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In the News

BP payouts create ‘spillionaires’

The oil spill that was once expected to bring economic ruin to the Gulf Coast instead delivered a gusher of money. But some people wound up getting comparatively little.

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Jason Melerine, left, night rigs for shrimp with deckhand Stephen Tircuit, center, outside Delacroix Island, La. Melerine, 28, who said his income was about $90,000 in 2009, received a six-month compensation check for $180,000. He had submitted invoices showing that his boat sold $280,000 worth of seafood the year before, an amount that didn't reflect his expenses.

Melanie Burford / Prime for ProPublica

Thomas Gonzales, 72, pulls in a 10-foot gator from the bayou surrounding Delacroix Island, La. Thomas is one of the only Delacroix fishermen who refused to work for BP. Gonzales, who said he filed $90,000 in taxable income in 2009, received only $22,000 in his six-month payment. 'They're giving the money to the young generation,' said Gonzales, who is 73. 'They figure I got one foot over the hole.'

Thomas Gonzales, 72, pulls in a 10-foot gator from the bayou surrounding Delacroix Island, La. Thomas is one of the only Delacroix fishermen who refused to work for BP. Gonzales, who said he filed $90,000 in taxable income in 2009, received only $22,000 in his six-month payment. "They're giving the money to the young generation," said Gonzales, who is 73. "They figure I got one foot over the hole."

Melanie Burford / Prime for ProPublica

Thomas Gonzales, 72, goes gator hunting in the bayou surrounding Delacroix Island, La.

Thomas Gonzales, 72, goes gator hunting in the bayou surrounding Delacroix Island, La.

Melanie Burford / Prime for ProPublica

Pastor Boogie Melerine prays with the Delacroix fishermen before they head out to work as part of the oil spill cleanup, paid for by BP. The oil company has spent more than $16 billion so far, mostly on damage claims and cleanup.

Pastor Boogie Melerine prays with the Delacroix fishermen before they head out to work as part of the oil spill cleanup, paid for by BP. The oil company has spent more than $16 billion so far, mostly on damage claims and cleanup.

Melanie Burford / Prime for ProPublica

Jason Melerine fishes for blue crabs in the bayou outside Delacroix Island, La.

Jason Melerine fishes for blue crabs in the bayou outside Delacroix Island, La.

Melanie Burford / Prime for ProPublica

Mikey Labat, far right, pulls in boom with his brother Allen Labat, center, around Pelican Island, La. The brothers were working as part of the oil-spill cleanup, paid for by BP.

Mikey Labat, far right, pulls in boom with his brother Allen Labat, center, around Pelican Island, La. The brothers were working as part of the oil-spill cleanup, paid for by BP.

Melanie Burford / Prime for ProPublica

Mikey Labat, left, Lance Melerine and Jason Melerine, right, sort blue crabs while fishing in Plaquemines Parish.

Mikey Labat, left, Lance Melerine and Jason Melerine, right, sort blue crabs while fishing in Plaquemines Parish.

Melanie Burford / Prime for ProPublica

Jason Melerine plays with his children Jason Melerine Jr., 2, and Hannah Melerine, 3, far left, at their home in St. Bernard, La. While working putting out boom, Jason Melerine was afraid of letting his children touch him in case they became ill from the oil and dispersants that he was working near.

Jason Melerine plays with his children Jason Melerine Jr., 2, and Hannah Melerine, 3, far left, at their home in St. Bernard, La. While working putting out boom, Jason Melerine was afraid of letting his children touch him in case they became ill from the oil and dispersants that he was working near.

Melanie Burford/ / Prime for ProPublica

Thomas Gonzales, 72, dances with his wife Joan Gonzales at Rockin' Rumors in Chalmette, La.

Thomas Gonzales, 72, dances with his wife Joan Gonzales at Rockin' Rumors in Chalmette, La.

Melanie Burford / Prime for ProPublica

Jason Melerine prepares his boat at dawn before heading into Breton Sound in the Gulf of Mexico to go blue crab fishing.

