Latest news: August 26, 2011

Mississippi River flooding gives birth to tiny island in West Bay

By Mark Schleifstein, The Times-Picayune. August 25, 2011.

“In a demonstration of the Mississippi River’s formidable land-building power, a new, 5-acre island has sprouted up near the river’s mouth, where this year’s record Mississippi River floodwaters poured through the West Bay freshwater diversion…”

Coast Guard, BP investigating reports of oil at Deepwater Horizon site

By Mark Schleifstein, The Times-Picayune. August 25, 2011.

“The U.S. Coast Guard sent a cutter and an helicopter to the site of the Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico today after a report of oil at the site, but found no evidence of oil leaking from the well and plans no further investigation, a spokesman said…”

Landrieu: $45M in new road work for hard-hit Lower 9th Ward will entice people back

By Cain Burdeau, Associated Press. August 25, 2011.

“NEW ORLEANS — In one of the biggest enticements yet to get people back to the devastated Lower 9th Ward, Mayor Mitch Landrieu on Thursday said $45 million in federal hurricane recovery funds will go to pave new roads there…”