FIRST LADY Jill Biden meets with children in an unannounced visit to Ukraine (Office of the President of Ukraine).

Russia prepared to celebrate its “Victory Day” over Nazis in World War II while their forces continued to bombard Ukrainian positions on Sunday. The last civilians have been evacuated from a battered steel mill in the besieged city of Mariupol and First Lady Jill Biden paid an unannounced trip to the capital city of Kyiv.

That was the Mother’s Day weekend in the grinding conflict between invaders stalled by stubborn resistance that has surprised the world.

• In the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzia, over 60 people are believed dead after a school being used as a shelter was hit by a bomb, according to Associated Press.
• Jill Biden met with Olena Zelenska, wife of Ukrainian president Volodymr Zelensky on Sunday, reports United President International. “On this Mother’s Day, my heart is with you,” said Biden, “and all of the brave and resilient mothers of Ukraine.” They met at a school where she was greeted by school children.
• In Moscow, armored vehicles and legions of soldiers will parade through Red Square and jets will fly overhead Monday as Russia observes the May 1945 triumph of the Soviet Union over Nazi Germany on the eastern front in World War II. According to The New York Times, Russian President Vladimir Putin is hoping to use the event to build support for his invasion of Ukraine.

Sports:  Late rally rescues Angels; Dodgers romp

Shohei Ohtani drove in two runs in the bottom of the ninth and scored the winning run as the Los Angeles Angels defeated the Washington Nationals 5-4 in Anaheim.

SHOHEI OHTANI (Angels photo).

The win put the Halos at 19-11, still atop the American League West. They lead the Houston Astros (18-11) by a half-game.

Sunday’s game-winning rally was the Angels’ second comeback of the game. They trailed 3-0 at one point and closed to within 3-2 in the sixth when pinch-hitter Jack Mayfield singled in two runs.

Taylor Ward and Anthony Rendon each had a pair of hits.

Patrick Sandoval made the start and worked 5.2 innings. He yielded seven hits and three runs, walked three and struck out five.  Jaime Barria (1-0) got the win in relief, pitching two perfect innings and striking out two batters.

On Monday the Halos start a series hosting the Tampa Bay Rays (18-11), who are in second place in the American League East behind the New York Yankees (19-8).

In Chicago, the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Cubs 7-1 as Walker Buehler pitched a near gem. Buehler (4-1) worked seven innings, yielding four hits and one run. He struck out six batters and walked two as the Blue Crew improved to 19-5. They lead the National League West by 1.5 games over the San Diego Padres (19-10).  Cody Bellinger had three hits and Frankie Freedman and Gavin Lux added two each.

On Monday the Dodgers are in Pittsburgh to take on the Pirates (11-16).

Weather: The sun returns!

With, perhaps a few exceptions, sunny skies will prevail over the West Orange County area right into next weekend. The forecast for Monday is for sun and a daytime high of 70, and an overnight low of 52.  Tuesday should be “mostly sunny” with a high of 71 (50). After that, sun is expected right through Saturday with a warming trend rising to 89 (64).  It could be breezy, though, with winds as high as 14 to 17 miles an hour.