UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT (USSC photo).

In a case with potentially sweeping impacts on national, state and local elections, the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday ruled that state legislatures did not have the ultimate power over elections and districting.

The court ruled 6-3 to upheld a decision by the North Carolina Supreme Court that nulled a congressional redistricting plan that was “excessively partisan,” according to the Associated Press.

Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the majority opinion, while justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch were in the minority.

While the legal question related to redistricting, it could – in theory – have created a precedent that would allow state legislatures to ignore the popular vote in elections, including the presidential contests.

Did Putin want Wagner leader killed?

YEVGENY PRIGOZHIN

Russian President Vladimir Putin wanted the mercenary Wagner Group leader Vevgeny Prigozhin killed during the aborted “March on Moscow.”

That’s what Belarus President Aleksandr G. Lukashenko said on state media, according to The New York Times. Lukashenko said he argued against the move, and confirmed that Prigozhin was now in Belarus.

In a related development, the U.S. Treasury Department issued sanctions against four companies in the Central African Republic, United Arab Emirates and Russia for allegedly helping to raise money for the Wagner Group illegally.

Prigozhin reportedly agreed to stop what he called a “protest” in exchange for the dropping of all charges against him and passage to Belarus.

Jan. 6 violence warnings “ignored”

THE ATTACK on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 (D.C. Metropolitan Police).

U.S. law enforcement agencies didn’t take seriously many warning signs leading to the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol building, according to a Senate committee.

United Press International is reporting that the Senate Homeland Security Committee on Tuesday released a report, “Planned in Plain Sight,” which criticized the FBI and the Homeland Security Department for having “dropped the ball” despite widespread evidence that a violent attack was being organized by extreme right-wing protesters seeking to prevent the certification of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as president and vice president.

Seacrest will lead “Wheel of Fortune”

RYAN SEACREST

Ryan Seacrest will take over as host of the popular television game show in September 2024 when Pat Sajak retires from that role after 41 years.

Seacrest has hosted a variety of TV shows and specials, including “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve,” which had been started by Dick Clark.

“Wheel of Fortune,” which resembles the kid’s “Hangman” game, is especially popular among senior citizens.

Sports: Angels at home; Dodgers on road

The Los Angeles Angels (43-37) are hosting the Chicago White Sox tonight in Anaheim, while the Los Angeles Dodgers (43-34) are in Denver to take on the Colorado Rockies.

Results will be poster later this evening

Weather: Over and over and …

The outlook for our West Orange County area is for more and more partly cloudy skies right into the weekend, but with a warming trend.  Wednesday is expected to have a daytime high of 73 (60 overnight) followed by 76 (60) on Thursday and on Friday a high of 79 (61). A high of 80 (62) is expected on Saturday.