Latest news with #Squirt
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Trial opens for woman charged in drunken crash that killed man walking back to work release
A trial opened Monday for a woman accused of drunkenly hitting and killing a man walking in the middle of Taft Street back to work release in January 2020 after his McDonald's shift. Christian Megan Garza, 30, is charged with several felonies. She pleaded not guilty. The victim, Andreas Ramos, 27, of Chicago, was still lying on her hood when Garza's father arrived minutes later to help. She claimed she hit a deer. In opening statements, Deputy Prosecutor Shannon Philips told jurors that Garza had been drinking 'Don Julio' tequila with 'Squirt' at a Jan. 18, 2020, birthday party in St. John. She loaded her 4-year-old daughter into a car seat in her red Volkswagen. On a cold and icy night, Garza decided to take an alternate route to avoid the curvy and twisty 93rd Avenue back to her parents' Crown Point home — where she also lived. She got into the turn lane about 1,000 feet before the light, before hitting Ramos just after midnight. The crash happened near 91st and Taft Street in Merrillville. There was 'no attempt' to break or swerve, Philips said. Defense lawyer Susan Severtson clarified it was Garza's toddler niece's party. Her parents went home first. She didn't see Ramos. Ramos was wearing a black jacket with 'fur' trim, which is why Garza could have believed the man was an animal, the defense lawyer said. Garza consented to a blood draw, which showed she was above the legal limit, court documents show. 'No one could have avoided this accident,' Severtson said. 'That was the cause, not any…intoxication.' Ramos was 'violating the rules of the road' by walking in the middle of the turn lane, Severtson said. Court documents show Sgt. Jeff Bunnell told Merrillville Detective Jeff Rice that Ramos was an inmate in the Lake County Community Corrections Kimbrough Work Release Center. Men commonly seen walking in the middle turn lane on Taft Avenue in Merrillville – a busy street with long stretches without sidewalks – are typically returning from their jobs to work release while they serve their terms. Police estimated Garza drove 644 feet with Ramos still on her car, documents note. Officers also found an empty vodka bottle in her vehicle. On Monday, Lydia Ramos, the victim's mother, testified briefly. Armando Garza, the defendant's father, said the child's party started around 5:30 p.m. He admitted he had a couple beers, but said he was good to drive. He wasn't sure if his daughter was drinking before admitting he saw her with a red solo cup. He arrived home shortly before his daughter called. She pulled over in a former Ultra grocery store parking lot. It was immediately clear there was a man on her hood. 'It's not a deer you hit,' he said. 'It's a person.' She was 'shocked,' 'scared,' 'nervous' and 'crying.' The father called 911. When the dispatcher asked if she used drugs or alcohol that night, he said no. He told defense co-counsel Roy Dominguez that they were all traumatized – 'Nobody's seen anything like that.' Wouldn't it have made more sense to have his wife drive him, their daughter and granddaughter home, Philips later asked. I wasn't impaired, Armando replied. The woman is charged with seven felonies – two counts each of causing death when operating a motor vehicle with an ACE of .08 or more, causing death when operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, operating a vehicle while intoxicated – endangering a person less than 18 yrs old. She's also charged with neglect of a dependent and five misdemeanors. The case is before Judge Natalie Bokota with Deputy Prosecutor Jacob Brandewie also assigned. Ramos is survived by two children, according to his obituary. A judge approved a $92,000 payout from Garza's sister's homeowner's insurance policy in October. Ramos was sentenced to two years of work release in December 2019 in a robbery case. 'Without having sidewalks on Taft, it does make it challenging,' Lake County Community Corrections Executive Director Kellie Bittorf said Tuesday. The program oversees the Kimbrough work release center. They give inmates safety vests to wear at night if they have to walk back from work, she said. They give out Gary bus passes and 'strongly encourage' them to use it. But, sometimes the scheduling or bus stops don't line up. They have had a bus stop put right in front of the center and are currently working to buy bus passes in bulk, she said. If approved, they also let inmates drive or have family members take them to work. 'We do our best to avoid having them to walk, to provide those resources,' she said. The trial continues this week. mcolias@
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Trial opens for woman charged with drunkenly killing man walking back to work release
