AP - The Republican Party has gaveled its 2008 presidential nominating convention to order, ready to have Sen. John McCain carry the party's banner this fall against Democrat Barack Obama.

AP - First Lady Laura Bush has told Republican National Convention delegates that America's priority has shifted to those in Hurricane Gustav's path, rather than politics.

AP - Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the GOP vice presidential candidate, is being represented by an attorney in the investigation into the firing of her public safety commissioner.

AFP - First Lady Laura Bush and John McCain's wife Cindy on Monday led a fundraising drive for Hurricane Gustav victims on day one of the curtailed Republican convention.

AP - Republicans rebuffed their certain nominee Monday by endorsing a platform that goes further than John McCain in opposition to abortion rights.

AP - Hard to restrain, politics unmistakenly came creeping back into the Republican National Convention as Hurricane Gustav delivered a softer-than-expected blow on the Gulf Coast. As the storm winds died down, the political winds picked up.

Reuters - Police in riot gear battled hundreds of protesters with pepper spray and smoke bombs and arrested 130 people on Monday at the start of the Republican presidential convention.

AP - With their plans for opening day of the Republican National Convention dashed, first lady Laura Bush and Cindy McCain instead appealed to GOP faithful to donate time and money to those caught in Hurricane Gustav.

AP - The message from the pulpit was "Wine, Water and Worship" — with no mention of the other "W," George W. Bush.

AP - Demonstrations near the Republican National Convention site turned violent Monday, as protesters harassed some delegates, smashed windows, slashed car tires and threw bottles. Police using pepper spray arrested more than 250 people.

AP - Republicans set aside the agenda to focus on hurricane relief in the opening hours of their national convention, only to see the scaled-back program for Day One overshadowed by jarring disclosures about the family and work life of John McCain's running mate, Sarah Palin.