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HEALTH CARE COVERAGE
EMPLOYMENT
More health care
Plenty of jobs for Texans
Solons mull alternatives to Medicaid expansion By WILL WEISSERT ASSOCIATED PRESS
AUSTIN — State lawmakers spent hours Thursday discussing ways to better provide low-income residents with health care since Texas
has rejected the expansion of Medicaid under the federal Affordable Care Act, but the hearing ultimately generated more questions than answers. Texas is looking for market-based alternatives to expanding Medicaid under the
law, including negotiating with the federal government to provide Medicaid block grants and waivers. But Sen. Charles Schwertner, RGeorgetown, opened a Health and Human Services Committee hearing by saying he
didn’t see much hope of reaching an agreement and instead offered to “start a conversation” on different approaches. Texas leads the nation in
Jobless rate has remained steady for third month ASSOCIATED PRESS
See HEALTH PAGE 11A
UNITED WAY OF LAREDO
ANOTHER UW CAMPAIGN
Photo by Cuate Santos | The Zapata Times
Boys and Girls Club of Zapata, an agency of United Way of Laredo, board members Mark Alvarenga, left and Eloy Lopez, right, both IBC Zapata Bank employees, pose Friday morning with current United Way of Laredo President Miguel Conchas and incoming president Gracie Medina following a press conference in Laredo to announce the first United Way of Laredo Restaurant Week. Zapata County residents will be able to participate in the fund raising event Wednesday, Sept. 3, from 5 to 8 p.m. where 20 percent of all proceeds will be donated to United Way.
AUSTIN — The Texas unemployment rate remained at 5.1 percent in July, holding steady for the third month in a row, the Texas Workforce Commission reported Friday. Nationwide unemployment in July rose slightly to 6.2 percent, compared to 6.1 percent in June, officials said. Employment growth in July across Texas included 46,600 seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs, according to the TWC. “Texas employers continue to propel the Texas economy’s expansion by adding 396,200 jobs over the last year, a 3.5 percent annual growth rate,” said Andres Alcantar, TWC chairman. “The Texas economic engine is strong, with every major industry posting positive annual growth in July.” However, the lower Rio Grande Valley’s Brownsville-Harlingen area had the highest statewide unemployment at 9.9 percent, according to TWC figures. The Midland area had the lowest unemployment rate in Texas last month at 2.9 percent. The July jobless rate for neighboring Odessa was 3.6 percent. All major industries expanded during July, a sign of the fast-growing Texas economy, a commission statement said. “Every major industry in Texas added jobs, meaning the diversity of our workforce is strong with opportunities to hire good workers, and for workers to find jobs enabling them to meet the needs of their families,” said Gov. Rick Perry. Professional and business services led the way by adding 10,600 jobs in July. “The professional and business services industry is thriving, with opportunities that range from legal advice and representation to security guards to landscaping,” said Commissioner Ronny Congleton. “Industries across the board are hiring.” Private employers added 42,400 jobs in July, said Commissioner Hope Andrade. “Mining and logging posted an annual growth rate of 7.8 percent in July, which marked the 51st consecutive month of positive annual growth and underscored the industry’s role in the state’s overall economic success,” Andrade said.
WORLD’S ECONOMY
Turmoil has not yet affected US’s economy By JOSH BOAK AND BERNARD CONDON ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK — Europe appears on the brink of another recession. Islamic militants have seized Iraqi territory. Russian troops have massed on the Ukraine border, and the resulting sanctions are disrupting trade. An Ebola outbreak in Africa and Israel’s
war in Gaza are contributing to the gloom. It’s been a grim summer in much of the world. Yet investors in the United States have largely shrugged it off — so far at least. A big reason is that five years after the Great Recession officially ended, the U.S. economy is showing a strength and durability that other major nations can on-
ly envy. Thanks in part to the Federal Reserve’s ultralow interest rates, employers have ramped up hiring, factories have boosted production and businesses have been making money. All of this has cushioned the U.S. economy from the economic damage abroad. And investors have responded by keeping U.S. stocks near all-time highs. Not even reports Friday of
a Ukrainian attack on Russian military vehicles unnerved investors for long, with blue chip stocks regaining nearly all their midday losses by the close. “We’re in a much better place psychologically,” says Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics. “And it’s allowing us to weather the geopolitical threats much more gracefully.”
Still, the global turmoil comes at a delicate time. China, the world’s second-biggest economy, is struggling to contain the fallout from a runaway lending and investment boom that’s powered its growth since before the 2008 financial crisis. The economies of Japan and Germany, the world’s thirdand fourth-largest, shrank in the spring. So did Italy’s.
It might not take much — an oil-price spike, a prolonged recession in Europe, a plunge in business or consumer confidence — to derail the global economy. Here’s a look at the strengths and weaknesses of the U.S economy and others, and why the calm in markets may or may not last:
See ECONOMY
PAGE 11A
PAGE 2A
Zin brief CALENDAR
SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 2014
AROUND TEXAS
TODAY IN HISTORY
Thursday, Aug. 21
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Grief support group. Noon to 1:30 p.m. First United Methodist Church, 1220 McClelland Ave. Free and open to public. Contact Patricia Cisneros at 722-1674 or pcisneros@mhm.org. Los Amigos Duplicates Bridge Club meeting. 1:15 p.m. to 5 p.m. Laredo Country Club. Contact Beverly Cantu at 727-0589.
Friday, Aug. 22 South Texas Food Bank’s Empty Bowls VIII, mission of feeding the hungry fundraiser. 8:30 p.m. Laredo Energy Arena. Music by Motown Legends and Commodores. Beaumont Foundation to be honored. Tickets on sale at LEA box office and Ticketmaster for $10, $15, and $25. Contact Salo Otero at 324-2432.
Monday, Aug. 25 Monthly meeting of Laredo Parkinson’s Disease Support Group. 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Laredo Medical Center, Tower B, First Floor Community Center. Patients, caregivers and family members invited. Free info pamphlets available in Spanish and English. Call Richard Renner (English) at 645-8649 or Juan Gonzalez (Spanish) at 2370666.
Photo by Eric Gay/file | AP
Attorney General and Republican gubernatorial candidate Greg Abbott has been criticized by Democratic candidate Wendy Davis over his rulings in sexual assault cases while on the state’s Supreme Court. The cases surfaced a week after Davis released her first statewide TV ad, which attacked Abbott for not siding with a woman raped by a vacuum-cleaner salesman.
Davis criticizes Abbott ASSOCIATED PRESS
Saturday, Aug. 26 Sparkle and Dazzle 317 E. Calton will have 25th anniversary reunion tickets for JW Nixon, class of 1989, from 6:30-8pm. Reunion dates are October 10th and 11th. $25 per reason on Friday and $30 per person on Saturday. Go to JW Nixon 1989 on Facebook for more information.
Thursday, Aug. 28 Grief support group. Noon to 1:30 p.m. First United Methodist Church, 1220 McClelland Ave. Free and open to public. Contact Patricia Cisneros at 722-1674 or pcisneros@mhm.org. Los Amigos Duplicates Bridge Club meeting. 1:15 p.m. to 5 p.m. Laredo Country Club. Contact Beverly Cantu at 727-0589. Spanish Book Club at the Laredo Public Library, 1120 E. Calton Road, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. For information call Sylvia Reash at 763-1810.
Thursday, Sept. 4 Grief support group. Noon to 1:30 p.m. First United Methodist Church, 1220 McClelland Ave. Free and open to public. Contact Patricia Cisneros at 722-1674 or pcisneros@mhm.org. Sisters of Mercy “Conversations with the Sisters,” a series of discussions focusing on earth, nonviolence, women, racism and immigration. 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. 1000 Mier St.
Friday, Sept. 5 From 12 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. at Palenque Grill will be the Women in Leadership as positive role models event. Contact Abby Willett or Sylvia Praesel info@wwconnection.org.
Wednesday, Sept. 10 The 21st Annual Logistics & Manufacturing Symposium ,scheduled for September 10-11, at Tamiu. The Laredo Development Foundation (LDF ) can be contacted at (800) 820-0564 or (956) 722-0563 or via email at ldfinfo@ldfonline.org.
AUSTIN — Republican gubernatorial candidate Greg Abbott is again facing criticism from Democrat Wendy Davis over his rulings in sexual assault cases while serving on the Texas Supreme Court. Abbott sided four times against victims who sued their attacker or a company for negligence during his former tenure as a justice on the state’s highest civil court. The cases surfaced a week after Davis released her first statewide TV ad, which attacked Abbott for not siding with a woman raped by a vacuum-cleaner salesman whose lawsuit reached the high court in 1998. “The role of a judge is not to create laws, but rather to rule based on existing law, which is exactly what Greg Abbott did in every case that came before him,” Abbott
spokeswoman Amelia Chasse said. The ad, released as the race has just entered its final 90-day stretch, signals Davis’ efforts to energize moderate female voters, key to her election strategy in the GOPheavy state. Her campaign says the decisions show a disturbing mindset, “a consistent pattern of ruling against Texans who need him and for his old insider network.” Among the sexual assault cases that came to the court while Abbott was on the bench included one from 1999 that fractured the court and made it more difficult for a rape victim to sue property owners. In that case, an on-duty Houston police officer abducted a woman at 3 a.m., taking her to an unattended parking garage and repeatedly assaulting her. She sued the parking garage owner, saying it took no precautions against criminal activity.
FAA: 3 dead in rural plane crash
Dallas man gets 20 years for stalking, shooting
Execution drug cost quadruples for prisons
BOWIE — Three people are dead in a plane crash in rural North Texas. A Federal Aviation Administration spokesman said a twinengine Cessna 414 plane crashed Friday afternoon near Bowie, 100 miles northwest of Dallas. An adult and two children were on board.
DALLAS — A man so obsessed with a teenage neighbor that he had 11 tattoos of her name and shot her father was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Gabriel Ramirez was sentenced Thursday after earlier pleading guilty to stalking and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Investigators say his infatuation began when the girl was 13 years old. She’s now 17.
HOUSTON — The Texas prison agency is paying four times more for its execution drugs from a new supplier. Documents obtained by The Associated Press show the state paid $13,500 for its most recent batch of pentobarbital at a cost of $1,500 per vial. This compares to $350 per dose paid last year to a previous supplier that cut ties after backlash from death penalty opponents.
Court: School district violates Voting Rights Act IRVING — A federal court has determined that a school district denies Hispanic residents an equal opportunity to vote and elect candidates of their choice. The ruling by U.S. District Court Judge Sidney Fitzwater in Dallas found the current election process used by the Irving school district violates the federal Voting Rights Act. Friday’s ruling found in favor of plaintiffs that included a former school board candidate.
Marijuana found in car that hit trooper RIO GRANDE CITY — A car that struck a Texas trooper yielded more than 300 pounds of bundled marijuana. The Department of Public Safety said the search continues for the driver whose open car door hit the trooper Wednesday night as the vehicle sped away. The vehicle with more than $100,000 worth of marijuana was later found abandoned.
Red Cross opening disaster warehouse ARLINGTON — The American Red Cross has chosen North Texas for the assistance group’s largest U.S. disaster supplies warehouse. Red Cross officials on Friday announced the Disaster Field Supply Center in Arlington will have enough items to support up to 100,000 victims. — Compiled from AP reports
Thursday, Sept. 11 Grief support group. Noon to 1:30 p.m. First United Methodist Church, 1220 McClelland Ave. Free and open to public. Contact Patricia Cisneros at 722-1674 or pcisneros@mhm.org.
Saturday, Sept. 13 South Texas Collectors Expo. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Laredo Energy Arena. Celebrities, comic book artists, cosplayers, vendors and more. Tickets on sale at LEA box office and Ticketmaster.com. Visit southtexascollectorsexpo.com or email info@stcelaredo.com.
Thursday, Sept. 18 Grief support group. Noon to 1:30 p.m. First United Methodist Church, 1220 McClelland Ave. Free and open to public. Contact Patricia Cisneros at 722-1674 or pcisneros@mhm.org. Submit calendar items at lmtonline.com/calendar/submit or by emailing editorial@lmtonline.com with the event’s name, date and time, location and purpose and contact information for a representative. Items will run as space is available.
AROUND THE NATION Judge denies Jodi Arias attorney’s effort to quit PHOENIX — An Arizona judge has denied a request by one of Jodi Arias’ attorneys to quit, setting the stage for Arias to represent herself at the penalty phase of her trial. Arias was convicted of murder last year in the 2008 killing of her ex-boyfriend, but jurors couldn’t decide on a sentence. A second penalty phase is set for Sept 8 with a new jury as prosecutors try again for a death sentence. Attorney Kirk Nurmi sought to quit, citing conflicts with Arias wanting to represent herself. In the past, Arias has tried to fire Nurmi, and he has sought to get off the case.
