Washington (AP) An announcement is expected this hour from Treasury officials that the government is assuming control of troubled mortgage companies Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Biden tells NBC that the government rescue shouldn't mean bailing out shareholders at the expense of taxpayers.

PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos (AP) There's nothing idyllic today about the Turks and Caicos (KAY'-kohs) islands in the Atlantic, where Hurricane Ike has damaged most of the homes on the main island. On the Bahamian island of Great Inagua, a police officer says the situation is "looking terrible." The hurricane is packing winds of 135 miles an hour.

KEY WEST, Fla. (AP) Some people in the Florida Keys apparently plan to stick around and see how dangerous Hurricane Ike is.

Authorities don't think that's a good idea. They're trying to get residents to leave in advance of the storm, which could be felt as soon as tomorrow night. Visitors were ordered out yesterday.

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) The battle isn't over between Russia and Georgia at least, in the courtroom. Emergency hearings begin tomorrow in the International Court of Justice in The Hague. Georgia wants Russia to stop what it calls nearly two decades of persecution of its civilians in breakaway regions.

BELLEVILLE, Ill. (AP) Five-year-old Drew Gray will have to come up with new goals to accomplish. He's already chalked-up a hole-in-one on the Golf course. It doesn't officially count, because the 75-yard shot came on a par-3 course. Still, it makes him the youngest person ever to ace a hole at the course near St.

Louis.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 09-07-08 0947CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list