kosovo to the Ottoman empire - the defeat that defines Serbia's claim to the province; Details

Domestic News: Man Says He Fathered Baby To Kill It - Ronald L. Shanabarger planned his revenge against his wife for several years: He wanted to father their son and then kill him, police said; Salmonella Found in Orange Juice- Salmonella has been detected in unopened containers of a brand of Arizona orange juice, a possible link in the sickening of least 19 people in three states; Crude Oil Spill in Puget Sound- A tanker unloading oil at the Tosco refinery became untethered, spilling as much as 1,050 gallons of crude oil into north Puget Sound; 1 Dead, Dozens Hurt in 2 Bus Crashes- Two unrelated tour bus crashes in Southern California - one in Buena Park and the other near the Mojave Desert - left one person dead and several other people injured; Freak Accident Kills 5-Year-Old Boy- Flower stems were woven through a chain-link backstop, balloons swayed on a warm breeze and bouquets lay scattered on the dusty infield of a tiny suburban baseball diamond; Hobos Resent Serial-Killer Image- They were transients riding the rails across America - hobos who gave each other colorful names like Frypan Jack and Slow Motion Shorty; Details

Science News: Sea Life Said Threatened by Noise - The deep is far from silent these days. And in some undersea places, it's too downright noisy, an environmental group warns; Study: Little Value in Kids' TV- The television industry is providing more shows for young people, but the educational value of some of the programs are questionable, a research group reported today; U.S. to curb use of restraints in mental patients- U.S. health officials announced Friday that they will restrict the use of restraints such as straitjackets and sedatives on mental patients after they were linked to more than 140 deaths in the past 10 years; Details

Business News: Spending Outpaces Rise in Personal Income, Again - Americans' personal income rose again in May but their spending climbed much faster, contributing to another all-time low in the nation's savings rate; Smokers' Landmark Suit Goes to Jury- The tiny law firm that challenged the finest legal talent the tobacco industry could buy has completed its work. Now its time for a jury to find out who is to blame for thousands of sick Florida smokers; France's Suez Buys Nalco Chemical for $4.1B-Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux on Monday opened a second front in the French invasion of the U.S. water treatment sector, agreeing to pay $4.1 billion for Nalco Chemical Co; Details

Internet News: One-Third of UK Companies Not Prepared for Year 2000 Change- A third of the top 1,000 U.K. companies are unlikely to have their computers ready for the year 2000 date change, according to Taskforce 2000, a government- funded U.K. watchdog and London law firm Dibb Lupton Alsop; Intel Sues Taiwan's Via, Alleges Theft of Chip Technologies- Intel Corp. filed suit against Taipei-based Via Technologies Inc. in U.S. courts, saying Via stole computer chipset patents and technologies while it was licensed as a contractor by Intel; Price Isn't Everything in Phone Industry Bidding War- When the board of the Frontier Corp. meets Monday, as expected, to discuss the unsolicited bid made by Qwest Communications International Inc., the debate will be far from elementary; AOL Europe to offer free UK Internet access -paper - AOL Europe, a venture of America Online Inc <AOL.N> and German media group Bertelsmann AG <BTGGga.F>, will launch a free Internet access service in Britain in August, the Times newspaper reported on Monday; Details

June 27, 1999

Global News: Tales of revenge echo in Kosovo Serb seminary- Maria Filipovic, 59, is alone in the world, her husband Panta stabbed to death by ethnic Albanians avenging Serb terror in Kosovo, her son Zarko taken off by the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA); Two killed in Kosovo capital shooting - Two people were shot dead overnight in the Kosovo capital Pristina and at least one of them had links to an international organisation that operated in the Serbian province, officials said on Sunday; Kosovars Mourn Death of Agani- Standing by the side of the road, Skendar Krasniqi's voice shakes with anger as he points to the grassy ditch where Kosovo Albanians believe Serb police dumped the body of one of their most respected leaders; Serbs Claim Attacks by Albanians- Stripping homes down to the plaster, ethnic Albanians burned and looted a Serb village Sunday where a mentally ill Serb woman allegedly was raped and stabbed to death by armed Albanian men in uniform; Marines Hope To Stem Any Trouble- Medics, boxes of food aid and an officer blowing soap-bubbles for children were only part of what U.S. Marines brought to this central Kosovo village. They also brought sharp eyes and ears, aimed at detecting trouble before it happens; Details

Domestic News: Quakes May Endanger Calif. Schools- At least 1,000 public school buildings in quake-prone areas of California may have structural deficiencies, and thousands more have failed to undergo seismic inspection since being built decades ago, according to a report Sunday; Khrushchev's Son a New U.S. Citizen - Sergei Khrushchev is home. Home, for the favorite son of the late Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev, is a clapboard ranch house in the Providence 'burbs - a two-bedroom model surrounded by look-alike houses, driveways full of Buicks and Dodges and finely Lawn-Boy'd grass; Oswald Files May Have Nothing New- The U.S. government has known since the 1960s nearly everything the KGB knew about Lee Harvey Oswald's time in the Soviet Union, and Soviet files recently turned over to the United States are unlikely to contain any surprises, according to a former KGB colonel; Four Found Dead in Kentucky- Four people, including a police officer, were found dead Sunday, and a neighbor was charged in the slayings, Kentucky State Police said; Details

Science News: Officials Warn of Blood Shortage- Americans take for granted they'll get a blood transfusion whenever they need one, but soon that may not be the case: Blood donations are dropping so low that serious, nationwide shortages could hit as early as next year; Cardio Kickboxing Has Risks- Beginning cardio kickboxers may discover that the martial arts exercises fight back; U.S. to curb use of restraints in mental patients- U.S. health officials announced Friday that they will restrict the use of restraints such as straitjackets and sedatives on mental patients after they were linked to more than 140 deaths in the past 10 years; Details

Business News: Walgreen Posts Record Earnings, Plans Online Pharmacy- Leading drugstore chain Walgreen Co. reported higher third quarter earnings Monday and said it will launch a full-service Internet pharmacy this fall to complement its 2,700 stores nationwide; Wall Street Ready For Higher Interest Rates- Ever forward looking, Wall Street has already cast its sights past a Federal Reserve interest rate increase so widely expected this week it is considered old news. The question is: What comes next?; Disney To Revamp Home Video Unit- The Walt Disney Co said on Sunday it would revamp its underperforming home video and digital videodisc unit under the new direction of Richard Cook, head of the Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group; Details

Internet News: Try this non-wash, no-iron cyberfuture for size- Please step forward into the future for a moment ... an android shop assistant is asking why you want blue trousers when its database says you prefer grey; Cyberdoctors Prescribe Drugs Over Internet, NY Times Says- The Internet has spawned an electronic drug market in which doctors write prescriptions for patients they don't meet and pharmacies ship pills across state lines without the proper licenses, the New York Times reported; Experts See No Microsoft Antitrust Settlement Soon- After months of trial that exposed Microsoft Corp.'s bullying business practices and cast doubt on the credibility of chairman Bill Gates, the government is unlikely to settle the case unless the software giant makes major concessions, experts say; Details

