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[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/04/23/rig.fire.cg.art.jpg caption="The U.S. Coast Guard launched a major search effort Wednesday, April 21, 2010, for 11 people missing after an explosion aboard an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico. "]
Oil slick spreads from sunken rig
(CNN) – A 1-by-5-mile sheen of crude oil mix has spread across the Gulf of Mexico's surface around the area where an oil rig exploded and sank, a Coast Guard lieutenant said Thursday.
"This is a rainbow sheen with a dark center," Coast Guard Rear Adm. Mary Landry told reporters.
Officials do not know whether oil or fuel are leaking from the sunken Deepwater Horizon rig and the well below, but BP Vice President David Rainey said "it certainly has the potential to be a major spill."
A remotely-operated vehicle is surveying the area and cleanup efforts are under way, Landry said. The sheen "probably is residual from the fire and the activity that was going on on this rig before it sank below the surface," she said. Read more
Are we living in a 'dirty girl' culture?
It's a bad girls' world these days. From out-of-control teens, to "real" housewives. To picture after picture, of stumbling, fumbling celebrities. So how do you tell your daughter that reality TV isn't really...real? Our Carol Costello has the Friday gut check for us.
Sound off: What do you think? Are we living in a 'dirty girl' culture?
'South Park' vs. free speech
The creators of "South Park" are speaking out about the controversy around their show and the Muslim prophet Mohammed. Trey Parker and Matt Stone told the New York Times that Comedy Central substantially edited the dialogue in their show this week, bleeping out the prophet's name and a speech from the character, Kyle, about "intimidation and fear." This comes after the show was threatened by a radical Islamic group, "Revolution Muslim," for last week's episode that also dealt with Mohammed. We'll be talking more about this free speech battle with CNN independent analyst John Avlon.
Air Force launches mystery space plane
A mystery unmanned space plane operated by the Air Force is circling the globe. Its mission in space is top-secret. The spacecraft, dubbed the X-37B, lifted off last night from Cape Canaveral in Florida. Military officials say the launch was a success, but they won't say much else. Our Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr is following the story for us this morning.
Sound off: We want to hear from you this morning. Add your comments to the LIVE blog below and we'll read some of them on the show.