ST. PAUL, Minn. - John McCain tore up the script for his Republican National Convention on Sunday, casting himself as above politics as Hurricane Gustav churned toward New Orleans. “We will act as Americans,” not partisans, he declared. “This is a time when we have to do away with our party politics, and we have to act as Americans,” McCain added as fellow Republicans converged on their convention city to nominate him for the White House. Aides said today´s program would be short and shorn of political rhetoric.

Sparks flying every day It´s a hot August morning inside Glen´s Welding, a 4,500-square-foot steel building full of cutting, bending and welding machinery near downtown Temple. Sweat washes down 49-year-old Jim Shawstad´s face. His T-shirt is soaked. Sparks fly from the business end of the metal inert gas welder that he is using to build a trailer hitch.

BELTON - Cochran Blair and Potts Department Store is a lot like family. Originally founded in 1869 in Leon County, the store has been in Belton since 1884. Currently, it is co-owned and operated by the sixth generation Robert Roy Potts and his parents, Roy and Jean Potts (the fifth generation), who bought entire ownership of the business in 1970.

NEW ORLEANS - A weakened Hurricane Gustav closed in on flood-prone coastal Louisiana Monday, bringing punishing wind and sheets of rain. But the storm veered away from New Orleans, where only a few holdouts and those that refused to abandon Bourbon Street remained. Gusts snapped large branches from the majestic oak trees that form a canopy over St. Charles Avenue. Tens of thousands were without power in New Orleans and other low-lying parishes, but officials said backup generators were keeping city drainage pumps in service.

AUSTIN - Texas defensive tackle Lamarr Houston is suspended for Saturday´s game at Texas El-Paso after his arrest on a misdemeanor drunken driving charge a few hours after the Longhorns beat Florida Atlantic 52-10. “We´ve talked with Lamarr and his family and decided that he will not be making the trip to El Paso to play in this week´s game,” coach Mack Brown said Sunday night in a statement. “He asked to apologize to the team and did so at our team meeting earlier today. The issue will be handled within the team and any further action will be addressed at the appropriate time.”

DALLAS - The theory behind opening the season with an easy nonconference opponent is relatively simple: get a win, gain some confidence, hopefully build toward a good season. There´s just one flaw to that approach: losing.

NEW YORK - As if trying to remind himself and everyone else where he´s been and where he´s quite certain he´ll return, Roger Federer thrust his right fist overhead and pointed skyward with his index finger. The universal gesture for No. 1.

FONTANA, Calif. - Jimmie Johnson overpowered the field Sunday night in the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Auto Club Speedway, grabbing his third victory of the season. The two-time reigning Cup champion was easily the class of the field in the Pepsi 500, leading 227 of the 250 laps on the 2-mile oval. He won the race at the former California Speedway for the second straight year and again gave notice to points leader Kyle Busch and series runner-up Carl Edwards - the two hottest drivers in the series coming into this race - that he remains a serious contender for a third straight title.

HOUSTON (AP) - Ty Wigginton hit his 12th home run of August and four Houston Astros pitchers combined to shut out the St. Louis Cardinals 3-0 on Sunday. Houston swept the three-game series with the Cardinals and has won five straight. The Astros finished 21-9 for the month, third best record in the National League behind Chicago and Milwaukee.

PITTSBURGH - To the Milwaukee Brewers, CC Sabathia pitched a no-hitter. The official scorer disagreed. The Brewers are going to try to change his mind.

NEW YORK - Another Clemson flop. A banged up Beanie. Sputtering spreads from Ann Arbor to Seattle. The first college football Saturday was one to forget for the Atlantic Coast Conference and the first truly memorable day of the Nick Saban-era at Alabama.

NORTON, Mass. (AP) - Mike Weir holed a 5-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole for a 4-under 67 to take a one-stroke lead Sunday in the Deutsche Bank Championship, leaving him in a familiar position with hopes of a better outcome. It was the 10th time the Canadian has had at least a share of the 54-hole lead on the PGA Tour, but he has only one victory when leading going into the final round.