DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — CNN personality Anderson Cooper will be broadcasting his show Anderson Cooper 360 from L.A. Live's Nokia Plaza this evening, the first stop in a five-city tour of the United States. The show, which will air live at 7pm local time, is focused on how local governments intend to use federal stimulus funds.

Standing on set, producer Charlie Moore told blogdowntown that the team scouted locations around the Los Angeles area for the shoot and ended up at L.A. Live after seeing the "great cross-section of people" that attended last night's Lakers game. Tonight the Kings play at 7:30pm, so fans will be arriving just as the show begins.

One segment taped last week with Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa will focus on the way the city intends to use stimulus funds to improve conditions at Los Angeles' port. Another, shot today, will look at how the city of Watts plans to use funds to launch a gang reduction program that will create jobs for 100 individuals.

After Los Angeles, the show will head to New Orleans, Detroit, New York and Miami.

Update (9pm): Added a few photos from the show, including one with guest Dr. Phil McGraw.