Five things you need to know: Nov. 19

Nothing remains of the Ridgewood Mobile Home Park in Paradise, where a team recovered one victim on Monday, Nov. 21. as the search continues for victims of the Camp Fire in Paradise, California. Last toll brought the number of deaths to 42. (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times/TNS) *photo courtesy of MCT Campus

1. 80 dead, nearly 1,000 missing from California wildfires

The number of lives taken by California wildfires has risen from 25 to 80 since last Monday, according to ABC News.

Nearly 400 square miles in Northern and Southern California have been scorched from the flames, and almost 1,000 people are still missing due to the fires.

The majority of the death and destruction comes from the Camp Fire, which began Nov. 8 and continues today. It’s become the deadliest and most destructive fire in California history — killing 77, turning 149,000 acres to ash and dust, leveling almost 13,000 structures.

As of Saturday, the fire was 55 percent contained by California firefighters. Rain forecasts show potential relief in the next few days — the most likely force to put an end to the fires.

In a December 2012 file image, then LSU head coach Les Miles argues a call during action against Clemson in the Chick-fil-A Bowl in Atlanta. He’s reportedly set to take over the Kansas program. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/TNS) *photo courtesy of MCT Campus

2. KU football hires Les Miles as new head coach

Kansas University has signed former Louisiana State University football coach Les Miles to a five-year contract, receiving an annual salary of $2,775,000.

Miles previously led LSU to eight bowl wins and a national championship in 2007, as well as developing the Oklahoma State football program before that. He has expressed admiration for the state of Kansas and the university, claiming that he’s always thought highly of Kansas during his coaching career.

“It’s a spectacular place,” Miles said in his introductory news conference. “I said, ‘why aren’t they more successful?’ I promise you, I carried that thought with me as I went.”

Kansas currently holds a 3-8 record — better than last year’s 1-11, but not meeting the university’s expectations. Head coach David Beaty ends his four-year tenure at KU with a 6-41 record.

Miles will begin developing the 2019-20 team once the season ends and coaching specifications are made.

File photo dated March 2018 of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, killed in Istanbul on October 2, 2018. (Balkis Press/Abaca Press/TNS) *photo courtesy of MCT Campus

3. C.I.A. claims Saudi crown prince had Khashoggi murdered

After nearly a month of investigation, the CIA has concluded that Saudi Crown Prince   Mohammed bin Salman ordered the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, according to the New York Times.

The agency came to the conclusion through both rigorous investigating and the fact that, given bin Salman’s wide span of control, the killing would likely not have not taken place without his approval.

The telling evidence came mostly from a phone call, in which one of the involved killers called one of bin Salman’s aides, instructing him to “tell [his] boss” that Khashoggi was dead and the mission was complete.

Lawmakers and President Trump are likely to constrict relations with Saudi Arabia in order to show the US’s disapproval of the killing. Saudi Arabia has not yet responded to the CIA’s accusation.

Florida gubernatorial candidates Rep. Ron DeSantis, left, and Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum during a debate at Broward College in Davie, Fla., on Wednesday Oct. 24, 2018. (Carline Jean/Sun Sentinel/TNS) *photo courtesy of MCT Campus

4. Andrew Gillum concedes to Ron DeSantis in Florida gubernatorial race

Democrat Andrew Gillum has conceded to republican Ron DeSantis in the nationally-followed Florida gubernatorial race.

After originally conceding on election night, Gillum re-entered the race after it was announced that a recount in Florida would occur due to tight races. Entering the recount, votes showed 49.6 percent for Desantis, and 49.2 percent for Gillum.

However, recent showings indicate Gillum was down nearly 34,000 votes just before he conceded, according to the New York Times.

President Trump congratulated Gillum on Twitter, and said Gillum would be a “strong Democrat warrior long into the future – a force to reckon with!”

DeSantis, who Trump endorsed going into the election, was criticized by both republicans and democrats alike for his occasional emotional and angered temper. He also faced harsh backlash when he said, in an interview with Fox News, that voters shouldn’t “monkey this up” by electing Gillum, which many considered to be racist.

DeSantis tweeted that “it was a hard-fought campaign,” but that “now it’s time to bring Florida together.”

In wake of his concession, Gillum remains optimistic towards his future in politics and in Florida.

“We are going to keep fighting. We will keep working,” Gillum tweeted. “And in the end, I believe that we will win.”

5. Kansas PTA writing competition deadline approaching

The Kansas PTA Arts & Awards Citizenship competition is underway — participants are to write some form of literature or writing following the topic of “My Motivation.”

Participants are encouraged to speak to what motivates them in different aspects of their lives, like their education or commitment to public service or charity. Once submitted, each piece will be judged leading to an eventual set of non-monetary awards for the top pieces.

The competition is open to all East students. Participants are instructed to turn in finished entries in front of the guest check-in in the East lobby by Wednesday, Nov. 28.