January 3, 2002

THERE ARE LOADS OF TAKEOVER TARGETS IN CABLE INDUSTRY

IS Cablevision going to be sold in the next big media deal? How many other cable companies will be swallowed up this year? I spoke again last week with Robert...

'FUGITIVE' CONDO FOR SALE

BEFORE Harrison Ford and wife Melissa Mathison finally went their separate ways last August, the couple had bid on a pricey new condo on Central Park West. The bid was...

WALL ST. RISES ON MANUFACTURING PICKUP

In one more sign the U.S. economy is recovering, a closely-watched index of American manufacturing rose last month to its highest level in 15 months. And a separate index that...

IT'S EURO-PHORIA! EUROPE'S NEW CURRENCY ROCKETS IN TRADING

The euro debuted as a new powerhouse currency by steamrolling over the world's major currencies - making England look stupid for not joining the euro bandwagon. Europe's new currency skyrocketed...

KMART'S WOES BURN MARTHA

Martha Stewart could be out on her butt when it comes to retailing. Kmart, where she has a lucrative distribution deal, is getting closer and closer to hitting the skids....

JILTED IN JERSEY ; NEWHOUSES POISED TO SHUT DOWN JOURNAL

It's life-or-death time for the 135-year-old Jersey Journal. The Newhouse family, which has owned the gritty daily since the 1950s, told the paper's three major unions yesterday that each union...

STARR REPORT

'Nightly' takes '01 viewership crown NBC's "Nightly News with Tom Brokaw" won the evening-news race for the week ending Dec. 28 - putting it over the top for the 2001...

YOU DIRTY RAT, DAD

"Sins of the Father" Sunday at 8 on FX IN 1963 in Birmingham, Ala., four girls aged 11 through 14 were killed when a bomb ripped through the Sixteenth Street...

POISON PENN PUZZLES BILL; O'REILLY ASKS ACTOR: WHAT'S YOUR BEEF?

BILL O'Reilly says he's baffled by a Sean Penn interview in the upcoming issue of Talk magazine in which the bad-boy actor likens O'Reilly to Adolf Hitler and Osama bin...

GOING IN STYLE . . .

ITS designers call it a Turn On - but the idea of a rotating bathroom may be more of a turn-off to the rest of us. Meet the latest "living...

RESOLUTION REVOLUTION: DIETS AND EXERCISE ARE SO BORING - WHY NOT BECOME A STAR INSTEAD

I WILL BUY MY FIRST APARTMENT New York's real estate market probably won't ever crash, so take advantage of the soft prices - and the rock-bottom mortgage rates - now....

GIVE US OMAR OR ELSE . . . :U.S. MAY ORDER MORE AIRSTRIKES

WASHINGTON - Tribal leaders in southern Afghanistan say they've been given a "clear message" to turn over Taliban leader Mullah Muhammad Omar - or face new U.S. airstrikes. For the...

OUTGOING VALLONE HANGING AROUND

Peter Vallone continued to function as City Council speaker yesterday - even though he was forced out on Dec. 31 by term limits. But with his successor not scheduled to...

A GINUWINE 'FRAUD' NAILED

A Minnesota man was indicted yesterday for allegedly posing as sexy R&B singer Ginuwine to steal thousands of dollars - and even call up young girls for phone sex, according...

NEW DOSE OF THE PILL MAY BEAT CANCER

Oral contraceptives with higher levels of the hormone progestin appear to reduce a woman's risk of ovarian cancer, scientists say. The Pill has long been associated with a decreased risk...

COP FINALLY REUNITED WITH HER SAVIOR

A hero cop was reunited with her own hero yesterday: the court officer who saved her life Sept. 11. "I've been looking for him for a long time," Police Officer...

L.I. COPS NAB MASSAGE DUO OVER SEX-OFFER ALLEGATION

Two Queens women were busted at a Long Island massage parlor for offering sexual favors to undercover officers, police said yesterday. Sue Kim and Jenny Kim, who are both 47...

VROOMMATES GET JOINT CUSTODY OF A PORSCHE

A court battle over a rare-edition Porsche was settled yesterday when a Long Island car dealer and the customer who tried to purchase the automobile decided to share custody of...

NEW WORRY FOR ASTHMATICS ; MORE LIKELY TO GET LUNG CANCER: STUDY

People with asthma are more likely to develop lung cancer, a new study concludes. The Swedish study looked at more than 100,000 patients during a 30-year period. Unlike previous studies,...

