Free Republic

Even as they assessing damages from Hurricane Rita, state officials said Sunday they are asking the federal government for nearly $32 billion to repair and improve highways and bridges wrecked by Hurricane Katrina. The two storms knocked out electricity for more than million homes and businesses. Nearly 269,000 electric customers in south Louisiana were without power Sunday night. Power was restored to about 144,000 customers on Sunday, trimming the list of those without it to 268,671. Bill Doran, operations chief for the state Office of Emergency Preparedness, told reporters parish officials Sunday started the arduous process of putting a price...