Thousands flee China quake area over flood fears
BEICHUAN, China (AP) - Thousands of Chinese earthquake victims fled areas near the epicenter Saturday, fearful of potential floods from a river blocked by landslides. Soldiers carried older people out of Beichuan town - one of the areas hit hardest by the magnitude 7.9 quake Monday - while survivors cradled babies on a road jammed with vehicles and people. The death toll jumped to near 29,000.

Bush pivots to Arab side of Mideast peace dispute
SHARM EL-SHEIK, Egypt (AP) - President Bush pivoted to the Arab side of the Mideast peace dispute on Saturday, but he may well get a less glowing reception than he did in Israel earlier this week. Bush opened two days of talks here with a string of leaders key to U.S. goals in the region: Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. On Sunday, Bush is meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, Jordan's King Abdullah II, Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and several Iraqi leaders.

UAW, American Axle reach deal that may end strike
DETROIT (AP) - About 3,600 workers at American Axle and Manufacturing Holdings Inc. will find out soon whether a new contract was worth 80 days without a company paycheck. Bargainers for the United Auto Workers reached a tentative agreement with the company on Friday that could end a bitter strike against the auto parts maker that crippled dozens of General Motors Corp. factories in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

Late Senator figures in 2008 presidential furor
BOISE, Idaho (AP) - Being dead since 1940 hasn't kept Idaho U.S. Sen. William Borah from being inserted squarely into 2008 presidential politics after Democratic candidate Barack Obama took issue with President Bush's borrowing of a quote from Borah. In a speech Thursday to the Israeli Knesset, Bush mentioned the president of Iran, and said: "Some seem to believe that we should negotiate with the terrorists and radicals, as if some ingenious argument will persuade them they have been wrong all along."

Oregon race could spell end of Schumer streak
WASHINGTON (AP) - As head of the deep-pocketed Democratic Senatorial Campaign Commission, New York Sen. Charles Schumer hand-picked his party's nominee to take on Oregon Sen. Gordon Smith, the last Republican standing on the West Coast. But apparently, Schumer forgot to inform the state's voters. Days before votes are counted in the Oregon primary, Schumer's choice - Oregon House Speaker Jeff Merkley - is in a tight battle with Portland lawyer and activist Steve Novick. Polls show the race is too close to call.

Artist covers old gas station with huge blanket
DEWITT, N.Y. (AP) - Jennifer Marsh was sick of paying high gas prices and bothered by the abandoned gas station that was an eyesore on the drive to her studio each day. So the aspiring artist and inspired activist came up with an idea - to cover the gas station with a colossal handmade blanket in a way that would bring greater attention to the world's dependency on oil.

New leaders unlikely to ease US-Russian tensions
WASHINGTON (AP) - Russia's new president has promised the kind of democratic change that Washington advocated during predecessor Vladimir Putin's tenure. At the same time, all the candidates to succeed President Bush have promised a break from a foreign policy that Moscow has bitterly criticized. Still, there is scant optimism that the changes in leadership in Moscow and Washington will shift the downward momentum in relations between the two nuclear powers.

McEntire says she has more fun hosting ACM Awards
LAS VEGAS (AP) - After wrapping up a successful concert tour, you'd think Reba McEntire would want to take some time off to relax. Instead, the tireless country star is preparing for her 10th turn as host of the Academy of Country Music Awards this weekend. Over the years, she says she's gained more ease hosting the event. "I've got a lot more confidence," McEntire told AP Television at rehearsals Friday. "I know a lot more of these folks that I get to work with, and we're a wonderful team. And it's, I don't want to say, 'old hat,' 'cause I still get a little nervous and butterflies still happen when I get on that stage. But I think I have more fun with it now than I did the first time."

Lakers hold off Jazz 108-105, reach West finals
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Kobe Bryant scored 34 points and Los Angeles held off a furious rally by the Utah Jazz for a 108-105 victory Friday night, putting the Lakers in the Western Conference finals for the first time in four years. The Jazz trailed by 19 at halftime and 16 at the end of the third quarter, but hit a flurry of 3-pointers to get within two points in the final minute. The Jazz had a chance to tie it at the end, but Mehmet Okur and Deron Williams missed 3-pointers in the closing seconds and Utah's season was over.

James scores 32, Cavs beat Celtics to force Game 7
CLEVELAND (AP) - The Cleveland Cavaliers packed for a weekend stay in Beantown - not a few weeks on Cape Cod. They've got at least one more game left, and in the NBA, it's as big as they ever get. Game 7. On Sunday. In Boston. LeBron James scored 32 points - 19 in the second half - and the Cavaliers forced a decisive and fitting finale to this home-sweet-home playoff series with a 74-69 victory Friday night over the Celtics, who have gone from regular-season road kings to postseason road kill.