February 18, 1999

RJR FOOD FIGHT SEEN - CARL ICAHN GEARS FOR PROXY BATTLE

Carl Icahn is heading for a showdown with RJR Nabisco Holdings Corp. The single-largest shareholder of the tobacco and food concern has been pestering management to spin off its 80.6...

LEWIS TAPPED TO BE TEEN'S NEXT EDITOR

Teen magazine replaced the editor who had nurtured the magazine's squeaky clean image, replacing her with a leader with a strong entertainment background. Tommi Lewis, who was a top editor...

REFUNDS FOR THE RICH - STATE WANTS TO RETURN CELEBS' UNCLAIMED BILLIONS

Do Ron Perelman, the Rockefellers and Madonna have so much money they can't keep up with it? They've shown up on New York State Comptroller Carl McCall's list of people...

AS PECKER PACKS, COULD HACHETTE SHARPEN ITS AX?

"...What is going to happen to all the magazines (without David Pecker)?" ROBERTA GARFINKLE, McCann Erickson With David Pecker exiting Hachette Filipacchi Magazines, many industry observers are wondering what that...

TOYMAKER TR $115M IPO FOR WEB WORKS

A former Walt Disney executive is the latest enterpreneur to tap into the Internet frenzy. Edward Lenk, the founder and CEO of eToys.com, has filed papers to bring his money-losing...

BRAUN'S BRAIN BEHIND $100M 'NET VENTURE

The former head of NBC television is ready to spend $100 million in an Internet venture that he says will give radio stations the power of television. "We're going to...

ABC EXECS LEAVING NYC

Some 240 ABC execs are being moved from the Big Apple to the Left Coast. ABC President Bob Iger is giving the staffers until Aug. 31 to decide if they...

COURT FILING PAINTS LIVENT-FRAUD PICTURE

It was late April 1998, and Garth Drabinsky had a problem. The impresario was on the verge of selling his live-theater company, Livent, but was about to report first-quarter earnings...

BEHIND THE SCENES

ABSTRACT: IT'S amazing that Chester keeps smiling, since he gets smacked in the chest a couple of dozen times a day, every day, with the force of a ton or...

TV TICKER

Tom terrific Not only is Tom Brokaw a best-selling author - but he's TV's top-rated network newscaster. Brokaw's "NBC Nightly News" finished first last week in total viewers, households and...

STILL PUZZLING BUT 'MEADOW' GROWS ON YOU

WHEN I first saw Martha Graham's ''Dark Meadow'' in 1954 I didn't understand it. So what? I thought - I'll see it a few times later in the season and...

AX MUST FALL AT 'NIGHT MUST FALL'

A last-minute cast change has forced the National Actors Theater to postpone the opening of its revival of the British mystery thriller ''Night Must Fall,'' starring Matthew Broderick. J. Smith-Cameron...

WHAT'S DONE TO CLASSICS IS A TRAGEDY - IT'S NOT ALWAYS GREEK TO US

THE classics are being revived - and I don't mean ''Annie Get Your Gun.'' Another breed of classic - the plays of ancient Greece - have been having a renaissance...

'DORIS' SKIPS THE DIRT - BACALL DUKES IT OUT AS HEIRESS

"Too Rich: The SecretLife of Doris Duke" Sunday and Tuesdayat 9 on WCBS/Ch.2 DORIS Duke was very rich. Doris Duke was very unhappy. But CBS' two-part "Too Rich: The Secret...

BELLBOTTOMS AND DISCO REVERSE TV RIPOFFS - BRITS LUV THE '70S' SERIES

FOR 20 years now, American TV has been borrowing British shows and turning them into series like "All in the Family" and "Sanford and Son." At last, Britain is returning...

EQUITY: NO 'OKLAHOMA!'

DESPITE personal appeals by director Trevor Nunn and the daughter of composer Richard Rodgers, Actors Equity has again rejected a bid to bring the mostly British cast of the Royal...

'JENNY' TO COURT MORE LEGAL WOES

JENNY Jones is about to relive the 1996 murder trial of one of her guests, but this time, the producers of her show are fighting back. They're engaging in pretrial...

THE '60S - WILL THEY EVER END?

WHERE were you in the Culture War, Daddy? The surprise success of the NBC-TV miniseries 'The '60s'' means that the quarrel over the most famous decade in American history is...

