IN THE NEWS / JAN 5

• Duke Energy headed back to court.

  A federal judge has ruled lawyers for Duke Energy misled jurors about one of its witnesses during a trial on whether the utility company broke federal clean air laws at power plants in Indiana and Ohio. Evansville Courier & Press, Indiana

• Iowa shelves toxin rules.

  A plan to shelve new rules intended to keep toxic coal ash out of Iowa's water supplies is being criticized by environmentalists who say state officials are caving to industry pressure. Associated Press

• Group uses lawsuits to help clean up Sound.

  A wave of lawsuits against governments and businesses makes the Puget Soundkeeper Alliance one of the most prolific litigators in the nation -- if not the top suit-filer, period -- using the citizens-enforcement powers of the Clean Water Act. Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Washington

• Volunteers testing the waters.

  Most of us assume the government is keeping track of environmental issues such as pollution in water. In reality, most pollution problems are first detected by citizens. Environment Report, Michigan

• Are you doing enough for the Chesapeake?

  The Chesapeake Bay Foundation has launched an online nitrogen calculator. Entering information about one's home, sewage system and auto usage delivers an estimate of how much nitrogen one produces in the watershed. Wilmington News Journal, Delaware

• Sempra solar energy project makes advances in costs.

  Generating clean electricity that's as cheap as power from fossil fuels is the Holy Grail of green-energy companies. A new solar project powering California homes appears to be closing in on that prize. Los Angeles Times, California

• Desperate plea to save lakes.

  A lack of freshwater flows means Lake Alexandrina and Lake Albert are continuing to evaporate, causing a chemical reaction that releases acid and toxic metals that contaminate the system and poison wildlife. Adelaide Advertiser, Australia

• 1 in 5 mulling leaving HK.

  One in five Hong Kong residents is considering leaving the city because of its dire air quality, a survey released on Monday has found, raising fears over the financial hub's competitiveness. Agence France-Presse

• Green: The color of money (saved) and the environment.

  So far China has many shades of green, mostly pale. But going really, truly, deeply green takes more than some solar panels - it takes a triangle of government, developers and consumers. Shanghai Daily, China

• Researchers focus on bringing bees back.

  Alarmed by the mysterious decline in honeybees, researchers are focusing on how the habitat surrounding a hive can affect the health of bees, and on how pesticides and other chemicals used in fields and gardens might affect bees. Associated Press

• UW researcher finds link between age, birth order and autism.

  In the largest study of its kind, researchers have shown that the risk of autism increases for firstborn children and children of older parents. The findings suggest avenues of research to explore, including the role of environmental toxins. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Wisconsin

• The orange drinks that have 300 times more pesticide than tap water.

  A worldwide study found pesticide levels in orange and lemon drinks sold under the Fanta brand, which is popular with children, were at their highest in the UK. London Daily Mail, England

• Industry's guarded optimism.

  After the oil industry hired the American Chemistry Council's highly regarded chief executive to assume the leadership of its national trade association, chemical industry officials had to find a new voice to represent their interests in the nation's capital. Chemical & Engineering News

• A survey of the sea: Scramble for the seabed.

  For nearly 30 years, legal control of the sea has actually stopped 200 miles from the shore--but that is about to change. The latest land-grab is under water and under way. Economist