In brief: Aslin-Finch stores renamed after sale

Spokane’s three Aslin-Finch Co. stores have been renamed Country Store, following last year’s acquisition of the longtime farm and pet supply retailer by Skagit Farmers Supply.

The store names changed in January, along with modest enhancements in inventory added by the head company, based in Burlington, Wash.

Also renamed were former Aslin-Finch stores in Colville; Kettle Falls, Wash.; Stevensville, Mont.; and Coeur d’Alene.

The Aslin-Finch family of stores was launched in Spokane in the 1930s. It also produced and sold wholesale livestock feed under the names LMF Horse Feeds and Golden Harvest.

Terms of the 2013 sale were not disclosed.

“Our product mix is essentially the same,” Country Store CEO Brian Duquaine said. “We just extended and added a few additional items to what has been in the stores,” including more products for hobby farmers, he said.

Safety agency demands data from GM on ignition problem

DETROIT – U.S. safety regulators are demanding that General Motors turn over reams of documents and other data showing what the company knew and when it found out about a dangerous ignition problem that has been linked to 13 car-crash deaths.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating how GM handled the problem, which triggered the global recall of 1.6 million older-model compact cars. GM has acknowledged it knew of the ignition troubles a decade ago but didn’t recall the cars until last month.

In a 27-page order sent to GM on Tuesday, the NHTSA demanded pictures, memos, electronic communications, engineering drawings and other data to answer 107 questions. The reply, which must be signed under oath by a company officer, is due April 3. GM spokesman Alan Adler said Wednesday that the company is cooperating.

The NHTSA wants the documents to determine if GM delayed its response or withheld evidence. In either case, it could fine GM up to $35 million. Automakers are required to inform the NHTSA of safety defects within five days of discovering them. Such a fine would be a record for the NHTSA, but essentially is pocket change for GM, which made $3.8 billion last year.

Exxon expects flat production as it trims capital spending

NEW YORK – Exxon Mobil Corp. said it will cut capital spending by 6 percent this year and overall production will be flat.

The shares fell nearly 3 percent.

The nation’s biggest oil company said Wednesday that it will spend $39.8 billion on energy projects and other costs this year, down from $42.5 billion last year.

Exxon said that barring acquisitions, annual spending will average less than $37 billion from 2015 to 2017.

Production is expected to be the equivalent of 4 million barrels of oil per day, the same as 2013 after excluding an expired deal in the United Arab Emirates and partial sale of a project in Iraq, the company said. In 2015 through 2017, production is expected to rise by about 100,000 barrels per day each year.

The company said production of liquids such as oil – more lucrative right now – would grow 2 percent this year, but the company is letting natural gas production ease in the U.S., where gas prices are low.

Irving, Texas-based Exxon expects to start production at a record 10 major projects this year, adding about 300,000 barrels a day in new capacity. CEO Rex Tillerson said the projects would provide profitable new volume.