FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP (Shutterstock).

Former president Donald Trump was indicted by a New York City grand jury on Thursday, becoming the first one-time chief executive of the nation to be charged with a crime.

According to the Associated Press, the investigation that preceded the indictment related to allegedly using campaign contributions to pay a pornographic actress for her silence.

Trump. who has declared his candidacy for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, called the charge “political persecution.”

Trump. who has declared his candidacy for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, called the charge “political persecution.”

He has not been arrested, but – according to The New York Times – he is expected to turn himself in to authorities at a courthouse in New York City where he will be fingerprinted and photographed.

The specific charges will be then named, which could number more than two dozen.

However, reuters.com is suggesting that Trump may try to turn the situation to an advantage in fundraising to help his effort to battle “the never-ending witch hunts and WIN the WHITE HOUSE in 2024,” as an e-mail put it.

GOP-led House passes energy package

A BILL passed the House of Representatives to boost domestic energy production (Wikipedia/Richard Masoner.Cycleicious)

In a mostly party-line vote, the House of Representatives passed the Lower Energy Costs Act on Thursday. The tally was 225-204.

According to United Press International, the bill would reverse some policies put in place by President Joe Biden. It would seek to generate more domestic energy production by approving more drilling rights on federal land and curbing Washington’s power to cut emissions.

The bill is likely to die in the Democratic-controlled Senate or be vetoed by President Biden.

Also in the news … A Utah jury on Thursday found actress Gwyneth Paltrow not responsive for any injuries suffered by Terry Andrerson in a skiing collision in 2016.

Sports: Dodgers romp, Angels lose late

On Opening Day for the 2023 season on Thursday, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Los Angeles Angels resembled their 2022 versions.

The Dodgers looked great and the Angels looked great only when Shohei Ohtani was in the game. The Blue Crew thumped the Arizona Diamondbacks 8-2 and the Halos lost 2-1 to the Athletics in Oakland.

Ohtani struck out 10 batters in six innings, yielding only two hits and three walks. He also went 1-for 3 at the plate and drew a walk.

The Angels led 1-0 until the eighth when the A’s rallied for two runs to get a come-from-behind win. LAA is idle Friday and resumes Saturday with Patrick Sandoval making the start.

At home, the Dodgers turned 12 hits into eight runs. Will Smith went 3-for-4 and drove in four runs. James Outman was 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs. 

Julio Urias (1-0) got the win, working six innings and yielding four hits and two runs. He struck out six batters and walked none. Dustin May will have the start for the Dodgers on Friday.

The Anaheim Ducks lost 4-1 to the Seattle Kraken on the road. Brock McGinn scored the lone goal for Anaheim, which is now 23-42-10 and last place in the NHL Pacific Division.

Weather: Rainy days are over

The skies may be a bit cloudy in the skies over West Orange County for the next few days, but the forecast calls for no more rain … for a while anyway. Friday is expected to be mostly cloudy with a daytime high of 66 and an overnight low of 47. Saturday will be sunny with a high of 71 and a low of 51.  Sunday looks a bit cooler with mostly sunny conditions along with a high of 67 (53). The workweek starts Monday with mostly cloudy skies and a high of 65 (45).