Teens can apply now for park cleanup jobs

About 118 teens will be hired this summer by the state Department of Ecology to help clean up roadsides, parks and recreation areas in Eastern Washington.

Youth ages 14 to 17 can apply through April 2 to work with one of the department’s youth crews. Crews will work Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., for four weeks. Crews work in Chewelah, Clarkston, Colville, Inchelium, Ephrata, Moses Lake, Othello, Pasco, Pullman, Republic, Ritzville, Spokane, Walla Walla and Wilbur. Wages are $9.04 per hour.

Funding for the Ecology Youth Corps program comes from a dedicated account funded by a voter-approved tax on items related to the litter problem.

Applications are available through school counselors and online at www.ecy.wa.gov/ programs/swfa/eyc. For information, visit the website or call Lynette Kuehl at (509) 329-3434.

Staff report

Chevy Trailblazer added to probe of fires

LOS ANGELES – Federal safety investigators have announced their second probe in less than a week involving fires starting in the driver-side doors of vehicles.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it had opened an investigation into reports of fires in 2006-’07 Chevrolet Trailblazers manufactured by General Motors Co.

Last week, the agency said it was looking into the cause of fires in 2007 model year Toyota Camry sedans and RAV-4 sport utility vehicles.

In both cases, the agency said it appeared that the fires started in the power window master switch on the door.

The NHTSA said it has received 12 consumer complaints as well as manufacturer field reports about the melting or burning of the switch in Trailblazers. GM made about 309,000 of the vehicles for which the NHTSA is reviewing data.

In both the Toyota and GM cases, no injuries or accidents have been reported.

The Toyota probe involves about 830,000 vehicles.

Los Angeles Times

Empire State trust IPO could raise $1 billion

NEW YORK – The company that runs Manhattan’s Empire State Building is planning an initial public offering that could raise as much as $1 billion.

Empire State Realty Trust Inc. owns and operates 12 properties in the greater New York metropolitan area.

The company didn’t say in its regulatory filing Monday how many shares might be involved in the IPO or what price they might fetch.

Empire State Realty said it plans to use the offering’s net proceeds to repay loans, pay certain investors, cover the expenses of the IPO and the company’s formation last summer, and for general purposes and possible future acquisitions.

Associated Press