| By DREW BROACH | Deputy metro editor |
BLACKOUTS: It’s tempting to bash electric utilities for power outages. But climate change, too, is at the root of an increasing number of blackouts affecting large areas of the United States over the past decade, with Louisiana near the top of the list. An analysis published Wednesday by the research nonprofit Climate Central ranks Louisiana sixth among the states with the most power outages caused by hurricanes and other severe weather. (Get more environment stories by signing up for our free Louisiana Coastal Watch newsletter, emailed weekly.) FIONA WATCH: We’ll probably have Tropical Storm Fiona on Thursday. She was expected to grow out of tropical depression 7 of the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season, and to move west toward Puerto Rico and – dare we say it – the Gulf of Mexico. (Subscribe to our free Hurricane Center newsletter.) CAMPED OUT: Being a marginal player in the NFL is a challenge. The pay is good, the job security not so much, and some players on the bubble are understandably reluctant to put down roots in any city. Take, for example, Saints linebacker Chase Hansen, who for about four months during the 2020 season made his home in a tricked-out van in the parking lot of the team’s headquarters. (You can get the latest on the Black and Gold from our free Saints Insider newsletter, emailed daily during football season.) NEW ADDITION: Catch the best local culture and history coverage with our new Essential New Orleans newsletter. Sign up to receive it every weekend at NOLA.com/essential. Thanks for starting your Thursday with Morning Headlines. Check the latest news all day on NOLA.com. D.B. | 