The Week December 12-18

(3 of 3)

United Airlines may become the nation's largest employee-owned company. Leaders of the pilots' and machinists' unions last week agreed to a deal in which airline workers would receive 53% of the company in exchange for $5.15 billion in concessions. The proposal awaits board and union-member approval.

SCIENCE

Curing the Delta Blues

After more than a decade of debate, lawsuits and battles among government officials, four federal agencies announced a sweeping plan to restore water flow to California's Sacramento Delta. One of the most biologically important estuaries in North America, the delta has been slowly dying as drought and diversion of fresh water to farms and cities have cut its flow 60%. Meanwhile, hopes dimmed for the future of an ambitious plan announced last July to reduce pollution and preserve water flow in Florida's Everglades. Most likely, the matter will now return to the courts.

DDT from Abroad

Though banned in the U.S. more than 20 years ago, the pesticide DDT is still accumulating here. Yale researchers who studied New England forests say winds deliver DDT from countries as remote as India that continue to use it.

THE ARTS & MEDIA

Foxball?

The scrappy Fox network outbid CBS, patriarch of pro-pigskin broadcasters, for four-year TV rights to the prized National Football Conference. Now such gilt- edged franchises as Dallas, San Francisco and the New York Giants will air on the network of Al Bundy and Bart Simpson. And CBS, an N.F.L. home since the '50s, could be without a major pro-team sport. As Bart might say to CBS: "Don't have the Cowboys, man."

The Spielberg Problem

The New York Film Critics Circle named Steven Spielberg's Holocaust epic Schindler's List Best Picture but somewhat perversely gave New Zealand-born Jane Campion the award for Best Director for The Piano. The Los Angeles Film Critics Association likewise divided its Best Picture and Best Director awards between the two. For its part, the National Board of Review named Schindler Best Picture but cited Martin Scorsese as Best Director for The Age of Innocence.