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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

In brief: FDA food safety website compiles recall notices

Washington – The task of finding consumer information about recalled food products grew a bit easier Monday with the launch of a Food and Drug Administration website that compiles recall notices in a searchable table.

The Web page – www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ – displays information on recalls since 2009 by date, product brand name, product description, the reason for the recall and the firm doing the recalling.

The redesign was mandated by the food safety law signed by President Barack Obama in January.

Guard shoots and kills man suspected in Apple burglary

San Diego – A private security guard fatally shot a suspect in a smash-and-grab burglary at an Apple store early Monday in what police said was the latest attempt to steal prized electronic gear from the high-end retailer.

Two other suspects were arrested after crashing their SUV and running into a neighborhood.

Thieves using everything from sledgehammers to rocks have smashed the glass doors and windows of Apple stores across the country, stealing tens of thousands of dollars in high-tech gear in seconds.

Many of the stores have been hit more than once in only a few months. Some have turned to armed guards such as the one in Chula Vista.

Department wants governor to return mural money

Washington – If Maine Gov. Paul LePage doesn’t wish to display a mural depicting the state’s labor history, then the U.S. Department of Labor says federal money used to create it should be returned.

The department said Monday that LePage violated the terms of federal laws governing money used to pay for most of the mural’s $60,000 cost when he removed the artwork from state offices last month.

The demand came in a letter to state labor officials from Gay Gilbert, administrator of the U.S. Labor Department’s office of unemployment insurance.

Gilbert’s letter is the latest twist in a growing national dispute over LePage’s decision to remove the 36-foot mural from the state Labor Department headquarters. LePage, a Republican, said it was biased toward organized labor at the expense of his pro-business agenda.