world news: 2018-11-04

Saturday 10 November 2018

Stunning NASA Photos Show California's Devastating Wildfires From Space

Satellite photos captured by NASA show how large California's wildfires have

Ian David Long: The California gunman who went from Marine to divorcee living with mother

Ian David Long began his adult life by enlisting in the Marines and getting married. Years after a divorce and a discharge and months after shouting brought a mental health expert to his door, Long killed 12 people at a country music bar outside Los Angeles. A former military machine gunner, the 28-year-old apparently killed himself after the Wednesday night attack in Thousand Oaks, the quiet suburb where he lived with his mother. Neighbours said on Thursday they would hear loud, aggressive fights between the two. Authorities said they visited that ranch-style house only once, in April, after a neighbour reported yelling and crashing sounds. Deputies found Long "was somewhat irate, acting a little irrationally" and called in a mental health specialist, Ventura County Sheriff Geoff Dean said. That specialist assessed Long but concluded he couldn't be involuntarily committed for psychiatric observation. "The mental health experts out there cleared him that day," Mr Dean said on Thursday, though they were concerned he might be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder because of his military service. A photographer takes pictures of the home of suspected nightclub shooter Ian David Long in Thousand Oaks Credit: AFP "Obviously he had something going on in his head that would cause him to do something like this," Mr Dean said. Describing the earlier incident when police were called, Richard Berge, who lived one block away from the home, said he was "raving hell in the house, you know, kicking holes in the walls and stuff". "They couldn’t get him to come out, so it was like a standoff for four or five hours," he told Reuters. Mr Berge, who took care of Long’s mother’s dogs, said she told him following that incident she worried her son might take his own life but did not fear he would hurt her. A next-door neighbour said he called authorities about six months ago when he heard loud banging and shouting at Long's home. "I was concerned because I knew he had been in the military," neighbour Tom Hanson said on Thursday, as federal and local law enforcement officers searched Long's house, where an American flag flew over the garage. Mr Hanson described Long as an introvert and said he was "dumbfounded" by the massacre. Long's only other contact with authorities came after a traffic collision and after he alleged he was the victim of a violent encounter in 2015 at another bar in Thousand Oaks, the sheriff said. Long enlisted in the Marines at 18 and was married as a 19-year-old in Honolulu in June 2009, according to military and court records. His military service lasted nearly five years, and he was honorably discharged with the rank of corporal in 2013, the Pentagon said. He was part of the infantry, responsible for hauling and shooting machine guns. During his service, Long's marriage fell apart. He and his wife separated in June 2011, while he was deployed on a seven-month tour in Afghanistan. The couple cited irreconcilable differences in divorce papers filed in May 2013, two months after Long left the Marines. Later, he enrolled at nearby California State University, Northridge, last attending in 2016, the school said in a statement. About | Post-traumatic stress disorder More recently he was living in a home where neighbours said they could hear frequent, aggressive shouting between Long and his mother, especially over the last year. About 18 months ago, Don and Effie MacLeod heard "an awful argument" and what he believes was a gunshot from the Longs' property. Don MacLeod said he did not call police but avoided speaking with Ian Long. "I told my wife, 'Just be polite to him. If he talks, just acknowledge him, don't go into conversation with him,'" Don MacLeod said on Thursday. But social media showed happy pictures of the pair. Long's mother, Colleen, posted Facebook photos of her son in his military uniform in 2010 and 2011. "My Son is home, well sort of, back in Hawaii, soon to be in Cali come January, hooray!" she wrote on December 14, 2012. Ventura County Sheriff's deputies stand outside the house of shooting suspect David Ian Long in Newbury Park Credit: AP Another photo from 2014 shows Ian Long with his arm draped around his mother in front of Dodger Stadium. The two were wearing Dodgers T-shirts and smiles. Authorities haven't identified what motivated Long to open fire during college night at Borderline Bar & Grill in Thousand Oaks, around 40 miles from downtown Los Angeles. The city of about 130,000 people is consistently near the top of lists ranking the safest places in California. The dead included 11 people inside the bar and a veteran sheriff's sergeant who was the first officer through the door. The Marine Corps said Long earned several awards, including a Combat Action Ribbon and a Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, Third Marine Division in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.

