The Zapata Times 3/25/2015

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ZAPATA COUNTY

ZAVALA SMUGGLING ORGANIZATION

Two busted for human smuggling

Facilitator arrested “

Border Patrol found five illegal immigrants in the car of Laredo men

By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES

A recent traffic stop in Zapata County landed two suspected human smugglers behind bars, according to court documents.

Federal authorities identified them as Roy Ramirez and Adolfo de la Cruz Jr., both from Laredo, states a criminal complaint filed against them March 16. They were charged with transporting people who had entered the country illegally. Both are in federal custody on a $75,000 bond.

Their arrest occurred

March 12 by U.S. 83 and Mesa Salinas Road, south of Zapata. That day, a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper cited Ramirez for allegedly driving in the left lane when not passing and for not having a driver’s license, according to court documents.

The trooper then called U.S. Border Patrol for assistance believing some of the occupants were in the country illegally. On arrival, agents determined that five occupants did not have legal status to be in the United States and took

See SMUGGLING PAGE 11A

Fleet of vehicles found with immigrants

By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES

Federal authorities said they have arrested a woman linked to a human smuggling organization that operates out of Zapata County, records recently filed in federal court show.

A criminal complaint dated March 13 charges Laura Zavala, of Zapata, with transporting illegal immigrants.

“Laura Zavala has been identified by the Zapata Border Patrol intelligence unit as a facilitator/organizer/scout operating for the Zavala smuggling organization,” states the criminal complaint.

Authorities allege the Zavala smuggling organization is considerably affecting the following areas in Zapata County: Las Lajas, Las Tortolas, Clareno

Laura Zavala has been identified by the Zapata Border Patrol intelligence unit as a facilitator/ organizer/scout operating for the Zavala smuggling organization.

CRIMINAL COMPLAINT

and Blanca Vela. Court records further identified Luis Daniel MendozaMendoza, of Pearsall, as a co-defendant in the case.

He too is charged in the same complaint.

Federal authorities also detained a juvenile identified as Mendoza-Mendoza’s nephew. He was processed accordingly. Mendoza-Mendoza and Zavala

remained in federal custody.

U.S. Border Patrol detained the juvenile, Mendoza-Mendoza and Zavala on March 10 for conspiring to smuggle eight undocumented people.

Earlier that day, agents observed a blue Ford Explorer and a green Ford Explorer traveling south on U.S. 83 behind a black

Ford Expedition. Agents said they recognized the black Expedition from a previous encounter in a human smuggling case in Zapata. “(Agents) were mindful that the driver of the black Ford Expedition is a female previously identified as Laura Zavala, who resides in Zapata, Texas,” records state.

Based on those observations, they decided to take a closer look at the green Explorer. Agents said they observed several people inside the green Explorer as it swerved onto the shoulder of the highway for no apparent reason.

Agents said they activated the emergency lights on the unit to conduct an immigration inspection on the occupants of the vehicle. Agents identified

See ZAVALA PAGE 11A

2016 ELECTION

CRUZ RUNS FOR PRESIDENT Senator targets conservatives

By PHILIP ELLIOTT ASSOCIATED PRESS

LYNCHBURG, Va. — Launching his bid for the Republican presidential nomination, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas asked Christian conservative voters to imagine a United States without the IRS, Obamacare or abortion rights — and to imagine they can make that happen by supporting him.

His aspirational appeal on Monday, aimed at America’s most conservative voters,

Photos by Andrew Harnik | AP

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas poses for a photograph with members of the audience after announcing his campaign for president, Monday, at Liberty University, in Lynchburg, Va. could quickly run into challenges in winning over moderate voters — and eventually deep difficulties in governing should Cruz win the White House.

But it’s a message

that Cruz, the first major 2016 contender to declare himself a candidate, is expected to forcefully emphasize in the coming year before vot-

See CRUZ PAGE 11A

ZETAS DRUG CARTEL

‘Z-42’ captured on kidnapping charges

By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES

A federal judge has ordered Zetas drug cartel leader Omar Treviño Morales, known as “Z-42,” to prison on kidnapping charges, Mexico’s attorney general said Monday.

In addition, Tamaulipas authorities announced they arrested Ramiro Perez Ramos, known as “El Rama” or “Comandante Rama,” who was identified by the National Security Com-

Mexican prosecutors are accusing Treviño of kidnapping several people in Tamaulipas in 2005. A … court found enough probable cause to allege that Treviño allegedly carried out the kidnappings. mission as the regional commander for the Zetas and a leader for the group in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico.

The arrest happened Monday, authorities said.

Mexican prosecutors are

accusing Treviño of kidnapping several people in Tamaulipas in 2005. A Mexican federal district court found enough probable cause to allege that Treviño allegedly carried

out the kidnappings.

He remains in custody at a prison in Almoloya de Juárez, located northeast of Toluca in Central Mexico.

On March 4, Mexican

authorities announced Treviño’s capture at a home in San Pedro Garza Garcia, located southwest of Monterrey in Nuevo Leon state.

Treviño was also wanted in the United States.

An indictment filed in 2008 in the Southern District of Texas charged him with multiple counts of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana and cocaine and money laundering.

See ZETAS PAGE 11A

TREVIÑO MORALES

International

10A THE ZAPATA TIMES

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2015

Analysis: Israel seeks government unity

By JOSEF FEDERMAN AND DAN PERRY

high-pitched of voice, could wrest the leadership in such a securityobsessed nation. If he wishes to survive politically, a unity government may be the ticket — even if for the moment claiming otherwise is key.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

JERUSALEM — After a strong performance in last week’s parliamentary election, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seems to be cruising toward forming a new government of hard-line and religious parties. But in the smoke-and-mirrors world of Israeli politics, a centrist government more amenable to peace negotiations could easily emerge at the last minute instead.

With his “natural partners,” Netanyahu could control a comfortable 67-seat majority in parliament — but such a government would probably set on a collision course with the international community. Already the talk is of more settlement construction in the West Bank, steps against foreign advocacy groups that support the Palestinians or the opposition, and a renewed push for a law formalizing Israel as a Jewish state despite the large Arab minority.

Calls are mounting for an alternative. President Reuven Rivlin, expected to formally task Netanyahu with forming a coalition on Wednesday, has made national unity a priority and has called for “as wide a coalition as possible” to ensure representation of all groups in Israeli society.

For now, both Netanyahu and his chief adversaries — the centrist Zionist Union and Yesh Atid parties — are saying a “unity government” is out of the question. The bruising campaign featured harsh personal attacks on all sides, and bad feelings linger.

In the final days, Netanyahu made strident appeals to his base that have saddled him with accusations of racism against Israel’s 2 million Arab citizens and of abandoning his previously stated support for an eventual Palestinian state. On both counts he has been trying in vain to apologize and backtrack, adding to the charged atmosphere. After such a divisive period, there seems to be little appetite to reconcile.

Yet this could all change in the coming weeks as Netanyahu cobbles together his coalition, potential partners make demands for government ministries, his opponents ponder four long years in the opposition and the world community makes clear how dimly it would view a govern-

He’s Done It Before

Photo by Tsafrir Abayov | AP file

In this March 17 file photo, Bedouin women wait to cast their votes in Rahat, Israel on for parliament elections. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seems to be cruising toward forming a new government of hardline and religious parties. ment cool to making concessions for peace.

Here are some reasons why the Israeli government may end up looking far different than widely expected:

Relieving International Pressure Netanyahu came under heavy international criticism for campaign rhetoric that was seen as racist and anti-peace. Although Netanyahu has claimed his comments were misunderstood, the White House remains unconvinced, and President Barack Obama is threatening to reassess American policy toward Israel.

The possibilities for harassing Israel are great, beginning with U.S. removing its near-automatic veto on anti-Israel maneuvers at the U.N. Security Council, probably clearing the way for world recognition of a Palestinian state on all lands the Palestinians seek. And if the United States sends the signal, the floodgates could open for real. Israel could face constant pressure at other international bodies as well as from the European Union. International boycott movements are primed to spring into action. Imports on goods made in Israel’s West Bank settlements could be banned and Israeli officers and officials could be denied entry at

various ports of call.

None of this would likely occur if the government were instead composed of centrist parties plus Netanyahu’s Likud — with the prime minister once again proclaiming his theoretical support of Palestinian independence. His Likud Party colleagues — most of them opponents of Palestinian statehood — would be muttering and peeved. But they would be Cabinet ministers, some in position to continue the settlement of the occupied territories with the same machinations that have deposited nearly 600,000 Jews on occupied land to this day, most of them in the years since the peace process first began two decades ago.

While the personal relationship between Obama and Netanyahu seems badly and maybe irreparably harmed, in the grand scheme of things, a centrist government might enable the storm clouds to pass.

The Hapless Opposition Israel’s moderate Labor Party — now rebranded as the Zionist Union — has won two elections outright in the past four decades, in 1992 and 1999. Each time it loses, its leaders face the same cruel choice: Try to rebuild in opposition, or agree to join Likud in a “broad-based” government of

“unity.”

Some moderates, angry at the outcome of the vote, are urging their leaders to let the nationalists rule in peace, so that the people may understand what they have done. But the lure of unity is tempting. On one hand, despite the loss, one sits in government; and on the other, there is a strong urge toward damage control — a genuine sense by the moderates that they must contain the hardline agenda of building settlements that would deepen Israel’s isolation and cause damage in a variety of ways.

The prospect of a return to power at the ballot box is in any case fading a little in light of last week’s loss, which was crushing after some unusually high hopes.

Surveys had shown most Israelis to be sick of Netanyahu and a stunning parade of top Israeli security beseeched voters to end his reign. The cost of living seemed to leave masses of Israelis in despair and small scandals piled on as well. The last polls, four days before the vote, augured very well indeed. But at the last minute, with Netanyahu sounding the alarm on TV and radio, masses of Likud voters rallied back to base.

Isaac Herzog, the head of the Zionist Union, has particular cause for concern. Many are wondering how they ever thought that Herzog, slight of frame and

Netanyahu is forming his third consecutive government, and he has a history of bringing in centrist partners — suggesting he, too, has little wish to carry out Likud policy to the full. In 2009, he made Labor Party leader Ehud Barak his defense minister, and in 2013 he brought in dovish ex-foreign minister Tzipi Livni to be his chief peace negotiator.

These people gave Netanyahu’s government international respectability and helped shield him from global criticism for hard-line policies toward the Palestinians — exactly according to plan. Herzog or Yesh Atid’s Yair Lapid — who was also finance minister for most of Netanyahu’s last term — could play similar roles in coming years.

A Clamor For Unity Following an especially polarizing election campaign, Netanyahu is under pressure to repair the rifts in Israeli society. In a first step, Netanyahu apologized Monday for what he acknowledged were offensive comments about Arab voters. Leading Arab politicians swiftly rejected his call.

There has also been unseemly sniping in recent days between European-descended Jews — moderates mostly — and Sephardi Jews of Middle Eastern descent who heavily back Likud.

The former stand accused of elitism and an inability to communicate — and the latter of tribalism, voting against their own interests and dooming Israel to destruction. Tensions between religious Jews — part of Netanyahu’s traditional bloc — and secular ones who dominate the moderate camp have flared up as well.

As the dust settles and tempers cool in the coming weeks, Netanyahu may be looking for a magic bullet to unify the nation once more.

