AM NEWSCALL
The 2021 Hurricane Season officially ends today and after a wild ride for Louisiana two seasons in a row, it’s welcome news. Brooke Thorington explains.
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The question remains on what a person’s natural immunity to the virus is after contracting COVID-19. More from Dave Brannen.
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A new Louisiana State Police training academy class begins this weekend. Kevin Gallagher has more on that…:
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Hurricane season officially ends today but according to State Climatologist Barry Keim we could still see a disturbance in the month of December, but it’s highly unlikely. Keim says the 2021 hurricane season was the third busiest on record with 21 named storms, seven were hurricanes, and four of which were major.
Keim says the record book goes back 170 years to 1851.
Of the four major hurricanes this year, Ida was one that ravaged parts of southeast Louisiana. Keim says while Ida proved the levee system in the New Orleans metropolitan area is sound, she devastated other towns.
Keim says things really began to ramp up in 1995 and we’ve experienced above-normal seasons ever since. Last year Louisiana was impacted by five storms, Tropical Storm Cristobal, and Hurricanes Laura, Marco, Delta, and Zeta. This year three storms have left their mark with Tropical Storm Claudette, and Hurricanes Ida and Nicholas.
Cut 6 (07) “..unprecendented.”
Keim says this is the first time we’ve had two back-to-back seasons with 21 or more named storms.
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Senator Bill Cassidy is expressing concern that federal health officials are not looking into how long one can expect to remain naturally immune to COVID-19 after getting it. He believes it’s due to incompetence on the part of such agencies as the CDC and the NIH.
Cassidy says the CDC has not really done a great job with the COVID crisis, critical of the agency’s director who he says is running the operation via ZOOM from home.
Cassidy theorizes on why the CDC is not plunging into trying to determine a person’s natural immunity to COVID after contracting the virus and surviving it.
Just like investigating crime, an effort should be underway to determine how much people are protected from the coronavirus by way of natural immunity.
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The 100th Louisiana State Police cadet class starts this Sunday. LSP Superintendent Colonel Lamar Davis says this academy comes at a good time, as they are about 200 troopers shy of ideal manpower…:
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Col. Davis acknowledges some problems State Police have had in recent years with use of force in roadside encounters; especially with persons of color. The new academy class of 65 cadets includes 10 females and reflects cultural diversity as well, which Davis feels can only be a good thing…:
Cut 11 (14) “…is value added.”
Col. Davis says LSP will do everything necessary to change any negative behavior by troopers they encounter. A number of troopers have been fired in recent years for said behavior. Davis says use of any force accounts for less than one percent of roadside encounters and assistance. He says the new class of well-trained troopers will improve public safety…:
Cut 12 (14) “…supposed to be done.”
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Today is Giving Tuesday a tradition that began in 2012 and like last year the need is great in Louisiana. Interim Red Cross Communications Director for Louisiana, Caroline Fountain says with two devastating hurricane seasons back-to-back, a donation to the Red Cross is greatly welcomed.
Fountain says the easiest way to donate is to go to RedCross-dot-org backslash holiday. And it’s a perfect solution if you’re having trouble thinking of a gift to give someone this year.
And Fountain says your monetary donation goes a long way…
Giving Tuesday is a day to volunteer or donate to your favorite charity.
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Outgoing U-L Lafayette Coach Billy Napier will coach his final game in Cajun Field this Saturday when the Cajuns host Appalachian State in the Sun Belt Conference Championship game. Napier has accepted the head coaching at Florida, but he has the utmost respect for the residents of Acadiana…
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Even though Napier accepted the head coaching job at Florida, he made it known that he wanted to coach U-L Lafayette in the Sun Belt title. He says the new job will not be a distraction…
Meanwhile, U-L Lafayette athletics director Bryan Maggard says he would like to have a new coach in place by December 15th, which is when recruits for the Class 2022, can sign national letters of intent…
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Louisiana Tech athletics director Eric Wood is also looking for a new football coach after firing Skip Holtz. Wood says they would like to make a higher sooner than later…
Wood says he’s looking for someone that will care for their student-athletes and will work well with the Ruston community. He says the main qualification is a coach that will bring a winning football program to La Tech…