| By KASEY BUBNASH | Staff writer |
Good morning and thanks for joining us. Here are some of today's top headlines. Francine takes aim: Francine is expected to intensify some as it moves through the Gulf of Mexico toward Louisiana's coast, where the storm is expected to make landfall sometime Wednesday as a Category 2 hurricane. You can find all our latest Francine updates here. Hutson in hot water: Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson violated state ethics laws when she used sheriff’s accounts to pay more than $55,000 to the son of one of her top aides, the Louisiana Board of Ethics has charged. Joseph Cranney explains the charges. Discounts downtown: New Orleans officials want to offer discounted downtown parking spaces to hospitality industry workers and performers, part of a bid by Mayor LaToya Cantrell to bolster the backbone of the city's tourism sector and help business owners by reducing tardiness and no-shows. James Finn has the story. Thanks for reading. Check back for more news, entertainment and sports from The Times-Picayune. Kasey | 