NICOLAS MADURO, taking office as president of Venezuela 2013 (Wikipedia).

Nicolas Maduro, describing himself as “the president of my country,” pleaded not guilty in federal court Monday in New York to drug trafficking charges.

Maduro, the leader of Venezuela, said, “I was captured,” adding, “I am innocent, I am not guilty. I am an innocent man the constitutional president of my country,” according to the Associated Press.

His court appearance came after he and his wife, Cilia Flores, were taken from their home in Caracas on Saturday by U.S. special forces.

The new interim leader of Venezuela is Delcy Rodriguez, placed in the job by that nation’s supreme court.

She called the American raid “an illegitimate military operation against our homeland.”

Vaccine recommendations trimmed

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention “updated” their recommendations on vaccines for American children, reducing the use of routine injections from 17 to 11.

THE LIST of recommended vaccinations has been cut from 17 to 11 (Shutterstock).

According to The New York Times, the recommendations are effective immediately. The federal government doesn’t have the authority to require vaccinations, but the states do.

Critics of the decision argue that the CDCP’s change will lead to fewer child vaccinations and to a spread of diseases that have been effectively suppressed for years.

Retained as “recommended” will be shots for several maladies, including measles, polio and whooping cough.

Sports: NFL playoff matchups

The Los Angeles (12-5) Rams and Los Angeles Chargers (11-6) will begin their playoff campaigns this week, hoping to start on a road to the Super Bowl.

The Rams will visit the Carolina Panthers (8-9) on Saturday, Jan. 10 in a wild card game televised on Fox Sports at 1:30 p.m.

The Chargers will visit the New England Patriots (14-3) on Sunday, Jan. 11 in a game telecast on NBC at 5 p.m.

Weather: Rain should be gone

It looks like the days and nights of flooded streets and wet shoes are behind us for a while in our West Orange County cities. The forecast calls for temperatures in the mid- to-low 60s with no rain. Tuesday is expected to have a daytime high of 66 with an overnight low of 52 with partly cloudy skies. Temperatures will fall to 63 (51) on Wednesday with mostly sunny skies. Thursday will cool further to 61 (49) with sunny skies. Friday will warm slowly to 62 (49) and more sun.