"U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke blamed the state’s fires on “radical environmentalists” who he said have prevented forest management."
"His comments come days after he and President Trump toured the devastation from Paradise to Malibu, with both vowing to help California recover from the disaster."
READ MORE related to Camp Fire Calamity: 79 now dead, 699 still unaccounted for -- Sacramento Bee's HANNAH DARDEN; Photos before and after the Camp Fire reveals a town destroyed -- LA Times's JON SCHLEUSS/PRIYA KRISHNAKUMAR; Stunned residents start returning to Paradise in fire's terrible aftermath -- The Chronicle's TRISHA THADANI/EVAN SERNOFFSKY/JILL TUCKER; DNA technology helps ident ify Camp Fire victims; challenge is finding family -- The Chronicle's EVAN SERNOFFSKY; Did Camp Fire have second start? PG&E filing points to other possible origin -- The Chronicle's JD MORRIS; Two arrested for looting Cal Fire station during Camp Fire, authorities say -- Sacramento Bee's MICHAEL MCGOUGH
The new question for House Dems: Will you back Pelosi?
AP's LISA MASCARO/ALAN FRAM: "It's the thorny first question confronting newly elected House Democrats: Will you vote for Nancy Pelosi?"
"Even before they've taken office, the freshmen swept in by the midterm elections are caught at the center of an escalating power struggle over Pelosi's future."
"The clash intensified Monday as Pelosi's critics unveiled a letter signed by 16 Democrats, including five freshmen, vowing to oppose her. If that holds, it could be enough to derail her bid. If not, she could reclaim the gavel she once held."
Judge bars US from enforcing Trump asylum ban
AP's NOMAAN MERCHANT: "A federal judge barred the Trump administration from refusing asylum to immigrants who cross the southern border illegally."
"President Donald Trump issued a proclamation on Nov. 9 that said anyone who crossed the southern border between official ports of entry would be ineligible for asylum. As the first of several caravans of migrants have started arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border, Trump said an asylum ban was necessary to stop what he's attacked as a national security threat."
"But in his ruling Monday, U.S. District Judge Jon Tigar agreed with legal groups that immediately sued, arguing that U.S. immigration law clearly allows someone to seek asylum even if they enter the country between official ports of entry."
Gone in 30 days? Report: U.S. troops at border could be gone within a month
From the Union-Tribune's GUSTAVO SOLIS: "As Customs and Border Protection continued to fortify the San Ysidro Port of Entry Monday by temporarily closing lanes to install vehicle and pedestrian barriers, the general overseeing the military deployment along the U.S.-Mexico border said troops may soon be heading home."
"Some 1,300 troops have been assigned to support operations along the California-Mexico border and began arriving Nov. 8. The troops have been busy placing concertina wire and other barriers to limit access to the ports of entry."
"But Army Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Buchanan, in charge of the deployment, told Politico that the military’s mission is complete and that engineering and logistics units putting the barriers in place will be returning home as early as this week. The rest, he said, would be done by Dec. 15. CNN reported that President Donald Trump would be granting the remaining troops the authority to protect CBP personnel should they face violence."
Doing a weed start-up? Wait in line