ENJOY IT NOW, MIKE ; THE GOODWILL WON'T LAST

IF there was one theme that dominated coverage of Mayor Bloomberg's inaugural speech, it was the "new, inclusive tone" emanating from City Hall's new occupant. "It's like a heavy load...

'20TH HIJACKER' MAKES BIZARRE COURTROOM PLEA

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - Zacarias Moussaoui, the accused "20th hijacker," dissed the American court system yesterday and refused "in the name of Allah" to enter a plea in his hijacking case....

'CHARITY' POSTCARD PRINTER IS ONLY DONATING TO ITSELF

EXCLUSIVE A souvenir company that promised to give proceeds from the sale of postcards to the families of rescue workers who died Sept. 11 has yet to give a penny...

SHOE BOMBER MAY FACE VA. TRIAL

WASHINGTON - The feds might move sneaker bomber Richard Reid from Boston to Virginia if they find he's connected to the Sept. 11 terror team, a Justice Department official said...

WATCHDOG, HEAL THYSELF!

ALBANY - A government-watchdog group that has fought for tougher lobbying requirements was fined for the second time in a year for violating those laws. Rachel Leon of Common Cause/New...

ISRAEL BARES SAUDI TERROR TIE: ALSO AIRS CHEMICAL ATTACKS

JERUSALEM - Saudi money is financing terrorist attacks in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and militants are using bombs with poisonous chemicals, Israeli officials said yesterday. The Shin Bet...

TALIBAN BIG KILLED IN BOMBING

WASHINGTON - The Taliban intelligence chief blown away in a U.S. bombing raid last week is believed to be the top Taliban official killed so far in the U.S.-led war...

'CULTURE OF THEFT' MAKES JFK A 'DISASTER': EXPERT

JFK Airport flies way ahead of most other U.S. airports, including Newark and La Guardia, when it comes to racking up federal security violations. "It's a disaster," said airline security...

CARNEGIE DELI-SLAY VICTIM'S BABY BORN

EXCLUSIVE The fiancée of one of the victims of the horrific Carnegie Deli massacre has given birth to their baby girl, The Post has learned. Steven King's girlfriend, whose name...

TAKE A PEEK INTO THE BLOOM ROOM: OFFICE SETUP MAKES MIKE LOOK LIKE ANY WORKING STIFF

TAKE A PEEK INTO THE BLOOM ROOMOffice setupmakes Mikelook like anyworking stiff Mayor Bloomberg has tossed aside the back room for the "bullpen" - sitting in the center of a...

LOUIMA JUDGE, 83, DIES OF PNEUMONIA

Eugene H. Nickerson - the federal judge who handled the Abner Louima torture case - died of pneumonia on New Year''s Day after complications following stomach surgery. On the federal...

BIG UNCLE WILL BE WATCHING

Big Uncle will be watching - much, much more closely. U.S. immigration officials soon will be giving foreign visitors more than a casual once-over - they'll be comparing them to...

CATHOLIC HS TEACHERS BACK ON JOB - FOR NOW

More than 300 striking Catholic high school teachers caved in and returned to school yesterday after a one-month walkout failed to produce a contract. "We're pleased the students were able...

CREWS EXPECT TO FIND BODIES ON LOWER FLOORS

Firefighters and construction workers toiling at ground zero expect to recover more clusters of victims now that they've dug down to the World Trade Center complex's bottom floors - buried...

'WRONG BODY' ANGUISH: WIDOW SUES TO VERIFY ID OF FIRE HERO SHE BURIED

A widow who mistakenly thought she'd laid her firefighter husband to rest wants proof the man she buried wasn't him. Elise Guadalupe says in court papers that she's "suffered from...

YOU'VE GOT MORE TROUBLE: AOL ADMITS NEW GLITCH

You've been hacked! AOL users run the risk of having their computers hijacked while chatting on Instant Messenger, as a new glitch allows hackers to infiltrate hard drives when people...

BUOYANT BUSHIES THINK THEY CAN TAKE N.Y. IN '04

MAYOR Bloomberg's team figures there's a special incentive to make sure President Bush does well by New York - the commander in chief is so popular these days that if...

FLYING DOC'S LAWYERS ASK COURT TO NIX SLAY CONVICTION

A brilliant but evil plastic surgeon made a courtroom bid for freedom in Manhattan yesterday when his lawyers told skeptical appeals judges he should never have been convicted in his...

