K2 Radio News: Flash Briefing For November 13th, 2017 – Morning
TEHRAN, IRAN (AP) - A POWERFUL 7.3 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE NEAR THE IRAQ-IRAN BORDER HAS KILLED OVER 400 PEOPLE ACROSS BOTH COUNTRIES, SENT RESIDENTS FLEEING THEIR HOMES INTO THE NIGHT AND WAS FELT AS FAR AWAY AS THE MEDITERRANEAN COAST. IRAN'S WESTERN KERMANSHAH PROVINCE BORE THE BRUNT OF THE TEMBLOR SUNDAY NIGHT, WITH AUTHORITIES SAYING THE QUAKE KILLED 407 PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY AND INJURED 6,700. IN IRAQ, AUTHORITIES SAY SEVEN WERE KILLED AND 535 WERE INJURED.
MANILA, PHILIPPINES (AP) - PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S LENGTHY ASIA TRIP IS DOWN TO ITS FINAL DAYS. AND IT'S BECOME CLEAR THAT TRUMP HAS OPTED TO PUBLICLY PRIORITIZE STRATEGIC INTERESTS OVER HUMAN RIGHTS. TRUMP MET WITH PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT RODRIGO DUTERTE, WHO HAS OVERSEEN A BLOODY DRUG WAR THAT HAS FEATURED EXTRAJUDICIAL KILLINGS. DUTERTE HAS EVEN BOASTED ABOUT KILLING PEOPLE WITH HIS OWN HANDS. TRUMP REPEATEDLY PRAISED DUTERTE ON HIS TRIP, CALLING HIM BY HIS FIRST NAME AND JOKING ABOUT THE MEDIA.
WASHINGTON (AP) - PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP HAS PICKED A FORMER TOP PHARMACEUTICAL AND GOVERNMENT EXECUTIVE BE HIS HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SECRETARY. IF CONFIRMED BY THE SENATE, ALEX AZAR WILL OVERSEE A $1-TRILLION DEPARTMENT RESPONSIBLE FOR MAJOR HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAMS, MEDICAL RESEARCH, FOOD AND DRUG SAFETY, AND PUBLIC HEALTH. THE NOMINATION IS UNUSUAL BECAUSE HHS SECRETARIES OFTEN TENDED TO COME FROM THE RANKS OF ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND NOT INDUSTRIES REGULATED BY THE AGENCY.
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WYOMING REPUBLICAN U.S. SENATORS SAID FRIDAY ALABAMA GOP SENATE CANDIDATE ROY MOORE SHOULD QUIT IF A REPORT IS TRUE THAT HE APPROACHED A 14-YEAR-OLD GIRL FOR A SEXUAL ENCOUNTER WHEN HE WAS 32.
SENS. MIKE ENZI AND JOHN BARRASSO ISSUED STATEMENTS FRIDAY AFTERNOON ABOUT MOORE, WHO WON THE GOP PRIMARY IN ALABAMA IN SEPTEMBER AND WILL FACE DEMOCRAT DOUG JONES IN THE DEC. 12 ELECTION.
THE WINNER WILL REPLACE FORMER SEN. JEFF SESSIONS, WHO IS NOW U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL.
BARRASSO'S SPOKESWOMAN LAURA MENGELKAMP ISSUED THIS STATEMENT: “THESE ARE DISTURBING AND CREDIBLE ACCUSATIONS. IF THEY’RE TRUE, MR. MOORE SHOULD STEP ASIDE IMMEDIATELY.”
ENZI'S SPOKESMAN MAX D'ONOFRIO ISSUED THIS STATEMENT: "SENATOR ENZI DOES BELIEVE THAT IF THE ALLEGATIONS ARE TRUE THAT ROY MOORE SHOULD STEP ASIDE FROM THE RACE."
WYOMING U.S. REP. LIZ CHENEY'S SPOKESWOMAN DID NOT RESPOND TO REQUESTS FOR COMMENT ABOUT MOORE.
THURSDAY, THE WASHINGTON POST REPORTED THE THE TEENAGER IN 1979 WAS APPROACHED BY THEN 32-YEAR-OLD MOORE WHO WAS AN ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY IN ETOWAH COUNTY, ALA.
WASHINGTON POST REPORTERS LEARNED OF THE INCIDENT WHEN COVERING MOORE'S CANDIDACY AND HEARD STORIES ABOUT HIM PURSUING TEENAGE GIRLS. THE WASHINGTON POST GATHERED SIMILAR STORIES FROM THREE OTHER WOMEN, NONE OF WHOM KNEW EACH OTHER.
MOORE, 70, HAS VEHEMENTLY DENIED THE ALLEGATIONS.
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LARAMIE, WYO. (AP) - THE UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND APPLIED SCIENCE HAS PARTNERED WITH A SIMULATION COMPANY TO BUILD A STATE-OF-THE-ART LABORATORY ON THE LARAMIE CAMPUS.
THE NEW DRILLING AND COMPLETIONS SIMULATION LABORATORY WILL BE FEATURED IN THE UW ENGINEERING EDUCATION AND RESEARCH BUILDING, WHICH IS PLANNED FOR COMPLETION IN 2019.
THE COMPANY PARTNERING WITH THE UNIVERSITY IN THE PROJECT IS DRILLING SYSTEMS, WHICH IS BASED IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.
DRILLING SYSTEMS WILL PROVIDE THE UNIVERSITY WITH EXCLUSIVE ACCESS TO EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES AND THE ABILITY TO INFLUENCE THE DEVELOPMENT OF FUTURE PRODUCTS AND SERVICES THAT MAY BENEFIT BOTH PARTIES.
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CASPER, WYO. (AP) - A STATE LAWMAKER FROM JACKSON IS WORKING ON A BILL THAT WOULD ALLOW VOTERS IN TETON COUNTY TO DECIDE WHETHER TO TAX THE SALES OF MILLION-DOLLAR HOMES.
REP. ANDY SCHWARTZ TOLD THE CASPER STAR-TRIBUNE IT WOULD ALLOW COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO ASK VOTERS TO APPROVE THE TAX ON HOMES THAT SELL FOR $1 MILLION OR MORE. IT WOULD RANGE FROM 1 PERCENT TO 2 PERCENT BASED ON THE PRICE.
THE BILL WOULD ONLY APPLY TO COUNTIES WHERE ANNUAL PROPERTY SALES EXCEED $600 MILLION. TETON COUNTY IS THE ONLY ONE THAT MEETS THAT THRESHOLD ALTHOUGH SCHWARTZ, A DEMOCRAT, IS OPEN TO LOWERING THE FIGURE IF OTHER COUNTIES WANT THE TAXING OPTION.
WYOMING REALTORS PRESIDENT AND JACKSON REAL ESTATE AGENT DEVON VIEHMAN SAYS SUCH A TAX WOULD MAKE ALL HOUSING LESS AFFORDABLE.