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A Tourist Allegedly Set Several Businesses on Fire in Puerto Rico

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A Tourist Allegedly Set Several Businesses on Fire in Puerto Rico


Bar Marea, which burned down, will remain closed for the foreseeable future.
Photo: Bar Marea Combate, Cabo Rojo

In the early hours of January 2, a woman from Missouri visiting Puerto Rico allegedly set fire to several businesses in the southwestern town of Cabo Rojo, burning down three of them and partially damaging the other. The incident set off widespread outrage across the island, which is currently facing a gentrification crisis due to expats relocating for tax breaks and the proliferation of short-term rentals for tourism that have displaced local residents.

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The Puerto Rico Police Department identified the suspect as Danielle Bertothy, and officials say she left the island that same day. An investigation is ongoing and no arrest has been made. The businesses that fully burned down are the restaurant Marinera, Bar Marea, and Artesanías Juavia. The boutique hotel Luichy’s Seaside Hotel, which had around 50 guests on site at the time of the incident, was also partially damaged. Angel Luis Marrero, who owns Luichy’s and the building that houses all four businesses, told local news station Telemundo that he estimates repairing the damages from the fire will cost around $500,000 and jeopardize the livelihood of 15 employees.

In a Facebook post, Bar Marea said an allegedly intoxicated Bertothy came into the business near closing hours and began insulting patrons as well as workers. Bar Marea called the police and said officers walked Bertothy to a nearby Airbnb where she was staying, but the bar had to call police once again after she returned to the business. Bertothy was not detained either time, Bar Marea said in its post. After the second incident, the bar closed down. Security footage Bar Marea posted from the scene shows a person that appears to be Bertothy near the fire as it began; the person appears again later carrying a red gas can.

“I don’t understand why, if a person is aggressive, alcoholic, and disrespectful, they are [not] prosecuted. I don’t understand why she came to burn down the businesses. I don’t understand why they didn’t heed our call. The thing is that in this country you have to live in fear, letting these types of situations pass as if nothing had happened,” Bar Marea said on Facebook.

The property manager of the Airbnb where Bertothy was staying told the Latino Newsletter that she was due to stay at the short-term rental between December 30 and January 11. The manager, who asked the outlet to keep him anonymous, says Bertothy was provided a gas can and a generator after most of Puerto Rico lost power on New Year’s Eve. The island has been struggling with recurring, widespread blackouts for several years since the local government transferred management of the electric grid to a private company.

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According to a now-deleted LinkedIn account, Bertothy works at an advertising and digital-marketing agency in St. Louis called HLK Agency. The agency suspended her after receiving a letter from St. Louis alderwoman Daniela Velázquez. “We were shocked to learn about the events in Puerto Rico. We have not yet been contacted by law enforcement in either Puerto Rico or Missouri but we are ready to cooperate in their investigation if asked,” the company said in a statement. “After learning about this on Friday afternoon, we chose to immediately place the employee on suspension pending further information. We are outraged by this senseless act and hope the authorities can address it in a timely fashion.”

Anyone with information about the incident can contact the Puerto Rico Police Department at 787-343-2020. The businesses will remain closed until further notice, the respective owners told local media outlet Metro. Two GoFundMe campaigns — one for Luichy’s Seaside Hotel and another for both Bar Marea and Artesanías Juavia — have been launched to help owners rebuild.

“We lost the material, but the dreams are still alive,” Bar Marea said on Facebook.





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American Idol Crowns Missouri Native Winner of Season 24

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American Idol Crowns Missouri Native Winner of Season 24


American Idol‘s latest installment has come to end. After a notable season that brought contestants to Hawaii and featured a tribute to Taylor Swift, Season 24 wrapped with a three-hour long episode that saw hopefuls Jordan McCullough, Hannah Harper, and Keyla Richardson compete for the final spot.

In the end, Missouri native Harper took the crown. In the first round of the finale, Alicia Keys stepped in as a guest mentor for contestants, and Harper performed a bluegrass rendition of the Grammy winner’s chart-topping hit, “No One.” In the second turn, Harper sang a song she wrote herself, titled “Married Into This Town,” and reprised “String Cheese,” another song she penned and memorably sang for her audition, for the last round.

During a previous interview with Music Mayhem, Harper said that she grew up playing “bluegrass gospel music in churches every single weekend from age nine until I was 16.” She was drawn to singers like Dolly Parton and Shania Twain, who impacted her approach to music.

“I was raised super conservative, and so I knew of Dolly Parton, and we didn’t listen to a bunch of her music, but she was definitely somebody that I was drawn to. So extravagant. It’s so fun. And she’s such a good showman,” Harper said. “But I was a big Shania Twain fan, like early ‘90s Shania. That was the one tape that we had on, on the regular that my mom let me listen to.”

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This year’s season saw judges Lionel Richie, Carrie Underwood, and Luke Bryan relocate the famous “Hollywood Week” for contestants who make it past auditions — trading Los Angeles for Nashville. There was also a special Ohana round in Hawaii that brought 30 finalists before an “industry” panel that included Kelly Sutton, the first female full-time host of the Grand Ole Opry, and Cheryl Porter, a vocal coach and Broadway star, and Rolling Stone‘s own Co-Editor-in-Chief, Shirley Halperin.

