The Zapata Times 4/9/2014

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MEXICO VIOLENCE

CRIME

20 die in clashes

Man accused of transport

Border state of Tamaulipas racked by violence ASSOCIATED PRESS

MEXICO CITY — A series of clashes among criminal gangs killed 20 people during a single day of violence in the northeastern Mexican state of Tamaulipas on the border with Texas, local authorities reported.

Thirteen men and one wom-

an were killed Sunday in the southern part of the state around the Gulf Coast port of Tampico and neighboring Ciudad Madero, with people shot on the street or at local businesses, according to a statement issued late that evening by Tamaulipas state’s coordinating group of state and federal law

enforcement.

The shootings were so widespread that some of the victims weren’t found or reported until Monday. The bodies of three men killed in the Sunday shootouts were found Monday on streets in Tampico.

And in the border city of Ciudad Mier, near Roma, Texas, the

bodies of three young men were found after they were shot to death Sunday near the banks of the Rio Grande, state officials reported Monday.

At least five other people have been killed in confrontations in the same region over

See CLASHES PAGE 8A

He allegedly expected $100 for smuggling seven immigrants

By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ

BUSINESS

THE ZAPATA TIMES

30 YEARS WITH IKE

Photo by Victor Strife | The Zapata Times

Ike Epstein, center, is joined by family and friends as he cuts the ribbon during the Dr. Ike’s Home Center 30th Anniversary Fish Fry & Ribbon Cutting at the store Saturday morning.

Store holds public bash

By GABRIELA TREVIÑO THE ZAPATA TIMES

“Ay, ay, ay, I like Dr. Ike’s!”

The jingle, performed by ventriloquist Oscar Zamora and his alter-ego, Don Chema, is a tune every Laredoan has heard at one point or another — whether on the radio or TV. Don Chema, famous for appearing in comedy sketches on “Sal y Pimienta,” is a mustachioed puppet, and he is Dr. Ike’s official spokesman.

Ike Epstein, owner of the Dr.

Ike’s stores, said he was looking for a “bilingual spokesman” when he first opened his business in the 1970s, and Don Chema fit the bill.

Epstein opened a Dr. Ike’s in Zapata in 1984, and the store celebrated its 30th anniversary on Saturday at the store. Oscar Zamora and Don Chema made an appearance at the event, and guests enjoyed music, refreshments and a fried fish lunch.

Epstein was known as “the

See IKE PAGE 8A

Photo by Victor Strife | The Zapata Times

Nancy De Anda prepares a batch of fish to be fried Saturday morning during the 30th Anniversary Fish Fry & Ribbon Cutting event at Dr. Ike’s Home Center.

The bash also included music and a performance by store mascot Don Chema.

A man who expected a $100 payment for transporting seven undocumented immigrants was detained Friday in San Ygnacio, according to court documents released Tuesday.

Luis Antonio Garcia Jr. was charged with transporting illegal immigrants with a motor vehicle.

On Friday, U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Zapata station responded to sensor activation near the U.S.-Mexican border regarding a possible illegal entry, court records state.

A concerned citizen waved down agents along Uribe Street and told them he had seen several illegal immigrants at an abandoned blue house by the U.S. Post Office. Agents then saw Frank Gonzalez, who is identified in court records as a known human smuggler, arguing with Garcia near the back of the blue house.

Garcia claimed Gonzalez had assaulted him and called agents for assistance. Gonzalez then took off running toward Santa Maria Street and was able to get away. “(Garcia) freely stated that he was assaulted by Frank Gonzalez inside the blue house over the money for the transportation of illegal (immigrants),” a complaint states.

Inside the house, agents found seven Mexican nationals who had allegedly entered the country illegally.

Garcia admitted being hired to transport illegal immigrants to a stash house in San Ygnacio. He then told agents he had been paid $100 for transporting the seven illegal immigrants. Two migrants held as material witnesses identified Garcia as the suspect who drove them to the abandoned house, the complaint reads. Court records show that Garcia is in federal custody.

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

CIVIL RIGHTS ACT

Summit opens with immigration talk

By PAUL J. WEBER ASSOCIATED PRESS

AUSTIN — A civil rights summit headlined by four of the five living U.S. presidents began Tuesday in Texas with a top Republican and Democrat expressing common ground on immigration reform and speakers comparing toppled gay marriage bans to racial equality victories in the 1960s.

Former President Jimmy Carter was the first president scheduled to speak later Tuesday at the Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library in Austin, which is holding the threeday summit to mark the

50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act. Johnson signed the law that banned widespread discrimination against racial and ethnic minorities and against women. While his presidency is often viewed in the dark shadow of the Vietnam War, the library believes his legacy deserves as much attention for the Texan’s victories on civil rights.

The summit began with former Republican Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour and San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro, a fast-rising Democrat and top surrogate of President Barack Obama, urging Congress to tackle immigration re-

form before the end of the year.

“The stupidest thing we can do economically is make them leave. We don’t have anybody to replace them,” said Barbour, referring to the estimated 11 million immigrants who are in the country without legal documentation. “So the impracticality of sending them home should be obvious to everyone.”

Their discussion was interrupted by a woman in the crowd shouting she was a so-called DREAMer — a young person who immigrated illegally into the United States — and call-

See SUMMIT PAGE 8A

Photo by Deborah Cannon | Pool

San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro speaks during the “Pathway to the American Dream: Immigration Policy in the 21st Century” panel at the Civil Rights Summit at the LBJ Presidential Library on the University of Texas campus in Austin on Tuesday.

PAGE 2A

Zin brief CALENDAR

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 2014

AROUND THE WORLD

TODAY IN HISTORY

Wednesday, April 9

ASSOCIATED PRESS

University of Texas Pan-American Social Work Recruitment event. 6 p.m.

Room 10 of Laredo Community College’s De La Garza Building. Contact Jessica Villarreal at 220-7071 or jkvillarreal.jv@gmail.com.

Today is Wednesday, April 9, the 99th day of 2014. There are 266 days left in the year.

Today’s Highlight in History: On April 9, 1914, the Tampico Incident took place as eight U.S. sailors were arrested by Mexican authorities for allegedly entering a restricted area and held for a short time before being released. Although Mexico offered a verbal apology, the U.S. demanded a more formal show of contrition; tensions escalated to the point that President Woodrow Wilson sent a naval task force to invade and occupy Veracruz, which in turn led to the downfall of Mexican President Victoriano Huerta.

On this date: In 1413, the coronation of England’s King Henry V took place in Westminster Abbey.

In 1682, French explorer Robert de La Salle claimed the Mississippi River Basin for France.

In 1865, Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered his army to Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House in Virginia.

In 1959, NASA presented its first seven astronauts: Scott Carpenter, Gordon Cooper, John Glenn, Gus Grissom, Wally Schirra, Alan Shepard and Donald Slayton. Architect Frank Lloyd Wright, 91, died in Phoenix, Ariz.

In 1963, British statesman Winston Churchill was proclaimed an honorary U.S. citizen by President John F. Kennedy.

In 1983, the space shuttle Challenger ended its first mission with a safe landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

In 1984, “Terms of Endearment” won five Academy Awards, including best picture, best actress for Shirley MacLaine and best supporting actor for Jack Nicholson. Robert Duvall won best actor for “Tender Mercies” while Linda Hunt won best supporting actress for playing a male character in “The Year of Living Dangerously.”

In 2005, Britain’s Prince Charles married longtime love Camilla Parker Bowles, who took the title Duchess of Cornwall.

Ten years ago: Four employees of Halliburton subsidiary KBR were killed in an attack on a fuel truck convoy near Baghdad; a U.S. soldier in the convoy, Sgt. Elmer Krause, was found dead weeks later.

Five years ago: North Korea’s rubber-stamp parliament appointed Kim Jong Il to a third term as leader.

One year ago: Connecticut’s women’s basketball team won its eighth NCAA championship with a 93-60 rout of Louisville at New Orleans Arena.

Today’s Birthdays: Playboy magazine founder Hugh Hefner is 88. Satirical songwriter and mathematician Tom Lehrer is 86. Naturalist Jim Fowler is 84. Actor JeanPaul Belmondo is 81. Actress Michael Learned is 75. Country singer Margo Smith is 72.

Country singer Hal Ketchum is 61. Actor Dennis Quaid is 60.

Thought for Today: “The amount of satisfaction you get from life depends largely on your own ingenuity, self-sufficiency, and resourcefulness.

People who wait around for life to supply their satisfaction usually find boredom instead.”

— William C. Menninger, American scientist, physician, engineer (1899-1966).

Thursday, April 10 Meeting of Laredo Area Retired School Employees Association. 12:30 p.m. Blessed Sacrament Parish Hall.

Communities in School to speak.

Meeting of Los Amigos Duplicate Bridge Club. 1:15 p.m. to 5 p.m. Laredo Country Club. Call Beverly Cantu at 727-0589.

Informational session for Court Appointed Special Advocates. 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. 902 E. Calton Road. Volunteers needed to represent foster children.

Free training provided by Voz de Niños; no degree or experience needed. Must be 21 years or older and pass background check. Contact Alexis Herrera at 727-8591 or alexis@vozdeninos.org.

Friday, April 11 Laredo Community College and Doctors Hospital Wellness Fair. 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Maravillo Gym at LCC’s Fort McIntosh campus. Free and open to public. Various medical and health services for adults offered. Door prizes to be awarded, and health snacks offered.

