American Morning
Impact of oil slick on marine life is devastating
(CNN) – We still don't know whether BP's "top kill" operation will be able to cap the gushing oil well at the bottom of the ocean, but it's perfectly clear that vast stretches of the Louisiana coast are covered in heavy crude. Our Rob Marciano went out on a boat for a first-hand look at the impact on sea life and what he saw was devastating.
Effort to take cleanup duty away from BP
(CNN) – The oil spill is being felt directly in Grand Isle, Louisiana where it has shut down beaches and fishing grounds. And if BP fails to plug the leak, things could soon get much worse. Frustrated with BP's cleanup effort, local officials have taken things into their own hands, led by Deano Bonano, director of homeland security for Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. He joined our Kiran Chetry on Wednesday's American Morning.
Energy official grilled on oil response
(CNN) – Oil company BP is expected to discuss Tuesday its next attempt to contain the gushing oil in the Gulf of Mexico - a maneuver called a "top kill" that it plans to implement the following day.
All previous attempts by the company to cap the spill have failed, and BP CEO Tony Hayward said the top kill maneuver will have a 60 to 70 percent chance of success when it is put in place as early as Wednesday morning.
Carol Browner, the assistant to the president on energy and climate change, said Tuesday that she is optimistic about the method.
"We want this to work and will do everything in our power to make sure it works," the former Environmental Protection Agency administrator said. "We need the BP technology - they know how to operate the little robots, how to operate the vessels. But we're not relying on them."
Browner said the federal government will have its own experts analyze and evaluate the top kill procedure.
"We want this thing shut down," she said. Read more
Gulf Coast fisheries shut by oil spill
(CNN) – Today is day 36 of the oil spill in the Gulf. Twenty percent of the fisheries in the region have now been shut down. The Commerce Department is freeing up federal help by declaring a fisheries disaster. 150 miles of Gulf coast shoreline are now impacted by the spill. Birds and fish are dying, and jobs are vanishing. And as our Rob Marciano reports, it's getting very difficult for the locals to just sit back and watch what's happening.
Exclusive: CNN cameras go deep for oil slick images
(CNN) – Dozens of ships are steaming toward the site of the oil spill in the Gulf today. In two days, they're expected to begin a "top kill" operation to plug the spewing well. Meanwhile, the debate over dispersants is raging. The EPA has ordered BP to switch to a less toxic product, but the oil giant is refusing. We've seen the damage that's been done on shore and on the ocean surface, but now we're bringing you exclusive pictures of the slick below sea level.
BP under fire over oil spill
(CNN) – Dozens of ships are now headed to the spot where a ruptured well is spewing crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico. In two days, the crews on those vessels will attempt to plug the gusher using mud and cement. It's a high-risk procedure called a "top kill." If it fails, we could be dealing with this disastrous leak for months.
Doug Suttles, BP's chief operating officer for exploration and production, joined us on Monday's American Morning for an update on the progress.
Read more: BP exec defends response to spill as frustration grows
About this Show
Welcome to the American Morning blog where you can get daily news updates from American Morning's reporters and producers. Join us for "the most news in the morning," weekdays from 6-9 a.m. ET, only on CNN.
On Twitter
