Category: News
Trump administration dismantles US ability to fight climate change; environmentalists vow to appeal
The Trump administration on Thursday repealed the scientific determination that underpins federal greenhouse gas regulations, delivering one of the most dramatic reversals of U.S. climate policy.
For months, the administration has signaled its plans to go after the 2009 endangerment finding, the determination by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency concluding that several greenhouse gases pose a threat to public health and welfare. That finding has since provided the legal basis for most federal emission regulations for vehicles, power plants and other sources under the Clean Air Act.
“The Trump EPA has finalized the single largest act of deregulation in the history of the United States of America,” EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced at the White House. “The 2009 Obama EPA endangerment finding led to trillions of dollars in regulations that strangled entire sectors of the United States economy, including the American auto industry.”
The reversal drew an immediate outcry from environmentalists and other critics, who said it comes as climate change intensifies. In the Midwest, this is fueling extreme heat, toxic algal blooms in the Great Lakes and tornadoes across Illinois. The move is widely expected to upend numerous U.S. policies aimed at curbing pollution.
“ This is a really profound and utter rejection of decades of scientific consensus. It shows a willingness to sacrifice the lives of Americans to boost the profits of the oil industry,” said the Sierra Club’s Illinois Chapter Director Jack Darin. “Just like we regulate ozone or particulate matter or lead, we need to be protected from carbon and other greenhouse gases as well.”
The final rule will remove all federal regulations to measure and report federal greenhouse gas emission standards for motor vehicles. It also will repeal all compliance programs, credit provisions and other similar reporting requirements in the vehicle industry.
Vehicles crawl along the Eisenhower Expressway as a CTA Blue Line train rolls past during morning rush-hour traffic in Chicago on Feb. 12, 2026. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)
Zeldin said Thursday that the rule will save more than $1.3 trillion in taxpayer money and reduce costs by up to $2,400 for popular light-duty cars, SUVs and trucks “What that means is lower prices, more choices and an end to heavy-handed climate policies,” he said.
State and local politicians and environmentalists in Illinois were quick to condemn the administration’s action.
“Here in the Midwest, the real-world impacts of climate change are impossible to ignore — extreme heat, derechos and more intense and more damaging storms. By repealing the evidence-based endangerment finding, the Trump EPA is creating uncertainty for businesses and communities, leaving Americans exposed to worse human health threats and rising insurance costs,” said Howard Learner, the CEO and executive director of the Environmental Law and Policy Center.
The EPA decision comes after the Trump administration signed an executive order that directed the agency to submit a report reviewing the legality of the finding.
The 2009 finding concluded that atmospheric concentrations of six key greenhouse gases — carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulfur hexafluoride — threaten the public health by driving high temperatures and air quality issues,
Scientists have linked the rise in greenhouse gas emissions to human health issues. A recent report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine found that these pollutants commonly contribute to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, heat-related illnesses, climate-sensitive infectious diseases, and threats to mental health.
“There are a lot of parts of the country that are experiencing high air pollution currently, so rolling back these standards and repealing these long-standing rules is only going to exacerbate that air pollution problem,” said Kristina Hamilton, director of advocacy for the American Lung Association in Illinois.
In the Lung Association’s 2025 annual “State of the Air” report, it found that Chicago and U.S. residents continue to be exposed to high concentrations of ozone and particle pollution. The report ranked the Chicago area as 15th worst in the nation for ozone pollution, with an average of 20.3 unhealthy days each year.
“ We have advocated for the strength of the Clean Air Act and the U.S. EPA for decades, and we will continue to do that and continue to empower communities to contact their elected officials, contact administration officials to voice their ongoing concerns to reverse the harms of this recent reversal,” Hamilton said.
Environmental advocates say the onus must fall on local governments to strengthen and protect climate policies if the federal government fails to act.
Coal moves on barges through Starved Rock Lock and Dam down the Illinois River, Nov. 3, 2021. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
“ We’ll need Illinois to do more as the U.S. EPA does less in terms of new limits on pollution and the power to enforce them,” the Sierra Club’s Darin said.
In Illinois, the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act has already set binding goals to phase out carbon emissions from power generation by 2045, while expanding EV rebates and clean transit.
The Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act, signed into law last month, also advances renewable energy and battery storage growth — further supporting the state’s emission-reduction goals.
Related Articles
Trump EPA moves to eliminate landmark scientific rule that’s the basis for climate regulations
Illinois could be only 5 years away from electricity shortages and higher bills, report says
Environmentalists push back against US EPA plan to extend coal plant closings
Environmental groups say they will challenge the rollbacks, first in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.
“Once the D.C. circuit has had its say, then the next step would be the Supreme Court. I think everyone expects that that’s ultimately where the final disputes will be had,” said Brian Lynk, a senior attorney with the law and policy center.
The original EPA finding stemmed from the 2007 landmark Supreme Court case Massachusetts v. EPA, which enabled the agency to regulate greenhouse gases as air pollutants under the Clean Air Act.
By 2022, the EPA had denied 14 petitions for reconsideration of the endangerment finding, submitted between 2009 and 2019. The Court of Appeals previously upheld the scientific determination in favor of the EPA in 2012.
“ You can imagine, there won’t just be one petition for review for judicial review of this. There will likely be many,” said Lynk, who also served at the Environmental Defense Section of the U.S. Department of Justice.
