We’ve hit the statistical peak of the 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season. Matt Doyle spoke with a state climatologist about the record-breaking season so far…
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Louisiana Tech Head Coach Skip Holtz blames Hurricane Laura for an outbreak in coronavirus cases among the football team. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”
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The high school football season will kick off October 1st and contact practices can resume today. Matt Doyle has the story.
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Today we’re at the statistical peak of the 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season and so far it’s been one for the record books.
State Climatologist Barry Keim says we’ve seen a record-breaking 17 named storms so far this year…
Prior to 2020 the busiest first half of the season was seen in 2005 when only 15 named storms had formed at the halfway point. 2005 ended with 27 named storms.
Keim says back in June Tropical Storm Cristobal became the earliest C storm to ever form. It just got worse from there as more systems arrived…
Of the 17 named storms so far five have become hurricanes and one became a major hurricane. Another two to five major hurricanes are projected by NOAA.
Keim warns Louisianans to remain vigilant and warns that just because we’ve been hit three times already doesn’t mean we won’t see a fourth landfall…
Cut 6 (12) “…Louisiana.”
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LSU is using wastewater samples to track the spread of coronavirus on campus. COVID patients shed the virus in their fecal matter and testing wastewater from various points in a sewer system can see how many cases exist. Civil and environmental engineering professor Dr. John Pardue says testing can be encouraged quickly upon detection at a certain location.
Cut 7 (09) “…samples next week.”
The science, known as sewer epidemiology, has been used in the Baton Rouge area for COVID tracking since June.
Pardue says not only does the screening show whether people on a system are COVID positive, but it can measure the viral load and give an estimate of how many people may have the virus.
Cut 8 (08) “…make an estimate.”
Pardue says sewer epidemiology, when compared to testing, can give an earlier idea of COVID positivity in a community.
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Louisiana Tech Head Coach Skip Holtz blames Hurricane Laura for an outbreak in coronavirus cases among the football team. The Bulldogs were supposed to kick off the season playing Baylor on Saturday in a nationally televised game. Holtz says it is a disappointing development since they had run a clean shop all through practice.
Cut 10 (12) “…wasn’t large enough.”
Holtz says players were trying to find suitable accommodations following the storm and that lead to many of them being infected by the virus.
Cut 11 (12) “…in the building.”
Holtz is hopeful that if the infected players do not have any complications that show up on an EKG, that up to 30 of the 36 players could return in time to play their next scheduled game on September 19th against Southern Miss.
No makeup date has been set for the matchup with Baylor.
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The LHSAA announces the high school football season will kick off October 1st and contact practices can begin today.
Director Eddie Bonine says teams will begin their eight-game season against their previously scheduled week three opponent, and the football community can’t wait…
There will be no jamborees, but scrimmages will be allowed from September 24th-26th.
Bonine says there’s still a lot of details to be worked out, like how to get cheerleaders and the band involved safely, but it will get done. He did acknowledge the ride may be a little bumpy…
A five-round playoff will be held at the end of the season but public and private schools will still compete separately. All nine championships will be held in the Superdome. Dates for the playoffs and championships have not been set.
Bonine says the research shows football can be safely conducted right now, and the biggest health risks are in the stands, not between the lines, so…
The LHSAA will not be setting stadium capacities or attendance procedures, those will be determined by local officials and local health guidelines.
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