June 26, 1999

Global News: Clinton to Serbs: Rethink Milosevic- President Clinton suggests the Yugoslav people rethink whether they want Slobodan Milosevic to remain in power in view of atrocities in Kosovo, but he insists a $5 million reward for the arrest of the Serb leader and associates on war-crimes charges is not an invitation to assassination; No cooperation with current Yugoslav gov't: KLA- By: Hitoshi Oikawa Hashim Thaqi, head of the Kosovo Liberation Army's (KLA) political bureau, says he has no intention to cooperate with the current Yugoslav administration in establishing an autonomous government in the Serbian province; Havel Wants To Go to Kosovo- Several members of the Cabinet have tried to discourage President Vaclav Havel from visiting Kosovo on Sunday, Czech media reported; Serb Murder Suspect Arrested- British soldiers have arrested a member of the Serbian Interior Ministry police suspected of involvement in 56 murders in Kosovo, a British forces spokesman said Saturday; Army Reserves Head for the Balkans- The first Army Reserve unit called up for postwar service in Kosovo is heading for the Balkans, even as Air Force Reserve forces that fought in NATO's 11-week air battle come home; NATO German soldiers bring order to Kosovo city- Screams of a Kosovo Albanian caught by German troops trying to steal a car echo through the corridors of a dingy prison where Serb police once interrogated his ethnic kin; Albanians Move In As Serbs Move Out- Saturday was moving day for returning ethnic Albanian refugees like Hajrie Bucolli, who was laying claim to an abandoned Serb apartment after a helpful stranger kicked in the door for her; Death Touches Most Kosovo Families- Kosovo is a land where the voices of the dead speak as loudly as those of the living - perhaps even louder; Villagers Claim Serbs Moved Bodies- In a land littered with mass graves, this Kosovo village is an exception; Serb Suspected in Deaths Arrested- British soldiers have arrested a member of the Serbian Interior Ministry police suspected of involvement in as many as 56 deaths in Kosovo, a British forces spokesman said Saturday; Details

Domestic News: Century's Growth Leaves Earth Noisy- Lester Brown, global watchdog, can cite enough looming catastrophes to spoil anyone's day: Water tables are falling, temperatures are rising, rain forests are shrinking; 10-Year-Old Charged in Rape A 10-year-old boy has been charged with raping a 5-year-old boy while the two were playing videogames; Harvard Offers Course on Animal Law- Harvard Law School is going to the dogs. For the first time, the school will offer a course on what some consider an emerging field: animal rights law; Man Convicted of Giving Girl AIDS- A man accused of having sex with a 13-year-old girl and giving her the virus that causes AIDS was convicted of felonious assault; Ariz. Girl Found Dead in Prayer Room- Investigators say a note written in blood praying for "compassion, love and kindness'' was found near the body of an 8-year-old girl beaten to death with a belt; FBI Proposing Spy Hunting Division- The Federal Bureau of Investigation is proposing to create a division devoted solely to hunting spies, part of a government-wide review of counterintelligence, The New York Times reported today; Sleepwalk Slay Husband Found Guilty- Scott Falater didn't deny stabbing his wife 44 times, hiding the knife and bloody clothes, dragging her to their swimming pool and then holding her head underwater; Details

Science News: New Transplant Policy Favors Sickly- People across the country whose livers suddenly fail and are given less than a week to live will have a much better shot at getting a liver transplant under a new policy; Changes in Puberty Lessons Urged- The National Association of School Nurses recommends that girls who mature early should be taught about puberty and menstruation in the fourth grade - a year earlier than the current practice; AMA Recommends Yearly Mammograms- One side recommends yearly breast cancer screenings for women over 40. The other side says tests can come as much as two years apart. In the middle are the people most affected: patients, and insurers who must pay for the procedures; Study Sheds New Light on Insomnia - The brain clock that regulates sleep works as accurately for the old as for the young, suggesting that many theories about insomnia among the aged are flawed, according to a study published today; Parents Seek Out Disease Research- How much does it cost to find a cure for a disease? That's what Patricia Furlong wanted to know. Her two young sons were dying of a rare disease that kills boys, usually before age 20. Her doctors, even the National Institutes of Health, said there was nothing to help; Scots study shows no health benefits from alcohol- Drinking moderate amounts of alcohol may not be good for your health and large quantities can increase the risk of stroke, researchers said Friday; Details

Business News: Report: UPS To Acquire Closely Held Challenge Air - United Parcel Service of America Inc. has agreed to purchase closely held Challenge Air Cargo Inc., one of the region's largest all-cargo airlines, for an undisclosed amount, the Wall Street Journal reported; Experts See No Microsoft Antitrust Settlement Soon- After months of trial that exposed Microsoft Corp.'s bullying business practices and cast doubt on the credibility of chairman Bill Gates, the government is unlikely to settle the case unless the software giant makes major concessions, experts say; Gas Prices Jump by a Half-Cent- Gasoline prices were up about a half-cent in the past two weeks, buoyed by more expensive crude oil and gas additives, an industry analyst said; Details

Internet News: AOL Europe to Start Free-Service in UK, Germany, Report Says- AOL Europe, a venture between the world's No. 1 online service America Online Inc. and the world's third-largest media company Bertelsmann AG, is planning to introduce an Internet service called Netscape Online free of subscription charges; New Microsoft Technology Supports Woodstockcom Concert Webcast- Microsoft Corp.'s new pay- per-view software, Windows Media 4.0, helped Woodstock.com, an Internet music start-up, cut down on freeloaders tonight when it broadcast a Sarah McLachlan concert on a pay-per-view basis; Y2K May Drive Investors to US Bonds: Rates of Return- The Year 2000 computer glitch could be a boon for Treasury securities. U.S. government debt may lure investors looking for a safe place to park their money before year end in the event computers overseas read the year 2000 as 1900 and shut down, hurting financial markets and economies; Details

June 25, 1999

Global News: Israel Bombs Lebanon, Killing Nine- Hezbollah Rocket Attacks on Northern Israel Trigger Israeli Airstrikes Against Lebanon, Killing Nine and Injuring 57; Russian Lawmakers OK Troops- Russian Lawmakers Approve Deploying 3,600 Peacekeeping Troops in Kosovo; Ethnic Albanians Torch Serb Homes- Ethnic Albanians Reportedly Torch Serb Houses in Kosovo As Washington Offers $5 Million Reward for Help in Convicting Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic; Food Shop Broken Into In Kosovo Capital- NATO peacekeepers arrested five people after a food shop run by a Serbian woman was broken into in the Kosovo capital Pristina Thursday night, but calm was restored Friday and NATO forces were on patrol; Serbs See No Takers For U.S. Milosevic Reward- The few Belgraders who had heard of it ridiculed Friday the $5 million U.S. bounty on the head of President Slobodan Milosevic and other alleged Yugoslav war criminals, and said they saw no likely takers; Details

Domestic News: Man Bought Gun Just Before Killings- A restraining order that required a man to stay away from his family did not show up on a federal background check, allowing him to purchase a handgun that police say he used hours later to kill his three daughters; Some Pilots Said To Doze on Duty- Some Pilots for American Airlines Have Dozed Off While Flying Their Passenger Jets, USA Today Reports; Court Allows Secret Recording Suit- The California Supreme Court has ruled that news gatherers may be sued for infiltrating a workplace and secretly recording an employee; Neighborhood Fights Yuppie Invasion- In a city where neighborhoods coexist like tightly nestled countries -- each with a distinct personality and culture -- people don't sit quietly when one begins to invade another; Family Collects Cow After 311 Years- A bunch of out-of-towners who think New Rochelle owes them something forced the city to round up an innocent farm animal to honor a 311-year-old real estate deal; Welfare Reform Takes Hold in Cities- Welfare reform's new work-first message has transformed even big city bureaucracies that historically are resistant to change, according to the first report from a large-scale study; Details

