Mexican authorities warn of new deadly opioid
Mexican authorities warned of the spread of a powerful drug that could worsen the US overdose epidemic.
A public health agency said that nitazenes — a group of synthetic opioids thought to be up to 40 times more powerful than fentanyl — could be laced into drugs, with even trace amounts deadly.
More than 100,000 people died from drug overdoses in the US in 2023, with nearly 70% of the deaths attributed to opioids such as fentanyl.
Authorities both in the US and Mexico have struggled to halt production of fentanyl, with just 30kg (66lbs) needed to produce as many as 15 million lethal doses. Because of their potency, cracking down on nitazenes could be even more complex.
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Chicago Tribune
9 minutes ago
- Chicago Tribune
Popcorn shop among a flurry of new Waukegan businesses; ‘People are feeding off each other'
Name a flavor and Gerdy's Gourmet Popcorn owner Nina Davis likely knows how to make it into popcorn. Davis, who opened a retail store on Grand Avenue in Waukegan on June 4, spent more than three years making popcorn in her home and business incubators. She sold it at events and got orders from a variety of places. Recognizing popcorn is primarily a snack food, Davis said its popularity stems from its flexibility. She said there are multiple flavors and then variations on a theme. There are a lot of ways to satisfy customers. Selling traditional flavors like buttered, caramel, cheese and the company's trademark canary yellow and pineberry blue, Davis continually looks for ways to make something a little different, offering customers continued variety. 'It can be soft or crispy. It can be sweet, sour or savory. It can be cheesy or garlicky,' Davis said. 'It can be anything you want it to be. We have Oreo cookie popcorn,' she added, holding up a large bag. 'We can mix and match.' Gerdy's Gourmet Popcorn is one of 14 new businesses to open in the past nine weeks in Waukegan, defying nationwide uncertainty with a sense of confidence and local support. Michael Lachowicz, a chef with French training, operates Aboyer Bistro in Winnetka. He started a fast-casual Mexican eatery — Fondita Miguel — in that suburb late last year. He opened a second Fondita Miguel in Waukegan with a ribbon-cutting on May 30. Uncertainty is not a concern. 'We're doing what works,' Lachowicz said, referring to the Waukegan location inside the Caliber Gun Range on Washington Street. 'I have confidence in what we're doing, and in what (gun range owner) John Galioto is doing.' Working with mentors as she moved from her kitchen to Post Market Place in downtown Waukegan, Davis said she was schooled by Ken Barber on the ins and outs of developing a business plan. She has confidence now, and is ready to brave uncertainty. 'If you have something good behind you, you have to be willing to take a risk,' she said, 'People aren't going to stop eating or snacking. If you have the drive, go for it.' Dr. Michael J. Reed, the chair of the board of the Waukegan Chamber of Commerce, said the flurry of new businesses in the city is prompting more to open. There is collaboration among a lot of businesses helping each other. It is contagious, he said. 'We have a lot of hidden gems, and a lot of organizations are collaborating to make Waukegan grow,' Reed said. 'People want to be involved in that special process. People are feeding off each other.' Mayor Sam Cunningham goes from one ribbon-cutting to another as the businesses open. They include restaurants, retail shops, hair salons and more. He is not surprised by the newfound vibrancy. 'All of this stems from our concept of Waukegan,' Cunningham said. 'These businesses are not only opening, but are supported by the city. We want to make sure they have the resources to be sustainable. Part of our job is to partner with them and the Waukegan Chamber of Commerce.' Kevin Considine, the president and CEO of Lake County Partners, said in a text that the explosion of new commercial concerns in Waukegan is a positive sign showing several areas of strength. 'It's a testament to our labor force, overall strength as a market and the hard work by the city and others to make it happen,' Considine said. Alex Perez opened Tito's Pizza on Jackson Street with a ribbon-cutting on May 28. His research was basic, as he heard from his neighbors that there was no place nearby to get pizza. He believes fresh ingredients and community support will overcome any uncertainty. 'Nothing is frozen,' Perez said. 'Everything is fresh. We're busy every day. We are getting a lot of support from the community.' Other new businesses opening since March 29, or scheduled to open soon in Waukegan, include V's Studio Beauty & Education, Post Market Place Café, Emperess Beauty Studio, Botanero Latino sports bar and restaurant, Forastero's Tako, La Chuparosa, Antojitos Food Tureck, Liguez Brunch and Family & Crab.
Washington Post
11 minutes ago
- Washington Post
Democrats ignored border politics. Now the consequences are here.
