Judge upholds abortion rights

A county judge in Ohio declared unconstitutional the Buckeye state’s near-total ban on abortion, saying the state’s “attorney general evidently didn’t get the memo” on voter approval of “enshrinement” of reproductive rights in the state constitution.

According to the Associated Press, Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Christian Jenkins turned down a request from the Republican AG Dave Yost, who was seeking to preserve most of the previous “heartbeat” law which aimed to ban pregnancy termination at the first indication of a fetal heartbeat.

“Despite the adoption of a broad and strongly worded constitutional amendment, in this case and others, the State of Ohio seeks not to uphold the constitutional protection of abortion rights, but to diminish and limit it,” he wrote. Jenkins said his ruling upholds voters’ wishes.

“Boss” and Obama rally for Harris in Georgia while Trump stumps in Arizona and Nevada

In a further effort to try to “close the sale” with voters on the Democratic ticket, former president Barack Obama – backed by musical legend Bruce Springsteen and other celebrities –  rallied in front of a crowd of 23,000 in a stadium near Atlanta on Thursday.

Georgia is one of the “swing” states that Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump are trying to win to their side as they seek to assemble the 270 Electoral College votes needed to win the presidency.

Trump on Thursday was at a rally in Tempe in Arizona and later in Las Vegas, Nevada, both “swing” states.

Rams continue comeback, beat Vikings 30-20

The Los Angeles Rams, who started the season with four losses in five games, are coming back. With  a 30-20 win over the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday at SoFi Stadium, the team is now 3-4 and still very much alive in the playoff race.

Matthew Stafford passed for four touchdowns and the Ram defense got  key stops – and a safety – in the closing minutes to win the game.  With Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp back from injuries, the Rams had the receiving corps to complement Kyren Williams’ rushing. Stafford was 25 of 34 for 279 yards and was intercepted once. Nacua caught seven passes for 106 yards, while Kupp had five catches for 51 yards and a touchdown.

Williams rushed for 97 yards on 23 carries and caught five passes for 19 yards and a score.

Next up for the Rams will be a trip to Seattle to play the Seahawks (4-3), the NFL West Division lead.

Weather: Arcing toward the 60s

In an slightly uneven curve, temperatures in the West Orange County area are headed toward the 60s … eventually … The forecast for Friday is for morning fod and afternoon sun with an afternoon high of 77 and an overnight low of 56. Saturday will warm to 78 (57) with clouds, then sun. Sunday will cool to 75 (60) under cloudy skies and Monday will dip to 69 (55) with clouds and sun.