APACHE AH-SD “Longbow” helicopter (US Army photo).

Strikes have been carried out against Iran after an Army helicopter crashed near the Straight of Hormuz, according to the Associated Press.

President Donald Trump blamed it on the Islamic Republic.

The strikes against Iranian targets would be “a proportional response to unjustified Iranian aggression,” stated the U.S. Central Command in a social media post.

Both crew members of the downed U.S. Apache helicopter were rescued by a “sea drone,” described “an autonomous surface vessel, remotely piloted by a human operator.

The Apache gunship was on patrol when it was knocked down by a one-way Iranian attack drone, says the U.S. Iran didn’t admit to the attack, state media,, referring to “the pretext of a crash of a military helicopter.”

It’ll be Hilton vs. Becerra for Cal gov.

The line-up for the November election for governor of California has now been determined. CBS News has projected that Xavier Becerra, a Democrat, and Steve Hilton, a Republican, will meet on Nov. 2 in the general election.

2026 PRIMARY Elections for California (Shutterstock).

Becerra, a former California attorney general, polled 27.9 percent of the vote (2.3 million), while Steve Hilton, a former Fox News host, received 24.9 percent of the vote (2.1 million).

In third was Democrat Tom Steyer, who received 1.9 million votes (22.5 percent).

California now has what’s called a “jungle primary” in which the top two vote-getters – regardless of party affiliation – advance to the final election in November.

Crew members for Artemis III mission

The four crew members for the next Artemis III moon mission was announced by NASA on Tuesday.

They are Randy Bresnik (commander), Luca Parmitano (pilot), Andre Douglas (mission specialist) and Frank Rubio (mission specialist). Bob Hines is a backup crew member, according to United Press International.

Bresnik, Douglas and Rubio are NASA restaurants; Parmitano is a European Space Agency astronaut.

The mission is expected to be conducted in 2027 and will conduct numerous experiments in orbit for about two weeks, according to NASA.

Weather: Summer is really here

After some hesitation, the summer season is finally here for our West Orange County cities. The forecast calls for daytime highs in the mid-80s and overnight lows in the mid-60s. Each day is expected to have partly cloudy skies. Wednesday should have a high of 82 and a low of 64. Thursday looks like 83 (63), with Friday ay 85 (65) and Saturday at 82 (64).

Great Quotes (history)

“History is who we are and why we are the way we are.”
– David McCullough

“The past changes a little every time we retell it.”
– Hillary Mantel

“The very ink with which history is written is merely fluid prejudice.”
– Mark Twain.