Algae control to start at lake

SEATTLE — A four-week effort to control sometimes-toxic algae in Green Lake is about to begin, but Seattle parks officials said it won't affect recreational use.

A contractor's crew plans to begin dumping about 141,000 gallons of alum solution into the water later this week.

The solution, which contains aluminum sulfate and sodium aluminate, will reduce the amount of phosphorus in the lake, which speeds the growth of blue-green algae.

Parks officials have had to close the lake to swimming several times in recent years because of toxic blooms.

Monorail, unions OK deal for hiring women, minorities

SEATTLE — Companies that build Seattle's new monorail must set aside at least 25 percent of the jobs for women and ethnic minorities, with a goal of 33 percent, according to a proposed agreement between the Seattle Monorail Project and labor unions.

The deal was tentatively approved yesterday by a monorail-agency committee and is expected to become final April 7.

Sound Transit and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport have similar "project labor agreements" to prevent work stop-

pages, set diversity goals and guarantee wages in excess of $20 per hour for most crafts.

Labor unions would be fined if they struck during construction of the 14-mile Green Line, which will employ as many as 600 people at a time between next winter and the end of 2009.

New city seal depicting Chief Sealth is dedicated

SEATTLE — Seattle has a new City Hall. Now it has a new city seal.

Unveiled yesterday, the seal is a depiction of Chief Sealth, designed by local artist Peter David. Elders from the Duwamish and Suquamish tribes, including a direct descendant of Chief Sealth, helped dedicate the seal.

It replaced the old seal that hung on the wall of the City Council chambers in the old City Hall for 40 years.

The new seal, which cost $4,000, is made of translucent green glass and sits behind the council dais.

Edmonds attorney appointed to South District judgeship

EVERETT — The Snohomish County Council yesterday unanimously appointed an Edmonds attorney to a vacant judgeship in the county's South District Court. The position was vacated earlier this year when Judge Stephen Dwyer was appointed to Superior Court.

The appointee, Jeffrey Goodwin, has served as a pro-tem judge in the District Court.

Goodwin is a partner in the law firm of Goodwin and Zachor. He received his law degree from Seattle University and has practiced law since 1992. He has a background in handling prosecutions, criminal defense, and civil litigation. He must stand for election to the position this fall.

The South District includes the cities of Lynnwood, Edmonds and Mountlake Terrace.

Gates Foundation donates more for AIDS work in India

SEATTLE — The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation rolled out an additional $47 million in grants to HIV-prevention efforts in India, the foundation announced yesterday.

The money will go to five private agencies working to promote condom use, prevent and treat sexually transmitted infections and reduce risky behaviors in hard-hit areas in the Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Manipur and Nagaland.

"We're confident that these targeted efforts can help control the epidemic in the country as a whole," said Anand Grover, a member of the board of Avahan, the Gates Foundation's India AIDS initiative.

Tacoma woman identified in Elliott Bay drowning

SEATTLE — The body found Thursday afternoon floating in Elliott Bay near the Edgewater Hotel has been identified as that of Petra Blair, 29, of Tacoma.

Blair drowned, but detectives are looking at whether anything suspicious happened before that, said a Seattle police spokesman.

Blair, who had spent the night at the hotel with her mother, was last seen Thursday about 12:30 p.m.

Times staff and news services