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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (July 27, 2018)
6A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2018 WORLD IN BRIEF Associated Press Massive Northern California wildfire kills 2nd firefighter REDDING, Calif. — An explosive wildfire raged through several Northern California com- munities, killing two firefighters and destroying dozens of homes after thousands of terrified res- idents fled in miles-long traffic jams. Flames that turned the sky orange swept through the communities of Shasta and Kes- wick before jumping the Sacramento River on Thursday and reaching Redding, a city of about 92,000 people and the largest in the region. The so-called Carr Fire is “taking down everything in its path,” said Scott McLean, a CalFire spokesman for the crews battling the blaze. Sixty-five structures had been destroyed, and 500 other buildings were threatened, fire offi- cials said. A firefighter with the Redding Fire Depart- ment was killed in Shasta County, officials said today. Another firefighter hired to try to contain the flames with a bulldozer was killed Thursday. Residents in the western part of Redding who had not been under evacuation orders were caught off guard and had to flee with lit- tle notice. “When it hit, people were really scram- bling,” McLean said. “There was not much of a warning.” Many fire crews turned their focus from the flames to getting people out alive. “Really, we’re in a life-saving mode right now in Redding,” said Jonathan Cox, battalion chief with Cal Fire. “We’re not fighting a fire. We’re trying to move people out of the path of it because it is now deadly, and it is now moving at speeds and in ways we have not seen before in this area.” The 45-square-mile fire that began Monday tripled in size overnight Thursday amid scorch- ing temperatures, low humidity and windy con- ditions. It was sparked by a mechanical issue involving a vehicle. US economy surges to 4.1 percent growth rate in Q2 WASHINGTON — The U.S. economy surged in the April-June quarter to an annual growth rate of 4.1 percent. That’s the fast- est pace since 2014, driven by consumers who began spending their tax cuts and exporters who rushed to get their products delivered ahead of retaliatory tariffs. President Donald Trump told reporters at Kim Hong-Ji A soldier carries a casket containing remains of a U.S. soldier who was killed in the Korean War during a ceremony at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, South Korea. North Korea returns remains of U.S. servicemen killed in war WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump thanked North Korean leader Kim Jong Un today for “fulfilling a promise” to return the remains of missing U.S. soldiers from the Korean War, as a U.S. military plane made a rare trip into North Korea to retrieve 55 cases of remains. North Korea returned the remains of what are believed to be U.S. servicemen killed during the Korean War, a handover that followed through on a promise Kim made to Trump when the leaders met in June in Singapore, the first tangible result from the much-hyped summit. A U.S. Air Force C-17 aircraft containing remains of fallen service members arrived at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, near the South Korean capital of Seoul. A formal repatriation ceremony will be held there Wednesday. At the air base, U.S. servicemen and a military honor guard lined up on the tarmac to receive the remains, which were carried in boxes covered in blue U.N. flags. About 7,700 U.S. soldiers are listed as missing from the 1950-53 Korean War, and 5,300 of the remains are believed to still be in North Korea. The war killed millions, including 36,000 American soldiers. U.S. Forces Korea commander Gen. Vincent K. Brooks, in a statement from the U.N. Com- mand, called the retrieval mission successful. “Now, we will prepare to honor our fallen before they continue on their journey home.” Following the honors ceremony on Wednesday, the remains will be flown to Hawaii for sci- entific testing. A series of forensic examinations will be done to determine if the remains are human and if the dead were American or allied troops killed in the conflict. Officials in North Korea had no comment on the handover today, the 65th anniversary of the end of the Korean War, which the country celebrated as the day of “victory in the father- land liberation war.” The repatriation of remains could be followed by stronger North Korean demands for fast- tracked discussions to formally end the war, which was stopped with an armistice and not a peace treaty. South Korea’s Defense Ministry also said the North agreed to general-level mili- tary talks next week at a border village to discuss reducing tensions across the countries’ heav- ily armed border. the White House that he was thrilled with what he called an “amazing” growth rate and said it wasn’t “a one-time shot.” Private economists took issue with that fore- cast, saying the second-quarter performance isn’t likely to last in the months ahead. The Commerce Department reported today that the gross domestic product, the country’s total output of goods and services, posted its best showing since a 4.9 percent gain in the third quarter of 2014. Trump, who has repeatedly attacked the economic record of the Obama administration, pledged during the 2016 campaign to double growth to 4 percent or better. But private fore- casters cautioned that the April-June pace is unsustainable because it stems from temporary factors. The rest of the year is likely to see solid, but slower growth of around 3 percent. The latest GDP figure was nearly double the 2.2 percent growth rate in the first quarter, which was revised up from a previous estimate of 2 percent growth. Consumer spending, which accounts for 70 percent of economic activity, rose to a 4 percent annual growth rate after turning in a lackluster 0.5 percent gain in the first quarter. Consumers began spending their higher take-home pay on autos and other big-ticket items, spurred by the $1.5 trillion tax cut Trump pushed through Con- gress in December. Another factor that bolstered the second quarter was a rush by exporters of soybeans and other products to get their shipments to other countries before retaliatory tariffs in response to Trump’s get-tough trade policies took effect. Exports rose at a 9.3 percent rate in the second quarter, while imports grew at a tiny 0.5 percent rate. The narrowing trade deficit added a full per- centage-point to growth in the second quarter, though economists are concerned that a full- blown trade war between the United States and China, the world’ s two biggest economies, will hurt growth going forward. Officials: Over 1,800 migrant kids reunited by deadline SAN DIEGO — Shy children were given a meal and a plane or bus ticket to locations around the U.S. as nonprofit groups tried to smooth the way for kids reunited with their parents following their separations at the U.S. Mexico border. The Trump administration said Thursday that more than 1,800 children 5 years and older had been reunited with parents or sponsors hours before the deadline. That included 1,442 children who were returned to parents who were in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody, and another 378 who were released under a variety of other circumstances. But about 700 more remain separated, including 431 whose parents were deported, officials say. Those reunions take more time, effort and paperwork as authorities fly children back to Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras. Homeland Security officials said this morn- ing that they had reunified all eligible parents with children — but noted many others were not eligible because they have been released from immigration custody, are in their home coun- tries or chose not to be reunited. A RE YOU TURNING 65 OR WILL YOU SOON BECOME ELIGIBLE FOR M EDICARE ? Then you’re eligible to enroll in either a Medicare Supplement or Medicare Advantage plan. Clatsop Health & Life Insurance Agency can help you navigate all of your options. Clatsop Health & Life Insurance Agency offers all Medicare Advantage options available in Clatsop County. Medicare Advantage Medicare Supplement Part D Prescription Drug Coverage Already signed up with a Medicare Supplement? Under The Birthday Rule you have an annual, thirty day window that allows you to review your supplement options and change plans, starting on your birthday. We are a local agency Going with a local agent who’s familiar with Clatsop County doctors and medical facilities insures you’re getting the plan that works best with your medical care providers and you’ll always have someone to meet with, face to face, should any questions or concerns arise. Call Candi Vanderburg or Hamil Brown at 503 325 0154 to set an appointment. There’s no obligation and no additional charge for our services. -In downtown Astoria- Clatsop Health & Life Insurance Agency 960 Commercial St., Astoria, OR 97103 503 325 0154
