Category: News
Chess enthusiast Lucas Johnson makes the right moves from 3-point range for De La Salle. ‘Uplifts everybody.’
De La Salle’s Lucas Johnson is an amateur chess enthusiast who enjoys game theory.
That endeavor definitely helped Johnson on Friday night. The senior forward wasn’t fazed by missing his first couple of shots or going scoreless from the field during the first quarter.
“Chess is a very quiet game,” Johnson said with a nod. “It’s calm and it makes you always think three steps ahead of your opponent. Even though I had a flat start, all of my shots felt good.
“There was no way I was going to stop shooting.”
Because of that, Johnson became unstoppable. He made three straight 3-pointers in a 9-0 run to spark the host Meteors to a 54-48 Catholic League Blue win over Mount Carmel in Chicago.
Senior forward Caleb Henry also scored seven of his 13 points in the fourth quarter for De La Salle (4-5, 1-2). His two free throws with 7.3 seconds left in the game sealed the victory.
De La Salle’s Lucas Johnson (30) shoots a 3-pointer against Mount Carmel during a Catholic League Blue game in Chicago on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. (Vincent D. Johnson / Daily Southtown)
Senior guard Carlos Cueva hit two 3-pointers in finishing with 10 points for the Meteors.
Junior forward Logan Wessel led Mount Carmel (4-3, 1-1) with 12 points and seven rebounds. Sophomore guard Marshaun Thornton, a star receiver in football for the Caravan, added 11 points.
Johnson, meanwhile, finished with 12 points, eight rebounds, two steals and two blocked shots. He closed out the third quarter with a 3-pointer and began the fourth with two long-distance shots.
“The shooting just opens up everything else,” Henry said of Johnson. “He’s a good team leader, so positive, and he always uplifts everybody.
De La Salle’s Lucas Johnson (30) goes to the basket against Mount Carmel’s Da’Kylen Heard (5) and Luke Segroves (33) in a Catholic League Blue game in Chicago on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. (Vincent D. Johnson / Daily Southtown)
“Not only can he shoot, but he can make the right pass, dribble, penetrate and make the right plays.”
Cueva confirmed that the other players never wavered in their faith in Johnson.
“We can always count on Lucas to make shots, regardless of how he starts out a game,” Cueva said. “It doesn’t matter if he’s off or cold. We just rely on him to make those shots.”
Johnson’s smooth form and excellent technique on the perimeter opens up multiple avenues.
De La Salle’s Lucas Johnson (30) takes a 3-pointer on Mount Carmel’s Charlie Wingate (4) during a Catholic League Blue game in Chicago on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. (Vincent D. Johnson / Daily Southtown)
“I just feel like with the shooting, it just helps get other guys open,” Johnson said. “They have to close out hard on me and I feel like I can get my teammates involved.
“It spaces the floor and opens up the lanes for my other guys.”
At 6-foot-4, Johnson is closer to the size of a shooting guard. His 6-9 wingspan allows him to blanket his opponent, disrupt the passing lane and get to the basket for rebounds.
“I’m long and that allows me to cover a lot of space,” Johnson said. “I feel like it helps on defense. I’ve been trying to be more aggressive about using my height and strength to get to the basket.”
De La Salle’s Lucas Johnson (30) brings the ball up court as Mount Carmel’s Luke Segroves (33) defends during a Catholic League Blue game in Chicago on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. (Vincent D. Johnson / Daily Southtown)
Growing up, Johnson also played soccer and baseball. An uncle sparked his interest in basketball.
A three-year varsity player, Johnson has evolved from a role coming off the bench his sophomore year to one tasked with running the offense while being a primary scoring option.
Henry called Johnson his best friend on the team and praised a loose, engaging style that naturally brings the team together.
“I was a late bloomer, and I didn’t really start getting serious about the game until about the eighth grade,” Johnson said. “I really try to keep to myself sometimes, but when it comes to getting the team riled up, I try my best to be funny with the guys.”
Johnson also has NCAA Division III offers from Hope, Carthage, Lake Forest and DePauw.