Death of suspected molester apparent suicide ATLANTA — Investigators say the death of a man accused of re-
Today is Saturday, August 16, the 228th day of 2014. There are 137 days left in the year. Today’s Highlight in History: On August 16, 1954, Sports Illustrated was first published by Time Inc. On this date: In 1777, American forces won the Revolutionary War Battle of Bennington. In 1812, Detroit fell to British and Indian forces in the War of 1812. In 1858, a telegraphed message from Britain’s Queen Victoria to President James Buchanan was transmitted over the recently laid trans-Atlantic cable. In 1861, President Abraham Lincoln issued Proclamation 86, which prohibited the states of the Union from engaging in commercial trade with states in rebellion, namely, the Confederacy. In 1937, the American Federation of Radio Artists was chartered. In 1948, baseball legend Babe Ruth died in New York at age 53. In 1956, Adlai E. Stevenson was nominated for president at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. In 1962, The Beatles fired their original drummer, Pete Best, replacing him with Ringo Starr. In 1977, Elvis Presley died at his Graceland estate in Memphis, Tennessee, at age 42. In 1987, 156 people were killed when Northwest Airlines Flight 255 crashed while trying to take off from Detroit; the sole survivor was 4-yearold Cecelia Cichan. People worldwide began a two-day celebration of the “harmonic convergence,” which heralded what believers called the start of a new, purer age of humankind. In 1999, the U.S. version of the quiz show “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,” hosted by Regis Philbin, began a limited two-week run on ABC. Today’s Birthdays: Actress Ann Blyth is 86. Sportscaster Frank Gifford is 84. Actor Gary Clarke is 81. Actress Julie Newmar is 81. Actor John Standing is 80. College Football Hall of Famer and NFL player Bill Glass is 79. Actress Anita Gillette is 78. Actress Carole Shelley is 75. Country singer Billy Joe Shaver is 75. Movie director Bruce Beresford is 74. Actor Bob Balaban is 69. Ballerina Suzanne Farrell is 69. Actress Lesley Ann Warren is 68. Rock singer-musician Joey Spampinato is 64. Actor Reginald VelJohnson is 62. TV personality Kathie Lee Gifford is 61. Rhythm-andblues singer J.T. Taylor is 61. Movie director James Cameron is 60. Actor Jeff Perry is 59. Rock musician Tim Farriss (INXS) is 57. Actress Laura Innes is 57. Singer Madonna is 56. Actress Angela Bassett is 56. Actor Timothy Hutton is 54. Actor Steve Carell is 52. Former tennis player Jimmy Arias is 50. Actor-singer Donovan Leitch is 47. Actor Andy Milder is 46. Actor Seth Peterson is 44. Country singer Emily Robison (The Dixie Chicks) is 42. Actor George Stults is 39. Singer Vanessa Carlton is 34. Actor Cam Gigandet is 32. Actress Agnes Bruckner is 29. Singer-musician Taylor Goldsmith (Dawes) is 29. Actress Cristin Milioti is 29. Thought for Today: “The most persistent threat to freedom, to the rights of Americans, is fear.” — George Meany (born this date in 1894, died in 1980).
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Men pose for a picture during the Tiki Oasis event Friday, in San Diego. Hundreds of tiki culture aficionados, clad in tropical colors, gathered for a weekend-long celebration that revels in the movements from the 1950s and 1960s. peatedly raping and molesting unconscious girls appears to have been a suicide. Documents released this week under open records law show the Georgia Bureau of Investigation determined that Matthew Coniglio died of asphyxiation in an
apparent suicide inside a Savannah jail. The agency found no evidence of foul play. Law enforcement officials accused Coniglio of recording himself raping and molesting girls who appear to be unconscious. — 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, AUGUST 16, 2014
Charged with abuse of power Perry indicted in case of coercion in veto threat By PAUL J. WEBER AND WILL WEISSERT
THE ZAPATA TIMES 3A
Dying death row inmate eyes release By MICHAEL GRACZYK
ASSOCIATED PRESS
ASSOCIATED PRESS
AUSTIN — A grand jury indicted Texas Gov. Rick Perry on Friday for allegedly abusing the powers of his office by carrying out a threat to veto funding for state prosecutors investigating public corruption — making the possible 2016 presidential hopeful his state’s first indicted governor in nearly a century. A special prosecutor spent months calling witnesses and presenting evidence that Perry broke the law when he promised publicly to nix $7.5 million over two years for the public integrity unit, which is run by Travis County Democratic District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg’s office. It’s the same office that indicted U.S. Rep. Tom Delay as part of a finance probe. Several top aides to the Republican governor appeared before grand jurors in Austin, including his deputy chief of staff, legislative director and general counsel. Perry himself did not testify, though. Grand jurors indicted Perry on abuse of official capacity, a first-degree felony with potential punishments of five to 99 years in prison, and coercion of a public servant, a third-degree felony that carries a punishment of two to 10 years. A spokesman for the governor didn’t immediately return messages seeking comment. No one disputes that Perry is allowed to veto measures approved by the Legislature, including part or all of the state budget. But the left-leaning Texans for Public Justice government watchdog group filed an ethics com-
Photo by Tony Gutierrez/file | AP
Governor Rick Perry was indicted Friday for allegedly abusing the powers of his office by carrying out a threat to veto funding for state prosecutors investigating public corruption. plaint accusing the governor of coercion because he threatened to use his veto before actually doing so in an attempt to pressure Lehmberg to quit. “I took into account the fact that we’re talking about a governor of a state — and a governor of the state of Texas, which we all love,” said Michael McCrum, the San Antonio-based special prosecutor. “Obviously that carries a lot of importance. But when it gets down to it, the law is the law.” In office since 2000 and already the longest-serving governor in Texas history, Perry isn’t seeking re-election in November. But the criminal investigation could mar his political prospects as he mulls another run at the White House, after his 2012 presidential bid flamed out. McCrum said he’ll meet with Perry’s attorney Monday to discuss when he will come to the court-
house to be arraigned. McCrum said he doesn’t know when Perry will be booked. Asked why McCrum never spoke to Perry personally, McCrum said, “That’s prosecutorial discretion that I had.” Lehmberg oversees the office’s public integrity unit, which investigates statewide allegations of corruption and political wrongdoing. Perry said he wouldn’t allow Texas to fund the unit while Lehmberg remained in charge. Perry said Lehmberg, who is based in Austin, should resign after she was arrested and pleaded guilty to drunken driving in April 2013. A video recording made at the jail showed Lehmberg shouting at staffers to call the sheriff, kicking the door of her cell and sticking her tongue out. Lehmberg faced pressure from other high-profile Republicans in addi-
tion to Perry to give up her post. Her blood-alcohol level was nearly three times the legal limit for driving. Lehmberg served about half of her 45-day jail sentence but stayed in office, despite Perry’s assertions that her behavior was inappropriate. The jail video led to an investigation of Lehmberg by a separate grand jury, which decided she should not be removed for official misconduct. The indictment is the first of its kind since 1917, when James “Pa” Ferguson was indicted on charges stemming from his veto of state funding to the University of Texas in an effort to unseat faculty and staff members he objected to. Ferguson was eventually impeached, then resigned before being convicted, allowing his wife, Miriam “Ma” Ferguson, to take over the governorship.
LIVINGSTON — Attorneys have made a rare clemency request for one of Texas’ longest-serving death row inmates, saying he should be freed before inoperable liver cancer soon takes his life. Max Soffar, 58, has been on death row more than 33 years for a 1980 robbery at a Houston bowling alley where three people were shot and killed and a fourth maimed. Soffar and his lawyers long have maintained he’s innocent, although he has been tried, convicted and condemned twice. Soffar told The Associated Press that he “hurts bad ... like a squeezing pain on my liver.” “Nothing can save me, I’m going to die,” Soffar said of the tumor that he said doctors discovered in June. “I’ve talked to my doctor — maybe five months, maybe four months, maybe three weeks.” There is no precedent, at least in modern times, for the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles to recommend to the governor that clemency be granted in a death penalty case under these circumstances. Requests typically are filed as an inmate’s execution is nearing or imminent. Soffar does not have an execution date and an appeal for him remains before a federal court in Houston. “The reality is that the federal court process will likely not be completed before Mr. Soffar dies,” the lawyers said in the petition. “The exigency of this situation is the driving force behind what Mr. Soffar admits is an unusual request for clemency at this stage of a capital case.”
The Harris County District Attorney’s Office will oppose the request, according to Roe Wilson, an assistant district attorney who handles capital case appeals. The prison system has medical facilities to treat inmates, she said. “I haven’t seen any medical records verifying anything,” she said. “And while he should be humanely treated, I do not think that means he should be granted compassionate leave.” Soffar’s first conviction was thrown out in 2004 by a federal appeals court panel that agreed with arguments he had deficient legal help at his first trial in 1981. Wilson said Soffar’s second conviction was solid and dismissed arguments from Soffar and his attorneys that a convicted serial killer in Tennessee was responsible for the 1980 crimes. Jurors decided Soffar should be executed for killing Arden Alane Felsher, 17. Prosecutors said she was fatally shot as Soffar was robbing Stephen Allen Sims, 25, an assistant manager at the Fair Lanes Windfern Bowling Center in Houston. Sims and Felsher’s boyfriend, Tommy Lee Temple, 17, also were killed in the attack. Gregory Garner was shot in the head but survived. He lost his left eye and had several surgeries. According to Garner, the attacker came to the front door of the bowling alley after it had closed and told Sims he had car trouble. Sims went outside with the man, and returned to the bowling alley with a gun held against him by the man, who announced it was a holdup. The four were told to lie face down on the floor, and then were shot in the head.
PAGE 4A
Zopinion
SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 2014
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COLUMN
OTHER VIEWS
Here comes Entrepreneur Barbie By CATHERINE RAMPELL WASHINGTON POST
WASHINGTON — Lego’s groundbreaking female-scientists set sold out almost immediately after it was released this month. But never fear, fans of feminist toys: A new Barbie doll, now in stock, is also shattering the plastic ceiling. Yes, that swan-necked, thigh-gapped beauty has had a makeover and yet another career change. As of this summer, she’s available as Entrepreneur Barbie. She doesn’t belong to a specific industry or business, per se, but she’s sure got a fab wardrobe. Clad in a tight, hot-pink dress and sky-high black heels (which presumably limit how far she can lean in any given direction), Entrepreneur Barbie carries a patent-leather briefcase, pink clutch and what appear to be a knock-off iPhone and iPad . She also comes with her own coterie of “Chief Inspiration Officers,” real-life female founders of organizations such as Rent the Runway and Girls Who Code, who joined her for a “pink power lunch” on Twitter. She even has her own hashtag, #unapologetic, the same one Mattel used when Barbie teamed up with Sports Illustrated for its latest swimsuit issue. I want to love Entrepreneur Barbie. I really do. If nothing else, she’s a huge improvement over Barbies of years past, when they cried “Math class is tough!” and were primarily (if not exclusively) confined to pink-collar occupations such as candy-striper, ballerina, aerobics instructor, nurse, flight attendant and model. Not so long ago, a line of career-oriented Barbie dolls called “I Can Be” even included “Bride” as a possible career aspiration. Even the more nontraditional, “empowering” jobs sometimes tended toward the twee and overtly nurturing: Barbie has been a doctor several times, with specialties including “kid doctor,” “baby doctor” and “newborn baby doctor.” Likewise, Barbie has been all manner of chef, including a cookie chef, sweets chef, dessert chef, pancake chef, pastry chef and pizza chef. Her new job title also suggests that she’s her own boss, and she maybe even has employees. In an era in which little girls are still called bossy for behaviors praised as leaderlike in boys, maybe this isn’t so bad. Pop-cultural messaging matters for girls’ career aspirations. Girls Who Code, which organizes computer-programming boot camps for underprivileged girls, has found that one of the most frequent career aspirations cited by its applicants is, of all things, forensic scientist. Why? Think of all the badass, lab-coated women on TV shows such as “CSI” and “Bones” who happen to be forensic scientists. They’re the most visible role models for young girls who have shown an aptitude for science. As Reshma Saujani, the founder of Girls Who Code, puts it, “You can’t be what you can’t see.” So perhaps businesswomen Barbie dolls, like paleontologist Lego ladies, can provide a useful role model to impressionable young girls. And yet, and yet. Something about this whole Entrepreneur Barbie marketing campaign seems so cynical and exploitative, the collision of two increasingly tedious, sharkjumping media trends. One is the explosion of viral advertising campaigns marketed under the guise of girl power, like Pantene’s ad on over-apologizing women; Always on “throwing like a girl”; Dove on “You are more beautiful than you think”; or going back much further, Virginia Slims’ “You’ve Come a Long Way, Baby.” While ads that reinforce traditional gender roles or prey on women’s insecurities aren’t desirable either, this alternate breed of marketing campaigns often comes off as slick and disingenuous. The second is America’s peculiar pop-cultural obsession with entrepreneurship. “Entrepreneur” is such a vague and nebulously trendy profession that Mattel might as well have released Buzzword Barbie. Entrepreneurship rates are tanking across the country, but somehow the social status of entrepreneurs seems higher than ever. In the age of “The Social Network,” “Shark Tank” and media narratives that mythologize messianic founder-CEOs, the job title of “entrepreneur” sounds as rarefied and glitzy as being a princess, actress, fashion designer or any other traditionally glamorpuss Barbie profession. Barbie’s latest career shift seems designed to capture not the imaginations of 7year-old girls (did you know what an “entrepreneur” was at that age?) but those of parents dreaming of get-rich-quick schemes that sound more respectable than “reality TV star.” Of course, the reality of entrepreneurship isn’t nearly as glamorous as Hollywood, or Mattel, makes it out to be; a more authentic Entrepreneur Barbie would come not with stylish pumps and a fuchsia clutch but a bowl of ramen and a six-pack of Red Bull. But admittedly realism -- in anatomical proportions, career trajectories or otherwise -- has never really been part of Barbie’s appeal. Catherine Rampell’s email address is crampell@washpost.com. Follow her on Twitter, @crampell.
COLUMN
Bad writing contest simply sends people quahog wild Annual fiction contest looks for people who can write the worst start to an imaginary novel
“
KEN HERMAN
Mike Mayfield thought the sentence was pretty bad when he wrote it. But he knew it could be worse, so he went to work on making it so. This is how it wound up: “Justin was happy, like a clam at high tide, but abruptly ending his musings he recalled he had every reason to be happy (in his own small way) because he was a quahog and it was the highest of tides, and he squirted with delight.” First things first. According to Merriam-Webster, a quahog is “a type of large clam that is eaten as food.” Those last two words, I guess, are to differentiate quahogs from large clams eaten as something other than food. Quahog (use whatever pronunciation works in your mouth) also is a sentencestopper, a word that interrupts any kind of reading rhythm. That’s a bad thing, unless you’re talking about the Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest, and that’s what
we’re talking about here. Mayfield, 64, of Austin, recently won the children’s literature category of the annual competition that, according to honcho Scott Rice, a retired English and comparative lit professor at San Jose State University, “challenges entrants to compose bad opening sentences to imaginary novels.” The contest, in its 32nd year, is named for Victorian novelist George Edward Bulwer-Lytton who opened “Paul Clifford,” an 1830 novel, with the famous “It was a dark and stormy night,” which, according to Rice, was lifted from somebody else’s work. This year’s top Bulwer-Lytton prize went to Elizabeth Dorfman of Bainbridge Island, Washington. “In keeping with the bignitude, high dignity and general importance of the competition,” Rice reports, “the grand prize winner receives a pittance — about $150.” Here’s Dorfman’s evenworse-than-all-the-rest winning sentence: “When the dead moose floated into view the famished crew cheered — this had to mean land! — but Captain Walgrove, flinty-eyed and clear headed thanks to the starvation cleanse in pro-
gress, gave fateful orders to remain on the original course and await the appearance of a second and confirming moose.” The contest gets thousands of entries each year. Mayfield, a retired IBMer, is a frequent entrant. He’s earned several runner-up awards but this was his first win, and it came with a slightly tweaked version of previous entries. “I first entered the sen-
manuals in my former career, but those are the opposite of creative writing,” he said. Though entitled to do so, Mayfield’s not gloating over his victory. He noted there was no runner-up in the children’s literature category, a fact that led him to this conclusion: “I suspect that I won by default. But a win’s a win, pass that trophy over here.” (There’s no actual trophy,
Mayfield, a retired IBMer, is a frequent entrant. He’s earned several runner-up awards. tence in the 2011 contest, annually resubmitting it with minor edits to economize the wording so that it flowed more smoothly,” he said, leading up to what, to me, was the game-changer that elevated the sentence to first place: “In this year’s entry, I changed to ’quahog’ from the more general word ‘clam.”’ Genius! This is the only writing Mayfield does these days. He calls it a “diversion from learning to play the fivestring banjo.” “I’ve written technical
just the satisfaction of a doing a good job of writing a bad sentence. No money either.) The obvious question: Ever thought about progressing to the second sentence? “No, I haven’t,” Mayfield replied. “After all, how can a story about a clam be anything other than the worst thing you’ve ever read.” Good point. But if it were about a quahog ... Ken Herman is a columnist for the Austin AmericanStatesman. E-mail: kherman@statesman.com.
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IS NOT published; it is used solely to verify identity and to clarify content, if necessary. Identity of the letter writer must be verified before publication. We want to assure our
readers that a letter is written by the person who signs the letter. The Zapata Times does not allow the use of pseudonyms. Letters are edited for style, grammar, length and
DOONESBURY | GARRY TRUDEAU
civility. No name-calling or gratuitous abuse is allowed. Via e-mail, send letters to editorial@lmtonline.com or mail them to Letters to the Editor, 111 Esperanza Drive, Laredo, TX 78041.
State
SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 2014
THE ZAPATA TIMES 5A
DA accused in misuse of funds ASSOCIATED PRESS
DALLAS — Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins’ office used money from an asset-forfeiture fund to pay about $50,000 to the driver of a car that Watkins hit while driving a county-owned vehicle, according to a television station’s report. The settlement was disclosed Thursday by WFAATV, which also reported that Watkins’ office did not follow county policy on handling repairs for the accident last year. Watkins’ office denied it did anything wrong. Watkins spokeswoman Debbie Denmon said the settlement was handled legally and using money collected through investigations rather than from taxpayers. She said Watkins was on his way to a speech
and glancing at his remarks at the time of the wreck. “There was no secret here. This was out in the open,” Denmon told The Associated Press on Friday. “And there was no duty here to go to the county commissioners, again, because no county funds were used.” Watkins was driving a county-owned Ford Edge SUV on the Dallas North Tollway in February 2013, when he ran into the back of another vehicle. A police report cited Watkins for “reading information” on his phone at the time of the crash. Rather than turning the SUV into county employees responsible for repairs, the television station reported, Watkins’ SUV was towed to a body shop, where it remained for five months un-
til it was taken to a private mechanic in Dallas. The head of Watkins’ civil division, Teresa Guerra Snelson, acknowledged that she didn’t know at the time about county policy on vehicle crashes, but that she notified a county official about the wreck. Denmon said Snelson turned over a police report, but not a specific form for accidents. “It’s an accident. Accidents happen, and it was handled appropriately and in the normal course of business and within the authority that the DA and I have,” Snelson told WFAA. Robert Reckendorf, owner of the Parts Express body shop that repaired the vehicle, said the SUV’s frame had been bent and the transmission damaged. He estimated the cost of the work at more than $11,000.
“That should have been one that you don’t want to fix,” he said. “Any insurance company would have told them that.” The DA’s office eventually settled with the driver for $47,500, and his company for an additional $4,500. The money came from asset forfeiture funds controlled by the district attorney’s office. Use of those funds by prosecutors’ offices has come under scrutiny due to what detractors call a lack of oversight. Watkins, a Democrat, has won acclaim for his office’s work to free wrongfully convicted inmates. But he has been enmeshed in local controversy over earlier reports of an FBI investigation and complaints that he has mishandled his official duties. He is running for re-election this fall.
Photo by L.M. Otero/file | AP
Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins’ office used an assetforfeiture fund money to settle damages from an auto accident.
Hearing delayed in candy case Real estate heir accused of urinating on candy at a Houston drug store By MICHAEL GRACZYK ASSOCIATED PRESS
Photo by Pat Sullivan | AP
Real estate heir Robert Durst leaves a Houston courtroom Friday. He’s charged in an incident of urinating on candy at a drug store.
HOUSTON — A hearing scheduled for Friday was postponed for a 71-year-old New York City real estate heir charged with criminal mischief for urinating on candy at a Houston drug store. The court appearance was rescheduled to Sept. 16 on the most recent misdemeanor charge alleging Robert Durst urinated on a cash register and candy last month at a store near his Houston residence. He remains free on $5,000 bond he posted a few days after the incident not far from his Houston residence. “We’ll be visiting with the prosecutors between now and then,” Durst’s attorney, Chip Lewis, said.
Durst a decade ago was acquitted of homicide charges, calling it self-defense when he admitted to killing his neighbor in Galveston, dismembering the body and dumping the remains in Galveston Bay. Durst is the son of the late Seymour Durst, patriarch of the privately held billion-dollar Durst Organization that owns several New York skyscrapers. The gray-haired fraillooking Durst sat Friday in the back row of a Harris County criminal court-atlaw courtroom, acknowledged his name when it was announced during the docket call, then left with Lewis without appearing before Judge Don Smyth. If convicted of the criminal mischief charge, he could get up to six months
in jail and a $2,000 fine. The manager of the drug store knew him and a police affidavit said Durst purchased a prescription, urinated on a cash register and the candy, then casually walked out of the business that Sunday afternoon. Specifically, he’s accused of ruining 108 candy bars worth just over $150. In 2001, Durst was arrested as a fugitive and admitted killing his neighbor, dismembering the body and dumping the remains in Galveston Bay. He said the killing was in self-defense and two years later in Galveston was acquitted of homicide charges. Durst is known for his erratic behavior. At his Galveston trial, a psychiatrist testified he suffers from a mild form of autism called
Asperger’s syndrome, which contributes to his poor judgment. Durst’s record includes pleading guilty in Galveston to felony evidence-tampering and bail-jumping charges. He served nine months in a New Jersey federal prison after pleading guilty to possessing two pistols after he jumped bail in October 2001. He was arrested Nov. 30, 2001, for shoplifting from a Pennsylvania supermarket. He had $38,000 in his rental car trunk at the time. He moved to Galveston, about 60 miles southeast of Houston, amid an investigation into the 1982 disappearance of his first wife, He posed as a mute woman and lived in a dingy apartment where he met Morris Black, the man whose body was dismembered.
State
6A THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 2014
Woman insists police officer raped her in 1995 However, she admitted in court that she lied during court trial but insists he was guilty of crime. His attorneys said the change in her testimony should warrant throwing out the conviction and sentence. By NOMAAN MERCHANT ASSOCIATED PRESS
FORT WORTH — A woman who said a Fort Worth police officer raped her when she was 13 acknowledged on the witness stand Thursday that she lied in part of her testimony against him in 1995, but still insisted the officer was guilty of the attack. She faced the now-former officer, Brian Franklin, in an unusual state district court hearing ordered by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, which in recent years has changed how it reviews allegations that someone did not receive a fair trial. The appeals court, the state’s highest for criminal cases, recently agreed to review a new appeal filed by Franklin under the same argument it denied more than a decade ago: that a witness potentially lying was enough for a new trial. On Thursday the woman, whose name is being withheld by The Associated Press because the case involves rape allegations, said she lied when testifying that she never had sex before Franklin raped her
in her father’s backyard in March 1994. A few years after Franklin was convicted and sentenced to life in prison, she told authorities her stepfather had been raping her years before the assault by Franklin. Dick DeGuerin, one of Franklin’s attorneys, asked the woman, “But the fact is you did lie, didn’t you?” “Yes, I did,” the woman replied. She testified that she feared her stepfather. She said he stayed in the courtroom during Franklin’s trial and accompanied her during police and doctor appointments beforehand. “He was there everywhere I went,” she said. The stepfather received 10 years’ probation after pleading guilty to injury of a child, according to Tarrant County district attorney’s spokeswoman Melody McDonald Lanier. The accuser, now 33, was brought into the courtroom in a wheelchair Thursday and appeared to struggle with spasms throughout her testimony. Prosecutors said she suffers from an autoimmune disease that has left her with severe muscle spasms and blindness in one eye.
Photo courtesy of Paul Franklin | AP
Brian Franklin stands with his children in December 1994. It took a jury 30 minutes in 1995 to convict Franklin of rape. Franklin’s attorneys said the change in her testimony should warrant throwing out the conviction and sentence. The case
Six quit over scandal Dallas school district says it mishandled cheating over falsified standardized test scores ASSOCIATED PRESS
DALLAS — Dallas’ Umphrey Lee Elementary has plummeted in the Texas accountability ratings since six educators resigned over falsified standardized test scores. The Dallas Morning News reports that the Dallas Independent School District said it should have contacted families sooner after determining educators gave students answers on most of the 2012-2013 state assessment tests. Five teachers and an instructional coach resigned while under investigation in October. At the end of the 2013-14 school year, the students’ STAAR results plunged and the school became the only Texas school to tumble from the top to the absolute bottom in the state’s accountability rankings. It failed all four accountability indexes.
“A number of other districts that have had situations sent information out to their own communities based on their own findings.” TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY SPOKESWOMAN DEBBIE RATCLIFFE
District officials never informed Umphrey Lee parents their children may have been promoted to the next grade even though they weren’t ready. The district hasn’t offered tutoring or other remedial help for those students either. “Wow, I never heard anything. I never received a letter,” said Carol Williams-Burnett, whose daughter attended the school. “It is a disservice because they aren’t given everything they need. If you don’t get what you need from the previous grade then it will be really hard in the next grade.” The district said Thursday that it was a mistake
to wait on state action instead of contacting parents whose children may have been promoted in part because of the test scores. District spokesman Jon Dahlander said he’s unaware of any special resources offered to students whose scores were boosted. “We’ve determined that some things probably could have been handled better,” he said. “A situation like this in the future ... should call for parents to be notified, both by a letter and likely a meeting with parents to explain the situation. We need to do this as we move forward.” Texas Education Agency spokeswoman Debbie
Ratcliffe said schools aren’t required to wait on the state. “A number of other districts that have had situations sent information out to their own communities based on their own findings without waiting for the state investigation to conclude,” she said. The former teachers identified by the district are Brenda Singleton and Da’Shonya Tyler, both fifth-grade teachers; Arrkeenah Willis and Monica Benjamin, both thirdgrade teachers; and Ronald Shepard, a science and social studies teacher. The instruction coach was identified as Lenora Coleman. They have denied violating any testing rules.
didn’t have DNA evidence tying Franklin to the rape. Instead, it rested almost entirely on the testimony of the accuser.
“It’s a simple case,” DeGuerin said after the hearing. “A conviction cannot stand if it’s based on perjury, in whole or part. That’s just basic fairness and due process.” Prosecutors disagreed, arguing that the woman had never wavered on whether Franklin raped her and that it wasn’t clear the change in her testimony would have made a difference. Jack Strickland, one of the prosecutors, said jurors might not have necessarily acquitted Franklin if they knew about a separate case of abuse. “The truth of the matter is we don’t know with certainty,” he said, adding that it would be a “travesty” for the case to be overturned based on that omission. Strickland called on State District Judge Wayne Salvant, who oversaw Thursday’s proceeding, to consider potentially holding a hearing to resentence Franklin without setting aside his conviction. Salvant is not expected to rule for at least one month, though he previously ruled in favor of setting aside Franklin’s conviction during the former officer’s earlier appeal
more than a decade ago. Franklin did not testify Thursday, although he jumped up once early in the hearing and said he wanted to speak. His attorneys and a bailiff quickly told him to sit down. Franklin’s attorneys say the renewed case reflects a shift in the Court of Criminal Appeals’ willingness in recent years to accept appeals like Franklin’s that lack new DNA evidence or clear proof of innocence. Texas lawmakers, after being confronted by a series of overturned convictions, also have passed several reforms in the last decade, including new requirements for investigators to share evidence with defense attorneys before trial. The Court of Criminal Appeals signaled in 2009 that it would reconsider how perjury by a witness might affect a criminal case, when it set aside the murder conviction of Clay Chabot after DNA proved a witness lied about his own role the night of the crime. Chabot would plead guilty to murder afterward and was sentenced to the 22 years he had already served in prison.
Unit to eye shootings ASSOCIATED PRESS
DALLAS — The Dallas County district attorney will create a two-person unit to independently investigate police shootings so prosecutors will no longer have to wait for law enforcement to bring the cases to them. District Attorney Craig Watkins said he was already working on establishing the unit before national attention shifted recently to Ferguson, Missouri, where the shooting of an unarmed black teenager has prompted protests. In Dallas, two separate, officer-involved fatal shootings occurred within a 24hour span this month. The first occurred Sunday when an off-duty police officer working security shot an unarmed man. The man tried to force his way
into a passing vehicle and then charged at the officer, police said. Police shot another man on Monday after authorities said he assaulted family members and displayed knives while approaching an officer. The Dallas shootings are under investigation. Watkins said the recent shootings show the need for his special unit, which will go to the scene of every police shooting. Its investigations will run concurrently with police inquiries, the Dallas Morning News reported (http://bit.ly/1rzpjF2 ). “I think it would be somewhat irresponsible if we didn’t address the fact that there is a lack of trust with the police,” Watkins said. “This is 2014, and we need to change the mindset and how we deal with certain things.” Dallas Police Chief Da-
vid Brown said he supports Watkins’ idea because the unit will “add another layer of oversight.” Brown said it should improve public trust and confidence in the criminal justice system. Bob Gorsky, a lawyer for the Dallas Police Association, said the group opposes the unit’s establishment. He said the city’s police department is “fully capable of investigating officer-involved shootings.” “We do not believe that a parallel investigation by the district attorney is needed, nor is it an effective use of taxpayer money,” he said. The special unit is expected to cost $200,000 a year, but its funding has not been finalized yet. The Commissioners Court will seal the funding when it approves the county budget in September.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 2014
THE ZAPATA TIMES 7A
PÁGINA 8A
Zfrontera
Agenda en Breve LAREDO 08/16— El Consulado General de México en Laredo, continúa con el programa de Jornadas Sabatinas 2014, de 8 a.m. a 2 p.m. Se brindará atención extraordinaria a la demanda de servicios consulares y también se asesorará para efectuar trámites de pasaportes, matrículas consulares. 08/16— “Llena el Autobús”, en apoyo a United I.S.D. se llevará a cabo en el H-E-B ubicado en Del Mar Blvd. y McPherson Road, de 9 a.m. a las 12 p.m. Se aceptarán artículos escolares y uniformes con poco uso para estudiantes en necesidad. 08/16— La Asociación de Síndrome de Down en Laredo, realizará un evento de reconocimiento y apreciación, dirigido al público en general de Laredo y áreas circunvecinas, el evento será en Mercy Kids Rehab, ubicado en 2335 E. Saunders, Plaza III, de 2 p.m. a 4 p.m. 08/16— Las audiciones para los papeles infantiles para “El Cascanueces” (The Nutcracker) serán en el Teatro del Center for the Fine and Performing Arts de TAMIU. Las audiciones para niñas de 5 a 8 años de edad serán de 3 p.m. a 4 p.m.; para niñas de 9 a 12 años de edad, serán de 4 p.m. a 5 p.m.; para niñas de 13 a 17 años, serán de 5 p.m. a 6 p.m. Para niños de 8 a 12 años, las audiciones serán de 6 p.m. a 7 p.m. Los bailarines deben arribar 30 minutos antes de que inicie su audición. Un padre o tutor debe estar presente para firmar las hojas de consentimiento. Más informes llamando a Bede Leyendecker en el (956) 326-2649. 08/16— Laredo Theater Guild International invita a las audiciones para la obra “The 39 Steps” a las 7 p.m. en el Laredo Center for the Arts, 500 avenida San Agustin. Habrá tres papeles varoniles y uno para mujer. Acuda preparado para hablar en una variedad de acentos británicos. Otra audición el 17 de agosto a las 3 p.m. 08/16— El cantante y compositor mexicano Marco Antonio “El Buki” Solís se presenta en Laredo Energy Arena, a las 8 p.m. Costo: 146 dólares, 85, 65 y 45 (pudiera aplicar otras cuotas). También hay disponibles boletos VIP. Adquiera su boleto en la taquilla del LEA. 08/17— Laredo Theater Guild International invita a las audiciones para la obra “The 39 Steps” a las 3 p.m. en el Laredo Center for the Arts, 500 avenida San Agustin. Habrá tres papeles varoniles y uno para mujer. Acuda preparado para hablar en una variedad de acentos británicos.
NUEVO LAREDO, MÉXICO 08/16— Estación Palabra presenta “Bazar de Arte” a las 10 a.m.; “Te Leo a la Una” a la 1 p.m.; “Festival Infantil” a las 2 p.m. Entrada gratuita. 08/16— Inauguración de Exposición de Arte de Miriam Castro, a las 12 p.m. en Maquila Creativa. 08/16— En celebración del Día Internacional de la Juventud, se llevará a cabo el #JUVEFEST 2014, en el Polyforum La Fe, a partir de las 3 p.m. Habrá varios espectáculos, incluyendo la presentación de grupos musicales en vivo, exposiciones de cultura y tecnología, conferencia para emprendedores y rifa de regalos, entre otras actividades. 08/17— Domingos de Teatro Universitario presenta “Los Chardos De La Ciudad” a las 5 p.m. en el Teatro Lucio Blanco de Casa de la Cultura.
SÁBADO 16 DE AGOSTO DE 2014
INMIGRACIÓN
ÉBOLA
Llega Guardia
Desean poner a prueba vacuna
Primer tropa fue desplegada en frontera POR CHRISTOPHER SHERMAN ASSOCIATED PRESS
HIDALGO — El primer grupo de tropa enviado por la Guardia Nacional tomó puestos de observación a lo largo de la frontera de Texas con México el jueves. Varias decenas de soldados desplegados en el Valle del Río Grande son parte de un destacamento de hasta 1.000 elementos que fue llamado a filas por el gobernador Rick Perry el mes pasado, informó el sargento Ken Walker, de la Guardia Nacional de Texas. La tarde del jueves fueron vistos varios soldados de la guardia tomando posesión de una torre de observación junto a la activa carretera que conduce el Puente Internacional Reynosa. El primer grupo de soldados fue entrenado específicamente para dotar de personal a las torres de observación en el área que pertenece a agencias locales del orden público y a la Policía de Aduanas y Protección Fronteriza, señaló Walker. Ellos prestarán servicio como observadores adicionales sobre la frontera y reportarán actividad sospechosa a las autoridades. Funcionarios estatales han calculado que el despliegue costará 12 millones de dólares mensuales. Perry dijo que los soldados eran necesarios para ayudar a asegurar la frontera en momentos en que la Patrulla Fronteriza esta-
POR TOM MURPHY ASSOCIATED PRESS
Foto por Christopher Sherman | AP
Una torre de vigilancia del Departamento de Policía de Hidalgo es operada por soldados de la Guardia Nacional en Hidalgo, el jueves 14 de agosto. ba ocupada con el aumento de la inmigración ilegal. De octubre a julio, 63.000 niños sin compañía de un adulto han sido arrestados después de ingresar sin permiso a Estados Unidos, el doble de la cifra del mismo período un año antes. Otras 63.000 familias —madres o padres con niños pequeños— fueron arrestadas durante el mismo lapso. “Ellos están ahí únicamente para apoyar”, indicó Walker respecto a los soldados. “Estamos simplemente tratando de proporcionar algo de respiro a los muchachos de Aduanas y Protección Fronteriza” y otras agencias judiciales. Los soldados de la Guardia Nacional vistos el jueves estaban ocu-
Foto por Charlie Neibergall | AP
El gobernador Rick Perry habla en la Feria Estatal de Iowa, en Des Moines, Iowa, sobre la Guardia Nacional en la frontera. pando la torre de observación perteneciente al Departamento de Policía de Hidalgo. Rodolfo Espinoza, jefe de esa agencia, dijo que normalmente no tendría personal para las dos torres de su departamento. Éstas tienen cámaras que pueden tener una
vista panorámica del área y grabar actividad, pero es más valioso tener a una persona que pueda reconocer algo sospechoso y reportarlo, señaló. “Es bueno tenerlos”, comentó Espinoza sobre los soldados. “Es un beneficio para todos”.
SALUD
Esperan fallo sobre aborto POR JUAN CARLOS LLORCA Y PAUL J. WEBER ASSOCIATED PRESS
EL PASO — Cruzar fronteras es parte de la vida en El PasoPero para abortar no es necesario salir del pueblo, al menos por ahora. Eso podría cambiar si un juez federal ratifica nuevas leyes en Texas que podrían prohibir los abortos en 18 clínicas a partir del 1 de septiembre, incluyendo una que ofrece el procedimiento en El Paso, donde una de las leyes contra el aborto más duras del país está bajo particular escrutinio en un juicio que terminaba el miércoles en Austin.
Foto por Juan Carlos LLorca | AP
En la foto de archivo una clínica en Santa Teresa, Nuevo México. Si una ley contra el aborto es aprobada en Texas, mujeres tendrán que viajar a Nuevo México para interrumpir embarazo. Sin lugares para interrumpir los embarazos en El Paso, las mujeres se verán obligadas a viajar por lo menos 885 kilómetros (550 millas) para poder abortar legalmente en Texas. Los abogados del estado dicen que las
mujeres en realidad no tienen que viajar tan lejos: pueden ir a una clínica que está a 15 minutos en Santa Teresa, Nuevo México. Los que se oponen al proyecto de ley señalan que las nuevas normas
muestran que el objetivo no es proteger a las mujeres, como dicen los que apoyan la medida.Es previsible que el juez de distrito Lee Yeakel emita su fallo pronto. La ley dejaría sólo siete clínicas de abortos en Texas, todas en las principales ciudades y ninguna en el oeste del segundo estado más grande. Esas siete clínicas cuentan con quirófanos, sistemas de ventilación esterilizada y otros estándares hospitalarios que la ley pide a las clínicas de abortos en Texas. Los dueños de otros centros dicen que no pueden pagar estas mejorías, que consideran innecesarias.
Un laboratorio farmacéutico de Iowa se apresta a poner a prueba en seres humanos una vacuna para el ébola, en momentos en que los científicos buscan prevenir o combatir un virus que ha matado a más de 1.000 personas en África Occidental. NewLink Genetics planea una fase inicial para examinar la efectividad de la vacuna en 100 voluntarios y está informando a los reguladores sobre el estudio, dijo Brian Wiley, vicepresidente de la compañía para desarrollo comercial. No quiso revelar si el laboratorio ha presentado una solicitud a la Administración de Alimentos y Medicamentos de Estados Unidos (FDA). El director financiero Gordon Link dijo el jueves que todavía no se ha determinado cuándo se hará la prueba. “Estamos recibiendo mucha asistencia de varias fuentes para acelerar este proceso, por lo que saber exactamente cuánto va a demorar es un poco incierto”, afirmó. No hay ningún tratamiento ni vacuna comprobados para el ébola, y el brote actual, que ha enfermado a casi 2.000 personas, es el mayor de la historia. Fue detectado en marzo en Guinea y se ha propagado a Liberia, Sierra Leona y Nigeria. Otras posibles vacunas para el ébola que están en desarrollo incluyen una del Instituto Nacional de Salud que comenzará la primera etapa de pruebas en los seres humanos dentro de algunas semanas. El miércoles, el laboratorio canadiense Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corp. dijo que no está listo para que su fármaco experimental contra el ébola esté disponible en África. NewLink Genetics Corp. planea probar una vacuna descubierta por científicos que trabajan para el gobierno canadiense. La farmacéutica estadounidense tiene el permiso exclusivo para efectuar ensayos clínicos y venderla en caso de ser aprobada por los reguladores. NewLink Genetics Corp. afirmó que su vacuna ha tenido una efectividad del 100% para prevenir la infección del ébola en primates no humanos y que actúa con suficiente rapidez para demostrar efectividad en animales que habían recibido una dosis del virus típicamente letal. La vacuna contiene un antígeno del virus del ébola y esencialmente instruye al sistema inmunológico a combatir el virus. Un total de 1.500 dosis ya fueron producidas por una empresa contratista en Alemania y el gobierno canadiense las compró todas. El gobierno está apartando algunas NewLink para el ensayo clínico. Además de la investigación, NewLink también se propone preparar entre 800 y 1.000 dosis de la vacuna que el gobierno canadiense donará a la Organización Mundial de la Salud
COLUMNA
Narran adopción de carta magna de 1917 POR RAÚL SINENCIO ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
Tamaulipas es de los últimos estados que adecua su régimen interior a la carta magna de 1917.
Administraciones Con determinadas excepciones, el texto constitucional aprobado en Querétaro, México, empieza a regir el 1 de mayo de 1917. Salvo por lo que respecta a los municipios, dicho ordenamiento al principio fija bases para las entidades fede-
rativas. Deja además sin precisar el plazo en que éstas debían organizarse según el máximo código del país. Ello tiene repercusiones, por lo menos hacia el noreste extremo de la República. Tamaulipas pretende renovar su propio marco normativo e institucional. Requisito indispensable al efecto devienen las elecciones legislativas y de gobernador. En febrero de 1918, emanan dos congresos, partidarios cada uno de los generales Luis Caballero Vargas y César López de Lara. Ambos se identifican con
las elites domésticas, y latifundistas. Los pleitos imponen el desconocimiento pleno del proceso electivo. Lo que da pie a que continúe vigente la constitución dictada el 13 de octubre de 1871.
Promulgación Aún bajo la presidencia de Venustiano Carranza, el aludido estado norteño logra componer un cuerpo legislativo. Cobra vida mediante el sufragio ciudadano, emitido a principios de 1920.
Conforme a previo decreto, los representantes camarales asumen funciones constituyentes que inician el 21 de marzo. Avanzan rápido, basándose en la propuesta que presenta el gobernador provisional Francisco González, al que asesora gente del antiguo régimen. El 20 de abril de 1921 está lista la carta magna de la entidad. Cuatro días después es promulgada. Así el 28 de abril comienza a publicarla el Periódico Oficial. El código resulta efímero. Porque enseguida triun-
fa el movimiento rebelde de Agua Prieta y los simpatizantes de Álvaro Obregón barren con la totalidad de funcionarios leales a Carranza, muerto durante el conflicto. El 29 mayo de 1920 Emilio Portes Gil declara nula la suprema ley de marras. Sus camaradas victoriosos instalan otro foro parlamentario. A partir del borrador que al cierre de 1920 les entrega José Morante, sucedáneo de Portes Gil, los diputados terminan la nueva constitución de Tamaulipas, promulgándose el 5 de febrero de 1921.
State
SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 2014
Officer’s name given By JIM SALTER ASSOCIATED PRESS
ST. LOUIS — For nearly a week, the police officer who shot and killed an unarmed black teenager in Ferguson, Missouri, has been a shadowy figure — nameless, faceless and seemingly shielded from the fury that has filled the streets of the town he was sworn to protect. On Friday, the community finally learned his name — Darren Wilson, a 28-yearold white officer who has spent the last six years patrolling the St. Louis suburbs, drawing praise from his boss. Ferguson Police Chief Tom Jackson provided the name and said Wilson had not been the focus of any public complaints. He declined to offer many details about Wilson’s life or career but commended his police record and his demeanor. “He was a gentle, quiet man,” Jackson said. “He was a distinguished officer.
He is, has been, an excellent officer for the police department.” Police said Wilson stopped 18-year-old Michael Brown and another young man last Saturday because they were walking down the middle of the street. He ordered them onto the sidewalk. Authorities say one of the men pushed Wilson into his squad car, then physically assaulted him in the vehicle and struggled with him over the officer’s weapon. At least one shot was fired inside the car before the struggle spilled onto the street, where Wilson shot Brown multiple times, according to police. Wilson is “devastated” by last weekend’s events, the police chief said. “He never intended for any of this to happen,” Jackson added. The killing touched off day after day of violent protests, which were met by an aggressive police response that included officers in riot
gear pointing assault rifles, firing rubber bullets and unleashing tear gas. On Thursday, the governor ordered Missouri State Police to take over security in Ferguson. Within hours, the tension in the streets began to ease. Wilson spent the first two years of his career with the police department in nearby Jennings, Missouri, before moving on to Ferguson for the past four years. Ferguson’s police force is nearly all-white. The town’s population is about 70 percent black. Jackson had originally planned to release the name earlier in the week but delayed the announcement, citing safety concerns and death threats against the officer. St. Louis County police and the FBI are conducting separate investigations. The St. Louis County prosecutor said it will probably be weeks before a decision is made on whether to charge Wilson with a crime.
THE ZAPATA TIMES 9A
State
10A THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 2014
More veterinarians Animal doc eyes young Hispanics in his field By CORRIE MACLAGGAN THE TEXAS TRIBUNE
Photo by Gabe Hernandez/file/The Monitor | AP
As The University of Texas-System Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa nears the end of his administration, he wants to clear the air of misunderstandings at the Austin institution.
Cigarroa nears end Wants to clear the record of his administration as chancellor of the University of Texas System By REEVE HAMILTON THE TEXAS TRIBUNE
Before he returns to a full-time career as a transplant surgeon in 2015, Francisco Cigarroa intends to spend his final months as chancellor of the University of Texas System combating what he says are misunderstandings, including at the upper echelons of academia, about his nearly six-year tenure. “One has to be proactive,” Cigarroa said, “because I have not really been pleased with the direction of where the story has gone, because it’s wrong. We have to make our record better-known.” He indicated an intention to travel the country, talking to editorial boards and others to lay out a record of which he is “extremely proud.” Cigarroa has spent much of the last three years caught in the middle of public conflicts among members of the UT System board of regents, the University of Texas at Austin administration, and legislators over how the flagship university should be managed. While acknowledging that his tenure has corresponded with a period of political turmoil, he said it also was a time of major investment by the system in UT-Austin. He objected to insinuations that he has done Gov. Rick Perry’s bidding on policy or personnel decisions. As an example, the chancellor noted a column in The Chronicle of Higher Education in July by Hunter R. Rawlings, the president of the Association of American Universities, an organization of research institutions, as an “extremely troubling” example. Rawlings described an effort orchestrated by Cigarroa and Perry to push out Bill Powers, the UTAustin president and chairman of the AAU. At the time, Cigarroa had asked Powers to resign or face termination. The two ultimately agreed to a timeline that allowed Powers to resign next June. “While you cited the politicization of higher education in your message and implied that the situation between President Powers and Chancellor Cigarroa was politically driven, be assured that it was not,” Cigarroa and Paul Foster, the chairman of the UT System board, wrote to Rawlings this month in a three-page rebuttal.
Rather than a personality conflict, Rawlings wrote that UT was experiencing a “clash between conflicting views of the purpose of universities in society.” He tied the situation to a set of controversial higher education policy proposals that Perry had touted in 2008 and encouraged regents throughout the state to adopt at their university systems. The proposals included rewarding teachers financially, based on student evaluations, and separating teaching and research budgets. Rawlings also questioned Perry’s push for Texas universities to offer degrees for $10,000. “At no time have we tried to separate education from research,” Cigarroa said this week. “We have never directed any campus to do a $10,000 degree.” In their letter, Cigarroa and Foster said that raising the specter of a sixyear-old set of concepts “that were never implemented by the UT System paints an unfair picture of the system and higher education in Texas.” Rawlings declined to comment for this article. Rather than adopting the governor-backed proposals in 2011, Cigarroa proposed his own vision for the system, calling for establishing medical schools in Austin and South Texas and committing financial resources to faculty recruitment and re-
tention. Today, both medical schools are under development, and the chancellor said that based on data reviewed by the system, “the idea that we are losing faculty is entirely false.” But those who objected to the policies pitched by the governor remain worried. Jenifer Sarver, a spokeswoman for the Texas Coalition for Excellence in Higher Education, which has been critical of the UT board, said, “The ideology driving those efforts is very much alive.” She said there were still concerns about the governance of the UT System. This week, a legislative committee approved a motion censuring a regent for disruptive conduct. It also chided the board for “a loss of institutional control.” Cigarroa said he hoped the board and the rest of the UT community would move forward. “By any metric you take a look at across the University of Texas,” he said, “we’ve made significant progress. For people to be conveying otherwise, I think they have a different agenda, and that agenda is not in the best interest of the University of Texas.”
Nudged by a father who trained racehorses, Dr. Orlando Garza set off to study veterinary medicine in College Station 35 years ago. Garza, who now owns an animal hospital in his hometown of El Paso, remembers being the sole Hispanic student in the veterinary program at Texas A&M University. “There were no Hispanics whatsoever,” said Garza, 57. “I was the only one.” Decades later, the profession remains one where few Hispanics have applied. Garza was one of 84 Hispanic veterinarians in Texas in 2010, making up less than 2 percent of the state’s 5,728 veterinarians, according to the 2014 book Changing Texas, whose lead author, Steve H. Murdock, is the former state demographer. With a population that is 38 percent Hispanic, the state would have needed 2,154 Hispanic veterinarians in 2010 — more than 25 times the number of Hispanic veterinarians that year — to reflect the population of the state, Murdock wrote. Hispanics are also underrepresented in other health professions in Texas, though to a lesser degree. The number of Hispanic doctors, for example, would need to triple to reflect the state’s Hispanic population, he wrote. Dr. Kenita Rogers, associate dean of A&M’s College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, said diversity was as important in veterinary care as it was in human health care because “every dog, cat, horse and cow is associated with a person.” Human medical research showed that access to care depended in part on having a critical mass of health professionals who are minorities available to various communities, said Lisa Greenhill, associate executive director of the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges. That connection is not as clear in veterinary medicine, but there is a growing understanding that because of the bonds that people have with animals, the expectations for veterinarians are similar to those they have for doctors. The low representation among Hispanics in
Photo by Ivan Pierre Aguirre | The Texas Tribune
Dr. Orlando Garza walks with a dog that was boarding at his animal hospital on Monday, in El Paso. veterinary medicine is not just apparent in Texas. “Contrary to societal trends, veterinary medicine remains one of the least diverse professions in the United States,” the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges said on its site. Other health professions have been working longer to increase diversity, Greenhill said. She said she had found that some minorities do not see veterinary medicine as a career path that contributes to their communities. “You’ll see parents of color more apt to encourage kids to pursue careers in education, engineering and law, and human medicine,” Greenhill said. The veterinary community has been working to change that notion, promoting veterinary medicine as a meaningful career path for science-minded students by reaching potential veterinarians long before college with the message that the career can include more than just working with animals. There are also jobs in public health policy or food inspection, said Dr. Beth Sabin, associate director of the American Veterinary Medical Association. “Kids make up their mind about what profession they want to go into at a fairly early age,” Sabin said. One barrier to recruitment is the fact that veterinary education can be just as expensive as other health
training, but the starting salaries are lower. “Folks look at that,” Sabin said.“It’s not that you can’t make a great living as a veterinarian — you certainly can — but those initial few years, you might be more conscious of how much the tuition debt will be.” There has been progress on increasing diversity in the field, Greenhill said. Still, of the 11,483 students at 28 veterinary medical colleges across the country last year, 3.8 percent were Hispanic, she said. The percentage was higher at Texas A&M — the only veterinary program in the state — where 7 percent of the students were Hispanic. Meanwhile, A&M is working to ensure that students are equipped to serve diverse clients by teaching cultural competency and medical Spanish. Garza and six other doctors at his clinic in El Paso, which is predominately Hispanic, perform dental Xrays on dogs and sometimes draw blood from horses that are on their way to cross the U.S.-Mexico border. Garza is the only Hispanic veterinarian at his clinic. “I see a change happening,” Garza said, noting that more Hispanics are applying to veterinary school. “It’s a matter of exposure,” he added, “owning pets and then becoming interested in animals in general.”
SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 2014
THE ZAPATA TIMES 11A
THE WEEK IN REVIEW WEEKLY STOCK EXCHANGE HIGHLIGHTS
u
NYSE 10,796.04+104.93
GAINERS ($2 OR MORE) Name Last Chg KindrM wt 4.50 +1.62 Fortegra 9.88 +2.78 DoralFin 7.53 +1.99 Chiquita 13.63 +3.57 KindMM 101.01 +23.99 ElPasoPpl 42.92 +9.32 BitautoH 78.36 +15.59 PaycomS n 16.84 +3.26 KindME 98.90 +18.56 DaqoNEn 33.13 +6.06
%Chg +56.3 +39.2 +35.9 +35.5 +31.1 +27.7 +24.8 +24.0 +23.1 +22.4
LOSERS ($2 OR MORE) Name Last Chg SeaWorld 18.66 -8.51 KingDEn n 13.53 -5.76 PUVixST rs 26.00 -8.74 MillenMda 2.37 -.65 EKodak wt 5.89 -1.52 KateSpade 31.65 -6.70 GrayTelev 10.30 -1.78 EKodk wtA 4.78 -.82 Dillards 106.11 -17.51 YuMe 5.00 -.79
%Chg -31.3 -29.9 -25.2 -21.5 -20.5 -17.5 -14.7 -14.6 -14.2 -13.6
u
NASDAQ 4,464.93 +94.03
GAINERS ($2 OR MORE) Name AndateeCh InterCld wt Cerulean n MonstrBev Fonar CdnSolar SunshHrt T2 Biosys n Bsquare SciGames
Last Chg 2.69 +1.02 3.18 +.93 5.04 +1.45 93.49 +24.04 13.32 +3.36 33.25 +7.84 5.32 +1.13 17.00 +3.60 3.67 +.76 9.15 +1.89
%Chg +61.1 +41.3 +40.5 +34.6 +33.7 +30.9 +27.0 +26.9 +26.1 +26.0
Vol (00)
Name Last Chg %Chg Cellectar rs 3.20 -1.70 -34.7 VaporCp rs 2.91 -1.31 -31.0 CSVxSht rs 2.87 -.95 -24.9 Noodles 20.98 -5.91 -22.0 EngyXXI 15.74 -4.26 -21.3 Amedica n 2.83 -.76 -21.2 CafePress 3.92 -.97 -19.8 AdamisP rs 2.82 -.66 -19.0 XTL Bioph 2.35 -.54 -18.6 GalenaBio 2.53 -.57 -18.4
Last Chg Name
S&P500ETF3763368195.72+2.48 KindMorg 2569919 41.43 +5.31 iShEMkts 2200086 44.51 +.80 B iPVix rs 2064508 28.88 -4.33 BkofAm 1988516 15.22 +.02 Penney 1624117 9.50 +.13 iShR2K 1495152113.39 +1.12 AMD 1462859 4.13 +.01 Petrobras 1458855 16.51 +.57 SPDR Fncl 1248460 22.58 +.20
Vol (00)
Volume
2,434 793 234 80 3,275 48 13,289,903,066
Last Chg
SiriusXM 2338317 3.55 +.11 Cisco 1865263 24.43 -.60 Apple Inc s 1769746 97.98 +3.24 PwShs QQQ1576383 97.40 +2.50 MannKd 1430254 6.86 -1.27 Intel 1420277 34.17 +1.57 Facebook 1406656 73.63 +.57 Microsoft 1248905 44.79 +1.59 PlugPowr h 975092 5.92 +.27 MicronT 967388 31.49 +1.45
DIARY Advanced Declined New Highs New Lows Total issues Unchanged
Dow Jones industrials Close: 16,662.91 1-week change: 108.98 (0.7%) 17,200
16.05
MON
-9.44
STOCK MARKET INDEXES 91.26
TUES
WED
61.78
THUR
DIARY Advanced Declined New Highs New Lows Total issues Unchanged
Volume
1,696 1,124 152 143 2,877 57 7,961,482,578
FRI
17,000 16,800 16,600
14,719.43 6,237.14 467.93 9,246.89 3,573.57 1,627.47 1,170.62 17,305.21 1,009.00 4,813.26
Name
Last
Dow Jones Industrials 16,662.91 Dow Jones Transportation 8,264.12 Dow Jones Utilities 548.81 NYSE Composite 10,796.04 Nasdaq Composite 4,464.93 S&P 500 1,955.06 S&P MidCap 1,395.50 Wilshire 5000 20,704.88 Russell 2000 1,141.65 Lipper Growth Index 5,861.63
MONEY RATES
16,200
Last
16,000
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
STOCKS OF LOCAL INTEREST Name
Ex
Div
Last
AT&T Inc AEP Apple Inc s BkofAm B iPVix rs Caterpillar Cisco CCFemsa CmtyHlt ConocoPhil Dillards EmpIca ExxonMbl FordM GenElec HewlettP HomeDp iShEMkts Intel IntlBcsh IBM
NY NY Nasd NY NY NY Nasd NY NY NY NY NY NY NY NY NY NY NY Nasd Nasd NY
1.84 2.00 1.88 .20 ... 2.80 .76 2.17 ... 2.92 .24 ... 2.76 .50 .88 .64 1.88 .71 .90 .50 4.40
34.74 51.42 97.98 15.22 28.88 105.74 24.43 110.37 51.00 80.62 106.11 7.53 99.03 17.31 25.64 35.07 83.69 44.51 34.17 25.24 187.38
Wk Wk YTD Chg %Chg%Chg +.27 +0.8 -1.2 +.90 +1.8 +10.0 +3.24 +3.4 +22.3 +.02 +0.1 -2.2 -4.33 -13.0 -32.1 +2.46 +2.4 +16.4 -.60 -2.4 +9.7 +1.72 +1.6 -9.4 +2.76 +5.7 +29.9 -.71 -0.9 +14.1 -17.51 -14.2 +9.2 +.40 +5.6 -10.9 -.02 ... -2.1 +.22 +1.3 +12.2 -.02 -0.1 -8.5 -.10 -0.3 +25.3 +1.26 +1.5 +1.6 +.80 +1.8 +6.5 +1.57 +4.8 +31.7 +.11 +0.4 -4.2 +.75 +0.4 -.1
Name
Ex
KindMorg NY Lowes NY Lubys NY MetLife NY MexicoFd NY Microsoft Nasd Modine NY Penney NY PwShs QQQ Nasd RadioShk NY S&P500ETF NY SanchezEn NY Schlmbrg NY SearsHldgs Nasd SiriusXM Nasd SonyCp NY UnionPac s NY USSteel NY UnivHlthS NY WalMart NY WellsFargo NY
Div
Last
Wk Wk YTD Chg %Chg%Chg
1.72 .92 ... 1.40 3.07 1.12 ... ... 1.34 ... 3.58 ... 1.60 ... ... .24 2.00 .20 .40 1.92 1.40
41.43 50.00 5.36 52.48 28.08 44.79 14.19 9.50 97.40 .58 195.72 31.86 106.53 35.16 3.55 18.41 101.99 36.38 109.62 73.90 50.21
+5.31 +14.7 +15.1 +.28 +0.6 +.9 +.15 +2.9 -30.6 +.78 +1.5 -2.7 +.22 +0.8 -4.2 +1.59 +3.7 +19.7 +.19 +1.4 +10.7 +.13 +1.4 +3.8 +2.50 +2.6 +10.7 -.05 -8.1 -77.7 +2.48 +1.3 +6.0 +.66 +2.1 +30.0 -1.85 -1.7 +18.2 -2.67 -7.1 -11.5 +.11 +3.2 +1.7 +.99 +5.7 +6.5 +3.35 +3.4 +21.4 +1.03 +2.9 +23.3 +2.50 +2.3 +34.9 -.77 -1.0 -6.1 +.21 +0.4 +10.6
Stock Footnotes: g=Dividends and earnings in Canadian dollars .h= Doe not meet continued- listings tandards lf = Late filing with SEC. n = New in past 52 weeks. pf = Preferred. rs = Stock has undergone a reverse stock split of at least 50 percent within the past year. rt = Right to buy security at a specified price. s = Stock has split by at least 20 percent within the last year. un = Units. vj = In bankruptcy or receivership. wd = When distributed. wi = When issued. wt = Warrants. Mutual Fund Footnotes: b = Fee covering market costs is paid from fund assets. d = Deferred sales charge, or redemption fee. f = front load (sales charges). m = Multiple fees are charged. NA = not available. p = previous day’s net asset value. s = fund split shares during the week. x = fund paid a distribution during the week. Gainers and Losers must be worth at least $2 to be listed in tables at left. Most Actives must be worth at least $1. Volume in hundreds of shares. Source: The Associated Press. Sales figures are unofficial.
May 25, 1927 – Aug. 11, 2014
ASSOCIATED PRESS
of Refuge in San Ygnacio. Committal services followed at Martinez Cemetery in San Ygnacio. Special thanks to her son-in-law/son Manuel E. Garcia who always cared for her. Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Rose Garden Funeral Home, Daniel A. Gonzalez, funeral director, 2102 Hwy. 83, Zapata.
Prime Rate Discount Rate Federal Funds Rate Treasuries 3-month 6-month 5-year 10-year 30-year
+108.98 +171.65 +6.12 +104.93 +94.03 +23.47 +16.20 +268.72 +10.30 +93.60
+.66 +2.12 +1.13 +.98 +2.15 +1.22 +1.17 +1.31 +.91 +1.62
+.52 +11.67 +11.87 +3.80 +6.90 +5.77 +3.95 +5.07 -1.89 +4.86
12-mo %Chg +10.49 +29.65 +13.94 +14.06 +23.93 +18.07 +15.74 +17.83 +11.46 +20.63
CURRENCIES Pvs Week
3.25 0.75 .00-.25 0.04 0.05 1.54 2.34 3.13
Last
Pvs Day
3.25 Australia 1.0725 1.0733 0.75 Britain 1.6697 1.6686 .00-.25 Canada 1.0892 1.0908 Euro .7464 .7481 0.03 Japan 102.35 102.47 0.05 Mexico 13.0630 13.0911 1.63 Switzerlnd .9027 .9065 2.42 3.23 British pound expressed in U.S. dollars. All others show dollar in foreign currency.
MUTUAL FUNDS Name
Total Assets Obj ($Mlns) NAV
Total Return/Rank Pct Min Init 4-wk 12-mo 5-year Load Invt
Alliance Bernstein GlTmtcGA m Columbia ComInfoA m Eaton Vance WldwHealA m Fidelity Select Biotech d Fidelity Select BrokInv d Fidelity Select CommEq d Fidelity Select Computer d Fidelity Select ConsFin d Fidelity Select Electron d Fidelity Select FinSvc d Fidelity Select SoftwCom d Fidelity Select Tech d PIMCO TotRetIs T Rowe Price SciTech Vanguard 500Adml Vanguard HlthCare Vanguard InstIdxI Vanguard TotStIAdm Vanguard TotStIdx Waddell & Reed Adv SciTechA m
WS 580 ST 2,536 SH 919 SH 8,218 SF 609 ST 260 ST 672 SF 147 ST 1,732 SF 1,195 ST 3,010 ST 2,548 CI 143,967 ST 3,098 LB 107,249 SH 10,301 LB 94,348 LB 98,233 LB 112,558 ST 3,554
-1.4 -0.9 +2.8 +9.2 -0.3 -2.6 +0.4 -3.2 -1.0 -1.1 -1.0 +1.2 +0.8 +2.5 -0.7 +0.6 -0.7 -0.7 -0.7 -3.3
85.02 57.36 12.85 208.29 72.59 31.31 79.50 15.20 77.35 84.06 115.74 121.65 11.00 42.53 180.83 207.39 179.66 49.28 49.26 16.16
+18.2/A +25.5/B +33.8/A +33.6/A +15.9/A +16.2/E +16.2/E +8.5/D +38.6/A +15.5/B +23.0/C +23.9/C +5.8/C +28.5/B +20.1/B +31.6/B +20.1/B +19.7/B +19.5/B +23.1/C
+8.1/E +14.2/D +18.5/D +28.8/A +10.6/C +11.9/E +18.1/B +13.9/A +17.6/B +9.2/D +21.5/A +18.5/A +5.9/B +17.1/B +16.7/A +20.3/C +16.7/A +17.1/A +16.9/A +19.3/A
4.25 2,500 5.75 2,000 5.75 1,000 NL 2,500 NL 2,500 NL 2,500 NL 2,500 NL 2,500 NL 2,500 NL 2,500 NL 2,500 NL 2,500 NL1,000,000 NL 2,500 NL 10,000 NL 3,000 NL5,000,000 NL 10,000 NL 3,000 5.75 750
CA -Conservative Allocation, CI -Intermediate-Term Bond, ES -Europe Stock, FB -Foreign Large Blend, FG -Foreign LargeGrowth, FV -Foreign Large Value, IH -World Allocation, LB -Large Blend, LG -Large Growth, LV -Large Value, MA -Moderate Allocation, MB -Mid-Cap Blend, MV - MidCap Value, SH -Specialty-heath, WS -World Stock, Total Return: Chng in NAV with dividends reinvested. Rank: How fund performed vs. others with same objective: A is in top 20%, E in bottom 20%. Min Init Invt: Minimum $ needed to invest in fund. Source: Morningstar.
WASHINGTON — Falling gasoline costs lowered the prices that U.S. companies received for their goods and services last month, keeping overall inflation in check. The producer price index rose 0.1 percent in July, following a 0.4 percent gain in June, the Labor Department said Friday. The index measures the cost of goods and services before they reach the consumer. Wholesale gas prices fell 2.1 percent, after jumping 6.4 percent in June. The cost of pharmaceuticals, pickup trucks and rail and truck shipping services rose, while the cost of vegetables, jewelry and natural gas fell.
Excluding the volatile categories of food, energy and retailer and wholesaler profit margins, prices moved up 0.2 percent.
Below target In the past 12 months, producer prices have risen just 1.7 percent, slightly below the Federal Reserve’s target. Wholesale prices jumped 0.5 percent in April, led by a big increase in food costs. That raised concerns among some economists that inflation could accelerate. But price changes since then have been mostly tame. Consumer prices have tended to track the costs for producers. They rose 0.3 percent in June, mostly be-
cause of higher pump prices. Consumer prices rose 2.1 percent in June compared with the year prior. The Fed targets inflation at about 2 percent as a guard against deflation, which could drag down wages and spark another recession. At the same time, the Fed wants to avoid excessive inflation and protect consumers and the purchasing power of the dollar.
Stagnant wages Employers have stepped up hiring this year and consumers are more confident in the economy. But wage growth and spending have been sluggish. The unemployment rate, at 6.2 percent, remains elevated com-
ECONOMY STRENGTHS:
working two jobs because they can’t get one full-time job because of these mandates,” said Sen. Larry Taylor, a Friendswood Republican. But top state insurance and health officials said it’s still too early to tell if large numbers of previously insured Texans lost their health coverage, or if health insurance rates will indeed rise. Around 3.8 million Texans are Medicaid recipients. But Health and Human Services Commissioner Kyle Janek told the committee that Texas’ Medicaid caseload could increase by 600,000-plus — even though the state isn’t expanding the program under the federal law. Janek said that Affordable Care Act-related Medicaid enrollments may rise from around 90,000 in fiscal year 2014 to more than 722,000 by fiscal year 2017. That’s mainly because the law changed income requirements to qualify, meaning more young Texans will move from the state’s children’s health care program to Medicaid. It’s also due, however, to what Janek called “outreach,” publicity associated with the federal law which alerted many low-income families around the state that they did indeed qualify for Medicaid coverage even though they’d never previously known to apply for it.
Wk Wk YTD Chg %Chg %Chg
Producer prices show July rise By CHRISTOPHER S. RUGABER
HEALTH Continued from Page 1A uninsured residents, with 6.4 million Texans, or nearly a quarter of the population, lacking health care coverage. Before the hearing even began, county judges from the state’s six largest counties sent Schwertner a letter imploring the Legislature to find a unique, “Texas way forward” to expanding health coverage to lowincome Texans. “The current cost of uncompensated care provided to Texans by public and private providers is over $4 billion a year,” said the letter, which was signed by judges in Harris, Dallas, Tarrant, Bexar, El Paso and Travis counties. A recent White House report found that Medicaid expansion would have covered an additional 1.2 million Texans by 2016. Still, Gov. Rick Perry and the GOP-controlled Legislature have refused expansion, rejecting the full federal health overhaul as misguided, “one-size-fits-all” policy Washington is attempting to impose on the states. On Thursday, several committee members raised concerns about the numbers of Texans who may have lost their jobs because their employers imposed cutbacks in order to meet the health law requirements. Others asked if health insurance rates were on the rise as insurers adjust to the law. “We’re going to have more and more people
17,151.56 8,515.04 576.98 11,334.65 4,485.93 1,991.39 1,452.01 21,108.12 1,213.55 5,970.50
16,400
ROSARIO ‘ELENA’ ARREDONDO SAN YGNACIO — Rosario “Elena” Arredondo, 87, passed away Monday, Aug. 11, 2014, at her residence in San Ygnacio. Ms. Arredondo is preceded in death by her husband, Osbaldo Arredondo; grandson, Arturo E. Navarro and a great-grandson, Eliud Joel Garcia III. Ms. Arredondo is survived by her children, Antonio (Marisol) Arredondo, Rosa Maria (Eliud Joel Sr.) Garcia, Martha A. (Manuel E.) Garcia, Patricia Arredondo, Irene (Arturo E.) Navarro; 15 grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren; one great great granddaughter; brother, Angel (Maria Elena) Celedon Jr.; sister-inlaw, Aurora Garza; and by numerous nephews, nieces and many friends. Visitation hours were held Friday, Aug. 15, 2014, at 8 a.m. with a rosary at 8:30 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
52-Week High Low
-50.67
LOSERS ($2 OR MORE)
MOST ACTIVE ($1 OR MORE) MOST ACTIVE ($1 OR MORE) Name
WEEKLY DOW JONES
MORE JOBS Hiring in the United States has surged in the first seven months of this year. Monthly job gains are averaging a solid and steady 230,000, based on government figures. That’s roughly an average of 35,000 more jobs each month compared with last year. Fewer people are applying for unemployment benefits. And fewer new hires are working as temps. Both trends suggest stronger job security. Economists say the cumulative effect of all those additional paychecks should propel growth and help insulate the U.S. economy from trouble abroad. Though low-paying industries account for much of the hiring, many economists foresee more jobs coming from higher-wage industries such as construction, engineering and consulting. Zandi expects monthly job growth to accelerate to an average of 275,000 sometime next year. RECORD PROFITS Earnings at companies in the Standard and Poor’s 500 index are on track to jump 10 percent in the second quarter from a year earlier, according to S&P Capital IQ, a research firm. That would be the biggest quarterly gain in nearly three years. That news has helped the S&P 500 index climb nearly 6 percent this year, extending a bull market into its sixth year. The gains have been remarkably steady, too. The stock market hasn’t suffered a “correction” — a drop of 10 percent — in nearly three years, twice as long as is typical. Still, some markets out-
side the U.S. are falling. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 is down 6 percent this year. Germany’s DAX has lost nearly 5 percent, and France’s CAC 40 is down 3 percent. At the same time, global investors have been pouring money into U.S. Treasurys, long seen as a safe bet in troubled times. The yield on Treasury notes maturing in 10 years, which falls when demand rises, hit 2.3 percent on Friday, its lowest level in more than a year. Christine Short, a director at S&P Capital IQ, worries that more grim news from abroad could send U.S. stocks tumbling. “Markets are ripe for correction,” she says. “The only question is, What is the catalyst?” HELP FROM CENTRAL BANKS The Fed has been paring its pace of bond purchases and will end them altogether this fall. The purchases have been intended to hold down longer-term rates and prod consumers and businesses to borrow and spend. But the Fed has stressed that it will keep short-term rates at low levels even if unemployment reaches a level usually linked to rising inflation. Before raising rates, the Fed wants to see “the whites of the eyes of a real recovery and wage growth,” says Diane Swonk, chief economist at Mesirow Financial. Many economists project that the Fed won’t lift shortterm rates until mid-2015. Another plus for economies, at least in the shortterm: The Fed’s low-rate policies have influenced other central banks. The Bank of Japan is buying bonds to stimulate growth and the European Central Bank is facing calls to do so itself.
pared with levels typical in a healthy economy.
Price quandry Those trends have made it difficult for businesses to raise prices, because that could chase away customers. Many retailers have reported disappointing sales and profits this year. Still, low inflation has enabled the Fed to pursue extraordinary measures to boost the economy. It has begun to unwind some of those measures, cutting a monthly bond-buying program to $25 billion, from $85 billion last year. Those bond purchases had ensured low interest rates that encouraged investors to pour money into the economy.
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THREATS: FOREIGN EXPOSURE Though the U.S. economy has managed so far to withstand the economic and geopolitical turmoil abroad, it isn’t immune to it. And the bad news kept coming this past week. The 18-country eurozone, a key region that emerged from recession last year and accounts for nearly a fifth of global output, failed to grow at all in the second quarter of the year. “The European recovery is faltering,” says Jack Ablin, chief investment officer at BMO Private Bank. Escalating tension between the West and Russia isn’t helping. Exports from the eurozone to Russia account for less than 1 percent of the region’s economic output. But Germany, Europe’s largest economy, is vulnerable. It gets nearly all its natural gas from Russia. The German economy contracted 0.2 percent in the second quarter compared with the previous quarter. And business confidence in Germany is plummeting. Tom Stringfellow, chief investment officer at Frost Investment Advisors, says the tit-for-tat sanctions between the West and Russia over Ukraine could push the eurozone over the edge. “Unless that is resolved quickly, you could see another recession,” he says. Nearly half of revenue in the companies in the S&P 500 comes from selling abroad. And exports contributed 14 percent of U.S. economic output last year, up from 9 percent in 2002. WHERE ARE THE SHOPPERS? Retail sales stalled in the United States last month. Wage growth has failed to surpass inflation, leaving many consumers unwilling or unable to spend more.
Sales at auto dealers and department stores fell in July. Wal-Mart this week cut its profit outlook. Macy’s trimmed its sales forecast. “Consumers are finding they can live without a lot of the stuff they used to buy automatically,” says Joel Naroff, president of Naroff Economic Advisors, in a research note. “Right now, people are just not parting with their hard-earned funds.” It’s not just U.S. consumers who are spending less. Japan’s economy cratered in the April-June quarter, due to a sales tax hike. The economy there shrank 6.8 percent from a year earlier. And shoppers face another sales tax increase in October 2015. OIL SPIKE Will fighting in Iraq and Ukraine upend global energy markets, and raise the cost of filling your gas tank and heating your home? Europe is worried because it gets much of its natural gas from Russia. And Iraq is the second-biggest OPEC oil producer. Before dropping last month, crude oil prices hit a 10month high in June on news of victories by Islamic State fighters. In the United States, gasoline is averaging $3.47 a gallon, according to AAA. That’s down 7 cents from last year. But the benefits of cheaper gas could be erased if supplies were disrupted. Consumers would be hit by what economists consider the equivalent of a tax increase. One positive to come out of the dire economic situation? Because so many countries are struggling to grow, demand for oil is restrained. On Tuesday, the International Energy Agency lowered its forecast for global demand this year.
12A THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 2014
SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 2014
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Sports&Outdoors NFL: DALLAS COWBOYS
HIGH SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY: ZAPATA LADY HAWKS
Zapata begins Photo by Jae C. Hong | AP
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo will make his preseason debut Saturday against the Baltimore Ravens.
Romo to start against Baltimore By SCHUYLER DIXON ASSOCIATED PRESS
Photo by Clara Sandoval | The Zapata Times
The Zapata girls’ cross country team began its season Friday at the Alexander Fun Run. The Lady Hawks are replacing four senior runners from last year’s team.
Lady Hawks open year at Alexander Fun Run By CLARA SANDOVAL THE ZAPATA TIMES
LAREDO – The Zapata girls’ cross country team tested out its legs early Friday morning at the Alexander Fun Run. The 1.5 mile course gave Zapata a starting point for the season as the Lady Hawks are searching for four runners to replace a very talented senior class that was lost to graduation including four-time state qualifier Jazmine Garcia who is running at Our Lady of the Lake to start her college career. "We lost four outstanding seniors. Each one had an opportunity to run at the college level and one decided to do it which is Jazmine," Zapata coach Mike Villarreal said. "We have some experience but it is going to be okay. It is going to be a process and it is going to be a road that we have to climb." Zapata returns the No. 3 girl from last year’s squad, Raquel Armaguez,
No. 6 girl Abby Zuniga and No. 7 runner Norma Ramirez. Last year, Zapata lost their bid to head to the state meet by 11 points and finished in third place at the Region IV-3A meet in San Antonio. Once again, Villarreal heads to his mad scientist lab to as he searches for the right formula for another championship team that has been dominating at the district and regional level. Villarreal will keep the Lady Hawks away from the big meets as he attempts to ease his team into the season. "We will not be attending the big meets like UTSA, the McNeils and those kind of heavy-hitter meets," Villarreal said. "One reason is the budget cuts and also is because we have a young team. Plus these big schools do offer the two-mile races, but not quality two-mile races. We are going to be going to some smaller meets like Falfurrias, San Diego and probably the biggest meet is the
meet of champs." The season opener for the Lady Hawks will be in Zapata on Aug. 30 at the annual Hawks Stamped. A new cross country rule takes effect this year as UIL has changed how many individual runners make it to state along with the top four teams, an increase from three teams. The rule increase the number of qualifiers to the top 10 individuals who are not already on one of the four advancing teams. A runner can finish in 16th place at the regional meet and still earn a trip to the state meet after all the runners who are on state teams get taken out of the final top 10 tally at the end of the meet. "The new rules mean that the top four teams get to go to state, so a few years ago we could have been there seven years in a row," Villarreal said with a laugh. "That news is killing me. The 10 individuals not
ARLINGTON, Texas — Tony Romo hasn’t taken a snap in a game since he played through a back injury to lead a drive that kept Dallas in playoff contention late last season. The 34-year-old quarterback has eased his way back in since surgery to repair a herniated disk, staying out of competitive situations during the offseason and taking frequent days off at training camp. Romo won’t play long in the Cowboys’ preseason home opener against Baltimore on Saturday night, but he will be the starter after skipping the first exhibition game last week in San Diego. He led the offense in two joint practices with Oakland this week. Dallas broke camp in California on Friday. “I felt like this was a big week for Tony,” tight end Jason Witten said. “I felt like this was a really big week for our team and felt he’s done a really great job setting the tempo for us.” Romo finished a winning drive after the injury to beat Washington last December but had to watch from home when the Cowboys lost to Philadelphia with a playoff berth on the line. He gets his first chance to run the offense with new play-caller Scott Linehan. It will be Joe Flacco’s second game with firstyear Ravens offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak. He brings the West Coast offense to coach John Harbaugh’s staff after being fired in the middle of last season with the Texans on their way to 14 straight losses after a 2-0 start. Linehan and Kubiak had strong debuts last week. Romo backup Brandon Weeden completed 13 of 17 passes for 107 yards and a touchdown against the Chargers, while Flacco led an 80-yard scoring drive in his only possession against San Francisco. And Linehan should have several more toys to
See ZAPATA PAGE 2B See COWBOYS PAGE 2B
NFL: HOUSTON TEXANS
NCAA FOOTBALL: TEXAS LONGHORNS
Strong preparing for decades By JIM VERTUNO ASSOCIATED PRESS
Photo by Matt York | AP
Defensive end J.J. Watt and the Houston Texans host the Atlanta Falcons at 7 p.m. on Saturday.
Houston looking to rebound at home By CHRIS DUNCAN ASSOCIATED PRESS
HOUSTON — J.J. Watt feels as if he gets asked about playing with Jadeveon Clowney every day. When the Texans selected Clowney with the top overall pick, they instantly created what on paper looks like one of the league’s most formidable pass rushes. Watt is one of the game’s most disruptive forces and Clowney was similarly dominant at South Carolina. Clowney is mov-
ing to outside linebacker in Romeo Crennel’s 3-4 defensive scheme. The two showed a glimpse of what they could do on the second play from scrimmage in last week’s 32-0 loss in Arizona, with both charging in from the right side and Watt sacking Carson Palmer. Watt downplayed how much to read into the play. The Texans weren’t doing anything complicated, and Watt wasn’t even paying attention to where
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AUSTIN, Texas — Charlie Strong has been prepping to lead the Texas Longhorns for 30 years. The evidence is tucked away in his office, stuffed into file cabinets one page, one lesson, one line at a time. Inside the drawers are daily notes, quotes, practice reports, meeting agendas and conversations that span a career from his first job as a graduate assistant at Florida in 1983 to stops at Texas A&M, Mississippi, South Carolina, Notre Dame and back to Florida before his first head coaching job at Louisville. Some are typed on pages still crisp. Others are handwritten on floppy and withered paper. They have followed Strong to every job he’s ever had, including Texas. “His attention to detail was unmatched,” said Gary Darnell, who coached with Strong at Florida in 1988-89. “He loves gathering information. He was either going to be a college professor or a coach.” And it likely explains why Strong comes off as so confident to face the mission in front of him: returning Texas to the top of the Big 12. “It isn’t a monster,” Strong said of Texas, despite the fact that his office view of the stadi-
Photo by Ricardo Brazziell | AP
Charlie Strong is using lessons from championship coaches such as Steve Spurrier and Urban Meyer as he prepares for his first season as head coach at Texas. um is partly blocked by a video board so big its nickname is Godzillatron. “It’s a program with all the resources you need.” Strong will need every bit of that confidence — and those resources — as he begins his tenure. Strong, the first black head coach of a men’s sport at Texas, was hired to replace Mack Brown, who in 2005 delivered the Longhorns’ first national championship in 36 years and led them to another national title game after the 2009 season. But the run ended there. Since 2010, Texas hasn’t won more than nine games in a season.
Texas offensive coordinator Joe Wickline, who was with Strong as a graduate assistant at Florida, describes him as “insanely organized.” “He’s always been like that,” Wickline said. “He made notes of drops, missed assignments. Charted everything.” But it was more than routine stuff. By documenting the details, Strong was soaking up years of valuable teaching from national championship-winning coaches like Lou Holtz, Steve Spurrier and Urban Meyer.
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Zscores
SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 2014
WR Bowe suspended ASSOCIATED PRESS
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Dwayne Bowe has been suspended for the season opener against Tennessee for violating the NFL’s substance-abuse policy. Bowe was pulled over for speeding in a Kansas City suburb on Nov. 10, and was arrested after police found a black bag containing his wallet, driver’s license and two containers of suspected marijuana. He later pleaded guilty to amended charges of defective equipment and littering, and his attorney said there was no admission of guilt for the marijuana charge, which was dismissed. Bowe issued a statement through the NFL Players’ Association shortly after the suspension was announced in which he apologized for having to miss the Titans game on Sept. 7. Bowe remains eligible to participate in all preseason practices and games. Browns hope to name starting QB on Tuesday CLEVELAND — Browns coach Mike Pettine has set Tuesday as his target date. That’s when he’ll say whether Brian Hoyer or rookie Johnny Manziel is the starting quarterback for the opener. Pettine said Thursday that Hoyer will start against the Washington Redskins on Monday night, with Manziel getting snaps with the first-team offense. Pettine isn’t sure how he’ll divide their time and will see how the game unfolds. His focus is making sure the “reps are close to equal.”
Photo by Paul Sancya | AP
Jeff Burton drives Tony Stewart’s No. 14 car through the garage to to practice Friday for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Mich.
NASCAR bars exiting By NOAH TRISTER ASSOCIATED PRESS
Photo by Sait Serkan Gurbuz | AP
Chiefs wide receiver Dwayne Bowe was suspended for the season opener for violating the NFL’s substance-abuse policy. Hoyer started Cleveland’s preseason opener at Detroit, with Manziel playing exclusively with the backups. Pettine says the Browns are fortunate to have two quarterbacks with “NFL starter ability.” Pettine would not confirm or deny a report Manziel was late to a team meeting this week. Jaguars QB Bortles to get snaps with starters JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Rookie Blake Bortles will get his first opportunity with the first-team offense this week. Jaguars coach Gus Bradley says Bortles will get repetitions with the starters in practice this week and will play about a quarter with them during Fri-
day’s preseason game at Detroit. Bradley remains committed to veteran Chad Henne as the team’s opening-day starter. Since selecting Bortles with the third overall pick in May’s NFL draft, the Jaguars have insisted that Henne would start and Bortles would take over when he’s ready. In the meantime, Bradley and general manager Dave Caldwell want to foster a pressure-free environment for Bortles to transition to the team’s pro-style system. But the former UCF standout has been impressive in two preseason games, completing 23 of 34 passes for 290 yards and showing he’s ready for the next challenge.
ZAPATA Continued from Page 1B on the team make it to state. This is really good for the runners and it means that we have more runners at the state meet." Zapata will be vying to keep their streak that
dates back 10 years of sending an individual or a team to the state meet. "If we can get one runner out to the state meet, it will be 11 years in a row that Zapata has represen-
tation at the state meet and that would be something phenomenal," Villarreal said. Clara Sandoval can be reached at Sandoval.Clara@gmail.com.
COWBOYS Continued from Page 1B play with after Witten, running back DeMarco Murray and receiver Dez Bryant sat against the Chargers. He also seems to think a lot of Murray’s backup, Lance Dunbar. The 2012 undrafted free agent was a healthy scratch in San Diego along with the stars, so the Ravens game will be his first under Linehan as well. “He has a really good way of finding what his players do well and highlighting them and featuring them and also attacking maybe some matchups,” coach Jason Garrett said. “We’ve always tried to do that. The transition has been really smooth for us.” It will be Kubiak’s second game with running back Ray Rice, who had three carries for 17 yards against San Francisco. Rice will miss the first two games of the regular season after being suspended following his arrest for domestic violence. “John and I talked about what he wanted to be on the offensive side of the ball, but we haven’t spent any time talking about what happened last year,” Kubiak said. “Everybody has bought into what we’re doing. We have to go take another step this week.” Linebacker Rolando McClain is ex-
BROOKLYN, Mich. — NASCAR added a rule Friday barring its drivers from approaching the track or moving cars after accidents, less than a week after driver Kevin Ward Jr. was struck and killed during a dirt-track race in New York. If a car is involved in an accident and can no longer keep going — and no extenuating circumstances exist such as smoke in the cockpit or fire — the driver should not loosen any personal safety equipment until directed to do so by safety personnel or a NASCAR or track official. After being told to exit the car, the driver should proceed to an emergency vehicle or as otherwise directed. The rule takes effect immediately and applies to all of NASCAR’s series. “Really, we’re formalizing rules that have been there,” said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR’s vice president of competition and racing development. “It’s reminders that take place during drivers meetings with drivers about on-track accidents.” Last Saturday, Stewart’s car struck and killed Ward at a sprint car race in Canandaigua, New York. After Stewart appeared to clip Ward’s car,
sending it spinning, Ward left the car during the caution period, walked down the track and was hit by Stewart. His funeral was Thursday. Stewart could face criminal charges. He is skipping this weekend’s Sprint Cup race at Michigan International Speedway. “Through time you have to recognize when you get a reminder or tap on the shoulder, something that may need to be addressed,” Pemberton said. “This is one of those times where we look outside our sport and we look at other things, and we feel like it was time to address this.” It remains to be seen how NASCAR will enforce the provision, and how much the threat of penalties will deter drivers in the heat of the moment. Jimmie Johnson, six-time champion and one of NASCAR’s most respected drivers, said he thought it was the right move. “Will that stop a driver that’s really upset?” Johnson said. “I don’t know. It’s hard to say.” “There’s still going to be confrontations out there and that’s never going to change. People will still get mad at each other,” added Joey Logano. “You’ve got to keep the big picture of staying safe out there and somehow con-
trolling your emotions.” The sport has thrived thanks to the personalities of some of its biggest stars and that includes an occasional feud or angry encounter at the track. Stewart once threw his helmet at Matt Kenseth’s windshield. In 2003, Kevin Harvick climbed on the roof of his car to shout at Ricky Rudd, who had nudged him from behind late in a race. SHR executive VP says Stewart grieving BROOKLYN, Mich. — The executive vice president of Stewart-Haas Racing says Tony Stewart is grieving — and it will be up to the star driver to decide when he’s ready to get back in the car. Jeff Burton will drive the No. 14 car in Stewart’s place in Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Michigan International Speedway. SHR executive VP Brett Frood says they haven’t discussed any other races. Stewart is skipping a second straight Cup race since striking and killing driver Kevin Ward Jr. at a dirt-track race in New York last weekend. Frood did not say where Stewart was Friday, but he said Stewart was surrounded by his closest friends and family. Frood says it was Stewart’s decision to skip this weekend’s race.
TEXANS Continued from Page 1B
pected to make his Dallas debut against the Ravens after Baltimore traded him for a late-round pick before training camp. The Cowboys are trying to replace middle linebacker Sean Lee, who tore a knee ligament in the offseason and is out for the year. McClain never played for the Ravens, twice retiring after they picked him up when Oakland gave up on the former top 10 pick after three seasons. “He just needs to play,” coach Jason Garrett said. “He needs to keep coming out here and practicing well and understand what we’re asking him to do from a defensive standpoint. Gain the trust of his teammates and coaches.” Both defenses have work to do. While the Cowboys struggled to stop the Chargers, the Ravens let the 49ers march to a field goal on Colin Kaepernick’s only drive. Because of injuries, Baltimore’s focus is on the defensive line and secondary. “We have to start faster now,” defensive coordinator Dean Pees said. “I think we were a little hyped up because there were a couple times where we ran up field on a running play and the ball gashed us.”
Clowney lined up. “Everyone makes a real big deal out of it,” Watt said, “but I didn’t notice that he was outside of me, so it’s just one of those things. You’re playing football and some people make a bigger deal on a lot of things than it really is out there.” Watt played only one series against the Cardinals. With Watt out, Clowney shed a tight end and tackled Stepfan Taylor behind the line. Other than that, the Texans didn’t show much against the Cardinals. Starting quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick played the entire first half and completed only six passes with two interceptions. The Cardinals’ offense, meanwhile, had their way with Houston’s defense, compiling 407 yards and going 11 for 17 on third downs. O’Brien started the week with a morning film session before Monday’s practice, and he saw marked improvement in joint practices with Atlanta this week. The Texans and Falcons play on Saturday night. Help could be on the way for
the Texans on Saturday. Running back Arian Foster, receiver Andre Johnson and linebacker Brian Cushing returned to practice on Wednesday after long layoffs, although O’Brien wouldn’t promise that any of the three would play against the Falcons. Watt and Clowney surely will play after giving valuable looks to Atlanta’s reshaped offensive line in the combined practices. Protecting the passer was a major issue for the Falcons last year, and they drafted tackle Jake Matthews and signed guard Jon Asamoah to shore up a front that allowed 44 sacks of Matt Ryan in 2013. “In this league, you want to keep your quarterback standing up and that was one of our No. 1 goals going into this offseason was to improve our pass protection,” Atlanta coach Mike Smith said. “Working against a good defensive line definitely helps us prepare for the regular season.” The Falcons and Texans started last season with Super Bowl aspirations and finished
as two of the league’s biggest disappointments. Atlanta showed more promise in its preseason opener, beating Miami 16-10. Ryan and the first-team offense scored a touchdown on their only series, going 77 yards on 15 plays, and the defense held Miami to 229 yards and 12 first downs. Ryan had one of his most productive seasons in 2013 despite the problems around him, completing 67 percent of his throws and a career-high 439 passes. “The won-loss record wasn’t what you would want it to be, but I thought Matt had a really good season, showed a lot of resiliency,” Smith said. “I think it helped him grow as a player and as a person. He’s become more vocal and we need for him to be a vocal leader and this is Matt Ryan’s football team.” Smith was noncommittal when asked if receiver Julio Jones would play in Houston. Jones is recovering from surgery on his right foot. He practiced Wednesday but not Thursday.
STRONG Continued from Page 1B Spurrier taught him how to build team confidence, not just for a game, but a swashbuckling program-wide swagger. “(Spurrier) built a confidence in a team where you knew you weren’t going to lose a game. It didn’t matter who we played, he made that team feel it’s time to go put on a show,”’ Strong said. “They came here to watch US play ... No matter where we went, Alabama or Auburn, it didn’t matter. That’s the confidence you have to build in a program.” Holtz taught him about attention to detail. Not just within a game or practice or playbook, but within his players. Holtz demanded that his assistant coach-
es know their players better than he did. And it was challenge because Holtz seemed to know everything about every player on the roster, from their personal lives to their weekly academic status. Strong gives each of his players a biography form to fill out. It asks personal questions, such as naming three people they would like to have dinner with, the last time they cried, and the happiest days of their lives. That’s particularly important when inheriting a roster of players he didn’t recruit and only first met a few months ago. “We want to understand our players,” Strong said. “I don’t ever want our coaches to ask a
player ‘How’s your mom?’ when really he lost her when he was 2 years old.” The players also have to understand him. And play by his rules. He had laid down core values of “no drugs, no guns, no stealing, be honest and treat women with respect” in his first meeting with the team back in January. Then he created a stir with a series of dismissals or suspensions at the start of training camp. Wide receivers Kendall Sanders and Montrel Meander were kicked off after felony sexual assault charges and Strong says they won’t be allowed back even if the charges are later dropped or they are acquitted. Three other players were dismissed and
three more potential starters were suspended for at least one game for unspecified rules violations. “If you want to be a part of this team, you are going to have to follow the rules, you are going to have to be committed and do things right. If you don’t want to do that, you can’t be a part of this team,” quarterback David Ash said. “I say it all of the time, if a young man doesn’t want to be a part of this program, just break a core value and you are telling me exactly where you want to stand,” Strong said. There have been other minor adjustments for his team. Strong removed the iconic
Longhorn logo stickers from player helmets in training camp, telling them they had to earn them back. He eliminated the half-mile air-conditioned bus ride from the locker room to the practice field. Players now walk to practice in their pads. In the heat. Strong has been up front with fans about the team’s prospects, and practices the honesty he preaches. Back in April on the first stop of his statewide “Comin’ on Strong” tour to meet Texas fans, he warned them the Longhorns “will not be in the national championship game.” Will they ever be? Those piles of notes may have the answer.
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HELOISE
Dear Heloise: I remember seeing a recipe for homemade COLD PACKS. Could you please reprint it? — A Reader, via email Ah, this is a great money-saving recipe! It is easy to make. Use 3 parts water to 1 part alcohol. For example, 3/4 cup of water and 1/4 cup of rubbing alcohol. There are different strengths of isopropyl alcohol, and you can use any of them for the cold pack. The higher the alcohol content (60, 70 or 90 percent), the lower the freezing point. So, if you use 90 percent alcohol, the pack won’t freeze solid and will be sort of slushy, but will still work. Pour into a sturdy zippered-top bag, press out the air, then put that into another bag for double protection. If you want to
THE ZAPATA TIMES 3B
add food coloring so they will be easily identifiable, do so. You MUST label them as such, so that no one mistakes them for a frozen treat! They can be used over and over. — Heloise PET PAL Dear Readers: A reader, via email, sent a picture of her two dogs, Mulan and Georgette, wearing faux-fur vests. They are sitting in front of a bone backdrop. The reader said Mulan and Georgette are great models and love having their picture taken. To see Mulan and Georgette’s picture, go to my website, www.Heloise.com, and click on "Pets." — Heloise FRUIT CUPS Dear Heloise: Every time I opened those little cups of fruit, I would get juice splashed on me! I learned to hold the cup over the sink and open it away from me, and then juice doesn’t get on me. If you lean the cup back from the opening, it doesn’t spill at all! — Penny, via email
4B THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 2014