The New Republic

It’s game day.  Kentucky’s two largest metro areas face off tonight as the University of Louisville Cardinals and the University of Kentucky Wildcats, of Lexington, go head-to-head in New Orleans in the final showdown before Monday’s NCAA championship game. READ MORE >>

Guest post by Andre Perry Over the last year, numerous organizations in New Orleans have released conflicting reports that use similar data to present different positions on whether or not public schools are improving. Some camps argue that schools haven’t improved beyond pre-Katrina rates, while others state that growth is undeniable. Ultimately, the battle over whose numbers are better only shows the contentiousness of the fight for the control of the public schools. READ MORE >>

Guest post by Jasmine Waddell Post-Katrina New Orleans is a case study in vulnerability, disenfranchisement, and stratification. The historical context echoes the same themes over many decades before the hurricanes hit. The result of this exponentially compounded deprivation was a vulnerable place and its people robbed of the opportunity to be resilient and restorative. READ MORE >>

Guest post by Andre M. Perry Cities’ abilities to be resilient in the face of disasters will be the primary determinant of whether they retain their population. From New Orleans to various cities in the Middle East to London; major disasters are prone to occur in urban areas because of their inequitable pasts. However, city resiliency and their consequent future success will be based on how equitable they become before and after major crisis events. READ MORE >>

Hurricane Katrina is the costliest disaster in U.S. history and among the three costliest in the world ever. As such, New Orleans and the Gulf Coast stand as a lesson about what it takes to rebuild after a major catastrophe. READ MORE >>

The Deepwater Horizon oil spill, now deemed the worst in American history, may inflict more damage to the future of New Orleans than Hurricane Katrina. READ MORE >>

 The Saints’ victory celebration continues today as Coach Sean Payton, Drew Brees, and his teammates get feted at the Saints Super Bowl parade in New Orleans. The Saints’ remarkable win Sunday has literally served as New Orleanians’ proud cry to the nation: We are back! READ MORE >>

Over half of the world’s population now lives in urban areas, and that is expected to swell to 70 percent by 2050. READ MORE >>

New employment data for August will be released this Friday, fueling a fresh round of analysis and punditry about whether the economy is on the upswing. READ MORE >>

The fourth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina falls this weekend.  Usually, a fourth anniversary is not a landmark. But this one is notable for the many leadership transitions afoot. READ MORE >>