Links to the News

The New York Times, September 30, 2005 Newseum Image

September 30, 2005: An excerpt from a story in The New York Times --

Times Reporter Free From Jail; She Will Testify

By David Johnston and Douglas Jehl

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 - Judith Miller, the reporter for The New York Times who has been jailed since July 6 for refusing to testify in the C.I.A. leak case, was released Thursday from a Virginia detention center after she and her lawyers reached an agreement with a federal prosecutor in which she would testify before a grand jury investigating the case, the publisher and the executive editor of the paper said.

Ms. Miller was freed after spending more than 12 weeks in jail, during which she refused to cooperate with the inquiry. Her decision to testify was made after she had obtained what she described as a waiver offered "voluntarily and personally" by a source who said she was no longer bound by any pledge of confidentiality she had made to him. Ms. Miller said the source had made clear that he genuinely wanted her to testify.
___________________________________________________

Austin American-Statesman, September 29, 2005 Newseum Image

September 29, 2005: An excerpt from a story in the Austin (Texas) American-Statesman --

DeLay blames vengeful politics for indictment

By Laylan Copelin

U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay temporarily resigned his leadership post Wednesday and demanded a quick trial on charges that he conspired to violate election laws barring the use of corporate money in Texas campaigns.

The moves came in reponse to a Travis County grand jury indicting DeLay and reindicting two associates, John Colyandro of Austin and Jim Ellis of Washington, on state felony charges of criminal conspiracy.
____________________________________________________

The Times-Picayune, September 28, 2005 Newseum Image

September 28, 2005: An excerpt from a story in The (New Orleans, Louisiana) Times-Picayune --

COMPASS RESIGNS

By James Varney and Michael Perlstein

New Orleans Police Superintendent Eddie Compass, whose emotional media appearances since Hurricane Katrina made him one of the city's most recognizable figures nationwide, abruptly announced his retirement Tuesday.

The stunning departure of the city's top cop roiled New Orleans leaders, and raised questions of whether Mayor Ray Nagin forced Compass from his job. Earlier this month, on Sept. 9, Compass said, "I want to be police chief here as long as I can and as long as Mayor Nagin will have me."
_____________________________________________________

The Lufkin Daily News, September 27, 2005 Newseum Image

September 27, 2005: An excerpt from a story in The Lufkin (Texas) Daily News --

Situation in Jasper 'desperate'

By Christine S. Diamond and Bronwyn Turner

Houston Chronicle, September 26, 2005 Newseum Image

September 26, 2005: An excerpt from a story in the Houston Chronicle --

WELCOME HOME

By Tony Freemantle and Bill Murphy

Like a prizefighter shaking off a glancing blow, Houston is getting back on its feet as stores and restaurants slowly reopen, thousands of residents return to their homes and tankers begin replenishing parched gasoline stations.

The greater metropolitan area was spared major damage from Hurricane Rita as it came ashore early Saturday. But the storm, in one way or another, disrupted daily life to such a degree that it will likely take days to get back to normal.
_______________________________________________________

Corpus Christi Caller-Times September 25, 2005 Image from newspaper's Web site

September 25, 2005: An excerpt from a Page One publisher's note in the Corpus Christi (Texas) Caller-Times --

Publisher's note

By Patrick J. Birmingham, President & Publisher

From all of us at the Corpus Christi Caller-Times, welcome back, and we hope that you and your loved ones are safe and secure as you return to your homes and businesses.

This morning's edition of the Caller-Times signals operations at the newspaper almost are back to normal....It was a difficult decision to suspend publication of the print edition of the Caller-Times, but the safety and welfare of our employees and our carriers were, and always will be, our primary concern.

....We appreciate your understanding and thank you for your loyalty. We, of course, will continue to provide you with award-winning coverage of Coastal Bend news and events in the Caller-Times and on Caller.com.
_________________________________________________________

The Beaumont Enterprise, September 23, 2005 Newseum Image

September 23, 2005: A Page One announcement from The Beaumont (Texas) Enterprise --

TO OUR READERS

Today's special hurricane edition of The Beaumont Enterprise -- and maybe newspapers in coming days -- will be reduced to essentials so we can balance storm coverage against the safety of our employees, many of whom have evacuated.