Science News: NASA Launches Telescope To Seek Universe's Origin- A Delta 2 rocket carrying a NASA telescope lifted off Thursday on a three-year, $204 million mission to look for the relics of the "Big Bang" that brought the universe into being; Source of Uncommon Parasite Sought- Federal health officials are trying to determine how guests at a May convention were stricken by an intestinal parasite uncommon in the United States; U.S. Sees Upsurge In Rodent-Borne Illness- U.S. cases of an often-fatal respiratory illness first recognized in 1993 rose sharply this year because weather conditions allowed the mice that most often spread the disease to flourish, health officials said Thursday;High-Class Chinese Sperm Bank Proves Controversial- A Chinese sperm bank that accepts only donors with at least a master's degree-level education is sparking opposition from academics who call the bank unethical, state media reported;Details

Business News: Study: Films Made Abroad Hurt U.S.- When the producers of "Urban Legend'' wanted to film their story of horror in a New England town, they went to Canada. The movie "Down in the Delta'' was shot far from its roots, too: Canada stood in for Chicago and Mississippi; Proposed Merger of 3 Unions Delayed- The big merger of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers with the United Auto Workers and United Steelworkers of America won't happen anytime soon; Tobacco Cos. Claim Safer Cigarettes- Tobacco companies have worked for years to make their products safe by lowering tar and nicotine, an industry lawyer said Thursday during closing arguments in the first class-action lawsuit by smokers to reach trial; Details

Internet News: Microsoft Trial Testimony Ends- Testimony in Mircosoft Antitrust Trial Ends After More Than 20 Weeks in the Courtroom; Report: Compuware Founder Sued- Two women who worked at Compuware Corp., including a former human relations executive, have claimed that founder Peter Karmanos Jr. sexually harassed them, according to a published report; Cam Projects JFK Assassination View- The view from the sixth-floor warehouse window where Lee Harvey Oswald shot President Kennedy was transmitted live Thursday on the Internet to the chagrin of Kennedy's survivors; RealNetworks Software To Be Added To Cable Boxes- RealNetworks Inc. announced a deal Thursday to distribute its RealPlayer G2 multimedia software in Liberate Technologies television set-top boxes, company executives said; Details

June 24, 1999

Global News: U.S. Offers $5M Reward for Justice- State Department Offers $5 Million Reward for Information Leading to Arrest and Conviction of Persons Wanted by International War Crimes Tribunal for Yugoslavia; NATO Commander Cheered in Kosovo- NATO Commander Gen. Wesley Clark Says Horrors Being Uncovered in Kosovo Provide Clear Justification for the Alliance's Bombing Campaign; Details

Domestic News: GOP Assembling Sweeping Tax Cut Plan- Republicans in Congress Assemble Tax Cut Plan That Would Trim Capital Gains Tax, Fix `Marriage Penalty' and Abolish Inheritance Taxes; Authorities Profile Railroad Suspect- FBI Task Force Says It Has Information of New Sightings of Suspected Railroad Serial Killer Rafael Resendez-Ramirez in El Paso, Texas; House Approves Flag Amendment- House Votes in Favor of Constitutional Amendment Banning Desecration of Flag, Arguing Nation's Symbol Can Be Protected Without Violating Basic Rights; Details

Science News: Organ Network Changes Liver Policy- United Network for Organ Sharing Changes Policy To Direct More Donated Livers to the Sickest Patients, Plans To Release Data on Survival Rates; NASA Launches Ultraviolet Telescope- NASA Launches Ultraviolet Telescope To Study What Universe Was Like Moments After Creation; U.S. Sees Upsurge In Rodent-Borne Illness- U.S. cases of an often-fatal respiratory illness first recognized in 1993 rose sharply this year because weather conditions allowed the mice that most often spread the disease to flourish, health officials said Thursday; Illinois Team Makes 3-D Images With Plain Light- Scientists said Thursday they had invented a new kind of camera that takes three-dimensional pictures using visible light; Farmworkers Face Poisoning Risks- Farmworker Isabel Rendon collapsed, dizzy and throwing up, in a strawberry field last year after pesticides drifted from a neighboring apple orchard; Attraction-Menstrual Cycle Linked- The kind of man's face a woman finds attractive varies with her menstrual cycle, according to a study that underscores the hold biology still has on us, no matter how highly evolved we like to think we are;Details

Business News: U.S. Stocks Tumble: Bond Rates Up- Stocks tumbled Thursday as Wall Street was rattled by a jump in bond interest rates to the highest levels since late 1997; CMGI, Compaq Confirms Talks On AltaVista- Internet venture firm CMGI Inc. and Compaq Computer Corp. confirmed Thursday that they are in talks for CMGI to buy a controlling stake in the AltaVista Internet search engine from the struggling computer maker; Coke Recall Cost Estimate: $60M- The world's leading bottler of Coca-Cola beverages estimates the price tag of the European soft-drink health scare is at least $60 million; Details

Internet News: FTC Cracks Down On Internet Health Scams - The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced Thursday it settled complaints against four companies that used the Internet to claim products like magnets, beef tallow and a Peruvian plant derivative could cure diseases like arthritis, cancer and AIDS; Congress Warned of Hacker Threats- Government web sites and computer networks are increasingly vulnerable to "cyber attacks'' because they lack trained personnel and don't follow security plans, federal officials warned a congressional committee today; Office Depot To Warn About Y2K- If a brand-new computer fails at the turn-of-the-century, who's to blame? The manufacturer for making a faulty product, the retailer for selling it, or the customers for buying it; Bank One Launches New Internet Bank- Bank One Corp. Thursday became the first major U.S. bank to open a separate Internet-based bank, launching WingspanBank.com as it tries to tap the Web to lure new customers; Details

June 23, 1999

Global News: Hears Harrowing Tales From Kosovo Refugees- Choking back tears, President Clinton ran a gauntlet of hugs, kisses and heartbreaking tales of horror from grateful Kosovo refugees during a visit to their tent city shelter Tuesday; Clinton Fears Anti-Serb Retaliation- President Clinton Acknowledges Concerns That Ethnic Albanians Might Seek Revenge Against Remaining Serbs in Kosovo; Kosovo Rebels Want To Keep Weapons- Kosovo Liberation Army Commander Says Rebels Never Agreed To Give Up Their Guns and Still Plan To Fight for Independent Kosovo; KLA Says Russians Fought for Serbs- Pentagon Says Russians' Role in War in Serbia Will Be Part of International War Crimes Investigation; Details

Domestic News: Strangers Unite To Save Twins- For Claudia Cox and her 22-month-old twins, a weekend vacation nearly ended in tragedy before it had even begun; Salinger Sympathizer Buys Letters- Man Who Bought J.D. Salinger's Letters to Former Girlfriend at Auction Says He Will Return Them to Salinger; Hatch Tells Supporters He'll Run- Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch Has Told Supporters He Intends To Run for the GOP Presidential Nomination, According to a Source;Supreme Court Narrows Reach Of Disability Law - The U.S. Supreme Court Tuesday significantly narrowed the reach of a 9-year-old landmark federal civil rights law protecting disabled people from employment discrimination; Suit Filed Over Fla. School Vouchers- Opponents of Florida's statewide school voucher program filed a lawsuit Tuesday, saying it is unconstitutional and will destroy public education while breaking down the wall between church and state; Details

Science News: Drug Manufacturer Settles Claim- Maker of Diet Drug Cocktail Fen-Phen Announces Settlement in Wrongful Death Suit Filed by Family of Texas Woman Who Died While Using the Drug; Can Customers Trust Organic Label?- Consumers will pay more for food they believe to be free of pesticides and grown in an a way that protects the environment. But can they trust it?; ; Details

Business News: Stocks End Lower: Dow Off 94.35- Dow Jones Industrials End 94.35 Lower at 10,721.63;Stocks, Bonds Drop: Dollar Mixed- U.S. stocks and bonds slipped Tuesday, as worries about interest-rate increases from the Federal Reserve once again gripped the market; Details

Internet News: Judge Compares Microsoft To Wal-Mart In Trial- The judge in the Microsoft antitrust trial compared the software giant to a large Wal-Mart store in a small town Tuesday and wondered if it amounted to a benevolent despot, or a "monopoly; Panel: E-commerce Levy Inevitable- Before tackling its main mission of suggesting future Internet tax policy, a congressional commission was forced to confront potential conflicts of interest that could undermine its credibility; Details

June 22, 1999

Global News: Clinton Urges Kosovars To Wait- Ethnic Albanians Urged by President Clinton Not To Rush Back to Bomb-Ravaged Kosovo Until Land Mines Are Cleared; Kosovo Rebels Want To Keep Weapons- Kosovo Liberation Army Leader Says Rebels Never Agreed To Give Up Their Guns and Still Hope To Form an Army; KLA Says Russians Fought for Serbs- Pentagon Says Russians Fought in Kosovo Alongside Serb Forces, and Their Role Will Be Part of International War Crimes Investigation; Details

Domestic News: Senate Votes To Cut U.S.-U.N. Share- Senate Approves Legislation To Cut U.S. Contributions to United Nations; U.S.: World Better Prepared for Y2K- Experts From Around the Globe Meet at United Nations To Assess Progress in Dealing With Year 2000 Computer Problems Court Limits ADA Protections- Supreme Court Limits Reach of Federal Ban on Discrimination Against Disabled; Court Aids Discrimination Victims- Supreme Court Makes It Easier for Victims of Job Discrimination To Force Employers To Pay Extra Monetary Damages As Punishment; Ex-Governor's Conviction Overturned- Federal Appeals Court Overturns Bank Fraud Convictions of Former Arizona Gov. Fife Symington; Details

Science News: Doctors Say 'Mad Cow' Disease Risk Minimal In U.S.- Americans face minimal risk of developing the human variant of the deadly "mad cow" disease because of protective regulations, researchers concluded Tuesday; Rats Brain Activity Controls Robot- Scientists have gotten rats to control a simple robot arm through the activity of their brain cells. That might be a step toward letting paralyzed people control prosthetic limb; New Non-Animal Chemical Test Backed- Good news for bunnies. A federal advisory panel has recommended the use of a new, non-animal test to determine whether chemicals will burn the skin. The test could save lots of laboratory animals from potentially painful exposure to chemicals; Study Links Lead Exposure To Cavities- Children exposed to lead in the environment appear more likely to develop cavities, according to a study published Tuesday; Food Groups Press FDA To Expand Irradiation Use- The Food and Drug Administration should move swiftly to approve irradiation to kill illness-causing germs on hot dogs, vegetables, fruits and juices, a coalition of food and public health groups said Tuesday; Details

Business News: Stocks Close Lower: Dow Down 94.35- Stocks Close Lower As Investors Worry About Interest Rates and Profits; Dow Jones Industrials Close Down 94.35 at 10,721.63; Coca-Cola Apologizes to Belgians- Coke said "sorry'' to Belgium on Tuesday but it did not admit its soft drinks made people sick. Two weeks after children first became ill after drinking its products, the Coca-Cola Co. placed full-page ads in major Belgian newspapers to apologize and acknowledged that the world's biggest soft-drink business has been slow to respond to consumer concerns about food safety; Broker Vanishes With Clients' $3B- A money manager has vanished with as much as $3 billion in clients' money, leaving behind a things-to-do list (item No. 1: "Launder money'') and astrological charts designed to answer such pressing questions as "Will I go to prison?''; Tobacco Lawyers Seek Mistrial- An attorney called cigarette makers deceitful and callous in his closing arguments in a landmark $200 billion lawsuit by smokers, leading tobacco company lawyers to demand a mistrial; Details

Internet News: Lawmaker Blasts Clinton Internet Address Plan- The Clinton administration's laborious efforts to privatize the Internet's addressing system could be further slowed as the House Commerce Committee Tuesday issued a blistering critique and opened an investigation into the program; Computers Finally Get Slimmer- The bulky, beige personal computer is going on a diet. Thanks to ever-shrinking components, manufacturers are introducing thinner machines with flat-panel screens that save desk space for coffee mugs and family photos; Rite Aid, drugstore.com Make Deal- Rite Aid Corp. will spend $7.6 million for about a 25 percent stake in online retailer drugstore.com in a move that will accelerate the efforts of the nation's third-largest drugstore chain to sell pharmaceuticals over the Internet; AOL Plans E-Mail Access On Palm Computers- Leading Internet service provider America Online Inc. said Tuesday its subscribers will be able to get electronic mail on 3Com Corp.'s Palm series of handheld computers; Internet Players Counter Kasparov- Thousands of chess enthusiasts took up the gauntlet Tuesday to play world champion Gary Kasparov, responding to his challenge by moving a black pawn through cyberspace; Details

June 21, 1999

Global News: NATO, KLA Agree on Demilitarization- NATO Signs Deal With Ethnic Albanian Rebels in Move To Neutralize Kosovo Liberation Army As a Military Force; Explosion in Kosovo School Kills Two- Explosion Rips Through School West of Pristina, Yugoslavia, Killing Two Nepalese Soldiers Serving in British Army and Two Civilians; U.S. Planes To Return From Balkans- Pentagon Orders Back to Home Bases 300 U.S. Warplanes That Had Participated in NATO Bombing Campaign Against Yugoslavia; Details

Domestic News: Panel Backs Energy Dept. Oversight- Head of Presidential Panel Says Security Problems Within Energy Department Can't Be Fixed Without Creating Agency To Oversee Nuclear Arms Programs; Police Can Search Cars for Drugs- Supreme Court Rules That Police Generally Do Not Need Warrant To Search a Car They Have Reason To Believe Is Carrying Illegal Drugs; Stephen King To Undergo Surgery- Best-Selling Horror Writer Stephen King Will Undergo Surgery Monday After Being Struck by Van Over Weekend; Details

Science News: Report: No Implants-Illness Link- Silicone Breast Implants Do Not Cause Life-Threatening Illnesses, Though They Can Cause Problems in Some Women, Federal Panel Finds; China Working on Cloning Panda- Scientists have taken a step toward cloning a giant panda by growing an embryo that contains a dead animal's genes -- a development China hailed as a possible breakthrough in efforts to save the endangered species;Allergy Drug Hismanal Pulled From U.S. Market- The maker of the prescription antihistamine Hismanal said Monday that it was withdrawing the medication from the United States because it was overwhelmed by competitors in the crowded allergy market; Details

Business News: Tobacco Companies Await Class-Action Verdict in Miami- Philip Morris Cos. and other U.S. cigarette makers are about to face a Miami jury's verdict in the first trial of a class-action lawsuit by smokers, with thousands of Florida smokers seeking billions in damages for smoking-related illnesses; Women Filing for Bankruptcy More Than Men - Women are resorting to personal bankruptcy more frequently than men and married couples, according to new data released by a Harvard law professor who specializes in bankruptcy; EU Seeks Larger Probe of Coca-Cola Company Commissioned Study Suggests 'Mass Sociogenic Illness- As top executives lobbied to lift a ban on sales of Coca-Cola's major soft-drinks, the European Union today requested further investigations to find what caused dozens of people to become ill after drinking the company's products. ; Details