For Democrats looking to future, 2020 looms large

“People are looking too much at what got flipped and not at long-term directional trends,” said Jessica Alter of Tech for Campaigns, which connects tech and campaign experts with candidates.

Acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker Once Expressed Terrifying View Of Executive Power

Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker once argued that an American

These Are the Victims of the Thousand Oaks Borderline Bar Shooting in California

At least 12 people, including a sheriff's deputy and a 27-year-old survivor of the Las Vegas massacre, were killed in the Borderline bar shooting

Scott Prevails, Judge Orders Broward Election Official to Immediately Release Records

A Florida judge has ordered Broward County Board of Elections supervisor Brenda Snipes to turn over all records requested by Republican Senate candidate Rick Scott no later than 7 p.m. Friday. Scott filed suit against Broward County on Thursday, demanding that Snipes comply with public-records law by revealing the number of mail-in absentee ballots her office has received, as well as how many of those have been counted thus far. Snipes, who has a history of running afoul of election law, has refused to disclose the number of mail-in absentee ballots her office has received, choosing instead to gradually report vote counts over the three days since the election.

Jeff Sessions Dealt Police Reform One Final Blow On His Way Out The Door

WASHINGTON ― Hours before he resigned as the nation's 84th attorney general,

Magnitude 6.3 quake strikes northeast of Tonga: USGS

A 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck off the northeast coast of the South Pacific island nation of Tonga on Saturday, the U.S. Geological Survey said. There were no immediate reports of damage.

from Reuters: World News https://ift.tt/2FcmtYw

Jo Johnson says other ministers thinking hard on whether to accept May's Brexit plan

Jo Johnson, the younger brother of Boris, who quit the British government on Friday over Brexit, said he knew many other ministers and lawmakers were "reflecting hard" on whether to accept an exit deal and would welcome other resignations.

from Reuters: World News https://ift.tt/2z0MJ2y

All Of The Bizarre Things Trump Has Done Post-Midterms

If the bold actions President Donald Trump took on Wednesday were any

Just days from retirement, sheriff leads response to Thousand Oaks shooting

Ventura County Sheriff Geoff Dean’s last major effort before retiring on Friday is giving information about the shooting at the Borderline Bar & Grill in Thousand Oaks, Calif.

Shades of 2000: With ballots still uncounted, Florida races are going to recounts

Gov. Rick Scott and former Rep. Ron DeSantis hold leads in their respective races that have been shrinking since Election Day.

Fast-moving wildfire ravages Paradise, Calif.

A fast-moving wildfire that ravaged a Northern California town Thursday sent residents racing to escape on roads that turned into tunnels of fire as thick smoke darkened the daytime sky. Several thousand buildings were destroyed by flames, a California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection official said.“We were surrounded by fire, we were driving through fire on each side of the road,” said police officer Mark Bass, who lives in the hard-hit town of Paradise, where harrowing tales of escape and heroic rescues emerged after the entire community of 27,000 was ordered to evacuate. (AP)

12 dead in shooting at California bar

The alleged gunman in the mass shooting in Thousand Oaks is also dead.

After Jeff Sessions’ Ouster, Group Launches 6-Figure Ad Buy To Protect Mueller

A group led by prominent Democratic legal and national security experts is

Thousand Oaks shooting survivor: 'I heard what I thought was a balloon pop'

A woman who survived Wednesday's deadly mass shooting at a California country

Lion Air jet in another accident, a week after deadly crash

A Lion Air passenger jet has been involved in another accident -- just a week after a plane from the Indonesian airline crashed with the loss of all 189 people on board. The plane's left wing was visibly damaged, forcing all passengers to disembark. Lion Air spokesman Danang Prihantoro said all 143 passengers and seven crew were safe.

