Irene’s winds whip the Dominican Republic, U.S. may see storm

Hurricane Irene churned just north of the Dominican Republic early Tuesday, lashing the Caribbean nation with 100 mph winds and heavy rain, the National Hurricane Center said. Next in Irene’s sights are the Turks and Caicos islands, which are expected to feel the storm’s fury by Tuesday evening. The first hurricane of the 2011 Atlantic season is expected to reach the southeastern and central Bahamas by early Wednesday.