Gulf Coast states prepare to spend billions in fine money
By Ledyard King and Deborah Barfield Berry, Gannett Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON – It took Gulf Coast lawmakers more than two years of prodding and negotiating to persuade a divided Congress their communities deserve most of the billions of dollars BP will pay in fines for its role in the 2010 oil spill.http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-07-05/restore-act-gulf-coast/56043544/1
Mobile County Prepares To Spend Millions In BP Fine Money
(MOBILE, Ala.) - Mobile County leaders are already brain storming ways to spend Restore Act funds that will soon begin flowing into the five Gulf states.
http://www.local15tv.com/news/local/story/Mobile-County-Prepares-To-Spend-Millions-In-BP/id3t3u3xYkGpm93GYBDHlQ.cspx
Florida scientists look to get millions from oil spill fine
By Craig Pittman, Tampa Bay Times Staff Writer
ST. PETERSBURG — When the companies responsible for the Deepwater Horizon disaster pay fines for polluting the Gulf of Mexico, Florida scientists will get millions of dollars to study the continuing impact of the oil spill, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson said Thursday.http://www.tampabay.com/news/environment/water/bill-approved-by-congress-will-send-millions-from-oil-spill-fine-to/1238861
MS Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo officials wanted BP Grant Money but were denied
WLOX
Long Beach has welcomed the MS Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo with open arms. Alderman Gary Ponthieux says the city wants the big fishing event back. Last year BP served up an 85hundred dollar sponsorship for the rodeo.
Organizers hoped to get a share of BP money again this year, but that didn't happen.http://www.wlox.com/story/18961492/ms-deep-sea-fishing-rodeo-officials-wanted-bp-grant-money-but-were-denied
State News
Beach 'trashed' by Fourth of July celebrations
WLOX
It's the annual "hangover" after the holiday. Many sections of the beach in Harrison County were a mess Thursday following the annual Fourth of July celebrations.
http://www.wlox.com/story/18959260/july-4th-cleanup-could-take-3-weeks
One day of celebrating; three weeks of beach cleanup in South Mississippi
Holiday revelers leave behind litter, fireworks on beaches
Sun Herald
It will take county workers about three weeks to clean up the beach after the Independence Day festivities.http://www.sunherald.com/2012/07/05/4046964/one-day-of-celebrating-three-weeks.html
NOAA predicts brown shrimp to be abundant this year; Mississippi getting 'good reports' so far
Sun Herald
Estimates show harvest may be above historical 50-year average
BILOXI -- NOAA scientists are predicting an above-average season for the commercial harvest of brown shrimp in the western Gulf.http://www.sunherald.com/2012/07/05/4047411/gulf-shrimp-catch-this-year-predicted.html
Fiscal year ends with surplus
by Bobby Harrison
NEMS Daily Journal
07.06.12 - 07:35 am
JACKSON – The state collected 5.9 percent more in revenue in the just-completed fiscal year than it did during the previous 12-month period.
http://djournal.com/view/full_story/19218261/article-Fiscal-year-ends-with-surplus?instance=secondary_stories_left_column
National News
Obama official: U.S. climate views shifting amid wild weather
The Hill
By Ben Geman - 07/06/12 08:29 AM ET
A senior Obama administration scientist said this year’s heat and western wildfires are altering perceptions of climate change in the U.S.
Jane Lubchenco, who heads the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, said in Australia Friday that many have previously regarded climate change as a “nebulous concept,” the Associated Press reports.http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/236407-obama-official-us-climate-views-shifting-amid-wild-weather
Opinion
SUN HERALD | Editorial Mississippi should be cautious with BP fines
Congress has cleared the path for the bulk of the penalties BP will pay to be handed over to the states harmed by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. What remains unclear is what path Mississippi will take in spending that money.http://www.sunherald.com/2012/07/05/4047582/sun-herald-editorial-mississippi.html
