Recovery from Hurricane Katrina is proceeding at a faster pace than anyone but the people who live here predicted. About 75% of Jefferson Parish, adjacent to Orleans on the west side, has all utilities. Postal service has resumed for a large part of the metro area. Schools are reopening. Garbage collection has resumed. Businesses including grocery stores, pharmacies, and home improvement stores have been reopened. As Jefferson comes back, it is easier to get people and supplies in Orleans and St. Bernard parishes which were much harder hit.

New Orleans is 80-85% drained, far ahead of schedule. 19% of Orleans has power, and the boil order for water has been lifted. Major roads including I-10 and the Causeway are open again.

St. Bernard and Orleans parishes were reopening but this has been put on hold due to Hurricane Rita. Work continues, however, so when the parishes are opened, they will be better prepared for the residents return.

The best news is that all of the federal funds earmarked for Louisiana are being watched closely - to the point that local talk radio is fielding complaints from parish presidents who say they will have to lay off police officers and other essential staff if they don't get money today. The governor's office is blaming the Feds, who reply that our reputation is so bad, and there are so many cases of money given for one thing spent on another, including levee improvement money being spent on patronage projects, that they have to check everything before they can release funds. That is excellent news both for LA residents and for all US taxpayers who are tired of the corruption and waste around here. And for the politicians who are struggling now to get things done - your reputation is your own. You earned it by either participating, condoning, or not actively fighting the corruption and waste. If that's a problem for you now, GOOD.

I thought this was amusing. One of the first businesses to reopen - the XXX video store. I'm tempted to go see if they are actually getting any business. I can't help but wonder who's got the time and energy for that stuff, but I still thought it was funny when I saw the sign, along with all the "essential service" businesses like pharmacies, grocery stores, and roofers.