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MEXICO: 43 MISSING STUDENTS CASE
ZCISD
Ex-police chief arrested Former officer detained after two years at large By Christopher Sherman and Peter Orsi ASSOCIATED PRE SS
Eduardo Verdugo / AP
In this Sept. 26 photo, a women with a sign in Spanish that reads "Ayotzinapa" during a march in protest for the disappearance of 43 students. The former police chief of Iguala, where 43 students went missing in 2014, was detained Friday after two years at large.
MEXICO CITY — The former police chief of Iguala, where 43 students went missing in 2014, was detained Friday after two years at large in a development that Mexican authorities and relatives of the
disappeared hope could shed new light on the case. The National Security Commission announced that federal agents arrested 58-year-old Felipe Flores in Iguala, in the southern state of Guerrero, in the morning in a raid in which no shots were fired. Commissioner Renato Sales Arrest continues on A10
U.S. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 2016
MEXICANS OBSERVE DEBATE Individuals address concerns over Trump’s rhetoric
Courtesy photo / ZCISD
McGruff: The Crime Dog took to the stage on Thursday at Fidel and Andrea R. Villarreal Elementary School to present an anti-drug, anti-bullying message and share Halloween safety tips.
McGruff visits local schools By César G. Rodriguez THE ZAPATA TIME S
By Christopher Sherman A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
MEXICO CITY — At a Mexico City barbecue restaurant that could have dropped out of Austin, Texas an assortment of Mexicans and expats toasted each time Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton said “Mexico” and guffawed when the Republican candidate promised once-again to deport the bad guys. But among the 200 people gathered Wednesday night to watch the final U.S. presidential debate there was an awareness of how their neighbor to the north impacts their lives. There was fun in collective viewing — complete with Debate continues on A10
Kate Linthicum / TNS
Patrons watch the final U.S. presidential debate over dinner and drinks at a Mexico City restaurant on Wednesday. The campaign seems to have a real impact in Mexico where citizens have watched the peso swing in recent weeks with the polls and are flooded with news from the campaign trail.
McGruff: The Crime Dog and the Laredo police community relations unit stopped by Zapata County on Thursday to present an anti-drug, anti-bullying message and share Halloween safety tips. Police visited Zapata North Elementary and Fidel and Andrea R. Villarreal Elementary schools. Noemi Ramirez, a counselor at Villarreal, said she liked how Laredo police officers focused on telling the students to make good choices. “That was really touching. I actually wanted to cry,” she said. Lawmen dazzled hundreds of students with their dance McGruff continues on A10
AUSTIN, TEXAS
Former El Salvador policeman seeks asylum By Jay Root TEXAS TRIBUNE
Martin do Nascimento / Texas Tribute
A Policia Nacional Civil patrol in the 22 de Abril neighborhood of Soyapango, just outside of San Salvador, El Salvador. The neighborhood is known to be controlled by the Mara Salvatrucha gang.
AUSTIN — He talks about the cases with an odd fondness in his voice, as if he were recalling treasured memories. There was the middle-aged woman and her adolescent daughter found dead at home, the mother’s broken fingernail
the only sign of struggle. Thankfully, the scratch led to a single drop of blood that happened to match the suspect’s. Then there was the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) gang member he arrested who broke out of handcuffs during a scuffle and nearly got hold of his service revolver. Luckily, his partner at the National Civil Police
subdued the gang banger. Of course he could never forget that dismemberment case. The investigation began with a report of gunshots, leading to an abandoned motorcycle and a trail of blood ending at a hastily dug grave. Buried there was a young man who had been shot down, and — as custom Asylum continues on A8
Zin brief A2 | Saturday, October 22, 2016 | THE ZAPATA TIMES
CALENDAR
AROUND THE WORLD
TODAY IN HISTORY
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22
ASSOCIATED PRE SS
1
Pumpkin Patch. 7 a.m.–7 p.m. First United Methodist Church lawn, 1220 McClelland Ave. 1 United ISD’s annual Parent Lerning Summit. 7:30 a.m.–2 p.m. United High School, 2811 United Ave. Free and open to all UISD parents. The event will offer a wide range of informative sessions that will help parents with their children at home and in the classroom. 1 Glow in Pink Power Walk. 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. TAMIU Quad Area. Register online at www.relayforlife.org/pinkwalkwebbtx
Today is Saturday, Oct. 22, the 296th day of 2016. There are 70 days left in the year.
Today’s Highlight in History: On Oct. 22, 1926, Ernest Hemingway’s first novel, “The Sun Also Rises,” was published by Scribner’s of New York.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23 1
Pumpkin Patch. Noon–7 p.m. First United Methodist Church lawn, 1220 McClelland Ave.
MONDAY, OCTOBER 24 1
Pumpkin Patch. 11 a.m.–7 p.m. First United Methodist Church lawn, 1220 McClelland Ave. 1 Chess Club. 4–6 p.m. Every Monday. Inner City Branch Library, 202 W. Plum St. Compete in this cherished strategy game played internationally. Free. For all ages and skill levels. Instruction is offered. 1 Movie and Popcorn. Every Monday, 4–5 p.m. Santa Rita Express Library, 83 Prada Machin Drive, on the corner of Malaga Drive and Castro Urdiales Avenue. Enjoy a family movie and refreshments.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25 1
Pumpkin Patch. 11 a.m.–7 p.m. First United Methodist Church lawn, 1220 McClelland Ave. 1 Rock wall climbing. 4–5:30 p.m. LBV-Inner City Branch Library, 202 W. Plum St. Take the challenge and climb the rock wall! Fun exercise for all ages. Free. Bring ID. Must sign release form. Every Tuesday. For more information, call 795-2400 x2520. 1 LEGO Workshop. Every Tuesday, 4–5 p.m. Santa Rita Express Library, 83 Prada Machin Drive, on the corner of Malaga Drive and Castro Urdiales Avenue. Create with LEGOs, DUPLOs and robotics.
ATG-medialab, M.Thiebaut / AP file
This artist impression provided by the European Space Agency shows the Schiaparelli module firing its landing thrusters as it approaches the surface of Mars.
EUROPEAN MARS PROBE CRASHES Frank Jordans ASSOCIATED PRE SS
BERLIN — Europe’s experimental Mars probe hit the right spot — but at the wrong speed — and may have ended up in a fiery ball of rocket fuel when it struck the surface, scientists said Friday. Pictures taken by a NASA satellite show a black spot in the area where the Schiaparelli lander was meant to touch down Wednesday, the European Space Agency said. The images end two days of speculation following the probe’s unexpected radio silence less than a minute before the
planned landing. “Estimates are that Schiaparelli dropped from a height of between 1.4-2.4 miles, therefore impacting at a considerable speed, greater than 186 mph,” the agency said. It said the large disturbance captured in the NASA photographs may have been caused by the probe’s steep crash-landing, which would have sprayed matter around like a blast site on Earth. “It is also possible that the lander exploded on impact, as its thruster propellant tanks were likely still full,” the agency said.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26 1
Pumpkin Patch. 11 a.m.–7 p.m. First United Methodist Church lawn, 1220 McClelland Ave. 1 SRX Chess Club. Every Wednesday, 4–5 p.m. Santa Rita Express Library, 83 Prada Machin Drive, on the corner of Malaga Drive and Castro Urdiales Avenue. Learn the basics of chess and compete with friends. Limited chess sets available for use.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27 1
Pumpkin Patch. 11 a.m.–7 p.m. First United Methodist Church lawn, 1220 McClelland Ave. 1 Business Growth Strategies Workshop. 11 a.m.–3 p.m. LCC’s De la Garza building, room 106 at the Fort McIntosh Campus. Open to the public. $80. This workshop will help participants understand and apply growth strategies for their own businesses. Lunch provided. Register at www.laredo.edu. 1 Wii U Gaming. Every Thursday, 4–5 p.m. Santa Rita Express Library, 83 Prada Machin Drive, on the corner of Malaga Drive and Castro Urdiales Avenue. Game with friends on Wii U. 1 “Hoy y Siempre: Our Legacies.” 5–7 p.m. Laredo Public Library, 1120 E. Calton Road. Villa San Agustin de Laredo Genealogical Society and the Joe. A. Guerra Public Library will sponsor the exhibit. Open to the public. For more information, call Sylvia Reash at 763-1810.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28 1
DUPLO Fun Time. Every Friday, 10:30–11:30 a.m. McKendrick Ochoa Salinas Branch Library, 1920 Palo Blanco Street. LEGOs for toddlers. 1 Pumpkin Patch. 11 a.m.–7 p.m. First United Methodist Church lawn, 1220 McClelland Ave. 1 Halloween Party. 4–5 p.m. McKendrick Ochoa Salinas Branch Library, 1920 Palo Blanco Street. Celebrate Halloween with tricks and treats. Costumes are encouraged but not required. 1 Halloween Party. 4–6 p.m. Lamar Bruni Vergara Inner City Branch Library, 202 W. Plum St. A Halloween celebration for the community. Dress in costume and enjoy a SPOOKTACULAR time. There will be vendors, free food, crafts and trick or treats. 1 “Approaching the Healing Symbols in Art and Dreams.” 6:30–8:30 p.m. Falcon International Bank, Community Room, 3rd Floor, 7718 McPherson Road. $15. Presented by Volunteer Services Council for Border Region Behavioral Health Center. Anna Guerra, a depth psychotherapist in Houston, will give the presentation. For ticket information, contact Laura Kim at blaurak@borderregion.org or 7943130.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29 1
Pumpkin Patch. 7 a.m.–7 p.m. First United Methodist Church lawn, 1220 McClelland Ave. 1 Past Lives, Dreams and Soul Travel. 1–2:30 p.m. Fairfield Inn & Suites Meeting Room, 700 W. Hillside Road. Discover how past lives, dreams and soul travel can help you experience God. Free bilingual discussion with booklet included. For more information visit eckankar-texas.org
Judge denies El Chapo’s appeals against extradition MEXICO CITY — A federal judge ruled against five appeals by convicted drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman in his legal battle to avoid extradition to the United States, the Mexican Attorney General’s Office said Thursday, but he can still appeal to higher courts. In a statement, the office said the judge denied two of Guzman’s appeals and threw out
the other three. Guzman’s lawyers did not immediately return calls seeking comment. National Security Commissioner Renato Sales said last week that Guzman could be extradited in January or February. He is wanted on drug trafficking and other charges in the United States. The leader of the Sinaloa Cartel has twice escaped from maximum-security prisons in Mexico, most recently in 2015. He was recaptured in January and is currently imprisoned in the northern border state of
Chihuahua. There are two pending extradition requests for Guzman from federal courts in Texas and California, and there are a total of six cases against him across the United States. His lawyers have 10 days to ask a higher court to review the decision and are expected to take the case all the way to Mexico’s Supreme Court, said a federal official involved in the process who was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. — Compiled by AP reports
Pastor, 3 others guilty in beating that killed teen
Sarah Condon / AP
Word of Life Christian Church members David Morey, right, and Joseph Irwin are escorted into the courtroom Friday.
