FIVE YEARS AFTER KATRINA  — IS ANYTHING DIFFERENT?

Everyone who was touched by Hurricane Katrina has a vivid story to tell.  All the more so as the Gulf coast looks five years back.  Levees collapsing, inadequate evacuation efforts and political bickering have been reviewed on the news nightly, and highlighted by the new Spike Lee film “If God Willing and Da Creek Don’t Rise.” The storm was a life changing experience for many.  Jim Brown, in this week’s regular column, shares some of his own first hand encounters.  You can read it now by Clicking Here.

And take  look at the video below showing water rising in New Orleans from ground to roof in three minutes.

My column this week reflects on memories from Hurricane Katrina five years ago this week.  Many readers of this blog live worldwide.  Did you know that 16% of all my viewer hits come from China?  So for those of you who have never been to Louisiana, and especially New Orleans, you have missed a special experience.  My old friend Vince Vance has a poignant video that really tells the New Orleans story.  Take a look below.

When it comes to radio in Mississippi, the dean of broadcasters is Charlie Holt from Hattiesburg.  Charlie (pictured with me above) has been in the radio business for over 50 years.  In addition, he has been active in Mississippi politics, and has been a close adviser to four different state governors, as well as several U.S. senators.  He is the owner of radio station WHSY, 950 am, in Hattiesburg, as well as WHNY, 1250 am, in McComb.  I’m honored to have my Sunday radio show now being carried on these two stations.  Thanks Charlie.  Check out my interview with Charlie below.

The score right now stands at former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich 23, federal prosecutors 1. The feds charged Blagojevich with everything but the kitchen sink, including shaking down a children’s hospital and selling the U.S. Senate seat formerly held by President Obama. With twenty-four felony counts against him, and after all the melodrama and hype by the prosecutors, he was convicted of the least serious change, and that could well be thrown out on appeal. So what do we have here — prosecutors gone wild?  Check out my new column about this hole sorted affair.  You can read it by Clicking Here.  And you can see Governor Blagojevich in action below.

Jay Leno is about as good a stand up comedian as I have ever seen.  I watch his monologue which generally are funny.  But I was with him in person when he performed on the Mississippi Gulf Coast for a fund raiser last week.  He brought down the house in an hour and a half performance that kept the audience laughing.  It was a pleasure visiting with Jay after the show.  He reminded my that my daughter ?Campbell was a guest on his show last year.  Also joining me (and pictured below) was Richard Westfall who heads up the Gulf Coast Community Foundation.  Jay Leno performed free of charge and even contributed $10,000 for the cause.

I was on the Mississippi Gulf Coast this past weekend as part of a Gulf oil relief concert.  The video below let’s me give you my thoughts of how Mississippi and Louisiana are handling the oil spill problems differently.  Mississippi is saying “Come on down,” while Louisiana keeps hollering about the damage.  Take a lot at my impressions.