Superdome safe from demolition

New Orleans A Superdome official insisted Tuesday there were no plans to tear down the building that housed evacuees during Hurricane Katrina and was damaged by the storm.

Doug Thornton, regional manager for the company that runs the Superdome, said it would take 45 to 60 days for teams to assess the damage to the indoor stadium, which included a leaking roof and problems with electrical and mechanical systems.

He said that while there was “no doubt” that the Superdome suffered damage, its structural integrity remained intact, and there was no truth to rumors that officials have decided to tear it down.

Man arrested for shooting at helicopter

Baton Rouge, La. A man is facing federal charges after allegedly trying to shoot down a helicopter used to rescue Louisiana residents from floodwaters.

Acting on a tip phoned in to New Orleans radio station WWL, Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents said they observed a man shooting from an apartment window as a military helicopter flew overhead in Algiers, a community across the Mississippi River from New Orleans.

U.S. Attorney Jim Letten of New Orleans said Wendell L. Bailey, 20, was arrested on federal charges of attempting to destroy or damage an aircraft, which carries a maximum 20-year sentence.

Canada pitching in with Katrina aid

Toronto The Canadian government, sending quick offers of oil, warships, airplanes and other humanitarian aid to the United States to deal with Hurricane Katrina, hopes those measures also will help improve testy relations and remind Americans that Canada is their top supplier of oil.

Canada’s Cabinet officials have urged citizens to conserve energy use, and Alberta has removed production limits at its oil fields to help overcome fuel shortages caused by the storm’s impact on U.S. production.