U.S. CAPITOL, seat of Congress (Shutterstock).

If the federal government escapes a shutdown prompted by a political deadlock in Congress by passing a temporary “stopgap” spending bill, would it include any money for military assistance to Ukraine?

The New York Times is reporting that both Democratic and Republican senators are discussing whether to add up to $25 billion for Ukraine or leave it off to ease the passage of a continuing resolution in the House of Representatives.

There is plenty of support for more aid to Ukraine in the Senate, assorting to The Times, but less so among Republicans in the House.

The deadline to avoid a shutdown is Saturday.

Russia accused of war crimes, torture

DAMAGE TO a residential area in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine in February 2022 (Shutterstock)

Russian forces fighting in the Ukraine have been accused by a United Nations commission of war crimes, including the “widespread and systematic use of torture.”

According to United Press International,  the war crimes included taking children from Ukraine into Russia and targeting residential buildings, businesses and stores, as well as rape and other sexual violence against woman.

Arrest warrants were issued in March by the International Criminal Court for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, children’s commissioner.

Actor David McCallum dead at 90

Television star David McCallum, who became famous as Illya Kuryakin, the Russian secret agent in the 1960s “The Man From UNCLE” died Monday of natural causes.

According to USA Today, the show capitalized on the popularity of spy movies sparked by James Bond stories, as well as his appeal to the teen girl audience attracted to McCallum.

More recently, he played a role on the CBS show “NCIS” as a pathologist.

Weather: Roller coaster weather

Up and then down and then up again. The forecast for our West Orange County area for Tuesday and Wednesday is for a daytime high of 81 and overnight lows of 62 and 61. Climate conditions will go from partly cloudy to mostly sunny. Partly cloudy skies return on Thursday with a high of 78 (63) followed by a 74 (63) on Friday with morning clouds and afternoon sun. The “bottom” is hit on Saturday at 68 (59) with morning showers, after which a warming trend begins.