Democrats have gotten the border issue so wrong, for so long, that it amounts to political malpractice. The latest chapter — in which violent protesters could be helping President Donald Trump create a military confrontation he's almost begging for as a distraction from his other problems — may prove the most dangerous yet. When I see activists carrying Mexican flags as they challenge ICE raids in Los Angeles this week, I think of two possibilities: These 'protesters' are deliberately working to create visuals that will help Trump, or they are well-meaning but unwise dissenters who are inadvertently accomplishing the same goal. Democrats' mistake, over more than a decade, has been to behave as though border enforcement doesn't matter. Pressured by immigrant rights activists, party leaders too often acted as if maintaining a well-controlled border was somehow morally wrong. Again and again, the short-term political interests of Democratic leaders in responding to a strong faction within the party won out over having a policy that could appeal to the country as a whole. When red-state voters and elected officials complained that their states were being overwhelmed by uncontrolled immigration over the past decade, Democrats found those protests easy to ignore. They were happening somewhere else. But when red states' governors pushed migrants toward blue-state cities over the past several years, protests from mayors and governors finally began to register. But still not enough to create coherent Democratic policies, alas. It's open season on former president Joe Biden these days, and he doesn't deserve all the retrospective criticism he's getting. But on immigration, he was anything but a profile in courage. Security advisers including Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas wanted tougher border policies starting in 2021. But political advisers such as chief of staff Ron Klain, who sought amity with immigration rights progressives in Congress and the party's base, resisted strong measures. Though Biden was elected as a centrist, he leaned left — and waited until the last months of his presidency to take the strong enforcement measures recommended earlier. Throughout the 2024 campaign, Trump played shamelessly on public anxieties about the border. Some of his arguments, like claims that hungry migrants were eating pets, were grotesque. They were simply provocations. But Biden and Kamala Harris didn't have good answers, other than indignation. They had straddled the issue through Biden's term, talking about border security but failing to enact it, and the public knew it. Democrats finally came up with a bipartisan border bill in 2024 that would have given the president more authority to expel migrants and deny asylum claims, and more money to secure the border. Republicans, led by Trump, were shameless opportunists in opposing the bill. They didn't want Biden to have a win. In the end, Democrats didn't have the votes — or, frankly, the credibility on the issue. Biden took executive action in June 2024, limiting entry into the United States. But it was too late. He could have taken that action in 2021. Since Trump took office in January, he has been building toward this week's confrontation in the streets. ICE raids have steadily increased in cities with large migrant populations, as have nationwide quotas for arrests and deportations. Trump declared a national emergency on Inauguration Day that gave him authority to send troops to the border to 'assist' in controlling immigration. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi L. Noem seized every photo opportunity to convey a militarized approach to the coming clash. Over these months, the immigration issue has been a car crash skidding toward us in slow motion. Since his first term, Trump has clearly wanted a military confrontation with the left over immigration or racial issues. Gen. Mark A. Milley, then chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, helped talk Trump out of invoking the Insurrection Act in 2020 to contain the unrest that followed the death of George Floyd. But this time, Trump faces no opposition. He is surrounded by yes-men and -women. The saddest part is that Democrats still have no clear policy. Some blue-state mayors and governors have pledged to provide 'sanctuary' for migrants, but they don't have good arguments to rebut Trump's claim they're interfering with the enforcement of federal law. In some cases, sanctuary has meant refusing to hand over undocumented migrants convicted of violent crimes, former DHS officials tell me. That's wrong. The courts have limited Trump's most arbitrary policies and his defiance of due process, but not his authority to enforce immigration laws. California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) this week chose sensible ground to fight, by filing a lawsuit challenging Trump's authority to override gubernatorial power by federalizing National Guard troops when there isn't a 'rebellion' or 'invasion.' There is no evidence of such extreme danger — or that local law enforcement in Los Angeles can't handle the problems. But Newsom's smart pushback doesn't get Democrats out of addressing an issue they've been ducking for more than a decade: Do they have the courage to enforce the border themselves? Over the long run, taking border issues seriously means more immigration courts, and more border-control people and facilities — and a fair, legal way of deciding who stays and who goes. But right now, it means Democratic mayors and governors using state and local police to contain protests, so that troops aren't necessary — and preventing extremists among the activists from fomenting the cataclysm in the streets that some of them seem to want as much as Trump. Yes, of course, we need new bipartisan legislation to resolve the gut issue of how to protect the 'dreamers' and other longtime residents who show every day that they want only to be good citizens. But on the way to that day of sweet reason, Democrats need to oppose violence, by anyone — and to help enforce immigration policies that begin with a recognition that it isn't immoral to have a border.
Cision Canada
19 minutes ago
- Cision Canada
Sunwing Vacations customers can now book their winter escape to Riu Ventura, an all-new Cancun resort set to open on December 6, 2025
The beachfront resort will offer 700+ rooms, family-friendly amenities and vibrant experiences in Cancun's Hotel Zone TORONTO, June 10, 2025 /CNW/ - Just in time for the winter sun season, Riu Ventura is officially set to open its doors on December 6, 2025, and Sunwing Vacations customers can now be among the first to book their stay at this all-new all-inclusive resort located on the famed Delfines Beach in Cancun's Hotel Zone. Marking RIU Hotels & Resorts' sixth property in Cancun and 23rd in Mexico, Hotel Riu Ventura will offer guests a vibrant, family-friendly escape with the signature 24-hour all-inclusive experience Riu is known for, all with a modern twist. This latest addition further strengthens RIU's longstanding connection to the Mexican Caribbean and its appeal among Canadian travellers seeking sun, style, and convenience. Resort highlights include: Over 700 modern rooms, including swim-out and family suites with two-bedroom options Six outdoor pools, including one with slides and another on the sixth floor with sea views Access to RIULand kids' club and family-focused entertainment programs Dining options ranging from Asian, Mexican and Italian restaurants to a steakhouse and international buffet Six bars, offering refreshing cocktails day and night RIU Party access at nearby Riu Caribe for guests looking to enjoy themed nightlife events Access to RIUFit fitness programs, and a Renova Spa for wellness and relaxation (at extra cost) Hotel Riu Ventura delivers a well-rounded, exciting experience with great value—perfect for families, couples, and groups of friends seeking sun-soaked adventures or a relaxing beachfront retreat. As a preferred partner in Canada, Sunwing Vacations offers direct flights to Cancun from major cities across the country this winter. Customers can book Riu Ventura packages online via or with their trusted travel advisor today. About Sunwing Vacations As the leading vacation provider in Canada, Sunwing Vacations offers more vacation packages to the south than any other vacation provider with convenient direct service from cities across Canada to popular sun destinations across the Caribbean, Mexico and Central America. This scale enables Sunwing Vacations to offer customers exclusive deals at top-rated resorts in the most popular vacation destinations. Sunwing Vacations customers benefit from the assistance of our trusted partner in destination, NexusTours, whose representatives greet customers upon arrival and support them throughout their vacation journey. For more information, please visit SOURCE Sunwing Vacations Inc.
