BP Spill Damaged Gulf Coral
Posted in Main Blog (All Posts) on March 28th, 2012 1:05 pm by HL
BP Spill Damaged Gulf Coral
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill damaged coral formations deep beneath the surface of the Gulf of Mexico and miles from the ruptured well at the heart of the disaster, researchers report. Scientists using remote-controlled probes and a submersible spotted a coral colony covered in “black scum” about 7 miles southwest of the undersea gusher, Penn State University biologist Charles Fisher said. Another nearby formation was covered in a gooey brown and white mix of oil and organic materials from the coral. “What this does tell us is there was acute damage to a reef 7 miles away,” Fisher said. “It tells us it’s likely this oil hit a lot of other areas of the seafloor.”
LAPD Cop Accused of Racial Profiling
A white police officer in Los Angeles has targeted Latino drivers for traffic stops because of their ethnicity, the police department determined. Patrick Smith, a 15-year veteran who worked on motorcycle assignment in the West Traffic division, allegedly misidentified some Latinos as white on purpose. A three-person board will decide whether Smith should be fired.