Following the surprise suspension of his presidential campaign, it must be admitted that from the beginning Johnny Araya had unique hurdles to overcome as a National Liberation Party candidate. The early frontrunner in this campaign, he nonetheless was burdened with the history that no Costa Rican party has won the presidential election for a third consecutive term.

Costa Rica's budget for road repairs is already allocated on other projects.

More than 1000 cities around the world joined in the Oct. 15 global protests. In San José, some 300 people showed up for the demonstration.

The country's bridges lack regular maintenance works. Several bridges have been waiting more than 20 years for necessary repairs.

Residents throughout Costa Rica are discovering large cellphone towers going up in their neighborhoods. As resistance grows, government agencies are scrambling to determine regulation standards.

Respondents to one poll chose Public Transportation Minister Francisco Jiménez as their least favorite minister. The most popular is Health Minister María Luisa Ávila.

The demonstrations by unlicensed cab drivers is expected to cause major delays and traffic jams throughout the country.

Construction on the bridge that links San José to the airport and Alajuela, and causes daily traffic jams, is expected to be completed in 10 days.

The worker was killed on Costa Rica's "La Platina" bridge, which connects San José to Alajuela. As a result of the accident, the part of the General Cañas road leading to the airport will be closed every night from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., until Feb. 21.

The bridge is notorious for delaying drivers heading from the capital to the airport or Alajuela.