Category: News
LOFS fire service wants 2026 budget increase
The residents of the Porter County side of Lakes of the Four Seasons — and some of their non-resident friends — listened to a pitch for the financial needs of the Lakes of the Four Seasons Volunteer Fire Force ahead of a special Thursday meeting of the Porter County Board of Commissioners.
Board of Commissioners President Jim Biggs, R-North, said there is no more funding to be had and he doesn’t believe key individuals at the fire department understand how the tax rate was set and what would go into raising it. He said the only way to raise more money would be to expand the physical size of the district.
Indiana State Representative Julie Olthoff, R-Crown Point, addresses the crowd at a meeting in the Lakes of the Four Seasons Clubhouse Monday night hosted by the LOFS Volunteer Fire Force. (Shelley Jones/Post-Tribune)
“That’s what’s going to be made clear at Thursday’s meeting, what the county can and cannot do,” to raise funds, Biggs said Tuesday. The upcoming meeting was scheduled as the West Porter Township Fire Protection District seeks to agree to a contract for 2026 with the fire force, which includes the Porter County side of LOFS as well as Winfield Township and the Town of Winfield.
LOFSVFF Chief Kevin Heerema said negotiations stand at a $260,000 shortfall. “We had hoped to increase it a little just to add an additional person at night,” Heerema said of the proposed budget that is slightly higher next year. There are currently four part-time first responders during the day and three at night. Heerema gave an overview of the situation from the department’s perspective during a Monday night meeting at the LOFS Clubhouse.
Three of the WPTFPD Board members were present, as well as Board Attorney Adam Sworden. He responded to Board Secretary Rob Rabelhofer’s statement at the meeting that the board refused to fill out a maximum levy request with the state to raise more funds. “We need statistical data. We need runs,” he said.
“We started this back in February,” said Board Chairman Craig Klauer. “We even did a FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) request for information. We didn’t get it,” Sworden added. He said the deadline for a max levy request was in August and the board didn’t receive the requested materials.
“Oh, they got plenty from the FOIA request,” Heerema said when asked about it. “Everything they requested from the FOIA request they received from our attorney.”
He said the FOIA request was received from Sworden Aug. 1. Fire Force Attorney Nathan Vis responded to the request within a week, according to Heerema, but requested an extension and provided the documents within a month.
Sworden provided a packet at Monday’s meeting that included a statement released Friday regarding a recent meeting between the district board and the department.
“The District’s takeaway from the meeting is the Department is unwilling to provide EMS service to the District unless additional funds are provided to them. Unfortunately for the District, it does not have the funds the Department is seeking,” the statement reads.
It goes on to say the District is unwilling to enter into a contract with EMS service being provided. It also states that the District is willing to commit $225,000, or $1,076 per call, compared to the $554 per call the Town of Winfield currently pays.
“We have offered virtually all of our General Fund property tax dollars committed to providing Public Safety. There are no extra funds available. While the Town of Winfield has been working to increase its funding levels to the Fire Force, it’s still paying only $639.83 per call for 2026, still a far cry from what we pay,” the statement continues. “If the Fire District were paying the same ‘per call’ fee we would be paying only about $135,000.”
While the debate about the inequities of the entities paying into the district continues, residents of LOFS are concerned about response times if Northwest Health becomes the primary EMS responder for the District service area. Their two closest ambulance stations — one at the Union Township Fire Station, and the other between Hebron and Kouts — are 15 minutes from LOFS.
“That 10 or 15 minutes scares me,” said Porter County LOFS resident John Dominikovich, who told the crowd he suffered a “massive” stroke and arrived for an experimental surgery in Munster that saved his life with just 15 minutes to spare. “If I waited an extra 15 minutes, I wouldn’t be standing here right now.”
Porter County Council President Andy Vasquez, D-4th, told the crowd, “Basically, the County Council handles your bills, with the exception of this. I have heard you for a long time. You guys today have been extremely respectful.”
He encouraged them all to attend Thursday’s meeting and bring more neighbors with them.
The district of State Representative Julie Olthoff, R-Crown Point, includes LOFS, and she attended the Monday meeting.
“We have to keep talking,” she said. “Tax rates are going to be fixed. Townships have been on the chopping block for four years running.”
Some in the room were concerned even though they’re not residents on the Porter County side of LOFS.
“When Porter County loses something, Lake County will be next,” said Linda Vivirito, who has lived on the Lake County side of LOFS for 13 years. “If we don’t show up for our neighbors, Lake County will be next.”
Shelley Jones is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
If you go
A meeting to address the issue will be held at 5:30 p.m. Thursday in the Council Chamber at the Porter County Administration Building, located at 155 Indiana Ave. in Valparaiso. Doors open at 5 p.m.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/17/lofs-fire-service-wants-2026-budget-increase/
Los Dolphins cambian de quarterback. El novato Quinn Ewers releva a Tua Tagovailoa
Por ROB MAADDI
Los Dolphins de Miami decidieron sentar a Tua Tagovailoa y darle la titularidad a Quinn Evers, el novato seleccionado en la séptima ronda, según informó el miércoles a The Associated Press una persona con conocimiento del cambio de quarterback.
La persona habló bajo condición de anonimato porque el equipo no ha anunciado el cambio.
El entrenador de los Dolphins, Mike McDaniel, indicó que contemplaba el cambio después de la derrota 28-15 ante los Steelers el lunes por la noche. El revés en Pittsburgh eliminó a Miami (6-8) de la contienda por los playoffs.
Tagovailoa lidera la NFL con 15 intercepciones y no ha estado a la altura de su contrato después de firmar una extensión de cuatro años por 212,4 millones en julio de 2024.
Ewers completó cinco de ocho pases para 53 yardas en su única acción esta temporada en una derrota abultada ante los Browns en octubre. Fue el jugador número 231 seleccionado en el draft el pasado abril después de tres temporadas como titular en Texas.
Tagovailoa, de 27 años, había comenzado todos los partidos esta temporada, pero tiene un historial de conmociones cerebrales. Se perdió seis partidos la temporada pasada después de jugar 17 partidos en 2023. Lideró la NFL en yardas por pase esa temporada, ayudó a los Dolphins a ganar 11 partidos para obtener un lugar en el comodín y consiguió un gran contrato que incluía 167,2 millones garantizados.
Un total de 54 millones está garantizado para 2026. Los Dolphins incurrirían en impactos significativos en el tope salarial si se desprenden de Tagovailoa. Liberarlo el próximo año resultaría en un cargo de 99 millones en el tope. Si el movimiento se designa como una liberación posterior al 1 de junio, esos cargos se dividen en dos años con 67,4 millones asignados al tope de 2026 y 31,8 millones en 2027.
Los Broncos de Denver asumieron el mayor impacto en el tope salarial de la NFL de todos los tiempos, de 85 millones, al liberar a Russell Wilson en 2024.
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Deportes AP: https://apnews.com/hub/deportes
Fani Gets Frothy In Epic Meltdown Over Payments To Lover
Fani Gets Frothy In Epic Meltdown Over Payments To Lover
Fulton County DA Fani Willis – who botched her 2020 election case against President Trump and others after it emerged that she was paying her lover, Nathan Wade, to help prosecute the case – had a complete meltdown on Wednesday in an appearnce before a special Georgia Senate committee examining her prosecution of President Trump on Wednesday.
When presented with documents showing how much her office paid Wade, she became hostile and combative with legislators – saying “I don’t review those documents, so you’re asking me to look at documents that I haven’t, for the first time…”
“What I can tell you is I allowed Mr. Wade to bill 160 hours a week,” adding that Wade whipped her office staff into shape.
“He got there before them, he left after him… he was a leader to the team… and for that, him like me – has been threatened thousands of times,” Fani continued.
“You have something to investigate as a legislature, investigate how many times they called me the N word. Why don’t you investigate them writing on my house. Why don’t you investigate the fact that my house has been swatted if you want something to do with your time that makes sense”
When she was asked to look at the screen showing payments to Wade, Willis said “I can’t talk to you about documents I don’t approve and don’t review.”
Watch:
Fani Willis loses her damn mind when presented with documents showing how much money her office paid her lover Nathan Wade during the witch hunt against President Trump:
“Why don’t you investigate how many times they called me the n word?” pic.twitter.com/luC6E5rORM
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) December 17, 2025
Of note, Willis has resisted attempts to compel her to testify and was a no-show last year when she was subpoenaed. Her attorneys argued that the panel lacked constitutional authority to force her to appear, while the Senate committee issued a new subpoena after legislators passed a law explicitly laying out their subpoena powers.
Tyler Durden
Wed, 12/17/2025 – 12:40
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/fani-gets-frothy-epic-meltdown-over-payments-lover
Senado de EEUU aprueba proyecto de defensa que pide a Hegseth publicar videos de ataques a botes
Por STEPHEN GROVES
WASHINGTON (AP) — El Senado dio el miércoles aprobación final a un proyecto que autorizará 901.000 millones de dólares en programas de defensa mientras presiona al secretario de Defensa, Pete Hegseth, para que proporcione a los legisladores videos de ataques a presuntas embarcaciones de drogas en aguas internacionales cerca de Venezuela.
La Ley de Autorización de Defensa Nacional anual, que aumenta el salario de las tropas en un 3,8%, obtuvo respaldo bipartidista a medida que avanzaba por el Congreso, y la Casa Blanca ha indicado que está en línea con las prioridades de seguridad nacional del presidente Donald Trump. Sin embargo, la legislación, que supera las 3.000 páginas, reveló algunos puntos de fricción entre el Congreso y el Pentágono mientras la administración Trump reorienta su enfoque militar, alejándolo de Europa y aproximándolo a América Central y del Sur.
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Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.
Paraguay y EEUU valoran “histórico” acuerdo de seguridad en medio de tensiones regionales
Por NAYARA BATSCHKE
SANTIAGO (AP) — El canciller de Paraguay, Rubén Ramírez Lezcano, valoró el miércoles el acuerdo suscrito entre su país y Estados Unidos para fortalecer la cooperación en seguridad y afirmó que el pacto es una muestra de la alianza entre ambos países, en momentos en que el gigante norteamericano apuesta por reforzar su presencia militar en América Latina.
“Este instrumento va a regular de manera clara y precisa las condiciones jurídicas aplicables al personal militar y civil estadounidense que participe en territorio paraguayo en actividades de cooperación”, explicó el canciller en una rueda de prensa.
El acuerdo de cooperación militar y seguridad (SOFA, por sus siglas en inglés) fue firmado el lunes por Ramírez Lezcano y el secretario de Estado de Estados Unidos, Marco Rubio, durante una visita del ministro paraguayo a Washington, cuyo contenido integral se dio a conocer en Asunción.
El canciller destacó que la principal finalidad de la alianza es hacer frente de forma conjunta a la expansión del crimen transnacional organizado y afianzar “la lucha contra el terrorismo”. Aclaró además que “no existe la posibilidad de instalación de bases militares de Estados Unidos” en el país sudamericano.
El pacto, que deberá ahora ser analizado y ratificado por el Congreso paraguayo, cuenta con 14 puntos claves.
Entre otros, Paraguay otorga al personal de Estados Unidos privilegios, exenciones e inmunidades equivalentes a las del personal de misiones diplomáticas y autoriza al país norteamericano a ejercer jurisdicción penal sobre su personal cuando esté en territorio paraguayo.
Igualmente autoriza a aeronaves, buques y vehículos operados por el Departamento de Defensa de Estados Unidos “entrar al territorio del Paraguay, salir de él y desplazarse libremente por el mismo con la debida notificación a las autoridades (paraguayas) pertinentes”.
Las partes, además, “obviarán cualquier reclamo” entre sí por “daño, pérdida o destrucción de bienes de la otra parte o por lesión o muerte de miembros del personal de las fuerzas armadas de cualquiera de los gobiernos” y cada país será responsable de “resolver reclamaciones de terceros por lesiones, muerte, pérdida o daños causados” en el desarrollo de sus funciones, dice el documento.
“Este acuerdo marca un antes y un después en el fortalecimiento de nuestras relaciones de cooperación con los Estados Unidos de América”, destacó en la rueda de prensa el ministro de Defensa de Paraguay, Oscar González, sobre el último de una serie de tratados de cooperación entre los dos países en materia de defensa y seguridad.
El acuerdo se produce en momentos en que Estados Unidos busca incrementar su influencia en América Latina a través de la recién publicada nueva estrategia de seguridad nacional de Donald Trump que establece un “reajuste” de la presencia militar estadounidense en Occidente para contrarrestar la inmigración, el narcotráfico y reposicionar al país en medio de su guerra comercial con China.
El gobierno estadounidense calificó el acuerdo de “histórico” y destacó que la alianza “establece un marco claro para la presencia y las actividades del personal militar estadounidense y civil del Departamento de Guerra en Paraguay, facilitando la capacitación bilateral y multinacional”.
“El secretario Rubio enfatizó que el SOFA refleja el compromiso de Estados Unidos de coordinar estrechamente con Paraguay en materia de seguridad regional y la creciente importancia de Paraguay como líder regional y defensor de la seguridad en nuestro hemisferio”, dijo el lunes el portavoz Tommy Pigott tras la reunión en Washington.
El miércoles el encargado de negocios de la embajada de Estados Unidos en Paraguay, Robert Alter, reforzó el mensaje de Rubio y afirmó que “Paraguay para Estados Unidos es uno de los aliados más importantes que tenemos en el mundo, no solamente en la región de América Latina”.
Southland crime: Battery to a child in Burbank, store scammed in New Lenox, and more
The following items were taken from police and court reports and news releases. An arrest does not constitute a finding of guilt.
Blue Island
GUN POSSESSION: A Blue Island man paroled on a firearm conviction was arrested Dec. 5 after a handgun loaded with an extended magazine and two additional magazines, stored ammunition, a digital scale, plastic bags and about 6.6 ounces of suspected cannabis were recovered from his home and car by the Cook County sheriff’s organized crime division investigators and Illinois Department of Corrections agents, police said. Joshua Gray, 38, was returned to prison Dec. 15, charged with aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon by a paroled felon, aggravated unlawful use of ammunition and manufacture/delivery of cannabis, according to sheriff’s police and IDOC records online.
Burbank
CHILD BATTERY: Lisa M. Lopez, 57, Chicago, was arrested Oct. 23 and accused of battery to a child after dragging a student in an elementary school hallway in the 8200 block of Sayre Avenue, police said.
CAR THEFT: Multiple people armed with rifles and handguns used a stolen vehicle to ram into a car parked in a driveway in the 7900 block of Normandy Avenue at 3:50 a.m., and then drove away in the rammed car, abandoning two vehicles stolen from Burbank residences, police said.
Cook County
DOMESTIC BATTERY: A Homewood man is scheduled to appear in Cook County court at Markham Dec. 31, charged with aggravated battery/use of a deadly weapon, aggravated domestic battery, and being a felon possessing a firearm, according to sheriff’s police and jail records online. Jabari Gates, 44, 18000 block of Stedhall Road, was arrested Dec. 7, police said.
Homewood
DRUNKEN DRIVING: Dion Catlett, 46, 1400 block of 15th Place, Ford Heights, was arrested Nov. 9 and charged with drunken driving, driving on a suspended license, disobeying a police officer, obstructing identification and failing to provide proof of insurance after driving around officers blocking traffic at 187th Street and Riegel Road, police said.
GUNS POSSESSION: Cortney Davis, 19, Harvey, was charged with armed violence and possession of a firearm with no serial number, Kameron Williams, 21, Dolton, was charged with armed violence and Grant Crosby, 20, Homewood, was charged with unlawfully possessing a controlled substance after tactical officers recovered two loaded handguns, 188 black market prescription tranquilizer pills and nine baby bottles containing suspected narcotics during a suspicious vehicle investigation Dec. 10 in the 18600 block of Halsted Street, police said.
Lansing
GUN POSSESSION: Aaron Jones Jr., 34, Glenwood, was charged Oct. 30 with unlawful possession of a firearm after officers recovered a loaded unmarked .223 caliber pistol and two loaded magazines during a stop in the 2600 block of Bernice Road and determined he lacked a gun permit, police said.
Mokena
DUI CRASH: Joshua M. Clendenning, 30, 600 block of Juli Drive, New Lenox, was arrested Dec. 4 and subsequently charged with aggravated drunken driving, failing to reduce speed to avoid a collision and failing to provide proof of insurance following a one-vehicle crash at Francis and Schoolhouse roads that injured his passenger, according to police and Will County court records online. Clendenning was also charged with unlawfully possessing a controlled substance in connection with the recovery of 10 black market prescription tranquilizer pills, according to police and court records.
Oak Lawn
DEALING ALLEGED: Darien L. Wair, 24, 8800 block of Main Street, Hometown, was arrested Dec. 4 and subsequently charged with manufacturing/delivering more than 30 grams of cannabis after officers recovered 2.8 ounces of marijuana in 20 plastic sandwich bags during a stop in the 9400 block of Cicero Avenue, police said.
Orland Park
RETAIL THEFT: Michael A. Jackson, 44, Countryside, was arrested Nov. 20 and subsequently charged with felony retail theft and possession of theft-related devices after officers recovered merchandise selling for $1,036 taken from a sporting goods store at Orland Park Place and three pliers, police said.
New Lenox
STORE SCAMMED: An employee at a department store in the 400 block of East Lincoln Highway told police Dec. 5 that she transferred $5,500 to a caller posing as a corporate official who threatened to fire several employees because a payment hadn’t gone through, police said. The employee transferred $3,500 from a store account and $2,000 of her own money via ATM machines in New Lenox and Homer Glen that converted the cash into cryptocurrency, police said. She learned she’d been scammed when store management realized the $3,500 was missing, police said.
Palos Heights
GUN POSSESSION: Terry J. Taylor, 24, 1800 block of 172nd Street, East Hazel Crest, was arrested Dec. 11 and subsequently charged with aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon after officers recovered a loaded handgun and determined he lacked a gun permit during a traffic stop in the 11800 block of Harlem Avenue, police said.
Park Forest
COMMERCIAL THEFT: Copper piping was reported taken Nov. 17 from a former video store in the 300 block of Sauk Trail.
DEALING CHARGED: Johnny L. Carter, 44, 22100 block of Ridgeway Avenue, Richton Park, was arrested during a Nov. 20 stop in the 400 block of Sauk Trail and subsequently charged with manufacturing/delivering more than 30 grams of cannabis after officers recovered 5.2 ounces of marijuana in 19 sandwich bags, a digital scale, $250.50 cash and drug-related messages on his phone, police said.
Tinley Park
AGGRAVATED BATTERY: A Tinley Park woman accused of choking another person Dec. 4 outside of a gas station/car wash is scheduled to appear in Will County court Jan. 14, according to police and court records online. Stephanie R. Laidlaw, 39, 17700 block of 66th Court, is charged with aggravated battery, court records show.
Will County
GUN POSSESSION: An unincorporated Lockport Township man was arraigned in Will County court Dec. 9, charged with possession of a firearm and ammunition while being ineligible for a gun permit, according to court records online. Deputies arrested Erik M. Kranz, 47, 16700 block of McKenzie Avenue, during a Nov. 18 domestic trouble call in that block after recovering two rifles, a pistol and hundreds of bullets and determining his gun permit was suspended, sheriff’s police said.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/17/southland-crime-burbank-battery-child/
Corte permite despliegue de la Guardia Nacional en Washington por ahora
Por GARY FIELDS
WASHINGTON (AP) — Un tribunal federal de apelaciones falló el miércoles que el despliegue de la Guardia Nacional en Washington DC puede continuar por ahora, suspendiendo una decisión de un tribunal inferior que había ordenado su fin.
El panel de tres jueces del Tribunal de Apelaciones para el Circuito del Distrito de Columbia dictaminó que Donald Trump podría prevalecer en su argumento de que el presidente “posee un poder único” para movilizar a la Guardia en Washington, que es un distrito federal.
El fallo detiene la implementación de la orden de la jueza Jia Cobb del 20 de noviembre y reafirma que los residentes y visitantes de Washington verán rutinariamente a los miembros de la Guardia hasta bien entrado el 2026.
Cobb había dictaminado que el despliegue invade ilegalmente la autoridad de los funcionarios locales para dirigir la aplicación de la ley en el Distrito de Columbia.
El fallo unánime de 32 páginas continuó diciendo que otros factores también favorecían a la administración republicana, incluyendo la “disrupción en las vidas de miles de miembros del servicio”, así como el interés del presidente “en la protección de las funciones y propiedades gubernamentales federales dentro de la capital de la Nación”.
Los jueces encontraron que el Distrito “no ha identificado ninguna lesión continua a sus intereses estatutarios”.
El fallo reconoce que la administración tiene un caso sólido para su apelación.
El despliegue comenzó en agosto después de que Trump emitiera una orden ejecutiva declarando una emergencia por crimen en Washington. En un mes, más de 2.300 efectivos de la Guardia Nacional de ocho estados y el distrito patrullaban la ciudad bajo el mando del secretario del Ejército. Trump también desplegó cientos de agentes federales para asistir.
El fiscal general de la ciudad, Brian Schwalb, demandó para impugnar los despliegues de la Guardia. Solicitó que se prohibiera a la Casa Blanca desplegar tropas de la Guardia sin el consentimiento del alcalde mientras se resolvía la demanda. Docenas de estados tomaron partido en la demanda de Schwalb, con su apoyo dividido según líneas partidistas. La oficina de Schwalb no estuvo disponible para comentar el miércoles.
Cobb había encontrado que, si bien el presidente tenía autoridad para proteger funciones y propiedades federales, no podía desplegar unilateralmente a la Guardia Nacional de D.C. para ayudar con el control del crimen a su antojo ni llamar a tropas de otros estados. Pidió que las tropas fueran enviadas a casa después de su fallo, pero puso su orden en espera por 21 días para permitir la apelación de la administración.
El tribunal de apelaciones emitió una suspensión administrativa del fallo de Cobb el 4 de diciembre. La acción del miércoles levanta esa orden.
La acción del tribunal se produce tres semanas después de que dos miembros de la Guardia Nacional de Virginia Occidental, la especialista Sarah Beckstrom y el sargento de estado mayor Andrew Wolfe, fueran emboscados mientras patrullaban una estación de metro a tres cuadras de la Casa Blanca. Beckstrom murió el 27 de noviembre a causa de sus heridas. Wolfe continúa recuperándose. Rahmanullah Lakanwal, un afgano de 29 años, ha sido acusado de asesinato. Se ha declarado inocente.
La administración ha solicitado que se desplieguen 500 miembros adicionales de la Guardia Nacional en Washington como resultado del tiroteo.
El panel del tribunal de apelaciones dijo que su decisión estaba “limitada en varios aspectos”. Por ejemplo, no abordó cuestiones como si las unidades de la Guardia estaban involucradas en actividades de “aplicación de la ley” en violación de la ley federal.
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Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.
Fellow Judge Delivers Blow To The Defense Of Hannah Dugan
Fellow Judge Delivers Blow To The Defense Of Hannah Dugan
The trial of Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan began this week.
Yesterday, the defense was delivered a blow from the testimony of the judge, who Dugan enlisted to confront ICE officers seeking to arrest an illegal alien in the courthouse.
Judge Kristela Cervera testified that she was pulled into the dispute by Dugan, who she said admitted that she was trying to help Eduardo Flores-Ruiz as he evaded officers.
Many of us were wondering who the second judge was who appeared in the hallway wearing her robes. It is irregular to see judges outside of their courtrooms wearing their robes.
Cervera said that Dugan specifically told her to keep her robe on and that she was reluctant to do so: “I didn’t want to walk in the hallway with my robe on.” Dugan, however, allegedly wanted the agents to see them in their robes as a sign of authority.
She said that the agent remained respectful but that Dugan was getting upset in the confrontation: “Her irritation seemed to progress to anger. I thought she could have been a little more diplomatic.”
That coincides with the testimony of FBI Special Agent Jeffrey Baker, who stated, “I would say angry is the best way to describe it.”
Likewise, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer Joseph Zuraw stated that Dugan ordered him to “get out” of the public hallway and told him to go to the chief judge’s office. She then allegedly helped the suspect escape through a side door.
Cervera also testified that she was “shocked” by Dugan’s later conduct and that “judges should not be helping defendants evade arrest.”
She added, “I was mortified. I thought that someone may think that I was part of some of what happened.”
Cervera said she was shocked by attorneys praising her for helping Flores-Ruiz escape.
She described attorneys pumping their fists and telling her, “You go, Judge,” and saying, “Judge, you’re ‘goated’ now.”
She said that she avoided Cervera but ran into her in an elevator. She noted that Cervera told her she was “in the dog house” with the Chief Judge for trying to help Flores-Ruiz.
The testimony supports the allegation that Dugan knowingly sought to help Flores-Ruiz and that her actions were outside her role as a judge in the courthouse.
Dugan is charged with obstruction of a federal agency, a felony, and concealing a wanted person, a misdemeanor. As I discussed in earlier columns, the defense may be hoping for jury nullification in the liberal district. The reaction of lawyers lionizing the judges for facilitating the escape of a suspect may suggest that such a conclusion is possible in this district. The defense may be hoping that at least one juror will discard any testimony and stand with Dugan against ICE and the Trump Administration.
The jury pool can only be viewed as overwhelmingly in favor of Dugan. Kamala Harris won Milwaukee by a margin of 68%-30% over Trump. The chances of getting politically motivated jurors are obviously significant, though that obviously does not mean that jurors cannot be persuaded in the end by the strength of this evidence.
Tyler Durden
Wed, 12/17/2025 – 12:20
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/fellow-judge-delivers-blow-defense-hannah-dugan
Asociación de periodistas repudia crimen de comunicador en Guatemala
Associated Press
CIUDAD DE GUATEMALA (AP) — La Asociación de Periodistas de Guatemala (APG) repudió el miércoles el asesinato del periodista guatemalteco Jorge Agustín Zapeta, quien, según indicó, estuvo desaparecido varios días y cuyo cuerpo fue localizado la víspera con señales de violencia.
La APG dijo en un comunicado de prensa que el comunicador, de 56 años, estaba desaparecido desde el domingo pasado y que días antes habría recibido amenazas, según indicaron sus familiares. Mario Recinos, presidente de la asociación, explicó vía telefónica a The Associated Press que el hijo del fallecido informó a la APG que el cuerpo del periodista fue descubierto el martes entre unos matorrales en el municipio de San Pablo Jocopilas, en el departamento de Suchitepéquez, al sur del país.
La asociación recordó que el periodista tenía por lo menos 25 años de trayectoria y conducía un programa de televisión por cable. Ejercía su profesión entre los municipios de San Pablo Jocopilas y Santo Tomás la Unión, en Suchitepéquez.
En marzo de 2025 otro comunicador guatemalteco fue asesinado a las afueras de su casa. Se trataba de Carmen Ismael Alonzo González, de 27 años, que murió por disparos de arma de fuego en el caserío Santa Fe, del municipio de Coatepeque, en el departamento de Quetzaltenango, al occidente del país.
Por ambos casos aún no hay personas detenidas.
Guatemala es uno de los países donde ejercer la profesión periodística no está exento de violencia. En mayo la Relatora Especial sobre la Independencia de los magistrados y abogados de Naciones Unidas, Margaret Satterthwaite, cuestionó a la Fiscalía del país por mantener una política de criminalización contra colectivos, como operadores judiciales, líderes sociales o periodistas, por sus denuncias contra la corrupción.
Uno de los casos más sonados de criminalización a periodistas es el de José Rubén Zamora, de 69 años y que lleva más de tres años en prisión sin juicio ni condena, acusado de lavado de dinero por parte de la fiscalía. Su caso ha sido denunciado públicamente por espurio y por violaciones en el debido proceso.