Plane crash in Alps kills 150 India votes for free speach

By LORI HINNANT AND CLAUDE PARIS ASSOCIATED PRESS

SEYNE-LES-ALPES, France — A Germanwings jet carrying 150 people from Barcelona to Duesseldorf slammed into a remote section of the French Alps on Tuesday, sounding like an avalanche as it scattered pulverized debris across a rocky mountain and down its steep ravines. All aboard were assumed killed.

The pilots sent out no distress call and had lost radio contact with their control center, France’s aviation authority said, deepening the mystery over the A320’s mid-flight crash after a surprise 8-minute descent.

“The site is a picture of horror. The grief of the families and friends is immeasurable. We must now stand together. We are united in our great grief,” German Foreign Minister FrankWalter Steinmeier said in a statement after being flown over the crash scene and briefed by French authorities.

The crash left officials and families across Europe reeling in shock. Sobbing, grieving relatives at both airports were led away by airport workers and crisis counselors. One German town was rent with sorrow after losing 16 high school students coming back from an exchange program in Spain.

“This is pretty much the worst thing you can imagine,” a visibly rattled Haltern Mayor Bodo Klimpel said at a hastily called press conference.

As helicopters were deployed to reach the crash site, German Chancellor Angela Merkel urged reporters not to speculate on the cause.

“We still don’t know much beyond the bare information on the flight, and there should be no speculation on the cause of the crash,” she said in Berlin.

“All that will be investigated

Photo by Claude Paris | AP

A rescue helicopter flies over debris of the Germanwings passenger jet, scattered on the mountain side of the French Alps, Tuesday. thoroughly.”

Lufthansa Vice President Heike Birlenbach told reporters in Barcelona that for now “we say it is an accident.”

In Washington, the White House said American officials were in contact with their French, Spanish and German counterparts.

“There is no indication of a nexus to terrorism at this time,” said U.S. National Security Council spokeswoman Bernadette Meehan.

Photos of the crash site showed scattered white flecks across a stony mountain and several larger airplane body sections with windows. French officials said a helicopter crew that landed briefly in the area saw no signs of life.

“Everything is pulverized. The largest pieces of debris are the size of a small car. No one can access the site from the ground,” Gilbert Sauvan, president of the general council, Alpesde-Haute-Provence, told The Associated Press.

French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said a black box had been located at the crash site and “will be immediately investigated.” He did not say whether it was a data recorder or a cockpit voice recorder.

Germanwings is low-cost carrier owned by Lufthansa, Germany’s biggest airline, and serves mostly Eu-

ropean destinations. Tuesday’s crash was its first involving passenger deaths since it began operating in 2002. The Germanwings logo, normally maroon and yellow, was blacked out on its Twitter feed.

Germanwings said Flight 9525 carried 144 passengers, including two babies, and six crew members. Officials believe 67 Germans were on board, including the 16 high school students from Haltern and two opera singers.

Barcelona’s Gran Teatre del Liceu says German contralto Maria Radner was aboard the crashed plane along with her husband and baby. The opera house in Duesseldorf said bass baritone Oleg Bryjak, was also on the plane.

Dutch officials said one citizen was killed.

The plane left Barcelona Airport at 10:01 a.m., then began descending again shortly after reaching its cruising height of 38,000 feet, Germanwings CEO Thomas Winkelmann told reporters in Cologne. The descent lasted eight minutes.

Eric Heraud of the French Civil Aviation Authority said the Germanwings plane lost radio contact with a control center at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, but “never declared a distress alert itself.” He said the combination of loss of radio contract

and the plane’s quick descent prompted the control center to declare a distress situation.

“We cannot say at the moment why our colleague went into the descent, and so quickly, and without previously consulting air traffic control,” said Germanwings’ director of flight operations, Stefan-Kenan Scheib.

The plane crashed at an altitude of about 2,000 meters (6,550 feet) at MeolansRevels, near the popular ski resort of Pra Loup. The site is 700 kilometers (430 miles) south-southeast of Paris.

“It was a deafening noise.

I thought it was an avalanche, although it sounded slightly different. It was short noise and lasted just a few seconds,” Sandrine Boisse, the president of the Pra Loup tourism office, told the AP. Interior Ministry spokesman Pierre-Henry Brandet told BFM television he expected “an extremely long and extremely difficult” search-and-rescue operation because of the area’s remoteness. The weather in the area deteriorated Tuesday afternoon, with a chilly rain falling.

Winkelmann said the pilot, whom he did not name, had more than 10 years’ experience working for Germanwings and its parent airline Lufthansa.

The aircraft was delivered to Lufthansa in 1991, had approximately 58,300 flight hours in some 46,700 flights, Airbus said. The plane underwent a routine check in Duesseldorf on Monday, and its last regular full check took place in the summer of 2013.

Winkelmann said teams from Airbus, Germanwings, Lufthansa and Lufthansa’s technical division had arrived in France and were on their way to the crash site.

The municipal sports hall of Seyne-les-Alpes, 6 miles from the Val d’Allos ski resort, was being set up to take bodies from the crash.

By NIDA NAJAR AND SUHASINI RAJ NEW YORK TIMES

NEW DELHI — The Indian Supreme Court on Tuesday struck down a section of a law that allowed the authorities to jail people for offensive online posts, in a judgment that was regarded as a landmark ruling on free speech in India.

The law stipulated that a person could be jailed for up to three years for any communication online that was, among other things, "grossly offensive," "menacing" or "false," and for the purpose of causing "annoyance," "inconvenience" or "injury." The provisions, which led to highly publicized arrests in recent years, had been roundly criticized by legal experts who called them vague and argued that they had been used in some cases to stifle dissent.

Calling the wording so vague that "virtually any opinion on any subject would be covered by it," the court said "if it is to withstand the test of constitutionality, the chilling effect on free speech would be total."

Sunil Abraham, the executive director of the Center for Internet & Society, which is based in Bangalore, called the decision "amazing."

"It is in continuation of a great tradition in India: that of apex courts consistently, over the years, protecting the citizens of India from violations of human rights," he said.

India is considered by some to be one of the world’s most freewheeling democracies, but the law reflected the ambivalence with which Indian officials have sometimes treated freedom of expres-

sion, occasionally citing the Constitution’s allowance of "reasonable restrictions" on free speech in order to ban books, movies and other material about subjects like sex, politics and religion.

The government recently blocked the screening in India of the BBC documentary "India’s Daughter," about the Delhi gang rape in 2012 that made international news.

The law, the Information Technology (Amendment) Act, was passed by parliament shortly after the three-day terrorist attacks on Mumbai in 2008.

It granted the authorities more expansive powers to monitor electronic communications for reasons of national security. That section was not a part of the court case.

In the past, critics have been particularly worried that the section of the law that was struck down was ripe for misuse at the hands of police officials often beholden to political parties.

Last week, a young man in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh became one of the latest people to be arrested under the law when the police said he incorrectly attributed a polarizing statement to the lawmaker Azam Khan on Facebook.

Other highly publicized cases include the arrest in 2012 of a professor accused of sharing cartoons mocking the chief minister of West Bengal state on Facebook and the arrest of two young women after one shared a Facebook post criticizing the virtual shutdown of Mumbai following the death of a revered right-wing political leader there.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2015

THE ZAPATA TIMES 11A

GEORGE F. EDWARDS

Google hires Wall Street CFO

Sept. 8, 1951 – March 20, 2015 George F. Edwards, 63, was born on September 8, 1951. He passed away on Friday, March 20, 2015 at Laredo Medical Center in Laredo, Texas.

Mr. Edwards is preceded in death by his parents, George A. and Helen D. Edwards and a sister, Dolores Edwards.

Mr. Edwards is survived by his sister, Barbara A. (Jim) Campbell; nephews, Billy (Mary) McCollum, John (Kelly) McCollum; great-grandnephews and grandnieces, Jonathan (Tara) McCollum, James McCollum, Jeannine McCollum, Jaime (Josh) Mould, Josh (Melissa) McCollum and by four great-great-grandnieces.

He was born and raised in Endicott, New York. He retired in Grand Junction, Colorado and recently moved to San Ygnacio, Texas.

A Memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 28, 2015 we will

By MICHAEL LIEDTKE ASSOCIATED PRESS

open at 10:30 a.m. and the service will start at 11 a.m. at Rose Garden Funeral Home in Zapata, Texas.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Rose Garden Funeral Home Daniel A. Gonzalez, funeral director, 2102 N. U.S. Hwy 83 Zapata, Texas.

SAN FRANCISCO — Google has lured away Morgan Stanley’s chief financial officer, Ruth Porat, to be its CFO at a time when the Internet search leader and its Silicon Valley peers are under fire for hiring and promoting too few women.

The appointment announced Tuesday fills a void that opened earlier this month after Google’s CFO of the past seven years, Patrick Pichette, an-

nounced his plans to retire.

Porat, 58, will become Google’s highest-rankPORAT ing female executive when she starts her new job on May 26. Her last day at Morgan Stanley will be April 30, ending a 28-year career at the New York investment bank.

Google Inc. and other Silicon Valley heavyweights, including Apple Inc. and Facebook Inc., are

discrimination lawsuits have been filed by women who formerly worked at Facebook and Twitter.

Porat’s defection from a top job on Wall Street serves as the latest reminder of the technology industry’s allure as its products reshape culture and enrich the companies creating them.

Google has been at the forefront of upheaval during the past 15 years. The company boasts the top mobile operating system in Android and the most popular video site in YouTube.

SMUGGLING Continued from Page 1A them into custody. Ramirez and a passenger identified as de la Cruz were also detained and taken to the Zapata Border Patrol Station.

Once there, Ramirez invoked his right to an attor-

ney. But de la Cruz chose to speak to authorities about the incident, records show.

“De la Cruz states he was asked by (Ramirez) to travel with him to Zapata … to pick up a group of il-

CRUZ Continued from Page 1A ers start to pick nominees.

“God’s blessing has been on America from the very beginning of this nation, and I believe that God isn’t done with Americans,” Cruz declared at Liberty University, a Christian school founded by the late Rev. Jerry Falwell.

“I believe in you. I believe in the power of millions of courageous conservatives rising up to reignite the promise of America. And that is that is why, today, I am announcing that I am running for president of the United States of America.”

Cruz won’t be the sole GOP contender for long. Two Senate colleagues, Kentucky’s Rand Paul and Florida’s Marco Rubio, are eyeing campaign launches soon. And former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, are expected to follow, among others.

The 44-year-old Cruz is betting his White House hopes on profoundly conservative voters and their opposition to policies they find abhorrent.

Within such circles, there is deep distrust of the IRS, which was revealed last year to have been scrutinizing tea party groups’ nonprofit status.

Scuttling President Barack Obama’s health care legislation, called by some “Obamacare,” is a rallying cry, as well.

And abortion is a major issue for Christian conservatives who have tremendous sway in the lead-off caucus and primary election states of Iowa and South Carolina.

During his 30-minute kickoff speech, delivered like a sermon without notes or cue cards, Cruz made clear he sees electoral potential in his unbending advocacy.

“Today, roughly half of born-

trying to add more women to their payrolls. The push began during the past 10 months after the companies released data revealing that women only filled 15 to 20 percent of the tech jobs, which tend to pay the most.

Kleiner Perkins, a venture capital firm that has financed Google and other prominent technology companies, is currently embroiled in a San Francisco trial that is airing embarrassing allegations of sexual discrimination.

