January 7, 1999

CHASE TO BEGIN $1 ATM FEE ON SATURDAY

It's getting more expensive to use the cash machine. Chase Manahattan Bank, the city's largest retail bank with nearly 1,500 ATMs, is going to start charging non-customers a $1 fee...

GUCCI FLIES AS LVMH RAISES ITS HOLDINGS

Shares in Gucci Group soared 23 percent yesterday on speculation that luxury goods giant LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton may launch a bid to acquire the Italian fashion house. Gucci...

NO BULL: FACE-OFF BEAR-LY CIVIL

At one point, (Byron) Wien even took a shot at rival Merrill Lynch - noting that the firm has underperformed the market precisely because of its bearish outlook. Wall Street's...

CASE'S AOL QUOTES HIT M'SFT TRIAL

WASHINGTON - The judge in the Microsoft antitrust trial rocked the proceedings yesterday when he reversed previous musings and questioned whether the recent America Online-Netscape mega merger would have any...

SPORTS ILLUSTRATED RELAUNCHING WOMEN'S TITLE

Sports Illustrated is relaunching its title aimed at women readers, after a year and a half on the sidelines. The magazine, dubbed Sports Illustrated for Women, will appear quarterly with...

THIRD ANNUAL WEBBY NOMINATIONS WEIGH IN

ABSTRACT: SonicNet, Spinner, and Amazon.com were the top nominees sfor the 1999 Webby Awards. The eclectic and international mix of nominees in 22 categories were unveiled yesterday by the International...

AUTO INDUSTRY GIVES SKIERS A LIFT

THIS is my favorite time of the year -ski season. I'll be on the road as often as I can to ski as much as I can. Even if you...

OF BOSOMS AND NEGLECT, 17TH CENTURY-STYLE

ONE of the most famous of Restoration comedies, William Wycherley's 1674 ''The Country Wife,'' is being played with spirit and energy at the Pearl Repertory Co. in the East Village....

A DOCTOR RUNS HOME TO 'PROVIDENCE' (BUT YOU SHOULDN'T)

"Providence"Tomorrow at 8 on WNBC/Ch.4 THERE is mother after death. That's only one piece of baggage lugged onto NBC's Friday night lineup by "Providence," a drama about a woman we...

TV TICKER

'Maury' glory Studios USA has renewed "Maury Povich" for a second season on over 120 stations, including WNBC/Ch.4 here in New York. Note: This differs from the recent "Donny &...

STEPMOTHER LOVE: RIGG IN EXTREMIS

SOME wines are not supposed to travel. In the theater, it's usually thought that French classical tragedy of the 17th century - the rigid, stiff, argumentative clashes of passion and...

MOVIE REVIEW: VERY LITTLETO ENJOY INULLMANN FILM

'P RIVATE Confessions" is a technically superb but joyless exercise in Bergmanesque filmmaking by the great Swedish director's acolytes and protegees. Written by (the officially retired) Ingmar Bergman, and directed...

'GMA' DREAM TEAM: CONNIE AND MAURY WERE WOOED FOR HIS 'N' HERS MORNING SHOW

'GOOD Morning, Maury and Connie." That was one of the scenarios considered, however briefly, by ABC News execs in the months leading up to this week's dumping of Lisa McRee...

MICKEY TO RETURN TO TV

DISNEY is preparing a new TV show featuring the first new capers of Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and other classic cartoon characters in more than 40 years. The project was...

DOES 'HILARY AND JACKIE,' THE HOT, OSCAR BOUND MOVIE, TRASH THE DEAD?

An international furor has erupted over the Oscar-bound docudrama 'Hilary and Jackie,'' with friends and musical colleagues of the late cellist Jacqueline du Pre condemning the highly acclaimed drama as...

UBIQUITOUS CELL PHONES CAN BE A PUBLIC NUISANCE

ABSTRACT: Much like children, cell-phone users should be seen and not heard. Surprisingly this moral isn't heeded by New Yorkers. Even those who know what fork to use in a...

'THE VIEW' BIDS DEBBIE ADIUE AS WALTERS BREAKS NEWS ON-AIR

ABSTRACT: Barbara Walters gave Debbie Matenopoulos a classy sendoff on yesterday's edition of "The View." The 23-year-old Matenopoulos - who was eased off the show this week - wasn't present...