Continue to go to southeasttexaslive.com for expanded, real-time updates as Rita unfolds.
________________________________________________________

Los Angeles Times, September 22, 2005 Newseum Image

September 22, 2005: An excerpt from a story in the Los Angeles Times --

Disabled Airliner Creates a 3-Hour Drama in Skies

By Stuart Pfeifer, Megan Garvey and Monte Morin

A landing gear malfunction on a packed JetBlue airliner turned a routine coast-to-coast flight into a three-hour ordeal for 145 passengers and crew members Wednesday as pilots repeatedly circled above Southern California before making an emergency landing at Los Angeles International Airport.

The plight of JetBlue Flight 292 became a national spectacle as television stations carried live images of the crippled jet. In a twist that some described as bizarre, passengers themselves avidly watched the newscasts on seatback screens.

"My friend said, 'Hey dude, something's wrong with our plane. We're on TV,' " recalled Jorge Santiago, 24, of El Monte, saying he woke from his slumber and realized the severity of the situation. "Honest to God, I thought it was a dream."
__________________________________________________

The Galveston County Daily News, September 21, 2005 Image from newspaper's Web site

September 21, 2005: An excerpt from a column in The (Galveston County, Texas) Daily News --

Publisher's Letter to Readers

Dear readers,

No matter what Hurricane Rita does, now that Galveston County has called a mandatory evacuation, events will affect The Galveston County Daily News in a number of ways.

We hope for your patience and understanding as we face production and distribution problems over the next few days.

....All of us who work at The Daily News thank you for your patience and understanding as we work through a difficult time.  We also urge you to heed the evacuation call, and take care of yourselves and your families.

And we promise -- we'll be back to normal as soom as possible.

Dolph Tillotson
President & Publisher
_________________________________________________________

Florida Today, September 19, 2005 Newseum Image

September 20, 2005: An excerpt from a story in the (Melbourne) Florida Today --

'Apollo on steroids'
NASA envisions moon landing by 2018

By Todd Halvorson
Florida Today

CAPE CANAVERAL - NASA will spend about $104 billion to send astronauts back to the moon by 2018 with new rockets fashioned from shuttle components and Apollo-style capsules and lunar landers, officials said Monday.

Spread out over 13 years, the price tag is about half the cost of the Apollo moon-landing project when measured in current dollars, NASA Administrator Mike Griffin said.
__________________________________________________________

Die Welt, September 19, 2005 Newseum Image

The Daily Advertiser, September 16, 2005 Newseum Image

The News & Observer, September 15, 2005 Newseum Image

September 15, 2005: An excerpt from a story in the (Raleigh, North Carolina) News & Observer --

Hurricane rakes Carolina coast

By Wade Rawlins, Barbara Barrett, Jerry Allegood and Jim Nesbitt

MOREHEAD CITY -- Slow-rolling Hurricane Ophelia ground its way up the North Carolina coast this morning toward the Outer Banks, carrying the threat of higher-than-expected rainfall and storm surge that caused state officials to give a sharp flood warning for the tidal rivers of the Pamlico Sound.

Ophelia snapped trees and ripped down power lines as it dragged across the southern coast of North Carolina. More than 88,000 homes and businesses were without power this morning, and crews scrambled to restore service as the storm passed. Progress Energy reported that it had restored power to about 169,500 customers by 5 a.m. today.
_____________________________________________________________

The Charlotte Observer, September 14, 2005 Newseum Image

September 14, 2005: An excerpt from a story in The Charlotte Observer -- 

Ophelia lumbers on, pummeling coast

By Kytia Weir, Peter Smolowitz and Mark Washburn

CAROLINA BEACH -- After days of ditzy pinwheeling in the Atlantic, Hurricane Ophelia's headwinds lashed North Carolina's flood-jittery coast Tuesday, menacing the region with blustery gales and up to 15 inches of rain today.

At Carolina Beach, water stood knee high at sunset as the gust bent trees and wiggled street signs.

Though the sluggish storm is only fractionally as powerful as Hurricane Katrina, which mauled the Gulf Coast two weeks ago, authorities were taking no chances.
_______________________________________________________________

The Sacramento Bee, September 13, 2005 Newseum Image

September 13, 2005: An excerpt from a story in The Sacramento Bee --

FEMA director quits

Bee News Services

WASHINGTON - Criticized for the slow response to the devastation of Hurricane Katrina and for putting inexperienced people in charge of the nation's disaster agency, President Bush turned to a veteran fire chief Monday to pick up the pieces.

