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FEDERAL CRIME
IMMIGRATION
Drug group bust 24 alleged traffickers arrested by authorities By PHILIP BALLI THE ZAPATA TIMES
Twenty-four Laredoans who were alleged members of a drug trafficking group have been arrested and charged with multiple violations of federal law. According to the indictment, the
organization was responsible for distributing cocaine, crack and marijuana throughout the Laredo area, maintaining drug premises and utilizing minor to distribute the narcotics. The indictment alleges the conspiracy spanned from January 2012 to April 2014. The suspects were identified as:
Adan “12” Melendez, 38 Gerardo “Jerry” Melendez, 31 Rafael “Lito” Andres Melendez, Mario Alberto Melendez, 34 Mario “Chito” Alberto Gutierrez, 38
Hidalgo County Constable Lazaro Gallardo Jr., and a deputy talk to a 4-year-old boy and his 17-year-old uncle from Honduras, who approached Gallardo after crossing the Rio Grande from Mexico.
See ARRESTS PAGE 10A
$1.57B extra for migrants
OREGON SHOOTING
WHEN DOES IT END? Another gunman claims one By NIGEL DUARA & JONATHAN COOPER ASSOCIATED PRESS
TROUTDALE, Ore. — A teen gunman armed with a rifle shot and killed a student Tuesday and injured a teacher before he likely killed himself at a high school in a quiet Columbia River town in Oregon, authorities said. After the shooting stopped, police spotted the suspect slumped on a toilet in a bathroom but couldn’t see what was happening with him. Officers used a robot with a camera to investigate and discovered the suspect was dead and that he had likely killed himself, Troutdale, police spokesman Sgt. Carey Kaer said. Authorities have tentatively identified the gunman and the slain student, who was found in a locker
Photo by Johnny Hanson/Houston Chronicle | AP
42
Photo by Troy Wayrynen | AP
Brandi Wilson, left, and her daughter, Trisha Wilson, 15, right, embrace Trish Hall, a mother waiting for her student, as students arrived at the Fred Meyer grocery store parking lot in Wood Village, Ore., after a shooting at Reynolds High School on Tuesday in nearby Troutdale. room at Reynolds High School, but the names were being withheld until their families were notified, police Chief Scott Anderson said. The teacher’s injuries weren’t life-threatening, and he was treated at the scene. He was identified as Todd Rispler, a 50-yearold physical education instructor and former track Associated Press
See SHOOTING PAGE 10A
By SUSAN CARROLL & DAVID MCCUMBER HEARST NEWSPAPERS
The Obama administration plans to ask Congress for an additional $1.57 billion to deal with the steep influx of children caught crossing the border illegally and alone in the 2015 fiscal year. The bulk of the additional requested funding — some $1.4 billion — would go to the Department of Health and Human Service’s Office of Refugee Resettlement, which is responsible for the long-term care and placement of unaccompanied children, senior administration officials said. The resettlement agency’s budget for the care of unaccompanied children has ballooned over the past decade — from some $35 million in 2003 to $868 million this year. The administration had requested the same amount for 2015, but the number of children pouring into the system has skyrocketed, officials said, overwhelming the government’s detention network and busting the budget. Rep. Henry Cuellar, DLaredo, a member of the Appropriations Committee, said, “I don’t know why the White House didn’t do a better job of anticipating this. Their initial request wasn’t off by a thousand dollars, it was off by $1.4
billion. So you can see why we have to look very carefully at this.” Along with an additional $1.4 billion for the Office of Refugee Resettlement, the Department of Homeland Security also is asking for $166 million to help cover expenses, including overtime and transportation, officials said. “This recent increase in unaccompanied children has created an acute humanitarian situation,” Brian Deese, deputy director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, wrote in a May 30 letter to Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Maryland, the chairwoman of the Senate appropriations committee, detailing the need for additional funding. “The entire administration is focused on addressing the immediate and pressing challenges to make sure these children are appropriately cared for, as required by federal law.”
Panel to mull request Cuellar said he expects the Department of Homeland Security’s appropriation bill to be marked up in committee Wednesday. “We’ll see if we can give Homeland some help, and we’ll do more work on this when it reaches the conference committee,” Cuellar
See MIGRANTS PAGE 10A
CRIME
Man arrested for alleged immigrant transport By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
A Zapata County resident accused of transporting immigrants to a South Laredo Walmart has been arrested, court records obtained this week state. A criminal complaint filed
June 2 charges David Lynn Moncivais, 31, with transporting illegal immigrants within the United States with a motor vehicle. He is in federal custody. The charges date back to May 29. That morning, a Department of Public Safety trooper pulled over a gold 2001 Chevrolet Silve-
rado about a half-mile south of Rio Bravo for failing to maintain a single lane violation and use of vision reducing matter on windows. A warning citation was issued for the charges, court records state. The trooper allegedly noticed that Moncivais had 12 passengers
inside the Silverado. None of the passengers were properly secured with a seatbelt, the complaint states. Homeland Security Investigations special agents and task force officers arrived at the scene, and Moncivais was identified as the main suspect, according to court records.
The 12 passengers were allegedly determined to be undocumented immigrants — 11 Mexican nationals and one woman from El Salvador. In a post-arrest interview, Moncivais, without having an attorney present, said
See TRANSPORT PAGE 10A
PAGE 2A
Zin brief CALENDAR
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014
AROUND THE WORLD
TODAY IN HISTORY
Thursday, June 12
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Grief support group. Noon to 1:30 p.m. First United Methodist Church, 1220 McClelland Ave. Free and open to public. Contact Patricia Cisneros at 722-1674 or pcisneros@mhm.org. Los Amigos Duplicate Bridge Club. 1:15 p.m. to 5 p.m. Laredo Country Club. Call Beverly Cantu at 7270589.
Friday, June 13 Registration for 3rd Annual 5k Run, Walk & Roll for Rehab. 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Academy Sports & Outdoors at San Bernardo Avenue. $15 adults and $10 Kid’s ½ Mile Run (10 and under). Call 722-2431.
Tuesday, June 17 “The Calling” series of Bible talks. 6:30 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. Laredo Church of Christ Chapel, 1505 Calle del Norte, Suite 340. Contact Miguel Zuñiga at 286-9631 or mglzuñiga@yahoo.com.
AP photo
A Kurdish policeman stands guard while refugees from Mosul head to the self-ruled northern Kurdish region in Irbil, Iraq, 217 miles north of Baghdad on Tuesday. Islamic militants overran parts of Iraq’s second-largest city of Mosul on Tuesday, driving security forces from their posts and seizing the provincial government headquarters, security bases and other key buildings. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki pressed parliament to declare a state of emergency. The number of casualties was unknown.
Thursday, June 19 Grief support group. Noon to 1:30 p.m. First United Methodist Church, 1220 McClelland Ave. Free and open to public. Contact Patricia Cisneros at 722-1674 or pcisneros@mhm.org. Los Amigos Duplicate Bridge Club. 1:15 p.m. to 5 p.m. Laredo Country Club. Call Beverly Cantu at 7270589. J.W. Nixon’s Class of 1989 selling tickets for 25th reunion. 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. 317 E. Calton Road #1. $25 per person for event on Friday, July 25 at Life Fair, Branding Iron; $25 per person for event on Saturday, July 26 at Embassy Suites.
Saturday, June 21 3rd Annual 5K Run, Walk & Roll for Rehab to benefit Ruthe B. Cowl Rehabilitation Center. 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. North Central Park. $15 early registration (May 21-June 13) and $20 late registration day of event, from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m.. $10 kids ½ mile run (10 and under). Call 722-2431. South Texas Food Bank’s bucket brigade. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. HillsideMcPherson, McPherson-Shiloh, CaltonYeary, Springfield-Del Mar, GuadalupeMeadow, Saunders-Bartlett, ZacatecasZapata Highway and Arkansas-Clark. Volunteers collecting coins and dollars. Call 324-2432.
Monday, June 23 Zapata County Commissioners Court meeting. 9 a.m. Zapata County Courthouse. Call Roxy Elizondo at 7659920.
Tuesday, June 24 “The Calling” series of Bible talks. 6:30 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. Laredo Church of Christ Chapel, 1505 Calle del Norte, Suite 340. Contact Miguel Zuñiga at 286-9631 or mglzuñiga@yahoo.com.
Wednesday, June 25 1964 Zapata High School Class 50th reunion. Dinner at The Steak House. Call Dora Martinez at 324-1226 or Ninfa Gracia at 500-5219.
Thursday, June 26 Grief support group. Noon to 1:30 p.m. First United Methodist Church, 1220 McClelland Ave. Free and open to public. Contact Patricia Cisneros at 722-1674 or pcisneros@mhm.org. Los Amigos Duplicate Bridge Club. 1:14 p.m. to 5 p.m. Laredo Country Club. Call Beverly Cantu at 7270589.
Monday, June 30 Monthly meeting of Laredo Parkinson’s Disease Support Group. 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Laredo Medical Center, Tower B, First Floor Community Center. Free information pamphlets available in Spanish and English. Call Richard Renner (English) at 645-8649 or Juan Gonzalez (Spanish) at 2370666.
Tuesday, July 1 “The Calling” series of Bible talks. 6:30 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. Laredo Church of Christ Chapel, 1505 Calle del Norte, Suite 340. Contact 286-9631 or mglzuñiga@yahoo.com.
Thursday, July 3 Grief support group. Noon to 1:30 p.m. First United Methodist Church, 1220 McClelland Ave. Contact 722-1674 or pcisneros@mhm.org.
