nice to see you back in nawlins'. they still have lots to do.

Thank you! I couldn't understand what the attraction was to Spencer & Heidi. I thought that everyone else's brain had gone soft on these people. I couldn't understand how people could be so interested in them. Why are they considered actors they are truly not worth the time and energy. Thank you, my faith has been restored in some of humanity.

Thanks for these photos. It's nice that James Carville, a NOLA native, is on hand to give a tour. I can't wait to see more of NOLA on the show tonight.

Lilibeth
Edmonds, Washington

Looks like it was quite a tour. Nice to see the pictures. Guessing that you must have been uptown or in the garden district. From the height of the water in the gym, would seem you're maybe somewhere near South Claiborne Ave - It's amazing how far the water came in, and how far from Lake Ponchatrain. It's really impressive that AC360 is in New Orleans today and tonight, especially given the other pressures there might have been to stay in New York or be in the Boston area due to the death of Senator Kennedy.

Excellent photos! Pascal Manale's looks like a lovely restaurant. So did Anderson and James work out at Freret Street Gym?

I wish Anderson would update us on the people he met back during Katrina, like Herbert Gettridge, Ms. Connie, and Pauline Conaway.

I am looking forward to the show tonight and seeing the tour!

I'm wondering, has this administration and congress done anything lately in the rebuilding of NOLA? Don't think I've heard anything. And I'm wondering, what did they order at the restaurant? Looks like there's good food there.

Cool photos! Looking forward to the report.

Don't forget Treme area sort of a success story Lil Dizzy's great food , its down the street from Port o Call

As a native of New Orleans, I am always a bit dismayed when I re-visit the city to find many areas look as though Katrina happened only weeks rather than years ago. The touristy areas – CBD and French Quarter have been come back very nicely. I have to wonder though when the rest of the city will return to its former glory.

What happened to the people that were going to be evicted from their FEMA trailers and had nowhere to go? Were they evicted and where are they now?

It'd be really nice if you ran into my Aunt Laura Jones while you are there. She's a Professor at one of the universities there.

Donna Wood
Lexington, Tennessee

Nice pictures.. damn you look hot Mr. Anderson

i am glad that all the men and women who left their every day life to go to new orleans and work with fema and other contractors under the fema tree were paid accordeningly to agreement. however in the city of houston texas it is hurican season again and the workers who went to that cityand worked with the blue top program still has not been paid.i really feel bad to say for me and many others we were used and robbed and the state will not help us in getting our due wages form the big companines like crown roofing and R L H who were paid millions , i only wish that the men and women who actually did the work could get paidbefore another storm hit

It's wonderful to see New Orleans in the news and no folks better than AC and JC to bring us an update. I was in New Orleans just days before Katrina hit and when I saw places I went to devestated, it was heartbreaking. New Orleans now and forever!

LAISSEZ LE BONS TEMPS ROULER!

Wonderful job Anderson (and CNN), it is so easy to see why so many people admire you. Thanks for keeping it real.

Hello Anderson and James. I look forward to your report from New Orleans tonight and hearing from the good people who have worked hard to rebuild life in the Big Easy. I thank you and James for being there and remembering the living and the lost. Take care.

Amazing pictures! I read that while some parts of New Orleans are substantially safer, others have changed little and there is danger of flooding.

It will be interesting to have the analysis of AC 4 years later and 'participate', somewhat, this tour with AC and James Carville.

@Eva, it's not as hot in New Orleans as it has been. It cooled off down south this week, thank goodness, since the hard work goes on and on.

Thank-you so much for keeping this most horrible of disasters in peoples minds. So much news is limited to a sound bites, and the people unaffected by Katrina either forget or lose interest. After four years, we should be seeing more improvement for the people of New Orleans. Where do we lay the blame? Well... there's plenty to go around. Whats more important, is the resilency of the people who call "The Big Easy" home, for they are the ones bringing the city back to life. I love this place. No other city in the world compares.
Let's remember all those who lost thier lives in the rising waters, and hope that all those who were displaced, can find thier way back home.

Hello, Anderson. Hope you're having a good trip in New Orleans. See you got the photos up. I must say, you're looking really good in them. ;D Hope you get back safely.

Oh, I forgot. You are right on about Heidy. Can you believe she got paid for that "performance"?

Great pictures. I'm looking forward to the tour with James Carville – being a resident there I'm sure he knows a lot of stories to tell and he always does that in such colorful ways.

The still photos are great–thanks for posting them. I'm looking forward to your New Orleans tour.

