Topic: Mississippi River

Twice as many mega rainstorms in Midwest in past 50 years

Wisconsin saw the biggest rise (203 percent) in extreme rainstorms – 3 inches of rain or more in a day, new study says. Climate change is behind more Midwest flooding, say scientists.

As extreme weather events increase, so does acceptance of climate science (+video)

A new survey finds that a majority of Americans believe that weather in the United States is getting worse, and they are linking it to global warming. 

Coast Guard checks 10-mile oil sheen near Shell oil wells in Gulf

Shares in Royal Dutch Shell PLC fell in European trading early Thursday after it reported a 'light sheen' of oil about 1 mile long and 10 miles wide in the general area of two of its production platforms in the oil and gas prospects called Mars and Ursa.

Flood warnings for Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Missouri

Heavy rains and flooding are forecast to continue in eastern Oklahoma, Arkansas, and western Missouri, says the National Weather Service. 

Hey, what happened to winter? What its wimpiness portends for spring.

Despite a few powerful snowstorms, the winter of 2011-12, with record-breaking temperatures and less precipitation than normal, has been the fourth warmest on record in the US. What gives?

Why Asian carp are such a threat

Five states failed to secure an injunction that would close shipping locks in an attempt to prevent Asian carp from entering the Great Lakes. What's so bad about Asian carp? 

Supreme Court rejects Asian carp appeal

The US Supreme Court has rejected an appeal by five states who seek stronger measures for keeping Asian carp out of the Great Lakes. 

Supreme Court doesn't want to hear about asian carp

The US Supreme Court rejected an appeal from five US states seeking to stop the spread of invasive asian carp into the Great Lakes. 

New Orleans' razing craze aims to clear way for post-Katrina recovery

New Orleans is on a mission to raze thousands of properties abandoned after hurricane Katrina. Many are in neighborhoods, such as the Lower Ninth Ward, where poor and minority residents were concentrated.

Gas prices begin climb toward $4.50 a gallon, experts say

Gas prices could hit $4.50 a gallon nationwide by summer because of sanctions on Iran, a frigid winter in Europe, and logistical challenges in the US. The current all-time high is $4.11.

Stephen King's 10 favorite books

Stephen King, author of 'Carrie' and 'The Shining,' reveals what he likes to read. 

Custom-mutated bacteria converts seaweed to fuel

Bacteria have been genetically engineered to break down a previously inaccessible sugar in seaweed, called alginate.

Why is it OK to to be prejudiced against Mormons?

You can’t be openly racist, sexist, or anti-Semitic in America. But anti-Mormon? Go for it. Maybe a White House run by Mitt Romney or Jon Huntsman will shine enough light on actual Mormons to make us put aside the fears and fantasies about them.

New Orleans finds tropical storm Lee is no Katrina

So far, tropical storm Lee hasn't been a weather monster. Its rains brought relief to a drought in southern Louisiana and quenched a marsh fire that had blanketed New Orleans with smoke.

Tropical storm Lee threatens flooding in Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi

Tropical Storm Lee now has winds approaching 60 miles per hour. Louisiana has heavy rain, and authorities warn of flooding in Alabama and Mississippi as well. States of emergency have been declared.

Drilling for oil in Arctic Ocean is fraught with danger

This month the US approved four wells for drilling by Shell Oil in the Arctic Ocean off Alaska, an energy frontier. But Shell's plan to recover after an oil spill is completely inadequate, given the region's remoteness and weather.

Asian carp: DNA evidence finds something fishy near Lake Michigan

The failure of a recent expedition to find any invasive Asian carp near Lake Michigan – though DNA traces say they are there – has shipping interests claiming victory and others calling foul.

Will Asian carp turn up in fishing expedition near Lake Michigan?

Federal officials start the four-day expedition Monday. Its aim is to determine whether the Asian carp has infiltrated water locks that are designed to keep the species out of Lake Michigan.

Where did life exist on Mars? NASA chooses landing site for Curiosity rover

Curiosity rover, formally known as the Mars Science Laboratory, will land at the foot of an 18,000-foot mountain in Gale crater, NASA announced Friday. The mount is expected to yield unparalleled information on where and when life might have existed on Mars.

Bid to repair Lake Michigan and Great Lakes, one marsh at a time

A $2 billion restoration effort may help rehabilitate Lake Michigan and the other Great Lakes, but environmentalists say it may be too late to reverse four centuries' worth of damage.

Gas prices skid 25 cents a gallon in past month – and may dip further

Gas prices have fallen to $3.72 since topping out at $3.98 a gallon in May. Plenty of supply and soft demand mean gas prices are likely to keep falling this summer – perhaps another 30 cents a gallon.

Ongoing rains worsen record-breaking floods along Missouri River

Rising waters threaten Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota, and are expected to push south soon. The Midwest will be underwater all summer, say officials.

California can relieve packed prisons without eroding safety

The Supreme Court ruled that overcrowded prisons in California amount to cruel and unusual punishment. Reducing the prison population does not have to pit human dignity against public safety.

The top 10 books of all time

Readers of books love lists. That's why book-review editor J. Peder Zane asked 125 writers – everyone from Norman Mailer to Jonathan Franzen to Margaret Drabble – to pick their very favorite books of all time. Out of all the books in the world, here are the 10 most selected by Zane's illustrious group.

(You can see this and other book lists in Zane's book "The Top Ten: Writers Pick Their Favorite Books.")