| By KASEY BUBNASH | Staff writer |
Good morning and thank you for joining us. Here are some of today's top headlines. Biden in New Orleans: Days after the New Year's Day attack on Bourbon Street, President Joe Biden spent a whirlwind 4 ½ hours in New Orleans Monday to offer private words of consolation to victims’ families and public words of solace to a packed interfaith service at St. Louis Cathedral. Here's what he had to say about the attack and how he spent his visit. Twelfth Night: Last night marked the official start of Carnival season, which, despite the bitter cold, kicked off as usual with parades and celebratory slices of king cake. But this year's Twelfth Night came with something else too: a promise for heightened security throughout Mardi Gras 2025. Doug MacCash has the details. 'So heartbroken': The killing of Thanh Vu, owner of Viet My Supermarket, during a robbery has been a blow not only to her tight-knit family but also to the wider New Orleans East community, where her grocery store has been a cultural hub for a generation. Desiree Stennett talked with Thanh Vu's friends and family about the legacy she left behind. Thanks for reading. Check back throughout the day for more news, entertainment and sports from The Times-Picayune. Kasey | 