So what? who cares? Im so sick of hearing about tipsy Ted Kennedy, he was a drunken murderer. It took way tooooo long for him to get where he is at now

Hello Anderson and James!!!
Nice guys!!!! I love cool picture downtown New Orleans!!! You are really cool anchor! I am really appreciate what you guys are helping each other after the storm! Enjoy your days in New Orleans, Louisiana! Take care, Anderson.....
(P.S. I am back live blog tonight.)

James Carville, what a joke.

ac360 is a serious business. . .frankly sometimes i just couldn't follow and when u go to a lighter mood like posting pictures it really make my day. . . thanks so much. . . maybe because i'm more of a fan of the man named anderson cooper. .he. .he. . not the issues per se. . but of course it's alright coz am able to know what's going on around us. . excellent. . .

Anderson, thank you for your continued coverage of New Orleans and our struggles to rebuild. We appreciate how you keep us in the nation's memory. And thanks for visiting my neighborhood, right around Freret St.!

nice polo!!!!
wasn't going to say anything, but it's killing me... since ac has become my new found inspiration, i'm trying to be just like him, say whatever is in my head....
Have a good time!

Ok, Italian Creole! Oh my goodness, I hope was good. I would love know what they had on the menu!

Anderson, Are you going to check out the Mississippi Gulf Coast, where Katrina actually came ashore?

Glad that NOLA is back in the news. My son was born Sept 4/05 so I remember this week vividly.

The kidnapping story is horrendous. I am a parent of 2 pre-school age kids. Every parent's nightmare. Not sure it is a heartwarming story...

Hi Anderson,I hope you have a good time in New Orleans. I had the best red beans and rice and crawfish etoufee when I was there.You can't get that any better than New Orleans. Also I'm so glad that New Orleans will not be forgotten.

It was one of my pre-bucket list dreams to visit Mardi Gra in the French Quarters and go berserk with booze and women before I get too old to enjoy it. I retired early and was looking forward to planning some vacation spots like nawlins, but then Katrina and then FEMA and others under President Bush made matters even worse. Will it ever be back to the vibrant, place ya wanna be, ever again?

Anderson,

Anderson,

Great shots! And, as always, great reporting! Thanks 4 the ride and taking me "along 4 the ride"! I loved it!

Awesome Job!

360 Fan,

Michelle (o:

AC great coverage of news tonight. I am disappointed at the commerical that is airing that in my opinion is a complete distortion of the health reform bills in Congress and an insult to the memory of Senator Ted Kennedy and his fight for health reform. I know there is freedom to advertise but seems it could have been placed more delicately. But your show has been great! You always do a super job.

Great story and pictures...would like some more info on the folks who have done humanitarian work down there and how that's coming along, and how folks can help now.

Is Anderson pronouncing Jaycee right? I have a niece named Jacy and it rhymes with Macy (like the department store, with the emphasis on the first syllable). Not with the emphasis on the second syllable, as if you were referring to someone by initials, J.C.

Hi Anderson and James,

I hope you toured the 9th ward. It is pretty messed up down there. So few homes left and many people still living in the same homes as before Katrina. I saw it first hand when I was there on August 13th-August 16th.

Spoke with a family who lost everything they owned including their family dog. The greatest part of their story was that their entire family of 13 were alive. The hardest part for them was getting the new very slowly about family members alive.

Lots of work still to be done down there, the progress in building is slow and sad. One of the Contractors told me that the hardest thing for him is going to work every day and seeing the progress moving very slowly and people still out there without a home.

It amazes me to see AC back to NOLA. While most anchors are busy trying to get news everywhere, he is showing the power of being part of something bigger... all over again.
After being part of a hurricane furious power myself, I know how much it hurts to talk about it. NOLA people show the power of rebirth.

Thank you for focusing on our progress. I live in Gentiilly, we had about 10 feet of water and I am very proud to say that there aren't any FEMA trailers left on my street and we are about 75% back. We have a new Catholic High School built after the storm and a public high school due to open in December. We still have more work to do, but I can definitely say that a lot has been accomplished when you consider the bureaucracy that we have had to live with.

New Orleans, proud to call it home1

Glad you are shining the light on NO. Sure would be nice for someone to remember Galveston!!! You know we had a hurricane there last year and no one seems to care. I guess they think because we are Texans we take care of ourselves. We dont get all the spotlight like other places.

We had some towns that only had one house left standing and devastation everywhere. Guess we Texans will have to just take care of it alone!! Come take a tour of the Texas coast. Maybe we should just raise more hell and someone might listen.

Could it be that the be that the "Lego Levy" system Mr. Brinkley referenced in tonight's broadcast be caused by the "good 'ol boy" political funds appropriation climate in LA ??

