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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2009
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NEWS ABOUT: Midwest floods

Midwest floods stories: 15 news summaries

(AP) - The bloated Red River briefly breached a dike early today, pouring water into a school campus in Fargo, ND. The mayor called it a "wakeup call" for a city that needs to be vigilant for weaknesses in levees that could give way at any time. "The campus is... More »

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school • flood • North Dakota • natural disaster • Fargo • levees • Midwest floods

 Floods Cloud Biofuel Future 

Ruined Midwest crops spark worries about fuel supplies

Jul 1, 08 4:09 AM CDT
(Newser) - The floods that swamped the corn belt last month have raised fresh fears about the future of biofuels, the New York Times reports. The ruined corn crop has sent the price of ethanol soaring, and experts worry that unpredictable weather could lead to future spikes in the price of energy... More »

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ethanol • corn • biofuel • crops • corn belt • Midwest floods • energy policy

 After the Deluge:
 Tallying Massive Costs 

Food prices may rise for years to come

Jun 30, 08 2:54 AM CDT
(Newser) - Floods that ravaged the Midwest have begun to subside—but  the massive costs of weeks of rising water have only begun to be counted. The floods killed 24 people, left 38,000 homeless and destroyed billions of dollars of crops. The losses are likely to trigger food shortages and push... More »

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corn • St. Louis • FEMA • Mississippi River • Army Corps of Engineers • National Weather Service • soybeans • Midwest floods

 What to Do With the Sandbags? 

Less adrenaline, more toil ahead for Midwesterners

Jun 24, 08 8:32 AM CDT
(Newser) - Sandbags were saviors for many in the Midwest flooding—but as the waters recede, the hefty lumps remain, often weighed down by all the toxins in the water, the Washington Post reports. Bags can weigh 60-80 pounds even when dry, so heaving one after another to the curb for pickup... More »

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flooding • Mississippi River • levees • Midwest floods • sandbags

 Ragtag Levees Leave
 Midwest Soaking 

Locals and towns run disorganized barrier system

Jun 22, 08 10:18 AM CDT
(Newser) - As the Midwest battles massive flooding, the New York Times looks at the region's patchwork of homemade levees—which fail to meet federal standards and tend to spring unexpected leaks. Bill Clinton's White House advised a uniform levy system 15 years ago, but the report was read and forgotten. “... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Iowa • flooding • Illinois • Missouri • levees • disaster • Midwest floods

commentary

 A Sandbagger Reflects 

Iowa man remembers a day at the levee

Jun 21, 08 8:45 AM CDT
(Newser) - Even when it proves futile, sandbagging is an experience with its own unique rewards, writes an Iowa resident in the New York Times. “Passing sandbags is a personal thing,” Joe Blair notes in an essay. “The line may be 300 feet long,” but for you, “... More »

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Iowa • flooding • Iowa City • levees • Midwest floods

 Floods Ruin Midwest Economy 

Food prices repercussions will be felt around the state

Jun 20, 08 2:30 PM CDT
(Newser) - The floods ravaging the Midwest are taking a catastrophic toll on the region's farmers, and consumers across the country will feel the pinch in higher food prices, MSNBC reports. Even if waters recede quickly, farmers will lose a sizable chunk of the season—they need about 120 growing days—and... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Midwest • farming • corn • flood • food prices • grain • Midwest floods

 Bush Tours
 Flood-Damaged Iowa 

Jun 19, 08 12:45 PM CDT
(AP) - With the painful lessons of Hurricane Katrina still in mind, President Bush today opened an inspection tour of Midwest flooding that has forced tens of thousands to flee their homes across six states. First stops were Iowa City and Cedar Rapids, which has endured its worst flooding ever. The president... More »

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Iowa • FEMA • Iowa City • Midwest floods • R. David Paulison

 Floods May be Linked
 to Development 

Environmentalists, scientists say continued building makes rising waters worse

Jun 19, 08 10:52 AM CDT
(Newser) - Major development along the Mississippi since the last big flood in 1993 may have exacerbated the current crisis, the Wall Street Journal reports. Nearly 30,000 homes have been built around St. Louis on land that was underwater then, forcing the river into a channel half the size it was... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Mississippi River • Army Corps of Engineers • levees • Midwest floods • national disaster relief fund

 Bush to Visit
 Flood-Battered Midwest 

Political pressure mounts for major
flood relief

Jun 19, 08 5:51 AM CDT
(Newser) - President Bush will visit flood-hit Iowa today to inspect the damage and consult with officials, Reuters reports. The state, along with much of the Midwest, has suffered the worst flooding in at least 15 years. Millions of acres of farmland have been flooded. Pressure on politicians to provide relief is... More »

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Iowa • Midwest • flood • flooding • farmland • George W. Bush • Midwest floods

Party Leaders in House Reach Deal on War Funds

Bipartisan agreement allocates $163B for Iraq, Afghanistan through early 2009

Jun 18, 08 9:58 PM CDT
(Newser) - A two-year fight between the White House and Democrats over war funding has been resolved, the New York Times reports. House leaders reached a deal to allocate $163 billion for combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan through early next year. The measure, expected to be approved by the full House... More »

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Congress • Pentagon • veterans' benefits • White House • John Boehner • unemployment benefits • war funding • Iraq war • Afghanistan war • Midwest floods

Midwest Floods May Seep Into Gas Prices

Decimated corn crop will likely boost refiners' ethanol costs

Jun 18, 08 11:29 AM CDT
(Newser) - Gas prices could be going up even more as Midwest floods put acres of corn underwater, causing its price—and that of ethanol—to spike, the Wall Street Journal reports. Relatively low ethanol prices have helped keep gasoline in check, but ethanol refiners paying more for corn could be forced... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Iowa • ethanol • corn • gas prices • Midwest floods

 Food Prices Rising
 Along With Floodwaters 

Thousands more of acres of farmland go under water today

Jun 17, 08 8:00 PM CDT
(Newser) - Rising floodwaters in the Midwest spread over thousands more acres of farmland today, leading to record or near-record prices for corn, soybeans, and cattle and hog futures, Reuters reports. President Bush promised quick federal aid and will visit Iowa on Thursday. That's not enough for Sen. Robert Byrd of West... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Iowa • flooding • Mississippi River • Midwest floods

 Red Cross
 Disaster Fund Is Broke 

As economy wreaks havoc with donations, relief agency down 'to zero'

Jun 17, 08 8:35 AM CDT
(Newser) - The American Red Cross, reeling from dealing with catastrophic floods in the Midwest, is facing its own disaster as it runs out of money to pay for relief aid. The charity has raised just $3.2 million to pay for shelters, food, and other costs—a fraction of the $40... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Hurricane Katrina • fundraiser • Mississippi River • American Red Cross • Midwest floods • national disaster relief fund • Jeffrey Towers

 Iowa Flood Tide Turns Noxious 

Mix of sewage and chemicals poses danger to residents

Jun 17, 08 7:48 AM CDT
(Newser) - Iowa floodwaters have become a toxic mess of sewage, chemicals, diesel, and animal carcasses, the AP reports, pushing some Iowans attempting to salvage possessions to update tetanus shots. "It bothers me, with everything that's in the water," said one resident. "I probably won't keep anything." Meanwhile,... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Iowa • Mississippi River • sewage • levees • Midwest floods

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