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SECURITY

LOOKING BACK

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)

PAGE 2A

Zin brief CALENDAR

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1, 2014

AROUND TEXAS

TODAY IN HISTORY

Saturday, Jan. 4

ASSOCIATED PRESS

First United Methodist Church used book sale. 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

1220 McClelland Ave. Hardbook books $1, paperback books 50 cents, and magazines and children’s books 25 cents. Contact 956-722-1674 or fumc_office@sbcglobal.net.

Sunday, Jan. 5 Laredo A&M Mothers’ Club J.J. Sanchez Memorial Mass. 9 a.m. Christ the King Catholic Church, 1105 Tilden Ave. All current and former Aggies and parents encouraged to attend. Contact Diana Lopez at 956-236-9549 or dtel1978@yahoo.com.

Tuesday, Jan. 7 Webb County Community Coalition meeting. 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. San Martin De Porres Catholic Church meeting room, 1704 Sanman St. Topic is drug prevention. Elia Carolina, forensic scientist for Texas Department of Public Safety, to speak about drug abuse in minors. RSVP by calling Veronica Jimenez at 724-3177.

Alzheimer’s support group. 7 p.m. Meeting Room 2, Building B, Laredo Medical Center. For family members and caregivers of someone who has Alzheimer’s. Call Melissa L. Guerra at 693-9991.

Thursday, Jan. 9 Los Amigos Duplicate Bridge Club. 1:15 p.m. to 5 p.m. Laredo Country Club. Call Beverly Cantu at 7270589.

Saturday, Jan. 11 CFC Trail Ride and Rib Cook Off. Alexander Station, Jacaman and McPherson roads behind Texas Community Bank. Round robin from Alexander Station to Crescent Loop Park. Riders $20. Hay ride $5. Registration onsite 8 a.m. Trail ride 10 a.m. Rib cookoff (beef and pork categories) $100 per team. Benefits local charities. Call United Way of Laredo office at 7239113, extension 2.

Monday, Jan. 13 Zapata County Commissioners Court meeting. 9 a.m. Zapata County Courthouse. Call Roxy Elizondo at 7659920.

Thursday, Jan. 16 Los Amigos Duplicate Bridge Club. 1:15 p.m. to 5 p.m. Laredo Country Club. Call Beverly Cantu at 7270589.

Saturday, Jan. 18 Crime Stoppers Menudo Bowl. 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. L.I.F.E. Fairgrounds, Highway 59. Admission for adults $5 and children 12 years and under free.

Live music, Brush Country Trail Ride, Laredo Wrestling Alliance, motorcycle ride, merchandise booths, children’s games and rides, food booths, displays on federal agencies, ranch rodeo starting at 10 a.m. and team roping at 2 p.m. Proceeds benefit Crime Stoppers.

Contact 724-1876 or rimestoppers@bizlaredo.rr.com.

Thursday, Jan. 23 Los Amigos Duplicate Bridge Club. 1:15 p.m. to 5 p.m. Laredo Country Club. Call Beverly Cantu at 7270589.

Photo by Pat Sullivan | AP

Carol Levin sits in her Houston office beside a poster with photos of her son Todd, on Friday, Dec. 13, 2013. Todd, 26, and his girlfriend were killed in 2006 when their car was hit by a drunken driver who ran a red light doing 85 mph at a Houston intersection. Texas has had at least one traffic fatality every day for over 13 years.

No respite for road deaths

By MICHAEL GRACZYK ASSOCIATED PRESS

HOUSTON — Like people throughout the world, many Texans gathered Tuesday to ring in the New Year with booze-fueled parties. Despite increased warnings about drinking and driving during the holiday season, though, the state is nearly certain to add another notch to Texas’ ignominious streak of having at least one road death per day for more than 13 years.

The last day without a traffic death in Texas was Nov. 7, 2000, state Department of Transportation figures show. Since then, more than 45,000 motor vehicle fatalities have occurred.

Reasons for the Texas streak are varied, but a “big three” stand out, according to Lonny Haschel, Texas Department of Public Safety sergeant.

“What we see are speed, failure to use seat belts and impaired driving,” he said.

Nearly one-third of all the fatalities since November 2000 are attributed to alcohol.

“We’re No. 1 in the entire country, and people don’t think there’s a problem,” says Carol Levin, whose 26-year-old son and his girlfriend were killed in 2006 by a drunken driver who ran a red light at a Houston intersection.

The 22-year-old driver of the other car is serving 10 years in prison for two counts of intoxicated manslaughter but is parole eligible. The driver could have been sentenced to up to 20 years behind bars, but Texas judges have wide discretion in deciding sentences.

On Tuesday, safety efforts included 15 agencies on patrol across Central Texas looking for drunken drivers as part of an initiative called Arrive Alive.

2 suffer minor injuries in Houston pipeline fire

Girlfriend: 2 men safe aboard sailboat in Gulf

Retail gasoline prices up slightly across the state

LA PORTE — At least two workers have been hurt in a fire on a petrochemical pipeline along the Houston Ship Channel.

Enterprise Products Partners spokesman Rick Rainey says the workers were treated and released after fire erupted Tuesday morning in a metering area of its Morgan’s Point marine terminal where barges are loaded mainly with natural gas liquids.

CORPUS CHRISTI — The girlfriend of one of two men who didn’t return on time from a sailing trip says she’s heard from them and that they’re safe.

Tara Bajkowski tells KHOUTV that Patrick Holden called her to say that they were returning to the Port Aransas marina, where they left Saturday night.

Bajkowski is the girlfriend of Holden’s cousin, Joe Squibb.

IRVING — Retail gasoline prices across Texas have risen slightly.

AAA Texas on Monday reported the average statewide gallon price at the pump for regular unleaded is $3.12, up from $3.05 late last week.

Man pleads not guilty in death of Austin officer

Authorities: Man had pot as Christmas gifts in car

AUSTIN — A man charged in the death of an Austin police officer has pleaded not guilty to capital murder, clearing the way for his case to head to trial.

The Austin American-Statesman reports 26-year-old Brandon Daniel pleaded not guilty Monday in Travis County district court in the death of Officer Jaime Padron. Jury selection is set to start Jan. 6.

EL PASO — Sheriff ’s deputies in West Texas say they’ve arrested a man who was carrying 145 pounds of marijuana wrapped as Christmas presents.

Gabriel Mendiola was arrested Thursday in Socorro, southeast of El Paso, on charges of possession of marijuana and evading detention.

Mendiola was released on bond on Saturday.

GALVESTON — A researcher in Galveston estimates the island’s population has surpassed 50,000 residents for the first time since Hurricane Ike five years ago.

According to the 2010 U.S. Census, taken two years after the hurricane, Galveston had 47,743 people. University of Texas Medical Branch researcher Karl Eschbach says the city has added more residents based on growth in the local school district’s enrollment.

— Compiled from AP reports

Report: Galveston’s pop. growing after Ike

Monday, Jan. 27 Zapata County Commissioners Court meeting. 9 a.m. Zapata County Courthouse. Call Roxy Elizondo at 7659920.

Thursday, Jan. 30 Los Amigos Duplicate Bridge Club. 1:15 p.m. to 5 p.m. Laredo Country Club. Call Beverly Cantu at 7270589.

Thursday, Feb. 13 Zapata County Fair. 8 a.m. to 1 a.m. Zapata County Fairgrounds.

Friday, Feb. 14 Zapata County Fair. 8 a.m. to 1 a.m. Zapata County Fairgrounds.

Saturday, Feb. 15 Zapata County Fair. 8 a.m. to 1 a.m. Zapata County Fairgrounds.

Thursday, Feb. 20 Winter Texan & Senior Citizen Appreciation Day. 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

AROUND THE NATION California marks 2013 as historically dry year LOS ANGELES — In a large swath of California, 2013 closed out as the driest year on record, marked by above-normal temperatures and thirsty reservoirs.

While a drought has not been declared, some communities have urged residents to conserve water.

Dozens of cities from Sacramento to Los Angeles saw historically parched conditions that set new marks in record-keeping that in some cases dates back more than a century.

