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FRESNO — Two Saudi Arabian men who attend the International English Institute were detained and questioned for a few hours before being cleared of any connection to the terrorist attacks on the East Coast last week. 

The men were stopped Sunday evening at Shaver Lake after a resident reported two suspicious men taking pictures of the dam. They were questioned by sheriff’s deputies, then turned over to the FBI and Immigration and Naturalization Service agents for additional questioning. 

The men told deputies they were at the dam taking pictures and sightseeing. Deputies searched the rental car they were driving and found only a digital camera and a small black camera bag. 

The men were taken to Fresno County Jail and questioned by federal authorities because they were not carrying the proper documents. 

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SANTA MARIA (AP) — The 12th annual Warbird Roundup, a gathering of vintage warplanes, has been canceled this weekend at the Santa Maria airport. 

Uncertainty surrounding new regulations for general aviation and concerns about how many pilots would bring their planes led the board of directors of the Santa Maria Museum of Flight to make that decision, president Dick Weber said. 

“Everybody’s mood is really just sour right now,” Weber said. “We just figured the best thing to do is to cancel it and save it all for next year.” 

More than three dozen warbirds, ranging from P-51 Mustangs to a BT-13 trainer, had signed up to attend the event, which helps support the all-volunteer museum throughout the year. 

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SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Airlines serving the Bay Area indefinitely will cut about 500 flights a day, mostly ones to the East Coast and shuttles to Southern California and other areas on the West Coast, in response to last week’s terrorist attacks. 

At airports in San Francisco, San Jose and Oakland, flight schedules have returned to about 80 percent to 90 percent of the level before the attacks. Some additional flights may resume, but most airlines say they have reached “normal” levels they will use for the rest of the year. 

American Airlines and United Airlines control more than half of all flights in and out of Northern California. 

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VAN NUYS, Calif. (AP) — Eager to honor the victims of last week’s terrorist attacks, a philatelist organization says it is launching a petition for a commemorative stamp and coin. 

The International Stamp Collectors Society, based in Van Nuys, will begin a petition-signing campaign Friday at a stamp and coin show in the Glendale Civic Auditorium. 

“I think the more ways we can express ourselves, as a nation and a people, will help to pull us together during this tragedy,” said Israel Bick, executive director of the society. 

U.S. Postal Service spokesman David Mazer said the agency already has received requests to issue a stamp in honor of victims of the attacks. U.S. Treasury officials said they require a congressional order before they can issue a commemorative coin. 

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OAKLAND (AP) — Federal officials have told Oakland International Airport to heighten security. 

The Oakland Police Department brought in seven officers last week to allow the airport to reopen, but the Federal Aviation Administration and the FBI told airport officials on Friday that they still had concerns about security. 

Port of Oakland officials told police they would pay for extra temporary officers, and that they plan to seek a permanent increase in manpower. 

The Oakland Tribune said an FAA report last spring criticized the airport’s security. Neither the FAA nor the Port of Oakland would confirm the existence of such a report. 

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SANTA BARBARA (AP) — Several business meetings and conferences in Santa Barbara have been canceled by companies following last week’s terrorist attacks, hurting many local hotels and catering companies. 

Innkeepers said they understand the extraordinary circumstances, and many waived normal cancellation fees. Others provided stranded guests with free rooms for an extra night. 

Hotels said they continue to do strong business with tourists, and many general managers said businesses that canceled meetings were willing to reschedule. Caterers are counting on weddings and parties to make up for lost convention income. 

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AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Dell Computer Corp. is postponing conferences in New York and San Francisco so that it can concentrate on helping customers affected by the terrorist attacks. 

The company’s annual DirectConnect conferences were scheduled for Thursday in San Francisco and Sept. 28 in New York. New dates were not announced. 

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SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (AP) — A show of 500 classic cars near the Santa Cruz beach boardwalk next month will become a benefit for New York police. 

Hot Rods on the Beach traditionally is a fundraiser for Santa Cruz police officers. In light of last week’s destruction of the World Trade Center, Santa Cruz police decided to donate the proceeds from this year’s event to families of New York police officers who were killed in the terrorist attacks. 

This year’s Hot Rods on the Beach is scheduled for Oct. 13 and 14. 

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Concerned about the potential for future terrorist attacks, Los Angeles officials have recommended spending an additional $3.3 million during the next two years to solidify Civic Center security. 

“This has to be our top priority,” Mayor James Hahn said. “One of my top concerns after the attacks was how well the city was able to protect the public and our workers — from the Department of Water and Power reservoirs to the airport, and in our city buildings.” 

Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas, who heads the committee that recommended the new security plans, said the safety of city workers and visitors in public facilities is one of the highest priorities of government. 

“At this point in history, public safety has to be paramount,” he said.