Lucia Mendez

With just 24 hours left to go, Argentine winger Juan Sebastian Veron is taking the lead in the contention for the best soccer player of America award for 2009 which is organized by Uruguayan newspaper El Pais. Veron is captain of Argentina's national soccer squad and of LaPlata team Estudiantes, which won this year's Libertadores Cup. The 34-year-old midfielder is eight points ahead of Chilean striker Humberto Suazo, who plays for Mexican team Monterrey, and 10 points ahead of Ecuadorian winger Edison Mendez, who plays for Ecuadorian team Liga de Quito. Read More

The country's public safety agencies advised the population of possible downpours of as much as 200 millimeters (almost 8 inches) in the next two days, prompting flash flood warnings and other alerts in 14 provinces. Read More

In Health Watch:New government numbers show more and more children are being diagnosed with autism.About 1-percent of US children now suffer from the disorder.Janet Choi reports from New York.Damian Mendez didn't speak until he was seven years old.His mother Christina says, "it's been hard.. we've definitely had our ups and downs. "12 year old Damien, was diagnosed with autism when he was 2.Now a new report shows the development disorder is more common than first thought.It seems like more people are telling me, my child has autism.The Centers for disease control says among 8 year olds.. 1 in every 110 is classified as having an autism spectrum disorder.Dr. Catherine Rice says, 'Overall, in 10 sites across the us that we saw a 57 % increase "The numbers also confirm earlier studies that show boys are 4 and a half times more likely than girls to have it.Researchers say the new numbers don't necessarily mean autism is on the rise. a number of factors could be contributing to the increase.Dr. Rice, '"we identified more children because we had more evaluations, better descriptions".. At the same time , a true increase in risk can't t ruled out.'The Mendez family says no matter what the reason for the increase .. more needs to be done .Christina Mendez says, 'it's very scary to me because like I mentioned we don't have a cause, but it seems like our numbers are getting higher, no one seems to care.'With medicine and special therapies, Damian is improving.But advocates says treatment is only part of the puzzle that still needs solving. Read More

Elrington and the Belize-based members of his delegation returned Thursday afternoon. Read More

Legendary singer-songwriter Juan Gabriel has been named the Latin Recording Academy's 2009 Person of the Year. Gabriel, whose songs are part of the Latin music canon, will be honored at a black-tie gala Nov. 4 at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, site of the 10th annual Latin Grammys the following evening. Read More