You are probably right, they have to keep the viewers tuned in because Rita has not arrived yet & there are no other stories other than the tragic bus fire.
But the refrain from MSM will be similar to this, regardless of Rita's impact on Texas:
ReporterDude in NOLA 12:00 EST,
"this is just another sock in the gut for this neighborhood (9th ward) that has undergone so much"
True. There's so many hours in the day and only so many high-rating news stories.