A trial opened Monday for a woman accused of drunkenly hitting and killing a man walking in the middle of Taft Street back to work release in January 2020 after his McDonald's shift. Christian Megan Garza, 30, is charged with several felonies. She pleaded not guilty. The victim, Andreas Ramos, 27, of Chicago, was still lying on her hood when Garza's father arrived minutes later to help. She claimed she hit a deer. In opening statements, Deputy Prosecutor Shannon Philips told jurors that Garza had been drinking 'Don Julio' tequila with 'Squirt' at a Jan. 18, 2020, birthday party in St. John. She loaded her 4-year-old daughter into a car seat in her red Volkswagen. On a cold and icy night, Garza decided to take an alternate route to avoid the curvy and twisty 93rd Avenue back to her parents' Crown Point home — where she also lived. She got into the turn lane about 1,000 feet before the light, before hitting Ramos just after midnight. The crash happened near 91st and Taft Street in Merrillville. There was 'no attempt' to break or swerve, Philips said. Defense lawyer Susan Severtson clarified it was Garza's toddler niece's party. Her parents went home first. She didn't see Ramos. Ramos was wearing a black jacket with 'fur' trim, which is why Garza could have believed the man was an animal, the defense lawyer said. Garza consented to a blood draw, which showed she was above the legal limit, court documents show. 'No one could have avoided this accident,' Severtson said. 'That was the cause, not any…intoxication.' Ramos was 'violating the rules of the road' by walking in the middle of the turn lane, Severtson said. Court documents show Sgt. Jeff Bunnell told Merrillville Detective Jeff Rice that Ramos was an inmate in the Lake County Community Corrections Kimbrough Work Release Center. Men commonly seen walking in the middle turn lane on Taft Avenue in Merrillville – a busy street with long stretches without sidewalks – are typically returning from their jobs to work release while they serve their terms. Police estimated Garza drove 644 feet with Ramos still on her car, documents note. Officers also found an empty vodka bottle in her vehicle. On Monday, Lydia Ramos, the victim's mother, testified briefly. Armando Garza, the defendant's father, said the child's party started around 5:30 p.m. He admitted he had a couple beers, but said he was good to drive. He wasn't sure if his daughter was drinking before admitting he saw her with a red solo cup. He arrived home shortly before his daughter called. She pulled over in a former Ultra grocery store parking lot. It was immediately clear there was a man on her hood. 'It's not a deer you hit,' he said. 'It's a person.' She was 'shocked,' 'scared,' 'nervous' and 'crying.' The father called 911. When the dispatcher asked if she used drugs or alcohol that night, he said no. He told defense co-counsel Roy Dominguez that they were all traumatized – 'Nobody's seen anything like that.' Wouldn't it have made more sense to have his wife drive him, their daughter and granddaughter home, Philips later asked. I wasn't impaired, Armando replied. The woman is charged with seven felonies – two counts each of causing death when operating a motor vehicle with an ACE of .08 or more, causing death when operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, operating a vehicle while intoxicated – endangering a person less than 18 yrs old. She's also charged with neglect of a dependent and five misdemeanors. The case is before Judge Natalie Bokota with Deputy Prosecutor Jacob Brandewie also assigned. Ramos is survived by two children, according to his obituary. A judge approved a $92,000 payout from Garza's sister's homeowner's insurance policy in October. Ramos was sentenced to two years of work release in December 2019 in a robbery case. The trial continues this week. mcolias@
Chicago Tribune
2 days ago
- Chicago Tribune
Trial opens for woman charged with drunkenly killing man walking back to work release
A trial opened Monday for a woman accused of drunkenly hitting and killing a man walking in the middle of Taft Street back to work release in January 2020 after his McDonald's shift. Christian Megan Garza, 30, is charged with several felonies. She pleaded not guilty. The victim, Andreas Ramos, 27, of Chicago, was still lying on her hood when Garza's father arrived minutes later to help. She claimed she hit a deer. In opening statements, Deputy Prosecutor Shannon Philips told jurors that Garza had been drinking 'Don Julio' tequila with 'Squirt' at a Jan. 18, 2020, birthday party in St. John. She loaded her 4-year-old daughter into a car seat in her red Volkswagen. On a cold and icy night, Garza decided to take an alternate route to avoid the curvy and twisty 93rd Avenue back to her parents' Crown Point home — where she also lived. She got into the turn lane about 1,000 feet before the light, before hitting Ramos just after midnight. The crash happened near 91st and Taft Street in Merrillville. There was 'no attempt' to break or swerve, Philips said. Defense lawyer Susan Severtson clarified it was Garza's toddler niece's party. Her parents went home first. She didn't see Ramos. Ramos was wearing a black jacket with 'fur' trim, which is why Garza could have believed the man was an animal, the defense lawyer said. Garza consented to a blood draw, which showed she was above the legal limit, court documents show. 