Anderson:

Thank you so much for this piece on New Orleans. After attending college there from 1971-1975, I remained until 1993 when I moved permanently to the Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota.
I brought my husband down there in 2003, and have been able to reconnect with some of my dear friends–but lost some, and lost track of many more.

Hey–I used to hang out on Freret, shopping and eating and having fun...

I used to work at Pascal's Manale, and was afraid to check on the status of that wonderful New Orleans institution. Your being there brought tears to my eyes.

Mr. Carville is correct: New Orleans is not just the buildings, but it is a culture made of little bits of this ethnic group and that history and art and food and, oh, the music...Perhaps someday, now, I will be a bit less afraid to return.

Bless you.

and HEY–it's NOT "Pascal Manale's"; It's PASCAL's MANALE restaurant.

Look at the sign, fer cryin' out loud!

We are rebuilding on Freret St. post K. We are committed to returning to the area and being a part of the social fabric of this city. Driving piles as we tweet!
Ya'll come visit real soon!

My brother lives in New Orleans and yes it has been long road to progress for everyone. Mr. Anderson, I live in Biloxi and was there for the storm, please for everyone's sake here and the countries sake to understand the damage of this storm, before you leave, ride through Bay St. Louis, Pass Christian and Waveland Ms. and let the world see how really bad they were hit, that's where the eye came in. Anderson we deserve the exposure we have been fighting to get back and you would do yourself an injustice as well as the country. Please don't forget us in Mississippi. Thank You!
Bobbya

Brinkley abandoned New Orleans for the bat bridge in Austin. His comments are not welcome in New Orleans and neither is he. CNN could certainly have interviewed a current resident, in addition to James Carville, with a local perspective on our recovery. Brinkley cut and ran, let him go quietly into the night.

I sincerely wish I was personally and financially capable to go down there and help out. I Blame Georgie W and Brownie and others for the abuses of our fellow Americans!! I am a musician and this is where our country's first true music came from!! Glad to see the small organizations and Brad Pitt helping to turn things around! The people of New Orleans deserve it!! I consider this to be a black mark on the great nation. A true measure of country's greatness is not found in it's wealth or power it measured on how it treats it's people. We are supposed to be the greatest country in the world but this disaster puts that into perspective!! Thank you James Carville for moving back it is a big boast to the people of that great city!1

rich

I was just watching your program concerning the murders following Hurricane Katrina. You should know that many people in New Orleans are liars and racists. There is a long history of this "tradition" along with their propensity as true "pirates" – both before and after the storm (descendants of Jean LaFitte).

Where do you think the nickname "The Big Easy" came from? Anything goes there and still does. The French Quarter still smells like beer and puke and other unsanitary things. It's best to throw your shoes away once you walk down those streets.

The tragedy of Katrina is a direct result of poverty and indifference. The City of New Orleans and the State of Louisiana are truly third world. You can't really believe that everything is O.K. ... it is not.

If another hurricane hits New Orleans, they will go underwater. What levees?

Respectfully,

Patricia

Anderson looks great in a suit, but he is sexy as hell in that t-shirt.

It is heartwarming to see y'all back in New Orleans four years later. Often, we locals get the impression that we've been forgotten or spun into the insignificant, old news. There's the "Je ne sais quois here," – and it seems like y'all really dig it or atleast get it.

Thanks for remembering New Orleans. I went back in 2007 and it was a very heartbreaking experience. The food and environment were very different, that culture that James spoke of was lacking. But perhaps things have improved over the years. My prayers continue to go out for those who were and still are affected by Katrina's aftermath.

James Caville began speaking of NOL vulnerablities, as well as his trip to the Netherlands.
Right after Katerina, I wrote to the Time Picayune and others
about why NOL leaders do not accept the gesture of the Netherlanders to assist and advise NOL regarding their high risk flooding potentials. The Corps of Engineers are capable people, however they do not have the experience compared to the Dutch.
And I would remind that in improving the NOL flooding protection, it is not necessary to REINVENT THE WHEEL.
Houses and buildings are being renewed, but nothing new or any sweeping changes of flood construction to protect NOL from future storms.
Our friends, the Netherlanders, have 100s of years experience floods by their long and ongoing fight to keep their lands free of the North Sea.
Maybe it is the media have ignored any input of the Netherlanders, I would urge the media to seriously investigate solutions these experienced people can offer. Please run some news coverages of Netherlands contributions, and what they would consider and advise.

Thanks for your support. My great city will be better off in the future! The last thing that we need, is a comment from Douglas Brinkley. Tell him that he can keep his "Sale Out A_ _" out of here. He left us, and we dont need him. Stay away-coward!!!!!!!!!!!

