JIM KUHNHENN, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is sounding more bullish these days about the nation’s recovery from the Great Recession. And the White House is encouraging Democrats to show similar optimism as they head into the November mid-term elections.

Obama says — quote —”There are reasons to feel good about the direction that we’re headed.”

Despite turmoil in the Mideast and along the Ukraine-Russia border, the top issue with Americans remains the economy. And while consumer confidence appears to be improving, the public remains anxious over how strong the recovery is going to be.

On Monday, Obama will deliver a Labor Day speech in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he is expected to promote the economy in a state that was at the center of a fight over the collective bargaining rights of public employees.

COLUMBIA (AP) – A plea hearing is set for this week for a former Mamtek CEO accused of committing fraud in a failed effort to build an artificial sweetener plant in central Missouri.

The Columbia Daily Tribune reports that Bruce Cole is charged with one count of theft and four counts of securities fraud. Attorney General Chris Koster has accused Cole of diverting at least $700,000 from a bond fund established to finance the plant and using the money to forestall foreclosure of his Beverly Hills home.

Cole’s case is being heard in St. Charles on a change of venue and had been scheduled for trial in December. But a 1:30 p.m. Tuesday plea hearing was put on Judge Daniel Pelikan’s docket late Friday.

Cole’s attorney couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.