Associated Press

Most business economists opposed the automatic spending cuts that took effect Friday night amid the gridlock between President Obama and Congress.

But they overwhelmingly support efforts to reduce the deficit over the next 10 years.

That's according to a survey released Monday of 196 members of the National Association for Business Economics.

The survey, done from Jan. 21 to Feb. 13, gave some support to both sides in the U.S. government budget debate.

BOSTON (AP) — The Pentagon says New Hampshire could be facing $5.8 million in Defense Department civilian payroll cuts if automatic government spending cuts kick in March 1.

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta told Congress on Wednesday that if a budget deal isn't reached, he may have to shorten the workweek for the "vast majority" of the Defense Department's 800,000 civilian workers. They'd lose one day of work per week, or 20 percent of their pay, for up to 22 weeks, probably starting in late April.

BOSTON (AP) — The Modern Lovers' "Roadrunner," an iconic 1970s ode to the joys of driving along Route 128 when it's late at night, was unlike any song of its era.

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York's licensed handgun owners can keep their information private using a new form from State Police.

The forms, available online, should be submitted at county offices where pistol owners registered.

They can exempt their information from the state Freedom of Information Law, which some newspapers have used to identify owners.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Danica Patrick has won the Daytona 500 pole, becoming the first woman to secure the top spot for any Sprint Cup race. 

It was the biggest achievement of her four-year NASCAR career.

Patrick went out eighth in the qualifying session Sunday and covered the 2½-mile superspeedway in 45.817 seconds, averaging 196.434 mph.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is emphasizing the need for more background checks for gun buyers in his State of the Union address, saying that overwhelming majorities of Americans favor the proposal as a way to keep firearms from criminals.

Last night Obama said that senators from both parties are working on legislation to prevent people from legally buying guns and then giving them to criminals.

NEW YORK (AP) — New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan says electing a new pope is all new to him since he's still learning what it means to be archbishop.

At a news conference Monday, Dolan quipped he was "still writing thank-you notes from when I was made a cardinal" last year.

BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick is scheduled to tour some of the areas hit hardest by the weekend blizzard and meet with local officials.

PATCHOGUE, N.Y. (AP) — All lanes of the Long Island Expressway are now open.

Authorities say both the eastbound and westbound lanes have reopened in time for the Monday morning commute.

The ramps off the expressway and other major Long Island roadways are still snow covered.

A steady light rain was falling early Monday.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — As residents in northern New England dig out of the big snowstorm, they're anticipating headaches from the next storm, which is expected to bring a combination of snow and freezing rain.

The National Weather Service says more snow was expected Monday morning. It will gradually change to sleet, freezing rain and rain.