Topic: Hurricane Katrina
Top galleries, list articles, quizzes
-
Focus
The Monitor's top 11 US stories of 2012
From storms to politics, the year was a wild ride. What are the most meaningful US stories of 2012? Here's the Monitor's list, in roughly chronological order.
-
Obama and Myanmar (Burma): 4 points about conflict there
A long-simmering ethnic conflict in Myanmar (Burma) recently broke into American newspapers: At least 89 people have been killed and more than 35,000 displaced in what is being described (not entirely accurately) as Buddhist-Muslim violence. With President Obama as the first US head of state to visit this country, there are four points to bear in mind about this detour from Myanmar’s road to a more open society:
-
Spurs and Thunder star in NBA’s Western Conference Finals: 10 extra dimensions
The clash of the Spurs and Thunder in the NBA’s Western Conference finals may fly a bit under the national radar when it opens Sunday. Here are 10 factors that make this showdown intriguing.
-
Gas prices fact check: Six ideas in Congress, but can they work?
Soaring gas prices have also shown a consistent and significant ability to push members of Congress over the deep end. Here's the experts' take on 6 ideas floating through Congress.
-
7 gifts for history and geography fans
From a massive atlas to a comprehensive history of the White House, here are 7 of the best history and geography gift books of the season.
All Content
-
Homeless after Superstorm Sandy, some pets may be displaced again
A shelter housing pets displaced by Superstorm Sandy is scheduled to close, with about half of the animals still unclaimed. The ASPCA will try to find foster homes for the animals, but their future remains uncertain.
-
Congress will vote on Sandy aid this week, says Boehner (+video)
House Speaker John Boehner rescheduled a vote on Sandy relief funding for Friday at the urging of lawmakers from the storm's hardest hit regions. The funding is slated to go toward immediate relief for victims as well as rebuilding efforts.
-
Under pressure, Boehner is said to promise votes on hurricane Sandy relief (+ video)
Rep. Peter King says Boehner made the promise to Republicans from the affected states. Earlier, President Obama joined a bipartisan chorus seeking immediate action on Sandy from the House.
-
Shaking off the shock, Newtown begins to look to the future
After mental-health professionals and therapists leave, and the headlines fade, what will happen to Newtown, Conn., the site of the horrific Sandy Hook school shooting? The community may never be the same, but it still has a future.
-
GOP Senators vow to trim superstorm Sandy aid to $23.8 billion
Senate Republicans have proposed an alternate disaster relief plan for states affected by superstorm Sandy, which would use $23.8 billion- rather than President Obama's proposed $60.4 billion- to fund initial relief.
- Focus
The Monitor's top 11 US stories of 2012
From storms to politics, the year was a wild ride. What are the most meaningful US stories of 2012? Here's the Monitor's list, in roughly chronological order.
-
Cover Story
Jailed without conviction: Behind bars for lack of moneyAbout 10 million people are jailed each year for crimes large and small. Most – two-thirds of the 750,000 in jail on any given day – stay long periods without conviction at great cost to the public and to themselves because they can't afford bail.
-
Even skeptics now warming to climate change, says new poll
Global warming skeptics - those who don't trust scientists - are increasingly believers in climate change, says an AP-Gfk poll. Among skeptics, 61 percent now say temperatures have been rising over the past 100 years. That's up from 47 percent in 2009.
-
Stubborn US drought could be costlier than hurricane Sandy
As drought conditions persist across the South, hitting farmers and ranchers, parts of the Mississippi River are on the verge of becoming unnavigable. The potential costs are large.
-
Focus
Winter looming, New York rushes to repair homes hit by superstorm SandyHiring private contractors to repair homes quickly, New York responds to disaster relief in its own entrepreneurial way. Will the city be able to get people back in their homes before year's end?
-
Focus
Want to stay on the coast? Homeowners weigh post-Sandy elevation.As homeowners consider long-term solutions for superstorm Sandy damage, they may have to raise foundations – or move. Some flood experts say the latter may be the wiser course of action.
-
Change Agent
Would the lights go out if superstorm Sandy hit the Netherlands? Nope.The US can learn from the modern, disaster-resistant electric grid in the Netherlands.
-
Cold, mold loom as hazards in Sandy disaster zones
City officials estimate at least 12,000 New Yorkers are trying to survive in unheated, flood-damaged homes, despite warnings that dropping temperatures could pose a health risk. Many families have returned to coastal homes contaminated with mold or filled with construction dust.
-
Chapter & Verse
Should books be a part of emergency relief efforts?A petition titled The Urgency of Reading states that reading and writing are 'essential to healing and reconstruction' after disasters, and the document has been signed by more than 100 writers, literary groups and others.
-
Sandy survivors may be rewarded with higher taxes
Unless shore towns from Rhode Island to New Jersey get a big influx of aid from the state and federal governments, they will have no choice but to raise taxes on homes and businesses.
-
Sandy recovery claims mount. How much will a divided Congress pay? (+video)
Congress may be wrangling over the 'fiscal cliff,' but budget experts are confident that both parties will agree to provide billions in Sandy recovery aid sought by Northeastern governors.
-
In Gear
Sandy shortens rental car supply ahead of ThanksgivingMany rental car lots in the northeastern US are sitting empty this holiday season, due to Hurricane Sandy, Read writes.
-
In Superstorm's wake: Erosion and questions on government-funded sand
Hurricane Sandy caused major erosion along the New Jersey coastline, slimming beaches significantly. Some question the wisdom of using federal funding to build up beaches that just get washed away.
-
Obama and Myanmar (Burma): 4 points about conflict there
A long-simmering ethnic conflict in Myanmar (Burma) recently broke into American newspapers: At least 89 people have been killed and more than 35,000 displaced in what is being described (not entirely accurately) as Buddhist-Muslim violence. With President Obama as the first US head of state to visit this country, there are four points to bear in mind about this detour from Myanmar’s road to a more open society:
-
Superstorm was super-test for state and local leaders
Experts have given New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg good reviews for their performances after hurricane Sandy.
-
Jobless claims hit 18-month high thanks to Superstorm Sandy
Jobless claims ticked up to 439,000 last week – the highest level in 18 months. Why the spike? A large number of jobless claims were filed in states damaged by Superstorm Sandy, according to the Labor department.
-
Paper Economy
Food stamp use jumps in August420,863 new recipients were added to the food stamps program in August 2012, with the current total increasing 2.86 percent on a year-over-year basis.
-
Energy Voices
Clean energy and the deeper meaning of hurricane SandyWhether Americans in the wake of Sandy will want to undertake the effort to change, in order to not only heal themselves but inoculate themselves against challenges posed by future storms like Sandy, is a major question, Stuebi writes.
-
Is the death of newspapers the end of good citizenship?
The death of newspapers – by cutbacks, outright disappearance, or morphing into lean websites – means a reduction of watchdog reporting and less local information. Some say it has caused a drop in civic participation. Is it a blow to good citizenship?
-
Drivers grapple with NYC gas rationing after Sandy
With police monitoring lines, motorists in New York City and Long Island on Friday began dealing with a new piece of fallout from Sandy the monster storm: odd-even gas rationing.
Become part of the Monitor community