Internet News: America Online To Invest $1.5B in GM's Hughes- America Online Inc., the largest provider of Internet services, said it will invest $1.5 billion of cash in General Motors Corp.'s Hughes Electronics Corp., building on an earlier agreement to offer services over Hughes' DirecTV satellite-television network; Iridium Slashes Prices for Service, Phones- Iridium LLC, operator of the first global satellite-telephone network, plans to cut prices for its service as much as 65 percent and introduce a flat rate for international calls as it tries to lure customers; Details

June 20, 1999

Global News: NATO Officially Ends Air Campaign- NATO Officially Declares End to Airstrikes Against Yugoslavia With Word That All Serb Forces Have Left Kosovo; Strong Action Pledged for Kosovo- Leaders of the World's Wealthiest Countries Promise To Take 'Strong Action' To Stabilize War-Torn Kosovo; KLA Agrees To Lay Down Weapons- NATO Officials Reach Deal With Kosovo Liberation Army That Calls for Rebels To Turn Over Weapons; Saddam Among Richest Leaders
Sultan of Brunei Heads Forbes' List of World's Wealthiest People; Iraqi President Saddam Hussein No. 6 on List of Richest Heads of State; MCI, Paul Allen Invest $600M in Metricom Money Will Fund Launch of 'Ricochet' Mobile Service- Metricom Inc. said Monday that MCI WorldCom Inc. and billionaire investor Paul Allen plan to invest $600 million in the company in exchange for an 87 percent stake.; Details

Domestic News: Stephen King Alert After Surgery- Horror Author Stephen King Alert After Having Surgery for Injuries Sustained When He Was Hit By a Car Near His Home in Maine; Yosemite Climb Had Unexpected Risk- When the dust settled, Peter Terbush was still clutching the rope. But he didn't survive the rock slide that crashed down on his head, and his buddies can't believe they did; Colo. Teen Convicted in 5 Killings- A teen-ager who put a bandana over his face and gunned down five people in two homes has been convicted of murder; Colorodans Seek Violence Protection- Denver's police chief on Saturday said security might have to supersede students' rights in the wake of the Columbine massacre, and others called for school prayer, gun control and stronger families to prevent another killing spree; Details

Science News: Leeches Still Have Medical Value- Leech Law No. 1: NEVER REUSE A LEECH This, observes Rudy Rosenberg, should be obvious: "It won't feed again for another six months. And the patient might have an infectious disease, so you don't want to risk putting it on another patient.'' Study: Minorities Prone to Diabetes- Study Indicates Hispanic and Black Children May Be More Prone To Developing Adult Form of Diabetes That Can Lead to Heart Attacks, Strokes and Blindness; Therapy for Aggressive Drivers- So you're driving 10 mph over the speed limit but you slow down when a tailgater starts honking. Very passive-aggressive. Or, you speed up when someone tries to pass you. Classic competitive behavior; Details

Business News: Forbes: Billionaires Club Booms- Forbes Says Collective Worth of World's 200 Richest People Is More Than $1 Trillion, Thanks to Booming Stock Market and Internet Wealth; Instinet Plans Role In Retail Brokering- Global news and information company Reuters Group Plc said Sunday it was talking to a number of companies about using its Instinet electronic brokerage unit to help serve the retail investor market; List of Wealthiest Heads of State- Following is a list of heads of state, including kings, queens and presidents, who are billionaires; Details

Internet News: Panel To Weigh Internet Tax Options- Congressional Commission To Convene Monday To Begin Sorting Through Tax Options for Internet Commerce; Research Shows Online Sales Are Rising 300 Percent a Year; Free Service For Computer Users To Debut- FusionOne, a 20-person start-up, will debut a free service Monday that will enable computer users to update information in many of their computing devices, from PCs to Palm Pilots and eventually other devices; G8 Leaders Agree On Y2K Awareness Drive- The big power Group of Eight leaders agreed Saturday to go on a drive to raise public awareness of the millennium bug, which threatens to bring some computer systems to a halt at the turn of the year; Computer Bug Forced E-Mail Shutdown- The latest computer virus, a reminder that technology has its drawbacks, was also a throwback to simpler times -- perhaps two or three years ago; Details

June 19, 1999

Global News: Russia Blocks Kosovo Rebuild Plan- Russia Blocks Plan To Rebuild Kosovo Because It Would Exclude Regime of Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic; NATO Says Serb Pullout on Schedule- NATO Says Withdrawal of Serb Troops From Kosovo Is Ahead of Schedule and Serbs Should Be Out of Province Prior to Sunday Deadline ; Details

Domestic News: Therapy for Aggressive Drivers- So you're driving 10 mph over the speed limit but you slow down when a tailgater starts honking. Very passive-aggressive. Or, you speed up when someone tries to pass you. Classic competitive behavior;Coloradans Seek Violence Protection- Teen-Agers, Public Officials and National Experts Participate in Summit in Colorado Aimed at Improving School Safety; Clinton Pushes for Strong Gun Laws- President Clinton Challenges Congress To Toughen Gun Laws and Warns National Rifle Association That 'We've Overcome Your Scare Tactics Before; 2 Hurt As Roller Rink Roof Caves In- A roof caved in at a suburban roller-skating rink Friday, injuring a young skater and her coach. Several others practicing for an upcoming competition escaped; Details

Science News: Male Couch Potatoes May Be Risking Diabetes: Study- Doctors have linked diabetes -- a serious disease that can cause heart attacks, blindness or amputation of limbs -- to the habit of lazing around; Parkinson's Drugs Could Cause Deadly Sleep - Study- Two drugs used to treat the symptoms of Parkinson's disease could cause people to fall asleep suddenly with potentially deadly results, researchers said Wednesday; Details

Business News: Wall Street Ready For Fed Rate Hike- Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, the Godfather of Interest Rates, is again scaring Wall Street, saying he might soon pull the interest-rate trigger. But the experts say the stock market is tough enough to take one lousy rate hike; Russia Hails Summit Support On Debt- Russia said Saturday the Group of Seven rich democracies had agreed to encourage its efforts to end a long-running dispute with creditors over its Soviet-era debts; Details

Internet News: Intel Shares Fall On Delay Of Pentium III- Shares of Intel Corp., the world's largest maker of computer chips, fell Friday after an analyst downgraded the stock and cut earnings estimates, due to a manufacturing problem that will delay a new Pentium III; 3com, Aether To Form Wireless Data Access Company- 3Com Corp., a leading maker of computer-networking equipment, and Aether Technologies announced Friday they are forming a new company to tap the nascent market for accessing e-mail, the Internet and corporate-network information through wireless technology, company officials said; Internet Hooker Ring Broken Up- A couple that seemed to fit in just fine in this quiet north Fulton County neighborhood, is charged with operating a metro-wide prostitution ring from their home; Details

June 18, 1999

Global News: Developments in Kosovo Crisis- Latest developments concerning Kosovo. World leaders meeting in Cologne, Germany, haggle over a promised huge reconstruction program for Kosovo. Russia blocks their attempt to explicitly exclude Yugoslavia from the aid program while it is still run by President Slobodan Milosevic; Kosovo Neglected As Conflict Ends- Kosovo's capital smells of neglect: the sweet scent of garbage rotting on street corners and acrid smoke from towers of trash burning in front of apartment buildings; Kosovars Remove Bust of Serb Hero- Ethnic Albanians on Saturday brought down a bust of a Serb who symbolized ethnic cooperation, crashing into it with a tractor, raising the Albanian flag and cheering what to many seemed a new era in their lives; Details

