FAIRBANKS is Alaska’s second-largest city (Wikpedia-Quintin Soloviev).

Dan Sullivan may win the highly-contested battle for a U.S. Senate seat representing Alaska. But which one won?

According to the Associated Press, President Donald Trump is saying he will ask the Department of Justice to file suit to block the certification of the election if anyone but the incumbent Republican Dan Sullivan is the winner.

There’s another Dan Sullivan running, an independent from a small fishing village. Republicans are claiming he is a “plant” by Democrats to take votes away from the other Dan Sullivan.

In a year in which Republican fortunes appear to be sagging, the incumbent senator is in a close race with the Democratic challenger Mary Peltola to represent deep-red Alaska in the upper house of Congress.

An average of recent polls show Peltola leading by 1.1 percent. A victory for her could be, Republicans fear, the seat that tips control of the Senate toward the Democrats.

Oil prices spike to record high

The price of oil has hit the highest point in six months, according to United Press International.

OIL prices are at a high point(Shutterstock).

UPI reports that the increase is due to worries that further military action – including U.S. attacks on Iran and other violence in the Middle East – will further restrict the flow of oil to markets.

The international benchmark of “Brent crude” is up 2.9 percent (to $116.46 per barrel) and the U.S. benchmark is up 3.7 percent (or $103.2 per barrel).

This is the third consecutive month of increases and a total rise of 6 percent for the week is anticipated in this struggle between the U.S. and Iran, nearly eight months long.

Texas Senate race tied, says poll

In another of the closely-watched Senate races, the battle between Democrat James Talarico and Republican Ken Paxton is a dead heat, according to the newest Fox News poll.

TEXAS SENATE race tied in new poll (Shutterstock).

The survey shows each candidate at 49 percent support, a shift away from a previous polls showing Talarico leading by 2 percent. A University of Houston poll had Talarico up by 2 percent.

Other polls also show a tight race, but prediction markets – based on what people are betting on – show the Democrat with a big edge, with as much as a 65 percent
total.

As with the Alaska race (see above), the Texas race is considered potentially the “tipping point” for which party controls the Senate. The last time Texas voters elected a Democrat to the Senate was 1988.

Warmer, then cooler

There’s really no “typical” October weather for our West Orange County cities, but autumn seems to be taking hold a bit. Saturday is forecast for sunny skies with a daytime high of 79 with an overnight low of 58. Sunday is expected to warm to 82 (59) with mostly sunny skies. Monday looks similar at 83 (58) but with partly cloudy skies. Tuesday should start a cooling trend with temps of 79 (57) and mostly sunny skies.

Great Thoughts (anger)

“Speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech you will ever regret.”
– Ambrose Bierce

“He who angers you conquers you.”
– Elizabeth Kenny

“Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves.”
– Carl Jung