A new report reveals that fewer people in the state are buying cars, undoubtedly because of the current recession and the pinch it's putting on people's pocketbooks.

The state issued a total of 16,802 new vehicle titles in January, down 35 percent from the same month last year, according to Cross-Sell, a company that provides of market analysis report for automotive dealers.

Used vehicle sales fared much better.

In January, 53,022 used vehicles received new titles, down 7 percent from last January.

The top selling new vehicles for the month were compact SUVs, mid-sized cars and full-sized pick-up trucks. The same were also the top selling used vehicles.

Like the outdoors? Hate fire? Are you physically fit?

If so, the state has a job for you - from among more than 350 summer firefighting jobs announced today by the state Department of Natural Resources.

The department has begun accepting applications for forest firefighter and natural resource worker positions for the 2009 fire season, which begins April 15.

The department is also recruiting for summer positions in the Washington Conservation Corps, according to a DNR release this morning.

The deadline for seasonal job applications varies by region of the state – most are due by 5 p.m. on March 31, 2008. For complete job listings and more information, click here or go to www.DNR.wa.gov and select the “Jobs” link.

“This is an opportunity for students who want to earn college tuition and educational loan repayment vouchers while working outdoors in Washington’s wildland – and get paid for the experience,” the department said.

Positions available include Forest Firefighter, an entry-level position that does not require previous experience in natural resources work. DNR also is hiring seasonal Natural Resource Workers with natural resource-related experience to help lead work crews.

All Firefighter positions require a valid driver’s license and two years of driving experience, an acceptable driving record free of serious violations, a high school diploma or G.E.D., and the successful completion of a physical fitness/work capacity test.

The department will provide training to entry-level forest firefighters. Some positions will be eligible for a $1,250 AmeriCorps Educational Award.

Positions are also available in the Washington Conservation Corps, whose missing it is “to conserve and enhance the natural resources of Washington and to help young adults enrich themselves by providing a meaningful work and service experience. The WCC provides the opportunity for corpsmembers to learn valuable job skills and receive training while working on environmental stewardship projects.”

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Here’s an $8,000 bonus ($4,000 if married and filing separately) from the Internal Revenue Service.

If you’re a first-time homebuyer and you buy your home before Dec. 1, you have the option to claim your tax credit either on your 2008 tax returns due April 15, or on your 2009 tax returns next year.

According to a release today from the IRS, “For first-time homebuyers this year, this special feature can put money in their pockets right now rather than waiting another year to claim the tax credit. This important change gives qualifying homebuyers cash they do not have to pay back.”

To view a revised version of Form 5405, First-Time Homebuyer Credit, click here or visit www.irs.gov. The revised form incorporates provisions from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The instructions to the revised Form 5405 provide additional information on who can and cannot claim the credit, income limitations and repayment of the credit.

Qualifying taxpayers do not have to repay the credit, provided the home remains their principle residence for 36 months after the purchase date. They can claim 10 percent of the purchase price up to $8,000, or $4,000 for married individuals filing separately.

The amount of the credit begins to phase out for taxpayers whose adjusted gross income is more than $75,000, or $150,000 for joint filers.

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Unlicensed, unregistered, unconcerned about the law, there are buisnesses out there that will take your money without providing the services they promised.

Until now, it may have been a bit cumbersome to protect yourself.

The Department of Revenue and other state agencies today launched a Web site that compiles the answers to your concerns.

Along with Gov. Chris Gregoire’s proclamation of March 1-7 as Washington State Consumer Protection Week, the state has opened www.suspectfraud.com, which offers consumers a single point of access to assistance and reporting.

Is that roofer, that plumber, that electrician licensed? Does that charity actually give money to non-profit purposes? Is the mortgage broker overseen by state scrutiny? Has that business paid its taxes?

If you’ve got a question about professional services, or if you’d like to report suspected fraud, click here.

There’s also a link to a site where you can fess up and pay your own back businesses taxes.

Save-A-Lot grocery stores in Tacoma and Port Orchard plan on giving away a dinner's worth of food to customers Saturday.

“At its core, Save-A-Lot Food Stores is committed to helping families, and today that includes surviving this economic crisis,” said Mark Colbo, regional director of Save-A-Lot Food Stores.

The company is calling the event Fuel Your Family for Free. The stores will provide the necessary ingredients for a spaghetti dinner: one box of noodles, one jar of pasta sauce, two cans of vegetables and a package of bread sticks all in a reusable bag.

Save-A-Lot has enough meals for 4,000 families at each of its locations. The company is encouraging people to print out vouchers for the meals from its Web site and bring them to the store Saturday.

The event runs from 8 a.m. until noon.

People will be served on a first-come, first serve basis, according to a news release from the company. Customers will need to visit various stations inside the stores to pick up the ingredients for the meal.

The company plans on making a matching donation to local food banks through Food Life Line, Washington's largest hunger relief agency.

Save-A-Lot bills itself as an extreme value grocery chain. The company operates two stores in Tacoma - one at 1105 Martin Luther King Jr. Way and another at 9820 Pacific Ave. There's also a Save-A-Lot store in Port Orchard at 1730 SE Mile Hill Road.

The free meal deal is happening at its nine Northwest locations, which includes four stores in Washington and five in Oregon. Save-A-Lot operates 1,150 stores in 39 states.

Free food give-a-aways have attracted a lot of attention recently. Millions of people showed up at Denny's locations around the country last month for a free Grand Slam breakfast.

We'll find out. Historic Tacoma filed an application this month with the City of Tacoma's Landmarks Preservation Commission to put the former University-Union Club on the Tacoma register of historic places.

The 1890 colonial revival building, 539 Broadway, clearly deserves historic status. But the owners, the family of David Smith, don't want the historic designation while it has the property up for sale.

Tonight the city commission will set a date in March for a public hearing on the extensive application by Historic Tacoma, a non-profit group formed in 2007 amidst a civic debate of Multicare Health System's purchase and eventual demolition of a historic First United Methodist Church.

The University-Union Club went on the market in 2007.

"Realizing that the building lacked demolition protection, community members feared that the property might be purchased by someonje who valued the land more than the history," said Brent Santhuff, a local architect and Historic Tacoma vice president.

"Historic Tacoma thought a nomination overdue but also an appropriate means to both safeguard the building and attract a buyer interested in its preservation," Santhuff said.

By being on the historic register, a potential developer could qualify for tax relief and grants to help with a restoration.

The nomination marks Historic Tacoma's first attempt to unilaterally preserve a historic treasure.