FORMER President Donald Trump sits in the court room with his lawyers at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York, Thursday, April 25 2024. (Mark Peterson/Pool Photo via AP)

Former president Donald Trump was convicted by a New York jury on 34 felony charges of falsifying legal documents Friday afternoon.

He is now the first former president ever to be convicted of a felony.

Trump was accused – and convicted of – paying “hush money” to porn star Stormy Daniels is an effort to suppress the story of their alleged sexual relationship, fearing it would damage his prospects in the 2016 presidential campaign, and then claiming it was “legal expenses.”

Sentencing has been scheduled for July 11.

Trump called the trial “rigged” and promised that “The real verdict is on Nov. 5,” election day.  An appeal is certain to follow, and his campaign sent out a fundraising appeal with Trump quoted as saying “I am a political prisoner.”

Democratic leaders and commentators praised the verdict while their Republican counterparts criticized it.

U.S. will allow its weapons vs. Russia

RUSSIA VS. UKRAINE (Shutterstock).

President Joe Biden has given permission for U.S.-provided weapons to be used to strike targets in Russia, provided that they are only sites being used to be used to defend the besieged area of Kharkiv.

Other NATO allies are supporting that shift in policy, after a period of concern that such a change might provoke Russia into widening the war with Ukraine to other nations.

It’s reported that Russian is concentrating large forces on the border near Kharkiv, one of the largest cities in Ukraine. U.S.-provided artillery and aerial attacks could be used to break up those formations.

Angels lose to Yanks, Dodgers to host Rockies

The Los Angeles Angels lost 8-3 to the New York Yankees in Anaheim on Thursday. They only managed four hits, the biggest being a home run by Logan O’Hoppe, his seventh of the season. With the loss, the Angels are 21-35 and remain in fifth and last place in the American League West.

The game was close – 2-1 Yankees – until the visitors scored five runs in the seventh inning against reliever Adam Cimber. Starter Patrick Sandoval (2-8) had done better, giving up just two hits and two runs over six innings. He struck out seven batters and walked three.

The Los Angeles Dodgers (36-22) were idle Thursday and are hosting the Colorado Rockies (20-25) on Friday;  Walker Buehler (1-2) will start for the Dodgers.

Weather: Same, same, same

If you like consistency in your weather, the outlook for our West Orange County area will make you happy. For Friday through Monday, skies will be cloudy in the morning and sunny in the afternoons. Daily daytime highs will be 72 and overnight lows 59 to 60.