Latest news: January 31, 2012
Untangle this mess: Alabama’s Gulf Coast deserves attention from lawmakers
By the Editorial Board, The Anniston Star (Anniston, Ala.). Jan. 31, 2012.
“State Rep. K.L. Brown, R-Jacksonville, who sits on the House Economic Development and Tourism Committee, posted recently on Facebook about how he and the committee were “pleased that Gulf Shores and Orange Beach had record-setting growth this past year.”He went on to add that it was ‘great to get beyond the tragedy of the BP oil spill.’ Unfortunately, Gulf Coast resident have not gotten beyond it…”
Sen. Richard Shelby on the RESTORE Act, Richard Cordray and the GOP presidential primary
By George Talbot, Press-Register (Mobile, Ala.). Jan. 30, 2012.
“MOBILE, Alabama — U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Tuscaloosa, told a Mobile audience Monday that he’s optimistic Congress will pass legislation designed to help the Gulf Coast recover from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon catastrophe…”
Has the Gulf oil disaster fallen off America’s radar?
By Sue Sturgis, The Institute for Southern Studies. Jan. 31, 2012.
“For residents of the Gulf Coast, the BP oil spill is an ongoing disaster that’s still causing serious health problems, environmental damage and economic hardship in one of the nation’s key fisheries and tourism centers…”
Flood Damage in 2011 May Make 2012 Worse Along Mississippi River
By Janet McConnaughey, Insurance Journal. Jan. 30, 2012.
“Damage from last year’s record spring floods could leave many people along the Mississippi River in even more danger this year, the Army Corps of Engineers said…”
GNO Inc. study examines ‘hidden victims’ of Gulf of Mexico drilling moratorium
By The Times-Picayune (New Orleans, La.). Jan. 30, 2012.
“GNO Inc., the regional economic development organization, will release a study this morning that documents the ‘hidden victims’ of the moratorium on Gulf of Mexico drilling permits. The moratorium was implemented in the wake of the 2010 oil spill and has since been lifted. The study examines the lingering impact on energy-related companies in Louisiana…”
BP, Transocean, Both Still on the Hook
By Sabrina Canfield, Courthouse News Service. Jan. 30, 2012.
“NEW ORLEANS (CN) – BP must indemnify Transocean for third-parties’ compensatory damage claims from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, even if Transocean is found guilty of gross negligence, but Transocean is still on the hook for what could be billions of dollars in punitive fines, according to the federal judge overseeing the consolidated litigation…”