The gushing oil well, or rather, B-P's latest failed effort to cap the gushing well is topping our news this morning. Workers tried to use a special saw to cut off the top of the gushing well, but it got stuck and they spent hours getting it freed. They finally dragged it to the surface last night. Now crews will resume cutting the pipeline but they'll use a huge pair of scissors to try to hack off the broken top. The goal is to divert the oil to the surface of the ocean via a kind of line where it can be more easily collected. (Incidentally, something similar to this was tried last month — and it too failed.) The only solution could turn out to be relief wells that are being drilled to cut off the oil supply before it reaches the broken pipeline. That will take weeks or even months to complete. Interestingly, BP doesn't seem to like relief wells. NPR's Peter Overby reports BP executives tried earlier this year to get Canadian authorities to repeal a policy requiring that relief wells be drilled for emergencies:

Maybe Jon Stewart tapped the national zeitgeist this week when he pointed out that AquaMan is too occupied to lend a hand.

FLOTILLA ACTIVISTS DEPORTED TO TURKEY

Hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists have been sent to Turkey after they were detained by Israel when it intercepted several ships headed for Gaza. The BBC's Jonathan Head was in Istanbul when they arrived:

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had strong words for critics who say Israel overreacted.

BRITAIN FINES MORGAN CHASE MILLIONS

Britain's financial regulatory agency has slapped global investment firm J.P. Morgan Chase with nearly $50 million dollars in fines because it didn't keep clients' money in a separate account from the firm's money. Ouch.

BREWER TO MEET OBAMA
Arizona Governor Jan Brewer meets President Obama today at the White House. Brewer says the federal government's efforts to keep the US — Mexico border are just not working. Brewer signed a controversial law that toughens Arizona laws against illegal immigration but it's drawn international condemnation because police are required to check documentation of anybody they deem to be illegal. Critics allege the law is so broad that Latino Americans will harassed and the more time police spend on this, the less time they'll have to fight violent crime.

There's a rather interesting side story here. Brewer, who supports the bill, wants to prevent Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard from representing their state in any court challenges to the controversial immigration bill. Goddard opposes the law but says as AG, he is the only person who may legally defend Arizona in all court challenges.
Wait — you already guessed. Goddard is running for the Democratic nomination for Arizona governor. Brewer, a Republican, is running for re-election. Stay tuned!

KEN GRIFFEY, JUNIOR RETIRES WITH NO FANFARE

I'm not kidding. Major League Baseball's 5th all time home run hitter merely issued a short PRESS RELEASE.

Here's the Griffey style at home in SafeCo Stadium a year ago:

AND PS:

The Philadelphia Flyers took Game 3 in the Stanley Cup finals against the Chicago Blackhawks. But they needed an OT to do it.