Domestic News: Time Capsules a Rage As 2000 Looms- When the call went out for the stuff of life, Irene Mundy answered with a new toothbrush, eye drops and a sheet of Barney the purple dinosaur stickers; Stephen King Struck by Car in Maine- Horror author Stephen King was seriously injured when he struck by a van while walking Saturday, police said; Gov. Jeb Bush's Wife Fined $4,100- Gov. Jeb Bush's wife was fined by customs officials in Atlanta for failing to declare $19,000 in clothing and jewelry she bought during a trip to Paris; Woman Dies After Fox Attack- A 79-year-old woman who fought off a rabid fox in April by holding onto the animal for 12 hours until help arrived has died; Police Dog Mauls Pregnant Woman- A police dog escaped from a squad car and mauled an innocent pregnant woman during a drunken-driving arrest; Cop Lifts 500-Pound Mower Off Man- A police officer who regularly pumps iron lifted a 500-pound riding mower off a man who was pinned beneath the overturned machine; Details

Science News: Tumors Plague Squirrels in Florida- Squirrels riddled with crusty brown tumors -- some covering 90 percent of their body -- have been reported in eight Florida counties in a pox outbreak experts said is the worst since the 1970s; Doctors Perform Fetal Brain Surgery- Sleeping in his mother's cradled arms, Neal Borkowski appears to be a typical baby, developing like most five-week-old Einstein's Brain Deemed Wider- We always suspected something must have made Albert Einstein smarter than the rest of us. Now, scientists have found that one part of his brain was indeed physically extraordinary; 700M Kids Exposed To Tobacco Smoke- Almost half the world's children are exposed to tobacco fumes from the 1.2 billion adult smokers, according to a World Health Organization report released today; Genetically Altered Food Debated- A group of consumer advocates wants labels required for genetically altered foods, continuing a biotechnology debate that has already swept across Europe; Details

Business News: Two Internet Stocks Post Solid Gains In Debuts- A flurry of Internet-related stocks made their debuts Friday but the reception was mixed, as only two -- GoTo.com Inc. and Viant Inc. -- posted strong gains after their initial public offerings; GoTo.com Shares Soar in First Day- Shares of search engine company GoTo.com soared 50 percent in its first day of trading Friday amid growing caution about Internet stocks; Burger King Plans Larger Kids Meals- Burger King is cooking up something new for older youngsters still hungry after eating its Kids Meals and unwilling to give up the toy; Details

Internet News: Two Sentenced in Kid Porn Cases- The only Louisiana target of a nationwide FBI online pornography sting got two years and nine months after admitting that he sent child pornography over the Internet; Internet Predator Sting Nets Arrest- A 36-year-old Flint man was arrested Friday after he went to Livonia hoping to have sex with a 14-year-old girl he met on the Internet, authorities said; Businesses Mull E-Commerce Impact- Idaho's industry and government leaders worry that the state's growing e-commerce trade could impact Idaho's tax revenue and cause unfair competition for businesses; Computer Virus Costs To Business Surging - Study- Computer virus and "worm" attacks on information systems have caused businesses to lose a total of $7.6 billion in the first half of 1999 as a result of disabled computers, a research firm said Friday ; Details

June 17, 1999

Global News: U.K. Official: Serbs Killed 10,000- British Official Estimates That Serb Forces Killed More Than 10,000 People During Two Months of War and Ethnic Violence; U.S., Russia Move Toward Troop Deal- U.S. and Russian Negotiators Work To Clinch Agreement Giving Russia a Peacekeeping Role in Kosovo Under NATO Command, Saying Differences Are Narrowing; US, France Agree on Serb Aid Terms- President Clinton and French President Jacques Chirac Agree That Slobodan Milosevic Must Be Unseated Before International Development Aid Goes to Serbia; ; Details

Domestic News: House OKs Posting of 10 Commandments- House Votes To Allow the Ten Commandments To Be Posted in Schools and Other Government Buildings in Effort To Instill the Value of Human Life in Children; FBI Arrests Longtime Fugitive Soliah- California Is Expected To Seek Extradition of Symbionese Liberation Army Member Kathleen Ann Soliah; Group Is Blamed for 1970s Kidnapping of Patricia Hearst; 2 Ill. Deaths Linked to Rail Killer- Suspected Serial Killer Known To Hop Freight Trains Is Linked to Two Slayings in Illinois; He Also Is Wanted for Five Texas Deaths and One in Kentucky; ; Details

Science News: Fight Germs Before It's Too Late, WHO Warns- Nations must act right now against infectious diseases, from HIV to malaria, before it is too late, the World Health Organization said Thursday; WHO: Children Need Protection Against Eco Threats- The World Health Organization (WHO) called Thursday for new measures to protect children from environmental health hazards; Bald Eagle Is Off Endangered List- Bald Eagle To Be Removed From Federal Endangered Species List After Clinton Administration Concludes the National Bird Has Fully Recovered; Panel Urges Switch to Polio Shots- Federal Advisory Panel Recommends Replacing the Oral Polio Vaccine With Injected Version To Reduce Chance of Contracting the Paralyzing Disease; Gene Trait Could Cause Gulf War Syndrome, Study - A genetic trait that gives some people a boost in fighting off toxins could help explain cases of Gulf War syndrome, researchers said Wednesday; Details

Business News: Greenspan Fears Economic Imbalance- Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan Tells Congressional Committee That Imbalance in the Economy Could Stunt Its Continuing Growth; Wal-Mart Factor Hits Britain Supermarkets- The shadow of retail giant Wal-Mart Stores Inc. loomed large in London again Thursday as shares in leading British supermarket group Tesco Plc dropped to a two-month low amid competition fears; Bond Prices Higher at Midday- Treasury bond prices were higher at midday, pushing yields on 30-year bonds below 6 percent; Kellogg May Close Part of Plant- The nation's largest cereal maker announced today it is considering closing part of its historic Battle Creek cereal plant and eliminating up to 64 percent of the jobs at the facility; Details

Internet News: Livewire: New Sites Could Make Micropayments Work- Though it might not seem like it at first, two types of very different, very hot Web properties have one big thing on common; Small Fry Dominate MP3 Music Players, For Now Anyway- As the online music craze gathers steam, small electronics companies are beating their giant competitors to the punch, launching new portable devices that let fans take computer music files on the road;Russia Silent On Whereabouts Of Wanted British Spy- Russian officials were tight-lipped Thursday over a report that a former British spy, wanted by London for allegedly publishing a list of British intelligence officers on the Internet, was hiding in Russia;Canada To Test Tax Filing Over The Internet- A select group of Canadians will pack up their pencils and sharpen their keyboard skills in 2000 and file their tax returns over the Internet in a pilot program; Y2K May Lead Norway To Free Inmates- Some Norwegian prisoners may get to spend New Year's Eve in freedom because officials fear blackouts if power company computers crash because of the so-called Y2K problem; Details

