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Byline: - Staff and Wire Services

Cherokee adds on another designer

VAN NUYS - Cherokee Inc. added another name to its roster of brands with Wednesday's announcement that it will represent home and product designer Juan Carlos Arcila-Duque. The brand manager signed a deal with Arcila-Duque Interiors Inc., terms of which were not disclosed, to serve as its licensing developer.

Juan Carlos already counts Warner Bros. and Ralph Lauren among his clients, while Cherokee could introduce his products to its partners Target Stores, Mervyn's and the TJX Cos.

Local companies announce moves

WOODLAND HILLS - Health Net Inc. tapped Stephen Lynch to serve as president of its regional health plans and California subsidiary, the managed care company announced Wednesday.

After joining the company in August of 2001 as president of Health Net of Oregon, he became chief operating officer of the western region last August. In his new role, he'll oversee the company's largest subsidiary.

< Los Angeles-based Univision Communications Inc. promoted Ray Rodriguez to president and chief operating officer, the company announced Wednesday.

All of Univision's businesses will now report to Rodriguez, who joined the company in 1990 as vice president and director of talent relations. Rodriguez steadily moved his way up in the company over the years; since 2001, has served as president of the company's cable network and its newest broadcast network. Rodriguez will continue reporting to A. Jerrold Perenchio, Univision chairman and chief executive officer.

Northrop, Raytheon team up on project

REDONDO BEACH - Northrop Grumman Corp. will team with Raytheon Co. to compete to build the next generation geostationary satellites for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the companies announced Wednesday.

Later this year, NOAA is expected to select two or three contractors to conduct extensive planning and risk reduction studies for the so-called GOES-R project, Koris said. The agency is expected to make its final pick to build the system in 2007, she said.

Napster reports narrow 3Q loss

SANTA CLARA - Online music seller Napster Inc. reported a narrowed loss for its latest quarter, excluding a gain from the sale of its Roxio consumer software division.

The Santa Clara company also said current quarter's revenue will top the average Wall Street prediction.

For the third quarter ended Dec. 31, Napster earned $12.8 million, or 36 cents a share, a reversal from a last year's loss of $25.6 million, or 92 cents a share, in the same period.

L.A. company recalls pacifier

WASHINGTON - A Los Angeles company is recalling about 102,000 pacifier necklaces because the nipple can detach from the pacifier and pose a choking hazard to young children, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said Wednesday.

Todo Dollar Wholesale is recalling the Flashing Pacifier with Whistle Necklace and Flashing Pacifier Shock Baby Necklace. There were no reports of incidents or injuries, CPSC said in the recall notice.

Consumers should return the pacifiers to the store where purchased to receive a refund. For more information, consumers can call Todo Dollar Wholesale at [phone] between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m PST Monday through Friday.