U.S. SUPREME COURT

With just one dissent, the U.S Supreme Court issued an order on Tuesday in support of President Donald Trump’s proposals to reduce the size of the federal workforce.

According to the Associated Press, the justices overrode orders from lower federal courts that temporarily paused those rulings, which came from the semi-official Department of Government Efficiency.

The sole vote against was from Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, who said the other justices “demonstrated enthusiasm for green-lighting this President’s legally dubious actions in an emergency posture.”

White House Spokesperson Harrison Fields, in a statement, said “Today’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling is another definitive victory for the President and his administration.”

Death toll in Texas now at 111

At least 161 people are still missing in Kerr County, the part of central Texas where heavy rains and the resulting flooding are reported to have taken 111 lives.

The New York Times is reporting that the number of people missing could indicate that the death toll could double.

Search-and-rescue teams from other states have been coming into the state to hunt for victims. Among the resources deployed are a cadaver dog – Rocket – and a horse, Havoc.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott defended the state’s response to the flooding, claiming that resources were in place, but “no one would know that that would be a 30-foot high tsunami wall of water.”

Trump OKs more arms for Ukraine

More “defensive weapons” will be coming to Ukraine, President Donald Trump said on Tuesday, reversing an earlier decline for support, according to United Press International.

RUSSIA VS. UKRAINE (Shutterstock).

“We want to put defensive weapons … because .. [Vladimir] Putin is not treating human beings right,” he said. “He’s killing too many people, so we’re sending some defensive weapons to Ukraine.”

Trump also spoke about the possibility of federal control of the District of Columbia, but said he was working with Mayor Muriel Bowser to address problems.

We’ve had a good relationship with the mayor, and we are testing to see if it works.”

Weather: A cooler weekend

A cooling trend is on the way for our West Orange County area. The forecast for Wednesday and Thursday is for daytime highs of 86 and lows of 64. For Friday and Saturday the highs should be 79 with overnight lows of 64 and 65.

Great Thoughts

“The most courageous act is still to think of yourself. Aloud.”
– Coco Chanel

“The future belongs to those who prepare for it today.”
– Malcolm X

“A great man is always willing to be little.”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson.