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Flooding rainfall, powerful winds and potentially life-threatening storm surge could pummel parts of the upper Texas and Louisiana coastlines as Francine passes through. In addition to a hurricane warning in Louisiana, tropical storm warnings and watches have been issued along a stretch of the Louisiana and Texas coast. A storm surge warning has also been issued from High Island, Texas, to the mouth of the Mississippi River. Storm surge and rough surf could also cause minor flooding on the Mexico coast early this week. Storm surge will begin to ramp up as Francine nears landfall, causing normally dry areas to be inundated with several feet of water.

Persons: Francine, Louisiana’s, It’s, Jeff Landry, Louisiana’s Cameron Parish, Ida, Francis, “ Francine Organizations: CNN, National Hurricane Center, Louisiana and, Gov, Federal Emergency Management Agency Locations: Gulf, Louisiana, Texas, Mexico, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas, High Island , Texas, Louisiana’s Cameron, Jefferson Parish’s, Grand Isle, St, Mary, Terrebonne, Terrebonne Parish, Jefferson, Orleans, New Orleans, In Mississippi, . Texas

☆ My kids go to the sleepaway camp I own. I get to see them all summer, but I don't treat them differently than other campers.
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-13 | by ( Janine Clements | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Melissa Fitzgerlad, owner and director of Camp Highlander. I'm a huge believer in the sleepaway camp experience and that sending kids to camp is a gift. AdvertisementMy kids started at Camp Highlander when they were 5 years oldMy kids have spent every summer at Camp Highlander since they were babies, first when my parents owned it and then when we did. While it sounds great that we're at the same camp as our kids, kids get the most out of camp when their parents aren't around. She was excited about going and also about returning to Camp Highlander for the rest of the summer.

Persons: Melissa Fitzgerlad, They've, didn't, we're Organizations: Service, Navy, CIT Locations: Baton Rouge , Louisiana, North Carolina, Henderson County, Western North Carolina, Louisiana, Texas, mealtimes, Alabama

☆ Big oil is racing to scale up carbon capture to slash emissions but the challenges are immense
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-06 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +14 min

Some climate activists accuse the industry of simply investing in carbon capture as way to extend the use of oil and gas. The technology typically uses chemical absorption to capture carbon dioxide emitted from the chimney of an industrial plant. "The economic viability of carbon capture and sequestration is a challenge today because the cost of building most plants in order to capture carbon dioxide are very significant," the executive said. About two-thirds of the industry's carbon dioxide emissions come from chemical reactions that occur when breaking down limestone. SLB this month announced a nearly $400 million investment in Aker Carbon Capture, a pure-play carbon capture company based in Norway, in an effort to accelerate deployment of the technology at commercial scale.

Persons: Chin Lee, Biden, SLB, Fred Majkut, Majkut, Adam Miklos, Miklos, Baker Hughes, Olivier Le Peuch, Alessandro Bresciani, Jeff Gustavson, Gustavson, steelmaker Nucor, Linde, Dan Ammann, Ammann, Fatih Birol, We're, SLB's Majkut Organizations: Chevron, Houston Chronicle, Hearst Newspapers, Department of Energy, RTI International, International Energy Agency, Exxon, Rystad Energy, Clean Investment Monitor, United Nations ., Gulf Coast, CF Industries, Talos Energy, Carbonvert, IEA Locations: Winnie, Mississippi, Vicksburg, Schlumberger, United States, Paris, Chevron, United Kingdom, U.S, Aker, Norway, Houston, Port Arthur , Texas, Gulf, Louisiana, Beaumont , Texas, Mississippi , Louisiana, Texas, Bayou, Port Arthur

Why did Biden delay consideration of LNG export terminals? Biden's action would not affect those projects, but could delay a dozen or more LNG projects that are pending or in various stages of planning. A public comment period after that will likely delay any decisions on pending LNG projects until after the November election. Environmentalists hailed Biden's decision, saying LNG exports not only pollute communities and add to the climate crisis but also raise energy prices for U.S. families and businesses. A single proposed LNG export terminal in Louisiana would produce about 20 times the greenhouse gas emissions of Willow, activists say.

