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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 13, 2019)
NATION 10A — THE OBSERVER N ATION IN B RIEF Fed’s see steady growth, signals pause in rate cuts WASHINGTON — Feder- al Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell expects the U.S. economy to continue grow- ing at a solid pace, though it still faces risks from slower growth overseas and trade tensions. Powell also says the Fed is likely to keep its benchmark short-term interest rate un- changed in the coming months, unless the economy slows enough to cause Fed policy- makers to make a “material reassessment” of their outlook. In a written statement he will deliver to the Joint Economic Committee later Wednesday, Powell said, “Looking ahead, my col- leagues and I see a sustained expansion of economic activi- ty, a strong labor market, and infl ation near our symmetric 2% objective as most likely.” The Fed cut short-term rates last month for the third time this year, to a range of 1.5% to 1.75%. 9 student deaths since August shakes USC campus LOS ANGELES — The death of nine students since classes began a little more than two months ago has left students and administrators at the University Southern California shaken and seeking answers. The Los Angeles Times reports the latest death was discovered Monday when the body of a 27-year-old student was found in an off- campus apartment. The fi rst occurred in August when an incoming freshman was struck by a car on a freeway. Monday’s death occurred shortly after administrators sent letters to students and parents telling them of the earlier fatalities. Administrators say three deaths were the result of sui- cide. The causes of the other deaths are either unknown or haven’t been disclosed. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2019 TRUMP IMPEACHMENT INVESTIGATION OPENS Dems, GOP take aim at each other By Lisa Mascaro and Mary Clare Jalonick The Associated Press WASHINGTON — The U.S. House launched the fi rst public hearing Wednesday of Donald Trump’s impeachment investiga- tion, the extraordinary process to determine whether the 45th presi- dent of the United States should be removed from offi ce. Rep. Adam Schiff, the Democratic chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, immediately outlined the question at the core of the im- peachment inquiry — whether the president used his offi ce to pressure Ukraine offi cials for personal politi- cal gain. “The matter is as simple and as terrible as that,” Schiff said. “Our answer to these questions will affect not only the future of this presiden- cy but the future of the presidency itself, and what kind of conduct or misconduct the American people may come to expect from their com- mander in chief.” It was a remarkable moment, even for a White House full of them. The hearing is the fi rst chance for America, and the rest of the world, to see and hear for themselves about Trump's actions toward Ukraine and consider whether they are, in fact, impeachable offenses. The top Republican on the panel, Rep. Devin Nunes of California, accused the Democratic majority of conducting a “scorched earth” effort to take down the president after the special counsel’s Russia investiga- tion into the 2016 election failed to Susan Walsh/The Associated Press House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff of California, left, speaks as Rep. Devin Nunes, R-California, the ranking member on the committee listens during the House Intelligence Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington on Wednesday in the fi rst public impeach- ment hearing of President Donald Trump’s efforts to tie U.S. aid for Ukraine to investigations of his political opponents. spark impeachment proceedings. “We’re supposed to take these people at face value when they trot out new allegations?” said Nunes, a top Trump ally. He derided what he called the "cult-like atmosphere in the basement of the Capitol” where investigators have been interview- ing witnesses behind closed doors for weeks. Transcripts of those inter- views have been released. Nunes called the Ukraine matter a “low rent” sequel to the Russia probe. “Democrats are advancing their impeachment sham,” he said. The proceedings were being broadcast live, and on social media, from a packed hearing room on Capitol Hill. The country has been here only three times before, and never against the 21st century backdrop of real-time commentary, including from the Republican presi- dent himself. Testifying will be two seasoned diplomats, William Taylor, the graying former infantry offi cer now charge d'affaires in Ukraine, and George Kent, the deputy assistant secretary in Washington, telling the striking, if sometimes complicated story of a president allegedly using foreign policy for personal and politi- cal gain ahead of the 2020 election. So far, the narrative is splitting Americans, mostly along the same lines as Trump's unusual presidency. The Constitution sets a dramatic but vague bar for impeachment, and there's no consensus yet that Trump's actions at the heart of the inquiry meet the threshold of "high crimes and misdemeanors." Trump calls the whole thing a "witch hunt," a retort that echoes Nixon's own defense. “READ THE TRANSCRIPT,” he tweeted Wednes- day. At its core, the inquiry stems from Trump’s July 25 phone call with Ukraine's newly elected president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy when he asked the Zelenskiy for “a favor.” Trump wanted the Ukraine government to investigate Demo- crats in the 2016 election and his potential 2020 rival, Joe Biden, all while holding as leverage military aid the young democracy relies on as it confronts an aggressive Russia. An anonymous whistleblower fi rst alerted offi cials to concerns about the phone call. The White House released a rough transcript of the conversation, with portions deleted. Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was initially reluctant to launch a formal impeachment inquiry. But she pressed ahead in September after the whistleblower’s complaint. The White House has instructed administration offi cials not to testify in the inquiry. But over the past month, witness after witness has appeared behind closed doors to tell the investigators what they know. NOW THROUGH NOVEMBER 18TH, 2019 Most distant world ever explored gets new name: Arrokoth CAPE CANAVERAL — The most distant world ever explored 4 billion miles away fi nally has an offi cial name: Arrokoth. NASA said Tuesday that means “sky” in the language of the Native American Pow- hatan people. NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft fl ew past the snow- man-shaped Arrokoth on New Year’s Day, 3-1/2 years after exploring Pluto. At the time, this small icy world 1 billion miles beyond Pluto was nick- named Ultima Thule given its vast distance from us. Lead scientist Alan Stern says the new name “refl ects the inspiration of looking to the skies.” MIRACLE-EAR HEARING AID CENTER MAY OFFER HEARING AIDS AT NO COST TO FEDERAL WORKERS AND RETIREES WHO QUALIFY That's Right! No Co-Pay! No Exam Fee! No Adjustment Fee! Doctors: Double lung transplant recipient was teen who vaped DETROIT — A double lung transplant recipient who severely damaged those internal organs by vaping has been identifi ed as a Michigan teenager. Doctors at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit described to reporters Tuesday the procedure that saved the 17-year-old’s life and pleaded for the public to understand the dangers of vaping. The teen was admitted in early September to a Detroit- area hospital with what appeared to be pneumonia. He was eventually taken to Henry Ford Hospital and the trans- plant was performed Oct. 15. The double lung trans- plant is believed to be fi rst performed on a patient due to vaping. — The Associated Press Expires 11/18/19 Call Today to Schedule an Appointment! Mention Code: 19NovInvited LA GRANDE BAKER CITY ENTERPRISE 111 Elm Street La Grande, OR 97850 2021 Washington Ave. Baker City, OR 97814 113 1/2 Front East Main St. Enterprise, OR 97828 541-605-2109 541-239-3782 541-239-3877