RAINBOW RALPH OPTS FOR UNDERSTATEMENT

ABSTRACT: OF all the designers who showed yesterday, the father of American design, Ralph Lauren was the one to wake us up. We expected feminine, classic lines in plush fabrics...

ANNA SUI GOES FOLKSY

ABSTRACT: MORE often than not, Anna Sui bases her collections around a musical movement. This season, it was the Newport Folk Festivals of the mid-'60s, pre-Woodstock music happenings which featured...

TICKET BLITZ ON SUBWAY RIDERS RAISES BIG BUCKS FOR TA; EXCLUSIVE

Cops issued fewer summonses to poorer riders, such as homeless people "least likely" to pay up. TA REPORT A subway ticket blitz against fare evasion and other petty offenses helped...

WAR HERO QUITS TOP VET JOB IN SEX-HARASS PROBE

ALBANY - The head of the state Veterans Affairs agency - a decorated Vietnam vet who lost his legs in the war - has resigned amid allegations he sexually harassed...

GAY CANDIDATE SHAKES UP CONSERVATIVE SCHOOL BD.

The first openly gay candidate for a conservative Queens school board is stirring up an old controversy over whether children should be taught tolerance of homosexuals. "I'm not saying we...

LAWYER FOR LOUIMA COP WANTS TRIAL DELAY

A lawyer for one of the cops in the Abner Louima case wants the March 22 trial date pushed back until the "intense media interest" in the Amadou Diallo police...

KATE MOSS' STARTLING CONFESSION - DRUNK EVERY DAY FOR 10 YRS.

Kate Moss has confessed she's an alcoholic who swilled vodka and champagne non-stop and was continuously boozed up on the job. The skin-and-bones supermodel - now in recovery - admits...

LIDDY CLOBBERS HILLARY IN RUN FOR PRESIDENT: POLL

In the wake of Sexgate, Americans agree more than 2-1 that it's time for a woman president - and Elizabeth Dole whips Hillary Clinton in a woman-to-woman fantasy matchup, a...

DON'T GIVE KIDS THIS OVEREXPOSURE; DON'T GIVE OUR KIDS THIS OVEREXPOSURE

I have known gay soldiers, gay cops, gay firemen, gay reporters. But they don't promote their lifestyles. WHEN my kids, at various ages, would see me sprawled on the floor...

MAYOR SAYS 48-HOUR RULE IS PAST ITS TIME

Critics say rule gives cops time to collaborate before being questioned.Mayor Giuliani plans to scuttle the controversial "48-hour rule" - which gives cops the right to remain silent for a...

THAWED-OUT FREEZER MOM UNDERGOES AUTOPSY

An autopsy was conducted yesterday on an elderly New Jersey woman found stuffed in a freezer - after the body thawed out. The Bergen County medical examiner ruled that Esther...

RUDY 'INTRIGUED' BY RACE VS. FIRST LADY

Mayor Giuliani yesterday said for the first time that the prospect of running against First Lady Hillary Clinton for the U.S. Senate is "intriguing." After several days of saying he...

VACCO MAY CLEAN UP AS GOV'T TRASH MAN; EXCLUSIVE

ALBANY - Former Attorney General Dennis Vacco is close to taking a senior post with Waste Management Inc., the nation's largest garbage hauling firm, sources said last night. Vacco, a...

AMADOU IS BURIED IN ANCESTRAL VILLAGE

"I know he will rest in peace here. I know we have the whole world with us and all I can do now is to just pray." SAIKOU DIALLO, AMADOU'S...

DC 37 BOSS WALKS AWAY WITH 250G

Disgraced union leader Stanley Hill, who's been on unpaid leave amid corruption charges at problem-plagued DC 37, resigned yesterday - taking nearly $250,000 with him. "After much deliberation, he has...

NEWARK LANDS THE FLIGHT-DELAY CROWN

New York's three metropolitan airports are among the nation's worst for flight delays, a new survey shows. In 1998, for the third year in a row, Newark International Airport won...

HIZZONER'S SLIP IS SHOWING: POLL - APPROVAL RATING SINKS TO 44 PERCENT IN CITY

Mayor Giuliani's approval rating has plummeted dramatically over the past three months, according to a poll taken soon after the Amadou Diallo shooting rattled the city. The poll by Quinnipiac...