“Just going out there, being on the court and playing is what I love,” he said. “The competitive part I developed over time. This environment is natural to me, and it’s my greatest satisfaction.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
Irán aumenta los precios de la gasolina por primera vez desde las mortales protestas de 2019
Por NASSER KARIMI y JON GAMBRELL
TEHERÁN, Irán (AP) — Irán introdujo el sábado un nuevo nivel de precios para su gasolina subsidiada, intentando controlar los costos desbocados por primera vez desde un incremento en 2019 que provocó protestas a nivel nacional y una represión que, según se informa, mató a más de 300 personas.
La gasolina barata ha sido vista durante generaciones como un derecho de nacimiento en Irán, provocando manifestaciones masivas desde 1964, cuando un aumento de precios obligó al sha a poner vehículos militares en las calles para reemplazar a los taxistas en huelga.
Pero la teocracia enfrenta una creciente presión debido a la rápida depreciación del rial y las sanciones económicas internacionales debido al programa nuclear iraní.
Eso ha hecho que una de las gasolinas más baratas del mundo, a unos pocos centavos por galón, sea mucho más caro. Sin embargo, el movimiento vacilante del gobierno hacia el aumento de precios probablemente indica que quiere evitar cualquier confrontación con el público ya agotado después de la guerra de 12 días contra Israel en junio.
“Nuestro descontento no tiene resultado”, se quejó Saeed Mohammadi, un maestro que trabaja como taxista en su tiempo libre para llegar a fin de mes. “El gobierno hace lo que quiere. No le preguntan a la gente si está de acuerdo o no”.
La nueva tarifa sigue siendo de unos pocos centavos por galón
El nuevo sistema de precios implementado el sábado añade un tercer nivel de precios al viejo sistema de subsidios. La estructura revisada permite a los automovilistas seguir recibiendo 60 litros (15 galones) al mes a la tarifa subsidiada de 15.000 riales por litro (1,25 centavos de dólar) y los siguientes 100 litros (26 galones) se mantendrán a 30.000 riales por litro (2,5 centavos de dólar).
Cualquier compra más allá de eso cae bajo el nuevo esquema de precios de 50.000 riales por litro (unos 4 centavos). Irán introdujo el racionamiento de combustible en 2007, pero eso aún no ha aliviado la demanda de la gasolina ultrabarata.
Incluso a esa nueva tarifa, los precios de la gasolina en Irán siguen siendo de los más bajos del mundo.
La diferencia entre el costo de producción y entrega del combustible y el precio en el surtidor es el subsidio que paga el gobierno. La Agencia Internacional de la Energía, con sede en París, clasificó a Irán como el segundo país con los subsidios energéticos más altos del mundo en 2022, solo detrás de Rusia. La AIE estimó los subsidios al petróleo de Irán en 52.000 millones de dólares ese año, y las autoridades iraníes reconocen que decenas de miles de millones de dólares al año se destinan a mantener artificialmente bajos los precios de la energía.
El economista con sede en Teherán, Hossein Raghfar, dijo que desde 2009, el precio de la gasolina ha crecido 15 veces, ofreciendo una visión pesimista de los subsidios del gobierno.
“No solo no logró reducir el déficit presupuestario, sino que también atrapó a la economía del país en un ciclo negativo de inflación y déficit presupuestario”, afirmó.
Hamid Rezapour, un cajero de banco de 35 años, dijo que creía que el gobierno “no tenía otra opción más que aumentar el precio para gestionar la economía del país”.
“Necesita más dinero para pagar las necesidades públicas”, dijo. “Para mí, es un impuesto indirecto, aunque en una economía desordenada apenas funciona”.
Primer aumento desde las protestas de 2019
El ajuste es el cambio más significativo en el sistema de subsidios al combustible de Irán desde 2019, cuando un repentino aumento del 50% en los precios subsidiados y un alza del 300% en la tarifa para compras más allá de la cuota provocaron protestas a nivel nacional.
Las fuerzas de seguridad reprimieron las manifestaciones en más de 100 ciudades y pueblos, y algunos manifestantes incendiaron estaciones de gasolina y bancos. La represión que siguió mató al menos a 321 personas, según Amnistía Internacional. Miles fueron detenidos.
Los críticos dicen que cada aumento de 10.000 riales en los precios de la gasolina puede llevar a un aumento de hasta el 5% en la inflación. Actualmente, la nación está luchando con una tasa de inflación anual de alrededor del 40%.
Pero la gasolina barata ofrece una oportunidad de empleo para el país. Hay 25 millones de vehículos, incluidos 3 millones de autos públicos y afiliados al gobierno, así como 6 millones de motocicletas. Según se informa, más de 8 millones de iraníes trabajan como taxistas a través de plataformas en línea, casi el 10% de la población. Uber tiene 8,8 millones de conductores y mensajeros en todo el mundo.
“Es un comienzo para enmendar la tendencia del consumo de combustible”, dijo anteriormente el ministro de Petróleo, Mohsen Paknejad, a los periodistas.
Los comentarios de los funcionarios sugieren que Irán podría buscar aumentos de precios más pronunciados en el futuro, ya que el gobierno revisa los precios cada tres meses.
Mohammad Reza Assadi, un taxista de 60 años, expresó escepticismo de que cualquier otra protesta pudiera hacer un cambio.
La gente salió a las calles por el aumento del precio de la gasolina en el pasado, dijo, “pero regresaron a casa cansados y sin esperanza más tarde al anochecer”.
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Gambrell informó desde Dubái y Amir Vahdat en Teherán.
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Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con la ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.
Connor Bedard suffers shoulder injury on last-second faceoff in Chicago Blackhawks’ 3-2 loss
ST. LOUIS — Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard suffered a right shoulder injury on a last-second faceoff Friday night, wincing in pain as he left the ice after a 3-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues.
Bedard, who entered Friday tied for fifth in the NHL with 42 points, suffered the injury on a faceoff with Blues center Brayden Schenn with 0.8 seconds left. Schenn leaned forward and lifted his stuck under Bedard’s right arm after the puck drop. Bedard fell back on the ice, grasped at his right shoulder and immediately headed to the locker room, accompanied by a trainer, while his teammates remained on the ice and the bench.
Tyler Bertuzzi’s last-gasp shot was stopped by goalie Joel Hofer to seal the Hawks’ third loss in four games.
Coach Jeff Blashill called the play a “freak accident” and said Bedard will not play Saturday when the Hawks play host to the Detroit Red Wings at the United Center (7 p.m., CHSN).
“He won’t play tomorrow,” Blashill said. “I won’t know more info tomorrow, so don’t ask me tomorrow. At some point through the weekend, I’ll know more, so I’d probably have more info come Monday.”
Asked whether Bedard’s injury would be only short term, Blashill offered few details.
“I’d hate to say that without knowing the information,” he said. “Until we get the information, again, he’s not going to play tomorrow.”
Bedard was pushed into desperation mode when the Blues iced the puck and a half-second was put back on the clock. Blashill said he’d have to see the play again, but his initial impression was that nothing dirty occurred on the play.
Bedard had two assists, bringing his season total to 25 to go with 19 goals in 31 games. After the Hawks selected him with the No. 1 pick in the 2023 draft, he won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie and played in all 82 games last season.
Bedard, 20, won’t play Saturday for the first time since he missed 14 games during his rookie season after suffering a broken jaw on Jan. 5, 2024, against the New Jersey Devils.
On Friday, Bedard assisted on Wyatt Kaiser’s first-period goal and André Burakovsky’s third-period goal, the latter of which pulled the Hawks within 3-2 with 5:52 left in the third period. But the Blues held on for their third win in five games.
Spencer Knight finished with 23 saves in the second game this season between the longtime rivals. The Hawks won the first meeting 8-3 on Oct. 15 in St. Louis.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/12/connor-bedard-injured-chicago-blackhawks/
Land Along Southern Border Is Transferred to Navy To Become Part Of ‘National Defense Area’
Land Along Southern Border Is Transferred to Navy To Become Part Of ‘National Defense Area’
Authored by Jacob Burg via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),
The Trump administration said on Dec. 10 that it would transfer roughly 760 acres of public land along the U.S.-Mexico border in California to the Navy for three years to support border security operations.
The U.S. border with Mexico near San Diego on Jan. 31, 2025. Jae C. Hong/AP Photo
While announcing the decision Wednesday, the Interior Department said the land would become part of a “National Defense Area,” or militarized zone, to bolster immigration enforcement.
The land stretches from roughly a mile west of the California-Arizona state line to the western edge of the Otay Mountain Wilderness Area in San Diego and Imperial counties, according to the Interior Department.
“This corridor is one of the highest-traffic regions for unlawful crossings along the southern border, creating significant national security challenges and contributing to environmental degradation,” the department said.
The Interior Department said the land was originally set aside in 1907 by President Theodore Roosevelt for “border protection purposes,” and the Navy will use it to “strengthen operational capabilities while reducing ecological harm associated with sustained illegal activity.”
Since April, the federal government has transferred large portions of land along the southern border to the military, allowing troops to detain migrants attempting to cross the border or arrest people accused of trespassing on military bases.
The process began with a 170-mile swath of land along the border in New Mexico before the government expanded into Texas and Arizona.
While the Interior Department referred to the Southern California lands as a high-traffic area for illegal border crossings, arrests along the U.S.-Mexico border have dropped to the lowest level since the 1960s as the Trump administration continues its crackdown on illegal immigration.
“President Trump has made it clear that securing our border and restoring American sovereignty are top national priorities,” Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said in a statement.
“This action delivers on that commitment. By working with the Navy to close longstanding security gaps, we are strengthening national defense, protecting our public lands from unlawful use, and advancing the president’s agenda to put the safety and security of the American people first.”
The department said it coordinated closely with the Navy to make sure that the transfer is targeted and legal and that it reinforces the “historic role public lands have played in safeguarding national sovereignty.”
The announcement came shortly after a federal judge ordered the federal government to cease deploying California’s National Guard in Los Angeles and restore control of the troops to Gov. Gavin Newsom.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Tyler Durden
Fri, 12/12/2025 – 23:25
Keyonte George logra 39 puntos, su mejor marca, en victoria de Jazz por 130-126 sobre Grizzlies
MEMPHIS (AP) — Keyonte George anotó un récord personal de 39 puntos, incluidos los últimos seis del Jazz de Utah, que se impuso el viernes 130-126 sobre los Grizzlies de Memphis, quienes tuvieron de regreso a Ja Morant.
El marcador estaba empatado a 126 con poco menos de un minuto restante cuando George encestó un tiro de más de siete metros para poner a Utah adelante de manera definitiva. George convirtió dos tiros libres más con 6,8 segundos restantes para el margen final del Jazz, que rompió una racha de dos derrotas consecutivas.
Lauri Markkanen totalizó 26 puntos y nueve rebotes, mientras que Kevin Love agregó 20 —incluidos 13 en el tercer cuarto— para mantener cerca a Utah. George también sumó ocho asistencias.
El español Santi Aldama anotó 22 puntos para liderar a Memphis, y Morant —quien se perdió los diez compromisos anteriores por un esguince en la pantorrilla derecha— agregó 21 puntos y diez asistencias. Cam Spencer terminó con 20, al atinar sus seis triples.
Utah había perdido siete de los últimos diez duelos. Las tres derrotas más recientes fueron por al menos 28 puntos.
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Deportes AP: https://apnews.com/hub/deportes
Nikola Vučević benched as Chicago Bulls snap 7-game skid with 129-126 win over Charlotte Hornets
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Zach Collins moved like a man who had missed basketball.
The Chicago Bulls need desperation. That’s the only cure for a seven-game losing streak. And Collins was more desperate than anyone on the court — to get back into rhythm and just to get the ball.
That was clear in the fourth quarter when Collins launched himself over three Charlotte Hornets defenders to plant both of his palms on the ball, wrenching his grip downwards to shake loose a pair of arms.
For Collins, this came from somewhere deeper. The diagnosis of a left wrist fracture on the last day of preseason felt like a physical blow. He couldn’t stand sitting out. Each of the 21 games he watched from the sidelines or from the Advocate Center or from his couch at home felt like a punishment.
But after two games of stumbling through the motions as he shook off the disuse of a six-week recovery window, Collins found himself once again on the court in Charlotte.
“We all had that mindset tonight — we just had to play desperate,” Collins said after the Bulls’ 129-126 win. “At this point, we lose seven in a row, we got nothing to lose. Everybody played desperate.”
This win was not pretty. It definitely wasn’t perfect. And when Collins was whistled for slapping Kon Knueppel’s hand on the follow-through of his game-tying 3-point attempt with 10 seconds left, it seemed the deck was once against the Bulls.
Instead, the luck shifted. Coach Billy Donovan called for a review. After a laborious process, the referees determined the contact to be legal. And the Bulls — finally — sneaked out of Charlotte with their first win in more than two weeks.
There are no guaranteed wins in the NBA. That has been clear to the Bulls, who lost six of their last eight games to teams with a sub-500 record. The Hornets were missing almost the entirety of their backcourt — LaMelo Ball, Patrick Connaughton, Tre Mann, Collin Sexton — because of injury, but even a vulnerable version of the team was still a tall challenge.
In the first half, the Hornets ran harder. They thumped the Bulls on the boards, poked and prodded on defense. A little luck from outside — shooting 9-for-19 from 3-point range — and a hot night from Knueppel were enough to push the hosts ahead by 13 points in the third quarter.
Bulls forward Isaac Okoro (35) and Hornets guard Kon Knueppel battle for a loose ball during the second half Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (Nell Redmond/AP)
But the Bulls had significant help from reinforcements. Isaac Okoro returned after missing eight games with a back injury. Tre Jones and Jalen Smith both returned to the lineup to provide depth. All three were under minutes restrictions — creating a difficult logistical challenge for Donovan — but the Bulls at least benefited from improved numbers compared to recent games when they were missing seven primary rotation players.
This depth allowed Donovan to experiment with different strategies that he had been saving since preseason, including a two-big lineup with Smith and Collins both on the floor. The pairing bolstered the Bulls in the back half of the third quarter, chipping the deficit to three points as the centers combined for 13 third-quarter points and kept the Hornets off the offensive glass.
The duo’s production and improved defense around the rim ultimately forced Donovan’s hand. The coach benched starting center Nikola Vučević for the final quarter, leaning on Smith for most of the fourth before tapping Collins to close.
Vučević ultimately sat for the final 18 minutes, 58 seconds of the win. Donovan said the decision did not reflect his long-term plans for the position, and Collins voiced the importance of flexibility among the frontcourt to create consistency for the roster — but it’s clear that change could be a possibility for the Bulls if all three centers remain available.
“Whatever the case may be — maybe next game it’s not my night,” Collins said. “Maybe it’s Stix (Smith’s) night closing the game, maybe it’s Vooch’s night. We’ve got really good bigs that can finish games. Now we’re at the point where we can play the 4 and the 5. I just think it’s the tribute to the level of bigs we have that we can mess with the lineups like that.”
The Bulls still struggled with hesitancy. They balked midair to throw passes instead of taking shots. They let themselves get bullied in the paint by second-round picks such as Ryan Kalkbrenner. They lost track of shooters deep in the corners. They turned the ball over by picking up their dribble thoughtlessly and throwing passes directly into the hands of the opponent and falling out of bounds.
Bulls forward Jalen Smith, left, blocks the shot of Hornets guard KJ Simpson during the second half Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (Nell Redmond/AP)
But Collins (16 points, eight rebounds), Okoro (15 points) and Smith (10 rebounds, including five offensive) injected a buoyancy that allowed the Bulls to absorb their mistakes in the second half rather than flounder with them. The Bulls won the offensive boards 9-3 and second-chance points spread 16-6 in the second half. Okoro scored 11 points and Josh Giddey added 10 of his team-high 26 in the fourth quarter to help seal the eighth clutch win of the season.
This was the closest the Bulls have come to the focused, frenetic frenzy of their 6-1 start. It was barely enough to beat the 7-17 Hornets — but enough is all they needed.
The Bulls had to win this game. Some victories are optional. Some losses are understandable. But Friday night was a necessity. The Bulls already blew past desperation — that feeling evaporated two, three, four losses ago. In Charlotte, the Bulls stood on the precipice of hopelessness. Win and there might still be something left to fight for. Lose and the bottom falls out.
After the win, the Bulls (10-14) still remain four games below .500 and in 11th place in the Eastern Conference. There are 59 games left, 27 before the trade deadline. The Bulls left Charlotte with some relief, but not with the luxury of time.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/12/chicago-bulls-nikola-vucevic-charlotte-hornets/
Alaskans Carry The Highest Average Credit-Card Debt In The US
Alaskans Carry The Highest Average Credit-Card Debt In The US
U.S. credit card balances have climbed to $1.21 trillion, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s 2025 report.
This map, via Visual Capitalist’s Bruno Venditti, visualizes how average credit card debt varies widely across the United States in 2025. The data for this visualization comes from the TransUnion Credit Industry Snapshot published in September 2025.
States with the Highest Balances
Washington, D.C. leads the nation with an average balance of $7,684, reflecting high living costs and larger credit lines.
State
Value
Alaska
$7.7K
Alabama
$6.0K
Arkansas
$5.8K
Arizona
$6.7K
California
$7.0K
Colorado
$6.9K
Connecticut
$7.0K
District of Columbia
$7.7K
Delaware
$6.6K
Florida
$7.0K
Georgia
$7.1K
Hawaii
$7.3K
Iowa
$5.3K
Idaho
$6.1K
Illinois
$6.4K
Indiana
$5.5K
Kansas
$5.9K
Kentucky
$5.5K
Louisiana
$6.3K
Massachusetts
$6.4K
Maryland
$7.2K
Maine
$5.8K
Michigan
$5.8K
Minnesota
$5.8K
Missouri
$5.9K
Mississippi
$5.7K
Montana
$6.1K
North Carolina
$6.3K
North Dakota
$5.8K
Nebraska
$5.7K
New Hampshire
$6.4K
New Jersey
$7.1K
New Mexico
$6.0K
Nevada
$7.2K
New York
$6.7K
Ohio
$5.7K
Oklahoma
$6.2K
Oregon
$6.3K
Pennsylvania
$6.0K
Rhode Island
$6.4K
South Carolina
$6.4K
South Dakota
$5.7K
Tennessee
$6.2K
Texas
$7.0K
Utah
$6.3K
Virginia
$7.0K
Vermont
$5.8K
Washington
$6.8K
Wisconsin
$5.2K
West Virginia
$5.5K
Wyoming
$6.3K
National Average
$6.5K
Alaska is in second place at $7,683, a trend often linked to higher prices and fewer local retail banking options. Hawaii ranks third at $7,330. Coastal states like California, New Jersey, and Maryland also show above-average balances, consistent with higher incomes but also higher spending.
States with the Lowest Balances
Wisconsin posts the lowest average balance at $5,206, well below the U.S. average. Iowa and West Virginia follow with balances under $5,500, reflecting more conservative credit usage in these regions.
Many low-debt states also report strong payment behavior, with higher percentages of consumers maintaining positive standing on revolving accounts.
Credit Lines and Consumer Activity
Higher-balance states generally have higher credit lines, such as D.C. at over $34,000 per consumer. Conversely, states with lower average balances often have tighter credit availability, such as Mississippi at just over $19,000.
Despite the variation, more than 80% of consumers in nearly all states have active revolving accounts, showing how widespread credit card use remains.
If you enjoyed today’s post, check out Ranked: The Cities Americans Are Moving To on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.
Tyler Durden
Fri, 12/12/2025 – 23:00
https://www.zerohedge.com/personal-finance/alaskans-carry-highest-average-credit-card-debt-us
Regresan a Guatemala restos de dos migrantes muertos en México hace 29 años
Por SONIA PÉREZ D.
CIUDAD DE GUATEMALA (AP) — Los restos de dos migrantes guatemaltecos que murieron ahogados en el río Bravo, fronterizo entre Estados Unidos y México, hace 29 años llegaron el viernes a Guatemala.
Los restos de Francisco Evelio Villatoro Velásquez y Osman Roberto Sáenz Montejo llegaron en dos cajas pequeñas de cartón café, rotuladas con sus nombres. Una funeraria local se encargó de recibirlos y trasladarlos hasta sus comunidades, ya que sus familiares no pudieron ir por ellos a la capital guatemalteca por falta de recursos económicos.
Villatoro Velásquez y Sáenz Montejo tenían 21 años, eran agricultores y amigos, cuando salieron juntos del departamento de Huehuetenango, fronterizo con México, el 16 de septiembre de 1996 para migrar a Estados Unidos.
Tres días después, ya en la frontera norte de México, intentaron cruzar el río Bravo.
Sáenz Montejo se lanzó al agua, pero se ahogaba, entonces Villatoro Velásquez intentó rescatarlo, muriendo los dos en el lugar. Esa es la versión que los familiares de Sáenz Montejo recibieron de testigos y autoridades locales cuando viajaron a México diez días después de los hechos para identificar los cadáveres. Los migrantes fueron enterrados en México, pues entre sus ropas encontraron documentos que los identificaban como mexicanos.
Rubia Villatoro Velásquez, hermana de Francisco, relata que en un artículo de prensa las familias vieron fotografías de ellos y reconocieron sus ropas. Ella y su hermano quedaron huérfanos desde niños, a sus padres los mató el ejército guatemalteco en 1982, en medio del conflicto armado interno que mantenía con la guerrilla.
Según informes de dos comisiones sobre la verdad histórica, de Naciones Unidas y de la Iglesia católica, durante la guerra en Guatemala, entre 1960 y 1996, hubo 250.000 personas fallecidas y unos 45.000 desaparecidos. Ambos informes responsabilizan al ejército y paramilitares por el 90% de las muertes y desapariciones.
“Mi hermano decía: me voy a ir porque aquí no tengo nada. Se quería ir a trabajar para comprarse una casa, pues sin padres no teníamos cómo sobrevivir”, dijo la hermana del fallecido vía telefónica a The Associated Press.
Rubia Villatoro Velásquez recuerda que primero se enteraron del fallecimiento de Sáenz Montejo y luego que su hermano también había muerto intentando salvar a su amigo. “El papá de Osman se fue a México y él los reconoció, fue a ver dónde habían quedado enterrados, los dejaron juntos, cada uno en una tumba, pero a la par”, dijo, ambos fueron enterrados en un cementerio de la ciudad de Matamoros, en el estado norteño de Tamaulipas.
Durante años, ambas familias de escasos recursos no supieron cómo recuperar los restos de sus familiares, y fue hasta abril de 2019 que decidieron denunciarlos como desaparecidos, con el fin de establecer oficialmente que eran las personas enterradas y poder repatriarlos, explicó Villatoro Velásquez. Sin embargo, no recibieron apoyo de autoridades consulares, sino hasta este año que se concretó la ayuda.
“Nosotros no sabíamos qué hacer, no había quién nos ayudara hasta que una organización llamada Ecap (Equipo de Estudios Comunitarios y Acción Psicosocial) nos ayudó”, dijo la hermana del fallecido. La Fundación para la Justicia, con sede en México, también ayudó a la repatriación de los restos.
Villatoro Velásquez dice que finalmente va a estar más tranquila, pues su “hermano va a quedar enterrado cerca de mis papás, ya me siento más tranquila que los voy a tener cerca… Ya hay donde ponerle un ramo de flores el día de su cumpleaños o el Día de Muertos”, dijo.
La abogada Rosmery Yax Canastuj, que apoyó a los familiares a lograr la repatriación de los restos, explicó que el proceso duró años. “Fueron 29 años donde la familia estuvo buscando abrir camino para el retorno de ellos y finalmente se cierra el ciclo. El Estado de Guatemala nunca hizo gestiones para apoyar a las familias, fue a través de la Fundación para la Justicia que se usaron mecanismos para lograrlo”.
“Es importante hacer un llamado al Estado guatemalteco para que no sea indiferente y atienda las peticiones de todas las familias que están en estos procesos de búsqueda y verdad, así como de buenas prácticas de identificación forense y de mecanismos de búsquedas transnacionales de migrantes”, dijo Yax.
Mitchell anota 24 de sus 48 puntos en el último cuarto y Cavaliers superan 130-126 a Wizards
WASHINGTON (AP) — Donovan Mitchell anotó 24 de sus 48 puntos en el último cuarto, con lo cual condujo a los Cavaliers de Cleveland a una remontada tras un déficit de 15 puntos en ese periodo para imponerse el viernes 130-126 sobre los Wizards de Washington.
Los Cavs acertaron 15 de 53 intentos desde la línea de tres puntos. Darius Garland falló los 11 intentos, pero Mitchell encestó desde larga distancia para empatar el encuentro a 122. Luego puso a Cleveland por delante de manera definitiva, al anotar desde adentro con 60 segundos restantes.
Con los Cavaliers aún arriba por 124-122, Marvin Bagley III de Washington capturó un rebote tras un yerro, pero Mitchell empató, forzando un salto entre dos. Bagley, de 2,11 metros, tiene 20 centímetros más de estatura que Mitchell, pero ambos jugadores calcularon mal sus saltos y Lonzo Ball se quedó con la posesión para Cleveland.
Ball hizo dos tiros libres con 30,9 segundos por jugar.
La bandeja de Mitchell con 5,9 segundos faltantes puso a los Cavaliers arriba por seis.
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Deportes AP: https://apnews.com/hub/deportes
U.S. Military Readiness Is Under Threat By Doctor Shortages
U.S. Military Readiness Is Under Threat By Doctor Shortages
Authored by Jeff Morris via RealClearDefense,
According to the Association of the U.S. Army, the crisis of doctor shortages has been increasing for years, which negatively affects military readiness. Their own report cited the inability of the Army, Navy, and Air Force to recruit and retain enough doctors. As the number of military physicians has consistently decreased, the armed services have been forced to close some hospitals, to lower other hospitals to clinic status, and to use nurses and technicians as “physician extenders.”
More recently, leading U.S. physicians have spoken out about the largest healthcare monopoly in the country that we have ever seen, which also involves our medical residency programs. This too affects military readiness.
A renowned doctor recently wrote an OpEd in the Wall Street Journal scratching the surface on this crisis. He described how the private American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) acts like a regulator, hamstringing physicians with endless fees, paperwork, and testing.
Not only doctors are sounding the alarm. Adam Candeub, leading antitrust attorney and current General Counsel to the FCC, stated in his white paper titled The American Board of Medical Specialties: Certification and The Need for Antitrust Enforcement, that “board certification serves as medicine’s gatekeeper.” He went on to say that “competition among organizations providing these certification services drives innovation and lowers healthcare costs. The domination of the American Board of Medical Specialists (ABMS) over certification is dramatically raising certification costs and indirectly accreditation costs throughout medicine, decreasing access to physicians, increasing already exploding medical budgets, and reducing healthcare innovation.”
The urgent issue is this self proclaimed “Gold Standard and Gatekeeper” has created the largest monopoly in physician care that we’ve ever seen. All the while contributing to our current and growing physician shortages. It is important to note that testing is a key component that ensures physicians meet the very standards needed for higher quality care for all Americans.
The ABMS has long been working with the Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) to corner the market on physician board certification. Their collusive relationship, which began when ABMS co-founded the ACGME, can be considered one of the root causes of physician shortages throughout the country, the military, and within key specialties. The impact can be seen in every aspect of our health care system, greatly contributing to shortages in specialties within primary care, especially access to much-needed specialties for 21st-century medicine throughout rural America. These include emergency and integrative medicine as well as family medicine obstetrics.
In March, the Republican leadership of the House Judiciary Committee’s antitrust panel launched a probe into the nation’s medical residency system. The ACGME was one of the organizations asked to provide documents to the Committee along with the AMA and major universities. U.S. Representative Scott Fitzgerald (R-WI), said “for years, resident wages have remained stagnant while doctor shortages have increased, which harms medical students and hospital patients, and forces us to rely on foreign talent to fill the gap.”
With the Trump Administration’s mandate to end bureaucracies and monopolies within our healthcare system, Congress and HHS need to act now. The collusive activities of the ABMS and the ACGME have suppressed innovation and restricted access across the country. In addition, their bureaucratic control has gone beyond that of federal agencies such as HHS, as they now hold the Defense Health Agency under regulatory capture. This resulted in limiting our military’s ability to access much needed physician care. This drastically impacts not just military personnel, but global readiness.
Many have spoken on the impact on maternal care, as pregnant servicewomen and military spouses often have to travel hours away or even back to mainland U.S. for months at a time to have their baby alone.
Now more than ever we need Congress and HHS to investigate the root causes of doctor shortages which in turn helps strengthen our military.
Jeff Morris, JD is CEO of American Board of Physician Specialties.
Tyler Durden
Fri, 12/12/2025 – 22:35
https://www.zerohedge.com/military/us-military-readiness-under-threat-doctor-shortages