I was very happy to hear James Carville say "New Orleans is not just a city, it's a culture with it's own unique..." everything. Looking good, Shamarr! I have been working to promote cultural complex awareness to "outsiders" who are struggling with the very idea that was also expressed by Carville..."we don't want to be Atlanta" or any of those other places. I really enjoyed this segment, especially since it was in my neighborhood. How can I get a copy?

Dear Anderson,
I am a huge supporter of New Orleans and Galveston and I
am so happy that you have not forgotten them on national TV.
My husband and I are aged (74 and 69) but we go to Galveston
to spend our money with the most wonderful folks that have risen
from the water. No one could be more polite and friendlier. Our
youngest son is in Iraq for the third time and I believe we will
spend our Xmas in New Orleans, as we did before Katrina. We
live in Houston and we were hurt by Katrina and Ike, but not like the
Gulf Coast. Your dogged attention to this is so important.
p.s. I have always adored your mother and read all her books
and had to steal a book from the library to get the one I lost
(on collages). It cost me $35 to pay the library back and I could
not care less. I am now the president of the Friends of the Library.
I also have a love/hate relatiionship with Housewifes of Atlanta.
How screwed up can I be to watch it?

Hello:

I am a grandmother who buried my grandson on May 9, 2009 due to he was gunned down by a 17 years old male from New Orealeans here in Houston, Texas. Now, I am requesting anyone who wish to donoate to his Head Stone send in money to me.
I am accepting from $5.00 up for this project. My grandson is buried at Memorial Garden in Pearland, Texas. People can send this money to P.O.Box 310905 Houston, Texas 77231.
I hope that you will help me due to the Texas Crime Victim refused to pay me for his personal property that was a cell phone, clothing he was wearing when he was killed. I wanted to take this money and purschase his Head Stone and this Case Manager Renee Answar knew that. Please help me if you can it is hard for me to accept his death.
These young males from New Oreleans was just on a rampage killing so many young males off Fondren for unknown reason. My grandson did not even know his killer. This person killed him for no given reason. It was fun and game just to kill. Why would these people who was affected by this Hurricane attempt to get their lives together build back up their community and thank God for being alive. No, they in turn wants to live on FEMA forever and just to sorry for anything.
I am a 59 year old female that always was to prove to ask for anyone to help me. I worked three jobs at one time. I am a disable nurse. I worked a 40 hours job Mon-Friday; then worked on weekend and worked another job when I would leave my date time job. I was once on Welfare and went back to school then college. I wanted to make my life better and I did. But after I got sick I had to stop working and this has been very hard due to my income is limited.
When people are young adults you can change and get your life in order and make a change for the better. Stop feeling down and sad and start making short terms goals and you will accomplish them if you are true to yourself.

NOLA has a lot of potential, the best is yet to come...the turtle is bound to win..always

I planned on typing a shortened sketch of what has happened in New Orleans, especially in the past 4 years. This great city, and it could be an unbelievable place to live, has gone down the drain. I lived there, even during the time of Katrina. I evacuated. I came back. Nothing has changed. It's still the same old place. And it's an absolute shame that the people of New Orleans are allowing the brutality of their city. It's not safe! And the efforts to re-build New Orleans may be growing slowly. But with all the problems, who is going to want to come back. I, whole-heartedly, will not, until changes are made to make New Orleans a safer, cleaner city.

Tell the truth, this guy killed a woman, probably drunk and got away with it due to his money and name. You the news media have a greater responsiblity to the public to praise the devil would be just as stupid. The President of the US to call him a great leader, he was nothing but a criminal that did not do the time.
All of you in the news media are terrible for allowing this falsehood to be presented to the public.
The truth is the truth and nothing he could ever do could give that poor woman her life back or justice. The Kennedys speak of justice but they only want it when it fits there needs, what a joke.

This is why I love Anderson Cooper. He remembers the forgotten. Keep up the great work. Thanks for sharing the images as well.

It's obvious that Jaycee was tired of living the lifestyle as a prisoner of these people and in their backyard. But I am sure her big motivation was getting her two children out of this situation. It is just a terrible tradegy that it took eighteen years to surface again. But by the grace of god she is still alive and by his miracle things can someday be normal for all of them again. They and their family need all of our prayer. And may the kidnappers rot in prison forever! They are scum!

This was a great report! However, I was kind of dissappointed in the show as a whole. The coverage was done very well, but it didn't get to New Orleans until half the show was over. It was really unnecessary to make the found white girl story the lead story, and then spent so much time on it. AC360 is supposed to be the serious news show in it's competition, this was too tabloidy. (I wont stop watching, of course, but you can do better.)

