Good Thursday morning to you…

Weather: Getting cooler. Skies will clear today, with highs in the middle 60s but falling through the day. Lows tonight near 40. Sunny on Friday with highs in the upper 50s.

The number is: 52, for the moment. That’s the number of seats in the United States Senate that Republicans are assured of in the next term, with the race in Virginia likely headed to a recount and one in Louisiana bound for a runoff. In addition, higher-than-anticipated gains in the House side means the GOP will have items largest majority there since the Truman Administration. 

Sports: Are you ready for some basketball? The high school hoops season gets under way tonight, as Mortimer Jordan travels to Hewitt-Trussville. It’s girls only — no boys game because both schools are still in football playoffs.