Today is Wednesday, Jan. 1, the first day of 2014. There are 364 days left in the year.

Today’s Highlight in History: On Jan. 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln signed and issued the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring that slaves in rebel states shall be “forever free.”

On this date: In 1660, Englishman Samuel Pepys (peeps) wrote the first entry of his famous diary.

In 1785, The Daily Universal Register — which later became the Times of London — published its first issue.

In 1892, the Ellis Island Immigrant Station in New York formally opened.

In 1913, the U.S. Parcel Post system went into operation.

In 1939, the technology company Hewlett-Packard was founded by Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard in a garage in Palo Alto, Calif.

In 1942, 26 countries, including the United States, signed the Declaration of the United Nations, pledging “not to make a separate armistice or peace” with members of the Axis.

In 1953, country singer Hank Williams Sr., 29, was discovered dead in the back seat of his car during a stop in Oak Hill, W.Va., while he was being driven to a concert date in Canton, Ohio.

In 1954, NBC broadcast the first coast-to-coast color TV program as it presented live coverage of the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, Calif.

In 1959, Fidel Castro and his revolutionaries overthrew Cuban leader Fulgencio Batista, who fled to the Dominican Republic.

In 1972, Kurt Waldheim became secretary-general of the United Nations.

In 1984, the breakup of AT&T took place as the telecommunications giant was divested of its 22 Bell System companies under terms of an antitrust agreement.

In 1994, the North American Free Trade Agreement went into effect.

Ten years ago: Gen. Pervez Musharraf, the military ruler of Pakistan, won a vote of confidence from both houses of parliament and the country’s four provincial assemblies validating his fiveyear term as president.

Five years ago: An Israeli warplane dropped a 2,000pound bomb on the home of one of Hamas’ top five decision-makers, instantly killing him and 18 others.

One year ago: The Senate approved a compromise in the small hours to avert the “fiscal cliff ” and sent it to the House, which approved it in a latenight vote.

Today’s Birthdays: Former Sen. Ernest Hollings, DS.C., is 92. Actor Ty Hardin is 84. Documentary maker Frederick Wiseman is 84. Actor Frank Langella is 76. Rock singer-musician Country Joe McDonald is 72. Writer-comedian Don Novello is 71. Actor Rick Hurst is 68. Country singer Steve Ripley (The Tractors) is 64. Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., is 60. Rapper Grandmaster Flash is 56. Actress Ren Woods is 56.

Thought for Today: “The object of a New Year is not that we should have a new year. It is that we should have a new soul and a new nose; new feet, a new backbone, new ears, and new eyes.” — G.K. Chesterton, English poet-essayist (1874-1936).

CONTACT US Publisher, William B. Green........................728-2501 Business Manager, Dora Martinez ...... (956) 324-1226 General Manager, Adriana Devally ...............728-2510 Adv. Billing Inquiries ................................. 728-2531 Circulation Director ................................. 728-2559 MIS Director, Michael Castillo.................... 728-2505 Copy Editor, Nick Georgiou ....................... 728-2565 Managing Editor, Mary Nell Sanchez........... 728-2543 Sports Editor, Adam Geigerman..................728-2578 Spanish Editor ........................................ 728-2569 Photo by Frank Franklin II | AP

Boston approves ban on smoking in city-run parks

Passengers enjoy a horse-drawn carriage ride near Central Park on New Year’s Eve day, on Tuesday, in New York. Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio, who was sworn in Tuesday night, supports ending the practice of horse-drawn carriages.

BOSTON — Boston has banned smoking in city-run parks, joining a growing list of American cities to do so.

The Boston Parks and Recreation Commission on Monday approved a ban covering the 251

parks, squares, cemeteries and other spaces run by the Parks and Recreation Department, including Boston Common, the Public Garden and Franklin Park.

No one spoke in opposition to the ban.

The ban takes effect immediately and applies to tobacco, marijuana and other “lighted or vaporized” substances. Violators face a $250 fine.

The City Council approved the measure last month.

— Compiled from AP reports

SUBSCRIPTIONS/DELIVERY (956) 728-2555 The Zapata Times is distributed on Saturdays to 4,000 households in Zapata County. For subscribers of the Laredo Morning Times and for those who buy the Laredo Morning Times at newsstands, the Zapata Times is inserted.

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1, 2014

Zlocal

PAGE 3A

Man Man busted for smuggling hurt in stabbing

By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES

By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES

A man was stabbed Dec. 22 in the Falcon Lake Estates East neighborhood, a Zapata County Sheriff ’s Office report states.

No arrest has been made in the case.

Deputies and Zapata County Fire Department paramedics responded to the stabbing call at 6:20 p.m. Dec. 22 on Mango Drive in Falcon Lake Estates East. First responders encountered a man who had been stabbed in the right abdomen area.

Paramedics transported him to Laredo Medical Center for treatment. Investigators said the victim was uncooperative, but they believe an altercation escalated, which led to the man being stabbed. An investigation is underway.

(César G. Rodriguez may be reached at 728-2568 or cesar@lmtonline.com)

A Mexican national was busted Dec. 21 in Zapata County with six people who had entered the country illegally, according to court documents released last week.

Federal agents arrested and charged Fernando Ramirez-Araguz with transporting illegal immigrants within the United States with a motor vehicle, a criminal complaint filed Dec. 24 states. Ramirez-Araguz, an undocumented immigrant, remains in federal custody without bond. He opted to waive his preliminary and detention hearing, which is set for Dec. 27.

On Dec. 21, a Department of

Public Safety trooper stopped a blue 2000 Ford F-150 allegedly speeding about one mile north of San Ygnacio. Authorities identified Ramirez-Araguz as the driver. The trooper then requested assistance from U.S. Border Patrol.

Agents approached the vehicle and questioned seven occupants.

Ramirez-Araguz allegedly admitted to being an undocumented immigrant from Mexico, a complaint states.

Court records further state that the six passengers admitted to being illegally in the country.

The trooper cited Ramirez-Araguz for not having a driver’s license before agents took him into custody.

In a post-arrest interview, Ra-

mirez-Araguz allegedly said he picked up the six immigrants in an alley in Roma. His intended destination was the Gateway Inn, 4910 San Bernardo Ave., in Laredo. He claimed he was paid $100 per person. “(Ramirez-Araguz) also stated that he knew that transporting undocumented (people) was a crime,” the complaint reads.

One man held as material witness told agents he made arrangements with a smuggler in Mexico to be crossed into the United States for $3,800. He and his wife identified Ramirez-Araguz as the driver of the pickup.

(César G. Rodriguez may be reached at 728-2568 or cesar@lmtonline.com)

IBC Bank and LPL Financial LLC, the nation’s largest independent brokerdealer, recently congratulated Fernando Montemayor, IBC senior financial consultant for the Laredo and Zapata areas, and Julian Cruz, IBC financial MONTEMAYOR consultant for McAllen and surrounding areas, for being named by Bank Investment Consultant as two of the nation’s top 50 bank and credit

ASSAULT Antonio Uvalle-Guzman was arrested and charged with assault, family violence Dec. 21 in the 900 block of Roma Street.

Sergio Antonio Izaguirre was arrested and charged with assault Dec. 24 in the 400 block of Juarez Avenue.

Manuel Mauro Galvan was arrested and charged with assault Dec. 25 in the intersection of 13th Street and Guerrero Avenue.

Miguel Agustin Garza Jr. was arrested and charged with assault Dec. 27 in the 5300 block of Victoria Lane.

Ruben Lee Paredes was arrested and charged with assault, family violence Dec. 26 in Loma Verde Circle.

BURGLARY Arnoldo Garza was arrested and charged with burglary of habitation Dec. 21 in the 5400 block of Kenneth Lane.

Deputies led on alleged chase

By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES

A call that was domestic in nature landed one man behind bars Dec. 22 in Zapata County.

Zapata County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a domestic disturbance call at 11 p.m. in the

2000 block of Kennedy Street, west of U.S. 83.

As deputies arrived, a man took off running, prompting a foot pursuit with deputies, a report states.

