NPR News: 07-21-2026 1AM EDT

Giles Snyder· Host0:00

Live from NPR News, I'm Giles Snyder. New Orleans is getting ready for Tropical Storm Bertha.

Randy Heymann· Soundbite0:08

We take all events seriously w- and are prepared to enhance staffing levels across the utility to ensure that all teams are coordinated, positioned, and equipped to respond as conditions evolve.

Giles Snyder· Host0:21

Randy Heymann is the executive director of the New Orleans Sewerage & Water Board. He spoke Monday night as Bertha strengthened into a tropical storm about one hundred miles south of the Florida coast. Forecasters expect Bertha to bring heavy rains to the Gulf Coast and could make landfall south of New Orleans late Wednesday or early Thursday morning. The White House says the newest plane to serve as Air Force One will soon be sent away for upgrades. NPR's Joel Rose has more on renewed questions about the security features of the jet that was donated by Qatar.

Joel Rose0:53

President Trump flew back to Washington on the new Air Force One on Sunday evening. He was asked why he was flying in an airplane that lacks anti-missile defense systems. Trump said the plane does have, quote, "a lot of capability," but also added this.

Donald Trump· Soundbite1:06

In about a month or so, they're gonna send it to have it be, uh, maxed out.

Joel Rose1:11

In a statement, the White House later said the jet is perfectly safe for the president's travels but will receive, quote, "upgrades and enhancements," unquote, in the fall. The Boeing luxury jet was donated by Qatar last year. It was retrofitted so quickly that some experts say it may not be as secure as the other Air Force One jets that preceded it.