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US: Deep freeze hits Florida, Louisiana – DW – 01/22/2025

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US: Deep freeze hits Florida, Louisiana – DW – 01/22/2025


Snow, sleet and Arctic winds have plunged the United States’ Deep South region into an unusual deep freeze, with airports, highways, schools and government offices closed across usually sunny southern states.

Having covered Texas and the northern Gulf Coast with record-breaking snow, the major winter storm moved eastwards on Wednesday, causing governors in Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and even Florida – famously dubbed the Sunshine State – to declare states of emergency.

At least three people have died due to the extreme weather, including two in Austin, Texas, and another person in Georgia.

After being closed or suspending flights on Tuesday, Jacksonville Airport in Florida, Louis Armstrong Airport in New Orleans and both airports in Houston, Texas, were planning to reopen in the course of Wednesday.

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But more than 1,300 flights to, from or within the US were canceled on Wednesday morning and more than 900 were delayed.

The airport in Charleston, South Carolina, was also closed, as was the massive 2.5-mile (4-kilometer) Ravenel Bridge that carries about 100,000 vehicles a day between Charleston and areas up the coast.

Freezing temperatures, snow hit US’ southern coast

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Unfamiliar winter wonderlands

Nevertheless, the rare cold weather also led to some unusual scenes across the regions as residents swapped sun loungers for toboggans and build snowmen rather than sandcastles.

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A couple throw snow at each other in their front yard
A snowball fight in Mobile, AlabamaImage: Dan Anderson/ZUMA/picture alliance

Some of the heaviest snowfall was recorded in Mobile, Alabama, where authorities asked people to stay off roads which were covered in over five inches (13cm) of snow.

With experts predicting this winter storm could break the 130-year-old record for snow fall in the area, schools and some workplaces were also closed, giving people some spare time to have snowball fights instead.

Lina Rojas prepares her dachshund Petunia with a warm vest and gloves for her first walk in snow
Wrapping up warm in Tallahassee, FloridaImage: Kate Payne/AP/picture alliance

In Tallahassee, Florida, which hasn’t seen snow since a light dusting in 2018, Lina Rojas said she had never seen anything like it.

“I don’t even know what to call it!” she said, as she wrapped up her dachshund Petunia in a warm dog-coat and put little mittens on her paws.

People carry inflatable rubber rings and sleds in the snow
Inflatables are useful on snow, tooImage: Luis Santana/Tampa Bay Times/ZUMA/picture alliance

In the “Sunshine State,” inflatables are usually deployed in swimming pools or at the beach. But in Pensacola, they proved equally useful in the six-inch (15cm) deep snow at Bayview Park.

“Believe it or not, in the state of Florida we’re mobilizing snowplows,” said Governor Ron DeSantis as snow covered the white-sand beaches of popular summer vacation spots.

People play in snow along Buffalo Bayou in downtown Houston
People play in snow along Buffalo Bayou in downtown HoustonImage: Ashley Landis/AP/picture alliance

In Houston, people took advantage of the snow to go sledding on the banks of the Buffalo Bayou river, while unprecedented blizzard warnings were issued for several coastal counties near the Texas-Louisiana border.

People walk around on Bourbon Street as snow falls in the French Quarter in New Orleans
New Orleans’ French Quarter was transformed into a winter wonderlandImage: Gerald Herbert/AP/picture alliance

It’s been more than a decade since snow last fell on New Orleans, but Tuesday’s snowfall set a new record.

Ten inches (25cm) of snow fell in some parts of the city, far surpassing the record of 2.7 inches (6.8 centimeters) set on New Year’s Eve, 1963.

“Wow, what a snow day!,” the weather agency said in a social media post. “It’s safe to say this was a historic snowfall for much of the area.”

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In downtown New Orleans, the city’s central Bourbon Street became a location for urban skiing, while priests and nuns engaged in a snowball fight outside a suburban church.

People sled on the backside of the Mississippi River levee
“Took my sled to the levee…” Image: Gerald Herbert/AP/picture alliance

Others went sledding down the snow-covered Mississippi River levees on kayaks, cardboard boxes and inflatable reptiles.

“This is a white-out in New Orleans, this is a snow-a-cane,” said local high-school teacher David Delio, as his two daughters glided down a levee on a yoga mat and a boogie board. “We’ve had tons of hurricane days but never a snow day.”

mf/jcg(AP, Reuters)



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Pervy mayor’s kids told cops that they caught her romping with teen boy at boozy pool party

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Pervy mayor’s kids told cops that they caught her romping with teen boy at boozy pool party


The children of a disgraced Louisiana mayor told cops that they both caught their mom fooling around with a 16-year-old boy at a boozy pool party, according to video played at her rape trial.

Misty Roberts, the 43-year-old former head of DeRidder, Louisiana — population 9,8000 — faces a charge of third-degree rape over the 2024 incident.

Roberts’ son told investigators in an interview played for jurors that he saw his mom having sex with his pal through a crack in a window.

Misty Roberts is accused of having sex with a 16-year-old boy in 2024.

But, when asked about his recollection, he demurred — telling the court he wasn’t exactly sure what he saw that night, according to KPLC.

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The jury also reviewed pictures from the party, which showed kids holding drinks as well as a photograph of Roberts and the victim that prosecutors described as “lewd.”

That picture showed Roberts at the party in her bikini, with the teen victim looking up at her smiling.

Roberts’ son texted his mom that night, incredulous about what was happening, and told her that his sister was crying, according to messages presented by prosecutors.

“He is seventeen,” the son texted Roberts.

