Cojedes 24

Good morning and welcome to Cojedes 24! My name is Elisenda Cazalla and here is all the latest from Cojedes!

Our top story this morning, tax season is underway in the Republic of Cojedes and the Banco del Cojedes Sur (Bank of South Cojedes) is reminding people that they need to protect their tax forms and their filing at all cost. Chairwoman of the BCS Estela Fontirroig gave an update on the tax filing season earlier this week, declaring that the process has been filled with violations from scammers over the course of the past several years. "In the past decade, we have seen an uptick in the number of tax-related fraudulent claims due to people either filing their taxes on unsecured wireless servers or by trusting their taxes to be done by people not approved by the Department of Revenue." Fontirroig, who is also the Secretary of the Department of Taxation of Corrientes Province, has guided people on how to be alert during this tax season. "One of the best things that you can do for yourself while choosing who to file your taxes with is to ensure that they are approved by the Department of Revenue. As well, you should always make sure that if you file your taxes online that you are doing so on a secure and established connection to ensure that your privacy is being protected. If you choose to file by mail, ensure that your package is certified so that it arrives at the Department of Taxation properly and efficiently with little chance of being violated. Another option is to personally drop it off at the Department of Taxation, who will handle the remaining work from there." Cojedans will have until June 1st to file their tax return as President Andrea Lacasa issued an executive order allowing for the extension due to the severe storms that occurred last year and the winter weather in January that made it near impossible to deliver tax forms. The executive order also issued a cap on the price of tax filing, declaring that anyone making less than ₳50,000 shall not be charged for tax service, while those making above will have their tax service capped at ₳175.

Secretary of Health Marisol Manzanedo has called for a grand convocation of the Medical Board of the Republic of Cojedes, the Nursing Board of Cojedes, as well as the Medical Boards of all respective provinces, to determine the course forward for education of medical professionals. In her announcement of the grand convocation, Secretary Manzanedo declared that the time has come to update the medical education standards across the country. Secretary Manzanedo stated that the purpose of the convocation will be to revise the medical education tools that have been used for the past eight years, in accordance with the federal law that nursing and doctor education be updated every 8th year. According to a dossier obtained from the federal government, proposals will be accepted from all provincial medical boards before the convocation is held the first and second week of April. Several recommendations in previous years have been to increase the clinical hours for doctors and nurses while decreasing the textbook educational load. Secretary Manzanedo said this would be a topic during the debate and that, in the end, the approval of the decisions of the grand convocation would be hers to make.

In other news, Secretary of Agriculture Aynia Timolova has announced as part of the Renewal Cojedes Initiative that farmers will be receiving much-needed aid that they haven't received in years past. In a press release this morning, Secretary Timolova informed the nation that the National Assembly has approved a ₳25 billion grant to farmers across the nation to help cover expenses, cover incurred costs, labor costs, and shipping costs for their produce. "This grant, which has been long overdue and overlooked for several years, will finally give our farmers that aid that they deserve. Farming provides a major backbone of our economy and it provides our people with the food that they so enjoy, but our farmers are almost always left unconsidered by our government in the long run. This grant from the National Assembly is just the first step in helping our farmers and completing their portion to the Renewal Cojedes Initiative." President Lacasa stated that Renewal Cojedes will allow farmers to qualify for better assistance, increase their farm size, and be involved in decision-making processes when it comes to the remainder of the project, especially if it would involve damage to their property. Secretary Timolova said that an application is open now for farmers and that the majority of funding will go to farmers in areas such as Entre Ríos, La Rioja, San Juan, Tucumán, and Córdoba, all of which are the major farming communities of the Republic of Cojedes.

That is all we have for now. Thank you for joining us here at Cojedes 24!

Good afternoon and welcome to Cojedes 24! My name is Isidora Venegas and here is the latest from Cojedes!