Many gifts of joy to see after so much tragedy. Love the band ! Crank it up and keep rocking ! That's team up American action happening !

God Bless You James and Anderson though the news has mainly dwelt on Ted Kennedy today he would be proud of you two in New Orleans and all the good work you are trying to do down there. I have been lucky enough to travel down there in the last 3 years and NOLA is coming back! People like you will bring it back it is such a beautiful part of our country . The people and culture must be saved!!! Thank you Brad Pitt Too!!!

Welcome back to New Orleans Anderson,
My wife and I lost our first home to a fire in 2000, july 15th to be exact. WE were pregnant and ready for our first child. This turned our world upside down and left a mark on our lives we will never forget.
We bought our second home in september 2000, due to the loss we took on our first home, we bought the worst home in a very nice nieghborhood, a fixer-upper(SHOOT ME). We worked on this home with all our hearts, sweat equity, until 8-29-05, KATRINA and my daughters 5th birthday.
Through alot of effort and hard work, we have just orderd our first new couch EVER, bed room suit, new carpet, the whole package, we have waited a long time for this day and payed our dues!!!!
On August 10th, we found out that we were sold TOXIC chinese sheet rock/drywall. We went from the highest high to depresion in one breath. My wife and I are completly in shock as we are living with our children in our driveway of our new home !!!! What the hell, our lawyer said we can't even go in and tear out the bad sheetrock until maybe early next summer and that we need to get another mortgage on our home so we will be able to work on it when the time comes. Meanwhile we went from owning our home one day to being forced to move out, get a mortgage, and find somewhere to rent all in 2 weeks. Can anyone please explain how this was able to happen.
Most people go thru their whole lives without 1 of these things happen to them, when will it stop?
My wife looked up at me the other night and said ,"maybe we aren't ment to own a nice home", With that she broke my heart and maid me mad as hell. My daughter will be 9 on this anniversary of katrina and we will be singing Happy birthday in our driveway, looking at our home!

How does one live with not knowing for so long what happened to a beloved ? How many more are lost and will never be found?
I recently heard a reporter on a national news network refer to one of the hardest hit areas of New Orleans as "ward Nine." ( Its The Ninth Ward).He went on to explain that it was a residential area, made up of lower to moderate income families who lived in modest homes. After he gave this rather non-descript view of the area, he said it may have to become a flood plane to protect the rest of the city. Greater minds than mine will figure this all out!

Further down Claiborne Ave ,greater the destruction. In the The Ninth Ward, we see houses off their foundations, piles of furniture, sheetrock, and personal belongings in the front yards. Pieces of destroyed lives everywhere. Evidence of happier times with families, yet no living souls. It was the quiet that hurt the most. No people, no pets, no children. No lives, just evidence of what was once a thriving neighborhood now gone. Its going deeper Into the Abyss..

New Orleans: CNN = Cursory, almost minstrel-like coverage. Your selection of spokespersons continues the tradition of the flaw driven exercise of combing the views of respondent s with regretfully non-affinity roles before and after the storm. It is never heartening to watch as you carve storytellers of the shallow and mundane.

who was the featured band on the street with Anderson?.....great....music available somewhere?...thx.....

What was the name of the band plying on AC360 in New Orleans thursday night?

There is another sad element to the Katrina story. In the aftermath New Orleans got all the attention. To this day the Mississippi Gulf Coast has been virtually ignored. Not since the coming of Hurricane Camille has such a level of destruction been seen. Driving through parts of the coast today have not changed since the storm hit.

Katrina's eye made landfall at Bay St. Louis, Mississippi and virtually wiped everything away. Where was the media when they needed help?

Great report last night. It's nice to know that JC moved home. I'm constantly meeting people that moved here since the storm. I find this very reassuring and exciting. I know this town in special. I think NOLA is coming back strong. Also, JC for mayor!!

James Carville.....CNN hasn't dumped him yet.....that would probably tick off Rahm Emmanuel....did he get phone call authorization from the White House to go with Anderson.

Katrina victims….please…..come get the Katrina refugees from Texas….we still have them come and get them….still on the government tit….how about Hurricane Ike in Texas….where were you Anderson? I guess because us Texans pick up our relatives who live on the gulf coast and New Orleans leaves their people to die during a hurricane…we are overlooked. They knew the hurricane was coming and the mayor of Louisiana did nothing…..he should have been impeached and run out of town….but no…..he was reelected. Only in Louisiana. Enough of this story.