health: Lincoln Tribune

الجمعة، 14 أكتوبر 2011

Lincoln Tribune

Seven inmates die during prison fight in northern Mexico
Michigan police officer and two suspects during car chase
Iraqi authorities assume full control of Baghdad airspace
Occupy Wall Street Neighbors: ‘We’re Under Siege’
Occupy Wall Street Neighbors: ‘We’re Under Siege’

Seven inmates die during prison fight in northern Mexico

Posted: 14 Oct 2011 03:02 AM PDT

MONTERREY, MEXICO (BNO NEWS) -- Seven people were killed on Thursday when a prison fight involving dozens of inmates broke out at a prison in northern Mexico, officials said on Friday. At least a dozen others were injured.

The fight involving some 60 inmates broke out at the Cadereyta Prison which is located in the city which carries the same name in the northern state of Nuevo Leon. Security forces were finally able to stop the fight about an hour after it had begun.

State Public Security spokesman Jorge Domene Zambrano said the fight began when group 'A' inmates, which consists of inmates considered 'highly dangerous' and many of whom are linked to organized crime, confronted group 'B' inmates, who are considered 'moderately dangerous.'

Authorities have already begun reviewing the surveillance video recorded during the fight to determine the initial cause. Some of the inmates' mattresses were set on fire at the beginning of the fight, but authorities are not ruling out that they could have been lit up in order to distract prison security officials.

The State's Attorney General Office identified four of the seven fatalities as Saul Quintero Martinez, Florentino Moreno Castillo, Juan Antonio Molina Flores and Jose Alfredo Gonzalez Jimenez. In addition, at least twelve others were seriously injured by sharp weapons and were receiving medical treatment.

Combined security forces including personnel from the Federal Police, Civil Force, Civil Protection and Firefighters were deployed to the prison where they are on high alert and carrying out a search throughout the facility for sharp weapons and firearms that could have been used during the fight.

According to preliminary reports, some of those involved in the fighting were linked to the leader of a kidnapping gang which had been arrested in 2009. As a result, the investigation is focusing on the death of Hector Fernandez Garza Garcia, also known as 'La Pechuga,' who authorities identified as the gang leader who operated in the prison.

Prison outbreaks and prison riots occur frequently in Mexico. In late July, seventeen people were killed when a group of prisoners in Ciudad Juarez broke into another area of the prison and assaulted thirteen of their rival inmates.

Mexico has been struggling to cope with an influx of criminals as President Felipe Calderón continues with his campaign against organized crime and drug cartels. According to government figures, a total of 15,273 drug-related crimes occurred in Mexico in 2010, while more than 42,000 people have died in drug-related violence since the campaign began in December 2006.

Michigan police officer and two suspects during car chase

Posted: 14 Oct 2011 02:52 AM PDT

GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN (BNO NEWS) -- Two bank robbery suspects and a police officer were killed on late Thursday morning during a car chase in Michigan, local media reported on Friday.

The Choice One Bank in Ravenna, a village in eastern Muskegon County, was robbed at around 10:45 a.m. local time on Thursday. It evolved into a car chase shortly after as police tried to apprehend the suspects, WZZM 13 reported.

Police began chasing the bank robbery suspects on eastbound I-96 before turning westbound near Alpine. During the car chase, Walker Police Officer Trevor Slot, 41, was placing stop sticks on the road when he was hit by the speeding vehicle driven by the bank robbers. He died due to the impact from the car.

The suspects were later stopped at approximately 11:20 a.m. local time after fleeing for around 35 minutes following the bank robbery. Near 8th avenue and I-96 in Marne, police officers shot and killed both suspects.

Muskegon Prosecutor Tony Tague said the bank robbers were armed with at least one long rifle, adding that they might be suspects in other robberies in the area.

The Northview Public Schools expressed deep sadness over the death of Officer Slot, a father of two. His wife Kim teaches at the Crossroads Middle Schools. "We have activated our district crisis team which will be available for students and staff," the schools said.

