Milwaukee Mexican Consulate To Open In Wisconsin

José de Jesús Cabrera Sandoval

The Mexican government has approved a Mexican Consulate in Milwaukee. 

By H. Nelson Goodson

August 13, 2014

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Tuesday, José de Jesús Cabrera Sandoval, 42, an advisor for the Institute for Mexicans Abroad confirmed to Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) that the Mexican government has decided to open a Milwaukee Mexican Consulate in Wisconsin. The new Mexican Consulate in Milwaukee will be independent from the Chicago Mexican Consulate on Ashland. Cabrera Sandoval says, that it will take between six to eight months to find a location in Milwaukee once a petition is signed by Eduardo Medina-Mora Icaza, Mexico's Ambassador to the U.S.; Dr. Sergio M. Alcocer Martínez de Castro, the Undersecretary of North America, Mexico's Secretariat of Foreign Relations; Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker (R). The U.S. State Department will get the petition and the Mexican Consulate will begin operating in Wisconsin, according to Cabrera Sandoval.

The Milwaukee Mexican Consulate (MMC) is expected to relieve the congestion that the Chicago Mexican Consulate (CMC) is experiencing per year. Mexican nationals seeking services (legal documents, passports, La Matricula ID and ect.) from the CMC have to make an appointment and might take weeks or months to be seen. The CMC is a major source for generating revenue for Mexico from services rendered to Mexican nationals in the tri-state area. After all expenses and payroll is paid out to staff, including consuls, the CMC has about $8M in profit left annually. Which, the Mexican government helps fund other less revenue generating consulates in the U.S.

Cabrera Sandoval, who was elected in September 2011 for a three year term (2012 - 2014) as an advisor for the Advisory Council (Consejo Consultivo) to the Institute for Mexicans Abroad (Instituto de los Mexicanos en el Exterior, IME) had campaigned and vowed that he would work to open a Mexican Consulate in Wisconsin. Cabrera Sandoval has accomplished in his term what others before him had attempted to do for more than 40 years, since the Mexican community began to advocate for a consulate in Milwaukee. 

Zamarripa Defeats Manriquez For Democratic Nomination In The 8th Assembly District

JoCasta Zamarripa confirmed her win among supporters during her victory party at the South Side Tres Hermanos Restaurant.

Democratic incumbent State Representative Zamarripa facing challenger, Republican Synowicz in the November General Election.

By H. Nelson Goodson

August 13, 2014

Milwaukee, WI - On Tuesday, incumbent State Representative JoCasta Zamarripa defeated challenger Laura Manriquez for the Democratic nomination to run against Republican Vincent Synowicz in the November 4 General Election. Zamarripa received 62% (619 votes) and Manriquez got (38%) 378 votes on Tuesday. Manriquez became ill at the initial of the primary campaign and didn't do much campaigning other than posting comments to get out the vote on her Facebook account. 

Zamarripa at her victory party said, that the primary election actually increased the Hispanic vote in the 8th Assembly District by 24% compared to the 2012 election. She vowed to continue her quest to introduce legislation for undocumented immigrant driver's licenses and in-state tuition for Wisconsin DREAMers.

In the November election, Zamarripa, a Democrat will face Synowicz, 18, who is running as a Republican in a predominantly Democratic district.

In other Primary races:

● Incumbent Democrat Milwaukee County Sheriff David E. Clark Jr. (52% of the vote) defeated challenger Chris Moews (49% of the vote). Clarke Jr. will face Independent challenger Angela Walker in November. 

● Incumbent U.S. District 4 Congresswoman Gwen Moore (70% of the vote) defeated Gary George (30%) for the Democratic nomination. Moore will face Republican Dan Sebring in November. 

● Democratic challenger Mary Burke will face incumbent Republican Governor Scott Walker in November.

42-year-old Milwaukee Motorcyclist Critically Injury In Accident

Donald Lee Dutch

Dutch who was riding a motorcycle was critically injured in a collision involving a vehicle.

By H. Nelson Goodson

August 10, 2014

Milwaukee, WI - On Sunday, police responded around 5:30 p.m. to the 1600 block of W. Clybourn St. to investigate a motorcycle and vehicle involved collision. The motorcycle rider was identified as Donald Lee Dutch, aka, "Casper," 42, of Milwaukee who suffered brain trauma and cerebral hemorrhaging. He remains in critical condition. Dutch was not wearing a helmet.

Dutch was taken to Froedtert Hospital and is in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), according to family members.

Police haven't released any information about the condition of the driver of the vehicle. Dutch's motorcycle was totalled and the vehicle received intensive front end damage.

Mermaid Allegedly Found In Mexican Pajapan Beach Man Created

Joel Harlow with created Mermaid

Mermaid was created 2011 for Pirates of the Caribbean movie and recently used to promote upcoming sequel. 

