STREET SCENE in Tehran, Iran on fourth day of war (WIkipedia).

Israel and Iran continue to exchange blows as the Mideast conflict continues with no signs of stopping or pausing.

According to the Associated Press, Israel killed two of Iran’s senior security officials. They are Ali Larjani, secretary of his country’s Supreme National Security Council, and Gen. Gholam Reza Soleimani, head of the all-volunteer unit of the Revolutionary Guard.

In response, Iran launched missiles and drones at Israel and its Gulf Arab nations such as Dubai.

Despite the attacks on its leadership, an Iranian official said his government would continue to block access to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which has choked off the shipping of oil.

Senate debates federal voter bill

The U.S. Senate has begun debate on the controversial proposed SAVE America Act which would require voters to show approved photo identification to vote in presidential elections and proof of citizenship to register to vote.

SENATE debating proposed federal election bill (Shutterstock).

The New York Times reports that the origins of the bill come from President Donald Trump’s insistence – without evidence – that there was widespread voter fraud in the 2016, 2020 and 2024 presidential elections.

If approved, the bill would limit voting by mail to the infirm, members of the military and Americans residing outside the U.S. Democrats argue that it would disenfranchise millions of voters, especially married women whose birth certificate would show a different name than the name they took of their husbands when wed.

They also claim the bill would be unconstitutional because control of elections rests with the states and not the national government.

Oil shortage, earthquake slam Cuba

The woes hitting Cuba were multiplied on Tuesday when the island nation was hit by a magnitude 5.8 earthquake, mere hours after its electrical grid collapsed.

FLAG OF CUBA

United Press International is reporting that the loss of electrical power across most of Cuba was caused by shortages of oil, which powers the grid. It was the sixth such “blackout” in almost 18 months.

The result, according to UPI, is that almost 10 million people are feeling the effects which include stoppage of water pumping, telecommunication and internet service.

The quake caused no fatalities or “significant material damage,” according to a state newspaper.

Weather: Summer temps in spring

July temperatures have come in Spring to our West Orange County cities. The forecast through the weekend calls for three days of daytime highs in the low 90s to high 80s. Wednesday is expected to have a daytime high of 91 with an overnight low of 59 with sunny skies. Thursday will be nearly identical at 91 (60) and sunny. Friday is expected to be slightly cooler at 89 (59) and sunny. The hot weather should finally break on Saturday at 83 (58) with partly cloudy skies.

Great Thoughts

“Life is like a box of crayons, Most people are the eight colors boxes, but what you’re really looking for are the 64 color boxes with the sharpeners on the back.”
– John Mayer

“Without black, color has no depth. But you mix black with everything, suddenly there’s shadow – no, not just shadow, but fullness.”
– Amy Grant

“Be uniquely you. Stand out. Shine. Be colorful. The world needs your prismatic soul.”
– Amy Leigh Mercer.