Clashes arise over the economic effects of Louisiana's $3 billion-dollar coastal restoration project

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Proponents of a nearly $3 billion project to restore part of southeast Louisiana's rapidly vanishing coastline released a study Tuesday touting the expected economic benefits of its construction, even as the project faces pushback and litigation from communities who fear the...

The gods must be angry: Mexico 'cancels' statue of Greek god Poseidon after dispute with local deity

MEXICO CITY (AP) — The gods must be angry — or just laughing at the hubris of humanity. Authorities in Mexico have slapped a “closure” order on a 10-foot-tall (3-meter) aquatic statue of the Greek god of the sea Poseidon that was erected in May in the Gulf of Mexico just off...

Group sues federal government, claims it ignores harms of idle offshore oil and gas infrastructure

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — An environmental group is suing the federal government to force the U.S. Department of Interior to reassess the long-term environmental effects of delays in shutting down inactive oil and gas infrastructure in the Gulf of Mexico. The lawsuit, filed in federal...

Survival story as Hurricane Beryl razes smallest inhabited island of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

MAYREAU, St. Vincent and the Grenadines (AP) — Mayreu is one of the smallest inhabited islands of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. It's so small that it's barely visible — a dot on the map of the Caribbean. Hurricane Beryl nearly erased it from the map. Beryl pummeled everything...

Beryl moves into the Gulf of Mexico after battering Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, takes aim at Texas

TULUM, Mexico (AP) — Beryl moved into the the Gulf of Mexico Friday and took aim at the south Texas coast after battering Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. Texas officials issued disaster declarations and urge coastal residents to prepare as the storm headed their way. Beryl hit Tulum...

Texas officials urge coastal residents to prepare for Beryl as the storm moves toward the Gulf of Mexico

No shield required: 'Captain America' star Anthony Mackie's own super power is swimming with sharks

When National Geographic approached Anthony Mackie with an opportunity to swim with sharks to kick off its SharkFest programming, it was an easy yes for the Marvel star who is the new Captain America. The water, says Mackie, is a “safe space” where he “can just tune everybody...

Massive displacement latest sign of fear in Mexican state disputed by cartels

TILA, Mexico (AP) — It was night when residents of this remote town began to hear gunshots. Then came the sounds of trucks and the voices of men discussing which houses to burn. Flames began to leap around Tila, a town of about 10,000 people living along steep streets surrounded by...

SpaceX's mega rocket completes its fourth test flight from Texas without exploding

SpaceX’s mega Starship rocket completed its first full test flight Thursday, returning to Earth without exploding after blasting off from Texas. It was the fourth launch of the world’s biggest and most powerful rocket, standing nearly 400 feet (121 meters) tall. The three...

Heat-related monkey deaths are now reported in several Mexican states

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Heat-related howler monkeys deaths have now been reported in two more states in southern Mexico, after two other states reported die-offs earlier this month, environmental authorities said. Mexico's Environment Department said late Tuesday that monkey deaths have...