The suspect jumped fences and ran around houses before deputies could corner him in the 1800 block of Kennedy, sheriff’s officials said.

Deputies identified him as Miguel Andres Martinez, 33. He was charged with violation of a protective order and evading arrest on foot. Martinez posted bail on Christmas.

(César G. Rodriguez may be reached 728-2568 or cesar@lmtonline.com)

Financial consultant receives honor SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

THE BLOTTER

union advisors for 2013.

“I am honored to be included in this select group of advisors across the country,” Montemayor said. “At IBC Investment Services, our focus is to help clients pursue their goals by providing objective, unbiased and thorough financial advice.”

IBC Bank is supported by LPL Financial Institution Services, a provider of comprehensive thirdparty brokerage and wealth management services to the investment programs of banks and credit unions throughout the nation.

Bank Investment Consultant is a leading financial service industry magazine, and the annual Top

50 Bank Advisors list recognizes a distinguished group of bank and credit union advisors throughout the country who have excelled in a number of key areas including 2013 assets under management; percentage change in assets under management from the prior year; trailing 12-month production; percentage growth in production; amount of fee-based business; and the ratio of production to assets under management.

“We are very pleased to congratulate Fernando Montemayor and Julian Cruz on being recognized as two of the best advisors in our industry,” said Andy Kalbaugh, managing director and head of Institution Services for

LPL Financial. “They have a deep understanding of clients’ needs and goals and are true leaders with a firm commitment to the highest service standards.

“As a supporting partner to the investment program at IBC Bank, we look forward to helping Fernando and Julian achieve even more success in the future.”

IBC Bank Chairman Dennis Nixon added: “All of us at IBC Bank congratulate Fernando and Julian’s accomplishment of being named two of IBC’s Top 50 Bank Advisors. They are a credit to our team and a wonderful example of how IBC Bank helps members of our community advance their financial goals.”

CHILD INDECENCY Eulogio Martinez Jr. was arrested and charged with indecency with a child by contact Dec. 17 at the Anderson Columbia Yard.

CRIMINAL MISCHIEF Jose Manuel Barrientos was arrested and charged with criminal mischief Dec. 21 in the intersection of Weslaco and Salvador lanes.

DRIVER LICENSE Joshua Eli Gonzalez was arrested and charged with driving while license invalid Dec. 22 in the intersection of South Siesta and Vicky lanes.

Maria Melecia Herrera was arrested and charged with not having a driver’s license Dec. 22 in the intersection of 13th Street and Guerrero Avenue.

DUI Vicente Flores III was arrested and charged with driving under the influence Dec. 20 on U.S. 83 by the Veleño Bridge.

RECKLESS DRIVING Fernando Lopez Garcia was arrested and charged with reckless driving Dec. 20 in the 300 block of Madrigal Street.

PAGE 4A

Zopinion

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1, 2014

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COLUMN

OTHER VIEWS

Let court of public opinion do the firing

By MICHAEL SMERCONISH THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER

I find Phil Robertson’s comments about gays appalling, but that doesn’t mean I think A&E should have suspended the “Duck Dynasty” star.

Professional death sentences for politically incorrect, even hateful speech, were all too common in 2013. Just ask Martin Bashir, Alec Baldwin and Paula Deen.

Bashir made a disgusting comment about Sarah Palin and lost his job on MSNBC. Baldwin lost his cable program after pillaging the paparazzi and then lamely attempting to argue that he’d shouted “fathead,” not a slur for homosexuals that begins with an “f.”

Food Network, among others, had its fill of Paula Deen after she acknowledged, in a lawsuit deposition, having used the n-word and confirmed her desire to stage a “true Southern plantation-style theme” wedding for her brother, Earl “Bubba” Hiers.

As each, like Robertson, is dependent upon fickle viewers for their livelihood, why can’t the court of public opinion render its judgment instead of employers? Robertson, Bashir, Baldwin and Deen should all lose their TV shows when public scorn impacts their ratings, not because media outlets have exercised their discretion on our behalf.

These cases could also use a little more consistency. Too many tend to evaluate controversial speech through partisan prisms, allowing feelings toward the speaker cloud the debate. You can’t have it both ways. Either they should all be fired, or none of them should.

Anything else is splitting hairs.

In the latest example, voices that once cried for Bashir or Baldwin’s ouster now try to defend Robertson’s right to free speech and practice his religion. But wrapping himself in the Bible makes Robertson’s speech no less offensive.

And make no mistake: He didn’t just quote scripture and cast doubt on gays’ admittance to the Kingdom of God. He equated a lifestyle predetermined at birth with a choice to kill 3,000 on 9/ 11: “We never, ever judge someone on who’s going to heaven, hell. That’s the Almighty’s job. We just love ‘em, give ‘em the good news about Jesus — whether they’re homosexual, drunks, terrorists. We let God sort ‘em out later, you see what I’m saying?”

Yes, we can all see what you’re saying, namely that you believe in a moral equivalency between gays, drunks, and al-Qaida, a pretty un-Godly view.

Still, A&E should not have put the star on “indefinite hiatus” from filming.

In a statement, A&E said, “We are extremely disappointed to have read Phil Robertson’s comments in GQ, which are based on his own personal beliefs and are not reflected in the series ‘Duck Dynasty.’ His personal views in no way reflect those of A&E Networks, who have always been strong supporters and champions of the

“

We never, ever judge someone on who’s going to heaven, hell. That’s the Almighty’s job. We just love ‘em, give ‘em the good news about Jesus — whether they’re homosexual, drunks, terrorists.”

PHIL ROBERTSON, REALITY STAR FROM DUCK DYNASTY

LGBT community. The network has placed Phil under hiatus from filming indefinitely.”

That’s ridiculous. It’s a contradiction in terms to suspend an actor from a program that bills itself as a reality TV show.

My hunch is that the “hiatus” is a calculated move. Note that the indignation didn’t stop A&E from milking the controversy by running the show on a loop in the following days. I’d never seen the program but had no trouble finding it while the controversy was raging. Five minutes’ worth was all I needed to appreciate that Robertson’s faith is not inconsequential to his persona, but, rather, a large part of his appeal.

How surprised can A&E really be when he’s exposed as a rube, or worse?

In his own statement, sent to Fox411, Robertson continued to cloak himself in religion: “I would never treat anyone with disrespect just because they are different from me. We are all created by the Almighty and like Him, I love all of humanity. We would all be better off if we loved God and loved each other.”

Spare me. Wrapping yourself in your interpretation of the good book, or any book, can’t cloak insensitivity. But fire him? No. Not him.

Not Bashir. Not Baldwin.

And not Deen.

However, there are circumstances that demand the firing of some people for the exercise of their speech.

Consider Justine Sacco. She’s the PR executive who was canned last week by media company IAC after she sent a tweet which read: “Going to Africa. Hope I don’t get AIDS. Just kidding. I’m white!” The company was right to get rid of her. When a person whose job is to manage public relations shows such poor judgment in dealing with the public, she has displayed a fundamental unfitness to perform the job and needs to be terminated.

As for the rest of them, let the public do the firing.

COLUMN

Mystery of New Year’s Day

By FARAH STOCKMAN THE BOSTON GLOBE

It’s happening again: The champagne. The ball dropping. The resolutions of everything we plan to change.

But what are we really celebrating on New Year’s Eve? And why do we consider Dec. 31 — of all nights — as the last night of the year?

According to Denis Feeney, author of “Ceasar’s Calendar: Ancient Time and the Beginnings of History,” time-keeping is part of what makes us human.

“Every society attempts to track time,” he said.

“Even the first societies discovered in the middle of Papua New Guinea know when to plant and when to harvest. No one just drifts through time, not even hunter-gatherers.”

Origins For much of human history, each locality came up with its own way of marking time and its own date for when a year ended.

Many cultures — including the Aztecs and Babylonians — celebrated the new year in March, just before new crops were planted. Indeed, the Persian calendar marks the new year, Nowruz, on March 21, with feasts and bonfires meant to cleanse bad things from the previous year. In Bali, people open their new year with a day of silence, which falls

So as you toast your own new beginning, take a moment to consider the miracle of collective human experience across the ages. The fact that billions around the world take today to be the first day of something new is nothing short of astonishing. on March 31 this year.

