Latest news with #H.B.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Yahoo
Confidential Informant Whacked by MS-13 in South L.A. While on Phone with FBI Handler
Three members of the Mara Salvatrucha-13 transnational street gang – one of them an illegal alien from El Salvador – have been hit with federal charges for carrying out a "greenlight," or murder contract on one of their own who flipped and was working for the FBI, a cold-blooded assassination that was heard live by the informant's Anaya Urias, 26, of South Los Angeles, and Grevil Zelaya Santiago, 25, of South Los Angeles, are charged via federal complaint with murder in aid of racketeering, a felony that carries a mandatory sentence of life in federal prison and a possible death sentence. Roberto Carlos Aguilar, 30, of South Los Angeles, is charged in a separate federal criminal complaint with murder in aid of racketeering, prosecutors say. The murder of Herlyn Barrientos, 47, who had been caught up in massive federal sweep targeting MS-13 meth dealers in 2023 and then began cooperating with the government, took place on February 18. When Barrientos was released from prison he began informing on members of his clique, which meant his "status as a government cooperator was well known by MS-13," prosecutors say. The notoriously savage gang reserves its most brutal bloodletting for informants, which is why Barrientos was terrified when he ran into his former criminal compatriots, Urias and Santiago, at a South Los Angeles grocery store. Barrientos was being hunted by the gang, another MS-13 member who agreed to cooperate with the FBI, and that the "greenlight" had been issued against Barrientos upon his release from prison, a clear indicator that he had struck a deal. Orders had been given to that MS-13 member to: "clean out my garbage, you understand?''That work you cannot say no to,' the gang member added, according to the FBI affidavit. MS-13 would get a chance to carry out that hit around 7 p.m. on Feb. 18 when Barrientos pulled into Superior Grocers at Figueroa and 91st Streets in South L.A. and went three men confronted Barrientos, who was wearing a court-ordered ankle bracelet, in the produce section. Words were exchanged, the men walked off, according to the affidavit, and a panicked Barrientos first called 911 saying he had been confronted, telling the dispatcher: the man who had the pistol was about 20 years old, dressed in all black, with a handkerchief covering his face; and a second Latino man with long hair was also armed. Then he called his FBI handler, who heard the rat-a-tat of gunfire while his informant was on the phone. The other end went silent and the FBI agent stayed on the line calling Barrientos name until he heard the distant tone of police sirens."I heard through the telephone several gunshots and H.B. stopped responding to me. Soon after, I heard what sounded like police and emergency medical services arriving at H.B.'s location," the agent wrote. The death of an informant desperately calling for help strikes at the heart of law enforcement, especially one providing information on the deadly transnational gang MS-13. "During the evening of February 18, the victim made two telephone calls to authorities and said he was at a grocery store in South Los Angeles where MS-13 members had just tried to kill him," prosecutors concede. "He said he had been talking with MS-13 members when a man whose face was covered approached and tried to shoot him, but the gun did not fire.""At one point during the second telephone call, several gunshots were heard," by the FBI agent, prosecutors say. Carrying out a greenlight, especially against an informant, elevated the standing of the alleged hitmen, Aguilar, Urias and Santiago, according to court documents. MS-13 was formed in Los Angeles in the mid-1980s, and the street gang is now comprised of tens of thousands of individuals in at least 10 states and several Central American countries, most notably El Salvador. In the mid-1990s, Mara Salvatrucha became associated with the Mexican Mafia and added the number 13 to its name. As MS-13's numbers swelled in Los Angeles and El Salvador, MS-13 members also traveled to, and settled in, other cities and areas in the United States, including New York, Virginia, Maryland, and Texas," federal prosecutors say. There have been major takedowns of the gang, including an infiltration by a cooperating informant in Boston that led to arrests at the gang's highest levels, and an active greenlight that includes the witness, his wife, and young baby. But the gang continues to flourish in southern California. The alleged MS-13 hitmen accused of assassinating Barrientos are being held without bail and will be back in a federal courtroom on June 3.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Officials approve sweeping ban on controversial food packaging: 'If the feds aren't gonna do it, we're gonna do it'
