Latest news with #Becerra
Ottawa Citizen
31-07-2025
- Ottawa Citizen
Hum: Barrio woos ByWard Market-goers with casual Latin American fare, festive patio vibe
Article content Article content Of five sandwiches at Barrio, I've sampled three. The one that hit it out of the park was the well-crafted Cubano ($25 with fries or salad), in which every component — smoked pulled pork, Swiss cheese, pickles, Dijonnaise — sang. The braised beef Asado Criollo sandwich ($26), while tasty, could have been more tender. The Choripan sandwich ($25), another nod to Argentina, starred a fine chorizo sausage custom-made for Barrio by Around the Block Butcher & Market in Centrepointe. It had some uplifting chimichurri going for it, but its bread was nothing special. Article content While the simple salads that came with the sandwiches were alright, the fries were limp and subpar. If you want an exciting side, pay a little more and substitute the patacones, because those twice-fried plantains were crisp and very tasty, especially when paired with a dipping sauce. Article content Article content Article content Chicharron (slabs of fried pork belly, $28) was an exceptional guilty pleasure, paired with an onion salad with a spicy vinaigrette to mitigate the meat's richness. A chicken-thigh Milanesa cutlet ($29) was immense, crisp and juicy, although its house-made gnocchi with pesto were a little heavy. Shrimp salad ($23) was light and refreshing thanks to its tamarind leche de tigre dressing. Article content Last but not least, there's the roast chicken at Barrio, which is Becerra's rendition of pollo a la brasa, the dish that has been called Peru's favourite restaurant meal. If you're a fan of roast chicken, Barrio's version may become your favourite. Article content We ordered a half-bird ($29, with a side dish), and the separated breast and leg portions were impeccably flavoured thanks to a marinade rich with green onions, cumin, black pepper, soy sauce, a special Peruvian red-pepper paste and more. The chicken was also juicy throughout, and we weren't done with it until we had pulled every scrap of meat from its bones, dipping morsels into one more irresistible dipping sauce. Article content Article content Article content So far, dessert at Barrio is limited to soft-serve ice cream ($8), dressed up with crunchy toppings ($6) or sweet sauces ($3). If soft-serve ice cream is your ambrosia, have at it. For my part, I have my fingers crossed that other Latin American sweets or desserts — Flan? Alfajores? — might be available here one day. Article content Or maybe a sweetish cocktail, such as a mango puree-enhanced caipirinha or a concoction called La Pasion (coconut rum, vodka, passion fruit puree, lime, ginger beer, tajin) could be your meal-ender at Barrio. There are a half-dozen options here at $17 each, as well as four beers on tap ($8.50), bottles of Modelo ($9.50), and a few affordable wines. Article content While there were highs (roast chicken, chicharron, Cubano sandwich, empanadas, cocktails, solid service) and lows (fries, side salads) at Barrio, the best dishes were good enough to justify repeat visits, especially since in Ottawa, there are very few other restaurants like it.
USA Today
23-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Longhorns add elite SS Temo Becerra through transfer portal from Standford
Longorns stay busy in the transfer portal The Texas Longhorns have landed another bat. On Monday afternoon, former Stanford shortstop Temo Becerra committed to the Longhorns. He is coming off one of the best seasons of his college career. He will be looking to build on his success with a program chasing a national title. During the 2025 campaign, Becerra posted a .330 batting average in 54 games. While he was an on-base machine, Becerra also came through with runners in scoring position, driving in 37 runs. Although the California native only hit one home run, he did show some pop with eight doubles and one triple. Coming out of high school, Becerra was ranked as the 27th-best shortstop in the 2021 class by Perfect Game. Over the last few years, he has only improved and taken his game to another level. In his last season at Stanford, the talented senior saw his on-base and slugging percentage improve. As Beccera terrorized opposing pitchers, he also dazzled in the field. He finished the 2025 campaign with a .935 fielding percentage. Now, he will work with former MLB star Troy Tulowitzki, an elite defender in his playing days. Under his tutelage, the newest Longhorn should be able to add to his highlight reel. After a 2025 campaign that ended with an SEC title, the Longhorns have wasted no time adding to their roster. Over the last month, they have added Jack Moroknek, Kaleb Freeman, Luke Dotson, and Carson Tinney through the portal. With a talented roster, they are in a prime position to make a deep playoff run. With the addition of Becerra, Texas has one fewer hole to fill. For many in Austin, excitement is building for what he will do in a Longhorns uniform.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Yahoo
Did Mexican cop kill 25-year-old to 'protect his family' or was it 'revenge'? Jury decides
