Shell works to fix Gulf of Mexico pipeline leak

Bruce Nichols and Joshua Schneyer, Reuters, 7/28/2009
Shell and the U.S. Coast Guard rushed Tuesday to contain 1,400 barrels of crude oil spilled into the Gulf of Mexico from a leaking Shell-operated pipeline, fighting back an oil slick with skimmer ships and airplanes.
Shell discovered the leak Saturday on its 173,000-barrel-per-day (bpd) capacity Eugene Island oil pipeline, [...]

Op-Ed: California Losing Allure; Immigration Numbers Decline

Modesto Bee, 7/28/2009
Two new studies on immigration released last week should ease some of the tension that’s been building on the issue as California and the rest of the nation struggle through difficult economic times.
The new numbers show that illegal immigration from Mexico is slowing, and that California’s allure as the destination of choice for [...]

UPS begins UPS Standard in Mexico

Atlanta Business Chronicle, 7/28/2009
Atlanta-based UPS (NYSE: UPS) reported Tuesday it started offering on July 13 UPS Standard for shipping small packages from Mexico to the United States.
By connecting the company’s networks in Mexico and the United States, UPS has ground service between the two countries that covers every address in Mexico and the continental United [...]

Mexico announces plan to test special drug courts

Associated Press, 7/28/2009
Mexico announced a pilot program Monday to have special courts handle cases involving addicted offenders who commit crimes while under the influence of drugs.
The idea was praised by visiting U.S. drug czar Gil Kerlikowske, who noted “drug courts” can sentence people to rehabilitation programs instead of prison.
“Successful programs like drug courts, which will [...]

5 Detained In Border Patrol Agent’s Fatal Shooting

Los Angeles Times, 7/28/2009
Mexican authorities have detained five people in connection with last week’s fatal shooting of a U.S. Border Patrol agent, but U.S. investigators have not said whether they are suspects in the case.
The detainees were arrested within two days after Robert Rosas, a three-year agency employee, was shot multiple times by suspected smugglers [...]

New Strategy Urged In Mexico

Washington Post, 7/28/2009
President Felipe Calderón is under growing pressure to overhaul a U.S.-backed anti-narcotics strategy that many political leaders and analysts said is failing amid spectacular drug cartel assaults against the government.
There are now sustained calls in Mexico for a change in tactics, even from allies within Calderón’s political party, who say the deployment [...]