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

A high school football coach who made a practice of kneeling and praying on the field after each game won his legal battle Monday in the biggest legal arena in the nation.

According to The Associated Press, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the actions of Joseph Kennedy at Bremerton High School in Washington did not violate constitutional separation on church and state.

The justices voted 6-3 on what is now a predictable pattern of justices appointed by Republican presidents hewing to conservative views, and those appointed by Democratic presidents backing a liberal position.

Supporters of the ruling claimed it as a victory for freedom of religion, while critics expressed the concern that the action of such an authority figure could have a coercive effect on young people.

Russian missile hits Ukraine shopping mall

A Russian missile attack on a shopping center in the Ukrainian city of  Kremenchuck on Monday killed at least 13 people and injured several dozen more.

MALL HIT BY MISSILE (Ukrainian govt. image).

According to United Press International, the attack struck a building that was occupied by an estimated 1,000 people.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky termed the attack “terrorism” in striking a civilian target with “no danger to the Russian army. No strategic value.”

The incident was the second consecutive strike at civilian targets far from the fighting, now into its fifth month.

Sports: Colorado Avalanche won Stanley Cup

With a 2-1 victory on Sunday, the Colorado Avalanche won the 2022 Stanley Cup championship of the National Hockey League.

The victors won four games to two over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Trailing 1-0 after two periods, the Avs scored twice to secure the win. 

Five seasons ago, Colorado had the worst record in the league.

Also in Sports: The Los Angeles Angels (35-40) are hosting the Chicago White Sox (34-37) in Anaheim. The Los Angeles Dodgers (45-26) are in Denver playing the Colorado Rockies (31-42).

Weather: Sun, sun, sun, sun …

Warm weather and sunny skies are in stock for the West Orange County area for the rest of the week. According to forecasts, Tuesday’s daytime high should be 89 with an overnight low of 66. A slow cooling trend will follow with Wednesday at 84 (66) and Thursday at 83 (63).