Latest Mississippi River Delta News: Jan. 23, 2015

BP oil spill rippled through ‘fabric of Gulf Coast economy,’ witness testifies
By Jennifer Larino, The Times-Picayune. Jan. 22, 2015
“The 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill took an economic toll that “reached out into the fabric of the entire Gulf Coast economy,” an impact only modestly countered by BP’s spending and investment in the region, an economic expert testified on Thursday (Jan. 22).” (Read More)

In BP oil spill trial, U.S. witness to outline how much BP can afford to pay in fines
By Jennifer Larino, The Times-Picayune. Jan. 23, 2015
“The U.S. government plans to call its final witnesses Friday (Jan. 23) as it seeks the maximum $13.7 billion penalty against BP for its role in the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill. The testimony will estimate the impact such a fine would have on BP’s finances.” (Read More)

Coastal Master Plan could grow by $20 billion, state planners say
By Mark Schleifstein, The Times-Picayune. Jan. 21, 2015
“The state’s coastal protection and restoration Master Plan could grow by $20 billion, based on additional projects being reviewed for the plan’s 2017 revision, a senior planner with the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority said Wednesday (January 21).” (Read More)

These Native American Tribes are fighting to stop their land from literally disappearing
By Kira Lerner & Alice Ollstein, ThinkProgress. Jan. 22, 2015
“The group came together on tribal lands that are quickly disappearing into the Gulf of Mexico — taking not only the ground beneath their feet but generations of culture and their traditional way of life.” (Read More)