In the past week, sexual

again Christians aren’t voting — they’re staying home,” Cruz said. “Imagine, instead, millions of people of faith all across America coming out to the polls and voting our values.”

Following his election to the Senate in 2012, the former Texas solicitor general quickly established himself as an uncompromising figure willing to take on Democrats and sometimes Republicans, too. Divisive within his own GOP, he won praise from tea party activists for leading the effort to shut the federal government during an unsuccessful bid to block money for the health law.

He spoke on the fifth anniversary of that law — legislation that prompted Cruz to stand for more than 21 hours in the Senate to denounce it in a speech that delighted his supporters and other Obamacare foes.

Cheers rose Monday in the hall when Cruz reminded the crowd that Liberty University filed a suit against the law right after its enactment.

But the partial government shutdown was not widely popular, and Democrats signaled that it would be central to their criticism of the first-term senator.

“His reckless approach to governing would make life worse, not better, for Americans and he isn’t the type of fighter that America’s middleclass families need,” Democratic National Committee chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz said in a statement.

The son of an American mother and Cuban-born father, Cruz would be the first Hispanic president.

To the enthusiastic crowd, he urged students to “imagine a president that finally, finally, finally secures the borders.”

He also nodded to the tea par-

ty, which emphasizes limited federal spending and a libertarian-leaning view of government.

“Imagine a simple flat tax,” he said. “Imagine abolishing the IRS.” He left unexplained how the government would collect taxes without the Internal Revenue Service. The flat tax has never gone anywhere in Congress because the only way it can work is either by dramatically cutting spending or significantly increasing taxes for most lowand middle-income families.

Now, wealthy families in general pay federal income taxes at higher rates than the rest of the population.

On abortion, Cruz said: “Imagine a federal government that works to defend the sanctity of human life.”

By announcing a candidacy that has long been obvious, Cruz triggers accounting and reporting requirements for the money he is raising and spending. To help build his campaign account, he is heading this week to donor-heavy New York.

For his announcement, Cruz bypassed Texas, which he represents in the Senate, as well as early nominating states such as New Hampshire, where Mitt Romney kicked off his campaign for the GOP nomination in 2012, and Iowa.

By getting in early — in a late-night message on Twitter and then his kickoff speech — Cruz was hoping to claim ownership of the influential corner of the Republican Party for whom cultural issues are supreme. It was a move at crowding out figures such as former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, a former Baptist pastor, and former Sen. Rick Santorum, who has made his Catholic faith a cornerstone of his political identity.

legal (immigrants). De la Cruz continued by saying that Ramirez asked him for help because he needed a car, which de la Cruz had,” states the complaint.

Records add the men expected $200 per person

smuggled. They were going to split the money.

Both had instructions to drive the immigrants to Laredo.

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

ZETAS Continued from Page 1A ‘El Rama’ Regarding Perez, the suspected Zetas commander, his capture also resulted in the arrest of several of his accomplices. Authorities identified them as Carlos Roberto “El Pato” Hernández, Humberto Eleuterio “El Sonrics” Gutiérrez Martínez, Luis Rolando

“El Guicho” Caudillo Garza and Daniel Israel “El Piedrolo” Peña de la Rosa.

Reports indicate the men were arrested early Monday. Mexican federal and state authorities said they also seized three assault rifles, three ammo clips, ammo, a hand grenade and narcotics from a vehicle the men were in.

ZAVALA Continued from Page 1A the driver as a juvenile who claimed to be a U.S. citizen.

The five passengers were determined to be immigrants who had crossed the border illegally, according to court documents.

Agents then suspected the other two vehicles were connected to the case.

Authorities then spotted the blue Explorer, which had stopped just south of where the green Explorer was pulled over. Identified as the driver, Mendoza-Mendoza claimed his vehicle was overheating and stated he needed water. Mendoza-Mendoza was “visibly shaken and sweating profusely,” according to the complaint.

Following a brief interview, agents determined MendozaMendoza was a Mexican citizen with no legal status to be in the country. Then, agents alleged they found two black handheld two-way radios at each Explorer. All four radios were the same brand and model number, according to court documents.

Authorities then encountered the black Expedition by Siesta and Weslaco lanes in Zapata. Zavala was identified as the driver. Given prior information on Zavala, agents responded to Las Lajas property, where they apprehended three illegal immigrants in the near-

by brush.

All were taken to the Zapata Border Patrol station.

In a post-arrest interview, Mendoza-Mendoza told agents Zavala calls him to go pick up immigrants in Zapata to drive them to Laredo. Zavala asked him if there was anyone willing to transport immigrants. Mendoza-Mendoza then contacted his nephew, the juvenile. Zavala allegedly instructed MendozaMendoza and his nephew to leave Laredo at 5 a.m. March 10.

While en route, MendozaMendoza allegedly stated he was in constant communication with his nephew and Zavala using the two-way radios until Border Patrol caught up to the smuggling attempt. Zavala allegedly instructed Mendoza to pull over and pretend to have car problems, records show.

Zavala also agreed to speak with authorities without an attorney present. She stated she had received a phone call instructing her to scout for immigrants at pre-determined location in Zapata. The caller had allegedly arranged for two vehicles to drive from Laredo to Zapata to pick up the group. Court records identified those people as Mendoza-Mendoza and his nephew.

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

12A THE ZAPATA TIMES

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2015

PAGE 2A

Zin brief CALENDAR

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2015

AROUND TEXAS

TODAY IN HISTORY

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25

ASSOCIATED PRESS

“Unsettled/Desasosiego: Children in a World of Gangs” at TAMIU Student Center Ballroom, from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Presentation on the history behind Central America’s insecurity, resulting in undocumented Central American children and youth seeking entry into the United States.

Free and open to the public. Call 326-2820.

Today is Wednesday, March 25, the 84th day of 2015. There are 281 days left in the year.

Today’s Highlight in History: On March 25, 1965, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. led 25,000 people to the Alabama state capitol in Montgomery after a five-day march from Selma to protest the denial of voting rights to blacks. Later that day, civil rights activist Viola Liuzzo, a white Detroit homemaker, was shot and killed by Ku Klux Klansmen as she drove a black volunteer to the airport.

On this date: In 1306, Robert the Bruce was crowned King of Scots.

In 1776, Gen. George Washington, commander of the Continental Army, was awarded the first Congressional Gold Medal by the Continental Congress.

In 1911, 146 people, mostly young female immigrants, were killed when fire broke out at the Triangle Shirtwaist Co. in New York.

In 1915, the U.S. Navy lost its first commissioned submarine as the USS F-4 sank off Hawaii, claiming the lives of all 21 crew members.

In 1947, a coal mine explosion in Centralia, Illinois, claimed 111 lives.

In 1954, RCA announced it had begun producing color television sets at its plant in Bloomington, Indiana.

In 1975, King Faisal of Saudi Arabia was shot to death by a nephew with a history of mental illness. (The nephew was beheaded in June 1975.)

In 1990, 87 people, most of them Honduran and Dominican immigrants, were killed when fire raced through an illegal social club in New York City.

Ten years ago: Losing still more legal appeals, Terri Schiavo’s father, Bob Schindler, said his severely braindamaged daughter was “down to her last hours” as she entered her second week without the feeding tube that had sustained her life for 15 years.

Five years ago: Defense Secretary Robert Gates approved new rules easing enforcement of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” ban on gays serving openly in the military One year ago: Following a two-day security summit in The Netherlands, President Barack Obama declared that the gathering had taken “concrete steps” to prevent nuclear material falling into the hands of terrorists even though Russia and China failed to sign an agreement to beef up inspections.

Today’s Birthdays: Movie reviewer Gene Shalit is 89.

Former astronaut James Lovell is 87. Feminist activist and author Gloria Steinem is 81.

Singer Aretha Franklin is 73.

Singer Elton John is 68. Movie producer Amy Pascal is 57.

Actor-writer-director John Stockwell is 54. Author Kate DiCamillo is 51. Actress Sarah Jessica Parker is 50. Actor Domenick Lombardozzi is 39. Actor Lee Pace is 36. Actor Sean Faris is 33. Auto racer Danica Patrick is 33. Actress-singer Katharine McPhee is 31. Singer Jason Castro (“American Idol”) is 28. Rapper Big Sean is 27. Rap DJ/producer Ryan Lewis is 27. Actress-singer Aly Michalka is 26. Actor Kiowa Gordon is 25. Actress Seychelle Gabriel is 24.

Thought for Today: “Scratch a pessimist, and you find often a defender of privilege.” — Lord Beveridge, British economist (1879-1963).

THURSDAY, MARCH 26 Spanish Book Club, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Laredo Public Library, Calton Road. Call Sylvia Reash 763-1810.

The Villa San Agustin de Laredo Genealogical Society will meet at St. John Neumann Catholic Church.

3 to 5 pm. Presentation, “The Richness of Mexico: Its history and culture.” Contact Sanjuanita MartinezHunter, PhD at 722-3497 for more information.

Laredo Border Slam. Spoken word competition. 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month. Three minutes to perform an original work.

Two rounds. Five random judges from the audience. Cash and quirky prizes. BYOB. Raffle. Gallery 201. 513 San Bernardo. 9-11PM. $2 suggested donation at the door.www.facebook.com/laredoborderslam

Photo by Pat Sullivan | AP

Former Texas Governor Rick Perry speaks at a breakfast meeting, Tuesday, in Houston. A day after Sen. Ted Cruz announced he’s seeking the Republican presidential nomination, Perry refused any discussion of how his fellow Texan’s move affects his own anticipated White House run.

Perry ignores Cruz

By MICHAEL GRACZYK ASSOCIATED PRESS

FRIDAY, MARCH 27 TAMIU Lamar Bruni Vergara Science Center Planetarium. The Secret of the Cardboard Rocket, 6 p.m.

Extreme Planets, 7 p.m. Admission is $4 for children and $5 for adults.

Admission is $4 for TAMIU students, faculty and staff. Call 956-326-DOME (3663).

The Josh Abbott Band and Kevin Fowler will perform at a country western dance-concert at 8 p.m. at Casa Blanca Ballroom to benefit the South Texas Food Bank. Tickets are $25 pre-sale at Mike’s, Kelly’s and Casa Raul Western Wear, Big Buck Studios and bryanpromotions.com.

Tickets $30 at door. Call STFB marketing director Salo Otero at 3242432.

St. Augustine School will hold its 3rd annual Casino Night. 8 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Laredo Center for the Arts. This is St. Augustine’s largest fundraiser. The community is invited.

SATURDAY, MARCH 28 66th annual Flower and Art Show. Fellowship Hall, First United Methodist Church. 1 to 6 p.m. Public invited; admission fee.

Texas Food Bank-TAMIU Big Event at 1907 Freight at Riverside, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. More than 200 TAMIU students called the Love Committee will bag and sort for STFB clients and paint STFB offices. Erasmo Villarreal 763-4408 or 726-3120.

SUNDAY, MARCH 29 66th annual Flower and Art Show. Fellowship Hall, First United Methodist Church. 1 to 6 p.m. Public invited; admission fee.

Women’s City Club presents Sundaes with Style, 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Laredo Country Club. For reservations call Nancy at 763-9960.

TUESDAY, MARCH 31 TAMIU Lamar Bruni Vergara Science Center Planetarium. The Secret of the Cardboard Rocket, 5 p.m.

Extreme Planets, 6 p.m. Admission is $4 for children and $5 for adults.

