(CNN) – Bad information may be the only thing you can rely on from BP these days. Right now, thousands of people who make a living off the Gulf have suffered devastating losses. They've filed claims with BP, but they're still waiting for checks.

The oil giant says it's paid out $49 million so far, with another round of checks on the way, upping the total to $84 million. But as our Ed Lavandera found out, BP's promises don't pay the bills.

(CNN) – Images of the oil spill are horrifying to all of us, especially to the people who live and work in the Gulf. But what's equally upsetting is the shutdown of new work in the oilfields, an industry that provides so many jobs for the region.

The Obama administration said it would lift the ban on new shallow water permits after implementing new safety requirements, but the ban on deep water drilling will continue for many months. That has raised concerns of a second economic disaster in southern Louisiana – first fishing, now oil and gas.

Our John Roberts went down to Port Fourchon, Louisiana to see the pain firsthand.

(CNN) – While most of the coverage of the oil spill catastrophe has focused on Louisiana's marshes and the creatures that call it home, the threat facing the city of New Orleans seems to be flying under the radar.

Major industries in the Big Easy – tourism, seafood, oil – are all in turmoil. New Orleans elected a new mayor just four months ago. He's Mitch Landrieu and he joined us on Wednesday's American Morning in his first live national interview since the oil spill began.