Category: News
Naperville woman guilty of murdering boyfriend, DuPage jury rules
A Naperville woman who shot her boyfriend for dating another woman and then video-chatted with the woman while he was bleeding on the floor has been convicted of murder, a news release from the DuPage County state’s attorney’s office said.
Rosa Lagrone, 40, was convicted of killing Darnell Manns in November 2022 following a four-day jury trial and more than two hours of deliberation, the release said.
According to prosecutors, Lagrone and Manns were arguing about Manns dating another woman while they were at her home in the 0 to 100 block of 25W Keswick Lane in unincorporated Naperville. When the fight escalated, Lagrone shot Manns once with a pistol, the bullet going through Manns’ arm and lodging in his spine, the release said.
“Following the shooting, Lagrone used Manns’ Facebook page to live video-chat with the woman whom Manns had been dating while he was on the floor in the background in a pool of blood,” the release said.
Mann was taken to a local hospital, where he died three days later. After his death, Lagrone was charged with five counts of first-degree murder.
She’s been held in the DuPage County jail since her arrest. Her next court date is scheduled for April 1.
“While today’s guilty verdict will not bring Darnell back to those who loved him, it does reveal the truth about what happened on Nov. 6, 2020, and holds Rosa Lagrone accountable for the murder of Darnell Manns,” State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said in the release.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/07/murder-jury-shooting-boyfriend-lagrone-naperville/
Canadá, la histórica potencia mundial del curling, siente la presión en Cortina
Por JULIA FRANKEL
CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italia (AP) — La desesperación se reflejaba en los rostros de la pareja canadiense de curling Brett Gallant y Jocelyn Peterman el sábado mientras observaban a Bruce Mouat y Jennifer Dodds de Gran Bretaña enviar piedras rojas golpeando sus cuidadosamente colocadas amarillas.
La derrota de Canadá el sábado por la mañana en el curling de dobles mixtos marcó su segunda en la fase de todos contra todos, tras una derrota el sábado a manos del equipo de Estados Unidos.
Para los aficionados al curling, el enfrentamiento fue un duelo entre el dominio histórico de Canadá y el creciente rigor de los programas de entrenamiento de otros países en este deporte. El resultado cimentó cuánto ha cambiado el campo a lo largo de las últimas olimpiadas.
Devin Heroux, reportero de los Juegos Olímpicos para la Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, quien ha pasado años observando a la pareja canadiense jugar al curling, afirmó después del partido: “Es una representación exacta de dónde está el curling”. “Durante mucho tiempo en Canadá, existía la sensación de que el país producía a los mejores lanzadores de piedras del mundo. Ahora se están dando cuenta de que el mundo no solo los ha alcanzado, sino que los ha superado.”
Aun así, se espera que ambos equipos se clasifiquen con seguridad para la siguiente ronda, junto con Estados Unidos e Italia. Recién salidos de esta victoria, Gran Bretaña está ahora a un paso de la clasificación. Hay un total de diez equipos jugando dobles mixtos en los Juegos de Milán Cortina 2026.
Los oponentes de Canadá el sábado, Mouat y Dodds de Gran Bretaña, son mejores amigos que han perfeccionado su habilidad a lo largo de años jugando juntos en la Academia Nacional de Curling de Escocia, fundada en 2017. Son uno de varios equipos que han surgido en las recientes olimpiadas como formidables oponentes para los canadienses.
Los Juegos de Pyeongyang en 2018 fueron la primera vez que ninguno de los equipos de cuatro personas de Canadá ganó una medalla. Luego, en Beijing, Canadá ganó solo una medalla de bronce en todas las disciplinas.
Después del juego, todos los atletas mencionaron que las condiciones del hielo en el centro de curling de Cortina habían cambiado enormemente desde el día anterior, obligándolos a ajustar su juego.
Hasta ahora en Cortina, los cambios en el hielo han demostrado ser tan significativos que “poder aceptar y adaptarse a las condiciones cambiantes será lo que permita a uno de estos equipos ganar el oro”, dijo Heroux.