Persons: —, Biden, Joe Biden, ”, Vladimir Putin, Ali Zaidi, Jennifer Granholm, ″ Zaidi, Granholm, Biden's, Abigail Dillen, Sen, Ed Markey, Mike Sommers, Mitch McConnell, Israel's, “, “ Biden, ″, Bill McKibben, Donald Trump, Karoline Leavitt Organizations: WASHINGTON, Democratic, Industry, Republicans, Russia, U.S, Energy Department, Energy, Seven, American Petroleum Institute, U.S . LNG, GOP Locations: United States, Europe, Asia, Ukraine, Alaska, U.S, Russia, Louisiana, Texas, Calcasieu, Coast, Kentucky, Gaza, Willow

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A Louisiana lawyer who objected to the state bar association’s public statements on several issues including health tips and LGBTQ rights can no longer be forced to join or pay dues to the association, a federal appeals court has ruled. Circuit Court of Appeals order, dated Monday, blocks the Louisiana State Bar Association from forcing attorney Randy Boudreaux to join the LSBA or pay its dues, at least for now. Boudreaux's is one of more than two dozen cases playing out around the country challenging state requirements that attorneys join and pay dues to state bar associations. Organizations including the Goldwater Institute and, in Louisiana, the Pelican Institute, are challenging mandatory bar association membership as violations of free speech rights. The association's promotion of an article on the effects of student loan debt on young lawyers was not germane, the court found.

Persons: Randy Boudreaux, Boudreaux's, Monday's, LSBA, Jerry Smith, Boudreaux, ”, Smith, ” Smith, “, Dane Ciolino, Ronald Reagan, Carolyn Dineen King, Jimmy Carter, Jennifer Walker Elrod, George W, Bush Organizations: ORLEANS, —, U.S, Circuit, Louisiana State Bar Association, Goldwater Institute, Pelican Institute, Twitter, LGBT Locations: Louisiana, Texas

☆ National Climate Assessment: 5 takeaways on the US climate report
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Ella Nilsen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

“Climate change is affecting every aspect of our lives,” Hayhoe told CNN. Here are five significant takeaways from the federal government’s sweeping climate report. Climate change doesn’t cause things like hurricanes or wildfires, but it can make them more intense or more frequent. And hotter and drier conditions from climate change can help vegetation and trees become tinderboxes, turning wildfires into megafires that spin out of control. But it’s not happening nearly fast enough to stabilize the planet’s warming or meet the United States’ international climate commitments, the report explains.

Persons: Katharine Hayhoe, ” Hayhoe, we’re, Rick Curtis, Hilary Swift, Joe Biden, ”, John Podesta, Ethan Swope, Biden, West Virginia –, Scott Brauer, Dave White, White, ” White Organizations: CNN, UN, Texas Tech University, New York Times, ” White, United States, Bloomberg, Getty, Arizona State University, Rockies Locations: Barre , Vermont, Maricopa County, Vermont, Maui, Gulf, Aguanga , California, California, Florida , Louisiana, Texas, Kentucky, West Virginia, rainstorms, China, India, Barnstable , Massachusetts, Southwest, California’s Sierra Nevada, West

☆ What Is a Covenant Marriage?
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( Alyson Krueger | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

But with a covenant marriage, there are stricter guidelines for ending a marriage. Revelations concerning Mike Johnson, the new speaker of the House, and his own covenant marriage have brought the unconventional commitment arrangement into the spotlight. Covenant marriages are legally binding contracts or agreements between two people who have the intent to live together for the rest of their lives. Unlike traditional marriages, covenant marriages come with additional requirements, and ending one through divorce is more challenging. Traditional marriage allows a couple to enter the union by filling out a marriage license (among other state requirements), but with a covenant marriage, which is often rooted in religious or moral convictions, the couple must complete premarital counseling with a clergyman or therapist ahead of time.

Persons: Mike Johnson, ”, Christopher Suba, can’t Locations: America, Arizona , Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas

Horizontal drilling rigs operate in the Permian Basin oil production area near Wink, Texas U.S. August 22, 2018. REUTERS/Nick Oxford Acquire Licensing RightsSept 22 - U.S. energy firms this week cut the number of oil and natural gas rigs operating for first time in three weeks, energy services firm Baker Hughes (BKR.O) said in its closely followed report on Friday. U.S. oil rigs fell by eight to 507 this week, their lowest since February 2022, while gas rigs dropped by three to 118. In the Permian in West Texas and eastern New Mexico, the nation's biggest shale oil basin, drillers cut five rigs, bringing the total oil and gas count down to 317, the lowest since March 2022, according to Baker Hughes. In the Haynesville shale in Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas, drillers cut the number of gas rigs operating by two to 39, the lowest since November 2020.