Even early American colonists celebrated New Year’s Day on March 25, until the date was officially changed in 1752. That date had a Christian logic to it: It’s exactly nine months before Christ was born.

So how, then, did we come to celebrate the new year in winter, when nothing is blooming and the world doesn’t feel new at all?

According to Feeney, the Romans made the change.

Initially, they, too, celebrated New Year’s Day in March. Chief executive officers in Rome used to take office in March, at the beginning of the year. But around 153 BC, they began taking office in January.

Why remains a mystery.

“The best guess is that you have got the winter solstice in late December,” Feeney said. ”That’s the shortest day of the year.”

It’s a logical start to the countdown toward spring.

But nobody knows for sure why the Romans switched the first month to January and named that month after Janus, God of endings, beginnings, and doorways.

By the time Julius Cae-

sar got himself elected chief priest at age 37, Jan. 1 was already the first day of the year.

But at the time, the Roman calendar tracked the moon, not the sun. A year had only 354 days. To keep the calendar in tune with the seasons, the chief priest had to insert an extra 20 days into the month of February every couple of years.

“It was not precise,” Feeney said. “But it was good enough.”

The trouble was that Caesar spent a decade fighting wars in distant lands. He couldn’t add days to the calendar while he was away. Time grew increasingly out of whack.

The month of March, which everyone knew to be spring, began appearing mid-winter, as snow fell.

Caesar pondered the problem and discovered a solution. While visiting Cleopatra in Egypt, he met an astronomer who suggested a calendar based on the sun. It had 365 days, and a leap year with an extra day in February every four years.

The year Caesar made the reform was called the

“last year of confusion.” It was 445 days long. But once he got Rome on track, the new calendar worked well.

It eventually spread across Europe through the Catholic Church. But Caesar’s calendar contained a tiny flaw: A solar year is actually made up of 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes and 46 seconds. This adds an extra day every 130 years. Over a millennium, the discrepancy starts to matter.

So, in 1582, Pope Gregory — who inherited Caesar’s mantle as chief priest and keeper of time — announced a tweak: a 0.002 percent correction in the length of a year.

Catholic countries immediately adopted the change.

But Protestant countries, including Britain, took centuries to get on board. Britain’s House of Commons adopted Gregory’s calendar in 1752.

So as you toast your own new beginning, take a moment to consider the miracle of collective human experience across the ages.

The fact that billions around the world take today to be the first day of something new is nothing short of astonishing.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY The Zapata Times does not publish anonymous letters.

To be published, letters must include the writer’s first and last names as well as a phone number to verify identity. The

phone number IS NOT published; it is used solely to verify identity and to clarify content, if necessary. Identity of the letter writer must be verified before publication.

We want to assure our

readers that a letter is written by the person who signs the letter. The Zapata Times does not allow the use of pseudonyms.

Letters are edited for style, grammar, length and civility. No name-call-

DOONESBURY | GARRY TRUDEAU

ing or gratuitous abuse is allowed.

Via e-mail, send letters to editorial@lmtonline.com or mail them to Letters to the Editor, 111 Esperanza Drive, Laredo, TX 78041.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1, 2014

THE ZAPATA TIMES 5A

Obama rings in new year Officials poised to sell

By JULIE PACE

cartel man’s house

ASSOCIATED PRESS

HONOLULU — President Barack Obama is closing out a difficult year in low-key fashion, with hopes for better results to come in 2014, particularly for his troubled health care law.

Obama kicked off the last day of 2013 with an hourlong workout at a military base near his rented vacation home in Hawaii.

He and first lady Michelle Obama then headed to Hanauma Bay for a midday snorkeling outing on a sunsplashed day on the island of Oahu.

The White House said the president planned to stay at home Tuesday night and ring in the new year with friends and family.

The president has largely stayed out of the spotlight since arriving in Hawaii more than a week ago.

He’s spent his days golfing with friends, hiking with his family, and hitting the town for dinner at several

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Photo by Carolyn Kaster | AP

President Barack Obama is seen Monday through the window of his motorcade vehicle as he is driven through the Kailua, Hawaii, neighborhood where he is spending his annual holiday vacation. high-end restaurants he frequents while in his home state.

Behind the scenes, aides say Obama is receiving updates on the problematic rollout of his signature health care law. Insurance coverage is scheduled to start Jan. 1 for those who have enrolled since signups opened at the beginning of October.

Widespread glitches on the HealthCare.gov website appear to be largely fixed and administration officials said Tuesday that

more than 2 million people had enrolled in insurance through the exchanges.

However, insurers say they are still receiving thousands of erroneous signups from the government.

Aides say the president has also been reviewing a presidential panel’s recommendations for placing limits on the National Security Agency’s surveillance programs. Obama is not obligated to accept the panel’s recommendations and is expected to announce his decisions in January.

Pipeline to crank up ASSOCIATED PRESS

OKLAHOMA CITY — The operator of a $2.3 billion pipeline between Cushing and the Gulf Coast expects to begin shipping oil Jan. 22.

TransCanada began injecting crude oil into the 485-mile, 36-inch pipeline in early December. Spokesman Davis Sheremata said the process involves injecting about 3 million barrels of oil into the system at Cushing and moving it to the Houston area.

“Once line-fill is complete, TransCanada’s team will move into the final phase of commissioning for our meters, pump stations and other related facilities,” Sheremata said in an email to The Associated

Press.

Regulatory filings with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission have set Jan. 3 as the date for rates, rules and regulations to become effective to commence transportation services to the Gulf Coast, Sheremata said Tuesday.

“We are required to provide at least 30 days’ notice to FERC regarding the effective date for our tariffs and tolls,” he said. “The Gulf Coast pipeline will have the initial capacity to transport up to 700,000 barrels of oil per day with the potential to transport up to 830,000 barrels of oil per day to Gulf Coast refineries.”

The pipeline is the southern leg of TransCanada’s proposed Keystone XL

pipeline, which would transport oil from Canada’s oil sands and the Bakken Shale in North Dakota to refineries in the Houston area.

President Barack Obama refused to issue a permit for part of the project last year amid concerns about its potential impact on a large aquifer in Nebraska.

The administration is considering another application, but TransCanada has received clearance for the pipeline’s southern leg.

Construction began in August 2012 and involved more than 11 million hours of labor by 4,844 workers in the U.S., Sheremata said.

The number of workers employed in the operational phase has not been established, he said.

BROWNSVILLE, Texas — Federal authorities are moving to sell a South Texas home forfeited by a high-ranking Mexican cartel member.

The Brownsville Herald reports that the ex-wife of Rafael Cardenas-Vela, Erika Villarreal-Mares, signed a waiver of any right or interest to the property in Brownsville. The title holders were served with an order of forfeiture in January and did not contest it.

After the sale, more than $6,400 will go to Cameron County to pay outstanding taxes.

Cardenas-Vela, the nephew of Gulf Cartel bosses Osiel Cardenas and Tony “Tony Tormenta” Cardenas, pleaded guilty in March to conspiracy to

Photo by Paul Chouy/The Brownsville Herald | AP

The house in Brownsville, as seen in 2011, is supposed to be sold after it was forfeited as part of the money laundering case against Rafael Cardenas-Vela. The cartel member’s ex-wife signed a waiver of any right or interest in the property. possess with intent to deliver and conspiracy to import cocaine and marijuana.

Cardenas-Vela has coop-

erated with authorities and testified in court against other cartel members facing a variety of charges.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1, 2014

ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM

Sports&Outdoors HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL: ZAPATA HAWKS

Final tuneup Hawks play two games before opening district play Jan. 10 against Kingsville

By CLARA SANDOVAL THE ZAPATA TIMES

T

he district season is around the corner for Zapata as the Hawks prepare for their final two non-distrct games.

Zapata will play Crystal City twice to iron out any last wrinkles before the Hawks take on Kingsville Jan. 10.