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Deportes en español AP: https://apnews.com/hub/deportes
Kiev Left With Few Hours Of Power Per Day In Subzero Temps
Kiev Left With Few Hours Of Power Per Day In Subzero Temps
Ukraine and Russia have just wrapped up a second round of US-mediated negotiations in Abu Dhabi, but overnight Ukrainian cities were hit with another massive aerial attack on the national power grid.
“Russia is carrying out another massive attack on the Ukrainian power grid facilities,” grid operator Ukrenergo said on Saturday. “Due to the damage caused by the enemy, emergency outages have been applied in most regions.”
Ukrenergo said in its Telegram statement, “Currently, the attack is still ongoing. Restoration work will begin as soon as the security situation allows.”
Dozens of missiles and hundreds of drones were unleashed, in what has become an almost nightly reality. Already rolling emergency blackouts have impacted towns and cities across Ukraine, but this fresh assault resulted in more blackouts.
According to some specifics in the NY Times:
The overnight strikes hit high-voltage transmission lines that are used to transmit electricity nationwide and that form the backbone of Ukraine’s power grid, as well as power plants and substations, said Denys Shmyhal, the country’s energy minister.
The damage prompted Kyiv to request emergency electricity assistance from Poland, Mr. Shmyhal said on social media. The strikes were the latest in a series of Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure during a winter freeze.
Mr. Shmyhal said the bombardment on Saturday had forced operators at nuclear power plants to “unload” reactor units, meaning that workers reduced power output or shut down reactors as a precautionary measure when external electricity supplies became unstable.
Supplies were already in a dire situation after the even larger Feb. 3rd Russian attack on the energy grid.
At this point the capital area is expected to receive only four to six hours of electricity per day in February. Some residents are without heat and water, amid dangerously frigid temperatures, which in recent days have plunged down to -25°C (-13°F).
The European Union and NATO have been scrambling to come up with ways to both keep the lights on in Ukraine and defend its cities and vital infrastructure from being devastated by Russia.
Kyiv calls for Polish aid after ‘massive’ Russian attack on Ukraine power grid
➡️ https://t.co/dI7XMPCOKg pic.twitter.com/NHQCazQhgA
— FRANCE 24 English (@France24_en) February 7, 2026
All of this is part of Moscow’s attrition strategy, knowing it can outlast, out-gun, and out-manpower Ukraine. This is also about inflicting broader pain and suffering among the population, in hopes of destabilizing the Zelensky government enough to replace him.
Tyler Durden
Sat, 02/07/2026 – 12:15
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/kiev-left-few-hours-power-day-amid-subzero-temps
Hombres armados en norte de Nigeria matan a tres aldeanos y secuestran a 11
Por DYEPKAZAH SHIBAYAN
ABUYA, Nigeria (AP) — Hombres armados mataron a tres aldeanos y secuestraron a 11 personas, incluido un sacerdote católico, durante un ataque al amanecer en el noroeste de Nigeria el sábado, informaron funcionarios de la iglesia.
Los hombres armados atacaron la residencia del sacerdote en Kauru, en el estado de Kaduna, alrededor de las 3 a.m. según informó la Diócesis Católica de Kafanchan de Kaduna en un comunicado que describió el asalto como “un acto de invasión por un grupo de terroristas”.
El ataque es el último en el ciclo de violencia que ha afectado al norte del país. Más de 150 cristianos fueron secuestrados de tres iglesias en otra parte de Kaduna en enero antes de ser liberados esta semana, mientras que al menos 160 personas, en su mayoría musulmanes, fueron asesinadas por extremistas islámicos en el estado de Kwara por negarse a ser adoctrinadas.
Las autoridades no proporcionaron detalles sobre el último ataque en Kaduna ni sobre los esfuerzos de rescate.
La iglesia católica de Kaduna pidió oraciones por las víctimas y la liberación segura de los rehenes.
