Airport officials ratchet up security

Spokane airport officials have added personnel and are screening more vehicles in response to heightened homeland security measures.

The response includes the presence of more security officers in the public areas of the airport and more random vehicle checks, said airport Federal Security Director Jim Spinden.Those random checks also extend to vehicles, including delivery vans, entering the airport’s secure area, said Spinden.

The extra concern follows recent terrorist incidents in Scotland and England, including a vehicle filled with propane slamming into the entrance to the main terminal at Glasgow airport over the weekend.

“People will see some things that are different (from before),” said Neal Sealock, airport executive director. “And there are things they won’t see.

“If they did see those things, we wouldn’t be doing our job.”

No date has been set for security to return to “normal,” Spinden said.

Airport officials remind travelers that no fireworks are allowed in baggage. In addition, liquids or creams, such as sunblock, are restricted to 3.4-ounce containers that must be removed from carry-on luggage for security checks. The airport recommends that passengers arrive at least 90 minutes before flights.

Private career college Interface Computer School of Spokane has changed its name to Interface College.

“Our new name reflects our new status as an associate degree granting college, and the possibility that we will be expanding our curricula beyond computer and technical related training programs,” David Wilson, president of Interface, said in a prepared statement.

The 25-year-old school offers five associate’s degrees and nine vocational-training programs, according to a college news release. The school also recently gained approval to provide parts of all its programs online. Starting in August, students will attend on-campus classes one or two half-days or nights a week, instead of the current three to five days.

SEATTLE

1.6 million buyers pre-order Potter

Amazon.com Inc. said Monday that nearly 1.6 million people worldwide have pre-ordered “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” the seventh and final volume in the boy wizard series. The sixth book, “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,” generated 1.5 million advance buyers.

In the United States, Amazon.com said it has logged more than 1 million pre-orders, breaking the sitewide record of 919,000 total pre-orders set by previous installment.