to assault. Oneida County District Attorney Scott McNamara called the case “a terrible tragedy.” “I can only hope that Luke can rest in peace, Chris can get on with his life,” McNamara said. The victims’ parents and half-sister and the pastor’s mother and a second brother were among those charged
Ten years ago: Senior U.S. diplomat Alberto Fernandez apologized for saying in an al-Jazeera TV interview that U.S. policy in Iraq had displayed “arrogance” and “stupidity.” Five years ago: The Obama administration pulled U.S. Ambassador Robert Ford from Syria amid what were termed “credible threats against his personal safety.” One year ago: Acting on word of an “imminent mass execution” by Islamic State militants, dozens of U.S. special operations troops and Iraqi forces raided a northern Iraqi compound, freeing approximately 70 Iraqi prisoners but losing one American service member.
AROUND THE NATION
UTICA, N.Y. — The pastor of a small church where two brothers were beaten for hours during a counseling session that she called pleaded guilty on Friday to manslaughter and assault. Three other church members admitted to less serious charges for their roles in the all-night beatings that killed Lucas Leonard, 19, and injured Christopher Leonard, 17, last October. Word of Life Christian Church Pastor Tiffanie Irwin, her brother Joseph Irwin and mother and son church members Linda Morey and David Morey were the last of nine people charged to be convicted in the attack, which investigators say took place after the brothers discussed leaving the congregation. Joseph Irwin and the Moreys each pleaded guilty
On this date: In 1746, Princeton University was first chartered as the College of New Jersey. In 1797, French balloonist AndreJacques Garnerin made the first parachute descent, landing safely from a height of about 3,000 feet over Paris. In 1836, Sam Houston was inaugurated as the first constitutionally elected president of the Republic of Texas. In 1928, Republican presidential nominee Herbert Hoover spoke of the “American system of rugged individualism” in a speech at New York’s Madison Square Garden. In 1934, bank robber Charles “Pretty Boy” Floyd was shot to death by federal agents and local police at a farm near East Liverpool, Ohio. In 1953, the Franco-Lao Treaty of Amity and Association effectively made Laos an independent member of the French Union. In 1962, in a nationally broadcast address, President John F. Kennedy revealed the presence of Soviet-built missile bases under construction in Cuba and announced a quarantine of all offensive military equipment being shipped to the Communist island nation. In 1979, the U.S. government allowed the deposed Shah of Iran to travel to New York for medical treatment — a decision that precipitated the Iran hostage crisis. French conductor and music teacher Nadia Boulanger died in Paris. In 1981, the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization was decertified by the federal government for its strike the previous August. In 1986, President Ronald Reagan signed into law sweeping tax-overhaul legislation. Jane Dornacker, 39, a traffic reporter for New York radio station WNBC-AM, was killed when the helicopter she was riding in plunged into the Hudson River during a live report (pilot William Pate was badly injured, but survived). In 1991, the European Community and the European Free Trade Association concluded a landmark accord to create a free trade zone of 19 nations by 1993. In 2014, a gunman shot and killed a soldier standing guard at a war memorial in Ottawa, then stormed the Canadian Parliament before he was shot and killed by the usually ceremonial sergeant-at-arms.
after members of the secretive church took the bloodied body of Lucas Leonard to a hospital, where doctors initially thought he had been shot. Authorities later found his badly injured brother still inside the converted New Hartford school building that housed the church and living space for its leaders. — Compiled from AP reports
AROUND TEXAS
Today’s Birthdays: Black Panthers co-founder Bobby Seale is 80. Actor Christopher Lloyd is 78. Actor Derek Jacobi is 78. Actor Tony Roberts is 77. Movie director Jan de Bont is 73. Actress Catherine Deneuve is 73. Rock musician Leslie West (Mountain) is 71. Actor Jeff Goldblum is 64. Rock musician Greg Hawkes is 64. Movie director Bill Condon is 61. Actor Luis Guzman is 59. Actor-writer-producer Todd Graff is 57. Rock musician Cris Kirkwood is 56. Actor-comedian Bob Odenkirk is 54. Olympic gold medal figure skater Brian Boitano is 53. Christian singer TobyMac is 52. Singersongwriter John Wesley Harding is 51. Actress Valeria Golino is 50. Comedian Carlos Mencia is 49. Country singer Shelby Lynne is 48. Reggae rapper Shaggy is 48. Movie director Spike Jonze is 47. Rapper Tracey Lee is 46. Actress Saffron Burrows is 44. Actress Carmen Ejogo is 43. MLB player Ichiro Suzuki is 43. Actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson is 41. Christian rock singer-musician Jon Foreman (Switchfoot) is 40. Actor Michael Fishman is 35. Talk show host Michael Essany is 34. Thought for Today: “Life is easier to take than you’d think; all that is necessary is to accept the impossible, do without the indispensable and bear the intolerable.” — Kathleen Norris, American author (1880-1960).
CONTACT US
Houston man calls 911 to confess to 1986 slaying
Honduran woman sent to prison for sex trafficking
Reward for missing university student reaches $50K
HOUSTON — Houston police say a 56-year-old man has called a 911 operator to report he’s responsible for a slaying in Houston more than 30 years ago. Police say Lawrence Fox called Thursday and said he wanted to confess to the fatal shooting of Randy Erekson on Feb. 18, 1986.
HOUSTON — Federal prosecutors say a 45-year-old woman from Honduras who was an owner of several brothels has been sentenced to more than 12 years in prison. Maria E. Gonzales Munoz was arrested after an undercover operation revealed she offered for sex an underage girl who was in the U.S. illegally.
ALPINE — Authorities say the reward for information leading to the whereabouts or safe return of a missing Sul Ross State University student has grown to $50,000. Alpine police say searchers in the air, on foot and on horseback are looking for 22-year-old Zuzu Verk of Fort Worth. — Compiled from AP reports
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THE ZAPATA TIMES | Saturday, October 22, 2016 |
A3
LOCAL & STATE
Nuevo Santander Festival continues today S P ECIAL TO THE TI ME S
The Zapata County Museum of History would like to remind the public that their first annual Nuevo Santander Festival continues today, Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Festivities include:
1 Family Tree Exhibits by NSGS members 1 Cast iron cooking demonstrations and recipes by Leland Wach 1 Poetry reading and book signing by Raquel Valles Sentiés 1 Presentation by Professor Russell Skowronek of University of Texas RGV
on local area Native American tribes and their Arrowheads (Pedernales) The Zapata County Museum of History is located at 805 N. US Hwy 83 Zapata, Texas 78076. For more information, individuals are encouraged to call 956-765-8983 or visit www.ZapataMuseum.org.
Feds not dropping fraud case against attorney general By Paul J. Weber A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
AUSTIN, Texas — Investor fraud accusations against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton are back in federal court, at least for now, after the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Friday refiled a civil lawsuit against the Republican that a judge previously dismissed. Paxton is also fighting separate criminal charges of securities fraud, which carry a possible prison sentence of 5 to 99 years, and the do-over by the SEC again puts Texas’ top prosecutor battling nearly identical cases at once. Paxton had recruited wealthy investors for a high-tech startup called Servergy Inc. in 2011, when he was still a state legislator, and both the SEC and criminal prosecutors say he misled those investors by not disclosing that the company was paying him. U.S. District Judge Amos Mazzant, however, ruled
this month that Paxton was under no obligation to disclose his arrangement and said the SEC lacked evidence of fraud. But rather than drop their case against Paxton, federal regulators took Mazzant up on his offer to let them hone their arguments and try again. Paxton attorney Matthew Martens said he was “disappointed” by the SEC’s decision to go back to court given the concerns Mazzant raised the first time around. Unlike in federal court, Paxton hasn’t been able to convince a state court to dismiss the criminal charges against him. That includes the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, which is the same Republican-dominated panel that earlier this year threw out felony abuse-of-power charges against former Gov. Rick Perry. Paxton was indicted on two felony counts of securities fraud in July 2015, just six months after becoming attorney general, and would likely stand trial next year at the earliest.
Courtesy photo
The Zapata County Museum of History is hosting the first annual Nuevo Santander Festival today, Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Houston officials move toward landmark pension edge ASSOCIATED PRE SS
HOUSTON — Two Houston pension boards this week approved landmark reform that could resolve a 15-year crisis that’s contributed to recent credit downgrades and severe strains on the city budget, according to a newspaper report Friday. Details of the plan were revealed Thursday and are meant to end Houston’s pension underfunding in 30 years and eliminate more than $2.5 billion in future costs by reducing benefits. The measures would limit the city’s exposure to a market downturn by assuming more realistic investment returns, and they would require the issuance of $1 billion in bonds to help close funding gaps.
