September 18, 2001 Diary: America Responds

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Terror topples Wall St
Tuesday, September 18, 2001
A display of patriotism, bomb-sniffing dogs and a cut in a key interest rate could not prevent stock prices from falling dramatically Monday as the nation's major exchanges reopened after the Sept. 11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center.
Although Wall Street workers tried to remain hopeful, selling began immediately and the market went in only one direction almost all day: down.

Sports tighten security
Tuesday, September 18, 2001
No coolers will be allowed at NASCAR's race. Backpacks and briefcases will be searched at hockey games. Football fans will be asked to arrive early. Even the Goodyear blimp might not fly. On the ground, in the sky, at stadium entrances and among tailgaters, security will be increased this week as football, hockey, auto racing and other sports resume.

U.S. says: 'Play ball'
Tuesday, September 18, 2001
Baseball was awash in red, white and blue and patriotic songs Monday night when games resumed and flag-waving fans returned, ready to pick up where they left off six days ago — when cheering came easier. From coast and coast and across the border to Canada, the crack of the bat was a welcome sound in a setting that offered decidedly different snapshots than it did before the terrorist attacks on America:

U.S. faces test of national character
Tuesday, September 18, 2001
By David Broder
Washington Post Writers Group

In the days since terrorists launched their murderous assault on the symbols of America's economic and military power, killing thousands of our people, the national response has been nothing short of magnificent.

Airline adjustments
Tuesday, September 18, 2001
Journal-World Editorial

Increased government attention to security issues may be the best way to help the nation's struggling airlines. There probably is no business in America that will feel the impact of last week's terrorist attacks more than the airline industry.

Kansans raise thousands in wake of terror attacks
Tuesday, September 18, 2001
Firefighters hold out their boots, collecting money for families of their fallen comrades.
Manhattan, Kan. — "The Little Apple" — reaches out to the island of Manhattan.

Heavy-equipment operator answers call
Tuesday, September 18, 2001
By Dave Ranney

Jennifer Ferguson's husband left for New York City with a one-way bus ticket, $40 in his pocket, and faith that things would work out.
The son of a decorated World War II veteran, 26-year-old Jeff Ferguson of Lawrence just had to do something to help after last week's terrorist attacks, Jennifer Ferguson said.

President wants bin Laden 'dead or alive'
Tuesday, September 18, 2001
President Bush declared Osama bin Laden "wanted — dead or alive" Monday, as his administration hurried to mobilize the military and build a new worldwide coalition to fight terrorism.
"I want him — I want justice," Bush said.

Markets give investors little guidance about future
Tuesday, September 18, 2001
Day One of the post-attack stock-trading world ended with the Dow industrials down 7.1 percent. Other than that, what do we know now that we didn't know in the days before the opening bell Monday morning?
We know the New York and American Stock Exchanges, and the Nasdaq stock market, were ready for business. But while that was a remarkable achievement, vital to investors, one day's trading leaves us with little insight into what will happen to stocks in the days, weeks and months to come.

Prosecutors find it hard to make links to bin Laden
Tuesday, September 18, 2001
"God is great!" the bearded prisoner shouts defiantly from behind the bars of his cage in a military courtroom, fingers jammed into his ears to block the sound of attorneys' arguments as he recited his afternoon prayers.

Hijacking probe expands
Tuesday, September 18, 2001
The FBI is investigating the possibility that suicide hijackers were on board a fifth transcontinental airline flight last Tuesday, one that was cancelled just minutes before its scheduled 8:10 a.m. departure from Boston due to a mechanical problem, according to sources familiar with the investigation.
Federal agents are searching for an undetermined number of passengers who were on board American Airlines Flight 43, according to one source familiar with the passenger manifest. The flight was to have departed Boston 25 minutes after American Flight 11, which struck New York's World Trade Center, this source said.

U.S. must protect freedoms
Tuesday, September 18, 2001
By Geneva Overholser
Washington Post Writers Group

The terrorists struck a symbol of our military might on Tuesday, and they struck a symbol of our economic prosperity. But the symbols of our most fundamental strength — our democracy — they failed to reach.

Moran drops out of state governor's race
Tuesday, September 18, 2001
U.S. Rep. Jerry Moran dropped out of the governor's race Monday, and Atty Gen. Carla Stovall said she is considering a run. Lt. Gov. Gary Sherrer said he will reconsider his earlier decision not to run for governor next year. State Treasurer Tim Shallenburger said he'll decide his plans soon.

Events may transform Bush
Tuesday, September 18, 2001
By Larry Eichel
The Philadelphia Inquirer

We are witnessing the transformation of George W. Bush. Or so we should hope. Before the assault on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, the president too often shied away from taking on the office's most powerful roles in the media age — as spokesman for the national purpose, embodiment of the national mood, and pastor to the national psyche.

