Amiss in New Orleans
As a New Orleans resident now living in Chicago, I want to commend you on the great job you did with the special issue about New Orleans ["Starting Over," February 27]. Leaving the day before the hurricane struck, I saw little of my neighborhood in the news. But as I picked up
U.S. News the day before Mardi Gras, I began to cry. Thank you for highlighting Freret Street. My home was near Friar Tuck's, a bar mentioned on the "Road to Recovery" graphic. It makes me proud to read about the efforts of people on my street. I hope that someday I will see and live on Freret Street again.
ANA GARCIA
Chicago
The political maneuvering in the New Orleans disaster is disgusting. I would like to see a committee of experts from the Army Corps of Engineers, FEMA, and the Department of Homeland Security investigate the failure to fund upgrades to the levee and canal systems that have been requested by experts for many years to avert predicted disasters.
GENE MCDOWELL
Oswego, Ill.
I have long loved his recipes but never thought about the humanity of New Orleans Chef Paul Prudhomme ["At Home on the Range"]. What he has said and done is what America is all about. Chef Paul saw a problem after Hurricane Katrina but didn't sit there wringing his hands, bemoaning the fact. Instead, he went right out, set up a tent, and started cooking to feed thousands of people. I hope many others read his story and emulate him.
ERWIN BLAKE
Palm Desert, Calif.
The sadness in New Orleans was shared by people elsewhere along the Gulf Coast who are suffering from the Hurricane Katrina disaster. Your coverage, however, never mentioned their situation. Actually, when the media focus on New Orleans, that only increases the pain of the other victims of the storm.
SANFORD L. PEARL
Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
How to Win Debates
I am a high school senior who will be graduating in June. Over the past four years, I have participated in my school's speech and debate team in an event called Domestic Extemporaneous Speaking. I had 30 minutes each round to prepare a five-to-seven-minute speech on a current events question.
U.S. News was indispensable in gathering credible evidence. I always made sure to bring the latest issue to tournaments. With your help, I was able to qualify for the state tournament twice and get to the final round in the national qualifying tournament. Thanks for the past four years,
U.S. News.
DAN WOODS
Wadsworth, Ohio
Donor ID
I have a child from donor insemination. "Who's Your Daddy?" [February 13] is one of the best articles on the subject I have read. My situation is a bit different because I chose a private donor who also donated at sperm banks. It was important for me to know the person, what he was like, and whether I liked him as a person, which is more than a piece of paper could tell me. I have two sons from our donor.
LESLIE BARTON
Grover Beach, Calif.
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