Wednesday, February 15, 2012

6:32 PM 2/15/2012: US court dismisses Puerto Ricans' suit over arms testing - Reuters

US court dismisses Puerto Ricans' suit over arms testing - Reuters

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US court dismisses Puerto Ricans' suit over arms testing - Reuters
US court dismisses Puerto Ricans' suit over arms testing - Reuters
US court dismisses Puerto Ricans' suit over arms testingReutersBy Terry Baynes (Reuters) - Puerto Rican residents lost a bid on Tuesday to force the US government to recognize the health effects on the local population of testing of weapons and experimenting with chemicals on the island of Vieques for decades.and more »

 

U.S. court dismisses Puerto Ricans' suit over arms testing

Tue, Feb 14 2012

By Terry Baynes

(Reuters) - Puerto Rican residents lost a bid on Tuesday to force the U.S. government to recognize the health effects on the local population of testing of weapons and experimenting with chemicals on the island of Vieques for decades.

A U.S. appeals court in Boston ruled that the federal government has immunity from any lawsuit over its actions.

For about six decades after World War II, the U.S. Navy used a portion of Vieques as a weapons-testing ground and firing range, detonating bombs and experimenting with chemicals from napalm to Agent Orange and depleted uranium. The military abandoned the base in 2003 under political pressure.

Juanita Sanchez, a resident of the island, sued on behalf of her daughter and some 7,000 others in 2007. The suit accused the U.S. military of causing illnesses among inhabitants, including a 30 percent higher cancer rate compared to Puerto Rico's main island.

But the appeals court agreed with a lower court that had dismiss the case. Courts should be cautious about interfering with the exercise of military authority, Chief Judge Sandra Lynch wrote on behalf of two members of the three-judge panel.

The third judge, Juan Torruella, who comes from Puerto Rico, issued a vehement dissent. The government was aware of the toxic impact of its activities in 1979, he wrote. Its decision not to warn residents was not an exercise of judgment entitled to immunity, he added.

"Nowhere does the medieval concept of 'the King can do no wrong' underlying the doctrine of sovereign immunity sound more hollow and abusive than when an imperial power applies it to a group of helpless subjects. This cannot be a proper role for the United States of America," Torruella wrote.

All three judges agreed that the suit raised serious health concerns that should be brought to the attention of Congress. The opinion included an instruction for the court clerk to submit copies of the decision to leaders of the House of Representatives and Senate.

"Even the majority recognized the individuals here have not been well-treated," said Carter Phillips, the lawyer who represented the Vieques residents.

Charles Miller, a spokesman for the Department of Justice, declined to comment on the litigation.

(Editing by Greg McCune)

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6:16 PM 2/15/2012: Longtime Puerto Rico mayor charged with bribery - The Associated Press

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Longtime Puerto Rico mayor charged with bribery - The Associated Press

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Longtime Puerto Rico mayor charged with bribery - The Associated Press
Longtime Puerto Rico mayor charged with bribery - The Associated Press
Longtime Puerto Rico mayor charged with briberyThe Associated PressSAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — US prosecutors are accusing a longtime Puerto Rico mayor of accepting $55000 in bribes from developers. Barceloneta Mayor Sol Luis Fontanez was arrested Wednesday in a restaurant parking lot during lunchtime.

Longtime Puerto Rico mayor charged with bribery - CBS News

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Longtime Puerto Rico mayor charged with bribery - CBS News
Longtime Puerto Rico mayor charged with bribery - CBS News
Longtime Puerto Rico mayor charged with briberyCBS News(AP) SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — US prosecutors are accusing a longtime Puerto Rico mayor of accepting $55000 in bribes from developers. Barceloneta Mayor Sol Luis Fontanez was arrested Wednesday in a restaurant parking lot during lunchtime.and more »

US officials arrest longtime mayor of Puerto Rico coastal town for allegedly ......

