Hurricane Beryl has moved past Jamaica and has its eyes set on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. Beryl is a Category Three storm, but weakening is expected today. Forecasters are calling for Beryl to enter the southern Gulf of Mexico on Saturday as a tropical storm and make a final landfall as a Category one hurricane early next week near the Texas-Mexico border.

Governor Jeff Landry has announced Jay Grymes as the first State Climatologist to serve under Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.
Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Mel Bridges.”

It’s Fourth of July and that means a lot of people popping off their own fireworks tonight. President of the Louisiana Fire Chiefs Association Tracey Normand says be sure you are not violating any local ordinances. Normand says drinking and driving is not a good idea; drinking and lighting an explosive is a worse idea.
Cut 6 (10) “…our digits.”

It’s a big tourism weekend for New Orleans as Essence Festival gets underway today. The annual musical festival started in 1995 in New Orleans to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Essence Magazine. New Orleans and Company spokesperson Kelly Schulz says now Essence Fest is celebrating 30 years. Schulz says the July-August issue of Essence Magazine is a love letter to New Orleans…
cut 14 (12) “…well beyond”
Usher and Janet Jackson will perform at Essence Festival this weekend.