UNITED STATES Supreme Court building (Flickr/Geoff Livingston).

A first test of the flurry of executive orders issued by President Donald Trump since his inauguration may be headed to the Supreme Court.

Attorneys for the White House are asking the high court are requesting to allow for the firing of Hampton Dillinger, head of the Office of Special Counsel, an agency that is intended to protect “whistle-blowers” and enforce ethics laws.

According to The New York Times, the request is to overturn a temporary restraining order issued by a lower court to allow Dillinger to retain his job pending adjudication of the dispute.

The White House argues that a president has the power to remove any agency leader, but the law provides for a five-year term for that post and such a special counsel “may be removed by the president only for inefficiency, neglect of duty or malfeasance in office.”

Dillinger was ordered fired in a one sentence e-mail on Feb. 7 without explanation.

Netanyahu acting to move Gazans?

A proposal to relocate the Palestinian people living in the Gaza region is being embraced by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, prime minister of Israel.

According to the Associated Press, Netanyahu on Sunday called the program supported by President Donald Trump “the only viable plan to enable a different future” for the area.

The cease-fire that has allowed the exchange of prisoners and hostages between Israel and Hamas will expire in two weeks. Netanyahu said “the gates of hell would be open” if Hamas didn’t follow through completely on its promises.

Also in the news: At least nine people – eight of them in Kentucky – have died from flooding and freezing weather in the region (UPI) … A study on the impact of proposed “reciprocal tariffs” claims it would double inflation in the U.S. “My view is it would mean a real shock to the American economy,” said Gary Hufbauer of the Peterson Institute for International economics (USA Today).

Weather: A slow warming trend

Daytime temperatures will rise slowly in our West Orange County area this week. Highs on Monday will be 67 and overnight lows 50 and 48. Wednesday’s high will be 68 (50) and Thursday’s will be 69 (53). All days will be partly cloudy except for Tuesday, which is forecast for morning clouds and a sunny afternoon.