DONALD TRUMP (Wikipedia)

In the final day before the Iowa Republican presidential caucus, former president Donald Trump said that helping him win a third presidential nomination would allow him to punish his enemies.

“These caucuses are your personal chance to score the ultimate victory over all of the liars, cheaters, thugs, perverts, crooks, freaks, creeps and other quite nice people,” said Trump to the audience at Simpson College in Indianola.

Trump is expected to win the caucus and gather the most delegates toward the GOP convention, but the race for second place between former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will also be closely watched to determine who may be the only Republican candidate to continue to compete with Trump.

It’s c-c-c-cold outside in the north

THE NORTHERN U.S. is being ht by fierce cold conditions, and parts of the South are affected also (Shutterstock).

What’s being called an “Arctic blast” has over 100 million people in northern areas of the United States shivering. Snow was expected to reach the South and fierce squalls, pushed by high winds are expected to hit the Northeast.

Wind chills – how the speed of gusts increases the impact of freezing temperatures – are predicted by the National Weather Service to hit 19 degrees below zero in Arkansas and 60 degrees below zero in Montana.

The effects of high winds have knocked down many trees and power lines which in some cases delayed emergency vehicles in responding to calls for help.

Sports: Rams vs. Lions: what a game!

In a back-and-forth game that came down to the final minutes, the Detroit Lions slipped past the Los Angeles Rams 24-23 at Ford Field in the Motor City.

It was the first playoff win by the Lions in 32 years and featured strong performances by both quarterbacks. Jared Goff, who had been traded from the Rams to the Lions, passed for 277 yards and a touchdown. Matthew Stafford, traded to the Rams for Goff, passed for 367 yards and two scores. The Rams’ Puka Nucua set a new NFL record for most receiving yards by a rookie in a playoff game.

In the other NFL wild card game on Sunday, the Green Bay Packers upset the favored Dallas Cowboys 48-32. The Buffalo vs. Pittsburgh game scheduled for Sunday has been moved to Monday because of weather conditions in northern New York State.

Weather: Some of this, some of that

It’s as if Mother Nature can’t quite make up her mind for our West Orange County area.

Monday will see partly cloudy skies with a daytime high of 66 with an overnight low of 47. Tuesday should bring morning clouds followed by afternoon sun.

The daytime high is expected to be 67 with a low of 50. Wake up Wednesday morning to some fog, burning away to sunshine. The temps are expected to be 66 (52). Thursday will continue that warming trend to 70 (52) with partly cloudy skies.