FLOODING in Henderson County, North Carolina (Wikipedia).

Crews are continuing their search for survivors of the effects of Hurricane Helene. According to the Associated Press, the death toll has climbed to 215 as more victims are found.

The search is especially urgent in the remote mountain areas of North Carolina as rescue teams and volunteers are braving overflowing rivers and huge mudslides to help people who are stranded or missing.

Many people are believed to have been unable to plea for help because phone service and electricity has been interrupted.

About half of those known victims are in North Carolina, with dozens killed in South Carolina and Georgia.

Did Trump know he lost 2020 election?

DONALD TRUMP

A court filing by the special counsel prosecuting former president Donald Trump for alleged interference in the 2020 presidential election includes details that suggest that he was determined to battle to stay in office regardless of the actual outcome.

The New York Times is reporting that the prosecution has testimony in which Trump is quoted as saying, “It doesn’t matter if you won or lost the election. You still have to fight like hell.”

Special Counsel Jack Smith is seeking to establish that Trump was not acting in his role as president, but instead as a politician seeking re-election.

Dodgers v. Padres in playoffs

The post-season starts for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday as they host the San Diego Padres in the first round of the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium.

Beware: the Padres knocked the Blue Crew out of the playoffs in 2022.

Weather: Into the mid-80s

The thermometer will creep up for our West Orange County cities into the mid-80s as we move toward the weekend. Friday is forecast to have morning fog with afternoon sun and a daytime high of 81 with an overnight low of 63. Partly cloudy skies will move in over through the weekend with a high of 83 on Saturday (along with a low of 62). Sunday will be similar at 83 (60) and to 85 (63) on Monday.