If you've ever gotten takeout from a restaurant, there's a good chance that at some point, your food was packaged into a Styrofoam container. While Styrofoam is effective at being a lightweight, protective packaging material and a great insulator, it has long been the target of environmental groups. However, for folks in Montana, single-use Styrofoam food containers may soon be a thing of the past. House Bill 477 was introduced by representative Marilyn Marler. The bill refers to Styrofoam as a "material that causes environmental harm and poses a threat to fish and wildlife." According to the bill, "Styrofoam threatens the right of each Montanan to a clean and healthful environment." The bill would ban the use of Styrofoam containers in the food industry by 2030. This includes the use of containers used to serve or package food from restaurants and food establishments. Meaning everything from coffee cups, plates, and trays would soon be phased out in the state. As reported by the Daily Montanan, H.B. 477 passed in the Montana House of Representatives in March with a vote of 56 to 44. In April, the bill was passed in the Senate by just two votes. Styrofoam, or expanded polystyrene, can take a very long time to properly decompose in landfills. Some estimates suggest it could take 500 years or more. The decomposition process is not a complete breakdown but rather a fragmentation into smaller and smaller pieces, potentially leading to microplastics. Microplastics have been reported to have the ability to accumulate in various food sources, including marine life and mammals. This can carry pollutants and toxins to humans. While the specific health effects in humans are still being researched, studies suggest potential risks such as gastrointestinal issues, inflammation, and disruption of endocrine and reproductive systems. Senator Daniel Zolnikov, one of the most vocal proponents of H.B. 477, emphasized the importance of the bill. "We have chemicals in our food, we have chemicals touching our food, we are being poisoned in more ways than we know," Zolnikov said, per the Daily Montanan. "This is an easy way to say if the feds aren't gonna do it, we're gonna do it. We're gonna phase it out." Should the government ban gas stoves? Yes Only in new buildings Only in restaurants No way Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Legislation introduced to repeal cap on state police hires in Pa.
Whether you're interested in working in law enforcement, with animals or as a musician, the Pennsylvania State Police may offer the right role — and they need more officers, says the state. State Sen. Marty Flynn, D-22, Dunmore believes his newly introduced legislation to remove a cap on the number of state police is an answer to Gov. Josh Shapiro's budget address. S.B. 641 will 'repeal the statutory limit on the number of police,' allowing the Pennsylvania State Police to 'hire the number of troopers that they see fit,' Flynn said. * Sen. Marty Flynn, D-22, of Dunmore, introduced legislation removing a hiring cap for Pennsylvania State Police. * Pennsylvania State Police Pennsylvania State Police barracks at Dunmore. Show Caption 1 of 2 Sen. Marty Flynn, D-22, of Dunmore, introduced legislation removing a hiring cap for Pennsylvania State Police. Expand 'The complement in 2002 was like 4,700, and then in 2023 it went to 4,800, but they're still running close to the complement where we need more troopers,' Flynn said in a phone interview with The Times-Tribune. According to a memo presented by Flynn, 'the last major increase in trooper complement occurred in 2002, and was capped at 4,741.' 'The population growth of Pennsylvania has increased by about 5% between 2002 and 2025,' Flynn explained in the public document. 'Simply based on population, the complement of PSP troopers should have increased by approximately 237. Instead, the General Assembly has only allowed for one increase since then, in 2023, by 100 additional troopers.' In that time, Flynn said, state police responsibilities 'have only increased,' with the addition of 65 municipalities being included to their coverage area, along with 55 new legislatively mandated duties. According to a legislative informational document issued in 2019 by the House Appropriations Committee, two-thirds of local full- or part-time police coverage in the state is primarily managed by the state, not by municipalities. Per the map provided in the report, about one-third to half of Lackawanna County at the time was depicted as being covered by state police, with about a third or so of Luzerne County under state police jurisdiction. Flynn said a similar bill, H.B. 1280, passed unanimously in the 2023-2024 House Judiciary Committee, full House of Representatives, and Senate Law and Justice Committee, would allow for hiring 'probably over 100 or 200 more, possibly.' Even with passage of the updated, bipartisan legislation — co-sponsored by state Sen. Lisa Baker, R-20, of Lehman Twp., among others — the difficulty will lie in the hiring, Flynn said. 