February 2022

A mild US flu season is waning, but is it really over?

NEW YORK (AP) — This winter’s mild flu season has faded to a trickle of cases in much of the U.S., but health officials aren’t ready to call it over.

Ukrainian rebels evacuate civilians to Russia amid crisis

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Spiking tensions in eastern Ukraine on Friday aggravated Western fears of a Russian invasion and a new war on the edge of Europe, with a humanitarian convoy hit by shelling and pro-Russian rebels ordering the evacuation of civilians from the conflict zone.

THIS WEEK’S BEST BETS

Sunday, Feb. 20

FIRST FAIR STAGED IN JENNINGS DEPOT

Staging a fair in a town of 150 population, with no meeting place other than the waiting room of a small railway depot — and making it a howling success is credited to E.R. Shankland and his loyal aides, who put on the first fair in Southwest Louisiana at Jennings in the year 1885. On August 8th, to be exact, according to records in the possession of Mrs. Laura Remage.

Sources: 19 Austin police officers indicted over protests

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A Texas grand jury indicted 19 Austin police officers on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for their actions during 2020 protests over racial injustice that spread nationwide following the killing of George Floyd, according to people familiar with the matter.

Cassidy announces $75M in natural disaster COVID-19 relief

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) today announced the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will grant Louisiana a total of $74,751,566.40 in natural disaster and COVID-19 relief. A total of $32,575,317.83 will go towards relief for the Great Flood of 2016 and $11,556,913.37 will go towards COVID-19 relief. There is $8,153,832.65 for Hurricane Laura relief, $2,297,612.17 Hurricane Zeta relief, and $20,167,890.38 for Hurricane Ida relief.

Canadian police start arresting protesters in Ottawa

OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Police began arresting protesters and towing away trucks Friday in a bid to break the threeweek, traffic-snarling siege of Canada’s capital by hundreds of truckers angry over the country’s COVID-19 restrictions. In an operation that unfolded slowly and methodically in the morning, officers were seen going door to door along a line of trucks, campers and other vehicles parked on Ottawa’s snowcovered streets.

What is love?

What is love in today’s world? A world filled with social media, where every moment is captured and shared the very instant it takes place. Image is king, and if you are not showcasing your best self, you must not be a success. Can life and love exist outside of a bubble? In the new film Marry Me, now in theaters and streaming on Peacock, we get a glimpse of a woman’s bubble and if it has room for anyone else.

US stocks waver, heading for second straight weekly loss

(AP) — Stocks wavered between small gains and losses in morning trading on Wall Street Friday as major indexes head for their second weekly loss in a row after another bout of turbulence shook markets.

Families of American captives frustrated with Justice Department

WASHINGTON (AP) — When relatives of American oil executives jailed in Venezuela met virtually with a senior Justice Department official this month, it didn’t take long for their frustrations to surface.