The deal also includes a provision requiring benefit reductions or higher worker contributions if a market downturn or other factors push the city’s own contribution above a specified cap, the Houston Chronicle reported. Houston’s police and municipal pensions have given their consent and the firefighters’ pension board meets next week to vote on the reforms. The state Legislature must also give its OK. “We all recognize that the course we were on was going to be destructive for everyone,” Mayor Sylvester Turner told a city council committee Thursday. “We all had to recognize there were going to be some changes. We tried to strike a balance. Under this plan
there is certainty for all employees that there’s a retirement system they can count on that is reliable and sustainable, and we do not have to have this system be a political football year after year.” The chairman of the fire pension board, David Keller, told the Chronicle that he can see Monday’s vote being decided by one member, or by a broad margin. “I wish I had a crystal ball on this but I really don’t know. It’s just hard to gauge what the outcome would be,” he said. “We’re proceeding with a great deal of caution.” Other pension boards in Texas also are facing significant problems. The Dallas police and fire pension board this month asked that city taxpayers con-
tribute more than $36 million to pay for the pension fund’s overhead costs. Dallas taxpayers may need to ultimately contribute hundreds of millions of dollars in additional funding to keep the pension fund solvent. About $115 million already is contributed to the fund each year by the city. The $2.39 billion fund may become insolvent by 2028, The Dallas Morning News has reported. It became further unsettled by a rash of recent lumpsum withdrawals by retired police and firefighters wary of the fund’s troubles. The fund was undermined in recent years by overvalued investments and risky real estate deals.
Zopinion
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A4 | Saturday, October 22, 2016 | THE ZAPATA TIMES
COLUMN
OTHER VIEWS
Extremism on Second Amendment violates common sense By Mary Sanchez TH E KA NSAS CI T Y STAR
Who could possibly be against keeping guns out of the hands of toddlers? Plenty of people, it would seem, if you were able to follow Hillary Clinton’s argument in Wednesday’s presidential debate about a landmark Supreme Court ruling on the Second Amendment, and the vituperative reaction to it. It’s a bit of a rabbit hole that Clinton threw herself into, but that’s pretty typical of the mindnumbing ideological stalemate that has frozen out common sense in the gun control debate. So let me explain. Clinton was challenged about her opposition to the famous District of Columbia v. Heller decision of 2008 that struck down a gun control law passed in Washington, D.C. in 1975. For Second Amendment stalwarts, the Heller majority opinion, written by the late Justice Antonin Scalia, is darn close to holy scripture. The 5-4 decision was a broad affirmation of an individual’s right to private gun ownership for self-defense. It is huge. Clinton said that she supported the individual’s right to own guns but disagreed with the ruling in that it didn’t support "reasonable restrictions." "What the District of Columbia was trying to do was to protect toddlers from guns," Clinton said. This sent gun rights people howling. They savaged Clinton for misrepresenting the crux of the D.C. law and the principles on which the decision turned. Nowhere in the law or the decision are children mentioned, they objected. But that’s a little beside the point. A federal petition filed in support of the original law did argue for its use in keeping children safe, Politifact reported soon after the debate. "The smaller the weapon, the more likely a child can use it, and children as young as three years old are strong enough to fire today’s handguns," the petition stated. Among other restrictions, the law had called for licensed guns in the home to be unloaded and disassembled or kept with a trigger lock, for safety concerns. Granted, the safe handling of firearms wasn’t the main impetus of the Firearms Control Regulations Act of 1975. But, knowing what we now do about gun accidents involving children, it is an entirely valid standpoint from which to criticize Heller. Nevertheless, Clinton’s argument was judged half true by Politifact. A sane point of view that the Scalia majority on the
court had overreached by quashing any sensible regulation of firearms was lost. Keeping handguns away from small children shouldn’t be controversial. There is scarcely a police reporter or emergency room doctor in America who hasn’t faced the horror of a child shooting himself, a sibling, a friend or a parent. The prevalence of these incidents is astounding, even though we don’t have anything near adequate data on this type of tragedy. Reporting by the Washington Post has found about one shooting by a young child a week in America. This is likely an undercount, as many instances do not make the news unless it’s a parent or a sibling who dies. The Centers for Disease Control find that at least six children are injured in an unintentional shooting every day. There really is no argument that such shootings shouldn’t be prevented. Indeed, they’re highly preventable - so much so that it’s a misnomer to call most of them "accidental." Malign neglect is more often a better description. It so happens that my state, Missouri, ranked the highest for toddler shootings last year in one study. Missouri, along with 23 other states, does not have a child endangerment law that includes firearms and holds adults criminally responsible for unintentional shootings of children. A new national initiative announced in midOctober seeks change. The Children’s Firearm Safety Alliance is coordinating physicians, law enforcement, prosecutors, lawmakers and other advocates to look at what can be done nationally through policy work, legislation and education around gun safety. It has promoted the #NotAnAccident and propagated this disturbing tidbit: You are more likely to be shot by a U.S. toddler than by a terrorist. The ongoing psychological trauma of these shootings shouldn’t be discounted. What an awful burden it must be for someone to carry through life knowing that, as a young child, he or she took a life or caused serious injury. Keeping a loaded gun unsecured and within easy reach of a toddler ought to be considered a criminal act of negligence. A portion of the law that was struck down in Heller understood this. It’s time to admit that upholding a person’s right to own a gun doesn’t need to conflict with efforts to keep young children’s tiny hands away from pulling triggers.
COLUMN
Trump giddily stoking anger right to the bitter end By Michael A. Lindenberger THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS
Is it really such a terrible big deal, a justabout disqualifying big deal, that Donald Trump toyed with Chris Wallace on Wednesday night and refused to say whether he’d support the results of the presidential election if he loses? Yes. It’s that bad and worse. Sure, Trump has said so many off-putting, off-color and previously out-of-bounds things during the past 12 months that it’s no surprise some of his critics and supporters alike are asking, why make such a big deal about this particular comment? Here’s why, in five easy pieces: 1. His refusal comes in the midst of a campaign that is largely predicated on the notion that the American system can’t be trusted. The FBI is corrupt. Our trade negotiators are stupid. When he says he might not respect the results of the election, what his supporters hear is an invitation to take matters into their own hands, should their candidate lose. That’s dangerous. For the past couple of weeks, Trump supporters have been claiming, without a shred of evidence, that the "election is rigged." As Hillary Clinton said on the stage, this is not new for Trump. He claimed he was unfairly singled out by a corrupt media, unfair party rules, and cheating opponents all through the Republican primaries. His complaints have risen in volume in direct proportion to whether his remarkable lead was growing or shrinking. So it’s been no surprise that his claim over the
past three weeks has been that the system is rigged against him. Never mind that he had tremendous success in the primaries, and had every opportunity to close his gap with Clinton. 2. Clinton said something important Wednesday night. She noted that there can be just four minutes between when a president orders a nuclear launch and when the missiles are off. Her implication was clear: If the president is given to hasty, impulsive decisions there isn’t much time to reconsider when the issue is a nuclear launch. (And no, her saying so was not a breach of security.) Trump’s response to Wallace’s question about respecting the election results offers a perfect example of what she was warning about. Trump speaks on impulse routinely. And if he is challenged on that gut-level response, his instinct is to double down. To justify. To explain or even deny. But not to apologize and not, at least not until much later, reconsider. (His comments on Thursday about accepting the results "if I win" and clarifying that he’d accept "a clear" result were examples of this morning-after trend.) It may have been an extreme case to cite a nuclear launch as a test case, but judgment in such life-or-death situations has long been a hallmark of whether voters eventually judge a candidate to be "presidential." There have been dozens of other examples of when Trump says something hasty and ill-considered, and then doubles down for days or longer before eventually backpedaling. Wednesday’s comments about
leaving the country "in suspense" about whether he’d accept the election results was just the latest, and especially jarring, example. 3. Trump didn’t say he might challenge the results in court or that he’d ask for a recount if the results were in doubt - all elements of our election law available to any candidate if the necessary facts are present. He offered those rationales after the fact, of course. But on Wednesday, he said he could not promise to accept the results of the election. Not accepting the results of a presidential election is just one step short of calling for a civil uprising, or worse. As Wallace said, and an aghast Clinton echoed, the peaceful transfer of power from one person to the next, based solely on submission to the rule of law, is the defining characteristic of the American experiment. 4. Despite what Jeffrey Lord maintained on CNN all night long, there is no factual basis in the comparison between what Al Gore did in 2000 to what Trump explicitly left the door open for in 2016. In 2000, the election results were in doubt. The Florida secretary of state was counting the votes in one way and the Florida Supreme Court was demanding she count them another way. Eventually the Supreme Court stepped in and ordered the state court to stay out of it, and Bush was declared the winner. Liberals thought then that this was outrageous. Many still do. Gore had won the popular vote, and the vote-counting in Florida had been halted by the U.S. Supreme Court in one of its weakest opinions ever. Even
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letter. Laredo Morning Times does not allow the use of pseudonyms. This space allows for public debate of the issues of the day. Letters are edited for style, grammar, length and civility. No name-calling or gratuitous abuse is allowed. Also, letters longer than 500 words will not be accepted. Via email, send letters to editorial@lmtonline.com or mail them to Letters to the Editor, 111 Esperanza Drive, Laredo, TX 78041.