'The challenge is filing the spots, though, it's hard to get people,' he said. 'Our law enforcement has taken hits over the past couple years. When you do that to law enforcement, it makes it where people don't want to go into that field.' He called a career in law enforcement 'a noble profession.' 'We really want to see people go into that profession. It's a great job, it's a great career,' he said. 'Though dangerous, some people find it very rewarding.' Flynn recalled his own history working in law enforcement, having served as a prison guard in Lackawanna County from 2002 to 2012. Myles Snyder, the communications director for the Pennsylvania State Police, agreed the profession is noble. 'Police officers and troopers face more public scrutiny than they have probably ever,' Snyder said. 'For the men and women who sign up to do it now, it's even more noble to have to stand in the face of public scrutiny at all times … and still remain professional, courteous to the people they serve, to the people they're sworn to protect, is incredibly noble.' While Snyder noted it's department policy to not comment on pending legislation, he spoke at length about the benefits of becoming a state police officer, including excellent pay and benefits, and learning opportunities. He described the wealth of avenues available to those who choose to pursue a career working with the sate police. 'It can be crime, tactical, helicopter pilot, canine handling, forensics, office of community engagement,' he said, explaining the department works to 'build bridges, relationships between our communities and state police.' 'Media relations and community service officers who handle school programs' are among state police options, he said, plus 'run-hide-fight, prom safety, stranger danger, and the RVAT team,' who assess churches, schools and other organizations to determine how to mitigate security risks. He further added there are careers working with bomb squads, special emergency response teams and administration, and even music — for example, in a ceremonial unit playing bagpipes, drums or bugle. Regarding more state police covering municipalities, Snyder said 'it fluctuates.' 'A small municipality township may have a one- or two-person police force — someone retires or maybe injured — can't cover all shifts, so we would come in and assist part time, no charge,' Snyder said. 'If their department closed, and they didn't have anyone to cover them immediately, say, through a merger of police departments … they may hire six months, a year or so after, and then that would return to municipal police coverage.' Snyder encouraged those interested in the cadet selection process — including information on pay, duties, benefits and requirements — to visit
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
New Mexico set to become third state to implement full PFAS product ban
New Mexico is poised to become the third state to institute a full-fledged ban on products that contain toxic 'forever chemicals,' as two key bills head to the governor's desk. The concurrent pieces of legislation, which have both passed through the state Legislature, would prohibit most items that contain these compounds, while also deeming specific types of discarded firefighting foam as hazardous waste. The chemicals in question, called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), are notorious for their propensity to linger in the human body and in the environment. Linked to various types of cancers and other serious illnesses, PFAS are found in numerous household products, as well as in certain kinds of firefighting foam. The first bill, H.B. 212, would ban products that contain intentionally added PFAS and would authorize the state's Environmental Improvement Board to adopt relevant rules. Starting on Jan. 1, 2027, manufacturers would not be able to sell or distribute cookware, food packaging, dental floss and juvenile products that have intentionally added PFAS. The same would apply to carpets, cleaning fluids, cosmetics, fabric treatments, menstrual products, textiles, ski wax and upholstered furniture on Jan. 1, 2028. With respect to pesticides, fertilizers and other agricultural materials — many of which contain PFAS — the Environmental Improvement Board would consult with the New Mexico Department of Agriculture before setting rules on these subjects. There would be some exceptions to the prospective ban, such as those items that the board has determined 'to be essential for health, safety or the functioning of society and for which alternatives are not reasonably available.' The accompanying piece of legislation, H.B. 140, focuses on a range of chemicals, including PFAS, and provides new clarity