Latest news: April 5, 2012

Putting a priority on Louisiana’s coast: An editorial
Editorial, The Times-Picayune (New Orleans). April 4, 2012.
“A statewide survey on the state’s 2012 Coastal Master Plan sends a strong message to lawmakers: Pass it…” (Read more)

Nearly Two Years On, Did the BP Oil Spill Have to Happen to BP?
By Bryan Walsh, TIME. April 5, 2012.
“The Deepwater Horizon oil spill seems to divide people into two categories: those who can’t forget, and those who refuse to remember…” (Read more)

BP oil spill trial plan could change
By David Hammer, The Times-Picayune (New Orleans). April 4, 2012.
“Now that BP has a proposed settlement with a large class of plaintiffs in the federal oil spill case, the U.S. District Court in New Orleans is considering changing the way the case should move forward…” (Read more)

New Orleans residents get updates on levees, coastal work at meeting set by David Vitter
By Mark Schleifstein, The Times-Picyaune (New Orleans). April 4, 2012.
“New Orleans-area residents peppered officials from the Army Corps of Engineers and state and regional levee agencies with questions about the status of levee and coastal restoration projects during a Wednesday public meeting at the University of New Orleans sponsored by U.S. Sen. David Vitter, R-La…” (Read more)

T’bonne chamber chair commits to coastal concerns
By Mike Nixon, The Tri-Parish Times (Houma, La.). April 4, 2012.
“Houma-Terrebonne Parish Chamber of Commerce Chairman Billy Foster acknowledged greater visibility is in store as business leaders increase involvement with coastal restoration efforts…” (Read more)

Tulane University geologists chronicle acceleration in sea-level rise
By Mark Schleifstein, The Times-Picayune (New Orleans). April 4, 2012.
“Sea-level rise along the Gulf Coast, including Louisiana, occurred at a much faster rate in the past 100 years than in the 1,000 years prior to the nation’s industrialization, according to a new study by Tulane University geologists…” (Read more)

Legislation affects oyster research, fishing obstructions
By Jeremy Alford, The Daily Comet (Lafourche Parish, La.). APril 4, 2012.
“BATON ROUGE — Two bills that would quintuple the size of oyster research locally and extend funding for the removal of underwater obstructions are pending debate in the House of Representatives…” (Read more)