'No one could have avoided this accident,' Severtson said. 'That was the cause, not any…intoxication.' Ramos was 'violating the rules of the road' by walking in the middle of the turn lane, Severtson said. Court documents show Sgt. Jeff Bunnell told Merrillville Detective Jeff Rice that Ramos was an inmate in the Lake County Community Corrections Kimbrough Work Release Center. Men commonly seen walking in the middle turn lane on Taft Avenue in Merrillville – a busy street with long stretches without sidewalks – are typically returning from their jobs to work release while they serve their terms. Police estimated Garza drove 644 feet with Ramos still on her car, documents note. Officers also found an empty vodka bottle in her vehicle. On Monday, Lydia Ramos, the victim's mother, testified briefly. Armando Garza, the defendant's father, said the child's party started around 5:30 p.m. He admitted he had a couple beers, but said he was good to drive. He wasn't sure if his daughter was drinking before admitting he saw her with a red solo cup. He arrived home shortly before his daughter called. She pulled over in a former Ultra grocery store parking lot. It was immediately clear there was a man on her hood. 'It's not a deer you hit,' he said. 'It's a person.' She was 'shocked,' 'scared,' 'nervous' and 'crying.' The father called 911. When the dispatcher asked if she used drugs or alcohol that night, he said no. He told defense co-counsel Roy Dominguez that they were all traumatized – 'Nobody's seen anything like that.' Wouldn't it have made more sense to have his wife drive him, their daughter and granddaughter home, Philips later asked. I wasn't impaired, Armando replied. The woman is charged with seven felonies – two counts each of causing death when operating a motor vehicle with an ACE of .08 or more, causing death when operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, operating a vehicle while intoxicated – endangering a person less than 18 yrs old. She's also charged with neglect of a dependent and five misdemeanors. The case is before Judge Natalie Bokota with Deputy Prosecutor Jacob Brandewie also assigned. Ramos is survived by two children, according to his obituary. A judge approved a $92,000 payout from Garza's sister's homeowner's insurance policy in October. Ramos was sentenced to two years of work release in December 2019 in a robbery case. The trial continues this week.
Forbes
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Best Paloma Recipe With a Twist
May 22 might be World Paloma Day, but this tequila based cocktail is great to sip any time of the year. This light and lively cocktail is easier to make than a Margarita, and it's becoming a fast favorite. Made with tequila, grapefruit soda and lime juice, it's also gaining in popularity. According to Datassential, this simple cocktail has grown in popularity on American menus by 81 percent in the last few years. For this reason, grapefruit sodas have also grown in popularity. Unlike the Margarita, which dates back to at least the 1930s or 1940s, the Paloma wasn't invented until later. It is believed that the Paloma is a specific, grapefruit-soda evolution of the practice of mixing tequila with sodas, and likely, it was created after 1955, which is when Squirt soda began being exported to Mexico. For the first part of its history, though, it was not on cocktail menus. According to noted drinks historian, David Wondrich, the first mention of a Paloma on a menu was in 1999 in Tlaquepaque restaurant in Orange County, California. And a recipe for a Paloma appeared in the 2000 book Cowboy Cocktails, by Grady Spears and Brigit Binns. A good Paloma is like a good summer night - easy, breezy and refreshing to make. At its core, it is just a two ingredient cocktail, but often, a squeeze of lime juice and a pinch of salt are added. glass: highball garnish: grapefruit slice or twist, lime wedge or wheel Fill highball glass with ice, pour in tequila, grapefruit soda, lime juice, and stir gently. Add a pinch of salt on top, then add garnish, and serve. The first way to add dimension to your Paloma is to switch out the blanco or silver tequila with a reposado or añejo. A reposado tequila has rested in oak barrels for anywhere from two months to a year, while an añejo tequila is aged even longer, from a year to three years. If you want to get even fancier, sub out the blanco for the lookalike cristalino, which is