The boy was later confirmed to be 16 years old, according to KPLC.

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Roberts’ daughter also took the stand while prosecutors played her interview with detectives, in which she said she saw her mom and the boy “on top of each other” that night.

The former mayor’s nephew also admitted he tried to sneak a peek — using his phone to try and get a peek at what was going on in the room. He testified that he wasn’t sure if he hit “record” — but if he did said he never sent it to anybody.


Roberts was in her second term as mayor when she resigned.
Roberts was in her second term as mayor when she resigned. 7 KPLC

None of the three witnesses who testified said they saw the “private parts” of Roberts and the victim. The teen boy, they noted though, was shirtless.

After the alleged tryst, the victim’s mother texted Roberts to ensure that she was not pregnant, to which she replied she was on birth control. Roberts shared a screenshot of that message to a group chat with her friends, who urged her to take Plan B.

A DoorDash driver testified that he delivered an emergency contraceptive to Roberts’ house, which he recognized from trick-or-treating with his children there.

In other texts shown in court, Roberts asked her son what kind of alcohol her son and other kids wanted for the party.

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Days after police launched their investigation into the alleged crime, Roberts resigned as mayor of DeRidder, a city of just under 10,000 people about 20 miles east of the Texas border.

Roberts was charged with third-degree rape and contributing to the delinquency of juveniles.



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Louisiana Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 results for Feb. 28, 2026

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The Louisiana Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at Feb. 28, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from Feb. 28 drawing

06-20-35-54-65, Powerball: 10, Power Play: 4

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

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Winning Pick 3 numbers from Feb. 28 drawing

8-3-8

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from Feb. 28 drawing

5-4-7-5

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 5 numbers from Feb. 28 drawing

9-9-1-3-0

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Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Easy 5 numbers from Feb. 28 drawing

04-17-21-27-33

Check Easy 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lotto numbers from Feb. 28 drawing

08-10-15-21-22-33

Check Lotto payouts and previous drawings here.

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Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

All Louisiana Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $600. For prizes over $600, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at Louisiana Lottery offices. Prizes of over $5,000 must be claimed at Lottery office.

By mail, follow these instructions:

  1. Sign and complete the information on the back of your winning ticket, ensuring all barcodes are clearly visible (remove all scratch-off material from scratch-off tickets).
  2. Photocopy the front and back of the ticket (except for Powerball and Mega Millions tickets, as photocopies are not accepted for these games).
  3. Complete the Louisiana Lottery Prize Claim Form, including your telephone number and mailing address for prize check processing.
  4. Photocopy your valid driver’s license or current picture identification.

Mail all of the above in a single envelope to:

Louisiana Lottery Headquarters

555 Laurel Street

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Baton Rouge, LA 70801

To submit in person, visit Louisiana Lottery headquarters:

555 Laurel Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70801, (225) 297-2000.

Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes of any amount.

Check previous winning numbers and payouts at Louisiana Lottery.

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When are the Louisiana Lottery drawings held?

  • Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
  • Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT Tuesday and Friday.
  • Pick 3, Pick 4 and Pick 5: Daily at 9:59 p.m. CT.
  • Easy 5: 9:59 p.m. CT Wednesday and Saturday.
  • Lotto: 9:59 p.m. CT Wednesday and Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Louisiana editor. You can send feedback using this form.



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Schumer demands congressional brief on Iran; Louisiana delegation weighs in on attack

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Schumer demands congressional brief on Iran; Louisiana delegation weighs in on attack


NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) demanded a congressional briefing from President Trump’s administration Saturday (Feb. 28), hours after the U.S. military joined Israel in launching airstrikes against Iran.

“When I talked to Secretary (of State Marco) Rubio, I implored him to be straight with Congress and the American people about the objectives of these strikes and what comes next,” Schumer said in a statement. “Iran must never be allowed to attain a nuclear weapon, but the American people do not want another endless and costly war in the Middle East when there are so many problems at home.

“The administration has not provided Congress and the American people with critical details about the scope and immediacy of the threat. Confronting Iran’s malign regional activities, nuclear ambitions and harsh oppression of the Iranian people demands American strength, resolve, regional coordination and strategic clarity. Unfortunately, President Trump’s fitful cycles of lashing out and risking wider conflict are not a viable strategy.

“The administration must brief Congress — including an immediate all-senators classified briefing — and in public testimony to answer these vital questions. The Senate should quickly return to session and reassert its constitutional duty by passing our resolution to enforce the War Powers Act. My prayers are with our brave American servicemembers.”

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Meanwhile, reaction to the attack from Louisiana’s congressional delegation appeared to break predictably among party lines.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) posted to X that the attack “is yet another move by President Trump to protect the United States and sends a message to the world: Never doubt America’s resolve or capacity to defend its interests.”

Rep. Troy Carter (D-La.) of New Orleans, however, said he was “deeply concerned” about the attack and said, “The American people deserve to understand the objectives, the risks and the path forward.”

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Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) wrote, “The President’s decision to attack Iran presumably was based upon a clear and present danger to the United States, and a planned execution that does not put the United States in a forever war.”

Rep. Julia Letlow (R-La.), who is mounting a primary challenge for Cassidy’s U.S. Senate seat, also endorsed Trump’s decision to attack Tehran.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.) also backed Trump’s military action, writing that Iran was “facing the severe consequences of its evil actions.”

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Democratic Rep. Cleo Field expressed reservations that Trump had not made a case for the attack to Congress or the American people.

Republican Sen. John Kennedy had not yet posted reactions to the Iran attack — dubbed by the Pentagon as “Operation Epic Fury” — on social media or sent statements to the news media.

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