June 16, 1999

Global News: NATO Disarming Kosovo Rebels-NATO Negotiates With Kosovo Liberation Army Over Terms for Surrendering Weapons To Help Protect Fleeing Serb Forces From Attack; Refugees Head Home to Kosovo- Thousands of Ethnic Albanian Refugees Stream North Into Kosovo Encouraged by NATO Peacekeeping Mission; Thabo Mbeki Becomes S.Africa Leader- Thabo Mbeki Becomes South Africa's Second Post-Apartheid President, Taking Over Leadership of Racially Divided Country From Nelson Mandela; Strong Earthquake Rocks Mexico- Strong Earthquake Rocks Central Mexico, Killing at Least 12 People and Injuring Hundreds;Rebels Free Some Colombian Hostages- Leftist Colombian Rebels Release 33 Hostages Taken From Church 17 Days Ago, 20 Remain Captive;Tension Runs High on Korean Sea- U.S. Navy and Air Force Planes Join South Korean Aircraft in Patrolling Over Disputed Waters in Yellow Sea; Details

Domestic News: Clinton Seeks Ban on Child Labor- On Opening of European Trip, President Clinton Is Seeking Worldwide Agreement To Ban Vicious Forms Cases of Child Labor; Good Samaritans To Receive Awards- Like many other Americans, Dr. Ramona Tascoe was horrified by the carnage when two U.S. embassies in East Africa were bombed last August;Man Accused in Calif. Fish Assault- A man was arrested on suspicion of assaulting his girlfriend in a supermarket parking lot with a 10-pound tuna;Poor Man Saved From Pauper's Burial- For 13 years, Jose Camacho lived deep in an abandoned railroad tunnel. Near his life's end, advocates for the homeless found him a place to live. Then death brought another kind of homelessness: the threat of anonymous burial in a potter's field. Again, strangers wouldn't let that happen; Details

Science News: Study: Patch Could Restore Sex Drive- Middle-aged women who said their sex drives were stuck in park after they underwent hysterectomies found that a testosterone-laced skin patch increased their libidos, according to a new study; Malaria Outbreak Spreads in Kenya- KISII, Kenya -- A malaria outbreak has spread in southwestern Kenya, killing at least 57 more people, a medical official said Monday; Doctors Tutored on Plastic Surgery- The group of physicians from around the world watched intently as Dr. William Magee Jr. detached the lower jaw of the 15-year-old girl, pulling it forward before filling in the gaps with bone from her skull;Effort To Improve End-of-Life Care- People who are dying know what they want. In surveys for West Virginia University's Center for Health Ethics and Law, social workers, nurses, clergy and pharmacists reaffirm what the terminally ill say: Death should come pain-free in a comfortable setting, and without bankrupting a family; Health-Care Coverage Grows for Pets- Being diagnosed with a serious disease once meant an instant death sentence for Fido or Fluffy. Not anymore; Details

Business News: Indian Tribes Sue Tobacco Industry- American Indian tribes are intensifying their demand on Big Tobacco to repay the cost of treating what they insist are smoking-related illnesses; Scores Indicted in Stock Fraud Scam- Prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney's Office in Brooklyn announced stock fraud indictments today against 85 people -- some with reputed ties to the mob -- who allegedly ripped off $100 million from thousands of small investors; Fraud Lawsuit Filed Against Sears- Sears, Roebuck & Co. collected up to $400 million for tire balancing services it never performed, then paid millions to keep the fraud quiet, according to a lawsuit filed in Madison County Circuit Court; Stocks Hold Big Gains After Tame CP - Stocks were sharply higher at midday Wednesday after a highly awaited economic report showed no sign of incipient inflation; Details

Internet News: IBM, Schwab To Build New Online Trading Safeguards - Charles Schwab & Co. Inc. and IBM, Schwab's long-time computer supplier, Wednesday said they were beefing up Schwab's core computer systems to guard against breakdowns that have threatened the surging popularity of online trading; E-Business Boom Is A Myth, Study Says- For all the talk of the Internet simplifying business transactions, the overwhelming majority of companies still have no effective online systems to permit seamless transactions with other businesses, a new study finds; Virtual Life: Tarzan- Me Tarzan. You game? The question is appropriate as two new PC games arrive based on the Disney summer animated feature "Tarzan,'' featuring the legendary ape man and his beloved Jane; Home Buyers Likelier To Look Online-Real Estate Poll- Online real estate service RealEstate.com said Wednesday that a survey shows people in the market for new homes are more likely to search online and use Internet-based realtors than a typical real estate broker; Details

June 15, 1999

Global News: U.S. Says Serbs Following Schedule- Clinton Administration Says Yugoslavia Is On Schedule To Withdraw All Its Troops and Police From Southern Kosovo Zone by Midnight; Refugees Rush Back Into Kosovo- At Least One Person Is Killed and Four Injured by Land Mines As More Than 3,000 Ethnic Albanian Refugees Rush Back Into Kosovo;Clinton To Leave for Europe- President Clinton and Allies To Meet in Europe To Plan Rebuilding for War-Torn Kosovo and Other Trouble Plagued Nations of Southeast Europe; S.Korea, N.Korea Boats Exchange Fir- South Korea and North Korea Involved in High-Seas Shootout; 30 North Korean Sailors Are Believed Dead After Patrol Boat Sinks; Strong Earthquake Rocks Mexico City- Strong Earthquake Rocks Mexico City, Swaying Tall Buildings and Causing Panic in Streets; Details

Domestic News: Clinton Pushes Gun Restrictions- President Clinton Turns to Democratic Congresswomen for Help in Capitol Hill Showdown This Week Over New Gun Control Restrictions;Mistrial Declared in Dahmer Murder- A judge declared a mistrial today in the murder case of a businessman accused of taking part in the 1966 slaying of civil rights leader Vernon Dahmer. The judge said the jury improperly heard a key prosecution witness mention a possible Ku Klux Klan-related threat;Corpse Rides Subway For Hours- A passenger seemingly asleep aboard a packed rush-hour subway train was actually dead, possibly for as long as five hours, authorities said; Details

Science News: Hubble Spies Butterfly-Shaped Nebula- A fiery butterfly-shaped nebula at the heart of a cloudy galaxy not far from the Milky Way has been captured by the Hubble Space Telescope in an image released Monday; Three Cancer Drugs Up For Review By FDA Advisers- Federal advisers are set to review three drugs next week that could offer alternatives for patients suffering from breast and ovarian cancers or help beat the ravages of radiation therapy; Fallout From Europe's Food Scare Widens- Fallout from Europe's food scare over dioxin poisoning in Belgium widened Thursday as farmers blocked borders, more countries withdrew Belgian goods, and rattled European consumers sent meat prices tumbling; Details

Business News: Coke Products Banned in Belgium- Coca-Cola Co. admitted today that problems at two of its factories led to the contamination of some products in Belgium, where dozens of people fell ill after drinking Coke beverages; Stocks End Higher: Dow Up 31.66- Stocks End Higher As Investors Buy Bargains and Await Tomorrow's Consumer Price Report; Dow Jones Industrials Close Up 31.66 at 10,594.99;Heinz Profit Up Before Restructuring- H. J. Heinz Co.'s profit before a restructuring charge rose nearly 12 percent for its fourth quarter based on strong growth in its core products, including the company's signature ketchup brand; Details

