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Highlights the top business news stories of 1998 in the United States. Problems of Boeing Co. as first; Includes Justice Department's efforts against Microsoft Corp.; Retail trade in Seattle, Washington; Amazon.com's stocks. INSET: The top 10 business news stories of 1998.

Reports on Puget Sound area, Washington, winning the most votes in a 1996 readership poll on the top business news stories with a collection of events called downtown developments. Outline of stories; Other poll placings; Readers top story suggestions. INSET: The top business news stories of 1995..

Presents the results of `Puget Sound Business Journal's' 1994 survey of its readers regarding the year's top business stories in Washington state. Includes the Republican Party's congressional election victory as the top story; Rollout of Boeing's 777 jet liner; Kingdome at third.

Discusses the contribution of businessman George Duff in laying the roots of cooperation between Seattle's government and the business community. Duff's management of the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce; Ability of Duff to bring people together for a shared community purpose; Projects involved with; Accomplishments in the chamber; Political connections of Duff. INSET: Duff on Duff (interview with George Duff)..

Presents the top business news stories of 1997 in Seattle Metropolitan Area, Washington State. Rankings based on a poll of `Puget Sound Business Journal' readers and staff; Boeing Co.'s absorption of McDonnell Douglas as top story.

Cites the real estate development in Seattle, Washington, as `Puget Sound Business Journal' newspaper's top business news story of 1996. Comparison with the Boeing resurgence of 1996 and Microsoft's strategies concerning the Internet computer network; Other news stories cited.

Comments on the social behavior of the residents of the Northwestern States when waiting in line. Tendency among the locals of not forming a straight and well-defined line; Explanation for the queuing behavior peculiar to the region's residents.

Highlights the problem of work-related sleep deprivation. Reasons of most people for overextending themselves during work; Consequences of losing a few hours of sleep; High-intensity jobs.

Comments on plans to build a monorail system in Seattle, Washington. City voters' approval of the creation of the Elevated Transit Corp.; Main provisions of Initiative 53; Pros and cons of a monorail system.

Editorials. Calls on voters of King County, Washington State to support a proposed sales tax increase that would fund a bus service improvement project. Use of funds from the tax increase to restore and maintain operation of Metro; Rate of increase; Consequences of Initiatives 695 and 745.

Editorial. Comments on the move of the Nordstrom family to reclaim control of Nordstrom Inc. Developments concerning the firm prior to the take over of its management by Bruce and Blake Nordstrom; Nordstroms aim to help the firm regain its balance; Earnings performance of the firm.

Editorial. Discusses how the sudden plunge of the Emulex Corp. stock in August 2000 reinforced how vulnerable the markets have become to fabricated data in the area of instant information. Sudden drop in Emulex's stock price on the basis of phony information distributed by respected news organizations; Overall negative impact on the Nasdaq market.

Comments on the behavior of United States firms Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. and Ford Motor Co. about their recall of Firestone tires. Dodge-and-stall strategy by Bridgestone; Quiet settlement of some suits by Ford; Brand damage suffered by Bridgestone from the recall.

Editorial. Comments on the dismissal of Safeco Corp. chief executive officer Roger Eigsti. Eigsti's leadership qualities; Value of the company's stocks; Official statement released by the board placing emphasis on the need for quick and decisive changes.

Editorial. Criticizes disarmament advocates' call for the Seattle, Washington City Council to disinvite the USS Alabama nuclear ship from the 2000 Seafair. Alleged disrespect inherent in the effort to keep the ship out to sea; Claim that the ship is part of the deterrent force whose job it is to keep the United States safe from nuclear weapon attacks.

Comments on the competition between passenger plane manufacturers Boeing Co. and Airbus Industrie. Booking of orders for Airbus' A3XX; Upgrading of the Boeing 747 to a 500-seat version; Development cost for the A3XX.

Comments on how companies, such as Boston Scientific Corp., use verbosity in their press releases to hide bad news about themselves. Sample of announcement from Boston Scientific about its layoff and plant transfer program; Comments by Boston Scientific's chief executive Jim Tobin on changes in the firm.

