California's efforts to get us to stop smoking is working. And that's becoming a bad thing.

A number of programs are built on the foundation of tobacco tax money. As folks stop smoking, that pot is shrinking. Also, those who still smoke are buying their cigs online or by mail order ... bypassing California taxes. Star county reporter Kathleen Wilson (kwilson@VenturaCountStar.com) takes a look at what our board of supervisors is going to do to deal with this reduction in funds for county sponsored or supported programs.

Our Hurricane Katrina team is still in New Orleans. Writer Marjorie Hernandez and photographer Joseph Garcia will follow local Seabees today as they are deployed to get a post office up and running. They are also following up with a Seabee whose father remains among the missing in New Orleans.

Off the wires, we'll cover Day 1 of the John Roberts confirmation hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee; follow President Bush as he tours New Orleans and Gulfport, Miss.,; and look for more out of the Gaza Strip.