NATION

Three Minutes To Doomsday

A fire races through a nightclub in Rhode Island, leaving close to 100 dead. Was the band to blame?

WORLD

The Doubts Of War (Iraq / The Homefront)

Most Americans say they support going after Saddam, but with an interesting set of conditions. Often Bush gets the benefit of the doubt

With The Troops: Ready to Rumble (Iraq / With The Troops)

U.S. troops at the front are frustrated by diplomatic delays and disconcerted by the antiwar protests

Bush's Diplomatic Gamble: Who's With Him? (Iraq / Bush's Diplomatic Gamble)

As George Bush prepares for one final push to win support at the United Nations for a new war to disarm Iraq, his fate may lie with Hans Blix, the U.N.'s chief weapons inspector

Hans Blix: All Eyes on The Inspector (Iraq / Hans Blix)

AN INTERVIEW WITH THE U.N. DIPLOMAT He talks about Iraqi credibility, the necessity of a military threat and wrangling within the Security Council

Collateral Damage (Iraq)

The war against Saddam has already claimed three prominent victims

HEALTH & MEDICINE

A Major League Loss (Health)

Baseball may ban ephedra after a pitcher's death. But the move to penalize the herb may be premature

A Miracle Denied (Medicine)

A teenager's death after two sets of transplants raises questions of procedure and ethics

SOCIETY

Now She's Got Game

Title IX helped more women get into sports, but opponents complain it's pushing men out

BRIEFING

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

The President of Pop (Essay)

In a parallel universe, Michael Jackson is the leader of the free world

BUSINESS

TV's Unlikely Empire

Now that the little nature channel has become a big cable power, can DISCOVERY stay real--and on top?

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Can the Big Fat Fairy Tale Last? (Television)

The one-woman play that became the most SUCCESSFUL INDEPENDENT FILM in history is taking its magic to network TV. Or so CBS hopes

Art: The Strange Sensation (Art)

Matthew Barney can be a captivating oddity. Does that make him our most important young artist?

YOUR TIME

Home (Tax) Free

If you've sold a residence since 1999, the IRS might have some cash for you

SPECIAL SECTION

PEOPLE

LETTERS