Feds spur Combi recall of pre-2013 kid car seats

DETROIT » Combi USA is recalling more than 33,000 child car seats made before January 2013 because the harnesses aren’t strong enough to meet federal safety standards.

The Charlotte, N.C., company is recalling the Coccoro, Zeus Turn and Zeus 360 models.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the seat straps don’t meet minimum strength requirements. If there’s a crash, children might not be properly secured.

A company spokes­woman says the seats are still safe to use because the harness as a whole meets safety standards. She says one part of the harness that includes a plastic button failed strength tests. Seats made after January 2013 don’t have the same problem.

Combi will notify registered owners and send out free harness replacement kits starting in February. Owners can contact Combi at 800-543-7734.

Donations to Komen charity fall 22%

DALLAS » Susan G. Komen for the Cure saw a 22 percent drop in contributions in the year following the controversy over its decision, quickly reversed, to stop giving grants to Planned Parenthood for breast cancer screenings.

Citing audited financial statements posted on its website this week, a spokes­woman for the Dallas-based breast cancer charity said contributions — including donations and corporate sponsorships — dropped from about $164 million from the fiscal year ending in March 2012 to $128 million in the year ending March 2013.

After news of the plan to quit offering grants to Planned Parenthood broke in January 2012, several executives left the organization, and fewer people took part in its fundraising Races for the Cure across the country. The organization announced last summer that it would cancel half of its three-day charity walks for this year because of a drop in participation.

The statements also showed that revenue from Race for the Cure and three-day events had a 19 percent drop for the same fiscal period, falling to $208 million from about $258 million. Total revenue, which included the race fees, contributions, other fundraising and interest, dropped 18 percent in that time period, to $325 million from $399 million.

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COMING UP

» Today: Institute for Supply Management releases its service sector index for December.

» Tuesday: Commerce Department releases international trade data for November.

» Wednesday: Federal Reserve releases consumer credit data for November.

» Thursday: Selected chain retailers release December sales comparisons.

» Friday: Labor Department releases employment data for December.

BRIEFLY

Jan. 6

UnitedHealthcare: Hosting a job fair from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at DoubleTree by Hilton Alana Waikiki Hotel, 1956 Ala Moana Blvd. Company will hire 42 people for positions including plan participant and care provider service representatives. Applications also accepted online at careers.unitedhealthgroup. com.

Jan. 9

Exchange Club News: University of Hawaii regent Randy Moore will discuss the latest university issues. Noon at Oahu Country Club. Cost: $25, includes lunch. Visit: www.dexhon or email edracers@aol.com.

West Maui Taxpayers Association: Annual members meeting will start at 5 p.m. (complimentary food from Paradise Grill) at Lahaina Civic Center. Speakers include Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa, state Sen. Roz Baker, state Rep. Angus McKelvey and West Maui Councilwoman Elle Cochran. Visit www.westmaui.org.

Jan. 11

Fifth Annual Waimanalo Community Recycling Day: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Waimanalo Beach Park. Residents may bring in scrap metal, regular-size tires without rims, cellphones, computers, printer cartridges, batteries, paper, magazines, TVs and plastic. Call Kristen at 381-7202.

Jan. 16

Exchange Club News: Architect Andrew Tang will review landscaping in the world’s major cities. Noon at Oahu Country Club. Cost: $25, includes lunch. Visit: www.dexhon or email edracers@aol.com.

Jan. 21 & 22

Financing Workshop for Hawaii’s Green Industry: Two workshops hosted by the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism’s State Energy Office, 9 to 11 a.m. at Ala Moana Hotel, Pakalana/Anthurium Room, 410 Atkinson Drive. Free, but must RSVP by Jan. 14. Visit energy.hawaii.gov/energy-efficiency/energy-efficiency-financing.