Our top story today, the Supreme Court has ruled in the case of Navarro v. Zorita, in a landmark ruling for abortion rights in the Republic. The case, which was brought before the court late last year, was in response to Doctor Yesenia Zorita refusing to provide an abortion to Vivian Navarro even though she was at risk of losing her life. Doctor Zorita refused to provide the abortion as it was against the law and went against her moral beliefs. The court heard the case and ruled in 9-6 that abortion will be permitted if the mother's life is in danger. In the majority opinion, the justices ruled that Navarro's rights had been violated and that she was at more severe risk of losing her life than they had thought before. The court also ruled that a doctor could not be forced to provide an abortion if it went against their moral or religious beliefs, declaring that while doctors are required to perform a service to the people of the country, they cannot be forced to do something that they don't agree with. Abortion rights activists across the republic declared it as a major victory, while many, including Patriarch Lucas IV Karantenos, declared it as the beginning of the moral decline in Cojedes. President Andrea Lacasa did not take a position on the case during a press conference early today but stated that she would honor the decision of the court.

Five members of the Corrientes House of Representative and two members of the Corrientes Senate have been censured and suspended from sitting in their respective position for the next month following severe fighting that took place during a recent debate over the provincial budget. After the debate was opened by Speaker Ian Carballar, the debate was calm until education and healthcare were discussed. The ruling NCU announced its intention to increase education and healthcare funding in the province, which immediately started a fight in the House, culminating in a fistfight between Representative Martin Leguizamo (NCU) and Javier Camberio (LP). Speaker Carballar immediately called for the members to be removed from the House and for debate to be ended until order could be restored. Upon the resumption of debate, Speaker Carballar announced that Leguizamo and Camberio, along with Nico Puig (LP), Facundo Maurillo (NCU), and Giuliana Reyes (LP), were all censured from their House committees during the rest of the term and would be suspended from the sittings of the House until the following month. The House went on to debate and pass the bill. The Senate announced the suspension and censure of Alina Venegas and Isaac Cozallo, both of whom are in the Liberal Party, for disorderly conduct and for throwing objects at other members. The Senate later passed the bill as well and the bill now sits with the Governor.

In other news, Secretary of State Security Jairo Manzanares announced earlier today increased funding for the National Guard of the Republic of Cojedes, as well as the Border Guards of Cojedes. During a press conference this morning, Manzanares stated to the public that the National Guard and Border Guards had received an additional 4.7 billion pesos to protect the Cojedan borders on land and sea, as well as for the National Guard to receive new equipment. Manzanares, who has served as Secretary of State Security since the Presidency of Irene Molina, stated that the money will be split down the middle between the two agencies, while the Border Guards will mostly receive the funding for their boats and new weaponry. The National Guard will use their money to buy more helicopters and transport vehicles, while also getting some new weapons and increasing their ammo supply. Manzanares said that while there is no current threat to the republic, things could change at any time. "We never know when these situations could arise. Domestic terrorism has been on the rise in the past several years and this funding could stop these crises from happening." Manzanares said that they are in discussions with Solar Defense Industries to build the new equipment for the forces.

That is all we have for now. Thank you for joining us here at Cojedes 24!

Good afternoon and welcome to Cojedes 24! My name is Isidora Venegas and here is the latest from Cojedes!

Our top story this afternoon, President Andrea Lacasa held a meeting with Prince Juan Luis Corazon V, the only member of the royal family in the Senate, earlier today to discuss increasing the role of the royal family in Cojedan politics. President Lacasa, who has often been considered the most pro-royalist President in modern history, called for the meeting following her executive decree last year that restored most of the power of the royal family, save for restoring the monarchy. Following the meeting, Prince Juan hosted a joint press conference with the President in which he declared that the meeting had been productive and that he looked forward to further working with the President and doing his duty to his country in the Senate. President Lacasa then signed another executive order declaring that Prince Juan Luis Corazon V, aged 28, was to be declared the President of the Trade Commission of Cojedes and would be made interim Secretary of Public Works, meaning that for the first time in 115 years, there will be a member of the royal family sitting in the Cabinet of Cojedes. The executive order also allows Corazon to maintain his seat in the Senate and President Lacasa has signaled her intention to have the Senate confirm him as the true Secretary of Public Works. As the Secretary of Public Works, Corazon will take on an active role in the Renewal Cojedes Project.

