| By DREW BROACH | Staff writer |
SMOKE, FOG, CONFUSION: Louisiana State Police blame intense fires after 168 vehicles crashed in the mile-long pileup on Interstate 55 for complicating efforts to recover and identify the people killed in the tragedy, and for their initially incorrect death toll. What we know of the dead More super fog this weekendCLOSING CHURCHES: The Archdiocese of New Orleans is expected to announce the consolidation of multiple parishes in its largest contraction of Roman Catholic churches since 2008, when the loss of population after Hurricane Katrina led to 40 parishes merging and more than 20 individual churches closing. THE SPEAKER’S LIFE: Since Louisiana congressman Mike Johnson’s abrupt elevation to speaker of the House, the thumbnail description of him has said little more than anti-abortion, anti-gay rights and pro-Donald Trump. For a deeper understanding of Johnson, we asked his longtime friends how he came to be the person he is today. Welcome to the weekend. Check out all the latest news, sports and entertainment coverage from The Times-Picayune. - Drew. | 