Archive for September, 2007

Vice President Resigns in Wake of Scandal

Monday, September 24th, 2007

by Rod Hughes
(See post 1336) Second Vice President Kevin Casas resigned Saturday from both his elected post and from his appointed one as Minister of Planning. The daily newspaper Al Dia headlined the story, “Casas Sinks in Political Storm” and pundits opined that his shipwreck might mean the end […]

Saprissa, Puntarenas Disappoint Coaches

Friday, September 21st, 2007

by Rod Hughes
Is that a gnashing of teeth we hear from Tibás?
Must be the reaction of Saprissa fans to Wednesday’s 1-1 tie with Puntarenas in the port city’s home stadium.
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Lackluster Alajuela Ties in Tourney, 0-0

Friday, September 21st, 2007

by Rod Hughes
A listless Alajuela made its path to the championship of the Uncaf Cup for regional soccer clubs more difficult last night by a scoreless tie with Real Espana of Honduras. This puts Real Espana in good shape with the next game in its home stadium.
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CAFTA Maneuvering Turns Frenetic

Friday, September 21st, 2007

by Rod Hughes
Posturing and strategy heated up this week as the campaigns for and against the Central American Free Trade Treaty (CAFTA) heated up to a fever pitch as the Oct. 7 referendum nears. A hot exchange in the Legislative Assemby between Oscar Lopez, a deputy representing a one-man delegation, […]

Parents of Murder Victim Ask Indemnity

Thursday, September 20th, 2007

by Rod Hughes
UPDATE>–(See articles 1301, 1343 for background) The parents of murder victim Maureen Hidalgo, Vera Mora and Miguel Hidalgo, asked the courts Tuesday to grant them some $261,000 as indemnity in the equivalent of the wrongful death suit won by the Goldman family against O. J. Simpson. But […]

Cycling Federation Suspends Rojas

Thursday, September 20th, 2007

by Rod Hughes
The Costa Rican Cycling Federation may be a trifle slow, does not fool around when it comes to doping. The board has suspended bicyle racer Juan Carlos Rojas for two years after he tested positive for using a prohibited substance in the Tour of El […]

Burgos Trial: Prosecution Sums Up

Wednesday, September 19th, 2007

by Rod Hughes
Prosecuting Attorney Miguel Abarca has a flair for the dramatic. His final summation in the murder trial of Luis Ferando Burgos, accused of murdering his wife, Maureen Hidalgo, (see newsfed 1301) opened with a slide show.
The first on the screen was a photo […]

New Technology vs. Old Wiring

Tuesday, September 18th, 2007

by Rod Hughes
In the Bible, Christ speaks of putting new wine in old wineskins. The reference is symbolic but the upshot is that it doesn’t work. Recently RACSA, the country’s Internet monopoly, found out that putting new technology in old wiring doesn’t, either.
RACSA and JASEC, […]

Ban on Fake Marriages Blocked

Tuesday, September 18th, 2007

by Rod Hughes
That bill to ban fake marriages in order to obtain Costa Rican residency visas (see newsfeed 1312) is being blocked in the Legislative Assembly by a large, stubborn obstacle—the bruised ego of Oscar Lopez, the sole representative in congress of the miniscule Access without Exclusion Party.
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Officials Hope to Speed Impact Studies

Monday, September 17th, 2007

by Rod Hughes
Although developers and environmentalists are often on opposite sides of an ideologican fence, both emphatically agree on one point: The Environment Ministry system that approves or rejects environmental impact studies just does not work. But that may change, the English-language weekly The Tico Times reported recently.
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