New Orleans' drinking water threatened as saltwater intrusion looms
CBSN
Millions of Louisiana residents are facing a possible drinking water crisis as saltwater from the Gulf of Mexico threatens to contaminate the freshwater supply. The saltwater intrusion, caused by a severe summer drought that lowered the Mississippi River's water levels, could have serious consequences, as many local water treatment facilities are ill-equipped to handle high salt content, which can corrode pipes and pose health risks when consumed.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is working to prevent an impending crisis in the southernmost stretch of the Mississippi River, but the situation remains critical.
"We're into preparedness and awareness. What we want to make sure is that everybody knows what we're facing," said Ricky Boyett of the Army Corps of Engineers.
President Joe Biden said France was America's "first friend" at its founding and is one of its closest allies more than two centuries later as he was honored with a state visit Saturday by French President Emmanuel Macron aimed at showing off their partnership on global security issues and easing past trade tensions.
The Consumer Federal Protection Bureau last week launched an inquiry into what the agency is calling "junk fees in mortgage closing costs." These additional fees, involving home appraisal, title insurance and other services, have spiked in recent years and can add thousands of dollars to the final cost of buying a home.
Retired Maj. Gen. William Anders, the former Apollo 8 astronaut who took the iconic "Earthrise" photo showing the planet as a shadowed blue marble from space in 1968, was killed Friday when the plane he was piloting alone plummeted into the waters off the San Juan Islands in Washington state. He was 90.