ISRAEL GUARDS KILL 3 KURDS AT CONSULATE RIOT IN BERLIN

JERUSALEM - Israeli guards killed three Kurds after a mob of club-wielding protesters overwhelmed police and invaded the Israeli Consulate in Berlin yesterday. Sixteen other people were wounded in the...

BRIEF STAY FOR CALVIN KIDDIE ADS

"I think it's in very bad taste." MAYOR GIULIANI Designer Calvin Klein killed a controversial Times Square billboard yesterday after a public outcry erupted over his plan to put up...

INJURED PARTNER TO ATTEND HERO COP'S RITES

His physical wounds are healing, but Officer Russell Goffred's heart aches for fallen partner Matthew Dziergowski, who will be given a hero's funeral today. Goffred, critically injured in the accident...

JUDGE-MENT DAY MEANS HILLARY WON'T RUN

SUDDENLY, a new "other woman" is haunting Hillary Rodham Clinton's life - and she helps explain why many political experts think Mrs. Clinton will never run for Senate, no matter...

LEFFLER TARGETS 911 SURCHARGE ON PHONE BILLS

City Councilman Sheldon Leffler yesterday threatened to pull the plug on a telephone surcharge used to pay for a new 911 system because it's years behind schedule. "I think we...

N.J. SEN. LAUTENBERG NIXES RUN FOR 4TH TERM

In a surprise turnaround, New Jersey Sen. Frank Lautenberg announced yesterday he won't seek a fourth term next year, saying he'd rather "work for the people" than spend all his...

ACQUITTAL 'HORRIFIES' JON LEVIN'S MOTHER

Jurors freed a murderer, says the anguished mother of torture-slay victim Jonathan Levin - speaking out about last week's acquittal for the first time. "I believe he did it," Carol...

CATHOLICS IN HOLY WAR WITH TURNER OVER POPE 'JOKE'

WASHINGTON - The Catholic League yesterday slammed Ted Turner, one day after the Atlanta media mogul poked fun at the Ten Commandments and said Pope John Paul II should "get...

SHOOTING WITNESS QUESTIONED AGAIN

Federal agents and cops yesterday again questioned a Bronx man who claims to be an eyewitness to the police shooting of Amadou Diallo and whose account raises more questions about...

IT'S FAT-CHANCE LOTTO AS ODDS GO UP - BUCK WILL SOON BUY ONE PLAY, NOT TWO

Lottery director Jeff Perlee said chances of winning the jackpot will plummet from 1 in 13 million to 1 in 18 million. ALBANY - Make that "all you need is...

SLAY COPS SURRENDER THEIR GUNS - 'IT WAS SOMETHING THEY WANTED TO DO': LAWYER

The four cops who shot and killed immigrant street vendor Amadou Diallo in The Bronx have voluntarily turned in their guns - effectively putting themselves on a type of modified...

THE POST HONORS:

DID YOU KNOW? Elijah McCoy (1844-1929) - born to fugitive slave parents in Ontario, Canada - was awarded 57 patents for devices ranging from a lawn sprinkler to an ironing...

EARLY RUN FOR THE ROSES

Already got an opinion on who's going to win this year's Run for the Roses? Then you won't have to wait till May 1 to put your money where your...

TEN DERBY HOPEFULS JUMP INTO 'FOUNTAIN'

One of the most wide-open betting events in the history of Kentucky Derby preps will be run Saturday at Gulfstream Park when 10 top 3-year-olds square off in the Grade...

A KOVA-LOVE AFFAIR WITH PENS - FRUSTRATING EX-RANGER ON ROLL IN PITTSBURGH

"The only chance I had to prove my game, my style, was in '94 when we won the Stanley Cup with Keenan." ALEX KOVALEV He is the happiest player on...

'I'LL NEVER GIVE UP' - STRAWBERRY VOWS TO KEEP BATTLING CANCER TO THE END

"If it comes back, if it's terminal and I die from it, I will fight it until the end." "People die from [cancer] every day. You just hope you don't...

WARD COMES CLEAN ABOUT DIRTY REP

KNICK NOTES CLEVELAND - Charlie Ward insists he's not a dirty player, just a hard player. Raptors center Kevin Willis was the latest to accuse Ward of dirty tricks in...

