With increasingly devastating reports about the vastness of the destruction caused by the oil spill in the gulf, it's hard not to feel helpless. We seem to know what to do in the event of natural disasters - there are handful of reliable charities we can count on to do good work with our donations. But in the case of the gulf coast oil spill, it's not that simple. It's easy to blame BP and ignore the complexity of the issue (and the fact that our own reliance on fossil fuels is, in no small part, also accountable for the situation). There are ways to help - many organizations along the coast are mobilizing volunteers, rescuing oil covered wildlife, and addressing the basic needs of people affected by the disaster. Is it frustrating to throw time and money at a problem that BP should have fixed by now? Sure, but it's becoming increasingly unbearable to sit back and watch as animals die, people go without paychecks, and injustice prevails. Here's a list of some of the organizations that are collecting money, donations, and volunteers to help with the gulf coast recovery. more ›

Austinite Brian Peppler wrote in to our tip line (that's tips@austinist.com—email us!) this morning to share a sad story about his wife Jessica, who was seriously injured at Red Bud Isle this past weekend. Jessica, 31, is pictured to the right with their 22-week-old son, Dylan. They'd appreciate your help in getting in touch with the owner of the dog in question—details after the jump. more ›