NUEVA ORLEANS (AP) — La temporada de Carnaval en Nueva Orleans inició su clímax, el “Martes Gordo”, con los últimos desfiles fastuosos del Mardi Gras listos para recorrer los vecindarios históricos, mientras las estrechas calles del Barrio Francés albergan una estridente y continua fiesta callejera que desborda los bares y restaurantes. El Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club repartió su …

The AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll is back every week throughout the season! Get the poll delivered straight to your inbox with AP Top 25 Poll Alerts. Sign up here. Loyola (MD) Greyhounds (5-20, 3-9 Patriot League) at Lafayette Leopards (10-15, 9-3 Patriot League) Easton, Pennsylvania; Wednesday, 7 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: Lafayette takes on the Loyola (MD) …

Looking for a meaningful, beautiful, sustainable and last-minute gift for your Valentine? Consider houseplants. Florists say those that are heart-shaped, look cheerful or have staying power are especially good at conveying Valentine’s Day love. Plants symbolize growth and renewal, aspects of a healthy and loving relationship. A woman asks a gardener for Gerbera daisies in the Yogi Nursery, in New …

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A man accused of killing a Tennessee deputy and wounding another during a traffic stop last week was taken into custody Tuesday afternoon, a sheriff said. Kenneth Wayne DeHart, 42, was found in Knoxville, about 17 miles (30 kilometers) from his last known location, Blount County Sheriff James Lee Berrong said on social media. The post …

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Leaders of Mississippi University for Women made a new proposal Tuesday to shed the school’s gender-specific name in a way they hope will be accepted by alumni who fondly call their alma mater “The W.” The public institution would become Wynbridge State University of Mississippi and would still market itself as “The W,” if legislators approve …

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Russia accused the West on Monday of sabotaging agreements that would have prevented the war in Ukraine – but the U.S. and its allies put the blame squarely on Moscow, saying there is no escaping that President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of its smaller neighbor. Days before the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion on Feb. …

BEND, Oregon (AP) — Public health officials in Oregon have reported a case of bubonic plague in a local resident who they said likely contracted it from a pet cat. All close contacts of the person and the cat have been contacted and provided medication, Dr. Richard Fawcett, the health officer for Deschutes County, said in a statement last week. …

HONOLULU (AP) — The death toll from the wildfire that destroyed the historic Hawaii town of Lahaina in August rose to 101 on Tuesday after Maui police confirmed the identity of one new victim, a 76-year-old man. Maui police found Paul Kasprzycki’s remains off a side street in an industrial area, Maui police spokesperson Alana Pico said in an email. …

The Associated Press high school boys basketball poll with first-place votes in parentheses, records through Monday, total points, and last week’s ranking: Class 4A W-L Pts Prv 1. Fishers (10) 19-1 218 1 2. Noblesville 18-2 181 3 3. Westfield 18-4 166 4 4. Lawrence North (1) 19-2 149 2 5. Kokomo 19-3 134 6 6. Greenfield 20-0 124 5 …

The AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll is back every week throughout the season! Get the poll delivered straight to your inbox with AP Top 25 Poll Alerts. Sign up here. Illinois State Redbirds (11-14, 5-9 MVC) at Indiana State Sycamores (22-3, 13-1 MVC) Terre Haute, Indiana; Tuesday, 7 p.m. EST FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: Sycamores -17.5; over/under is 143.5 …