| By DREW BROACH | Deputy metro editor |
INTENSE IAN: Hurricane Ian, one of the more powerful storms ever recorded in the United States, swamped southwest Florida on Wednesday, flooding streets and buildings, knocking out power to more than 1 million people and threatening catastrophic damage further inland. See how Ian's intensity ranks against other U.S. hurricanes, and how Louisiana is helping Florida. (Subscribe to our free Hurricane Center newsletter.) WEDGE PLAY: Saltwater moving up the Mississippi River is threatening public and industrial water supplies in Plaquemines Parish and New Orleans, triggering a plan by the Army Corps of Engineers to build – for the first time in a decade -- an underwater levee in the river channel to block the wedge. (Want more news about the environment? Sign up for our free Louisiana Coastal Watch newsletter, emailed weekly.) WHERE’S WINSTON? The New Orleans Saints who took the field at the London Irish Rugby Club for practice Wednesday afternoon were battered and bruised. Among the injured was starting quarterback Jameis Winston, whose absence left Andy Dalton working with the first-team offense and Taysom Hill taking snaps as a reserve. (If you like Black and Gold news, you'll like our free Saints Insider newsletter, emailed daily during football season.) Thanks for starting your Thursday with Morning Headlines. Catch the latest news all day on NOLA.com. D.B. | 