THE STORMING of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 (Wikipedia).

An internal report heavily criticized the planning and performance of U.S. Capitol Police in connection with the Jan. 6 storming of the Capitol building by right-wing extremists seeking to stop Congress from certifying the election of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as president and vice president of the United States.

According to the Associated Press, the report – not yet released publicly – slams the agency for using old and outdated equipment, incomplete training and poor organization. The report also criticizes the organization’s failure to take seriously online threats and warnings of violence by insurrectionists. Six people were killed in the incident.

The rioters stormed past police, injuring many and forced their way into the chamber of the House of Representatives minutes after members of Congress were evacuated. Some of the attackers shouted for the lynching of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Vice President Mike Pence.

One of those killed in the melee was a Capitol police officer. Another member of the agency committed suicide.

Russian forces mass on Ukraine border

RUSSIAN troops in Ukraine in 2014 (VOA).

A large military buildup on Russia’s border with the Ukraine is raising alarms about a possible “limited military incursion” into that nation, according to The New York Times.

CIA Director William Burn told the Senate Intelligence Committee that the massing of troops could be for propaganda value or for actual military action. In 2014 Russian forces  – claiming to be volunteers, in unmarked uniforms – invaded Ukraine and conquered the province of Crimea, incorporating it into their nation.

Manslaughter charge vs. policewoman: Kim Potter, the former police officer who fatally shot a Black motorist – later claiming she thought she was using a Taser stun gun instead of a firearm – was charged with second-degree manslaughter on Wednesday. Potter, 48, killed Daunte Wright, 20, on Sunday during a traffic stop in Brooklyn Center, a suburb of Minneapolis.

Business: Bernie Madoff dies in prison

BERNARD MADOFF

Bernie Madoff, the man convicted of masterminding one of the biggest “Ponzi” schemes in U.S. history, died Wednesday in federal prison where he was serving a 150-year sentence. He was 82.

In 2009 he confessed to swindling thousands of clients out of billions of dollars in an elaborate investment “pyramid scheme,” according to USA Today.

Wall Street’s split decision. In a flip of Tuesday’s results, the Dow Jones Average was the only gainer in the stock market. It rose by 53.62 points to close at 33,730.89. However, the S&P 500 dipped 16.92 points to 4,124.66 and the Nasdaq declined 138.26 to 13,857.

Sports: Astros lose five players to COVID-19?

Here’s good news for Astro-haters, which covers most fans of the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Houston team will have to get along without five players for the “foreseeable future” according to Sports Illustrated. “As a result of health and safety protocols,” the team has placed Jose Altuve, Yordan Alvarez, Alex  Bregman, Robel Garcia and Martin Maldonado” on the injured reserve list, the team announced on Wednesday.

The term “health and safety” has lately been used to apply to those who have tested positive for coronavirus or who have been exposed to someone who has.

Wednesday’s results (to be posted as available)

• Kansas City 6, Angels 1: The Halos suffered their third loss in four games on Wednesday. The sole Angel run came in the sixth, when Jared Walsh doubled Mike Trout in. Trout went 2-for-4 with one run scored. Griffin Canning (0-1) took the loss, giving two earned runs and six hits over five innings. He struck out five batters and walked two as the Angels’ record slipped to 7-5. The team will be back in Anaheim on Thursday to open a three-game series against the Minnesota Twin. Despite the loss, the Halos have a half-game lead over Seattle in the American League West.
• Dodgers 4, Colorado Rockies 2: Justin Turner and Zach McKinstry each homered as the LAD won in Denver. Together they had four hits and three RBIs. With the victory, the Dodgers are 10-2 and led the National League West by two games.
• Clippers 100, Detroit Pistons 98: Reggie Jackson scored 29 points to lead the Clippers to a come-from-behind win in Detroit. The Clippers rallied from an eight-point deficit and improved their record to 39-18. It was their seventh win in a row.
• Las Vegas 6, Kings 2: Trevor Moore scored two goals for Los Angeles but it was not enough as the home team lost at Staples Center. The Kings are now 16-20-6, good for seventh place in the NHL West.
• Ducks 4, San Jose 1: Anthony Stolarz had 27 saves in goal for Anaheim as the Ducks won their second straight game in San Jose. Derek Grant and Jakob Silfverberg each scored for the Orange County team. The Ducks are now 14-23-7, good for eighth place in the NHL West.

Weather: Still cloudy until …

The skies above West Orange County will remain partly cloudy through Saturday. Forecasts call for daytime highs in the mid 60s with overnight lows in the mid-50s. The sun is expected to break through on Sunday, with the thermometer rising to 81 during the day. Monday will be sunny, too, but cooler temperatures will resume by Wednesday. Temperatures will be similar in the coastal Huntington Beach area.