FLOODING in Pennsylvania in the wake of Hurricane Ida. More wet weather is on the way to the Atlantic Coast (Wikipedia).

Just as the Louisiana area struggles to recover from the effects of Hurricane Ida, more rain and grief appears to be heading to the eastern United States. Severe thunderstorms and flooding rain are forecast for parts of the Northeast tonight (Wednesday).

The National Weather Service says an area from Washington, D.C to Burlington, Vermont – which includes New York City and New Jersey – could be hard hit with rain through Thursday.  That region was struck by the remnants of Ida and suffered widespread flooding.

In New Orleans, a citywide curfew of 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. was lifted today in the Crescent City, and power has been restored to roughly two-thirds of the 902,000 customers who lost electricity, according to The New York Times.

Fuel supplies and running water were also in short supply in some areas in and around the city. The death toll has added 11 more people, bringing it to 26.

Not far away, Tropical Storm Mindy is forming in the Gulf of Mexico and is expected to move into northern Florida tonight, bringing local flooding there, as well as to south Georgia and southern South Carolina.

Joe Biden’s popularity takes a hit

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN (White House).

The withdrawal from Afghanistan and the lingering pain of the coronavirus have taken their toll on the popularity of President Joe Biden. The calculations of Fivethirtyeight.com indicate that approval of Biden’s performance as president is at 45 percent, compared to 49.1 percent who disapprove. His approval rating had been in positive territory since his inauguration until this last week. The website averages polls and adjusts their impact based on issues of bias and quality.

Another poll summary shows California Gov. Gavin Newsom headed for victory in the Sept. 14 recall election. The aggregate “keep” vote is at 54.3 percent and the “remove” vote is at 42 percent. According to fivethirtyeight.com, the race was close for most of August, but broke for Newsom after that.

Also in the News: Abbott’s promise, Lee comes down

• Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, in response to complaints that the new abortion law made no exceptions for rape and incest, vowed to “eliminate all rapists.”
• A statue of Confederate general and icon Robert E. Lee was removed from its base in Richmond, Virginia on Wednesday. The 21-foot statue, which dates back to 1890, was ordered removed last year in the wake of protests over the murder of George Floyd by a police officer in Minneapolis.

Sports: Angels and Dodgers both lose

With a 5-4 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals, the Dodgers fell two games back in the National League West race as the San Francisco Giants beat the Colorado Rockies 7-4. The Blue Crew is now 88-52 and the Giants 90-50.

The Angels missed a chance to improve their record to .500 with an 8-5 loss to the San Diego Padres. The Halos are now 69-71.

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With wins on Tuesday, the Angels and Dodgers are hoping to add victories today (Wednesday) that will help achieve goals.

The Angels, 4-2 victors over the Padres in San Diego, can reach .500 again with another win today. The Dodgers, who beat the Cardinals 7-2 in St. Louis, can tie up the lead in the National League West race with a win today over the Cards, provided the Giants lose to Colorado.

Weather: Warm weather arriving early

Contrary to earlier predictions, warmer weather will be arriving a bit earlier and lasting longer in the West Orange County area. The new forecast calls for Thursday’s high to hit 91 (overnight low of 69) and for temperatures to stay in the 90’s through Sunday. In coastal areas of Huntington Beach, daily highs should be six to eight degrees cooler.