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US officials arrest longtime mayor of Puerto Rico coastal town for allegedly ... - Washington Post
US officials arrest longtime mayor of Puerto Rico coastal town for allegedly ... - Washington Post
US officials arrest longtime mayor of Puerto Rico coastal town for allegedly ...Washington PostSAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — A longtime Puerto Rico mayor was arrested in a restaurant parking lot Wednesday and accused by federal prosecutors of accepting $55000 in bribes from developers. Sol Luis Fontanez, who has been mayor of the US territory's ...Longtime Puerto Rico mayor charged with briberyKansas City Starall 77 news articles »

Sports Illustrated has pegged Puerto Rican shortstop Carlos Correa as the top hi...

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Sports Illustrated has pegged Puerto Rican shortstop Carlos Correa as the top hi...
Sports Illustrated has pegged Puerto Rican shortstop Carlos Correa as the top hi...
Sports Illustrated has pegged Puerto Rican shortstop Carlos Correa as the top high school baseball prospect in the United States. http://ow.ly/94hNBPR baseball prospect among tops in US - caribbeanbusiness.prow.lyPuerto Rico's #1 news and information website in English

Da Puerto Rican Food Truck @DaPRFT expands Maui Foodie ...

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Da Puerto Rican Food Truck @DaPRFT expands Maui Foodie ...
Da Puerto Rican Food Truck @DaPRFT expands Maui Foodie ...
When Mauians think of Puerto Rican food, they tend to gravitate towards the pastele. You seen them sold on the side of the road. You many not even know what a pastele is or that it's even Puerto Rican food, but the name is ...

UnitedHealth Group’s Optum business is launching a service that allows doctors t...

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UnitedHealth Group’s Optum business is launching a service that allows doctors t...
UnitedHealth Group’s Optum business is launching a service that allows doctors t...
UnitedHealth Group’s Optum business is launching a service that allows doctors to share information about patients over the Internet, as health care companies continue their push to improve care with better coordination. http://ow.ly/94hKZUnitedHealth: New info service for MDs - caribbeanbusiness.prow.lyPuerto Rico's #1 news and information website in English

Cowgirls Finish Third In Puerto Rico - Oklahoma State Athletics

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Cowgirls Finish Third In Puerto Rico - Oklahoma State Athletics
Cowgirls Finish Third In Puerto Rico - Oklahoma State Athletics
Oklahoma State AthleticsCowgirls Finish Third In Puerto RicoOklahoma State AthleticsRIO GRANDE, Puerto Rico - Oklahoma State's women's golf team wrapped up its first event of the spring on Tuesday with a third-place showing at the Lady Puerto Rico Classic after carding a 300 during its third round at Rio Mar Country Club.Women's Golf Takes 15th at Lady Puerto Rico ClassicGoPSUsports.comGonzalez-Escallon Ties School Record At Lady Puerto Rico ClassicPurdue BoilermakersLSU edges Georgia...

2012 Puerto Rico Heineken JazzFest | Discovering Puerto Rico

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2012 Puerto Rico Heineken JazzFest | Discovering Puerto Rico
2012 Puerto Rico Heineken JazzFest | Discovering Puerto Rico
The 22nd edition of the Puerto Rico Heineken JazzFest will be held from March 30 – April 1 at the Tito Puente Amphitheater.

New on Home Video: "Take Shelter" from "The Rum Diary" - NBC4 Washington (blog)

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New on Home Video: "Take Shelter" from "The Rum Diary" - NBC4 Washington (blog)
New on Home Video: "Take Shelter" from "The Rum Diary" - NBC4 Washington (blog)
New on Home Video: "Take Shelter" from "The Rum Diary"NBC4 Washington (blog)Read our theatrical review and watch the trailer Johnny Depp again does his Hunter S. Thompson impersonation for this film based on the writer's book about an American journalist living in 1950s Puerto Rico who falls for the girlfriend of a dirty real ...and more »

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