GULFPORT, Mississippi — A former 25-year-old Gulfport man now living in Texas has pleaded guilty in a Hurricane Katrina-fraud case and awaits sentencing.

The Sun Herald reports that Joshua C. Allen of San Antonio faces up to 5 years in prison for making a fake claim to FEMA for disaster benefits.

An indictment named Joshua C. Allen as a coconspirator in a scheme to defraud the government through false claims and statements. Joshua C. Allen and his wife, Amber Allison, claimed they lived in Gulfport when the hurricane katrina struck. U.S. Attorney Donald R. Burkhalter said they did not.

Joshua C. Allen and his wife, Amber Allison received $2,000 from FEMA and $965 from the American Red Cross. Amber Allison has not yet been prosecuted.

Joshua C.Allen entered his guilty plea Monday. His sentencing is set for July 27.

Recently Katrina has been doing lots of charities and she’s just recorded an album for the Sa Ra Ga Ma music company, called “Rhymeskool”. All profits from the album will go to building a school for children in Madurai.

Music executives are reportedly impressed by the actress’ singing skills and wish to record one more with her, this time the album being that of love songs.

As of now, fans will have to make do with an album featuring songs for kids. Katrina Kaif states that it is a fun album for kids, something that she always wanted to do so as to get deeper her connectivity with kids. Katrina had a great time recording the numbers.

She believes that it’s important to ensure one’s charity efforts are well-utilized. Katrina wants to help causes where she can see an instant result and agreed to do the album as it’s going into building a toddlers’ school.

Recording songs for kids has had a deep impact on the actress. She admits she would like to have children of her own. After working for 4 to 5 more years in the industry, she intends to get married and have babies.

Deadly tornadoes struck across the Southeastern U.S.  on Saturday, causing damages so bad that Mississippi Governor  Haley Barbour called the destruction “Katrina-like.”

At least 10 people were killed in Mississippi alone, with storm damage reported from Missouri to Georgia.
Yazoo City, Mississippi, was particularly hard hit. Haley Barbour grew up in Yazoo and has a home north of the city.

Emergency responders combed the ruubble Saturbay night to ensure all of the storm survivors had been found.

Gregg Flynn of the MS Emergency Management Agency, said at least 2 of the dead were children.

The Salvation Army has dispatched mobile feeding units to Yazoo and Warren counties. In the meantime, emergency responders were continuing the send the most seriously residents injured in the storms to hospitals in Jackson.

“We’re serving hot meals, coffee, cold drinks and spiritual counseling,” Salvation Army Capt. Ken Chapman told the Clarion Ledger in Jackson. “We’re equipped to serve 1000s,” he added.

A state of emergency was ordered by the governor in 17 Mississippi counties. Haley Barbour also ordered the state National Guard to help local municipalities in emergency response efforts.

Although Mississippi appeared to have the most seriously damaged Saturday, severe weather was also reported in the St. Louis, Missouri, area and Louisiana. Winds up to 60 mph were reported in Cobb County, Georgia.

Katrina Kaif who is currently shooting for Tees Maar Khan opposite Akshay Kumar couldn’t take her eyes off from the three baby beauties of director Farah Khan.

During one of the shoot, Farah Khan brought her triplets – Czar, Diva and Anya on the set that actually made Katrina Kaif come in for a big surprise.

Reveals a source, which was present at the set that the minute Farah Khan would call for a break, Katrina would rush to the nursery that was specially arranged for the tiny triplets.

Katrina Kaif would rush to the kids every time she find break from her shoot. Katrina Kaif would pamper them and also spoil them silly till only when director Farah Khan call for the next shoot.

Well, seems like Katrina Kaif would make a good baby sitter. Happy, Salman?

Though she didn’t go as far as having a chartered plane without any ‘No Smoking’ zone like her beau did recently, Katrina Kaif did travel by a chopper. So, in order to make herself available for a charity event at Chennai for her dear mom Susanne Turquotte, the mademoiselle hired a helicopter to reach her destination in time.

Actually, Katrina’s busy schedule wasn’t permitting her to reach Chennai for her mom Susanne Turquotte’s charity that works to prevent female infanticide, as on the same day she had to be in Mumbai for a shoot. There was only one option. Katrina Kaif took a leaf out of Akshay’s book and hired a private chopper to fly to Chennai.

It can be recalled that Akshay Kumar also used chopper to meet his son Aarav every day after the shooting of Tees Maar Khan in Malshej, on the outer edge of Mumbai.

The storm surge produced by Hurricane Katrina caused harmful substances to be released in volumes nearing the well-known 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska.

That’s according to a recently released report from the Society for Risk Analysis which is calling for better “risk-based” designs for oil as well as chemical storage facilities in the future.

The report says about 8-million gallons of petroleum was released when Hurricane Katrina slammed into the Gulf coast in 2005.

That alone was about 75 % of the amount of oil spilled in Alaska.

Most of the oil leaked from storage tanks that failed, while a few spills were created by the shut down and restarting of production processes.

There were other, smaller releases of harmful substances from chemical and manufacturing plants onshore and in the Gulf.

Federal investigators charged one more New Orleans police officer in connection to the Danziger Bridge shootings, in which 2 civilians were killed and 4 were wounded in the days after Hurricane Katrina. The Danziger Bridge shootings are among a cord of violent post-Katrina police encounters we have investigated in collaboration with PBS “Frontline” and the New Orleans Times-Picayune.

Officer Robert Barrios, who was charged with conspiring to obstruct justice, became the 4th police officer charged in the case, and the 5th person overall. 3 former officers have already pleaded culpable to charges related to the shooting. Barrios reportedly resigned from the force shortly after being charged.

Marion David Ryder, a civilian who impersonated a police officer the day of the gunfire, also was indicted this month on charges of lying to federal agents also unlawful possession of a handgun.

The charge against Robert Barrios came in a bill of information, which is only allowed in cases where the defendant has waived the requirement that a grand jury issue charges. That normally indicates the defendant is cooperating with the case.

The Times-Picayune reports that Robert Barrios was in the back of a vehicle with 4 other officers when they responded to a report that officers were shot as on Interstate 10, which is parallel with the Danziger Bridge.

Katrina was to travel to London to be with her family but her plans were obstructed and she was stranded at Mumbai’s international airport as volcanic ash erupting from Ireland enveloped the most parts of Europe and paralyzed air traffic.

“It was a very important family function. And I had to attend. I never realized it would be impossible to make it. When I reached the Mumbai international airport I came to know about what had happened. I was still not disheartened because I thought at the most, I would be delayed… as I often am. When it comes to travel, one learns to be patient at airports,” Katrina Kaif said.

Little did Katrina realize that she would have to return home.

“Such things are bound to happen increasingly if we continue to abuse our environment. Personally, I wouldn’t have minded missing the flight,” the bollywood actress said.

“But it was a very important family gathering. Not being part of it really hurt,” the actress added.

Until Sunday night Katrina Kaif was desperately trying to find other means of travelling to London.

“I don’t care if it is by train or boat. I have to get to London,” she said frantically.

NEW ORLEANS - A Hammond woman has pleaded culpable in federal court to fraud charges linked to aid she received after Katrina.

U.S. Attorney Jim Letten says 35-year-old Quiana Selders entered the plea on Wednesday before U.S. District Judge Martin L.C. Feldman to one count of wire fraud.

Quiana Selders, according to court documents, admitted fraudulently applying for disaster assistance on 6 occasions between September and October 2005. The Red Cross made disaster aid of up to $1,565 available to those affected by Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita on a one-time only basis. In all, officials say, Quiana Selders illegally obtained $7,590 from the relief agency.

The single count carries up to 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

Bollywood famous actress Katrina Kaif played Cricket and that too when she was wearing a Saree for the shoots. Katrina Kaif is busy completing the shoots of her film ‘Rajneeti’ these days.

After the shoots was done, Katrina Kaif started playing Cricket with co-star Arjun Rampal in the costume and she didn’t felt the need to change it.

When asked, Katrina Kaif giggled and said, “It’s not difficult to play Cricket in Saree and I really enjoyed playing Cricket.”

Katrina Kaif further added that there were people who asked her not to play the game as she was wrapped in the Saree but she went ahead to play it. According to the actress, Saree is a very good and easy dress also she loved wearing it.

Katrina Kaif further added that she had bought many Banarasi Sarees whom she’ll carry in different ceremonies.

Katrina Kaif is playing the role of a politician in ‘Rajneeti’ where throughout the movie, the actress will be seen fully clad in nothing but only Saree.