MIKE PENCE on Friday rebutted former president Donald Trump’s assertion that Pence had the power to prevent Joe Biden from being certified as winner of the 2020 presidential election.

Former vice president Mike Pence rebutted former president Donald Trump’s assertion that Pence could have stopped Joe Biden from being certified as the winner of the 2020 presidential election.

According to the Associated Press, Pence was speaking to the conservative Federalist Society on Friday when he made his remarks.

“President Trump is wrong,” said Pence. “I had no right to overturn the election.”

Trump has claimed without evidence that the 2020 election was stolen due to “massive fraud.”

He’s also argued that the vice president, who has a ceremonial role in certifying the results of the Electoral College voting, has the power to reject those votes.

COVID-19 death toll tops 900,000

THE OMICRON variant has fueled the surge in new COVID-19 cases (Shutterstock).

Under the impact of the more easily transmittable Omicron variant of the coronavirus, the number of Americans who died from COVID-19 has crossed the 900,000 mark.

According to the Johns Hopkins University’s tally, the latest count is 900,334. The U.S. has the most reported deaths of any nation.

That total is approaching a number almost equal to one-third the population of Orange County. Two months ago, the national total was 800,000.

Those most vulnerable to severe or fatal reactions to the virus are the unvaccinated and people with serious underlying physical problems, according to public health officials.

Sports: Baseball players reject mediation

BASEBALL SPRING training may be in jeopardy.

The annual rite of spring training – set this year to open on March 31 – may be the latest casualty in the impasse between Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association.

The MLBPA on Friday rejected an offer to submit the issue to arbitration, preferring to continue negotiation. At present, the owners have locked out the players.

At issue are items such as better earlier pay for young players and expanding the playoffs.

Weather: Warm goes to warmer

Sunny skies will continue in the West Orange County area for a while. The forecast calls for a daytime high of 75 (overnight low of 45) for Saturday, followed by 79 (50) on Sunday.

Monday will be similar with a high of 78 (50).

Business/Finance: Jobs soared after all

Two days after a private firm’s estimate of job losses sent Wall Street into negative territory, a better story came out. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in the U.S. actually rose by 467,000 jobs in January, and unemployment was at a modest 3 percent.

Much of the growth in the labor market was in leisure and hospitality, professional and business services, retail trade and transportation and warehousing.