FORMER President Donald Trump (Flickr/Gage Skidmore).

Former president Donald Trump received some good news and some bad news in a Colorado court room on Friday.

U.S. District Judge Sarah B. Wallace ruled that Trump had engaged in insurrection – a federal offense –in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, but refused to allow his name be taken off the ballot in the state’s primary election.

Wallace’s ruling was based on doubt as to whether the 14th Amendment – which bars anyone from holding office who had “engaged in insurrection or rebellion” – applied to candidacy for the presidency.

This is the third failed effort to keep Trump off the ballot based on the insurrection issue.

Musk’s X takes hit from advertisers

ELON MUSK (Flickr/Steve Jurevtson).

Elon Musk’s agreement with an anti-semitic post on X (formerly known as Twitter) may cost the network millions of dollars of advertising.

“You have said the actual truth,” Musk, in response to a post that argued that Jews had “hatred against whites” and supported “hordes of minorities.”

In reaction, Paramount (owner of CBS), Apple, IBM, Disney and Lionsgate have pulled their advertising from X, an amount which could cut deeply into X’s sales, depending on how long it lasts.

The White House chimed in, too, condemning Musk’s post, which helped “repeat the hideous lie.”

Go south, Israelis warn Palestinians

Palestinians fleeing southward in the face of advancing Israeli forces have been warned to keep moving south as the conflict moves deeper in Gaza.

HAMAS vs. Israel (Shutterstock).

Daniel Hagari, spokesman for the Israeli Defense Forces, said Friday that IDF forces would continue to advance to wherever Hamas militants are found.

The war rages across the area; houses were bombed in one place; missiles were fired into Israel by Hezbollah from Lebanon and missiles were aimed at Tel Aviv on the coast and intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome anti-missile system.

In response Israeli war planes carried out strikes on targets in Lebanon.

The Gaza Hamas government has announced that the number of deaths is Gaza is past 12,000, including over 3,000 women and 5,000 children.

Sports: Lakers, Clips win tonight 

The Los Angeles Lakers (7-6) defeated the Portland Trailblazers 107-95 Friday night in In-Season Tournament action. LeBron James scored 35 points and nine assists in the win. Anthony Davis had 14 rebounds and 16 points.

The Los Angeles Clippers (4-7) played the Houston Rockets in another In-Season Tournament game and won 106-100. Kawhi Leonard led the team with 26 points; James Harden added 24.

Weather: Some rain (may be) coming

Our West Orange County area may not be done with rain yet. The forecast for Saturday is for a 36 percent chance of showers. The daytime high should be 68 with an overnight low of 56. Sunday is predicted to be partly cloudy, with a high of 73 (52). Monday will be warmer and sunny. The high will be 75 (52). Mostly sunny is the prediction for Tuesday with temperatures of 80 (52).