El norte de Nigeria está atrapado en una compleja crisis de seguridad que involucra tanto a militantes islámicos como a bandas armadas que secuestran personas para pedir rescate, un desafío que el presidente Bola Tinubu ha luchado por abordar desde que fue elegido en 2023 tras prometer poner fin a la crisis.
Los grupos armados anteriormente estaban confinados a regiones más al norte, pero analistas dicen que han trasladado sus operaciones hacia el sur a medida que aumenta la presión militar y la competencia territorial entre grupos.
En los últimos meses, Nigeria ha estado en la mira del gobierno de Estados Unidos, que ha acusado al gobierno nigeriano de no proteger a los cristianos, aunque los ataques afectan tanto a cristianos como a musulmanes.
La acusación ha resultado en una asociación de seguridad entre ambos países que ha involucrado ataques estadounidenses dirigidos a grupos armados en territorios nigerianos en diciembre, así como la presencia de un pequeño equipo de fuerzas estadounidenses en Nigeria.
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Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.
Waukegan High students walk out to protest federal crackdown: ‘We have to stop what ICE is doing’
As Waukegan High School students Jessica Cardenas and Destiny Sanchez reached a boiling point with the immigration enforcement tactics of President Donald Trump’s administration, particularly the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, they said they had to take action.
It took Sanchez, a sophomore at the Brookside campus, and Cardenas, a junior at the Washington building, two days to organize a walkout to protest ICE and the Trump administration’s actions.
“We talked to people and made flyers,” Sanchez said. “Jessica reached out to the governor, the senators and the mayor. It wouldn’t have worked if she hadn’t talked to the mayor, and he got the police to help.”
Cardenas, Sanchez and a number of other others led more than 500 students out of the two school buildings at the end of seventh period at around 1:30 p.m. Friday beginning a march to Veterans Plaza for a rally in downtown Waukegan.
“America is a country of immigrants, not just from Mexico,” Cardenas said at the rally. “This is a free country, and ICE is tearing our country down. We have to stop what ICE is doing.”
As students left the Washington campus for juniors and seniors in droves, they walked almost a mile west to Weiss Field, where they joined forces with freshmen and sophomores who left the nearby Brookside campus.
Waukegan High School students walk out of class after seventh period on Friday to protest federal government immigration enforcement tactics. (Steve Sadin/For the Lake County News-Sun)
From Weiss Field, the group of about 500 teens marched to Veterans Plaza just over a mile away near downtown Waukegan, where observations are held for Memorial Day, Veterans Day and other holidays.
One held a sign reading, “My parents fought for our future. Now I fight for theirs.”
Some people, like Jose Ferrera, a junior, were touched personally during the year-plus-long activity of immigration enforcement agents in the area. That included the two-month Operation Midway Blitz last fall, when 76 people were detained in Lake County for allegedly being undocumented immigrants.
Ferrera said his sister’s ex-husband was deported, leaving two of his cousins without a father nearby.
After marching nearly two miles, Waukegan High School students rally against federal government immigration enforcement tactics on Friday at Veterans Plaza in Waukegan. (Steve Sadin/For the Lake County News-Sun)
“I feel really sad for the girls,” Ferrera said. “Girls need a father in their life.”
Jazlene Fuentes, another junior, said an uncle was deported, leaving his wife and two daughters behind in Waukegan. It was part of her motivation for joining the walkout.
“We can’t be silent,” Fuentes said. “We have to tell our government it’s wrong. Some of our families can’t do it, so we have to.”
Along with criticizing the government’s immigration enforcement policy, Cardenas ended her speech at the rally with a request for prayer, leading her schoolmates in a call for peaceful resistance.
Marching nearly two miles to Veterans Plaza, Waukegan High School students rally against federal government immigration enforcement tactics on Friday in Waukegan. (Steve Sadin/For the Lake County News-Sun)
“We are all part of the United States of America,” Cardenas said. “This is about human rights for all of us. Now let’s join (together) and pray.”
Ketura Quinn, a junior, criticized Trump for failing to follow the Constitution and ICE for its tactics. She said it is time for the younger generation to take the mantle of leadership.
