EL PASO MASS SHOOTiNG memorial (WIkipedia).

The man convicted of killing 23 people and wounding 22 more – most of them Hispanic – at a Walmart in Texas in 2019 was sentenced to 90 consecutive life sentences Friday.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Patrick Wood Crusius had earlier pleaded guilty to a 90-count indictment which included the sentencing enhancement of committing hate crimes.

“No one in this country should have to live in fear of hate-fueled violence; that they will be targeted because of what they look like or where they are from,” said Attorney General Merrick Garland.

Crusius considered himself a white nationalist and wanted to kill Hispanics because they were immigrating to the U.S. He went the Walmart El Paso, Texas because he expected to find large numbers of potential victims there.

China urged to help fight climate change

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Friday urged China to do more to combat changes in the climate.

The New York Times is reporting that Yellen, attending a meeting in Beijing, requested that China – the biggest source of “greenhouse gases” believed to contribute to global warming and other impacts on the weather and climate – step up.

The wealthy nations have paid money into funds to help developing countries deal with climate change issues, but China has refused to contribute financially on the grounds that it, too, was still a developing nation.

Target targeted by attorneys general

A letter criticizing the “Pride Month” clothes displayed at Target department stores was sent to the retail giant on Wednesday, signed by seven Republican attorneys general, according to United Press International.

The letter criticized LGBTQ-themed clothing and urged Target to shift to what it considered patriotic attire. “It is likely more profitable to sell the type of Pride that enshrines the love of the United States,” the letter stated, according to United Press International.

It also suggested – without specifics – that some of the merchandise might be contrary to state child protection laws. The letter was from the officials in Arkansas, Idaho, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri and South Carolina.

Arrest made in Baltimore mass shooting

A 17-year-old boy was arrested on Friday by Baltimore police as a suspect in a mass shooting in Baltimore during the 4th of July weekend.

Two people were shot dead and 28 others wounded in the incident at a block party. The youth will face charges of being a minor in possession of a firearm, possession of an assault weapon, reckless endangerment and more, reported USA Today.

It’s not clear whether authorities believe the suspect – or suspects – involved were targeting specific people or just shooting indiscriminately down the street.

Dodgers overpower Angels, 11-4

The surging Los Angeles Dodgers ran over the slumping Los Angeles Angels 11-4 on Friday in the first of two Freeway Series games in Chavez Ravine.

With the loss, the Halos suffered their eighth loss in 10 games and fell to 45-45, sliding to fourth place in the American League West, a half-game behind the Seattle Mariners.

The Dodgers are 50-38 and remain a half-game behind of the first place Arizona Diamondbacks (51-38).

Jumping off to a 4-0 lead, the Blue Crew held off comeback attempts by the Angels with four runs in the bottom of the eighth. For the night, the Dodgers got home runs from Freddie Freeman (his 16th), J.D. Martinez (21st), Will Smith (13th) and two by Mookie Betts (24th and 25th).

As for the Angels, they went deep twice, with four-baggers from Mickey Moniak (10th) and Mike Moustakas (sixth).

The two teams meet again on Saturday, then pause for the All-Star break.

Weather: Here come the 80s

Temperatures are slowly creeping up in our West Orange County area headed toward the 80s by Monday. Partly cloudy skies will continue for a while and Saturday should have daytime high of 78 with an overnight low of 61. Sunday will be slightly warmer at 79 (60), finally breaking through to 82 (62) on Monday. Tuesday is expected to rise to 84 (62).