December 10, 2003

Martin Filler reviews book City in the Sky: The Rise and Fall of the World Trade Center by James Glanz and Eric Lipton; photos (M)

Gov James E McGreevey says he will not support increasing New Jersey's gasoline tax by 12.5 to 15 cents a gallon because it would smother state's economic recovery; increase was proposed by bipartisan commission he appointed to find ways to support state's Transportation Trust Fund, which is running out of money for road repair and construction; Legislature Democrats hoped to have issue resolved before new session in which they will have majority (M)

Article from Pumpuentsa, Ecuador, on fight by indigenous Indians to fend off international energy companies that are moving into Amazon basin to tap some of last untouched oil and natural gas reserves; tactics of Indians struggling to hold onto nearly primordial way of life range from protests and savvy cooperation with environmentalists to vandalism and kidnapping of industry workers; outcome will determine if Amazon resources become key part of Latin American development and US strategy to diversify energy sources; region already provides more oil to US than Middle East does and governments are trying to lure investors to natural riches along 1,000 miles of forests and Andean foothills, from Colombia to Bolivia and into Brazil's vast interior; photos; map; efforts by environmentalists to hold off exploration in one rain forest region of Ecuador described (L)

Former Miami University coach Howard Schnellenberger has led Florida Atlantic University to 11-2 record this season and Division I-AA semifinals; his fine coaching record noted; photos (M)

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Italian

Free agent pitcher Andy Pettitte's father Tom expresses frustration with negotiations process, contending that New York Yankees have been sluggish and less than enthusiastic about trying to re-sign his son (M)

World Busin

Article on GOAT: A Tribute to Muhammad Ali, 75-pound, 792-page, 20-by-20 inch book chronicling life of boxing legend Muhammad Ali covered in silk and Louis Vuitton leather that is being published by Taschen Books; GOAT (for Greatest of All Time) will be sold in limited edition of 9,000 priced at $3,000 and 1,000, with sculpture by artist Jeff Koons, for $7,500; photos (M)

UAL Nears Deal for Money To Leave Bankruptcy United Airlines, which filed for bankruptcy protection a year ago, is close to securing $2 billion in exit financing. United also plans to resubmit its application for federal loan guarantees as soon as next week, even though it has not resolved financing issues involving its employee pension plans, the single biggest stumbling block to emerging from bankruptcy. [Page C9.]

Audubon Society incurs wrath of Friends of Animals by agreeing to deer hunt on 265 acres of bird sanctuary in Greenwich, Conn; hunters agree to donate venison taken at site to Fairfield County's homeless; homeless groups are caught in middle of debate and ask only that either side donate food if it is available; Audubon Society says deer have become so pleniful they are crowding out species of birds in habitat; photos (M)

World Business Briefing: Germany: Investor Con