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AP Top News at 8:07 a.m. EDT

Obama heads to Ohio looking for health care votes

WASHINGTON (AP) - Still seeking votes for his proposed health care overhaul, President Barack Obama appears ready to reverse his position and allow unpopular deal-sweetening measures in the hopes of finding Democratic support for legislation whose future will be decided in coming days. Increasingly eager to finish work on his top domestic priority, Obama was set to head to northeast Ohio on Monday with a final sales pitch for health care legislation that the top Democratic vote-counter in the House said lacked support to pass. Obama's top political adviser, David Axelrod, said he was "absolutely confident" the measure would pass during a make-or-break week that already saw the president delay his trip to Indonesia, Australia and Guam.

Gov't says it cannot explain runaway Toyota

WASHINGTON (AP) — The federal government said Monday it cannot explain a reported incident of sudden, high-speed acceleration in a Toyota Prius on a San Diego, Calif., freeway last week. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a statement that it continues to investigate but "we may never know exactly what happened with this car.''

US census forms arrive in the mail: What to expect

WASHINGTON (AP) - Let the count begin. More than 120 million U.S. census forms begin arriving Monday in mailboxes around the country, in the government's once-a-decade population count that will be used to divvy up congressional seats and more than $400 billion in federal aid. Fast-growing states in the South and the West could stand to lose the most because of lower-than-average mail participation rates in 2000 and higher shares of Hispanics and young adults, who are among the least likely to mail in their forms.

Narcos blamed for killings of 3 with US consul tie

CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico (AP) - Suspected drug gang hit men separately ambushed two cars carrying families with ties to the U.S. consulate in this violent border city, killing an American couple and a Mexican man. Three young children survived, although two suffered wounds. The slayings came amid a surge in bloodshed along Mexico's border with Texas and drew condemnation from the White House. Mexico's president expressed outrage and promised a fast investigation to find those responsible.

Rain damage, detours hinder commutes in Northeast

EGG HARBOR CITY, N.J. (AP) — A torrential rainstorm that brought heavy winds to the Northeast, causing damage and flooding, created some minor headaches for commuters Monday. At least eight people died in storm-related accidents over the weekend, and nearly half a million people were without electricity in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and Connecticut at the peak of the storm.

Deadline for Thai Parliament dissolution passes

BANGKOK (AP) - Thailand's prime minister, backed by a formidable military force, rejected an ultimatum to dissolve Parliament on Monday as tens of thousands of red-shirted protesters vowed to continue their push to oust the government. They later set another deadline, threatening to pour more than 2,000 pints (1 million cubic centimeters) of blood drawn from their ranks at Government House, the seat of government, if their renewed demand was rejected by 6 p.m. Tuesday (7 a.m. EDT, 1100 GMT).

Edwards mistress didn't want him to run for prez

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - John Edwards' mistress says she didn't want him to run for president and considered it "reckless" to stay in the race after his wife's cancer returned. Rielle (ree-EHL') Hunter said in an interview with GQ released Monday that she and Edwards have been in love from February 2006 until now. Hunter said she told him he shouldn't run. She suggested he at least wait until April 2007 because her intuition and astrology suggested he would have a difficult first three months of the year.

Phillips-Van Heusen to buy Tommy Hilfiger for $3B

NEW YORK (AP) — Phillips-Van Heusen says it will buy privately held Tommy Hilfiger in a cash-and-stock deal valued at about $3 billion, creating one of the world's biggest clothing companies. The deal announced Monday includes approximately 1.9 billion euros in cash ($2.6 billion) and 276 million euros ($379.9 million) in Phillips-Van Heusen stock.

'Mission: Impossible' star Peter Graves dies in LA

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Peter Graves, whose calm and intelligent demeanor was a good fit to the intrigue of "Mission Impossible" as well as the satire of the "Airplane" films, has died. Graves passed away Sunday just a few days before his 84th birthday outside his home in Los Angeles, publicist Sandy Brokaw said. Graves was returning from brunch with his wife of nearly 60 years and his family when he had what Graves' doctor believed was a heart attack, Brokaw said.

Kansas earns overall top seed in NCAA tournament

The selection committee made its choices. Now, it's America's turn. The country's biggest office pool, otherwise known as March Madness, serves up the usual smorgasbord of choices, starting with Kansas, the overall top seed in the 65-team NCAA tournament bracket released Sunday.

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