"Hopefully we can tighten things on offense before district and these next two games will serve us well," Zapata head coach Juan Villarreal said. "We just want to get our legs back and these games will help us do that."

Zapata faces Crystal City at home on Friday and play again Tuesday in Crystal City.

Crystal City will push the Hawks, as the Javelinas are a team that likes to set a fast pace to run their quick transition offense.

"This game will benefit us for district," Villarreal said.

"Crystal City is a fast group and that will get us ready for any situation on the court, because we have to react quickly to whatever they throw at us."

Earlier in the year, Villarreal was trying to implement a man-to-man defense to take advantage of the fast group of athletes that could keep up with

Photo by Clara Sandoval | Laredo Morning Times

Photo by Clara Sandoval | Laredo Morning Times

Zapata head coach Juan Villarreal is hoping the Hawks can keep improving in their final two non-district games.

Jake Gutierrez and his Zapata teammates play Crystal City twice over the next week, at home Friday and on the road Tuesday.

the physical demands of the system. But injuries temporarily derailed those plans.

"With all the injuries that we had, we could not keep the same guys on the court and it has been hard." Villarreal said.

"We are in a zone defense until we can get our man-to-man defense down."

Villarreal has gone back to his zone defense and the Hawks have had some success with that system, but that doesn’t

mean that he has put those plans entirely to rest. As those injured players start to recover and rejoin the team, it should help Zapata move in a new direction.

The Hawks practiced Monday to start gearing up for the final stretch of the non-district season and even squeezed in a game Friday.

Zapata took on the Zapata alumni, who showed that they still had some game in them by

beating the current Hawks 8563 on Friday.

"The alumni were a relatively young group," Villarreal said. "The two oldest guys in the group graduated in 1987 and in 1996, the rest were from 2000 and up. They picked us apart, but the kids learned a lot from that game. They realized that we have to box out."

Zapata opens up district play with Kingsville on Jan. 10 but cannot afford to count out

teams like Raymondville, Rio Grande City-La Grulla and Lyford.

"I really don’t know much about Kingsville and will make sure to do some research on them," Villarreal said. "We have played Raymondville and beat them, so we know what they run and we were able to see Lyford at one of the tournaments."

E-mail: sandova.clara@gmail.com

NCAA FOOTBALL: TEXAS LONGHORNS

Longhorns move on without Mack

By PAUL J. WEBER ASSOCIATED PRESS

Photo by Jason Mack | Laredo Morning Times

After 16 seasons, Mack Brown stepped down as Texas’ head football coach following the Longhorns’ 30-7 loss to No. 10 Oregon in the Alamo Bowl Monday night.

SAN ANTONIO — Mack Brown came to Texas in 1998 and told a frustrated fan base to “Come early, be loud and stay late.” Sixteen years later, many obeyed him again one last time, sticking around even after another pummeling in an underachieving season.

Now they’ll find out what the post-Mack Brown era holds.

The Longhorns don’t want it to resemble this: Getting crushed by No. 10 Oregon 30-7 in the Alamo Bowl on Monday night in the worst postseason loss of Brown’s run at Texas, which tacks on another dreary footnote to a season of constant tension and unmet expectations.

The blowout was a final reminder of why Brown is resigning after 16 seasons at Texas, which he led to a national championship in 2005 but couldn’t pull out of mediocrity and disappointment in recent years. He led the Longhorns off the field for the last time with his arm slung around his wife, flashing the “Hook ’em Horns” sign before disappearing into a tunnel to a chorus of cheers.

“The fan base needed to be pulled together because it was very divided in 1997. We pulled them together. We had a great run,” Brown said. “Now there’s some for you, some against you. That’s not fair to these guys.

They need to have positive energy all the time. That’s what I want for them.”

Brown received warm goodbyes from a sellout crowd in what was practically a home game for Texas (8-5). The school marching band spelled his name at halftime, and the halter over Bevo’s face was emblazoned with the word “MACK.” It was a tribute to Brown returning Texas to a national power before the last four uneven seasons, when he couldn’t reverse a sharp decline since the Longhorns lost to Alabama in the 2009 championship game.

Brown said he had no regrets about making this his exit.

“I think it’s best for Texas. It’s best for me, it’s best for the players,” he said. “We need to win more than eight games. Last year was nine. I really thought we had a chance to win all the games this year. It didn’t work. It’s my job to make that work. I told them tonight, the only regret I had is we didn’t win enough games this year.”

The BCS-snubbed Ducks (11-2) dominated throughout — even though their famously high-powered offense scored just one touch-

down and repeatedly settled for field goals.

Yet the rout didn’t seem to completely balm the sting of not playing in a BCS bowl for the first time in five years, with Oregon players after the game still reflecting on their championship hopes derailed

by November losses.

Quarterback Marcus Mariota had 386 total yards and Oregon returned two interceptions for touchdowns, spoiling Brown’s farewell. He led all rushers with 133 yards on 15 carries and was 18 of 26 for 253 yards passing in a Heisman Trophy campaign tuneup for 2014, having announced earlier this month that he was coming back for his junior season.

His one touchdown pass was to Josh Huff, who turned a short pass into a spectacular 16-yard sprint to the end zone.

“Yeah, it wasn’t the season we hoped for,” Huff said. “That month of November was a tough stretch for us but we were able to come together as a team and continue to fight for one another.”

Oregon’s first touchdown came on the third play of the game when safety Avery Patterson intercepted an overthrown pass

by Texas quarterback Case McCoy and returned it 37 yards to the end zone. McCoy later bookended a dismal performance in his final game with another pick-six, this one returned 38 yards by linebacker Derrick Malone that sent waves of burnt orange-clad fans streaming for the exits.

McCoy scored on a 1-yard rush in the first quarter for Texas’ only touchdown.

He finished 8 of 17 for 48 yards and was pulled at times in the second half for freshman Tyrone Swoopes.

Running back Malcolm Brown was the lone offensive constant for Texas, finishing with 130 yards on 26 carries.

“It’s tough not to get a win for him,” defensive end Jackson Jeffcoat said. “Miss Sally, she’s like a second mom to us. She takes care of us. Coach Brown loves us “ Far from the uplifting send-off Texas wanted for Brown, the school now shifts its focus to finding a replacement. New Texas athletic director Steve Patterson said before kickoff that he wants a successor by Jan. 15.

Patterson said coaches interested in the job have come forward but wouldn’t discuss potential candidates.

“There’s interest that’s sincere, and there’s interest that’s ’Help me find a better contract,”’ Patterson said.

MIÉRCOLES 01 DE ENERO DE 2014

Agenda en Breve LAREDO 01/02— Las oficinas de TAMIU y la Biblioteca Sue and Radcliffe Killam reabrirán sus puertas el día de hoy.

01/02— La Biblioteca Pública de Laredo invita a los padres a llevar a los niños para realizar manualidades navideñas a las 4 p.m.

Este día se harán un copo de nieve. Favor de no dejar a los niños sin atender en la biblioteca. Informes con Christine Deffendall en el 795-2400 extensión 2248.

01/03— Empieza el primer día de clases para el Wintermester en TAMIU. También es el último día para agregar o dar de baja clases para este periodo especial de Wintermester. Las colegiaturas deberán pagarse en su totalidad para evitar ser dados de baja por no realizar el pago. Informes en 326.2250.

01/07— El equipo de baloncesto femenil de Lyndon B. Johnson High jugará en contra de United South High a las 6 p.m. en LEA. Costo de boletos 3 dólares por adulto y 2 dólares por estudiantes de las escuelas y niños menores de 17 años.

01/07— El equipo de varones de Lyndon B. Johnson High se enfrentará al de United South High a las 8 p.m. en LEA. Costo de boletos 3 dólares por adulto y 2 dólares por estudiantes de las escuelas y niños menores de 17 años.

01/08— El equipo de baloncesto femenil de United High se enfrentará al de John B. Alexander High a las 6 p.m. en LEA. Costo de boletos 3 dólares por adulto y 2 dólares por estudiantes de las escuelas y niños menores de 17 años.

