More than 1K homes destroyed in fires

More than 1K homes destroyed in fires

The scope of devastation from one of California’s most-destructive wildfires is becoming clearer and so too is the size of the humanitarian need in one of the state’s poorer counties.

Gov. Jerry Brown requested a presidential disaster declaration Monday, noting that more than 1,000 homes had been confirmed destroyed, with the number likely to go higher as assessment continues in Lake County, 90 miles north of San Francisco. Many others are damaged or don’t have power, leaving thousands in need of shelter.

In a letter to President Barack Obama, Brown noted the fire that started Sept. 12 has burned more than 117 square miles and killed three people. At its peak, more than 19,000 people were ordered to evacuate. A “major disaster” declaration releases federal money for recovery efforts.

Gay couples want licenses reissued

FRANKFORT, Ky.

Gay couples in Kentucky are questioning the altered marriage licenses issued by a county clerk and are asking a federal judge to order her office to reissue them or put the office in receivership and have someone else do it.

Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis spent five days in jail for disobeying a federal court order to issue licenses to gay couples. When she returned to work last week, she altered the license forms to say they were issued under the authority of the federal court instead of her office. Monday, lawyers for the American Civil Liberties Union asked the judge to force Davis’ office to reissue the licenses.

70 US-trained rebels return to Syria

BEIRUT

About 70 U.S.-trained rebels have returned to Syria after receiving training in Turkey, crossing the border in gun-mounted four-wheel drives, the U.S. military’s Central Command said Monday.

The development comes as the U.S. administration has been struggling to defend its military strategy in Syria, directed against the Islamic State militant group with an air campaign and programs to train, assist and equip local forces. Last week, U.S. Central Command spokesman Air Force Col. Patrick Ryder said that about 100 Syrian recruits were completing their U.S.-led training programs and that most soon would be in Syria.

Boy suspended over clock withdraws

DALLAS

The family of a 14-year-old Muslim student who got in trouble over a homemade clock mistaken for a possible bomb withdrew the boy Monday from his suburban Dallas high school.

Ahmed Mohamed’s father, Mohamed El-Hassan Mohamed, said he has pulled all of his children from their Irving Independent School District schools. Mohamed said the family is still deciding where to send the children to school.

Ahmed has said he brought the clock he made to MacArthur High School in Irving last week to show a teacher. Officials say he was arrested after another teacher saw it and became concerned. Ahmed wasn’t charged, but he was suspended from school for three days.

City mulls fines for bad fashion sense

DADEVILLE, Ala.

Leaders of an Alabama city fed up with sagging pants on young men and hemlines on women’s skirts creeping higher are mulling penalties for clothing they consider inappropriate.

An idea to penalize people wearing sagging pants and short skirts could be discussed during Dadeville City Council’s meeting today.

Residents agree the styles can go too far but say an ordinance may be difficult to enforce. ACLU officials say an ordinance could also prompt legal challenges.

Associated Press