A Mexican police officer was found guilty of murder in the December 2004 fatal shooting of 25-year-old Benjamin Becerra outside a bar in Hamilton. Antonio Riano, 63, was convicted June 13 at the end of a four-day trial in Butler County Common Pleas Court. The jury deliberated for under an hour before returning the guilty verdict. Riano was indicted on a single count of murder in February 2005, but he fled to Mexico, putting the case on a long pause. It was revived after his 2024 arrest and extradition back to the U.S. Prosecutors described the shooting as a 'revenge killing,' saying Riano purposefully put a .38-caliber revolver to Becerra's head and pulled the trigger, killing him. He bought ammunition from a local Walmart less than an hour earlier. The shooting stemmed from a dispute between Riano and Becerra. Prosecutors said Riano went to a bar on East Avenue, where Becerra was known to spend his time, to kill the other man. Riano was in the country illegally at the time. 'He (Becerra) was shot to death in cold blood,' Butler County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Brad Burress said. Riano's attorneys have argued the shooting was in self-defense and that he had no intentions of killing Becerra when he went to the bar that day. During a roughly 90-minute interview after his extradition, Riano told police he went to confront a group after getting word that his younger brother had been assaulted, according to a transcript displayed in court. Kara Blackney, one of Riano's attorneys, said in court that Riano was 'trying to protect his family' by confronting Becerra. She added that Riano's house had been broken into and that Riano's family was subjected to 'constant bullying' by Becerra and others. 'Antonio's family had been terrorized,' Blackney said. Surveillance video played in court showed Riano pull out a revolver and open fire on Becerra. Prosecutors said Riano had earlier fired a warning shot. However, Blackney said that Riano told police he was shot at first. The video also showed Becerra leaning into the window of a passing car just a minute before he was shot. Burress said that Becerra told the occupants of the car, 'He's got a gun, he's going to kill me.' A third man tried to intervene in the dispute, putting himself between Riano and Becerra, but Riano stepped around the man to shoot Becerra at close range, the video shows. Burress said that Riano "executed Benjamin Becerra on the sidewalk." Judge Michael Oster Jr., who presided over the trial, found there was insufficient evidence to instruct the jury on considering a lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter. In arguing for the judge to include that instruction, Riano's lawyers pointed to a step Becerra made toward Riano just before the shooting. 'A step by itself is not threatening in any way,' Oster said. He added that it's unknown what the two men were saying to one another before the shooting. After interviewing witnesses, investigators identified Riano as the suspect and learned he was commonly referred to as 'El Diablo,' a former Hamilton police detective wrote in an affidavit. Blackney said that while police and prosecutors have focused on Riano's 'El Diablo' moniker, she noted that the nickname stems from Riano dressing up in a devil outfit for carnival performances in his hometown. 'El Diablo is his nickname, but not because he's a bad guy, not because he's scary,' Blackney said. Police searched a house on East Avenue where Riano had parked his vehicle and found a box of ammunition matching the weapon used in the shooting. When police later searched Riano's home, they learned he used several fake names and had papers to create false documentation to obtain different identifications. A teacher at the elementary school Riano's daughter attended told police they overheard the child's mother say they were moving to New Jersey, where the family had lived previously, investigators said. Investigators contacted New Jersey authorities to help locate Riano; however, they were told that he had just left the country. Police said they interviewed the mother of Riano's daughter, who said she'd fought with Riano the night before the shooting and had left him. She told police that a friend had driven him to Mexico. While investigators mistakenly wrote in an affidavit seeking Riano's extradition that the murder weapon wasn't found until 2006, prosecutors said the gun was recovered 10 days after the shooting. The Butler County Sheriff's Office listed Riano as a wanted fugitive and the case was even profiled on Fox's "America's Most Wanted.' Paul Newtown, lead investigator with the Butler County Prosecutor's Office, previously told The Enquirer that authorities never stopped searching for Riano. However, his trail went cold for the better part of 20 years. Newton said the U.S. Marshals Service became involved early in the investigation. There was an attempt by marshals to arrest Riano in Mexico, but they missed him. 'After he found out the U.S. Marshals were after him, he kind of went underground,' Newton said, adding that investigators lost track of Riano until the beginning of 2024. Newton eventually stumbled upon Riano's Facebook account, which included a video of him. That's also when investigators learned he was working as a police officer. He was later arrested by Mexican authorities and brought back to the U.S. to stand trial. Riano is expected to appear in court again for sentencing on July 14. He faces a possible prison term of 18 years to life. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Mexican cop 'El Diablo' convicted in 2004 killing in Butler County
