[MamaDearest]

News alert on TV showing some Spokane, Washington streets closed when detectives doing an auto-theft ring search found two sticks of dynamite in a shed in a residential area. Quantity is not great, but definitely potential to do damage.

[PrivateIdaho]

This from local news:

BREAKING NEWS: DYNAMITE FOUND IN APARTMENT
KREM 2 News is following breaking news in north Spokane. Spokane Police have told KREM 2 News they are closing Crestline near Queen Avenue because of dynamite found in an apartment near there. The Washington State Patrol was executing a search warrant at that apartment when they found several sticks of dynamite. Police have evacuated the two apartments on either side of the one found with the dynamite. Crestline will be closed until the bomb squad removes the dynamite.

[jerseygirl]

Here's more information about NPRC, including how to apply if interested.

(The listed cities All had strategic/economic/symbolic value. My paranoid guess is that there is information suggesting that these cities may well be on the AQ hit list.)

___________________________________________________________
AmeriCorps National Preparedness and Response Corps (NPRC)

NOW RECRUITING!

Thursday, April 22, 2004 — The National Preparedness and Response Corps (NPRC) is one of two national direct programs sponsored by the American National Red Cross and funded by an AmeriCorps grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service. The mission of the NPRC is to provide vital emergency assistance to communities affected by disaster and increase preparedness in the areas of greatest need before disasters strike by recruiting, training and supporting young adults who will provide integrated community outreach and education through Red Cross service activities focusing on homeland security.

The NPRC program is currently recruiting candidates available to serve full-time at American Red Cross chapters in the following cities:

Anchorage, Alaska
Glendale, California
Los Angeles County, California
Oakland, California
Pasadena, California
Santa Barbara, California
Whittier, California
Greenwich/Stamford, Connecticut
Fort Myers, Florida
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Chicago, Illinois
Peoria, Illinois
Springfield, Illinois
Topeka, Kansas
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
Lowell, Massachusetts
Baltimore, Maryland
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Puerto Rico
Belton, Texas
Corpus Christi, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Richmond, Virginia
Seattle, Washington



Candidates for the National Preparedness and Response Corps must:

Be available full-time (at least 40 hours per week) including occasional weekend/evening hours for 10-1/2 months;

Be interested in teaching/training. Approximately 90% of member time is spent teaching and making presentations;

Be able to mobilize on disaster assignments for 21 days at a time with little advance notice;

Be at least 18 years of age;

Be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or lawful permanent resident alien of the United States;

Possess a current and valid driver's license;

Have a high school diploma or GED equivalent; and

Have at least one year of national or community volunteer experience.

NPRC members receive a bi-weekly living allowance, extensive Red Cross training, limited health care and dental coverage and an education award of $4,725.00 upon successful completion of the program.

To apply for the 2004-2005 program term that begins September 7, 2004 and ends July 15, 2005, please complete the NPRC application (PDF - 218KB). The NPRC program has a rolling admission process, and it is strongly recommended that applications be sent to the participating chapter(s) no later than July 31, 2004.

For more information email nprc@usa.redcross.org