“We live in a free country, and we want to live freely,” Quinn said. “We are the next generation.”
Carmen Marrieta, a senior, criticized immigration enforcement officers for their discriminatory tactics and for breaking apart families.
“This is not right,” Marrieta said. ”They’re targeting people just because they’re not white. At the end of the day, this is about our families.”
Waukegan High School students from both the Washington and Brookside campuses joined forces at Weiss Field before marching to Veterans Plaza, protesting federal government immigration enforcement tactics on Friday in Waukegan. (Steve Sadin/For the Lake County News-Sun)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/07/waukegan-high-school-walkout/
Lindsey Vonn completa otro entrenamiento y está lista para competir con la rodilla lesionada
Por ANDREW DAMPF
CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italia (AP) — Lindsey Vonn completó su segunda exitosa carrera de entrenamiento de descenso consecutiva el sábado y parece lista para ir por el oro en los Juegos Olímpicos de Milán-Cortina a la edad de 41 años el domingo, poco más de una semana después de romperse el ligamento cruzado anterior de su rodilla izquierda.
La estadounidense cruzó en tercera posición, 0,37 segundos detrás de la líder y compañera de equipo Breezy Johnson, y levantó el puño después de ver el resultado.
“Todo bien”, afirmó Vonn a The Associated Press.
Aksel Lund Svindal, el campeón olímpico de descenso de 2018 de Noruega que ahora entrena a Vonn, comentó que ella estaba “muy tranquila” después de su carrera “y no habló del tema de la rodilla en absoluto”.
“Y entonces tampoco quise preguntar, porque pensé que eso es una buena señal”, expresó Svindal. “Cuando está tranquila significa que siente que lo tiene bajo control. Sabe que tendrá que esforzarse más mañana porque el resto de las chicas lo harán y es el descenso olímpico: no vas a conseguir una medalla allí a menos que te esfuerces mucho. Creo que está lista para eso”.
Aun así, Vonn ha estado favoreciendo su pierna derecha al aterrizar saltos durante el entrenamiento, lo que la ha desequilibrado en ocasiones.
“Trataremos de tener menos de eso mañana si podemos”, manifestó Svindal. “Son los aterrizajes los que más duelen”.
Vonn está compitiendo con un gran soporte cubriendo su rodilla lesionada. Se le insertó un reemplazo parcial de titanio en la rodilla derecha en 2024 y luego regresó a las carreras de esquí la temporada pasada después de casi seis años de retiro. Se estrelló durante el último descenso de la Copa del Mundo antes de los Juegos Olímpicos, lo que planteó la posibilidad de que no solo terminara su temporada sino también su carrera.
En cambio, ha sido firme al decir que esquiaría en los Juegos Olímpicos si fuera posible y, después de que se cancelara una carrera de entrenamiento el jueves, se lanzó a la pista de descenso Olympia delle Tofana el viernes y sábado con las otras competidoras. Se ubicó en el puesto 11 en el entrenamiento del jueves, aunque los tiempos significan poco ya que los atletas no siempre dan su máximo esfuerzo.
Svindal señaló que el soporte de Vonn afecta negativamente su aerodinámica, pero agregó: “No nos estamos enfocando en eso porque si ella empieza a pedir que se quite el soporte, creo que hay un par de doctores que tendrían algo que decir al respecto. Por favor, no le hagan esa pregunta”.
Vonn ostenta el récord de 12 victorias en la Copa del Mundo en Cortina.
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Deportes en español AP: https://apnews.com/hub/deportes
The Reflation Narrative
The Reflation Narrative
Authored by Lance Roberts via RealInvestmnentAdvice.com,
The market got off to a strong start in 2026, with investors chasing industrials, materials, and commodity-related stocks as the reflation narrative gained traction. The “reflation narrative” is the belief that a range of policies will boost the rate of economic growth in the U.S. without triggering inflation. As I discussed at our recent 2026 Investment Summit, the markets are banking on the effects of the passage of the OBBBA, tax cuts, and deregulation to fuel earnings and profit growth in 2026.
