U.S. SUPREME COURT building in Washington, D.C.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday announced it won’t block the Texas law that strongly restricts abortion, but it will allow the case to have an early day in court.

According to the Associated Press, the justices have agreed to begin hearing arguments on Monday, Nov. 1.

The law bans abortions after the moment at which a fetal heartbeat is detected, which is typically about six weeks into a pregnancy. It makes no exceptions for rape or incest.

One of the things that’s unique about this legislation, which is aimed at overturning the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that created a “right of privacy” that included a national legalization of abortion, is the enforcement method. Instead of making it a crime, the law allows private individuals to sue for $10,000. any one who seeks or assists in the ending of a pregnancy .

Illegal border crossings at record

THERE has been a sharp increase in border crossing attempts, driven in part by natural disasters and the coronavirus (Shutterstock).

Over the last year, the number of illegal entries into the United States soared to a record high of 1.7 million people.

The New York Times is reporting that the surge is driven by people fleeing natural disasters – including hurricanes and floods – and the coronavirus pandemic.

Most of those seeking to enter the U.S (64 percent) were adults, but almost 147,000 were unaccompanied children.

Many of the adults were planning to request asylum in America, while some made the trip based on the incorrect rumor that Washington has loosened its immigration policies.

Also in the News …

• Alec Baldwin fired a “prop gun” on Friday that killed one person and wounded another during the filming of a movie in New Mexico. One report said that “a single live round” had been accidentally loaded into the weapon.
• Walgreen drug stores in the U.S. will soon be administering COVID-19 booster shots to those who’ve been vaccinated with “jabs” of Moderna and Johnson & Johnson, along with Pfizer, according to Reuters.com.

Sports: Dodgers rallied, still alive on Saturday

Thursday’s homerfest lifted the Los Angeles Dodgers to an 11-2 win over the Atlanta Braves, cutting their edge over the Blue Crew to three games to two in the National League Championship Series. The scene will shift to Georgia on Saturday. Game Six will be broadcast on TBS at 2:08 p.m. If a Game Seven is needed, it will be on Sunday at 4:38 p.m., (both times local).

In the American League Championship Series, the Houston Astros lead the Boston Red Sox three games to two and can wrap it up today (Friday) with a game televised on Fox Sports 1 at 5:08 p.m.

Also in Sports …

• USC (3-3) will play 13th-ranked Notre Dame (5-1) at 4:30 p.m. in South Bend, Indiana on Saturday in college football.
• UCLA (5-2) will host 10th-ranked Oregon (5-1) Saturday at the Rose Bowl at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Weather:  Getting a little cozy

If you’re one of those people who gets tired of life in West Orange County always being warm and sunny, here’s your chance to have it different. Saturday will have a high of 71 (overnight low of 56) under partly cloudy skies. There’s also a 17 percent chance of rain. Sunday should be slightly warmer at 73 (57), but Monday will bring rain (a 97 percent chance is forecast and a high of 65. In coastal Huntington Beach, a beach hazard weather warning will be in effect, with waves up to seven feet. Saturday’s high will be 68 (57) with 11 percent chance of rain under partly cloudy skies. The rain will definitely (probably) arrive by Monday (90 percent) with a high of 66.