Governors to Miss White House Deadline for Water Settlement WASHINGTON (APR - Alabama Public Radio ) - The governors of Alabama, Florida and Georgia won't meet a Bush administration-imposed deadline for settling their 20-year fight over sharing water in the region's rivers.

Officials said the states have made progress in recent months after Bush dispatched Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne to mediate a compromise as a record drought threatened Atlanta's drinking supply. But instead of announcing a long-term pact on Friday as planned, they will offer more of a status report.

Kempthorne said today he is encouraged by the progress and will continue pressing for a deal.

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