Thousands of college students are returning to New Orleans this week, as the city's universities open after a semester shut down for recovery from Hurricane Katrina.
City officials say the students' return will sizably increase the city's population and bring in new consumer dollars. While some students changed schools after the city flooded last year, most are returning, including 88 percent of students at Tulane University.
The universities are using hotels and trailers to house students and classes, as repairs on flood-damaged facilities continue. City and state officials are urging students to help rebuild.
Meanwhile, members of the U.S. Senate committee for Homeland Security are assessing hurricane recovery efforts in Mississippi and Louisiana today.
Some information for this report was provided by AP.