Michael's Reference

President Obama is stepping up his efforts to revive the economy. In a Labor Day speech in Milwaukee, he'll outline a plan to spend more on roads, railways and runways.

A suspected U.S. drone strike killed five suspected militants in Pakistan's tribal region on Monday, intelligence officials tell CNN.

As many as 2,000 additional troops -- including a number of U.S. forces -- may be headed to Afghanistan soon under a proposal by Gen. David Petraeus, CNN has learned.

With November's midterm elections less than two months away, a new national poll indicates that the Republicans' advantage over the Democrats in the battle for Congress is on the rise.

A string of bombings and shootings across Baghdad Monday left at least one Iraqi military officer dead and wounded more than a dozen civilians and soldiers, an Interior Ministry official said Monday.

A third migrant survived a massacre that left 72 dead in a Mexican border state, and could play a key role in authorities' investigation of the crime, El Salvador's president said.

Thomas Maresco, 24, an aid worker from Florida, died Saturday from a gunshot wound in Lesotho, the Peace Corps said. Police believe he was the target of a robbery.

Pope Benedict XVI has not ruled out getting involved in the case of an Iranian woman sentenced to death by stoning, the Vatican says, calling the practice "brutal."

Hedging their bets, officials in Chile said on Sunday they will set up an oil drill as a third option to rescue the 33 miners trapped underground since August 5.

Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28 and Psalm 14 * Exodus 32:7-14 and Psalm 51:1-10 * 1 Timothy 1:12-17 * Luke 15:1-10

Felony arrests

Recently, while observing a gorgeous sunset over Medford's western hills, I thought of something to which I'd appreciate an answer.

There are speed-limit signs throughout the city of Medford and Jackson County. But I have seen official signs that say "End Speed Limit." That's absolutely insane and is asking for trouble.

The Talent Irrigation District has a short-term fix planned for ensuring its 90-year-old McDonald Ditch won't fail and trigger a muddy landslide again while it seeks a 21st-century upgrade for this 19th-century infrastructure.

Six candidates have filed to run in November for four seats on the Medford City Council, according to filing documents.

Hard-working farmer Josh Cohen looks at bread a little differently than he did last Labor Day. Harvesting wheat by hand tends to give one a whole new perspective on those nice brown loaves on the dinner table, he said.

CENTRAL POINT — In addition to a half-dozen candidates running for the City Council this fall, voters will be asked to approve the second-ever revision to the city's charter in more than a century.

A variation on a Nigerian wire scam apparently is targeting automobile repair shops in the Medford area. Using a stolen credit card, the scammers say they want to have a car towed to the repair shop, but need the shop to wire money to pay for the towing.

At least 17 people were killed and 40 wounded in northwest Pakistan Monday -- the latest in a series of suspected suicide attacks in less than a week in the country.

Officials in Bangladesh are working to control an anthrax outbreak that has infected nearly 300 people since its first detection two weeks ago.