November 1, 2001 Diary: America Strikes Back

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Costs mount for cities, counties
Thursday, November 1, 2001
All the extra airport patrols, security cameras and X-ray machines put in place since Sept. 11 may have eased security fears, but they're taking a huge bite out of city and county budgets.

'No clues' to suggest NY woman caught anthrax from mail
Thursday, November 1, 2001
(Updated Thursday at 2:30 p.m.) Investigators reported "no clues" indicating the mail is to blame for the death of a New York City hospital worker, but said Thursday the anthrax that killed her is indistinguishable from that found in tainted letters. More than 170 postal workers in Missouri began preventive antibiotics after spores were found in Kansas City.

School picture to benefit WTC victims
Thursday, November 1, 2001
By Tim Carpenter

Students and staff at South Junior High School gave a collective hug Wednesday to New York City residents stricken by terrorist attacks. The annual all-school photograph took on special meaning when hundreds of people gathered on the football field to create an "I Love New York" message.

Taliban officials want negotiations, respect
Thursday, November 1, 2001
Four weeks into the U.S.-led air campaign, a senior Taliban official said Wednesday the ruling militia is willing to negotiate an end to the conflict. But he demanded proof of Osama bin Laden's involvement in the Sept. 11 terror attacks.

Spores found in KC facility
Thursday, November 1, 2001
On the day that the spreading wave of bioterrorism claimed its fourth victim, anthrax has reached the nation's heartland. Preliminary tests at a Kansas City, Mo., postal facility found anthrax spores, health officials said Wednesday night.

U.S. tightens immigration policies
Thursday, November 1, 2001
The government tightened its immigration policies Wednesday, promising to use more extensive background checks and better intelligence-sharing to keep out suspected terrorists and their supporters.

U.S. heavy airstrikes continue
Thursday, November 1, 2001
Heavy bombers went into action on Wednesday over northern Afghanistan, pounding front-line Taliban positions in a dramatic increase in U.S. support for opposition forces on the battlefield.

'High alert' keeps police busy
Thursday, November 1, 2001
By Mike Belt

The possibility of another act of terrorism has the whole country on "high alert" and perhaps a little on edge, and Douglas County is no exception, law enforcement agencies say. "We've probably responded to a lot of calls that we wouldn't normally get calls for," Lawrence Police spokesman Sgt. Mike Pattrick said.

6News video report: Anthrax hits close to home
Thursday, November 1, 2001
Josh Garber reports on the confirmed report of anthrax in a stamp fulfillment building in Kansas City.

KC postal workers given antibiotics as precaution
Thursday, November 1, 2001
(Updated Thursday at 12:54 p.m.) More than 170 people were taking antibiotics as a precaution Thursday after preliminary tests indicated traces of anthrax at a specialized Kansas City postal facility. No employees have become ill and there was no apparent risk to the public, health and postal officials said.

This is a war we must win
Thursday, November 1, 2001
By Trudy Rubin
Knight Ridder Newspapers

An old ditty from the Vietnam War era floated into my head as I was watching Donald Rumsfeld give his daily Pentagon briefing on CNN.

Bush got more than he bargained for
Thursday, November 1, 2001
By David Shribman
The Boston Globe

Here's the task: Run an unconventional war against an elusive foe. Maintain an awkward coalition of nations that themselves are divided domestically. Conduct a thorough investigation of the most heinous crime in American history.

Artist's knife leads to airport arrest
Thursday, November 1, 2001
A Lebanese man with an expired student visa was arrested after trying to board a plane with a knife in his computer case. Salam Ibrahim el Zaatari tried to board a Northwest Airlines flight from Pittsburgh to Detroit with a "retractable razor utility knife" with a 4- to 5-inch blade on Sunday, according to the complaint.

Virgin Atlantic unveils bulletproof cockpit door
Thursday, November 1, 2001
Virgin Atlantic airlines unveiled its first bulletproof cockpit door Wednesday on a jumbo jet renamed "The Spirit of New York" to honor the thousands killed in the World Trade Center attack.

Brave new world of technology to fight terror
Thursday, November 1, 2001
In the not-too-distant future, this is how a world safer from terrorism may look: A computerized airport camera snaps shots of passengers' eyes to check identities. A ticket holder's iris identifies him as a terrorist and a dozen armed guards nab him.

Bush prods Congress to pass stimulus package
Thursday, November 1, 2001
President Bush said Wednesday he was "deeply concerned" about figures showing the economy slipping toward recession, and he demanded that Congress get an economic recovery package "to my desk before the end of November."

Latest anthrax death a mystery
Thursday, November 1, 2001
Public health and law enforcement investigators worked intently Wednesday to retrace the final days of a New York hospital worker who succumbed to inhalation anthrax, hoping to solve the vexing medical mystery of how she became infected.

Viewers returning to regular television-watching habits
Thursday, November 1, 2001
Viewer interest in wall-to-wall coverage of the war against terrorism appears to be fading. Since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, viewership for the three major all-news channels — CNN, the Fox News Channel and MSNBC — has fallen steadily, according to Nielsen Media Research.

Rescheduled Emmys hope third time is charm
Thursday, November 1, 2001
The third time will be the charm for this year's Emmy Awards ceremony, or the twice rescheduled show won't happen at all, producers said this week. The ceremony honoring television accomplishments was postponed from its Sept. 16 date because of last month's terrorist attacks.

Guests staying away from talk shows
Thursday, November 1, 2001
Since Sept. 11, television talk shows based in New York are having a tough time filling their couches. The starmaking machinery has been slowed by many celebrities' reluctance to travel, forcing many talk shows to cope with last-minute cancellations and invite guests who normally wouldn't get a second look.

U.S. clandestinely recruiting more anti-Taliban groups
Thursday, November 1, 2001
(Web Posted Thursday at 9:21 a.m.) As U.S. troops help rebels fighting the Taliban in northern Afghanistan, other teams of American special forces are clandestinely trying to recruit other anti-Taliban groups to join the campaign, Gen. Tommy Franks said Thursday.

Briefly
Thursday, November 1, 2001
• Washington: Nuclear power plants told to tighten security
• Pakistan: Taliban seize refugee office
• Washington: U.S. opening P.R. shops in London, Pakistan
• Washington: Expansion proposed for compensation fund