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OLYMPICS CLOSING

London Games end

LONDON (AP) The London Olympics are over.

The flame was extinguished Sunday night at the end of the closing ceremony, signaling the end of 16 days of the games.

IOC President Jacques Rogge (zhahk ROH'-geh) called them "happy and glorious games."

Rogge gave his verdict in a speech at the closing ceremony.

He then declared the games closed and called on the world's youth to assemble in four years in Rio de Janeiro for the 2016 Games.

London Mayor Boris Johnson handed the Olympic flag to IOC President Jacques Rogge, who then presented it to Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes.

Rio will be the first city in South America to host the Olympics.

The closing ceremony featured the march of athletes into the stadium and musical performances by acts ranging from the Spice Girls to George Michael to Annie Lennox.

PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN-OBAMA

Obama calls Ryan the GOP's 'ideological leader'

CHICAGO (AP) President Barack Obama is calling Mitt Romney's running mate the "ideological leader" of Republicans in Congress.

He says that ideology has led to gridlock, dysfunction and a top-down approach to growing the economy.

Addressing young supporters at a Chicago fundraiser, Obama called Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan a decent, family man and welcomed him to the presidential race.

But Obama says he fundamentally disagrees with Ryan's vision for the country. He says Ryan and his allies in Congress mistakenly believe that fewer regulations and tax breaks for the wealthy will help create jobs.

Romney announced Saturday he had chosen Ryan as his vice presidential candidate. Democrats pounced, arguing that Ryan's budget-cutting agenda will harm seniors, students and the middle class.

OBAMA-OPEN HOUSE

Obama opens his Chicago home to supporters

CHICAGO (AP) President Barack Obama is opening his Chicago home or at least the yard to campaign supporters.

Obama is holding a birthday-related fundraiser for about 75 supporters at his red-brick, six-bedroom home. There's jazz music, red flowers and plenty of Secret Service agents.

Calling himself an adopted son of Chicago's South Side, Obama says he first learned here how communities can work together to solve problems. He says many in the audience have known him since he barely owned a suit.

Obama's campaign expects to haul in $3.5 million to $4 million over five events Sunday in his home town. He slept Saturday night in his Georgian Revival-style home in the city's Kenwood neighborhood and had dinner with friends at a local Italian restaurant.

ROMNEY-RYAN-READINESS

Romney: Paul Ryan ready to become president

WASHINGTON (AP) Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney says Paul Ryan has the experience needed to become president.

Romney says he considered a number of people to be his running mate, but readiness to be president was the first and most important factor he considered.

He tells CBS' "60 Minutes" that Ryan has the judgment, character and capacity to become president if necessary.

Romney announced Saturday that he had picked the 42-year-old Wisconsin congressman to be his vice presidential candidate. Ryan has served in Congress for 14 years.

ROMNEY-RYAN-VALUES

Romney liked Ryan's passion to make a difference

WASHINGTON (AP) Likely GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney says he was attracted to Paul Ryan because of his passion for making a difference.

Newly named running mate Ryan says he and Romney share the same values, and the Wisconsin congressman says he has the kind of experience that complements Romney's skills.

The two made the comments Sunday in an interview that aired on CBS' "60 Minutes."

Ryan says he wants to help Romney carry out a vision to help Americans get jobs and get the country back on track.

Romney says he was intrigued by Ryan and was inclined to choose him as running mate for some time, but kept his mind open.

ROMNEY-RYAN BUDGET

Romney says he's running on his budget, not Ryan's

WASHINGTON (AP) Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney says he's running on his budget proposals, not the more controversial plan authored by his running mate.

Romney is pushing back against Democrats who say that by picking Rep. Paul Ryan as his vice presidential candidate, he is embracing the Wisconsin congressman's austere budget. Ryan's long-term budget calls for more than $5 trillion in spending cuts, including an overhaul of Medicare.

Romney has proposed broad but largely unspecified cuts in federal spending. Romney's Medicare plans call for providing "generous" but undetermined subsidies to help future retirees buy private insurance, or let them have the option of traditional Medicare.

Romney and Ryan spoke in an interview on CBS' "60 Minutes."

REPUBLICAN CONVENTION-PALIN

Palin won't speak at GOP convention

WASHINGTON (AP) Sarah Palin says she won't speak at the Republican National Convention later this month in Tampa, Fla.

The 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee says she's excited to hear from this year's candidates.

Palin says in a statement that she supports Mitt Romney and his running mate, Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan, and will focus on grassroots efforts to help get the pair elected.

She says everything she said at the 2008 convention still holds true including her prediction that President Obama would set out to fundamentally transform the country.

Palin didn't say whether she will attend the convention, where Romney will officially accept the Republican nomination for president.

Democrats will hold their convention in early September in Charlotte, N.C.

GAS PRICES

Gas prices rise 18 cents nationwide thanks to high crude prices

CAMARILLO, Calif. (AP) The average U.S. price of a gallon of gasoline has increased 18 cents over the past two weeks.

The Lundberg Survey of fuel prices puts the average price for a gallon of regular at $3.69, about 8 cents higher than the same time last year.

Nationally, a gallon of mid-grade averages $3.84 and premium $3.96.

Analyst Trilby Lundberg attributes the increase to the high cost of crude as well as the partial loss of production at a refinery in Northern California.

Tucson, Ariz., has the nation's lowest price at $3.18, while Chicago had the highest at $4.23.

PENN STATE-ABUSE

Penn State trustees voice support for NCAA action

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) Penn State trustees took no formal vote but the vast majority of members have voiced support for the university president's acceptance of tough penalties imposed by the NCAA over the university's handling of child molestation allegations against former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky.

Board chairwoman Karen Peetz told fellow trustees during the Sunday conference call that the panel could not vote because 10 days' notice of the meeting was required. But more than two dozen members of the 32-member board voiced support for President Rodney Erickson's decision and a desire to move forward, although many criticized the sanctions.

The NCAA on July 23 barred the school from postseason play for four years, fined it $60 million, stripped it of future scholarships and invalidated 112 of the football team's wins.

FIANCE DEATH

Pa. woman accused of killing fiance on wedding day

HOKENDAUQUA, Pa. (AP) Instead of spending her first full day as a newlywed, a Pennsylvania woman is in jail accused of killing her fiance hours before they were to get married.

Na Cola Darcel Franklin is charged with criminal homicide in the stabbing death of 36-year-old Billy Rafeal Brewster in their Whitehall Township apartment.

Police say they found Brewster bleeding shortly after 2 a.m. Saturday. He was later pronounced dead at a hospital.

The Morning Call newspaper in Allentown reports that at her video arraignment Saturday, the 31-year-old Franklin wept and choked out, "I did not kill him on purpose."

Neighbor Steve Engel says the pastor who was supposed to perform the ceremony came to the apartment building after being unable to reach the couple.

CHAD JOHNSON-ARREST

WR Chad Johnson released by Dolphins

DAVIE, Fla. (AP) Six-time Pro Bowl receiver Chad Johnson has been released by the Miami Dolphins one day after he was arrested in a domestic battery case involving his wife.

Johnson was released from jail on $2,500 bond earlier Sunday after his wife accused him of head-butting her during an argument in front of their home. Johnson was charged with simple domestic battery, a misdemeanor.

The confrontation came barely a month after Johnson married Evelyn Lozada, who is on the reality TV show "Basketball Wives." The 34-year-old Johnson had been battling for a spot on the team after a disappointing season with the New England Patriots in 2011.

The Dolphins announced Johnson's release Sunday night.