[JURIST] AP is reporting that a federal judge has ruled that FEMA cannot end its hotel accommodation program for hurricane refugees until Feb. 7, one month later than the agency had planned. Lawyers for Katrina victims launched a lawsuit [JURIST report; PDF complaint] against FEMA in November for denial of temporary housing; two weeks ago they filed for a court order [JURIST report] extending a program that allowed victims to stay in hotels [FEMA hotel use report] at government expense.

12:13 PM ET – Judge Stanwood Duval issued the temporary restaining order preventing the originally-scheduled termination of the program. AP has more.