BRIEFLY SPANISH SPEAKERS SOUGHT FOR LAPD.

Los Angeles city officials announced plans on Wednesday to step up efforts to recruit Spanish-speaking police officers.

``Men and women join the LAPD because they have a commitment and desire to serve their communities,'' Mayor James Hahn said at an event outside Parker Center. ``It's imperative that our police officers be able to communicate with the communities they patrol. I urge Spanish-speaking residents of Los Angeles to apply to become members of the department.''

Hahn was joined by Police Chief Bill Bratton and council members Alex Padilla and Tony Cardenas at the event. The city has planned several programs over the course of the next month to sign up new recruits. For information, applicants can call (866) 444-LAPD or check the Web page at www.lapdonline.org.

- Daily News

$8.2 million going to library project

A state board overseeing bond money awarded Calabasas $8.2 million to build a new library.

The funds, part of a $350 million bond measure passed by voters in 2000 to help fund city's library construction and expand literacy programs, would pay for two-thirds of the construction cost.

Planned as part of a new Calabasas Civic Center complex, the city expects to break ground on a 230,000 square feet facility next year.

Since the city incorporated, more than a decade ago, its library has moved five times, twice under county operation and three times since 1999 under the city's operation.

The new library would replace the city's current library which occupies a rental property in the Calabasas Park Center.

- Daily News

Workshop is set on identity theft

TARZANA - To help educate the public about the growing problem of identity theft, state Assemblywoman Fran Pavley, D-Woodland Hills, and the Office of Privacy Protection in the California Department of Consumer Affairs will offer an Identity Protection Workshop on Thursday from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Women's Pavilion Auditorium at the Encino/Tarzana Medical Center in Tarzana.

- Daily News

IRS says checks awaiting owners

The Internal Revenue Service has 8,782 undelivered tax refund and child credit checks totaling nearly $5.9 million awaiting taxpayers in Los Angeles County, officials said.

Taxpayers have until December 5 to claim undelivered checks from this summer's advance child tax credit.

IRS.gov, the IRS Web site, has sections called ``Where's My Refund?'' that provides information about refunds and ``Where's My Advance Child Tax Credit?'' that provides information about the tax credit.

- Daily News