Militants take Iraqi city By AMEER N. YACOUB & ADAM SCHRECK ASSOCIATED PRESS
BAGHDAD — In a stunning assault that exposed Iraq’s eroding central authority, alQaida-inspired militants overran much of Mosul on Tuesday, seizing government buildings, pushing out security forces and capturing military vehicles as thousands of residents fled the second-largest city. The rampage by the black banner-waving insurgents was a heavy defeat for Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki as he tries to hold onto power, and highlighted the growing strength of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. The group has been advancing in both Iraq and Syria, capturing territory in a campaign to set up a militant enclave. There were no immediate estimates on how many people were killed in the assault, a stark reminder of the reversals in Iraq
5 troops killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan KABUL, Afghanistan — Five American troops with a special operations unit were killed by a U.S. airstrike called in to help them after they were ambushed by the Taliban in southern Afghanistan, in one of the deadliest friendly fire incidents in nearly 14 years of war, officials said Tuesday. The deaths were a fresh reminder that the conflict is nowhere near over for some U.S. troops, who will keep fighting for at least two more years. Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm. John Kirby said the five American troops were killed Monday “during a security operation in southern Afghanistan.” “Investigators are looking into the likelihood that friendly fire was the cause. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of these fallen,” Kirby said in a statement. In Washington, U.S. defense officials said the Americans were
since U.S. forces left. Earlier this year, Islamic State fighters took control of Fallujah, and government forces have been unable to take it back. Mosul is a much bigger, more strategic prize. The city and surrounding Ninevah province are a major export route for Iraqi oil and a gateway to Syria. “This isn’t Fallujah. This isn’t a place you can just cordon off and forget about,” said Michael Knights, a regional security analyst at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. “It’s essential to Iraq.” Al-Maliki pressed parliament to declare a state of emergency that would grant him greater powers, saying the public and government must unite “to confront this vicious attack, which will spare no Iraqi.” Experts said these could include curfews, restricting public movements and censoring the media.
with a special operations unit that they did not identify. Earlier, officials had said all five were special operations-qualified troops, but later an official said their exact affiliation was unclear and one or more may have been a conventional soldier.
Mexico debates whether to debate during cup MEXICO CITY — Mexico’s congress started debate Tuesday on the rules of a historic opening of the state-owned oil industry amid doubts about whether the discussion should be held during the World Cup soccer tournament. The World Cup opens Thursday and is expected to keep Mexicans glued to their television sets, just as the Senate holds debates from June 10-23 on how to open the oil, gas and electricity industries to private and foreign investors. Oil is a sensitive subject in Mexico; the 1938 expropriation of the industry still marks a point of national pride, but the coun-
try’s oil production has been fallen steadily.
Colombia, No. 2 rebel group announce peace BOGOTA, Colombia — President Juan Manuel Santos and Colombia’s No. 2 rebel group announced Tuesday that they have been holding exploratory peace talks, heralding hopes that the Andean nation’s two, long-enduring guerrilla conflicts could soon end. The announcement came just five days ahead of presidential elections in which not just Santos’ political fate but also that of his negotiations with the main insurgency hang in the balance. A statement published on the presidency’s website said exploratory talks with the National Liberation Army began in January. It says an agenda for formal talks would include “victims and the participation of society. The other topics remain to be agreed upon.” — Compiled from AP reports
AROUND THE NATION Judge strikes down California teacher tenure LOS ANGELES — A judge struck down tenure and other job protections for California’s public school teachers as unconstitutional Tuesday, saying such laws harm students — especially poor and minority ones — by saddling them with bad teachers who are almost impossible to fire. Siding with the nine students who brought the lawsuit, he ruled that California’s laws have resulted in “a significant number of grossly ineffective teachers currently active in California classrooms.”
Prosecutor: Campus shooter went off meds SEATTLE — The gunman who killed one student and wounded two others at a small Seattle college last week had stopped taking his medications
Today is Wednesday, June 11, the 162nd day of 2014. There are 203 days left in the year. Today’s Highlights in History: On June 11, 1864, German composer Richard Strauss, known for such operas as “Der Rosenkavalier,” “Salome” and “Elektra” and tone poems like “Also sprach Zarathustra,” was born in Munich. On this date: In 1509, England’s King Henry VIII married his first wife, Catherine of Aragon. In 1770, Captain James Cook, commander of the British ship Endeavour, discovered the Great Barrier Reef off Australia by running onto it. In 1919, Sir Barton won the Belmont Stakes, becoming horse racing’s first Triple Crown winner. In 1942, the United States and the Soviet Union signed a lend-lease agreement to aid the Soviet war effort in World War II. In 1959, the Saunders-Roe Nautical 1, the first operational hovercraft, was publicly demonstrated off the southern coast of England. In 1963, a Buddhist monk, Thich Quang Duc, set himself afire on a Saigon street to protest the government of South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem. In 1987, Margaret Thatcher became the first British prime minister in 160 years to win a third consecutive term of office as her Conservatives held onto a reduced majority in Parliament. In 2001, Timothy McVeigh, 33, was executed by injection at the federal prison in Terre Haute, Indiana, for the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing that killed 168 people. Ten years ago: The nation bade a lingering goodbye to former President Ronald Reagan at a stately funeral service in Washington, D.C. followed hours later by a hilltop burial ceremony in his beloved California. Oklahoma City bombing conspirator Terry Nichols was again spared the death penalty when jurors who’d convicted him of 161 murder counts in a state trial deadlocked over his sentence. Five years ago: With swine flu reported in more than 70 nations, the World Health Organization declared the first global flu pandemic in 41 years. One year ago: A parade of FBI and intelligence officials briefed the entire House on the government’s years-long collection of phone records and Internet usage, saying it was necessary for protecting Americans — and did not trample on their privacy rights. The American Civil Liberties Union and its New York chapter sued the federal government, asking a court to demand that the Obama administration end the program and purge the records it had collected. Today’s Birthdays: U.S. Rep. Charles B. Rangel, D-N.Y., is 84. Actor Gene Wilder is 81. Rock musician Frank Beard (ZZ Top) is 65. Actor Peter Bergman is 61. Pro Football Hall of Famer Joe Montana is 58. Actor Hugh Laurie is 55. TV personality Mehmet Oz, M.D. (“Dr. Oz”) is 54. Actor Peter Dinklage is 45. Actor Joshua Jackson is 36. Actor Shia LaBeouf is 28. Thought for Today: “Neither in the life of the individual nor in that of mankind is it desirable to know the future.” — Jakob Burckhardt, Swiss historian (1818-1897).
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Alex Caputo-Pearl, president elect of United Teachers Los Angeles, takes questions on about the verdict of the Vergara v. California lawsuit in Los Angeles on Tuesday. because he “wanted to feel the hate,” and he detailed his plans in a handwritten journal for two weeks before the attack, a prosecutor. “I just want people to die, and I’m gonna die with them!” Aaron Ybarra wrote the day of the
shooting, King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg said. Satterberg released new details of the allegations as he filed charges of first-degree murder, attempted murder and assault against Ybarra, 26. — Compiled from AP reports
SUBSCRIPTIONS/DELIVERY (956) 728-2555 The Zapata Times is distributed on Saturdays to 4,000 households in Zapata County. For subscribers of the Laredo Morning Times and for those who buy the Laredo Morning Times at newsstands, the Zapata Times is inserted. The Zapata Times is free. The Zapata Times is published by the Laredo Morning Times, a division of The Hearst Corporation, P.O. Box 2129, Laredo, Texas 78044. Phone (956) 728-2500. The Zapata office is at 1309 N. U.S. Hwy. 83 at 14th Avenue, Suite 2, Zapata, TX 78076. Call (956) 765-5113 or e-mail thezapatatimes.net
Local
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014
THE ZAPATA TIMES 3A
Community invited to New field op director Eagle Ford Shale event SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
UTSA, Laredo Community College team up for outreach SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
Organizers are inviting the community to share their thoughts during an Eagle Ford Shale presentation by the University of Texas at San Antonio’s Eagle Ford Shale Community Development Program and Laredo Community College’s Economic Develop-
ment Center The event takes place from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. today in Room 217 of LCC’s Kazen College Center at the Fort McIntosh campus. “We need your input and feedback on future community projects that can be beneficial to all communities within in your county,” a news release states.
Attendees can expect to learn more about UTSA’s Eagle Ford program and its outreach goal of working with communities in South Central Texas. RSVP at bit.ly/LCCeagleford or email Jason Clark at jason.clark@utsa.edu. For more information, call 210-458-2430.
READING CHALLENGE
U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced that David P. Higgerson, formerly the director of field operations for the El Paso Field Office, will take over field operations at the Laredo office. Higgerson, who is expected to start in late June, succeeds Noel Sanchez, a former deputy commander in the South Texas Campaign. “I look forward to reconnecting with the South Texas community where I had previously served for a substantial part of my career and working together in partnership with fellow federal, state and local law enforcement partners, trade stakeholders, consular and municipal officials from both the U.S. and the Government of Mexico to facilitate lawful trade and travel while upholding our priority bor-
HIGGERSON
der security mission,” Higgerson said. Higgerson will oversee the operations of eight ports of entry extending from Brownsville to Del Rio. The Laredo Field Office processes the largest amount of land-based commercial truck traffic in the nation, with nearly $143 billion in merchandise entering in fiscal year 2013 through 23 crossings, six airports and one seaport
which comprise the eight ports of entry. In 2013, officers seized 93,011 pounds of narcotics valued at $358 million while processing over 2.8 million commercial trucks, 19.3 million privately-owned vehicles, 53 million passengers and pedestrians and 69,364 buses within the Laredo Field Office. Higgerson served in his previous post starting in July 2013 and was responsible for the operation and enforcement activities at 11 ports of entry. He served as the DFO for the Tucson Field Office, from 2007 to 2012. Higgerson has more than 40 years of experience in government and is a graduate of St. John Military Academy. He also holds an associate’s degree in accounting. CBP’s Laredo Field Office is part of the South Texas Campaign.