Michael Brown resigned Monday as director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and was replaced temporarily by its highest-ranking permanent professional, R. David Paulison, a former fire chief in Miami-Dade County in Florida.
________________________________________________________________

The New York Times, September 12, 2005 Newseum Image

September 12, 2005: An excerpt from a story in The New York Times --

Marking Four Years Since 9/11 While Mourning a Fresher Loss

By Michael Wilson

The nation marked the fourth anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks yesterday in familiar ways - the readings of long lists of victims, the black bands worn across shined badges, the framed portraits clutched by loved ones - even while struggling with its latest tragedy, the death and devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina.

The day of grief was remembered against a backdrop of new loss. And it was all but impossible to isolate one event from the other. Speakers, from a ceremony at ground zero to a worship service in Washington, paused to honor the hurricane's victims, while rescue workers slogging through New Orleans observed moments of silence for their fallen colleagues now four years gone.
______________________________________________________________

Houston Chronicle, September 9, 2005 Newseum Image

September 9, 2005: An excerpt from a story in the Houston Chronicle -- 

Demand for debit cards causes 'chaotic' day at Reliant Park

By Salatheia Bryant and Monica Guzman

The heat and the long, long lines were no match for the lure of financial aid Thursday as hurricane evacuees at Reliant Park began receiving debit cards from the American Red Cross.

The distribution will continue today and expand to include evacuees at the George R. Brown Convention Center, while FEMA officials begin giving out their own debit cards.

The demand for the Red Cross cards was so strong Thursday that police locked the Reliant Park gates for several hours to prevent evacuees living at other sites from getting into line.
_______________________________________________________________

The Times-Picayune, September 8, 2005 Image from newspaper's Web site

September 8, 2005: An excerpt from a story in The (New Orleans, Louisiana) Times-Picayune -- 

Makeshift militia patrols Algiers neighborhood
Armed to the teeth, but they haven't fired a shot

By Susan Langenhennig

Just after dusk on Tuesday night, with the rumble of helicopters and airplanes still overhead, Gareth Stubbs took his spot in a rocking chair on the balcony of an Algiers Point house, a shotgun, bottle of bug spray and a can of Pringles at his feet.

It was night No. 9 of his vigil, the balcony turned into a makeshift watch tower, with five borrowed shotguns, a pistol, a flare gun, an old AK-47 and loads of ammunition strategically placed next to the blankets and pillows where Stubbs, Vinnie Pervel and Gregg Harris have slept every night since Hurricane Katrina slammed into Southeast Louisiana.
________________________________________________________________

The Mississippi Press, September 7, 2005 Newseum Image

September 7, 2005: An excerpt from a story in The Mississippi Press --  

County schools make plans to reopen after hurricane's wrath

By Allison Mather

Now that winds have died, water has receded and some businesses are reopening, many parents may be wondering when schools will be back in business.

Pascagoula schools superintendent Wayne Rodolfich described damage to Gautier and Beach elementaries as "substantial" and said they both may be lost for the year.
________________________________________________________________

The (Shreveport) Times, September 6, 2005 Newseum Image

September 6, 2005: An excerpt from a story in The (Shreveport, Louisiana) Times --

Some find relief, others despair upon return to south La.

By Francis McCabe

METAIRIE -- Ronnie Coste's clothes lay on the grass in his yard here, drying out after being soaked by 8 inches of rain last week.

A block away, on the other side of the 17th Street Canal, an armada of fishing boats took rescue workers around flooded New Orleans, searching for stranded residents and brushing away dead bodies.

 
"I'm one block from the nation's worst disaster," Coste said, still trying to understand how his house escaped major damage. "It's like an atomic bomb went off along the Gulf Coast, and this neighborhood was virtually unscathed."
________________________________________________________________

Rumbo de Houston, September 5, 2005 Newseum Image

September 5, 2005: An excerpt from a story in Rumbo de Houston.  (You may need to use a language translation site.) --  

LLega la noche, pero no la tranquilidad

Gustovo Rangel

Cronica del sabado por la noche dentro del Astrodome

Son las 10 pm, hora de apagar las luces.