DOONESBURY | GARRY TRUDEAU
Justice Sandra Day O’Connor came to regret it. But what did Al Gore do? He accepted the verdict immediately once the justices ruled. "While I strongly disagree with the court’s position, I accept it," Gore said. 5. Finally, the reason Trump’s comments indeed, his candidacy are dangerous has a lot less to do with Trump himself. He’s not so special. He walked into a time and place in 2016 in which large numbers of Americans are ready for profound disruption in our political process. These voters range from folks fed up with politicsas-usual to those feeling left out of the economic recovery to those whose anger and embrace of violent rhetoric borders on nihilism. Some are the "deplorables" Clinton has spoken of. Many others are not. But from their anger and need, Trump draws strength - and votes. Like many demagogues before him, in this country and elsewhere, he promises to swing his sword on their behalf. But it is the people who make Trump strong, not the other way around. Like his predecessors, he leaches power. What’s horrifying about this is that Trump hasn’t shown any capacity for controlling that power or in harnessing it for some purpose other than his own electoral standing. So as he heads into Election Day 2016, he is almost certain to lose now. I believe he knows this. And along the way, he’s perfectly happy to stoke that anger all the way to the end. Michael A. Lindenberger is a columnist for the Dallas Morning News.
THE ZAPATA TIMES | Saturday, October 22, 2016 |
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ENTERTAINMENT
Astley never stops appreciating ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’ By Nekesa Mumbi Moody A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
NEW YORK — Rick Astley exiled himself from music for a good part of the last three decades, but he never really left pop’s consciousness. For one, hits like “Never Gonna Give You Up” and “It Would Take A Strong Strong Man,” derided by critics as cheesy at the time, have endured. Then there’s the whole rickrolling phenomenon — when a promised link on a web site turns out instead to be an Astley video. At first, Astley was annoyed by rick-rolling. Then his daughter helped him realize that it was cool — and that it helped boost his profile during his fallow years by keeping his boyish face in ours. He’s even more appreciative now as he releases “50,” his first album of new music in 23 years. “The idea of me releasing a new record now — I need every bit of help I
can get,” he quipped. He may not have needed it as much as he thought: Astley The album debuted at the top of the charts in his native United Kingdom, and when he performed his first U.S. shows in New York and Los Angeles over the summer, they sold out. He wrapped up a short U.S. tour earlier this month. The still boyish-looking Astley recently sat down with The Associated Press to talk about life after his ‘80s pop success, rickrolling and what music means to him now. AP: During your break, did you ever long to get back to music? Astley: I think you never lose that feeling of — ‘cause you know I still got an ego— whether you retire or not. I mean, it’s still there and there is a little voice on your shoulder sort of saying, ‘You’re
better than him.’... I think that is one the lucky things about what I chose to do and what I love to do, you know ... it is a young person’s world really, but you know an old boy like me can still make a record and can still make a bit of a splash. AP: You think the whole ‘rick-roll’ thing was good for you? Astley: Absolutely it was because I think if you’re doing anything like music or movies, there is so much competition. ... And also there have been some really, really clever things done with that song. It has not just been rick-roll. There have been so many different things. One of my favorites is they got (President Barack) Obama to sing “Never Gonna Give You Up” (in a mash-up video) or say it at least, which I thought was brilliant. AP: There are some artists who only want to perform their new songs. What’s your take?
Astley: I’m not really in that camp, to be honest, because I had a long break from it, so it’s not like I have been singing those tunes for 30 years. You know, I am fully aware of the fact that the only reason — you know we had a No. 1 album in the U.K. with this record — it’s like the reason it got played on the radio with the first couple of tunes and stuff. ... When we play live and stuff, there is a part of me thinking, ‘Great, we are going to finish “Never Gonna Give You Up,” and I know every single person in this room or in this field knows that tune.’ AP: What do you think of your music legacy? Astley: No. I mean if I’d been a journalist and I had been reviewing my records ... you know I’m not so sure what I would think of it either. I think there are some really great strong pop songs ... but just looking at it you kind of think. ‘Well yeah, but it’s bit manufactured but I don’t hold any grudges.
Richard Shotwell / AP film
Donald Glover attends the Variety Magazine and Women in Film 2016 Television Nominees Celebration in West Hollywood, Calif. Disney announced Friday that Glover will play Lando Calrissian in the upcoming Han Solo Star Wars film.
Donald Glover cast as Lando Calrissian in Han Solo film ASSOCIATED PRE SS
LOS ANGELES — Donald Glover is joining the “Star Wars” universe. Disney announced Friday that the writer, actor and rapper will play Lando Calrissian in the upcoming Han Solo “Star Wars” film. Alden Ehrenreich was
previously cast as the title character. Directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller say the new film will explore Lando in his formative years, before the events depicted in “The Empire Strikes Back” and “Return of the Jedi.” The untitled film is set for release in 2018.
Wonder Woman named a special UN ambassador By Mark Kennedy A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
UNITED NATIONS — The United Nations celebrated Wonder Woman’s 75th birthday on Friday by naming the comic book character as its new Honorary Ambassador for the Empowerment of Woman and Girls, despite frustration from both inside and outside the world organization that the spot should go to a real — and less sexualized — woman. The carefully choreographed ceremony was marred by some 50 U.N. staffers protesting by the visitor’s entrance to the U.N. who then went inside the Economic and Social Council chamber and silently turned their back to the stage during the opening speech, some with their fists in the air. U.N. staffer Cass Durant, who held a sign saying “Real Women Deserve a Real Ambassador” said the protesters “don’t think that a fictitious comic book characters wearing basically what looks like a Playboy-type bunny outfit is really the right message we need to send to girls or even boys for that matter.” The super heroine’s image will be used by the U.N. on social media platforms to promote women’s empowerment, including on genderbased violence and the fuller participation of women in public life (using the hashtag With-
Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images
Actors Gal Gadot and Lynda Carter attend the Wonder Woman UN Ambassador Ceremony at United Nations on Friday in New York City.
WonderWoman). The push, hoping to reach young people, is backed by DC Entertainment and Warner Bros., which produce both comics and films featuring Wonder Woman. But an online petition , started by U.N. staffers, asked the Secretary General to reconsider the appointment, saying “The message the United Nations is sending to the world with this appointment is extremely disappointing.” As of Friday afternoon, it had more than 1,100 signatures. Honorary ambassadors — as opposed to goodwill ambassadors like Nicole Kidman and
Anne Hathaway — are fictional characters. The U.N. previously tapped Winnie the Pooh to be an honorary Ambassador of Friendship in 1998 and Tinker Bell as the honorary Ambassador of Green in 2009. But the protest on Friday seemed to unnerve many of the U.N.’s press officers. The Friday event brought together actress Lynda Carter, who played Wonder Woman in the 1970s TV series, and Gal Gadot, who has taken on the role in the forthcoming “Wonder Woman” film, as well as Girl Scouts in Wonder Woman T-shirts and U.N. staffers’ kids who
skipped school, with one girl wearing a full Wonder Woman costume, complete with head piece. Diane Nelson, president of DC Entertainment, gave a speech in which she argued that stories — even comic book stories — can “inspire, teach and reveal injustices.” Carter, who gave a moving speech about how Wonder Woman embodies the inner strength of every woman, was the only one to acknowledge the protesters in her remarks, saying “Please embrace her,” she said. “To all those who don’t think it’s a good idea, stand up and be
counted.” As for Gadot, she said after the event that, “I’m the kind of person who always looks at the halffull glass. I care for the people who care and I’m here for a wonderful cause today.” She added, through a thin smile: “That’s all what my focus is.” But among those thinking the glass was half empty was Shazia Z. Rafi, managing director of the consulting firm Global Parliamentary Services. She argued that the choice of Wonder Woman was tone deaf at a time when real women are fighting against sexual exploitation and abuse.
“I think it’s a lot of rubbish that you can appoint a cartoon female to represent gender equality in this day and age, even if it is to reach younger women,” said Rafi. Rafi said there were plenty of real heroines that could be the face for gender equality. The Wonder Woman appointment came after many women were dismayed that another man, Antonio Guterres, the former prime minister of Portugal, was chosen to be the next secretarygeneral, even though more than half the candidates were women. Rafi, who had campaigned for a woman to be appointed the world’s diplomat-in-chief, said the decision to name Wonder Woman as an ambassador was effort to appease disappointed staffers. Rafi and the petition also take issue with Wonder Woman’s skimpy outfit, arguing that the world might not embrace a scantily clad character in a thigh-baring body suit with an American flag motif and knee high boots. It is not the first time the United Nations has partnered with a huge media company. In March, the U.N. appointed Red, the leader of the “Angry Birds” mobile game characters, as an envoy to tackle climate change. That campaign is in partnership with Sony Pictures Entertainment.
