Latest news: November 1, 2011

Oil and gas critical to Louisiana’s economy

By Mike Hasten, The News Star (Monroe, La.). October 31, 2011.

“BATON ROUGE — Louisiana’s oil and gas business is a major driver of the state’s economy that could be depleted if national policies targeting the industry continue, an economist predicts…”

You Know the Drill

By Alex Woodward, Gambit (New Orleans, La.). November 1, 2011.

“Just weeks after U.S. Sen. David Vitter and Congressman Jeff Landry’s showdown with oil and gas regulators, officials have approved BP’s re-entry into deepwater drilling in the Gulf of Mexico — though the green light is likely not Vitter and Landry’s doing. Michael Bromwich, director of the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE), said in a statement that BP met all its safety requirements “that go beyond” the agency’s requirements…”

Stopping Katrina Myths From Becoming Household Knowledge

By Sandy Rosenthal, Times-Picayune (New Orleans, La.). October 31, 2011.

“On Halloween Day six years ago, I decided I had to do something about the myths that were taking root and quickly becoming established facts about the New Orleans flooding during Katrina…”

1927: The greatest flood in American history inundates 10 states

By The Times-Picayune (New Orleans, La.). October 31, 2011.

“The greatest flood in American history killed hundreds of people, inundated 10 states, changed the demographics of the country and increased the power of the federal government forever…”

Louisiana Fights Threat of Sanctions in Discovery Phase of Oil-Spill Trial

By Sabrina Canfield, Courthouse News Service. November 1, 2011.

“NEW ORLEANS (CN) – Louisiana on Monday filed a motion in opposition to a federal magistrate’s threat of sanctions if the state does not produce all documents related to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill this week. Louisiana calls the judge’s order an unreasonable demand that would cost it millions of dollars to comply with…”