HAMAS vs. Israel (Shutterstock).

There are hopeful signs in negotiations over further cease-fire talks in the war in Gaza.

Egyptian and American diplomats are seeking to broker a deal under which a compromise can be reached between Israel and Hamas over a way to stop the conflict, or at least put a long-term cessation of hostilities in place.

A new report from the United Nations estimates that even if the war stops immediately, it would be until 2040 to rebuild the residences in Gaza destroyed by Israeli attacks.

Being discussed is an immediate six-week cease-fire and partial release of Israelis held by Hamas as hostages as negotiations proceed toward a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

Earlier in the conflict, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that his nation’s goal was to completely destroy Hamas.

Two views on jobs report

A TOTAL of 175,000 jobs was added in April in the U.S. (Shutterstock)..

The Labor Department reported that the American economy added 175,000 new jobs in April. Is that good news or bad news?

Former president Donald Trump said “the job numbers just came out and they’re horrible.” President Joe Biden said the numbers showed “the great American comeback continues.”

The numbers were not as robust as economists had predicted, but there may be good news in that. Employment and the economy have both expanded so quickly that the Federal Reserve has been ratcheting up interest rates. Those rates are the highest in two decades because of that.

A sign of a slowing economy could lead “the Fed” into cutting rates, which would be welcome to many business sectors.

Congressman charged with bribery

Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) and his wife were indicted by the U.S Justice Department for allegedly accepting almost $600,000 n bribes from a foreign government and a Mexican bank.

Cuellar and his wife, Imelda, are claimed to have taken the money from an oil and gas company owned by the government of the south Asian nation of Azerbaijan and a bank based in Mexico City in exchange for “political favors” on behalf of their  financial benefactors.

That’s against the law as it’s acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign nation. The arrangement is alleged to have been in place from 2014 to 2021. 

The Cuellars appeared in court in Houston on Friday and were released after posting a $100,000 bond.

Clark’s WNBA debut is a sellout

CAITLIN CLARK

The beginning of the WNBA preseason was anything but routine as the game between the Indiana Fever and Dallas Wings was a sell-out as Caitlin Clark made her professional debut.

Clark, playing for the Fever, was hot in the first half, scoring 16 points, but cooled off in the second half.

She ended up with 21 points as the Fever lost 79-76.

The game-winner was a three-pointer by Arike Ogunbowale, who ended up with 19 points.

Weather: Sunny side soon

After a lot of clouds, sunny skies are on the way – eventually – to our West Orange County area. Saturday will have mostly cloudy skies with a high of 65 and an overnight low of 56. Sunday will see more heat at 69 (50) with partly cloudy conditions.

Monday will be sunny as the temps rise to “sunny” with a high to 71 (53). Tuesday will be similar at 71 (54).