'Camp Fire' inferno: North California town of Paradise 'wiped out' as thousands flee

Tens of thousands of people fled a fast-moving wildfire on Thursday in Northern California, some clutching babies and pets as they abandoned vehicles and struck out on foot ahead of the flames that destroyed hundreds of structures. Driven by strong winds and dry conditions, the blaze dubbed the Camp Fire roared through the town of Paradise, about 85 milesnorth of Sacramento, forcing the population to flee in a chaotic mass evacuation. "Pretty much the community of Paradise is destroyed, it's that kind of devastation," said Cal Fire Capt. Scott McLean late on Thursday. "The wind that was predicted came and just wiped it out." Mr McLean estimated that a couple of thousand structures were destroyed in the town of 27,000 residents about 290 kilometres northeast of San Francisco. The extent of the injuries and specific damage count was not known as officials could not access the dangerous area. Butte County CalFire Chief Darren Read said at a news conference that two firefighters and multiple residents were injured. Flames consume a car and building as the Camp Fire tears through Paradise, California Credit: Noah Berger/AP As she fled, Gina Oviedo described a devastating scene in which flames engulfed homes, sparked explosions and toppled utility poles. "Things started exploding," Ms Oviedo said. "People started getting out of their vehicles and running." Dozens of businesses and homes were levelled or in flames, including a liquor store and gas station. "It's a very dangerous and very serious situation," Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said. "I'm driving through fire as we speak. We're doing everything we can to get people out of the affected areas." Patients are quickly evacuated from the Feather River Hospital as it burns down during the Camp fire in Paradise, California Credit: JOSH EDELSON/AFP The blaze erupted as windy weather swept the state, creating extreme fire danger. A wind-whipped fire north of Los Angeles in Ventura County burned about 15,000 acres and at least one home in a matter of hours. It prompted evacuations of a mobile home park, a state university campus and a small community. A nearby blaze was smaller at less than 1,000 acres (1.5 square miles) but moving quickly. Acting California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for the fire-stricken area in Northern California. Shari Bernacett said her husband tried to get people to leave the Paradise mobile home park they manage. He "knocked on doors, yelled and screamed" to alert as many residents as possible, Ms Bernacett said. "My husband tried his best to get everybody out. The whole hill's on fire. God help us!" she said before breaking down crying. She and her husband grabbed their dog, jumped in their pickup truck and drove through flames before getting to safety, she said. A vintage car rests among debris as the Camp Fire tears through Paradise Credit: Noah Berger/AP Terrifying videos posted on social media showed cars driving along roads that looked like tunnels of fire with flames on both sides of the road. Concerned friends and family posted frantic messages on Twitter and other sites saying they were looking for loved ones, particularly seniors who lived at retirement homes or alone. Among them was Kim Curtis, who was searching for her grandmother, who told family at 8 a.m on Thursday that she would flee her Paradise home in her Buick with her cat. Her grandmother, who is in her 70s and lives alone, never showed up up at a meeting spot in Chico, though. "We've just been posting all over social media. And just praying for a miracle, honestly," said Curtis, who lives in Salt Lake City, Utah. Vehicles are seen during an attempt to evacuate the Camp Fire in Paradise, California Credit: Reuters Officials were sending as many firefighters as they could, Cal Fire spokesman Rick Carhart said. "Every engine that we could put on the fire is on the fire right now, and more are coming," he said. "There are dozens of strike teams that we're bringing in from all parts of the state." The sheriff confirmed reports that evacuees had to abandon their vehicles. Rescuers were trying to put them in other vehicles, he said. "We're working very hard to get people out. The message I want to get out is: If you can evacuate, you need to evacuate," Honea said. A firefighter looks on as a home is consumed by the Camp Fire Credit: Getty The wildfire was reported around daybreak. Within six hours, it had grown to more than 26 square miles, Gaddie said. Thick gray smoke and ash filled the sky above Paradise and could be seen from miles away. Fire officials said the flames were being fuelled by winds, low humidity, dry air and severely parched brush and ground from months without rain. "Basically, we haven't had rain since last May or before that," said Read, the fire chief. "Everything is a very receptive fuel bed. It's a rapid rate of spread." The Feather River Hospital burns down during the Camp fire in Paradise Credit: AFP At the hospital in Paradise, more than 60 patients were evacuated to other facilities and some buildings caught fire and were damaged. But the main facility, Adventist Health Feather River Hospital, was not, spokeswoman Jill Kinney said. Some of the patients were initially turned around during their evacuation because of gridlocked traffic and later airlifted to other hospitals, along with staff, Kinney said. Four hospital employees were briefly trapped in the basement and rescued by California Highway Patrol officers, Kinney said. The National Weather Service issued red-flag warnings for fire dangers in many areas of the state, saying low humidity and strong winds were expected to continue through Friday evening.

