The nation in brief

GOP picks hopeful

for Virginia seat

Republican activists chose Denver Riggleman at a meeting Saturday in central Virginia to replace Republican Rep. Thomas Garrett on the November ballot, after a frenzied five-day campaign.

The craft distillery owner and former Air Force intelligence officer will face Democrat Leslie Cockburn, a journalist, author and first-time candidate trying to capitalize on opposition to President Donald Trump in Charlottesville and other liberal enclaves in the 5th Congressional District.

The district is one of about 100 that Democrats are targeting in hopes of taking control of the House in the midterm elections.

It is a reliably Republican district, but the pressure was on activists to choose a candidate who can unite Republicans and overcome a blue wave if it materializes.

"You've never seen a fighter like Denver Riggleman," Riggleman said in a speech after his selection. "I've been through hell, and I've got hell to give!"

The nominee was decided after five hours and four rounds of secret balloting that came down to two candidates: Riggleman and Cynthia Dunbar, a national GOP committeeman with far-right views.

Party handicappers view Riggleman as a more pragmatic choice. Over the past few days, Riggleman promised to join the conservative House Freedom Caucus, of which Garrett is a member.

The vote came less than a week after Garrett revealed that he is an alcoholic and abruptly abandoned his re-election bid, triggering a scramble to select a nominee.

Instead of a traditional campaign with rallies and mailers, hopefuls personally rallied the 37 members of the party committee. Dunbar wrapped up a big chunk of the committee during an initial round of voting, followed by Riggleman.

California forbids

trips to Oklahoma

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- California is banning state-funded travel to Oklahoma because of policies it considers discriminatory toward lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced the ban Friday in response to a policy adopted in Oklahoma last month that allows private adoption and foster agencies to deny placements on the basis of religious or moral grounds.

Opponents say it's designed to discriminate against same-sex couples or LGBT parents. Oklahoma's Catholic bishops support the law.

Becerra's decision is based on a 2017 California law that bans state-funded or state-sponsored travel to states that authorize discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

California already bars official travel to Texas, Alabama, South Dakota, Kentucky, North Carolina, Kansas, Mississippi and Texas. Collegiate California sports teams have still attended games in those states.

N.M. fire growing,

imperiling village

CIMARRON, N.M. -- A wildfire threatening a village in northern New Mexico has doubled in size to more than 42 square miles as firefighters try to protect nearly 300 homes and a Boy Scouts camp.

Fire management team spokesman Sandra Lopez said the fire Saturday was about 3 miles west of Cimarron, which was evacuated Friday.

The fire has destroyed 12 to 14 outbuildings at nearby Philmont Scout Ranch.

Lopez said winds from the east may help keep the fire from the village Saturday but precipitation expected from a storm today won't be enough to extinguish the fire before dry conditions return Monday.

Approximately 450 firefighters and other personnel are assigned to the fire. Its cause is under investigation. Cimarron is 138 miles northeast of Albuquerque.

A Section on 06/03/2018

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