UNDER FIRE: BLOOMY STUNS COPS, FIREMEN WITH CALL FOR MASSIVE CASH CUTS

Mayor Bloomberg got down to work yesterday by asking every city agency - including the Police and Fire departments - to provide a menu of potential cuts to close a...

HIT-RUN COP KILLER DWI: POLICE

A hit-and-run driver accused of killing an off-duty cop drank up to eight beers and a shot of whiskey before the crash, and had so much alcohol in his blood...

ROCK-THE-CRADLE CLAPTON: 'I DO'

Eric Clapton stunned guests attending the christening of his love child by stepping forward with his young girlfriend and getting married. The 56-year-old rock legend tied the knot with Melia...

NEW DIGS SEND RIGHT MESSAGE

A workplace expert says Mayor Bloomberg's "bullpen" sends a positive signal that he's egalitarian and willing to listen - but it will only work if his behavior backs it up....

$240M AID FOR LINCOLN CENTER NOT CENTER STAGE

Mayor Bloomberg, a big fund-raiser for Lincoln Center, indicated yesterday that he might have to delay the $240 million previously promised by the city to redevelop the Upper West Side...

CITY HALL JOBS MAY BE FAMILY AFFAIR

Mayor Bloomberg's sister and oldest daughter are likely going into the new family business: city government. Emma Bloomberg, a 22-year-old Princeton grad, plans to take a job in her dad's...

DEMS' CHIEF SCOLDS GREEN TEAM ON RACE

--EXCLUSIVE-- ALBANY - Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe has rapped several city Democrats for controversial conduct during Mark Green's failed mayoral race, The Post has learned. Sources said the...

SAVED FROM ICY DOOM ; FIREMEN PLUCK BOY FROM N.H. RIVER

Brrrrrr-ave! Hero firefighters were on thin ice when they saved a New Hampshire boy clinging desperately to life after he fell into a partially frozen river. Curtis Shattuck, 11, was...

UFT CONCEDES TEACHERS WON'T GET A BIG RAISE

The head of the city teachers union has told members it's unlikely they will get a large pay hike - just a month after calling for the city to finance...

EUROS GET A 'BOOST' FROM THIEVES

The new European currency was welcomed enthusiastically by consumers and crooks yesterday as stores and banks reopened after New Year's Day. Banks were jammed across the continent as Europeans lined...

VAN SUSTEREN BOLTS CNN FOR FOX

CNN legal analyst Greta Van Susteren is jumping to the Fox News Channel - another stunning coup for FNC. Van Susteren, a lawyer who rose to prominence during O.J. Simpson's...

HIZZONER RINGS IN NEW ERA

Mayor Bloomberg yesterday spent his first full day in office granting TV interviews, reaching out to labor leaders and ringing the New York Stock Exchange opening bell. Making good on...

POLICE BOSS BACK TO WORK

Raymond Kelly's first day back at One Police Plaza was all too familiar - it started with a flurry of morning meetings. "It's all part of the job," said Kelly,...

NEW SHOT AT OVERHAULING BOARD OF ED

With Rudy Giuliani out of office, state Democrats say they are more willing to consider revamping the city Board of Education. "Because it was Rudy, a lot of it was...

LINDROS ON IR WITH 'MINOR' CONCUSSION

EDMONTON - No matter how it's spun, this can't be turned into good news. Eric Lindros, who was hoping to be cleared to skate upon being examined by neurological specialist...

RANGERS LEFT WITH NO PUNCH

Oilers 4 Rangers 1 EDMONTON - And so the two victories the Rangers somehow earned after Eric Lindros suffered his "minor" concussion in the first period in San Jose on...

BIG GUNS CLASH FOR CROWN

PASADENA - How will Miami react the first time Nebraska runs Tight 41 Sprint, Eric Crouch's favorite option play, and he breaks off a 15-yard run? "Nobody runs the option...

SACK TALK RILES UP MIAMI LINE COACH

ROSE BOWL NOTES PASADENA - It was only a matter of time. Put two proud football programs in the same town more than a week before they're about to play...

DERANGED RAIDERS FAN TO LYLE: BREAK A LEG, YOU BUM!

Last season, in the Jets' third-to-last game, Rick Lyle fractured his left leg while trying to tackle Raiders' running back Napolean Kaufman. Lyle was penalized for tripping Kaufman, his only...