Jason Melerine prepares his boat at dawn before heading into Breton Sound in the Gulf of Mexico to go blue crab fishing.

Melanie Burford / Prime for ProPublica

FEATURED PHOTO GALLERIES

SILVER SPRING MD: MAY 18
from left to right, Bodybuilders Jorge Villatoro, Sidney Bumbrey, Eric Holmes and Ron Coleman show off their most muscular poses for the judges at the 2013 Musclemania - Capital Tournament of Champions Contest held at the Montgomery College Cultural Arts Center in Silver Spring, Maryland on May 18, 2013.
(Photo by Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post)

Flexing their muscles

Dozens of bodybuilders came out to Silver Spring to compete in the 2013 Musclemania Capital Tournament of Champions.

Kriket Krekemeyer cries while cleaning up her tornado-ravaged home in Moore, Okla., Wednesday, May 22, 2013. (AP Photo/Tulsa World, Mike Simons)

Photos of the day

Oklahoma tornado wreckage, London terrorism attack, NASA’s Dream Chaser, Triton unmanned aircraft and more.

A police forensics officer investigates a crime scene where one man was killed in Woolwich, southeast London May 22, 2013. British Prime Minister David Cameron has called a meeting of his government's emergency Cobra security committee after the killing of a man in south London, his office said on Wednesday. REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth (BRITAIN - Tags: CRIME LAW POLITICS TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)

Terrorism cited in London cleaver attack

Two assailants hacked to death a British soldier on a busy southeast London neighborhood street Wednesday afternoon before delivering an apparent...

MOORE, OK - MAY 22: A street of tornado destructed homes is reflected on a puddle of water on May 22, 2013 in Moore, Ok. (Photo by Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post)

Assessing tornado damage in Oklahoma

Amid great destruction, residents of the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore begin to assess the severity of the twister that hit Monday.

WASHINGTON DC: MAY 22
Contestant Travis Rumans, 31 dances with his beloved glow sticks for talent at Penn Social in Washington, DC on May 22, 2013. The contestants help raise over $15,000 for the Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C.
The Mr. DC pageant is a fundraising event to benefit Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.
The qualifications for the Mr. District of Columbia finalists is that they must live, work and attend school in the District of Columbia between the ages of 21-30 who are unmarried, intelligent, and dapper in a suit.
(Photo by Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post)

Mr. D.C. Pageant contestants compete for charity

Contestants in the Mr. D.C. Pageant, a fundraising event, helped raise more than $15,000 for the Children’s National Medical Center.

ANNAPOLIS, MD - MAY 20: The Herndon Monument Climb is the traditional culmination of plebe year at the United States Naval Academy. The plebes climb to the top of the lard-covered 21 foot high monument and remove the 'dixie cup' hat at the top replacing it with an upperclassman's hat. After completing this, the freshmen are called 'fourth class midshipmen.' This class completed the task in 1 hour 32 minutes and 43 seconds. The hat was placed by Patrick Lien from Orlando. (Photo by Sarah L. Voisin/The Washington Post)

The Herndon Climb

The Herndon Monument climb is the traditional culmination of plebe year at the U.S. Naval Academy.

US comedian Jerry Lewis laughs on May 23, 2013 during a press confrence for the film 'Max Rose' presented Out of Competition at the 66th edition of the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes. Cannes, one of the world's top film festivals, opened on May 15 and will climax on May 26 with awards selected by a jury headed this year by Hollywood legend Steven Spielberg. AFP PHOTO / LOIC VENANCELOIC VENANCE/AFP/Getty Images

Eye on entertainment

Jerry Lewis, Kat Graham, Zachary Quinto, Aerosmith, Carly Rae Jepsen and more.

A Burrowing owl tries to perch on a protective rope in a public park in Cooper City, Fla. Monday, May 20, 2013 as rain falls. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)

Fun and fascinating creatures around the world.

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