Tropical Storm Bertha, located in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico, has maximum sustained winds of 60 miles an hour as it begins to make its way towards Louisiana. Andrew Greenstein reports.
Cut 1 (28) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”
____________________________________________
UL Lafayette Athletic Director Ryan Maggard will become Missouri’s Deputy A-D after nine years in Lafayette. Kace Kieschnick reports.
Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”
____________________________________________
The Louisiana Department of Health has now confirmed an additional 12 cases of cyclosporiasis this past week, bringing the total since the start of the outbreak to 68. To put that number in perspective, that’s almost double the typical number of cases it sees during the same time period in a given year.
The FDA originally traced the source of the outbreak to contaminated lettuce from Taylor Farms, but it now says that test was a false positive. Senator Bill Cassidy says the FDA should not have jumped the gun in its assessment.
Taylor Farms is still recalling its lettuce out of an abundance of caution. Cassidy says whether Taylor Farms is confirmed to be the source of the cyclospora, it underscores the importance of being totally sure of these things before going public with the information.
Cut 4 (12) “…you release them.”
U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says the cyclosporiasis outbreak is under control, and there’s no cause for concern over previous cuts to the program that tracks food poisoning. Cassidy says he will be requesting a briefing on that.
____________________________________________
Tropical Storm Bertha strengthened this morning. It’s maximum sustained winds are at 60 miles an hour and the center of the storm is in the northeastern Gulf. The National Hurricane Center says it has started moving west towards Louisiana’s southeastern coast.
National Weather Service Meteorologist Jacob Zeringue (zur-RANG) says there are two main threats that Bertha brings to the Louisiana coast.
Cut 6 (15) “…day on Wednesday.”
Zeringue says tropical storm-force winds are not expected to extend too far north from the coast.
Cut 7 (12) “…wind gusts tomorrow.”
State Climatologist Jay Grymes says Bertha is a lopsided storm so its stronger winds and heavier rain bands could remain over the Gulf, which means Louisiana may not receive the worst that Bertha has to offer.
______________________________________________________
UL Lafayette Athletics Director Doctor Bryan Maggard is leaving to take a job as the Deputy AD at Missouri. Maggard has led Cajuns’s athletics since 2017 to 21 conference titles and 23 NCAA postseason appearances. Locked On Sun Belt Podcast host Dave Schultz says he accomplished his biggest goal.
Maggard spearheaded a 65-million-dollar renovation to Cajun Field completed last year.
Maggard hired head football coaches Billy Napier and Michael Desormeaux who have led the Cajuns to eight straight bowl games. He directed the largest fundraising effort in school history, raising over 30-million-dollars. Schultz says Maggard guided the Cajuns through a new era in college athletics.
Cut 10 (12) “…on to Missouri.”
Deputy Athletics Director Trey Frazier will take over as the interim. Schultz says the search for a permanent replacement will be difficult. He says the responsibilities of college A-Ds have evolved.
The athletic department is currently under investigation by the Lafayette District Attorney’s office for misappropriated and unauthorized use of funds.