Postmaster backs off on changes

Reacting to public objections and the threat of lawsuits, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy on Tuesday retreated from some changes in the United States Postal Service which critics said were intended to disrupt the Nov. 3 presidential election.

In a statement, DeJoy – new to the office and a major contributor to President Donald Trump’s political campaigns – announced he would suspend until after the election certain measures which some said would make it more difficult to vote-by-mail.

DeJoy said that the removal of blue mailboxes and other operational changes would stop “to avoid even the appearance of impact on election mail,” and that “we will deliver the nation’s election mail on time.”

Voting by mail is a major issue in this year’s election both because of the coronavirus and the growing trend of states allowing balloting that way. President Donald Trump has been critical of the process claiming – without offering evidence – that fraud was “widespread” in mail voting, and even suggesting that it would unfairly benefit Democrats.

DeJoy is scheduled to appear before the U.S. Senate on Friday.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is summoning the House of Representatives back on Saturday to consider action to block DeJoy and approve emergency funds for the cash-strapped agency.

More than 20 states, including California, have announced they would go to court to stop the changes originally outlined by DeJoy.

Biden to get officially nominated

For the second night of the virtual 2020 Democratic National Convention the lineup will feature former Presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, as well as 2008 Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry.

The biggest official – although anticlimactic – event of Tuesday night’s proceedings will be the pre-recorded roll call of delegates which will officially make Joe Biden the Democratic nominee for president.

In his remarks, Clinton will criticize President Trump’s leadership. “At a time like this, the Oval Office should be a command center. Instead, it’s a storm center, there’s only chaos,” according a copy of his remarks made available to the Associated Press.

And still the heat goes on …

These, indeed, are the dog days of summer, especially if you feel like lying around and doing not much of anything because of the heat. The National Weather Service is forecasting for Wednesday patchy fog in the morning for West Orange County, turning to sunny weather with a high of 93 and an overnight low of 72. Thursday is expected to be sunny all day with a high of 89 and a low of 71. Temperatures will be lower close to the coast; Huntington Beach is forecast for a high of 80 on Wednesday and a low of 69. On Thursday, it looks like the same.

Dodgers win, Angels and Lakers lose

The schedule of games involving area pro teams today (Tuesday). Check back for results.

• Dodgers 2, Seattle 1. Corey Seager’s RBI single in the eight inning drove in what proved to be the winning run. Tony Gonsolin pitched six shutout innings for the Dodgers, giving up just two hits and no walks. LA is now 18-7.
• San Francisco 8, Angels 2: The Halos managed only five hits in losing to the Giants today (Tuesday) in Anaheim. Tommy LaStella’s homer accounted for first Angel run and Shohei Ohtani drove in Mike Trout with a grounder for the second run. The Giants had six extra base hits, including two home runs. The Orange County team is now 8-16.
• Portland 100, Lakers 93. The Trailblazers jumped off to a big first quarter lead and held off the Lakers the rest of the way.  Anthony Davis scored 28 and LeBron James 23 for L.A. Damian Lillard had 34 for Portland, which now leads this Western Conference playoff series 1-0.