All Points Bulletin
by Kegler

Some squares contain more than one letter.  Each intersecting entry uses the square’s letters in a different order; the square should be filled using an anagram
of the letters that matches neither entry.  When said squares are then connected in a logical fashion (including returning to the starting point), ta-da: 26A.

Across 1 Nag sold, around $100 6 Bats only move us in a spiteful way 12 Crown old criminal chieftain 13 Nut in our group returned money up front 15 Picture taken by Virginia; there it is 16 Share half of quotations 17 Red got up 18 Listless lothario exhibits laziness 19 Gets into general’s receding retirement savings (2 wds) 21 Drink he mentioned with a titter (hyph) 22 Partially budget her nettlesome intercomputer communication system 23 Skate’s shaft 25 Rustling sound aroused UFO furor 26 See instructions (4 wds) 28 Change advertisement: “Place for rent” 30 EMT’s skill with chromium-plated penny (abbr) 31 Item you finally can back 32 Controlling boss and resident assistant upset college housing 33 Operator fences each area away from shore (2 wds) 36 Parrot’s mouth holds tailless cat 39 Food store counter; one was in front 41 Mushroom found in mousse? No kidding! 42 Magnifier for a jeweler’s ring described 43 Editor fixed certain vacuum tube 44 Babe’s husband dropped daily routines 45 Left endives out, it’s apparent (hyph) 46 Reverend Spooner’s pull purchases some pasta

Down 2 Lifesaver put into reed boat 3 Chooses new spot 4 Fate protects ex-soldier and country music singer Lyle 5 Dotty orders a carnivorous plant 6 Discussed Colorado ski resort’s cover 7 Loony ego transforms the study of wines 8 Certain welcomer describes college’s first hurdle for a doctor-to-be (acronym) 9 University more confident in one taking lots of interest? 10 She honors plastic cobbler’s implements 11 Reportedly give permission to Latvian 12 Monopolize turbulent Matterhorn creek (3 wds) 14 Taiwan fortunes wasted in places to get drinks (2 wds) 20 Dirt contains last of the identical vegetable product (2 wds) 21 Cable TV channel initially programs “Measurement for Chefs” (abbr) 24 Assist keeping last of powder dry 27 Backing up, we’re nearly entering B&B, a place that makes its own beer 29 Couple of officials in Ukraine’s capital following professional Russian composer 30 Two commanding officers running protective shelter 31 Nut rowed, bucking riptide 34 Select most common Scrabble piece, upon reflection 35 Erin’s funny memo starter (2 wds) 37 Sheltered a CSA general 38 Relative is haggard; not good 40 Case tying up private tuition

Solution