That new-car smell just got costlier. Oregon adopted the nation's toughest regulations on tailpipe emissions Thursday, capping a yearlong debate and handing Gov. Ted Kulongoski a green victory. [News Source]

State adopts stricter emission rules. Tougher light truck and car emission rules based on California standards were permanently adopted Thursday in Oregon to reduce greenhouse gases and make the West Coast a more uniform market for automobile manufacturers. [News Source]

Governor’s advisers urge ‘clean car’ law to reduce warming. In five years, Arizonans could be buying new cars that emit up to 30 percent less emissions that many climate specialists link to global warming. [News Source]

Montana just says no to doing EPA’s work. Montana is returning some air-quality work to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, saying insufficient federal funding makes the job unmanageable. [News Source]

Residents, advocates debate coal plant impacts. Montana communities debate the impact on jobs and environmental health of a proposed coal-fired power plant. [News Source]

A rerun on Spare the Air (East Bay Business Times) For the second day in a row, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District has declared a Spare the Air day -- for Friday -- because of high air pollution levels. [News Source]

‘Spare the Air’ days declared (BizJournals) Hot weather, light winds and high pressure are taxing air conditioners and air pollution monitors alike. Officials have declared Friday and the weekend to be "Spare the Air" days, urging people in the region to avoid driving and to use free transit service if they must travel. [News Source]

Nominees to air pollution board on agenda (WHAS 11 Louisville) LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) -- Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson has decided not to reappoint its most outspoken advocate for the city’s new toxic emissions control program to the Metro Air Pollution Control Board. [News Source]

Air pollution advisory issued today for Smokies (Asheville Citizen-Times) Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials have issued an ozone pollution advisory for today. [News Source]