What Will It Mean to 'Rebuild' New Orleans?

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In New Orleans, Mayor Ray Nagin now says residents may be able to enter the city as soon as this coming Monday. His estimation depends on the results of tests to measure the toxicity of both air and water. That's a marked turn-around from his earlier claim that it would be "uninhabitable" for months to come. Can a unique culture and lifestyle be preserved? What will it mean to "rebuild" New Orleans? Will tens of thousands of people--including the poor--want to come home? We speak with economists, geographers, government procurement experts and the mayor of a Florida town nearly wiped off the map by Hurricane Andrew in 1992 about plans to spend billions of dollars rebuilding a city that's below sea level and vulnerable to devastating storms. Making News: The Bloodiest Day in Baghdad As George Bush went to New York for the 60th anniversary of the United Nations, more than 150 people were killed and hundreds injured today in Iraq. In Baghdad, 114 were killed in a single car bombing in a Shia part of the city. Babak Dehghanpisheh, who reports for Newsweek magazine, says the insurgents' attacks appear to be retaliation for the recent military offensive in Tal Afar. Reporters Notebook: President Bush Speaks at UN Summit More than 100 national leaders attended today's opening session of the United Nations. This year's agenda focuses on world poverty and UN reform. In a rare Security Council appearance, President Bush urged passage of resolutions on terrorism and Africa. Secretary General Kofi Annan appealed for renewed confidence in the UN itself. Evelyn Leopold, who covers the UN for Reuters, has highlights.
In New Orleans, Mayor Ray Nagin now says residents may be able to enter the city as soon as this coming Monday. His estimation depends on the results of tests to measure the toxicity of both air and water. That's a marked turn-around from his earlier claim that it would be "uninhabitable" for months to come. Can a unique culture and lifestyle be preserved? What will it mean to "rebuild" New Orleans? Will tens of thousands of people--including the poor--want to come home? We speak with economists, geographers, government procurement experts and the mayor of a Florida town nearly wiped off the map by Hurricane Andrew in 1992 about plans to spend billions of dollars rebuilding a city that's below sea level and vulnerable to devastating storms.
  • Making News: The Bloodiest Day in Baghdad
    As George Bush went to New York for the 60th anniversary of the United Nations, more than 150 people were killed and hundreds injured today in Iraq. In Baghdad, 114 were killed in a single car bombing in a Shia part of the city. Babak Dehghanpisheh, who reports for Newsweek magazine, says the insurgents' attacks appear to be retaliation for the recent military offensive in Tal Afar.
  • Reporters Notebook: President Bush Speaks at UN Summit
    More than 100 national leaders attended today's opening session of the United Nations. This year's agenda focuses on world poverty and UN reform. In a rare Security Council appearance, President Bush urged passage of resolutions on terrorism and Africa. Secretary General Kofi Annan appealed for renewed confidence in the UN itself. Evelyn Leopold, who covers the UN for Reuters, has highlights.

MSNBC article on Baghdad blast said to be retailiation for Tal Afar sweep

FEMA on Katrina

New Orleans news, updates

Mississippi River Commission

Kotkin's (New Republic) article on Katrina and urban liberalism

Secretary General Kofi Annan's address

President Bush addresses UN Security Council

Leopold's article on UN falling short of reform goals

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Warren Olney