on the meaning of the term 'hazardous waste.' The bill would redefine hazardous waste as 'any solid waste or combination of solid wastes' that because of its amount, concentration or characteristics could 'cause or significantly contribute to an increase in mortality or an increase in serious irreversible or incapacitating reversible illness.' Among the specific hazardous waste items mentioned is 'discarded aqueous film-forming foam containing intentionally added [PFAS].' If Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) signs the two bills as anticipated, New Mexico would become the third state to implement a near-complete prohibition on PFAS-containing products. The state would follow in the footsteps of Maine and Minnesota, which passed their respective laws in 2021 and 2023. Numerous other states have approved legislation forbidding PFAS in certain product categories, rather than instituting bans across the board. While the three-year price of preventing PFAS pollution via such a ban would climb to about $2.8 million, the cost of removing and destroying just one pound of PFAS from water could be up to $18 million, according to an analysis of the legislation from the New Mexico Environment Department. 'With approximately 1,100 public drinking water systems in New Mexico serving 94 percent of our residents, preventing contamination is the only affordable means of securing our drinking water supply,' the analysis concluded. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
27-03-2025
- Health
- The Hill
New Mexico set to become third state to implement full PFAS product ban
New Mexico is poised to become the third state to institute a full-fledged ban on products that contain toxic 'forever chemicals,' as two key bills head to the governor's desk. The concurrent pieces of legislation, which have both passed through the state Legislature, would prohibit most items that contain these compounds, while also deeming specific types of discarded firefighting foam as hazardous waste. The chemicals in question, called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), are notorious for their propensity to linger in the human body and in the environment. Linked to various types of cancers and other serious illnesses, PFAS are found in numerous household products, as well as in certain kinds of firefighting foam. The first bill, H.B. 212, would ban products that contain intentionally added PFAS and would authorize the state's Environmental Improvement Board to adopt relevant rules. Starting on Jan. 1, 2027, manufacturers would not be able to sell or distribute cookware, food packaging, dental floss and juvenile products that have intentionally added PFAS. The same would apply to carpets, cleaning fluids, cosmetics, fabric treatments, menstrual products, textiles, ski wax and upholstered furniture on Jan. 1, 2028. With respect to pesticides, fertilizers and other agricultural materials — many of which contain PFAS — the Environmental Improvement Board would consult with the New Mexico Department of Agriculture before setting rules on these subjects. There would be some exceptions to the prospective ban, such as those items that the board has determined 'to be essential for health, safety or the functioning of society and for which alternatives are not reasonably available.' The accompanying piece of legislation, H.B. 140, focuses on a range of chemicals, including PFAS, and provides new clarity on the meaning of the term 'hazardous waste.' The bill would redefine hazardous waste as 'any solid waste or combination of solid wastes' that because of its amount, concentration or characteristics could 'cause or significantly contribute to an increase in mortality or an increase in serious irreversible or incapacitating reversible illness.' Among the specific hazardous waste items mentioned is 'discarded aqueous film-forming foam containing intentionally added [PFAS].' If Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) signs the two bills as anticipated, New Mexico would become the third state to implement a near-complete prohibition on PFAS-containing products. The state would follow in the footsteps of Maine and Minnesota, which passed their respective laws in 2021 and 2023. Numerous other states have approved legislation forbidding PFAS in certain product categories, rather than instituting bans across the board. While the three-year price of preventing PFAS pollution via such a ban would climb to about $2.8 million, the cost of removing and destroying just one pound of PFAS from water could be up to $18 million, according to an analysis of the legislation from the New Mexico Environment Department. 'With approximately 1,100 public drinking water systems in New Mexico serving 94 percent of our residents, preventing contamination is the only affordable means of securing our drinking water supply,' the analysis concluded.
