Residents of Gretna and
two other cities near New Orleans are being allowed to return to their
homes, now that electrical service to much of the area has been restored.
A nighttime curfew
will remain in effect.
Tests of the floodwaters in New Orleans have found high levels of
bacteria and toxic chemicals. Officials are warning people to avoid
contact with standing water. That could affect plans to allow some
residents to return to the city next week.
Federal prosecutors said Wednesday they will aggressively prosecute any
hurricane-related fraud. In Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States Attorney
Jim Letten said that fraud could take many forms.
"Any type of fraudulent activity which may be aimed at either illegally
and fraudulently obtaining charitable funds or government funds or any
other type of relief that's destined for the victims of Katrina or
rebuilding efforts for that matter," said Mr. Letten.
In New Orleans, the Louis Armstrong International Airport has reopened
for scheduled flights. Airport spokesman Michelle Duffourc says United
States Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta announced emergency relief
funds as he toured the facility.
"We actually just had a visit from Secretary Mineta. He has come
in and given a grant for $15.2 million to start rebuilding and repairing
of the airport. We're still looking for a lot more, but at least it's
a fresh start."
President Bush is scheduled to speak to the nation Thursday night from
Louisiana on the relief mission. On Tuesday the president said he assumes
"full responsibility" for federal government failures in responding to
Hurricane Katrina.
In the U.S. Congress, lawmakers are still debating
on how to form an investigation commission to look at the federal
failures. But the Republican-led Senate rejected Wednesday Democrat
Senator Hillary Clinton's call for an independent, bipartisan
commission to investigate
why the federal government did not respond to the disaster sooner.
In Atlanta, Georgia, a group of church leaders has announced plans to
focus on racial and economic disparities that some African-Americans feel
contributed to problems in providing assistance after Hurricane Katrina
struck the Gulf coast last month. |