01/08— El equipo varonil de baloncesto de United High jugará en contra de Alexander High a las 8 p.m. en LEA. Costo de boletos 3 dólares por adulto y 2 dólares por estudiantes de las escuelas y niños menores de 17 años.

01/08— La Oficina de Admisiones/Asistencia/Recuperación de desertores de United Independent School District estará aceptando solicitudes para el Programa de Asistencia al Código de Vestimenta Estandarizado Estudiantil para estudiantes elegibles inscritos de prekinder a doceavo grado, de 8 a.m. a 6 p.m. en Bill Johnson Student Activity Complex, en los salones de Bellas Artes 1 y 2, situados en 5208 de Santa Claudia Lane (fuera de la carretera 359, al lado de Zaffirini Elementary).

01/09— La Oficina de Admisiones/Asistencia/Recuperación de desertores de United Independent School District estará aceptando solicitudes para el Programa de Asistencia al Código de Vestimenta Estandarizado Estudiantil para estudiantes elegibles inscritos de prekinder a doceavo grado, de 8 a.m. a 6 p.m. en Bill Johnson Student Activity Complex, en los salones de Bellas Artes 1 y 2, situados en 5208 de Santa Claudia Lane (fuera de la carretera 359, al lado de Zaffirini Elementary).

NUEVO LAREDO, MÉXICO 01/05— El grupo de Teatro Laberintus estará presentando la obra infantil “La Nave”, de José Luis Pineda Servín, a las 12 p.m. dentro del teatro del IMSS, entre Reynosa y Belden (sector centro). Costo 20 pesos.

01/06— Se abrirán las inscripciones para las clases de flauta, clarinete, trompeta, violín, chelo, viola, contrabajo, guitarra, teclado, percusión, canto y coro infantil, entre otras en la Escuela de Música.

Zfrontera

PÁGINA 7A

MATAMOROS

Enfrentamientos ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA

Se registraron encuentros armados en la ciudad de matamoros entre civiles armados y elementos del Ejército Mexicano.

El viernes por la noche el Grupo de Coordinación Tamaulipas (GCT), anunció que el viernes 27 de diciembre, en la ciudad de Matamoros, se registró un enfrentamiento entre civiles armados y elementos del Ejército Mexicano.

El enfrentamiento tuvo como resultado dos agresores muertos, uno de ellos del sexo femenino.

Un Agente del Ministerio Público del Fuero Común, en colaboración con la Secretaría de la Defensa Nacional y la Procuraduría Ge-

neral de la República, acudió al crucero de las calles Tarahumara y Cantinflas, colonia Pradera, para integrar la averiguación previa correspondiente, dando fe que el enfrentamiento se produjo en ese lugar poco después de las 9:30 a.m.

El enfrentamiento se originó cuando los militares detectaron a los civiles armados, desplazándose sospechosamente a bordo de un automóvil Chrysler 300 modelo 2005, cuatro puertas, color azul, sin placas de circulación.

Al marcarles el alto, los civiles respondieron con armas de fuego, por lo que los militares respondieron a la agresión.

Una mujer quedó sin vida al volante del vehículo, mientras su

Se registraron enfrentamientos armados entre civiles armados y Ejército Mexicano. Las disputas tuvieron como saldo la muerte de dos personas, un hombre y una mujer. acompañante del sexo masculino, de unos 35 años, quedó sobre el pavimento.

A la mujer se le encontró una credencial de elector a nombre de María Elena Pérez Fragoso, de 30 años de edad.

Un Agente del Ministerio Público Federal aseguró el automóvil y

encontró un total de 15 armas de fuego, una de las cuales empuñaba uno de los occisos, junto con cuatro chalecos antibalas, un pasamontañas, ocho fornituras, cargadores y cartuchos.

El GCT está integrado por fuerzas de seguridad estatales y federales.

DESARROLLO ECONÓMICO

SEGURIDAD

SUBIRÍA TURISMO

Policía recibió 2.700 peticiones TIEMPO DE ZAPATA

Foto de cortesía | Gobierno del Estado de Tamaulipas

Con la finalidad de promover el Turismo de Salud en el Estado de Tamaulipas, la Secretaria de Desarrollo Económico y Turismo, formará parte del McAllen Travel Show los próximos 8 y 9 de enero.

Secretaría participarán en espectáculo ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA

L

a Secretaria de Desarrollo Económico y Turismo de Tamaulipas formará parte del McAllen Travel Show para promover el turismo de salud.

Con el objetivo de posicionar a Tamaulipas como uno de los principales destinos en materia de Turismo de Salud, la Secretaria de Desarrollo Económico y Turismo, formará parte del McAllen Travel Show los próximos 8 y 9 de enero, ofreciendo y mostrando los principales destinos médicos en la frontera de la entidad.

Tamaulipas contará con un puesto de información dentro del Centro de Convenciones de McAllen, donde se celebrará el evento.

En el puesto se estará repartien-

do información sobre las principales ciudades donde está presente el Turismo Medico, también se tendrá la participación de representantes de servicios médicos de Matamoros, Reynosa, Rio Bravo y Nuevo Laredo, México, dirigido especialmente para los turistas procedentes de Estados Unidos.

El motivo de esta participación es buscar el posicionamiento del Turismo de Salud en Tamaulipas dentro del valle de Texas, esperando la visita de más de 10.000 personas al McAllen Travel Show, especialmente a los “Winter Texas”, estadounidenses de la tercera edad que buscan servicios médicos de calidad y buen precio.

En la celebración se espera apreciar alrededor de 40 expositores. Durante el evento se ofrecerán servicios gratuitos de chequeo, en-

tre los que se incluye la revisión de la presión, la glucosa, la masa corporal, junto con los datos de peso y altura.

Para la Secretaria de Desarrollo Económico y Turismo, el incursionar cada vez más dentro de esta rama del turismo es de vital importancia para ayudar a impulsar la economía, el empleo y, sobre todo, la afluencia de visitantes a Tamaulipas.

Y para complementar la promoción de Tamaulipas, se dará información sobre las dos playas con más afluencia, la Carbonera en el municipio de San Fernando y la Playa Miramar en las costas de Madero, todo esto para complementar el stand donde serán ofrecidos los múltiples servicios con los que cuenta este extraordinario estado.

Durante el 2013 se entregaron más de 2.700 solicitudes para formar parte de la Policía Estatal Acreditable de Tamaulipas.

La Secretaría de Seguridad Pública de Tamaulipas ha recibido más de 2.700 solicitudes de hombres y mujeres que desean formar parte de la nueva Policía Estatal Acreditable, así mismo para custodio penitenciario.

Rafael Lomelí Martínez, titular de Seguridad Pública en la entidad, explicó que “de la cifra antes mencionada más de 700 iniciaron el proceso de reclutamiento y selección una vez que aprobaron los exámenes de control de confianza”.

Autoridades de la secretaría indican se alcanzó esta cifra debido a la difusión realizada a través de los medios de comunicación, así como de la promoción hecha por dicha dependencia en otras entidades como: Distrito Federal, Quintana Roo, Veracruz y San Luis Potosí, entre otras.

Cabe señalar que además de aspirantes a formar parte del nuevo modelo policial y custodio penitenciario también se incorporaron policías y custodios en activo quienes aprobaron previamente los exámenes de control.

El gobierno del estado de Tamaulipas busca contar con una policía más moderna, más profesional y con rostro humano, pero sobre todo con una auténtica vocación de servicio que permita garantizar el orden y la paz social de los tamaulipecos.

VIALIDAD

Destinan 42 mdp a mejoras en carreteras ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA

Gobierno de Tamaulipas destinó más de 42 millones de pesos a mejoras para red carretera estatal.

El Gobierno del Estado de Tamaulipas con la finalidad de fortalecer la infraestructura carretera destinó más de 42 millones de pesos para la realización de trabajos de conservación rutinaria en los 2.647 kilómetros que comprende la red carretera estatal.

Fernando Cánovas Royo, Subsecretario de Infraestructura de Transporte, explicó que los trabajos a realizar consisten en bacheo superficial, bacheo profundo, limpieza de las zonas laterales del derecho de vía y renivelaciones aisladas.

