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HEALTHY FUTURES OF TEXAS
Youth study New abstinence program coming to ZCISD By CHRIS ADAMS DEL RIO NEWS-HERALD
The federal department of Health and Human Services recently awarded the San Antonio-based Healthy
Futures of Texas a five-year $4.3 million Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program grant to appraise the efficacy of their Big Decisions curriculum, which will include Zapata County ISD.
The grant will primarily study the effectiveness of the Big Decisions model among predominantly Hispanic youth in four rural border school districts in Val Verde, Maverick, Webb
and Zapata counties. The Big Decisions curriculum promotes “abstinence-plus” education for high school students.
See ABSTINENCE PAGE 9A
Photo by Cuate Santos | The Zapata Times file
Jose Guadalupe and Lilia Martinez Foundation representatives Bob Gonzalez and Shirley Sandlin Gonzalez pose with South Texas Food Bank board member and Zapata County Treasurer Romeo Salinas at the LEA in May.
Empty Bowls fundraiser set
MEXCIO
US SOUGHT EXTRADITION
10 start at $1,500, which includes concert, dinner and The South Texas Food access to silent auction. Bank serves Zapata and The auction has become the Zapata area via several a staple of the event — pantries and agencies. The supporters look forward to food bank’s top fundraiser, the unique and beautiful Empty Bowls IX, is Aug. 21 works of art, which is why at the Laredo Energy Are- the food bank wants to na, and will feature a con- reach out the art commucert by 1970s-80s and 90s nity for support. They legendary musical group, would love to showcase Kansas. and introduce to their supThe group, which pro- porters art from artists duced eight gold albums, is from the different commuknow for hits like “Dust In nities they serve. The Wind,” “Carry On Past contributing artists Wayward Son,” “Two for have included Armando the Show” and “Point of Hinojosa, Amado Peña, Known Return.” Tickets Jorge Kurczyn, Daniel are only $10, $15 and $25 Maltzman, David Grizzle, available via ticketmaster- Mary Bausmann and com.com. See FOOD PAGE 9A Sponsorship tables for SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
TEXAS
Unemployment falls in June State rate falls to 4.2 percent, Valley still has highest rate at 7.8 percent ASSOCIATED PRESS
AUSTIN — Texas’ unemployment rate fell slightly in June to 4.2 percent, down from 4.3 percent in May, a state agency reported Friday. The Texas Workforce Commission said this marks the third month this year that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dipped to 4.2 percent, the lowest rate of unemployment for the state since July 2007. Texas continued to be below the national unemployment rate, which was at 5.3 percent. However, the
Photo by Brett Gundlock | New York Times
Visitors light a candle at a shrine to Jesus Malverde, the Robin Hood-esque bandit venerated by many, particularly in the narcotics trade, in Culiacan, Mexico, Wednesday. The recently-escaped cartel boss Joaquin Guzman Loera is a source of mirth, grudging respect or even outright reverence, particularly here in El Chapo’s home town in the western state of Sinaloa.
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission area had the highest rate in the state last month, with 7.8 percent. The state added 16,700 nonagricultural jobs in June, marking Texas’ third straight month of seasonally adjusted job growth. Texas has added jobs in 56 of the last 57 months, including a total of 53,600 positions in the first half of 2015. “Texas employers continue to create employment opportunities, which is great news for the state and its work-
See TEXAS PAGE 9A
Long before ‘El Chapo’s’ escape, help offered By AZAM AHMED NEW YORK TIMES
Less than three weeks before Joaquín Guzmán Loera, the infamous drug kingpin known
as El Chapo, escaped from Mexico’s highest security prison, the United States issued a formal request for his extradition, according to a statement by the Mexican attorney general late Thursday
night. The request, issued June 25, was made public after testimony by the attorney general, Arely Gómez González, before senators and representatives of the country, raising fresh
questions about the relationship between the two nations. The U.S. government has been frustrated by the Mexican authorities, who have delayed a decision on
See EL CHAPO PAGE 9A
Photo by Brett Gundlock | New York Times
Culiacan, Mexico, the home town of the notorious cartel boss Joaquin Guzman Loera, Wednesday. For many Mexicans, “El Chapo”is part Robin Hood, part billionaire, and a source of mirth, grudging respect or even outright reverence — particularly in the western state of Sinaloa, where a second prison escape has entrenched Guzman’s status as a folk hero.
PAGE 2A
Zin brief CALENDAR
SATURDAY, JULY 18, 2015
AROUND TEXAS
TODAY IN HISTORY
SATURDAY, JULY 18
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Planetarium shows at TAMIU Lamar Bruni Vergara Planetarium from 2 to 5 p.m. 2 p.m.: Cosmic Adventures; 3 p.m.: Little Star that Could; 4 p.m.: Seven Wonders; 5 p.m.: Led Zeppelin. General admission is $3. Call 956-326DOME (3663).
Today is Saturday, July 18, the 199th day of 2015. There are 166 days left in the year. Today’s Highlight in History: On July 18, 1947, President Harry S. Truman signed a Presidential Succession Act which placed the speaker of the House and the Senate president pro tempore next in the line of succession after the vice president. On this date: In A.D. 64, the Great Fire of Rome began, consuming most of the city for about a week. (Some blamed the fire on Emperor Nero, who in turn blamed Christians.) In 1925, Adolf Hitler published the first volume of his autobiographical screed, “Mein Kampf (My Struggle).” In 1932, the United States and Canada signed a treaty to develop the St. Lawrence Seaway. In 1969, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., left a party on Chappaquiddick Island near Martha’s Vineyard with Mary Jo Kopechne, 28; some time later, Kennedy’s car went off a bridge into the water. (Kennedy was able to escape, but Kopechne drowned.) In 1976, at the Montreal Olympics, Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci received the first-ever perfect score of 10 with her routine on uneven parallel bars. (Comaneci would go on to receive six more 10s at Montreal.) In 1984, gunman James Huberty opened fire at a McDonald’s fast food restaurant in San Ysidro, California, killing 21 people before being shot dead by police. Walter F. Mondale won the Democratic presidential nomination in San Francisco. In 1989, actress Rebecca Schaeffer, 21, was shot to death at her Los Angeles home by obsessed fan Robert Bardo, who was later sentenced to life in prison. Ten years ago: Hurricane Emily roared across Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, ripping roofs off luxury hotels, stranding thousands of tourists and leaving hundreds of local residents homeless. Five years ago: Pakistan and Afghanistan sealed a landmark trade deal in the presence of U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, who pushed the two neighbors to step up civilian cooperation and work together against alQaida and the Taliban. One year ago: The United Nations Security Council held an emergency meeting a day after the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 with the loss of all 298 people on board, demanding that pro-Russia rebels who controlled the eastern Ukraine crash site give immediate, unfettered access to independent investigators. Today’s Birthdays: Former Sen. John Glenn, D-Ohio, is 94. Conductor Kurt Masur is 88. Actor James Brolin is 75. Singer Ricky Skaggs is 61. Actress Audrey Landers is 59. Actress Elizabeth McGovern is 54. Dance music singersongwriter M.I.A. is 40. Rock musician Daron Malakian (System of a Down; Scars on Broadway) is 40. Actress Kristen Bell is 35. Actor Chace Crawford is 30. Actor Travis Milne is 29. Thought for Today: “Kindnesses are easily forgotten; but injuries! what worthy man does not keep those in mind?” — William Makepeace Thackeray, English author (born this date in 1811, died 1863).
TUESDAY, JULY 21 South Texas Food Bank “Strike Out Hunger” bowling tournament and fundraiser at 5:30 p.m. at Jett Bowl North. Lanes are $125 for five bowlers. Open to everyone. Sponsorship advertising is open for $250. Call Cindy Liendo at 726-3120 or email cliendo@southtexasfoodbank.org. Planetarium shows at TAMIU Lamar Bruni Vergara Planetarium from 3 to 5 p.m. 3 p.m.: Accidental Astronaut; 4 p.m.: Extreme Planets; 5 p.m.: Zula Patrol: Under the Weather. General admission is $3. Call 956-326-DOME (3663).
Photo by Abel Uribe | AP
WEDNESDAY, JULY 22
Sandra Bland’s sisters Sharon Cooper, front, takes questions from the media, while her sisters Shavon Bland, left, and Shante Needham, become emotional, during a news conference about their sister’s death Thursday in Chicago. Sandra Bland is a 28-year-old woman who authorities say hanged herself in a Texas jail.
Planetarium shows at TAMIU Lamar Bruni Vergara Planetarium from 3 to 5 p.m. 3 p.m.: Accidental Astronaut; 4 p.m.: Extreme Planets; 5 p.m.: Zula Patrol: Under the Weather. General admission is $3. Call 956-326-DOME (3663).
Woman found dead in jail
THURSDAY, JULY 23 Planetarium shows at TAMIU Lamar Bruni Vergara Planetarium from 3 to 5 p.m. 3 p.m.: Accidental Astronaut; 4 p.m.: Extreme Planets; 5 p.m.: Zula Patrol: Under the Weather. General admission is $3. Call 956-326-DOME (3663).
SATURDAY, JULY 25 Gateway Gatos of Laredo “Cat Appreciation Day” from 2-3 p.m. at Petco North. Proceeds will go toward protection projects for local cats, including a trap, neuter, and return program. Call Birdie at 286-7866. Planetarium shows at TAMIU Lamar Bruni Vergara Planetarium from 2 to 5 p.m. 2 p.m.: Accidental Astronauts; 3 p.m.: Wonders of the Universe; 4 p.m.: New Horizons; 5 p.m.: Led Zeppelin. General admission is $3. Call 956-326-DOME (3663).
SUNDAY, JULY 26 Operation Feed the Homeless. 3 p.m. at Jarvis Plaza. The Laredo Free Thinkers is organizing this event. Free food, good fun and free literature. See Facebook page, Operation Feed the Homeless-Summer Feast for more information.
TUESDAY, JULY 28 Planetarium shows at TAMIU Lamar Bruni Vergara Planetarium from 3 to 5 p.m. 3 p.m.: Accidental Astronaut; 4 p.m.: Extreme Planets; 5 p.m.: Zula Patrol: Under the Weather. General admission is $3. Call 956-326-DOME (3663).
WEDNESDAY, JULY 29 Planetarium shows at TAMIU Lamar Bruni Vergara Planetarium from 3 to 5 p.m. 3 p.m.: Accidental Astronaut; 4 p.m.: Extreme Planets; 5 p.m.: Zula Patrol: Under the Weather. General admission is $3. Call 956-326-DOME (3663).
THURSDAY, JULY 30 Spanish Book Club from 6 – 8 p.m. at the Laredo Public Library on Calton Road. Contact Sylvia Reash at 763-1810. Planetarium shows at TAMIU Lamar Bruni Vergara Planetarium from 3 to 5 p.m. 3 p.m.: Accidental Astronaut; 4 p.m.: Extreme Planets; 5 p.m.: Zula Patrol: Under the Weather. General admission is $3. Call 956-326-DOME (3663).
SATURDAY, AUGUST 1 Planetarium shows at TAMIU Lamar Bruni Vergara Planetarium from 2 to 5 p.m. 2 p.m.: Accidental Astronauts; 3 p.m.: Wonders of the Universe; 4 p.m.: New Horizons; 5 p.m.: Led Zeppelin. General admission is $3. Call 956-326-DOME (3663).
TUESDAY, AUGUST 4 Grief Support Group “The Comfort Café” meets the first Tuesday of every month at 6:30 p.m. at Danny’s Restaurant, 2406 Jacaman Road. For those 18 and older who are experiencing the loss of a loved one. Please contact Yeseenia Dickey at 740-9374 or email her at yeseniadickey@gmail.com to reserve a seat.
By JASON KEYSER AND MICHAEL GRACZYK ASSOCIATED PRESS
HEMPSTEAD — A woman whose death in a Texas jail is under investigation was thrilled to be returning to her alma mater to begin a community outreach job after years of bouncing between temp work back home in Illinois, leaving friends doubting authorities who say she killed herself. Interviews with friends as well as Sandra Bland’s own words in online videos about racial injustice and police brutality present a picture of a young woman on the cusp of finding her niche in life. She landed a perfect job. She had just gone on a joyful road trip to Memphis with her mother. She had a voice and a following on social media and was active in her community. Even after an online video surfaced showing the 28-year-old talking in March about
depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, those who knew her said she would not have taken her own life — not even over the confrontational traffic stop that led to her arrest, which mirrored the ones she railed against online. “She was in good spirits. She was looking forward to what was next,” said close friend and mentor LaVaughn Mosley, 57, adding that he was unaware of any struggles with depression. “She was making plans for the future, so there’s no way she was in a suicidal state.” About 100 protesters marched from the jail to the courthouse Friday in Hempstead, Texas, including other friends of Bland’s who were also in disbelief. Bland grew up in Naperville, Illinois, 30 miles southwest of Chicago. She was known in her family as Sandy B.
Mayor seeks records of officer who led probe
Cobra believed to have bitten, killed man
Man dies after he gets lodged in windshield
LUBBOCK — The mayor of Lubbock has requested emails, text messages and other communications to or from an assistant police chief who oversaw a 2012 murder investigation that has come under scrutiny. Former assistant police chief James Shavers had overseen an investigation into the killing of 15-year-old Mark Anthony Ysasaga, whose remains were found in June with help from a tipster.
AUSTIN — Austin officials say a cobra believed to have bitten and killed an 18-year-old Central Texas man has been found dead. A person called 911 early Friday morning to report finding a dead snake. The snake was found on the side of the frontage road of I-35 near the home improvement store parking lot where Grant Thompson was found unresponsive Tuesday. He had puncture wounds on his wrist.
DALLAS — Police say a driver in Dallas struck a bicyclist and then drove a half-mile with the man lodged in the windshield before dumping him in an alley and driving away. Nineteen-yearold Silverio Alaniz is charged with causing an accident involving death and was being held Thursday at the Dallas County jail on a $25,000 bond. Alaniz admitted to striking the bicyclist, an unidentified 54-year-old man.
Man arrested in 2009 Houston-area club slaying
Police officer suspended after five crashes
Gov. Abbott accosted by angry traveler
HOUSTON — Officials say a man has been arrested in the shooting death of a 36-year-old working security at a Houstonarea club six years ago. The Harris County sheriff ’s office said Friday that 36-year-old Shedrick Orell Rhine has been charged with murder in the death of James Thomas in July 2009.
AUSTIN — An Austin police officer has been suspended for three days after officials say he repeatedly failed to follow protocol after being involved in five on-duty car crashes in one year. Keith Allison was suspended Wednesday for failing to notify a supervisor he was involved in a car crash before leaving the scene.
AUSTIN — A traveler at a New York airport accosted Texas Gov. Greg Abbott over his opposition to gay marriage as Abbott was waiting with his family to board a flight to Austin. The unidentified 32-year-old man first shook the governor’s hand Tuesday night before loudly telling him to “go to hell.” — Compiled from AP reports
AROUND THE NATION Utah police arrest teenage boy in 12-year-old’s death WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah — Police arrested a 15-year-old boy Friday in the death of a 12-yearold girl whose body was found in an overgrown horse pasture near her home in suburban Salt Lake City. West Valley City Police Chief Lee Russo said investigators think the teen is the sole suspect. Russo said he will likely be charged with murder. Russo identified the girl as Kayley Vijil. Russo said the boy lured her out of her house around midnight, but he wouldn’t disclose what the boy said.
Endangered dragonflies, raised in captivity, freed SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — Federally endangered dragonflies that have been raised in a laboratory over the past several years are
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Police officials gather during an investigation after a 12-year-old girl was found dead Friday in West Valley City, Utah. The search for the missing 12-year-old girl is now being investigated as a homicide. being released at a forest preserve this week in Illinois, where scientists believe they’ll be a good match with the small population still there. The Hine’s emerald dragonflies, which for decades were believed to be extinct, were careful-
ly raised at the University of South Dakota over the past four to five years after eggs were collected from a dragonfly in southwestern Wisconsin. Three out of the 20 dragonflies that could be released have already been freed. — 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
State
SATURDAY, JULY 18, 2015
Blue Bell needs $125M ASSOCIATED PRESS
BRENHAM — Blue Bell’s chief executive told shareholders this week that Texas billionaire Sid Bass will lend the company up to $125 million, and that the investment is essential for the popular ice-cream maker to remain in business, according to a published report. Under the terms, the Bass family would get a one-third stake in the company, struggling to recover after listeria contamination forced a crippling national recall in April, according to The Wall Street Journal, which reviewed the letter. CEO and President Paul Kruse sent the letter to investors Monday saying Blue Bell Creameries was unable to raise enough capital from existing shareholders to remain operational. So the company’s board of directors opted to “work with a single source” who was able to provide the necessary financing, the newspaper reported. Texas-based Blue Bell on Tuesday announced that Bass would become an investor, but no terms were revealed. Bass, whose family has deep ties to Fort Worth, is an investor and philanthropist whose father and uncle built an oil fortune. Forbes last year ranked Bass as the 324th wealthiest person in the U.S. He has not responded to phone messages this week from The Associated Press seeking comment. In an email Friday, Blue
Bell spokesman Joe Robertson declined to elaborate on The Wall Street Journal’s report. “As a privately held company, we do not discuss financial matters or the ownership interests of individual shareholders,” he said. Kruse said in the letter that Bass’ financing will allow Blue Bell, one of the top ice cream producers in the country, “to move forward to restart our production and sales effort.” In a separate letter to shareholders in May, Kruse had sought additional financing from them to avoid recruiting an outside investor who he said could dilute existing shares, the WSJ reported. Kruse said the company faced “a financial crisis.” That same month Blue Bell announced it was laying off 37 percent of its work force. After issuing the recall
because of concerns about listeria, the company stopped production at its facilities in Brenham, Texas; Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; and Sylacauga, Arkansas. Its ice cream was linked to 10 listeria illnesses in four states, including three deaths in Kansas. No date has been given for when Blue Bell products could be back in stores. Blue Bell last week announced plans to test production runs at its Alabama plant. After a trial period, the company plans to begin building inventory to resume commercial sales. PrivCo, a data provider on privately held companies, estimates revenue for Blue Bell this year could fall as low as $500 million. The company in 2014 was estimated to have had $680 million in revenue, up from nearly $621 million the year before.
THE ZAPATA TIMES 3A
WORKFORCE COMMISSION TEACHER EXTERNSHIP PROGRAM
Courtesy photo | LCC
Workforce Solutions South Texas presenter Margie Cintron (standing) addresses a cohort of middle and high school teachers from Jim Hogg, Zapata, and Webb counties attending the Texas Workforce Commission Teacher Externship Program. Sponsored by Workforce Solutions South Texas and the Laredo Community College Economic Development Center, the program will assist educators in developing powerful instructional curriculum that addresses the pertinent skills and competencies needed for success in the workplace. The week-long initiative will also allow participating educators to visit local workplaces and increase their knowledge and understanding of current workplace developments. For more information on the program, contact the LCC Economic Development Center at 721-5110.
PAGE 4A
Zopinion
SATURDAY, JULY 18, 2015
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR SEND YOUR SIGNED LETTER TO EDITORIAL@LMTONLINE.COM
COMMENTARY
OTHER VIEWS
Trolls ahead in battle for the Internet By ELLEN PAO SPECIAL TO THE WASHINGTON POST
I have just endured one of the largest trolling attacks in history. And I have just been blessed with the most astonishing human responses to that attack. What happened to me while head of the popular online forum Reddit for the past eight months is important to consider as we confront the ways in which the Internet is evolving. Here’s why. The Internet started as a bastion for free expression. It encouraged broad engagement and a diversity of ideas. Over time, however, that openness has enabled the harassment of people for their views, experiences, appearances or demographic backgrounds. Balancing free expression with privacy and the protection of participants has always been a challenge for opencontent platforms on the Internet. But that balancing act is getting harder. The trolls are winning. Fully 40 percent of online users have experienced bullying, harassment and intimidation, according to Pew Research. Some 70 percent of users between age 18 and 24 say they’ve been the target of harassers. Not surprisingly, women and minorities have it worst. We were naive in our initial expectations for the Internet, an early Internet pioneer told me recently. We focused on the huge opportunity for positive interaction and information sharing. We did not understand how people could use it to harm others. The foundations of the Internet were laid on free expression, but the founders just did not understand how effective their creation would be for the coordination and amplification of harassing behavior. Or that the users who were the biggest bullies would be rewarded with attention for their behavior. Or that young people would come to see this bullying as the norm — as something to emulate in an effort to one-up each other. As the Electronic Frontier Foundation, which was founded to help protect Internet civil liberties, concluded this year: “The sad irony is that online harassers misuse the fundamental strength of the Internet as a powerful communication medium to magnify and co-ordinate their actions and effectively silence and intimidate others.” Reddit is the Internet, and it exhibits all the good, the bad and the ugly of the Internet. It has been fighting this harassment in the trenches. In February, we committed to removing revenge porn from our site, and others followed our lead. In May, the company banned harassment of individuals from the site. Last month, we took down sections of the site that drew repeat harassers. Then, after making these policy changes to prevent and ban harassment, I, along with several colleagues, was targeted with harassing messages, attempts to post my private information online and death threats. These were attempts to demean, shame and scare us into silence. Undeterred, we took steps to prevent bad behavior in an incremental and thoughtful fashion.
We doubled the size of our community-management team. We brought in two experienced managers to improve our operations, training and overall leadership. We added to our engineering team. We hired a product manager to help develop tools to help our volunteer moderators. This isn’t an easy problem to solve. To understand the challenges facing today’s Internet content platforms, layer onto that original balancing act a desire to grow audience and generate revenue. A large portion of the Internet audience enjoys edgy content and the behavior of the more extreme users; it wants to see the bad with the good, so it becomes harder to get rid of the ugly. But to attract more mainstream audiences and bring in the big-budget advertisers, you must hide or remove the ugly. Expecting Internet platforms to eliminate hate and harassment is likely to disappoint. As the number of users climbs, community management becomes ever more difficult. If mistakes are made 0.01 percent of the time, that could mean tens of thousands of mistakes. And for a community looking for clear, evenly applied rules, mistakes are frustrating. They lead to a lack of trust. Turning to automation to enforce standards leads to a lack of human contact and understanding. No one has figured out the best place to draw the line between bad and ugly — or whether that line can support a viable business model. So it’s left to all of us to figure it out, to call out abuse when we see it. As the trolls on Reddit grew louder and more harassing in recent weeks, another group of users became more vocal. First a few sent positive messages. Then a few more. Soon, I was receiving hundreds of messages a day, and at one point thousands. These messages were thoughtful, well-written and heartfelt, in stark contrast to the trolling messages, which were usually made up of little more than four-letter words. Many shared their own stories of harassment and thanked us for our stance. The writers of these messages often said they could not imagine the hate I was experiencing. Most apologized for the trolls’ behavior. And some apologized for standing on the sidelines. “I didn’t do anything, and that is why I am sorry,” one user wrote. “I stayed indifferent. I didn’t attack nor defend. I am sorry for my inaction. You are a human. And no one needs to be treated like you were.” Some apologized for their own trollish behavior and promised they had reformed. As the threats became really violent, people ended their messages with “stay safe.” Eventually, users started responding on Reddit itself, using accurate information and supportive messages to fight back against the trolls. In the battle for the Internet, the power of humanity to overcome hate gives me hope. I’m rooting for the humans over the trolls. I know we can win. (Pao resigned this month from her position as interim chief executive of Reddit.)
COMMENTARY
Atticus is name of writer’s son By AMY SORRELL SPECIAL TO THE WASHINGTON POST
ANTWERP, Ohio — It was my husband who suggested the name Atticus for our first child. As “To Kill a Mockingbird” was my favorite book, I immediately agreed. Atticus Christopher Sorrell was born on May 6, 1995. We read the book to Atticus as an infant and talked about its morals often. But Harper Lee’s novel really came alive for me in 2007, when I was removed from my job as a high school journalism adviser. The student paper where I worked published an editorial on gay rights; the administration was furious. Though I had the support of my students, many of my fellow teachers would not stand behind me. Some even agreed to testify against me at a school board hearing. Months after, I spoke about my experience at Franklin College. One of the students there asked how my son was handling the media storm. I explained that my son was named after Atticus Finch because Finch did the right thing
even when people thought he was wrong. That was how I felt when I defended my students. A lot of people disagreed with me, but I knew what right was. In that moment, Atticus became more than just my favorite fictional character. A Southern lawyer out to fight the bigoted and corrupt law system of the South, single dad, and the best shot in Maycomb County. To me, he was a symbol of moral rectitude and integrity. Harper Lee’s new book, “Go Set a Watchman,” has complicated that. As I tore through the book, I was anxious and, at times, horrified by Lee’s portrait of Atticus. At one point, the now 26-year-old Jean Louise finds a racist pamphlet that belongs to Atticus. We later find out that Atticus has been colluding with other local men to impede the progress of the NAACP. At one point, he asks Jean Louise: “Do you want Negroes by the carload in our schools and churches and theaters? Do you want them in our world?” When I finished, I thought immediately of my
son Atticus. I’d hoped his name would encourage him to be independent, intelligent and brave — qualities I see in him now, at 20. Would his moniker be forever tarnished? No, I quickly realized. This new, more flawed Atticus is more realistic. And that’s a good thing for me and my son. The Atticus Finch of “To Kill a Mockingbird” seemed perfect. “Go Set a Watchman” challenges that idealized view. It shows us that even someone who seems brave and reasonable can react unreasonably — even bigoted and hateful - when his life is threatened. It’s upsetting to see Atticus behave this way, but it’s also honest. And that’s exactly what our best characters offer — insight into who we are, how we behave and how we can be better. As an English teacher for the past 16 years, I teach my students about classic American characters like Jay Gatsby from “The Great Gatsby,” Huck from “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” and George from “Of Mice and Men.” These protagonists are brave, but
flawed. As we read these books together, I help my students learn from characters’ mistakes. They see that desperation, hopelessness and vengeance are as common as happiness, hope, and pride. Most of us view ourselves like Atticus — noble, brave, right most of the time. But like it or not, we all have latent prejudices grounded in religion, gender, race or class. This was a challenge in 1954. It is still a challenge today. For years, readers have held up Atticus Finch as the image of perfection. When I started the book, I didn’t want that image to be challenged, but as I finished it, I realized that we can learn just as much from a character’s flaws as his attributes. Even our heroes have blind spots, flaws and reprehensible positions. Maybe this is a more important lesson for my son, and for us all. (Amy Sorrell is a high school English teacher at Antwerp Local School in Antwerp, Ohio. She is the 2007 recipient of the Courage in Journalism Award and the Mary Beth Tinker Award.)
WORST WEEK IN WASHINGTON
Parenthood had a very bad week By CHRIS CILLIZZA THE WASHINGTON POST
WASHINGTON — It’s never a good look to be sipping red wine while discussing the costs associated with fetal tissue culled from abortions. But that’s the situation Planned Parenthood found itself in this past week after a senior official was secretly taped by the Center for Medical Progress. (On its website, the CMP calls itself a “group of citizen journalists,” but it opposes abortion and quite clearly has
an agenda in these matters.) In the video, two CMP activists posing as representatives of a biotech firm ask about the costs associated with buying specific specimens of fetal tissue. The Planned Parenthood official says costs range from $30 to $100. At issue is whether the Planned Parenthood doctor was referencing the costs associated with transporting the tissues or the price of the tissues themselves. The first type of charge is legal, the second isn’t — if Planned Parenthood profits
from the sale. Republicans quickly leaped on the video, denouncing the doctor’s callousness and Planned Parenthood’s alleged profiteering in one fell swoop. Presidential candidate Jeb Bush called it “a shocking and horrific reminder that we must do so much more to foster a culture of life in America.” Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood, released a video Thursday amid the hubbub, apologizing for the tone of the employee but defending
her organization’s practices. “This is unacceptable, and I personally apologize for the staff member’s tone and statements,” Richards said. “The allegation that Planned Parenthood profits in any way from tissue donation is not true.” No matter. A congressional investigation had already been launched in response to the undercover video. Planned Parenthood, for being flip about aborted fetuses, you had the worst week in Washington. Congrats, or something.
CLASSIC DOONESBURY | GARRY TRUDEAU
Nation
SATURDAY, JULY 18, 2015
THE ZAPATA TIMES 5A
Planned Parenthood faces investigations By DAVID CRARY ASSOCIATED PRESS
The governors of Georgia and Indiana and Ohio’s attorney general on Thursday ordered investigations of Planned Parenthood facilities in their states to determine if organs from aborted fetuses were being sold. The state investigations — as well as probes announced Wednesday by three Republican-led congressional committees — come in response to the release of an undercover video made by anti-abortion activists. The video shows Dr. Deborah Nucatola, Planned Parenthood’s senior director of medical services, discussing procedures for providing fetal body parts to researchers. Planned Parenthood officials said Thursday that Nucatola has been “reprimanded.” They did not elaborate. The organiza-
tion’s president, Cecile Richards, apologized for the tone of some of Nucatola’s recorded statements. Nucatola is heard in the video referring to fetal hearts, lungs and livers and to efforts to retrieve these organs intact rather than crush them during an abortion procedure. She also is heard giving a range of monetary estimates for their procurement. The commercial sale of fetal tissue is outlawed. Planned Parenthood, which provides abortions and other reproductive health services, says it legally helps women who want to make not-for-profit donations of their fetus’ organs for scientific research. According to Planned Parenthood, the monetary sums mentioned by Nucatola were for reimbursement of the clinics’ costs in handling the tissue do-
On Thursday, GOP Govs. Nathan Deal in Georgia and Mike Pence in Indiana and GOP Attorney General Mike DeWine in Ohio ordered probes of Planned Parenthood clinics. DeWine said he’ll investigate whether Planned Parenthood may have violated its nonprofit status. nations. “Nobody should be ‘selling’ tissue. That’s just not the goal here,” Nucatola says at one point. The video, made covertly last year, was produced by the Irvine, Californiabased Center for Medical Progress, which released it with the support of several national anti-abortion organizations. It shows a
lunchtime conversation between Nucatola and anti-abortion activists posing as potential buyers for a human biologics company. On Thursday, GOP Govs. Nathan Deal in Georgia and Mike Pence in Indiana and GOP Attorney General Mike DeWine in Ohio ordered probes of Planned Parenthood clinics. DeWine said he’ll in-
vestigate whether Planned Parenthood may have violated its nonprofit status and made money from the sale of fetal organs. But in a video, Richards describes as “outrageous” the claims that Planned Parenthood clinics were breaking the law by selling fetal tissue for profit. “Our donation programs — like any other high-quality health care providers — follow all laws and ethical guidelines,” she said. However, she said some of Nucatola’s remarks heard on the undercover video did not reflect Planned Parenthood’s commitment to “compassionate care.” “This is unacceptable, and I personally apologize for the staff member’s tone and statements,” Richards said. “If there is any aspect of our work that can be strengthened, we want to know about it,
and we take swift action to address it.” In Congress, House Speaker John Boehner said Planned Parenthood has embraced “gruesome practices” and voiced skepticism at the suggestion that its procedures were legitimate. “If you saw the video, it certainly didn’t strike me that way,” he said. “I could talk about the video, but I think I’d vomit ... It’s disgusting.” Two Democratic congressmen, Reps. John Conyers of Michigan and Steve Cohen of Tennessee, criticized the launching of congressional investigations. “House Leadership is using a sensationalist and heavily edited video as an opportunity to attack one of the nation’s leading providers of high-quality health care for women,” they said in a joint statement.
Nation
6A THE ZAPATA TIMES
Gunman recalled as good kid By MICHAEL KUNZELMAN AND KATHLEEN FOODY ASSOCIATED PRESS
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — To neighbors and former classmates, Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez was a well-mannered, outgoing young man who seemed “as Americanized as anyone else.” He wrestled in high school, his sister played tennis, and they enjoyed dinners with neighbors. About the only change they noticed in him lately was his bushy new beard. Now, investigators are trying to understand why the 24-year-old Kuwait-born man opened fire on two U.S. military sites in Chattanooga in an attack that left four Marines dead and raised the specter of terrorism on U.S. soil. He was killed by police. Abdulazeez did not appear to have been on federal authorities’ radar before the bloodshed Thursday, officials said. But now counterterrorism investigators are taking a deep look at his online activities and foreign travel, searching for clues to his political contacts or influences. “Because the investigation is still in its early stages, it would be premature to speculate on exactly why the shooter did what he did,” FBI agent Ed Reinhold said. “However, we are conducting a thorough investigation to determine whether this person acted alone or was inspired or directed.” In the quiet neighborhood in Hixson, Tennessee, where Abdulazeez lived with his parents in a twostory home, residents and former classmates sketched a picture of an utterly ordinary suburban existence. They said they would see him walking along the wide streets or doing yard work. One neighbor recalled him giving him a ride home when he became stranded in a snowstorm. “It’s kind of a general
Photo by David Goldman | AP
Boots sit next to an American flag as current and former JROTC students hold a moment of prayer at a memorial, in Chattanooga. consensus from people that interacted with him that he was just your average citizen there in the neighborhood. There was no reason to suspect anything otherwise,” said Ken Smith, a city councilman who met with neighbors Thursday night. As ordinary as the Abdulazeez family appeared on the outside, court documents allege it was an abusive and turbulent household. Abdulazeez’s mother, Rasmia Ibrahim Abdulazeez, filed a divorce complaint in 2009 accusing her husband, Youssuf Saed Abdulazeez, of beating her repeatedly in front of their children and sexually assaulting her. She also accused him of “striking and berating” the children without provocation. Weeks later, the couple agreed to reconcile, with the father consenting to go to counseling. Abdulazeez graduated from Red Bank High School in Chattanooga, where he was on the wrestling team. A fellow Red Bank High graduate, Hussnain Javid, said Abdulazeez was “very outgoing,” adding: “Everyone knew of him.” “Obviously something has happened since then,” said Sam Plank, who graduated from Red Bank High two years before Abdulazeez but hadn’t crossed paths with him since 2006. “He was as Americanized as anyone else. At least that’s
what it seemed like to me.” Hailey Bureau, who attended school with Abdulazeez, said they sat often sat next to each another because their last names were close alphabetically. She said she broke down Thursday when she learned Abdulazeez was the gunman, saying, “I imagine him the way I knew him then, laughing and smiling.” She also remembered a yearbook quote that Abdulazeez used: “My name causes national security alerts. What does yours do?” Abdulazeez was apparently quoting an American Muslim blogger who calls himself Hijabman. Bureau said at the time that it was just considered another joke. “Now it’s very morbid,” she said. Abdulazeez got an engineering degree from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in 2012 and worked as an intern a few years ago at the Tennessee Valley Authority, the federally owned utility that operates power plants and dams across the South. He was conditionally hired as an engineer at the Perry nuclear power plant near Cleveland and spent 10 days there before he was let go in May 2013 because he failed a background check, said Todd Schneider, a FirstEnergy Corp. spokesman. Schneider would not say why. “He worked in an admin-
istrative building,” Schneider said. “He was never allowed in the protected area of the plant near the reactor.” For the last three months, Abdulazeez had been working at Superior Essex Inc., which designs and makes wire and cable products. In April, he was arrested on a drunken driving charge, and a mugshot showed him with a bushy beard. Karen Jones, who lived next to the family for 14 years, said she was somewhat surprised last weekend by his appearance when she saw him walking with another man in woods behind the house, where he liked to shoot pellet guns at a red target suspended in a tree. “He had this big beard, which was not how he used to be,” Jones said. She said he was typically clean-shaven. The women of the family always wore head coverings in accordance with their Muslim faith, Jones said. Javid said he occasionally saw Abdulazeez at the Islamic Society of Greater Chattanooga, but the last time was roughly a year ago. The official Kuwait News Agency on Friday quoted the Interior Ministry as saying that while Abdulazeez was born in Kuwait, he was of Jordanian origin. The report also said he traveled to Kuwait and Jordan in the spring of 2010. A U.S. official who was not authorized to discuss the case and spoke on condition of anonymity said that Abdulazeez was in Jordan last year for months, and that those travels and anyone he met with are being looked at as part of the terrorism investigation. In recent months, U.S. counterterrorism authorities have been warning of the danger of attacks by individuals inspired but not necessarily directed by the Islamic State group.
SATURDAY, JULY 18, 2015
International
SATURDAY, JULY 18, 2015
THE ZAPATA TIMES 7A
Bailout OK’d after Germany gives approval By ELENA BECATOROS AND GEIR MOULSON ASSOCIATED PRESS
ATHENS, Greece — Greece’s proposed bailout cleared further key hurdles Friday after German lawmakers overwhelmingly gave their backing to another financial rescue and the European Union said it would release a short-term loan to ensure Athens avoids a debt default. The developments, along with the Greek parliament’s approval early Thursday of creditor-demanded austerity measures, contributed to a positive initial assessment from Europe’s bailout fund. In a statement, the European Stability Mechanism said it approved a “decision to grant, in principle, stability support to Greece in the form of a loan program.” Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, meanwhile, reshuffled his cabinet after a rebellion earlier this week in his party’s ranks over the austerity measures, replac-
ing two ministers who voted against him and changing another eight ministers and deputy ministers. Though the broad outlines of the Greek bailout were agreed Monday by the eurozone’s 19 leaders, the ESM’s decision formally kick-starts the process by which Greece begins negotiating the details. The discussions, which are expected to last four weeks, will include economic targets and reforms deemed necessary in return for an anticipated 85 billion euros ($93 billion) over three years. “This agreement offers a chance to put the Greek economy back on track,” said Jeroen Dijsselbloem, the eurozone’s top official who also chairs the ESM board. “It’s not going to be easy. We are certain to encounter problems in the years to come. But I believe we will be able to resolve them.” In recent weeks the Greek economy, which is
Photo by Petros Giannakouris | AP
An abandoned stadium used during Athens’ 2004 Olympic games would be used by Greece to generate cash to help reduct its debt. around a quarter smaller than it was back in 2008 following a brutal recession, has suffered a number of shocks with the country’s euro future on the line. The hope now is that the banks, which have been shut for the past three weeks, will reopen soon — possibly as early as Monday — and that the paltry 60-euros a day withdrawal limit at ATMs will be raised. The first big development
Friday was the news that German lawmakers, in the wake of their Austrian counterparts, voted 439-119 in favor of opening detailed discussions on the bailout package. Chancellor Angela Merkel had warned them Greece would face chaos without a deal. That was later followed by confirmation that the 28country EU will release a loan of 7.16 billion ($7.7 billion) in short-term cash by
Monday, when it has a 4.2 billion-euro debt repayment due to the European Central Bank. The funds, which will come from a long-dormant EU program called the European Financial Stabilization Mechanism, will also help Greece clear arrears with the International Monetary Fund, and with the Bank of Greece. The loan will be for three months and disbursed over two instalments, and comes a day after the ECB raised emergency liquidity assistance to Greek banks. “What we’re witnessing is European solidarity in action,” said Valdis Dombrovskis, the EU Commission’s vice president for the euro. “Politicians across 27 countries have invested their own political capital to speed through national decisions to shoulder Greece at this difficult time for the country,” he added. Germany is likely to continue playing a key role in
Greece’s future as it is the largest single bailout contributor. It has taken a hard line, insisting on stringent spending cuts, tax hikes and wide-ranging economic reforms in return. “The principle ... of responsibility and solidarity that has guided us since the beginning of the European debt crisis marks the entire result from Monday,” Merkel told the special session of Parliament. The alternative to an agreement, she added, “would not be a time-out from the euro that would be orderly ... but predictable chaos.” Merkel will have to return to Parliament to seek approval for the final deal when the negotiations are concluded. “I know that many have doubts and concerns about whether this road will be successful, about whether Greece will have the strength to take it in the long term, and no one can brush aside these concerns,” she said.
PÁGINA 8A
Zfrontera
Ribereña en Breve DECOMISO El Grupo de Coordinación Tamaulipas señaló que, en seguimiento a una denuncia ciudadana, elementos de Fuerza Tamaulipas aseguraron en el municipio de Reynosa, México, 182 paquetes conteniendo casi una tonelada y media de marihuana y una camioneta pick up. El decomiso se realizó el miércoles 16 de julio en la calle Laja número 536 del Fraccionamiento Colinas del Pedregal, donde los policías estatales encontraron 157 paquetes que contenían 9 kilogramos de marihuana cada uno, así como 25 paquetes con un peso de 1.5 kilogramos cada uno, haciendo un total de mil 450.5 kilogramos.
RECOMENDACIONES Durante estas vacaciones, la Secretaría de Seguridad Pública de Tamaulipas, recomienda a las familias que saldrán de viaje, asegurar sus domicilios a efecto de evitar robos en su patrimonio. Otras recomendaciones son, asegurar puertas y ventanas de su vivienda; dar su número telefónico para casos de emergencia a personas de su total confianza; desconectar aparatos eléctricos; evitar almacenar combustibles innecesarios, ropa vieja o periódicos; revisar las condiciones mecánicas de su vehículo; no llevar a menores de edad en el asiento delantero; respetar los límites de velocidad; no rebasar en curva ni por acotamientos; utilizar el cinturón de seguridad; no ingerir bebidas alcohólicas; no manejar cansado; no pararse en lugares despoblados.
SÁBADO 18 DE JULIO DE 2015
CASO GUZMÁN
‘Texas está listo’ POR DYLAN BADDOUR LA VOZ DE HOUSTON
Joaquín ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán se fugó hace menos de una semana de una cárcel de máxima seguridad en México y podría estar escondido en cualquier lugar, por lo que el gobernador de Texas Greg Abbott dijo que nuestro estado estaría listo para enfrentar a este capo del narcotráfico si intenta desplazarse hacia el norte. Cuando carceleros entraron el pasado sábado 11 de julio en la celda de ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán en una cárcel en el oeste de Ciudad de México se percataron de que el preso se había fugado a través de un túnel de casi una milla de largo y bien construido que conducía al suelo de la ducha en su celda. Las autoridades mexicanas iniciaron una operación de búsqueda de ese narcotraficante. Abbott estaba hablando el pasado
lunes con Steve Malzberg, el jefe principal del cártel del canal conservador de Sinaloa, que durante Newsmax TV, sobre probleuna década ha suministramas en la frontera cuando do cientos de millones de abordó el tema de ‘El Chadólares en drogas al mercapo’ Guzmán. do negro en EU a través de “Si él u otro narcotrafila frontera con Texas. En cante piensa en venir a Es2001, ‘El Chapo’ también lotados Unidos a través de Tegró escapar de una cárcel xas”, comentó el gobernamexicana. GUZMÁN dor, “aquí tenemos una celda esperando para él”. Abbott señaló con cierto sarcasmo el hecho de que ‘El Chapo’ no Malzberg preguntó a Abbott si fuera extraditado a Estados Unidos después de su captura en 2014. Las creía que ‘El Chapo’ representa una autoridades mexicanas denegaron amenaza. “Representa un peligro enorme. la petición de extradición presentada por EU, donde el narcotraficante Mire, estamos frustrados con esto mexicano sería enjuiciado por va- porque se supone que debieron exrios cargos, y querían que el capo traditarlo a Estados Unidos”, exprede la droga cumpliera sentencias só Abbott. “Debimos haber tenido consecutivas de cientos de años por su control para que pasara el resto de su vida en una cárcel de Estados delitos cometidos en México. El verdadero nombre de ‘El Cha- Unidos. Él es un peligro, al igual po’ es Joaquín Guzmán. Guzmán es que los otros narcotraficantes. Esa
Amenaza
TAMAULIPAS
LOGIA MASÓNICA
NUEVOS ELEMENTOS
Tienen nuevos oficiales POR DENNIS P. KRIEWALD ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
CAMINATA Se realizará la Tercer Carrera Anual “5K Memorial Run”, el 18 de julio a partir de las 8 a.m., frente a al Palacio de Justicia sobre 7th y calle Hidalgo. El costo de inscripción anticipada es de 15 dólares, mientras que el día del vento se podrá inscribir, de 7 a.m. a 7:45 a.m., por un costo de 20 dólares. La inscripción a la carrera para niños costará 5 dólares. Para inscribirse en línea puede ingresar a active.com; para inscribirse en persona acusa a Boys and Girls Club en 302 de avenida 6th. La carrera contará con las siguientes divisiones: carrera de 5 kilómetros, caminata de dos millas y carrera para niños, de 10 años y menores. Los ganadores de los primeros tres lugares en cada categoría, en las ramas femenil y varonil, recibirán un trofeo.
TORNEO DE BOLICHE El Banco de Alimentos del Sur de Texas (STFB, por sus siglas en inglés) invita a la comunidad de Laredo y la región a participar del evento “Strike Out Hunger”. El torneo de boliche tendrá lugar el martes 21 de julio, a las 5:30 p.m. en Jett Bowl North. El evento es abierto al público. Para inscribirse debe formar parte de un equipo de cinco jugadores (para tres juegos), por un costo de 125 dólares. De igual manera, puede colaborar como patrocinador con 250 dólares. Actualmente STFB sirve a un área de ocho condados que van de Del Río (Condado Val verde) a Río Grande City (en el Condado Starr) .Para más información sobre inscripción y patrocinio puede llamar a Cindy Liendo al 726-3120 o escribir a cliendo@southtexasfoodbank.org.
es una de las razones por las que aprobamos este plan de seguridad fronteriza más estricto”. Durante el resto de la entrevista, Abbott explicó sus decisiones sobre seguridad fronteriza y fue preguntado acerca de las polémicas declaraciones de Donald Trump sobre los inmigrantes mexicanos, a lo que el gobernador contestó que no fueron adecuadas en la forma en que se dijeron, pero que abordaron un punto importante. Asimismo, indicó que bajo su gobierno la Legislatura de Texas asignó 800 millones de dólares más para más soldados, más aviones y más embarcaciones para vigilar la frontera, pero añadió que el gobierno federal debe dar un paso al frente para costear esos gastos. “Esperamos que el gobierno federal pague por lo que Texas está haciendo” en la frontera, agregó el gobernador, quien considera que Washington, D.C. “se ha deteriorado”.
Foto de cortesía | Gobierno de Tamaulipas
Alrededor de 230 nuevos investigadores y funcionarios públicos encargados del orden se unieron a las filas de seguridad tras una ceremonia el jueves ante el Gobernador del Estado, Egidio Torre Cantú.
Se unen a filas 230 investigadores TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
E
l jueves, alrededor de 230 policías investigadores, agentes del Ministerio Público y facilitadotes de los centros de Justicia Alternativa Penal de Tamaulipas se integraron a las filas del orden, durante la inauguración de la segunda planta del Edificio B de las oficinas centrales de la Procuraduría General de Justicia del Estado. “Somos policías investigadores, respetamos siempre la justicia con lealtad, sacrificio y honor. Para Tamaulipas nuestra pasión, lealtad y vocación, somos gente de valor”, proclamaron los nuevos integrantes del
orden durante la ceremonia ante el Gobernador Egidio Torre Cantú. Jadiel Santez Valadez, a nombre de sus compañeros, dijo que asumen la responsabilidad de participar con entusiasmo, honestidad y lealtad en la noble tarea de brindar una mejor procuración de justicia a todos los tamaulipecos. Durante la ceremonia también se entregaron 21 camionetas para la Coordinación Estatal Antisecuestro y Policía Investigadora, 13 automóviles para las Agencias del Ministerio Público y dos camionetas tipo van para Servicios Periciales y Servicio Médico Forense. “Nada supera a esa pasión,
ese amor, esa voluntad de los hombres y mujeres por servir a su Estado. Realmente somos privilegiados de tener a gente como ustedes”, dijo Torre Cantú. “(Ustedes) cada día hacen su mejor esfuerzo por cuidarnos y generar las mejores condiciones de tranquilidad y seguridad”. El Procurador General de Justicia, Ismael Quintanilla Acosta, indicó que la institución a su cargo trabaja con entrega a favor de la sociedad, comprometidos en su crecimiento profesional y humano. “Las exigencias del Nuevo Sistema de Justicia Penal nos compromete a esforzarnos aún más en la preparación y capacitación de todo el personal”, dijo.
La Logia Masónica de Laredo y la Logia Masónica de Zapata, ahora cuentan con nuevos oficiales. Durante una cena y ceremonia que tuvo lugar el 11 de julio, en las instalaciones de Logia Masónica de Laredo #547, los nuevos integrantes de la mesa directiva de ambas Logias fueron dados a conocer después de una plática por parte de Larry Lowe, Maestro Honorable, y el juramento a las banderas de EU y México. Después de la instalar al Marshal Charles Whitfield en las nuevas oficinas, el oficial Drew Claesspoke habló de la historia de los Masones y sobre las diferencias con otras organizaciones. Asimismo habló del “sentimiento de seguridad, amistas y equidad, y un sentimiento de pertenencia a pesar de la situación de vida de cada uno”. Él Culminó su plática instando a los oficiales a “poner atención estricta a las instrucciones, explicaciones, y cargos” de sus oficinas. Los nuevos oficiales de la Logia Masónica de Laredo son: Maestro Honorable Eduardo Esquivel; Thomas Morris como Primer Vigilante; Miguel Inclan como Segundo Vigilante; Charles Whitfield, Tesorero; Drew Claes, Secretaria; Larry Lowe, como Capellán; Anthony Cabello como Diacono Senior, Enrique Ceballos, Senior Steward; y Charles Whitfield como Solador. Los oficiales de Zapata también recibieron sus cargos. Ellos fueron Chris Turner como Maestro Honorable; O. J. Martinez, Primer Vigilante; Elias Mendiola, Jr., como Segundo Vigilante; Boyd Carter, Tesorero; Irving H. “Skip” Smith, Secretario; Eduardo Esquivel como Diacono Senior, Larry Lowe como Segundo Diacano; y Charles Whitfield como Solador. Esquivel y Turner dieron discursos de clausura y se entregó el reconocimiento Golden Trowel a Greg Moore. Los Masones apoyan a Shrine Hospitals, Scottish Rite Hospital y Learning Centers, Knights Templar Eye Foundation, becas escolares, donaciones de sangre y otras actividades.
COLUMNA
Tráfico en puertos era frecuente hacia 1800 Nota del Editor: Este es el primero de dos artículos donde el autor e historiador nos habla sobre los puertos de Tamaulipas y el contrabando que se presentó hacia los años de 1800..
POR RAÚL SINENCIO ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
Al iniciar la vida federativa, Tamaulipas cuenta con tres puertos de altura, por lo que destaca en promisorios trajines. Sin embargo, también
florece el contrabando.
Marco histórico Lo mismo que Pueblo Viejo — frente al costado tamaulipeco del río Pánuco — en 1821 son abiertos a las operaciones trasatlánticas Soto la Marina y Matamoros. Tres años después se incorpora Tampico, en la margen izquierda del Pánuco. Todos están distantes del litoral, por lo que se complica la vigilan-
cia hacendaria. Al principio, Pueblo Viejo y Tampico disponen de sus propios recintos aduanales. Cobra de paso bríos el referido fenómeno. Mero ejemplo brinda grueso “expediente instruido en Pueblo Viejo […] a consecuencia del contrabando que condujo el bergantín goleta Emmchine”, del que hacia 1826 acusa recibo la Suprema Corte del país. Los juicios no ponen freno. “De nueve millones [de
pesos] que importan los derechos de los efectos introducidos, quedaran [apenas] dos y medio a la Federación y el resto [va repartiéndose] entre los empleados de toda clase, comerciantes, introductores y comparadores” de ambas jurisdicciones, calcula en 1833 Manuel Núñez, jefe aduanal de Pueblo Viejo. Como a la sazón menudean los motines, Carlos María Bustamante conjetura: “Ahí está […] siste-
matizado el contrabando” y “debe haber anualmente revoluciones, una para expender el contrabando y otra para introducirlo”. Ello acaso contribuya a que Pueblo Viejo termine en 1833 reducido al cabotaje. Bajo dominio angloamericano Tampico, los estadounidenses continúan la saga. Dan “entrada a […] efectos prohibidos”, reporta en 1848 el administrador de la aduana tampiqueña José María Cuesta.
SATURDAY, JULY 18, 2015
THE ZAPATA TIMES 9A
New lands join areas preserved by state By NICOLE COBLER SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS
PIPE CREEK — Superintendent James Rice spends each day maintaining 3,757 acres of Hill Country land northwest of San Antonio in hopes that it will eventually be open to the public. He is the only employee at the Albert and Bessie Kronkosky State Natural Area, so that means an average day includes everything from filing paperwork to stomping through brush to catch a glimpse of the rare birds and plants that fill the property near Pipe Creek in Bandera County. “I’m the superintendent here, and that sounds all big and grandiose, but I’m the only employee,” he told the San Antonio Express-News with a laugh. In 2011, the property was donated by the Kronkosky Family Estate to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, but it remains closed because of the lack of funding needed to build the roads and other infrastructure necessary to open it for public use. But all that could change in 2017, when Parks and Wildlife asks the Legislature for additional funding to begin the design process for the area. Rice, 59, and a group of volunteers — mostly retired nature lovers — spend hours each day surveying and cataloging the various species of salamanders, plants and birds that call the area home. There have been at least 100 birds cataloged, including the endangered golden-cheeked warbler and the tiny black-capped vireo. “Do you want to see a rare plant?” he asked at a recent tour. “No” was not an option. Jumping out of a bright orange Parks and Wildlife ATV and into a creek bed,
Photo by John Davenport/San Antonio Express-News | AP
A July 10 photo shows a scenic vista of Kronkosky State Natural Area in Pipe Creek. The land was acquired by Texas Parks and Wildlife in 2011 and will eventually be open to the public. he ducked under branches on his hands and knees to show off the Boerne Bean, a beanlike vine found only on the Edwards Plateau. “What makes this place unique is the amount of very rare plants that we have,” Rice said. Sycamore leaf snowbells and Texas wild mercury are other plants that grow abundantly in the area. The land also earns its State Natural Area designation because of its thriving population of golden-cheeked warblers and the rare salamanders found in its creeks. A state natural area is much less developed than a state park because of its unique geologic or environmental value. Rice is optimistic that additional funding will be approved. “Everyone is on the
same page with this piece of property,” Rice said. “I would be surprised if we were not open within 10 years.” But that comes with a price. It will take at least $16 million to open the space to the public, according to Rice. The Kronkosky land is just one of six swaths of donated land, totaling more than 60,000 acres, being preserved by Parks and Wildlife. There are also plans to donate Powderhorn Ranch, more than 17,000 acres of property in Calhoun County, to Parks and Wildlife. The nonprofit Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation recently purchased the area to donate to the agency. Other pieces of donated property are further along in the process to open to
the public than the Kronkosky land. During the past legislative session, lawmakers included $2.7 million in remaining proceeds from the sale of Eagle Mountain Lake property to go toward designing the Palo Pinto Mountains State Park in the city of Strawn. The design phase is just one step before construction. According to Carter Smith, executive director of Parks and Wildlife, the agency’s goal is to allow limited access to the areas during the long process of opening each park. Another slice of natural Texas land is even closer to opening than Palo Pinto and Kronkosky. The Devil’s River Dan A. Hughes Unit will likely open to the public within a year, thanks to additional
funds, Smith said. The Legislature approved the department’s $720 million budget this session. A chunk of that money — $68 million — will go toward capital construction projects to update deteriorated water systems, restrooms and public buildings. Smith said the agency’s first order of business will be to repair Blanco State Park after it was damaged in the May floods. Then funds will go toward capital repairs at many parks where buildings are in serious need of repair. So it may be a while before Texans will see all 60,000 acres of donated land, but Smith said the department has time on its side. “Many of the sites acquired were done so with thinking about future gen-
erations,” Smith said. The state agency hasn’t always been so fortunate. In the 2012 budget, the department received $550 million despite requesting almost $200 million more than that. After the cut, the department was forced to lay off 111 employees. This year, the park system won’t have to rely only on a shaky state budget. Rep. Lyle Larson authored a measure that will ensure that 94 percent of the state’s sporting goods tax will go toward Parks and Wildlife. Previously, the Legislature would divert the revenue from that sales tax to balance the budget. “For the first time, we really have some predictability and security to plan ahead,” Smith said. Larson, R-San Antonio, said the previous taking and diversion of funds, “was not conservative government.” The lawmaker filed the legislation three sessions in a row after he realized that Texas parks were falling short when compared with others across the country. “It’s compromised the experience Texans have had in our parks,” Larson said. Over a decade, Larson estimates, the revenue from the tax will bring in billions of dollars. Until then, Rice will continue planning the future of the land he has taken care of for years. He points to different areas of the land while explaining, “This is where the visitors’ center will go,” or “This is where cars will drive in.” Although the plan is to develop only 50 acres of Kronskosky, Rice said he hopes to preserve as much of the natural space as possible. “I want to show the public we can develop an area in a sustainable manner,” he said. “We don’t want to impact the natural resources.”
MCM Resorts saved 2 billion gallons By KIMBERLY PIERCEALL ASSOCIATED PRESS
LAS VEGAS — Sin City may look like a lush water-waster as the state endures its fourth year of a severe drought, but casino-resorts say their fountains and greenery are well-crafted illusions. The vice president of sustainability for MGM Resorts International, Chris Brophy, told a panel of the Nevada Drought Forum on Friday that through a variety of conservation efforts since 2008 the company has saved 2 billion gallons of
water, equal to the amount of water that spills over Niagara Falls in four hours. Brophy said the company’s Bellagio fountain show and Cirque du Soleil’s indoor water-show “O” use on-site recycled well water and that the Aria resort’s outdoor wall of water wastes less than a residential pool. The company has 15 properties on the Las Vegas Strip, and Brophy said all of them combined use less water annually than the company’s 52,000 employees, based on average residential use.
One water observer, who wasn’t at the meeting, however, said the image Las Vegas presents to visitors may be hurting the conservation cause. “There is this disconnect between the reality of saving water and the fantasy that we don’t have to,” said Peter Gleick, president of the Pacific Institute, a California-based water research group. “But frankly, that’s the job of Las Vegas, is to feed our fantasy, isn’t it?” The drought represents an unpleasant reality, he said, and while it hasn’t been ignored by Strip re-
sorts installing low-flow fixtures and doing laundry differently to save water, for example, hotel guests are seeing what appear to be opulent displays of water consumptions. “If the Bellagio wanted to send the message that they were serious about water savings, they would drain the fountains,” Gleick said. Friday was the second meeting of the Nevada Drought Forum convened by Gov. Brian Sandoval to review the state’s water use and recommend policy changes by inviting
stakeholders to talk about how the drought has affected them. It was the casino industry’s turn along with representatives from the state’s mining and development industries. Las Vegas area resorts use 7.6 percent of southern Nevada’s water according to the Southern Nevada Water Authority. Nearly 60 percent of the state’s water is used by single-family and multi-family homes. Shallow salty groundwater sits below properties on the Strip, largely what’s left after irrigation water on surrounding
lawns sinks below ground and would otherwise build up and need to be pumped out if not for the water features, said Dale Devitt, director of the Center for Urban Water Conservation at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, reached after the meeting. “They use a lot of water, but I think they’ve made incredible strides to conserve,” he said of the area’s resorts. Also, the Strip can’t just turn off the sprinklers to its golf courses or drain its pools. “We are a resort destination,” he said. “Our economy is based on that.”
eas, has brought it to the border regions. “The Health and Human Services Department — the office of Adolescent Health — was particularly interested in looking at programs that might help youth in more rural and smaller
population areas. So, that’s how that came about. Big Decisions has not been studied to the extent that this project will study it, and the need for such a program in communities like Del Rio is how this came together.”
ABSTINENCE Continued from Page 1A According to Healthy Futures of Texas, “the 10-session curriculum includes medically accurate lessons on goals and dreams, healthy relationships, anatomy/reproduction, abstinence, refusal skills, contraception, and STDs.”
“Big Decisions is a curriculum that’s really designed for communities that want to be sensitive to the cultural issues surrounding sexual health education, but to acknowledge that most parents and most youth very much support access to the
information in the programs that work,” said Dr. Janet Realini, president of Healthy Futures of Texas and author of the Big Decisions curriculum. The curriculum has been implemented in several school districts throughout
FOOD Continued from Page 1A ic book artist Dan Panosian among many others that have graced our event. Past artwork/media has included: oil, acrylic, watercolor, pastels, mix media, photographs, sculptures, furniture, jewelry (accessories) or other unique pieces of art.
Empty Bowls IX also honors the Guadalupe and Lilia Martinez Foundation, which has deep roots in Zapata for its contribution to the STFB mission of feeding the hungry. The Martinez Foundation is headed by Laredoans Shirley Sandlin Gonzalez and Bob Gonzalez.
TEXAS Continued from Page 1A force,” Texas Workforce Commission Chairman Andres Alcantar said. The Amarillo area had the lowest unemployment rate in June, at 3.2 percent. June’s job gains in the service-providing industries were led by the education and health services
industry, which added 10,100 positions. Professional and business services added 8,300 jobs in June. Gains in the goodsproducing industries were centered in mining and logging, which saw an increase of 2,700 jobs during the month.
the state and Realini said that information from the programs has been well received and efficacious in anticipating healthy behavior choices in urban areas. That, coupled with the federal government’s interest in circulating it to rural ar-
EL CHAPO Continued from Page 1A whether to accept a U.S. offer of unconditional support to track down Guzmán — including the use of drones, advanced intelligence equipment and a special task force. Long before the escape, Mexican officials also appeared resistant to the idea of extraditing Guzmán, who faces indictments in at least seven U.S. federal courts on charges that include narcotics trafficking and murder. In October, a new indictment in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn linked him and his associates to hundreds of acts of murder, assault, kidnapping and torture. But the Mexican government indicated it would keep the prisoner in its custody, wanting to prose-
cute and imprison Guzmán in what many viewed as a show of sovereignty. In January, Mexico’s previous attorney general, Jesús Murillo Karam, suggested Guzmán would never serve time in the United States. “El Chapo must stay here to complete his sentence, and then I will extradite him,” Murillo Karam was quoted as saying at the time. “So about 300 or 400 years later — it will be a while.” Guzmán escaped from prison on the night of July 11, using a mile-long tunnel burrowed into the floor of his bathroom that experts says took more than a year to dig. The Mexican government has struggled to ex-
plain how Guzmán managed to pull off such an elaborate prison break from what was meant to be the country’s most secure facility. The Mexican president, Enrique Peña Nieto, said last year following the drug lord’s arrest that losing him again — Guzmán had escaped Mexican custody once before — would be unforgivable. Whether Guzmán had been warned about the U.S. extradition request, or whether that had any influence on the timing of his escape, is unclear. Extraditions can take years to occur. The Americans did not formally request the extradition of Guzmán after his arrest in February 2014, an operation conducted by
Mexican forces with American help. It is unclear why, nearly a year and a half later, the U.S. government decided to formally request Guzmán’s extradition. “It is the practice of the United States to seek extradition whenever defendants subject to U.S. charges are apprehended in another country,” said Peter Carr, a Justice Department spokesman. The statement from the Mexican attorney general’s office indicated Gómez González gave orders for her office to review the extradition request to ensure that it complied with all legal requirements and then submit them to the nation’s Justice Department for consideration.
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Zentertainment
SATURDAY, JULY 18, 2015
Poehler returns for second season of Swedish comedy By DAVID BAUDER ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK — Paul Simon, Jack Black, Neve Campbell, Amy Poehler and Jason Priestley make appearances in the second season of the television comedy “Welcome to Sweden,” which launches on NBC on Sunday. That’s only marginally impressive, until you consider those guest shots required them to be in Stockholm during the long, dark winter months. “We tried to get people who were already in Sweden and literally show up at their hotel with cameras,” said “Welcome to Sweden” star and writer Greg Poehler. “Before they knew what was happening, they were on TV.” He’s joking, sort of. Simon and Black were on con-
cert tours that took them to Sweden while the series was being filmed and Poehler called on his sister Amy, who knew them both, to ask a favor. Campbell, who shares an agent with Greg Poehler, will appear in four episodes as an American businesswoman transferred to Sweden. Priestley also came just for the show. Poehler, to remind fans who watched last summer, plays an American who falls in love with a Swedish woman and moves to her home country, mirroring the young actor’s real life. The show, filmed initially for Swedish television, was picked up by NBC and did well enough last summer to earn a second season. Poehler recognizes that at a time networks are having trouble developing situation comedies that stick, it’s a real opportunity to have a series
that lasts more than a few episodes. “There are so many stages of the process when something can go horribly wrong,” he said. “If you survive that, the second season is really where you find your voice and find your rhythm, and I think we’ve done that.” Poehler’s character this season gets a job as the “guy” for American celebrities visiting Stockholm, a person who gets special access to tourist spots and performs other favors — a narrative device that works perfectly for the celebrity cameos. Since he barely understands Swedish, “as you can imagine, he’s not a very good ‘guy,”’ Poehler said. The second season may be jarring for American television viewers since it is not only filmed, but set, in a Swedish winter.
Photo by Frederik Hjerling/TV4 AB/NBC | AP
In this image released by NBC, Per Svensson, from left, Jason Priestley and Greg Poehler appear in a scene from “Welcome to Sweden.” The second season of comedy series premieres Sunday at 7 p.m.
SATURDAY, JULY 18, 2015
THE ZAPATA TIMES 11A
LUCIA P. RAMIREZ Sept. 13, 1933 – July 13, 2015 Lucia P. Ramirez, 81, passed away on Monday, July 13, 2015, at Laredo Medical Center in Laredo, Texas. Ms. Ramirez is preceded in death by her husband, Honorable Judge Pedro Ramirez, Jr.; parents, Rufino and Zoila Peña; and brothers, Gilberto Peña, Rolando (Maria Celia) Peña. Ms. Ramirez is survived by her sons, Carlos J. Ramirez, Pedro III (Sandra) Ramirez; daughter, Lesvia R. (Eric) De King; grandchildren, Carlos G. (Mirah) Ramirez, Chelsea N. (Brandon) Ewing, Tristan De King, Pedro Ramirez, IV, Cristina Ramirez; great-grandchild, Ellie Ramirez; sisters, Imelda (+Adrian) Gonzalez, Idalia (+Tito) Aparicio, Alma (+Jesus Angel) Garza; sister-in-law, Albeza Peña and by numerous cousins, nephews, nieces, other family members and friends. Special thanks to son, Carlos and her sister Imelda for their dedication during her illness. Also to her caretakers: Mari and the staff at House Calls, especially Rosa. Finally thanks to +Sister Carmel, Sister Karen and her friends at Catholic Social Services.
Amazon ‘Prime Day’ a success By HIROKO TABUCHI NEW YORK TIMES
Visitation hours were held on Friday, July 17, 2015, at 8 a.m. with a rosary at 9 a.m. at Rose Garden Funeral Home. The funeral procession departed at 10:15 a.m. for a 10:30 a.m. funeral Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. Committal services followed at Zapata County Cemetery. Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Rose Garden Funeral Home, Daniel A. Gonzalez, funeral director, 2102 N. U.S. Hwy 83, Zapata, Texas.
DOLORES R. VILLARREAL
Despite a much-derided product lineup and clunky wait-lists, Amazon said Friday that its Prime Day sale this week generated more unit sales than Black Friday last year, and that more new members tried its Prime subscription service than on any single day in the retailer’s 20-year history. “Hundreds of thousands” of new members signed up for Amazon Prime during the one-day sale Wednesday, Greg Greeley, the company’s vice president for the subscription service, said in a release. That adds to an estimated 40 million members that Amazon had attracted so far to Prime, which offers free shipments on many goods for an annual $99 fee. Eager Prime Day shoppers in the United States made its Fire TV Sticks “the fastest-selling deal on an Amazon device ever,” the company said. Amazon said it also sold 47,000 televisions on its U.S. site, a spike of 1,300 percent compared with the same day last year, and 41,000 Bose headphones compared with just eight the previous Wednesday. “Going into this, we weren’t sure whether Prime Day would be a onetime thing or if it would
Photo by Paul Sakuma | AP file
In this June 30, 2011, file photo, a United Parcel Service driver delivers packages from Amazon.com in Palo Alto, Calif. Amazon aimed for Christmas in July with its much-hyped “Prime Day” sale. become an annual event,” Greeley said. After Prime Day’s results, he said, “we’ll definitely be doing this again.” Independent data confirmed the sales surge. ChannelAdvisor, which tracks third-party sales on Amazon, said that Amazon’s sales Wednesday jumped 93 percent in the United States and 53 percent in Europe compared with the same day of the week last year. But neither Black Friday nor this week’s Prime Day are Amazon’s biggestgrossing sales days. According to ChannelAdvisor, Amazon recorded far high-
er sales on the Monday after Thanksgiving last year, which has come to be known as Cyber Monday. Still, the Prime Day sales numbers “are impressive, considering it didn’t even exist last year,” said Sarah O’Dea of ChannelAdvisor. The event, commemorating Amazon’s 20th anniversary, was a bid by Amazon to add more users to its Prime membership base. Although Amazon remains the undisputed leader in ecommerce, other retail giants have increased efforts to steal away shoppers, including Wal-Mart, which this year started offering
unlimited shipping for $50 a year. Wal-Mart had a sale of its own Wednesday. Popular deals included a $399.99 deal for a 32-gigabyte Apple iPad Air and $12.35 dolls of characters from Disney’s “Frozen” movie. On Amazon, the day’s best-selling item in the United States was “The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy” DVD. Top sellers in other countries included a Lenovo touch-screen notebook (Britain), a green smoothie mix (Japan) and Croc sandals (Germany and Austria).
April 11, 1930 – July 14, 2015 Dolores R. Villarreal, 85, passed away on Tuesday, July 14, 2015, at Laredo Medical Center in Laredo, Texas. Mrs. Villarreal is preceded in death by her parents, Raul and Francisca Rodriguez and brothers, Oscar L. Rodriguez and Evaristo Rodriguez. Mrs. Villarreal is survived by her husband of 66 years, Derly Villarreal; son, Derly Jr. (Egna) Villarreal; daughters, Yolanda Villarreal, Graciela (Roberto) Valdez, Leticia Villarreal, Norma V. (Joe) Arellano; grandchildren, Andrea Nicole Valdez, Rebecca Chantal Valdez, Roberto Daniel Valdez, Javier Adan Ramirez, Jr., Angela Dolores Ramirez, Norma Michelle Ramirez; brother, Homero (Janahn) Rodriguez; sisters, Maria O. Flores, Raquel (+Ned) Zoeller; sister-in-law, Lydia M. Rodriguez; and by numerous nephews, nieces, other family members and friends. Mrs. Villarreal was a member of the Sacred Heart Society and the Order of Eastern Star #1106 Zapata Chapter. Special Thanks to Amada Herrera, Juanita Vega, Abelina Garcia, Dr. Benson Huang, Tammy Trevino, P.A., Dr. Oscar Gutierrez and Amistad Home
Inflation rises slightly By PAUL WISEMAN ASSOCIATED PRESS
Health. Visitation hours were held on Friday, July 17, 2015, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. with a rosary at 7 p.m. at Rose Garden Funeral Home. The funeral procession will depart on Saturday, July 18, 2015, at 9:30 a.m. for a 10 a.m. funeral Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. Committal services will follow at Zapata County Cemetery. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Rose Garden Funeral Home, Daniel A. Gonzalez, funeral director, 2102 N. U.S. Hwy 83, Zapata, Texas.
WASHINGTON — Rising gasoline prices pushed inflation up modestly in June, leaving overall consumer prices higher than they were a year earlier for the first time since December. Economists say the tick up in consumer prices makes it more likely the Federal Reserve will end a policy of keeping shortterm interest rates near zero for more than six years. “Rebounding inflation combined with solid employment growth will likely lead the Fed to raise rates in September,” said Gregory Daco, head of U.S. macroeconomics at Oxford Economics. The Labor Department said Friday that its consumer price index rose 0.3 percent last month. Prices at the pump rose 3.4 percent in June on top of a 10.4 percent increase in May. An outbreak of avian flu drove egg prices up 18.3 percent in June, but overall food prices rose just 0.3 percent. Excluding volatile food and energy prices, so-
Photo by Alan Diaz | AP
In this photo taken June 12, shopper Julia Esquivel picks onions at a local grocery store in the Little Havana area of Miami. The Labor Department reports on consumer prices for June on Friday. called core inflation rose 0.2 percent last month. The June numbers were about what economists had expected. Overall consumer prices rose just 0.1 percent the past year; core prices are up 1.8 percent. Gasoline prices are down 23.3 percent over the last year; they hit bottom in Janu-
ary, then rebounded. Inflation is running below the Fed’s 2 percent target. But Fed chair Janet Yellen told Congress this week that the central bank is likely to lift short-term interest rates later this year. The Fed has kept the rate it controls near zero for more than six years, first to calm financial mar-
kets after the panic of 2008 and then to bolster a weak recovery from the Great Recession of 2007-2009. But the U.S. economy has shown steady improvement. Employers are adding a healthy 208,000 jobs a month so far this year, and the unemployment rate has tumbled to a sevenyear low 5.3 percent.
12A THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, JULY 18, 2015
SATURDAY, JULY 18, 2015
ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM
Sports&Outdoors NCAA ATHLETICS: TEXAS LONGHORNS
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE: DALLAS COWBOYS
Dez’s non-catch Blandino talks with Cowboys By RYAN OSBORNE FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM
Photo by Jack Plunkett | AP
Texas athletic director Steve Patterson discussed tough decisions he’s had to make during his first year and a half on the job.
Patterson talks tough calls Texas AD discusses decisions made in first year and a half on the job By JIM VERTUNO ASSOCIATED PRESS
AUSTIN, Texas — Texas athletic director Steve Patterson made no apology on Friday for making “tough decisions” that have angered some fans in his first year and a half on the job, and insisted his goal is to make the Long-
horns’ program the best in the country. Patterson sat down with reporters Friday amid multiple reports that his job could be in jeopardy, and a public acknowledgment earlier from school President Greg Fenves that some
See TEXAS PAGE 2B
Photo by Mike Roemer | AP
NFL vice president of officiating Dean Blandino visited the Cowboys in the offseason to discuss the controversial review reversing a catch by Dez Bryant in a 26-21 playoff loss against Green Bay.
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION: SAN ANTONIO SPURS
In light of Dez Bryant’s controversial non-catch, NFL vice president of officiating Dean Blandino made a point to personally visit Dallas during the offseason to discuss the season-ending ruling with the Cowboys. That’s not to say Blandino’s stance on the call ever wavered. "Not a catch," Blandino said Friday at the NFL officiating clinic in Irving, Texas. "We went through that process with the committee. Didn’t change the rule. Tried to clarify it. We really feel that the way the rule is written now, the way it’s being applied, allows us to be as consistent as possible." Blandino pointed out Friday the same thing he has since January, when Bryant’s fourth-and-2 catch near the goal line was overturned in the NFC Divisional Playoffs, effectively ending the Cowboys’ season. Bryant, Blandino said, didn’t maintain control of the ball as he fell to the
See COWBOYS PAGE 2B
TOUR DE FRANCE
SPURS ADD FORWARD Photo by Lionel Cironneau | AP
Italian amateur cyclist Riccardo Bertoloni holds a board reading "Hey lance Welcome" as Lance Armstrong cycles past during the charity ride "Le Tour, One Day Ahead," Friday between Rodez and Mende central France.
Armstrong return casts shadow By JAMEY KEATEN ASSOCIATED PRESS
Photo by R Brent Smith | AP
The San Antonio Spurs signed former Indiana Pacers forward David West to a one-year contract for the veteran’s minimum.
San Antonio signs former Pacer David West ASSOCIATED PRESS
SAN ANTONIO — David West has signed his one-year deal with the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs announced the signing on Friday. West agreed to terms on a one-year deal for the veteran’s minimum of about $1.4 million last week. West left a payday of more than $12 million
with the Indiana Pacers to sign with the Spurs and chase his first title. He chose the Spurs after San Antonio landed star forward LaMarcus Aldridge in free agency. West gives the Spurs some needed toughness and experience off the bench. West spent the previous four seasons in Indiana. He averaged 11.7 points and 6.8 rebounds in 66
games last season. Suns announce signings of Teletovic, Weems, Price PHOENIX — The Phoenix Suns have announced the signings of free agent forward Mirza Teletovic, guard-forward Sonny Weems and point guard Ronnie Price. General manager Ryan McDonough called Teletovic “one of the best shooting big men in the
world” on Friday and Weems “one of the best players outside of the NBA the past few years.” Teletovic signed a oneyear, $5.5 million deal and Weems a two-year, $5.8 million contract with the second year a team option. Price, who has played for six teams in his 10
See SPURS PAGE 2B
RODEZ, France — The fields rolled by, the dark glasses were again on his nose, and he was back riding in France. It just wasn’t quite like the good old - or to some, the bad old - days for Lance Armstrong. The few autograph-seekers or roadside onlookers who came to see Armstrong ride the Tour de France route for charity was a testament that the 43-year-old Texan is far less the draw he once was before his seven Tour de France titles were stripped for doping. Armstrong’s presence was welcomed by some in the peloton as he rode, but
openly criticized by more, particularly for taking the spotlight away from the race. Aside from the crush of reporters that he can still draw — after years of lawsuits and cancelled sponsorships — the disgraced Armstrong gave a glimpse at a lower-budget, less glamorous image in his two-day ride to help fight leukemia, and was grateful for positive reactions. “Anything that has been yelled has been 100 percent supportive. Not one ’tricheur’ (cheater), not one ’Go home,”’ said Armstrong, all but acknowledging his controversial presence. “We’re not done, so at some point I’m sure
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Zscores
SATURDAY, JULY 18, 2015
Dustin Johnson still in control at St. Andrews By DOUG FERGUSON ASSOCIATED PRESS
ST. ANDREWS, Scotland — The grand pursuit of Jordan Spieth, redemption for Dustin Johnson, the mystery that has become Tiger Woods. It all came to a momentary halt Friday in the gloaming of St. Andrews when Tom Watson said goodbye to the British Open. Watson, the most prolific winner of golf ’s oldest championship in the last century, finished his 129th round with lights from the Royal & Ancient clubhouse illuminating the 18th green. The five-time champion made bogey. The score was irrelevant. “There were no tears,” Watson said. “This is a joyous occasion. I have a lot of great, great memories. And those memories filled me up.” Everything else about this wet and wild second
round remained unsettled. A heavy downpour at dawn flooded the Old Course and disrupted the start by more than three hours. Johnson and Spieth teed off shortly before 6 p.m. and were headed in different directions when it was too dark to continue. In swift, shifting weather — umbrellas on one hole, sunglasses on the next — Johnson made three birdies in four holes on the front nine and built a two-shot lead before he made his first bogey of the tournament. He three-putted on the par-3 11th in wind so severe he had to back off a 4foot putt and wipe his eyes. Johnson was at 10-under par. Spieth three-putted for bogey three times in 11 holes to offset three birdies and was five shots behind Johnson, whom he beat by one shot in the U.S. Open last month to capture the second leg of the Grand
Photo by Jon Super | AP
Dustin Johnson was at 10-under par for the lead at the British Open before play was halted Friday due to severe weather. Slam. Both were just short on the par-5 14th hole in two shots when they chose to mark their golf balls and return at 7 a.m. Saturday to resume the round. “I’m in a good spot,” Johnson said. “Definitely got very tricky this afternoon, all day. Even the front side, the wind was howling
and it was blowing straight left-to-right pretty much. It played very tough all day.” Danny Willett of England had to cope with the wind, too, and he had a 3-under 69 to walk off the 18th green with his name atop the leaderboard at 9-under 135. “Yeah, I think it’s a childhood dream and looking up there it’s still a little bit
surreal, but something I’m going to have to get used to,” Willett said. “Otherwise, no point in being up there. We’re going to try and rest up and then try and go out for another good weekend and hopefully, we can be up there in two days’ time.” Watson wasn’t the only player to bid farewell to the Old Course. Nick Faldo, the threetime Open champion regarded as Britain’s greatest champion, came out of the TV tower to play St. Andrews one last time. He switched into a sweater that he wore for his first Open title in 1987 at Muirfield, thrust his arms in the air atop the Swilcan Bridge, and saved par for a 71. And then there was Woods, headed toward the wrong kind of history. Barring a burst of birdies when he returns Saturday morning — the kind of form he has not shown in two years
— he was likely to miss the cut in the U.S. Open and the British Open for the first time in the same year. Woods was 5 over with seven holes to play. So much attention has been on Spieth and Jordan, the main characters from the drama that played out at Chambers Bay last month. Johnson had a 12foot eagle putt on the final hole to win the U.S. Open, and three-putted to finish one shot behind golf ’s new golden child. The wind was fierce, taxing shots with every club in the bag down to the putter. Johnson continued to hammer away with his driver, setting up birdies, and he looked every bit like the player to beat. Spieth got in enough trouble off the tee that he often left long-range putts that led to bogeys instead of birdies. Behind them, a long list of players lined up to take their shot on the weekend.