NEW-LOOK KNICKS CHANGING ON FLY

KNICKS at CAVS Tonight 7:30-MSG WFAN (660 AM) CLEVELAND - The Knicks have won four in a row and take on the Cavaliers tonight at Gund Arena. Considering their longest...

JETER GETS DOWN TO BUSINESS

TAMPA - Derek Jeter had five million reasons to avoid the Yankees' minor-league complex yesterday but decided his second day as a very wealthy 24-year-old was the perfect time to...

TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOW

TAMPA - They are the only team to arbitrate with two players this offseason - two core players at that in Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera. The loss to one...

DEVILS' HANDS ARE TIE-D

If the Devils aren't going to use their toughness, there's little point in having it. Their gumption is suddenly in question, they had better decide how to cope with aggression...

JINTS GIVE WIDMER FOUR YEARS, $11.2M

To those who wonder why the Giants yesterday announced the signing of middle linebacker Corey Widmer and yet are prepared to lose defensive end Chad Bratzke, stop wondering. There was...

TORRE'S FOCUSED ON WELLS, CONE & IRABU

TAMPA - From the first day he took over the Yankees, Joe Torre has preached his Bombers will go as far as their starting pitching escorts them. So, it was...

YANKS, MARIANO AWAIT ARBITER

YANK NOTES TAMPA - The Yankees will find out today if they earned a split in the arbitration wars when the Mariano Rivera decision is announced. After getting spanked for...

JETS WON'T MATCH BRADY'S JAG DEAL

Why prolong the obvious? That apparently was the mindset of the Jets, who yesterday announced they will not match the astounding qualifying offer the Jaguars made to tight end Kyle...

GIANTS CUT CALLOWAY

When a team with an inept passing attack sends packing its top receiver, the move is worth a double-take. In the case of the Giants, though, their release yesterday of...

BEUKE CONCUSSION WORRIES RANGERS

It was prognosis negative for Jeff Beukeboom, who yesterday underwent neurological baseline testing in the aftermath of the concussion he sustained last Friday night against Carolina. The test revealed that...

WHITAKER'S LOOKING TO SAVE FACE

Look closely at Pernell "Sweet Pea" Whitaker's face, and you would never guess Saturday will be his 45th professional fight. There is a hair-thin scar barely a quarter of an...

HURTIN' CASSELL BELIEVES IN MIRACLES

Point guard Sam Cassell thinks he can be in the starting lineup for the Nets tonight at the Meadowlands against his old club, the Rockets. But with the guard's mobility...

JOURNEYMAN JONES GIVING IT BEST SHOT

ROCKETS at NETS Tonight 7:30-FSNY WOR (710 AM) Damon Jones' journey from Texas to New Jersey has been long and circuitous, including stops in places like Idaho, Jacksonville and Black...

CALHOUN CAGER BATTLES CANCER

Vanessa Raizberg wondered if she were still dreaming. Two weeks ago, the 17-year-old senior at the Calhoun School in Manhattan was napping ona bus as she returned from a school...

LIMITED APPEAL FOR GARDEN CARD

Some 8,000 tickets have been sold for Saturday's IBF welterweight championship bout between Felix Trinidad and Pernell Whitaker at the Garden. Is that good or bad? Depends who you ask....

A KOVA-LOVE AFFAIR IN PITTSBURGH

He is the happiest player on a hot hockey team. He is Alexei Kovalev, productive Penguin, no longer ridiculed Ranger. Kovalev, whose new club saw a 10-game winning streak ended...

DEVILS ENJOY LAUGHER

Devils 7 Lightning 1 The strange part is that even the Devils won't claim that their romp means they're returning to competence, or salvaged anything from their homestand. "It was...

A NIGHT IN PARADISE ISLAND - STEW'S CREW ZAPS PENS' STREAK

Islanders 3 Penguins 1 A terrific victory like last night's stunning 3-1 romp over the Penguins makes you scream: Where have the Islanders' heads and hearts been since Thanksgiving. Two...

IRATE RANGER FANS: 'REFUND! REFUND!'; RANGERS RUN OUT OF GARDEN

Canadiens 6 Rangers 3 The Ranger season is turning into "Groundhog Day." Last night, the part of Bill Murray was played by Mike Richter. On Sunday afternoon at the Garden,...