KIDNAP NANNY CUTS PLEA DEAL

A Brooklyn nanny who acted out of "misguided love" and abducted a severely disabled boy is expected to plead guilty today to kidnapping charges, The Post has learned. Theresa Gaetonina...

DOCTORS PUZZLED BY SOARING RATE OF BRAIN TUMORS

"The bottom line is that it's very hard to figure out exactly what is going on." DR. ERIC FLORES The incidence of brain tumors is steadily rising. Since the early...

NOW IT'S TIME TO 'SUCK UP TO THE FANS,' ANALYSTS SAY

Settling the strike was the easy part - now the NBA and its million-buck players have to win their fans back, analysts say. "First, the NBA will have to suck...

WHAT'S UP IN CHINA? VIAGRA GETS A TRIAL RUN

Nearly 600 Chinese men are eagerly taking Viagra in clinical trials to determine whether to import the love drug. Calls for volunteers for the tests received an enthusiastic response, with...

ARMS-INSPECTION HONCHO DENIES HE SPIED ON IRAQ - RIPS REPORTS BY TWO PAPERS

The United Nations' chief weapons inspector and the State Department sharply denied two published reports yesterday that U.N. inspectors helped the United States spy on Saddam Hussein. "It's simply not...

GOV GOES FOR NATIONAL AUDIENCE IN GLOWING STATE SPEECH

ALBANY - Gov. Pataki delivered an upbeat State of the State Address to the Legislature yesterday, calling for fiscal restraint, tough new crime laws and more environmental protection. Pataki's generally...

VICTIMS' KIN TARGET GUN-MAKERS IN HISTORIC B'KLYN SUIT

The lawyer for seven New Yorkers suing dozens of gun-makers for negligence accused them yesterday of fueling an underground market by overselling their weapons in states with weak gun laws....

HASTERT BIDS TO UNITE A HOUSE DIVIDED

WASHINGTON - House Speaker Dennis Hastert - the new "coach" of a divided, angry Congress - yesterday promised to treat Democrats fairly if they do the same by him. Hastert,...

FLYNT VOWS MORE DIRT

Hustler magazine publisher Larry Flynt says he will go public next week with more dirt on the twisted sex lives of Washington politicians. "It's so good, your face is going...

'LANDLORD FROM HELL' IS GUILTY IN TENANT-SLAY BID

The man investigators call the "landlord from hell" pleaded guilty yesterday to waging a campaign of terror against his Lower East Side tenants - plotting to kill two and burning...

HIS LANDLADY'S SON REMEMBERS ACCUSED KILLER AS LOONY LONER

The mental patient accused of shoving a woman in front of a subway train spent his days muttering and singing to himself in a tiny, cramped basement room, his landlady's...

PERELMAN'S EX CONTESTS 'OPPRESSIVE' SECURITY

Ron Perelman has ex-wife Patricia Duff and daughter Caleigh living "in a jail ... harassed and intimidated" by armed guards who watch their every move, court papers charge. Duff's lawyers...

COUNCIL AND RUDY POISED TO AGREE ON SPRINKLER LAW

A law requiring sprinklers in every apartment of new buildings over seven stories could be on the books within weeks, city officials said yesterday. The bill would also mandate that...

KENDRA'S TOWN IN TEARS AS HUNDREDS JOIN WAKE

The upstate town where Kendra Webdale grew up mourned yesterday as its mayor blasted officials for releasing the madman who pushed the aspiring screenwriter to her death off a subway...

COMMISH WANTS 21 HEADS TO ROLL AT NYPD (SOME OF 'EM UPHILL)

Police Commissioner Howard Safir is starting the new year off with a bang - a shakeup involving 21 top commanders, including promotions for several of his most respected detective bosses,...

COOL COP TURNS CAR INTO A DE-LIVERY CAB

After 15 years as a traffic cop, Roger Kenny delivered the Miracle on 30th Street. Kenny was entering his station house, the Manhattan Traffic Task Force, when a livery-cab driver...

EX-GENERAL CHALLENGES 'DANGEROUS' NETANYAHU - RABIN PROTEGE LEADS CENTRISTS

JERUSALEM - Israel's charismatic former military chief of staff became the wild card in the national elections when he jumped into the race yesterday to replace a "dangerous" Benjamin Netanyahu....

HISTORY AIRS LIVE ALL OVER THE DIAL

IT'S showtime! After a year of salacious revelations and excessive media commentary, the Trial of the Century is finally here. Forget about O.J. Simpson and the Lindbergh kidnapping: There hasn't...