The final rule from Thursday marks a significant victory for the fossil fuel industry, which has long pushed for rolling back climate regulations. Since returning to office, the Trump administration has commonly framed the growing reliance on fossil fuels as essential to economic growth in the country.
What to know about EPA decision to revoke a scientific finding that helped fight climate change
In just a year, the administration has also loosened air and vehicle emissions standards, narrowed Clean Water Act protections for streams and wetlands and cut enforcement and environmental justice programs.
“Science has proven — over and over again — that the climate crisis is real. And because our nation followed the science, we put in place critical rules and regulations that ensured that chemical pollutants did not clog our air,” U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin told the Tribune in a statement. “More than a decade later, it’s a dark day in Washington as President Trump shreds the very principle that EPA relies on to protect Americans’ health and the environment from climate pollution.”
U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley, who serves as the co-chair of the House Sustainable Energy & Environment Coalition, shared those sentiments in a statement: “I’ve said it before: Donald Trump is allergic to science. Now he’s ignoring settled climate science and abandoning the government’s responsibility to protect Americans.”
Jerry Wu is a freelancer.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/12/epa-endangerment-finding-climate-change/
Judge grants Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss a preliminary injunction for an extra year of eligibility
PITTSBORO, Miss. — In saying “the NCAA ignored its own rules,” a Mississippi judge granted Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss a preliminary injunction Thursday against college athletics’ governing body, allowing him to receive an extra year of eligibility so he can play next season.
The NCAA denied Chambliss’ waiver request Jan. 9, and after Chambliss appealed, the organization’s Athletics Eligibility Subcommittee upheld the denial on Feb. 4.
Judge Robert Whitwell took about 90 minutes to explain his decision that he agreed with Chambliss’ argument that the NCAA did not properly consider the player’s medical history. The 23-year-old Chambliss has been in college for five years, but was healthy enough to play just three years.
Whitwell said Chambliss would have received “irreparable harm” had the NCAA’s ruling been upheld, but that the organization will not be damaged by allowing him to play.
Chambliss and Ole Miss submitted nearly 91 pages to the NCAA to document how medical issues prevented him from playing two years, the judge said. The NCAA, the judge said, didn’t properly take those records into account and denied the waiver request “on pure semantics.”
“Trinidad Chambliss has demonstrated based on the evidence presented that he is entitled to an additional year at the University of Mississippi,” Whitwell said. “The NCAA has failed in its argument to withhold that right.”
Though the NCAA released a statement expressing frustration with the legal system, the organization did not say whether it would appeal the ruling.
“This decision in a state court illustrates the impossible situation created by differing court decisions that serve to undermine rules agreed to by the same NCAA members who later challenge them in court,” the NCAA said. “We will continue to defend the NCAA’s eligibility rules against repeated attempts to rob future generations of the opportunity to compete in college and experience the life-changing opportunities only college sports can create.
“The NCAA and its member schools are making changes to deliver more benefits to student-athletes, but the patchwork of state laws and inconsistent, conflicting court decisions make partnering with Congress essential to provide stability for current and future college athletes.”
Chambliss began his college career at Ferris State in 2021, redshirted his first season and did not play in 2022 because of medical reasons.
He played two more seasons at the Division II school in Michigan, leading the Bulldogs to a national championship before transferring to Ole Miss before the start of last season.
Chambliss completed 294 of 445 passes (66.1%) for 3,937 yards with 22 touchdowns and three interceptions for Ole Miss (13-2), which set a school record for wins, including two after making the College Football Playoff for the first time. He ran for 527 yards and eight more TDs.
The Rebels lost to Miami 31-27 in a College Football Playoff semifinal on Jan. 8.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/12/trinidad-chambliss-ole-miss-extra-eligibility/
American Colleges Received $5.2 Billion In Foreign Funding In 2025, Education Department Reveals
American Colleges Received $5.2 Billion In Foreign Funding In 2025, Education Department Reveals
Authored by Naveen Athrappully via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),
American colleges and universities received more than $5.2 billion in reportable foreign gifts and contracts last year through more than 8,300 transactions, the Department of Education said in a Feb. 11 statement.
The database was compiled from foreign funding disclosures submitted by educational institutions. Such disclosures are mandated by Section 117 of the Higher Education Act, which obligates universities and colleges receiving federal funding to annually disclose gifts and contracts from foreign sources valued at $250,000 or more.
The top recipient of foreign funds last year was Carnegie Mellon University, which received almost $1 billion. This was followed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, also at nearly $1 billion, Stanford University, which got more than $775 million, and Harvard University, which received more than $324 million, the department said.
Qatar was the biggest foreign source of reported gifts and contracts, pouring more than $1 billion into U.S. educational institutions last year. This was followed by the United Kingdom at more than $633 million, China at more than $528 million, Switzerland with $451 million plus, Japan with $374 million, Germany at more than $292 million, and Saudi Arabia spending more than $285 million.
The data has been made available for public inspection via the foreign funding higher education platform launched earlier this year by the Trump administration. The information is based on reports through Dec. 16, 2025.
Between 1986, when Section 117 was included in the Act, and Dec. 16, 2025, a total of $67.6 billion in foreign funding had been reported across 555 institutions, data from the platform show.
Qatar also topped the aggregate list of foreign funding sources at $7.7 billion, followed by China at $6.4 billion, and Germany at $4.7 billion.
The top recipient during this period was Harvard, which received $4.2 billion in foreign funding. Carnegie Mellon University came in second at $3.9 billion, followed by MIT with $3.5 billion.
In this multidecade period, Harvard was also the top recipient of funds from parties located in “countries of concern,” at $610 million. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology was second, receiving more than $490 million, while New York University received more than $462 million to hit the third spot.
Foreign countries of concern include China, North Korea, Russia, Iran, and other nations determined as such by the Department of State.
“Thanks to the Trump Administration’s new accountability portal, the American people have unprecedented visibility into the foreign dollars flowing into our colleges and universities—including funding from countries and entities that are involved in activities that threaten America’s national security,” Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said.
“This marks a new era of transparency for the American people and streamlined compliance for colleges and universities, making it easier than ever for institutions to meet their legal obligations.”
In April 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order on transparency regarding foreign influence at American universities.
The order instructed the education secretary to ensure robust enforcement of foreign funding reporting at higher educational institutions to prevent harm to American interests.
“It is the policy of my Administration to end the secrecy surrounding foreign funds in American educational institutions, protect the marketplace of ideas from propaganda sponsored by foreign governments, and safeguard America’s students and research from foreign exploitation,” the order said.
Investigations and Lawsuits
In its latest statement, the Department of Education said it had initiated four Section 117 investigations since the start of the Trump administration amid reports of “inaccurate and untimely foreign source gift and contract disclosures.”
The universities subject to the probe were Harvard, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Michigan, and the University of California–Berkeley.
In addition to Section 117 enforcement, the Trump administration has engaged in legal conflicts with universities over various policies.
In July 2025, the administration withheld $584 million in research funds from the University of California–Los Angeles (UCLA), alleging that the institution failed to tackle anti-Semitism as well as discriminatory admission practices.
A lawsuit was filed in September 2025 by associations and labor groups representing employees at the university’s 10 campuses, alleging violation of First Amendment rights. In November 2025, a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction blocking the Trump administration from cutting federal funding to the university.
Harvard filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration in April, seeking to restore $2.2 billion in contracts and grants withheld by the government.
A federal judge reversed the funding freeze, highlighting that the government violated First Amendment rights while pushing forward its efforts to counter anti-Semitism. The Department of Justice appealed the decision in December 2025.
On Feb. 2, Trump announced that his administration would seek $1 billion in damages from Harvard, calling the university “strongly anti-Semitic.”
Tyler Durden
Thu, 02/12/2026 – 19:15
Wolfsburgo remonta para empatar con Juventus en la Champions femenina; gana Man United
Associated Press
Sarai Linder anotó el jueves en el quinto minuto del tiempo añadido, mientras Wolfsburgo remontó en casa tras ir perdiendo por dos goles para empatar 2-2 con Juventus en los playoffs de la Liga de Campeones femenina.
Manchester United dio un gran paso hacia los cuartos de final tras una victoria 3-0 en el campo del Atlético de Madrid.
Si esa eliminatoria parece prácticamente decidida, la de Wolfsburg y Juventus sigue en el aire. Linder se aseguró de que todo quedara igualado de cara al partido de vuelta de la próxima semana en Turín, al clavar un empate en la escuadra desde la frontal del área, ya muy adentrado el tiempo añadido.
“Se siente como una victoria conseguir el empate en el último minuto”, comentó el entrenador de Wolfsburg, Stephan Lerch.
Juventus se puso 2-0 poco después de la hora de juego en el AOK Stadion. Ana Capeta abrió el marcador en el sexto minuto y Amalie Vangsgaard amplió la ventaja en el 61.
Pero Wolfsburg reaccionó al encarar los últimos 10 minutos del tiempo reglamentario.
Janina Minge encendió la remontada al transformar un penalti en el 82.
A medida que el reloj avanzaba, parecía que Juventus conservaría una mínima ventaja para el partido de vuelta, hasta que Linder marcó.
“Estábamos jugando bien, pero en realidad no generamos muchas ocasiones claras. Al final, merecimos el empate y ahora la próxima semana sigue abierto”, señaló Lineth Beerensteyn, del Wolfsburg.
Man United, en control
United le lleva al Manchester una ventaja cómoda tras una victoria dominante en España.
Solo hicieron falta tres minutos para que Elisabeth Terland adelantara a United, tras recibir el pase filtrado de Melvine Malard y definir a la red.
Malard puso el 2-0 en el 39 con un disparo con efecto.
Luego Malard volvió a ejercer de asistente para que Julia Zigiotti Olme marcara con un potente remate.
___
Deportes en español AP: https://apnews.com/hub/deportes
Deaths in Iran’s crackdown on protests reach more than 7,000, activists say
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The death toll from a crackdown over Iran’s nationwide protests last month has reached at least 7,003 people killed with many more still feared dead, activists said Thursday.
The continued rise in the tally of the dead from the demonstrations adds to the overall tensions facing Iran both inside the country and abroad as it tries to negotiate with the United States over its nuclear program. A second round of talks remains up in the air as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pressed his case directly with U.S. President Donald Trump to intensify his demands on Tehran in the negotiations.
“There was nothing definitive reached other than I insisted that negotiations with Iran continue to see whether or not a Deal can be consummated. If it can, I let the Prime Minister know that will be a preference,” Trump wrote afterward on his Truth Social website.
