BP paid more than $4.6 billion to private citizens and businesses since the Deepwater Horizon spill. The Gulf economy is on the mend, the oil company claims, justifying a cut-off, though it still faces billions in civil and criminal penalties.
Beyond
Flagler Beach Bids Last Shuttle a Wistful Farewell as It Soars Invisibly Beyond Clouds
Space Shuttle Atlantis lifted off on schedule, but no one could see it on Flagler’s beaches or at the pier, though imagination was enough to sense the end of a 30-year journey.
Unemployment Rises Again, to 9.2%, as Job Creation Disappears and Recession Looms
More bad news for the Obama administration as job creation in June fell to a statistically insignificant 18,000 and the unemployment rate rose again, raising fears of another recession ahead.
When the New York Philharmonic Played the Star Spangled Banner in North Korea
In February 2008, the New York Philharmonic was invited to play in the North Korean capital. It was a remarkable concert. The rendition of the American national Anthem was one of its most moving moments.
Stetson Picks Ex-Princeton Coach to Revive Football Program, Dormant Since 1956
Roger A. Hughes had a 47-52 record in 10 years in Princeton, including one Ivy League championship season. Stetson likes him for his fund-raising prowess, too.
2 Firefighters Killed in N. Florida, Underscoring Dangers of Violent Flares on Contained Fires
The Blue Ribbon fire near Jasper was not large and had been declared contained, but the firefighters were reportedly overrun by a sudden flare-up as they were extending fire-lines–as DOF firefighters are doing every day on the Espanola fire in Flagler County.
20% Down Mortgage Requirement Would End Middle Class Home-Ownership As We Know It
If a proposed Qualified Residential Mortgage Rule (QRM) of 20% down and spending less than 28% of monthly gross income on the mortgage takes effect, Marc Morial of the National Urban League argues, middle class home ownership will be a thing of the past.
Florida Board Of Medicine Clears Dr. Mark Seldes, a Convicted Rapist, to Practice Again
Mark Seldes of Tampa was an Air Force major and flight surgeon in South Korea when he raped a civilian coworker after she’d taken a sleeping pill. The Florida Board of Medicine voted 7-3 to let him practice again.
Saving Medicare Without Destroying It
Medicare’s demise is overblown. Modest fixes, eliminations of tax favors and a small rise in the Medicare tax can preserve America’s best and fairest government-run single-payer insurance system.
Job Creation in Big Stall, Unemployment Back Up to 9.1%, Recovery in Doubt
The economy added just 54,000 jobs in May and totals for the two previous months were revised downward by 39,000 in the latest sign that the economic outlook is worsening again.