ENSURING CAREFREE FUN - Fair security patrol the grounds on horseback on the opening night of the 70th Annual Antelope Valley Fair and Alfalfa Festival on Friday. MOLLY HAUXWELL/Valley Press

PALMDALE - Antelope Valley's 2008 Olympic medal count is now two. Highland High School grad Ryan Millar and his teammates took the men's volleyball gold medal Sunday, beating top-ranked Brazil.   Complete story.

LANCASTER - The inability of Democratic and Republican legislators to resolve differences over the state's budget is costing the Antelope Valley Healthcare District more than $1 million a week.   Complete story.

Sgt. Desiree Ornelaz, a 1997 graduate of Highland High School and a Marine Corps recruiter and drill instructor, will be leaving family and friends behind as she heads to Iraq for the next seven months.   Complete story.

CALIFORNIA CITY - The City Council, seated as the Redevelopment Agency, discussed the agency's fiscal year 2008-09 budget Tuesday night, but made no decision on it pending further information and revisions from the staff.   Complete story.

ROSAMOND - A Los Angeles man suspected of abducting his 5-year-old daughter and shooting her mother in Riverside County was arrested in Rosamond and the girl was found unharmed, officials said.   Complete story.

LANCASTER - Tenured, credentialed special education teachers in the Lancaster School District will receive an additional $500 a year after trustees voted 4-1 Tuesday, with Vice President John Miller dissenting, to increase their special education stipend for the 2008-09 school year.   Complete story.

LANCASTER - This week's "Walk with the Mayor" activities will take place from 8 to 9 a.m. Tuesday and Thursday at City Park, on 10th Street West south of Avenue K-8.   Complete story.

AUGUST 24, 2008 EDITORIAL - Just because the 110th Congress hasn't passed any spending bills or attacked high gasoline prices doesn't mean that the members have been idle. As of Aug. 19, the 535 men and women who make up the Senate and House of Representatives had passed 294 public laws.   Complete story.

For most people, working 9 to 5 is more than just a song; it's a way of life. Monday through Friday, get up with the sun, read the newspaper while munching on breakfast, race to the office to clock in by 9 a.m., grab a cup of joe, start to work, break at 10:15 a.m., lunch at noon, back to work by 1 p.m., nose to the grindstone until 5 or 6 p.m., then contend with rush hour traffic to get home for dinner, watch some television, relax, spend time with family or friends, then hit the sack to rest up before doing it all over tomorrow morning.   Complete story with photo.

BEIJING - The gold-medal-winning point hit the floor at 2:05 p.m. Sunday, and the U.S. men's volleyball team collapsed upon itself in a joyous, jumping, hugging mob.   Complete story.

PALMDALE - Local cyclists Lowell White and Emmett Murrell are as close to being brothers without being related as two can be. To watch them interact and speak of their experiences, one wouldn't be surprised to hear that they had spent their whole lives growing up together.   Complete story.