DIESEL PROCESSING PLANT (Shutterstock).

A deal to get more diesel fuel from Russia was claimed by President Donald Trump on Friday.

According to the Associated Press, Trump said he struck the deal via a telephone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Promised “immediately” was more than 300,000 tons of diesel with 500,000 tons on Nov. 1 and 1 million tons “immediately thereafter.”

Three million more tons would come “within a short period of time” after, he said.

The announcement comes after Trump signed a major sanctions law aimed at reducing the oil and gas money that helps fuel Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Part of Ukraine’s military efforts to resist the Russian invasion is to use missiles and drones to damage Moscow’s petroleum refining facilities which produce gasoline and diesel fuel. That conflict, along with the effects of the ongoing war with Iran, have driven up diesel prices to record highs.

No details about how the fuel would be transported to the U.S., or whether there would be any concessions from Washington in exchange for the diesel, coming as it does a short time before the midterm elections on Nov. 3

Hurricane Isaias nears Gulf coast

Hurricane Isaias, now deemed a Category 3 storm, is moving toward the Gulf Coast and could make landfall as early as Friday night or Saturday morning.

United Press International reports that the storm is 125 miles east/southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River.

It packs sustained winds of 120 miles an hour and is moving at a speed of 16 miles an hour. After landfall, though, the hurricane is expected to lose power. The resulting storm surge might cause rising tides which could flood some coastal areas.

The weekend is expected to bring rainfall of four to eight inches to the area, but with localized areas getting up to 15 inches.

Mike Ditka, 86, was Bears head coach

The famed “tough guy” head coach of the Chicago Bears, Mike Ditka, has died at the age of 86.

MIKE DITKA (Wikipedia).

The AP is reporting that tributes from various sources, including from former president Barack Obama and Ditka’s former players, have poured in.

Ditka was a six-time all-pro right end for the Bears, Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys. He was the head coach for the Bears from 1982 to 1992 and for the New Orleans Saints from 1997 to 1999.

He is one of only two people – the other is Tom Flores – in NFL history to win a Super Bowl as a player, an assistant coach and head coach.

Ditka was named to the NFL 75th and 100th Anniversary teams as a player and was the AP NFL Coach of the Year twice, in 1985 and 1988.

Weather: Cooler, with some rain

The heat wave that hit our West Orange County cities is finally breaking and with cooler temperatures will come some rainfall. Tropical Storm Rachel is bringing high tides and local flooding along the Orange County coast, with both reported in Laguna Beach and Newport Beach. The forecast for Saturday is for a daytime high of 81 with an overnight low of 69 with cloudy skies and an 8 percent chance of rain. Sunday is expected to be wetter with temps of 72 (62) and an 84 percent chance of morning rain. Monday will be even cooler at 69 (58) with a 55 percent chance of showers. Tuesday will warm a bit to 73 (57) with mostly sunny skies but a 16 percent chance of rain.

Great Thoughts (rain)

“The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.”
– Dolly Parton

“Criticism, like rain, should be gentle enough to nourish a man’s growth without destroying his roots.”
– Frank A. Clark

“Rain showers my spirit and waters my soul.”
– Emily Logan Decens