GETTING THE LATEST LOCAL NEWS AFTER KATRINA

Of course, the national news media is all over what is going on in the aftermath of the hurricane. But usually the best option is to hear it from the people who bring you the news every day in the affected region.

Many of the radio and television stations in the hardest hit areas are, obviously, off the air due to the damage to their facilities or lack of power. However, there are a few broadcasters who are reporting on what's going on in their area. Please understand that live coverage may not always be available. Here's a few:

WWL-TV 4: New Orleans, Louisiana's CBS affiliate. Generally considered by many to have the best hurricane coverage in the region and has a long tradition of excellence in that area. The anchors have been operating from studios in Baton Rouge borrowed from Louisiana State University since early Monday due to lack of power and threat of water to their French Quarter studios.

WAPT-TV 16: Jackson, Mississippi's ABC affiliate. Click on "Live Video: Katrina Coverage" slightly under the "Lead Story" banner on the left side of the page.

WJTV-TV 12: Jackson, Mississippi's CBS affiliate. If their news set looks slightly familiar, it's owned by Media General, which also owns Tampa Bay's WFLA-TV 8.

WTOK-TV 11: The ABC affiliate in Meridian, Mississippi. Scroll to near the centre of the page and click on "Hurricane Katrina Live Coverage".

WKRG-TV 5: Mobile, Alabama's CBS affiliate (Windows Media Player)

WDSU-TV 6: NBC's affiliate in New Orleans, Louisiana

And how is the story playing out beyond the US?

CTV (Canada): Click on "CTV News with Lisa LaFlamme for Tuesday, August 30, 2005" link on the top right corner of the page.

ABC (Australia): Click on "Related Video" link on the top right of the page.

BBC (United Kingdom): On the right of the page, click on "Video and Audio" link slightly under the "Hurricane Katrina" sub-banner. There are several options for reports you can view, including one from when Katrina struck South Florida last week.