Tours go inside CNN

THIS just in: Visitors to New York City can go behind the scenes of CNN on a new tour. The 45-minute tour, which made its debut Sept. 3, takes news junkies and visitors on a guided walk through CNN’s TV studios at the Time Warner Center.

Multiscreen video presentations in two modern theaters bookend the tour. Along the way, visitors can play anchors Wolf Blitzer or Paula Zahn by reading a mock report from a teleprompter. (Videotapes or DVDs of these “Interactive News Desk Reports” are available for purchase afterward.) Or visitors can try to track a storm system in front of a blue-screen ChromaKey system just as weather reporters do.

Guests get to look through huge Plexiglas windows to see into three of CNN’s working studios and the CNNfn newsroom. When there’s no taping in progress, the tour visits the sets of such programs as “Anderson Cooper 360” or “Larry King Live,” which look notably smaller than they do on TV. Groups also pass through a corridor that displays a well-presented news event timeline.

Tour groups are limited to 28, though they can be as small as 10, and the guides can field nearly any CNN-related question.

Inside CNN is on the third floor of the Shops at Columbus Circle, Time Warner Center, between West 58th and West 60th streets, near the southwest corner of Central Park. Tours depart every 10 minutes, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays to Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays. Closed Christmas Day. $15 for adults, $13 for 65 and older, $11 for ages 4 to 12, 3 and younger, free. Reservations are recommended. Call (866) 426-6692 or www.cnn.com/insidecnn.

-- Keith Rockmael

Florida heals from Frances

AIRPORTS and tourist attractions in Florida quickly reopened after Hurricane Frances, though the state was keeping an eye on another approaching storm system, Ivan.

“From our initial assessment, it appears our state’s destinations have, by and large, come through Frances in good shape,” said Tom Flanigan, director of corporate communications for Visit Florida, the state’s tourism marketing agency. A few properties remained closed as a result of damage caused by Hurricane Charley in mid-August, Flanigan said.

Frances had been downgraded to a severe tropical storm by the time it reached the Orlando area, home to Florida’s major tourist attractions. Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort and SeaWorld were open as of the Travel section’s press time Tuesday.

But even a slowed-down Frances did its share of damage. Millions of residents were told to evacuate the east coast and areas of the panhandle. Power outages across the state were expected to last into this week.

Those with plans to visit Florida should check with their hotel. Visit Florida also set up a general hotline, (888) 735-2872, and one for alternative accommodations, (800) 287-8598.

-- Robin Rauzi

More flights landing late

MAJOR airlines were behind schedule more often from January to July this year than they were in the first seven months of 2003.

On-time arrivals -- defined as within 15 minutes of schedule -- fell from 82.35% to 77.6%, the Transportation Department reported.

Associated Press

Terrorist risk in Russia

THE U.S. State Department warned those traveling to Russia of an increased risk of terrorist actions.

Explosions caused two airliner crashes Aug. 24, killing 90; a suicide bombing outside a Moscow metro station killed 10 on Aug. 31; and more than 300 died in a school hostage crisis Sept. 3, all thought to be the work of Chechen terrorists. Because of ongoing unrest, the State Department has advised against travel to Chechnya and bordering areas. See travel.state.gov.

-- Robin Rauzi