7/30/2008, 11:13 a.m. PDT
By TINI TRAN
The Associated Press

A Gold Medal in Security?

BEIJING (AP) — Beijing's pollution levels dropped Wednesday to less than half of the previous day's, the lowest reading since authorities began pulling cars off the road and shutting down factories to address athletes' concerns about air quality ahead of the Olympic Games.

A cooling wind and some rain helped sweep away pollutants and gave Beijingers a respite from the sultry heat and humidity that had cloaked the city for days.