About the Heartland Corridor project. The Heartland Corridor project involves improvements in railways between the Virginia coast and Columbus, Ohio, so that trains can carry more goods. [News Source]

Local boy’s bright idea earns state science award. What began as a Hanukkah gift for 13-year-old Advanced Math and Science Academy student Alex Gribov turned into an award-winning science project. [News Source]

Quite the sales plug. A New England company that makes electric scooters is getting a boost from the high price of gasoline. [News Source]

Salem power plant to run for ‘years to come.’ The owner of Salem Harbor Station said it plans to keep the power plant running "for years to come" and can meet the state's tough new emission regulations without making a major investment in pollution controls. [News Source]

Athletes ponder wearing masks to fight pollution. Designing protective masks to help athletes cope with the elements is nothing new, but smog in Beijing is the worry this time. [News Source]

Air quality getting better: IOC official. The air quality in Beijing has improved in recent days, an official from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on Wednesday. [News Source]

Leaving Beijing as the Games arrive. Over the past few years, large areas of Beijing have been demolished and replaced by new roads, subways, skyscrapers and parks. Now, migrant workers, who played a key role in readying Beijing for the Games, are being told to leave and factories shut in an effort to reduce air pollution. [News Source]

China says air clearing for games despite hazy skies. China's efforts to clear the skies over its polluted capital are having an effect, officials said on Friday, insisting that Beijing's air would be safe for Olympic athletes despite persistent smog over the city. [News Source]

Agriculture, health clash over DDT. A protracted war of ideas is brewing in the country between health authorities and the tobacco industry over the former’s plans to reintroduce a pesticide, Dichloro-Diphenyl-Trichloroethane, to control the spread of malaria. [News Source]

Top EU court backs citizen rights in air pollution. A German environmental activist has won backing from the European Union's top court to force local authorities in the home city of BMW to tackle car pollution. [News Source]

Report sees flaws in case for third heathrow runway. The Heathrow consultation has been attacked as biased by local residents, environmentalists and opposition politicians, who have also raised concerns about the close cooperation between the government and BAA, Heathrow's owner, during the process. [News Source]