General News

Deposed Antioquia Governor Gaviria: ‘I’m Innocent, Attorney General is Legally Mistaken’

Medellin Herald June 8, 2020

Deposed Antioquia Governor Aníbal Gaviria announced in a June 8 press conference that Colombia Attorney General Francisco Barbosa Delgado committed a grievous legal error in charging Gaviria with corruption over a 2005 highway contract — and likewise went way overboard in removing him

General News

Antioquia Governor Gaviria Charged with Corruption, Deposed; President Duque Names Temporary Replacement

Medellin Herald June 5, 2020

Colombia Attorney General Francisco Barbosa Delgado announced June 5 in a press conference that Antioquia Governor Aníbal Gaviria has been charged with alleged corrupt management of a highway construction contract during his first term as governor between 2004 and 2007. “The evidentiary elements indicate irregular payment of advances and other anomalies in the process of

General News

Why Medellin Tops Colombia in Covid-19 Avoidance while Leading Economic Reopenings

Medellin Herald June 3, 2020

Colombia’s Health Ministry reported that as of June 2, 31,833 people had contracted Coronavirus nationally since tracking began four months ago — including 1,009 deaths and 11,142 recoveries so far. Bogota is by far the worst at 10,743 cases including 267 deaths, followed by Atlantico (4,550 cases); Cali/Valle del Cauca (3,714); Bolivar (3,364); Amazonas (1,852);

General News

Shopping Mall Tests with Contact Tracing ‘Very Positive,’ so More Medellin Malls to Reopen June 1

Medellin Herald May 28, 2020

The Medellin Mayor’s Office announced May 27 that a test reopening program at three shopping malls here confirms that Covid-19 biosafety compliance indeed is feasible — clearing the way for broader mall reopenings on June 1. “About 18,000 people [initially] participated in the pilot program to reopen shopping centers in Medellín” that started May 25, […]

General News

Medellin Mayor Unveils US$1.2 Billion, Four-Year ‘Eco-City’ Budget

Medellin Herald May 27, 2020

The Medellin Mayor’s Office on May 27 unveiled a COP$4.48 trillion (US$1.2 billion) “EcoCiudad” (Eco-City) “Medellín Futuro” four-year budget that includes environmental protection, education, recycling and expansion of zero-emissions transport. “The capital of Antioquia is committed to increasing protected areas, strategic ecosystems, restoring forest cover and

General News

Medellin Tests 3 Types of Liberated Shopping Malls Starting May 25

Medellin Herald May 22, 2020

Medellin Mayor Daniel Quintero announced May 22 via his Twitter account that three different types of malls will be opened to the public here — under strict biosafety protocols — starting Monday, May 25, as a run-up to the planned reopening of more malls starting June 1. According to the Mayor, the three shopping malls […]

General News

115 Towns in Antioquia Conditionally Liberated from Covid-19 Quarantine

Medellin Herald May 21, 2020

Antioquia’s General Secretary Luis Fernando Suárez announced May 21 that 115 towns in Antioquia that haven’t had a single case of Coronavirus have now been freed from quarantines for nearly all economic sectors. None of these towns are in the Medellin metro area (Valle de Aburra), however. Nor is the city of Rionegro, where Medellin’s […]

General News

Medellin Mayor Announces Shopping-Center Reopenings Starting June 1

Medellin Herald May 20, 2020

Medellin Mayor Daniel Quintero announced May 20 that shopping centers in Medellin gradually will reopen starting June 1 – right on the heels of President Ivan Duque’s May 19 announcement about Colombia’s transition from Covid-19 “national quarantine” to more city-specific “health emergency” status from June 1 to August 31. “The openings will be staggered according […]

General News

More Cities in Antioquia Reopen Businesses; Medellin Leads All Colombia in ‘Smart’ Reopenings, Covid-19 Avoidance

Medellin Herald May 16, 2020

The Antioquia departmental government revealed May 15 that eight local municipalities that haven’t had a single case of Coronavirus have just won special permission from Colombia’s Interior Ministry to reopen nearly everything. “The municipalities of Caracolí, Maceo, Puerto Berrío, Puerto Nare, Puerto Triunfo, Urrao, Caucasia and Yondó can now implement their gradual

General News

XM: Low Rainfall This Year Hurts Hydropower Output; Conservation Seen Likely

Medellin Herald May 15, 2020

Medellin-based XM – operator of Colombia’s national electric power dispatch-and-trading market – on May 14 announced that relatively low rainfall this year might require Colombians to take steps to conserve water and power consumption. “Although it is true that the country’s [hydropower dam] reservoirs are at historic minimum levels, the Colombian energy matrix has