Admission is $4 for TAMIU students, faculty and staff. Call 956-326-DOME (3663).

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1 Used Book Sale, 10 a.m. to noon. Widener Book Room, First United Methodist Church. Public invited; no admission fee.

SATURDAY, APRIL 4 Used book and magazine sale at First United Methodist Church.

Widener Book Room. 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Public invited; no admission fee.

TUESDAY, APRIL 7 The Alzheimer’s support group. Meeting room 2, building B of the Laredo Medical Center. The support group is for family members and caregivers taking care of someone who has Alzheimer’s. For information, please call 693-9991.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8 Used book sale. First United Methodist Church. 10 a.m. to noon.

HOUSTON — A day after Sen. Ted Cruz announced he’s seeking the Republican presidential nomination, former Gov. Rick Perry on Tuesday refused any discussion of how his fellow Texan’s move affects his own anticipated White House run.

Perry spoke at a Bloomberg-sponsored breakfast in Houston where he was asked about broad topics, including some politics.

But Cruz’s name never surfaced, and he ignored questions from reporters afterward about his potential GOP rival.

Perry, who left office in January after a record-long 14 years as Texas governor, ran unsuccessfully for president in 2012 but is expected to announce a 2016 bid in May or June.

“I think elections are interesting process-

es,” he said during the more formal part of the program where he was asked about a possible Jeb Bush-Hillary Clinton 2016 matchup.

“Key at this particular juncture is the familiarity with the names,” he said. “Having a name that’s been a president of the United States and being kin to that name is probably a good thing.”

He said he trusted Americans would be engaged and pay attention to the process, look at candidates’ records and policies and make a choice that’s based on a candidate’s vision and experience and not so much on name or gender.

Asked for his opinion of the best president since Ronald Reagan, Perry said George W. Bush, his predecessor as Texas governor, should get credit for keeping Americans safe.

Woman tossed burning bottle at abortion group

Texan WWII veteran, 96, finally getting medals

Man gets nearly 16 years in mortgage fraud cases

AUSTIN — An Austin woman is accused of throwing a burning bottle at an anti-abortion group praying outside of Planned Parenthood Monday evening.

An arrest affidavit states that members of Texas Alliance for Life were praying near the South Austin facility when a woman in an SUV tossed a “flaming item” out of the window. Investigators said that one of the women praying stomped out a small fire.

FORT HOOD — A 96-year-old veteran from West Texas who served overseas in World War II but never received his medals will finally get the awards. Former Sgt. Clinton Woodley will be honored Friday at Fort Hood.

Woodley enlisted in 1940 and was stationed at Fort Bliss. He deployed to the Pacific in 1943.

Woodley will also receive the World War II Victory Medal, the American Campaign Medal and the Combat Infantryman Badge.

SHERMAN — A North Texas man has been sentenced to nearly 16 years in prison in a $2.4 million mortgage fraud scam with payments sent to his private mailbox.

Prosecutors say he used mail advertisements to solicit homeowners having financial problems, saying they could protect their credit by transferring the titles to him and he’d make the mortgage payments.

Senate votes synthetic drug controlled substance AUSTIN — The Texas Senate has approved making the synthetic drug 25I-NBOMe a controlled substance, potentially banning it from being sold online and in places like convenience stores.

Originally developed as a research tool for scientists, socalled “25I” has psychedelic effects that mimic LSD.

Traffic stop yields more than $2.6M of cocaine SAN MANUEL — A South Texas traffic stop has yielded more than $2.6 million worth of cocaine and led to the arrest of the driver.

The Texas Department of Public Safety on Tuesday announced a trooper confiscated more than 42 pounds of cocaine during the stop in Hidalgo County.

Man gets 10 years after injuring deputy in 2013 SAN ANTONIO — A jury has ruled that a man must serve 10 years in prison for seriously injuring a Bexar County sheriff ’s deputy while driving drunk in 2013. Rodrigo Picon-Garcia was sentenced to prison Monday in the December 2013 wreck that fractured Deputy Candice Rodriguez’s spine and broke her leg.

— Compiled from AP reports

AROUND THE NATION Officer behind wheel in fatal crash had DUI in ’13 The off-duty New Jersey police officer who was behind the wheel during a wrong-way crash that killed another officer and a friend last week in New York City had previously had his driver’s license suspended for driving under the influence, an official said Tuesday.

Linden Officer Pedro Abad Jr., had his license suspended for seven months starting in October 2013.

Abad was among four people in a car early Friday when he drove the wrong way on a Staten Island highway after a night at a New York strip club, crashing head-on into a tractor-trailer.

Tsarnaev blamed grades on loss of loved ones BOSTON — Three months before he bombed the Boston Marathon, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev told

CONTACT US Publisher, William B. Green........................728-2501 Account Executive, Dora Martinez ...... (956) 765-5113 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 Sports Editor, Zach Davis ..........................728-2578 Spanish Editor, Melva Lavin-Castillo............ 728-2569 Photo by Irving Silverstein/Staten Island Advance | AP

Police investigate the crash scene between a truck and a car carrying four people in the Staten Island borough of New York, Friday. The car, driving the wrong way and carrying three off-duty officers, crashed into the truck, killing two. school officials he had been unable to concentrate on his studies because he had “lost too many” loved ones in Chechnya during the previous year.

The jury in Tsarnaev’s federal death penalty trial was shown a form he filled out to explain his

poor grades at the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth in 2012. Tsarnaev wrote that Russian soldiers in Chechnya “falsely accuse and abduct innocent men under false pretenses and terrorist accusations.”

— Compiled from AP reports

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State

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2015

THE ZAPATA TIMES 3A

JFK-related court case files saved in Fort Worth

By ANNA M. TINSLEY FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM

FORT WORTH — Buried for decades under millions of pages of nearly forgotten old court documents lay a political treasure.

The nearly forgotten gem — an old Tarrant County court file that included documents trying to prevent the late, famed attorney Melvin Belli from representing Jack Ruby, who shot Lee Harvey Oswald — was unearthed last week.

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports Tarrant County workers, who were continuing a years-long effort to make electronic copies of old case files and destroy their paper counterparts, found the file and told Tarrant County District Clerk Tom Wilder.

“I thought it was a great piece

of history,” said Wilder, who said the case belongs in the “famous files” category to ensure the paper version isn’t destroyed. “We don’t want to destroy a historical case.”

Dozens of other famous files are being preserved, including the Cullen Davis trials in which he was prosecuted for the slaying of his estranged wife’s daughter and in a murder-for-hire scheme in the 1970s; and the Koslow trial, where Kristi Ann Koslow and friends Brian Dennis Salter and Jeffrey Dillingham were convicted of killing her stepmother, Caren, and injuring her father, Jack.

Now the case file of Belli — who also represented superstars such as Zsa Zsa Gabor, Muhammad Ali, the Rolling Stones and Mae West — will join other files at the Tarrant County’s Family Law

Building.

The files are put in plastic bags to protect them from potential water damage if the sprinkler system goes off and are stored on shelves or in boxes for safekeeping.

“We would have the image file of this in any event, but I don’t want to destroy the paper,” Wilder said.

Wilder said he was fascinated by the two files from 1966 in which attorneys encouraged the Texas State Bar to prevent Belli from representing Ruby, who gunned down Oswald on live television after he was arrested for killing President John F. Kennedy.

Belli tried to prove that Ruby was legally insane when he shot Oswald in Dallas more than 50 years ago. But Ruby was found guilty of murdering Oswald and

sentenced to die.

Belli “exploded in rage when he heard the verdict and publicly accused Dallas of being ‘a sick, sick, sick city’ and said Ruby, a Jew, had been the victim of discrimination,” according to a New York Times article about Belli’s death.

Ruby’s sentence and verdict were overturned when judges ruled that a change of venue request should have been granted.

He was preparing for a new trial when he became ill and died.

The Tarrant County files include a letter that Belli, based in San Francisco, sent to 96th District Judge Fisher T. Denny on June 10, 1966.

The letter stated in part, “I have no intention of being bound by (attorneys’) advice or suggestions.

Knowing the facts, the State Bar

of Texas may act as it is advised, and I say this respectfully.”

Also in the file are letters from attorneys throughout the state asking the Texas Bar to sanction Belli.

“Eventually the cases were dismissed,” Wilder said. “Both files have 99 pages and most are complaints about Belli’s conduct.

“Who would want to throw away (this file)?” Wilder asked.

“I’m just not doing it.”

Tarrant County employees have been working to input more than 3 million paper case files into an electronic system for years, with the hope of preserving records and freeing up space where old paper files are stored.

Officials have said they’d like to put images of files dating back 100 years into the system.

Dangers of black-market cosmetic work

By DAVID WARREN ASSOCIATED PRESS

DALLAS — The recent death of a Dallas woman who had received injections at a salon to expand the size of her buttocks follows other cosmetic-related deaths in Texas and around the country that authorities say were caused by people who either weren’t licensed or who injected substances not approved by federal regulators.

The family of Wykesha Reid, 34, says she died after visiting the salon on Feb. 18, her fourth time for a cosmetic procedure. What happened in the hours after the final injection remains unclear, but police responding to a 911 call found her body the next morning at the business.

Dallas police have charged two salon workers for not being licensed for the injection procedure.

“Everybody else got big booties,” Reid’s mother, Patricia Kelley, told The Dallas Morning News. “So she wanted a big booty.”

Photo by Ildefonso Ortiz/The McAllen Monitor | AP file

In this Nov. 26, 2013, file photo, Elva Navarro faces a justice of the peace at the Hidalgo County Jail in Edinburg, Texas.

Liquid silicone is not approved for many uses by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, so doctors often won’t perform buttocks injections. Other legal procedures can be pricey, so those seeking to modify their bodies often seek out cheaper ways to obtain a desired shape. While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says tallies are not kept on complaints stemming from black-mar-

ket injections, deaths from the procedures have been reported in recent years in California, Georgia, Florida, Pennsylvania, New York and elsewhere.

A notorious case in Philadelphia ended earlier this month with the murder conviction of a madamturned-faux cosmetic surgeon. Prosecutors in the case said strippers, transgender women and “regular girls” who sought injec-

tions at “pumping parties” and airport hotels were young and vulnerable. And in December, a South Texas woman was sentenced to three years in prison for the death of a customer injected with liquid silicone at the woman’s spa. Prosecutors say Elva Navarro admitted she didn’t tell the victim that similar injections had caused health complications for other customers.

“It is not often that someone comes forward to file a complaint with the Medical Board after undergoing those procedures,” Texas Medical Board spokesman Jarrett Schneider said. “When someone is engaging in the unlicensed practice of medicine we can issue a ceaseand-desist order against them if we have enough information and evidence.

However, it is ultimately a criminal matter before law enforcement.”

Dallas police Lt. Thomas Castro said Reid’s death is being investigated as an unexplained death, and investigators are awaiting

toxicology results from a medical examiner. He declined to comment on the substance that was allegedly injected, and said that investigators are searching for the two workers who treated her as well as at least one other person who also may have received illegal cosmetic work at the spa.

“This was new to us in Dallas. We don’t know how long this stuff has been going on,” Castro said.

Women who were customers of the Dallas salon where Reid was found dead told the newspaper they received hydrogel injections that were sealed with Super Glue. Doses were sold for $300 or $500.