Call 721-5858.

Christian Life Seminar: What It Means To Be A Christian. 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., every Friday until April 11.

San Martin De Porres Catholic Church’s St. Elizabeth Room. Free. Light snacks served. Contact Leah Cayanan at 2860654 or leigh.cayanan@gmail.com.

Saturday, April 12 Larry Hernandez Memorial 6th Annual Crime Stoppers 5K Run/Walk Against Crime. Registration 7 a.m.

Race 8 a.m. Entrance of Lake Casa Blanca State Park. Pre-registration fee $15 through April 11. $20 day of event. Kids run ages 10 and under.

Proceeds benefit Laredo Crime Stoppers. Forms can be picked up at administrative office, 1200 Washington St., from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., or Laredo Ciclo Mania, 611 Shiloh Road, Suite No. 2, from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Call 724-1876.

TAMIU Planetarium anniversary showing of “Wall-E.” Noon, 2 p.m., 4 p.m., 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. $3 general admission. Free face painting, arts and music. Call 326-3663.

Monday, April 14 Zapata County Commissioners Court meeting. 9 a.m. Zapata County Courthouse. Call Roxy Elizondo at 7659920.

Tuesday, April 15 South Texas Food Bank’s annual member agency conference. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. IBC Annex Building, 2416 Jacaman Road. For 80 agencies that help food bank distribute food in eightcounty area. Call Salo Otero at 3242432.

Thursday, April 17 Meeting of Los Amigos Duplicate Bridge Club. 1:15 p.m. to 5 p.m. Laredo Country Club. Call Beverly Cantu at 727-0589.

Wednesday, April 23 Volunteer Services Council for the Border Region Behavioral Health Center presents 22nd annual Administrative Professional Day Luncheon and Fashion Show. 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Laredo Country Club. For tickets call Laura Kim at 794-3130.

Thursday, April 24 Meeting of Los Amigos Duplicate Bridge Club. 1:15 p.m. to 5 p.m. Laredo Country Club. Call Beverly Cantu at 727-0589.

IBC Keynote Speaker Series presentation, “Mexico Under the ‘New’ PRI: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly,”

by Dr. Denise Dresser, professor of political science at Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México. 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. TAMIU Student Center Ballroom, SC 203. Free and open to public.

Translation services will be available.

Contact 326-2820 or cswht@tamiu.edu.

Submit calendar items at lmtonline.com/calendar/submit or by emailing editorial@lmtonline.com with the event’s name, date and time, location and purpose and contact information for a representative. Items will run as space is available.

Photo by Themba Hadebe | AP

Oscar Pistorius, leaves the high court in Pretoria, South Africa, on Tuesday. Pistorius broke down in sobs and howls while testifying at his murder trial Tuesday, forcing the court to adjourn as the star athlete was describing the moments he said he first realized he had shot girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp through a toilet door in his home last year.

Pistorius sobs during testimony

By GERALD IMRAY ASSOCIATED PRESS

PRETORIA, South Africa — Oscar Pistorius broke down in sobs and howls while testifying at his murder trial Tuesday, forcing the court to adjourn as the star athlete was describing the moments he said he first realized he had shot girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp through a toilet door in his home last year.

“I sat over Reeva and I cried,” Pistorius said, telling how he broke open the stall door in his bathroom to discover his mortally wounded girlfriend inside and slumped over in the cubicle. “I don’t know how long I was there for,” Pistorius said.

Pistorius has said he shot Steenkamp after mistaking her for an intruder in his bathroom. Tuesday marked the first time he has spoken publicly on the details of the shooting. Prosecutors call Pistorius’ story an in-

Ukraine tries to quell pro-Moscow uprisings DONETSK, Ukraine — Ukrainian authorities moved to quell pro-Moscow uprisings along the Russian border with mixed results Tuesday, retaking one occupied regional headquarters and watching protesters consolidate their hold on another.

In a third city, Luhansk, Ukraine’s Security Service said separatists armed with explosives and other weapons were holding 60 people hostage inside the agency’s local headquarters.

Those occupying the building issued a video statement saying they want a referendum on the region’s status and warning that any attempt to storm the place would be met with armed force.

In the video, posted by Ukrainian media, a masked man identified the occupiers as Ukrainian veterans of the Soviet war in Afghanistan and said that if authorities try to retake the building, “Welcome to hell, then!”

The Ukrainian government

tricate lie and maintain he intentionally killed his girlfriend, a model and reality TV show star, after an argument.

On the witness stand, he began to cry loudly, forcing the judge to rule a brief adjournment. Pistorius didn’t stand up when the judge left, and also started to wail as he sat slumped over on the witness stand, his head in his hands. He left the courtroom through a side door, still crying.

When Judge Thokozile Masipa returned, she called an early adjournment. Pistorius had by that time returned to sit in the witness box.

Pistorius was testifying about how he broke down the toilet door after shooting four times through it, and finding a gravely injured Steenkamp inside.

The Olympian is charged with premeditated murder in Steenkamp’s death.

and the U.S. have accused Moscow of fomenting the unrest as a pretext for another Russian military incursion like the takeover of Crimea last month. Up to 40,000 Russian troops are massed along the Ukrainian border, according to NATO. All the cities affected by the uprisings are in Ukraine’s industrial heartland in the east, which has a large population of ethnic Russians and where hostility is strong toward the government that took power in February after the ouster of Kremlin-friendly President Viktor Yanukovych.

European Union envoy Catherine Ashton said she will meet with U.S., Russian and Ukrainian foreign ministers next week to discuss the situation.

Ship hunts for more ‘pings’ in jet search PERTH, Australia — Search crews in the Indian Ocean failed to pick up more of the faint underwater sounds that may have been from the missing Malaysian jetliner’s black boxes whose bat-

teries are at the end of their life.

The signals first heard late Saturday and early Sunday had sparked hopes of a breakthrough in the search for Flight 370, but Angus Houston, the retired Australian air chief marshal leading the search, said listening equipment on the Ocean Shield ship has picked up no trace of the sounds since then.

Defense Minister David Johnston called the sounds the most positive lead and said it was being pursued vigorously. Still, officials warned it could take days to determine whether the sounds were connected to the plane that vanished March 8 on a flight from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to Beijing with 239 on board.

“This is an herculean task — it’s over a very, very wide area, the water is extremely deep,” Johnston said. “We have at least several days of intense action ahead of us.”

The locator beacons on the black boxes have a battery life of only about a month — and Tuesday marked exactly one month since the plane vanished.

— Compiled from AP reports

AROUND THE NATION California bill that would end orca shows stalls SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A bill that sought to end killer whale shows at SeaWorld in San Diego and phase out their captivity was put on hold Tuesday.

The bill’s author, Democrat Richard Bloom of Santa Monica, agreed during the bill’s first hearing before the water, parks and wildlife committee to revisit his proposal after further study. As a result, AB2140 is dead for this year, and the soonest lawmakers could vote on the proposal would be mid-2015.

The bill would have banned the import, export and breeding of orcas while requiring SeaWorld San Diego to move its 10 killer whales out of tanks and into larger sea pens.

Obama to visit Washington mudslide EVERETT, Wash. — Presi-

CONTACT US

Photo by Eric Risberg/pool | AP

Miles Scott, dressed as Batkid, gestures as he exits the Batmobile to throw the ceremonial first pitch before an opening day baseball game between the San Francisco Giants and the Arizona Diamondbacks in San Francisco, on Tuesday. On Friday, Nov. 15, 2013, Scott, a Northern California boy with leukemia, fought villains and rescued a damsel in distress as a caped crusader through The Greater Bay Area Make-A-Wish Foundation. dent Barack Obama plans to survey damage from the Washington state mudslide later this month and will meet with victims, first responders and recovery workers, the White House said Tuesday.

The White House said it

plans to release further details about the president’s trip to Oso, Wash., in the coming days.

One more person was added to victims list Tuesday by the Snohomish County medical examiner’s office.

— Compiled from AP reports

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Local

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 2014

THE ZAPATA TIMES 3A

SHATTERED DREAMS

Courtesy photo | UISD

File photo by Times staff

The Lincoln-Juarez Bridge fills up to maximum capacity as paisanos rush toward the international bridges in Laredo in this undated file photo.

Prepping for Holy Week Customs and Border Protection to ramp up traffic procedures SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced Tuesday that the agency will employ some time-tested measures along with trusted traveler programs and Ready Lanes to help facilitate the annual surge in northbound traffic anticipated at South Texas ports of entry over the approaching Holy Week period.

“We are expecting a significant increase in traffic at all of our international bridges over the forthcoming Holy Week period and want to advise the traveling public that we stand ready to implement measures designed to facilitate lawful trade and travel while maintaining a vigilant border security posture,” said Noel Sanchez, acting director of field operations for the Laredo field office.

The measures are designed to be able to process a larger than normal volume of travelers seeking tourist permits to

travel into the interior of the U.S. while facilitating the daily commuter traffic flows. These flows are expected to increase since many are on leave from work or school.

CBP said it still strives to temper the facilitation measures with security. The agency will monitor traffic volumes at international bridges across South Texas and said it’s ready to post additional officers to ensure all available lanes are open, commensurate with traffic flow.

CBP will also encourage SENTRI members to use SENTRI lanes and for travelers who have radio-frequency identification technologyequipped travel documents such as U.S. passport cards and the newer versions of the border crossing card and resident alien card to use the Ready Lanes.

In Laredo and Brownsville, CBP advises travelers to tune in to AM 1610 to listen to repeating radio broadcasts of im-

portant tips in English and Spanish regarding documents necessary to cross, enrollment in the SENTRI program and other traveler tips. The 10-watt signal can be heard several miles north and south of the international bridges in Laredo and Brownsville.

Since Easter is fast approaching, CBP is reminding the traveling public that cascarones, or confetti-filled eggshells, are restricted to quantities of 10 per passenger and the shells may be decorated or etched but they must be empty, clean and free of any egg residue.

Cascarones are a restricted commodity by CBP to prevent further spread of Exotic Newcastle Disease through contaminated eggshells. The disease is a highly contagious, fatal viral disease that affects a substantial number of bird species, attacking respiratory, nervous and digestive systems.

Mortality is up to 90 percent of exposed birds.

Laredo Police Officer Abraham H. Diaz Jr., left, addresses a group of first responders at the last planning meeting for the upcoming Shattered Dreams event. Shattered Dreams is an educational experience that targets teens and reminds them about the dangers of drinking and driving. This year’s event will be held at United High School on Thursday and Friday. The project involves a simulation of an alcohol-related crash at the campus, complete with police and EMS response, emergency room treatment, family notifications and the arrest and booking of the driver.

Campaign kickoff TxDOT reminds drivers about work zones SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

With 84 percent of 2013 work zone fatalities being motorists rather than workers, the Texas Department of Transportation kicked off this week its “Be Safe. Drive Smart.” campaign as part of National Work Zone Awareness Week.

The campaign reminds drivers to slow down, stay alert and obey traffic signs to protect themselves and roadside workers.

“We do everything in our power to make work zones as safe as possible, but ultimately each driver must be responsible for his or her safety and the safety of others,” said John Barton, TxDOT deputy executive director. “If you don’t give work zones your undivided attention, you could face increased fines and potential injury or death.”

In Texas, there can be more than 2,500 active TxDOT work zones at any given time. Last year, 17,266 work zone crashes resulted in 3,522 serious injuries and 115 fa-

talities. As roadway maintenance and construction efforts continue to address a state population that grows by about 1,000 people per day, drivers should expect to encounter a work zone at any time.

In many work zones, posted signs warn drivers that traffic fines can increase if they disobey posted speed limits and other warning signs. Since 1938, TxDOT has lost 103 employees to a thirdparty vehicle crash on or near a roadway.

Outside of TxDOT work zones, drivers also are reminded to move over or slow down when approaching work crews, vehicles and other equipment performing maintenance and clean-up along roadways. Failure to do so can result in a fine up to $2,000.

During National Work Zone Awareness Week, TxDOT’s permanent dynamic message signs along state highways and roadways will remind drivers to use caution, be safe and drive smart in work zones.

PAGE 4A

Zopinion

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 2014

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

COLUMN

OTHER VIEWS

For Internet, next logical progression

By JOHN CARY SIMS THE SACRAMENTO BEE

There’s a reason we all love to “reply” to emails we receive, while striving to avoid an inappropriate “reply all.” Internet addresses can be so messy, and even the tiniest error misdirects our communication. Soon the Internet addressing challenge will be even more difficult, as “Top Level Domains” (TLDs) mushroom from a handful of familiar ones (.com, .org, .gov, .uk) to a flock of hundreds, many written in unfamiliar alphabets.

But typographical challenges are not what’s been roiling the Internet world lately. The major excitement came a few weeks ago when the Commerce Department announced that the United States will soon relinquish its oversight of the Internet itself. L. Gordon Crovitz, former publisher of The Wall Street Journal, is not known for understatement, but his cry of anguish was fierce even for him: “It’s been a good month for Vladimir Putin: He got Crimea and the Internet.” The editors of the National Review described the news as a “bombshell” and then advised that Congress should force the Commerce Department “to retain its current role, over a presidential veto if need be.”

Perhaps the escalating tensions with Russia over Ukraine have made us all a bit jumpy, but there is no reason to view the contemplated Internet revisions as any threat to the interests of the U.S. or the openness or efficiency of the Internet.

Far from being a bombshell, the plan announced by the Commerce Department is simply the logical continuation of a process that has been under way for a long time. Yes, the U.S. created the Internet and nurtured its growth, but the U.S. has not exercised unilateral control, or attempted to, even amid dramatic changes in the Internet and worldwide battles over the right of oppressed people to access it.

As a practical matter Internet management was spun off in 1998 to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, or ICANN. That’s the nonprofit organization that assures all Internet addresses are unique and coordinates the complicated technical standards needed to keep the Internet efficient, secure and reliable. ICANN carries out these vital functions under a contract with the Commerce Department that expires in 2015.

The Commerce Department has now announced that in the future ICANN will report, not to it, but to some other entity. The exact details remain to be worked out, and the Commerce Department has indicated that the transition will not take place until an appropriate institution is ready to take over. ICANN itself includes the participation of “stakeholders” from all parts of the world and segments of the Internet community, including governments.

While the structure of the new oversight body remains to be developed, governments that would like to exercise greater control over the Internet will be disappointed if they think the U.S. will agree to intergovernmental control. The Internet has grown and thrived precisely because it is not directly controlled by or dependent on the diplomatic and bureaucratic processes that so often hobble the United Nations and in-

“

While critics see the coming change in formal Internet governance as a slight to U.S. pride and power, in reality, the Internet is and long has been internationalized.

ternational bodies like it.

While critics see the coming change in formal Internet governance as a slight to U.S. pride and a wound to the nation’s power, in reality, the Internet is and long has been internationalized.

If the policy preferences of the U.S. could have been imposed on ICANN, the controversial “.xxx” Top Level Domains for porn sites probably would not have been approved, and the proliferation of other TLDs would be slower because of concerns about possible copyright infringement, criminal activity and consumer fraud.

Sen. John D. Rockefeller, D-W.Va., chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, is correct when he describes the planned change in formal governance not as a radical impairment of U.S. power, but rather as a change that will “preserve and advance the current multi-stakeholder model of global Internet governance.”

Critics of the Commerce Department plan express fear that Russia, China, Saudi Arabia and other repressive governments will be able to stifle free speech on the Internet once the U.S. is no longer empowered to protect it. There are indeed serious threats to the brave activists who use the Internet to criticize their governments, or would like to. But ICANN has not been the problem in the past, nor is it likely that the new governing body will be so in the future. ICANN’s role as an organization that focuses on technical standards and assures open access to the Internet is well established by this point, and the U.S. has made it clear it will not step aside unless it is confident the new governing body will do the same.

The Great Firewall of China and the restrictions on Internet freedom imposed in Russia, Turkey and so many other places around the world have not been put in place or facilitated by international governance of the Internet. The relatively unstructured Internet is fundamentally incompatible with the type of control that repressive governments wish to exercise, and that is why it takes such immense resources and constant effort on their part to keep their people from using the Internet to organize with each other and share information with the rest of the world.

We need to make sure that governments are not given the opportunity to control this vital international resource. But, despite what some critics have been shouting, the planned change in Internet governance is not an abdication by the United States. It is the next logical step in an internationalizing process that has been going on for decades.

COLUMN

A middle-class safety net

By CATHERINE RAMPELL THE WASHINGTON POST

Liberals are shocked (shocked!) that Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and his co-partisans would consider cutting Medicaid, food stamps, Pell grants and other programs that serve the neediest Americans. They have accused Ryan of trying to balance the budget on the backs of the poor.

But long before Ryan unveiled his “Path to Prosperity,” politicians of both parties had been redistributing government spending away from the truly destitute and toward everyone else.

In the past few decades, the federal social safety net has gotten lusher and, on its face, more generous. Spending on the major safety-net programs nearly quadrupled between 1970 and 2010, and that’s after adjusting for inflation and population growth, according to calculations from Robert A. Moffitt, an economics professor at Johns Hopkins University. He included both “means-tested” programs that are explicitly intended to combat poverty (such as food stamps, Medicaid, housing aid, Head Start, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and the earned-income tax credit) and social insurance programs (Medicare, Social Security, disability insurance, workers’ compensation and unemployment insurance).

There have, however, been winners and losers during that massive expansion.

Since the mid-1990s, the biggest increases in spending have gone to those who were middle class or hovering around the poverty line.

Meanwhile, Americans in deep poverty — that is, with household earnings of less than 50 percent of the official poverty line — saw no change in their benefits in the

decade leading up to the housing bubble. In fact, if you strip out Medicare and Medicaid, federal social spending on those in extreme poverty fell between 1993 and 2004.

Then, during the Great Recession and not-so-great recovery, automatic stabilizers kicked in and Congress passed new, mostly temporary, stimulus measures (such as unemployment-insurance benefit extensions). As a result, spending on the social safety net increased sharply and this time for a broader swath of Americans, including the very poor, “near-poor” and middle class. But it still rose more for people above the poverty line than it did for the very poor, Moffitt found.

Other public policies not captured by Moffitt’s calculations have also effectively diverted funds away from the very poorest Americans. Consider the rise of “merit-based,” non-means-tested financial aid at public colleges or the increasing number of tax breaks and loopholes known as “tax expenditures,” more than half of which accrue to the top income quintile.

So why are we robbing the poor to pay the middle class (and rich)?

To some extent, demographics are to blame. Social Security and Medicare are the biggest safetynet programs in raw dollar terms, and both are awarded to elderly Americans regardless of financial need, though Social Security is modestly progressive. As the country ages and health costs rise, these programs get bigger — and end up crowding out other spending that specifically targets the very poor.

Federal disability rolls have also grown dramatically in recent decades. As with Medicare, people don’t have to prove they’re poor to receive Social Security Disability

Insurance, so the expansion of SSDI has disproportionately benefited middle-class and “near-poor” families, at least relative to other programs that do means-test.

But ideology has played a major role in the reallocation of safety-net spending, too.

Since the early 1990s, politicians have deliberately shifted funds away from those perceived to be the most needy and toward those perceived to be the most deserving. The bipartisan 1996 welfare reform — like the multiple expansions of the earned-income tax credit — was explicit about rewarding the working poor rather than the non-working poor. As a result, total spending per capita on “welfare” slid by about twothirds over the past two decades, even as the poverty rate for families has stayed about the same.

Many welfare reformers would consider this a triumph; if you believe many of the poorest families are not out of work by choice, though, you might have a more nuanced view.

Meanwhile, there is probably greater political cover for expanding the safety net for the middle class (that is, the non-destitute).

As mid-skill, mid-wage jobs have disappeared — what’s known as the hollowing-out of the labor market — middle-class families have lost ground and are demanding more government help. These middle-class families, alongside the elderly, are also substantially more likely to vote than are the poor. The feds have whittled away at welfare, and (almost) nobody said boo; touch programs that the middle class relies on, and electoral retribution may be fierce.

On some level, politicians of both parties have understood this political calculus for decades.

Ryan’s “Path to Prosperity” just takes it to its logical conclusion.

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Crime and more

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 2014

THE ZAPATA TIMES 5A

BLOTTER ASSAULT Clara Lisa Navarro was arrested and charged with assault March 24 in the 2100 block of Del Mar Street.

BURGLARY Juan Angel Garcia was arrested and charged with burglary of habitation March 28 at the FCI Federal Facility.

DWI Margarita

Noemi

Gutierrez was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated March 26 in the intersection of Alamo Street and Mier Avenue.

Diana Patricia Balderas was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated March 31 in the intersection of U.S. 83 and Chihuahua.

EVADING ARREST Jorge Luis Navarro Jr. was arrested and charged with evading arrest March 31 about one mile south of Chihuahua.

FORGERY Samantha Ann Morace was arrested and charged with forgery March 30 at the Aqua Bar, off U.S. 83.

PUBLIC INTOXICATION Johnny Ray Scarberry Jr. was arrested and charged with public intoxication March 28 by 13th Street and Juarez Avenue.

Ana Lilia Trujillo, left, reacts to hearing a 911 call during her trial Tuesday in Houston. Trujillo, 45, is charged with murder, accused of killing her 59-year-old boyfriend, Alf Stefan Andersson.

Ariz. woman guilty of hammer murder Wife convicted for bludgeoning husband to death in failed bid to collect on life insurance policy

By JACQUES BILLEAUD ASSOCIATED PRESS

PHOENIX — An Arizona woman was convicted of first-degree murder Tuesday for bludgeoning her husband to death with a hammer in what prosecutors said was a failed bid to collect on a life insurance policy to repay about $300,000 in loans from her boyfriend.

The same jury that convicted Marissa Devault will now decide whether to sentence her to life in prison or the death penalty in the 2009 killing of Dale Harrell.

Wearing a dark pantsuit and glasses, Devault sat facing the jury and remained expressionless as the verdict was read during a brief hearing in Phoenix. Jurors deliberated for five and a half days.

Alan Tavassoli, one of Devault’s attorneys, declined to comment on the verdict.

A hearing will begin Wednesday to establish whether there were “aggravating factors” in the case, which will determine whether Devault is eligible for a death sentence.

The case had many salacious elements, including testimony about plots to hire a hit man and the fact that Devault was a former stripper who met her boyfriend on a sugar-daddy dating website. But the judge in the case made extensive efforts to keep the trial from becoming the spectacle that enveloped

the Jodi Arias case in the same courthouse exactly one year ago.

He warned the attorneys involved that he did not want any Arias trial fanatics on the jury, and he tried to keep certain sensational elements out of the trial. Devault’s past as a stripper, for instance, was barely mentioned during the trial. The case attracted nowhere near the attention of the Arias trial despite some similar circumstances.

Like Arias, Devault maintains she killed in self-defense and told investigators that her husband had physically and sexually abused her in the past.

But prosecutors contend the attack on Harrell was premeditated and say Devault gave conflicting accounts of her husband’s death. Harrell, 34, suffered multiple skull fractures in the January 2009 attack at the couple’s home in the Phoenix suburb of Gilbert.

He died nearly a month later at a hospice because of complications from his head injuries.

Jerry Cobb, spokesman for the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, which prosecuted Devault, had no immediate comment on the verdict.

Devault initially told investigators that her husband attacked her while she was asleep and choked her until she was unconscious. She also told police that when she woke up, she saw another man who lived at their home beating

Photo by Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle | AP

Harrell with a hammer.

But authorities say bloodstain patterns showed Harrell was alone in the bed at the time of the attack and that bloodstains on Devault’s clothes were consistent with a person swinging an object repeatedly over his or her head.

Investigators say Devault later confessed to attacking her husband, saying she pummeled him in a rage as he slept after he sexually assaulted her.

The key prosecution witness was Devault’s former boyfriend, Allen Flores, a Yale University-educated management consultant who is 20 years older than Devault and had loaned her $300,000 during their two-year relationship.

Flores testified that Devault wanted to either hire someone to kill Harrell, or kill him herself and tell police he tried to rape her after a night of drinking.

Devault’s attorneys attacked Flores’ credibility, noting he was given an immunity agreement on child-pornography allegations in exchange for his testimony. The child pornography was found on Flores’ computer during a search that was part of the murder investigation, authorities said.

Flores also testified that he once feared Devault would harm him, but he said that concern lifted after she was arrested. He said he went on to bail her out of jail, get her a lawyer and resume their intimate relationship.

Woman convicted in stiletto shoe killing

By JUAN A. LOZANO ASSOCIATED PRESS

HOUSTON — A Houston woman was convicted of murder Tuesday for fatally stabbing her boyfriend with the 5½-inch stiletto heel of her shoe, hitting him at least 25 times in the face with her shoe.

Prosecutors said Ana Trujillo used her high heel shoe to kill 59-year-old Alf Stefan Andersson during an argument at his Houston condominium in June.

Trujillo’s attorney had argued the 45-year-old woman was defending herself during an attack by Andersson, a University of Houston professor and researcher.

The jury was expected to hear evidence in the trial’s punishment phase before sentencing Trujillo.

She faces up to life in prison.

During the trial, prosecutors portrayed Trujillo, a native of Mexico, as out of control on the night of

the slaying. A cab driver who took the couple home before Andersson’s death told jurors that Trujillo was angry and yelling on the ride to his condo.

Prosecutors told jurors that once the couple got home, they began arguing and during the confrontation, Andersson was injured and fell on his back.

Trujillo sat on Andersson, preventing him from getting up and repeatedly struck him in the face and head with her shoe, they said.

During witness testimony, prosecutors highlighted that Trujillo did not have any injuries from her confrontation with Andersson while the researcher had defensive wounds on his hands and wrists. Trujillo’s attorneys argued she did have injuries.

Witnesses portrayed Andersson, a native of Sweden who became a U.S. citizen, as mild-mannered and quiet.

In a video of Trujillo’s police interrogation that

was played at trial, she told detectives Andersson had become enraged after thinking she was going to leave him, attacked her and that she used the only weapon she had at her disposal — her shoe — to defend herself.

Trujillo told detectives she hit Andersson with her shoe “a couple of times” and didn’t realize she had hurt him until she saw blood on the floor.

Trujillo told detectives she tried performing CPR on Andersson.

The blue suede stiletto heel — a size 9 platform pump with a 5 1/2-inch heel — was brought out during testimony about the bloody crime scene.

In video and photos taken by police at the crime scene, the stiletto heel can be seen lying on the carpeted floor of Andersson’s condominium, above his head. A large pool of blood was also near his head, which was bloodied, purple and had several visible wounds.

PÁGINA 6A

Zfrontera

Agenda en Breve LAREDO 04/10— “Voices in the Monte” (Voces en el Monte), lectura y firma de autógrafos por Ito Romo, a las 6 p.m. en el aula 113 del Bob Bullock Hall de TAMIU. Evento gratuito.

04/10— LTGI realizará audiciones para el musical “My Fair Lady”, de 6:30 p.m. a 10 p.m. en el Salón de Recitales del Center for the Fine and Performing Arts de TAMIU. Informes en 3198610.

04/11— BÉISBOL: El equipo Dustdevil de TAMIU recibe a Newman University (DH) a la 1 p.m. en Jorge Haynes Field. Costo: 5 dólares.

04/11— SOFTBÓL: El equipo Dustdevil de TAMIU recibe a No. 15 St. Edward’s University (DH) a la 1 p.m. en Dustdevil Field. Costo: 5 dólares.

04/11— Seminario de Vida Cristiana: ¿Qué Significa Ser un Cristiano?, de 6 p.m. a 8:30 p.m., en la Iglesia Católica San Martin De Porres, Aula St. Elizabeth.

Evento gratuito. Se dará un refrigerio ligero. Hoy concluye la plática.

04/11— El Concierto Baile de Primavera — CriCri, será a las 7 p.m. en el Teatro del Center for the Fine and Performing Arts de TAMIU. Costo: 5 dólares.

04/11— El Laredo Community College y Literacy Volunteers of Laredo presentarán al autor Bob Harris con una presentación especial en el Kazen Student Center dentro del Fort McIntosh Campus, a partir de las 7 p.m. Costo es de 20 dólares.

04/11— ‘Draw Women’s Event 2014” presenta ‘Courage’ a las 7 p.m. con la participación de Natalia Rubin desde Israel, y la música de Jacqui McCaulley, en Laredo Church of the Crossroads, 1301 International Blvd. Entrada gratuita. Traducción al español.

04/12— Caminata/Carrera Anual de 5K Contra el Crimen, en Memoria de Larry Hernández, organizada por Alto al Crimen, será en el Parque Estatal Lago Casa Blanca. Inscripciones a las 7 a.m. Evento iniciará a las 8 a.m. Cuota: 20 dólares.

04/12— El Consulado General de México en Laredo presenta “Jornadas Sabatinas 2014”, de 8 a.m. a 2 p.m. Se otorgan servicios consulares trámites de pasaportes, matrículas consulares, y asistencia consular en el ámbito de protección.

04/12— El Club Rotario de Laredo invita al Women’s Expo con desfile de modas, conferencistas, módulos interactivos, vendedores y rifas, de 10 a.m. a 5 p.m. en el Holiday Inn Civic Center.

NUEVO LAREDO, MX 04/09— Cine Club proyectará la película “Winchester 73”, en el Auditorio de Estación Palabra, a las 6 p.m. Entrada Libre.

04/09— Cine en tu barrio presenta la película “Enamorada”, como homenaje a María Félix, a las 5 p.m. en el Polivalente Infonavit.

Entrada gratuita.

04/10— Grupo de teatro Primer Sol presentará la obra teatral “La Madre Pasota” de Dario Fo, en el teatro Lucio Blanco, a las 7 p.m.

Entrada libre.

04/10— Se proyectará la película “Después de la Tierra” en la sala de Servicios Educativos del Centro Cultural, a partir de las 6 p.m. Entrada gratuita.

04/11— El Patrimonio Conmemorativo de Nuevo Laredo, presentará una conferencia impartida por Isidro González, a partir de las 6 p.m. en la Casa de la Cultura. Entrada gratuita.

MIÉRCOLES 9 DE ABRIL DE 2014

RIBEREÑA

Incidentes violentos TIEMPO DE ZAPATA

Poblados en la frontera ribereña de Tamaulipas registraron incidentes violentos durante el fin de semana, con un saldo de siete civiles muertos, dos lesionados y cinco personas arrestadas.

El sábado, elementos de la Secretaría de la Defensa Nacional realizaron un operativo en búsqueda de civiles armados en la frontera norte del estado. El operativo fue implementado después que el viernes por la noche se recibió reporte de que los civiles habían ingresado al municipio de Ciudad Mier abriendo

fuego contra un hotel, indica un comunicado de prensa del Grupo de Coordinación Tamaulipas.

Fue en el poblado Los Guerra del municipio de Miguel Alemán, donde militares ubicaron a civiles armados que viajaban en una camioneta pick up Chevrolet Silverado, color negra, blindada.

“Por lo que les marcaron el alto, suscitándose la agresión”, indica el comunicado. Cuatro personas fallecieron en el lugar, dos resultaron heridas y cinco más fueron arrestadas.

Además, soldados aseguraron 17 armas largas, un fusil Barret cali-

bre 50 milímetros, 11 granadas, dos aditamentos lanzagranadas, tres armas cortas, cargadores, cartuchos de diferentes calibres, equipo táctico y un paquete conteniendo marihuana.

El reporte indica que los sospechosos formaron parte del grupo de personas que realizara el ataque en Ciudad Mier.

En tanto, el domingo a las 7:45 p.m., se registró un enfrentamiento entre grupos delincuenciales en Ciudad Mier, con saldo de tres personas muertas.

Los hechos ocurrieron en la brecha “Las Crucitas”, rumbo a las

márgenes del Río Bravo. “(Ahí) quedaron los cuerpos sin vida de tres personas del sexo masculino con edades de 20 a 25 años”, indica un comunicado. Solamente una de las víctimas fue identificada como Raymundo Mares Rivera, con domicilio en Reynosa.

En ése punto fue asegurada una camioneta pick up Chevrolet Silverado, color blanco, con placas de Tamaulipas; tres fusiles AK-47, un fusil AR-15, una granada, 31 cargadores para AK-47, 11 cargadores para R-15, dos chalecos antibalas con doble placa y cuatro fornituras color negras.

COMUNIDAD

TAMAULIPAS

30 AÑOS

Violencia deja 18 muertos en Tampico, MX

Dr. Ike’s celebra con clientes de Zapata

TIEMPO DE ZAPATA

POR GABRIELA A. TREVIÑO TIEMPO DE ZAPATA

“Ay, ay, ay, ¡Me gusta Dr. Ike’s!”

La canción, interpretada por el ventrílocuo, Oscar Zamora y su alter ego, Don Chema, es una melodía que cada Laredense ha escuchado en un momento u otro — ya sea a través de la radio o de la televisión.

Don Chema, famoso por aparecer en los cortos cómicos de “Sal y Pimienta”, es una marioneta con bigote, y es el vocero oficial de Dr. Ike’s.

Ike Epstein, propietario de las tiendas Dr. Ike’s, dijo que buscaba un “vocero bilingüe”, al momento en que abrió el negocio por primera vez en los 70 y dijo que Don Chema se ajustaba perfectamente.

Epstein era conocido como “el doctor del hogar”, por lo que tomó el nombre de Dr. Ike’s. Después de haber tenido éxito en su ciudad natal, Laredo, con la apertura de su primera tienda, Epstein decidió crecer.

Hoy en día, tiene tres tiendas Dr. Ike’s en total.

Epstein abrió una tienda Dr. Ike’s en Zapata en 1984, y la tienda celebró su 30 aniversario el sábado. Oscar Zamora y Don Chema hicieron una aparición en el evento, y los invitados disfrutaron de la música, los aperitivos y una comida de pescado frito.

“Estamos en una comunidad pesquera. Pensamos que sería una buena idea hacer algo diferente, ya que todo mundo siempre hace carne asada”, dijo Clayton Epstein, hijo de Ike y VP del negocio.

Las personas de Zapata, Laredo y áreas circunvecinas asistieron al evento de Dr. Ike’s. De pie frente a la fachada de brillantes colores, naranja y verde, los invitados vitorearon a la familia Epstein cuando realizaron la ceremonia del corte de lis-

Foto por Victor Strife | Laredo Morning Times

Ike Epstein, al centro, disfrutando con su familia y amigos el corte de listón, durante la Celebración del 30 aniversario de Dr. Ikes, en el Centro de Artículos para el Hogar Dr. Ikes de Zapata, el sábado por la mañana. tón.

Con sede en Laredo desde 1932, el negocio de la familia Epstein comenzó como “David Lumber Company”, que más tarde fue conocido como “Economy Lumber Yard”, y más tarde como Dr. Ike’s, en 1973.

“En 1973, se realizó la transacción de un almacén de madera a un centro para el hogar. En el almacén, atendíamos una gran cantidad de hombres fumadores, y en el centro para el hogar teníamos como clientes a mujeres. Había pasillos más amplios.

Teníamos aire acondicionado”, dijo Clayton Epstein.

Una tienda más exclusiva atrajo a más clientes y permitió a los Epstein expandirse a Zapata en 1984 y construir una tienda al sur de Laredo en 1998. Sin embargo, el progreso de la tienda, no siempre ha ido en asenso constante.

A principios de los 1990 la cadena de mejoras para el hogar, Builder’s Square, abrió en Laredo. Home Depot y Lowe’s siguieron su ejemplo al abrir sus tiendas

a principios del 2000.

“Alrededor de 11 almacenes de madera cerraron porque decidieron no querían compartir el mercado con Builder’s Square, y por supuesto que nos hicieron competencia”, dijo Ike Epstein.

Sin embargo los Laredenses, han continuado con su apoyo a Dr. Ike’s y el propietario sospecha que puede ser debido a que el negocio se ha involucrado en actos cívicos.

“Todavía estamos aquí debido a que las personas de Laredo han brindado su apoyo al equipo de su ciudad. ¡Somos como Tigers (de Martin High School) o Nixon (High School)!” dijo. Ike Epstein.

Desde celebrar campañas en contra el cáncer hasta apoyar a equipos de la liga pequeña, proporcionar a sus clientes palomitas gratis y café en las mañanas, Ike Epstein sabe que es importante participar con la comunidad.

(Localice a Gabriela A. Treviño en 956-728-2579 o en gtrevino@lmtonline.com)

CONTINÚA BÚSQUEDA

Foto por LSIS Bradley Darvill | AP

Una nave de respuesta rápida conducida por tripulantes del barco australiano Ocean Shield recorre el mar en busca de restos del avión perdido de Malaysia Arilines el 7 de abril de 2014.

Un total de 18 personas muertas es el saldo que dejaran enfrentamientos registrados en la zona de Tampico-Madero, Tamaulipas, México, en alrededor de 27 horas.

Los incidentes iniciaron a las 3:10 p.m. del domingo, y el último reporte fue recibido a las 6:35 p.m. del lunes.

