Category
Environment
If you live in an old house, chances are your child is at risk for lead poisoning
"Every time a house is renovated, every time a nail is driven into a wall, there's going to be dust that comes out of that wall that will ultimately have lead in it."
New research indicates Mississippi River diversions could harm marshland
The rallying cry for coastal restoration has been, “Put the river back into the marsh.” But a new study shows that fertilizer found in the river could weaken the marsh plants and soil. More troubling is another study that concludes we don’t really know whether these diversions are building land.
Congress may require Army Corps to assume cost of Lake Borgne gates
The corps would cover 65 percent of the cost — and more importantly, it would manage them.
Natural river diversion at ‘Mardi Gras Pass’ gains support from political, commercial interests
Alternatives to plugging the crevasse include conduits beneath the levee or a bridge over the gap. These moves would buy time while scientists determine the pros and cons of this "free" diversion project and its potential impact on other projects planned as part of the struggle to rebuild a vanishing coast.
Local officials losing sleep over weakest link in post-Katrina flood defense
The huge barge has to be moved into place and sunk in order to seal the system from storm surge sweeping into Lake Borgne from the Gulf of Mexico, a process that takes more than nine hours and must begin four days before a hurricane strike is expected. In repeated tests, the barrier has yet to function reliably.
Coast reclamation advocates warn fight over how to spend BP fines far from over
Forces collide as nature takes a stab at saving a coastal marsh — for free
When the swollen Mississippi broke through to feed a marsh during Carnival 2011, it seemed to some like an alternative to the multi-million-dollar man-made diversion planned nearby. But conflicting views over whether to let 'Mardi Gras Pass' run wild are a perfect example of how complex coastal restoration issues can be.
State officials criticize $60 million BP donation deal, warn of precedent
Louisiana's treasurer and legislative auditor say a BP donation to two nonprofit groups was an improper arrangement because the state ultimately controlled how the money was spent -- so the state Legislature should have had a say in the deal. However, an attorney general's opinion from 2010 said the terms were proper.
New group makes timely debut in fight against lead poisoning
The link between lead poisoning and crime is a mystery that none of the usual hypotheses — such as “get tough” police laws — can explain.