Doctors performed more than 3,700 legal buttock lifts and implants in 2012, generating more than $17 million, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. The average fee for a legal buttocks implant is $4,670, the organization said. So customers often find cheaper rates offered by unlicensed practitioners who tout — some-

times falsely — the safety of their work.

Federal prosecutors say Navarro provided “liquid silicone to women to effect (sic) the structure and function of their bodies” to at least 30 women. The Hidalgo resident falsely told them she was trained and certified to provide the injections, authorities said.

In addition to the customer who died in October 2013, another client became sick and was hospitalized in 2012.

“My client is not the only one accused of doing this in South Texas,” Terry Canales, Navarro’s attorney, said last summer when his client entered a guilty plea. Canales did not return a phone message Monday asking him to elaborate.

A message left with Reid’s daughter, Keaira Reid, was not returned, but she told the Morning News that it’s the apparent lack of care for her mom that troubles her the most.

“I’m very mad because anybody could have called 911,” she said.

PAGE 4A

Zopinion

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2015

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR SEND YOUR SIGNED LETTER TO EDITORIAL@LMTONLINE.COM

EDITORIAL

OTHER VIEWS

No Confederate flag on Texas license plates FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM

The fight over the Confederate battle flag and whether it can be included on a Texas specialty license plate has made its way to the U.S. Supreme Court, which heard arguments in the case Monday.

The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, finding the symbol offensive to others, denied an application by the state division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans to place its logo containing the flag on a specialty plate.

A three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court

of Appeals said the state should not discriminate against the expression of the group’s point of view, a free speech right.

The high court should reject that argument.

Texas should have the right to determine what goes on a state-issued license plate bearing its name. Otherwise, practically any image or language must be allowed.

As the Star-Telegram Editorial Board has previously stated, if the Supreme Court says Texas can’t keep the Confederate flag off its license plates, the state should get out of the specialty plate business.

COLUMN EDITORIAL

Way out in right field THE WASHINGTON POST

Let’s see, why does this sound familiar? A charismatic constitutional scholar, with an inspiring life story, still in his first Senate term, promising a dramatic change of direction. … But wait: it’s 2015, and the candidate, officially as of Monday, is Sen. Ted Cruz.

Here’s one way to tell Mr. Cruz, R-Texas, from the winning constitutional scholar of 2008: Sen. Barack Obama promised to unite the country. Mr. Cruz — not so much. In fact, the most notable characteristic of Mr. Cruz’s brief time in elected politics has been his aversion to values that are essential to democracy’s functioning: practicality, modesty and compromise.

The platform he described in his announcement speech Monday is about what you’d expect from a candidate whom the number-crunchers at fivethirtyeight.com calculate is right of Barry Goldwater, more conservative than any serious GOP presidential hopeful in 2012 or than the other potential candidates in this election. He would end Obamacare, establish a flat tax, abolish the Internal Revenue Service and put more resources into securing the border. He promised to repeal "every word of Common Core," even though there is little to repeal: The federal government neither wrote nor required adoption of the voluntary state education standards. It’s unclear how the Republican Party will position itself on same-sex marriage next year, but Mr. Cruz has no doubt that the next president must "uphold the sacrament of

marriage." His words on foreign affairs were mostly a critique of President Obama’s Iran policy. In a libertarian turn, Mr. Cruz also promised to reduce government seizure of emails and other electronic records.

Many of his fellow candidates will agree on many of these points. Mr. Cruz’s unique contribution — if one can call it that — has been his confrontational, ideology-driven style and tactics, marked by a refusal to compromise even when that leads to national dysfunction and embarrassment. He led Republicans to a quixotic, ineffective and costly government shutdown in 2013, Congress’ nadir since he took office.

It has been more than a decade since Mr. Obama derided "the pundits" who "like to slice and dice our country into red states and blue states." If those divisions have proven less mutable than he predicted, the answer is not to give up on progress: it is to look for leaders who understand that progress and principle can go hand in hand, and who have the pragmatic skills to make that happen. Candidate Cruz instead suggested he will make his consequences-be-damned attitude a selling point. His campaign logo consists of stars and stripes shaped into a flame. "Imagine millions of courageous conservatives, all across America, rising up together to say in unison, ‘We demand our liberty,’ "he exhorted his audience on Monday. In a country that needs to take its political disagreements down a notch, Mr. Cruz’s argument is that conservatives need to crank their volume up.

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 namecalling 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.

Belgian leader in blackface

By ISHAAN THAROOR THE WASHINGTON POST

WASHINGTON — Recently Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders posted an image online of himself dressed in blackface.

He was taking part in a rally in Brussels organized

by Les Noirauds, a society founded in 1876 under patronage of the Belgian monarchy that raises funds for children’s charities. The society distinguishes itself by dressing up as supposed "African noblemen" — blackening their faces while wearing anachronistic top hats and white ruffs.

Reynders described the tradition as a bit of "joy and good humor."

But many are not impressed.

"Shame on you," wrote Peter Bouckaert, a Belgian national and leading researcher at Human Rights Watch, in a tweet that included an image of Reynders in blackface.

"This man presents an image of our nation abroad," said Wouter Van Bellingen, head of the Minorities Forum, a rights group in Belgium. "This in unacceptable."

In the United States, of course, blackface carries a deeply racist legacy of slav-

ery, segregation and discrimination toward African-Americans.

That echoes less in Europe, though critics argue that traditions of blackface there — including the annual Dutch practice of dressing up as Zwarte Piet, a black-faced trickster — come from a similar context.

Les Noirauds were formed near the height of Europe’s scramble for Africa. When not invading territories and planting their flags, various European colonial powers went about duping and co-opting African notables into subservience.

Belgium has a particularly noxious history of imperialism in Africa. In 1877, Belgium’s King Leopold II began investing and exploring in what’s now the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Congo Free State that emerged in the mid-1880s was anything but: The whole territory was a direct property of the Belgian monarch, whose colonial agents turned it into a vast, hideous labor camp. By some accounts, the population of the colony declined under Leopold’s watch from 20 million to 8 million — a direct consequence of Belgian greed and savagery.

COLUMN

I’m an expert crawfish eater Of course, I knew southwestern Louisiana was low and flat when we moved here a couple of years ago.

What I didn’t realize was that with the flat land, clayish soil and the significant annual rainfall numbers, I would in essence be running a crawfish farm (it’ll always be pronounced that way to me no matter how Daniel Webster’s book says to spell it or pronounce it).

After our first little rain, those dirt “chimneys” began to pop up in the backyard. Thankfully, they don’t seem to appear with any regularity or large numbers in the front yard. I’m sure Life Mate would find ways to eradicate them if that were the case. Crawfish chimneys don’t do anything for your landscaping, especially when the same rains that produce the chimneys are the impetus for those blossoms that Life Mate coos at and cultivates to tickle the spring and summer fancy of the traffic on our street.

While the backyard mud village doesn’t seem to be a threat to the ability of the gentleman who mows our

yard, it probably doesn’t help his attitude any when he sees a plethora of the nefarious mudbug chimneys.

Just as long as he doesn’t charge me a higher rate over it or my “live and let live” attitude toward the critters could change.

My view of crawfish has been generally accepting. As a mere boy I used a “fishing” apparatus consisting of a piece of string about 18-24 inches long with a small piece of raw bacon tied on one end to hunt crawfish. I’d feed the line into the chimney/crawdad hole and leave it for a few seconds, after which I usually got a “bite.”

However, it’s not like a “bite” from a fish in a pond.

You don’t necessarily feel it unless the crawfish is sizable and decides to, uh, ahem, “take home the bacon,” in order to enjoy it as a meal. You patiently wait until you think maybe a crawfish has begun to chow

down, then you gently draw the line out and, voila!, there’s a crawfish.

As a youngster, my mother assured me the fan-tailed, forward-thrust-clawed, prehistoric-appearing amphibian was “too nasty” to eat.

But, as a young man out in the world of service clubs trying events to raise money to finance public service activities, those groups found a crawfish boil was a popular fund-raiser. So, I learned to eat crawfish tails.

Plus, the ones out of a backyard hole weren’t really the eating variety so I learned that the “boil” offerings were pond-raised and much “cleaner.”

A series of newspaper publishing moves produced no areas with crawfish yens, so I went a few years without until I saw it done on a grand scale.

In Jasper, Darrell Flurry is a well-known and respected businessman and a successful logger who has done exceptionally well. He believes in thanking the community that provides him that opportunity. For years, his “thank you party” was a major event, attended by

hundreds.

Darrell hired a firm that specialized in such events and they’d boil thousands of crawfish for his annual event.

It was also a freeloader’s heaven, which the genial logger tolerated as he showed his appreciation to those who really helped his business.

It was there that I learned to be an “expert” eater of crawfish. I learned the art of breaking the tail and head apart and quickly peeling the tail enough to suck the meat out, chew it and move on to the next one. Seeing how many trays of shells/hulls you can return after polishing off the crawfish is the “mark of a man” in that realm. However, I miss the mark on one count: sucking whatever out of the crawfish head. I’m a “tail” guy all the way.

I would never have won a “championship” in crawfish eating.

Willis Webb is a retired community newspaper editorpublisher of more than 50 years experience. He can be reached by email at wwebb1937@att.net.

CLASSIC DOONESBURY | GARRY TRUDEAU

Mexico

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2015

THE ZAPATA TIMES 5A

Baja farmworkers strike for better conditions

By OMAR MILLAN ASSOCIATED PRESS

SAN QUINTIN, Mexico — Workers at large, exportoriented farms in the Mexican border state of Baja California have led a week of violent protests over low pay, abuses and poor conditions, threatening a harvest that supplies millions of dollars worth of tomatoes, strawberries and other crops to the United States.

Burning tires and tossing rocks at vehicles, hundreds of farmworkers have blocked Baja’s main northsouth highway on and off, and as many as 50,000 are believed to be on strike statewide as of Tuesday.

Baja California Gov. Francisco Vega said over the weekend that the harvest — and thousands of jobs — were at risk. “If the fields continue without a workforce, the harvests will be lost and that will affect everyone who depends on this part of the economy,” his office said in a press statement.

Many of the workers are migrants from southern Mexican states like Guerrero and Oaxaca who toil at huge hot-house farms just south of Ensenada. Their demands — health care, overtime pay, days off, an end to abuse by field bosses and more pay than the $8 many earn for a full day of stoop-labor — echo those of farmworkers 40 years ago in the United States.

“We all saw it as something normal for them (farm owners) to suspend people from work for three or four days, or fire them without severance for de-

manding respect for our rights, for demanding overtime or days off,” said Jose Ignacio Garcia, a 19-yearold who has worked the fields in Baja since he was 12 and is expecting his first child in August. “We got used to working more than 10 hours a day for 100 pesos ($7), but that doesn’t even buy the minimum necessities you need to live, to support a family.”

Demonstrations have exploded into rock-throwing scuffles with riot police and the arrest of about 200 protesters. Many businesses in the area have closed, and the highway blockades prompted the U.S. consulate in Tijuana to advise travelers — who include many U.S. citizens with retirement or vacation homes on the peninsula — to exercise caution.

Baja California’s state government has used police armored vehicles to break up road blockades and warned “that there will be no tolerance for

Photo by Omar Millan | AP

In this March 18 photo, day laborers from the Valle de San Quintin protest on the side of the main highway near the communal land "Gustavo Diaz Ordaz," in the municipality of Ensenada, south of Tijuana in Baja California, Mexico. those who use demonstrations to act outside the law.”

