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September 13, 2005 - Two excellent pieces today on the corporate interests moving in to benefit from the Katrina disaster. Charlie Cray of Halliburton Watch has a good overview of post-hurricane disaster profiteering, including this item:

September 13, 2005 - The NY Times comments on Georgia's new requirement that voters without a diver's license buy a special ID card:

September 13, 2005 - Reporter Jason Leopold has a good piece summarizing the bill of indictment about FEMA's role in Florida 2004 and what it says about their response to Katrina. FEMA and the Bush Administration's response to hurricanes in Florida last year was quick and generous, which a growing number of critics in and out of government are saying had everything to do with the upcoming 2004 elections in the critical swing state.One of the juicier bits in Leopold's account:

September 13, 2005 - Wade Rathke, a legendary organizer with ACORN (Association of Communities Organized for Reform Now) and SEIU Local 100 based in New Orleans, has been sharing some very interesting thoughts on his personal blog.

September 12, 2005 - The Center for American Progress offers a good run-down on the no-bid contracts going out to administration-connected corporations in the wake of Katrina, making the clear connection to Iraq:

September 12, 2005 - As news stories and first-hand accounts grow of people not getting the aid they need in the wake of Katrina, is it time for independent groups to start organizing accountability teams? Institute friend Joan Browning writes from West Virginia with some interesting history:

September 12, 2005 - The Independent (U.K.) ran an important story yesterday about the growing toxic cesspool that is developing in the lower Gulf. The piece interviews Hugh Kaufman, a toxicology expert at the EPA, and what he has to say about the federal response to the poisoned waters isn't kind: