Hurricane stories
Chertoff Pushes Efficiency Upgrades
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said that the government should learn from the private sector how to do better at delivering people and supplies in response to emergencies. He is also looking at how to improve communications.
Governors Chafe at Greater Military Role
Several governors are critical of, and question the constitutionality of, a Bush administration suggestion that the active military play a bigger role in response to natural disasters. They fear that the government is seeking to take control of the National Guard away from governors.
Bush Reinstates Wage Laws After Katrina
On Sept. 8 President Bush suspended the 1931 Davis-Bacon Act indefinitely. The act sets wages for workers on government contracts to prevailing wages. This meant that workers in the affected area could be paid less, just when they needed good wages to help get them back on their feet. He was persuaded to reinstate it from Thursday.
Senate Rejects Post-Hurricane Vouchers
The Senate rejected direct private-school vouchers for victims of Hurricane Katrina on Thursday. It did approve $2.7 billion for college students and school districts. Many schools and colleges have taken in students displaced by the hurricane.
Bird flu stories
China, Vietnam Report New Flu Outbreaks, Â
Vietnam has new human bird flu suspect,
China Shows Off Bird Flu Control Measures
New bird flu outbreaks were announced in China and Vietnam Friday. Japan is to cull 180,000 birds because of a suspected outbreak. Thailand plans to distribute its own generic anti-viral drug. Africa expects the first migrating birds to arrive there in two to three weeks. Ethiopia's agriculture minister told ministers from 17 African nations at a conference in Kigali, Rwanda, "We cannot move separately, we have to move together or we will fail". China is demonstrating how it controls bird flu, and how more open it is, having learnt from the SARS outbreak.
A woman from an infected province of Vietnam whose ducks had recently died is being treated for suspected bird flu.
Britain to head European flu pandemic exercise
Britain is to trigger a surprise flu pandemic exercise before the end of the year, to see how well 28 European countries cope. The long-planned exercise is not specifically aimed at bird flu.
States Have Own Plans for Bird Flu
Individual states in the U.S. have plans for dealing with an outbreak of bird flu or a similar disease, as does the Bush administration. What is not clear is how they will mesh, and whether there will be sufficient funds, drugs and personnel to carry them out.
Other stories
Report: Mild Flu Bailed Out Government
The U.S. was fortunate that it was a mild flu season last winter as it suffered a vaccine shortage after one manufacturer's premises were contaminated. Extra doses were acquired or released, but too late; nobody needed them after all.
Ford Plans to Boost Ethanol Awareness
Ford Motor Co. plans to increase the number of ethanol fuel stations next year, It will have existing fuel pumps converted to E85, a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline.
Global warming could help salmon in Norway-report
Global warming may bring more rainfall to Norwegian rivers, benefiting salmon by diluting industrial nitrates trapped in winter snows.
Indiana Offers Rewards for Killing Deer
Indiana is offering vouchers towards licence renewals to hunters who kill deer this weekend and donate them to the poor.
Index of topics in this series.
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