Mexico’s National Human Rights Commission said Tuesday it has started an investigation into possible human rights violations, after protesters complained of police abuse and detentions.

The growers’ association representing farms that

dominate the coastal valleys around San Quintin declined to respond to requests for comment, but some companies have defended their practices and appealed for calm.

“We respect everyone’s right to demonstrate peacefully ... but we condemn the violence and looting,” the commercial farm BerryMex, a branch of the U.S.

Reiter Affiliated Companies, said in a statement.

While the company didn’t specifically say what it pays employees, it did say they get health insurance, overtime and maternity leave, saying “our main objective continues to be the wellbeing of our employees.”

But of those who live in the area, about 110 miles (180 kilometers) south of Tijuana, 64 percent lack adequate housing and access to water, power and sanitation; 47 percent lack health care services and 59 percent of children between 15 and 17 are not in school, according to Mexico’s National Institute of Statistics and Geography.

Many are functionally illiterate.

Economist Alejandro Diaz Bautista noted the area lacks elemental services: water, jobs, hospitals, cultural and school facilities. Many farmworkers are from indigenous communities and speak limited

Spanish.

“The economic and social problems in San Quintin have to do with social inequality,” Diaz Bautista said.

Workers say the frustration over grindingly low pay is mingled with stultifying labor and petty abuse. Protesters say they want wages raised to about $20 a day, an end to arbitrary firings and access to health care, water and breaks.

Celina Sierra, 27, who has worked in the fields since she was 14, supports her two children and her mother on her paycheck.

“We get up at 4 in the morning to wait for the truck to take us to the fields,” Sierra said. “We get to the fields at 6:30 even though we’re not supposed to start work till 7 ... They never pay overtime, they tell us we have to finish a harvest and work until four or five o’clock in the afternoon, bent over and sometimes without water.”

Nation

6A THE ZAPATA TIMES

Photo by Daniel Mears/The Detroit News | AP

Detroit Police Chief James Craig and other law enforcement have a short briefing to media as law enforcement investigates in Detroit where the bodies of two children were found in a freezer, Tuesday.

Kids found in freezer

By COREY WILLIAMS ASSOCIATED PRESS

DETROIT — A Detroit mother was arrested Tuesday after the frozen bodies of a boy and girl were found in a deep freezer in the family’s home, police said.

Court officers found the children’s bodies while carrying out an eviction order at the 3-bedroom home in the apartment complex just east of downtown. An autopsy will determine how they died.

Police initially reported a woman’s body was found in the freezer, but later said it was actually the bodies of the two children in a plastic bag.

The boy was about 11 and the girl was 14, said police Chief James Craig who called it a “terrible find.”

The woman was not in the apartment when the court officers or police arrived. “One of the community members here ... approached our officers and

advised that they knew where the parent was located,” Craig said.

The children’s mother was found in a nearby apartment and questioned.

She was arrested later Tuesday. Her name has not been released.

Two of the woman’s other children, ages 11 and 17, were found at a neighbor’s home and placed in protective custody.

Neighbor and friend Tori Childs said she hadn’t seen the two dead children in about a year.

“I haven’t seen them since they were playing with my step-kids,” Childs said.

Childs’ mother, Carrie McDonald, also lives in the low-income housing complex. McDonald said she spoke by phone Tuesday morning with the 36-yearold woman.

“She told me this morning, ‘Ms. Carrie, if you don’t never see me again just know that I love you,”’ McDonald said. “I love her.

The mother is a beautiful

person. She was just going through some things.”

The woman’s four children were not in Detroit schools. Friends said she was home-schooling them.

“She took her kids out of school because she thought something was going to happen to them,” McDonald said.

The woman has lived in the complex at least 10 years. She was unemployed, was having money troubles and had gotten behind on her rent. Friends knew about the impending eviction.

“She was really behind, but she didn’t have it,” Childs said, referring to money to pay the rent.

Court records show a judgment filed last month against the woman for $2,206 owed to the complex.

Investigators were preparing information to present to the Wayne County prosecutor’s office for charges. The Associated Press was unable Tuesday to determine if she has an attorney.

9K Mainers lose food stamps

By ALANNA DURKIN ASSOCIATED PRESS

AUGUSTA, Maine — More than 9,000 Maine residents have been removed from the state’s food stamp program since Republican Gov. Paul LePage’s administration began enforcing work and volunteer requirements late last year, officials said.

The number of people that have been dropped from the program has exceeded even the administration’s expectations.

About 12,000 adults who aren’t disabled and don’t have children were in the program before Jan. 1.

That number has dropped to 2,680 this month, David Sorensen, spokesman for the Department of Health and Services, told The Associated Press.

Advocates for the poor say there aren’t enough jobs and volunteer positions available to recipients, especially in rural areas, forcing them to lose their benefits and turn instead to their local food banks.

“Northern Washington County really has never come out of the recession, so there aren’t economic opportunities that there might be in other parts of the state,” said Barbara

Chatterton, a case manager at the Down East Aids Network in Machias who says many of her current and former clients have been impacted by the change.

Since October, healthy adults without children have been required to work at least 20 hours a week, volunteer or participate in a work-training program to continue receiving benefits in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program after three months. It’s the result of the administration’s decision to no longer seek a waiver for the federal requirement, which it had used since 2008.

Murder case dismissed

By JACQUES BILLEAUD ASSOCIATED PRESS

PHOENIX — An Arizona woman who spent 22 years on death row in her son’s killing before her conviction was thrown out said Tuesday she doesn’t know why the 4-year-old was murdered and had nothing to do with his death, despite allegations from prosecutors.

Debra Milke spoke at a news conference a day after her case was dismissed in the 1989 killing of her son Christopher, who thought he was going to see Santa Claus when he was taken to the desert and shot by two men who are now in prison for his death.

Milke steadfastly denied being involved in the shooting and responded quickly when told that prosecutors still think she had a part in it.

“Based on what?” she asked.

It was the first time Milke has spoken publicly at length since a federal appeals court overturned her conviction two years ago.

The appellate court found prosecutors failed to disclose a history of misconduct by the case’s lead investigator, Phoenix police Detective Armando Saldate.

The misconduct included multiple court rulings in other cases that Saldate either lied under oath or violated suspects’ rights during interrogations.

Photo by Matt York | AP

Debra Milke speaks as Attorney Lori Voepel listens, Tuesday, in Phoenix. Her case was dismissed earlier this week.

The case rested largely on Milke’s purported confession to Saldate, who didn’t record the interrogation. Milke, now 51, has disputed that she confessed.

A voice message left for the now-retired Saldate wasn’t immediately returned Tuesday.

Prosecutors sought to retry Milke, but the state’s highest court rejected that bid last week, leading to the case’s dismissal.

Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery said he’s confident his office could have won another conviction regardless of any questions about Saldate’s credibility. He said numerous other witnesses would have testified about incriminating comments made by Milke at the time.

“I have seen nothing in reviewing the entire trial

transcript or anything that has been brought up since that would cause me to question the decision of jury when she was first convicted,” Montgomery said.

Authorities say Milke’s motive was that she didn’t want the child anymore.

Milke said Tuesday she doesn’t know the reason for her son’s killing “because there wasn’t a proper investigation.”

The two men who led the boy to his death were convicted of murder but refused to testify against Milke. One of the men was Milke’s roommate.

At the news conference, Milke’s voice cracked with emotion as she read a statement saying she suffered two tragedies — the death of her child and the detective’s false claim that she confessed to killing the boy.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2015

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2015

Zentertainment

PAGE 7A

‘X-files’ Jolie writes she had ovaries removed to return to FOX

By LENNY BERNSTEIN

THE WASHINGTON POST

ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW YORK — Agents Mulder and Scully are making their television return.

Fox announced Tuesday that it will air a six-episode run of new episodes of “The X-Files” that will begin this summer. Stars David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson will reprise their roles as FBI agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully.

The show’s creator, Chris Carter, said that he considers the show’s absence like a “13-year commercial break.” Carter said that “the good news is the world has only gotten that much stranger.”

“The X-Files” premiered on Fox in September 1993 and ran for nine seasons.

Actress Angelina Jolie has ignited another worldwide conversation about cancer, revealing in the New York Times on Tuesday that she had undergone surgery, at age 39, to remove her ovaries and Fallopian tubes to prevent ovarian cancer. As she did 22 months ago, when she announced that she had had bilateral mastectomies to prevent breast cancer, Jolie cited her elevated risk of contracting the disease, the possible consequences and her desire to inform women of their options.

Jolie’s op-ed won praise from oncologists and health experts for bringing a number of sensitive issues into the public discussion, but it also may have raised questions about the complex decisionmaking process faced by women at risk for ovarian cancer.

Here is some information that may help you evaluate the risk: — How common is ovarian cancer?

About 21,000 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer this year, according to Richard Wender, chief cancer control officer at the American Cancer Society, and

Photo by Michael Sohn | AP file

In this Nov. 27, 2014 file photo, director Angelina Jolie poses for photographers during a photo call for her film "Unbroken" in Berlin, Germany.

14,000 will die during that period.

In the general population, one woman in 80 will develop ovarian cancer, said Jamie Bakkum-Gamez, a gynecologic oncologist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. The length of survival depends heavily on when the cancer is detected.

— But Jolie is at much higher risk?

Yes. She carries a mutation of the BRCA1 gene most common in Eastern European Jews that gives

her an 87 percent chance of developing breast cancer and a 50 percent chance of developing ovarian cancer, according to her article.

Plus she has a long history of women in her family dying of cancer, including her mother, who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at age 49. Women who carry a mutation of the BRCA2 also are at higher risk.

It’s believed that less than 1 percent of American women carry the BRCA gene, Wender said,

but there have been no good population studies in the United States.

— But Jolie doesn’t have cancer. Why did she have her ovaries removed?

The sad reality is that there is no reliable screening for ovarian cancer, experts say. Most ovarian cancers are discovered in the later stages of the tumor’s progress, often after they have metastisized to other parts of the body, making treatment very difficult. Given her elevated risk of developing the disease, a risk benefit analysis clearly favors the surgery.

— So is this some kind of special analysis available only to the wealthy and famous?

No. This is the current standard of care. "One of the central messages here," Wender said, "is that she followed the best medical advice. This is the same recommendation that would be given to any BRCA1 carrier who still has her ovaries. We have no good way to detect ovarian cancer."

— What if she were younger or still wanted to have children?

Women facing this risk are encouraged to have children as soon as possible, said Marleen Meyers, a medical oncologist.

‘The Late Late Show’ has amiable debut

By ALESSANDRA STANLEY NEW YORK TIMES

"Can’t act. Slightly bald.

Also dances."

That’s what a studio executive supposedly wrote about Fred Astaire after an early screen test. And even if apocryphal, that famous line was something to keep in mind while watching James Corden’s debut on Monday as the new host of "The Late Late Show" on CBS. Sometimes star power isn’t obvious.

Corden’s was not evident even after a monologue, an elaborately produced video with cameos

by Jay Leno, Shia LaBeouf, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Meryl Streep; an interview with Mila Kunis; and an antic bit alongside Tom Hanks.

Corden, a portly British performer, was energetic, amiable and cheerfully self-assured, but not particularly special. So it’s still not clear why CBS chose him to replace Craig Ferguson - and, soon enough, to follow Stephen Colbert’s show, which will replace David Letterman’s this fall.