El brillo de las bombillas disminuye sobre las miles de personas que ocupan la instalacion y un inmenso suspiro colectivo de lamento inunda el recinto.

La voz anunciando los nombres de las personas que buscan a sus seres queridos ha callado.
__________________________________________________________________

The Washington Post, September 4, 2005 Newseum Image

September 4, 2005: An excerpt from a story in The Washington Post --  

Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist Dies

By Charles Lane

William Hubbs Rehnquist, the 16th chief justice of the United States, died last night at his home in Arlington. He was 80.

Rehnquist, who had been suffering from thyroid cancer since last October, had managed to lead the court through its last term, which ended in June. But he went through "a precipitous decline in his health in the last couple of days," Supreme Court spokeswoman Kathy Arberg said.

Rehnquist's death comes as the Senate is preparing for hearings on President Bush's nomination of John G. Roberts Jr. to replace Sandra Day O'Connor as an associate justice. Those hearings are set to begin on Tuesday. O'Connor, 75, announced her retirement on July 1, effective upon the confirmation of a successor.
__________________________________________________________________

The Advocate, September 2, 2005 Newseum Image

September 2, 2005: An excerpt from a story in The (Baton Rouge, Louisiana) Advocate  --

Thousands displaced, desperate in despair

By Penny Brown Roberts

NEW ORLEANS -- For five years, Terry Jones has cared for Dorothy Divic.

On Thursday, all Jones could do was watch the 89-year-old woman die.

"Look at me, Miss Dottie! Look at me!" Jones wailed as she bent over Divic, pouring bottled water on the old woman's wrinkled forehead and wiping it with a stark white washcloth.

Slumped in her wheelchair -- a frail wrist bandaged with care resting in her lap -- Divic's eyelids fluttered but never opened.

The pair was among the thousands stranded in and around the Ernest L. Morial Convention Center in the heart of the city, awaiting rescue that seemed as if it would never come.

__________________________________________________________________

Sun Herald, September 1, 2005 Newseum Image

September 1, 2005: An excerpt from a story in the Sun Herald. (See also: Pulitzer Prize winning stories about Katrina)  --

Frustration at slow emergency response grows on Mississippi coast

By Scott Dodd
Knight Ridder Newspapers

BILOXI -- Overwhelming need gripped the Mississippi Coast two days after Hurricane Katrina dealt the region a devastating blow.

In the hardest-hit areas, where hundreds of people lost their homes, cars and everything they own, parents wandered the streets Wednesday begging for water for their babies, and local officials grew frustrated at the slow response.

"We're not getting any help yet," said Biloxi Fire Department Battalion Chief Joe Boney. "We need water. We need ice. I've been told it's coming, but we've got people in shelters who haven't had a drink since the storm."

Disaster officials said they were mobilizing the largest aid effort in the nation's history to help the communities hit by Katrina. But with so much destruction along the Gulf Coast, people in South Mississippi feared they were being overshadowed by New Orleans and other areas.
____________________________________________________________________

The Times-Picayune, September 1, 2005 Image from newspaper's Web site

September 1, 2005: An excerpt from a story in the Times-Picayune. (See also: Pulitzer Prize winning stories about Katrina)  --

Nightmare in the 9th Ward all too real for one woman

By Trymaine D. Lee

Lucrece Phillips' sleepless nights are filled with the images of dead babies and women, and young and old men with tattered T-shirts or graying temples, all of whom she saw floating along the streets of the Lower 9th Ward.

The deaths of many of her neighbors who chose to brave the hurricane from behind the walls of their Painter Street homes shook tears from Phillips' bloodshot eyes Tuesday, as a harrowing tale of death and survival tumbled from her lips.

"The rescuers in the boats that picked us up had to push the bodies back with sticks," Phillips said sobbing. "And there was this little baby. She looked so perfect and so beautiful. I just wanted to scoop her up and breathe life back into her little lungs. She wasn't bloated or anything, just perfect."

A few hours after Phillips, 42, and five members of her family and a friend had been rescued from the attic of her second-story home in the 2700 block of Painter Street, she broke down with a range of emotions. Joy, for surviving the killer floods; pain, for the loss of so many lives; and uncertainty, about the well-being of her family missing in the city's most ravaged quarters.