Hot weather aids the Clayton Fire

Northern California continues to be ravaged by wildfires that have charred over 3,000 acres, destroyed 175 or more structures and forced the evacuations of about 1400 people. What’s being called the Clayton Fire in Lake County, about 100 miles north of San Francisco, started on Saturday. Aided by “extreme heat” and dry brush and trees the fire had spread rapidly. Firefighters have been using bulldozers to cut firebreaks to contain the blaze.

LOUISIANA HIT BY SEVERE FLOODING

More heavy rain is predicted to hit the area around Baton Rouge, Louisiana, further complicating rescue efforts. At least five people have died and 20,000 rescued over the weekend by the U.S. Coast Guard and other first responders, including private citizens. A state of emergency has been declared as floodwaters continue to rise.

TRUMP LAYS OUT ANTI-TERROR PLAN

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump laid out his plan to fight the Islamic State and other international terrorism in a speech Monday in Ohio. Blaming the Obama administration for creating conditions that led to the founding of IS, Trump said that as president he would ban people from countries “with heavy terrorist footprints” and increase cooperation with Mideast allies, but drop efforts at nation-building.

USA STILL TOPS IN MEDAL COUNT

The United States continues to dominate the 2016 Summer Olympic in Rio de Janeiro. As of midday Monday, the American team had won 70 medals, 26 of them gold. In second place with 46 is China (15 gold), followed by Great Britain with 40 (16 gold) and Russia with 32 (nine gold).

Midday Update is posted Monday through Friday as staff time permits. Want more national and international news? Go to http://bigstory.ap.org .