1:30 LRN Newscast

Tropical Storm Bertha has maximum sustained winds of 60 miles per hour in the northeastern Gulf, and the National Hurricane Center says the storm has started to turn West towards the southeastern coast of Louisiana. 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.

Cut 8 (12) “…circulation.”

The FDA originally traced the source of the cyclophorias 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.

Cut 3 (11) “…I get that.”

 

Doctor Bryan Maggard is leaving U-L Lafayette as the school’s athletics director. He’s held that position since 2017 and led the renovation of the football stadium and the football team consistently went to a bowl game under his leadership. A search for a permanent A-D is underway and Dave Schultz, host of the Locked on Sun Belt podcast says it’s a hard job to fill with the right candidate…

Cut 11 (11) “…got to adjust”

At SEC Media Days, LSU makes a trip to Tennessee on November 21st. While it may not have the same vitriol as Kiffin’s return trip to Ole Miss in week three, fans in Knoxville have not forgotten about when the coach left them after just one season for USC in 2009. Volunteers head coach Josh Heupel says that’s a good thing.

Cut 18 (12) “…for his arrival.”

When Kiffin took Ole Miss to Knoxville in 2021 a golf ball and a entire bottle of mustard was thrown at him.

12:30 LRN Newscast

The National Hurricane Center says Tropical Storm Bertha is gaining strength as its maximum sustained winds are up to 60-miles per hour as its churns in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico. It’s moving slowly towards the Louisiana coast and is expected to make landfall in southeast Louisiana tomorrow night. National Weather Service Meteorologist Jacob Zeringue says rainfall amounts associated with Bertha will be limited to less than one inch for much of south Louisiana and when it comes tropical storm force winds????

Cut 7 (12) “…tomorrow”

The Louisiana Department of Health confirmed its first case of West Nile virus this year in Ouachita Parish. Last year, the state saw 86 confirmed human cases and four deaths.

 

Those of you in southwest Louisiana who would like more information on the construction of the new I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge that’s underway, there’s an open house in Lake Charles this evening that you can attend. John Guidroz with DOTD says people can get an up-close look at what the project entails.

Cut 5 (13) “…at Lakeshore Drive.”

The public hearing is today from 5:30 to 7 PM at the Lake Charles Event Center in the Contraband Room.

UL Lafayette Athletics Director Doctor Bryan Maggar is leaving to take a job as the Deputy AD at Missouri. Maggard has led Cajuns’ 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.

Cut 9 (12)  “…whole goal.”

Maggard spearheaded a 65-million-dollar renovation to Cajun Field completed last year.

11:40 LRN Sportscast

Two of LSU’s road opponents took the stage at SEC Media Days yesterday. LSU makes a trip to Tennessee November 21st. While it may not have the same vitriol as Kiffin’s return trip to Ole Miss in week three, fans in Knoxville have not forgotten about when the coach left them after just one season for USC in 2009. Volunteers head coach Josh Heupel says that’s a good thing.

Cut 18 (12) “…for his arrival.”

The Tigers visit former offensive coordinator Joe Sloan and Kentucky October 10th. First-year head coach Will Stein had high praise for his coordinator and Notre Dame transfer quarterback Kenny Minchey agrees.

Cut 17 (13) “…what he’s doing.”

Former LSU baseball star Tommy White had four hits in just his third major league game last night against the Diamondbacks. White was four-for-five at the plate with four singles and one run. The A’s took the 5-2 win and White is now batting .455 after going hitless Sunday.

Southland Conference Football Media Day is today in Houston. Southeastern finished second in the conference last year and returns most of its offensive production. Defensive lineman Peyton Anderson says the Lions have only gotten better.

Cut 22 (12) “…of that competitiveness.”

Nicholls was 4-and-4 in conference play under first-year head coach Tommy Rybacki. He says everything goes better the second time you do it.

Cut 21 (16) “…do better.”

11:30 LRN Newscast

The National Hurricane Center says Tropical Storm Bertha is strengthening in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico. It is slowly moving northwest towards the southeastern coast of Louisiana, with maximum sustained winds at 60 miles per hour. The national hurricane center’s latest forecast calls for the storm to make landfall as a tropical storm tomorrow night in southeast Louisiana. National Weather Service Meteorologist Jacob Zeringue says there are two main threats with Bertha.

Cut 6 (15) “…day on Wednesday.”

St. Bernard Parish Emergency Preparedness Director John Rahaim (“ram”) says they’re expecting wind and rain…

Cut 9 (08)  “…coast of Louisiana.”

 

If you have questions about the construction of the new I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge, there’s an open house in Lake Charles you can attend later today. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

There are reports out of Lafayette that Ragin Cajuns athletics director Bryan Maggard is leaving. He’s been the A-D at U-L Lafayette since 2017. Maggard is very familiar with Missouri. He was the Tigers Executive Associate Athletic Director there for 21 years.

10:30 LRN Newscast

The National Hurricane Center said in its 10 AM update that Tropical Storm Bertha is getting stronger as it slowly moves towards Louisiana’s southeastern coast. Its maximum sustained winds are up to 60-miles per hour. State Climatologist Jay Grimes says Bertha is a lopsided storm with stronger winds and heavier rain bands to the south…

Cut 30 (15) “…circulation”

Bertha is expected to make landfall tomorrow night in southeast Louisiana and continue to move west along the state’s coastline. It’s possible that Bertha will be a storm that provides some gusty winds, but most of the rain will stay south of the Louisiana coast.

A tropical storm warning extends from the Florida panhandle to the Terrebonne-Lafourche Parish line.

 

Southwest Louisiana residents curious about the construction of the new I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge can attend a public meeting tonight at the Lake Charles Event Center. DOTD spokesperson John Guidroz says not only will the public receive information on what to expect during construction, but they can also see all the benefits of a new bridge once it’s completed in 2031.

Cut 6 (11) “…State of Louisiana.”

The open house is this evening from 5:30 to seven in the contraband room at the Lake Charles Event Center.

The Louisiana Department of Health confirmed its first case of West Nile virus this year in Ouachita Parish. Last year, the state saw 86 confirmed human cases and four deaths. State Epidemiologist Theresa Sokol says it’s important to do our part to keep mosquitos from multiplying.

Cut 14 (11) “…that stagnant water.”

6:45 LRN Sportscast

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey opened SEC Media Days by confirming there have been discussions among officials about the league breaking away from the NCAA…

Cut 28 (15) “…honest communication”

Sankey says the frustrations are over a governance system that does not allow the NCAA to enforce rules without them being challenged and overturned in court The commissioner gave no indication a breakaway is imminent, but his public comments come as the U-S Senate works on  federal legislation that attempts to bring rules and regulations to college athletics.

Southland football media day takes place today. UIW, Southeastern, McNeese and Nicholls are expected to contend for a conference title.

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Two of LSU’s opponents spoke on the first day of SEC Media Days. The Tigers will visit Kentucky on October 10th. The Wildcats are led by new head coach Will Stein. Stein spent two seasons as the offensive coordinator at Oregon and is confident he can make Kentucky a winner in football…

Cut 16 (13) “…down and play”

The Tigers are at Tennessee on November 21st. The Vos will have a quarterback battle in the preseason between redshirt freshman George MacIntyre and top-15 freshman Faizon Brandon. Coach Josh Heupel (HYPE-ul)…

Cut 19 (18) “…field with

5:30 LRN Newscast

Tropical Depression Two is trying to form into Tropical Storm Bertha in the northeastern Gulf. The potential storm is expected to move towards the east and move across Louisiana’s coast on its way to Texas. LSU Health Climatologist Barry Keim says there’s the potential for heavy rainfall south of I-10 on Thursday…

Cut 11 (12) “…four or five inches”

The storm could make landfall in or around Plaquemines Parish. Patrick Harvey is the emergency preparedness director in Plaquemines. Harvey says there are no plans to order evacuations. He says that could change if the storm surge forecast increases to six feet or higher, which could lead to flooding on Highway 39….

Cut 13 (10) “…this time”

 

With construction getting underway on a new I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge, southwest Louisiana residents have questions about how that will affect them. John Guidroz with DOTD says there’s an open house in Lake Charles tomorrow evening that you can attend.

Cut 4 (11) “…term as well.”

The open house is tomorrow from 5:30 to seven in the Lake Charles Event Center.

The first day of SEC Football Media Days is in the books. This is the first year teams will play a nine-game conference schedule. Missouri Coach Eli Drinkwitz says some coaches now regret supporting the move. But SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey had this response…

Cut 7 (12) “…about that reality”

LSU Coach Lane Kiffin is also not a fan of a nine-game SEC schedule.

3:30 LRN Newscast

We’re keeping a close eye on what is currently Tropical Depression Two. The center of the system is in the northeastern Gulf and forecasters expect it to become Tropical Storm Bertha this afternoon or tonight. LSU Health Climatologist Barry Keim says they are not expecting major strengthening as it moves towards southeast Louisiana….

Cut 3 (10) “…a major hurricane.”

Based on the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center, there’s a good chance the potential storm will make landfall along the southeastern coast as a tropical storm. Meteorologist Megan Williams with the National Weather Service in Slidell says that means maximum sustained winds of up to 75 miles per hour…

Cut 11 (07) “…porches and awnings”

The next major update from the National Hurricane Center comes down at 4 PM.

 

Government officials are preparing for a tropical storm to make landfall along Louisiana’s southeastern coast on Wednesday. Patrick Harvey is the emergency preparedness director in Plaquemines Parish. Harvey says there are no plans to order evacuations. He says that could change if the National Hurricane Center predicts a storm surge of six feet or higher, which could lead to flooding of Highway 39, cutting off a major evacuation route for coastal residents….

