September 8, 2005

While Egypt has not yet shaken off decades of one-man rule, the streets were calm and protesters were allowed to block city traffic.

Brad Wilkerson earned the nickname the Last Expo for wearing the blue, white and red uniform of a team that no longer existed. On a tour of Japan with other major leaguers last November, Wilkerson dressed as an Expo even though the team had already abandoned Montreal on its way to becoming the Washington Nationals. But here in Vermont, where the Expos are remembered fondly, there is reason to think the nickname could use a little tweaking. Wilkerson might have been the last Montreal Expo, but the honor of being the final Expos of any kind falls to the young players on this year's version of the Vermont Expos.

Less than a week before the Democratic primary, the state assemblyman who heads the party organization in Brooklyn was on trial yesterday on political-corruption charges brought by District Attorney Charles J. Hynes, a longtime political opponent. As opening arguments in the case began, an assistant district attorney, Kevin Richardson, said the party chief, Assemblyman Clarence Norman Jr., had solicited campaign contributions from a gasoline-station lobbying group in Albany knowing that the amounts exceeded state limits and then tried to hide the donations by not reporting them.

New Orleans police officers begin to force residents to leave, including those living in dry and undamaged homes, citing hazards posed by fires, water-borne diseases and natural-gas leaks; change in policy, from imploring to forcing residents to leave, comes after evacuation order by Mayor C Ray Nagin, and even as floodwater recedes slightly and residents in some sections take smalll steps toward recovery; estimated 5,000 to 6,000 people remain inside New Orleans, many in neighborhoods that are on high ground; some say they will fight evacuation, potentially producing ugly confrontations; number of dead still remains looming and disturbing question; Federal Emergency Management Agency reportedly orders 25,000 body bags for Louisiana alone; Pres Bush will send Congress request for $51.8 billion for relief efforts, including $50 billion for FEMA, $1.4 billion for Defense Dept and $400 million for Army Corps of Engineers; this follows $10.5 billion package he signed days ago; photos (M)

Edward Rothstein Critic's Notebook column on theodicy (from Greek roots invoking 'justice of the gods'), or attempt to show that justice exists, that is bound to emerge from Hurricane Katrina and its flood; recalls earlier theodicies involving flood of Noah's time and trials of ancient Israelites; describes changes, between medieval Europe and contemporary America, in way natural disasters are interpreted and kinds of theodicies they inspire; photos (M)