Politics

LANSING - Concentrated animal feeding operations were already limited in when and where they could spread manure, but a new permit released Monday would apply those limits to operations receiving that manure as well. CAFOs are required under federal rule to obtain a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit that regulates the waste allowed to

HOUGHTON - It's hot in the desert, where many American military men and women serve. By designing a cooling apparatus to wear in such climates, one of Michigan Technological University's Mechanical Engineering Senior Design teams may help countless suffering soldiers. Their design won them first place in the Air Force Research Lab University Design Challenge.

PLYMOUTH - Spring is the time of year for fresh starts. We change the batteries in our smoke alarms. We go through closets and give away old clothes, toys and other unused items. We clean up the yard, garden beds and even the garage. It's also a good time to ensure the technology in our

LANSING - The good news for backers of Proposal 15-1 to raise the sales tax as part of a plan to increase road funding by $1.2 billion is that they have improved their position in the polls in the past month.     The bad news is that despite millions spent on television advertising and

DETROIT - NextEnergy has awarded $295,000 in Michigan Accelerating Technology Energy Grant funds to three Michigan companies - Navitas Advanced Solutions Group, REL and Temper. The MATch Energy Grant provides matching funds, or cost-share, as well as funding for follow-on commercialization projects, to eligible Michigan businesses and universities applying for federal funding in the area

ANN ARBOR - The National Venture Capital Association, in a report released this week, said Michigan set a record in the first quarter for investment activity. But the executive director of the Michigan Venture Capital Association said she's not sure those figures are correct. "Their numbers are higher than ours," said MVCA's Maureen Miller Brosnan.

LANSING - Organizations that offer or oversee energy efficiency services insisted those programs would at least be severely curtailed if there was not legislation requiring utilities to offer them, while small utilities said not only would the programs continue, but the current law inhibits what they can do as the Michigan House Energy Policy Committee

LANSING - Speaking to the Michigan House Tourism and Outdoor Recreation Committee one day after the full House voted not to fund the state's $50 million film incentive program, the head of Michigan Film Office said that showing sustainability is important to the Film Office and industry in Michigan. Jenelle Leonard would not discuss the

LANSING - Governor Rick Snyder, back in Michigan Wednesday after a swing through three national events where he stoked speculation about his interest in running for president, was mostly as inscrutable as ever on the topic. However, one thing Snyder did say reaffirmed one of the central reasons why most believe he will not run

GRAND RAPIDS - The West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum will discuss on May 11 at a lunch-and-learn the huge amount of energy that typically scientific laboratories expend at major universities - typically four to six times as much energy as typical office buildings.     Harvard University, for instance, estimates that its labs account for