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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 7, 2018)
7A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2018 WORLD IN BRIEF Associated Press Ex-Trump campaign adviser to be sentenced in Russia probe WASHINGTON — George Papadopoulos, the Trump campaign adviser who triggered the Russia investigation, will find out today whether he will go to prison for lying to the FBI. Papadopoulos is set to be sentenced in federal court in Washington, where special counsel Rob- ert Mueller’s team is pushing for a prison sen- tence of up to six months, while defense attor- neys are asking for probation. Papadopoulos, who served as a foreign policy adviser to President Donald Trump’s campaign, has been a central figure in the Russia investi- gation dating back before Mueller’s May 2017 appointment. He was the first to plead guilty in Mueller’s probe and is now the first Trump cam- paign adviser to be sentenced. His case was also the first to detail a member of the Trump cam- paign having knowledge of Russian efforts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election while it was ongoing. Memos authored by House Republicans and Democrats, now declassified, also show informa- tion about Papadopoulos’ contacts with Russian intermediaries triggered the FBI’s counterintel- ligence investigation in July 2016 into poten- tial coordination between Russia and the Trump campaign. That probe was later taken over by Mueller. He admitted last year to lying to the FBI about those contacts. In court papers filed ahead of the sentencing, prosecutors say those lies caused irreparable harm to the investigation during its early months. Teacher strikes, unrest hit West Coast as unions flex muscle SEATTLE — Fights over teacher salaries and working conditions are escalating along the West Coast, emboldened in part by the momentum from widespread teacher strikes in more conser- vative states. The teachers in these blue states — with robust teachers’ unions, the right to strike and legislatures that are generally more supportive of education funding — are tapping into a shift in public sentiment that supports better wages for teachers that came as a result of the “Red4Ed” protest movement that began earlier this year. The latest disputes are particularly acute in Washington, a state that has infused at least $1 billion for teacher pay to resolve a long-running court battle. With students returning to school in the last few weeks, teachers in at least 18 pub- AP Photo/Noah Berger A firefighter works to control a backfire in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. California fire keeps I-5 closed for 3rd day WEED, Calif. — Interstate 5 usually swarms with trucks and traffic as it winds its way through California. But the main highway between Mexico and Canada was a ghost road this morning along a 45-mile northern stretch that remained closed since a fire two days earlier swept down and turned hills on either side into walls of flame. Drivers fled in terror and several big-rigs burned Wednesday as the fire erupted on both sides of the artery. Crews managed to remove the burned hulks and abandoned rigs on Thurs- day but flames continued to burn along an edge of the road in some areas, fire spokesman Bran- don Vacarro said. A decision was expected today on whether to reopen the highway, but first authorities had to check the safety of the pavement and cut down burned trees next to the road — some of them 70 feet tall — that might be in danger of falling down. The fire had burned more than 34 square miles of timber and brush and prompted evacua- tion orders for scattered homes and buildings in three counties in and around the Shasta-Trin- ity National Forest. At times, flames shot up 300 feet high. Truckers who rely heavily on the I-5 to transport timber and other goods along the West Coast had the unenviable choice of waiting or taking a jammed detour that added 115 miles or so to their journeys over steep hills. lic school districts so far have voted to authorize a strike, gone on strike or settled their strikes in order to get pay raises. In California, teachers in the Los Angeles Unified School District also voted last week to authorize a strike, although a walkout isn’t immi- nent. The union and district in the nation’s sec- ond-largest school system have failed to reach an agreement on pay raises, smaller class sizes and other issues. Both sides have filed charges against the other and a state mediation session is sched- uled Sept. 27. The Washington teachers’ union said it has been fighting for schools funding for more than a decade, and that the timing of their latest con- tract and strike discussions was coincidental to the national teacher uprising. Defense secretary makes surprise visit to war-weary Kabul KABUL, Afghanistan — Defense Secretary James Mattis made a surprise visit to Afghani- stan’s war-shattered capital today, just days after a suicide bomber killed 21 people in the city and wounded 90 others. Accompanied by Gen. Joseph Dunford, chair- man of the joint chiefs of staff, Mattis met with senior government officials, including Presi- dent Ashraf Ghani and his leadership partner in the often fractious government, Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah. Security featured prominently in their discussions, as did government attempts to put the brakes on runaway government corruption. Mattis also assured the Afghan leadership that the United States was committed to stay the course in Afghanistan until the country is secure and stable. There was no indication either from the Afghan government or the U.S. military command of a change in strategy that might bring about greater security or how the existing strategy might bring about results. Mattis’ visit to Afghanistan, which lasted a lit- tle more than six hours, comes amid brutal assaults against the country’s minority Shiites and a fresh round of insider attacks this week that have claimed the life of one American service member and eight local police. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced this week the appointment of Zalmay Khalilzad as Washington’s new point man for Afghan rec- onciliation. Khalilzad, a controversial figure in the region, is a former envoy to Afghanistan. Senate begins final day of Supreme Court nominee hearings WASHINGTON — Senators began the fourth and final day of hearings for Supreme Court nom- inee Brett Kavanaugh today, but with the nomi- nee finished answering questions the day they seemed unlikely to alter his path to confirmation. Senate Democrats worked into the night Thursday in a last, ferocious attempt to paint Kavanaugh as a foe of abortion rights and a likely defender of President Donald Trump. But after two marathon days in the witness chair in a Sen- ate hearing room, Kavanaugh appeared on his way to becoming the court’s 114th justice. The 53-year-old appellate judge stuck to a well-rehearsed script throughout his testimony, providing only glimpses of his judicial stances while avoiding any serious mistakes that might jeopardize his confirmation. In what almost seemed like a celebration Thursday, Kavanaugh’s two daughters returned to the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing room for the final hours of tes- timony, accompanied by teammates on Catholic school basketball teams their father has coached. On the schedule today are more than two dozen witnesses on both sides of the nomina- tion fight. Democratic witnesses include John Dean, Richard Nixon’s White House coun- sel who cooperated with prosecutors during the Watergate investigation, and Rochelle Garza, the legal guardian for a pregnant immigrant teenager whose quest for an abortion Kavanaugh would have delayed last year. THANK YOU, seaside! Hood To Coast / Portland To Coast Relays would like to thank the City of Seaside, Seaside Fire and Rescue, Seaside Police Department, and Seaside Chamber of Commerce for hosting the 37th HTC/PTC Relays Finish Party. Your beautiful city and county were on display this year for participants from all 50 U.S States and 43 countries. We would also like to thank Clatsop County public safety, residents, and businesses for your patience and support. $19,000 will again be donated to Seaside Parks and Recreation. With more than 60,000 individuals visiting Seaside for The Hood and Portland To Coast Relays, this visit represents a first impression to a captive audience that very often leads to future visits for these individuals and their families. This is an economic impact that goes beyond measure and one that can very often be a lifelong development of future memories in your town. Additionally, participants raised a record amount of over $850,000, which benefits Providence Cancer Institute and their continuous efforts to find a cure for cancer. Thank you Seaside, for supporting the race for 29 years in your community! We look forward to many more fantastic race finishes in Seaside. Special thanks to all the amazing charities on course; runners and walkers loved everything you provided, and we hope you continue to raise money for your charities in future years. Looking forward to seeing you all in 2019!
