KEY WEST, Fla. (AP) Hurricane Ike has bulked up to a Category 4 storm, with top sustained winds of 135 miles-per-hour. Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Cuba and the Bahamas are all preparing for a possible hit as well Florida and the U.S. Gulf Coast.

UNDATED (AP) Tropical Storm Hanna has dumped heavy rain and knocked out power along the Eastern Seaboard, causing flooding and prompting evacuations. The storm is moving up the coast toward New England. The storm is blamed in at least 166 deaths earlier in Haiti, and officials there fear to toll could go far higher.

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (AP) Barack Obama says any government takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac must put the interests of taxpayers and homeowners first. John McCain says it's essential to restructure the mortgage giants. Both candidates have been briefed by the Treasury secrectary ahead of a rescue deal that could be announced tomorrow.

Washington (AP) John McCain and Barack Obama say they'll make a joint appearance at Ground Zero to mark the seventh anniversary of the September 11th attacks. They say they'll appear "to honor the memory of each and every American who died" in the 2001 attacks.

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (AP) For the second time this summer, mechanical problems have forced Barack Obama to change charter airplanes on short notice. Today's problem was a faulty PA system.

Under rules, planes with passengers can't fly without them. In July, an Obama charter had to make an emergency landing in St.

Louis because of a control problem.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 09-06-08 1754CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list