AIR STRIKES In Gaza claimed 22 lives (Shutterstock).

Twenty-two people were killed – 18 of them children – as Israeli planes struck targets in Rafah in the Gaza Strip overnight.

Health officials in Gaza say the first attack killed three people, among them a 3-year-old child. The second killed 17 children and two women.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement which read: “In the coming days, we will increase the political and military pressure on Hamas because this is the only way to bring back our hostages and achieve victory.”

He vowed that Israel will deliver “more and painful blows on Hamas – soon.”

Rams star Roman Gabriel dead at 83

ROMAN GABRIEL, 1970 (Wikipedia).

Roman Gabriel, the Los Angeles Rams quarterback who led the team to some of its best seasons in the 1960s, has died at the age of 83.

Gabriel starred in college at North Carolina State University, and was drafted by the Rams in 1962. He played 16 seasons in the NFL, 11 with the Rams and five with the Philadelphia Eagles.

In 1969, when with the Rams, he was honored as Most Valuable Player in the NFL. That year the Rams finished 11-3 and made the NFL playoffs, losing to the Minnesota Vikings 23-20.

After his stint with the Eagles, he coached football at Cal Poly Pomona and had a brief acting career.

Angels lose to Reds; Dodgers slam Mets

The Los Angeles Angels suffered their fourth straight loss on Sunday, falling 3-0 to the Reds in Cincinnati  by the score of 3-0. Jose Soriano had a no-hitter going for the Halos going into the sixth innings, when the home team broke through for three runs.

The Angels outhit the Red 6-5, but batted 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position. With the loss, the Angels are 9-13 and in third place in the AL West.

The Los Angeles Dodgers snapped their three-game losing streak, beating the  New York Mets 10-0. Shohei Ohtani made history as he hit his 176th career home run, setting a new record for MLB homers by a Japanese-born player. The Dodgers are now 13-11 and remain in first in the NL West

THE LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS  opened their NBA Western Conference playoff series by defeating the Dallas Mavericks 109-77  on Sunday. James Harden scored 28 points for the Clips, while Ivica Zubac scored 20 and grabbed 15 rebounds.

Weather: Getting cooler

The coming work week for our West Orange County looks like a gentle slide toward cooler days. The forecast for Monday calls for morning clouds and afternoon sun with a high of 69 and a low of 58. Tuesday will be similar at 67 (53); Wednesday is expected to be similar – 67 (56) – but with partly cloudy skies. Thursday will cool to 65 (55) and partly cloudy.