Thousand Oaks Gunman Allegedly Groped His High School Track Coach

Ian David Long, who police say killed at least a dozen people this week in a

The Latest: Sinema takes tiny lead as race remains in flux

PHOENIX (AP) — The Latest on a lawsuit filed by Arizona Republicans seeking to block some ballots from being counted. (all times local):

Nationwide protests held in support of Mueller probe

U.S. progressive groups staged hundreds of protests nationwide on Thursday evening to demand that President Trump do nothing to hinder an ongoing investigation into his campaign and Russian meddling during the 2016 U.S. election. The protests, operating under the banner “Nobody Is Above the Law” and led by the activist group MoveOn, called for people to gather in cities at 5 p.m. on Thursday in an effort to protect the investigation led by special counsel Robert Mueller. The action was spurred by Trump’s move on Wednesday to replace Attorney General Jeff Sessions with Sessions’s chief of staff, Matt Whitaker, as acting attorney general.

Daily Digit: Pentagon says migrant caravan poses no threat, yet Trump’s border deployment may cost us $220 million

President Trump’s move to send troops to the U.S.-Mexico border could cost taxpayers $220 million. The president has referred to the caravan as an “invasion”; however, a Pentagon risk assessment reportedly found that the caravan did not pose a threat to the United States.

Father confirms son, 22, was among Thousand Oaks shooting victims

Jason Coffman, who was desperately searching for his son, Cody, in the hours after the deadly mass shooting in Thousand Oaks, Calif., received the heartbreaking news on Thursday that the 22-year-old was among the victims of the massacre.

Judge Releases Defendants After Losing Re-election, Asking If They'd Kill Anyone

A Texas judge reportedly released nearly all of his juvenile defendants after

Trump overestimated impact of anti-immigrant rhetoric on the midterms, exit polls show

In most polling, the percentage of voters who listed health care as their most important issue was twice that of those who said immigration was their greatest concern.

Father who searched for son says he was killed in the Thousand Oaks, Calif., mass shooting

Jason Coffman says that his son Cody was one of the people killed in the Thousand Oaks, Calif., mass shooting. Coffman searched for his son in the hours after the shooting, making public pleas to help locate Cody after he couldn’t be reached.

Boeing jet crash-lands at Guyana airport, six injured: minister

A Boeing jetliner carrying 126 people crash-landed at the airport in Guyana's capital Georgetown on Friday, injuring six people, the transport minister said. The Fly Jamaica Airways plane was bound for Toronto when it suffered a hydraulic problem shortly after takeoff and returned to the airport, crashing and skidding off the runway, Transportation Minister David Patterson said.

Photos Show Scene Outside Thousand Oaks Bar After Mass Shooting Leaves 13 Dead

A gunman killed 12 people including a sheriff's sergeant late Wednesday at the

Nothing unusual about vote count in Arizona dragging on

Every election, it takes weeks for Arizona to count its ballots. But as the Democrat in the tight U.S. Senate race there jumped into the lead in the latest results some Republicans have raised baseless allegations of fraud.

We Want All of Society6’s Holiday Line in Our Stockings

After deadly Lion Air crash, new focus on torrid industry growth in Indonesia

The EU removed the privately owned budget airline from the list in 2016 after it determined Lion Air met international safety standards. None of Indonesia's roughly 100 airlines - most of them tiny - remain on the EU blacklist, with the last few coming off in June. The crash of a Lion Air jet on Oct. 29 into the sea off Jakarta has put a spotlight back on the airline's safety record, although the cause remains undetermined.

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