| BY CHAD CALDER | Staff writer |
Good morning and thanks for joining us. Here are some of today's top headlines. Host with the most: Super Bowl LIX will mark the 11th time New Orleans has hosted the big game. Jeff Duncan explains why the Crescent City is a natural fit for the biggest event in sports. Home sales: Home prices in New Orleans soared as people snapped up homes during the pandemic, but rising insurance and interest have continued to slow sales and keep prices in check. Stephanie Riegel has a look back at the residential real estate market in 2024. Tough choice: Louisiana has roughly 19,000 civilian federal employees weighing the decision to "resign" by Thursday and take buyouts as President Donald Trump seeks to drastically reduce the size of the federal workforce. Mark Ballard has the details. Thanks for reading. Check back throughout the day for more news, entertainment and sports from The Times-Picayune. Chad | 