6A
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2017
WORLD IN BRIEF
Arizona GOP lawmaker
resigns over surrogacy allegation
Associated Press
Gunfire erupts at New Mexico
high school, two students killed
AZTEC, N.M. — Heaven Angelica Hughes and her class-
mates heard loud noises coming from the hallway just before bul-
lets began flying through the window, striking a wall just over
one student’s head.
“Get down!” her teacher yelled. The 15-year-old freshman fell
to the floor and hid under her desk. Heaven then sent a text mes-
sage: There’s a shooting here at school, mom.
Across the hallway, David Stone, 16, heard the same booms
while in math class. His teacher herded the class into a closet and
locked the door.
“This is not a drill,” an announcer over the school intercom
told students.
When the frightened students emerged Thursday from their
hiding places at Aztec High School, they learned two of their
classmates had been killed. The shooter also was dead and the
close-knit community of 6,500 people was thrust into mourning
as they became the latest to feel the sting of what seems to be a
routine tragedy in the United States.
Why the shooter chose Casey J. Marquez and Francisco I.
Fernandez remained a mystery as detectives combed through evi-
dence. So far, they have released few details.
Police arrived at the school less than a minute after getting
the initial calls, which came shortly after the start of first period.
With the school in lockdown, they got inside through a window
and a door.
The identity of the shooter has yet to be released. It was not
clear if the shooter died by suicide or was killed by police. No
other injuries were reported.
Aztec is in the heart of northwestern New Mexico’s oil and
gas country and near the Navajo Nation. Its main street is lined by
old brick buildings that date back more than a century. Officials
say it’s a town where everyone knows everyone else and where
homecoming festivities are enough to shut down the main street.
Fast-moving wildfire engulfs
semi-rural San Diego area
FALLBROOK, Calif. — Retirement communities built on
golf courses, thoroughbreds in race horse stables and other usu-
ally serene sites were engulfed by flames as the San Diego area
became the latest front in California’s wildfire fight.
The fire broke out Thursday and exceeded 6 square miles in a
matter of hours, burning dozens of houses as it tore through the
tightly packed Rancho Monserate Country Club community in
the small city of Fallbrook, known for its avocado orchards and
horse ranches.
The California Horse Racing Board said approximately 25
horses were killed when eight barns burned and others in adja-
cent pastures were unaccounted for. Surviving horses were taken
to Del Mar race track and all of Friday’s races at Los Alamitos
Race Course were canceled as the racing community mourned.
Three people were burned while escaping the flames, said
Capt. Nick Schuler of the California Department of Forestry and
Fire Protection.
At least 65 structures were destroyed and the fire remained
uncontained early today, although the winds subsided signifi-
cantly overnight. Forecasters said they would return later in the
day but would be less widespread than on Thursday.
The fire was on the eastern border of the Marine Corps’ vast
Camp Pendleton, where base Fire Chief Thomas Thompson told
Fox5 San Diego that the lack of wind should help the firefight.
AP Photo/Russell Contreras
Aztec High School students and area residents gather for a
candlelight vigil in Aztec, N.M., after a shooting at the school.
Marine and Navy aircraft will join the battle, he said.
Meanwhile, firefighters in Ventura County, northwest of Los
Angeles, gained 10 percent containment of the largest and most
destructive fire in the state.
Snow in Deep South brings
back bad memories for some
ATLANTA — The snow that dusted parts of the Deep South
early today delighted schoolchildren with an unexpected holi-
day, but also brought back panicky memories for many adults
of past storms that trapped commuters on interstates for hours.
The forecast called for a wintry mix of rain and snow across
several states. Parts of Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Missis-
sippi reported snow flurries before dawn. The weather band also
prompted closures in the Carolinas and brought a rare snowfall
to parts of South Texas.
“It’s the first snow of the season and any time you even men-
tion snow in the South, you’re going to get people a little pan-
icky,” said David Nadler, a meteorologist at the National Weather
Service’s office south of Atlanta.
Delta Air Lines canceled 125 flights Friday through its hub
at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, while South-
west Airlines canceled more than 40 flights. Both airlines pre-
pared for the storm by having crews de-ice planes, and Delta
waived fees for some passengers scheduled to fly today.
The frigid temperatures behind a cold front that combined
with moisture off the Gulf of Mexico to bring the weather to
parts of the South also knocked out power to thousands and
caused numerous accidents along slick roadways.
Winter weather advisories have been posted for parts of
Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and the Caroli-
nas. The advisories were issued for cities including Baton
Rouge, Louisiana; Hattiesburg, Mississippi; and Birmingham,
Alabama.
WASHINGTON — Republican Rep. Trent Franks of Arizona
is resigning effective Jan. 31 after revealing that he discussed sur-
rogacy with two female staffers.
The eight-term lawmaker, a staunch conservative and fierce
opponent of abortion, said in a statement that he never physically
intimidated, coerced or attempted to have any sexual contact with
any member of his congressional staff.
Instead, he says, the dispute resulted from a discussion of sur-
rogacy. Franks and his wife, who have struggled with infertility,
have 3-year-old twins who were conceived through surrogacy.
Franks, 60, says he had become familiar with the surrogacy
process in recent years and “became insensitive as to how the dis-
cussion of such an intensely personal topic might affect others.”
He said he regrets that his “discussion of this option and pro-
cess in the workplace” with two female staffers made them feel
uncomfortable.
Franks has been a member of the far-right House Freedom
Caucus. He’s a staunch social conservative who sponsored
House-passed legislation to make it a crime for any person to
perform an abortion if the age of the fetus is 20 weeks or more.
Franks drew a sharp response from Democrats during a 2013
House committee debate when he said, “the incidence of rape
resulting in pregnancy are very low.” He sought to clarify the
comment, saying later-term abortions linked to pregnancies
caused by rape are infrequent.
Franks is a strong backer of President Donald Trump and has
embraced some of his stances on social issues. Franks has harshly
criticized some NFL players for not standing during the national
anthem, calling them “arrogant and overpaid Lilliputians who
dishonor America.”
Franks represents a district encompassing suburbs north and
west of Phoenix. He serves on the House Judiciary and Armed
Services committees.
Trump signs 2-week spending bill
to avoid a government shutdown
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has signed a
spending bill to avoid a government shutdown and keep the fed-
eral government running through Dec. 22.
The president signed the two-week spending bill at the White
House after the House and Senate acted to prevent a government
shutdown this weekend.
The White House and congressional leaders are negotiating a
longer-term agreement.
The measure funds government agencies from the Defense
Department to the IRS. It also makes money available to several
states running out of funds for the Children’s Health Insurance
Program. The popular program provides medical care to more
than 8 million children.
The White House and lawmakers say the bill will give them
more time to negotiate several end-of-year agenda items, includ-
ing the budget, a children’s health program and hurricane aid.
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