Blogs

Port-au-Prince, Haiti (CNN) The gang that kidnapped a group of 17 American & Canadian missionaries in Haiti has asked for $1 million each for their release.

The 16 American citizens & 1 Canadian were kidnapped by the powerful "400 Mawozo" gang on Saturday after visiting an orphanage in Croix-des-Bouquets, a northeast suburb of the capital Port-au-Prince, over the weekend.

Their abduction is part of a wave of indiscriminate kidnappings that has become more brazen as the country suffers from political instability, civil unrest, lack of quality healthcare & severe poverty.

Haitian Justice Minister Liszt Quitel told CNN the kidnappers have demanded a total of $17 million for the group's release & that they were being held in a location outside the suburb.

The missionaries are affiliated with the Ohio-based Christian Aid Ministries, which says the abducted group is made up of 5 men, 7 women & 5 children.

Quitel said the five children abducted include an 8-month-old baby & children ages 3, 6, 14 & 15 years old.

The kidnappers first called Christian Aid Ministries' staff in Haiti at 4:53 p.m. on Saturday, stating their ransom demands at the time of the call, Quitel added. Several calls between the kidnappers & the missionary group have taken place since then.

Quitel said that both Haitian police negotiators & the FBI are advising the missionary group on how to proceed & that negotiations are ongoing. FBI agents are on the ground in Haiti assisting with the investigation but are not leading the negotiations, nor have they spoken directly with the kidnappers.

"The FBI is part of a coordinated US government effort to get the Americans involved to safety. Due to operational considerations, no further information is available at this time," an FBI spokesperson told CNN.

#kidnapped #kidnapping #haiti #400mawozo #400mawozagang #17missionarieskidnappedinhaiti #portauprince #canadians #american #missionaries #missionarieskidnapped #missionaries17milliondollarransom #ransom #bloodmoney #fbi #hostagenegotiators #haitianpolice #kids #children #adults #dangerous #lifeordeath #orphanage #christianaidministries #negotiations #17milliondollarransom #uscitizens #usa #parents

Follow Me

NEW YORK (AP) — New York City will terminate business contracts with President Donald Trump after last week’s insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Wednesday.

“I’m here to announce that the city of New York is severing all contracts with the Trump Organization,” de Blasio said in an interview on MSNBC.

De Blasio said the Trump Organization earns about $17 million a year in profits from its contracts to run two ice skating rinks & a carousel in Central Park as well as a golf course in the Bronx.

The city can legally terminate a contract if the leadership of a company is engaged in criminal activity, the Democratic mayor said.

“Inciting an insurrection — let’s be very clear, let’s say the words again — inciting an insurrection against the United States government clearly constitutes criminal activity,” he said.

A Trump Organization spokesperson said the city can’t cancel the contracts.

“The City of New York has no legal right to end our contracts and if they elect to proceed, they will owe The Trump Organization over $30 million dollars,” the spokesperson said in an emailed statement. “This is nothing more than political discrimination, an attempt to infringe on the First Amendment and we plan to fight vigorously.”

De Blasio had said earlier that the city was examining its legal options to end the Trump contracts. He said Wednesday that city lawyers determined that if Trump sues over the move, the city would win. Trump “incited a mob to attack the Capitol,” de Blasio said, adding, “the lawyers looked at it and it was just as clear as a bell that’s grounds for severing these contracts and we’re moving to do that right away.”

#donaldtrump #presidenttrump #nyc #newyorkcity #newyorkcitydumpstrump #thetrumporganization #legalbattle #billdeblasio #mayor #capitolriots #business #lostrevenue #riots #anarchy #proudboys #rudygiuliani #tedcruz #uscapitol #trumpimpeached #impeachtrump #insurrection #sedition

Follow Me

Michael Vick's bankruptcy case is officially in the rear view mirror.

The former NFL star filed pleaded guilty in 2007 to participating in and funding a dog fighting ring. He received a 3-year prison sentence, was suspended by the NFL. lost millions of dollars in salary from the Atlanta Falcons and endorsements.

In 2008, Vick filed for Chapter 11, owing $17.6 million to creditors.

While incarcerated the Falcons cut Vick. Following his 2009 release from prison NFL commissioner Roger Goodell conditionally lifted Vick's suspension, allowing him to sign with the Philadelphia Eagles. 

TMZ reports that Vick made $50 million in salary while playing for the Eagles, New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers after returning to the league.

He retired from the NFL in 2017 during a ceremony with the Falcons.

According to TMZ, Vick made his final bankruptcy payment in November. This week a judge has officially closed the case, granting Vick's discharge and final decree. 

Congrats! Mike!

Follow Me

A couple of weeks ago police in the Chicago suburb of Rolling Hills were praising Robert J. Adams as a hero for turning in $17,021 in cash he found.

Yesterday, Adams was cited for filing a false report with the Rolling Meadows Police Department and fined $500 after police discovered he lied about where he had found the money.

On June 6 Adams discovered the bag of money outside of a Walgreens in Midlothian. He tried turning it into a nearby bank, but they said it didn't belong to them according to the Daily Mail.

Adams then took the money to another bank near his home in Rolling Hills and turned it in. He told police he found the cash outside of a newspaper stand there.

After an investigation by police and the FBI, the real story was revealed and Adams was subsequently cited and fined.

"I know now a little better than I knew then," he told the Chicago Tribune. "I feel very badly and understand why I should have told the truth. I wasn't looking for a reward. I was just doing the right thing. I accept the fine. I'm very sorry about this whole thing."

And police wonder why more people don't do what Adams did initially... smh.