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Rental Car Tax Increase Could Fund "Pure Michigan" Ad Campaign LANSING - A few bucks charged on rental cars picked up near Michigan airports could be a way to finance the state's Pure Michigan campaign, Gov. Jennifer Granholm said over the weekend.

Ann Arbor VC, Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Snyder "Tough Nerd" Super Bowl Ad Campaign Triggers Rush To Web Site ANN ARBOR - Republican gubernatorial candidate and Ann Arbor technology venture capitalist Rick Snyder's "tough nerd" ad has helped his campaign spark interest among the general public and helped bring focus to his status outside of the "professional politicians that have done damage to the state," staff members told reporters Monday.

Google Set To Unveil Gmail Feature For Sharing Media, Status With Friends MOUNTAIN VIEW - Google is set to unveil a new feature to Gmail designed to make it easier and faster for users to share media and status updates with friends, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Granholm Outlines Plans To Help Michigan Entrepreneurs In State Of State LANSING - Michigan is fully committed down the difficult path of renewal and rebirth, having endured some of the most heart-wrenching and painful economic times in history, and it will continue to a newly diversified economy to replace the industrial economy that has gone, Gov. Jennifer Granholm said Wednesday in her final State of the State address.

Business, Community Groups Wait For More Details On Granholm Plans LANSING - While most business and community leaders were in agreement with Gov. Jennifer Granholm's State of the State address on Wednesday, especially its optimistic but somber tone and its focus on helping entrepreneurs, the speech seemed more symbolic than revealing, they said.

First Friday Features SmartStart Entrepreneurs DETROIT – Michael O'Neil of Detroit Logistics in Detroit is one of five SmartStart entrepreneurs featured on Feb. 5 at Wayne State University's TechTown's First Friday networking event. These entrepreneurs will discuss what they've learned in the business incubator program.

TechTown First Friday Features Five SmartStart Entrepreneurs DETROIT - TechTown will host its monthly First Friday networking event on February 5 from 4 to 6 p.m. at its new incubator facility, the former Dalgleish Cadillac building, featuring a panel discussion that will showcase entrepreneurs in its SmartStart program.

MichiganMall.Com, Workfly Partner For Social Network Update Service ROCHESTER HILLS - MichiganMall.com announced a partnership Tuesday with Workfly, a community incubator in Pontiac, creating one central location for businesses to post and update Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter accounts and YouTube presentations.

Michigan House Offers Bill To End Health Care Benefits For Retired Lawmakers LANSING - The Michigan House overwhelmingly passed legislation Tuesday ending the health care benefits lawmakers receive once they reach age 55, but Democrats backed away from earlier statements that the bill would affect those currently serving.

Intelligent Connections Morphs Into Sequris Group To Reflect Growth Plans ROYAL OAK – Information security consultant Intelligent Connections has renamed its company, Sequris Group - to reflect the fact it has opened offices in Grand Rapids, Phoenix and Atlanta, and is now serving clients throughout the Midwest, Southwest and Southeast in a variety of industries, including healthcare, financial services, technology, and research and development.

Obama Rolls Out $30 Billion Small Business Lending Program WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama rolled out a proposed $30 billion small-business lending program Tuesday, the next in a series of administration efforts to jump-start hiring by the nation's small businesses.

Toyota Throttle Problem Known In 2007, NHTSA Investigators Contend DETROIT - Toyota says it has a fix for its sticking gas pedals, the government approved it, and the company is sending repair kits to dealers. But Toyota's problems are far from over. The Detroit News reports that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration raised concerns over sticking throttles in 2007, but Toyota said there was no problem. Former NHTSA administrator Nicole Nason says Toyota should be severely punished if it misled investigators.

Granholm Plan Curbs State Employees' Retirement, Health Benefits LANSING – Gov. Jennifer Granholm unveiled a reform plan Friday with a major focus on curbing the cost of state employees' retirement and health insurance benefits that, in concert with legislative reform proposals, indicates 2010 could see the long-anticipated reshaping of government.

Plex Systems Reports 14 Percent Increase On Revenue, 21 Percent On Profit AUBURN HILLS – ERP software provider Plex Systems said its total revenue grew 14 percent in 2009 over 2008, and its profitability by 21 percent year-over-year. But the private company declined to disclose figures for revenue and profitability.

Michigan Gets Just $40 Million Of $800 Million Federal Rail Grants Requesteds LANSING - The Midwest received a substantial portion of the $8 billion in American Recovery and Redevelopment Act funds targeted to high-speed rail improvements, but Michigan saw only a small percentage of that under grants announced Thursday.

Asian Carp Summit Set For Feb. 8 LANSING - Officials in the administration of President Barack Obama and three Great Lakes governors, including Gov Jennifer Granholm, will meet to discuss the threat of the Asian carp to the Great Lakes on February 8.

FTC To Silicon Valley: Tech Companies Should Protect Consumer Data WASHINGTON DC - Washington wants to know: Why can't technology protect consumers' privacy instead of violating it?

House Proposes 8 Cent Per Gallon Gas Tax Increase - 12 Cents For Diesel LANSING - After months of work behind the scenes, a pair of House lawmakers announced Tuesday they are introducing an eight-cent per gallon gasoline tax increase, coupled with a 12-cent increase for diesel, in order to fill the expected hole in state transportation matching dollars.

Michigan Tourism Web Site, Social Media are No. 1 LANSING - For the third consecutive year michigan.org, the state of Michigan's official travel and tourism Web site, has earned the title as most popular state tourism Web site in America. According to Hitwise, an online measurement company, michigan.org received more visits than any other state tourism Web site in 2009.

Senate OKs Ban On Texting While Driving LANSING - Motorists would be banned from sending and reading text messages while driving under a bill passed Tuesday by the Senate after a passionate debate on whether to make the violation a primary or secondary offense.