All-News TV Loses Viewers After Trial
Date: 26 February 1999
By Lawrie Mifflin
Lawrie Mifflin
Ebbing of Clinton-Lewinsky mania following President's acquittal on impeachment charges has hurt 24-hour cable news networks, whose ratings have been pumped up by scandal; Nielsen ratings have dropped by 25 percent to 30 percent for CNN, MSNBC and Fox News Channel; latest coups in scandal have been scored by major broadcast networks, with NBC News's interview with Juanita Broaddrick, who claims Clinton raped her 21 years ago, and Barbara Walters's upcoming interview on ABC News with Monica S Lewinsky (M)
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Judge Condemns Policy of Parading Suspects Past Cameras
Date: 26 February 1999
By Benjamin Weiser
Benjamin Weiser
Federal Judge Allen G Schwartz rules that hallowed police rite known as the 'perp walk' violates constitutional rights of a burglary suspect who was paraded by New York City Police Dept before television station's camera; for now, at least, ruling halts a tradition dating from even before Teddy Roosevelt was New York City's Police Commissioner; a 'perpetrator' who has just been arrested is 'walked' in front of reporters and photographers, showcasing police department's crime-fighting skills and satisfying media's demand for glimpse of the suspect; Schwartz declares that tradition is a violation of privacy rights; ruling comes in case of John Lauro Jr, Manhattan doorman; Schwartz rules that Lauro can proceed with lawsuit against city seeking compensatory and punitive damages for embarrassment and damage to his reputation that he suffered during 'perp walk' after his arrest on larceny charges, which were later dismissed (M)
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Parading of Suspects Is Evolving Tradition; Halted After a Judge's Ruling, 'Perp Walks' Are Likely to Be Revived -- in Some Form
Date: 27 February 1999
By Blaine Harden
Blaine Harden
Federal Judge Allen G Schwartz rules the 'perp walk,' technique used by New York City police to make sure that the press gets close-up pictures of suspected criminals, has 'no legitimate law enforcement objective or justification'; ruling means that John Lauro Jr can proceed with lawsuit against the city; Lauro was an East Side doorman accused of burglary; he was hauled out of a police station in Sept 1995 and walked slowly to squad car and then driven around the block; perp walk seems likely to survive Judge Schwartz's ruling because perpetrators are always going to have to walk somewhere and photographers' job is to wait for the picture; photos of 1962 and 1968 'perp walks' (M)
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Journalists Fear Ruling Could Hinder Coverage of the Police
Date: 27 February 1999
By Benjamin Weiser
Benjamin Weiser
Journalists and attorneys for the media express concern with the ruling by Judge Allen G Schwartz that it is unconstitutional for Police Department to display prisoners for benefit of press; say ruling may be construed too broadly and used to further restrict access to police at a time when the department's practices are under close scrutiny (M)
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Gov. Bush to Set Up Panel to Explore Presidential Bid
Date: 26 February 1999
By Richard L. Berke
Richard Berke
Gov George W Bush of Texas has reportedly decided to seek Republican Presidential nomination in 2000, and will take first step of establishing exploratory committee in next two weeks; Bush makes clear that his announcement is imminent; Bush's decision-making process has drawn enormous attention and speculation because he is widely viewed by Republicans as candidate to beat, even before he formally enters competition; his rivals, as well as news organizations, will be less hesitant to scrutinize his record and qualifications once he makes formal entry into race (M)
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IN A STIFF REBUKE, U.S. ACCUSES CHINA OF ABUSING RIGHTS
Date: 27 February 1999
By Elizabeth Becker
Elizabeth Becker
State Department scores China's human rights abuses; holds Chinese leaders broke their promises to adhere to international human rights convention and instead decided last fall to 'nip in the bud' attempts to form independent and democratic political parties; charges China continues to imprison several thousand political and religious dissidents, suppress Chinese of minority faiths, including Christians outside official church, and has imposed new press curbs; report spurs questions in Congress about effectiveness of Clinton Administration's policy of engagement with China; Clinton defends policy, speech, San Francisco; State Sec Madeleine K Albright plans to discuss report with Chinese leaders during visit to China next week (M)
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POLAROID MAPS A PLAN TO RETURN TO PROFITABILITY
Date: 27 February 1999
By Bloomberg News
Bloomberg News
Polaroid Corp tells securities analysts at trade meeting that it will try to return to profitability by selling four businesses and increasing new product sales as much as fivefold this year (S)
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KERR-MCGEE OUTLINES JOB REDUCTION MOVES
Date: 27 February 1999
By Bloomberg News
Bloomberg News
Kerr-McGee Corp plans to cut 525 jobs after completing its $2.44 billion acquisition of rival Oryx Energy Co, which is approved by shareholders (S)
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SALOMON SMITH BARNEY AND NIKKO SECURITIES IN DEAL
Date: 27 February 1999
By Bloomberg News
Bloomberg News
Salomon Smith Barney and Japan's Nikko Securities say their investment banking venture will open on March 1 after month's delay because of procedural problems; Standard & Poor's lowers Nikko Securities' counterparty rating to one notch above 'junk' status (S).
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SMITHFIELD IN $500 MILLION DEAL FOR CARROLL'S FOODS
Date: 26 February 1999
By Bloomberg News
Bloomberg News
Smithfield Foods Inc acquires Carroll's Foods Inc for about $500 million in cash and stock (S)
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