Sophie Masloff

Declaring "I'm back," Maynard Jackson was inaugurated as Atlanta's mayor for a third term after an eight-year hiatus. Elsewhere, Pittsburgh's first elected woman mayor, Sophie Masloff, promised to lower taxes and develop the city's riverfront at her inauguration, while in Houston, Kathy Whitmire took the oath for a record-tying fifth term as mayor. "I'm back, and I want you to know I'm fired up, turned on and I'm ready to roll. . . .

Declaring "I'm back," Maynard Jackson was inaugurated as Atlanta's mayor for a third term after an eight-year hiatus. Elsewhere, Pittsburgh's first elected woman mayor, Sophie Masloff, promised to lower taxes and develop the city's riverfront at her inauguration, while in Houston, Kathy Whitmire took the oath for a record-tying fifth term as mayor. "I'm back, and I want you to know I'm fired up, turned on and I'm ready to roll. . . .

Pittsburgh Mayor Sophie Masloff says she's going to ask New York investor Carl Icahn what his plans are for Pittsburgh's USX Corp., the nation's largest steelmaker. Icahn last week sold off a big block of Texaco stock to raise more than $2 billion in cash. So Masloff wants to know if he plans to try a hostile takeover of USX, the area's largest taxpayer and one of the city's largest employers. Masloff said observers have told her "he's a tough guy to talk to." The mayor used the same direct approach with Britain's Brian Beazer, who ended up taking over Pittsburgh's Koppers Co. last year.

Pittsburgh Mayor Sophie Masloff says she's going to ask New York investor Carl Icahn what his plans are for Pittsburgh's USX Corp., the nation's largest steelmaker. Icahn last week sold off a big block of Texaco stock to raise more than $2 billion in cash. So Masloff wants to know if he plans to try a hostile takeover of USX, the area's largest taxpayer and one of the city's largest employers. Masloff said observers have told her "he's a tough guy to talk to." The mayor used the same direct approach with Britain's Brian Beazer, who ended up taking over Pittsburgh's Koppers Co. last year.

Backers of a grass-roots campaign to curb development in Seattle expressed surprise and elation Wednesday at the decisive victory of a ballot initiative limiting construction of office towers in the city. Despite a media blitz by developers and elected officials opposed to the measure, the Citizens' Alternative Plan, or CAP, was passed overwhelmingly in Tuesday's single-issue special election. With 99% of precincts reporting, the vote was 42,643 in favor and 26,303 against the measure restricting the density and height of downtown buildings for the next 10 years while a long-range development plan is adopted.

Mayor Sophie Masloff said she was leaving government service, accepted a toast from employees and friends and took the rest of the day off. Masloff, 75, the first woman to serve as Pittsburgh's mayor, said Tuesday that she would not run in this year's city election.

Mayor Sophie Masloff was confused Thursday as to who is coming to town for a rock concert this summer. Masloff, 71, who recently called the Grateful Dead the "Dreadful Dead" and the group's fans "Deadenders," asked Three Rivers Stadium officials about an upcoming concert by "The How." "Not The How, The Who," said George Whitmer, the stadium authority's chairman. "The who?" Masloff asked. "Yes," Whitmer replied. "Is there a Who group and a How group?" Masloff asked.

Pirates President Carl Barger, reacting to reports that millionaire developer Edward J. DeBartolo is interested in buying the club, said today the Pirates are not for sale. Barger denied that the public-private consortium that bought the team in 1985 has any plans to sell, although DeBartolo reportedly told Mayor Sophie Masloff and two Allegheny County commissioners last Friday that he would be interested in the team.

Backers of a grass-roots campaign to curb development in Seattle expressed surprise and elation Wednesday at the decisive victory of a ballot initiative limiting construction of office towers in the city. Despite a media blitz by developers and elected officials opposed to the measure, the Citizens' Alternative Plan, or CAP, was passed overwhelmingly in Tuesday's single-issue special election. With 99% of precincts reporting, the vote was 42,643 in favor and 26,303 against the measure restricting the density and height of downtown buildings for the next 10 years while a long-range development plan is adopted.

Mayor Sophie Masloff, concerned about possible legal challenges, on Friday vetoed legislation that would have banned cigarette vending machines in most public places. Instead, Masloff proposed legislation to make such machines operable only with tokens purchased by adults.

Chunks of concrete plummeted from a bridge onto an interstate highway 75 feet below Sunday, damaging at least 20 vehicles and injuring three motorists. "A rock came out of the sky, bounced off our hood and smashed the windshield," said motorist Laura Nizankiewicz. "There was glass all over the car. My sister got a piece in her eye, and our arms were covered with little slivers." State Trooper W.