HAMAS vs. Israel (Shutterstock).

A disturbance surrounding an aid convoy in Gaza that took the lives of at least 115 Palestinians on Thursday may have turned deadly when Israeli troops opened fire.

The initial version of events was that a riot broke out as crowds tried to pull supplies off trucks and that many people were trampled during that disorder. Israel claimed its forces fired warning shots when the crowd “moved toward them in a threatening way.”

But on Friday, the head of the Al-Awda Hospital said that over 80 percent of those treated at the facility had suffered gunshot wounds and the rest of the injuries were consistent with a stampede.

A United Nations team visiting the hospital confirmed “a large number of gunshot wounds.”

President Joe Biden announced on Friday the the U.S. would begin air-dropping humanitarian aid to Gaza.

“Innocent people got caught in an terrible war unable to feed their families, and you saw the response when they tried to get aid in,” said Biden. “We need to do more, and the United States will do more.”

Blizzards coming to California, Nevada

While coastal California may only get some rain this weekend, mountainous areas of California and Nevada may get hit with heavy snow and blizzards.

HEAVY SNOW and  blizzards are forecast for the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range (Shutterstock).

The National Weather Service is warning that very dangerous driving conditions are expected in the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, and “white-outs” (total loss of visibility due to blowing snow) could be created.

The winter blizzard warning began on Friday afternoon and will in place through Sunday afternoon, according to NWS. Lake Tahoe could get up to six feet of snow and drifts as deep at 10 feel are possible, said the service.

Residents are cautioned to gather supplies and stay put; out-of-towners are urged to stay away.

Gender harassment blamed in student death

An  investigation into the Owasso Public Schools in Oklahoma has been opened by the U.S Department of Education in the wake of the death of a 16-year-old transgender student.

The student died after a fight in a high school bathroom and an Oklahoma gay rights group – Human Rights Campaign – has asked the Education Department to look into whether the school system has handled allegations of “gender-based harassment” properly.

The school district denies any wrongdoing, and police say that the student – identified as Nex Benedict – did not die from traumatic injuries. The cause of death is still undetermined.

Schiff, Garvey in Senate runoff?

A poll released on Friday showed what while Rep. Adam Schiff, a Democrat, is heavily favored to finish first in the Senate race, former baseball star Steve Garvey, a Republican, is likely to finish second.

That’s significant, because California’s primary election system matches the top two vote-getters in the November election. Such a result would keep Rep. Katie Porter of Irvine, a Democrat, from making it to the runoff.

The poll released Friday indicated that in two-way race, Schiff would get 53 percent of the voters to 38 percent for Garvey and 9 percent undecided.

Weather: Don’t water the loan … yet

It’s not fair to rain on weekends, but the forecast for our West Orange County area calls for it. Showers are expected on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday should have a daytime high of 64 with an overnight low of 51; Sunday should peak at 62, then fall to 48. Partly cloudy conditions are in the forecast for Monday and Tuesday. Highs will be 68 and 66 with lows at 48 and 51.