SAN FRANCISCO - New security features designed to keep its more than 110 million users safe debut in Avast 6, released today exclusively from CNET Download.com. They also have the added benefit of raising the competitive bar in computer security by pushing more and better free options to users. Avast Free Antivirus 6, Avast Pro
FLINT - The three famous parts of the FIRST Robotics logo ? a triangle, circle and square, will add colorful elements to the 2011 Kettering University FIRST Robotics District competition coming to Flint on March 4-5. Forty high school teams from around Michigan will compete in the hopes of qualifying for FIRST state and national
JACKSON - Consumers Energy has updated its renewable energy plan to reflect the latest market conditions and proposes lowering costs for electric customers by about $55 million per year. In 2010, about 5 percent of the electricity supplied to its 1.8 million customers came from renewable sources. The utility has filed its updated plan for
LANSING - Michigan employees scored a victory Thursday against the move made last year to require them to contribute 3 percent of their salary toward their retirement health care coverage when a judge ruled the law "clearly unconstitutional," but both sides began preparing for an appeal. The decision, issued by Ingham Circuit Judge William Collette,
LUDINGTON - The Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association is taking its Michigan Energy Fair back to Northern Michigan in June after experimenting with the Rock Financial Showplace last year. The sixth annual Michigan Energy Fair will take place at the Mason County Fair Grounds in Ludington. The first four years of its existence the fair
EAST LANSING - Are you interested in learning the basics of renewable energy systems and how they work in Michigan? Then register for the Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association's renewable energy seminars March 5 at Michigan State University's Kellogg Center. The seminars will answer commonly asked questions about three of the most popular types of
LANSING - Lawmakers began delving more into the specifics of what a Michigan corporate income tax could look like with presentations Wednesday from the House Fiscal Agency showing Governor Rick Snyder's proposal will amount to an 86 percent cut in business tax revenues to the state by the 2012-13 fiscal year. Forty-four other states levy
WASHINGTON DC - The FBI said that it's not calling for restrictions on encryption without back doors for law enforcement. FBI general counsel Valerie Caproni told a congressional committee that the bureau's push for expanded Internet wiretapping authority doesn't mean giving law enforcement a master key to encrypted communications, an apparent retreat from her position
ALLEN PARK ? EcoMotors has landed another partner, this time Navistar International. The agreement will develop a commercial turbo-diesel version of EcoMotors opposed-piston, opposed-cylinder engine. EcoMotors says its engine and powertrain packages are designed to be 15- to 50-percent more efficient, smaller, lighter, and less expensive to manufacture than conventional internal combustion engines. Last year,
DETROIT - A new research study shows a positive Return on Investment from Michigan's film production tax credit, despite the fact that the program has been in place for less than three full years. Gov. Snyder has proposed eliminating the 42 percent film production credit and replacing it with a maximum $25 million annual credit.