Editorial. Discusses the role played by entrepreneur Paul Allen in molding the future of Seattle Metropolitan Area, Washington's business environment. Allen as owner of investment company Vulcan Northwest; Properties owned; Patience and knowledge in the real estate development business.

Focuses on the goal of the Partnership for Learning to encourage Washington employers to require high school transcripts as part of the job application process. Support received by the nonprofit coalition of Washington businesses from various employers including Boeing, Microsoft and local organizations; Advertising campaign planned to target students; Merit of the program from the educators' point of view.

Editorial. Discusses the Seattle City Council's reaction to the West Seattle neighborhood in Washington's refusal to approve city participation in the construction of a parking garage to serve West Seattle's Admiral Way-California Avenue commercial center. Factors cited disapproving the project; Analysis of the message brought forth in the council's decision undermining entrepreneurial neighborhood.

Editorial. Comments on the scheduled opening of Paul Allen's Experience Music Project (EMP), an exhibition building in Seattle, Washington. Controversy over its design and collection of music memorabilia; Designing of the metal-clad structure by architect Frank Gehry; Benefits of the building on the area's economy.

Focuses on the media coverage of the antitrust charges against Microsoft Corp. Solicitation of sympathy; Proposal to break the company into two.

Editorial. Comments on the cooperation between government and private sectors to revive the Fast Corridor rail freight project in Washington state as of May 26, 2000. Project's impact on economic conditions in the region.

Editorial. Comments on the emergence of the so-called `new philanthropy,' a dynamic expansion of traditional notions about individual and corporate donations, in the Seattle Metropolitan Area in Washington. Factors driving new philanthropy; Characteristics of new philanthropy; Individuals and companies in the forefront of new philanthropy in the region.

Editorial. Warns of cost overruns in failing to clean up the Hanford Nuclear Reservation in Washington. Cost estimate made by British Nuclear Fuels Ltd.; Method used to bury nuclear waste; Clean-up called vitrification; Toxic leaks from leaking underground tanks.

Editorial. Predicts that Microsoft Corp. will continue to be a successful company despite problems it is experiencing as a result of an antitrust case filed against it by the United States Justice Department. Investors' reaction to rumors that the company will be broken up; Company's financial performance; Possibility that the government will lose its case against Microsoft.

Editorial. Comments on the collective change in attitude regarding the decrease in prices of technology stocks in the United States during April 2000. Renewed appreciation for profitable companies; How the majority of Internet companies that were not profitable had high share prices; Prediction of a further erosion of technology stock prices.

Editorial. Focuses on electronic retailing. Online retail category; Marketing advantages of established retailers; Volatility of electronic commerce.

Editorial. Comments on Microsoft Corp.'s stance toward its antitrust case in the United States. Stubbornness of Microsoft Corp.; Major weakness of the anti-Microsoft juggernaut; Competitors' anticipation of the punishment yet to be handed out.

Focuses on the `Puget Sound Business Journal' periodical's special report titled `To Build a House.' Goal to break down the real costs of building an average new home in Washington State; Centerpiece of the special report; Role of government in ensuring a healthy and affordable housing market.

Editorial. Comments on Alaska Air Group chairman and chief executive officer John Kelly's handling of the crash of Flight 261 and investigations of Alaska Airlines' safety procedures. Need for Kelly to maintain his leadership role within the company while reflecting concern and credibility to the public; Lessons for other CEOs faced with sharp public questions about a company's trustworthiness.

Reflects on the closure of the Kingdome stadium in Seattle, Washington and the search for a site for a replacement stadium. History of the stadium; Cost of construction and maintenance; Structure and homefield advantages.

Editorial. Discusses the settlement of the strike held by employees of aircraft maker Boeing Co. in Seattle, Washington. Impact of the work stoppage on the Puget Sound community; Issues raised by the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace; Role of Boeing in the local economy; Effects of the strike on unionization of white collar workers.