In other news, First Vice President Aitana Morterero and Second Vice President Antonia Navarro were in the city of Heravion today to mark the commemoration of the assassination of President Antonio Suarez, 31 years ago. During the ceremony, both Vice Presidents gave speeches about how they and their families felt that day and in the aftermath, which led to the rise of the Socialist Government and, eventually, the Socialist Civil War. Morterero stated that she recalled having a great sense of national pride when Suarez was in his second term as President. "Suarez was one of the greatest Presidents that our country has ever had. The day that he was assassinated was a day of national tragedy and a day of great sorrow. President Suarez will forever be remembered for healing our country through his policies that brought about growth and brought economic progress to our nation. Without him, we would not be where we are today. We are a strong nation that can compete with other countries because of the many things he did." Senate Chairman Nestor Estávez, who was also in attendance, told the crowd that he would present legislation to have Suarez commemorated on the Cojedan ₳50 note for his acts of service to the country.

That is all we have for now. Thank you for joining us here at Cojedes 24!

Good evening and welcome to Cojedes 24! My name is Nico Alvarado and here is the latest from Cojedes!

Our top story this evening, President Andrea Lacasa addressed a joint session of the National Assembly earlier this week, in a speech that has been called one of the greatest ever given by a President of Cojedes, and has been hailed by Conservatives and Liberals alike. In her second State of the Republic address, President Andrea Lacasa called for national unity as the nation works to further the progress that it has already made. "Anyone who denies that Cojedes hasn't made progress in the past decade has blinders on and needs to take them off. Cojedes has become a very successful country in the past decade and we are working to further the success of our nation and make us one of the top countries in the world." President Lacasa highlighted the Rosario Initiative and Renewal Cojedes as major efforts that are being undertaken by her government and praised the bipartisan efforts that have occurred in accomplishing these goals. "It is because of the efforts of both Cojedan Conservatives and Liberals that we have made this country great. The bipartisanship of the National Assembly in the past few months exemplifies how the Cojedan people wish for us to live, in unity and in peace." President Lacasa ended her speech by stating that she will begin weekly meetings with members from both the coalition and the opposition, as well as joint meetings with the parties to discuss the future of Cojedan policies. President Lacasa also announced her government's desires for the year during the speech, which included changes to the tax laws, including the child tax credits and potentially decreasing the tax rate for millions of Cojedans.

Governor Irene Molina announced Wednesday that the Province of La Rioja has passed a 500 million peso bill as part of the Renewal Cojedes Project and announced that she would also be contributing 5 million pesos of her own money to the province of La Rioja directly in the project. Governor Molina signed the bill into law on Thursday and declared that funding would be granted to projects deemed of the utmost importance by the provincial council, who will aid the federal workers in determining what needs to be done immediately. The La Rioja Department of Public Works released a statement that they would be receiving 62% of the funds from the bill, while the remainder will go to several other departments within the province. Governor Molina said this 500 million peso bill was only the first on the long path to renewing the position La Rioja used to have in the country before it was overtaken by the more major areas such as Heravion, Corrientes, and Rosario. Molina has proposed a series of sweeping reforms that are currently being debated in the House and Senate of La Rioja, including a bill to increase the provincial minimum wage and a bill that would allow new business ventures to not pay taxes for 5 years while giving current La Rioja companies rebates and tax incentives. Another bill that is currently up for debate would be to make La Rioja the first province in the country to declare universal healthcare.

In other news, Patriarch Lucas IV Karantenos has called on a grand convocation of the Church of Cojedes to discuss how the church will handle the ever-changing views of the society at large. The Patriarch, who is the most senior members of the church and has held his position for the past thirty years, announced that he was calling all the leaders of the church from across the country together to meet and determine the best path forwards following decisions by the government and courts that are seeing more non-traditional views being accepted. In his message to the nation, Patriarch Karantenos stated that he was deeply saddened by the way the government, specifically the courts, have chosen to turn theirs back on God and said that he and the church would fight at all cost to ensure that the faith is kept and that the traditional values are upheld. "In this world that we live, it is not surprising to anyone that the times and beliefs that the people hold dear will be tempted and challenged at the highest level of authority in the country. However, it is the duty of the church to ensure that people know that these decisions of the court do not make them morally permissible and that the church's teachings and the Word of our God matter more than any decision a court could make. We must ensure that people know the truth and that it is done in a loving manner." The Grand Convocation will begin on April 9th and be held until April 16th.

That is all we have for now. Thank you for joining us here at Cojedes 24!

Good evening and welcome to Cojedes 24! My name is Nico Alvarado and here is the latest from Cojedes!