A6 | Saturday, October 22, 2016 | THE ZAPATA TIMES
NATIONAL
Democrats show strength in key battlegrounds By Hope Yen A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
WASHINGTON — Hillary Clinton appears to be displaying strength in the crucial battleground states of North Carolina and Florida among voters casting ballots before Election Day, and Clinton may also be building an early vote advantage in Arizona and Colorado. Donald Trump, Trump meanwhile, appears to be holding ground in Ohio, Iowa and Georgia, according to data compiled by The Associated Press. Those are important states for Trump, but not sufficient for him to win the presidency if he loses states like Florida or North Carolina. “The Trump campaign should be concerned,” said Scott Tranter, cofounder of Optimus, a Republican data analytics firm. His firm’s analysis suggests a “strong final
showing for the Clinton campaign” in early voting. Early voting — by mail or at polling stations — is off to a fast start. More than 4.4 million votes have been cast already, far outpacing the rate for this period in 2012. Balloting is underway in 34 out of 37 early-voting states. In all, more than 45 million people are expected to vote before Election Day — or as much as 40 percent of all votes cast. Both parties are encouraging their supporters to vote early. The outcome of those ballots won’t be known until counting begins after polls close on Nov. 8, but some clues are available. Some states report the party affiliations of early voters, as well as breakdowns by race and gender. The data that is available represents a small sample of the more than 120 million people who will cast ballots in the presidential election, but a notable one. A look at early voting trends: Good signs for Clinton: Florida, North Carolina, Maine The Clinton campaign is looking to build an
insurmountable lead in Florida and North Carolina during early voting. If she wins either of those states, she’ll probably be the next president. Using 2012 as a guidepost, she appears to be in a strong position in early voting. While Democrats tend to do better in early voting, Republicans usually post an initial lead with mail-in ballots before Democrats surpass them during in-person early voting in mid to late October. Democrats so far have kept it close with mail-in ballots, giving Clinton a chance to run up the score with in-person early voting. To do that, she’ll need non-whites and young people to turn out near the high levels they did in 2012 for Barack Obama. In North Carolina, Democrats have moved ahead of Republicans in early voting. Republicans had held a modest lead based on mail-in ballots returned, but that was at a much narrower margin than in 2012, when Mitt Romney narrowly won the state. After in-person voting began on Thursday, Democrats overtook Republicans in overall
votes cast. In Florida, a record 3.1 million people have requested ballots, more than one-third of the total voters in 2012. Democrats have requested almost as many ballots as Republicans: 39 percent vs. 40 percent. By comparison, in 2008, Republicans held a lead of 49 percent to 32 percent in requests, according to an analysis for AP by Catalist, a Democratic analytical firm. Obama won in Florida in 2008 and 2012. Democrats are also showing momentum in the 2nd congressional district of both Maine and Nebraska. The two states allocate electoral votes by congressional district. Signs of early edge for Clinton out west Early voting is surging in Arizona, another state Trump can’t afford to lose. Arizona has long been reliably Republican, but Clinton is targeting it. More than 1.9 million ballots have been requested and 36,000 returned. That’s more than triple the 10,800 ballots returned during a similar period in 2012. Democrats have a 44 percent to 31 percent lead
over Republicans in ballots returned. Another 25 percent were independent or unknown. At this point in 2012, Democrats had a narrower 38 percent to 35 percent lead, according to Catalist. While figures are preliminary, Tranter, the Republican analyst, said Arizona had become competitive. “It’s close,” Tranter said. In Colorado, which began voting by mail on Monday, Democrats led 43 percent to 30 percent among the 15,280 ballots returned by late Thursday. In 2012, the party had trailed Republicans early. Registered Democrats have since surpassed Republicans in the state. And in Nevada, which also began absentee voting this week, overall ballot requests and returns were down. There were sharper declines among older whites, who tend to vote Republican. Good signs For Trump: Ohio, Iowa and Georgia Early vote data for now points to potential Trump strength in Ohio, Iowa and Georgia. In Ohio, data compiled by Michael McDonald, a University of Florida
professor who runs the U.S. Elections Project, continue to show big declines in ballot requests in the heavily Democratic counties of Cuyahoga and Franklin. The state does not break down ballots by party affiliation. By race, voter modeling by Catalist found the white share of Ohio ballot requests was up, to 91 percent from 88 percent. The black share declined from 10 percent to 7 percent. In Georgia, which also does not report party affiliation, both ballot requests and returns from black voters also trailed 2012 levels. And in Iowa, Democrats lead early requests, 43 percent to 36 percent. But that level is down significantly from 2012. Obama won the state that year based on a strong early vote in his favor. In a statement, the Republican National Committee said it was focused on boosting turnout in 11 battleground states and predicted a strong Election Day performance. “Democrats are not turning out new voters, just turning out people who would have voted on Election Day,” it said.
Appeals court considers Arizona cross-border shooting case
Metastatic breast cancer patient wants more action
By Astrid Galvan
By Michelle Gaitan
A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
SAN ANGEL O STANDARD-TIME S
PHOENIX — A government attorney argued Friday that the mother of a 16-year-old Mexican boy killed by a U.S. Border Patrol agent in a cross border shooting should not be allowed to sue the agent because the boy lacked significant ties to the United States. But a lawyer for the mother countered that the boy’s grandmother cared for him while she was a legal permanent U.S. resident. The arguments before a panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco stem from the October 2012 shooting of Jose Antonio Elena Rodriguez by Border Patrol agent Lonnie Swartz, who opened fire from Arizona and hit Elena Rodriguez in Mexico. A federal judge in Arizona decided that the lawsuit could go forward, but Swartz’s attorney, Sean Chapman, appealed that decision. The U.S. government is not part of the civil case but has filed court paperwork as an interested party and was allowed to argue before the threejudge appeals court panel. In a separate case, Swartz is charged with second-degree murder, and has pleaded not guilty. The appeals court said it will not make a decision until after the U.S. Supreme Court hears a similar case involving a Mexican teen shot by a Border Patrol agent at the Texas and Mexico border. The high court is scheduled to take up that case next year. 2012 shooting Elena Rodriguez was in the Mexican border town of Nogales, walking near the international border fence when Swartz shot him from Nogales, Arizona, on Oct. 10, 2012. The Border Patrol has said Swartz was defending himself against rockthrowers. Elena Rodriguez’s family says he was walking home after playing basketball with friends and did not throw anything. An autopsy conducted in Mexico showed that Elena Rodriguez was hit about 10 times in the back.
Valeria Fernandez / AP file
In this Oct. 14, 2014 photo, a photo of Jose Antonio Elena Rodriguez, who was fatally shot by U.S. Border Patrol near the Mexico-U.S border, leans against a podium on a church altar during a memorial mass in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has refused to release surveillance camera footage of the incident. The ACLU filed a lawsuit on behalf of the boy’s mother in July 2014 while the FBI continued to investigate the shooting. Last year, Swartz was indicted for second-degree murder. He has pleaded not guilty, and his trial is scheduled for end of February. Swartz is free pending trial and is on unpaid administrative leave from the agency. He was forced to surrender his Border Patrol pistol. Texas connection The case is similar to a 2010 incident when a Border Patrol agent in El Paso, Texas, fatally shot a teenager who was across the border in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Authorities said agent Jesus Mesa Jr. was trying to arrest immigrants who had illegally crossed into the country when rockthrowers attacked him. Mesa fired across the Rio Grande river, striking 15-year-old Sergio Adrian Hernandez Guereca twice. A three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals originally said Hernandez Guereca’s family could sue Mesa. But the full court overturned that ruling, and the Supreme Court will review the case next year. Obama Administration position The U.S. Justice Depart-
ment brought forward the criminal case against Swartz but also opposes the civil suit filed against him. In court documents submitted in February, government attorneys argued Elena Rodriguez’s family did not have a constitutional right to sue in part because it lacked “significant voluntary connections” to the United States. At Friday’s hearing, Department of Justice attorney Henry Whitaker argued that Elena Rodriguez had no significant connection to the United States because he never lived in the country. The ACLU’S take Lee Gelernt, an ACLU lawyer argued that Nogales in Mexico’s Sonora state and Nogales in Arizona are closely intertwined and that Elena Rodriguez was often cared for by his grandmother, who lives in the United States. She was a permanent legal resident in the U.S. while she cared for him and is now an American citizen, he said. Gelernt said in an interview with The Associated Press that the criminal prosecution of Swartz should not be a substitute for a civil rights case. “The executive branch cannot police itself. That is not in the interest of the country and is contrary to the basic principles underlying our constitution,” Gelernt said.
BIG LAKE, Texas — Since her diagnosis, Jennifer Cooper has counted time by birthdays and holidays. Cooper, 34, of Big Lake, is in in-home hospice because of her incurable and ultimately deadly disease: stage IV breast cancer, also referred to as metastatic breast cancer. “I knew it. I just had a feeling, as soon as I touched this bump on the top of my head, I knew what it was,” she told the San Angelo StandardTimes about the cancer spreading. “Just like when I touched that lump in my breast, as soon as I felt that lump I knew what is was. I knew my cancer was going to come back, but I was hoping for a little longer than three months.” Metastatic breast cancer is a progressive cancer that originates in the breast and spreads to other parts of the body, such as the brain, lungs, liver or bones. October is commonly recognized with the prevalent colors of orange and black for Halloween, but pink also dominates the month as people celebrate survivors and raise breast cancer awareness. But Cooper hates pink. Not so much the color, but what it represents and what it forgets — women who don’t survive, and a lack of funds dedicated to research metastatic cancer. “Can we stop talking about awareness and start looking at how to prevent these survivors from becoming stage IV?” she said. “Let’s keep them as survivors. I am what you don’t want to be when you’re a breast cancer patient. And I would much rather give my money to an organization where 100 percent of their profits goes to research.” An estimated 40,000 women and men die of breast cancer every year in the United States. However, research focused on metastatic breast cancer made up only 7 percent of the $15 billion invested in breast cancer research from 2000-13 by major governmental and nonprofit
groups from North America and the United Kingdom, according to the Metastatic Breast Cancer Alliance, which comprises 29 breast cancer advocacy groups. “We don’t really expect a cure, we just want to be chronic,” Cooper said. “I’d rather be chronic than terminal.” A wife and mother of two, Cooper was diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer in 2014. Her cancer had a growth rate 97 percent. As of today it has spread to her right femur, the lining of her right lung, her fourth left rib with several chest lymph nodes, multiple lesions on her diaphragm, a cluster of bumps on top of her head and about six small tumors in her brain. The treatment caused damage to her kidneys and spleen, so chemotherapy was stopped. “I am terrified to know what the inside of my body looks like right now considering I’ve been off treatment for two months,” she said. “I am just sitting here growing cancer.” Last October, Cooper celebrated her oldest son’s 8th birthday with family and friends at Angelo Skate and Fun Center, where she raced a go-kart, played laser tag and made it through a few of the 18 miniature golf holes of before she had to take a break because of trouble breathing and pain in her diaphragm. Now she is in bed most of the day because of the four pain medications she takes, and she hardly gets to spend time with her sons, who complain she’s always sleeping. Cooper is adamant that one day out of the year is not enough focus on the disease that claims thousands of women and men each year. “When you’re terminal like I am, you get left out,” she said. “We have one day out of the whole month that is for metastatic women, and that’s been taken over by the No Bra Day. People are telling you not to wear a bra that day like that does anything for research.” Learning to cope with her illness, Cooper has become an advocate in her own right, creating
and posting videos to her YouTube account or Facebook page encouraging everyone to check themselves for lumps and demanding more funding for research into metastatic cancer. Daring to do what a few would, she posted a photo of her bare chest, showing the scars from her double mastectomy, on her Facebook page, Coopdizzle. It took a year for Cooper to gather her courage to take the photo, which was well received from other women fighting to live. She was unable to go through reconstructive surgery because scans for that process revealed her cancer had spread. Roughly 90 percent of all cancer deaths happen because of metastasis, said Kelly Lange, who is also living with metastatic breast cancer and is a board member of METAvivor, a volunteer nonprofit that donates 100 percent of its funds to metastatic research. “Once you metastasize, your average life expectancy is only about two years, and that hasn’t changed in decades, and we feel like these efforts at early detection and prevention haven’t done enough to change the landscape for people living with metastatic disease,” she said. “We’re fighting to change that.” The nonprofit is heading an effort called Stage IV Stampede to bring people from across the country to Washington, D.C., to advocate for advancing medical research and improving access to high-quality health care for people affected by the terminal disease. The fight Cooper didn’t start has taken two years to bring her to this point — two months on inhome hospice care checking off birthdays and items from her bucket list and hoping to make it to Christmas. “I want people to know that you don’t always have to be strong,” she said. “Cancer is very scary, and it can make or break you spiritually. If you feel sad, then feel the sadness. If you feel angry, then feel that anger. Just don’t let it stay with you. It’s OK not to be OK. And that’s just not for cancer patients. That’s for everybody.”
