"Low water may block Mississippi barge traffic" by Jim Salter and Jim Suhr | Associated Press, November 18, 2012
ST. LOUIS — The stubborn drought that has gripped the Midwest for much of the year has left the Mighty Mississippi critically low — and it will get even lower if the Army Corps of Engineers presses ahead with plans to reduce the flow from a Missouri River dam.
Mississippi River interests fear the reduced flow will force a halt to barge traffic at the river’s midpoint. They warn that the economic fallout will be enormous, potentially forcing job cuts, raising fuel costs, and pinching the nation’s food supply.
‘‘This could be a major, major impact at crisis level,’’ said Debra Colbert, senior vice president of the Waterways Council, a public policy organization representing ports and shipping companies. ‘‘It is an economic crisis that is going to ripple across the nation.’’
Translation: the continuation of the Grand Depression and the revelation of government and mouthpiece media lies must be blamed on anything and everything except central bankers.
Are they seriously arguing that exports and imports couldn't be moved by rail or trucks if really needed? An inconvenience, yes, but.... sigh.
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"Alarm along Mississippi as water flow reduced" by Jim Salter | Associated Press, November 24, 2012
ST. LOUIS — The Army Corps of Engineers began reducing the flow from a Missouri River reservoir on Friday, a move expected to worsen low-water conditions on the Mississippi River and potentially bring barge traffic to a halt within weeks.
The Missouri flows into the Mississippi around a bend just north of St. Louis. One result of this year’s drought, the worst in decades, has been a big drop in water levels on both rivers.
The corps announced earlier this month that it would reduce the outflow from the Gavins Point Dam near Yankton, S.D., to protect the upper Missouri River basin. That drew an outcry from political leaders and businesses downstream, who warned that allowing the Mississippi to drop more could have devastating economic consequences....
Barges carry 20 percent of the country’s coal and more than 60 percent of its grain exports. Other cargo, including petroleum products, lumber, sand, industrial chemicals, and fertilizer, also gets shipped along the Mississippi River.
Barge operators and those who ship on the Mississippi have warned that a shutdown would have disastrous economic consequences on those industries, with companies laying off workers if it lasts for any significant amount of time. River shipping trade groups have even asked President Obama to intervene....
Who do you guys think you are, Israel?
A message left with the White House on Friday was not returned....
There is your answer.
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Related:
"The Coast Guard said Monday that 97 boats and barges are waiting for passage along an 11-mile stretch of the Mississippi River that has been closed because of low water levels."
"Crews scrambled to make repairs Wednesday near the busiest lock on a vital Mississippi River commerce corridor near St. Louis as hundreds of barges and tugboats remained snarled in a backlog that was growing worse by the hour."
Also see: Army rejects plea to boost flow for Mississippi barges
You see who is really running this country, right?
UPDATE:
"Major barge route on river deepened
ST. LOUIS — Crews have completed the most critical phase of removing bedrock that threatened barges along a crucial stretch of the drought-starved Mississippi River, easing fears that the channel could close to shipping, the Army Corps of Engineers said. Contractors cleared limestone and added 2 feet of depth to the channel near Thebes, Ill., in a month. Officials said the channel is now deep enough to maintain navigation."
Related:
"Miss. history of slavery complicates a Civil War anniversary" by Emily Wagster Pettus | Associated Press, August 18, 2012
JACKSON, Miss. —A state flag that still bears the Confederate battle emblem....
Some speak in hushed tones as they confess a certain admiration for the valor of Confederate troops who fought for what was, to them, the hallowed ground of home and country....
Just wondering why the Globe's web version cut the best paragraph:
"In mixed racial company, people don't want to address race and there is truly an avoidance of conversation when it relates to history and race," Johnson said. "Civil War, pre-Civil War, Reconstruction, Redemption, segregation — nobody wants to have candid conversations about how the past affects the public policy of this state and how people of different races interact with one another in this state."
Go see for yourself:
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As for candid conversations about public policy or anything else with Amerikans, well, good luck with that.
"A deadly riot at a prison for illegal immigrants in Mississippi was started by a group of Mexican inmates angry about what they considered poor food and medical care and disrespectful guards, an FBI affidavit says."
Just like any other U.S. prison.
"Authorities in east Mississippi run a ‘‘school-to-prison pipeline’’ that locks up students for infractions such as flatulence or wearing the wrong color socks, a policy that mainly affects black and disabled children, the US Justice Department said Wednesday in a federal lawsuit."
Think of it as an education in AmeriKan tyranny, kids.
Besides, there is money to be made in those prisons. Just ask the kids in Pennsylvania.
Also see: Exchange student sponsor out over abuse claims
I really don't know what to tell you kids.
Statue honors Miss. rights leader
Honestly, that s*** seems so hollow given the state of AmeriKa and its actions overseas these days.
