UNITED STATES Supreme Court building (Flickr/Geoff Livingston).

The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday announced a decision expanding gun rights for self-defense.

According to The Associated Press, the court voted 6-3 – on conservative vs. liberal lines – to strike down a New York state gun law which requires a “demonstrated” need to carry a gun in order for a person to get a permit to carry a concealed firearm.

President Joe Biden criticized the ruling as contrary to “common sense and the Constitution.”

California has a law similar to the one overturned by the high court. More legal challenges to those laws are expected, based on Thursday’s decision.

The Justice Department and Jan. 6

Former president Donald Trump sought to manipulate the Justice Department in an attempt to overthrow the results of the 2020 presidential election, the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol was told on Thursday.

According to United Press International, testimony given before the panel indicated that Trump was considering replacing the sitting attorney general with a lower-ranking official who had backed Trump’s unsupported claims of election fraud.

Also in the news … President Joe Biden is proposing to cancel $6 billion in college debt owed by students who claim they were defrauded, according to USA Today …. As many as six Republican members of Congress had asked for “pre-emptive pardons” from then-president Donald Trump for actions  that might lead to criminal charges in connection with efforts to negate the results of the 2020 presidential election, reports The New York Times.

Sports: And now, Shohei rests …

SHOHEI OHTANI (Angels photo).

After two spectacular performances with his bat and his arm, Los Angeles Angels star Shohei Ohtani – and his team have Thursday off. Ohtani drove in eight runs on Tuesday and struck out 13 batters on Wednesday.

The Angels (34-38) are back in action in Anaheim on Friday when they host the Seattle Mariners (32-39).

The Los Angeles Dodgers (43-25) defeated the Cincinnati Reds 10-5 on Thursday. Cody Bellinger went 3-for-4 with three RBIs and a home run.

Clayton Kershaw worked six innings, giving up seven hits, one earned run and struck out seven batters.

Weather:  Partly cloudy and then …

It’s starting to look like a great weekend. The forecast for the West Orange County area is for partly cloudy weather on Friday followed by lots of sun for days and days. Friday’s daytime high should be 87 with an overnight low go 62. Mr. Sun comes back on Saturday with a high of 87 (64) followed by a slightly cooler Sunday (85/65), then a warmer Monday (88/67). Sunny skies are forecast for the rest of the month.