A legislative commission approved Wednesday additional funds for the State Electoral Institute in order to organize the midterm election in June.
Assemblywoman Rosalba López, a Tijuana member of the National Action Party (PAN in Spanish), said the bill is scheduled for its approval at the Assembly Floor on Thursday.
Assembly leaders called for a special meeting to address the issue.
“The election’s stability must be a priority in our state, so therefore lawmakers made a commitment to address the topic exposed by the Electoral Institute as an urgent matter,” she said.
Commission members voted to increase the institute’s budget by US $6.8 million.
Institute leaders said since 2013 the agency’s costs have increased to purchase election items and other expenditures.
The funds will be used to hire a company that will be in charge of the Preliminary Election Results Program, as well as the launching of an information center, training and acquisition of educational items.
López asked institute leaders to provide a report regarding how funds have been spent so far in order to make more efficient and bring transparency to residents in the responsible use of public funds.
State creates 6,502 jobs in March
The Mexican Institute of Social Security, or IMSS in Spanish, reported that Baja California created 6,502 new jobs during March.
The figure means statewide 20,025 new jobs have been opened so far during 2016.
The new jobs in the state are 10.9 percent of those opened nationwide last month, and represents the highest number in the northern border and the third largest in Mexico.
Manufacturing and service were the main contributors during March.
Tijuana itself created 57 percent of those new jobs.
State Secretary of Economic Development Carlo Bonfante said last month 97 new companies opened in the state, reaching a total of 229 during the year, mainly in trade, business, people and home services, manufacturing and construction.
Arson reported at radio station
A man was arrested early Thursday after attempting an arson at the MVS radio station, said the Municipal Public Safety Department.
Authorities arrested Andrés “Doe”, 36, at the radio station located at Montejano Blvd. and Pompeya Castillo Street at Colonia Fovissste neighborhood.
Authorities said at 2:18 a.m. police officers observed the suspect with a gasoline container to start a fire on scene.
The flames reached part of structure and the radio’s main antenna.
No more details were provided.
Alleged kidnapper arrested
Mexicali police officers arrested Wednesday a woman who allegedly was involved in a kidnapping case, said the Municipal Public Safety Department.
Authorities said Diana “Doe”, 29, was arrested at 7 p.m. at Bustamita Avenue and Bartinida Street at Fraccionamiento Valle del Pedregal neighborhood.
The police said the suspect observed the patrol car and attempted to flee on foot.
However, the woman was arrested blocks away.
Police agents determined the suspect had an arrest warrant for kidnapping.
Assistant Attorney General for Special Investigations José González said the suspect, who is also known by the alias of “La Güera”, was involved in the Ejido Toluca kidnapping of a young Mexicali Valley resident on Jan. 6.
Two other individuals were arrested an indicted few days ago for the same crime.
The victim was freed by state Ministerial Police officers Jan. 8 from a safety house at Ejido Jalapa in rural Mexicali.
Authorities revealed that one of the suspects deposited part of the money paid by the victim’s family members and made a withdrawal while being falsely kept by the suspects.
