Free Republic

WASHINGTON (AP) - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger pressed lawmakers and the White House Tuesday for emergency help for Sacramento's river and delta levees. Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer pledged to try to get money for the levees in an upcoming spending bill for Iraq and Hurricane Katrina. California's senators want $23.5 million to complete high-priority flood-control projects identified by the Army Corps of Engineers. They sent a letter to the chairman and top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee asking that the money be added to a multibillion-dollar spending package for Iraq, Afghanistan and hurricane relief that Congress will take...

U.S. commercial air carriers continue transporting tens of thousands of evacuees from the New Orleans airport to destinations throughout the nation. Rooftop air rescue efforts continue. One rescue chopper crashed late today. Crew members are reported safe. Gunmen who fired upon bridge repair contractors were killed by law enforcement. To date, an estimated 70 countries and U.S. businesses have pledged hundreds of millions of dollars, supplies, food and equipment to assist the United States' efforts in Katrina's aftermath. Lt. General Honore described the damage to Mississippi today, "all infrastructure south of Jackson, MS is either damaged or destroyed." Secretary of...