Topic: Missouri River

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. 

Obama announces federal aid to help drought-hit farmers

The US government is planning an emergency purchase of up to $ 170 million of meat and fish to soothe the needs of the drought-ravaged agriculture industry. Announcing that, Obama also takes first aim at Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan.

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.

Bison reach Montana as part of relocation plan

The American Bison (also known as buffalo) were taken from Yellowstone as part of an effort to repopulate the West with the iconic animals.

Winter forecast: La Niña returns, southern drought persists

Last winter – with its droughts, tornado outbreaks, heavy snows, and floods – was a tough one in different ways for millions of people. Be prepared for more of the same this year.

Difference Maker Cle Ross is bringing youth baseball back to an inner city

Cle Ross is turning an eyesore in Kansas City, Kan., back into a baseball park to get urban kids off the streets and teach life lessons.

ExxonMobil oil spill into the Yellowstone River prompts evacuations

Hundreds of barrels of crude oil spilled into Montana's Yellowstone River after an ExxonMobil pipeline beneath the riverbed ruptured, sending a plume 25 miles downstream and forcing temporary evacuations.

Missouri River soaks Nebraska nuclear plant, but it's no Fukushima

Much of the grounds at Fort Calhoun nuclear plant in Nebraska are under two feet of water from the rising Missouri River. But the plant's critical systems sit six feet above the flood's expected crest.

Flooding submerges parts of North Dakota city

The biggest flood in area history swallowed large swatches of Minot, North Dakota, Saturday as authorities worked to reinforce levees, protect the city's key infrastructure, and care for residents forced to flee their submerged homes.

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.

Top 5 cities with the fewest foreclosures

Home foreclosures rose last year. From December 2009 to December 2010, the average rate for America's cities went up from 4.9 percent to 5.6 percent. This represents a huge economic drag across a wide swath of the United States. But in some places, foreclosures are barely noticeable. Here are the five cities with the lowest home foreclosure rates in the US, according to a study by Foreclosure-Response.org.

Recession over? Not in these four cities.

America's longest postwar recession officially ended more than a year ago. But in some places, the recession still looks alive and well. Here are four cities that over the past year have seen the biggest drops in employment and at least a 1 percentage point rise in the unemployment rate, according to the US Department of Labor. Is your city on the list?

Spring migration's hidden hazards

In spring, migrating geese face the fickle elements that can make or break a journey north.

Difference Maker Packing 400 lunches - and love - to serve the homeless

Kansas City's 'mother of the streets' rises at 4:30 each morning, packs 400 decorated bags, and then seeks out the homeless.

Plan to restore the Upper Missouri River could boost fish and cottonwood trees

A plan to boost the flow of the Upper Missouri River could help ailing cottonwood trees and endangered fish.

Difference Maker How to clean up a lake? Floating islands might be the answer.

Man-made islands can remove ammonia, heavy metals, and other chemicals from the water.

Classic review: I Should Be Extremely Happy In Your Company

Lewis and Clark discovered new lands and peoples, but their greatest challenges led inward.

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