This program is about 1 hour long
#820729
(New Orleans: Shepard Smith) The crash of a seaplane bound for the Bahamas near Miami, Florida, reported. [EYEWITNESS – describes the crash.]
(Miami, Florida: Rosh Lowe) The Miami crash featured; given on the death of most of the passengers, including 3 infants, and the TSA's statement that there is no terrorism connection; scenes shown of the recovery operation.
#820731
(New Orleans: Shepard Smith) New Orleans 4 months after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina featured; details given on new questions about levee failures & repairs; satellite images shown of the city. [President BUSH – says the levees will be better than before Katrina.]
#820732
(New Orleans: Shepard Smith) Report introduced.
(White House: Wendell Goler) President Bush's news conference reviewed; details given on his defense of the recently-revealed domestic spying program, his criticism of the information leak, questions of what other secret programs the government may have, and his acknowledgement that the international community may be uncertain about intelligence on Iran. [BUSH – defends the Patriot Act.] [Senator Russ FEINGOLD†- says Bush is the President, not king.]
#820733
(New Orleans: Shepard Smith) Report introduced.
(Pentagon: Brett Baier) The situation in Iraq updated; details given on multiple bombing attacks, an assassination attempt on an official, the release of "Dr. Germ" & "Mrs. Anthrax," 2 former weapons experts under Saddam Hussein's regime along with 2 dozen other former Saddam officials, and the possible death of an American hostage.
(New Orleans: Shepard Smith) The current returns from Iraq's December 15 election noted.
#820734
(New Orleans: Shepard Smith) Report introduced.
(Washington: Mike Emanuel) The continued challenge of recovering from Hurricane Katrina updated; details given on a military spending bill waiting for the Senate's approval that includes relief money, but also provisions to drill for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. [BUSH – says he appreciates the progress toward reconstruction on the Gulf Coast.]
(New Orleans: Shepard Smith) The release of a new rebuilding plan for New Orleans that lets displaced residents decide where they want to live noted.
#820737
(New Orleans: Shepard Smith) Report introduced.
(New Orleans: Natasha Robin) The layoff of some 2,600 workers from New Orleans' Charity Hospital, raising questions about the hospital's future, featured; details given on the history of the hospital, and the lack of funding as of yet to repair it; scenes shown of damage inside the hospital. [LSU Hospital System CEO Don SMITHBERG†, Senator Mary LANDRIEU†, New Orleans City Council Oliver THOMAS†- comment on the situation.]
#820740
(New Orleans: Shepard Smith) Continuing coverage of the recovery effort 4 months after Hurricane Katrina previewed.
#820741
(New Orleans: Shepard Smith) The rescue of a Miami, Florida, family after 6 days at sea noted.
#820742
(New Orleans: Shepard Smith) The death of mobster Vincent "The Chin" Gigante reported; details reviewed of the "Oddfather's" insanity ploy to avoid jail time.
#820743
(New Orleans: Shepard Smith) Subzero temperatures in Chicago, Illinois, and heavy snow in the Sierra Nevadas reported.
(Fox Weather Center: Rick Reichmuth) Westward movement of winter weather systems tracked; national forecast noted; weather maps and data shown on screen.
#820744
(New Orleans: Shepard Smith) Tonight's stories: Police's pursuit of a suspect on a stolen motorcycle in California; a fire at a flower shop in Texas; a stolen tow truck ramming through the front door of a Michigan drugstore and stealing an ATM; the rescue of a dog that fell through the ice in Oregon.
#820748
(New Orleans: Shepard Smith) Report introduced.
(New Orleans: Jeff Goldblatt) The housing problem in areas hit hard by Hurricane Katrina examined; details given on the dearth of FEMA trailers in St. Bernard Parish, and FEMA's claim that it is waiting for permission. [St. Bernard president Junior RODRIGUEZ†- accuses FEMA of corruption.]
(New Orleans: Shepard Smith) The question of how to pay to move the thousands of abandoned cars & refrigerators in the New Orleans area reported; aerial scenes shown of massive car & refrigerator "graveyards" east of the city.
(New Orleans: Shepard Smith) The scope of the destruction after the New Orleans levees failed featured; details given on fears of inaction on rebuilding; scenes shown of rubble and damaged levees & canals. [Flying over the city, helicopter pilot Eric CUBBLE‡– points out where the first levee failed.] Streetcars running for the first time since Katrina noted.
#820749
(New Orleans: Shepard Smith) Uncertainty about where the New Orleans Saints football team will play next year noted.
#820750
(New Orleans: Shepard Smith) Report introduced.
(Washington: Jim Angle) President Bush's defense of domestic surveillance by the National Security Agency {NSA} without a warrant featured; details given on questions in Congress about the legality of the spying operation, and the possibility of an investigation. [BUSH – says we need surveillance to detect enemies in our midst.] [Senators Carl LEVIN†, Robert BYRD†- criticize Bush.]
#820751
(New Orleans: Shepard Smith) Announcement of a merger between the FPL & Constellation energy companies noted.
#820755
(New Orleans: Shepard Smith) Report introduced.
(Gulfport, Mississippi: Erik Liljegren) The struggle with "compassion fatigue" in Gulf Coast communities ravaged by Hurricane Katrina, especially among clergy members, featured; details given on counseling sessions for clergy to help them cope. [Gulfport PASTOR – describes the seemingly endless need in the community.] [Oklahoma City pastor Joe WILLIAMS††- describes his own compassion fatigue after the 1995 World Trade Center bombings.]
#820756
(New Orleans: Shepard Smith) The health of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon after his stroke updated; details given on doctors' reports that he will be released with no permanent damage.
#820757
(New Orleans: Shepard Smith) Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's ban of Western music on Iran's airwaves reported.
#820758
(New Orleans: Shepard Smith) Tonight's stories: Record snowfall up to 6 feet in Japan; a new portrait of Queen Elizabeth II in Britain; an elephant "spa" in India; a giant inflatable Santa Claus in Portugal.
#820761
(New Orleans: Shepard Smith) Tonight's stories: New Orleans artists' paintings expressing their anger at the Hurricane Katrina response; the challenge for "West Wing" TV writers after actor John Spencer's death; the rebound of New Orleans' jazz scene; "American Idol" runner-up Bo Bice's hospitalization; the postponement of singer Boy George's court appearance on drug charges.
#820764
(New Orleans: Shepard Smith) Report introduced.
(Los Angeles: Trace Gallagher) Results of a controversial study suggesting that illegal immigrants help the California economy examined; details given on critics' argument that immigrants cost California billions in taxes due to the underground cash economy. [2 ANALYSTS- offer opposing views.]
#820765
1865: Actress and anti-Prohibition activist Minnie Maddern Fiske was born in New Orleans.
#820767