BULL $TAMPEDE ON WALL STREET - STOCKS IN DRAMATIC LEAP TO NEW RECORD

Bulls roared on Wall Street yesterday - sending stocks to record levels for all three major market averages. The Dow Jones industrial average surged ahead 233.78 points - its biggest...

NOT ALL FANS ARE SET TO HOOP IT UP

Hoop fans had mixed reactions to the NBA settlement yesterday - some jumped for joy while others were in no mood to forgive and forget. "I'm thrilled and overjoyed the...

WEAKER TEAMS COULD SUFFER NET LOSS

NBA owners were rejoicing yesterday - but some were a lot happier than others. Some teams are on easy street now that the player lockout is over. Teams in booming...

GORE CAN'T BE GIDDY ABOUT LIDDY IN 2000

IMAGINE Elizabeth Dole regally seated at the Oval Office desk where President Clinton launched a million dirty jokes by playing doctor with Monica Lewinsky. It could be Sexgate's revenge -...

MONICA EXPECTED TO TESTIFY

WASHINGTON - The Senate today opens a full-blown impeachment trial of President Clinton - with Monica Lewinsky expected to testify in public before it's all over. After a day of...

THE LABOR PAINS OF YESTERYEAR'S STARS

THE moment was tense. As ABC-TV started the first-ever NBA All-Star telecast, the players remained huddled in their locker room at the Boston Garden. They refused to go out on...

HOOP-DE-DO! NBA SAVED AT THE BUZZER - LAST-MINUTE DEAL REVIVES SEASON

Basketball players will be back hooping it up on the court next month after team owners vote today on a last-minute pact to salvage the sport's fractured season. "I am...

SCHOOL SECURITY TIGHT FOR NEW READING TESTS

Security will be extra-tight to prevent cheating Monday when fourth-graders begin taking a tough new reading test, school officials said yesterday. The measures come in the wake of allegations of...

'DO-GOOD' DOC WAS ACCIDENT DRIVER: POLICE

Jersey City police say a doctor first thought to be a good Samaritan has turned out to be their suspect in an accident that caused the pregnant victim to lose...

LETTERMAN'S STUPID MOUSE TRICK

Say "CHEESE." Ten "mice" packed into a Dunkin' Donuts last night and none of them tried to hide from the lights and cameras. But they were bigger than your run-of-the...

THREE CITY UNION BIGS SUSPENDED

A union local affiliated with scandal scarred District Council 37 has suspended two of its top officials in a scam involving car allowances, The Post has learned. President Kevin Lightsey...

TV VIEWERS MAY BE NEXT GROUP TO BE LOCKED OUT

The end of the NBA lockout very well could signal the start of another - the mass lockout of fans from seeing live NBA and NHL games on MSG/FSNY. With...

MINIERI IS MASTER OF MONTI

Joe Minieri continued his dominance in the '90s, capturing his eighth straight (ninth overall) training title at Monticello Raceway. Minieri ended the season with 147 victories, more than twice as...

GIANTS LET MATSKO GO

Jim Fassel promised to use the weeks immediately following the season to evaluate every aspect of his Giants program. His first off-season move did not involve a player but rather...

SHAQ SHOPPED 'TIL DEAL DROPPED

Apparently, the six-month long NBA lockout didn't drive Shaquille O'Neal to the poorhouse. The Lakers' center was jewelry shopping in Midtown yesterday and he expressed satisfaction with the agreement that...

YOUNT PICKS PAL BRETT BEST PLAYER OF ALL TIME

Now that Nolan Ryan, George Brett and Robin Yount are Hall of Famers, they are perhaps more qualified to speak on the subject of who the best player of all...

ISLES LOSE PILON FOR 2-4 WEEKS

PHILADELPHIA - Whatta break for Eric Lindros. When he returns tonight here against the Islanders from a Dec. 29 concussion, Lindros will not have to face his top tormentor, defenseman...

HOOP FANS BIG LOSERS ; SEASON WILL BE MOCKERY

CONGRATULATIONS, sports fans. The NBA lockout's over. You lose. Again. While the people who think such things are important spend the next few days sorting out the big winners and...

ESA'S TIME AS RANGER TIKK, TIKKING AWAY

A source within the organization yesterday indicated Tikkanen has been placed on waivers. It appears only a matter of hours before Esa Tikkanen's third - and presumably final - stint...

