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Because Pollution Can't Read Maps
MLive.com reports that new federal air-quality regulations will help to improve air quality in Michigan by cutting pollution generated in Chicago and Milwaukee that drifts into Michigan by cutting the release of soot-causing sulfur dioxide and smog-forming nitrogen oxide over the next 10 years.

Marquette Study Finds Housing Prices Jumping
The Mining Journal reports that a study has found that the median price of homes in the Multiple Listing Service for the Marquette area jumped 14.8 percent, rising from $113,250 in 2003 to $130,000 in 2004. The average sale price (which saavy buyers know is not the same as the asking price) rose even more, to 16.4%.

U-M Researcher Finds Trouble With Michigan Civil Rights Initiative
The Detroit Free Press reports that Susan Kaufmann, associate director of the U-M Center for the Education of Women, will release a study today finding that breast cancer screenings, science camps for girls and other programs for women would be threatened under the Michigan Civil Rights Initiative that could appear on Michigan's ballot in 2006.

Michigan Senate Passes Anti-Spyware Legislation
The Detroit Free Press reports that the state Senate unanimously approved legislation Wednesday that would slap spyware makers with stiff fines and prison time. The measure heads to the House but some experts say legislation won't do much to curb spyware, noting that federal legislation didn't prevent e-mail boxes from being flooded by spam.

Michigan Hard Cider Industry Growing
The Detroit News reports that Michigan is the third leading apple producing state (21 million bushels of apples annually) and that more of these apples are going into the production of hard cider, a fermented apple drink with about the same alcoholic content as a bottle of beer. With cheap Chinese apple concentrate driving juice prices down, the trend is welcome to apple producers.

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