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Biggest stories Photo by John Antczak | AP
This April 13, 2013, file photo shows a NASA Global Hawk robotic jet in a hangar at Dryden Flight Research Center in Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.
Texas will house drone test site A&M-Corpus Christi to serve as one of six areas chosen across the country By NOLAN HICKS SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS
The Federal Aviation Administration signed off Monday on Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi’s bid to create the first test site in the state for unmanned aerial systems — a project designed to help advance the U.S. drone industry and bring jobs and investment to South Texas. The university’s proposal was one of six the FAA approved nationwide. “We are proud to be a part of this historic moment in aviation history,” said Flavius Killebrew, president and CEO of A&M-Corpus Christi. “Together with our partners, we will lead the way for the research and development of this new age in aviation technology.” U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, congratulated the university Monday, saying in a statement that he has been a “longtime supporter and advocate for the use of unmanned systems along the border.” “It has been a long process bringing this test site to Texas and we in the caucus have had several conversations with the FAA,” said Cuellar, co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Unmanned Systems. “It has been my pleasure to work alongside (U.S. Congressman Blake) Farenthold and the other members of the Caucus to secure this site.” In an announcement, the university cited a study by trade group Association of Unmanned Vehicles International that estimates that the industry could generate an economic impact of $8 billion statewide and create about 1,200 jobs, many of them around Corpus Christi. In addition to Texas, other states hosting the research sites are Alaska, Nevada, New York, North Dakota and Virginia, providing diverse climates, geography and air traffic environments, FAA Administrator Michael Huerta said. The competition for a test site was robust, he said, as 25 entities in 24 states submitted proposals. The approved test sites are the first step toward integrating drones into the nation’s airspace, which Congress has mandated to take place by 2015. The cen-
ters will provide key proving grounds for drone operators to show that they can operate safely and will allow the FAA to gather data about privacy issues. Drones have been used mainly by the military, but governments, businesses, farmers and others are making plans to join the market — a prospect that has privacy advocates up in arms. The FAA has tight restrictions on when and where drones can be used, and it’s illegal to use them for commercial purposes. The agency projects that some 7,500 commercial drones could be aloft within five years of getting widespread access to U.S. airspace. A&M-Corpus Christi’s test site will encompass a swath of airspace that stretches from the sparsely populated ranch lands of South Texas up to College Station, and it will include 11 test ranges for drones, three of which are already FAA-approved, the San Antonio Express-News reported in October. The university has been conducting drone research for two years, officials said, looking at ways to use unmanned aircrafts to do activities including mapping sea grass, detecting oil spills and hotspots in wildfires, and herd-counting for ranchers. One of A&M-Corpus Christi’s goals for the test site is to research safety systems that will allow drones to “sense” other aircraft and take measures to avoid collisions. The university’s proposal was the only one from Texas considered by the FAA, and it had the backing of Gov. Rick Perry. “It’s definitely a big deal,” said Michael Blades, an aerospace and defense industry analyst at Frost & Sullivan, a San Antoniobased research and consulting firm. “To be honest with you, I did not have Texas in the top six. “Economically speaking, it’s big deal,” he added, because the test sites will become a hub for businesses that will support the industry. A&M-Corpus Christi is collaborating on the project with some of the top engineering talent in the state,
See DRONE SITE PAGE 9A
Photo collage by Leslie Trowbridge | The Zapata Times
Clockwise from left: Miguel Angel Treviño Morales; LISD Superintendent Marcus Nelson sheds tears after seeing the results of the school bond election; Kaleb Canales; El Cenizo/Rio Bravo residents say they will continue to boil water; and Ivan Velasquez Caballero.
From cartels to bond elections, year ends THE ZAPATA TIMES
I
n 2011 and 2012, the Laredo community was shocked by brutal killings. The first of them, in December 2011, involved the mother who fatally shot her son and daughter before killing herself after a sevenhour standoff with police at a state welfare office. About six months later, in June 2012, a man allegedly shot and killed his girlfriend’s two young sons at the Holiday Inn off Interstate 35. In 2013, however, area residents may be able to take some solace in the fact that the city has recorded the lowest number of homicides in more than a decade. Here are the top stories of the year; in no particular order:
Murder rate With one day remaining in the year, the Laredo Police Department has recorded just three homicides in 2013. That’s the lowest number of homicides in more
than a decade. In 2003, the homicide rate was at its highest when LPD recorded 29 homicides. The high number was attributed to cross-border violence.
Boil alert For three weeks in August, residents in El Cenizo and Rio Bravo had to boil water before consuming it. The boil water alert was issued after water quality issues arose and a sample tested positive for E. coli. Both the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and Webb County Engineering Department cited several factors for the water quality, including poor management of the water treatment plant.
‘El Cuarenta’ captured and ‘El Taliban’ extradited Miguel Angel Treviño Morales, the notoriously brutal leader of the Zetas
drug cartel, was captured in July by Mexican Marines who intercepted a pickup truck with $2 million in cash outside Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. Treviño Morales, known as “Z-40,” is described as one of the two most powerful cartel heads in Mexico. He is charged with ordering the kidnapping and killing of 265 migrants in the town of San Fernando during 2010 and 2011. He is expected to be succeeded by his brother, Omar. Also recently, Mexico extradited an alleged former top member of the cartel to face narcotics trafficking and money laundering charges in Laredo. Ivan Velazquez Caballero, known by the nickname “El Taliban,” was one of more than 30 people charged in a massive conspiracy indictment, alleging that, between 2000 and 2008, the Zetas smuggled large amounts of drugs into the U.S. and committed homicides in Texas as part of their narcotics trafficking operations.
Lotto winners In January, a Laredo retiree’s life was changed when he found out the six numbers on his lottery ticket matched the six numbers for the Lotto Texas Jackpot and the $15 million prize. The winning ticket was purchased at the Arguindegui Pump-N-Shop at San Dario Avenue and Lafayette Street. Jose Ramos had been playing the same numbers for more than 10 years. He said when the numbers were drawn, he and his immediate relatives kept checking them to make sure they matched his ticket. The new millionaires immediately made plans to buy a new house.
Kaleb Canales to Dallas In May, Laredo native Kaleb Canales returned to his home state to accept a coaching position with the Dallas Mavericks
See TOP STORIES PAGE 9A
CRIME
Two break-ins for business By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
Zapata County Sheriff ’s Office investigators need the community’s assistance to find those responsible for breaking into Gonzalez Auto Parts and stealing thousands of dollars, authorities announced last week. A sheriff ’s office report states that Gonzalez Auto Parts employees showed up to work the morning after Christmas to discover that the store had been burglarized. Officials said burglars have targeted the auto-parts store be-
Anybody with information … call the sheriff’s office at 765-9960. fore. “This is the second time in a little over two weeks that the burglars have damaged windows and taken money,” the report states. Officials said “thousands of dollars” have been stolen from the company as a result of the two break-ins. An exact amount was not made public. Anybody with information on
the case is asked to call the sheriff ’s office at 765-9960. Callers may remain anonymous. Members of the public can also submit a tip through ACT, a suspicious activity online reporting system, at zapatasheriff.com/act/ index.html. (César G. Rodriguez may be reached at 728-2568 or cesar@lmtonline.com)