Hurricane Joaquin is causing NFL to make a contingency plan for Eagles at Redskins

NFL officials are in discussions with representatives of the Washington Redskins and Philadelphia Eagles about potential weather-related scheduling contingencies in case Hurricane Joaquin impacts the D.C. area this weekend.

“We are monitoring the forecast and having dialogue with both teams,” said Greg Aiello, the NFL’s senior vice president of communications.Aiello declined to say what prospective scheduling changes are being discussed. Spokesmen for the Eagles and Redskins declined to elaborate on potential rescheduling plans.

The Redskins and Eagles are scheduled to play Sunday at 1 p.m. at FedEx Field.

Forecast models differ on which path Hurricane Joaquin will take and what effect it might have on the Washington area’s weather. Coaches and players were unsure of what to expect, but are keeping an eye on it.

“Well, we’ll wait until Sunday to know what exactly is going to happen,” Philadelphia Coach Chip Kelly said, “but it’s something that we’ve been monitoring.”

“I heard the rumors,” said Washington left tackle Trent Williams. “Nobody ever wants to play in any weather like that, but I think it plays into the [offensive] line’s hands when it kind of turns into a ground-and-pound type of game depending on the rain and the wind.”Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins said playing in bad weather can be a challenge.

“I have done it in the past,” Cousins said. “Rain affects it, wind affects it, how much we get of each of those. When they start to combine and be a lot of both, it can be really difficult. Temperature also starts to change things. I’ve always been able to throw a wet ball pretty consistently. I don’t feel like it takes me off my game too much.”

Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/football-insider/wp/2015/09/30/hurricane-joaquin-is-causing-nfl-to-make-a-contingency-plan-for-eagles-at-redskins/

EU agrees €3 billion action plan with Turkey to ease migrant crisis

Turkey will receive around €3 billion in aid and fast-track access to visas in return for clamping down on the flow of migrants to Europe

Migrants walking towards Greece border along a highway on their way to the border between Turkey and Greece

Migrants walking towards Greece border along a highway on their way to the border between Turkey and Greece Photo: Getty Images

Matthew Holehouse By Matthew Holehouse, and AFP9:02AM BST 16 Oct 2015

Turkey will receive up to €3 billion (£2.2 billion) in aid and fast-track access to visas in return for clamping down on the flow of migrants to Europe.

EU leaders offered Ankara a host of long-sought sweeteners in exchange for shutting borders that have let 350,000 people enter Europe since January.

Angela Merkel said the EU had agreed to open a "new chapter" in accession talks to the bloc after decades of delays, adding that the EU was looking at a "ballpark" of €3 billion.

Given Turkey has spent seven billion addressing the migrant crisis it "makes sense" for EU states to contribute, the German chancellor said.

"We cannot organise or stem the refugee movements without working with Turkey," said Mrs Merkel, who is due to visit Turkey at the weekend for talks about the crisis and Syria with Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish president.

Turkey is the main launching point for the more than 600,000 migrants who have entered Europe this year. Most refugees and migrants make make the short but dangerous sea crossing to the Greek islands as they flee war in the Middle East and north Africa.

Mapped: Migrant deaths attempting to reach Europe by sea since 2000

Donald Tusk, the EU summit chairman, expressed "cautious optimism", adding: "Our intensified meetings with Turkish leaders ... in the last couple of weeks were devoted to one goal: stemming the migratory flows that go via Turkey to the EU. The action plan is a major step in this direction."

Francois Hollande said there had to be "clear rules" on what Turkey could expect, playing down Ankara's demands for the easing of visa rules.

"There must not be an understanding that just because we want Turkey to help us by keeping refugees in its country, that there will be unconditional visa liberalisation," the French president said as he arrived for the summit.

Jean-Claude Juncker, the EU Commission president, said work on easing visa access for the 75-million population country would be sped up by the bloc would not compromise on standards.

Mr Erdogan who is facing crucial parliamentary elections on November 1 is expected to use Europe’s suddenly more solicitous attitudes to bolster his own prestige at home.

Turkey signalled it would drive a hard bargain, saying it would do nothing until a visa deal is on the table. Turkish officials presented their EU counterparts with a "wish list" during talks in Ankara on Thursday.

Ahmet Davutoglu, the Turkish prime minister, stressed he wanted swifter moves towards visa-free travel to Europe in exchange for Ankara keeping more refugees on its soil.

"We will not sign a re-admission deal before we obtain progress on the question of Schengen visas (to the EU's passport-free area) and an easing of conditions for visas for Turkish citizens," Mr Davutoglu told Turkish TGRT television in an interview.

Soure: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/turkey/11935093/EU-approves-Turkey-migrant-plan.html

Wildfire Prevention Plan Unveiled for La Pineby Heather Roberts

LA PINE, OR -- The Deschutes National Forest is joining forces with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to create a plan for responding to wildfires across jurisdictional boundaries. Jean Nelson Dean with the Forest Service says the new Greater La Pine Cohesive Strategy Project means “all hands, all lands.”

"That applies both to wildfire fighting and treating areas. And, one great thing is the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Forest Service have received funding to do cohesive strategy work down in the La Pine area," Nelson Dean tells KBND. "The idea is that treating both federal lands – BLM, forest service - treating state lands. And, also through the NRCS, being able to treat private lands. So, private landowners being able to apply for grant dollars that they can then do work on their own lands if they’re interested."

She says it's a long-term plan that includes guidelines for how to treat 300,000 acres of designated land. Agencies involved in the Cohesive Strategy Plan will kick off the multi-year project in La Pine, Friday morning.

Source: http://www.kbnd.com/kbnd-news/local-news-feed/159857

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