Pair sent to prison Two sentenced for trying to smuggle heroin across bridge By PHILIP BALLI THE ZAPATA TIMES
Photo by Victor Strife | The Zapata Times
Newman Elementary student Jacob E. Gonzalez reads “Pete the Cat and His Magic Sunglasses” during a kickoff of the UISD Summer Reading Initiative at the district’s main office Tuesday morning. Organizers hope to challenge students to read and avoid the “summer slide.”
Two were sentenced Tuesday in federal court in Laredo to 46 months in prison for attempting to smuggle heroin through international bridge II. Jacquelin Trabilsy and Orlando Loza were arrested May 12, 2013, and charged with conspiracy and importation of 1 kilogram or more of heroin and 100 grams or more of heroin. As part of their plea agreements, Trabilsy and Loza pled guilty to importation of 100 grams or more of heroin, an offense punishable by five to 40 years in prison and a pos-
sible $5 million fine. The government dismissed the remaining counts against them. Upon serving their sentences, Trabilsy and Loza will be placed on a threeyear term of supervised release and drug/alcohol treatment and mental health programs. On May 12 of last year, the two entered the country via international bridge II as passengers on a commercial buss line. “At a secondary inspection, Customs and Border Patrol Officers conducted a search of Trabilsy and Loza and discovered the shoes being worn by Trabilsy and Loza were unusually heavy and did not
bend at the sole,” the criminal complaint states. An X-ray inspection revealed anomalies in the soles of the shoes and a CBP canine unit alerted officers to the presence of narcotics in both pairs of shoes, according the complaint. Officers took apart the shoes and discovered eight bundles inside. In their statements to Homeland Security Investigations special agents, Trabilsy and Loza both stated that they agreed to transport the bundles containing narcotics into the U.S., the complaint states. ( Philip Balli may be reached at 728-2528 or pballi@lmtonline.com)
PAGE 4A
Zopinion
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR SEND YOUR SIGNED LETTER TO EDITORIAL@LMTONLINE.COM
COLUMN
OTHER VIEWS
Bergdahl trade is not Benghazi By MICHAEL SMERCONISH THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER
Count me among the confounded by the White House handling of Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl. With the caveat that there’s still much we don’t know, on the surface it appears we were outnegotiated in the 5:1 swap with the Taliban, particularly in light of the circumstances that gave rise to the soldier’s capture. Bergdahl is not Benghazi. It was immediately evident that this debate does more than divide along partisan lines when GOP wordsmith Frank Luntz tweeted: “You can’t say you ‘support the troops,’ then argue against negotiations to free Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl from Taliban captivity.” While Luntz was supportive, Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein, chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, criticized the lack of consultation with Congress, only to have conservative Charles Krauthammer opine that such approval was not necessary. The White House was caught flat-footed by what was a predictable backlash, furthering the perception that this was not thought through. Announcing a deal with the Taliban is the sort of thing you do in a Friday document dump, not in a Rose Garden speech with a father who’s grown a beard to show understanding of the Taliban and boasts “Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim” — meaning “In the name of Allah, most gracious, most compassionate.” Where was the staff work? Did the White House know that, according to the Washington Post, a few days prior, Robert Bergdahl had tweeted to a Taliban spokesman and then removed: “I am still working to free all Guantanamo prisoners. God will repay for the death of every Afghan child, amen.” Did President Obama not know that, according to a June 2012 Rolling Stone story, when Bergdahl had sent his last email home on June 27, 2009, he wrote: “The horror that is America is disgusting,” a missive to which his father replied with a subject line saying: “Obey your conscience!” One wonders what would have been the result had Dad instead said, “Honor your commitment” or “Get some help.” Those aren’t the father/son exchanges that National Security Adviser Susan Rice must have had in mind when telling George Stephanopoulos that Bergdahl “served with honor and distinction.” And while it’s important that we not convict Bergdahl based upon a magazine story, it’s difficult to dismiss the narrative by Michael Hastings, which suggests that in the early morning hours of June 30, 2009, Bergdahl approached his team leader and asked whether it would cause problems if he left the base with his rifle and night-vision goggles. He was told it would, and then did leave, with water, a knife, his digital camera, and his diary. For 90 days there was an exhaustive search, and his colleagues now suggest that men died while trying to locate Bergdahl, although exactly how many is not clear. A few days ago, I asked
Whatever the true rationale, now that the call’s been made, the right path is for a full investigation to commence. If it’s determined that Bergdahl deserted, he should be prosecuted in a court of military justice. Richard Clarke, formerly a top counterterrorism official, whether the way Bergdahl got into Taliban hands was relevant to today’s debate. Clarke was quick to point out he’s on the outside and not equipped with all the facts but acknowledged he was “a little troubled by this one.” “Let’s say there was clear evidence someone had defected, then I wouldn’t feel any obligation ... if it’s a clear defection, then I’d be less concerned about getting him back,” Clarke said. Clarke is right, assuming what’s known today was known to the military when Bergdahl went missing. The president doesn’t see it that way. When asked about the decision during last week’s trip to Poland, he said: “Regardless of the circumstances, whatever those circumstances may turn out to be, we still get an American soldier back if he’s held in captivity. Period. Full stop. We don’t condition that. And that’s what every mom and dad who sees a son or daughter sent over in the war theater should expect from not just their commander-in-chief but the United States of America.” I can think of two reasons for him to ignore the “circumstances” surrounding Bergdahl, neither of which assuages my concern over the release of five Taliban leaders: First, that this is part of a larger deal with the Taliban, intended to secure a lasting peace in Afghanistan as our involvement winds down. Second, where the president is intent on closing Guantanamo, and where we haven’t sentenced, much less tried, the detainees, he’s concluded that he may as well get something of value in return for their release, namely the only American POW from Iraq or Afghanistan. Whatever the true rationale, now that the call’s been made, the right path is for a full investigation to commence. If it’s determined that Bergdahl deserted, he should be prosecuted in a court of military justice. No doubt his five years of captivity would be a mitigating factor in his sentence, but the rule of law demands that the case not end with his return, particularly if men died searching for him.
COLUMN
Texas Republicans must deal with ‘white party’s burden’ The GOP believes they’re doing better reaching out to minorities, but is it too little, too late? ‘Hispanics want the same thing you want,’ senator tells crowd
“
KEN HERMAN
FORT WORTH, Texas — An Asian-American, an African-American and a Hispanic-American walked into a meeting at the GOP state convention. “If you look in here, there’s not a lot of minorities,” said Victoria Ai Linh Bryant, the AsianAmerican. At a Texas GOP convention, diversity, in general, means Aggies and Longhorns in semipeaceful coexistence. The party takes a don’t-ask-don’t-tell approach on ethnic diversity, opting not to require delegates to list anything other than age. Numbers aren’t needed; the faces tell the story. This year’s state GOP convention, like every Texas GOP convention, was largely a bunch of white folks. And for Republicans, that’s a big, looming problem. An hour after Bryant’s opening observation at a Friday panel discussion on attracting minority support, moderator Brendan Steinhauser provided the punch line: “We may never win a presidential election again after 2020 if
we don’t get this right.” During the session, panel member Jennifer Korn, a Hispanic serving as the Republican National Committee’s Hispanic initiatives director, quantified the problem nationally: “Fifty thousand Hispanics turn 18 every month. I’ll repeat that. Fifty thousand Hispanics turn 18 every month.” The trend is similar in
“People coming here illegally keep their wages down. They see the impact in their crowded schools and in their overcrowded emergency rooms,” Patrick said. “They are with us on securing the border.” Robin Armstrong, the African-American on the Friday panel, said the best way to attract minorities to the GOP is a stealth
I’m going to take the high road and assume Hispanics vote Democratic because many just don’t like GOP policies. Texas, and it means this very red state could turn very blue. Republicans believe they’re doing better in reaching out to minorities. The RNC is spending $10 million on it. And party officials believe many minority voters, particularly Hispanics, are Republicans without knowing it. Houston state Sen. Dan Patrick, the GOP’s lieutenant governor nominee, told delegates Saturday that Hispanics “want the same things that you want,” including, he said, a tougher stance against illegal immigration.
one. Talk issues first, he counseled. “You really don’t go in saying, ‘Hey, I’m a Republican.’ You just go in and say, ‘Here are our values, this is what we believe, we care about your community’ and you’ll see a lot of open doors that way,” he said. The panelists talked about the best ways to reach minorities. Bryant said Vietnamese-Americans listen to a lot of radio. Armstrong said Juneteenth and Martin Luther King Day celebrations are good places to interact with African-Americans.
And, working with something he heard from a Pakistani-American work colleague, Armstrong had another idea based on something that’s worked for Houston Democratic U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee. “She shows up at their weddings. She doesn’t even know them. She shows up to funerals,” Armstrong said. “She’s an incompetent legislator, but the people know her and they vote for her.” There’s no doubt that the GOP’s future is directly tied to its ability to become more colorful. I’m going to take the high road here and assume Hispanics vote Democratic because, regardless of what some Republicans believe, many Hispanics just don’t like GOP policies. Nothing wrong with that, if that’s the way they feel. And it would be morally bankrupt for Republicans to change policies just to win elections, right? One thing you’ve got to say for Texas Democrats; a generation of losing statewide races hasn’t caused them to waver on their beliefs. Look for the Republicans to try to change their tone, but not their positions. And look for them to maybe start showing up at Hispanic weddings and funerals.