Our top story this evening, President Andrea Lacasa met with the Governor's Council earlier today to discuss the ongoing efforts in the Renewal Cojedes Initiative, as well as to discuss other ongoing projects and plans throughout the provinces. A top item of concern was the recovery efforts in Corrientes and Entre Ríos, which have come to a halt due to lack of federal funding. Governor Alexander Amengual of Corrientes, a staunch loyalist to President Lacasa, shocked everyone when he called her out for her lack of support for his province and demanded to know if and when his province would receive the federal funding they were promised. Governors Esperanza Manzanedo (Santiago del Estero), Irene Molina (La Rioja), and Antonio Suarez (San Juan) pushed the President to either make a commitment to send aid to the provinces affected or to sign an executive order ensuring timely arrival of the funds. Governors Molina and Suarez took it a step further and each pledged a combined total of ₳20 million of their personal funds and announced that they would present legislation in their respective provinces to send funding to Corrientes and Entre Ríos so that work may resume. According to the Governor's Council, another 125 million is required to complete the reconstruction efforts in the provinces.

Deputy House Speaker and Former Vice President Valentina Perón has announced that she will be running for the vacant Senate seat that has been left behind in the wake of the passing of Senator Marcos Espina of Santa Fe de la Vera Cruz. The former VP, who was elected Deputy Speaker by a near-unanimous vote late last year, told the press that she was running for the Senate seat to honor the life of her friend Espina, whom she had gone to law school with and had served in the House of Representatives for many years together. "I have faithfully served my nation for many years and this will be just another opportunity to do such. I am looking forward to running for the seat and for taking on whoever will attempt to challenge my candidacy. I have great ideas to bring to the Senate and before the country as a whole and would want nothing more than to be able to have a much stronger voice than I do now." Perón is so far the only candidate for the NCU to announce that they will contest the seat and it is considered unlikely that anyone will take her on. Governor Irene Molina has announced her support for the Former VP and has even announced she will campaign for her. Governor Molina is considered to be a contender for the next Presidential election and could choose to have Perón be her running mate in the election. Perón, when asked by the press whether she had any intention to run for President in 2023, said she wasn't sure at the current time whether she wished to, but that she is considering it as an option.

In other news, small business owners in Cojedes will be receiving a bit of good news in the coming weeks, as President Lacasa and the National Assembly have agreed to increase tax breaks for small business owners, as well as granting over 80% of small businesses 15,000 pesos to help them grow their business, increase profits, and to help stop deficits or defaults in loans. The President, in signing what is known as the Small Business Recovery Act, declared that Cojedes is a place for anyone that wants to make their lives prosper and that this bill will not only help small businesses that are already going for years but will help those that are new to the game and ones that are still being built. "This bill will serve as a lifeline for many struggling businesses in our country and will help with those that are up and coming. It is high time for our country to help these struggling workers and give their company a chance. I am calling on Cojedans all throughout the nation to go out and support small businesses and help them grow. When you help small businesses, you aren't giving a CEO's daughter a special corvette, you are helping a family in your community who may be struggling. Help those that you know before you do some fat-cat billionaire CEO who doesn't even know who you are."

That is all we have for now. Thank you for joining us here at Cojedes 24!

Good morning and welcome to Cojedes 24! This is Nico Alvarado and here is the latest from Cojedes!

Our top story this morning, President Andrea Lacasa will address a joint session of the National Assembly today to deliver her State of the Republic address, the third one she has participated in since taking office. For the first time in Cojedan history, all members of the Cojedan Cabinet will be present for the speech, while the Designated Survivor will be Constitutional Court Justice Elmira Vasquez. President Lacasa said in a dossier to the National Assembly that she had chosen it this way so that transparency would be shown by her and her cabinet and so the secretaries could answer questions if the members have them after the speech. It is currently unknown as to what the major topics will be, but it is believed that the President will address major issues such as Renew Cojedes, the economy, education, healthcare, and the Heravion drug crisis. Political commentators have said that this is the day that President Andrea Lacasa could solidify support for herself in the next Presidential election and help her party in the National Assembly election next year. Governor Irene Molina will deliver the Governor's Response to the speech, be selected by all other Governors to do as such. Molina's response will be given at 10pm RST (Rosario Standard Time).

Rosario Medical Center has announced that it will begin wage increases for all nurses, physicians, and surgeons over the course of the next year. According to Chief Medical Officer Luciana Valerio DNP, the company wage increase will begin on May 1st, noting that the workers in Cojedan hospitals have become very underappreciated for the work that they are doing. "Our workers are getting treated like they are second class and it is time that they get the appropriate wage for the work that they do." According to the dossier, nurses will expect to see increases of 5 to 8 pesos per hour, varying per length of service. Salaried nurses will receive an increase of 10,000 pesos, which is expected to be roughly the equal amount as the wage hike. Physicians and surgeons will see increases in the range of 4 to 15 pesos per hour, also varying per length of service to the hospital. Valerio said that most surgeons and physicians should not expect to see major wage increases quite yet as they already make much more than the nurses. The wage increase is expected to coincide with the City of Rosario wage increase to 11 pesos an hour, the highest in the country and 1.50 more than the federal minimum wage.

In other news, Former Vice President Valentina Perón has officially be declared victor in the Senate election in Santa Fe de la Vera Cruz, returning her to the Senate for the first time since 2012. The election, which was marred with some controversy as election results had to be counted for several days and were even contested in court, was declared a victory for Perón, who won with 62.3% of the vote. Perón's victory solidified the NCU position in the Senate, showing that the region of Santa Fe is still very much a conservative stronghold, even as the population is getting younger and younger. Perón held a victory party earlier this morning in which she thanked the people for their support and declared that she was ready to get to work in the Senate and beyond. "I will work for the people of our province to make sure that our voice is heard here and around the country. Santa Fe will never be forgotten!" Perón is expected to take a major role in the Senate, potentially as Chairwoman of the Committee on Infrastructure and even possibly ascending to the position of Deputy Chairwoman of the Senate, which would return her into the Presidential Council. Perón is also expected to present legislation to support Renewal Cojedes and grant funding to disaster zones in Southern Cojedes.

That is all we have for now. Thank you for joining us here at Cojedes 24!

Good afternoon and welcome to Cojedes 24! My name is Nico Alvarado and here is the latest from Cojedes!

Our top story this afternoon, former Vice President Valentina Perón was officially sworn into the Senate today by First Vice President Aitana Morterero, making her the fourth former VP to serve in the Senate following their term. The ceremony was attended by all members of the Senate, three members of the Constitutional Court, Five members of the Supreme Court, as well as President Andrea Lacasa, and numerous members of the executive. Following the oath of office, Perón gave a speech on the floor thanking the people of Santa Fe de la Vera Cruz for electing her to the Senate and declaring that she was ready to get to work for the greater good of the Cojedan people. "My job is to serve the people who have elected me to my office and I promise the entire nation that I will do as such to the best of my ability". According to the Rosario Times, Perón is expected to present legislation in the coming days to grant housing to veterans and to increase funding to underprivileged communities in Western Cojedes, especially to Santa Fe and Heravion Provinces. Chairman of the Senate Nestor Estávez, who is also considered the de facto leader of the Coalition government and is even being considered for another Presidential term, announced that he will appoint Perón to the Infrastructure Committee and the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs.

In other news, the National Guard of Cojedes has deployed over 4,000 of its members to the Province of Heravion to help in the war of drugs that is occurring in the province. Governor Sarmiento held a phone call earlier this week with President Lacasa in which he asked the President to send in soldiers to help the growing fight against gangs and mobsters in the area. In response, the President agreed to send 4,000 National Guard members to help quell the crime syndicates and to hopefully put an end to the massive drug crisis. In a dossier, President Lacasa said that she would honor the promise that she had made before the people and the government the other day to ensure the protection of all people in Heravion. Many members of the National Assembly stated their disgust at the decision of the President, but overall the consensus was one of support for the decision that the President had made. There will be a debate in the House and Senate in the coming days to determine whether the President's actions are legal or if they violate protocol.

That is all we have for now. Thank you for joining us here at Cojedes 24!

Good afternoon and welcome to Cojedes 24! My name is Nico Alvarado and here is the latest news from Cojedes!

