Hidalgo

The federal government is now offering aid in Harris County and several other Southeast Texas communities that were impacted by a tornado that ripped across the region on Jan. 24. Tornado victims will be able to receive help from the U.S. Small Business Administration through its Physical Disaster and Economic Injury Disaster loan programs, Gov. Greg Abbott said in a news release Friday. Both businesses and residents can apply for these low-interest loans, added Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo in a statement on Twitter. One member of each household must be a U.S. citizen in order to be eligible. She directed online applicants to www.readyharris.org and disasterloanassistance.sba.gov for more information. People can also apply in person, beginning Tuesday, March 21, at the Disaster Loan Outreach Center at the John Phelps Courthouse Annex at 101 S. Richey St., Suite F, Pasadena. Another location for applicants will soon be available in Deer Park, Hidalgo said. "I know a … [Read more...] about Harris County tornado victims can now apply for federal aid

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 6 The Paris Olympics is going underground to find a way to keep athletes cool at the 2024 Games without air conditioners. Organizers are planning to use a water-cooling system under the Athletes Village — much like the one that has helped the Louvre Museum cope with the sweltering heat that broke records last year — to keep temperatures in check for the Olympians and Paralympians who stay there. The decision is part of the organizing committee’s goal to cut the carbon footprint of the Paris Games by half and stage the most sustainable Olympics to date by installing a special technology to use natural sources to keep everyone cool even during a potential heat wave. “I want the Paris Games to be exemplary from an environmental point of view,” said Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, who has resolved to tackle climate change with an ambitious action plan that aims to … [Read more...] about Paris aims to keep Olympians cool without air conditioners

MANILA, Philippines — Police arrested two individuals and seized P340,000 worth of crystal meth or “shabu” in an anti-illegal drug operation in Angeles City, Pampanga, said the Police Regional Office 3 (PRO3) on Friday. In a statement, PRO 3 said that Jesus Sarmiento and Michael Abbas were nabbed in a buy-bust operation conducted in Barangay Pulungbulu in Angeles City. Sarmiento and Abbas yielded 50 grams of meth, amounting to P340,000. “The suspects will be charged with violation of [Section 5 and 11, Article II of Republic Act] 9165 and are now being readied for filing in the court,” said the PRO3. Republic Act 9165 is the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 refers, with Section 5 and 11 referring to the possession and sale of illegal drugs. According to PRO3 police Director Jose Hidalgo Jr., the arrests of the suspects and the seized evidence indicated that illegal drugs were still being sold on the streets. “We assure our law-abiding citizens that your … [Read more...] about Cops nab 2 suspects, confiscate P340,000 worth of shabu in Pampanga

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO MABALACAT CITY, Pampanga — Policemen arrested a Chinese man and rescued two underage girls during an operation in the province’s capital city of San Fernando recently, the Central Luzon police said Thursday, March 2. In a belated report, Brigadier General Jose Hidalgo Jr., Police Regional Office 3 director, identified the suspect as Chaoping Tong, 60, a resident of Northville in Calulut village in San Fernando. Hidalgo said policemen managed to rescue the girls, but the pimp, identified as “Shine,” eluded arrest. The operation was conducted jointly by regional police operatives, city police, and city social welfare and development office representatives. Hidalgo said the rescued victims were taken to Camp Julian Olivas in San Fernando. He said the suspect would face charges of violating laws that protect women and children against physical and sexual abuse. “We are committed to doing everything in our authority to combat the insidious crimes … [Read more...] about Chinese man held for alleged human trafficking in Pampanga

Cartels are involved in so much crime and corruption legalising drugs would not stop them, according to a former US federal marshal . Robert Almonte, who spent 25 years in El Paso's Police Department, said that the two most powerful cartels in Mexico, Sinaloa and CJNG, are at war with each other. However, he added that battles between them is not just about drugs or human trafficking, it's about all types of criminal activity across the nation. READ MORE: 'Prankster ghost who pulled girls' hair in toilet convinced me supernatural is real' Speaking exclusively to the Daily Star, Robert says the cartels have a multi-billion dollar operation, ranging from low-level extortion up to tapping fuel lines. "They are extorting the street vendors to allow them to stay in business, and if they don’t pay the fee to the cartel, they get killed," he said. "Then there’s a lot of kidnapping going on, they make a lot of money by kidnapping people with money, holding them for … [Read more...] about Legalising drugs ‘won’t stop’ savage cartels as they go to war over ‘green gold’ fruit

FILE PHOTO: Senator Sherwin Gatchalian. Senate PRIB MANILA, Philippines — Kidnappings related to Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos) remain “unabated” even as authorities promised that criminalities tied to the industry have already been addressed, according to Senator Sherwin Gatchalian. Citing the report of the Senate committee on ways and means, panel chair Gatchalian said Tuesday that assurances given by the police had not curbed the incidence of Pogo-related kidnapping. The committee had been leading a series of hearings to weigh the socioeconomic impact of banning Pogos in the country in view of the spate of reported crimes involving the industry. Gatchalian took note of a letter dated March 9 sent to him by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to report another kidnapping purportedly involving a licensed Pogo. The letter, according to him, revealed that the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Philippines sought the assistance of the NBI in … [Read more...] about Kidnapping in Pogo industry still ‘unabated,’ says Gatchalian