The middle of July is apparently a good time to pass along tips to young folks, as evidenced by the LSJ's 10 great ways to fry your parents' last nerve and this Times-Herald feature on summer sleepovers.

Bright News from Michigan Small Businesses
Mitechnews reports that the latest quarterly Small Business Barometer survey finds that 18% of Michigan small business owners hired more workers in the second quarter of the year - the highest percentage of small businesses reporting hiring increases since the third quarter of 1999.

GVSU & MTU Raise Tuition
The Detroit Free Press reports that in response to expected funding cuts, two Michigan schools have raised tuition rates for 2005-06 and others are expected to follow. Grand Valley State University increased 7.6% to $6,334 annually and Michigan Technological University bumped 7.7% to $8,194 per year.

Supreme Court Rules Dow Not Liable for Testing Costs
The Detroit Free Press reports that the Michigan Supreme Court ruled yesterday that residents cannot sue Dow Chemical to pay the cost of testing for future dioxin-related health problems. Residents near Dow's plant in Midland along the Tittabawassee River had filed a lawsuit asking that Dow set up a medical monitoring trust fund to pay for dioxin testing.

Dewitt Makes Best Place to Live List
The Lansing State Journal reports that Dewitt, Michigan has been named one of 100 finalists in CNN/Money Magazine's "Best Places to Live 2005". The historic city 8 miles north of Lansing was one of 4 Michigan cities on the list including Rochester (39), Saline (43) and Caledonia (99).

One Thing You Might Rather Not Know
The Bay City Times reports that in in Saginaw, and most other towns in Michigan, the leftovers are recycled into a sludge known as biosolids, which are spread for free onto farmer's fields. The biosolids are neutralized with lime and tested to make sure harmful pathogens have been removed.

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