By H. Nelson Goodson

August 10, 2014

Veracruz, Mexico - The alleged Mermaid said to be found at the Pajapan Beach in Southern state of Veracruz turned out to be a mere prop from the movie Pirates of the Caribbean "On Stranger Tides" filmed in 2011. The prop was created by Joel Harlow for the movie filmed in the region.

Recently, photos of Harlow's created Mermaid began to circulate claiming that it was a real Mermaid that had washed up on the Mexican beach. But soon afterwards, it was learned that it was just a movie prop that someone or promotional agency attempted to pass it off as the real thing to promote the upcoming sequel. The photos of the Mermaid went viral on the Internet. 

The cheap hoax was just to promote the next saga of the Pirates of the Caribbean "Dead Man Tells No Tales" movie expected out on 2017.

Miranda To Plea Guilty For Making False Statements To Get City Matching Art Funding

Robert F. Miranda

Miranda is expected to enter a guilty plea for making false statements and obstructing an officer during an art funding investigation looking into allegations of taking city funds without having a matching fund as required.

By H. Nelson Goodson

August 10, 2014

Milwaukee, WI - Robert F. Miranda, 52, the former executive director of Esperanza Unida, Inc. and current editor of the Milwaukee Spanish Journal is expected to enter a guilty plea in November after an adjournment of his case on August 7. Court records indicate that Miranda will enter a guilty plea in return for a plea agreement deal on November 5, his next scheduled plea and sentencing hearing.

In April, Miranda was charged with a misdemeanor for resisting or obstructing an officer during an investigation. He posted a signature bond of $250. If convicted, Miranda is facing up to nine months in jail and $10,000 in fines. 

Miranda is accused of making false statements concerning a matching fund from the CMAC, which agreed to grant $4,500 geared for a mural repair in 2011, if Miranda would provide another $5,000. Miranda claimed he had a matching fund and the CMAC released their funding. It was later discovered that Miranda didn't have a matching fund until months later, according to the criminal complaint.
Miranda says, that Reynaldo Hernández, the artist that painted the Esperanza Unida mural was paid $2,500 from the city art funding and never returned the money for work never done. Miranda told Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) that Hernández should return that money to the organization.
Manuel "Manny" Pérez, the current executive director of Esperanza Unida, Inc. also confirmed that Hernández was paid $2,500 and to this date hasn't seen anything that the artist has done to the building outdoor mural to keep the funding. Hernández should as an ethical stand strongly consider returning the money, according to Pérez.
HNNUSA has attempted to reach Hernández for comment. If Hernández does response, an update will be added to the article.
Pérez previously confirmed, that a $4,500 check was sent to the City Attorney's Office to resolve the issue concerning Miranda's prior request to get city art funds to recondition a mural without actually having a matching fund.
Pérez also stated, that Esperanza Unida could not account for $700,000 of loans that were granted by several banks to prior administrations. There is no record of what happened to the funds and the feds had been notified of the discrepancy of funds, according to Pérez.

Mexico's Health Secretariat Minimizes Panic Over First Ebola Case In The Country

Reports that a UNAM 22-year-old Mexican national student returning from Africa had gotten sick from what appeared to be the Ebola deadly virus.

By H. Nelson Goodson

August 7, 2014

Mexico - On Thursday, the first Ebola case in Mexico was first reported by Novatimes. According to the Novatimes, José Antonio Gonzáles Figueroa, 22, is the first suspected case in Mexico of the Ebola outbreak. Figueroa apparently was quarantined since, August 2 after he went a local hospital with signs of vomiting, fever and diarrhea. Figueroa had arrived from a African country and was sick.

Mexico's Secretariat of Health and Epidemic Control spokesperson, Doctor Cuitláhauc Ruiz Matus on Thursday denied that any case of Ebola outbreak has been officially confirmed or reported. But, Figueroa is the first suspected Ebola case, according to news reports that went viral.

In the U.S., multiple Ebola infected victims have been quarantined in the country after the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) transported an unconfirmed number of infected victims from Africa,  including a doctor to a undisclosed health center in the country. The CDCP has declined to release the number of Ebola victims already in the country. 

Many fear, that the Ebola virus could eventually spread in the U.S. and if the Ebloa case is actually confirmed in Mexico, the Ebola virus will most likely spread quickly to the U.S. and throughout other countries.

There is no known cure for the deadly Ebola.

Funeral Services Held For 35-year-old Homicide Victim Found At Bay View Alley

Roche's body was found shot in an alley and police continue the homicide investigation.

By H. Nelson Goodson

August 7, 2014

Bay View, WI - Police are investigating the homicide of Damien M. Roche, 35, of Cudahy whose body was found by a Bay View resident around 11:30 a.m. on Friday at the 300 block E. Burdick Ave., according to homicide investigators. Roche is believed to have been killed at another location and then his body was disposed off in the alley.

The body showed signs that Roche was fatally shot, according to the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office. 

Funeral services for Roche were held on Thursday. He is survived by a daughter and wife.