GRETCHEN WHITMER, governor of Michigan (EMU photo).

Thirteen people were charged Thursday with planning terroristic crimes, including a plot to kidnap Gretchen Whitmer, the Democratic governor of Michigan.  According to the Associated Press, federal agents infiltrated the group and six people have been charged in that plot.

In a separate action, seven others connected to a group called the Wolverine Watchmen are charged with a plot to attack the state capitol with the intention of “starting a civil war.”

Whitmer, who has drawn criticism and praise for her enforcement of measures to fight the coronavirus pandemic placed part of the blame for the plots on President Donald Trump for not condemning white supremacists and telling far-right group to “stand back and stand by.”

“Hate groups heard the president’s words not as a rebuke but as a rallying cry, as a call to action,” Whitmer said.

More presidential debates now in question

Whether – or when – there will be more presidential debates is still being, uh, debated.  After President Donald Trump’s infection with coronavirus, the Commission on Presidential Debates announced that the next debate would be held in a “virtual” format for health reasons. But the president rejected that and his campaign called on the CPD to delay the second and third debate each by one week.

During a telephone interview, Trump said, “I’m feeling good, really good. I think perfect.” The Biden campaign indicated it might agree to a single debate on Oct. 22.

The News:  COVID-19 cases on the rise

Wall Street had a moderately good Thursday, as all three major stock indexes showed modest gains. The Dow is climbed 122.05 points, the S&P 500 was up by 27.38 and Nasdaq posted an increase of 56.38. •  The U.S. has added over 50,000 new COVID-19 cases for the third time in a week. According to Johns Hopkins University, there were 50,300 new cases on Tuesday. • The RealClearPolitics.com’s average of recent presidential preference polls showed Democratic candidate Joe Biden with 51.6 percent support, compared to Republican President Donald Trump with 41.9 percent, a margin of 9.7 percent. Fivethirtyeight.com’s average shows Biden with 51.9 percent to Trump’s 42.2 percent, a margin of 9.8 points.

 Weather: Cool days until …

The West Orange County area will enjoy autumn weather for a few days, with a warming trend coming next week. According to the National Weather Service, Thursday’s overnight lows for the area will be 60 with cloudy skies. On Friday, the daytime high is predicted to be 76 degrees, with clearing skies and a 62 overnight. Saturday and Sunday are also at 76, but warmer temps start on Monday with a high of 85 degrees.

Sports: Dodgers advance to NL pennant series

Dodgers 12, San Diego Padres 3. The Dodgers advanced to the National League Championship Series by sweeping the three-game division series against the Padres. With two big innings – five runs in the third and four runs in the ninth – LA parleyed timely hitting with pretty good pitching to get one step from the World Series. Will Smith carried the heaviest bat, going 5-for-6 with three RBIs, and Cody Bellinger knocked in three more runs. The Dodgers overall were 8-for-24 with runners in scoring position. Julio Urias got the win, working five innings, giving up just one hit and one run while striking out six and walking just one.

The Dodgers will now face the Atlanta Braves, who swept their series against the Miami Marlins with a 7-0 win Thursday night.