SARAH PALIN (Shutterstock).

Former Alaska Governor and 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin is back in public life after advancing Tuesday to the general election in November to fill that state’s lone seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Under Alaska’s new system, party primaries have been eliminated and the top four candidates qualify for the general election, according to The Associated Press.

Also advancing was Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski, seeking re-election to a seat she first won in 2002.

She may face a tough race in a deep-red state as she voted to impeach former president Donald Trump.

Pharmacies fined $650.5m over opioids

A trio of the nation’s biggest pharmacy store chains was ordered on Wednesday to pay $650.5 million to two counties in Ohio because of the opioid epidemic in that state.

According to The New York Times, CVS, Walgreens and Walmart, a federal judge made the award after a jury in November decided that the chains sold “massive quantities” of the painkiller, ignoring evidence that the drugs were being widely abused and were highly addictive.

Sports: LeBron signs with Lakers to 2024-25

LEBRON JAMES (Wikipedia).

Superstar LeBron James has reportedly signed a two-year, $97.1 million contract extension to play for the Los Angeles Lakers through the 2024-2025 season, when he will be 40 years old.

The Los Angeles Angels (51-67) continued to be winless in Seattle, losing 11-7 to the Mariners Wednesday afternoon and getting swept in three games. Shohei Ohtani continued on his hot streak at bat. going 4-for-5 with four RBIs, including a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth. It was his 27th of the season.

The Halos start a new series on Friday in Detroit against the Tigers.

The Los Angeles Dodgers (80-35) will visit the Milwaukee Brewers (62-53) with Tony Gonsolin (14-1) getting the start for the Blue Crew.

Weather: Not quite scorching

The quite warm weather in the West Orange County area will moderate toward this weekend. The forecast for Thursday calls for sunny skies and a daytime high of 85 and an overnight low of 66. But some clouds will begin to move in on Friday with daytime temps sliding from 85 to 82 on Saturday.