Furthermore, the markets are focused on the Federal Reserve with expectations of further rate cuts and easing of monetary policy. All of these actions aim to increase consumption, investment, and employment, which in turn will increase wages and corporate revenues.
Over the last few months, the reflation narrative has re-emerged. After years of tightening by global central banks to tame post-pandemic inflation, the focus has started to shift. Inflation has moderated in the U.S., and growth remains positive, albeit soft in some sectors. Policymakers and market participants are watching for signs that rate cuts could soon be back on the table, particularly as employment softens.
Wall Street strategists and economists are optimistic. They argue that the worst of the inflation fight is over and believe central banks will continue to ease as economic growth stabilizes while inflation edges closer to its targets. In turn, they expect this will feed into earnings growth and a further expansion of profit margins.
The bull case for reflation is rooted in falling inflation, positive real wage growth, continued fiscal support, and a resilient labor market. These factors suggest that consumer demand will remain stable or even improve if borrowing costs fall. The combination of lower interest rates and improving consumption sets the stage for rising corporate revenues and higher stock market valuations.
Several recent data points support the reflation view:
U.S. headline inflation dropped from 9.1% in mid-2022 to 2.7% by the end of 2025.
Real wage growth has turned positive lifting household purchasing power.
The unemployment rate remained close to 4%, signaling continued labor market strength.
Fiscal policy remains expansive, with the U.S. running deficits near 6% of GDP.
The Fed has stopped hiking and begun cutting rates.
If these trends hold, the reflation narrative gains credibility. However, there is also a risk that a resurgence of economic growth leads to inflation and interest rates rising, which could undermine an already overvalued market. In this post, we will examine the bull and bear cases for the reflation narrative and discuss how to navigate them.
Bull Case for Reflation and Growth
As noted above, the reflation narrative rests on three key arguments: the OBBBA impact, deregulation and reform, and rate cuts.
The byproduct of those impacts is that corporate earnings should accelerate. Analyst forecasts for S&P 500 earnings in 2026 are expected to increase by double digits for the bottom 493 stocks, which follows negative to muted growth in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
Furthermore, the hope is that if inflation cools and input costs stabilize (i.e., reduced employment), companies may expand margins further, as noted above. Sectors such as technology, materials, industrials, and consumer discretionary should lead the way.
While the U.S. consumer remains resilient, credit card delinquencies are rising but still below historical peaks. Given that personal consumption accounts for nearly 70% of GDP, it is real disposable incomes that are the link to the growth story. The hope is that incomes will rise, even if employment declines, thanks to increases in productivity.
Lastly, fiscal spending continues at high levels. For now, deficit spending combined with private sector investment (i.e., data center buildout), supports the reflation narrative. In 2026
If these conditions persist, reflation becomes a self-reinforcing cycle.
Growth picks up => Earnings rise => Market valuations hold or expand.
In turn:
Investor sentiment improves => Asset prices rise => Wealth creation feeds consumption.
If the reflation narrative holds, leadership remains in cyclicals, industrials, financials, and materials. Technology can benefit too, especially from falling discount rates. As future cash flows are valued more attractively, growth stocks could continue to rally.
However, there is a fly in the ointment to be aware of.
Bear Case That Could Derail Reflation
If the reflation narrative comes to fruition, as expected, strong economic growth will require increased demand. That increased demand will be reflected in rising wages and higher commodity prices, which will translate into a rise in inflation. In other words, it is difficult to get “reflation” without also getting “inflation.”
For the markets, if inflation does not stay contained, the Fed may not ease as markets expect. In fact, rate cuts could be delayed or reversed, which would derail the reflation setup.
Key risks include:
Services inflation remains sticky.
Rent and shelter components lag and could re-accelerate.
Oil prices rise on geopolitical shocks.
Labor markets remain tight, which drives wage inflation.
