Cover Story

Katrina and Rita: One Year Later

A special commemorative issue chronicling Louisiana's ongoing recovery from two devastating 2005 hurricanes

Editorial One Year Later By Scott Jordan

The Power Shuffle The diaspora provoked by Katrina and Rita is still under way, moving around people, political influence and regional culture. By Jeremy Alford

Do You Know What It Means to Myth New Orleans? One of the Crescent City's biggest challenges is overcoming inaccurate reports and stereotypes that formed in the immediate wake of Katrina. By Katy Reckdahl

Rough Road Home Vermilion and Iberia Parish residents have finally secured funding from the Louisiana Recovery Authority, but lack of a master rebuilding plan leaves their small towns at risk. By Mary Tutwiler

Tough Love Tracking the continuing odyssey of a resourceful 6-year-old who was separated from his family for days after Hurricane Katrina. By Leslie Turk

Like It Was Yesterday Emotions are still raw and strained in the tight-knit community of Mouton Cove, where residents seek comfort in each other. By Jeremy Alford

Gimme Shelter An Independent Weekly investigation reveals the state's emergency shelter program is still awash in bureaucratic confusion and finger-pointing. By Nathan Stubbs

The Forgotten Hurricane Rita decimated Cameron Parish, but residents say they're still living in the shadow of Hurricane Katrina. By R. Reese Fuller

Swamped The fishing communities of lower St. Bernard Parish bore the brunt of Katrina's winds and storm surge. Now they're fighting federal indifference and incompetence. By David Winkler-Schmit

A Fistful of Hope New Orleans residents navigate the peaks and valleys of their post-Katrina world. By R. Reese Fuller

News Briefs Media back in NOLA, Blanco wants to maintain Guard control and more By The Independent Staff

Snake Oil By Greg Peters

Posters with a Purpose The Hurricane Poster Project opens a special exhibition at the Old State Capitol on Aug. 29. By Scott Jordan

Abbott and Costello Rebuild New Orleans A legendary comedy skit reimagined post-Katrina By Michael Tisserand

Sounds of the Storm An all-star benefit concert DVD and a veteran New Orleans brass band's reinterpretation of a classic Marvin Gaye album provoke mixed emotions. By Scott Jordan

Capturing Katrina and A Watery Grave Four documentaries remind the world that the Gulf Coast still needs help, while Spike Lee's documentary shows how democracy failed in Hurricane Katrina's dark flood. By Shala Carlson and Felicia Feaster