A new push for vaccinations

In an effort to get those who are hesitant about – or resistant to – vaccination against the coronavirus, President Joe Biden will use the power of the presidency to move millions of Americans to get inoculated.

On Thursday, he criticized the estimated 80 million people who have not been vaccinated.

“We’ve been patient. But our patience in wearing thin, and your refusal has cost all of us,” he said, saying that the unvaccinated “can cause a lot of damage, and they are.”

According to The New York Times, Biden will require most federal employees to become vaccinated and will ask the Department of Labor to direct that companies with 100 or more employees must have their workers vaccinated or be tested weekly.

Additionally, federal contractors and health care workers at institutions that receive Medicare or Medicaid funding will fall under a similar mandate. There will be some religious or disability exemptions.

According to the Associated Press, the actions by the president are aimed at addressing rising rates of infection in some areas of the nation and well as “stagnant” levels of new vaccination.

Justice Dept. sues over Texas abortion law

Attorney General Merrick Garland said Thursday that the federal Department of Justice is suing the state of Texas over its recently-passed restrictions on abortion.

USA Today is reporting that Garland said, “The act is clearly unconstitutional under long-long standing Supreme Court precedent,” and was a “scheme to nullify the Constitution.”

The Justice Department is seeking a permanent injunction to block enforcement of the law, which prohibits termination of pregnancies once a fetal heartbeat is detectable, typically about six weeks of gestation. There are no exceptions for rape or incest.

200 finally leave on flight from Kabul

After long delays, about 200 people – including some Americans – boarded a flight out of Kabul on Thursday.

According to the Associated Press, the departure of a commercial Qatar Airways flight out of Afghanistan was arranged after negotiation between U.S. and Taliban authorities. It’s uncertain how many of those evacuated were American citizens,

Another 200 people will leave Kabul for Qatar on Friday.

Sports: Dodgers lose 2-1 in St. Louis

The St. Louis Cardinals are proving to be a tough opponent, as the Redbirds defeated the Dodgers 2-1 on Thursday. Justin Turner had two of the Blue Crew’s four hits and drove in the only run. The Dodgers (88-53) are now 2.5 games back of San Francisco (90-50) in the NL West race. They’ll host the San Diego Padres on Friday.

The Angels have today (Thursday) off, and then travel to Houston on Friday to start a three-game series with the Astros.

With a 5-4 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday, 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.

Weather:  Back to the Nineties

A warm weekend still greets the people of West Orange County. Friday’s high will hit 89 (overnight low of 69), rising to 94 on Saturday and 91 on Sunday, according to The Weather Channel.

Skies will be sunny. Coastal areas of Huntington Beach will see temperatures of seven to eight degrees cooler.