Have We Abandoned the Folks Devastated by Katrina?

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This Thanksgiving week we're just one week shy of the three-month mark since Hurricane Katrina tore along the Gulf Coast. The population of New Orleans has diminished from just under half a million on August 28, the day before the storm hit, to 75,000 residents. With night-time temperatures in the 30's, half are still without heat or sewage in a city with few resources to rebuild. Those temporarily living in hotels across the country at FEMA's expense, face a December 1 change in housing subsidies. Given vulnerable geography and suspect levees, should the city be rebuilt? With cameras no longer chronicling the daily crisis, have we forgotten those trying to start over along the gulf coast? Guest host Diana Nyad revisits the desperate situation of New Orleans and other Gulf Coast residents.Making News: GM to Cut 30,000 Jobs, Close Nine North American PlantsGeneral Motors announced today that it will cut 30,000 jobs and close nine of its North American facilities in the next three years. In the first nine months of this year alone, GM lost close to $4 billion. While Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner called the cuts crucial to returning the world's largest auto maker to profitability, he also said that they'll increase spending on new cars and trucks. Daniel Howes writes on business for the Detroit News.Reporter's Notebook: Ariel Sharon Leaves the Likud PartyPopular Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon announced today his intention to quit the Likud Party. The co-founder of the Likud says he'll gather a coalition to start a new party, with the intent of forcing an election within 90 days. Professor Shmuel Sandler of Bar-Ilan University near Tel Aviv has more on the Israeli statesman and the motive behind his move.
This Thanksgiving week we're just one week shy of the three-month mark since Hurricane Katrina tore along the Gulf Coast. The population of New Orleans has diminished from just under half a million on August 28, the day before the storm hit, to 75,000 residents. With night-time temperatures in the 30's, half are still without heat or sewage in a city with few resources to rebuild. Those temporarily living in hotels across the country at FEMA's expense, face a December 1 change in housing subsidies. Given vulnerable geography and suspect levees, should the city be rebuilt? With cameras no longer chronicling the daily crisis, have we forgotten those trying to start over along the gulf coast? Guest host Diana Nyad revisits the desperate situation of New Orleans and other Gulf Coast residents.
  • Making News: GM to Cut 30,000 Jobs, Close Nine North American Plants
    General Motors announced today that it will cut 30,000 jobs and close nine of its North American facilities in the next three years. In the first nine months of this year alone, GM lost close to $4 billion. While Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner called the cuts crucial to returning the world's largest auto maker to profitability, he also said that they'll increase spending on new cars and trucks. Daniel Howes writes on business for the Detroit News.
  • Reporter's Notebook: Ariel Sharon Leaves the Likud Party
    Popular Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon announced today his intention to quit the Likud Party. The co-founder of the Likud says he'll gather a coalition to start a new party, with the intent of forcing an election within 90 days. Professor Shmuel Sandler of Bar-Ilan University near Tel Aviv has more on the Israeli statesman and the motive behind his move.
Guest host Diana Nyad, 2002 inductee into the International Swimming Hall of Fame, is a business sports columnist for Marketplace, senior sports correspondent for Fox News, and has hosted her own show on CNBC. She's also the author of three books.

GM on major capacity reduction

GM's four-point turnaround plan

Detroit News article on GM cuts

FEMA resources on Katrina

FEMA to change funding for disaster recovery projects in Louisiana

HUD's Katrina resources

60 Minutes segments on a sinking New Orleans

Likud Party

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon

Credits

Host:

Warren Olney