UKRAINE and Russia say they are determined to fight on (Shutterstock).

Intense fighting continues to rage around the strategic city of Vuhledar in Ukraine, as Russian forces seek to conquer the city but are repeatedly repulsed by its defenders.

According to The New York Times. the battle could be a precursor to an expected Ukrainian counteroffensive to recover territory seized by Russia in the early days of the war.

Ukraine is hopeful that the influx of advanced weapons from the U.S. and other Western nations could be decisive.

So far, casualties have been heavy on both sides and the battle lines have changed little.

Pence testified before grand jury

MIKE PENCE, former vice president (Wikipedia).

Former vice president Mike Pence testified before a federal grand jury on Thursday in Washington.D.C.

According to the Associated Press, Pence could provide eyewitness details to the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol building by rioters seeking to prevent the certification of the election of Joe Biden.

No details have emerged about this testimony. but in public remarks he has said he would stick with “the story that I’ve been telling the American people all across the country.”

Also in the news … Ratings for the Fox News slot vacated by the firing of Tucker Carlson are down by 56 percent this week with substitute host Brian Kilmeade, according to the AP.

Bryce Young drafted No. 1 by NFL

BRYCE YOUNG

Former Mater Dei High School and Alabama quarterback Bryce Young was drafted by the Carolina Panthers as the top pick of the NFL Draft. 

He won the Heisman Trophy for 2021 and he played on the Crimson Tide that won a national championship in 2020,

Selected second was Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud by the Houston Texans.

Angels win their third straight

It was close, but the Los Angeles Angels won their third straight game Thursday by defeating the Oakland A’s 8-7 in Anaheim.

Shohei Ohtani (4-0) had a somewhat off-night on the mound, but he made up for it with the bat. He worked six innings, yielding just three hits, but two of them were homers. The five earned runs pumped his ERA to a still-modest 1.85.

At the plate, Ohtani went 3-for-5 two singles and a double. He drove in one run and scored two. Brandon Drury continued his long-ball heroics with a two-run shot, his fifth home run of the season. He also walked twice.

The Angels are now 14-12, good for third place in the American League West but just a half-game out of first place.

Dodgers held up by Pirates

After a 6-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on the road on Thursday, the Los Angeles Dodgers fell back to .500 with a 13-13 mark, and second place the National League West.

The Blue Crew scored twice in the top of the first, but the Bucs answered with three of their own in the bottom of the inning and never lost the lead. They added three more runs in the bottom of the sixth.

Julio Urias (3-3) took the loss, lasting 5.2 innings. He gave up seven hits – including two homers – and six earned runs. He struck out six and walked two.

David Peralta knocked in two runs for the Dodgers and Jason Hayward had two hits.

Weather: Thermometer rising … briefly

The West Orange County area will get a brief taste of summer weather this weekend. The forecast calls for a daytime high of 75 on Friday with an overnight low of 56 under partly cloudy skies. Saturday, however, will see a high of 82 with a low of 58. Temps, however, will drop after that. Sunday will be mostly sunny but with a high of 76, falling to 66 on Monday and 64 on Tuesday. Look out for some rain on Wednesday and Thursday.