Cut 13 (10) “…this time”

Right now the storm surge predication is for two to four feet east of the mouth of the Mississippi River.

The entire state is dealing with extreme heat. High temperatures are in the mid to upper 90s. Louisiana Department of Health Secretary Bruce Greenstein says if you don’t have to be outside don’t…

Cut 27 (09) “…and use it”

The state reported four heat-related deaths in June.

2:30 LRN Newscast

A tropical storm is expected to form in the northeastern Gulf today, and the National Hurricane Center’s forecast track has the developing system making landfall in southeast Louisiana. Andrew Greenstein has more…

Cut 1 (28) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

____________________________________________

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey addressed some of the hottest issues in college sports at SEC Media Days in Tampa. Kace Kieschnick has more.

Cut 2 (36) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

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We’re keeping a close eye on what is currently Tropical Depression Two. The center of the system is in the northeastern Gulf and forecasters expect it to become Tropical Storm Bertha this afternoon or tonight. LSU Health Climatologist Barry Keim says they are not expecting major strengthening as it moves towards southeast Louisiana….

Cut 3 (10) “…a major hurricane.”

According to the National Hurricane Center’s latest forecast, Bertha is expected to make landfall as a tropical storm in southeast Louisiana on Wednesday, but Keim says the coastal parishes will feel the effects much sooner.

Cut 4 (11) “…on Wednesday evening.”

Of course, a lot can change between now and then, and the cone of uncertainty has the path anywhere from north of Baton Rouge to well south of the Louisiana coast; and Keim says while the storm is currently not expected to intensify beyond tropical storm strength, that could change if the track shifts south off the coast.

Cut 5 (09) “…watch very carefully.”

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for coastal Gulf waters east of the mouth of the Mississippi River.

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SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey kicked off SEC Football Media Days in Tampa. In his State of the SEC address, Sankey echoed official statements from the conference and many member schools that support the effort behind the Protect College Sports Act but say it needs changes. He says his top priority is that the legislation is enforceable.

Cut 6 (12) “…following the law.”

SEC teams will play their first nine-game conference schedule this year, the most ever in a single season. Sankey says the conference is the best in the nation with the toughest schedule but the College Football Playoff Committee has not pledged to reward that extra challenge.

Cut 7 (11) “…about that reality.”

With the expanded College Football Playoff, the importance and scheduling of conference championships have been called into question. While Sankey pointed out the SEC has been the only conference to hold a championship game before, he says the future of the game beyond this year is not set in stone.

Cut 8 (08) “…College Football Playoff.”

Sankey also said there have been real conversations about the SEC breaking away from the NCAA due to frustrations with the governing body.

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National Weather Service Meteorologist Megan Williams says some areas could be in for some heavy rains from the storm which is expected to become Tropical Storm Bertha later today.

Cut 9 (10)  “…that rainfall occurs.”

Williams says when the storm makes landfall Wednesday, coastal communities should be prepared for a moderate storm surge.

Cut 10 (12) “…feet of inundation (2x).” 

Williams says the storm’s current forecast does not have it intensifying beyond tropical storm strength. That would keep maximum sustained winds below 74 miles an hour.

Cut 11 (07) “…porches and awnings.”

______________________________________________________

Forecasters predict a storm surge of two to four feet along the coasts of St. Tammany, St. Bernard, Plaquemines and Jefferson parishes. Plaquemines Parish Emergency Preparedness Director Patrick Harvey says they are not expecting major flooding.

Cut 12 (14) “…should remain dry.” 

Harvey says there are no plans to order evacuations in Plaquemines Parish. He says that could change if the National Hurricane Center predicts a storm surge of six feet or higher, which could lead to flooding of Highway 39, cutting off a major evacuation route for coastal residents.

Cut 13 (10) “…this time.”

Harvey says the heaviest rain bands could stay south of Louisiana’s coast.

Cut 14 (08) “…Plaquemines Parish.”

12:30 LRN Newscast

A tropical storm could form in the northeastern Gulf today, and the National Hurricane Center’s forecast track has the developing system making landfall in southeast Louisiana.

Cut 1 (28) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein

Forecasters predict a storm surge of two to four feet along the coasts of St. Tammany, St. Bernard, Plaquemines and Jefferson parishes. Plaquemines Parish Emergency Preparedness Director Patrick Harvey says they’re not expecting major flooding…

Cut 12 (14) should remain dry”

 

A new state law taking effect August 1st will allow victims of stalking and cyberstalking to break apartment leases without penalty. Current Louisiana law already gives that protection to victims of domestic abuse. New Orleans Representative Mandie Landry says the change came after she learned of a stalking victim who had no legal way to leave a dangerous situation.

Cut 10 (10) “…that already existed”

SEC Media Days are underway in Tampa. This is the first year teams will play a nine-game conference schedule. Missouri Coach Eli Drinkwitz says some coaches now regret supporting the move. But SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey had this response…

Cut 7 (12) “…about that reality”