DONALD TRUMP and Elon Musk (Shutterstock).

Billionaire Elon Musk, once a staunch ally of President Donald Trump, announced on Sunday he was splitting with the Republican chief executive and starting a third political party.

According to the Associated Press, Musk will form his “America Party” in response to the passage and signature into law of the controversial “Big Beautiful [Budget] Bill.”

“When it comes to bankrupting our country with waste & graft, we live in a one-party system, not a democracy,” Musk posted on X, his social media platform once known as Twitter. “Today, the America Party is formed to give you back your freedom.”

Trump called Musk’s proposal “ridiculous.”

Musk was by far the biggest contributor to Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, donating an estimated $250 million.

Death toll in Texas floods hits 79

The deadly floods that inundated large parts of central Texas are now believed to have claimed the lives of at least 79 persons, and more tragic news is yet to come.

According to The New York Times, still missing are one counselor and 10 campers from a girls’ summer camp – Camp Mystic.

Heavy rain and flooding may be coming to the Texas hill country. The National Weather Service has issued more flash flood warnings.
People along certain areas – Kerr County and the Guadalupe River basin – have been urged to seek higher ground.

An Unsunny Sunday for LA

The two MLB All-Star teams seemed a little bit underepresented in the All-Star teams announced on Sunday.

The National League team starters will include Dodgers Freddie Freeman (first base) and Shohei Ohtani (designated hitter). Among the starting pitchers were left-hander Clayton Kershaw and right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

The American League starting pitcher lineup included Yusei Kikuchi of the Angels, the only Halo on the squad.

In games Sunday, the Angels suffered their third straight one-run loss, falling 3-2 to the Blue Jays in Toronto, dropping the Halos to fourth place in the AL West.

The Dodgers lost 5-1 to the Astros in Houston, who completed a sweep of the three-game series. The Blue Crew still leads the NL West, now by 7.5 games.

Weather: Sunny and warmer

Shorts and T-shirts will be the fashion for many in our West Orange County cities this coming week. Daytime temperatures will rise into the high- and mid-80s this week before starting to cool toward the weekend. The forecast for Monday calls for a high of 81 with an overnight low of 62. There will be clouds in the morning and sun in the afternoon.

Tuesday will warm to 87 (64) with mostly sunny skies. Wednesday and Thursday will be sunny with temps of 86 (65). By Friday cooler temps will arrive at 81 (64) with partly cloudy skies.