Business news in brief

U.S. Rep. Bob Brady, a Philadelphia Democrat, said he and other House members would press the U.S. Transportation Security Administration to reverse its decision allowing knives on passenger airplanes. A group of lawmakers including Reps. Bennie Thompson (D., Miss.), Eric Swalwell (D., Calif.), and Michael Grimm (R., N.Y.) said they would send a "formal bipartisan letter" to TSA Administrator John Pistole urging the agency to reconsider its policy permitting passengers to carry small knives and sporting equipment, such as golf clubs and toy baseball bats, in carry-on luggage. - Linda Loyd

More than a year after receiving regulatory approval for its first drug, Discovery Laboratories Inc. still has not launched Surfaxin, a treatment to prevent a respiratory illness that affects premature infants. The Warrington biotechnology firm now says it expects to begin selling Surfaxin to hospitals during the second quarter after delaying the launch last October. The company said the delay was related to one of the analytical chemistry methods used to assess how the synthetic drug conforms to its product specifications. The only hurdle now is obtaining confirmation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the updated product specifications, according to the company. Discovery reiterated sales expectations for Surfaxin of $8 million to $10 million for the first 12 months. - Mike Armstrong

For those who like heaping servings of TV shows, Comcast Corp. has scheduled its first "Watchathon Week," with full seasons of current and past TV series on the Xfinity on-demand service. The company says 3,500 episodes of 100 series, including The Walking Dead and Duck Dynasty, will be available between March 25 and 31. Comcast says 30 premium, ad-supported, and broadcast networks are participating. It's part of a trend of binge-watching TV shows. - Bob Fernandez

Sloane Toyota of Devon plans a move to Frazer, Chester County. The dealership has agreed to pay nearly $8 million for the eight-acre United Artists theater complex at 593 W. Lancaster Ave., said broker Christopher J. Magarity, vice president of Binswanger, who represented Sloane in the deal. "The site was a perfect fit" for Sloane, offering 495 parking spaces and a 40,000-square-foot building adjoining Route 30 at Route 202, Magarity said. Sloane plans a "total facade renovation," he said - Joseph N. DiStefano

American Water Works' Pennsylvania subsidiary acquired two water systems in northeastern Pennsylvania for $1.65 million, adding about 640 accounts or about 1,700 people to its existing water system. Pennsylvania American Water purchased the system of the Indian Rocks Property Owners Association, serving about 465 households in Salem Township, Wayne County. In Lackawanna County, the company acquired Olwen Heights Water Co., which serves about 175 accounts in Roaring Brook Township. - Andrew Maykuth

Russia-based Evraz North America opened a $16.75 million "baghouse" designed to reduce air pollution by sucking particles from emissions at its Evraz Claymont Steel plant, the electric furnace complex and scrapyard on Route 13 just south of the Pennsylvania state line. Evraz bought the plant in 2008. The plant has a long record of pollution violations, but Delaware Gov. Jack Markell's administration, like his predecessors', has been working with operators in the hope of keeping industrial workers employed. - Joseph N. DiStefano

Henrik Fisker resigned the chairmanship of Fisker Automotive, the electric-car company to which the U.S. government pledged a half-billion dollars (most still frozen in government accounts) to reopen a former General Motors Co. plant in Delaware. "They need financing, they need a strategic partner, and they have the right guy in Tony Posawatz," the ex-Chevrolet Volt chief who is Fisker's chief executive, Delaware economic development chief Alan Levin said. "Hendrik's leaving does not change anything," Levin added. "We've been in constant contact with that management team," which remains hopeful it will find new backers and unlock federal loan dollars to finish the plant. - Joseph N. DiStefano

Andy Rubin has stepped down as the executive in charge of Google Inc.'s Android operating system for smartphones and tablet computers, ending a seven-year reign that reshaped the technology industry. The unexpected change may raise new questions about Android's direction as Google duels with Apple Inc., Microsoft Corp., and a long list of other companies in the increasingly important mobile computing market. Google is replacing Rubin with Sundar Pichai, an executive in charge of the company's Chrome Web browser and operating system for lightweight laptop computers. That move may heighten recurring speculation that Chrome eventually will supplant Android. - AP

Research in Motion Ltd. says it has received an order for one million of its new smartphones, the largest single purchase in the company's history. RIM is relying on the redesigned BlackBerry to fuel a comeback. The pioneering brand lost its cachet not long after Apple's 2007 release of the iPhone. - AP