Zfrontera THE ZAPATA TIMES | Saturday, October 22, 2016 |
RIBEREÑA EN BREVE EXHIBICIÓN Y LECTURA DE POESÍA 1 El Museo de Historia del Condado de Zapata y la Sociedad de Genealogía Nuevo Santander invitan a la exhibición de árboles familiares y cocina en sartenes de hierro fundido así como a la lectura de poesía por parte de la poeta Raquel ValleSentíes, quien leerá parte de su colección “The Ones Santa Anna Sold”, desde las 10 a.m. El evento se llevará a cabo en el Museo de Historia del Condado de Zapata.
CASO AYOTZINAPA
Detienen a ex jefe policíaco Lo ligan a la desaparición de 43 estudiantes Por Christopher Sherman y Peter Orsi ASSOCIATED PRE SS
CIUDAD DE MEXICO — El ex jefe de la Policía de Iguala, donde 43 estudiantes desaparecieron en 2014 tras ser detenidos por elementos de su corporación, fue arrestado el viernes después de dos años de búsqueda y tanto autoridades como familiares confían que podría aportar elementos
CURSOS DE LENGUAJE DE SIGNOS (ASL) 1 El Departamento de Educación Especial local está ofreciendo clases de Lenguaje Americano de Signos para el personal profesional y paraprofesional así como para padres, estudiantes o administradores del distrito Zapata County Independent School District, todos los jueves desde el 20 de octubre al 15 de diciembre (ocho semanas de duración). En el horario de 4:15 p.m. a 5:15 p.m. en el laboratorio de computadoras de la escuela primaria Zapata North Elementary School. Mayores informes al (956) 285-6877 o a la Oficina de Educación Especial al (956) 756-6130 antes del 13 de octubre. CONSULADO MÓVIL EN ZAPATA 1 El Consulado General de México en Laredo llevará a cabo su programa Consulado Móvil en la comunidad de Zapata, donde los residentes podrán obtener servicios básicos como expedición de matrícula consular, pasaportes, asesoría legal y orientación en el ámbito de protección. El evento tendrá lugar en las instalaciones del Zapata County Technical & Advance Education Center ubicado en Carretera 83 y Calle 9, con horario de servicio de 9 a.m. a 2 p.m., el sábado 29 de octubre. Para hacer cita y para solicitar requisitos pueden comunicarse a MEXITEL 1-877-639-4835 o por internet consulmex.sre.gob.mx/ laredo FIESTA FAMILIAR DE HALLOWEEN 1 La Patrulla Fronteriza y el Departamento de Parques y Vida Silvestre invitan a la fiesta familiar del terror el viernes 29 de octubre en el Parque Municipal de Roma.de 5 a 9 p.m. Habrá concursos de disfraces para todas las edades, juegos, comida y mucho más. FESTIVAL DE OTOÑO 1 La comunidad de Zapata y los comerciantes locales invitan al 1er. Festival de Otoño que se realizará el lunes 31 de octubre, desde las 5 p.m., en los terrenos de la feria del Condado de Zapata. Mayores informes con la Comisionada Olga Elizondo (956) 489-1064.
A7
claves para conocer el paradero de los jóvenes. La Comisión Nacional de Seguridad informó que agentes federales capturaron a Felipe Flores, de 58 años, en la propia ciudad de Iguala, en el estado sureño de Guerrero, en una operación en la que no se realizó ningún disparo. Flores fue arrestado a las 6:30 de la mañana cuando salía de una casa, donde visitó a su esposa,
dijo en rueda de prensa el comisionado de seguridad Renato Sales. Aseguró que el ex jefe policial no siempre estuvo en Iguala, pero no detalló en dónde más habría estado. El ex mando policial es acusado de crimen organizado y el secuestro de los estudiantes. Es señalado de supuestamente seguir las órdenes del entonces alcalde de atacar a los alumnos y
después encubrir la participación de los agentes de Iguala en las desapariciones. "Las investigaciones apuntan a que esta persona fue uno de los responsables de coordinar el operativo que devino en la agresión a los estudiantes", dijo Sales. La procuradora general Arely Gómez señaló en su cuenta de Twitter que el arresto "permitirá recabar una declaración
MCGRUFF: EL PERRO CONTRA EL CRIMEN
fundamental para el esclarecimiento de los hechos de Iguala". Para las familias, fue una buena, aunque sorpresiva noticia de que haya sido detenido en el mismo lugar donde detuvieron a los estudiantes. Los estudiantes de la Normal Rural de Ayotzinapa, una escuela para maestros, fueron detenidos por la policía de Iguala el 26 de septiembre de 2014.
CORTE
VISITA PRIMARIAS
Recibe condena por tráfico sexual ASSOCIATED PRE SS
Foto de cortesía | Zapata County Independent School District
La consejera Noemí Ramírez, la directora Marlen Guerra y la Directora Asistente Patricia Saldaña regalaron a los oficiales de policía de Laredo Alberto Escobedo, Raúl Cantú, Abraham H. Díaz Jr. y Armando García con un pastel de galleta como muestra de agradecimiento por la presentación de McGruff: El perro del crimen.
Por César G. Rodríguez TIEMP O DE LAREDO
McGruff: el Perro del Crimen y la unidad de relaciones comunitarias del Departamento de Policía de Laredo pasaron el jueves por el Condado de Zapata para presenter un mensaje anti drogas y anti acoso además de compartir medidas de seguridad para Halloween. La policía visitó las primarias Zapata North Elementary y Fidel and Andrea R. Villarreal Elementary. Noemi Ramírez, una consejera en la escuela primaria Villarreal, dijo que le gustó cómo los oficiales de la policía de Laredo se enfocaron en decirles a los estudiantes que debían tomar buenas decisiones. “Eso fue realmente
conmovedor. Yo quería llorar”, dijo. Las autoridades del orden deslumbraron a cientos de estudiantes con sus movimientos de baile. Cada año, la unidad tiene la tarea de compartir el mensaje dos veces al día en las escuelas primarias del área durante el mes de octubre. “Fue muy divertido”, dijo Ramírez. Después de enérgicos movimientos, las cosas se tornaron más serias cuando el oficial Alberto Escobedo habló a los estudiantes acerca de hacer las decisiones correctas. Mientras mostraban a los niños una camisa de color naranja de la Cárcel del Condado de Webb, les dijo que si tomaban decisiones equivocadas podrían terminar en la cárcel. Escobedo luego habló
acerca de las drogas. Les enseñó a los menores tres palabras importantes. “Simplemente digan no”, dijo. Hay consecuencias si toman malas decisiones, tales como ingerir drogas. “El estar libre de drogas comienza conmigo”, dijo Escobedo. Escobedo luego mostró a los niños un bata de graduación. “La razón para asistir a la escuela todo los días es graduarse”, dijo. “El poder de la educación te puede llevar a donde quieras”. El oficial Armando García se dio el tiempo para hablarles del acoso escolar. Los estudiantes deben respetarse unos a otros, dijo. Cuando se trata de acoso, solicitar ayuda no significa que esa persona sea un perdedor, le dijo la
policía a los niños. LPD invita a los menores a reportar el acoso a un adulto como un maestro, consejero, entrenador o a los padres. “No solo observen. Tiendan una mano”, dijo García. Finalmente, el oficial Abraham H. Díaz Jr., ofreció las siguientes medidas de seguridad para Halloween a los niños: 1 Utilicen una lámpara 1 Volteen en ambas direcciones al cruzar una calle. 1 Salgan a pedir dulces con mamá, papá o un hermano mayor. 1 Vayan a casas bien iluminadas. 1 Toquen a la puerta y aléjense tres pasos de la entrada. 1 Hagan que su mamá o su papá revise los dulces. 1 Ingieran los dulces en casa.
HOUSTON — Una hondureña dueña de varios burdeles en la zona metropolitana de Houston fue sentenciada el viernes a más de 12 años de cárcel, dijo un fiscal federal. La mujer, identificada como María E. Gonzales Muñoz, de 45 años, fue arrestada tras una operación encubierta en la que ella había ofrecido para prostitución a una menor de edad que vivía sin permiso en Estados Unidos, según el fiscal Kenneth Magidson. En enero, Gonzales Muñoz se declaró culpable de confabulación para trata de blancas. La juez federal Nancy Atlas sentenció a Gonzales Muñoz a 151 meses de prisión. Además, quedará registrada como infractora sexual. La centroamericana ofreció permitir a la menor trabajar en uno de sus burdeles disfrazados de bar, ayudarla a que pareciera mayor de edad con maquillaje, condicionarle el hospedaje y conseguirle documentos falsos, dijo el fiscal.
COLUMNA
Tamaulipeco conoce a Hitler Por Raúl Sinencio Chávez TIEMP O DE ZAPATA
Con gesto severo, Adolfo Hitler aparece. Nervioso, el visitante pronuncia algunas frases. Apenas traducidas del español al idioma de Goethe, el supremo jefe del nacionalsocialismo da media vuelta y se marcha. En la sala queda su conmovido admirador, que para tan breve reunión emprende larguísimo viaje desde Tamaulipas. A punto de estallar la Segunda Guerra Mundial, el presidente Lázaro Cárdenas nacionaliza en 1938 la industria petrolera. Las compañías expropiadas desatan terrible boicot de mercados y pretenden revertir la medida. Inglaterra cierra incluso su embajada. Adoptada en vísperas
del conflicto bélico, nuestro país mantiene invariable la condena a los regímenes totalitarios. Pero bajo el boicot que padece, vende hidrocarburos al Eje Berlín-Roma Tokio. La Gestapo desarrolla en México compleja red de propaganda y espionaje. Consigue fuerte presencia en suelo tamaulipeco. Así las cosas, la revista capitalina Hoy en 1939 causa revuelo. El 18 de noviembre difunde un material cuyo mero título conmociona: “¡Yo hablé con Hitler!”. Lo firma José Pagés Llergo, que narra fugaz encuentro con el dictador. Por demás inoportuno el texto, las críticas provocan que Pagés Llergo abandone el medio informativo. Aquel número de Hoy, sin embargo, despierta el
inmediato entusiasmo de Vicente Villasana González. Posee en Tampico El Mundo. Valido de adelantos tecnológicos, distribuye miles de ejemplares, llenos de anuncios publicitarios, noticias e imágenes. Con él, amplia zona conoce el periodismo moderno. Fundado en 1918, el matutino ostenta soberbio eslogan: “Gran diario de Tamaulipas y las Huastecas”. En las páginas del rotativo colaboran también intelectuales conservadores, encabezados por José Vasconcelos, Nemesio García Naranjo y Manuel Gómez Morín. Viéndole acaso posibilidades de provecho económico, nada sorprende que Villasana González vaya en busca del máximo líder de la esvástica aria. En “Alemania… –relata
Mario Gil— después de innumerables gestiones logró que lo recibiera el führer … un minuto. Hitler escuchó adusto lo que balbuceaba” el propietario de El Mundo, “oyó la traducción, alzó el brazo y dio por terminada la entrevista. Ni una palabra de gratitud por el servicio prestado por Villasana al Tercer Reich y, mucho menos, estrechar la mano del insignificante mestizo”. Gil prosigue: “Lo llevaron luego con el Dr. (Joseph) Goebbels”, ministro de Propaganda. “Lo que habló con él no fue divulgado, pero poco después de su regreso … Villasana inauguraba una [rotativa] Goss flamante … y las bodegas de El Mundo estaban repletas de … papel. El periódico mejoró … y en sus columnas aparecían diariamente
reportajes de la Transocean, la agencia nazi de noticias, exaltando” las “maravillas del Tercer Reich”. Don Mario, quien inicia labores periodísticas en Tamaulipas, hasta 1970 publica los sucesos aquí transcritos. Aunque omite lugares concretos y fechas precisas, en la estancia germana del empresario coincide antiguo trabajador deEl Mundo, entrevistado por Alfonso de los Reyes. Tocante a las señaladas filias, baste referir que en 1942 la Secretaría de Gobernación abre investigaciones “acerca de contactos alemanes” del controvertido personaje. Cinco años más adelante, Villasana González tiene violenta muerte en la capital tamaulipeca y provoca la caída del último gobernador portesgilista.
A8 | Saturday, October 22, 2016 | THE ZAPATA TIMES
INTERNATIONAL
Under fire in Mosul, IS attacks another Iraqi city By Emad Matti and Adam Schreck A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
KIRKUK, Iraq — Islamic State militants launched a wave of predawn attacks in and around the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk on Friday, killing at least 14 people and setting off fierce clashes with Kurdish security forces that were still raging after sundown. The assault appeared aimed at diverting attention from the Iraqi offensive to retake Mosul, and raised fears the extremists could lash out in unpredictable ways as they defend the largest city under their control and their last urban bastion in Iraq. Multiple explosions rocked Kirkuk, and gunfire rang out around the provincial headquarters, where the fighting was concentrated. Smoke billowed over the city, and the streets were largely deserted out of fear of militant snipers. IS said its fighters targeted the provincial headquarters in a claim carried by its Aamaq news agency. North of the city, three suicide bombers stormed a power plant in the town of Dibis, killing 13 workers, including four Iranian technicians, before blowing themselves up as police arrived, said Maj. Ahmed Kader Ali, the Dibis police chief. Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Bahram Ghasemi, condemned the assault, which he said also wounded three Iranian workers, according to the official IRNA news agency. It was not immediately clear if Iranians were targeted in other attacks. The Turkmeneli TV
ASYLUM From page A1 and quick burials often demand — cut into pieces. Seeing the body hacked up like an unsolved jigsaw puzzle shocked the otherwise hard-boiled Salvadoran detective. It still shocks him when he thinks about it. “He was a human being,” the officer said. “It impacts you to see that level of criminality.” For 17 years he fought El Salvador's notorious gangs, until he came to fear for his own life and that of his family. In 2015, they joined a flood of tens of thousands of Central American immigrants who crossed the Rio Grande into Texas and turned themselves in to authorities. Now, he’s trying to convince the United States to grant him political asylum, arguing that his former job in law enforcement makes it unsafe for him to go home. Roberto's father, a fisherman, was killed when he was three, during El Salvador's 12-year civil war. He became a detective in 1998 and had every reason to believe he would retire from the Policia Nacional Civil — the National Civil Police of El Salvador. But as security deteriorated in El Salvador in recent years, he decided to join the masses fleeing north. Roberto’s asylum-seeking adventure began in May of last year, when he sold his car to reach the $12,000 — some of it already donated by family members — that he needed to pay a smuggler to ferry him, his wife and their two daughters to Texas. It took him almost a month to make the journey, staying in safe houses and hotels, relying on the smugglers that bribed their way north with other migrants. “They control everything along the route you take. That’s why you pay
Bulent Kilic / Getty Images
Members of Iraqi pro-government forces hold a position on the frontline near the village of Tall al-Tibah, some 30 kilometers south of Mosul, during an operation to retake the main hub city from Islamic State jihadists.
station, which had earlier shown live footage of smoke rising from outside the provincial headquarters, said in a news bulletin that one of its reporters, Ahmet Haceroglu, was killed by a sniper while covering the fighting. There was no immediate word on casualties among other civilians or the Kurdish forces in Kirkuk. Police and hospital officials could not be reached for comment. Kirkuk is some 100 miles (170 kilometers) from the IS-held city of Mosul, where Iraqi forces launched a wide-scale offensive on Monday. IS has in the past resorted to suicide bombings in and around Baghdad in re-
sponse to battlefield losses elsewhere in the country. Kirkuk is an oil-rich city claimed by both Iraq’s central government and the largely autonomous Kurdish region. Kurdish forces assumed full control of the city in the summer of 2014, as Iraq’s army and police crumbled in the face of a lightning advance by IS. Kemal Kerkuki, a senior commander of Kurdish peshmerga forces west of Kirkuk, said the town where his base is located outside the city also came under attack early Friday, but that his forces repelled the assault. He said IS maintains sleeper cells of militants in Kirkuk and surround-
ing villages. “We arrested one recently and he confessed,” he said, adding that Friday’s attackers may have posed as displaced civilians in order to infiltrate the city. Kirkuk province is home to hundreds of thousands of people displaced by the conflict. Iraqi and Kurdish forces backed by a U.S.led coalition launched the multi-pronged assault this week to retake Mosul and surrounding areas — the largest operation undertaken by the Iraqi military since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion. By Thursday, the Iraqi forces had advanced as far as Bartella, a historically Christian town some nine miles (15 kilo-
meters) from Mosul’s outskirts. An Associated Press reporter traveling Friday with the Iraqi special forces saw homes along Bartella’s main road painted with IS graffiti, including the first letter of a derogatory word in Arabic for Christians that the militants use to mark Christian property. Under IS rule, Christians must convert to Islam or pay a special tax. IS graffiti was also sprayed on the inside walls of the town’s church. Iraqi soldiers raised the national flag over the building and rang the church bell, signaling its liberation. “Bartella was liberated yesterday, and today we
them a certain sum of money,” he said. “To ensure you don’t get sent back or lose all your money.” The name of the first U.S. town he encountered still rolls uneasily off his tongue, sounding more like "McAlley" than McAllen. The largest city in Hidalgo County is one of the favored destinations of Central American migrants. When they reached the Texas side of the Rio Grande, Roberto and his family didn’t hide or flee from the U.S. Border Patrol. They sought out people in uniform so they could turn themselves in. It's a common approach for Central American migrants, often families traveling together or unaccompanied minors who are treated differently, and generally more leniently, under U.S. immigration law. Roberto spent three days in detention in South Texas. He and his family members were given federal Alien Registration numbers and a “notice to appear” in immigration court. They rested up at a Catholic Charities center catering to migrants and soon made their way to the Austin branch of American Gateways, a nonprofit group that provides assistance for immigrants navigating the country’s complex immigration system, including asylum seekers like Roberto. “This case stood out to me because rarely do you see an entire intact family present at our office together, and I believe this was the first time I had seen a member of the El Salvador National Police appear in our office,” said Bobby Painter, director of American Gateways in Austin. “That stuck out to me as a potentially interesting case.” Painter successfully referred Roberto’s case to the Norton Rose Fulbright law firm, which is handling it pro bono.
