A draft report outlined Tuesday night shows Moses Lake will need to rethink its “business model” for its ambulance service. Representatives with Redmond-based FCS Group consulting firm presented findings of their Ambulance Utility Cost of Service and Rate Study at Tuesday’s city council meeting. The city contracted with the firm back in January at the request of council.
- PUB DATE: 10/12/2017 3:16:22 AM - SOURCE: iFiberOne

Massive wildfires sweeping through California have killed at least 23 people and damaged thousands of homes, businesses and other buildings, authorities said. Firefighters were still battling 22 wildfires in multiple counties as of Thursday morning. Intensified by strong winds, the flames have charred more than 170,000 acres of land, damaged or destroyed at least 3,500 structures and forced nearly 20,000 residents to evacuate, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
- PUB DATE: 10/12/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: ABC News

President Trump nominated Kirstjen Nielsen, a deputy to White House Chief of Staff John Kelly, to be Homeland Security secretary on Wednesday, filling the vacancy left by Kelly when he took his current post in late July. "Ms. Nielsen has extensive professional experience in the areas of homeland security policy and strategy, cybersecurity, critical infrastructure, and emergency management," the White House said in a statement announcing the nomination.
- PUB DATE: 10/12/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: USA Today

Superior Court Judge Julio Mendez ruled Wednesday that the state overseers will be able to cut the city’s Fire Department by 15 members as a cost-saving measure. The cuts are not allowed to be made before Feb. 1, according to the court ruling. "Upon careful consideration of the facts and legal arguments, the court is of the view that the plan and timeline for immediate reductions is problematic but it’s not impermissible by the Recovery Act," according to the 13-page ruling.
- PUB DATE: 10/12/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Press of Atlantic City

The Fire District Board accepted Chief Buddy Emerson’s retirement request Wednesday amid allegations from the firefighters union that he endangered employees' lives during Hurricane Irma and acted recklessly as chief. Emerson had submitted his retirement effective at the end of February, but the board, at a special meeting, unanimously accepted it effective immediately.
- PUB DATE: 10/12/2017 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: TCPalm