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State
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014
THE ZAPATA TIMES 5A
Doctors settle abortion concern
Border Patrol rescue
ASSOCIATED PRESS
DALLAS — Two doctors whose clinics perform abortions have had their admitting privileges at a Dallas hospital reinstated as part of a settlement in their lawsuit. Dr. Lamar Robinson and Dr. Jasbir Ahluwalia argued in their suit filed earlier this year that University General Hospital revoked their privileges because they perform abortions. They said University General violated a state law that forbids hospitals from penalizing doctors for either performing abortions or declining the procedure. University General revoked the doctors’ privileges because the hospital didn’t provide the service and considered the procedure “disruptive” to its business and reputation, according to The Dallas Morning News. Terms of the settlement, reached Monday, were not disclosed but the hospital says the doctors received no money. The doctors’ New York-based attorney, Shannon Rose Selden, said she was “delighted” with the agreement. “This is a great result for our clients and their patients and for reproductive rights,” she
4 immigrants were lost for days without food, water ASSOCIATED PRESS
Photo by Jennifer Whitney | New York Times
Medical assistant Nyla Muñoz begins a sonogram exam on the Whole Women’s Health Clinic’s last day of seeing patients, in McAllen on March 4. told the Morning News. A controversial law adopted last year requires doctors who perform abortions to have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of the clinic where they perform the procedure. The requirement drew heavy debate from special-interest groups. Anti-abortion advocates argued it helps increase patient safety, and critics said it’s an effort to over-regulate abortion out of existence in
Texas. Robinson and Ahluwalia obtained admitting privileges at University General after the law went into effect. They perform abortions at the clinic each man operates and not at the hospital, according to their lawsuit. A Dallas County judge had temporarily reinstated their admitting privileges but that order was scheduled to expire Tuesday.
The president of University General Health System, Donald Sapaugh, denied any effort was made to penalize the doctors. “We don’t believe we discriminated then,” he told the Morning News. “We don’t discriminate against any physician.” The admitting-privilege provision has created problems for abortion clinics. About a third of the 37 clinics in the state that were open before the law took effect have since closed.
FALFURRIAS — U.S. Border Patrol agents have rescued four immigrants lost for days on rugged ranchlands without food or water in South Texas. The Border Patrol says the group was found Monday near Falfurrias by a search-and-rescue team after crossing the border illegally and wandering the rural terrain for four days. Someone in the group finally called 911. The agency says a 27-year-old woman collapsed while walking and was resuscitated by emergency personnel. She was taken to a hospital for treatment. Additional Border Patrol agents recently were temporarily assigned to the Rio Grande Valley sector, with about 20 responsible for search-and-rescue operations. The agency says the rescue teams respond to “numerous” calls from immigrants who need assistance after becoming lost.
LULAC sues over learning English in schools By WILL WEISSERT ASSOCIATED PRESS
AUSTIN — Advocacy groups filed a federal lawsuit against Texas on Tuesday, alleging that Hispanic English language learners are having their civil rights violated by not receiving adequate instruction in high schools statewide. The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund filed a 27-page complaint on behalf of the League of United Latin American Citizens in the Eastern District of Texas. It argues that the state is violating the Equal Educational Opportunities Act of 1974, which says no state can deny students educational opportunities by failing to “take appropri-
ate action to overcome language barriers that impede equal participation” in instructional programs. The suit singles out Southwest Independent School District and North East Independent School District, both in San Antonio, but alleges similar problems statewide. “It could have been hundreds” of school districts, said David Hinojosa, MALDEF’s southwest regional counsel. “It would be an exception not to be sued.” The suit alleges that English language learner programs are underfunded and poorly monitored, and that instructors are often not properly trained. Hinojosa said some programs feature “pullout” initiatives where students
are removed from regular classes for a few hours for extra English instruction — only to be thrown back into full-emersion courses afterward. The suit says high school English language learners “across Texas continue to perform abysmally due to the grossly deficient language programs.” It seeks a trial in federal court, though it’s not yet clear when and where it would take place, Hinojosa said. Named as chief defendant is Texas Education Commissioner Michael Williams. Spokeswoman DeEtta Culbertson said Texas Education Agency attorneys had shared the complaint with the Texas attorney general’s office. “Many of the allegations have already been heard in federal
court and defended by the state,” Culbertson said. “We stand ready to defend them again.” Indeed, advocacy groups have been suing Texas on behalf of English language learners since 1973. Four years ago, the U.S. 5th Circuit Court reversed a lower court ruling challenging as deficient Texas’ monitoring of instruction programs for English language learners — but also expressed concern about the “alarming performance” of such students. Hinojosa said Tuesday’s suit has a better chance of succeeding because it names individual districts, rather than simply state educational officials who aren’t directly responsible for English language learner instruction, and
because state monitoring controls that were still new in previous years have now been around long enough to demonstrate their ineffectiveness. During the 2012-13 school year, the most recent data available, more than 863,000 students — more than 17 percent of the state’s total public-school enrollment — were English language learners. About 90 percent of Texas’ English language learners are Hispanic. Though most are grade school-age or younger, the suit says many high school students continue to need English language training and that “these students’ chances of succeeding in the mainstream programs and exiting the ELL programs diminish as they progress in grade level.”
PÁGINA 6A
Zfrontera
Agenda en Breve ZAPATA 06/11 — La Clase 1964 de Zapata High School se reunirá para celebrar los 50 años de haber graduado. El miércoles 25 de junio en el Steak House. Interesados en asistir a la cena pueden solicitar informes con Dora Martínez al (956) 324-1226 o con Ninfa Gracia al (956) 500-5219.
LAREDO 06/12 — El Planetario Lamar Bruni Vergara de TAMIU estará proyectando “The Secret of the Cardboard Rocket” (El Secreto del Cohete de Cartón), a las 2 p.m.; “Earth, Moon and Sun” (Tierra, Luna y Sol) a las 3 p.m.; “Wonders of the Universe” (Maravillas del Universo), a las 4 p.m.; “Destination Saturn” (Destino Saturno), a las 5 p.m. Costo: 3 dólares niños y 4 dólares adultos. 06/13 — Inician inscripciones para la tercera carrera anual 5k del Centro de Rehabilitación Ruthe B. Cowl, en la tienda Academy Sports & Outdoors (sobre calle San Bernardo), de 4 p.m. a 6 p.m. Inscripción anticipada 15 dólares para adultos y 10 dólares para niños. Más información llamando al 7222431. 06/14 — Segunda carrera en el lodo “Sin Lodo, No Hay Gloria”, en los jardines del Stadio Uni-Trade, a partir de las 8:30 a.m. Evento gratuito para espectadores. Para más información llame al 956-7LEMURS (53-6877). 06/14 — El Planetario Lamar Bruni Vergara de TAMIU estará proyectando “The Secret of the Cardboard Rocket” (El Secreto del Cohete de Cartón), a las 2 p.m.; “Earth, Moon and Sun” (Tierra, Luna y Sol) a las 3 p.m.; “Wonders of the Universe” (Maravillas del Universo), a las 4 p.m.; “Destination Saturn” (Destino Saturno), a las 5 p.m. Costo: 3 dólares niños y 4 dólares adultos. 06/17 — El Planetario Lamar Bruni Vergara de TAMIU estará proyectando “The Secret of the Cardboard Rocket” (El Secreto del Cohete de Cartón), a las 2 p.m.; “Earth, Moon and Sun” (Tierra, Luna y Sol) a las 3 p.m.; “Wonders of the Universe” (Maravillas del Universo), a las 4 p.m.; “Destination Saturn” (Destino Saturno), a las 5 p.m. Costo: 3 dólares niños y 4 dólares adultos.
MIÉRCOLES 11 DE JUNIO DE 2014
CAMPAÑA
MATAMOROS, MÉXICO
Serán deportados
Riña en penal deja ocho heridos
Menores de edad no permanecerán en EU POR LUIS ALONSO LUGO ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON — Estados Unidos inició una campaña informativa en Guatemala, El Salvador y Honduras para aclarar a sus habitantes que serán deportados si llegan a territorio norteamericano sin una visa vigente. Funcionarios gubernamentales dijeron a periodistas que la campaña, la cual también explica los riesgos a los que se exponen los centroamericanos que para llegar a Estados Unidos atraviesan México, es parte de la respuesta de Washington a la llegada de 35.000 menores sin acompañante adulto procedentes de las tres naciones centroamericanas durante los últimos ocho meses. Una de las funcionarias, que pidió el anonimato por no estar autorizada a hablar con periodistas sobre el tema, dijo que estas personas quedan fuera del alcance del proyecto de reforma migratoria aprobado hace un año por el Senado y del programa para suspender deportaciones a algunos inmigrantes no autorizados menores de 30 años (conocido como DACA por sus siglas en inglés) porque ambos establecen una fecha límite de ingreso a Estados Unidos. “No hay mitigación
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Foto por Christopher Sherman | Associated Press
Brian Durán, de 13 años y originario de Comayagua, Honduras, y quien viajó solo hasta la frontera entre EU y México, destiende su ropa en el albergue para inmigrantes Senda de Vida durante su travesía en Reynosa, México. posible. Estos niños están llegando y terminan en procedimientos de deportación”, dijo la funcionaria. La Casa Blanca calificó la semana pasada al incremento explosivo en la llegada de menores centroamericanos sin acompañante adulto como una crisis humanitaria y pidió al Congreso fondos adicionales por 1.400 millones de dólares para albergar, alimentar y transportar a estos niños que alegan haberse trasladado a Estados Unidos para huir de la violencia que aqueja a sus países.
Foto por Christopher Sherman | Associated Press
Perla Calidono, de 3 años y de Copán, Honduras, juega en el albergue para inmigrantes Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe en Reynosa, México.
