Imperial Valley Press Quick News

Jury in Cano case seated

A jury has been empaneled today to hear evidence in the second trial of accused second-degree homicide defendant Kym Cano.

Twelve jurors and four alternates were seated following a jury selection process that took several weeks to complete. A week of pre-trial motions and hearings on what evidence can be introduced is expected but the evidentiary portion of the case is set to start March 22 at 1:30 p.m. at Imperial County Superior Court in Calexico, according to a source who is very familiar with the case.

Cano has pleaded not guilty to shooting her husband, Francisco, in their two-story home in Calexico on Dec. 4, 2006. Her defense attorney Angelyn Gates has said that the shooting was done in self-defense and not intentional in nature. Francisco Cano was a California Highway Patrol officer who was off-duty at the time he was killed.

A mistrial in the case was declared in March 2009 after jurors deadlocked.

By SILVIO J. PANTA, staff writer

Jury in Cano case seated

A jury has been empaneled today to hear evidence in the second trial of accused second-degree homicide defendant Kym Cano.

Twelve jurors and four alternates were seated following a jury selection process that took several weeks to complete. A week of pre-trial motions and hearings on what evidence can be introduced is expected but the evidentiary portion of the case is set to start March 22 at 1:30 p.m. at Imperial County Superior Court in Calexico, according to a source who is very familiar with the case.

Cano has pleaded not guilty to shooting her husband, Francisco, in their two-story home in Calexico on Dec. 4, 2006. Her defense attorney Angelyn Gates has said that the shooting was done in self-defense and not intentional in nature. Francisco Cano was a California Highway Patrol officer who was off-duty at the time he was killed.

A mistrial in the case was declared in March 2009 after jurors deadlocked.

By SILVIO J. PANTA, staff writer

Brandon Whitehead wins Scripps Regional Spelling Bee

Brandon Whitehead, winner of last year's Scripps Regional Spelling Bee, has repeated as champion and will compete in the national bee in Washington, D.C.

Whitehead, an eighth-grader at Academy of Higher Education, spelled "allegro" to win the regional bee at Southwest Performing Arts Theatre in El Centro on Thursday night.

The regional bee is sponsored by the Imperial Valley Press' Newspapers in Education program and the California Lottery.

>> Read more on Brandon's win and the entire event online and in Friday's edition of the Imperial Valley Press

--- RICHARD BROWN, rbrown@ivpressonline.com

Large turnout expected for Calexico school meeting tonight

CALEXICO --- A large turnout is expected tonight at Cesar Chavez Elementary School following a heated meeting where Calexico school board members voted early today 3-2 to lay off Assistant Superintendent Gina Sanchez shortly after board member Gloria Romo ordered the cut.

Romo urged that the cut be made as the board addresses how to deal with a projected $4 million budget gap. She named Sanchez as the one out of the two assistant superintendents in the district who should be laid off, Superintendent Christina Luna said today.

Luna told Romo during the fractious meeting that last until 2 a.m. today that she would not recommend laying off an assistant superintendent position because it would do nothing to address the deficit. Also, Luna said that Sanchez could actually go back to a teaching position as it would be her right.

It was not immediately known why Romo specifically named Sanchez, but Luna said Sanchez's husband had once attended a meeting on recalling Romo. Romo and fellow board member Ruben De La Rosa were targeted by proponents of a failed recall effort.

Things became so angry and heated during the late night meeting that after it adjourned, a member of the audience reportedly ran up to berate Romo, telling her "shame on you," according to Diana Harvey. Harvey, a teacher who attended the meeting, said she had to escort Romo out of the multipurpose room for her safety.

By SILVIO J. PANTA, staff writer

Convicted sex offender arrested in Coachella, authorities say

A convicted sexual offender who U.S. Border Patrol authorities said was here illegally is set to be deported following his arrest this week at a home in Coachella, an official said today.

Jose Luis Ramirez, who was convicted in 1989 for two sex related felony crimes and had served two years of a six year prison sentence, was arrested early Wednesday at the home without incident, according to a news release.

U.S. Border Patrol agent Keith Croxton said today that a routine check at a sex registrant database lead authorities to go and find Ramirez. It was not immediately known whether the crimes Ramirez was convicted of occurred in the Imperial Valley.

By SILVIO J. PANTA, staff writer

No signatures turned in for Calexico recall effort, officials say

Not one signature was turned in Tuesday at the Imperial County Registrar of Voters by proponents of a recall effort launched against two incumbents of the Calexico Unified School District, officials said today.

Tuesday was the last day recall proponents had to turn in 2,690 signatures in a petition to oust Calexico school district board members Gloria Romo and Ruben De La Rosa, Josie Morales, an elections clerk, said. "Nothing was turned in," said Morales, who added that the signatures were need to have the issue placed on the ballot for the Nov. 2 elections.

County Registrar Dolores Provencio said recall proponents had five months to collect the signatures and that the proponents consisted of 10 people.

By SILVIO J. PANTA, staff writer

Holtville farm labor contractor defendant in state prosecutor's lawsuit

State prosecutors have filed a lawsuit today against a Holtville farm labor contractor alleging that he failed to pay minimum wage and overtime to field workers, in addition to allegedly neglecting to give them rest breaks, drinking water or shade, according to a news release by Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr's office.

The lawsuit alleges that Juan Munoz, who supplies field workers to onion farms in Kern County, the Coachella Valley and the Mojave Desert, violated the state's unfair competition laws, the news release read.

Please read Thursday's issue of the Imperial Valley Press for more information.

By SILVIO J. PANTA, staff writer

Appelate court grants temporary stay in QSA case

Attorneys were told Tuesday that the QSA would get a temporary stay from the California Appellate Court.

It's a temporary stay while the parties prepare briefs for the Appellate Court, said IID General Counsel Jeffrey Garber. There was no set limit for the stay, but he said that it could last through mid-April.

The trial court had granted a 30-day stay, which would have expired March 15, he said.

Read tomorrow's edition online or in print for more information.

-- Elizabeth Varin, staff writer

IID Director Abatti not seeking re-election

Imperial Irrigation District Director Mike Abatti will not be seeking re-election to the IID board, according to published reports.

Abatti was elected to the board in 2006.

The Imperial Valley Press will have more information on Abatti's decision as it becomes available. 

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