Iraqi authorities assume full control of Baghdad airspace

Posted: 13 Oct 2011 06:43 PM PDT

BAGHDAD (BNO NEWS) -- The U.S. Air Force has transferred the management of airspace covering the Iraqi capital to national authorities, U.S. officials said on Thursday. Iraqi authorities are now responsible for all domestic airspace.

The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad said the U.S. Air Force transferred the management of the Baghdad/Balad Airspace sector to the Iraq Civil Aviation Authority (ICAA) on October 1. "Iraq's air traffic controllers are now directing the movement of all aircraft within the area, the busiest and most complex airspace in Iraq," the Embassy said in a statement.

With the transfer of the Baghdad/Balad Airspace sector, Iraqi authorities have assumed full air traffic control responsibility for the country's airspace for the first time since 2003, when a U.S.-led invasion led to the ouster of Saddam Hussein's regime.

American and British civilian trainers have prepared the ICAA air traffic controllers in Baghdad and at Iraq's five other international airports since the opening of the Baghdad Area Control Center in August 2007.

"Many international commercial airlines have already re-established service to Iraq," the U.S. Embassy said. "Although much work remains to be done in order to improve Iraq's aviation support and communications infrastructure systems, the ICAA has taken a significant step forward in providing an essential service to the people of Iraq, contributing to the security and stability of the nation, and facilitating trade and travel for a more prosperous future."

Less than 50,000 U.S. troops remain in Iraq, nearly nine years since the U.S.-led war began on March 20, 2003. According to a security agreement between Baghdad and Washington, all U.S. forces will be withdrawn by the end of 2011.

Occupy Wall Street Neighbors: ‘We’re Under Siege’

Posted: 13 Oct 2011 06:38 PM PDT

The Occupy Wall Street protest in lower Manhattan has not actually occupied the street that is synonymous with American finance, but rather a park several blocks away. The area's small business owners and residents feel under siege.

Virtually constant drumming from mid-morning until late at night, for nearly a month now. Neighbors are not pleased. Steven Abramson is among them.

"There are families in this building with young children,' he said. "There are some older people who live here as well that would like some peace and quiet."

"We are here to support a movement! Drumming helps that movement." said a drummer.

This drummer is reacting to yet another request by residents to stop. He refuses, saying drums are the heartbeat of a movement aimed at helping all Americans, including nearby apartment residents.

Many protesters say they understand the plight of the locals, just as many residents and shopkeepers say they support the movement. Nonetheless, neighbors complain their grievances are ignored. Stacey Tzortzatos and her husband own the Panini and Company Café across the street from the protest park.

"Somebody told me yesterday, well, I'm just collateral damage, because of my location," said Stacey Tzortzatos. "I shouldn't be collateral damage."

Despite all of the people in the park, nearby restaurant owners complain business is down. Tzortzatos says one reason is the police barricades that block access through the park for customers. Even food vendors in the park say tourists are doing most of the buying because protesters enjoy donated food. Sean Harper, a protest volunteer, dismisses the concerns of business owners.

"They have the right to not like it, but we have a right to deliver free food to the people," said protest volunteer, Sean Harper. "That's what we're doing. If that's an effect, it's an effect."

The lobby of Steven Abramson's apartment building is pungent with the smell of disinfectant to disguise the stench of urine outside. He says some protesters relieve themselves in the area at night. The problem - no portable toilets at the park.

"There's a lot of people across the street - hundreds of people, but out of the hundreds of people, maybe 10 will come and eat here," said Tzortzatos. "Other times, they just want to use the facilities and wash themselves and brush their teeth and take showers in the restroom."

Many nearby restaurants have closed their restrooms. Owners say their facilities are not equipped to handle so many people.

Unsanitary conditions prompted New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg to order the park closed in stages on Friday for a cleanup. Bloomberg says the city is trying to protect the rights of protesters, as well as the rights of people who live and work in the area.