Our top story this evening, it has been nearly two weeks since President Andrea Lacasa's State of the Republic Address before the National Assembly and the Assembly is charting a course full steam ahead to pass key legislation that she has proposed. The major proposals that come from President Lacasa were to increase the hourly wage at a much quicker pace than previously, make college more affordable for all students by decreasing loan interests, school costs, and monthly payments, and increase the amount of government funding given to Cojedan farmers. The House of Representatives has, since the speech, proposed legislation that would increase government funding to farmers by $1,500, bringing the total per year up to $25,500 minimum. The bill will also forgive any loan debt that is previously held. The Senate is currently considering the student loan bill, which may meet more opposition than the President expected. According to polling officials, the President's speech helped solidify herself as the NCU candidate for the next Presidential election and has become a rallying cry for the nation because of her most famous statement, "The people of Cojedes are a strong-willed people and this has been proven in the aftermath of the storms that struck Cojedes last year. Let it be known this day that Cojedans will never give up and we will continue to work with one another, to provide for one another, and pray for one another in these trying times. Let all Cojedans come together and unite and let us all get to work for the better of our great country, a country where one day all people may want to live!" According to political teams from across the country, President Lacasa's popularity rating has shot up to 74%, making her popularity the highest of all Cojedan Presidents during the middle of their term.

The Rosario Municipal Council has voted to expand the Rosario Metro system, adding two extra metro stops, bringing the city to having 32 stations throughout the city. The decision was released in the political newspaper Rosario Daily, which revealed that the vote was near-unanimous. The decision to increase the number of stations comes after many months of increased congestion on the metro and the need for more stops near universities in the capital. The two new stops, which have yet to be named, will be in the vicinity of the University of Rosario, Rosario Medical University, and Rosario Polytechnic Institute. Rosario Mayor Micaela Saavedra stated that she was very excited about the decision made by the Rosario government and announced that she would be throwing her full support behind the decision. "This is a first step forward for the city to become a global city. We are a very diverse city and we proud ourselves of that fact. We want to make our city more inclusive and we need to make sure we provide for the needs of everyone in our community." The Council will begin debate on projects outlined in the Cojedes Renewal Project but is not expected to make any major decision yet until federal funding has arrived.

In other news, Governor Diego Alejandro Sarmiento of Heravion Province has announced that the province will be increasing the hourly minimum wage to ₳12.50 an hour. The decision was announced by the Governor this morning, following several months of protests demanding that the wage be increased. Many people have called for the wage increase due to the ongoing drug crisis in the province, which some believe is in response to the low amounts of jobs in the province. According to Governor Sarmiento, many more jobs are now opening up and the provincial government is planning to create 15,000 new jobs, many of which will be in police, fire, and EMS, as well as teachers and general laborers. Many major companies in Heravion, including Solar Industries, Heravion Shipbuilding, and Heravion Medical Works have announced that they will be sponsoring a major hiring event and plan to take on anywhere from 100 to 400 workers per company to help bring more jobs to the province. According to the latest statistics, unemployment in Heravion sits at 8.2%, the highest of any province and more than twice the national unemployment, which sits at 4.15% as of the latest government reports. Vice President Aitana Morterero threw her support behind the government's decision and will also support the companies that try to gather new workers. Morterero will travel to Heravion to help in the federal hiring event in the province.

That is all we have for now. Thank you for joining us here at Cojedes 24!

Buenos Noches and welcome to Cojedes 24! My name is Arturo Avridal and here are all the top stories from Cojedes!

To start off this evening, President Andrea Lacasa held a press conference earlier today in which she declared valiantly that the drug crisis in Heravion would come to an end by the end of this year, vowing to rid the province of gangs that have troubled the region for the past two decades. Speaking to the country from the Casa Rosada, President Lacasa stated that the time has come to stand up to the violent gangs that are taking away the lives of so many people and are peddling drugs throughout the region. "What started off as a minor situation in just one region has spiraled out of control in recent years and is now plaguing the surrounding provinces. If we do not act now, our children will not be able to have a sustainable future. I am authorizing the Department of Defense, the Department of State Security, and the Department of Internal Affairs, to deploy all necessary forces to the region to rid the area of the gangs and end the drug situation in the province. I also am signing Executive Order 3098 declaring a curfew in the province effectively immediately, suspending public transit and taxi service after 8 pm, and moving night classes online to protect students who would have to travel to and from school." According to sources in the city of Heravion, the curfew is slated to begin at 8 pm each night and will last until President Lacasa signs another executive order ending the curfew. The government will deploy 20,000 troops to Heravion, 3 elite special forces units, and 6,000 members of the National Police and National Guard to the Province. A government dossier has also revealed that the Cojedan Northern Fleet will be moved from the city of Heravion until the situation in the area is secure.