Persons: Nick Oxford, Baker Hughes, TD Cowen, Scott DiSavino, Marguerita Choy Organizations: Wink , Texas U.S, REUTERS, drillers, Energy Information Administration, Thomson Locations: Wink , Texas, West Texas, New Mexico, Arkansas , Louisiana, Texas, U.S

CNN —Millions of American homeowners could see insurance rates surge in the coming years in part due to worsening climate disasters, new data shows. It’s another alarming sign for the future of America’s homeowners’ insurance market. “We’re still kind of at the forefront of the insurance industry pricing in climate risk into the real estate market,” Porter told CNN. Premiums are at risk of surging to a lesser extent in cities across the country, First Street data shows. “I know where the places are where people are dropping their insurance — it’s Florida, Louisiana, California and Colorado,” Bach told CNN.

Persons: ”, David Jones, Jeremy Porter, “, ” Porter, Hurricane Ian, Matias J, Jones, ” Jones, Amy Bach, Bach, ” Bach, Kyle Grillot, Reuters Jones, Porter, ‘ I’m, it’s Organizations: CNN, Foundation, UC Berkeley’s Center for Law, Energy, Hurricane, Miami Herald, Tribune, Service, Los, National Flood Insurance, FEMA, United, Residents, Reuters Locations: California , Florida, Louisiana, California, Matlacha , Florida, Florida, Texas, Vermont, Montpelier . Kentucky, West Virginia, Miami, Jacksonville, New Orleans, East Coast, Atlantic City , New Jersey, Virginia Beach, Norfolk , Virginia, Wilmington , North Carolina, Charleston , South Carolina, Savannah , Georgia, New York City, Phoenix, Chicago , Pittsburgh, Louisville, Cincinnati, West Coast, Riverside , California, Los Angeles, Gulf Coast, Plaquemines Parish , Louisiana, Collier County , Florida, Colorado, Wrightwood , California

☆ First US Gulf offshore wind auction to fuel region's green hydrogen push
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( Nichola Groom | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

It is considered "green" if produced with renewable energy and "gray" if the process is fueled with carbon-emitting natural gas. "When we get to the Gulf, (offshore wind) will start becoming much more disconnected from the grid," said Cheryl Stahl, principal project manager at risk assessment firm DNV. In comments to BOEM on the planned Gulf sale earlier this year, those three companies noted the potential of offshore wind to produce green hydrogen in the region. "The Gulf of Mexico is uniquely situated to facilitate and benefit from green hydrogen production via offshore wind," Shell said in April, pointing to the region's existing port and pipeline infrastructure as well as new federal funding for green hydrogen development. The American Clean Power Association, a trade group that represents offshore wind and other renewable energy developers, also said in its comments to BOEM that green hydrogen would "increase market viability of offshore wind."

Persons: Biden, Cheryl Stahl, John Filostrat, Shell, TotalEnergies, Alon Carmel, Joe Biden's, Lacy McManus, McManus, Nichola, Marguerita Choy Organizations: Department's, of Ocean Energy Management, Companies, Shell, Clean Power Association, PA Consulting, New, New Orleans Inc, Thomson Locations: U.S, Gulf Coast, Gulf of Mexico, Gulf, Louisiana, Texas, Mexico, New York, New Jersey, New Orleans, South Louisiana

☆ Venezuela appeals to US Supreme Court in last ditch move to limit Citgo auction
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Aug 17 (Reuters) - Venezuela is making a last ditch attempt to limit the number of companies that could participate in a court-ordered auction of shares in a parent of oil refiner Citgo Petroleum, appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a lower court's ruling. Venezuela's petition is asking the Supreme Court to find the lower court's "alter ego" decision was faulty. It does not affect the case against Venezuela filed by miner Crystallex International, whose $970 million claim led to the proposed auction of shares. The petition seeks to have briefs filed by September 15 - just ahead of the start of the proposed auction. A Delaware court judge has set Oct. 23 as the start date for the auction.

Persons: Nicolas Maduro, Gary McWilliams, Deepa Babington, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Petroleum, U.S, Supreme, ConocoPhillips, Exxon Mobil, Tenaris SA, CITGO Petroleum Corporation, Venezuela, Crystallex, Thomson Locations: Venezuela, PDV, United States, Illinois , Louisiana, Texas, Delaware, Houston, PDVSA

☆ The Biden administration just announced plans to crack down on more than 4,400 new cases of child labor in the US since October
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-31 | by ( Noah Sheidlower | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The Department of Labor is heightening enforcement of child labor laws through new partnerships and tactics. On Thursday, the Department of Labor announced it would take more measures to crack down on illegal child labor nationally, including heightening enforcement of child labor laws through new tactics and partnering with other agencies and foreign governments. "Like the President, we believe that any child working in a dangerous or hazardous environment is one child too many." This comes after the department's February 2023 announcement of the Interagency Task Force to Combat Child Labor Exploitation, created in response to a 69% increase in illegal child labor findings from 2018 to 2022. Sixteen more McDonald's franchise locations in Louisiana and Texas were found in violation of child labor laws last week, impacting 83 minors.