Most of Monday night’s show was devoted to addressing that question, not by providing an answer

Photo by Monty Brinton/CBS | Washington Post

"The Late Late Show" host James Corden (left) chats Monday night with his first guests, Tom Hanks and Mila Kunis. but by making a pre-emptive joke about it.

The star-studded video skit posited that CBS had chosen its new host in a

Willy Wonka-esque lottery, slipping the winning ticket for the job inside a chocolate bar. Comedians like

Chris Rock and Joel McHale unwrap bars and pretend to be crestfallen to find no ticket. The piece also alluded to complaints that networks pick only white males for these kinds of jobs: Chelsea Handler, whose late-night talk show on E! ended last year and who would have been a likely candidate, buys the golden ticket-holding candy bar at a newsstand but then drops it as she goes to put it in her purse Corden comes along and scoops it up.

In his opening monologue, Corden made fun of his obscurity. "I know what

you’re thinking," he told the audience. “‘Oh look: Andy Richter’s got his own show.’" He does look a little like Richter, and like Richter, who is Conan O’Brien’s talk show sidekick, Corden seems suited to playing second fiddle.

His conversations with Kunis and Hanks were pleasant, but not particularly witty or outré. He did challenge Kunis for being coy about whether she is married to Ashton Kutcher, the father of her child; he wouldn’t accept her "maybe" as an answer and grabbed her hand to show a ring.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2015

ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM

Sports&Outdoors NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE: DALLAS COWBOYS

NCAA BASKETBALL

On the defensive Photo by Timothy D. Easley | AP

Kentucky’s Willie Cauley-Stein and the top-ranked Wildcats have won all 36 games this season as they enter the Sweet 16.

UK still unbeaten Wildcats may be their own toughest opponent as they enter Sweet 16

By GARY B. GRAVES ASSOCIATED PRESS

File photo by Chuck Burton | AP

Troubled pass rusher Greg Hardy, pictured, has found his way to Dallas as Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett defended the addition on Tuesday.

Garrett defends addition of DE Greg Hardy

By DAVID MOORE MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE

Jason Garrett constantly talks about the right kind of guy.

It’s a phrase he won’t use about Greg Hardy. Instead, the Cowboys head coach talks about the defensive end becoming the right kind of guy.

Garrett made his first public comments about the signing of Hardy on Monday afternoon from the NFL Annual Meeting in Scottsdale, Ariz. Garrett addressed whether it was hypocritical of him to sign Hardy given his emphasis on character. He spoke of the club’s obligation to make this work, Hardy’s

need to be accountable and a contract Garrett believes will allow this to happen.

"First off, we understand the seriousness of domestic violence," Garrett said. "We obviously aren’t for domestic violence, so let’s get that out at the start.

"If we didn’t believe that Greg Hardy could become the right kind of guy we would not have signed him. We have a lot of confidence in the environment that we create for our players to bring the best out in them.

"Now, it’s on us to do our jobs to create the environment to bring the best out in him as a player on the field and as a person

off the field. We believe based on all the research we’ve done, all the due diligence we’ve done that he can become the right kind of guy for our team.

"It is also Greg Hardy’s responsibility."

Garrett said the Cowboys organization will hold Hardy accountable.

"We made decisions with players in the past who we also believe can become the right kind of guy," Garrett said. "In some cases, we’ve had real success stories because of the environment we created and how the player responded. In other cases, we made a decision to bring someone in believing he’d become the right kind of

guy and it turned out he wasn’t able to do that and we moved on. We move on as quickly as we can.

"If you think about the contract we structured with Greg Hardy, there is great freedom for us to make the right decision for our football team at any time if we don’t feel like he’s becoming the right kind of guy. We can hold him accountable that way."

The bottom line: Hardy agreed to a one-year, incentive-laced contract that can escalate up to $13.1 million based on the number of games he plays and sacks he accrues. None of the payout is guaranteed and it’s improbable he’ll come close to the maximum.

NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE: CLEVELAND BROWNS

Manziel coming back in April ASSOCIATED PRESS

PHOENIX — Browns coach Mike Pettine expects quarterback Johnny Manziel to take part in the team’s practices next month after leaving rehab.

Pettine said the team has received “good” feedback about Manziel, who entered a treatment facility on Jan. 28 for an undisclosed problem. A first-round draft pick in 2014, the 2012 Heisman Trophy winner from Texas A&M backed up Brian Hoyer before playing poorly in two starts. Following the season, Manziel acknowledged he should have taken his job more seriously.

Pettine does not know when Manziel will be discharged from rehab, but he expects the young QB to return to football immediately. The Browns will work out on April 20.

“When he is back, it will be full speed ahead for him,” Pettine said. “I think he’s very anxious at this point.”

Pettine emphasized Manziel’s personal issues outweigh anything related to his profession.

“Football, it’s a back seat,” Pettine said. “For his football life to get it where

File photo by Bob Leverone | AP

Cleveland quarterback Johnny Manziel will return to football-related activities after being in a rehab facility this offseason. it needs to be, he needs to get the personal life where it needs to be. ... This takes precedence, so however long of time he needs, the football will be there when he gets out.”

While at the owners’ meetings, the Browns have had discussions with HBO about being featured on “Hard Knocks,” the cable network’s popular reality series that gives viewers and inside look at an NFL team during training camp.

Pettine knows all about “Hard Knocks” from when he was an assistant coach with the New York Jets.

Pettine said Manziel’s situation is a factor in the Browns’ hesitancy to be on

the program.

“When we decided not to volunteer for ’Hard Knocks,’ we discussed everything that was involved with it.

That (Manziel) was certainly something we needed to consider. I wouldn’t say (Manziel) loomed large. You just weigh everything in.

Because being a part of ’Hard Knocks,’ knowing they’re going to look to cover the team’s biggest, current story lines — it’s obvious that he would be a point of attention.”

From his experience, “Hard Knocks” can be an unnecessary diversion for players and coaches.

“It’s hard to be yourself. I know (Arizona Cardinals

coach) Bruce Arians spoke to it a year ago. If you have to change, if you have to be different, then it’s a distraction. If you’re not thinking about your job and you’re thinking about something else, for even an instant, then it’s a distraction.

“I saw that as a negative, when guys are different, guys that can’t handle, they act different, play to the camera. I see that as a potential negative. And the positives are maybe the same thing. Guys know there’s a camera around and something they do can wind up on the show.”

NOTICE TO ALL PERSONS HAVING CLAIMS AGAINST THE ESTATE OF ELUTERIO MORALES A/K/A TERRY MORALES Notice is hereby given that Original Letters of Administration for the estate of Eluterio Morales a/k/a Terry Morales, decedent, were issued to Janie Garza Morales a/k/a Janie Morales on February 27, 2015, in Cause No. 8784, pending in the 49th Judicial District Court of Zapata County, Texas.

Any claims should be mailed to: Janie Garza Morales c/o Adolfo Campero, Jr. Campero & Associates, P.C. 315 Calle Del Norte, Suite 207 Laredo, Texas 78041 All persons having claims against this Estate are required to present them within the time and manner prescribed by law.

L-64

LEXINGTON — Good teams have tried various ways to beat Kentucky.

The game plans have included getting physical with them, trying to force the unbeaten Wildcats to take jump shots, doubleteaming post players, playing up-tempo so Kentucky can’t set its defense, pressing them.

These tactics and others have worked to some extent in box scores, just not on the scoreboard.

No matter who Kentucky plays or how well they play, the consensus seems to be if the Wildcats play to their potential, they won’t lose.

That makes Kentucky’s toughest opponent, well, Kentucky.

Fifth-seeded West Virginia might be Kentucky’s stiffest challenge so far, with the Mountaineers expected to try and use their defensive pressure and physicality to derail the Wildcats (36-0) in Thursday night’s NCAA Tournament regional semifinal in Cleveland.

One of the burning questions in college basketball this season is how to beat Kentucky.

The answer seems to rest with the Wildcats. For Kentucky to lose with its length, depth and experience, it feels like each player in John Calipari’s ninedeep rotation needs to have an off night.

It’s possible, just seems unlikely it’ll happen in the same game.

“The good news is there’s enough guys that, if

two or three aren’t playing well, we can still survive,” the Kentucky coach said after watching his team shoot just 37 percent and get out-rebounded 45-38 by Cincinnati, and still advance to the Sweet 16 with a 64-51 win on Saturday.

Calipari isn’t just spewing coach speak, the stats back up his observation.

Eight of the nine players in the rotation are averaging between 5.8 and 11.1 points per game. Eight different players have been Kentucky’s leading scorer this season.

Even when a team has some in-game success against Kentucky, Calipari has enough talent to mix and match lineups until he finds a combination that works. Having “reinforcements,” as the coach calls them, has also succeeded in wearing down opponents.

“Every team always plays us with different strategies,” 6-11 freshman Karl-Anthony Towns said.

“Everyone has different stuff they do. We don’t get much time to scout and we just have to get into the groove while the game is going on. You just feel them out.”

Cincinnati tried to take the physical route, but the Wildcats’ height and length makes beating them up a difficult proposition.

Teams have also tried to show they’re not intimidated with a lot of chatter when the game starts, something very noticeable against Cincinnati and Arkansas.

If anyone beats Kentucky, they’ll need a major assist from the Wildcats.

MIÉRCOLES 24 DE MARZO DE 2015

Ribereña en Breve ATENCIÓN A VISITANTES Autoridades alrededor de la frontera tamaulipeca, y en todo el Estado, se encuentran realizando los preparativos para brindar información, atención y seguridad a los connacionales que cruzan por la frontera durante la semana mayor, anunció el Estado.

Durante estas fechas, el gobierno mexicano dará a los visitantes todas las facilidades desde que arriban a la franja fronteriza hasta sus lugares de origen a través del programa En Tu Camino Cuentas Con Nosotros, señala un comunicado de prensa.

Este esquema contempla ofrecer seguridad y multiplicar la vigilancia en carreteras, centrales de autobuses, así como designar Ministerios Públicos especializados en atención al inmigrante para que reciban en su caso quejas o denuncias.

La estrategia contempla paraderos seguros instalados por la Policía Federal en diferentes puntos carreteros y módulos de orientación e información del Instituto Nacional de Migrante.

SIMPOSIO ANUAL SOBRE TRÁFICO DE PERSONAS El jueves y viernes, 25 y 26 de marzo, se realizará el Simposio Anual sobre el Tráfico de Personas, del Colegio del Sur de Texas, en el Campus Pecan en McAllen.

Las personas que acudan al evento recibirán información y asesorías sobre el fenómeno que ha afectado el Valle del Río Grande y al norte de México.

La conferencia se realizará de 8 a.m. a 5:30 p.m. ambos días. El evento es gratuito y abierto al público.

El Campus Pecan está ubicado en 3201 de W. Pecan Blvd.

Para registrarse puede ingresar a http://academicaffairs.southtexascollege.edu/ womens_studies/conference/ register.html.

Zfrontera

PÁGINA 9A

TRÁFICO DE PERSONAS

Golpe a organismo POR CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ TIEMPO DE ZAPATA

Autoridades federales anunciaron el arresto de una mujer relacionada con una organización de tráfico de personas que operaba en el Condado de Zapata, muestran registros presentados ante una corte federal recientemente.

Una querella criminal con fecha del 13 de marzo, acusa a Lauda Zavala, de Zapata, de transportar inmigrantes indocumentados.

