SPEAKER of the House Mike Johnson (Wikipedia).

A military aid package of almost $14.5 billion for Israel was approved by the House of Representatives on Thursday but it’s headed for almost certain opposition from the Senate and President Joe Biden.

The proposed bill would only be enacted if met with the same amount of money cut from the federal budget. It also provides for no new funding for the defense of Ukraine from Russian invaders.

Biden has vowed to veto the bill if it come to his desk, and  Senate leadership – Democrats – have said the bill has no chance of passing the upper house.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson said the next step would be to consider a bill for help for Ukraine connected to improving security at the border with Mexico.

Israeli troops advance; death toll mounts

HAMAS vs. Israel (Shutterstock).

Gaza City has been surrounded by Israeli troops pursuing the planned advance into the Gaza Strip against Hamas militants who staged bloody raids into Israel on Oct. 7

The death count of Palestinians has been placed at 9,000 people.

President Joe Biden’s request for a “humanitarian pause” in the combat to let in aid for Palestinians and let out foreigners and the badly wounded has been met with no direct reply from Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu who said, “We are advancing … nothing will stop us.”

Sports: Kings defeat Senators

The Los Angeles Kings posted their fourth victory in five games with a 3-2 win over the Senators in Ottawa on Thursday night.

With the triumph, the Kings are 6-2-2, good for 14 points and second place in the NHL Pacific Division.

Weather: Hanging on to the 80s

Our West Orange County area will have daytime highs in the 80s for two more two days before a long stretch in the 70s. The forecast for Friday’s high is 82 with an overnight low of 53 with partly cloudy skies.  Saturday should dip slightly to 80 (55) before opening a long run of days in the 70s on Sunday at 79 (55).