"Papers seek access to FEMA files" - Clarion-Ledger

As this summer's hurricane season winds down, the federal agency responsible for helping victims of the storms is under fire on at least three fronts. From Washington, an angry Congress has demanded a full accounting of why the Federal Emergency Management Agency mishandled the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Mississippi's 2nd District U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson last week asked the inspector general of the Department of Homeland Security to investigate the contracts FEMA has awarded in the aftermath of Katrina. FEMA awarded more than 80 percent of its contracts without competitive bids, and Mississippi companies want to know why their offers weren't considered.