As a part of a campaign by the police force, 1000 students marched through Quepos to warn child molestors about trying to exploit minors in the area. The regional director Juan José Andrade stated that the campaign will run through September 23rd in 8 other communities.

350 police officers received training in order to combat the predators.

The Dos Pinos Plant in San Carlos officially received its ISO 14001:2004 certification on Thursday. This is the first plant in Central America to receive the honor. The company invested 1.5 billion colones in upgrades. (about U$ 3.1 million)

The University of Costa Rica announced that it will admit 7000 students in March of next year. The beating the recent high of 6600 in 2000. The 7000 is 1400 more than last year, when 5600 students signed up for classes, less than the 6005 students received in 2004.

Rodrigo Arias Sánchez testified Thursday that he that he never has participated in any such act. He is the brother of former, and possibly future, president Óscar Arias Sánchez.

The question of influence trafficking related to the trash contract between the Municipalidad de San José and the Canadian firm, EBI. The Special Legistlative commission of Public Spending and Income is investigating allegations of payoffs to city officials when the contract was negotiated in 2001.

Arias said he has done nothing wrong, only that he was consulted on the contract in his capacity as a lawyer. He is under investigation for a call he made in June of 2001 to the Comptroller to consult on the contract. The exminister emphasized that he never pressured the Comptroller and the discussion was legitimate.

By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

The Tribunal Penal de Heredia has overturned a decision that reduced the criminal charges facing the Rev. Minor Calvo and businessman Omar Chávez. The decision opens the way for a trial date to be set for the two men and seven other persons facing allegations from the murder of radio host Parmenio Medina in 2001.

The press office of the Poder Judicial said that charges of fraud and conspiracy had been reinstated against the two men. They also face other charges.

The pair directed the operations of Radio María, a religious radio station that was heavily criticized by Medina in his own radio show on another station. A judge threw out the two charges against the men but the Ministerio Público appealed successfully to have them reinstated.

Prosecutors allege that the priest and the businessman were the intellectual authors of the murder of Medina. He was shot down near his Heredia home. Prosecutors have identified the seven other persons as assailants and middlemen.

Radio María was ordered off the air May 30, 2001, by the the conference of bishops. Parmenio Medina died a short time later. He had exposed irregularities in the operation of the station and had meetings on the topic with church officials.

Today, from 9 am to 5 pm the people will have their say as to whether or not they want a hydroelectric dam on the Pacuare river. The mayor, Marvin Orocú predicted a turnout of 10,000 voters out of 47,000 eligible.

The question is “Do you agree that the Municipal Government should approve permits for the construction of hydroelectric plants on the Pacuare River?”

Yesterday, maintenance in several AyA water tanks left 250 thousand people in the capital without water. The affected places were Alajuelita, Zapote, Cordova district and the center of San José.

Due to the suspension, the Solón Núñez and Carlos Durán clinics had to ask AyA to supply water for their necessities.

Luis Manuel Alvarado, director of the Metropolitan Area, explained that to the maintenance work was necessary and required shutting off several water sources. Alvarado projected that the service would be restoredbetween 6 and 7 p.m.

70 thousand vehicles are circulating “illegally” because they have never passed the technical inspection. They are at risk of getting a fine of ¢13 thousand from Transit Police.

Some users interviewed said that “the spare parts are very expensive” and that “the constant increases in the gasoline” force to leave them their vehicles at home, so for those reasons they don’t go to the inspection.

Other stats:
41% of cars are rejected on the first inspection.
15 of 100 vehicles that are rejected for faulty brakes.
50% of the cars inspected in Limón are rejected.
8 of 10 cars they have suspension problems. (surprise!)