Halperin wrote about the experience, while detailing how the show has evolved since its debut over two decades ago. “Each hopeful brought their A game and looked fabulous doing it. How were we to choose? As it turned out, the ones who took the biggest risk — by performing an original song — had an edge,” Halperin noted. “As for our panel, we discussed the contestants’ ages and how they handled the stress of competing. We took note of their backstories, and were inspired by them. We recognized unique voices and range. But in the end, we favored musicianship over potential.”





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Judge denies Missouri AG’s bid to immediately halt 7-OH kratom sales by American Shaman

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Judge denies Missouri AG’s bid to immediately halt 7-OH kratom sales by American Shaman


A Jackson County judge on Friday denied Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway’s attempt to immediately stop Kansas City-based CBD American Shaman and several affiliated companies from selling kratom products.

The motion for a temporary restraining order, which was filed alongside the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, took particular aim at the more potent 7-OH products, which Hanaway argues are “hazardous opioids” banned by state and federal law.

Jackson County Circuit Judge Charles McKenzie’s ruling Friday stated there are “competing affidavits” from experts on both sides of the argument, following a hearing on the motion earlier this week.

“The court cannot find, based on the oral argument of the parties, the respective competing affidavits presented and the pleadings, whether the plaintiff is likely to succeed on the merits at this juncture in the proceedings in order for the court to grant relief in the form of a temporary restraining order,” McKenzie’s order states.

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Hanaway’s argument was backed by sworn statements from an undercover narcotics officer with the highway patrol who said 7-OH is being used to cut fentanyl and a woman whose brother died from a kratom overdose.

Her office also submitted an FDA report that points to 7-OH as “a potent opioid that poses an emerging public health threat” and states health data showing synthetic 7-OH was involved in at least 197 Missouri deaths.

American Shaman submitted statements of its own from five toxicology and addiction experts, who largely said there wasn’t enough evidence to show that 7-OH and kratom posed a public health risk. One who researched narcotics said she had never heard of 7-OH being used to cut fentanyl.

Company owner Vince Sanders’ statement detailed how he came up with the idea to create 7-OH products, which now have an “enormous” demand, particularly among people who need pain management.

Sanders could not be reached for comment about the ruling on Friday.

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McKenzie denied a temporary restraining order “without prejudice,” meaning that he would like to see more evidence.

“It is because of this finding that the court determines it necessary to hold an additional hearing,” he wrote, “where it can consider the parties’ respective positions with the potential of testimonial evidence and other properly introduced evidence, all as more fully developed by the parties, in order to further analyze these issues.”

The judge will consider “other injunctive relief sought in the pleadings at a future hearing to consider the issues,” the order states.

Hanaway filed a similar lawsuit Thursday against Relax Relief Rejuvenate Trading LLC, and its owners Dustin Robinson and Ajaykumar Patel.

The group received a warning letter from the FDA for producing 7-OH products last year, similar to one received by Shaman Botanicals.

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“This is another step in our ongoing crackdown on kratom manufacturers who flout the law and try to justify endangering Missourians in the name of profit,” Hanaway said in a press release Thursday.

“Our mission is to safeguard Missourians from unregulated and addictive substances, and we will continue to pursue every legal tool available to protect public health and safety.”



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Missouri Lottery Pick 3, Pick 4 winning numbers for May 10, 2026

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The Missouri Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at May 10, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Pick 3 numbers from May 10 drawing

Midday: 7-2-5

Midday Wild: 7

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Evening: 9-6-8

Evening Wild: 7

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from May 10 drawing

Midday: 7-1-9-9

Midday Wild: 1

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Evening: 6-9-8-9

Evening Wild: 2

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash Pop numbers from May 10 drawing

Early Bird: 02

Morning: 11

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Matinee: 10

Prime Time: 12

Night Owl: 11

Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Show Me Cash numbers from May 10 drawing

09-18-23-31-39

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Check Show Me Cash payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

All Missouri Lottery retailers can redeem prizes up to $600. For prizes over $600, winners have the option to submit their claim by mail or in person at one of Missouri Lottery’s regional offices, by appointment only.

To claim by mail, complete a Missouri Lottery winner claim form, sign your winning ticket, and include a copy of your government-issued photo ID along with a completed IRS Form W-9. Ensure your name, address, telephone number and signature are on the back of your ticket. Claims should be mailed to:

Ticket Redemption

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Missouri Lottery

P.O. Box 7777

Jefferson City, MO 65102-7777

For in-person claims, visit the Missouri Lottery Headquarters in Jefferson City or one of the regional offices in Kansas City, Springfield or St. Louis. Be sure to call ahead to verify hours and check if an appointment is required.

For additional instructions or to download the claim form, visit the Missouri Lottery prize claim page.

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When are the Missouri Lottery drawings held?

  • Powerball: 9:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
  • Mega Millions: 10 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
  • Pick 3: 12:45 p.m. (Midday) and 8:59 p.m. (Evening) daily.
  • Pick 4: 12:45 p.m. (Midday) and 8:59 p.m. (Evening) daily.
  • Cash4Life: 8 p.m. daily.
  • Cash Pop: 8 a.m. (Early Bird), 11 a.m. (Late Morning), 3 p.m. (Matinee), 7 p.m. (Prime Time) and 11 p.m. (Night Owl) daily.
  • Show Me Cash: 8:59 p.m. daily.
  • Lotto: 8:59 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday.
  • Powerball Double Play: 9:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Missouri editor. You can send feedback using this form.



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