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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 27, 2017)
7A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2017 TRUMP TRANSITION Associated Press Trump wants to slash EPA workforce, budget WASHINGTON — The former head of President Donald Trump’s transition team at the Environmental Protection Agency says he expects the new administration to seek significant bud- get and staff cuts. Myron Ebell said in an interview Thursday with The Asso- ciated Press that Trump is likely to seek significant reductions to the agency’s workforce — currently about 15,000 employ- ees nationwide. Ebell, who left the transition team last week, declined to discuss specific numbers of EPA staff that could be targeted for pink slips. Asked what he would personally like to see, however, Ebell said slashing the agency’s size by about half would be a good start. “Let’s aim for half and see how it works out, and then maybe we’ll want to go further,” said Ebell, who has returned to his posi- tion as director of the Center for Energy and Environment at the Competitive Enterprise Institute. The conservative think tank in Washington opposes “glob- al-warming alarmism” and receives a portion of its funding from corporations and individuals that profit from the continued burn- ing of fossil fuels. Ebell has long been a vocal critic of federal environmental regulations, which he claims are strangling the nation’s economy and impeding job growth. Trump expected to sign directive halting refugee flows to US WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump today intended to sign an executive action today temporarily halting the flow of refugees into the United Sates and stopping all entries from some majority-Muslim nations, his spokesman said. A draft of the order obtained by The Associated Press also includes an indefinite ban on accepting Syrian refugees, and the pause in the broader refugee program extends for 120 days. Trump campaigned on a pledge to put in place “extreme vet- ting” procedures particularly for people coming to the U.S. from countries with terrorism ties. According to the draft order, the president plans to suspend issuing visas for people from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria or Yemen for at least 30 days. White House spokesman Sean Spicer said Trump intended to sign the order during an afternoon visit today to the Pentagon, along with actions related to military readiness and the National Security Council. Details of those directives were not immediately clear. Mayor: Miami-Dade jail to heed immigration detainer requests MIAMI — Miami-Dade County’s mayor instructed jail offi- cials in that South Florida community on Thursday to honor all immigration detainer requests, a day after President Donald Trump signed an executive order that would strip federal funding from sanctuary cities. Mayor Carlos Gimenez sent a memo to the county’s cor- rections director saying jails should hold undocumented immi- grants detained by police and turn them over to the Department of Homeland Security when requested. Trump seemed to approve of Miami-Dade’s decision, saying in a tweet late Thursday: “Miami-Dade Mayor drops sanctuary policy. Right decision. Strong!” Before Thursday, Miami-Dade only held detainees if fed- eral immigrations officials agreed to reimburse the county for the detention costs. The condition set in 2013 put the county in a Department of Justice report that listed sanctuary places that refused to comply with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Miami-Dade turned over about 180 people to immigration officials in 2016 but was not reimbursed for any costs. Miami- Dade County mayor’s spokesman, Michael Hernandez, said that it costs the county about $200 to hold a person for a day. Gimenez said in an interview with The Miami Herald that he didn’t want to risk losing millions in federal funds for $52,000, the cost of holding 100 undocumented immigrants that it declined to keep for immigration officials in 2016. Associated Press To stand out at Super Bowl 51, ads are going for stunts Russian lawmakers decriminalize some domestic violence MOSCOW — Soon it will no longer be a crime in Russia to beat family members — as long as you don’t cause bodily harm. The lower house of the Russian parliament today gave final approval to a bill decriminalizing some forms of domestic violence — a move that has sparked intense public debate. The State Duma voted 380-3 today to eliminate criminal liabil- ity for battery on family members that doesn’t cause bodily harm, making it punishable instead by a fine or a 15-day arrest. The law needs to be approved by the largely rubber-stamp upper cham- ber and signed by President Vladimir Putin, who has signaled his support. The bill has raised fears that it could sow impunity for those who beat up their wives and children, but its supporters have argued that it retains criminal responsibility for repeat offenders. The measure is a response to conservative criticism of the cur- rent law, seen by some as a threat to parents who might spank their children. The bill stems from last year’s Supreme Court ruling to decrim- inalize battery that doesn’t inflict bodily harm, but to retain crim- inal charges for those accused of battery against family members. The Duma then approved the corresponding legislation