Also. . .

* Fresno-based Allegiant Air Inc., a privately held air carrier providing scheduled and charter operations in the West, said it filed for Chapter 11 U.S. bankruptcy protection, citing skyrocketing fuel costs. Allegiant said it has furloughed 112 employees. Last week, the company suspended service to Los Angeles.

* San Diego-based Sempra Energy plans to sell its stake in a retail power company to focus more closely on its wholesale trading operations. Sempra will sell its 72.5% stake in Energy America to Britain’s Centrica for $56 million, it said.