Bouncing back from an injury, Travis Brown helps West Aurora erase 0-6 record. And now? ‘Keep our streak up.’
At West Aurora, the game runs through junior point guard Travis Brown.
Safe to say with a player of his caliber.
The 6-foot Brown was named the Upstate Eight West’s player of the year last season as a sophomore. He can create and fill up the scoring column on his own or facilitate for teammates.
And when it comes to defense, Brown’s hands are simply pickpocket quick. All of which made the Blackhawks’ 0-6 start this season disappointing for their team leader.
“My head right now is to be pushing my team to keep doing better, to keep our streak up, keep going, keep winning,” Brown said. “Right now, we got that monkey off our back.
“After those first six? I told my team we’re better than that and we need to keep working, keep pushing each other.”
West Aurora’s Travis Brown (1) goes up for a layup against Streamwood during an Upstate Eight West game in Aurora on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025. (Jeremy Toney / The Beacon-News)
They pushed back Tuesday night as the host Blackhawks utilized a 1-2-2 full-court press to overwhelm Streamwood 82-20 in the Upstate Eight West, extending a modest winning streak to three games.
Hey, it’s a start.
Brown was on top of his game for West Aurora (3-6, 3-1), lofting an alley-oop pass from beyond the 3-point line on his team’s first possession to his cousin, 6-3 sophomore forward Amon Greene, who laid it in off the glass for the first basket.
“I just want to do what the coach needs me to do,” Greene said. “I’m more of a team player. If I need to score I’ll do it, but I can play defense.
West Aurora’s Travis Brown (1) drives to the basket on a fast break against Streamwood during an Upstate Eight West game in Aurora on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025. (Jeremy Toney / The Beacon-News)
“Travis and I work out together and compete against each other. Everybody knows he’s a great point guard and he’s a great teammate to have in practice.”
It meant forcing a bunch of turnovers early against Streamwood (1-8, 0-4).
Brown posted up at the free-throw line, took a pass, spun and sank a 15-footer. From the same spot on the next trip, Brown fed 6-2 junior guard Jaden Matthews-Thomas for an easy basket.
The Sabres had 20 turnovers in the first half and trailed 50-11 before a running clock started with the fourth quarter.
West Aurora’s Travis Brown (1) find an open teammate for an assist against Streamwood during an Upstate Eight West game in Aurora on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025. (Jeremy Toney / The Beacon-News)
“We’ve got some athleticism, some guys who can fly around and get deflections like Amon and Jaden and Travis,” West Aurora coach Michael Fowler said.
“We used that press last year. It just depends sometimes who you’re playing and sometimes who the matchups are. It can create some easy opportunities for us when we get out in transition.”
West Aurora piled up 21 steals through three quarters.
Greene finished with a game-high 15 points, while Matthews-Thomas added 12, followed by Brown with 11 and 6-4 senior post Drew Lundberg with 10.
All 13 Blackhawks who played also scored.
“We have to play who’s in front of us,” Fowler said. “As long as they’re doing the things we’re asking them to do and playing the right way, that’s all we can ask.
“We still missed too many opportunities in transition, something that’s plagued us this year. Hopefully, we keep working and figure it out.”
West Aurora’s Travis Brown (1) puts pressure on Streamwood’s Jermaryle Parker (10) during an Upstate Eight West game in Aurora on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025. (Jeremy Toney / The Beacon-News)
Brown has been figuring it out as well after hurting his wrist early in an 81-53 loss at Waukegan then missing a 60-58 loss to Bartlett in the conference opener..
“We tried to be cautious with him because we need him on the floor,” Fowler said of Brown. “He’s back but still struggling a little bit with it. But it’s getting better..
“It was a rough start. We had games we thought we could win. We didn’t shoot too well in a few of them. This is where we’re at. Once you get that first win, you try to keep your energy level up and put a streak together. The boys are feeling good.”
Small steps, according to Brown, can add up.
“We’ve got to prove to people that we’re not the team we started with,” he said. “We know who we are. We’ll do what we’re gonna do.”
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/17/travis-brown-west-aurora-streamwood-ihsa-boys-basketball/