only to change course now. Class ring lost by WWII vet 73 years ago returned to family AUDUBON, N.J. (AP) — The family of a deceased World War II veteran from New Jersey has been reunited with his 1938 class ring, lost 73 years ago while he was serving in the South Pacific. Nearly 50 people gathered Thursday at Audubon High School for the ceremonial return of Edward J. Dodds’ ring after it was discovered in Papua New Guinea in 2013. Dodds’ five children were at the ceremony, along with a VFW honor guard and the mayors of Audubon and Runnemede. “There’s not really one emotion that describes this,” said Richard Dodds, the son of Edward Dodds. “I think it’s great for the grandkids and some great-grandkids to be connected to the past and the generation before this.” Edward Dodds died in 1996. Richard Dodds, 52, said his father often joked about losing the ring because it was engraved with the wrong initials, EDD. According to Audubon Alumni Association vice president Mike Bruzzese, the ring was unearthed in a farmer’s field by Liam Ngahan, who wore it for several years before showing it to John Hocknull, a friend. Believing the ring belonged to an American soldier, Hocknull researched it online and was able to locate the Camden County school nearly 9,000 miles away. The ring was eventually returned to the Dodds family by Hocknull’s niece, who lives in Woodbury. WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s pick for labor secretary outsourced his fast-food company’s technology depart- ment to the Philippines, a move that contradicts Trump’s vow to keep American jobs in the U.S. Trump has blasted, threatened and tried to charm American companies that have so much as contemplated moving jobs over- seas, saying he’s sticking up for American workers who aren’t feeling the economic recovery and form his political base. But a filing with the Labor Department on CEO Andrew Puzder’s company — and a spokesman’s acknowledgement that CKE continues to use the IT operation in the Philippines — pro- vides a window into a key contradiction raised by the nomination. Democrats and their allies are rushing to exploit Puzder’s record on a big increase in the minimum wage, overtime rules and more as they question how well he would advocate for American workers. “President Trump has said that he will put American work- ers first, but it increasingly appears this was just empty campaign rhetoric — and we saw this so clearly in who he nominated to lead the Department of Labor,” said Sen. Patty Murray of Wash- ington, the senior Democrat on the committee planning to con- sider Puzder’s nomination on Feb. 7. Trump voters thrilled with promised action on border wall PHOENIX — President Donald Trump’s announcement that he is taking steps toward building a U.S.-Mexico border wall was welcome news for voters who say they’re glad he is following through on one of his biggest campaign promises. Trump’s renewed vow Wednesday to seize control of the bor- der hit close to home for Peggy Davis, whose cattle ranch near Tombstone, Arizona, is about 25 miles north of the border. She says stretches desperately need more barriers but a wall alone won’t stop illegal crossings or drug smuggling. “We desperately need (Border Patrol) agents closer to the bor- der,” Davis said. Teen: Counselors will be available to speak to students WORLD IN BRIEF NEW YORK — Lady Gaga is reportedly entertaining an unusual twist on her Super Bowl halftime show, which — though it’s not confirmed — she could perform from the roof of the sta- dium. If that comes to pass, she won’t be the only one making a big play for attention this year. Advertisers from first-timer 84 Lumber to veteran Hyundai are ramping up the marketing stunts in order to stand out from the crowd during the big game. Some will air live ads, ,or at least teas- ers for their campaigns; one will even shoot its commercial during the game. Others are deliberately courting controversy. Super Bowl LI, in which the Atlanta Falcons will take on the New England Patriots, is expected to be the biggest live TV event of the year. Every year, more than 30 advertisers vie to create the most-re- membered 30 to 90 seconds of the Super Bowl by stuffing com- mercials with celebrities, slapstick humor and cute animals. But now that so many ads get prereleased online or teased ahead of the game, advertisers have a harder time making a last- ing impression. And with more than 110 million people expected to tune in on Feb. 5 and 30 second spots going for around $5 mil- lion, they need to scramble hard. So this year, marketers are turning to stunts. “It used to be, ‘We need a Super Bowl spot.’ Then, it was, ‘We need a Super Bowl spot and program,”’ said Mark DiMassimo, CEO of ad agency DiMassimo Goldstein in New York. “Now, it’s we need a Super Bowl stunt or event. It needs to be newsworthy, social and surprising — and it needs to be much bigger than 30 seconds.” Trump’s choice for labor secretary outsourced jobs Continued from Page 1A Brian Dutcher, 50, of Sea- side, was traveling north in a white 1980 Chevrolet pickup when he struck Secord, who, according to State Police, had just parked his vehicle on the shoulder and had started running in the middle of the highway. Secord was pro- nounced dead at the scene, and State Police are investi- gating whether alcohol may have been a contributing fac- tor in his actions. Dutcher and another pas- senger were uninjured and are cooperating with investiga- tors. One lane was closed on the highway for about three hours following the crash as responders conducted a recon- struction of the crash site. Warrenton High School did not have classes in session today, but counselors will be available to speak to stu- dents from 1 to 3 p.m. at the school, Keuter said. Counsel- ors will also be available to speak at Warrenton Middle School, which Secord’s sib- lings attend, on Monday. The Oregon Department of Transportation, Clat- sop County Sheriff’s Office, Gearhart Fire and Medix Ambulance also responded to the scene. AP Photo/Jae C. Hong Lady Gaga sings the national anthem before the NFL Su- per Bowl 50 football game in Santa Clara, Calif., in Febru- ary. Lady Gaga is reportedly planning an (unconfirmed) stunt during Super Bowl LI by performing from the roof of the stadium during the big game. Advertisers are also ramping up their marketing stunts to try to stand out from the crowd during the biggest live TV event of the year, when the Atlanta Falcons will take on the New England Patriots, in the Super Bowl. “I was delighted to be a part of this,” Hocknull told The Philadelphia Inquirer. “It brought the Dodds family back together in a practical way, and I think brought a lot of pleasure to people.” Oregon museum becomes Smithsonian Institution affiliate BEND — An Oregon museum has been selected as a Smithso- nian Affiliate, allowing it to access exhibits and artifacts from the world’s largest museum and research complex. Dana Whitelaw, executive director of the High Desert Museum near Bend, tells The Bulletin (http://bit.ly/2jmfTyE ) that the Smithsonian affiliation will allow the wildlife and history museum to supplement its exhibits by borrowing artifacts from the massive Smithsonian Institution. It will also expand access to training and conferences. Smithsonian Affiliations director Harold Closter says the orga- nization looks at the quality of a museum’s facilities, the training and professionalism of its staff and its mission to educate the pub- lic when considering museums for affiliation. Closter says the affiliation helps the Smithsonian Institution by providing a physical presence in museums outside of Washington, D.C. Brutal western US winter has been terrible for animals Antelope injured while falling on ice. Horses stranded in snowy mountains. Cougars descending from their wilderness lairs to forage in a town. It’s been a beastly winter in the American West, not just for people but for animals too. One storm after another has buried much of the region in snow, and temperatures have often stayed below freezing, endangering a rich diversity of wild animals. In southern Idaho, about 500 pronghorn antelope tried to cross the frozen Snake River earlier this month at Lake Wal- cott, but part of the herd spooked and ran onto a slick spot where they slipped and fell. Idaho Fish and Game workers rescued six of the stranded pronghorn, but 10 were killed by coyotes and 20 had to be euthanized because of injuries suffered when they fell down. Another 50 pronghorn were found dead in the small western Idaho city of Payette after they nibbled on Japanese yew, a land- scaping shrub that’s toxic. Tough winter conditions have forced some wildlife to feed on the plant in urban areas. Heavy snow has forced Idaho’s fish and game department to begin emergency feeding of big game animals in southern Idaho. Brewery: Centerpiece of Astoria Station Continued from Page 1A In the basement of Reach Break are barrels filled with the brewery’s fermenting specialty sour beers. “With those, it takes a long time,” Josh Allison said. “So basically, when it’s ready it’s ready. It’s not so much of a controlled fermentation timeline.” Astoria Station Reach Break is the cen- terpiece of Astoria Station, a downtown commercial desti- nation started by Warren Wil- liams, who died in October. “It was Warren’s project, his dream, and it’s coming to fruition,” said Claudine Gregory, Williams’ widow and heir. “I wish he was here to see it.” Williams transformed a former car dealership and service center — most recently Astoria Indoor Gar- den Supply — into Astoria Station, a green storefront fronted by black-framed, floor-to-ceiling roll-up glass doors and an acrylic-concrete lot in front for a food cart pod and beer garden. Gregory said there are three food carts in the plan- ning so far, including gour- met sausages, barbecue and Thai food. Miles Peacock, the former butcher at Gul- ley’s Butcher Shop, said he and partner Mari Inaba hope to open Sasquatch Sausage early next month. The two will start with four types of sausages, including Italian pork, a pork beer bratwurst incorporating Reach Break’s IPA, a beef-and-pork Korean dog and a beef bacon bour- bon sausage. Jeremy Towsey-French said he plans to open Reveille Ciderworks in a small store- front next to Reach Break in the early spring after finish- ing a federal review. Reveille will start with a 7-barrel cider house receiv- ing juices from Hood River Valley, fermenting and con- ditioning them over a three- to four-week period. “Warren’s vision was big, and to the last day he was involved,” Towsey-French said of Williams, adding his death “was a shock to all of us. None of us would be here without him.” Danny Miller/The Daily Astorian Assorted beers on tap at Reach Break Brewing.
