AMY CONEY BARRETT is expected to be confirmed as an associate justice to the U.S. Supreme Court (Shutterstock).

Amy Coney Barrett, the Supreme Court nominee for associate justice being quizzed by the Senate Judiciary Committee, continued on Wednesday to promise she would be independent on the high court in the third day of her testimony.

She continued to decline to offer “what-if” questions regarding presidential power, climate change, race relations, abortion and a variety of other topics.

Asked if she believed that global warming is caused by human conduct, she replied “I will not express a view on a matter of public policy, especially one that is politically controversial because that’s inconsistent with the judicial role.”

Judiciary Committee Chair Lindsay Graham (R-South Carolina) praised her performance and said, “You will be confirmed, God willing.

If confirmed – a vote is scheduled in the Senate for Oct. 22 – she would represent a sixth conservative vote on the nine-member court. She would be filling a vacancy created by the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a liberal icon.

The News: Corona cases on rise; Russia claims vaccines

More than 50,000 new COVID-19 cases for the fifth time in the week have been recorded in the United States, according to health officials. • Russia says it has registered a second coronavirus vaccine and is working on a third. • The Florida-LSU football game scheduled for Saturday has been postponed after more than 20 Florida players tested positive for the coronavirus. The game has been rescheduled for Dec. 12. • Alabama head football coach Nick Saban and Athletic Director Greg Byrne have tested positive for coronavirus. Saban, who is now isolating at home, says he doesn’t have any COVID-19 symptoms. • Another rough day for Wall Street Wednesday. All three major stock indexes showed declines, with the Dow down 165.81, S&P 500 down 23.26 and Nasdaq down 95.17. • The U.S. Postal Service has agreed to undo the changes that resulted in slower mail service across the country as settlement of a lawsuit brought by Montana Gov. Steve Bullock.

The Weather: Summer in October persists

As you probably know by going or merely looking outside, the heat wave hitting  West Orange County is continuing. Wednesday’s high was forecast by the National Weather Service to be 92, with an overnight low of 63. Thursday is predicted to be sunny with a daytime high of 94, with an overnight low of 64. Friday should see the thermometer peak at 97 (overnight low of 63), then drop to 82 on Saturday. Coast temps will be cooler. The NWS is predicting a high Thursday in Huntington Beach to be 81 (low of 64) and 85 on Friday (64). But then on Saturday, it dips to 74 (63). See you then.

Sports Today: The Dodgers blast the Braves

The Los Angeles Dodgers got their first win in the National League Championship Series Wednesday, smacking the Atlanta Braves 15-3. They scored 11 runs in the first inning with three home runs. Overall they five homers in the game. Max Muncy had four RBIs and Corey Seager three. The Braves still lead the best-of-seven series two games to one. Game Four is set for Thursday.

In the American League Championship Series, the Houston Astros took a three-games-to-one lead with a 4-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays. George Springer’s two-run homer in the fifth inning was the deciding hit.