NEWS OF THE DAY
From Across the Nation
1 _ Wildfire: A fire erupted in the foothills above Los Angeles suburbs Friday as a cold front heading into California brought prospects of rain, snow and cool temperatures after months of hot, dry weather and wildfires. The fire began before dawn above San Dimas and La Verne at the foot of the San Gabriel Mountains about 25 miles east of Los Angeles. Helicopters and ground crews responded as flames ran uphill but did not threaten structures or force evacuations. The Los Angeles County Fire Department said the fire’s forward progress was stopped at midmorning after scorching about 65 acres. 2 _ Officers wounded: A man suspected of wounding two police officers in a shooting in Wisconsin on Friday and who is wanted in North Dakota for attempted murder was arrested following a manhunt, police said. Delafield Police Chief Erik Kehl said the man was arrested in a field not far from the Holiday Inn where the officers were shot in Waukesha County, about 27 miles west of Milwaukee. Police earlier identified the suspect as Nathanael Benton, 23, wanted in Fargo for a shooting. Kehl said one of his officers and another from nearby Hartland confronted the man outside the hotel and shots were exchanged. The officers’ wounds are not believed to be lifethreatening. 3 _ Wife killed: A man in Stuart, Fla., who thought he heard an intruder outside his bedroom door instead fatally shot his pregnant wife, authorities said. The man told detectives he didn’t realize his wife was not in the room. He frantically called 911 and told dispatchers he had accidentally shot his wife, according to Sheriff William Snyder. The woman was pronounced dead at a hospital where she was taken. She was six months pregnant, and doctors were able to save the baby, WPBF reported. The sheriff said an investigation is ongoing. 4 Terrorism case: A federal indictment accuses an Oregon man of advocating violent jihad in an online Arabic newspaper in support of the terrorist organization Islamic State. Hawazen Sameer Mothafar, 31, was arrested Thursday morning, federal authorities said. Mothafar pleaded not guilty to charges that include conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization. Mothafar is accused of editing, producing and distributing Islamic State recruiting material and propaganda on the online outlet Al Dura’a al Sunni, also known as Sunni Shield, from 2015 through Nov. 5. A 20day trial has been scheduled to begin on Jan. 20 before U. S. District Judge Marco Hernandez in Portland. 5 _ Finally, a girl: A Michigan couple whose large family attracted attention by growing to include 14 sons has welcomed their first daughter nearly three decades after their first child. Kateri Schwandt gave birth Thursday to Maggie Jayne in Grand Rapids. Jay Schwandt said he and his wife, both 45, “are overjoyed and beyond excited to add Maggie Jayne to our family.” The Schwandts have been featured in news stories as their family has grown. The couple have a livestreaming program called “14 Outdoorsmen” that may now need a name change.