MÉXICO — Al menos ocho presos resultaron heridos de quemaduras tras una riña que provocó un incendio dentro de un penal en Matamoros, México, ciudad fronteriza con Brownsville, informaron el lunes autoridades estatales. El gobierno de Tamaulipas, al que pertenece Matamoros, señaló en un comunicado que al mediodía del lunes se dio una gresca entre reclusos de dos módulos distintos que provocaron un incendio. La autoridad estatal señaló que los internos resultaron con quemaduras y se registraron daños materiales, los cuales no especificó. El gobierno aseguró que policías estatales y militares controlaron la riña y el incendio. Los reos heridos recibían atención y sin aclarar cuántos, señaló que algunos se encuentran delicados. No se precisó si los involucrados purgaban penas relacionadas con el narcotráfico o cuáles fueron los delitos por los que fueron condenados. Tamaulipas ha sido por años campo de batallas entre los carteles rivales del Golfo y Los Zetas. Esas disputas se han presentado dentro de las prisiones a las que son enviados miembros de esos grupos. La Comisión Nacional de Derechos humanos ha ubicado a Tamaulipas como uno de los estados en los que la situación de los penales es caótica, tanto por incidentes violentos como por el control que reos tienen de algunas prisiones.
EDUCACIÓN
Grupo LULAC demanda a Texas Documento indica como principal acusado a Michael Williams, Comisionado de Educación de Texas ASSOCIATED PRESS
AUSTIN — Un grupo de defensa nacional presentó una demanda colectiva, federal de derechos civiles en contra de Texas, alegando que los estudiantes hispanos del idioma Inglés no están recibiendo la instrucción adecuada en las escuelas preparatorias (high schools) de todo el estado. La Liga de Ciudadanos
Estudiantes del idioma Inglés ‘continúan desempeñándose pésimamente’. Latinoamericanos Unidos (League of United Latin American Citizens — LULAC, por sus siglas en inglés) presentó la demanda el martes en el Distrito Este de Texas. Su queja nombró al Comisionado de
Educación de Texas Michael Williams como principal acusado. LULAC sostiene que Texas se encuentra violando la Ley de Igualdad de Oportunidades Educativas de 1974. La misma indica
que ningún Estado puede negar a los estudiantes oportunidades educativas, al no “adoptar acciones adecuadas para superar las barreras lingüísticas que impiden la igualdad de participación” en los
programas de instrucción. La demanda señala a dos distritos escolares de San Antonio, pero dice que persisten problemas similares en las escuelas preparatorias en todo el estado. Agrega que estudiantes del idioma Inglés “continúan desempeñándose pésimamente” gracias a “los programas de idiomas extremadamente deficientes” en muchas áreas.
NUEVO LAREDO, MX 06/11 — 55ª Muestra Internacional de Cine presenta “¡Somos lo mejor!” (Suecia-Dinamarca/2013) a las 7 p.m. en Cinemex Plaza Real/HEB. Costo: 20 pesos. 06/12 — 55ª Muestra Internacional de Cine presenta “Los canallas” (Francia-Alemania/2013) a las 7 p.m. en Cinemex Plaza Real/ HEB. Costo: 20 pesos. 06/12 — Grupo de Teatro Expresión presenta la obra “NN12”, en el Teatro Lucio Blanco de Casa de la Cultura a las 7 p.m., como parte del programa Jueves de Teatro. Entrada gratuita. 06/13 — Exposición “Poesía a la Ciudad”, una exhibición de fotografías del Antiguo Nuevo Laredo, a partir de las 6 p.m. en el Centro Cívico. Entrada gratuita. 06/13 — Inauguración de las Exposiciones Rojo-Felgueres Geometrías Orgánicas y Edén de Roger Von Gunten en el Museo Reyes Meza, a las 7 p.m. Entrada gratuita. 06/13 — 55ª Muestra Internacional de Cine presenta “Club Sandwich” (México/2013) a las 7 p.m. en Cinemex Plaza Real/HEB. Costo: 20 pesos. — Tiempo de Zapata
TAMAULIPAS
Piden modificar artículo de Constitución TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
Legisladores se encuentran analizando, dentro del Congreso del Estado de Tamaulipas, reformas al artículo tercero de la Constitución Política para el Estado. El artículo tercero refiere que la educación que imparta el Estado tenderá a desarrollar armónicamente todas las facultades del ser humano y fomentará en él, a la vez, el amor a la Patria, el respeto a los derechos humanos y la conciencia de la solidaridad internacional, en la independencia y en la justicia, según comunicado de prensa. La Diputada Patricia Guillermina Rivera Velázquez (PAN) expuso en su mensaje ante el Congreso, expuso que los niños y adolescentes tienen derecho a una educación libre de violencia. “(Esto) implica que en el entorno escolar no se ejerza contra los niños y adolescentes violencia física, sexual, psicoemocional o
Foto de cortesía | Congreso de Tamaulipas
La Diputada Patricia Guillermina Rivera Velázquez (PAN) es vista al exponer su mensaje de propuesta para garantizar el derecho de niños y adolescentes a una educación libre de violencia. verbal, ya sea directa o indirectamente, o, a través de las tecnologías de la información y comunicación, generada por otros alumnos, personal docente, administrativo o directivo”.
Reiteró que todos los órganos del Estado tienen la obligación ineludible de promover, respetar, proteger y garantizar ese derecho a través de las acciones que sean necesarias para reconocerlo, atender-
lo, erradicarlo y prevenirlo, con la debida diligencia, esto es, con acciones eficientes, eficaces, oportunas y sobre todo, responsables. En su iniciativa lanzó un proyecto de decreto pa-
ra reformar el segundo párrafo del artículo 3º de la Ley de Educación para el Estado de Tamaulipas. “A su vez, el Estado garantizará la calidad en la educación obligatoria de manera que los materiales y métodos educativos, la organización escolar, la infraestructura educativa y la idoneidad de los docentes y los directivos garanticen el máximo logro de aprendizaje de los alumnos”, dijo Rivera. Abundó en el artículo 9 de la Ley de los Derechos de las Niñas y de los Niños del Estado, el cual obliga a los padres y miembros de la familia, asegurar el respeto y la aplicación eficaz de los derechos establecidos en la ley, así como garantizarles que no sufran ningún tipo de violencia, discriminación, maltrato, explotación o violación a sus derechos en los centros de enseñanza, entre otros. La iniciativa pasó a la Comisión de Educación y de Derechos Humanos para su análisis y posterior dictamen.
National
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014
THE ZAPATA TIMES 7A
Vegas gunman open about extreme beliefs By JUSTIN PRITCHARD & KEN RITTER ASSOCIATED PRESS
LAS VEGAS — Jerad Miller was ready to share his anti-government views with just about anyone who would listen, views that telegraphed his desire to kill police officers and his willingness to die for what he hoped would be a revolution against the government. He told neighbors, television reporters and the Internet. Once, he threatened to “start shooting people” while on the phone with the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. If local or federal authorities were monitoring his online rants and increasingly sharp threats, they aren’t saying — not with police still investigating what triggered Miller and his wife to gun down two officers and a third man Sunday before taking their own lives.
Even if Miller had attracted the attention of law enforcement, authorities would have initially been confined to knocking on his door and starting a conversation to try to gauge whether he was a true threat. His opinions were free speech, protected by the First Amendment. And given limited resources and rules against creating government watch lists, it would be impossible to keep tabs on everyone who actively promotes beliefs that may — or may not — turn to violence. “We can’t go around watch-listing folks because they voice anti-government opinions, because they say law enforcement should be killed,” said detective Rob Finch, who advocates using social media to monitor extremists in his work with the Greensboro, North Carolina, police department. “There are thousands of
JERAD MILLER
AMANDA MILLER
people out there that voice these things on the Internet every day. YouTube is filled with them.” Indeed, Miller took to Youtube and Facebook to broadcast his rhetoric. “In this particular situation, I think we would all be kidding ourselves if we said the signs weren’t there,” Finch said. Miller and his wife,
Amanda, shot and killed two officers who were on their Sunday lunch break at a pizza parlor, then told patrons that they were starting a revolution, according to police. They went next to a nearby Wal-Mart, where Amanda Miller killed a shopper who confronted her husband before police arrived. After a gun battle inside
the store, Amanda Miller fatally shot her husband and then herself, police said. Neither the FBI nor Las Vegas police would comment on whether they were aware of Jerad Miller’s threats, and if so whether they took any action. In January, Miller called a recorded help line of the Indiana BMV after he was pulled over in Nevada and found to have a suspended license from the state he had recently left. At the end of the call, Miller said, “If they come to arrest me for noncompliance or whatever, I’m just going to start shooting people,” according to an agency spokeswoman. The agency contacted Nevada’s Department of Public Safety and provided a copy of the recording, which the department’s investigation division forwarded to a state-run threat analysis center on Jan. 22, spokeswoman Gail Powell said. Upon
learning that Miller lived in Las Vegas, the threat center forwarded the information to the Southern Nevada Counterterrorism Center, a combined project of federal, state and local authorities. What happened next is unclear; the counterterrorism center did not immediately reply to a request for comment. While it would have been hard to pick Miller, he did make efforts to identify himself publicly during a spring standoff between supporters of Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy and federal agents who wanted to round up Bundy’s cattle. In an interview with a television reporter that aired in April, Miller said that he didn’t want an armed confrontation, but “if they are going to come bring violence to us, well, if that’s the language they want to speak, we’ll learn it.”
