2015 Facebook grants available

Facebook’s Prineville Data Center is accepting applications for its 2015 Community Action Grants.

The center awards up to $15,000 per successful application from nonprofits and some public organizations in Crook County, according to its Facebook page.

The grants are available for short-term projects in Crook County that address critical community needs, improve education and promote local economic development, according to the post.

Groups may apply by going online to www.facebook.com/PrinevilleDataCenter and scrolling to the announcement. The deadline is 5 p.m. Dec. 15 with decisions announced in late winter or early spring.

The data center handed out checks totaling $105,000 in May to Crook County schools and other organizations, like Crook County Kids Inc. and the Humane Society of the Ochocos.

GM’s top lawyer plans to retire

In a surprise move, General Motors announced the retirement of its top lawyer, Michael Millikin, who has been a central figure in the automaker’s recall crisis and a target of congressional critics calling for broad reforms at the nation’s largest automaker.

GM said Millikin, who joined the company in 1977 and has been its general counsel for five years, would retire early next year.

No explanation was given for his departure, but GM said it would immediately begin a search of external candidates to replace him.

Millikin, 66, is the highest-ranking executive to leave GM since the initial switch recall.

— Staff and wire reports