Hurricane Rita strengthened into a Category 3 storm with 115 mph winds early today after lashing the Florida Keys and sparking anxiety as it headed into the Gulf of Mexico.

Police in New Orleans supported by troops have begun to use force to remove people from their homes in the city.

At least 25,000 of Hurricane Katrina’s refugees, a majority of them at the New Orleans Superdome, will travel in a bus convoy to Houston today and will be sheltered at the 40-year-old Astrodome, which hasn’t been used for professional sporting events in years.