The National Hurricane Center says Tropical Storm Danny’s five day forecast shows the system will grow to a near Category 2 hurricane strength. Senior Hurricane Specialist Stacy Stewart says the storm could gain 90 to 95 mile per hour winds…:
CUT 4 (05) “per hour winds”
He says they predict the storm will move past the northernmost Lesser Antilles and the Leeward Islands on Monday.

The Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control Commissioner Troy Hebert announces the firing of a veteran enforcement agent supervisor after learning of several violations including racial and sexual text messages found on his state phone. The man is Brette Tingle. The release indicates one of the messages said Tingle hoped a former agent would bomb Hebert’s office. The ATC also says “certain” recently discovered information is being sent to law enforcement agencies. Hebert’s state vehicle was stolen from his home over the weekend and investigators believe someone tried to set it on fire.

Republican US Senator David Vitter is set to hit the television airwaves with the first commercial of his gubernatorial campaign. The spot will begin airing tomorrow, but is available to view now at davidvitter-dot-com. ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley says this move is a sign that Vitter is ready to campaign…:
CUT 6 (07) “front runner status”
Vitter has the most money in his campaign warchest. Republican Scott Angelle has been running ads this summer but we’ve heard little so far from Republican Jay Dardenne and Democrat John Bel Edwards as far as advertising goes.

The White House anounces President Barack Obama will visit New Orleans on Thursday August 27th to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. They say he will visit several neighborhoods in the city that day.