A las 3:10 p.m., dos civiles armados no identificados dieron muerte a dos hombres y una mujer en Madero. Diez minutos después, en el fraccionamiento Las Violetas, de Tampico, fue hallado el cuerpo sin vida de un hombre no identificado, el cual presentaba un impacto de bala en la cabeza.

Fue a las 4:30 p.m. cuando en Madero, personas armadas a bordo de un automóvil compacto dispararon y dieron muerte a un hombre no identificado, quedando su cuerpo en las calles Malva y Lilas, colonia El Chipus. Diez minutos después, también en Madero, autoridades estatales tomaron conocimiento del cuerpo sin vida de un hombre en la esquina de las calles Honduras y Aduana, Colonia Talleres.

Fue a las 7:45 p.m. que en la Calzada Blanca de la Colonia Morelos en Tampico, frente a las instalaciones de una gasera, fueron privados de la vida cinco hombres y una mujer sin identificar.

A las 7:55 p.m., también en Tampico, un hombre fue abatido a tiros, quedando su cuerpo en el interior de una paletería.

Otro reporte fue a las 8:05 p.m., en Madero, fue localizado el cuerpo sin vida de un hombre no identificado en las calles Circuito Tamaulipeco y Andador, Fraccionamiento Miramápolis.

El lunes, a las 12:39 a.m. se encontró el cuerpo sin vida de un hombre quien aún no ha sido identificado, en el cruce de las calles Dr. Gochicoa y Fidel Velázquez, en la Colonia del Pueblo, en Tampico. Autoridades dijeron que la víctima quedó sobre una banqueta y que presentaba impactos de bala.

Otros dos cuerpos fueron encontrados a las 8 a.m. en un callejón que se ubica en las calles Límite Norte y Paseo Loma Real de la colonia Loma Alta, de Tampico.

Una de las víctimas fue identificada como Jonathan Josué Durán Andrade, con domicilio en Tampico. La otra persona, de alrededor de 25 años de edad, no ha sido

identificada.

El último hecho reportado fue a las 6:35 p.m. donde se registró un enfrentamiento entre grupos delictivos, de acuerdo con las autoridades, en calle Cerro Azul de la Colonia Conurbada. El saldo fue de un hombre muerto, con edad de entre 25 y 30 años de edad, quien presentaba una herida de bala en la cabeza. La víctima, quien no ha sido identificada, estaba dentro de una camioneta Lobo, doble cabina, color blanco, con placas de Tamaulipas.

En el punto se aseguraron chalecos balísticos, un arma larga AR-15, trece cargadores con cartuchos útiles, dos gorras y una playera color negro.

“El Grupo de Coordinación Tamaulipas se mantiene al tanto de los acontecimientos efectuando patrullajes y extremando la vigilancia correspondiente, para brindar protección a la ciudadanía”, indica un comunicado de prensa.

Arrestos En tanto, el domingo fueron arrestados cuatro hombres en posesión de armamento, granadas, equipos tácticos y otros objetos.

En el comunicado, autoridades no aclaran si las personas tienen relación con algunos de los hechos violentos en el sur de Tamaulipas. La detención ocurrió a las 4:45 p.m. en el centro de Tampico.

Fueron incautados: siete fusiles de diferentes calibres, una escopeta calibre 12, un lanzagranadas, tres subametralladoras, dos granadas de mano tipo piña, una granada de mano de gas, dos granadas de fusil, una mira telescópica, 80 cargadores metálicos, seis cargadores de plástico, 62 paquetes conteniendo marihuana, 119 dosis de cocaína, dos vehículos de diferentes marcas y modelos, material táctico diverso y 6.674 pesos mexicanos.

De igual manera autoridades estatales anunciaron que el lunes, alrededor de las 6 p.m. se realizó la detención de otros cuatro probables delincuentes, que fueron identificados como Winston Herrera Espinoza, de 26 años de edad; José Guadalupe Lara Alonso, de 33 años; Luís Armando Cardona Guerrero, de 21 años y Fidencio Miguel Ibarra, de 26 años.

Se realizaron los decomisos de tres armas largas y un vehículo, así como cargadores y cartuchos útiles.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 2014

ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM

Sports&Outdoors HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS: ZAPATA HAWKS

Titles earned Rain halts some matches for Hawks in district tournament

By CLARA SANDOVAL THE ZAPATA TIMES

Rain washed away the District 31-3A tennis tournament in Harlingen this past weekend with scattered showers and was postponed until Tuesday at 3 p.m. in Raymondville.

“It was a long and frustrating day," Zapata tennis coach Robert Alvarez said. "The kids would warm up begin to play for a bit then the mist and drizzle would move in causing a delay. The kids would come back, warm up and begin play only to have it stopped again. This occurred four times until the meet was postponed."

"Since some of the athletes were also competing in golf and their district meet was Monday, the earliest it could be played was Tuesday. We will have to get it in, as the UIL certification date is Wednesday."

In boys’ singles, Chris Davila upset second-seeded Jacob Galindo of Kingsville in the semifinals.

In Saturday’s finals, Davila went up 5-3 on top seed Jesus Rios of Kingsville, but Rios fought back to take the first set 7-5. The score in the second set was 2-1 for Rios, but play was postponed.

In boys’ doubles, Zapata’s Trey Alvarez and Alex Reyes won while Kingsville’s duo of Taylor Weatherford and Bas Athpassist mowed through the competition to face each other in the finals.

The Zapata team and Kingsville team are considered the top two doubles teams in the region and they are in the same district. In the finals, Kingsville won the first set 7-5 and the Hawks came back to win the 2nd set 6-2. The third set was tied at two when play was suspended.

In girls’ singles, sophomore Alexa Alvarez surprised everyone as she won the district title.

“Alexa played really smart," Alvarez said. "She is not the hardest hitter out there but she is athletic and quick. She used those abilities to track down every shot her opponent hit and just plain outlasted the Raymondville girl in the finals.”

Chrisitna Martinez defeated De La Rosa of Kingsville in the third place match 3-6, 7-5, 6-4.

This was the only division that completed all their matches.

In girls’ doubles, Araceli Valadez and Valeria Rodriguez dropped a close three set match to Lyford in the quarterfinals.

Courtesy photo

The team of Trey Alvarez and Alex Reyes were among those who were affected by the rain as they were tied in the finals of boys’ doubles at the District 31-3A tournament before the match was postponed.

Alynna Benavidez and Sandra Morales advanced to the semifinals and dropped a heartbreaker to Lyford’s No. 1 team 7-5, 6-4.

They will face the Lyford team which defeated Valadez and Rodriguez for third. If they win and Lyford defeats Kingsville, they will play Kingsville for the trip to regionals. Lyford was up 6-2, 2-2 when play was halted.

In mixed doubles, the top seeds of Manuel Benavidez and Gaby Alvarez will face off against the second seeds from Kingsville in the finals while fourth-seeded Samantha Garcia

and Carlos Poblano will play the third seeds from Kingsville for third place.

The Hawks swept through the other divisions of the tournament winning the freshman boys’ and girls’ district titles and the JV boys’ and girls’ district championships.

JV boys’ doubles second place went to Marco Guerra and Brandon Alvarez, while third place was Aaron Fuentes and Ricky Guzman. JV mixed saw Alan Zapata and Clarissa Gonzalez take third, while Gabriela Gonzalez and Rolando DeLos Santos fin-

ished fourth. In JV girls’ singles, Christine Sanchez took first, Briana Reyna third, while Amy Arroyo and Katie Garcia finished second in JV girls’ doubles.

For the freshmen, many found themselves taking home first place. Gabriel Bautista won boys’ singles, while doubles went to Arnulfo Caballero and Carlos Martinez. In girls’ singles, Jenicia Guevara placed first while the team of Jazmin Tejada and Keyiris Bautista also placed first in girls’ doubles.

Clara Sandoval can be reached at Sandoval.Clara@Gmail.com.

8A THE ZAPATA TIMES

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 2014

Board won’t stop Texas execution

By MICHAEL GRACZYK ASSOCIATED PRESS

HUNTSVILLE, Texas — Mexican national Ramiro Hernandez-Llanas already had done some carpentry work at Glen Lich’s ranch near Kerrville in the Texas Hill Country when he negotiated a deal with the former Baylor University history professor to live on the property in exchange for helping out with ranch renovations.

Ten days later, Lich was fatally clubbed with a metal bar outside his home and his wife was attacked by a man covered with blood and threatening her with a knife. Hernandez-Llanas was arrested, still sleeping in the bed where he had wrapped his arm around Lich’s terrorized wife, but unaware the woman summoned police after managing to flee from his grasp and restraints without waking him.

On Wednesday, HernandezLlanas, 44, was set for lethal injection that would make him the second Texas prisoner within a week executed with a supply of pentobarbital newly obtained from a source Texas prison officials have refused to identify.

Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected appeals from another Texas death row inmate, Tommy Lynn Sells, whose attorneys argued unsuccessfully they needed the name of the drug supplier to verify its potency to determine he wouldn’t be subjected to unconstitutional pain and suffering. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice contends the information needs to be withheld to keep the new drug provider from threats of violence from death penalty opponents.

Sells quietly went to his death Thursday with the new drug.

Hernandez-Llanas also was a plaintiff in Sells’ lawsuit. On Monday, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals lifted a reprieve he won from a lower court, putting his punishment back on track. Attorneys for the condemned prisoner declined to appeal because the Supreme Court turned down the same request from Sells.

