Gulf Coast
April 8, 2013 -
The New Orleans mayor is fighting a consent degree aimed at improving the abysmal conditions inside the Orleans Parish Prison, arguing it would adversely affect people who aren't incarcerated. But in a city that incarcerates more of its residents than anywhere else in the world, will this "us vs. them" strategy work?
March 7, 2013 -
Clean water advocates have filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit against the U.S. Coast Guard over its refusal to release public records about a chronic leak from Taylor Energy oil wells off the Louisiana coast. Caused by an underwater mudslide during Hurricane Ivan, the spill has been fouling Gulf waters since 2004.
February 26, 2013 -
BP could be on the hook for as much as $21 billion in fines for its 2010 Gulf oil spill disaster. An effective investment strategy would address both environmental and economic interests.
February 8, 2013 -
Some New Orleanians may be laughing about Sunday night's blackout during the Super Bowl, but Rosana Cruz is infuriated by the overblown language about what amounted to a minor inconvenience given the very serious problems the city and Louisiana faces.
January 29, 2013 -
In New Orleans today, a federal judge approved a deal allowing BP to plead guilty to manslaughter and other charges related to the Gulf disaster in exchange for a $4 billion fine, probation and monitoring. Some of the company's victims objected to the deal including Cherri Foytlin, who explained her reasons in this letter to the judge.
January 16, 2013 -
Over five months since the Texas Brine sinkhole first appeared over the Napoleonville Salt Dome, residents of Louisiana's Bayou Corne struggle to be heard by Gov. Bobby Jindal -- and look to Washington for help.
January 14, 2013 -
The company is seeking to reduce its civil liabilities under the Clean Water Act by excluding the oil it salvaged from the total amount spilled in the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster. Meanwhile, the court has approved a settlement for medical claims related to the spilled oil and dispersants used to break up the slick.