Así mismo, se efectuarán trabajos de señalamiento horizontal, que

consisten en pintura de rayas sobre el pavimento, en una longitud de 484 kilómetros de la misma red, comprendidos en las zonas centro y sur de la entidad, además de la colocación de 8.000 vialetas en el tramo Juan Capitán–El Chihue.

Cánovas Royo resaltó el trabajo que se ha venido haciendo en la gestión de los recursos, ya que se ha dado mayor impulso a los municipios, para que de esta manera se eleven la competitividad y la calidad de vida los habitantes de Tamaulipas.

Tras la ejecución de estas medidas serán beneficiados poco más de 1.850.000 habitantes de los 40 municipios de la entidad tamaulipeca. Además, se “Unirán Regiones” al progreso con vías de comunicación seguras y en buen estado para el rápido traslado de mercan-

Foto de cortesía | Gobierno de Tamaulipas

Con la finalidad de mejorar los caminos y carreteras del estado de Tamaulipas, el gobierno del estado a destinado millones de pesos para actualizaciones. cías e insumos.

Se espera impulsar, en gran me-

dida, el desarrollo social y económico de los tamaulipecos.

Business

8A THE ZAPATA TIMES

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1, 2014

Aviation leaders look ahead

By SCOTT MAYEROWITZ ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW YORK — Millions of people step aboard airplanes each day, complaining about the lack of legroom and overhead space but almost taking for granted that they can travel thousands of miles in just a few hours.

Today marks the 100th anniversary of the first commercial flight: a 23-minute hop across Florida’s Tampa Bay. The St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line was subsidized by St. Petersburg officials who wanted more winter tourists in their city. The alternative: an 11-hour train ride from Tampa.

Pilot Tony Jannus had room for just one passenger, who sat next to him in the open cockpit. Three months later — when tourism season ended — so did the subsidy.

The airline had carried 1,204 passengers but would never fly again.

With the anniversary in mind, The Associated Press reached out to today’s aviation leaders to see what they are predicting for the future of flying. Answers have been edited for length and clarity.

In five years — Richard Anderson, CEO Delta Air Lines: “Just over a decade ago airlines seemed to be buying every 50-seat aircraft they could get their hands on. But the real utility of those small jets has come and gone and in the next five years we’ll see their numbers in the U.S. continue to dwindle.”

— Gary Kelly, CEO Southwest Airlines: “We’ll have fewer airlines, but they will be bigger, stronger and healthier.”

— Maurice J. Gallagher, Jr., CEO Allegiant Travel Co.: “The next five years will be all about increasing automation and decreasing labor cost. The industry is already implementing mobile boarding passes, bag drops, even self-boarding. These process-

Netflix tests new price tiers ASSOCIATED PRESS

Photo by Jae C. Hong | AP

In this Dec. 2, 2013 photo, a plane takes off from Los Angeles International Airport, in Los Angeles. Today marks the 100th anniversary of the first commercial flight. es will become more prevalent and significantly reduce the number of employees the customer needs to interact with.”

In 25 years — David Barger, CEO JetBlue Airways: “The freedom to travel between any two points in the world will be commonplace. There will be billions of travelers every year flying on new aircraft that will be environmentally friendly; in fact, they will be making zero-carbon travel maybe even a reality.”

— Mark Dunkerley, CEO Hawaiian Airlines: “Many of today’s consumers will be priced out of the air: a sad legacy to 30 years of massive progress in democratizing air travel. Failure to invest in aviation infrastructure and the insatiable appetite for regulation will not be offset by relatively modest further improvements in aircraft efficiency.”

— James Hogan, CEO Etihad Airways: “A new generation of airlines, who have the vision and willingness to be different, will succeed in cut-

ting costs, improving productivity and finding affordable ways of accessing new markets. The emerging markets — the Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia — will become established markets and Abu Dhabi will be one of the uniting global hubs.”

— Sir Richard Branson, president Virgin Atlantic Airways: “I have no doubt that during my lifetime we will be able to fly from London to Sydney in under two hours, with minimal environmental impact. The awe-inspiring views of our beautiful planet below and zero-gravity passenger fun will bring a whole new meaning to inflight entertainment.”

— Jeff Smisek, CEO United Airlines: “The airframe and engine manufacturers continue to develop aircraft that are more fuel-efficient, have lower maintenance costs and have greater range and utility. Longer term, I believe manufacturers will explore engine and airframe technology that could significantly reduce travel times, but advances in this area would have to be safe and economical to make a real impact on our industry.”

In 100 years — David Siegel, CEO Frontier Airlines: “The first flight was just 18 miles long, but now look how far we can go.

Perhaps in the future, experts will be designing futuristic propulsion systems. We could see innovations in aircraft design, local community-based air transport with smaller, higher efficiency aircraft, and maybe even pilotless commercial aircraft.”

— Doug Parker, CEO American Airlines: “I am quite certain that Tony Jannus never could have imagined the size and importance of commercial aviation today, or the impact it had on changing our world. Similarly, I cannot imagine what commercial aviation will look like in 2114. I imagine whatever state it is, though, it will be extremely important and its continued development will be a key part of the story that built that world.”

— Ben Baldanza, CEO Spirit Airlines: “Google’s ‘put me there’ technology implemented into its maps software renders all airlines obsolete.”

Netflix is testing new price plans for streaming video as it tries to lure more viewers.

Among the plans being tested are a $6.99a-month plan that allows only one video stream to be watched at once, and a $9.99-amonth plan that allows three streams at one time, whether on a TV, tablet or computer.

A Netflix spokesman says not everyone will see the test prices and they may never roll out to all customers.

Netflix’s standard $7.99-a-month plan allows users to watch video on up to 2 screens at once, including TVs and mobile devices.

An $11.99-a-month service allows up to four shows at once. Netflix announced that plan in April.

Any move to offer a cheaper service tier would be surprising to some analysts, who expect the company to raise prices eventually to pay for the service’s content.

The lower-priced tier could attract more value-conscious consumers, Sterne Agee analyst Arvind Bhatia wrote in a note to investors. But it also could prompt existing customers to trade down, if they cancel and sign back up for the cheaper service.

At the same time, though, Netflix has had to deal with increased competition for its customers. Amazon’s Prime shipping service comes with a video-on-demand service similar to Netflix’s. Redbox, which mostly rents DVDs through kiosks, has also rolled out a streaming video service.

Netflix subscribers have shown they can be fickle about price changes. The company’s stock plummeted by more than 80 percent from highs reached in 2011 after the company imposed pricing changes that triggered a customer backlash.

Netflix’s stock has since made up all those declines and set a new all-time high just above $389 in October. On Tuesday, its shares fell 21 cents to $366.78 in morning trading.

Introducing original content, such as the shows “House of Cards” and “Orange is the New Black,” helped Netflix gain new customers this year. Netflix added 1.3 million U.S. subscribers in the third quarter and ended September with 31.1 million.

The Los Gatos, Calif.-based company also still offers a DVD-by-mail subscription plan starting at $7.99 a month, though it is moving away from that business in favor of delivering video over the Internet.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1, 2014

THE ZAPATA TIMES 9A

TOP STORIES Continued from Page 1A after working with the Portland Trail Blazers for the last nine years.

Canales, 34, joined Portland as a video department intern in 2004 and spent three seasons as the video coordinator.

The Trail Blazers gave him the interim job when they fired Nate McMillan.

In an email to Laredo Morning Times, Canales said he was grateful to Trail Blazers owner Paul Allen for being given the opportunity to work with a first class organization.

Essential services For more than two decades, the City of Laredo has provided essential health, environmental and animal control services to Webb County.

But in September, a majority of county commissioners voted to reject a renewal of the inter-local agreement after the city upped the cost for providing the services.

Confusion soon followed, with the county trying to figure out which entities could provide the services no longer covered by the city.

County officials have said that they are

confident that the county and the state can fill the gap.

3 Laredoans killed in NL In February, the FBI and the Tamaulipas Attorney General’s office opened an investigation into the deaths of four people – three of them Laredoans – who were killed in Nuevo Laredo.