basically an añejo that's been charcoal filtered so it is clear in color. You can also add a smoky touch by using mezcal instead of tequila, or you could split the base, between tequila and mezcal. You could also simply pour a 1/4 to a 1/2 ounce of mezcal over the back of a bar spoon to float it on top. Another way to elevate a Paloma is to use a higher quality mixer. Top Note, Q Mixers and Fever-Tree all make grapefruit sodas that are meant to be mixed into cocktails, which means they're made with better ingredients like real grapefruit juice and typically less sugar. You can also use club soda and seltzer water, fresh grapefruit juice and agave syrup to make a delightful Paloma, too. Another way to bring out the flavors of the tequila and grapefruit is to add a dash or two of grapefruit, orange or other citrus bitters. Lastly, you'll want to up your garnish game. Adding a salt rim elevates your glass, but for a spicy kick, use Halo Del Santo, a cocktail garnish made with salt, fiery chiles and a touch of citrus. Then, add a touch of herbs like lavender, rosemary or mint to finish the cocktail. This adds a visual and herbal twist. glass: highball or rocks, rimmed with salt if desired garnish: large wheel of grapefruit and rosemary sprig In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add tequila, grapefruit juice, agave syrup, lime juice, bitters and salt. Shake for 30 seconds or until completely chilled. Strain into glass filled with ice, top with club soda or seltzer water, pour mezcal on the back of a bar spoon to float on top. Add garnish, and serve.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Keurig Dr Pepper strike in Iowa ends with wage deal
More than 100 factory workers at Keurig Dr Pepper's Iowa facility returned to work today (24 April), ending a strike which started earlier this month. The Teamsters' union announced the end of the strike in Ottumwa, which started on 9 April, late on Tuesday. "Following a twelve-day strike at Keurig Dr Pepper in Ottumwa, Teamsters Local 238 members have ratified their best-ever collective bargaining agreement at the facility," the union said. Keurig Dr Pepper offered a new three-year collective bargaining agreement, including a health insurance plan, guaranteed paid time off and an 8% wage increase in the first year of the contract, with additional wage increases each year thereafter, the union said. 'From the very beginning, this fight was about securing justice and holding this employer accountable, and that's exactly what we did,' said Teamsters Local 238 chief negotiator Drake Custer. 'These hard-working men and women were fearless, relentless, and united, because that's what it takes to be victorious on the picket line.' 'With this agreement, they won't be able to work us non-stop anymore, so this was well worth the fight … Everything we did to come together and win this contract. It shows what happens when we stick together,' said forklift driver Andy McCabe, cited by Teamsters in its press release. Keurig Dr Pepper said yesterday both sides had come to an amicable agreement. "Keurig Dr Pepper is pleased to have reached a new long-term collective bargaining agreement with Teamsters Local 238, which ends the strike and brings employees back to work tomorrow. Both sides found common ground on an agreement that works for the company, for the union and for our hard-working employees.' Keurig Dr Pepper has 30 manufacturing sites, 170 warehouse and distribution centres and employs more than 29,000 people globally. Its brands include Green Mountain Coffee Roasters and the soft drinks Dr Pepper, 7Up, Canada Dry, Schweppes and Mexico's Squirt. The company was formed in 2018 with the merger of Keurig Green Mountain and Dr Pepper Snapple Group. Today, Keurig Dr Pepper reported first-quarter financial results that included higher net sales and diluted earnings per share. Net sales increased 4.8% to $3.64bn. On a constant-currency basis, the company's net sales rose 6.4%, driven by volume/mix growth of 3.6% and price increases. The acquisition of US energy-drinks business late last year contributed 2.9 percentage points to Keurig Dr Pepper's volume/mix growth, the group said. Operating income rose 4.7% to $801m. Adjusted operating income increased 3.9% to $847m. Net income grew 13.9% to $517m. Teamster Local 238 represents workers across Iowa. It is affiliated with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, which represents 1.3m workers in the United States, according to its website. The Teamsters union was involved in seven weeks of strike action at Nestlé's Purina pet-food manufacturing plant in South Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania, which came to an end this week with an improved wage offer. "Keurig Dr Pepper strike in Iowa ends with wage deal" was originally created and published by Just Drinks, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