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014
ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM
Sports&Outdoors AMERICAN ASSOCIATION: LAREDO LEMURS
Piazza signed by Rockies Laredo Lemurs pitcher reporting to Colorado’s Double-A affiliate By ZACH DAVIS THE ZAPATA TIMES
It’s starting to become a familiar trend. The Lemurs saw another one of their players headed to the MLB team as starter Mike Piazza was purchased by the Rockies organization on Sunday. He will report to Double-A affiliate Tulsa. Since their inaugural 2012 season, eight different Lemurs have gone from Laredo to a major league organization. Piazza is the first to go this season after posting a 2-1 record with a 3.45 ERA. “The dream lives on!” wrote Piazza on Twitter Monday. “Grateful to the @Rockies for the opportunity! Heading to join the @TulsaDrillers today! #blessed.” Piazza was brought in during the offseason after being released by the Angels. After being signed by Los Angeles organization in 2009 as an undrafted free agent, he spent five seasons in the minor leagues reaching as high as Double-A Arkansas before being released. In his last year for the Travelers, Piazza was 6-2 with a 3.15 ERA. That prompted the Lemurs to sign the 27 year old on May 6 and insert him into the No. 2
File photo by Jason Mack | Laredo Morning Times
After just five starts with the Lemurs, Mike Piazza signed with the Colorado Rockies organization on Sunday. He will join the Rockies’ Double-A affiliate, the Tulsa Drillers. As the No. 2 starter, Piazza was 2-1 with a 3.44 ERA and 17 strikeouts to 14 walks in 31.1 innings of American Association baseball this season. spot in their rotation. Other than his five-run outing against first-place Wichita, Piazza was 2-0 with the Lemurs with a 2.55 ERA.
Piazza is best known as the cousin of the Hall of Fame catcher by the same name. The 6foot-4, 220-pound right-hander went to college at Florida Tech.
With Piazza’s departure to Tulsa, he joins a growing list of Lemurs to go on to major league affiliates. Last season, center fielder Sawyer Carroll, starting
pitcher Mark Serrano and reliever Seth Lintz all went to the Diamondbacks while starter Fabian Williamson was sent to the Reds. The previous season, starter Matt Way and reliever Chaz Roe also both were sent to Arizona while Mike Benacka was sent to the Blue Jays. Of the previous seven, only Roe went on to break the major league roster as he posted a 1-0 record with a 4.03 ERA allowing 10 runs in 22.1 innings of relief while striking out 24. He is now in Miami’s Triple-A affiliate and has a 2-2 record with a 3.69 ERA. Serrano (1-0, 4.26 ERA) is now at Arizona’s Triple-A affiliate Reno while Williamson (0-4, 4.50) has advanced to Cincinnati’s Double-A Pensacola. Carroll, Lintz and Way are all back in Independent Baseball as Carroll’s rights were traded by Laredo in the offseason to FargoMoorhead. Lintz (0-0, 2.25) has a crucial role in the Lemurs bullpen while Way is playing in the Atlantic League. Lastly, Benacka retired after last year at the age of 30 after seven seasons professionally. Follow @ZachDavisLMT on Twitter for the latest news on the Lemurs and other local sports. E-mail: ZDavis@LMTOnline.com
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014
THE ZAPATA TIMES 9A
THE MARKET IN REVIEW DAILY DOW JONES
STOCK EXCHANGE HIGHLIGHTS
d
u
NYSE 10,914.20
-4.42
GAINERS ($2 OR MORE)
NASDAQ 4,338.00
Dow Jones industrials
17,000
Close: 16,945.92 Change: 2.82 (flat)
16,800
Name
Last Chg%Chg Name
Last Chg%Chg
17,200
DoralFn rs DirGMnBull ChrisBnk Unifi SeabGld g AristaNet n MolsCoor A SciApplic n PepBoy Chicos
4.94 18.58 7.29 25.76 7.79 60.00 71.20 42.96 11.37 16.53
7.79 +3.54 2.36 +.68 39.94+10.74 4.09 +.85 7.45 +1.47 23.75 +4.15 2.62 +.43 3.13 +.45 8.64 +1.24 2.86 +.38
16,800
+83.3 +40.6 +36.8 +26.2 +24.6 +21.2 +19.6 +16.8 +16.8 +15.3
16,600
16,000
Last Chg%Chg Name
Last Chg%Chg
DirGMBear PUSR2KV rs Coupons n PrUSRMCV CSVLgNGs EmergeES DirDGdBr s BasicEnSv MagHRes Edenor
21.48 52.33 24.88 13.78 24.67 99.59 26.35 26.05 8.35 12.02
4.68 14.94 33.91 13.55 3.25 13.63 2.10 3.15 43.97 22.91
-3.44 -13.8 QuestRes -7.03 -11.8 Repros wtB -2.95 -10.6 eHealth -1.21 -8.1 Francesca -1.91 -7.2 DigitalAlly -7.43 -6.9 EgaletCp n -1.80 -6.4 LilisEn lf -1.71 -6.2 Synergetc -.49 -5.5 QIWI plc -.68 -5.4 Relypsa n
-.98 -2.45 -5.09 -1.73 -.36 -1.37 -.21 -.29 -3.61 -1.82
-17.3 -14.1 -13.1 -11.3 -10.0 -9.1 -9.1 -8.4 -7.6 -7.4
MOST ACTIVE ($1 OR MORE) MOST ACTIVE ($1 OR MORE) Name
Vol (00)
Last Chg Name
RiteAid 591764 7.28 S&P500ETF 502418 195.60 BkofAm 479544 15.92 iShR2K 383772 116.67 Twitter n 358492 35.37 iShEMkts 292694 43.95 AMD 279995 4.20 BostonSci 244708 12.84 EndvrIntl 224244 1.60 LloydBkg 221462 5.34
-.10 +.02 +.08 -.23 +.90 +.23 +.13 +.08 +.56 +.01
Vol (00)
Last Chg
Facebook 680915 Achillion 675212 SiriusXM 654182 Apple Inc s 608940 Zynga 431602 Cisco 357722 eBay 353924 Intel 335099 MicronT 238133 PwShs QQQ 193585
65.77 +2.89 7.79 +3.54 3.35 -.03 94.25 +.55 3.20 +.20 25.00 +.20 48.25 -1.33 28.24 +.33 29.51 +.51 92.91 +.16
DIARY Advanced Declined Unchanged Total issues New Highs New Lows
Volume
1,304 1,772 134 3,210 151 9 2,652,412,860
DIARY Advanced Declined Unchanged Total issues New Highs New Lows
Volume
1,162 1,438 159 2,759 95 12 1,751,348,773
14,551.27 5,952.18 462.66 8,814.76 3,294.95 703.39 1,560.33 1,114.04 16,442.14 942.79
Name
Last
Dow Industrials Dow Transportation Dow Utilities NYSE Composite Nasdaq Composite S&P MidCap S&P 500 S&P MidCap Wilshire 5000 Russell 2000
16,945.92 8,204.29 544.16 10,914.20 4,338.00 864.67 1,950.79 1,410.84 20,686.14 1,172.71
MONEY RATES D
J
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STOCKS OF LOCAL INTEREST Name
Ex
AT&T Inc Achillion AEP Apple Inc s BkofAm Caterpillar CCFemsa CmtyHlt ConocoPhil Dillards EmpIca ExxonMbl Facebook FordM GenElec HewlettP HomeDp iShR2K Intel IntlBcsh IBM
NY Nasd NY Nasd NY NY NY NY NY NY NY NY Nasd NY NY NY NY NY Nasd Nasd NY
Div
1.84 ... 2.00 1.88 .04 2.40 2.17 ... 2.76 .24 ... 2.76 ... .50 .88 .64 1.88 1.45 .90 .50 4.40
YTD Yld PE Last Chg %Chg
Name
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Div
YTD Yld PE Last Chg %Chg
5.3 ... 3.7 2.0 .3 2.2 1.9 ... 3.4 .2 ... 2.7 ... 2.9 3.2 1.9 2.3 1.2 3.2 1.9 2.4
Lowes Lubys MetLife MexicoFd Microsoft Modine Penney RadioShk RiteAid S&P500ETF Schlmbrg SearsHldgs SiriusXM SonyCp Twitter n UnionPac s USSteel UnivHlthS WalMart WellsFargo Zynga
NY NY NY NY Nasd NY NY NY NY NY NY Nasd Nasd NY NY NY NY NY NY NY Nasd
.92 ... 1.40 3.13 1.12 ... ... ... ... 3.48 1.60 ... ... .25 ... 1.82 .20 .20 1.92 1.40 ...
1.9 ... 2.5 ... 2.7 ... ... ... ... 1.8 1.5 ... ... 1.5 ... 1.8 .8 .2 2.5 2.7 ...
10 ... 16 16 21 19 ... ... 13 16 ... 11 87 11 21 12 21 ... 15 14 12
34.94 -.07 -.6 7.79 +3.54+134.7 53.46 -.03 +14.4 94.25 +.55 +17.6 15.92 +.08 +2.2 109.31 +.56 +20.4 115.37 -.53 -5.3 44.35 -.73 +12.9 81.63 +.78 +15.5 116.63 -.95 +20.0 8.20 -.10 -3.0 101.46 -.06 +.3 65.77 +2.89 +20.3 17.01 +.01 +10.2 27.41 -.03 -2.2 33.61 -.13 +20.1 80.74 +.13 -1.9 116.67 -.23 +1.1 28.24 +.33 +8.8 26.06 -.08 -1.1 184.29 -1.93 -1.7
21 ... 16 ... 15 6 ... ... 33 ... 20 ... 56 ... ... 21 ... 19 16 13 ...
