Plane crash in Jalisco leaves seven dead
Seven people died aboard a Cessna 207 that crashed on Sunday, December 22, in a wooded area of Jalisco, near the border of the municipalities of Quitupan and Santa María del Oro, the Jalisco Civil Protection Unit reported.
The plane was flying to an undisclosed destination from La Parota, Michoacán. First responders extinguished a fire at the scene but found all passengers and the pilot deceased.
Civil Protection extinguishes 372 bonfires
Officers from the Jalisco Civil Protection and Firefighting Unit extinguished 372 bonfires on Christmas Eve and early December 25, despite a ban imposed by state authorities. Lighting bonfires and setting off fireworks are common practices during the December holidays but pose significant risks and exacerbate air pollution.
Hypothermia to blame for homeless deaths
Four homeless individuals have died of hypothermia in the Guadalajara metropolitan area since early November, according to the Family Development Agency (DIF). All fatalities occurred in the historic downtown area. A count by the state DIF system estimates there are 2,521 homeless people in Jalisco, including 1,179 in the Guadalajara municipality. Health issues in this community are worsened during the winter months. This year, 3.75 million pesos (US$186,000) were allocated for the state’s Winter Assistance Plan to support the homeless.
Jalisco volleyball player makes NCAA history
Sofía Maldonado became the first Jalisciense to play in an NCAA Volleyball Final last weekend. She was part of the Louisville Cardinals team that lost to Penn State on December 22 at the KFC Yum Center in downtown Louisville. Maldonado excelled in the semifinal, where the Cardinals defeated the top-seeded Pittsburgh Panthers. The 22-year-old is in her first year with the University of Louisville, having previously played three seasons with the University of Arizona, where she was named Pac-12 Rookie of the Year.
Wrestling legend Rey Misterio Sr. passes
The legendary Mexican wrestler and trainer Rey Misterio Sr. (Miguel Ángel López Díaz) has died at the age of 66. Born in Tijuana, he made his professional debut in 1976 in a show called “Day of the Kings.” In 1987, he founded a gym that became a training ground for future champions, including his nephew Rey Mysterio Jr., who would go on to become an international wrestling icon and WWE star. Among his other notable students were Mexican legends such as Konnan, Psicosis, Damián 666, and Extreme Tiger.