Governor Irene Molina of La Rioja Province has officially signed a ₳2.4 billion spending bill to provide early funding for the construction of a new business center in the capital city of the province. The La Rioja International Center for Commerce as it will be called is slated to become a major business center for all types of businesses, ranging from small local businesses to major Cojedan companies that trade internationally. The announcement of the bill signing came as a major relief to many people in the province, who have been waiting for many years for the construction to begin. Governor Molina, speaking before a crowd of workers, stated that it was a grand day for the province and that La Rioja is working its way to becoming a major economic center for Cojedes. "Today, people will begin to respect the province of La Rioja more. Today, we are beginning a major effort that our province has had in the works for many years and that our government had pledged to deliver. We will uphold our commitment to the people of the province and ensure that the people of our great province have a chance at a great future and shape their own destiny." Economic analysts report that the Business Center will require 5 to 10 years to build total and that the number of jobs that will be created during the construction and after will amount to nearly 185,000 over the course of the next 20 years.

Governor Benito Campos of San Luis Province, the only Liberal Party governor currently sitting, announced that his province will be having a hiring spree for jobs within the provincial government within the coming weeks and months. According to a statement from the Governor's Office, the Province will be beginning accepting applications for positions from general maintenance to Provincial Guard to court clerks in an attempt to curb severe shortages that the province has seen in the past several years. "For several years now, our province has several lacked in all realms the number of jobs that the government has provided. General maintenance projects have gone undone because there are not enough people to do them and the province is spending much more money contracting workers than it needs to do so if we had workers under our government itself. It is time that we offer more jobs to people in the province and give people the opportunity that they deserve." The dossier states that all workers will start off by making ₳17/hour minimum, varying per job role. The dossier states that the province is expecting to hire anywhere from 450 to 600 workers in the varying roles, not counting the 500-600 that they wish to introduce into the Provincial Guard. It is expected that the province has spent an additional ₳4 million per year in outsourcing projects to corporations, while they are expected to retain the same amount by increasing the workforce.

Our final story for the evening, Cojedan conglomerate Solar Industries announced this morning that they would be announcing wage increases across the board and will also begin paying for the college tuition of anyone that wishes to attain a Bachelors's Degree. The announcement came following the meeting of the board of trustees, which voted unanimously to increase wages across the company to a starting pay of ₳14/hour, with the maximum pay being ₳50/hour depending on years of service. Solar Industries, which includes companies from defense to car production to coffee shops, has advocated over the past several years for the Cojedan government to take over the payment of college education and to increase the minimum wage to at least ₳12.50/hour. Solar Industries CFO Bruno Arboleda stated in an interview with Cojedes 24 that the only requirement for receiving tuition assistance will be that the worker signs a 4-year contract to work with the company either during or after their time in college. "If the student feels that they are capable of being able to go to school and work at the same time, we will gladly allow them to work for our company at the same time. Likewise, we will also be perfectly fine with those who wish to work for us after they obtain their degree. We want Cojedans to be able to advance and for the next generation to be able to have a greater chance in life. This is only the first step and we look forward to being a part of major change." Arboleda stated that current workers that are in college will receive tuition reimbursement that they are free to do whatever they wish due to their loyalty to the company and to make the decision fair to everyone. Solar Industries also announced that they will begin sponsoring several local coffee shops and grant tuition assistance to their workers as if they were their own. Solar Coffee will also begin expansion projects throughout the country, with the eventual goal of expanding into neighboring countries.

That is all we have for now. Thank you for joining us here at Cojedes 24!

Good morning and welcome to Cojedes 24! My name is Evangelina Beldad and here is the latest from Cojedes!

