"Calling the expanding plume of oil rising from the floor of the Gulf of Mexico a crisis of dramatic proportion, President Barack Obama told Louisiana oyster farmers and the country Sunday that the full force of the federal government was focused on assisting southeast Louisiana."

"Along with officials' consistently cautious predictions about the scope of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, another group has been calling for a tempering of dire oil-spill forecasts: the Gulf of Mexico seafood industry."

"The oil spill spreading across the Gulf of Mexico is sending ripples through Florida and national politics, giving Gov. Charlie Crist a reason to withdraw his support for offshore drilling." Crist Thursday announced he would bolt the Republican party and run for re-election without party affiliation.

"Three words: oil-soaked shorebirds."

"The US government made its first major moves on Apr. 27 in response to the Apr. 20 explosion and fire on the Transocean Ltd. Deepwater Horizon semisubmersible rig in the Gulf of Mexico as the Departments of Interior and Homeland Security launched a joint investigation."

"Gov. Bobby Jindal [Thursday] morning issued a declaration of emergency stemming from the oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico."

"Lawmakers on Tuesday asked the owner and operator of the oil rig that exploded last week in the Gulf of Mexico for documents as part of a congressional investigation into the accident."

"US President Barack Obama has said 'every single available resource' of government will be deployed to help contain the Gulf Coast oil leak."

"A top adviser to President Barack Obama  says no new oil drilling will be authorized until authorities learn what caused the explosion of the rig Deepwater Horizon."

"Oil from a massive spill in the Gulf of Mexico was starting to ooze ashore, threatening migrating birds, nesting pelicans and even river otters and mink along Louisiana's fragile islands and barrier marshes."