The New York Times – January 20, 2012

Exxon Mobil agrees to pay $1.6 million in penalties to the state of Montana for pollution caused by a pipeline break last summer that fouled dozens of miles of shoreline along the Yellowstone River. Of that amount, $300,000 is a cash fine and the rest is to go toward future environmental projects. Exxon says that more than 63,000 gallons of crude swept into the river. [The Associated Press] For full story, click here.