On Tuesday, the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles voted 7-0 to refuse to commute his sentence to life in prison or delay his execution. Attorneys had disputed the testimony of two psychiatrists at his trial in 2000 who told jurors Hernandez-Llanas was not mentally impaired and would remain a danger.

“Killing him is barbaric as well as unlawful,” attorneys Sheri Johnson and Naomi Torr told the parole board.

The Supreme Court last week refused to review an appeal that included similar concerns that Hernandez-Llanas’ was mentally impaired, making him ineligible for execution under high court rulings.

Photo by Eric Gay | AP

HERNANDEZ-LLANAS

Evidence showed HernandezLlanas was in the U.S. illegally and had escaped from a Mexican prison, where he was serving a 25-year sentence for murder. He also was linked to the rape of a 15-year-old girl. While awaiting trial in the Kerr County case, evidence showed he slashed the face of another jail inmate with a razor blade. In prison, he was found with shanks, handmade weapons.

Testimony at his trial showed he lured Lich from the house the evening of Oct. 14, 1997, by telling the rancher there was a problem with a generator, then beat Lich as he was examining the machine.

“He just didn’t hit to kill him,” Lucy Wilke, one of the Kerr County trial prosecutors, recalled this week. “He just bludgeoned him again and again and again.”

Mexican government officials said Hernandez-Llanas was among more than four dozen Mexican citizens awaiting execution in the U.S. when the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands, found in 2004 they weren’t advised of their consular rights under the Vienna Convention when they were arrested. That court urged new hearings in courts where those people were convicted to determine if consular access would have affected their cases.

A year later, President George W. Bush agreed with the international court and urged the new hearings be held. The U.S. Supreme Court, however, overruled Bush, saying only Congress could require states to follow the international court’s ruling. Congress has not done so.

Wilke said the consulate was involved in Hernandez-Llanas’ case since his arrest.

Euclides del Moral, deputy director general for the Mexico Foreign Ministry’s Office of Protection of Mexicans Abroad, said Tuesday there were “certain gray aspects” of the consular notification in this case but acknowledged Hernandez-Llanas’ options to avoid execution “are very few.”

Hernandez-Llanas would be the sixth inmate executed in Texas this year. Another is set to die next week.

Eloisa Moreno, left, Ruben Garza, center, and Eloy Gonzalez, look over papers as they wait for a Texas Board of Education hearing to begin Tuesday in Austin. The Board of Education is considering a proposal to add a Mexican-American studies course as a statewide high school elective.

State mulls studies course

By WILL WEISSERT ASSOCIATED PRESS

AUSTIN — The Texas Board of Education considered a long-shot proposal Tuesday that would add a Mexican-American studies course as a statewide high school elective, listening to dozens of supporters who said such a class is the only way to truly understand a state where Hispanics make up 51 percent of public school students and which was once part of Mexico.

During hours of often-heated testimony, some backers of the proposal choked back tears and others argued bitterly with skeptical board members. Those opposed to the course say it would inject progressive politics into the classroom.

The board’s 10 Republicans and five Democrats vote on new courses Wednesday. It’s the first time Texas has considered a MexicanAmerican studies class, and specifics on exactly what the course would teach haven’t yet been devised — especially since historic figures of Mexican descent and Mexican-American culture are already covered in existing history and other classes at the high school level.

Even if approved, developing a Mexican-American curriculum and appropriate textbooks means it wouldn’t actually be ready for classrooms for two to three years.

But the debate re-ignited past ideological battles over the academic curriculums of America’s second most-populous state.

“The whole world is watching and the whole world is changed,” Tony Diaz, an activist from Houston, told the board. “It will never go back to the way it was. I mention that because Texas is behind, we need to help Texas catch up.”

Several Texas school boards, including its largest in Houston, have passed resolutions supporting a statewide Mexican-American studies course, and the state already offers more than 200 high school electives, including floral design. Still the proposal likely

IKE Continued from Page 1A home doctor,” and hence came the name for Dr. Ike’s.

Having already found success in his hometown of Laredo with the opening of his first store, Epstein decided to expand. Today, there are three Dr. Ike’s stores in total.

“We’re in a fishing community. We thought it’d be a good idea to do something different since everybody always has a carne asada,” said Clayton Epstein, Ike’s son and Dr Ike’s vice president.

People from Zapata, Laredo and surrounding areas attended the event. Standing outside the brightly-colored, orange and green façade, guests cheered as the Epstein family held a ribboncutting ceremony.

Based in Laredo since 1932, the Epstein family’s business began as “David Lumber Company,” later known as “Economy Lumber Yard,” and finally as Dr.

Ike’s in 1973.

“In 1973, the transition was made from a lumber yard to a home center,” Clayton Epstein said. “At the lumber yard, there’d be a lot of men smoking, and the home center brought women as customers. There were wider aisles. There was airconditioning.”

A more inclusive store brought more customers and allowed the Epsteins to expand to Zapata in 1984 and build another store in South Laredo in 1998. The store’s progress, however, has not always been a steady climb.

Competition In the early 1990s, home improvement chain Builder’s Square opened in Laredo. The Home Depot and Lowe’s followed suit, opening stores in Laredo in the early 2000s.

“

The whole world is watching and the whole world is changed … I mention that because Texas is behind, we need to help Texas catch up.”

TONY DIAZ, HOUSTON ACTIVIST

won’t pass.

Some Republicans on the board have said they’d be more amenable to a multicultural studies class encompassing the accomplishments of Mexican-Americans but also Texans of other races and ethnicities.

“From what I’m hearing, we have a tough road to climb,” said Ruben Cortez, a Democratic board member from Brownsville who proposed the course, adding “it shouldn’t be controversial.”

But even before public testimony began, Republican member David Bradley of Beaumont called the course “reverse racism” and threatened “to pull a Cesar Chavez and boycott.” That was a reference to legendary Hispanic labor leader Cesar Chavez and his boycotts on behalf of farmworkers — and Bradley eventually kept his word and failed to show up Tuesday.

Even without him, emotions ran high. In urging the board to “do the right thing” and approve the course, Vietnam War veteran and Hispanic activist Placido Salazar decried the Texas of yesteryear and “racists from the word go, or, as we call them today, ‘conservatives.’”

San Antonio Republican board member Ken Mercer noted that Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio were his favorite U.S. senators and said both are “Hispanic, but they’re from Cuba” and thus may not make the curriculum of a Mexican-American studies course. He suggested a Hispanic studies class might be more appropriate.

Those supporting a Mexican-

American studies course countered that “watered-down multicultural courses” wouldn’t go far enough.

“We’re simply asking that our stories be told,” said Leonardo Trevino, representing a group called Mexican American Studies Unidos. “When students begin to see themselves in the books that they are reading, seeing the histories and sacrifices of their grandparents and parents, they tend to do better in school.”

The issue has already flared in other states. In California, a recently introduced bill would mandate creating a standardized, statewide ethnic studies course there. In 2010, Arizona approved a law targeting a Tucson school district’s ethnic studies program, after officials complained that its Mexican-American studies component taught Latino students that they were oppressed by whites.

In Texas, school districts can already create their own, local Mexican-American studies courses — but there’s no statewide model.

Still, Debbie Ratcliffe, a spokeswoman for the Texas Education Agency, noted that youngsters are required to study Texas history in the fourth and seventh grades, and are already taught about subjects like the life of MexicanAmerican civil rights giant Hector P. Garcia and the efforts of trailblazing Tejanos dating back to the 1500s.

“I don’t want people to think it’s not being taught without a separate course,” Ratcliffe said “because it is.”

CLASHES Continued from Page 1A

“About 11 lumber yards closed because they decided they didn’t want to compete with Builder’s Square, and of course they gave us competition,” said Ike Epstein.

Laredoans, however, have continued to support Dr. Ike’s, and the owner suspects it may be because of how the business involves itself in civic events.

“We’re still here because the people from Laredo support their hometown team,” Ike said. “We’re like the (Martin High School) Tigers or Nixon (High School).”

From hosting cancer drives to supporting Little League baseball teams, to providing his customers with free popcorn and free coffee in the mornings, Ike Epstein says he knows the importance of community involvement.

(Gabriela A. Treviño may be reached at 956-728-2579 or gtrevino@lmtonline.com)

the last few days: four suspected gang members who clashed with soldiers in the Miguel Aleman township on Saturday and a female mourner shot at a funeral in Matamoros on Thursday.

Tamaulipas is home to both the Gulf cartel and the Zetas drug gang. The confrontations followed joint operations by army and police that netted dozens of suspected drug cartel gunmen, along with vehicles and weapons.

The government statement did not identify the gangs involved in the Sunday clashes, but Tampico Mayor Gustavo Torres told Milenio TV that eight victims in his city were apparently linked to the Gulf Cartel.

On Saturday in Miguel Aleman, near Ciudad Mier, soldiers killed four

gunmen, wounded two others and captured four after the army patrol came under fire from a sport utility vehicle that featured homemade armoring. Such vehicles are frequently used by area drug gangs and have steel plates welded across their windows and body panels. In and around the vehicle, soldiers found 17 rifles, including a .50-caliber sniper rifle, two grenade launchers and two grenades.

The previous day, gunmen had opened fire at a hotel in Ciudad Mier, but it was unclear whether anyone was hurt there.