JOHNNIES KNOW 'CANES ARE ABLE

"Miami does an excellent job of playing good team defense. In that regard they're a lot like us."MIKE JARVIS MIAMI - St. John's didn't exactly storm into town yesterday. The...

JETS ARE COUNTING ON D-ECISIVE EDGE

With Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Al Groh and Romeo Crennel, the postseason always has been about defense. World Series championships are won with pitching. NFL playoff games and Super Bowls...

BRETT IS BASEBALL ; GEORGE PLAYED THE GAME WITH A HALL OF FAME ATTITUDE

THE Players Association would do well to distribute a tape of George Brett speaking at yesterday's Hall of Fame press conference to every one of its members, plead with each...

METS STILL EYE BROOKLYN TEAM

Fred Wilpon's dream of having pro baseball return to Brooklyn is on hold, but the Mets have other plans to get baseball back. The Met owner had been trying since...

NO PENALTY FOR STEVENS OVER SHARK 'DRUNK' SLUR

The NHL has turned a deaf ear on Scott Stevens' name-calling. Unlike racial slurs which have drawn disciplinary action from the league, Stevens will escape unpunished by the league for...

CONFIDENT BRUNELL'S REVVED-UP

JET NOTES Mark Brunell worked out on his gimpy left ankle yesterday for the first time since last Sunday's game and pronounced himself fit to face the Jets' defense. "I've...

MLK'S JOHNSON BURIES SEWARD

Even with all the scouts, the recruiting services, the camps and general word of mouth, senior Greg Johnson has gone ignored by colleges. Perhaps, though, this should not come as...

TUNA NEEDLE JABS JUMBO

The Bill Parcells needle has been out this week and it's been poking the side of Jets' veteran left tackle Jumbo Elliott, who's played consistently solid football this season. Problem...

HALF A SEASON BETTER THAN NONE

F OUR years ago, with players on their knees, with some owners desperately reaching out their hands, hockey, too, pondered the blood, and resisted the urge to swing an ax...

LAST-MINUTE DEAL SAVES NBA SEASON: AIRING OUT DEAL

EACH side had an awfully sound reason to soften six-month-old stances and hardened glances on the eve of the NBA's destruction. Despite the fact the owners clearly enjoyed home-court leverage...

LAST-MINUTE DEAL SAVES NBA SEASON: EWING HEARS PEERS' CHEERS

EWING In the end, after all the in-fighting, finger-pointing and name-calling, Patrick Ewing, union leader, emerged as a hero yesterday. And those were wild cheers Ewing received after the players'...

LAST-MINUTE DEAL SAVES NBA SEASON:PLAYERS OK PACT; OWNERS AIM FOR FEBRUARY TIPOFF

"Everybody lost because we wasted too much of the season. There are no winners here. There's going to be a lot of damage." CHARLES BARKLEY The whole basketball world came...

KEEPING WARD KNICK PRIORITY

The schedule is not finalized yet, but the Knicks are finalizing their plan of attack for the abbreviated 52-game schedule that will begin the first week of February. First, they...

JAYSON A KEY ROLE-PLAYER

Jayson Williams stood among dozens of autograph hounds, signing his name and traditional "#55" as quickly as pen and paper or cloth or skin were pressed in front of his...

HOLD ON TO YOUR TICKETS

If you are a Knick fan, wondering when you can get to the Garden for a game, hold on. The details have to be worked out yet. Step One was...

NETS SIGNED & READY TO DELIVER

The theory being passed among NBA circles is those teams with a lot of players coming back, those teams who will not have major free agent signing headaches, those teams...

TIKK CLEARS WAIVERS, MAY FILE GRIEVANCE

Esa Tikkanen's third and final stint with the Rangers seems destined to end in controversy and with a grievance. A source within the organization yesterday indicated that Tikkanen has been...

STORM BLOWN AWAY BY 'CANES

MIAMI - On the day the NBA lockout ended, the St. John's lockdown began. Facing a Miami team that thrives on defense, the Red Storm had their nine-game win streak...

TIKKANEN SENT TO MINORS AFTER PASSING WAIVERS

Esa Tikkanen's third and final stint with the Rangers may end in controversy. Tikkanen, who had been placed on waivers, cleared yesterday and was assigned to AHL affiliate Hartford. He...

DEVILS STILL FEAR RANGERS

"Everybody in our room would be scared . . . to see [the Rangers] in the playoffs."BRIAN ROLSTON Are the Devils ready? Ready to rid themselves of their last ghost?...