Mine-laying ships attacked

American forces have attacked 16 Iranian mine-laying ships near the Straight of Hormuz, resisting an apparent effort to choke off the flow of oil to the world.

According to The New York Times, the U.S. Central Command said the incident came near a major oil route. Nine of the ships are reported to have been struck.

This is the latest development in the war between the U.S and Israel, and Iran. So far the conflict has killed more than 1,800 people and raised gasoline prices at the pump.

The United Nations is reporting that the war, which has spread across the Middle East, is creating a humanitarian crisis by displacing nearly 700,000 people in Lebanon. An unknown number of persons have been given evacuation orders in Israel.

Seven American military service men and women have been killed and 140 wounded, eight of them severely.

Crowded election for Greene’s seat

Fifteen candidates are on the ballot in a special election today to fill a Georgia district seat in the U.S. House of Representatives vacated by the controversial Majorie Taylor Green, according to the Associated Press.

If no candidate wins a majority, the top two vote-getters will meet in a runoff on April 7. But even the winner there couldn’t rest. When Green quit following a falling out with President Donald Trump, a vacancy was created.

The eventual winner in the 14th District will have a short term, because there will be another election in November for the 2027-2029 term. There will be a May 19 party primary and possibly a June 15 party runoff.

While Democrats would love to cut into the slim Republican majority in the House, winning there would be a long shot. The 14th is considered to be “the most Republican-leaning district’ in the state.

VW profits sink, jobs cut

The company that makes Porsches, Audi, Lamborghinis, Bentleys and Volkswagens has announced plans to reduce its payroll by 50,000 jobs in the wake of reporting a 54 percent decline in pre-tax profits.

Those work force reductions will take place between now and 2030, according to United Press International.

Volkswagen is subject to a 25 percent tariff on imports to the United States, cutting into sales to the U.S. Sales have also have declined in China, as well and Chinese automakers are seeking to move into the European market, which is VW’s primary sales base.

Weather: Warm days ahead

When was March ever this hot? Not sure, but the forecast calls for a couple of real warm ones this week for our West Orange County cities. Wednesday starts with a daytime high of 77 with an overnight low of 53 under partly cloudy skies. Thursday will jump to 93 (59) with mostly sunny days and Friday will be only a bit cooler at 88 (58) but mostly cloudy. Relatively cool weather should arrive on Saturday with temps of 82 (55). There will be clouds in the morning and sun in the afternoon.

Great Thoughts (dieting)

“Let food be your medicine and medicine your food.”
– Hippocrates

“The only way to keep your health is to eat what you don’t want, drink what you don’t like and do what you’d rather not.”
– Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)

“If you maintain a healthy diet, or at least are smart about your food choices, you’ll see the pounds come off.”
– Misty May-Treanor