If inflation expectations rise, bond yields would move higher. That would hurt valuations for both stocks and real estate. Higher long-term rates would tighten financial conditions and reduce the stimulus effect. For now, inflation expectations remain anchored to slower economic growth, but if that reverses, so should expectations.
Another major risk is global weakness. China’s economy remains fragile, characterized by low confidence and significant debt overhangs. Europe faces stagnant growth and energy insecurity. In the event of a global slowdown, which is a likely possibility, such a scenario would reduce demand for exports, lower corporate profits, and put pressure on U.S. manufacturing.
Furthermore, while the current debt and deficit levels are nowhere near a “crisis” level, they are at levels that reduce economic growth as non-productive debt diverts revenues from growth. As Stuart Sparks of Deutsche Bank noted previously:
“History teaches us that although investments in productive capacity can in principle raise potential growth and r* in such a way that the debt incurred to finance fiscal stimulus is paid down over time (r-g<0), it turns out that there is little evidence that it has ever been achieved in the past.
Rising federal debt as a percentage of GDP has historically been associated with declines in estimates of r* – the need to save to service debt depresses potential growth. The broad point is that aggressive spending is necessary, but not sufficient. Spending must be designed to raise productive capacity, potential growth, and r*. Absent true investment, public spending can lower r*, passively tightening for a fixed monetary stance.”
Of course, we would be remiss not to mention that stock market valuations remain elevated. The S&P 500 trades at a price-to-forward-earnings ratio of approximately 22x. At such levels, it is difficult not to question whether the reflation narrative has already been priced into the current market. If that is the case, and earnings disappoint, or rates remain high, a valuation correction could occur.
Given the bull and bear case for the reflation narrative, what should investors do?
Investor Tactics for an Uncertain Path
Our expectation is that we may see a mix of both scenarios in 2026. A bullish narrative in the first half, but disappointment during the second half. As such, investors should prepare for multiple scenarios. The key is to stay flexible and risk-aware. Tactical allocation can help manage through different macro regimes.
Recommended actions:
Diversify across asset classes. Hold stocks, bonds, and cash.
Within equities, favor companies with strong balance sheets and pricing power.
Look at cyclical sectors for reflation exposure: financials, industrials, materials.
Consider real assets as inflation hedges: REITs, infrastructure, and commodity funds.
Use TIPS or inflation-protected bonds to guard against price spikes.
Hold some short-term treasuries or high-quality bonds in case of slowdown.
Watch key data points:
Inflation prints (CPI, PCE)
Wage growth and employment trends
Central bank communications
Corporate earnings revisions
Yield curve shape and credit spreads
Avoid over-concentration in momentum trades. If reflation falters, volatility will return quickly. Maintain liquidity to capitalize on market dislocations.
Conclusion
Reflation is a credible but fragile narrative. It depends on inflation falling, rates declining, and growth stabilizing. If these factors align, reflation can lift earnings and asset prices. But risks remain high. Inflation could return, geopolitics could worsen, or global demand could slip.
Investors must be cautious and prepared. Avoid betting on a single outcome. Manage risk, stay diversified, and follow the data. The path ahead is uncertain, but opportunities exist for those who stay alert and disciplined.
Tyler Durden
Sat, 02/07/2026 – 11:40
Siria y Arabia Saudí firman acuerdos de inversión para impulsar sus economías
Por GHAITH ALSAYED
DAMASCO (AP) — Siria y Arabia Saudí firmaron el sábado acuerdos de inversión multimillonarios, incluyendo un importante proyecto de telecomunicaciones, una aerolínea conjunta de bajo costo y un aeropuerto internacional en el norte de Siria.
Siria está tratando de resucitar su economía después de una larga guerra que mató a casi medio millón de personas y causó una destrucción generalizada. La mayoría de las sanciones occidentales sobre Siria fueron levantadas después de que un nuevo liderazgo asumiera el poder tras la destitución del expresidente Bashar Assad en diciembre de 2024, abriendo el camino para que las inversiones fluyan hacia el país.