Editorial. Comments on the tax-cut Initiative 695 in Washington state. Retention of the $30 license tab fee; King County Superior Court Judge Robert Alsdorf's conclusion regarding the flaws of the initiative; Rationale behind the checks and balances of the three branches of government.

Discusses the annual fund-raising campaign for the arts by the Community Council for the Arts (CCA) in Seattle, Washington. Council's support for more than 60 local arts organizations; Aim of the CCA to seek $3.8 million from corporate and individual donors in 2000.

Looks at the growth strategy that has continued for Microsoft Corp. twenty years into its operation as a giant computer company. Ability to thrive on risk-taking and bold ventures; Local and global influences that have made Microsoft the most pervasive company since Coca-Cola.

Makes observations concerning the Cincinnati Reds baseball team's acquisition of player Ken Griffey Jr. Criticism of Junior's playing style; Gripe about the team's failure to provide Junior with a supporting cast.

Focuses on the role of news media in helping people understand the meaning of the crash of Alaska Airlines Flight 261. Focus on finding the facts; Consequences of the crash for the Seattle, Washington-based airlines and the city; Media's function of enhancing the sense of community for the city of Seattle.

Editorial. Comments on the charitable contributions of Microsoft Corp. chairman Bill Gates. Establishment of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; Estimated amount of donations made by Gates.

Focuses on the trend in the hotel business of locating in the downtown area of Seattle, Washington State. Plan by Hyatt Hotels Corp. to build its Regency Hotel at Rainier Square; Competition to lease the site; Downtown's allure for hoteliers.

Editorial. Comments on developments related to Microsoft Corp. and Boeing Co. Effects of a ruling by a United States federal judge declaring Microsoft as a predatory monopoly; Options of the software firm in responding to the ruling; Boeing's credibility problems resulting from aircraft failures.

Profiles amateur basketball coach John Wooden. Wooden's speech in the Seattle Best Practices Awards ceremony; Leadership; Championships won by the University of California in Los Angeles' basketball team Bruins; Philosophies about life and coaching; Wooden's `Pyramid of Success'.

Editorial. Comments on the appointment of Howard Lincoln as chairman and chief executive officer of the Seattle Mariners baseball team. Lincoln's previous work; Challenges Lincoln would face; First interview; Ties with the majority owner.

Reports on the three-day Technology Conference in Seattle, Washington, which is aimed at helping business editors and journalists cope with the technology explosion. Conference's sponsor; Reasons behind Seattle's selection as the conference's site; Conference's discussion topics; Includes `Multimedia on the Internet'; `How do you value Internet companies'.

Editorial. Presents the results of a survey conducted by the `Business Journal' regarding what readers in Washington read and value. Coverage of local business news; Trustworthiness of the newspaper; Value of the articles published in the newspaper.

Editorial. Comments on Washington State Patrol's plan to send officers out in police cars disguised as cabs. Objectives of the plan; State Patrol's effort to restrain `road rage' on the Interstate 5 corridor; Plans to add nontraditional cars to its Aggressive Driver Apprehension Team.

Reflects on the mixed reaction of the American community to the death of John F. Kennedy Jr.; Media frenzy produced by Kennedy Jr.'s death; Visceral shock of President John F. Kennedy's assassination three decades ago; How the young people view Kennedy Jr.; Attention given to Kennedy Jr. who was viewed as the charming,good-looking inheritor of his father's legacy.

Editorial. Relates that the Seattle City Council in Washington has approved of a proposal to set up the Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA). Budget allocated by the City Council to support the program; Efforts exerted by the city to keep Seattle clean, safe and inviting; Areas covered by the DBIA; Services to be funded by DBIA.

Focuses on the Safeco Field ballpark in Puget Sound, Washington. Special touches for local baseball fans; Design; Features and amenities.

Comments on the Public Facilities District of Seattle, Washington's access restrictions on information about its stadium dispute with the Seattle Mariners major league baseball team.