ESPN'S STEINER SAYS YES TO YANKS

The Yankees' new YES TV and radio network voices are now largely in place. The Post has learned that Charley Steiner, ESPN "SportsCenter" anchor and versatile ESPN Radio and television...

MILBURY CRIES FOUL ON REFS

Have the refs got it out for the Islanders? GM Mike Milbury thinks so, stemming from comments made by coach Peter Laviolette after the Isles fell to the Devils Dec....

WILLINGHAM'S HIRING IS BIG STEP FORWARD

DURING his introductory press conference Tuesday as the new head football coach at Notre Dame, Tyrone Willingham didn't want to dwell on the sociological significance of his hiring. Nor did...

BLUE AND GREEN STARS HEADED TO HONOLULU: STRAHAN, STONE AND ARMSTEAD GOING BOWLIN'

Jim Fassel gathered the Giants around him yesterday and announced the Giants Pro Bowl selections. Michael Strahan, who is about to set the single-season NFL sack record, was a given....

DEVS' MCKAY NO HAPPY CAMPER

The Devils are finally sitting in playoff position, but that doesn't mean all is rosy on the Good Ship LouLipop. Alternate captain Randy McKay told The Post yesterday he intends...

MIKE TAKING AIM AT FAVRE, MARK

GIANT NOTES Standing in the way of Michael Strahan and the single-season NFL sack record is Mark Tauscher, who looks so physically unimposing that his Packers teammates lovingly refer to...

HOFSTRA MAN LANDS CH. 5 JOB

John Discepelo, an ex-Hofstra football player (you can look it up), will replace Curt Menefee as Fox-Channel 5's lead sports anchor, beginning later this month. Menefee will leave Channel 5...

MET OFFER TO JUAN: 2 YRS., $25M

It's crunch time for Gonzo. Numbers crunching time. The Mets, according to high-level Major League sources, have offered a two-year, $25 million contract to free agent slugger Juan Gonzalez. That...

CURTIS LEADS JETS' HAWAIIAN PUNCH

JET NOTES Curtis Martin headlined the three Jets who were voted into the Pro Bowl yesterday. Martin, who leads the NFL with 1,463 rushing yards and has 10 rushing TDs...

JAX, CAMBY ON NOTICE

With the Knicks in full free fall coming into tonight's Garden game vs. Dallas, coach Don Chaney said they'll need more aggressiveness from Marcus Camby and better leadership overall. The...

UPBEAT EDWARDS KEEPIN' THE FAITH ; COACH BELIEVES GLORY IS STILL WITHIN JETS' GRASP

The negativism that has spun from the Jets' deplorable performance in Sunday's loss to the 2-12 Bills with the playoffs on the line and from their well-documented history of late-season...

VINNY BURIES THE HATCHET ON HACKETT

When Vinny Testaverde arrived yesterday at Weeb Ewbank Hall, one of the first things he did was march right into Herman Edwards' office, unannounced but welcome. Testaverde had seen his...

SCOTT GLAD HE COACHES THIS JASON

Be yourself. Be Jason Kidd. But don't be Jason Williams. That, essentially, was a message Net coach Byron Scott sent his son, Thomas, two years ago. The younger Scott was...

DOC: KIDD OUGHT TO BE LEAGUE'S MVP

NET NOTES Maybe it didn't answer why we are here, but the Stephon Marbury-for-Jason Kidd swap solved one age-old question, in the eyes of Orlando coach Doc Rivers. What's better...

ANOTHER MAGIC ACT BY JASON

Nets 92 Grizzlies 74 An ocean is deep. The sun is hot. The Nets are better with Jason Kidd on the floor. Sometimes, you just have to stick your neck...

PITT BLIZZARD SNUFFS OUT STORM

Pitt 77 St. John's 54 PITTSBURGH - Mike Jarvis didn't make it to the end of his team's Big East opener last night. His team didn't show up at the...

DOC: KIDD ADDS EXCLAMATION TO POINT

NET NOTES Maybe it doesn't answer why we are here, but the Stephon Marbury-for-Jason Kidd swap does solve one age-old question in the eyes of Orlando coach Doc Rivers. Here...

'MINOR CONCUSSION' PUTS LINDROS ON IR

EDMONTON - No matter how it's spun, this can't be turned into good news. Eric Lindros, who was hoping to be cleared to skate upon being examined by neurological specialist...

PRIME TIME FOR HATTEN

PITTSBURGH - He was happy just to be playing at St. John's and to have gotten off to a good start, but this is the time Marcus Hatten was waiting...