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

Republicans have chosen Majority Leader Steve Scalise as their nominee to be the Speaker of the House.

According to the Associated Press, Scalise, a Congressman from Louisiana, was chosen in a closed-door meeting on a secret ballot. But it was revealed that Scalise received 113 votes and Ohio’s Jim Jordan won 99 votes.

Since 217 votes are needed to elect a speaker, Scalise must seek to unite more Republicans in order to prevail. In the closely divided House, Democrats have so far been unwilling to provide any votes to help elect a new speaker.

Wartime cabinet vows to ‘crush Hamas’

A unity government of conservatives and centrists has been formed in Israel to lead the nation during its struggle with Hamas insurgents.

HAMAS vs. Israel (Shutterstock).

The New York Times is reporting that as the “emergency” government was being created, Israeli war planes are bombing sites in the Gaza Strip in the south. The death count has risen to 1,200 people killed and 300 more wounded. An estimated 150 people have been captured and held hostage by Hamas forces.

President Joe Biden called the Hamas attack “the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust.

At least 22 U.S. citizens have been killed and 17 more are missing.

Smith and Pinkett separated since 2016?

The Hollywood couple of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith have been living “completely separate lives” since 2016, said Pinkett Smith in a video on “The Today Show.”

The Associated Press is reporting that the couple has no plans to divorce. Their relationship was in the public eye at the Oscar ceremony when Will Smith slapped Chris Rock on stage for making a joke about Pinkett Smith’s hair.

Sports: Dodgers swept by D-backs

The Los Angeles Dodgers, who won 100 games in the regular season, couldn’t win any in the National League Division Series, losing all three games to the Arizona Diamondbacks, the last one 4-2 on Wednesday in Chase Field in Phoenix.

The game was essentially decided in the bottom of the third when the D-backs lit up Dodger starter Lance Lynn for four consecutive home runs and the margin of eventual victory. Two runs by the Dodgers in the top of the seventh closed the gap, but not enough.

Next for the D-backs in the best-of-seven National League Championship Series starting on Oct. 16 against either the Atlanta Braves or the Philadelphia Phillies.

Weather:  Slowly turning warmer ….

A slowly-developing warming trend is coming to our West Orange County area. There will be partly cloudy skies through Saturday. Thursday will have a daytime high of 79 with an overnight low of 60. Friday will be slowly cooler at 78 (59), and Saturday warmer at 81 (60). The sun will break through on Sunday with a high of 86 (62).