47.59 5.19 55.05 28.20 41.11 15.21 8.87 1.38 7.28 195.60 106.53 40.02 3.35 16.18 35.37 102.42 23.85 93.37 76.62 52.59 3.20
-.02 -.09 +.39 +.13 -.16 +.19 +.21 -.16 -.10 +.02 -.19 -.96 -.03 -.12 +.90 +.28 -.23 -.63 -.39 +.08 +.20
-4.0 -32.8 +2.1 -3.8 +9.9 +18.6 -3.1 -46.9 +43.9 +5.9 +18.2 +.7 -4.2 -6.4 -44.4 +21.9 -19.2 +14.9 -2.6 +15.8 -15.8
Stock Footnotes: g=Dividends and earnings in Canadian dollars .h= Doe not meet continued- listings tandards lf = Late filing with SEC. n = New in past 52 weeks. pf = Preferred. rs = Stock has undergone a reverse stock split of at least 50 percent within the past year. rt = Right to buy security at a specified price. s = Stock has split by at least 20 percent within the last year. un = Units. vj = In bankruptcy or receivership. wd = When distributed. wi = When issued. wt = Warrants. Mutual Fund Footnotes: b = Fee covering market costs is paid from fund assets. d = Deferred sales charge, or redemption fee. f = front load (sales charges). m = Multiple fees are charged. NA = not available. p = previous day’s net asset value. s = fund split shares during the week. x = fund paid a distribution during the week. Gainers and Losers must be worth at least $2 to be listed in tables at left. Most Actives must be worth at least $1. Volume in hundreds of shares. Source: The Associated Press. Sales figures are unofficial.
Prime Rate Discount Rate Federal Funds Rate Treasuries 3-month 6-month 5-year 10-year 30-year
3.25 3.25 0.75 0.75 .00-.25 .00-.25 0.05 0.06 1.71 2.65 3.48
YTD 12-mo Chgg %Chg %Chg %Chg +2.82 -10.70 -1.52 -4.42 +1.76 +1.04 -.48 -4.17 -11.46 -3.17
+.02 -.13 -.28 -.04 +.04 +.12 -.02 -.29 -.06 -.27
+2.23 +10.86 +10.92 +4.94 +3.86 +4.96 +5.54 +5.09 +4.97 +.78
+12.06 +30.92 +12.86 +17.92 +26.22 +17.90 +19.97 +20.86 +20.63 +19.49
CURRENCIES
Last PvsWeek
15,600
LOSERS ($2 OR MORE)
Name
10 DAYS
16,400
15,200
LOSERS ($2 OR MORE)
16,970.17 8,256.79 558.29 11,334.65 4,371.71 864.92 1,955.55 1,419.86 20,748.50 1,212.82
+1.76
GAINERS ($2 OR MORE)
+.87 +21.4 Achillion +2.24 +13.7 AsteaIntl h +.64 +9.6 Receptos +2.18 +9.2 TorchlghtE +.64 +9.0 CathGn wt +4.80 +8.7 VitalTher n +5.50 +8.4 AcornEngy +3.24 +8.2 GalenaBio +.85 +8.1 GalmedP n +1.16 +7.5 ManhBrCa
STOCK MARKET INDEXES 52-Week High Low
0.04 0.06 1.64 2.60 3.44
Australia Britain Canada Euro Japan Mexico Switzerlnd
Last
Pvs Day
1.0673 1.6754 1.0909 .7383 102.35 13.0437 .8993
1.0695 1.6794 1.0911 .7359 102.55 13.0271 .8975
British pound expressed in U.S. dollars. All others show dollar in foreign currency.
MUTUAL FUNDS Name Alliance Bernstein GlTmtcGA m Columbia ComInfoA m Eaton Vance WldwHealA m Fidelity Select Biotech d Fidelity Select BrokInv d Fidelity Select CommEq d Fidelity Select Computer d Fidelity Select ConsFin d Fidelity Select Electron d Fidelity Select FinSvc d Fidelity Select SoftwCom d Fidelity Select Tech d T Rowe Price SciTech Vanguard HlthCare Waddell & Reed Adv SciTechA m
Total Assets Total Return/Rank Pct Min Init Obj ($Mlns)NAV 4-wk 12-mo 5-year Load Invt WS 594 84.98 +5.5 +22.2/A +9.5/E 4.25 2,500 ST 2,488 56.05 +8.7 +26.4/C +15.5/D 5.75 2,000 SH 897 12.27 +5.1 +33.5/B +19.1/D 5.75 1,000 SH 8,111 195.44 +10.5 +34.6/A +29.3/A NL 2,500 SF 634 72.52 +4.6 +16.0/D +13.3/D NL 2,500 ST 289 32.22 +6.0 +26.4/C +13.9/E NL 2,500 ST 639 76.80 +7.3 +17.5/E +20.8/A NL 2,500 SF 182 15.72 +4.9 +16.1/D +18.3/A NL 2,500 ST 1,556 76.39 +10.5 +42.7/A +20.1/A NL 2,500 SF 1,184 84.38 +4.7 +18.5/B +11.3/E NL 2,500 ST 3,149 115.62 +6.4 +27.7/B +23.5/A NL 2,500 ST 2,294 117.97 +8.9 +25.5/D +19.8/A NL 2,500 ST 2,975 40.85 +8.4 +30.0/B +17.9/C NL 2,500 SH 10,037 200.21 +4.4 +31.5/C +21.9/C NL 3,000 ST 3,544 16.30 +6.9 +32.0/A +20.5/A 5.75 750
CA -Conservative Allocation, CI -Intermediate-Term Bond, ES -Europe Stock, FB -Foreign Large Blend, FG -Foreign LargeGrowth, FV -Foreign Large Value, IH -World Allocation, LB -Large Blend, LG -Large Growth, LV -Large Value, MA Moderate Allocation, MB -Mid-Cap Blend, MV - Mid-Cap Value, SH -Specialty-heath, WS -World Stock, Total Return: Chng in NAV with dividends reinvested. Rank: How fund performed vs. others with same objective: A is in top 20%, E in bottom 20%. Min Init Invt: Minimum $ needed to invest in fund. Source: Morningstar.
FAA OKs commercial drone flights over land By JOAN LOWY ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON — The Federal Aviation Administration said Tuesday it has granted the first permission for commercial drone flights over land, the latest effort by the agency to show it is loosening restrictions on commercial uses of the unmanned aircraft. Drone maker AeroVironment of Monrovia, California, and BP energy corporation have been given permission to use a Puma drone to survey pipelines, roads and equipment at Prudhoe Bay in Alaska, the agency said. The first flight took place on Sunday. Made by AeroVironment, the Puma is a small, hand-launched craft about 4 1/2 feet long and with a 9-foot wingspan. It was initially designed for military use. Drones are often less expensive to operate than manned aircraft and easier to maneuver. Equipped with 3D cameras, the Puma will provide images of hard-to-reach places not currently available, BP and AeroVironment say. AeroVironment CEO Tim Conver said the Puma “is now helping BP manage its extensive Prudhoe Bay field operations in a way that enhances safety, protects the environment, improves productivity and accomplishes activities never before possible.” Last summer, the FAA had approved the Puma and the ScanEa-
Photo courtesy of AeroVironment | AP
This undated photo shows a Puma drone aricraft. The Federal Aviation Administration said Tuesday it has granted the first permission for commercial drone flights over land, the latest effort by the agency to show it is loosening restrictions. gle made by Boeing subsidiary Insitu Inc. of Bingen, Washington, for flights over the Arctic Ocean to scout icebergs, count whales and monitor drilling platforms. “These surveys on Alaska’s North Slope are another important step toward broader commercial use of unmanned aircraft,” said Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “The technology is quickly changing,
and the opportunities are growing.” Last week, the FAA said it was considering giving permission to seven filmmaking companies to use drones for aerial photography, a potentially significant step that could lead to greater relaxation of the agency’s ban on commercial use of drones. So far, the only exceptions to that ban have been limited flights that have
been approved over the Arctic Ocean and now Alaska. Congress directed the FAA to provide commercial drones access to U.S. skies by September 2015, but the agency’s efforts to write safety rules for such flights by drones have been slow, and it is not expected to meet the deadline. FAA officials are on their third attempt to draft regulations acceptable to the Transportation
Department and the White House. Regulators have said they expect to propose rules before the end of the year intended to clear the way for flights by drones weighing 55 pounds or less. However, it will take months and perhaps years before such regulations become final. Much of the commercial demand for unmanned aircraft is for small drones, some of which weigh only a few pounds. The FAA estimates that within five years after regulations are in place there will be about 7,500 commercial drones operating in the U.S. FAA Administrator Michael Huerta has said drafting such rules is complex because they must ensure that the large volume and diversity of manned aircraft in U.S. skies are protected. Even a small drone that collides with plane traveling at high speeds or gets chewed up by helicopter rotors could cause a crash. But as the cost of small drones has come down and their sophistication and usefulness has increased, entrepreneurs and businesses—from real estate agents to wedding video makers—aren’t waiting for government permission. Drone industry officials have warned that the longer the FAA takes to write regulations, the more rogue commercial operators will multiply.
