Also: Federal judge hears Arizona immigration law arguments today; Facebook tops 500 million users.
Brown pelicans try to balance on an oil boom near Martin Island in St. Bernard Parish, La., Wednesday, July 21, 2010. Crews found scores of dead birds and a number of live birds affected by oil from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on Monday in the eastern part of the parish behind the Chandeleur Islands. From The Associated Press:
ON THE GULF OF MEXICO (AP) — Crew members aboard dozens of ships in the Gulf of Mexico prepared Thursday to evacuate as a tropical rainstorm brewing in the Caribbean brought the deep-sea effort to plug BP's ruptured oil well to a near standstill.
Though the rough weather was hundreds of miles from the spill site and wouldn't enter the Gulf for at least a few more days, officials ordered technicians trying to plug BP's well to stand down because they needed several days to clear the area.
» Read the full story: Ships ready to leave leaky well as storm brews [The Associated Press]
» Workers on Doomed Rig Voiced Concern About Safety [The New York Times]
» 4 oil firms commit $1 billion for Gulf rapid-response plan [The New York Times]
In other news:
» Arizona immigration law faces federal challenge Thursday [CNN]
» Facebook tops 500 million users worldwide [Los Angeles Times]
» Calif. girl, 17, slain; parents told to watch kids [The Associated Press]
» Ousted USDA employee gets apology from White House, new job offer [The Associated Press]