Post-Katrina progress to be assessed

Editor's note: Were government promises to rebuild New Orleans kept? CNN's Anderson Cooper returns to the Gulf Coast to see what has changed since Hurricane Katrina. Don't miss "In Katrina's Wake," an "AC360°" special at 10 p.m. ET Thursday on CNN.

New Orleans, Louisiana (CNN) -- U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu will hold a late-morning hearing Thursday about the lessons learned and the progress made in the five years since Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and large sections of the Gulf coast.

The hearing in Chalmette, Louisiana, will highlight the continuing challenges facing the state.

On Wednesday, Landrieu announced that Washington will award $1.8 billion to schools in New Orleans.

A provision in an appropriations bill authorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide a l ump-sum payment for K-12 schools damaged by hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

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Alaska Sen. Murkowski Looking For Rebound

Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska was tabbed as a sure thing to win her party's nomination just a few weeks ago. But her opponent, Joe Miller, had the backing of the Tea Party and former Gov. Sarah Palin. After Tuesday's primary, Miller has a surprising but slim lead over Murkowski, with several thousand absentee ballots not yet counted. For more, NPR's Melissa Block talks to Libby Casey of Alaska Public Radio Network.

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