Brands trying to speak globally in World Cup By MAE ANDERSON ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK — Companies that are advertising for the World Cup are hoping music will strike a chord with fans globally. Because the FIFA World Cup, the international soccer tournament that begins on Thursday, is the most popular sports event on the planet, advertisers want to take advantage of the large viewing audience. But the World Cup poses problems for companies that are used to making a splash at big sporting events like the Super Bowl with a pricey 30-second spot. First off, soccer doesn’t have very many commercial breaks, with two 45minutes halves played mostly straight through. Additionally, soccer is a global event, so it’s hard to make TV ads that translate across cultures. As a result, brands — both official sponsors and those that just want to capitalize on the event — increasingly are using music to get the world’s attention: Danone’s Activia yogurt teamed up with Shakira to update her wildly popular 2010 World Cup Song “Waka Waka,” about Africa, with a Brazil-centric video for “La La La.” Coca-Cola made a song in English,
Photo courtesy of Beats Electronics | AP
This image taken from video shows Brazilian soccer star Neymar Jr. in Beats by Dre’s “The Game Before The Game” ad. The 5-minute video shows soccer stars and many others preparing for game time by listening to “Jungle” by Jamie N Commons & The X Ambassadors. “The World is Ours,” and then created 32 local versions, each sung by a local artist in the native language. And Beats by Dre launched a splashy new 5minute video “The Game Before the Game” that shows soccer stars like Neymar Jr. and many others preparing for game time by listening to “Jungle” by Jamie N Commons & The X Ambassadors. The move is an effort by companies to try to capture the attention of one of the largest global audiences for any event. In the last World Cup four years ago, 3.2 billion people tuned in, including 909.6 million for
the final match, according to FIFA. That’s compared with the 111.5 million people who tuned into the Super Bowl this year. “Sports is a great unifier and very few sports are as global as the World Cup,” said Allen Adamson, managing director of branding firm Landor Associates. “Music is the other big platform that transcends cultures and languages, so it’s an emotional way to connect with as broad an audience as the World Cup audience is.” The link between music and the World Cup is nothing new. The tournament has had a theme song since
1962 when “El Rock del Mundial” by Los Ramblers kicked off the 1962 World Cup in Chile. But this year, brand song tie-ins are more popular than this year’s official effort. FIFA’s “We Are One (Ole Ola),” has been criticized by Brazilians and other soccer fans as being tone deaf to Brazil culture. Critics complain that it is sung by Cuban-American rapper Pitbull and Bronx-born Puerto Rican singer Jennifer Lopez instead of a Brazilian singer (although it does feature Brazilian singer Claudia Leitte); and it is sung mainly in English and Spanish rather than
Portuguese. So marketers have stepped in, and so far, are scoring big. Shakira’s “La La La” video, sponsored by Activia in partnership with the World Food Programme, has garnered 95 million YouTube views since it went up 3 weeks ago. By comparison, the official FIFA song has about 72 million views after five weeks. The video: https:// www.youtube.com/ watch?v7-7knsP2n5w “When we heard ‘La La La,’ we immediately knew consumers would be swayed by the rhythm and energy of this song,” said Santiago Mier Albert, gen-
eral manager of Activia and vice president of marketing of Danone’s fresh dairy products division worldwide. Coca Cola’s song has hit the top 10 charts in 40 countries worldwide. That is a big step up from their last effort in 2010, “Wavin’ Flag” which was done in 24 versions and charted in 17 countries. The video: youtube.com/ watch?v32DO6XV1BE “The World Cup is universal. Music is universal too,” said Joe Belliotti, director of global entertainment marketing at CocaCola. “And if you can find that simple melody and simple lyrical idea that can translate and connect with people around the world, that’s the formula we strive for.” Beats, which is not an official sponsor of the event and refers to its ad as a global campaign featuring the world-known soccer players, has gotten nearly 8 million views after just four days on YouTube. The five-minute ad cinematically shows rituals athletes use to get ready for “The Game Before The Game.” Brazilian soccer star Neymar Jr. takes a motivational call from his father. Video: https:// www.youtube.com/ watch?vi3Lcjli84
10A THE ZAPATA TIMES
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014
MIGRANTS Continued from Page 1A said. Still to come is the appropriations measure for the Department of Health and Human Services, where the bulk of the additional funds are sought. Cuellar said the White House’s additional request “reflects what a serious problem we have” on the border. “We’re very aware of this in Appropriations,” he said. “We are just beginning to put this all together. We won’t be able to give the agencies everything they’re asking for.” The Obama administration is facing a mounting chorus of blame from conservatives, who say the U.S. government’s policies for dealing with unaccompanied children are fueling the surge. Administration officials counter that it is clear that ”push factors” — including the violence and poverty in Central and South America — are driving the influx. Obama last week tapped the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate relief efforts for unaccompanied children, including housing, transportation and medical care. Administration officials on Monday announced plans to house between 600 and 1,200 unaccompanied children in a third military installation — Fort Sill in Lawton, Okla. — starting Friday. A senior administration official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said federal officials had prepared for an uptick in the number of unaccompanied children, but the “increase is much larger than anticipated” and includes a greater proportion of girls and younger children.
Overcrowded facilities The administration has tried to ease overcrowding in Border Patrol stations in the Rio Grande Valley, where a processing backlog left hundreds of unaccompanied children waiting in cramped and chilly holding cells for days. From the start of the fiscal year Oct. 1 through May, the Border Patrol caught more than 47,000 children and teens traveling without parents, a 92 percent increase over the same period last year. More than 33,000 unaccompanied children were caught in the Rio Grande Valley sector. “They are backing up in facilities that were never designed for children,” FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate said last week.
Some 60,000 children are expected to land in ORR’s detention network this year — more than nine times as many as in 2011, according to government estimates. DHS officials started transporting hundreds of unaccompanied children from Texas to a Border Patrol facility in Nogales, Ariz., last week to ease the crowding and speed up processing. Unaccompanied children from Mexico who do not fear return to their home country generally are returned to the port of the entry within days. But those from countries other than Mexico are detained by the Border Patrol and processed before they are handed over to ORR, which is responsible for their care and placement. Some 60,000 unaccompanied children are expected to land in ORR’s detention network this year — more than nine times as many as in 2011, according to government estimates. hildren in ORR care normally are housed in a sprawling network of more than 90 shelters, group and foster care programs, juvenile detention and behavioral treatment centers. But with the steep influx, ORR opened several temporary, emergency shelters, including a summer camp outside Waco, a San Antonio Air Force base and a naval base in California. As the number of children entering the system has spiked, the government is releasing them at record speed to relatives and other sponsors in the United States to await the outcome of their immigration court cases. About 90 percent are now released to sponsors, up from about 65 percent before the steep influx. Most children spend only about a month in federal custody, about half as long as they did a few years ago.
SHOOTING Continued from Page 1A coach and quarterback at the school. The attack panicked students after a lockdown was ordered and they were told to go quietly to their classrooms. Freshman Morgan Rose, 15, said she hunkered down in a locker room with another student and two teachers. “It was scary in the moment. Now knowing everything’s OK, I’m better,” she said. Freshman Daniel DeLong, 15, said after the shooting that he saw a physical education teacher at the school with a bloodied shirt. He said he was texting friends to make sure they were all OK. “It just, like, happened so fast, you know?” he said. Anderson said two on-campus police officers were the first to respond to reports of a shooting. The officers and a tactical team sent to the school “brought this to a conclusion,” Anderson said, without elaborating. The chief said he was sorry for the family of the slain stu-
dent. “Today is a very tragic day for the city of Troutdale,” the chief said. Gov. John Kitzhaber added in a statement: “Oregon hurts as we try to make sense of a senseless act of violence.” The first reports of shots fired came at 8 a.m. on the next-to-last-day of classes. Police initially seemed uncertain about whether there was a live shooter in the school. Students were eventually led from the school with hands up or on their heads. Parents and students were reunited in a supermarket parking lot. Mandy Johnson said her daughter called from a friend’s phone. “I thank God that she’s safe,” said Johnson, who has three younger children. “I don’t want to send my kids to school anymore.” The Reynolds School District issued a statement mourning the loss of one of its students. Reynolds is the second-largest high school in Oregon, with about 2,800 students. The school
is about 15 miles from Portland and its students come from several communities. During the evacuation of the school, authorities found another student with a gun and he was taken into custody. That weapon and arrest were not related to the shooting, Anderson said. The Oregon violence came less than a week after a gunman opened fire on a college campus in neighboring Washington state, killing a 19-yearold man and wounding two others. It follows a string of mass shootings that have disturbed the nation, including one on Sunday in Nevada that left two Las Vegas police officers and a civilian dead. The Tuesday shooting was the first fatal school shooting in Oregon since May 1998 when 15-year-old Kip Kinkel killed two students and wounded 25 others at Thurston High School in Springfield near Eugene. He killed his parents prior to the attack and is serving a 111-year prison sentence.
ARRESTS Continued from Page 1A Roberto “Danny” Daniel Perez, 36 Adan “Vivi” Melendez Jr., 20 Jesus “Goldy” Rosendo Garcia-Melendez, 21 Juan “Pelon” Jose Melendez, 31 Maria “Wawi” Guadalupe Melendez, 39 Maria “Chayo” Del Rosario Melendez, 44 Manuel “Lolo” Hernandez, 19 Alejandro “Keiko” Reyes, 31 Rene “Beast” Gabriel Gonzalez, 46 Carlos “Pinni” Alberto Acosta, 3 Jorge Armando Perez, 34 Hertor Manuel Cavazos, 26 Pedro Omar Garza-Cadena, 31 Oscar Sanchez-Avila, 24 Arturo Garcia, 21 Luis “3” Felipe Melendez, 22 Julio Eduardo Almazan Jr., 22 Jose Juan Sosa, 19 Jesus “Playboy” Ramirez, 19 “Together, we are taking these drug dealers off the streets and depriving them of the opportunity
to further engage in criminal activity which has adversely affected the quality of life in this region,” said Joseph M. Arabit, Drug Enforcement Administration special agent, in a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office. “We are sending a strong and unified message that drug dealing, at all levels, will not be tolerated, and, in turn, we are making our communities safer.” A 25th defendant was also named in the indictment but not yet arrested. Rafael “Chon” Melendez, 18, was charged in the criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. If convicted of the conspiracy, they each face a minimum of five and to 40 years in federal prison as well as a possible $5 million fine. Adan Melendez and Manuel Hernandez are also facing charges of possession of a firearm and face a potential sentence of up to life in prison. ( Philip Balli may be reached at 728-2528 or pballi@lmtonline.com)
TRANSPORT Continued from Page 1A he had been transporting immigrants for the last two weeks prior to his arrest. He was allegedly tasked with picking them up once they
would swim across the Rio Grande and was paid $100 per person. Moncivais had orders to transport the group of immigrants to the Walmart on U.S. 83
in South Laredo, the complaint reads. (César G. Rodriguez may be reached at 728-2568 or cesar@lmtonline.com)