Abdulsalam Haykal, ministro de comunicaciones y tecnología de la información de Siria, declaró que el proyecto de telecomunicaciones de casi 1.000 millones de dólares se llevará a cabo en dos etapas que durarán entre 18 meses y dos años.
“El proyecto contribuye a convertir a Siria en un centro internacional de telecomunicaciones”, afirmó, añadiendo que el proyecto SilkLink implicará la instalación de miles de kilómetros de cables para mejorar la conectividad a internet entre Asia y Europa.
El ministro de Inversión de Arabia Saudí, Khalid al-Falih, indicó que el proyecto será liderado por la Compañía de Telecomunicaciones de Arabia Saudí, o Grupo STC.
Al-Falih expresó que el Ministerio de Energía en Siria también firmó un acuerdo de agua con ACWA Power de Arabia Saudí, conocida por gestionar proyectos de generación de energía y plantas de producción de agua desalinizada en el Oriente Medio y más allá.
Además se creará una nueva aerolínea de bajo costo llamada Flynas Syria, dijeron ambas partes. El valor de la inversión no fue revelado.
Arabia Saudí, una importante fuente de apoyo para el nuevo gobierno de Siria liderado por el presidente interino Ahmad al-Sharaa, también lanzará un fondo de inversión para desarrollar el aeropuerto internacional en la ciudad norteña de Alepo que servirá a 12 millones de pasajeros anualmente, según los dos gobiernos.
En julio, Siria y Arabia Saudí anunciaron 47 acuerdos de inversión valorados en más de 6.000 millones de dólares.
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Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.
Porter raises fees for the first time in more than 30 years
The town of Porter hadn’t raised its building and permit fees for at least 30 years, but that recently changed with the looming loss of revenue from state-enacted property tax reforms.
Porter followed the neighboring Duneland community of Chesterton, which also recently raised its building and permit fee schedule.
In addition, the Porter Town Council also expects to soon approve boosting fines for nuisance and stormwater violations.
Communities across Indiana are looking for ways to raise revenue to close the financial gap created by Senate Enrolled Act 1.
When Chesterton was pondering its budget for this year, Clerk-Treasurer Courtney Udvare advised the council that it needed to consider ways to boost revenue, especially in coming years when the effects of property tax reforms take hold.
Porter’s Clerk-Treasurer Corinne Peffers said that Senate Enrolled Act 1 is “definitely going to have an impact.” However, she said it was the council’s decision alone to raise building and permit fees.
“We were overdue to look at our permit fees. It was just that time,” Peffers said.
Michael Barry, the town’s director of development and building superintendent, said that the fees will increase by about 18%. For instance, a new home costing $300,000 will now have $2,497.50 in building permit fees, up from $2,113.75.
Barry said it’s projected that the town will generate an additional $15,000 to $20,000 annually from the permit and fee increase.
Chesterton calculates building fee charges on a per-square-foot basis. So a 2,625-square-foot house will now cost $2,116.32 in fees, compared to $1,114.72 under the old fee structure. Chesterton’s new building and permit fee schedule takes effect in April.
Chesterton Town Engineer Mark O’Dell said that the town’s fees and permit charges had been significantly lower than other communities in Northwest Indiana.
Barry said that some of the biggest increases will come with the inspection fees.
Under the old structure, Porter charged a flat fee of $47. Barry said that he and the building inspector would sometimes spend hours on a property.
The new fee structure charges a $60 per hour rate, even if an inspector only spends a half-hour on the property.
Porter also borrowed from one section of Chesterton’s new building and permit ordinance, charging contractors or property owners more for failing to properly obtain a permit.
In Chesterton, a late permit will cost 50% more. In Porter, those caught for not properly getting a permit at first will pay 100% more.
Barry said he’s had to chase some roofing contractors over the years who have failed to obtain the proper permit before they began work.
The Porter Town Council on Feb. 10 is scheduled to vote on upping the penalties for nuisance and stormwater violations.
