PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN

President Joe Biden, seeking to fend off calls for him to step aside as the Democratic presidential candidate, gave a press conference Thursday before a gathering of NATO representatives and news media.

He spoke for nearly an hour, making a vigorous defense of his administration and pushing back on suggestions that he was too old or otherwise diminished to serve another term.

Biden vowed to “finish the job” and got generally good marks from most commentators for his grasp of the issues, especially foreign affairs.

But much of the news coverage focused a flub in which the president confused the names of Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump.

Later, he tweeted, “Yes, I know the difference. One is a prosecutor and one is a felon.”

An ABC poll released on Wednesday showed Biden and Trump tied among “likely voters” at 45 percent, but 57 percent of Democrats polled wanted Biden to stop his campaign.

Powerless people in Houston area

An estimated half-million homes and commercial buildings in the Houston area remain without electrical power in the aftermath of the effects of Tropical Storm Beryl.

HURRICANE BERYL, later a tropical storm (NASA image).

Over 1 million homes and businesses have had their power restored, but – according to CenterPoint Energy – many customers won’t get power until Sunday and many more will have to wait up to a week.

“We know that we still have a lot of work to do,” said Jason Ryan, executive vice president of  CPE. “We will not stop the work until it is done.”

Making matters more complicated are rainstorms that hit the Houston area. They lowered temperatures but complicated repair work.

Actress Shelly Duvall, 75

Actress Shelly Duvall, best known for her performances in “The Shining” and “Nashville,” has died at the age of 75.

She reportedly passed away in her Texas home of complications from diabetes. Duvall was a community college student when she was “discovered” and cast in Robert Altman’s “Brewster McCloud” film. She appeared in five other Altman films, including “Popeye” and “McCabe and Mrs. Miller.”

Weather: It’s just warm enough.

Summer should be warm and facilitate the wearing of shorts and sandals but not so hot you hide inside your house. The West Orange County area has just such weather now. The daytime highs will be in the low 80s and mid-60s overnight. Friday is forecast for 80 (66) with morning clouds and afternoon sun. Saturday through Monday will see partly cloudy skies with daytime temps ranging from 83 to 81.