Eight employees of Weatherford International Ltd., a Swiss-based oil services company, were at the hotel, but all are “fine and accounted for,” according to company spokeswoman Kelley

Hughes.

Some clashes may have been sparked by raids during the last week of March, in which soldiers and police arrested 34 suspects, seized 41 vehicles, 28 guns, two grenades, marijuana, and thousands of rounds of ammunition and 1,677 gallons (6,350 liters) of stolen gasoline. Drug gangs in some parts of Mexico have made a side business of tapping into government-owned pipelines to steal fuel.

Confrontations can also erupt from inter-gang rivalries, which have raged in Tamaulipas for years.

On Thursday, gunmen opened fire on mourners in a funeral for two slain men in Matamoros, across the border from Brownsville, Texas, killing one woman.

SUMMIT Continued from Page 1A ing on Castro to urge Obama to stop deportations of families.

No one removed the woman, who began shouting again when the panel was over.

Castro, the keynote speaker at the 2012 Democratic National Convention, did not respond to the woman but later said he was troubled by families who are deported after minor crimes such

as traffic stops.

“My hope is that his administration will go about it in a different way. I’m not comfortable with the number of deportations,” Castro said.

President Obama is scheduled to give the keynote address Thursday. Bill Clinton will speak Wednesday, and George W. Bush will be the event’s final speaker

Thursday. George H.W. Bush, 89, is the only living former president not attending the summit.

The library also has a “Cornerstones of Civil Rights” exhibit that features the original Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965, both signed

by Johnson, and a copy of the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation signed by President Abraham

Lincoln that declared all slaves in Confederate states free.

Another opening panel Thursday discussed the sweeping victories of same-sex couples in federal court that overturned state bans on gay marriage. Attorney David Boies, who is fighting the same-sex marriage ban in Virginia, said attitudes across the country about the issue are rap-

idly changing among young people.

“That’s going to settle the issue in this country,” Boies said.

The early discussions did not include any supporters of samesex marriage bans or get-tough immigration policies.

Most states and same-sex couples are waiting for a case to make its way to the U.S. Supreme Court.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 2014

THE ZAPATA TIMES 9A

JOSE LUIS MARTINEZ Jose Luis Martinez, 83, passed away April 6, 2014, surrounded by family at Doctors Hospital of Laredo.

He was born on Oct. 16, 1930, in Laredo, Texas, to Eloisa and Benito Martinez.

Mr. Martinez was a lifelong resident of Zapata, Texas. He graduated from Zapata High School in 1949. He served four years in the United States Army. During his service tour, he received the National Defense Service Medal and the Army of Occupation Medal (Germany). He was a sergeant at the time of his honorable discharge in 1954.

He dedicated 36 years of loyal service to the United States Department of Agriculture — Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service — in both Webb and Zapata counties before retiring in 1992.

Mr. Martinez enjoyed fishing and hunting and was a master gardener.

But most of all, he enjoyed being of service to his family.

He is preceded in death by his loving wife, Helga Ursula Eisentrager-Martinez; his parents, Benito and Eloisa C. Martinez; brothers: Juan Fernando Martinez, Benito Martinez Jr., Eloy

Roel Martinez, Mauro Mario Martinez and Angel Martinez; and nephew, Benito “Benny” Martinez.

He is survived by his children: Karoline M. Vela (Jaime), Jose Luis Martinez Jr. (Araceli), Daniel Martinez, Lisa Martinez and Linda Jo Huff (David); grandchildren: Jaime Vela Jr. (Adriana), Monica Vela, Araceli V. Ruiz (Rolando), Celina M. Guerra (Juan), Celisa Martinez, Ricardo Daniel Martinez, Lysandra Marie Martinez, Marah Martinez, Amanda Bianka Cervantes and Matthew Cervantes; three greatgrandchildren: Helga Elise Vela, Sofia Vela and Karolina Marissa Ruiz; siblings: Carlos Martinez (Maria Elena), Gilberto Martinez (Joyce) and Mercedes Gonzalez (Alfredo); and numerous

nieces and nephews.

During his final four years, Mr. Martinez survived multiple strokes and heart attacks. He always faced rehabilitation with courage and determination, and through it all remained a loving, dedicated father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

Visitation hours were Monday, April 7, 2014, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., with a rosary at 7 p.m. at Rose Garden Funeral Home.

The funeral procession departed 10 a.m.

Tuesday, April 8, 2014, for a 10:30 a.m. Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. Committal services followed at Zapata County Cemetery, including full military honors by the American Legion Post 486 Color Guard.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.rosegardenfuneralhome.com.

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

US bacon prices rising

By M.L. JOHNSON ASSOCIATED PRESS

MILWAUKEE — A virus never before seen in the U.S. has killed millions of baby pigs in less than a year, and with little known about how it spreads or how to stop it, it’s threatening pork production and pushing up prices by 10 percent or more.

Scientists think porcine epidemic diarrhea, which does not infect humans or other animals, came from China, but they don’t know how it got into the country or spread to 27 states since last May. The federal government is looking into how such viruses might spread, while the pork industry, wary of future outbreaks, has committed $1.7 million to research the disease.

The U.S. is both a top producer and exporter of pork, but production could decline about 7 percent this year compared to last — the biggest drop in more than 30 years, according to a recent report from Rabobank, which focuses on the food, beverage and agribusiness industries.

Already, prices have shot up: A pound of bacon averaged $5.46 in February, 13 percent more than a year ago, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Ham and chops have gone up too, although not as much.

File photo by Charlie Neibergall | AP

In this 2009 photo, Dr. Craig Rowles stands with hogs in one of his Carroll, Iowa, hog buildings.

Farmer and longtime veterinarian Craig Rowles did all he could to prevent PED from spreading to his farm in Iowa, the nation’s top pork producer and the state hardest hit by the disease. He trained workers to spot symptoms, had them shower and change clothing before entering barns and limited deliveries and visitors.

Despite his best efforts, the deadly diarrhea attacked in November, killing 13,000 animals in a matter of weeks, most of them less than 2 weeks old.

Estimates of how many pigs have died in the past year vary, ranging from at least 2.7 million to more than 6 million. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says the

die-off has had a hand in shrinking the nation’s pig herd by 3 percent to about 63 million pigs.

Diarrhea affects pigs like people: Symptoms that are uncomfortable in adults become life-threatening in newborns that dehydrate quickly.

The best chance at saving young pigs is to wean them and then pump them with clear fluids that hydrate them without taxing their intestines.

“It’s very difficult for the people who are working the barns at that point,” Rowles said. “... No one wants to go to work today and think about making the decision of baby pigs that need to be humanely euthanized because they can’t get up anymore.”

Scant relief: Summer gas price to dip a penny

By JONATHAN FAHEY ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW YORK — Drivers will get the slightest of breaks on gasoline prices this summer, according to the Energy Department.

The national average price is forecast to fall — by just one cent — to $3.57 a gallon between April and September, the months when Americans do most of their driving.

Still, that would be the lowest average summer price since 2010.

For the year, the department’s Energy Information Administration expects gasoline to average $3.45 a gallon, down from $3.51 last year and also the lowest since 2010.

World demand for oil is growing, but supplies are growing faster than demand, thanks to higher production in the U.S., Canada and elsewhere. That will keep a lid on the price of crude and gasoline.

The price of Brent crude, a benchmark used to price oil used by many U.S. refineries and the most important factor in gasoline prices, is forecast to fall 4 percent this year.

U.S. drivers are expected to burn slightly more gasoline than they did last year, according to the EIA. More people will drive more miles as the economy continues to improve, but they are driving more fuel effi-

File photo by Rich Pedroncelli | AP

In this file photo taken Friday, March 7, Eric Henry gases up his car in Sacramento, Calif. Drivers will get the slightest of breaks on gasoline prices this summer, according to the Energy Department.

U.S. drivers are expected to burn slightly more gasoline than they did last year, according to the EIA. More people will drive more miles as the economy continues to improve, but they are driving more fuel efficient cars. That will prevent gasoline demand from rising as fast as the number of miles driven. cient cars. That will prevent gasoline demand from rising as fast as the number of miles driven.

EIA Administrator Adam Sie-

minski warned in a conference call with reporters Tuesday that unexpected factors such as refinery outages, pipeline problems or geopolitical events that

disrupt crude flows could send prices quickly higher.

The sudden return of supplies could also send prices lower.

The average price of gasoline

last summer was five cents lower than what EIA had forecast last spring.

Sieminski said that the amount of oil kept out of the market because of political unrest and logistical factors around the world is far higher now than in the past. Turmoil in Libya, Sudan and elsewhere is keeping about 2.5 million barrels per day of oil off the market, about 3 percent of world demand, up from 500,000 barrels historically, he said.

That has kept the price of Brent crude higher than anticipated in recent months, and it has led to slightly higher gasoline prices than forecast.

The average price of gasoline in the U.S. was $3.59 a gallon Tuesday, the same as last year at this time, according to AAA, OPIS and Wright Express. It has risen steadily since it was $3.27 in early February, as it does almost every late winter and early spring while refiners shut down plants for annual maintenance and switch to more expensive summer blends of gasoline designed to meet clean air rules.

Tom Kloza, chief oil analyst at OPIS and GasBuddy.com, predicts gasoline will continue to rise slightly until it peaks at about $3.65 a gallon in late April, before drifting lower.

That would make for an annual peak lower than last year’s $3.79 a gallon and 2012’s $3.94 a gallon.

10A THE ZAPATA TIMES

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 2014