5 Things to Know Today, Thursday, Sept. 13

Weather: Sunny skies with highs in the low 80s are expected today, according to the National Weather Service. Similar weather is expected tomorrow.

New Medford Housing Authority Director Expected by January: A new executive director of the Medford Housing Authority should be appointed by the start of next year, according to a press release from Medford Mayor Michael McGlynn. The authority's former director, Robert Covelle, resigned in May at the urging of Gov. Deval Patrick after a federal audit showed he handed out contracts without putting them out to public bid, and separate reports surfaced alleging he often hired family and friends and practiced favoritism in the office.

Who Do You Blame For The Spike In Gas Prices?: According to AAA, the average price for a gallon of gas in Massachusetts is presently $3.88. That's a whopping 16 cents higher than it was just one month ago. The price has actually soared to over $4 a gallon at some Middlesex County self-serve stations. Ask 10 different people to explain the cause of the off-season spike and you might get 10 different answers. Some have blamed OPEC, while others have blamed big oil companies. A recent rash of severe weather has been seen as a cause by some people, as have the energy polices and proposals of one political party or another. Still other people have blamed oil speculators on Wall Street. Who do you think is to blame?

Massachusetts Voter Registration Deadline is Oct. 17: Medford residents who want to vote in the 2012 presidential election and other federal and state races have five weeks left until the Massachusetts voter registration deadline. The registration deadline is Wednesday, Oct 17. Contact the office of Medford's City Clerk for more information on registering in Medford.

There are hundreds of stop signs in Medford, but all too often, they are overlooked when drivers are in a rush. We have all seen it and probably many would admit of a stop sign roll-through at one point in time. Do you know of a location where a stop sign is frequently rolled through or ignored?