Governor Edwards warns the state to be ready for one of the strongest storms that Louisiana has seen in nearly 15 years. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”
________________________________
LSU students are set to begin classes today under the New Normal. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”
___________________________________________
Could Tropical Storm Laura impact drivers at the pump? Experts indicate the potential is there. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”
______________________________
Governor Edwards warns that Laura could make landfall in Louisiana as a strong Cat 2 hurricane or even a Cat 3. Edwards says Laura could pack a punch in more than one way as it moves toward the coast.
Cut 4 (07)“…be rain impact.”
The storm is currently expected to make landfall in southwest Louisiana in the early morning hours of Thursday.
Edwards says the storm has parallels to one of the state’s most historic storms and could be the strongest seen in nearly 15 years.
Cut 5 (09) “…to Hurricane Rita.”
Edwards says residents need to take the threat seriously and says hurricane parties were already a bad enough idea in years past…
Cut 6 (09) “…their time preparing.”
______________________________
LSU students start classes today, with many returning to in-person education for the first time since March.
LSU Interim President Thomas Galligan says when students walk into their first class they’ll notice a six and a half foot tall Plexiglas shield on the podium separating them from their instructors.
Cut 7 (09) “…protection”
All instructors and students are mandated to wear face coverings while anywhere on campus.
Galligan says the Rec Center is back open at a limited capacity, as is the Student Union and dining options.
Cut 8 (08) “…careful.”
LSU is deploying four COVID testing pods on campus with the aim of providing 24 hours turnarounds on 5,000 tests a day. Galligan says efforts like that prove the administration is serious about safety, but still…
Cut 9 (08) “…reverse.”
Currently, a third of all classes will be all in person, a third will be hybrids, and a third will be online only.
____________________
Most models now have Hurricane Laura heading straight for Cameron Parish and moving directly inland to Lake Charles early Thursday morning.
This development has led to voluntary evacuation recommendations in the region. Calcasieu Emergency Preparedness director Dick Gremillion says it’s not the winds that have them most concerned…
Cut 10 (11) “…ago.”
Gremillion pointed to the flooding that occurred during Hurricane Ike in 2008 and Hurricane Rita in 2005 as possibly similar scenarios.
Lake Charles may not be on the coast but Gremillion says the storm surge still threatens the city due to the marshland to the south, and…
Cut 11 (10) “…Gulf.”
A hurricane watch is in effect for the southwest and south-central state coastline, with a tropical storm watch extending to the mouth of the Mississippi.
Models show Laura sitting just shy of category three strength upon landfall. Gremillion says category threes usually trigger mandatory evacuation orders but…
Cut 12 (10) “…steady.”
Gremillion says if you reside in a travel trailer, unsecured mobile home, or a storm surge area you need to seek other shelter.
_________________________
The drivers may soon feel the impact of Tropical Storm Laura at the pump. Gas Buddy Senior Petroleum Analyst Patrick DeHaan says the price might inch up in the region and if evacuation orders are issued, that might cause some scarcity.
Cut 13 (11) “…to go around.”
DeHaan says it could be a matter of days before a noticeable uptick in price hits the pump. DeHaan adds that wholesale gas prices went up about a nickel per gallon yesterday for most of the country since the states of Texas and Louisiana are home to many of the nation’s refineries.
Cut 14 (09) “…48 hours or so.”
DeHaan says in the event that scarcity does become an issue in the days following the storm, the Gas Buddy app may be able to help in locating operational fuel sources.
Cut 15 (10) “to find fuel.”
________________________
It may have been a chaotic offseason but Saints Coach Sean Payton says his players are getting back into the groove of normal training camp activities. He says the past few days the emphasis has been less on-field training and more on football IQ.
Cut 16 (18) “…situations”
Saints rookie interior lineman Cesar Ruiz is locked into a position battle with last year’s second-round selection Erik McCoy over who will get to man the center of the line and who will get kicked out to right guard. Payton says they don’t have a clear idea yet on who will play what position.
cut 17 (11) “…combination”
The position battle opened up after the Saints released veteran right guard Larry Warford after drafting Ruiz.
McCoy says he’s enjoying the competition and is open to moving to right guard from his native center. He also remarked on how third-string QB, former Tampa star Jamies Winston is adapting to the new playbook and expectations.
Cut 18 (10) “…now”
The Saints start the season September 13th at home against the new look Brady-led Bucs.