BALLPARK REFERENDUMS: SAN FRANCISCO VOTES TODAY

     Low turnout is expected statewide in today's CA primary,
with San Francisco voters also deciding whether to give the
Giants approval to build a new downtown ballpark (Susan Yoachum,
S.F. CHRONICLE, 3/26).
     LIONS ENCOURAGED:  Lions officials believe last week's voter
approval of a new Tiger Stadium "could pave the way" for the NFL
team's return to Detroit, according to this morning's DETROIT
NEWS.  Lions COO Chuck Schmidt sees last Tuesday's "overwhelming"
vote in favor of a new ballpark as a sign the city might pay for
a new football stadium as well.  Schmidt:  "Things are heating up
for us." The team's Silverdome lease with the city of Pontiac
expires in 2004, while that city has hired a law firm to "protect
its interests."  Pontiac Stadium Authority Chair Bill McIntyre:
"The Lions are free to talk to Detroit about whatever they want
to do after 2004" (DETROIT NEWS, 3/26).