CAMAGUEY, Cuba (AP) Hurricane Ike's winds are roaring into Cuba after the storm killed nearly 50 people in Haiti and stripped off roofs in the Bahamas. The storm's top sustained winds have fallen to 120 miles-per-hour. It's expected to weaken further as it moves across Cuba but strengthen again in the Gulf.

KEY WEST, Fla. (AP) Some people are in no hurry to bail out of the Florida Keys despite predictions Hurricane Ike could skirt the islands as early as Tuesday. And there's concern that folks who evacuated New Orleans and other points along the Gulf Coast for Gustav might hesitate to leave again so soon.

Washington (AP) The chief economist at Moody's Economy.com says the federal takeover of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae makes the government the nation's mortgage lender. And he says that "takes a major financial threat off the table." The Treasury Department says it's ready to kick in as much as 200 billion dollars over time to keep the companies from going broke.

PHOENIXVILLE, Pa. (AP) An emergency dispatcher in suburban Philadelphia says a hot-air balloon has crashed and burst into flames, killing one person. Six others on board were injured.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) After a week of getting Republicans fired up about their campaign, presidential nominee John McCain and running mate sarah palin stocked up on some hot sauce at a New Mexico restaurant. A hostess says McCain prefers green chile over red, and "likes it hot."


(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 09-07-08 2050CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list