Topic: Mississippi River

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Top 10 best 'flip market' cities

These 10 cities were the most profitable markets for people flipping a house in 2012, according to RealtyTrac. Can you guess which city had the highest average profit on flipped homes?

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Ash borer beetle shows up in Iowa (again)

Ash borer beetle, first spotted in Iowa three years ago, has now appeared in a second location in the state, officials announced Tuesday. Most ash borer beetle infestations have been caused by people unknowingly moving infested firewood, nursery plants and sawmill logs across county and state lines.
Top 10 best 'flip market' cities

These 10 cities were the most profitable markets for people flipping a house in 2012, according to RealtyTrac. Can you guess which city had the highest average profit on flipped homes?
Energy Voices A Gulf of Mexico oil platform has been leaking for 9 years

Hurricane Ivan swept away an oil production platform in the Gulf of Mexico in 2004. Nine years later, it's still leaking oil, although the company behind the project says it has reduced the leak to a trickle.
The 10 most expensive US natural disasters

Here are the top 10 priciest US natural disasters in billions of 2013 dollars adjusted for inflation, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Donaldsonville explosion: With Southern industrial boom come dangers

Donaldsonville explosion: Chemical plants are safe overall, but where industries are packed closely together, such as in Texas and Louisiana, worries simmer over looming accidents such as the back-to-back explosions in Donaldsonville and Geismar this week.
Carpe diet? Chinese firm's plan to export Asian carp could help US waterways.

A Chinese firm says it's seizing on the explosion in the population of invasive Asian carp, which environmentalists say threatens the Great Lakes, and will open a fishery dedicated to its export.
Mississippi River towns brace for rising floodwaters

Mississippi River towns in Illinois and Missouri are expecting floodwaters to crest soon. So far, the damage is limited, but one community is already under voluntary evacuation orders.
Energy Voices Fuel barge explosions underscore risks of fuel transportation

Alabama's fuel barge explosions were nothing more than an unfortunate accident, reports suggest. But the fuel barge explosions serve as a reminder that the distribution of often volatile energy resources comes with certain risks.
Along the Mississippi, river views trump flood protection

Mississippi floods don't have the impact today that they had during the Great Flood of 1993, thanks to better flood walls and levees and thousands of flood-plain homes converted to green space. But in some river towns, flood protection is a non-starter.
Midwest sees record floods, road closures, runaway barges, and evacuations

After a week of torrential rains, six Midwestern states are struggling with massive flooding. Two Mississippi River bridges and part of the river have been closed as the waters continue to rise.
Will we ever understand 2012 drought? Study blames 'random weather' (+video)

The drought of 2012 was more about unusual weather patterns than global warming, says a study. But its authors acknowledge the record-smashing event likely will be a puzzle for years to come.
Spring storm brings ice and snow, sure, but why tornadoes?

A record-setting spring storm has killed three people, downed power lines, snapped large trees, and closed roads, schools, and businesses across the Midwest and Southeast.
Asian carp are already in Great Lakes, new report suggests

A new study suggests that live Asian carp might be in two places beyond the barrier designed to keep them out of the Great Lakes.
For Keystone XL foes, oozing Canadian crude in Arkansas spill is black gold (+video)

Thousands of barrels of Canadian crude spilled from an ExxonMobil pipeline in Arkansas Friday. Opponents of the proposed Keystone XL say the black goo in backyards makes their case.
Lake Erie: big algae problems, more to come

Lake Erie's huge algae bloom in 2011 covered nearly a fifth of the lake. A new report says warming climate and modern farming are creating ideal conditions for big algae blooms to clog Lake Erie.
Mississippi River oil spill: why Yazoo turn is treacherous

A Mississippi River barge that crashed Sunday is still leaking oil. The accident occurred at one of the two most difficult turns on the river.
2 barges damaged in bridge crash, oil spill

2 barges in bridge crash cause oil spill that closes Mississippi River for 16 miles. Investigators not sure whether 1 or 2 barges hit the bridge; only one appears to be leaking oil.
How hot was 2012? Hottest on record in US, by a long shot (+video)

Global warming 'has had a role' in making 2012 the hottest ever recorded in the lower 48 states, says a US climatologist. The average temperature was 54.3 degrees F., a full degree higher than the previous annual record.
Wind energy: Boom sputters as industry tax credit is set to expire

Congress has so far not extended the tax credit for wind energy, resulting in the layoffs of thousands of workers. Communities that a few years ago were elated to attract a promising new industry are left wondering what will the future bring.
Drought's winter toll: Mississippi barges face losses while US blasts river (+video)

Traffic along 180 miles of the drought-stricken Mississippi will be curtailed for a month, at a cost of billions to the barging industry, to allow the US to blast rock formations and raise river levels.
Stubborn US drought could be costlier than hurricane Sandy

As drought conditions persist across the South, hitting farmers and ranchers, parts of the Mississippi River are on the verge of becoming unnavigable. The potential costs are large.
Reader recommendation: Canoeing with the Cree

Monitor readers share their favorite book picks.
Coast Guard searches for missing workers after oil platform fire

Two oil workers remain lost at sea a day after a torch being used to cut an oil pipe ignited a blaze on a production platform in the Gulf of Mexico. Officials said no oil was leaking from the charred platform,
$53 million scam. Reagan's hometown robbed. Guilty plea?

$53 million scam could result in guilty verdict by former comptroller of Dixon, Ill. Prosecutors say Rita Crundwell's $53 million scam let her fund successful horse-breeding operation.
Change Agent A second chance for Johnny Cash's childhood home

Under the guidance of Arkansas State University, fund-raising and restoration is well under way with the ultimate goal of returning rundown Dyess, Ark., to some of its former glory.