DEQ warns about Treasure Valley air quality (KBCI Boise) CALDWELL, Idaho Officials with the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality say the air quality in the Treasure Valley region is poor. That's because air pollution has combined with extremely high pollen counts, making it difficult for some residents to breath. [News Source]

Central Texas air at risk. The fact that in short order at least three more new coal plants could be cranking out power and pollution in the greater Waco, TX area should trouble everyone. [News Source]

Airport bill gains momentum. The Los Angeles City Council Wednesday threw its weight behind a controversial effort to gauge possible air pollution blowing from Santa Monica Airport into adjacent neighborhoods. [News Source]

Ask about plant commissioner encourages questions about Desert Rock. Sithe Global Power and Dine Power Authority want to build the coal-fired power plant near Farmington, Colorado but informational meetings have not been held locally despite requests from City Council and the County Commissioners. [News Source]

Burning questions surround coal plan. As TXU Corp. plans to build 11 more traditional coal-fired power plants – among the worst-polluting types – some of its peers are turning to a new coal technology that can significantly cut pollution. [News Source]

Alabama Power unveils $240 million in pollution-control technology. Alabama Power Co. unveiled its most recent weapon to combat pollutant emissions Thursday, a sixth Selective Catalytic Reduction technology, designed to reduce nitrogen oxide emission from the facility by 80 percent during the official ozone season that runs from May 1 through Sept. 30. [News Source]

Area meets ozone standard. Jefferson and Shelby counties in Alabama are meeting the ozone standard after a 28-year battle with the lung-damaging pollution, the U.S. EPA has ruled. [News Source]

Oil-patch study of cattle eases some fears. A long-awaited $17-million study on cattle health and oil and gas emissions in Western Canada has provided some reassuring answers while raising a new batch of concerns in the oil patch. [News Source]

Bad air chokes Pune, Mumbai slightly better. The culprit behind Pune's dramatically high pollution levels, according to Centre for Science & Environment, is vehicular pollution. [News Source]

“Stunning” Beijing wins rave reviews from IOC. Beijing received a rave review for their "stunning" venues and "high quality" organisation from the IOC yesterday at the end of three-day inspection of preparations for the 2008 Olympic Games. [News Source]

Hong Kong expatriates petition government to combat pollution. More than 6,500 expatriates in Hong Kong have signed a petition to lobby the government to combat the worsening pollution in the territory. [News Source]