Brothers Carlos Alvarado García, 32, and Sergio Andrés Alvarado Gómez, 30, and their father, Efraín Alvarado Chávez, 64, were killed when gunmen attacked “Super Plus Carmen,” the store where the three of them worked.

A Tamaulipas attorney general’s office spokesman said large-caliber weapons were used in the shootings. He said investigators did not know what caused the attack.

Javier Reyes sentencing On Aug. 14, Javier Reyes, 56, a former Alexander High School coach, pleaded guilty to attempted indecency with a

child by contact, a third-degree felony.

Reyes was accused of sexually assaulting children in two counties, Williamson and Wilson; the plea agreement was for Williamson County.

He was sentenced to 10 years probation.

The terms of his plea agreement also included a $2,500 fine, no contact with the victim, registration as a sex offender and a lifetime surrender of his teaching license. Reyes resigned from United Independent School District in February after being proposed for termination.

His indecency with a child charge was dismissed in Wilson County after the court decided that the 10-year probation he received was sufficient punishment, according to the district clerk’s office there.

UISD pay raises unfrozen United Independent School District ended a two-year salary freeze in August stemming from a 2011 state Legislature that saw $5.4 billion slashed from public education funding.

Thanks to a 2013 legislative session that

restored most of the funds cut in the 2011 session, UISD is due to receive $13.8 million in the 2013-2014 year and nearly $17.4 million in the 2014-2015 year. A teacher with 21 years of experience made $52,695 in 2012-2013. A teacher with that amount of experience will make $55,856 in 20132014.

UISD/LISD bond elections Webb County residents approved bond packages for both UISD and LISD in November.

The UISD proposition entails an issuance of $408.7 million in bonds for constructing, renovating, acquiring and equipping school facilities and the acquisition of sites for school facilities.

The bond will go toward building 14 new schools, renovations to existing facilities and upgrades to technology and security.

The LISD proposition entails an issuance of $77.83 million in bonds for constructing, acquiring and equipping school facilities and the acquisition of sites for school facilities.

DRONE SITE Continued from Page 1A

Photo by Dario Lopez-Mills | AP

In this Dec. 28, 2013 photo, people shop at a local Costco in Mexico City. Mexico will raise its federal sales tax in border regions to match the rest of the country, say merchants and shoppers.

Mexico’s sales tax hike seen as boon

By ELLIOT SPAGAT ASSOCIATED PRESS

CHULA VISTA, Calif. — Mexican license plates are common in parking lots of shopping malls in U.S. border cities. They will be even more familiar after Mexico raises its federal sales tax in border regions to match the rest of the country, say merchants and shoppers.

The increase to 16 percent from 11 percent, which takes effect today, has sparked large protests on the Mexican side of the border. Facebook pages with secessionist tones have generated about 200,000 “likes.”

Thousands have signed petitions to challenge the tax hike in court.

The Mexican government says the two-tiered tax structure, which was introduced decades ago to make border cities competitive, is no longer justified.

Others say the increase may backfire by driving more shoppers north of the border, harming the economy and raising less tax revenue than anticipated.

“We don’t compete against the rest of Mexico, we compete against the American economy,” said Juan Manuel Hernandez, president of the Tijuana Business Coordinating Council, an umbrella group of business chambers.

U.S. border regions like California’s Imperial Valley — which has three WalMart Supercenters and only 175,000 residents — have long depended on Mexican shoppers who buy everything from gasoline to groceries. Brand-name clothing and electronics are perennial draws for Mexicans seeking products that are more expensive or hard to find south of the border.

Mexican shoppers spend more than $4.5 billion a year in Texas border cities, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. Fed economists estimated in March that Mexican border crossers account for 58 percent of retail sales in Laredo and 42 percent in McAllen.

Published research is more dated for other border states, but the impact is undeniable. University of Arizona researchers concluded that Mexican shoppers accounted for 48.6 per-

cent of taxable sales in Santa Cruz County, Ariz., which includes Nogales, from July 2007 through June 2008.

Thomas Fullerton, an economics professor at University of Texas at El Paso, estimates the tax hike will cause Mexican shoppers to spend between 5 percent and 10 percent more on the U.S. side of the border in 2014. Smaller cities like Douglas, Ariz., and Calexico, Calif., are expected to feel it more than San Diego and El Paso, which have more diverse economies.

U.S. businesses will benefit less in later years as Mexicans adjust to higher taxes, said Fullerton, who has studied how changes in the Mexican economy affect retail sales in El Paso.

The tax increase, which the government of Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto estimates will raise $1.15 billion a year, is part of a package of fiscal measures that also raises taxes on businesses and top-end wage earners, ends some deductions and introduces a tax on junk food.

Peña Nieto’s administration says border businesses haven’t shared savings from lower sales taxes with consumers. It found consumer goods were 4 percent higher than in the rest of the country and noted that other countries and states within the U.S. don’t allow lower sales taxes for business on their borders.

Hernandez and business leaders from other border states challenged those findings at a meeting with Treasury Secretary Luis Videgaray in Mexico City in October, showing results of their own survey of a basket of consumer goods that found prices in San Diego were 4 percent lower than Tijuana and 37 percent lower than Mexico City. They offered studies predicting dire economic consequences.

The secretary didn’t argue with the studies, according to Hernandez, but asked what would happen if businesses absorbed the impact or shared the hit with consumers. The discussions went nowhere.

The tax increase spawned Facebook pages with renegade slogans for Mexican border states. “Republic of Baja California”

has 140,000 likes, and “Republic of Chihuahua” has 36,000 likes.

About 2,500 shoppers signed a petition the weekend before Christmas at a Tijuana shopping mall to seek an injunction against the tax increase, Hernandez said. The Tijuana business group is leading an effort in Mexican border states to submit tens of thousands of signatures to a federal court in Tijuana in early February.

“It’s necessary to speak up because the border needs to be able to compete,” said Esteban Elias, 44, a Tijuana auto mechanic who signed the petition and buys groceries and clothing in the San Diego suburb of Chula Vista.

Until recently, Elias, like millions living in Mexican border regions, went to the U.S. on a “border crossing card,” which allows quick visits within short distances of the border. Since his card expired, he places orders through others. Other Mexican shoppers are U.S. citizens or legal residents.

Some speculate that Mexican customs officials will step up inspections on returning shoppers, discouraging cross-border jaunts.

Purchases are duty-free up to $300 a person during the winter holiday season, but many shoppers flout the rules.

Still, U.S. business leaders are geared for a sales bump.

“This tax increase gives Mexican nationals an excuse to shop and spend money on the U.S. side,” said Steve Ahlenius, president of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce.

including experts at the University of Texas at Arlington Research Institute and San Antonio-based Southwest Research Institute.

“This designation will help make South Texas and the Gulf Coast the home of future generations of unmanned aerial systems,” Richard Somers, vice president of SwRI’s aerospace electronics, systems engineering and training division, said in a written statement. “Good flying weather year-round, varied terrain and the possibility of over-water testing above the Gulf of Mexico add up to an attractive locale for developing new designs and new capabilities.”

Safety As drones inch closer to commercial use, there have been concerns about safety and airspace crowding, in addition to privacy.

“

It’s equivalent to taking your driver’s (class) and going down to the DMV and getting tested by a certified person to get your driver’s license.”

MICHAEL BLADES, INDUSTRY ANALYST

“We don’t have any current regulations or standards for unmanned aircraft like we do for manned operations,” Heidi Williams, vice president of air traffic and modernization for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, told the ExpressNews in October. “Until those are laid out and we can ensure that there will be no conflicts between manned and unmanned (aircraft), there continue to be risks.”

While commercial

drones are prohibited, law enforcement and other civilian agencies can seek certificates of authorization for drone use.

“They have to have the test sites because they have to have an area to train,” Blades said. “It’s equivalent to taking your driver’s education (class) and going down to the DMV and getting tested by a certified person to get your driver’s license.”

He added: “Everybody is going to have to be certified to fly these things.”

10A THE ZAPATA TIMES

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1, 2014