“Last time Iran decided that they were better off not making a Deal, and they were hit. … That did not work well for them. Hopefully this time they will be more reasonable and responsible.”
Trump told reporters at the White House Thursday that Iran should come to an agreement with US “very quickly.” Asked about his timeline for striking a deal with Iran over its nuclear program, Trump said, “I guess over the next month, something like that.”
Trump, who is seeking a deal to constrain Iran’s nuclear program and who also has suggested the U.S. might take military action in response to Iran’s crackdown on protesters, warned Iran that failure to reach a deal with his administration would be “very traumatic.”
Meanwhile, Netanyahu told reporters before boarding a plane to return to Israel that Trump believes that his terms and Iran’s “understanding that they made a mistake the last time when they did not reach an agreement, may lead them to agree to conditions that will enable a good agreement to be reached.”
Netanyahu said he “did not hide” his own “general skepticism” about any deal, and stressed that any agreement must include concessions about Iran’s ballistic missiles program and support for proxies, not just the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program. He described talks with the U.S. president as “excellent.”
Meanwhile, Iran at home faces still-simmering anger over its wide-ranging suppression of all dissent in the Islamic Republic. That rage may intensify in the coming days as families of the dead begin marking the traditional 40-day mourning for the loved ones.
Activists’ death toll slowly rises
The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency — which offered the latest figure of 7,003 people killed, including 214 government forces — has been accurate in counting deaths during previous rounds of unrest in Iran and relies on a network of activists in Iran to verify deaths. The continuing rise in the death toll has come as the agency slowly is able to crosscheck information as communication remains difficult with those inside of the Islamic Republic.
Iran’s government offered its only death toll on Jan. 21, saying 3,117 people were killed. Iran’s theocracy in the past has undercounted or not reported fatalities from past unrest.
The Associated Press has been unable to independently assess the death toll, given authorities have disrupted internet access and international calls in Iran.
Diplomacy over Iran continues
Senior Iranian security official Ali Larijani met Wednesday in Qatar with Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. Qatar hosts a major U.S. military installation that Iran attacked in June, after the U.S. bombed Iranian nuclear sites during the 12-day Iran-Israel war in June. Larijani also met with officials of the Palestinian Hamas group, and in Oman with Tehran-backed Houthi rebels from Yemen on Tuesday.
Larijani told Qatar’s Al Jazeera satellite news network that Iran did not receive any specific proposal from the U.S. in Oman, but acknowledged that there was an “exchange of messages.”
Qatar has been a key negotiator in the past with Iran, with which it shares a massive offshore natural gas field in the Persian Gulf. Its state-run Qatar News Agency reported that ruling emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani spoke with Trump about “the current situation in the region and international efforts aimed at de-escalation and strengthening regional security and peace,” without elaborating.
The U.S. has moved the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, ships and warplanes to the Middle East to pressure Iran into an agreement and have the firepower necessary to strike the Islamic Republic should Trump choose to do so.
Already, U.S. forces have shot down a drone they said got too close to the Lincoln and came to the aid of a U.S.-flagged ship that Iranian forces tried to stop in the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf.
Trump told the news website Axios that he was considering sending a second carrier to the region. “We have an armada that is heading there and another one might be going,” he said.
Concern over Nobel Peace Prize laureate
Meanwhile, the Norwegian Nobel Committee said it was “deeply appalled by credible reports detailing the brutal arrest, physical abuse and ongoing life‑threatening mistreatment” of 2023 Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi.
The committee that awards the prize said it had information Mohammadi had been beaten during her arrest in December and continued to be mistreated. It called for her immediate and unconditional release.
“She continues to be denied adequate, sustained medical follow‑up while being subjected to heavy interrogation and intimidation,” the committee said. “She has fainted several times, suffers from dangerously high blood pressure and has been prevented from accessing necessary follow‑up for suspected breast tumors.”
Iran just sentenced Mohammadi, 53, to over seven more years in prison. Supporters had warned for months before her arrest that she was at risk of being put back into prison after she received a furlough in December 2024 over medical concerns.
Associated Press writers Melanie Lidman and Aamer Madhani in Washington contributed to this report.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/12/iran-protests-death-toll/
Bloquean en México cuentas de dueño de Miss Universo investigado por presunto tráfico de drogas
Por FABIOLA SÁNCHEZ
CIUDAD DE MÉXICO (AP) — La Unidad de Inteligencia Financiera de México, que se encarga del combate al lavado de dinero, bloqueó las cuentas bancarias del dueño del concurso Miss Universo, el empresario mexicano Raúl Rocha Cantú, tras la investigación que le abrió la Fiscalía General por presunto tráfico de drogas, armas y combustible.
La medida se produce en medio del escándalo desatado por los procesos judiciales que enfrentan dos de los propietarios del certamen de belleza y la polémica que rodeó a la última edición de Miss Universo ante las denuncias de manipulación de uno de los jurados.
La UIF —que depende de la Secretaría de Hacienda— congeló las cuentas bancarias que tiene Rocha Cantú en México, confirmó a The Associated Press un funcionario federal que habló en condición de anonimato porque no está autorizado a hacer declaraciones sobre el proceso.
La AP envió un correo a la organización Miss Universo para obtener una reacción sobre la medida de la UIF contra Rocha Cantú, pero no ha obtenido respuesta.
La semana pasada, la Fiscalía General de la República informó que desde noviembre del año pasado tenía abierta una investigación a Rocha Cantú por presunta delincuencia organizada en relación con narcotráfico, robo de combustible —conocido localmente como huachicol— y tráfico de armas.
El mes pasado, un juez federal emitió 13 órdenes de captura contra algunos de los implicados en el caso, entre quienes incluyó a Rocha Cantú. Pero el 26 de diciembre de 2025 otro juez dictó una suspensión definitiva de la orden, lo que impide a las autoridades tomar acciones contra Rocha Cantú que puedan causar un daño irreparable a sus derechos mientras se resuelve el caso.
El diario local Reforma reportó que el empresario solicitó en noviembre al Ministerio Público un beneficio que le permitió actuar como testigo colaborador en el proceso. La Fiscalía no ha confirmado la medida.
Rocha Cantú también se vio envuelto en el polémico caso del Casino Royale de la ciudad norteña de Monterrey, en el estado de Nuevo León, que sufrió un atentado en agosto de 2011 en el que murieron 52 personas. El casino era operado por las empresas CYMSA Corporation y Entertainment Enterprises of Mexico de las que Rocha Cantú era socio.
Por el caso fue condenado en julio pasado a 135 años de prisión Baltazar Saucedo Estrada, considerado el autor intelectual del ataque al casino.
Un tribunal de Tailandia emitió a fines de noviembre una orden de arresto contra la copropietaria de la Organización Miss Universo, Jakkaphong “Anne” Jakrajutatip.
Jakrajutatip fue acusada de fraude y luego liberada bajo fianza en 2023. No se presentó como se requería en un tribunal de Bangkok por lo que se consideró que existía riesgo de fuga, según un comunicado del Tribunal del Distrito Sur de Bangkok.
La copropietaria de Miss Universo y su empresa, JKN Global Group Public Co. Ltd., fueron demandados por presuntamente defraudar a Raweewat Maschamadol al venderle bonos corporativos de la empresa en 2023. Raweewat afirma que la inversión le causó una pérdida de 30 millones de baht (930.362 dólares).
JKN adquirió los derechos del certamen de Miss Universo de IMG Worldwide LLC en 2022. En 2023, vendió el 50% de sus acciones de Miss Universo a Legacy Holding Group USA, propiedad de Rocha Cantú.
En la última edición de Miss Universo surgió una controversia luego de la reprimenda mordaz que le hizo un organizador tailandés a la mexicana Fátima Bosch, quien fue coronada Miss Universo 2025 el 19 de noviembre. También dos jueces del certamen se retiraron, con uno sugiriendo que había manipulación en el concurso. La policía tailandesa investigó las acusaciones de que la publicidad del evento incluía promoción ilegal de casinos en línea.
—————
Editores: ACLARACIÓN: Esta historia se publicó por primera vez el 5 de diciembre de 2025. Se actualizó el 12 de febrero de 2026 para aclarar que ya no hay una orden de arresto activa contra el empresario mexicano Raúl Rocha Cantú.
Agencia antinarcóticos DEA colabora con Bolivia; se ultima su regreso al país, dice viceministro
Por PAOLA FLORES y CARLOS VALDEZ
LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) — La Administración de Control de Drogas de Estados Unidos, DEA, ya trabaja con Bolivia en el intercambio de información para la lucha contra el narcotráfico mientras el gobierno boliviano ultima los detalles de un acuerdo para su regreso al país después de 18 años, dijo el viceministro boliviano de Defensa Social y Sustancias Controladas, Ernesto Justiniano.
En una entrevista con The Associated Press el jueves, Justiniano explicó que “estamos ya recibiendo algunos apoyos, por ejemplo en capacitación, en temas de soporte”, pero no está definida aún “la forma en la que vamos a terminar trabajando… quiénes van a ser los responsables en cuanto a si se van a quedar algunas personas acá”.
Justiniano explicó que los detalles de un acuerdo con la agencia están en manos de la cancillería boliviana y que “todavía hay que terminar de darle forma”, pero afirmó que “la decisión política está tomada”.
La elección del centroderechista Rodrigo Paz marcó un brusco giro en la política internacional boliviana tras casi dos décadas de gobiernos del izquierdista Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS), que se desvinculó de Estados Unidos para formar parte de la Alianza Bolivariana para los Pueblos de Nuestra América (ALBA) junto a Cuba, Nicaragua y Venezuela.
Tras la asunción de Paz en noviembre, el subsecretario de Estado estadounidense Cristopher Landau destacó “el renacimiento de las relaciones bilaterales” y habló de colaboración en seguridad, incluido el regreso de la DEA que había sido expulsada del país andino en 2008 por el entonces presidente Evo Morales (2006-2019) junto al embajador estadounidense, a los que acusó de buscar desestabilizar a su gobierno.
Al momento de su expulsión la agencia contaba con 100 agentes en Bolivia, el tercer productor de cocaína del mundo después de Colombia y Perú.
El ministro descartó la instalación de bases militares extranjeras en Bolivia. “No va a haber bases (pero) sí tenemos que hacer operativos conjuntos”. Añadió que “si podemos hacer operativos el día de mañana con norteamericanos, con brasileños, con paraguayos, con argentinos, pues bienvenido”.
El paso de la DEA por Bolivia
En Bolivia la agencia estadounidense ayudó a estructurar la lucha contra el narcotráfico y a desactivar organizaciones criminales que se habían infiltrado en la política en la década de 1980, al tiempo que entrenó a un grupo de élite para el combate directo.
Pero el gobierno de Jaime Paz Zamora (1989-1993), padre del actual mandatario, quedó marcado por sospechas de vínculos con el narcotráfico antes de llegar al poder. Tampoco cayó bien en Washington su “diplomacia de la coca” para lograr el retiro de la lista de estupefacientes de esa planta, materia prima de la cocaína y que en Bolivia y Perú se usa tradicionalmente para preparar tés y para mascar con el fin de evitar el mal de altura.
Estados Unidos impulsó decididamente la erradicación de la coca, lo que fue resistido por los cultivadores. La lucha de los cocaleros impulsó políticamente a su líder Morales, quien en 2006 alcanzó la presidencia con un discurso antiimperialista.
Voces en contra y a favor
El posible retorno de la agencia estadounidense desató el rechazo de Morales, mientras el poderoso sindicato que él dirige en el Chapare, la principal zona cocalera, advirtió en un pronunciamiento que no permitiría el regreso de “bases militares extranjeras porque durante la permanencia de la DEA se registraron muertes de cocaleros”.
Morales — que resiste en el Chapare una orden de arresto por el presunto abuso de una menor— dijo que debería convocarse un referendo para definir el asunto.
El viceministro Justiniano dijo que entre el 91% y 92% de la coca que se cultiva en el Chapare va a mercados ilegales.
“Morales busca mantener su vigencia política, pero los tiempos han cambiado, el país necesita reintegrarse al mundo y eso pasa por combatir las redes del narco”, opinó el analista Paul Coca.
En contrapartida, el regreso de la agencia tiene el apoyo de los sindicatos cocaleros del norte de La Paz, cuya producción en su mayoría se destina al uso tradicional.
“Bolivia fracasó en la lucha contra el narcotráfico con Morales y (el expresidente Luis) Arce y la DEA debe regresar en el marco de respeto a la soberanía para frenar la expansión de la coca ilegal y combatir a los narcos”, dijo el diputado y exdirigente cocalero Armin Lluta.
Los principales políticos de la oposición —como el expresidente Jorge Quiroga y el empresario Samuel Doria Medina— también respaldaron el retorno de la DEA “junto a otras agencias internacionales para unir esfuerzos contra el narcotráfico”, dijo Quiroga.
—————————
El periodista de AP Joshua Goodman colaboró en esta nota.
Daily Horoscope for February 13, 2026
General Daily Insight for February 13, 2026
Making a fresh start might require some thought now. With structured Saturn entering impulsive Aries at 7:11 pm EST, it’ll be necessary to carefully define the goals and projects that we want to pursue. As the emotional Moon stimulates expansive Jupiter, we’ll probably be drawn to a variety of possibilities. However, choosing fewer priorities and building momentum through small, consistent actions that actually stick is likely to have a better outcome than getting spread too thin. Keeping manageable promises can build our confidence!
Aries
March 21 – April 19
Clear edges can help your courage aim true. As disciplined Saturn enters your sign, you may be ready to set firmer boundaries around your time and even your tone, channeling your brave drive into steady progress. Perhaps not everything that others ask you to do truly needs to be done by you. Being honest about your limits protects quality and momentum. Start a simple routine that strengthens your body and brand, like posting a helpful tip each morning, and let repetition shape a reliable impression.
Taurus
April 20 – May 20
Pausing long enough to hear your inner voice could be illuminating now. Karmic Saturn moves into your 12th House of Secrets and Solitude, asking you to close unfinished chapters with gentle honesty and real rest. If old worries surface while scrolling at night, write them down and name something you’ll do about them the next day, because limits protect your peace. You may also feel drawn to declutter emails or donate items. Clearing on any level frees your bandwidth for dreams that need your care!
Gemini
May 21 – June 20
Flaky friends could really grate on you at this time. As serious Saturn enters your 11th House of Friendship and Community, you may want to pin down where you stand with your pals. Perhaps you’ll also grow more conscious of the value of your time. If a group chat keeps spiraling, try setting topics specific enough to require thought and commitment. That might sound a little uptight, but you risk checking out entirely if your clever mind doesn’t get the structure it needs to deliver!
Cancer
June 21 – July 22
Being respected could earn you trust and real options going forward. Your 10th House of Career and Status gains focus as authoritative Saturn arrives there. Perhaps people will finally notice that your caring nature consistently leads through reliability. Still, if a supervisor or elder raises the bar, ask for written priorities and set fair deadlines, because a clearly defined scope protects your reputation and home rhythm. Embrace the opportunity to update a resume or solidify a portfolio. Steady choices open doors you truly want.
Leo
July 23 – August 22
Your horizon may look wide at the moment, but the intention you contribute is still crucial. As ambitious Saturn enters your 9th House of Travel and Learning, steady growth is possible if you’re clear about your priorities. Any administrative tasks associated with a course of study or big trip, like applications or visas, could become overwhelming. The push to get organized might ultimately benefit you, though. Feel free to share the insights you accumulate with a friend, because teaching what you learn strengthens your mastery.
Virgo
August 23 – September 22
Bringing order to an intimidating realm is possible at this time. Although subjects like shared finances might seem confusing, they ultimately just need the same sort of clear, simple plans you’d use in any other area of your life. As responsible Saturn enters your 8th House of Shared Resources and Intimacy, you’ll have to deal directly with any other people in the equation and make room for their perspectives. If you can stay calm, chances are they’ll follow your lead!
Libra
September 23 – October 22
Seeing eye-to-eye with the significant people in your life is likely at this time. Your 7th House of Partnership steadies as boundary-setting Saturn arrives, encouraging clear agreements across your closest bonds so your diplomatic style can bring fairness without overgiving. In some cases, you might also have to get real about the bigger picture. If a friend cancels plans repeatedly, maybe they’re telling you something. Relationship endings are possible under this influence — don’t insist on forcing a connection that’s trying to fade.
Scorpio
October 23 – November 21
Mindful structure could upgrade your schedule at present. Obligation-focused Saturn enters your 6th House of Daily Routine and Wellness, urging you to streamline tasks and conserve your energy for work that truly matters. Sometimes this might require you to set limits with others, but the bigger part is probably an inside job. Commit to small wellness anchors like stretching before emails or prepping lunch, allowing your intense focus to stay sharp without crashing later. Protect your energy so excellence feels sustainable.
Sagittarius
November 22 – December 21
Focused play might sound like a contradiction, but perhaps it’s just what you need these days. As restrictive Saturn enters your 5th House of Creativity and Play, pleasure is a priority, but you’ll have to put it on the calendar to make it happen. Choose a skill you want to cultivate, like playing guitar scales or writing pages, and track your progress each week so your adventurous spirit sees growth clearly. Give structure to fun, and joy can grow sturdy roots!
Capricorn
December 22 – January 19
Cultivating a calm home environment could be a high priority now. Your 4th House of Home and Family firms up as crystallizing Saturn arrives, potentially turning your attention to needed repairs and nagging relationship frustrations. If relatives regularly expect you to drop everything and help them, you might need to be honest about whether that’s really working for you. Saturn has a reputation for saying no, but that doesn’t necessarily make its energy cruel. Boundaries keep love warm rather than stretched thin.
Aquarius
January 20 – February 18
Seeing how you set the tone for conversations could currently be surprising. As frustrating Saturn arrives in your 3rd House of Communication, you might be annoyed that others seem to misread you. Although there may sometimes be issues on their end that are beyond your control, be realistic about whether you’re the common denominator in multiple situations with similar problems. Identifying what you’re doing that isn’t working doesn’t have to be a negative experience. Once you name it, you can start fixing it!
Pisces
February 19 – March 20
Making sure your purchases reflect what matters most could be a useful exercise now. Limiting Saturn enters your 2nd House of Resources and Self-Worth, encouraging careful budgets and sturdy values. The goal isn’t to feel unnecessarily deprived — rather, it’s to clarify priorities so your generous heart can give without draining reserves. If a sale tempts you, compare prices and sleep on it to determine whether it serves your life or just your mood. Your money can stretch further while your self-respect stays strong and steady.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/12/daily-horoscope-for-february-13-2026/
Confirmed: US Covertly Sent Thousands Of Starlink Terminals Into Iran Amid Unrest
Confirmed: US Covertly Sent Thousands Of Starlink Terminals Into Iran Amid Unrest
The Trump administration has confirmed what was already long suspected -the US sent Iranian protesters thousands of Starlink terminals amid last month’s raging economic protests and unrest.
The mainstream media had claimed the whole time that the demonstrations were both purely peaceful and completely spontaneous, but a Thursday Wall Street Journal piece greatly muddies this MSM narrative.
“After Iranian authorities smothered mounting unrest in January by killing thousands of protesters and severely cutting internet connectivity, the U.S. smuggled roughly 6,000 of the satellite-internet kits into the country, the first time the U.S. has directly sent Starlink into Iran,” WSJ writes.
This also contradicts earlier claims from weeks ago that it was merely activist non-profit NGO groups which got a small amount of Starlink systems to protesters. That was perhaps the ‘cover’ narrative. But later it became evident the SpaceX-made comms equipment was more ubiquitous.
Skeptical observers questioned how that amount of sophisticated equipment could so easily get across Iran’s borders at a moment security forces were on a high state of alert. They concluded, reasonably, that it must have had the involvement of Western intelligence services.
“The State Department had purchased nearly 7,000 Starlink terminals in earlier months—with most bought in January—to help antiregime activists circumvent internet shut-offs in Iran, officials said.” https://t.co/1Hmx3QNQCR
— Bianna Golodryga (@biannagolodryga) February 12, 2026
WSJ tries to tiptoe around the obvious contradictions:
President Trump was aware of the deliveries, officials said, but they didn’t know if he or someone else directly approved of the plan.
Tehran has repeatedly accused Washington, without evidence, of playing a role in fomenting popular dissent and organizing last month’s nationwide demonstrations in the country of 90 million people. Iranians were protesting years of economic mismanagement, a weakening currency and hard-line rule.
The U.S. has denied any connection to the uprising, though the Starlink operation shows the Trump administration has done more to support antiregime efforts than has been previously known.
The publication brazenly claims the accusations of an external hidden hand are “without evidence” while in the very next stanza admitting a direct connection, and then seeking to downplay it.
Trump had even in real-time repeatedly said “help is on the way” – even as dozens or possibly hundreds among the dead and injured were police officers and among security forces. This showed some level of an armed element mixed into the destabilizing demonstrations.
Starlink devices, clearly present during the protests given local photo and video evidence, are illegal in Iran and authorities are still trying to uncover and hunt down presumed smuggling networks.
Russian media taking note of the emerging story:
US SMUGGLED 1,000S of Starlink terminals into IRAN after protests erupted — WSJ report
In ‘an effort to keep dissidents ONLINE’
‘Provided covert support’ to RIOTERS pic.twitter.com/s6tEezhtJA
— RT (@RT_com) February 12, 2026
The State Dept has been calling its ongoing purchases of Starlink terminals for Iran part of an ‘internet freedom’ initiative, but if the situation were reversed, Washington obviously wouldn’t stand for it. It is easy to imagine American outrage in the scenario where Iran was the one issuing communications equipment to anti-Trump protesters in the US on a mass scale, for example.
Tyler Durden
Thu, 02/12/2026 – 18:50
Administrator, childcare worker at Evanston schools charged with child sexual abuse: prosecutors
An assistant principal and an Early Childhood staff member at Evanston/Skokie School District 65 were arrested and charged last week after reports they acted together to sexually abuse two children over a period spanning two years, with prosecutors also saying that the assistant principal abused an additional child, according to a Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office proffer document.
District 65 said in a statement that there are no allegations that any children in its schools were abused or harmed, and it has placed both employees on leave.
Chicago police arrested Carlos M. Mendez, 51, on Feb. 5 at his home on the 7800 block on West Addison St., Chicago. He was charged with one felony count of aggravated criminal sex abuse of a child, and one misdemeanor count of domestic battery and bodily harm, according to the State’s Attorney’s Office. The state of Florida has also issued an arrest warrant for him for the sexual assault of a child.
Mendez has been an employee of District 65 since 2011. He was previously accused of inappropriate behavior with a minor student and placed on leave in 2023 but the charges were subsequently cleared, according to previous reports. Mendez has been on leave from the district since Oct. 28, 2025, a District 65 spokesperson indicated.
Maribel Flores-Hernandez, 34, identified in police reports as Mendez’ girlfriend, works as a paraprofessional at the Joseph E. Hill Early Childhood Center. She was also arrested Feb. 5 and charged in Cook County with one felony count of sexual assault of a family member under 18. There is also a warrant for her arrest from the state of Florida on criminal charges for sexual assault.
Flores-Hernandez was arrested at Mendez’ home. She has been on leave from the district since Jan. 16, according to a statement from District 65.
According to a District 65 statement provided by a spokesperson Thursday, “It is the District’s understanding that the allegations in question are unrelated to their professional responsibilities and do not involve any District 65 students.” Washington Elementary parents were notified in October of Mendez’s leave, but were not given a reason as to why he was on leave.
“The safety and wellbeing of our community remains our highest priority. While these allegations are deeply concerning, this is a personnel matter and we are unable to share additional details at this time,” the District 65 statement said.
A Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office proffer document said that Mendez and Flores-Hernandez first began abusing a then-13-year-old relative of Flores-Hernandez in August 2023. The abuse allegedly continued over two years.
Records from the Cook County Circuit Court pre-trial hearing on Feb. 6 stated that Flores-Hernandez “sexually abused” the child “many times through a coordination of coercion and grooming” with Mendez. “This is extremely dangerous behavior and she is a clear threat to this [child] and all children,” the proffer document said.
A Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office document said that Mendez and Flores-Hernandez also sexually abused another child, a 14-year-old, during a family vacation in Miami in June 2025. Mendez grew up in Florida, according to his bio on the District 65 website.
The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) was notified by a relative of Flores-Hernandez on Oct. 25, 2025 about the abuse of the first child, per the proffer, and arrived at the child’s home the same day and spoke to the child.
Chicago police officers interviewed the DCFS case worker on Oct. 28, and on Oct. 29 notified Evanston police. Subsequently, District 65 learned about the arrests. Detectives at the Miami Police Department were also contacted in regards to the case, and they issued arrest warrants.
John Curnyn, Mendez’s attorney, told the Chicago Tribune/Pioneer Press that, “Mr. Mendez looks forward to presenting his evidence in court,” and “clearing his name of the allegations that have been made against him.”
“They are very serious,” Curnyn said of the charges, “but he is confident that he will be able to present evidence to show that he is innocent.”
Flores-Hernandez’s attorney, Juneitha Shambee, declined to comment on the case.
This is not the first time Mendez has been placed on leave by District 65. In 2023, a Washington Elementary School parent accused him of “inappropriate behavior” and subsequently reported him to DCFS.
Mendez was investigated by local and state authorities, but later reinstated to his position, making a public comment at a March 2023 District board meeting suggesting that the report against him was racially motivated.
“In the last few days, I know you received an email from one parent in particular who unfortunately, based on false information, decided to attack me and accuse me of something that is not true,” Mendez said at the board meeting.
“I will always stand up against injustice. I will always stand up for my teachers when they’re being cursed by a parent. I will always stand up for a child in need, and I will always stand up against racism,” he added.
Both Mendez and Flores-Hernandez are currently being held in Cook County Jail, according to Cook County Sheriff’s Office records, with a scheduled court appearance on Feb. 25 at the George N. Leighton Criminal Courthouse in Chicago.
As of Thursday afternoon, Mendez’s position and contact information was still listed on the Washington Elementary School website.
Chicago Tribune reporter Madeline Buckley contributed to this story.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/12/administrator-evanston-schools-child-sexual-abuse/
