McCain, Palin stock up on salsa before leaving New Mexico
ALBUQUERQUE (AP) - Before leaving New Mexico on Sunday, Republican presidential nominee John McCain and vice presidential running mate Sarah Palin picked up some of the hot stuff. They stopped at El Pinto restaurant in Albuquerque's north valley, shaking hands with customers before McCain bought several bottles of the restaurant's popular salsa for himself and Palin. The two held a rally in Albuquerque on Saturday, attracting more than 6,000 supporters, then stayed overnight. Campaign officials ordered meals to go. McCain bought medium and hot salsa. Palin left with medium green chile sauce and roasted green chile. Hostess Savannah Brandenburg said McCain indicated he prefers green chile over red, "and he likes it hot." President Bush has visited El Pinto previously, and Democrat Hillary Clinton dined there last month after attending New Mexico fundraisers.
Mortgage company takeovers may not relieve all homeowners
NEW YORK (AP) - The government's historic bailout of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac on Sunday will be good news to homebuyers and some homeowners hoping to refinance if it leads to lower mortgage rates, as experts expect. But for homeowners already behind on their mortgage payments, or who owe more than their homes are now worth, the plan unveiled Sunday by Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson offers little in the way of extra relief. Lawmakers are expected to watch intently in the coming months how the takeover works, but more housing legislation appears unlikely until next year. Still, lawmakers may seek to influence how Fannie and Freddie operate now that the companies are under government control.
Hope fades for finding survivors
in boulder-struck neighborhood
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CAIRO, Egypt (AP) - Hopes diminished Sunday for finding survivors among hundreds of people believed trapped beneath massive boulders that destroyed an impoverished neighborhood on Cairo's outskirts, killing at least 32 people, including whole extended families. Anger and resentment mounted as authorities failed for a second day to get heavy machinery into the devastated shantytown to try to clear the large slabs that split away from the Muqattam cliffs early Saturday. Survivors among the 100,000 residents of the Dewika slum were also left to spend the night without shelter, despite government promises to provide it. Despite the obvious danger and residents' pleas to the local council to provide safer housing, little action was taken, said Mustafa Mahmoud Sayyed, a five-year resident of the slum. "The building is shaking whenever you shut a door, and the walls are full of cracks. I live with my four sons with their mother in this cave," he said.
