Thursday was the day of contract extensions for the University of Virginia athletics department.

One hour after announcing that Tony Bennett had signed a contract extension to remain the Virginia men’s basketball head coach through April 2030, UVA director of athletics Carla Williams announced that Brian O’Connor had agreed to a contract extension that keeps him as the head coach of the Virginia baseball program through the 2031 season.

“I’m excited every single day I come to Disharoon Park and look forward to the opportunity to sustain this championship college baseball program,” Brian O’Connor said. “The success we’ve had in our time at Virginia is a testament to the university’s commitment, the elite talent on the field, the loyalty of our baseball staff and the dedication of all those who support this program.”

The extension comes at a good, but busy time for O’Connor, who is currently in his hometown of Omaha, Nebraska preparing to coach the Cavaliers at the 2024 College World Series. O’Connor, who took over as the UVA baseball head coach in 2004, has led the program to seven College World Series appearances, each of which have come since 2009, second-most in the country over that span. Virginia is back in the College World Series for the second year in a row and for the third time in the last four years.

18 of Virginia’s 21 NCAA Tournament appearances have come under O’Connor and the Cavaliers made 14-straight NCAA Tournaments from 2004 to 2017. O’Connor’s current winning percentage of .704 is the highest of any active college coach and his 885 wins are the fourth-most of any program since 2004. In O’Connor’s 21 seasons leading the program, Virginia has produced 98 MLB Draft picks, including 15 first round picks, and 31 players who have made MLB debuts.

“We are incredibly fortunate to have Brian O’Connor leading our program,” Carla Williams said. “He has established a championship program, in every sense and we’re looking forward to continuing that legacy for many years to come in Charlottesville.”

O’Connor will look to lead Virginia to a second national title this week in Omaha. UVA’s run at the College World Series begins on Friday at 2pm (ESPN), when the Cavaliers take on ACC rival North Carolina at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha.

PREVIEW: Virginia Baseball Opens 2024 College World Series vs. UNC Friday

DANVILLE, W.Va. (WSAZ) – Since May 25, Debra Hopkins and her husband James haven’t had access to their phones after the tree directly behind their home fell into an unused trailer and destroyed the phone lines.

“I looked outside, and I thought ‘oh my God,’ and it ripped a hole through the ceiling. ” Debra said.

Debra has to drive more than 3 miles before she can get cell phone service. She said there’s no way to contact emergency services for her husband, who has a heart condition.

“It would take time for the ambulance to get here, so I’d be better off taking him in my car and run him to the hospital which takes about 20 minutes,” she said.

The location of their home has always made it difficult to take James to appointments.

“It makes you feel helpless, and he is just now getting to the point where he can actually go to the doctor every three to six months instead of every week being in the hospital.”

Debra and her daughter, who used to live in the trailer behind her mother’s home, said they’ve tried to reach out.

The last time Frontier came to evaluate the situation, they left her a paper that said, “Once the tree is cut off our line and a new pole is placed, we can safely get your service back working. It’s been reported, they are very busy.”

“She explained to them like I did about her dad and his heart condition, if he would have a heart attack we would be hurting.”

Debra said she’s thankful no one was hurt because of the damages to the trailer, and although her daughter no longer lives there, she’s tried to reach out to Frontier multiple times since May 25 to ensure the safety of her parents.

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The Virginia Department of Health is investigating after the state agency received multiple reports of gastrointestinal illnesses, including illnesses in children stemming from E. coli bacteria, among visitors to Lake Anna State Park in Spotsylvania, Virginia, during the Memorial Day holiday weekend.

The state health department told ABC News as of June 12, 20 of the reported cases stem from Shiga toxin-producing E. coli bacteria, five cases are of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) cases and 10 cases remain under investigation. Those who have reported falling ill started getting sick between May 27 and June 4 and at least 9 people have reported being hospitalized. The VDH said it is awaiting additional results from lake water testing conducted by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality on June 11.

“We hope that those hospitalized continue to recover and can return home to their families soon,” Dr. Olugbenga O. Obasanjo, the Rappahannock Health District health director, said in a statement. “This is an ongoing investigation with the health department, and we will likely continue to learn about the situation in the coming days.”

According to the VDH, those who fell ill were reported to have swam in Lake Anna or had otherwise been exposed to the 13,000 acre lake, one of the most popular lakes in Virginia. However, the health department said they have not been able to confirm whether lake exposure or a portion of the lake is causing illnesses and the agency did rule out illness caused by harmful algal bloom as current algae activity in the lake is at its typical level.

The state health agency also added that although the department doesn’t have enough information to issue a swimming advisory, it does “encourage caution when swimming” and encourages the general public to follow swimming and boating safety tips.

These include:

• Never drink untreated water.
• Shower or bathe after swimming to wash off possible germs and contaminants.
• Avoid swimming if you have any cuts or open wounds.
• Avoid swimming near storm drains along natural waters.
• Avoid swimming if you are experiencing vomiting or diarrhea.
• Avoid any water with a green film on the water and keep pets out of water with a green film, which can indicate an algal bloom with toxins.
• Avoid swimming for three days after a heavy rain. Storm water can contain germs from sewage, polluted storm water and land runoff.
• Wash hands after using the bathroom and before preparing and eating food.
• Dispose human waste properly by discharging boat sewage at marinas with a pump-out unit or dump station.

What to know about E. coli

Escherichia coli, often shortened to E. coli, is a type of bacteria commonly found in the environment, food, water, and the bodies of people and animals. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most E. coli bacteria are harmless, but there are strains that can cause illness, and E. coli illness in children can be more severe than illness in adults.

E. coli infections can cause various symptoms and issues, such as a high fever, severe stomach cramps, bloody or watery diarrhea, vomiting, urinary tract infections, pneumonia, sepsis, and more. Children under 5, older adults over 65 and those with weakened immune systems are at a higher risk of infection.

Shiga toxin-producing E. coli or STEC, in particular, can cause hemolytic uremic syndrome or HUS, which the CDC notes can lead to kidney failure, permanent health issues, or even death.

Anyone who notices diarrhea or vomiting lasting more than two days, bloody stool or urine, a fever higher than 102°F, or signs of dehydration or HUS should seek medical care immediately. Signs of HUS, a medical emergency, include little or no urination, loss of pink color in cheeks and inside the lower eyelids, unexplained bruising or rash of tiny red spots, blood in urine, fatigue, crankiness, or decreased alertness.

E. coli illnesses are treated in a variety of ways, according to the CDC, including with increased fluid intake, anti-diarrheal medication and the use of antibiotics.