Persons: Biden, Labor Julie Su Organizations: of Labor, Service, Department of Labor, Labor, Department of Health, Human Services, Refugee Resettlement, The Department of Labor, Housing, Urban Development, Transportation, US Small Business Administration, Commission, The Labor, State, Department of Education, Interagency, Force, Combat, The Locations: Wall, Silicon, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Minnesota, Kentucky , Indiana , Maryland, Ohio, Louisiana, Texas, Missouri , Ohio, South Dakota

☆ Illegal child labor on the rise with nationwide violations found, Labor Department says
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-30 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

JBS has said that they do not tolerate child labor and that they would stop using PSSI at every location where the child labor violations were alleged to have occurred. In addition, the Wage and Hour Division of the Labor Department is currently pursuing more than 700 open child labor cases. Officials at the Labor Department emphasized in a press call this week that the increase in child labor violation findings is partially due to “significantly enhanced child labor enforcement efforts” in recent months. The fight to weaken child labor lawsThe Department of Labor on Thursday said its interagency task force on child labor has begun cross-training with other governmental agencies like Health and Human Services and the Office of Refugee Resettlement to identify and report possible incidences of child labor exploitation. But at the same time that violations of child labor protections are rising, states across the country are introducing legislation to weaken child labor laws.

Persons: it’s, ”, Labor Julie Su, Jordan Barab, Obama, Barab, JBS, Cargill, ” PSSI, PSSI, “, That’s, DOL, Karen Garnett, Tiffanie Boyd, there’s, David Weil, Weil, Jaehoon, Jay, Chang, ” McDonald’s, they’re, Biden, Sen, Rich Draheim, “ That’s Organizations: New, New York CNN, Labor Department, Packers Sanitation Services Inc, Cargill, JBS, Department of Labor, Labor, Occupational Safety, Health Administration, PSSI, Blackstone Group, CNN, McDonald’s, of, “ Employers, Heller School for Social Policy, Management, Brandeis University, Hyundai, Kia, Health, Human Services, Refugee Resettlement, US Department of Agriculture, Economic, Institute, Minnesota, Republican Locations: New York, Nebraska, JBS USA, Minnesota, Louisiana, Texas, Louisville , Kentucky, McDonald’s, United States, DOL, Alabama, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Missouri , Ohio, South Dakota, Arkansas, Iowa, America

☆ What is flood insurance, and why do you need it?
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Eva Rothenberg | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

But only four property owners in the entire town have active flood insurance policies. In the United States, FEMA has traditionally provided all flood insurance plans through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). According to the Insurance Information Institute, an industry trade group, Florida, Louisiana and Texas account for 40% of all flood insurance policies nationwide. The origin of this exclusion can be traced to the 1968 National Flood Insurance Act, which established the NFIP. For example, in Miami, flood insurance can sometimes rival the amount that people pay for homeowners insurance, according to the Insurance Information Institute.

Persons: Kathy Hochul, ”, David Maurstad, it’s, Laura Lightbody, John Minchillo, Michael Barry, Barry, ’ ”, Lightbody, ” Lightbody, it’ll Organizations: CNN, Gov, Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, National Flood Insurance, Flood, Insurance Information Institute, Pew, Trusts, Insurance, Institute’s, Flood Insurance Locations: Highlands , New York, ”, West, United States, America, Miami, Florida , Louisiana, Texas, Highland Falls, N.Y, New, Hudson

☆ The Repeal of Affirmative Action Is Only the Beginning - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Darren Walker | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Let’s be honest about the painful reality: America has functioned as a full democracy — guaranteeing the franchise to all — for less than one human lifetime. I was born in 1959, into an America rived by apartheid. When I was a child, the adults in my life were technically eligible to vote. However, in the Louisiana and Texas towns where I grew up, they were prevented from doing so by the social and cultural norms of the American South. During the first two decades of my life, the American people finally acknowledged this truth and, to borrow a phrase, acted affirmatively to address it.

