MELANIA TRUMP speaking at the 2020 Republican National Convention (YouTube).

On the second night of the Republican National Convention, First Lady Melania Trump strongly defended her husband, calling Donald Trump “a president who will not stop fighting for you and your families. He will not give up.”

She added, “No matter the amount of negative or false media headlines or attacks from the other side, Donald Trump has not and will not lose focus on you.”

Highlighted was a video showing President Trump signing a pardon for a man who created an organization dedicated to helping ex-cons to readjust to society after prison.

Other speakers Tuesday included son Eric Trump, who promised that Democratic nominee Joe Biden was a “pushover” and that his father would “defeat the empty, oppressive and radical views of the extreme left” on Nov. 3.

Aside from the social distancing making both parties’ use of “virtual” convening, the GOP event was unique in that at did not adopt a platform and featured a political speech from the White House and an address by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

RealClearPolitics.com’s compilation of recent presidential preference polls on Tuesday showed Democratic nominee Biden with the support of 50 percent of those polled, with Republican Trump at 42.4 percent, a difference of 7.6 percent. FiveThirtyEight.com’s version has Biden with 51.4 percent support to 42.1 percent for Trump, a gap of 9.3 percent.

Shooting victim may never walk

“It will take a miracle for Jacob Blake, Jr. to ever walk again.” That’s the medical prognosis for the Black man shot by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin on Sunday.

According to the Associated Press, the 29-year-old underwent surgery Tuesday. Doctors said his spinal cord was severed, his vertebrae shattered and organs damaged.

The shooting sparked demonstrations and protests in several cities across the nation, some peaceful, some violent.  A civil suit against the police department is planned and the incident is being investigated by the Wisconsin Department of Justice.

Part of the encounter was captured on cell phone video. It shows police shouting at him with guns drawn and then opening fire. He was struck several times.

The phrase “Drop the knife!” was heard several times, but the recorder of the video said he didn’t see a knife in Blake’s hands.

Warm and sunny over and over

Weather in the West Orange County area will continue to be in the low 90s and high 80s for highs and mid 70s and high 60s for overnight lows. Skies will be sunny. Tuesday’s overnight low will be 70. Wednesday’s high is predicted by the National Weather Service to be 91, with Thursday down slightly to 90 and then 87 on Friday.

Sports Today and Tonight

Here are games scheduled for area pro teams. Scores will be posted as they are available. For more results, see our new Sports Final at: https://orangecountytribune.com/2020/08/25/angels-dodgers-work-overtime/ .

• Houston 6, Angels 3. Astros scored five in the first and went on to win.
• Angels 12, Astros 5. Halos answered in second game of double-header by scoring four in the first inning of the “nightcap” game. Angels are 10-22, Astros are 17-14.
• Giants 10, Dodgers 8:  Homer in the 11th ends the marathon.
• Clippers 154, Dallas 111. Clips lead series 3-2.