Internet News: Internet Porn Biz Owner Eyes Caesars- A business that proudly boasts it runs the world's biggest Internet sex site was greeted with widespread skepticism as it announced a $3.6 billion offer to get into the casino gambling business by buying one of industry's most-recognized names; Internet CEO Bares Chest on TV- Losing your shirt is usually the last thing you'd want to do in business, but that's exactly what the president of an Internet company did in an interview on CNBC Tuesday;Microsoft Says AOL A Threat But Judge Skeptical- Microsoft Corp. sought to show at its trial Monday that it faces a competitive threat from America Online Inc. that makes antitrust allegations irrelevant, but the judge was skeptical about its line of questioning; AT&T Denies AOL, Other Deals In The Works- Long distance telephone giant AT&T Corp. has been on a cable television buying spree but the deal making has spawned a host of misleading rumors, the company's two top executives said Monday; Inktomi Introduces Internet 'Directory Engine- Inktomi Corp., which drives some of the most powerful search engines, Tuesday will introduce a new "directory engine," designed to produce more ordered and logical search results; AOL Mulled Dumping M'soft Browser- Newly disclosed e-mail shows that top executives at America Online Inc. debated whether to stop distributing Microsoft's Internet software during their secret $10 billion negotiations last fall to buy Netscape Communications Corp; Details

June 14, 1999

Global News: U.S. Troops Join NATO in Kosovo- More Than 1,200 U.S. Marines Enter Kosovo To Take Positions in What Will Become U.S.-Controlled Zone of Province; Mbeki Chosen As S.African President- South African National Assembly Chooses Thabo Mbeki As Country's New President; Details

Domestic News: Gore Releases Study on Gun Users- Vice President Al Gore Releases Federal Study That Shows People Age 18 Through 20 Commit 24 Percent of All Gun Murders; Bush Campaigns in New Hampshire- George W. Bush Announces He Would Not Impose Abortion Litmus Test on Supreme Court Nominees As He Makes First Presidential Campaign Trip to New Hampshire; Court Rejects Ban on Casino Ads- Supreme Court Unanimously Strikes Down Ban on Television and Radio Advertising for Privately-Owned Casinos, Saying It Violates Free-Speech Rights; Rockslide in Yosemite Park Kills 1- Rockslide Sends Huge Boulders Tumbling Near Yosemite National Park Village, Killing One Climber and Injuring Four Others; Details

Science News: Nebraska Education Officials Stick With Evolution- The Nebraska Board of Education Friday rejected an effort to broaden the science curriculum in state schools in a way that could have allowed classrooms to explore biblically based creation theories; Testosterone Keeps Women Lean After Menopause- The male hormone testosterone may be the key to reducing body fat and building muscle in women after menopause, according to a new study; Egyptian Donkey Stumbles Upon Ancient Tomb Complex- Some 105 Greco-Roman mummies were accidentally discovered in Egypt after a donkey slipped into a tomb complex in the Western Desert, al-Akhbar newspaper reported Saturday; Details

Business News: G7 Clears Way For New Debt Relief Plan- The Group of Seven industrial nations Saturday cleared the way for a new debt relief plan that could lead to $70 billion in loans owed by poor countries being written off; Rubin Says Global Economy Improved- Outgoing U.S. Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin said Saturday the global economy had improved greatly over recent months even though growth prospects outside the United States remained tenuous; Automakers, UAW Begin Contract Talks- National labor talks between Detroit's automakers and the United Auto Workers began today against a background of record sales that have left General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co. and DaimlerChrysler AG flush with cash; Details

Internet News: Investigators Probe For Source Of Computer Worm- Investigators probed the wreckage of a third major computer bug outbreak this year Friday, and there were warnings that more variations of the bug could hit over the next month; Computer Virus Continues To Spread- Computer support lines were overwhelmed today with calls reporting new outbreaks of a software virus that spreads not only by e-mail, but through shared files on a network; Experts Fear E-Mail Virus Mutations- Computer virus experts warned today that in addition to spreading by e-mail, the new software bug that hit last week can also be transmitted through shared files on a network; Tips To Avoiding Computer Virus- How to avoid the Worm.Explore.Zip virus; Ebay's Online Site Down For 22 Hours- In one of the worst Internet outages, the online auction house eBay went down for close to a full day Friday, infuriating many loyal customers and raising questions about the technological underpinnings of the popular site; Standard Planned for E-Commerce- Some of the nation's largest computer companies, credit card companies and retailers are expected to announce today they have agreed on an Internet commerce standard that will make online shopping easier and quicker; Details

June 13, 1999

Global News: U.S. Troops Join NATO in Kosovo- U.S. Troops Join NATO Peacekeepers in Kosovo As British Soldiers Struggle With Russian and Serb Resistance in Pristina; Albright: Serb Withdrawal Going Well- Secretary of State Madeleine Albright Says About One-Quarter of Serb Troops Have Departed From Kosovo; Iraqis Urged To Fight U.S. Enemy- President Saddam Hussein Urges Iraqis To Start Military Training To Combat the American 'Enemy; Details

Domestic News: Landscaping Recreates Old Gardens- Some people are recreating their yards to go back in time. It's called ``period landscaping'' and is enjoying a vogue. Books are devoted to it and classes are held in prestigious places like the New York Botanical Garden. And you can find help from landscape designers. Starr To Continue Clinton Probe- Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr Says He Will Continue Investigating the Clintons for Possible Wrongdoing; Shootings Prompt Rise in Therapy- Mental Health Clinics and Therapists Across the Country Report a Surge of Younger Patients Since the Littleton, Colo. Shootings in April; GOP Boosts Cultural Pollution Bill- Republican Congressman Promotes Legislation That Curbs Children's Access to Explicit Sexual or Violent Material; Bush Tests Campaign Waters in Iowa- George W. Bush plunged into the 2000 presidential race Saturday, declaring ''there's no turning back'' from his bid to usher in a new era of Republican politics; Details

Science News: Biologists Find Ga. Cave Critters- Climax Cave's dark, jagged mouth sits at the bottom of a 65-foot depression hewn from limestone by rainwater over eons; Exercise Helps Women Quit Smoking- Women who exercise vigorously while trying to quit smoking are twice as likely to kick the habit than wannabe ex-smokers who don't work out regularly, a new study finds; Details

Business News: Qwest Bids $55B for Telecom Cos- Qwest Communications Makes Surprise $55 Billion Offer To Acquire U S West and Frontier Group; Will Stocks Belly Flop This Summer, Repeat 1998- Come back in. The water's fine! Yes, those brave investors are wading back into stocks. But the trend spotters expect the market to belly flop, possibly in a repeat of last summer's bone-jarring dive. Details

Internet News: Experts Fear E-Mail Virus Mutations- Companies Brace for Threat of New Infections From Computer Virus Worm.Explore.Zip When Workers Log On Monday Morning;FTC Targets Internet Advertisers For Coupon Fraud- The Federal Trade Commission Thursday sent electronic warnings to advertisers who may be selling bogus coupon deals on the Internet that promise consumers easy money; Details

June 12, 1999

Global News: U.S., Russia Work on Troop Dispute- U.S. and Russian Officials Struggle To Resolve Dispute Over Russian Troops Who Entered Kosovo Ahead of NATO Troops; Clinton, Yeltsin To Discuss Troops- President Clinton and Russian President Yeltsin To Discuss Russia's Surprise Military Advance Into Kosovo; India, Pakistan Begin Talks- India and Pakistan Start Talks Aimed at Resolving Hostilities Over the Disputed Region of Kashmir; N. Korea Returns to Disputed Waters- Four North Korean Patrol Boats Return to Disputed Waters in Yellow Sea After Threatening To Attack South Korean Warships; Details

Domestic News: Cemeteries in the Way of Progress- She seeks them out in a red Ford Windstar, scouring winding streets and ceaseless subdivisions with a self-trained eye. In the ever-expanding sprawl of the Home Depot epoch, she searches for the history that hides in the folds of today. Lois Mauk is looking for the dead, the buried. More often