News bites: Hillary Clinton, hunter of elephant poachers

Bloomberg reports that the Energy Department is “almost a blackout” for women-owned small businesses when it comes to securing federal contracts. Citing U.S. Small Business Administration statistics, Bloomberg reported such firms account for $305 million, or 1 percent, of the department’s contracting authority.

Reuters reports on a new study that says sea levels will rise 2.3 meters (7.5 feet) for each degree Celsius of global temperature increases.

{mosads}BP is arguing 10 percent of the crude oil that spilled into the Gulf of Mexico during the firm’s 2010 spill shouldn’t be counted in the civil penalties it faces in an ongoing federal trial, the Houston Chronicle reports.

Federal authorities are investigating the killing of a Mexican gray wolf, which is on the endangered species list, in New Mexico, according to The Los Angeles Times.