Carl Edwards takes pole at New Hampshire By DAN GELSTON ASSOCIATED PRESS
LOUDON, N.H. — With Carl Edwards leading the charge, Joe Gibbs Racing continued its recent hot streak and took four of the top eight qualifying spots for the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Never a great qualifier, Edwards turned a lap of 135.164 mph Friday to win the pole, just the 14th in a career that dates to 2004. Edwards will lead the field to green for the first time since 2013 and for the first time for JGR. “Thanks for pointing that out,” Edwards cracked when told of the drought. Edwards also won his first pole in 22 career races at New Hampshire. Joey Logano, who fin-
ished second last week at Kentucky Speedway, will start second. David Ragan, Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin completed the top five. JGR put four cars in the top eight for Sunday’s race: Edwards, Busch, Hamlin, and eighth-place Matt Kenseth. JGR took four of the topfive spots in the Cup race at Kentucky. Busch won and Hamlin-Edwards-Kenseth went 3-4-5 and a signal that the organization will again field drivers that are a threat to win a championship. “It feels to me like we’re in a sweet spot I’ve only been in a couple of times,” Edwards said. “All of us are fast and we’re all pushing one another, but we’re all sharing information.” Edwards won a Charlotte
Photo by Cheryl Senter | AP
Carl Edwards won the pole position in qualifying for Sunday’s Sprint Cup race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, N.H. Motor Speedway to pretty much guarantee him a spot in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship field. But he’s posted middling results in his first season in the No. 19 Toyota — Charlotte and Kentucky are
his only top-fives. Edwards has just three top 10s, an average finish of 19.8 and is just 17th in the points standings. Edwards, who had driven for team owner Jack Roush for 12 years, joined a
new fourth Toyota team for Gibbs for this season. Edwards hasn’t been a title threat since 2011 when he lost the title to Tony Stewart on a tie-breaker. He went winless in 2012 and missed the Chase, and although he made two trips to victory lane in 2013, he finished last in the 13-driver Chase field. He had two more wins and was ninth in the final standings last season. Reed Sorenson was the lone driver who failed to qualify. New Hampshire has seen 11 straight races with a different winner. Brad Keselowski and Logano made it a Team Penske sweep last season. “Second. It seems like the story of our week here coming off Kentucky with a strong second-place run and then qualifying second
here as well,” Logano said. “Not that I’m complaining about it, but it’s not much fun finishing second, being so close to getting trophies and pole flags and all the fun stuff.” The rest of the top 10: Kurt Busch, Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne was ninth and Keselowski 10th. New Hampshire will be run under the rules package NASCAR set for the 2015 season. With great reviews from the drivers, Kentucky used a new rules package that included lower downforce. This package of lower downforce was specifically recommended by the drivers. Teams will use a higher drag rules package next week at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and next month at Michigan International Speedway.
Patterson said. “Somebody’s got to make tough decisions ... What can you count on? Death, taxes and change. If we are going to provide the best in services, we are going to have to evolve.” Patterson said he’s willing to meet with any donors who may have been
upset by any of the changes to explain them. He said a lunch meeting with a donor on Friday ended with a $750,000 donation. “If there is somebody out there we need to go talk to, (women’s athletic director Chris Plonsky) and I aren’t shy about that,” Patterson said.
TEXAS Continued from Page 1B fans and key donors are frustrated. Fenves and Patterson met earlier in the day for the third time in less than two months. “We have an excellent working relationship,” Patterson said. “He’s an engaged CEO. We have broad-ranging and candid conversations about aca-
demics, athletics and financing, buildings and operations ... I feel really good about it.” Patterson took over the Texas program in November 2013, replacing DeLoss Dodds, who retired after 32 years. Where Dodds had a casual, folksy personality, Patterson has
been more direct with aggressive attempts to raise money at a program that already ranks among the wealthiest in the country. Among his most contentious decisions was raising football ticket prices and steep new charges for parking after a losing season. Patterson also has
SPURS Continued from Page 1B NBA seasons, got a oneyear deal at the veteran’s minimum $1.5 million. Clippers sign free-agent forward Josh Smith LOS ANGELES — The Clippers signed free-agent forward Josh Smith, who helped eliminate them in the playoffs when he was with the Houston Rockets. He averaged 12.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.4 blocks while playing 55 regular-season games with Houston, which picked him up when he was waived by Detroit after 28 games last season. Smith reportedly signed a one-year deal for the veteran minimum worth $1.5 million. He helped the Rockets rally from a 3-1 series def-
icit against the Clippers in the Western Conference semifinals. Smith scored 19 points in Game 6, when the Clippers led by 19 points at home only to lose. He had 15 points in Game 7. The 29-year-old forward is the 25th player in NBA history with over 10,000 points, 5,000 rebounds, 2,000 assists and 1,000 blocked shots. The signing was announced Thursday. LeBron joins Cavaliers at summer league finale LAS VEGAS — LeBron James made an appearance in Las Vegas to see the Cleveland Cavaliers’ summer league finale. James sat courtside on Friday for Cleveland’s game against the Minne-
forced significant changes in the ticket policies for faculty and staff and pushed to expand marketing of the Texas brand. One of his key initiatives is to build an endowment for each sport. “Some people may like what we are doing and some people may not,”
COWBOYS Continued from Page 1B
sota Timberwolves. He sat between Cavs general manager David Griffin and coach David Blatt, with assistant Tyronn Lue in the group as well. James wore a white Indians baseball jersey with the No. 23 and “King James” on the back. Last week James signed a two-year, $47 million contract that includes a player option on the second year. The deal will allow him to become a free agent again next summer, when the salary cap is expected to take a large jump as the league’s new television contract kicks in. James also co-stars in the Amy Schumer comedy “Trainwreck” that hit theaters last week.
ground. According to the league’s "Calvin Johnson Rule," that’s not a catch. "The message to the coaches and players - because we’ve gone out and visited with every staff - is if you’re falling to the ground to make the catch, then you have to maintain the control when you land," Blandino said. "And if you reach or do anything with the football, that’s not going to trump that requirement to maintain control." Blandino, though, wanted to convey this to the Cowboys in person, which isn’t always standard protocol. "I wanted to make sure that I was in Dallas this year, because obviously it was a controversial play,"
he said. The dialogue also consisted of "lengthy discussions" with Cowboys vice president Stephen Jones, who’s a member of the league competition committee. The team has been level-headed about the issue, Blandino said. "They may not agree with the call, but it was always positive," he said. " ’Hey, look let’s get to some common ground as to what are we going to teach our players. How can we can consistent?’ And, so, they’ve been great throughout the entire process." Other officials Friday reiterated Blandino: The call was simply the application of a rule. "We got the call right,"
said referee Walt Coleman, who was involved in the controversial "tuck rule" call with the Patriots and Raiders in 2001. Ed Hochuli, another longtime league referee, said the hype of the game contributed to the debate as much as anything. "It was correctly ruled," he said. "I think what’s unfortunate is that it was a close play. Everybody agrees with that. It’s unfortunate when a play like that is in a big game at a big time at a big moment in the game. If that same thing had happened in a Week 15, nobody really would have noticed. But everybody would have understood, ’OK, yeah, I guess that’s what the rule is.’ "
going to apply a standard it has to be universal,” Armstrong said. “We’re all well aware the sport is rife with hypocrisy right now. Newsflash! It just is.” Thomas knew Armstrong would garner more attention than his campaign, but he believed any publicity was good publicity, and a spokesman said more than 600,000 pounds (about $930,000) has been
raised for Cure Leukaemia, of a targeted 2 million pounds ($3.1 million) by the end of 2016. “Part of me would prefer to be at home chilling with my family. This is not easy,” said Armstrong, who signed a few autographs on Friday among a small turnout of fans. “But I didn’t come over here to launch a PR campaign for myself.”
TOUR Continued from Page 1B somebody will say something.” They’ve been saying something ever since the testicular cancer survivor was invited by British former footballer Geoff Thomas, a cancer survivor, to join the Le Tour-One Day Ahead benefit ride. UCI chief Brian Cookson said it was “undesirable” and “disrespectful,” teams didn’t like it, and yellow-
jersey holder Chris Froome was one Tour cyclist to offer misgivings. Armstrong’s return ultimately points to just how far he has fallen, even if his name recognition retains a potentially valuable — and valued — currency. That a British charity called on him to promote their cause serves as an unspoken reminder that he was kicked off the board of
the cancer-fighting charity that he built into a multimillion-dollar behemoth: Livestrong. Armstrong hasn’t missed the highly visible opportunity to conjure his rider past, and get in a few digs — like his tweet that he couldn’t possibly know whether Froome, whose standout performances smack of Armstrong’s prowess at its height,
might be doping. That unnecessarily stirred doubt about whether the race is cleaner, despite big efforts by the sport’s stakeholders to do just that. He also noted how other former cyclists who once doped are still connected with the Tour entourage, including a few who are TV commentators. “We all rode in an unfortunate era. But if you’re
SATURDAY, JULY 18, 2015
Dear Heloise: My husband and I often TRAVEL WITH OUR DOG, staying at pet-friendly motels. Since they don’t allow pets in the breakfast area, and we don’t like to leave our dog alone in the room, I always bring a cardboard food carrier – the kind used in fast-food restaurants. I can carry multiple drinks and food back to the room to enjoy. – Mary in Punta Gorda, Fla. You taught me a hint! When we travel, my husband, David, brings me "breakfast" via what I call the kangaroo pockets on his shirt. Hands hold coffee and fruit; pockets for the other items. – Hugs, Heloise COFFEE GROUNDS Dear Heloise: The coffeehouse in my neighborhood sets aside its used coffee grounds. Customers can pick them up to use in their compost piles and gardens! – J.F. in Seattle This is recycling and reusing at its best. I’ve added DRIED coffee grounds to many of my in-house pot plants. They seem to aerate the soil and add a little bulk to the dirt. I dry them first,
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rather than put wet, damp coffee grounds directly in the soil, to avoid the possibility of them causing mildew. Talk about getting double your money’s worth! A good cup of coffee, and a bonus for the plants. Here’s to a savory, hot, fabulous mug of coffee to start the day. – Heloise PROTECT YOUR HANDS Dear Heloise: When driving, especially on long trips on a sunny day, I cover the backs of my hands with sunscreen. – K.C., via email Take heed, readers – your hands will tell the truth about your age. – Heloise A CRABBY KISSER Dear Heloise: Seeing your article about hermit crabs reminded me of when my daughter was baby-sitting a 5-year-old who owned a hermit crab. My daughter called, asking me to come quickly! The little girl decided to give it a kiss when the crab grabbed her lip and wouldn’t let go! The little girl was hysterical! When I got there, it had let go. – Betty Anne H. in San Antonio
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SATURDAY, JULY 18, 2015