DETROIT (AP) — Toyota says it is recalling 690,000 Tacoma pickup trucks because the rear leaf springs could break, puncture the gas tank and cause a fire.

The recall covers Tacoma Four-by-Four and Pre-Runner pickups from the 2005 through 2011 model years.

The automaker says the leaf springs can fracture due to stress and corrosion. They can move out of position and come into contact with surrounding components, including the gas tank. Toyota says it’s not aware of any fires, crashes or injuries from the problem.

Owners will be notified by mail and Toyota says dealers will fix the problem at no cost.

Owners with questions can call Toyota at (800) 331-4331.

NEWTON, Kan. (AP) — Newton police have reopened downtown buildings that were closed and evacuated after a suspicious device was found near a community corrections office.

Police received a bomb threat to the corrections center Monday morning and evacuated nearby buildings, including Newton City Hall. A suspicious package was found outside the building.

The Wichita bomb squad was called and a robot dismantled the package, which included a bottle of fluid, a timer and electrical wires.

KWCH-TV reports police have declared the situation safe and reopened the buildings.

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NEWTON — Law enforcement authorities in Newton are on the scene of a reported explosive device.

The Newton Police Department reported officers were responding to a possible explosive device near the intersection of Sixth and Oak and requested residents stay away from the area.

Buildings surrounding the county corrections center on East Sixth Street were being evacuated.

Agents with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are on the scene, and the Wichita Police Bomb Squad also has been called.

Check Hays Post for more information as it becomes available.

MANKATO, Kan. (AP) — Two groups are offering up to $5,000 for information leading to a conviction in the shooting of seven American white pelicans in Kansas earlier this month.

The Humane Society of the United States and The Humane Society Wildlife Land Trust announced the reward Monday.

The federally protected birds were shot in September at the Lovewell Reservoir in Jewell County.

Jewell County Game Warden Mike Peterson found the birds’ bodies. He says he believes the birds were killed at the same time as they migrated through the region.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Joe Biden announced almost a half-billion dollars of grants Monday to community colleges working with employers on job training.

Linking training to industry demand is key to the Obama administration’s strategy for improving wages and reducing unemployment.

Massasoit Community College in Massachusetts and Wisconsin’s Chippewa Valley Technical College received the largest grants of about $20 million each.

A Maryland program will receive $15 million to partner with companies like Raytheon and IBM to train workers with little education for jobs in cybersecurity or information technology. Schools in Kentucky will get $10 million to expand online learning for degrees in computer and medical fields.

JIM KUHNHENN, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration wants to put a stop to excessive payday or car title loans for military service members.

The Defense Department is trying to close legal loopholes that have put hundreds of thousands of service members at risk of excessive fees.

New rules would toughen the Military Lending Act’s limits on interest rates for certain types of credit for service men and women and their dependents.

Under current law, lenders cannot charge members of the military more than 36 percent interest. But loans covered by the law are so narrowly defined that lenders can make simple adjustments to get around its provisions.

The proposed rules would broaden the definition of consumer credit so that more loans would fall under the 2006 law.

WICHITA- A Kansas woman was injured in an accident just after 7 a.m. on Monday in Sedgwick County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2013 Volkswagen passenger car driven by Amy Carney-Atrick, 43, Wichita, was northbound on Broadway and made an improper turn onto West 25th Street.

A 2007 Infiniti driven by Leigh Lai Sinn, 31, Wichita, struck the Volkswagen the side.

Sinn was transported to Via Christi-St. Joseph. Carney-Atrick was not injured.

The KHP reported both drivers were properly restrained at the time of the accident.