THE PLANNED second presidential debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden set for Oct. 15 has been officially cancelled (Shutterstock).

The second presidential debate between President Donald Trump and former vice president Joe Biden has been officially cancelled. The Commission on Presidential Debates had planned for a “virtual” fornat for the planned Oct. 15 event for “health and safety” reasons, but Trump refused to participate. Both candidates have now announced plans for other events on that day.  What would have been the third debate on Oct. 22 may still go on as scheduled.

Trump is planning a public event on Saturday, speaking from a balcony at the White House. Another rally is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 12.  All persons attending the Saturday event will be required to wear a mask and submit to a COVID-19 screening consisting of a temperature check and a brief questionnaire, according to USA Today.

Biden will appear at a town hall-style event on Oct. 15 to be televised on ABC.

The News:  Hurricane Delta slams Gulf Coast

It was another good but not great day for Wall Street on Friday. All three major stock indexes posted gains. The Dow rose by 161.39 points, and the S&P 500 increased by 30.30. Nasdaq climbed by 158.96 points. • Edward “Whitey” Ford, the leading pitcher for the New York Yankees in the glory years of the 50s and 60s, has died at the age of 91. • Hurricane Delta has made landfall in Louisiana. Its winds – some up to 100 miles an hour – have left over a quarter of a million people without electrical power.

Weather: The cool before the heat

A nice West Orange County autumn weekend is on tap. The high on Saturday should be 74 degrees, with some drizzle in the morning followed by sun, according to the National Weather Service. The overnight low should be 61. Things will be sunny and a bit warmer with a high of 77 on Sunday. The overnight low is predicted to be 61. Monday –Columbus Day – should see the start of a warming trend with a high of 88, rising to 93 on Tuesday.

Sports: Dodgers vs. Braves Monday; Lakers lose

The National League Championship Series – one step from the World Series – will begin on Monday with the Los Angeles Dodgers taking on the Atlanta Braves in Arlington, Texas.

The best-of-seven series will start on Monday, time to be announced, and broadcast on Fox or FS1. Both teams swept their division series 3-0; the Dodgers are 2-1 favorites.

The Los Angeles Lakers couldn’t put away the Miami Heat Friday night, losing 111-108 to extend the NBA Finals to at least a sixth game. LeBron James had 40 for LA and Anthony Davis added 28, but all five Heat starters scored in double figures, led by Jimmy Butler with 35. Miami led by six points after three quarters, but the Lakers rallied to make it a nail-biter. The next game is scheduled for Sunday at 4:30 p.m. on ABC. A seventh game – if needed – is set for Tuesday, Oct. 13 at 6 p.m.