Latest Mississippi River Delta news: Aug. 27, 2013

Before and after pictures dramatize rapid loss of Louisiana island
By John Snell, FOX 8 News (New Orleans). Aug. 26, 2013.
“Plaquemines Parish, La. — Aerial photographs provide a dramatic example of how quickly parts of Louisiana’s coast are vanishing…” (read more).

Gulf oil spill settlement claims administrator says BP’s allegations of fraud are ‘spurious,’ ‘unfounded’
By Mark Schleifstein, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune (New Orleans). Aug. 26, 2013.
“Patrick Juneau, court-appointed administrator of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill claims settlement program, came out swinging in a response to BP allegations that his payment program is rife with fraud, charging the company with making “spurious allegations of breaches of duty” and “broad, unfounded criticisms of the program’s internal controls and fraud detection processes.”…” (read more).

BP Claims Fraud Accusation Has No Supporting Evidence, Internal Probe Shows
By Michael Kunzelman, Associated Press. Aug. 26, 2013.
“NEW ORLEANS — The head of security for the administrator of BP’s multibillion-dollar settlement with Gulf Coast residents and businesses says an internal probe of alleged misconduct by an employee of a Mobile, Ala., claims center hasn’t turned up any evidence of fraud…” (read more).

Our Views: Be prepared for storms
By The Advocate (Baton Rouge). Aug. 26, 2013.
“Federal officials say that expectations for an above-average hurricane season remain, and that’s good enough reason for south Louisiana residents to be prepared for major storms…” (read more).

BP appeals panelist conflicts addressed
By David Hammer, WWL-TV (New Orleans). Aug. 26, 2013.
“Three members of a court-selected panel that reviews appeals of BP oil spill settlement payments are tied to law firms that have made their own loss claims under the settlement…” (read more).

Year after Hurricane Isaac, Braithwaite a ‘ghost town’ (Video)
By Stacey Plaisance, Associated Press. Aug. 26, 2013.
“BRAITHWAITE, La. (AP) — Isaac barely had hurricane-strength winds when it blew ashore southwest of New Orleans a year ago, but its effects are still apparent in coastal areas where it flooded thousands of homes…” (read more).