Barry said the new penalties are being enacted to coincide with the town’s passage of new rules dealing with nuisances and stormwater issues.
One of the big changes is the higher fees for repeated offenses. For instance, if someone is cited for the unsafe handling of fireworks for a second time, the fine jumps to $700 from $100.
Barry said the reason why he wanted such a high penalty is that it gives the town leverage in cases of repeat offenders.
“It’s supposed to be a deterrent more than anything else,” Barry said.
Jim Woods is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
Finlandia se recupera de virus estomacal para enfrentar a EEUU en hockey femenino
Por JOHN WAWROW
MILÁN (AP) — Es el momento del juego para Finlandia y Suiza en el torneo de hockey femenino en los Juegos Olímpicos de Milán-Cortina el sábado, después de que ambas naciones tuvieran que lidiar con un virus estomacal que afectó a las jugadoras.
Finlandia comenzó su partido contra Estados Unidos con un complemento completo de 20 patinadoras y dos porteras, dos días después de que el partido del equipo contra Canadá tuviera que ser pospuesto.
Finlandia debuta en el torneo después de que el partido programado para el jueves contra Canadá se pospusiera para el 12 de febrero. El aplazamiento se debió a que Finlandia tenía a 13 de sus 23 jugadoras en cuarentena debido a un norovirus que comenzó a afectar al equipo el martes por la noche.
El viernes, el entrenador de Finlandia, Tero Lehtera, dijo que su equipo iba a jugar contra Estados Unidos sin importar qué, después de una práctica en la que solo faltaron nueve jugadoras.
Suiza también anunció que se estaba preparando para jugar contra Canadá, un día después de revelar que una jugadora dio positivo por norovirus. Suiza abrió con una victoria por 4-3 en una tanda de penales sobre la República Checa el viernes.
Todo el equipo suizo pasó la noche del viernes en aislamiento y se saltó la ceremonia de apertura.
“El período de incubación ya ha pasado”, dijo el jefe médico de Suiza, Hanspeter Betschart, en un comunicado. “Desde una perspectiva médica, actualmente no hay preocupaciones sobre la realización del juego, siempre que no se presenten más jugadoras con síntomas”.
El equipo no reveló qué jugadora fue afectada. Suiza realizó una práctica de patinaje según lo programado el sábado. Seis patinadoras y dos porteras practicaron en lo que el equipo dijo que era una sesión opcional.
Los organizadores olímpicos minimizaron la importancia de los casos de virus.
“No es (un brote). No empecemos a hacer un punto sobre lo que actualmente son cinco atletas siendo atendidos”, dijo el sábado el director ejecutivo de los Juegos Olímpicos, Christophe Dubi. “Protocolos adecuados, realmente bien hechos”.
El portavoz del Comité Olímpico Internacional, Mark Adams, dijo que la directora médica del COI, Jane Thornton, no ve razón para sospechar que los casos en los dos equipos estén relacionados.
La portera de Alemania, Sandra Abstreiter, dijo que las jugadoras son muy conscientes del virus y están tomando precauciones, incluyendo acordar no darse la mano sin guantes después de los partidos. Eso fue evidente después de la victoria de Alemania por 5-2 sobre Japón, cuando cada equipo formó una línea y saludó a la multitud sin que los jugadores opuestos interactuaran entre sí.
“Creo que esa es la jugada inteligente en este momento. Y luego, obviamente, estamos desinfectando mucho. No estamos compartiendo cosas”, dijo Abstreiter. “Obviamente está en nuestras cabezas. Pero todavía tenemos que centrarnos en el hockey, obviamente. Y solo tenemos que dejar que nuestro equipo médico se encargue de eso”.
El entrenador de Alemania, Jeff MacLeod, dijo que los oficiales médicos del equipo han enfatizado que las jugadoras deben notificarles de inmediato al primer indicio de cualquier síntoma.
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Los escritores de deportes de AP James Ellingworth y Graham Dunbar contribuyeron a este informe.
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Deportes en español AP: https://apnews.com/hub/deportes
