Center Stage

The unchecked scourge of drug violence in Mexico and that country's campaign to hobble the cartels is expected to overshadow economic discussions when Mexican President Felipe Calderon visits the White House today. Calderon will be meeting with President Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper to discuss economic policies, climate change and security issues facing the three North American nations, according to the White House. U.S. officials have been pushing for Mexico to reform the state-owned oil monopoly, Pemex, to open the country's oil sector to private investment and develop new oil and gas reserves.

See Broadway shows on a seven-day theater tour of Manhattan that combines sightseeing and after-show meetings with cast members and others involved in the performances. Ronald Scarlata, professor of theater at El Camino College in Torrance, leads the January trip that includes tickets to three hot Broadway shows. The package includes staying at the Crowne Plaza Times Square Manhattan, a trip to the Top of the Rock observation deck at Rockefeller Center, city and museum tours and more.

TAMPA, Fla. -- Star candidates in the battle for control of the Senate have taken their campaigns to the Republican National Convention, and home state nominee Connie Mack joined them Thursday night. Florida is a critical swing state not only for the presidential contest, but in the race for the Senate as Republicans need a handful of seats to take the majority. Here, the GOP is trying to unseat Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson in a region that could test the Paul D. Ryan blueprint for a Medicare overhaul.

WOMEN'S ALPINE SKIING Austria's Alexandra Meissnitzer is a fine all-event skier with multiple top-three finishes this season. She is a definite medal threat in the women's slalom competition. Associated Press WOMEN'S SPEEDSKATING The most successful American on the new clapskates is Chris Witty, who took nearly three seconds off her time in the 1,000 earlier this year and set a world record.

AUSTIN, Texas - A San Francisco start-up that created a tiny motion-sensing device is making a big splash at South by Southwest, overshadowing major tech brands and scores of new apps with its promise of changing how consumers interact with their computers. In its debut appearance at the conference known more as a music and film festival, Leap Motion Inc. wowed attendees with its "Minority Report"-style gesture-recognition controller, which enables users to manipulate what's on their screens with a wave of the hand or lift of a finger.

Crews are busy installing a mosaic in the foyer of the rebuilt Madrid Theatre this week in preparation for a Dec. 3 opening ceremony for the new performing arts center. The mosaic represents construction materials used in early buildings in Canoga Park and includes a medallion engraved with a rendering of the original theater..