[naviga:h3]Major spillway opens near New Orleans[/naviga:h3]

NEW ORLEANS — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers opened a major spillway Sunday near New Orleans for the first time in nearly five years, seeking to decrease the vast flow of the swollen Mississippi River as a safeguard to the low-lying city.

Heavy rain has propelled the river to its highest levels since record flooding in 2011, the last time the Bonnet Carre spillway was opened as a key relief valve in south Louisiana.

New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu praised the spillway for protecting the city. The spillway was built 28 miles upriver from New Orleans after a devastating 1927 flood.

[naviga:h3]Gas prices fall penny over past 3 weeks[/naviga:h3]

CAMARILLO, Calif. — The average price of gasoline has dropped a penny over the past three weeks, to $2.05 a gallon.

Industry analyst Trilby Lundberg said Sunday that with the slight decline the price remains the lowest since 2009.

Lundberg says prices may continue to go down as crude oil costs drop and refineries run at a high rate.

The current gas price is 15 cents per gallon under its year-ago point.

In the Lower 48 states, the highest average price of regular gasoline was $3.01 per gallon in Los Angeles. The lowest was $1.64 in St. Louis.

[naviga:h3]Supplies sought as standoff ensues[/naviga:h3]

BURNS, Ore. — The occupation of a national wildlife area by a small, armed group upset over federal land policies stretched into its second week as the mother of the group’s leader asked supporters to send supplies — everything from warm blankets to coffee creamer.

The group that seized the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon’s high desert country on Jan. 2 planned no briefings. It was quiet at the entrance to the refuge Sunday.

The leader of the occupation, Ammon Bundy, has repeatedly rejected calls to leave buildings at the refuge despite pleas from the county sheriff, from many local residents and from Oregon’s governor, among others. He has said the group will leave when there is a plan to transfer control of federal land to locals.

[naviga:h3]Maine Dems push for impeachment[/naviga:h3]

AUGUSTA, Maine — The furor over Gov. Paul LePage’s comment about “young white” girls being impregnated by out-of-state drug dealers is last week’s news. This week could bring an impeachment order calling for an investigation into the Republican’s alleged abuse of power.

A group of lawmakers led by Rep. Ben Chipman, a Portland Democrat, submitted the order, and Chipman said it’s due to be debated on the House floor Thursday. But House Democrats are divided, and the situation remains fluid.

“Anything can happen between now and then,” said Rep. Sara Gideon, assistant Democratic leader.

Some lawmakers insist the Legislature must take some sort of action, whether it’s censure or impeachment, to punish LePage for using his influence to pressure a charter school operator into rescinding a job offer to House Speaker Mark Eves, a Democrat.