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hays County demands humane treatment, due process in federal immigration operations
HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) – The Hays County Commissioners Court passed a resolution Tuesday calling for due process and humane treatment of immigrants. Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra told KXAN Sunday that he brought forward the resolution after recent federal immigration activity he said has caused disorder across the county. 'The resolution I'm presenting on Tuesday is about us being Americans, being respectful, respecting the rule of law,' Becerra said. 'What I want to do is help support peace, unity, and harmony throughout our county.' The resolution, which passed unanimously, demanded, 'clear, consistent, and constitutionally sound process for the handling of individuals—immigrants or otherwise—by any agency or organization operating within our jurisdiction.' It also stated the importance of federal agents wearing clear identification and not concealing their identity while conducting operations. '[ICE is] picking people up with no [identification] and covered in masks,' Becerra said. 'We got to know who these people are, taking our beating hearts, our mothers, fathers and children out of circulation and kidnapping them.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Yahoo
Mexican cop 'El Diablo' set to go on trial for 2004 killing
A Mexican police officer is set to go on trial in connection with the killing of a man in Butler County more than 20 years ago. Antonio Riano, 63, was indicted on a single count of murder in February 2005, but he fled the country. His trial is expected to begin June 10 before Butler County Common Pleas Judge Michael Oster Jr. Prosecutors say Riano shot and killed 25-year-old Benjamin Becerra Ramirez during a December 2004 skirmish outside a bar in Hamilton. He then fled to Mexico, where authorities located him nearly two decades later working as a police officer in his hometown of Zapotitlan Palmas in Oaxaca. The case was put on a long pause as Riano evaded capture, but it was revived after his 2024 arrest and extradition back to the U.S. Riano told police in a roughly 90-minute interview that on the day of the shooting, he went to confront a group after hearing that his younger brother was assaulted, according to a transcript of the interview previously displayed in court. The group attacked Riano while outside the bar and he retrieved a gun from his truck and fired two shots toward them, the transcript states. Kara Blackney, Riano's attorney, wrote in a May court filing that he intends to argue self-defense at trial. Blackney previously said Riano told police that he was shot at first. It didn't take long after the shooting for investigators to tie Riano to the shooting. After interviewing witnesses, police identified Riano as the suspect and learned he was commonly referred to as 'El Diablo,' a detective wrote in an affidavit. Prosecutors said surveillance video also showed Riano pull out a revolver and open fire on Becerra, striking him in the head. Authorities searched a house on East Avenue where Riano had parked his vehicle and found a box of ammunition matching the weapon used in the shooting. When police later searched Riano's home, they learned he used several fake names and had papers to create false documentation to obtain different identifications. Prosecutors said Riano was in the country unlawfully at the time of the shooting. A teacher at the elementary school Riano's daughter attended told police they overheard the child's mother say they were moving to New Jersey, where the family had lived previously. Investigators contacted New Jersey authorities to help locate Rian, but they were told that he had already left the country. Police said they interviewed the mother of Riano's daughter, who said she'd fought with Riano the night before the shooting and had left him. She told police that a friend had driven Riano to Mexico. Two years after the shooting, the owner of the East Avenue home found the revolver used to shoot Becerra under the floor of a bathroom closet, investigators said, adding that Riano bought ammo from a local Walmart less than an hour before the shooting. The Butler County Sheriff's Office listed Riano as a wanted fugitive and the case was even profiled on Fox's "America's Most Wanted.' Paul Newtown, lead investigator with the Butler County Prosecutor's Office, previously told The Enquirer that authorities never stopped searching for Riano. However, his trail went cold for the better part of 20 years. Newton said the U.S. Marshals Service became involved early on in the investigation and there was an attempt by marshals to arrest Riano in Mexico, but they missed him. 'After he found out the U.S. Marshals were after him, he kind of went underground,' Newton said, adding that investigators lost track of Riano until the beginning of 2024. Newton eventually stumbled upon Riano's Facebook account, which included a video of him. That's also when investigators learned he was working as a police officer. He was later arrested by Mexican authorities and brought back to the U.S. to stand trial. However, Blackney previously argued in court that Riano taking a job in law enforcement shows that he wasn't trying to hide. This story will be updated. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: After 20 years, Mexican cop 'El Diablo' to face murder trial
