Port gets two security grants
The Port of Everett has received two federal homeland security grants totaling $1.56 million for video surveillance equipment and controlled-access gates. The grants come at a time when the port has nearly completed early projects aimed at fencing in all its marine terminals. The fencing, also paid for with federal grants, should be complete by the end of this month. The new money will mostly be used to buy video cameras and monitors.
Another security flaw in Windows
Microsoft Corp. announced Tuesday it has found a new security flaw in its Windows XP operating system, and warned that an attacker could infiltrate other computers by persuading their owners to open a specialized graphics file. The company released a patch to fix the flaw, as well as a tool that allows users to scan their systems to see if they need it. Users who have already downloaded Microsoft’s recent security update, Service Pack 2, are not affected. The vulnerability affects people running Windows XP, Windows Server 2003 and later versions of Office.
Technology jobs still in big slump
The U.S. information technology sector lost 403,300 jobs between March 2001 and April, and the market for tech workers remains bleak, according to a new report. Perhaps more surprising, just over half of those jobs – 206,300 – were lost after experts declared the recession over in November 2001, say researchers from the University of Illinois-Chicago. In all, the researchers said, the job market for high-tech workers shrank by 18.8 percent, to 1.74 million over the period studied.
One more year of 37-cent stamps
Postmaster General John Potter renewed his promise Tuesday that the price of mailing a letter won’t go up until 2006. Potter said the agency has saved $8.3 billion in spending over the last three years and expects another $1 billion in cost cuts in 2005.
McDonald’s ups annual dividend
McDonald’s Corp. raised its annual dividend 38 percent to 55 cents from 40 cents, with the total payout worth nearly $690 million. The Oak Brook, Ill.-based fast-food giant Tuesday said the latest increase reflects its confidence in its business and progress in the company’s revitalization efforts. McDonald’s also raised its annual dividend for 2003 by 70 percent. The company, which has reported improved margins and profits partly driven by 16 consecutive months of positive sales at units open at least one year, has more than doubled its dividend from the 23.5 cents a share it paid in 2002.
From Herald staff and news reports
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
