Nagin News Conference

New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin is under fire on several matters that he confronted in a wide-ranging news conference outside City Hall.

It was set up to announce direct flights to Mexico and Honduras. But after only a few questions were posed on that subject, Mayor Nagin stood alone in front of the podium and answered questions about how he's been making the news lately.

About his former technology director, Greg Meffert, picking up the tab for a Hawaiian vacation for the Nagin family in 2004.

He said good news can be found in New Orleans economic indicators that are stronger than national averages, and crime statistics show lower numbers.