Waiting for Ike...Ike targeting Cuba...Mortgage crisis

KEY WEST, Fla. (AP) Hurricane Ike is expected to skirt the Florida Keys as early as Tuesday. And it's expected to make landfall later in the week between the Florida Panhandle and Texas.

Officials, including Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal (JIN'-dul), are hoping hurricane fatigue won't keep people from getting out of harm's way.

CAMAGUEY, Cuba (AP) Forecasters say Hurricane Ike's eye will make landfall early tomorrow in Cuba and could hit Havana, a city of 2 million people, with many vulnerable old buildings. As of 8 p.m. Eastern time, the Category 3 storm had top sustained winds of 120 miles-per-hour.

Washington (AP) Investors seem relieved with the federal takeover of mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Futures on all major stock indexes are up about 2 percent in electronic trading tonight. The move could cost taxpayers billions, but officials say it's needed to ease the housing and loan crises.

VIENNA, Austria (AP) Will OPEC narrow the spigot? The price of oil is off nearly 30 percent from the July high of almost $150 a barrel, and oil ministers are considering cutting back output to prop up the price. They meet Tuesday in Vienna.

NEW YORK (AP) Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin has agreed to sit down with ABC's Charles Gibson later in the week for her first TV interview since John McCain picked her to be his running mate. Aides say she'll be interviewed over two days in Alaska, probably Thursday and Friday.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 09-07-08 1948CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list