Synagogues tighten security for Rosh Hashanah
Tuesday, September 18, 2001
The Jewish High Holy Days arrived Monday night with synagogues under the watch of extra security guards and police, but worshippers greeted the period of personal reflection with vows not to be intimidated by last week's terrorist attacks.

Amid war talk, Americans offer mixed support
Tuesday, September 18, 2001
War! headlines shout. It's coming, political leaders warn. How do average Americans respond? Interviews around the country show support for military action, although not unanimously.

Energy companies sense vulnerability
Tuesday, September 18, 2001
The government is ordering increased security for America's energy systems, concerned that nuclear plants, power lines, hydroelectric dams and nearly 400,000 miles of oil and gas pipeline could be vulnerable.

Ashcroft seeks to detain illegal immigrants longer
Tuesday, September 18, 2001
(Updated Wednesday at 12:40 a.m.) President Bush encouraged Americans to take heart Tuesday in their rush to give aid and comfort after the terrorist attacks one week earlier. The government, which has detained 75 people for questioning and on immigration charges, made clear the peril may not have passed.

County examines security following terrorist attacks
Tuesday, September 18, 2001
By Chad Lawhorn

Last week's terrorist attacks have Douglas County officials looking at tightening up security at the downtown building that houses police, sheriff and court offices.

Developer vows to rebuild World Trade Center
Tuesday, September 18, 2001
Less than two months after closing on the lease to the World Trade Center, Larry Silverstein promised Monday to rebuild the destroyed Twin Towers.

N.Y. rescue hopes fading
Tuesday, September 18, 2001
A week after the horrifying fall of the World Trade Center, officials faced a crucial decision: When should they concede that rescue efforts are futile and move full-time into the grimmer task of recovering the dead?

First lady rises to role
Tuesday, September 18, 2001
She never sought the spotlight, and even once made her husband promise never to ask her to give a speech. But driven by last week's tragic events, Laura Bush is setting aside her natural reticence and offering the nation steadfast reassurance as first lady.

Clerics to decide bin Laden's fate
Tuesday, September 18, 2001
A grand Islamic council in Afghanistan should decide whether to hand over Osama bin Laden, the prime suspect in last week's terror attacks in the United States, the Taliban's supreme leader said Monday.
The announcement by Mullah Mohammed Omar came after a Pakistani delegation met with him and delivered a blunt message to Afghanistan's radical Taliban rulers: Hand over bin Laden or be hit by a punishing retaliatory strike from a U.S.-led international coalition.

New Yorkers sadly mark one week after attack
Tuesday, September 18, 2001
(Web Posted Tuesday at 10:41 a.m.) Staggered but unbowed, New Yorkers paused at 8:48 a.m. Tuesday, reflecting on the terrorist attacks that shook their city exactly one week earlier. Honoring the 201 dead and 5,422 missing, people across the city stopped for a moment of silence. After a week like no other, people turned a sad, wary eye skyward on their way to work.

Wall Street finds some stability
Tuesday, September 18, 2001
(Updated Tuesday at 5:06 p.m.) Wall Street found some stability Tuesday, a day after the biggest one-day point drop in history. The Dow closed down 17.30 points at 8,903.40, according to preliminary calculations. The Nasdaq fell 24.47 to 1,555.08, and the Standard & Poor's 500 index declined 6.03 to 1,032.74.

Briefly
Tuesday, September 18, 2001
• Nuclear train halted
• Crop dusters get clearance
• Company rescinds flag ban
• Falwell issues apology

6Sports: Major League Baseball plays again
Tuesday, September 18, 2001
After last week's attacks, the MLB gets back into the game, and other professional leagues will follow suit.

6Sports: Big 12 schedule's coming back on track
Tuesday, September 18, 2001
Big 12 schools announce game schedules after last weekend's cancellations and postponements.

6News: Douglas County Courthouse's security may tighten
Tuesday, September 18, 2001
Douglas county leaders are trying to balance access to the Law Enforcement Center and Courthouse with the need of increased security.

6News report: Patriotic music on the upswing
Tuesday, September 18, 2001
Local music dealers are having trouble keeping patriotic music on the shelves.

6News report: Residents demonstrate patriotism with stitches
Tuesday, September 18, 2001
Local quilting bees make flags to help display support for the U.S..

Afghan victims
Tuesday, September 18, 2001

Troops engaged
Tuesday, September 18, 2001

Revenge senseless
Tuesday, September 18, 2001

Barry said it all
Tuesday, September 18, 2001

Sensible response
Tuesday, September 18, 2001