President Barack Obama took full responsibility for controlling the oil spill crisis in the Gulf of Mexico at a White House news conference Thursday, but said the government would continue to rely on BP for cleanup efforts because of their superior technology and expertise.

The “top killing” began Wednesday afternoon — a procedure BP hopes will finally plug the open well that has leaked at least 7 million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico for more than a month. Mud and cement are being pumped into the well to stop the flow of oil and possibly seal the leak.

Nearly 40 oyster fishermen met Tuesday with state officials, lawyers and a representative from an oyster crop insurance company at the University of New Orleans to discuss how the Gulf of Mexico oil spill has impacted their industry.

After contentious debate between the Environmental Protection Agency and BP regarding its use of a particular dispersant in the Gulf of Mexico, BP has agreed to lessen the amount it is using to help clean up the massive oil spill. BP will cut back its use of the dispersant Corexit, which it has been spraying in the Gulf, by 50 to 75 percent.

A concerned community of St. Bernard Parish residents, fishermen and local officials attended a town hall meeting between BP representatives on Monday night at the Frederick J. Sigur Civic Center.

The Obama administration’s oil spill specialist on Monday rejected the notion of taking over the crisis, despite BP’s many failed attempts to stop the leak, according to The Associated Press.
“To push BP out of the way would raise a question, to replace them with what?” said Coast Guard Commandant Thad Allen, who is heading the federal response to the spill.

Dozens of fisherman and workers attend an informational fair for oil spill victims that featured briefings on the oil spill, arrangements for filing reimbursement claims, training for spill cleanup and information booths staffed by local health and social organizations.

For the past month, Laura Underwood, a hair stylist in Houma, La., has swept the floor of the Aha! salon, gathering hair clippings and stuffing them into grocery bags. She also asked other salons for their leftover hair but under one condition—that they wash it first.