La. Gov. Jindal demands U.S. government, BP uphold pledges to avert enviromental disaster

As a massive oil slick in the Gulf of Mexico threatened the U.S. coastline Friday, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) expressed alarm that prevention efforts so far have been ineffective, and he demanded that the federal government and oil giant BP uphold their commitments to help avert an environmental disaster.

In an afternoon news conference with Obama administration officials, Jindal said he was worried that miles of booms deployed offshore are "not effective" in preventing oil from damaging coastal areas, wildlife and the livelihoods of fishermen. He announced that he is seeking to mobilize 6,000 National Guard soldiers and airmen for 90 days of duty to help provide security and support the response to the oil spill.

"I do have concerns that BP's current resources are not adequate" to meet three main challenges from the disaster: stopping the leak of oil from a damaged undersea well, protecting the coast and carrying out a swift cleanup.

Puerto Rico bank failures take bite out of FDIC - MarketWatch

Puerto Rico bank failures take bite out of FDIC - MarketWatch

Posted using ShareThis

PARTY!!!!!!! Look at those earnings!

Look at those earnings!

38%; net income doubles; 29%; 30%; 16%

SNL – Arizona – Video 1:57

Louisiana coast bracing for oil spill impact

The offshore drilling rig Deepwater Horizon is now spewing an estimated 42,000 gallons of crude oil a day from two leaks in a drilling pipe, 5000 feet below the surface of the Gulf of Mexico.

Crews are using robotic submarines to help stem the flow of oil, now polluting more than 600 square miles of water in the gulf.

Gov. Bobby Jindal is asking for federal help to protect a 115,000 acre nature preserve near the mouth of the Mississippi River.

Hyperinflation for sale:

Hyperinflation for sale: Newsmax and Dick Morris cash in on anti-Obama rhetoric

Posted using ShareThis

Oil Spill kills 11 – in Gulf - video

With hopes for survivors fading, the Coast Guard continued to search Friday for 11 missing Deepwater Horizon crewmembers. Operated by the offshore-drilling company Transocean and leased by BP, the oil rig suffered an unexplained explosion Tuesday and burned until its sinking midday Thursday. The investigation into the incident could take weeks, Transocean said.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

90,000 Protest U.S. Base on Okinawa

Not relocate, go away!

More than 90,000 Okinawans rallied Sunday to oppose the relocation of an American air base on their island, adding to the pressure on Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama to resolve an issue that has divided Tokyo and Washington.

The demonstrators, in one of the largest protests on the southern Japanese island in years, demanded that Mr. Hatoyama scrap a 2006 agreement with the United States to move the Futenma United States Marine air station to a different site on Okinawa. Many of the protesters wore yellow to signal they were giving Mr. Hatoyama a yellow card, or warning, for appearing to waver on election promises to move the busy base off Okinawa altogether.
Since his party’s landmark election victory last summer, Mr.

Hatoyama has promised to come up with an alternative plan that would reduce the heavy American presence on the island, home to nearly half of the 50,000 United States military personnel in Japan. He has given himself until the end of May to put together such a plan that would also be acceptable to Washington.

Year’s Failures Rise to 57 - NYTimes

Regulators shut down seven banks in Illinois on Friday, putting the number of bank failures this year at 57.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation took over four banks in Chicago: the New Century Bank, with $485.6 million in assets; the Citizens Bank&Trust Company, with $77.3 million in assets; the Broadway Bank, with $1.2 billion in assets; and the Lincoln Park Savings Bank, with $199.9 million in assets.

The F.D.I.C. also took over the Amcore Bank of Rockford, which had $3.8 billion in assets; the Peotone Bank and Trust Company in Peotone, with $130.2 million in assets; and the Wheatland Bank of Naperville, with $437.2 million in assets.

24 Service Members Who Became Americans Today

Two dozen U.S. soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines, born in countries from Brazil to Tobago, stood before U.S. President Barack Obama in the White House Rose Garden today to take the oath of citizenship for the country they serve.
The naturalization ceremony was hosted by Obama, who was joined by Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, and Alejandro Mayorkas, director, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
The servicemembers hailed from nations such as Brazil, China, Colombia, England, Ethiopia, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Kenya, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago.