Reynosa officials demolished a shrine to the Mexican occult figure the “Santa Muerte” or “Holy Death” that had been built in the median of a busy highway.
The Hora Cero newspaper reported that the demolition took place on a state highway between Reynosa and Rio Bravo on Thursday.
The newspaper reported that the shrine had been built on the median of a busy stretch of highway in the Villas de Imaq subdivision.
The shrine was reportedly built less than a week ago.
Reynosa Public Works Director Guillermo Acebo Salman told Hora Cero that the shrine looked bad and obstructed planned projects in the area.
“Santa Muerte” is a Mexican occult figure whose name means “Holy Death” and resembles the “Grim Reaper”.
Shrines to “Santa Muerte” have been found in drug stash houses on both sides of the border.
Action 4 News reporter Victor Castillo investigated the worship of “Santa Muerte” in a special report last year.
Source
3/13/09
Gabriel Cardona-Ramirez Sentenced to Life Imprisonment
Gabriel Cardona-Ramirez, 22, has been sentenced to life imprisonment, acting United States Attorney Tim Johnson announced today. Cardona-Ramirez aka “Pelon” aka “Gaby,” a hired assassin or “sicario” for the Zetas and the Gulf Cartel, was convicted in August 2008 of conspiracy to kidnap and kill in a foreign country in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 956. The charges stem from the kidnapping and murder of two Laredo youths, Jorge Alfonso Aviles, 19, and Inez Villarreal, 14, from a Nuevo Laredo nightclub on March 30, 2006.
Cardona-Ramirez is one of 14 defendants arrested as a result of a 42-count indictment returned in federal court on March 4, 2008. The indictment charges a drug and money laundering conspiracy involving high-ranking members of the Gulf Cartel and the Zetas, the enforcement arm of the cartel. As part of the conspiracy, the indictment alleges several hit squads or sicario cells operated on both sides of the border and killed members of the rival Sinaloa Cartel in an attempt to forcibly gain control of the Nuevo Laredo-Laredo port of entry and corridor. The indictment remains sealed in part pending the arrest of others charged.
Cardona-Ramirez, a U.S. citizen and Laredo resident, eventually became the leader of one of the sicario cells and is personally charged for his involvement in five murders and four attempted murders committed on the U.S. side of the border as well as the murders of Aviles and Villarreal in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. Cardona-Ramirez was charged with one count of drug conspiracy, one count of money laundering conspiracy, one count of conspiracy to kidnap, one count of conspiracy to use a firearm in a violent crime, five counts of using a firearm in a violent crime, eight counts of interstate travel In aid of racketeering, four counts of using a juvenile to commit a violent crime and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
As part of his plea agreement, Cardona-Ramirez pleaded guilty to count 32 of the indictment admitting his involvement in the kidnapping and murders of Aviles and Villarreal and waived his rights to appeal. In addition to the maximum punishment for the offense — life imprisonment without parole, Cardona was also ordered to pay a $10,000 fine. The court has ordered the federal life term of imprisonment is to be served consecutive to sentences imposed by the state court.
Cardona-Ramirez has been in federal custody without bond since his arrest in April 2006.
Source
Cardona-Ramirez is one of 14 defendants arrested as a result of a 42-count indictment returned in federal court on March 4, 2008. The indictment charges a drug and money laundering conspiracy involving high-ranking members of the Gulf Cartel and the Zetas, the enforcement arm of the cartel. As part of the conspiracy, the indictment alleges several hit squads or sicario cells operated on both sides of the border and killed members of the rival Sinaloa Cartel in an attempt to forcibly gain control of the Nuevo Laredo-Laredo port of entry and corridor. The indictment remains sealed in part pending the arrest of others charged.
Cardona-Ramirez, a U.S. citizen and Laredo resident, eventually became the leader of one of the sicario cells and is personally charged for his involvement in five murders and four attempted murders committed on the U.S. side of the border as well as the murders of Aviles and Villarreal in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. Cardona-Ramirez was charged with one count of drug conspiracy, one count of money laundering conspiracy, one count of conspiracy to kidnap, one count of conspiracy to use a firearm in a violent crime, five counts of using a firearm in a violent crime, eight counts of interstate travel In aid of racketeering, four counts of using a juvenile to commit a violent crime and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
As part of his plea agreement, Cardona-Ramirez pleaded guilty to count 32 of the indictment admitting his involvement in the kidnapping and murders of Aviles and Villarreal and waived his rights to appeal. In addition to the maximum punishment for the offense — life imprisonment without parole, Cardona was also ordered to pay a $10,000 fine. The court has ordered the federal life term of imprisonment is to be served consecutive to sentences imposed by the state court.
Cardona-Ramirez has been in federal custody without bond since his arrest in April 2006.
Source
Anna Nicole Smith’s Doctors, Boyfriend Charged With Feeding Smith Drugs
On Thursday, California Attorney General Jerry Brown brought drug charges against Anna Nicole Smith’s former lawyer/boyfriend, Howard K. Stern and the drug providing doctors, Sandeep Kapoor and Khristine Eroshevich. The three were charged with 11 felony charges, including unlawfully prescribing a controlled substance and prescribing, administering or dispensing a controlled substance to an addict and conspiracy. Prosecutors allege in the complaint that Anna Nicole’s boyfriend and doctors all conspired to provide her with scores of prescription opiates, sedatives and sleeping pills, to feed her addiction.Most of the prescription drugs were prescribed to Stern under fictitious names, which were then given to Anna Nicole. Many of the prescriptions mentioned in the complaint were prescribed just days before 39-year-old Anna Nicole was found dead on Feb. 8, 2007, in her hotel room from an overdose.
Police found nearly one thousand pills in Anna Nicole’s hotel room when she died, including muscle relaxants and chloral hydrate, a strong sleeping medication that may have contributed to her death. Shockingly, over 400 muscle relaxers were missing from prescriptions only a couple of weeks old.
Stern and Kapoor surrendered voluntarily Thursday night and posted $20,000 bonds. Eroshevich’s attorney Adam Braun expects his client to turn himself in to California authorities on Monday.
Eroshevich, Anna Nicole’s former psychiatrist, traveled to the Bahamas to provide her boyfriend Stern with the prescription drugs, over a period of six-months. Eroshevich treated Anna Nicole for depression after the death of her 20-year old son, Daniel Smith, who also died from a drug overdose.
Eroshevich prescribed most of the prescriptions found in Anna Nicole’s hotel room upon her death. Braun, Eroshevich’s lawyer claims his client wrote the prescriptions under fictitious names to protect Anna Nicole’s privacy.
Prosecutors are not saying at this point how much time, if any, Anna Nicole’s boyfriend and doctors could spend in prison. These charges come as a surprise to many who have been keeping track of the sad and circus-like death of Anna Nicole and the resulting race to claim paternity of her daughter Dannielynn who may be worth a fortune.
Immediately after Anna Nicole’s death by overdose, it was speculated that assorted charges might be brought against people close to her, but her death was ruled accidental and the authorities took no action at that time
Stern at first, claimed he was the father of Anna Nicole’s daughter, until paternity tests showed the little girl’s biological father was Nicole’s former boyfriend, Larry Birkhead.Attorney General Jerry Brown is expected to make a statement on Friday, regarding the charges.
3/12/09
Man survives Niagara Falls plunge
A man has survived despite plunging 180ft (55m) over Niagara Falls and spending 45 minutes in freezing waters resisting his rescuers.
The unnamed man was seen by tourists to scale a wall and leap into the rapids above the falls.
Shortly afterwards he was spotted in the water near the base of the falls clinging to a log.
The man was eventually pulled from the icy waters and taken to hospital with hypothermia and a head injury.
Canadian officials said he was in a critical condition.
Rescue team
A specially trained falls rescue team had rushed to the man's aid after receiving reports of him going over the Horseshoe Falls, one of Niagara's three waterfalls.
However, the man - who was naked - swam away from them toward the middle of the river, police said.
A private helicopter was called in and used the force of its rotor blades to blow him closer to shore.
The unnamed man was seen by tourists to scale a wall and leap into the rapids above the falls.
Shortly afterwards he was spotted in the water near the base of the falls clinging to a log.
The man was eventually pulled from the icy waters and taken to hospital with hypothermia and a head injury.
Canadian officials said he was in a critical condition.
Rescue team
A specially trained falls rescue team had rushed to the man's aid after receiving reports of him going over the Horseshoe Falls, one of Niagara's three waterfalls.
However, the man - who was naked - swam away from them toward the middle of the river, police said.
A private helicopter was called in and used the force of its rotor blades to blow him closer to shore.
Toyota Financial seeking loans from Japanese government
Toyota Financial Services has reportedly applied for loans equaling $2 billion (200 billion yen) from the state-backed Japan Bank for International Cooperation. Much of these funds would presumably be used to lend money to new car buyers in the United States, Toyota's largest and most profitable market. If granted, Toyota would join American automakers General Motors and Chrysler on the bailout bandwagon.
Last month, Toyota sold roughly $2 billion (200 billion yen) worth of 10-year bonds at rates much less favorable than what the automaker had previously been accustomed to. That and the aforementioned loan request are actions likely taken to shore up Toyota's falling cash reserves, which some have estimated to be as low as $18.5 billion at the end of January.
It's widely expected that Toyota will post a net loss of as much as $3.5 billion (350 billion yen) for the fiscal year ending in March. This would be the Japanese automaker's first ever operating loss for a full 12-month period, and it further proves how dire the current economic conditions are for all around the globe.
Source: Bloomberg
Last month, Toyota sold roughly $2 billion (200 billion yen) worth of 10-year bonds at rates much less favorable than what the automaker had previously been accustomed to. That and the aforementioned loan request are actions likely taken to shore up Toyota's falling cash reserves, which some have estimated to be as low as $18.5 billion at the end of January.
It's widely expected that Toyota will post a net loss of as much as $3.5 billion (350 billion yen) for the fiscal year ending in March. This would be the Japanese automaker's first ever operating loss for a full 12-month period, and it further proves how dire the current economic conditions are for all around the globe.
Source: Bloomberg
Sears Tower name to change to Willis Tower
The Sears Tower, the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, will soon become the Willis Tower.
Sears Tower will change its name to Willis Tower under the terms of a new lease signed by global insurance broker Willis Group Holdings.
Willis Group plans to consolidate five area offices and move nearly 500 Associates into Willis Tower, at 233 S. Wacker, initially occupying more than 140,000 square feet on multiple floors.
London-based Willis said its move to the new space, at $14.50 per square foot, will result in significant real estate cost savings, and that there is no additional cost to the company associated with renaming the building.
"Having our name associated with Chicago's most iconic structure underscores our commitment to this great city, and recognizes Chicago's importance as a major financial hub and international business center," said Joseph J. Plumeri, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Willis Group Holdings.
Sears, Roebuck & Co., now based in Hoffman Estates, finished construction on the office building in 1973 but has not had offices in it since 1992. At the time it was the tallest building in the world. Now, it is the tallest in the Western Hemisphere.
Sears Tower will change its name to Willis Tower under the terms of a new lease signed by global insurance broker Willis Group Holdings.
Willis Group plans to consolidate five area offices and move nearly 500 Associates into Willis Tower, at 233 S. Wacker, initially occupying more than 140,000 square feet on multiple floors.
London-based Willis said its move to the new space, at $14.50 per square foot, will result in significant real estate cost savings, and that there is no additional cost to the company associated with renaming the building.
"Having our name associated with Chicago's most iconic structure underscores our commitment to this great city, and recognizes Chicago's importance as a major financial hub and international business center," said Joseph J. Plumeri, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Willis Group Holdings.
Sears, Roebuck & Co., now based in Hoffman Estates, finished construction on the office building in 1973 but has not had offices in it since 1992. At the time it was the tallest building in the world. Now, it is the tallest in the Western Hemisphere.
Katie Lee Joel’s Homemade Granola
When it comes to granola, even though it sounds good for you, beware. Store bought granola can be fattening sometimes. As with anything else, you need to read the label and know what you’re eating. Someone who knows this all too well is Katie Lee Joel. Although you may know her as pop singer Billy Joel’s wife or a one-time host to Bravo’s Top Chef, she is a strong personality in her own right, with even a cookbook under her belt.
In a recent issue of Domino magazine, Katie Lee said, “Store-bought granola can be fattening, and if I want a fattening breakfast, I’m going to have pancakes!” To conquer this, she makes big batches of her own recipe (shared below). If you store it in an airtight container, it will keep for months. Perfect for nibbling on, sprinkling over yogurt or eating in a bowlful of milk. With only a little bit of sugar, you can chomp away guilt-free.
Granola
Recipe courtesy of Katie Lee Joel
Yields 8 cups (10-12 servings)
The Ingredients:
3 cups rolled oats
½ cup unsalted hulled sunflower seeds
½ cup unsalted hulled pumpkin seeds
½ cup flaked coconut
¼ cup wheat germ
1-½ cups chopped unsalted mixed nuts (almonds, pecans, walnuts, Brazil nuts, cashews, etc.)
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon kosher salt
4 tablespoons (½ stick) unsalted butter or canola oil
1/3 cup pure maple syrup
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup chopped mixed dried fruit (raisins, cranberries, dates, apricots, figs, prunes, etc.)
Preheat over to 350ยบ. In a large bowl, mix together the oats, sunflower and pumpkin seeds, coconut, wheat germ, nuts, cinnamon, and salt. In a small saucepan melt butter in the maple syrup over low heat. Stir in the vanilla. Add to the oat mixture. Add 2 tablespoons water and stir until well combined. Spread the granola evenly on a large baking sheet. Bake for 30 minutes, stirring at 10-minute intervals to ensure uniform baking, until golden brown. Remove from oven and cool in the pan. Stir in the dried fruits.
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