Some (maybe-too-) simple checks:

-Have you logged in before exporting the cookies?
-Have your cookies been exported as Netscape-compatible cookies.txt?Inside
such a file looks like 
www.westernjournal.com	FALSE	/ct/lib-asks-man-america-great-1-answers-heard
FALSE	1532599690	crfgL0cSt0r	true
www.westernjournal.com	FALSE	/consent	FALSE	1532601297	crfgL0cSt0r	true
.westernjournal.com	TRUE	/	TRUE	1563530877	__cfduid
dbfce454d17e032255460a1d8e01d90641531994876
.westernjournal.com TRUE / FALSE 1595068496 _ga GA1.2.991361300.1531994877

-Is you cookie file a-lying in httrack's "project base folder"? The same
folder as your hts-log.txt?
(never exported my cookies as read-only, by the way).