Free Republic

Germany’s Automobilewoche reports that with the change in Volkswagen’s top management is coming a change in strategy for hybrids. Martin Winterkorn, who formerly headed the company’s Audi AG unit, became CEO after Bernd Pischetsrieder resigned at the end of 2006. Pischetsrieder had brought in Wolfgang Bernhard from DaimlerChrysler to run the Volkswagen unit. Berhard has now left (as of today), and Winterkorn will personally oversee the VW brand for the time being. Now, rather than target a mild hybrid Jetta for sale into the California market in 2008 as described by Pischetsrieder, Volkswagen will focus first on a full hybrid...

Governor leading Angelides about 4 to 3 in new poll - Air pollution, global warming and other environmental woes are becoming increasingly important to California voters and they're backing Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger as the man to deal with those problems, a new poll shows. Schwarzenegger has a strong 43 percent to 30 percent lead over Democratic state Treasurer Phil Angelides among likely voters in the Public Policy Institute of California survey released today and 85 percent of those same voters say a candidate's position on the environment will be either very important or somewhat important when they vote for...

<p>Steve Owens' confirmation to the ADEQ post faces GOP and business doubters in Phoenix.</p> <p>Steve Owens says his relationship to the environment is pretty much like everyone else's. He recycles. He drives a sport utility vehicle, not an alternative-fuel car. He thinks smog has worsened.</p>