Persons: Let’s, affirmatively, John Roberts, ” Locations: America, Louisiana, Texas, American

☆ US South blanketed with oppressive heat ahead of holiday weekend
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A combination of high humidity and temperatures above 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius)could push heat index values above 115 in some parts of the South this weekend, contributing to atmospheric instability and creating conditions ripe for more harsh storms, weather service meteorologist Matt Mosier said. The agency issued excessive heat warnings affecting millions of people in parts of southern Louisiana and Texas, saying the heat index could reach 110 degrees. South Florida and Mississippi were under heat advisories for Friday. While Southern states are accustomed to high heat, extreme weather conditions have become more frequent across the country and with more intensity, driven by climate change, scientists say. At least three people were killed and dozens injured by tornadoes in Perryton, Texas, on Thursday.

Persons: Matt Mosier, It's, Power, Poweroutage.us, Davis Wood, Tyler Clifford, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: U.S, National Weather Service, Thomson Locations: Texas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Perryton , Texas, Pensacola , Florida, Escambia County, Warrington, New York

☆ Republicans ask watchdog to assess US oil reserve management
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] The Bryan Mound Strategic Petroleum Reserve, an oil storage facility, is seen in this aerial photograph over Freeport, Texas, U.S., April 27, 2020. REUTERS/Adrees Latif/File PhotoWASHINGTON, May 8 (Reuters) - Two Republicans on Monday asked a congressional watchdog to assess the Biden administration's management of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and audit its modernization program, saying sales from the SPR have undermined U.S. energy security. Over about six months last year, the Biden administration conducted a record sale of 180 million barrels of oil to combat high gasoline prices after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The Biden administration wrote to lawmakers last month, saying the sales did not damage the SPR. The lawmakers said they were concerned about delays and cost overruns in the SPR modernization program authorized by Congress in 2015.

Big gas producers including Chesapeake Energy Corp (CHK.O) and Comstock Resources Inc (CRK.N) are reducing their drilling. "About a third of U.S. gas production is associated gas - produced from oil wells," said Jacques Rousseau, a managing director at research firm ClearView Energy Partners LLC. Gas from the Permian also has climbed to record highs every month this year. PRODUCTION REMAINS STICKYU.S. gas production remains on track to hit 100.67 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) this year, up from last year's record 98.09 bcfd, according to the U.S. government. Despite low gas prices, U.S. drillers have 160 rigs seeking gas up 16% from a year ago, according to data from Baker Hughes Co (BKR.O).

Canada is in the midst of building a large terminal to export LNG, but its completion is two years away. Canadian gas production is on track to reach a record 18 bcfd in 2022 and 19 bcfd in 2023, according to energy consultancy Rystad Energy. Pipelines are also constrained in Canada due to swift production growth, particularly TC Energy Corp's (TRP.TO) NGTL pipeline system that ships gas around and out of western Canada. In August, gas prices in Alberta briefly turned negative because of bottlenecks stemming from NGTL maintenance. U.S. LNG exports are expected to reach 10.6 bcfd in 2022 and 12.3 bcfd in 2023, according to federal estimates.

"Not everybody got flu vaccinated last year, and many people did not get the flu. So that makes us ripe to have potentially a severe flu season." Walensky's warning comes ahead of a CDC report on flu spread expected Friday. Doctors are not required to report each positive flu test to public health officials, so the CDC and others monitor probable flu activity by looking at "influenza-like illnesses." It takes about two weeks after a flu vaccine injection to provide full protection.

An LNG tanker is guided by tug boats at the Cheniere Sabine Pass LNG export unit in Cameron Parish, Louisiana, U.S., April 14, 2022. “Our turbine engineers determined a repair could improve the emission performance of the turbine," Robert Gray, senior environmental coordinator for the Sabine Pass plant, wrote. EPA spokesperson Tim Carroll said "the agency will work with Cheniere to assure they meet Clean Air Act obligations." Colin Cox, an attorney with the Environmental Integrity Project, said it was important for Cheniere to monitor the turbines to ensure continuous compliance moving forward. Louisiana and Texas regulators are responsible for overseeing compliance with federal clean air laws and regulations for facilities in their respective states.

☆ Cheniere CFO Aims for Investment-Grade Credit Rating as Natural-Gas Prices Soar
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-15 | by ( Kristin Broughton | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +6 min

Cheniere Energy Inc.’s finance chief is working toward landing an investment-grade credit rating in the coming year, as the largest U.S. exporter of liquefied natural gas pays down debt and benefits from the run-up in energy prices. Photo: Cheniere Energy Inc. The company expects to reach investment grade next year based on its current rating and financial position, Mr. Davis said. An investment-grade rating would provide confidence to long-term investors and customers that the company can survive volatility in commodity markets, Mr. Davis said. Higher natural gas prices have been a boon to Cheniere’s finances, prompting it to accelerate plans to pay down debt.

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