“Laura Zavala ha sido identificada por la unidad de inteligencia de Patrulla Fronteriza de Zapata como una facilitadora/organizadora/ exploradora que operaba para la organización de tráfico de drogas Zavala”, señala la querella criminal.

Autoridades alegan que la organización de contrabando Zavala afectaría considerablemente a las siguientes áreas del Condado de Zapata: Las Lajas, Las Tortolas, Clareno y Blanca Vela. Registros de la corte además identifican a Luis Daniel Mendoza-Mendoza, de Pearsall, como coacusado en el caso. Él también es acusado de los mismos cargos.

Autoridades federales también detuvieron a un joven identificado como el sobrino de Mendoza-Mendoza. En consecuencia fue procesado. Mendoza-Mendoza y Zavala continúan en custodia federal.

Patrulla Fronteriza detuvo al joven, a Mendoza-Mendoza y a Zavala, el 10 de marzo por conspiración para traficar a ocho personas indocumentadas.

Organización Zavala afectaría a Las Lajas, Las Tortolas, Clareno y Blanca Vela del Condado de Zapata.

Hechos Ese día más temprano, agentes observaron una Ford Explorer, color azul, y una Ford Explorer, color verde, viajando hacia el sur sobre U.S. 83., detrás de una Ford Expedition, color negra. Agentes dijeron que reconocieron la camioneta negra por varios encuentros previos en relación a casos de contrabando de personas en Zapata. “(Los agentes) fueron concientes de que la conductora de la camioneta Ford Expedition negra, era una mujer, previamente identificada como Laura Zavala, quien reside en Zapata, Texas”, señalan documentos.

En base a esas observaciones, decidieron acercarse a la Explorer verde. Agentes dijeron que vieron a varias personas dentro de la Explorer color verde mientras ésta giraba hacia el arcén de la carretera sin razón aparente.

Agentes dijeron que activaron las luces de emergencia de la unidad para realizar una inspección de inmigración a los ocupantes del vehículo. Ellos identificaron al conductor como un joven que declaró ser ciudadano de EU. Se determinó que los cinco pasajeros eran inmigrantes indocumentados, que cruzaron la frontera de manera ilegal,

de acuerdo con documentos de la corte.

Entonces los agentes sospecharon que los otros dos vehículos estaban relacionados con el caso.

Posteriormente agentes observaron la Explorer azul, al sur de donde la Explorer verde fue orillada.

Identificado como el conductor, Mendoza-Mendoza sostuvo que su vehículo se calentó y que necesitaba agua. Mendoza-Mendoza “temblaba visiblemente y sudaba en exceso”, de acuerdo con la querella.

Después de un breve interrogatorio, agentes determinaron que Mendoza-Mendoza era ciudadano mexicano, sin estatus legal para estar en el país. Entonces, agentes supuestamente encontraron dos radios negros de mano, de dos vías, en cada Explorer. Los cuatro radios eran de la misma marca y número de modelo, de acuerdo con documentos de la corte.

Las autoridades encontraron la Expedition color negro en los carriles de Siesta y Weslaco en Zapata. Zavala fue identificada como la conductora. Con información previa proporcionada sobre Zavala, los agentes acudieron a una propiedad Las Lajas, donde arrestaron a tres inmigrantes indocumentados en el área de la maleza cercana.

CARRERA CONTRA AUTISMO El 4 de abril tendrá lugar la Primera Carrera para Concientizar sobre el Autismo del Condado de Zapata. La carrera comenzará a las 8 a.m. en el Palacio de Justicia del Condado de Zapata. La preinscripción tiene un costo de 10 dólares en active.com o en la Cámara de Comercio del Condado de Zapata en 800 de North Hwy 83 Zapata. El costo de inscripción el día del evento será de 20 dólares.

Interrogatorio post arresto En un interrogatorio posterior al arresto, Mendoza-Mendoza dijo a los agentes que Zavala lo llamó para recoger inmigrantes en Zapata para transportarlos a Laredo.

Zavala le preguntó si había alguien que quisiera transportar inmigrantes. Entonces Mendoza-Mendoza contactó a su sobrino, el joven. Zavala supuestamente dio instrucciones a Mendoza-Mendoza y a su sobrino para dejar Laredo a las 5 a.m. el 10 de marzo.

Mientras estaban en camino, Mendoza-Mendoza supuestamente señaló que estaba en comunicación constante con su sobrino y con Zavala, utilizando los dos radios hasta que Patrulla Fronteriza los capturó en el intento de contrabando.

Zavala supuestamente dio instrucciones a Mendoza para detenerse y pretender que tenía problemas con el vehículo, muestran registros.

Zavala también acordó hablar con autoridades sin la presencia de un abogado. Ella señaló que recibió una llamada telefónica donde le dieron instrucciones para explorar para inmigrantes en una ubicación predeterminada en Zapata.

Al parecer, el interlocutor dispuso que los dos vehículos salieran de Laredo a Zapata para recoger al grupo. Registros de la corte identificaron a estas personas como Mendoza-Mendoza y su sobrino.

TAMAULIPAS

CONDADO

BELLEZA NATURAL

Dan cargos a dos por tráfico POR CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ TIEMPO DE ZAPATA

FESTIVAL INTERNACIONAL DE CINE A partir del 26 de marzo y hasta el 29 de marzo tendrá lugar el segundo Festival Internacional de Cine de Tamaulipas (FICTAM) 2015, en las ciudades de Nuevo Laredo, Reynosa, Victoria y Tampico, México.

Durante el festival se proyectarán los filmes mexicanos: “Los Hámsters” del director Gilberto González Penilla; “Llévate mis amores” dirigida por Arturo González Villaseñor; y se estrenará “González: Falsos profetas” bajo la dirección de Christian Díaz Pardo.

Las producciones, que conforman el FICTAM, se podrán apreciar en el teatro experimental del Centro Cultural Nuevo Laredo, del Parque Cultural Reynosa, del Espacio Cultural Metropolitano, en Tampico, y en la Cineteca del Centro Cultural Tamaulipas, en Ciudad Victoria.

Las proyecciones son gratuitas. Cada centro cultural ha establecido un horario de proyección, para más información puede ponerse en contacto con el centro de su interés.

Todos fueron llevados a la estación de Patrulla Fronteriza de Zapata.

Foto de cortesía | Gobierno de Tamaulipas

La Secretaría de Desarrollo Económico y Turismo (SEDET) de Tamaulipas, se encuentra participando en el Tianguis Turístico México 2015, que se realiza del 23 al 26 de marzo. Durante el evento se expondrán las bellezas naturales y ventajas competitivas de Tamaulipas a los asistentes a la muestra que se realiza en Acapulco, Guerrero, con el propósito de aumentar la afluencia del turismo a Tamaulipas. Con el periodo vacacional acercándose la secretara a señalado que se encuentra trabajando fuertemente por impulsar los segmentos turísticos de la entidad, como la pesca y caza deportiva, sus playas, su naturaleza, Pueblos Mágicos, entre otros.

Una detención de tráfico reciente en el Condado de Zapata dejó a dos sospechosos de contrabando de personas tras las rejas, de acuerdo con documentos de la corte.

Autoridades federales los identificaron como Roy Ramírez y Adolfo de la Cruz Jr., ambos de Laredo, señala una querella criminal presentada en su contra el 16 de marzo. Ellos fueron acusados de transportar a personas que entraron al país ilegalmente. Ambos se encuentran en custodia federal con una fianza de 75.000 dólares.

Sus arrestos ocurrieron el 12 marzo, por U.S. 83 y Mesa Salinas Road, al sur de Zapata. Ese día, un oficial del Departamento de Seguridad Pública citó a Ramírez por supuestamente conducir sobre un carril izquierdo sin paso y por no tener licencia para conducir, de acuerdo con documentos de la corte.

Entonces el oficial llamó a Patrulla Fronteriza para solicitar asistencia

al creer que algunos de los ocupantes estaban en el país de manera ilegal.

Al llegar, agentes determinaron que los cinco ocupantes no tenían estatus legal para estar en Estados Unidos y los tomaron en custodia. Ramírez y un pasajero identificado como de la Cruz también fueron detenidos y transportados a la Estación de Patrulla Fronteriza de Zapata.

Una vez ahí, Ramírez invocó sus derechos a un abogado. Pero de la Cruz eligió hablar con las autoridades acerca del incidente, muestran registros.

“De la Cruz señaló que (Ramírez) le pidió viajar con él a Zapata… para recoger a un grupo de (inmigrantes) indocumentados. De la Cruz continuó diciendo que Ramírez le pidió ayuda porque necesitaba un vehículo, que de la Cruz tenía”, señala la querella.

Registros añadieron que los hombres esperaban 200 dólares por persona transportada. Ellos dividirían el dinero. Ambos tenían instrucciones de conducir a los inmigrantes a Laredo.

COLUMNA

Autores cuentan prodigios de Huasteca Nota del Editor: Presentamos la segunda de dos partes de un relato acerca de la Huasteca.

POR RAUL SINCENCIO CHÁVEZ ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA

Las magnificencias deambulan por la Huasteca antigua. Unas y otras arrancan palabras de admiración, multiplicándose al paso del tiempo. Son testimonios que aportan matices a nuestra identidad nacional.

John Chilton retrata con su prosa a los pobladores originarios en años tempranos del virreinato.

“Son ellos altos de cuerpo […] con el cabello largo […] andaban […] con arco y flecha”, de modo que

“eran grandes flecheros”, indica el trotamundos y comerciante inglés.

Casi a la sazón, el visitador Gómez Nieto recoge los ancestrales nombres “de tres mujeres [lugareñas] y que se llamaba una Ceal y la otra Alive y la otra Toan”.

A inicios de la decimoséptima centuria, fray Antonio Vázquez de Espinosa anota: “El temple [del rumbo] es muy cálido y húmedo […] Hay por esta tierra innumerables venados que cazan los indios con flechas […] Toda la tierra [cerca del río Pánuco] es muy llana y amena, que parece un pedazo de paraíso”. Vázquez Espinosa sin duda escribe cautivado por lo que observa.

Noche Al transcurrir el Siglo XX los antiguos prodigios de aquella cultura aún maravillan. “Parecen haber sido maestros en el arte de la concha” y el caracol marino, puntualiza don Manuel Toussaint, legándonos “piezas esculpidas que se han supuesto eran pectorales […] Arte de paciencia, que […] revela un gran sentido de la decoración y del simbolismo religioso”. Presentan intrincadas figuras y “recibieron un mayor realce al realizarse el vaciado de ciertas porciones del pectoral”, agregan Nicola Kuehne Hayder y Joaquín A. Muñoz Mendoza.

Toussaint describe también la escultura llamada el “Adolescente

huasteco”: “Figura […] esbelta con las manos en disposición de llevar algo […]. En su cuerpo desnudo se realzan finos grabados”, al parecer “tatuajes […] Lo más notable es la cabeza del personaje: fuerte, enérgica, con profunda emoción de raza hasta en su cráneo deforme, pero con un gran sentimiento de la plástica […] Estamos ante una obra maestra”.

Dejemos que “La dama huasteca”, del premio Nobel Octavio Paz, cierre estas sencillas líneas: “Ronda por las orillas, desnuda, saludable, recién salida del baño, recién nacida de la noche.”.

(Con permiso del autor, según fuera publicado en La Razón, Tampico, Tamps)