Our top story this evening, fighting has already begun in the province of Heravion between members of the Armed Forces and members of the cartels that have been peddling drugs throughout the province for the past two decades. In a statement released by President Lacasa and Governor Sarmiento, the government announced that it has launched Operation Restoring Hope in an attempt to route the ability of the drug cartels and have launched major attacks against the three major cartels, Scarponi, Alcocer, and Vera, as well as their supporters. The statement revealed that Special Forces had launched several attacks and had blown up several warehouses that the cartels have been using for years. According to the report, 70 members of the cartels have been killed within the past several days, while the Armed Forces have sustained no casualties and have reported only several minor injuries. General Javier Lucas Santángel announced that the operations undertaken so far had resulted in the discovery and removal of 2.9 tons of cocaine, 3,000 marijuana plants, other types of drugs, and several hundred thousand dollars. Thirty-five members of the cartels have been taken into custody and are facing charges that include extortion, illicit substance handling, selling of illegal substances, and treason in certain cases. The Justice Department has announced that they will allow murder charges to be added for every citizen of Heravion who has been lost due to the cartels. Citizens in Heravion have been told to shelter in place and abide by the curfew requirements or to leave the city and head to safer areas that are not dealing with the crisis. President Lacasa has issued an emergency situation for San Luis and Santa Fe Provinces, allowing the federal government to take control of the Provincial Guards and Police and issue their deployment to the borders of the provinces to protect the people of the provinces.

Second Vice President Antonia Navarro and Secretary of Energy Sofia Covarrbuias were in the city of Corrientes today for the official opening of the Trans-Cojedan Pipeline. Navarro, who has been in charge of the final leg of the project since assuming the role of SVP, declared that Cojedes would finally achieve its goal of becoming fully independent on the need for foreign oil. "Today, Cojedes has taken a major step in preventing the need for any future purchases of oil from abroad. With the completion of the Trans-Cojedan Pipeline and the several oil platforms that have recently been sent into production, Cojedes has solidified itself as a minor player for oil production, but one that will become fully dependent on its own oil within the next half-decade." Energy Secretary Covarrubias opened the final leg of the pipeline this morning and declared a major victory has come for the people of Cojedes. "The days ahead are looking brighter than ever before for Cojedes and for our people. With the completion of this pipeline and the completion of the oil refinery and depot in Corrientes, we are looking greatly to becoming more self-reliant and potentially decreasing the cost of gasoline for Cojedan citizens." It is expected that the main buyers of gasoline from the pipeline will be Cojedan, with some potentially being outside of the country, but the Energy Secretary said she would be holding discussions with foreign leaders if any wish to buy Cojedan oil and gasoline. The Trans-Cojedan Pipeline begins in Heravion and branches off into three major pathways that lead either to Rosario, Heravion, and Córdoba. With the completion of the Corrientes Refinery and Depot, Corrientes has now become the third-largest oil refiner and storage center in Cojedes, behind Rosario and Santa Fe.

In other news, schools across Cojedes are preparing for graduations in a year that will be unlike any other. According to a report from the Department of Education, colleges and high schools are expected to see over 135,000 graduates this year, the highest that Cojedes has seen in recent years. Rosario Medical University announced that it has over 2,000 graduates this year, comprising Doctors, Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants, Nurses, and many more specialties that will require 15 different commencement ceremonies over the course of the next two weeks. Rosario High School, the largest high school in the entire country, has stated it will have over 4,500 graduates this year, with the decision to split the graduation ceremony into three separate ceremonies due to the large number of graduates. According to the Department of Education, the reason behind this large uptick in graduates is because of the post-Socialist rule baby boom that occurred in the early and mid-2000s. Education Secretary Diego Alejandro Andrade stated that he had expected that this day would soon come and that he is very proud of the efforts of the Cojedan people to ensure that their children get the education they deserve. Labor Secretary Evangelina Maroto stated that they expect the number of jobs to increase due to a large number of graduates, with many high schoolers expected to go directly into the job field, many opting to skip college for the purpose of jobs. "We are expecting to see a 5% to 8% increase in the number of jobs this summer compared to the same time last year, varying between the region and job status as part-time or full-time. We expect the majority of high school graduates will opt for part-time work, while nearly all university graduates will go into full-time job status, especially among medical professionals." One notable graduate this year is Juan Andrade, son of the Education Secretary, who will graduate valedictorian from Rosario High School and will also have an Associates Degree in Business with Honors from Rosario State University. Andrade is believed to be preparing to open his own business conglomerate in the next couple of years.

That is all we have for now. Thank you for joining us here at Cojedes 24!