PROTESTERS seeking to force the eastern entrance to the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6 in Washington, DC. (Wikipedia).

The creation of an independent commission to investigate the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S Capitol building was approved by the House of Representatives Wednesday and heads to the Senate for consideration.

According to the Associated Press, the bill was passed on a 252-175 vote, with 35 Republicans voting in favor. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-California) opposed the proposal.

Six people died in the violent attack by right-wing extremists seeking to prevent Congress from certifying the Electoral College’s vote confirming Democrats Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as president and vice president.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky), who had earlier supported the creation of the commission, announced he would oppose the “slanted and unbalanced proposal for another commission to study the events of Jan. 6,” reported The New York Times.

News: Texas passes restrictive abortion law

On Wednesday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law a bill that bans abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, creating one of the strictest such standards in the nation.

According to The New York Times, the new law would also allow any citizen to sue doctors, abortion clinics or their employees who are involved. The new law – which will almost certainly be challenged in the courts – is significant because the Supreme Court has agreed to take up a case from Mississippi with the potential to overturn or change the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling, which legalized abortion across the U.S.

Business: Markets are still skeptical

Worry about the potential for inflation is being blamed for the third day of retreat by American stock exchanges. The Dow Jones Average dipped 164.2 points to 33,896.04. The S&P 500 dropped 12.15 points to 4,115.68 and Nasdaq was down 3.90 to 13,299.74.

Sports: Mike Trout out for too long

MIKE TROUT

It could be a cold summer for fans of the Los Angeles Angels. Mike Trout – arguably the best player in baseball – will be on the injured reserve list anywhere from six to eight weeks with the injury to his right calf he sustained during a 7-4 Angels win over Cleveland on Monday.

Trout, who was batting .333 when injured, will again be missing in action for a long time. According to Sports Illustrated, the Halo centerfielder has missed at least 22 games in each of the last three seasons, after missing no more than five games in his first four seasons.

Wednesday’s games

• Arizona at Dodgers, 7
• Cleveland at Angels, 5:30
• Golden State at Lakers, 7

Weather: Sunny skies ahead

Warmer weather and sunny skies are in the forecast for the West Orange County area for the next few days. Thursday should see a daytime high of 72 (overnight low of 55) with mostly sunny conditions. After that, the sun should prevail right through Monday, with temperatures rising to the low 80s by then. In coastal Huntington Beach, there should be similar weather, a few degrees cooler and a beach advisory in place with gusty winds up to 20 miles an hour.