Asylum hard to get There’s no question that police work can be hazardous in El Salvador, where warring gangs with deep U.S. ties last year gave the country of 6.3 million people the title of murder capital of the world. Among the dead in 2015 were 62 police officers; at least 24 have died in violent circumstances so far this year, according to recent national police figures. To be granted asylum in the United States, people have to prove they have a well-founded fear of being persecuted or killed if forced to return to their home country. No matter how dangerous the job, though, just being a former police officer doesn't necessarily cut it. Experts and legal precedents indicate that immigration courts place a high burden of proof on police, presuming they knew the hazards when they took the jobs. “We’d probably have an easier time getting him asylum if he was a former gang member,” said James Hughes, one of Roberto’s two attorneys at Norton Rose Fulbright. He’s not joking: gang tattoos are harder to remove than a police uniform, making membership in the “former gangbanger” social group potentially more concrete and immutable than ex-cop. “It’s kind of a perverse set of incentives the courts have created,” Hughes said. Regardless, it’s a steep climb: Relatively few cases are being approved amid skyrocketing asylum claims from Central America — Roberto’s violence-torn country in particular. The number of claims filed with the courts by Salvadorans has more than tripled in the past five fiscal years, rising from 2,900 in 2011 to more than 10,000 last year. Over that period far more cases were abandoned, withdrawn or disposed of without an
immigration judge reaching a decision on the claim. Of the cases heard by a judge, the average rate for granting Salvadoran asylum claims over the fiveyear period was about 13 percent. By comparison, the courts granted asylum to 78 percent of Chinese applicants over the same period. Asylum is granted based on fears of persecution because of “race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.” Lots of ink has been spilled trying to define what a “particular social group” means. Roberto’s claim is based on the leading role he says he played in an anti-gang operation in his home region several years ago, in which more than three dozen gang members were arrested, helping authorities dismantle a local clique of the MS-13 gang. Some have since gotten out of prison, and Roberto said gang members began stalking him and tracking his movements. He reported his concerns to El Salvador’s attorney general’s office but says he was ignored. He also tried twice to get visas to come to the United States. They were turned down. “A lot of police officers were getting killed by the gangs and, well, nobody said anything,” Roberto said in a lengthy interview. “Sooner or later, they were going to take reprisals against my family. If they don’t get the one they’re after they will kill his kids, kill his wife, his mother, his father, his brother, just anyone in his family to inflict pain.” It wasn’t easy to leave everything behind. He’d worked and studied hard to become a police investigator. He liked his job, even though it only paid $450 a month — not including the side gig in retail sales — which forced him to live in the same run-down neigh-
borhoods the gangs control. All things being equal, he preferred to stay. “But if the family is in danger, the family comes first and the job second,” he said. Police face inherent dangers Roberto and his lawyers went to immigration court in downtown San Antonio in April to argue that his “particular social group” consisted of former police officers whose work had targeted gang members. His lawyers presented detailed evidence — including testimony from a former police informant and an ex-prosecutor — about Roberto's role in the specific investigation they say jeopardized his life. They also had a letter from a co-worker who said he’d overheard gang members discussing plans to kill Roberto. The judge quibbled little with the facts as presented, his lawyers say. But in an opinion delivered a month later, and almost a year after Roberto crossed into Texas, the judge turned him down, citing a 1980sera case involving a Salvadoran police officer named Fuentes who was denied asylum on the grounds that his employment was inherently dangerous. “As policemen around the world have found, they are often attacked either because they are (or are viewed as) extensions of the government’s military forces or simply because they are highly visible embodiments of the power of the state,” the opinion stated. “Such dangers are perils arising from the nature of their employment and domestic unrest.” The next step will be appealing the ruling to the Board of Immigration Appeals in Falls Church, Virginia. His lawyers are also applying for “withholding from deportation” — a higher standard to meet than asylum — as a
are inside its church,” Lt. Gen. Talib Shaghati declared. “I bring the good news to our Christian brothers that the church is liberated.” Elsewhere in Iraq, the country’s top Shiite cleric called on forces taking part in the Mosul offensive to protect civilians, and for residents of Mosul, a mainly Sunni city, to cooperate with security forces. “We stress today upon our beloved fighters, as we have before on many occasions, that they exercise the greatest degree of restraint in dealing with civilians stuck in the areas where there is fighting,” the reclusive Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani said in a Friday sermon read by an aide. “Protect them and prevent any harm to them by all possible means.” Some 3,900 people, or about 650 families, have fled Mosul and the nearby Hamdaniyah district since the operation began, according to Adrian Edwards of the U.N. refugee agency. Ravina Shamdasani, of the U.N. human rights office, said it had “verified information” that IS forced 550 people to relocate to Mosul from the nearby villages of Samalia and Najafia on Monday, part of an “apparent policy of preventing civilians from escaping to areas controlled by Iraqi security forces.” Shamdasani reiterated concerns IS could use civilians as human shields, and said the office was investigating reports that the group had killed at least 40 civilians for suspected disloyalty. She did not provide further details.
sort of Hail Mary backup plan. The case will likely drag on for months, possibly years. In the meantime, they’re asking the courts to provide Roberto a work permit so he can come out of the shadows of the vast informal economy. For now, he's found work as a painter on an Austin construction crew, while his young children are attending public school. For the moment, Roberto doesn’t to have to worry about his kids being recruited into the gang. He doesn’t have to carry a gun night and day. Doesn’t have to worry about getting killed for what he did to keep the neighborhoods of his hometown safe. “Many of my colleagues are dead. They were killed. Others — the ones who could leave — have come here, to the United States, or Spain or Canada,” he said. “You have to see where one will extend a hand, as they say, to get out. Those who can’t get out, well, they have to confront the violence very day.” Hughes, the Austin lawyer preparing Roberto’s appeal, said so far in the case he feels like he’s up against a “robotic deportation machine” that makes it impossible for many people who are running for their lives to win their asylum cases. And it frustrates him that amid all the outrage over illegal immigration — as witnessed in these final days of the 2016 presidential race — it’s still so hard for worthy applicants to enter and remain in the country legally. “I feel like we’ve got here someone who is honest and hardworking and wanted to obey the law and wanted to uphold the law in his own country, and was driven from his home,” Hughes said. “It seems to me he is precisely the type of person there ought to be some door or window for. There isn’t.”
THE ZAPATA TIMES | Saturday, October 22, 2016 |
A9
BUSINESS
Oil holds above $50 as market waits for output deal By Jessica Summers B L OOMBE RG NEWS
Crude settled above $50 a barrel as investors assessed the likelihood of a deal to reduce supply after Russia’s energy minister said the country’s oil output may rise to a record next year. December futures rose 0.4 percent in New York after swinging between gains and losses during intraday trading. Russia’s Energy Minister Alexander Novak said production could be adjusted depending on talks with OPEC. Russian President Vladimir Putin previously pledged his support to efforts by OPEC to limit output. Gasoline futures jumped after Delta Air Lines Inc.’s Trainer refinery in Pennsylvania was said to extend the shutdown of its fluid catalytic cracking unit. Oil has fluctuated near $50 a barrel amid uncertainty about whether the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries can implement an accord to reduce oil output when they gather at an official meeting in November. A committee will meet later this month to try to resolve
James Durbin / AP file
A water pool attached to Robinson Drilling rig #4 in Midland County, Texas. Crude settled above $50 a barrel as investors assessed the likelihood of a deal to reduce supply after Russia’s energy minister said the country’s oil output may rise to a record next year.
differences over how much individual members should pump. “After the bulk of declarations from producer countries has come through after the Algiers meeting, there’s not much fundamentally to be driving the market,” Harry Tchilinguirian, head of commodity markets strategy at BNP Paribas SA in London, said by
telephone. The market will “remain in this holding pattern until we have more clarity and possibly get news from the technical meetings that are going to be held in Vienna. After that, it will be more waiting until we find out whether or not OPEC actually delivers on the promise of a supply cut,” he said. West Texas Intermedi-
ate crude for December delivery rose 22 cents to settle at $50.85 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent for December settlement increased 40 cents to end the session at $51.78 a barrel on the Londonbased ICE Futures Europe exchange. The global benchmark traded at a premium of 93 cents to WTI.
U.S. Shale November gasoline futures rose 2.5 percent to settle at $1.5314 a gallon. Delta’s Trainer refinery in Pennsylvania, which is operated by subsidiary Monroe Energy LLC, will keep its sole fluid catalytic cracking unit offline for at least another month for maintenance and repairs,
according to people familiar with operations. The market may stabilize by the middle of next year at $52 to $55 a barrel, Rosneft PJSC Chief Executive Officer Igor Sechin said Thursday, cautioning that prices above $50 may spur the recovery of U.S. shale production. Rigs targeting crude in the U.S. rose for an eighth week to the highest level since February, according to Baker Hughes Inc. on Friday. American drillers added 11 rigs to 443, the data showed. The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index, which tracks the currency against 10 major peers, rose 0.3 percent at 3:16 p.m. in New York. A stronger U.S. currency reduces the appeal of dollar-denominated raw materials as an investment. A stronger dollar is “a big limiting factor for crude oil prices,” John Kilduff, a partner at Again Capital LLC, a New York-based hedge fund that focuses on energy, said by phone. “Until we see a real sort of turnaround in the supply balance sheet one way or the other, we’ll probably chop around some more.”
US claims for unemployment benefits rise by 13,000 By Martin Crutsinger A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
WASHINGTON — The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits rose to the highest level in five weeks but still remained close to the recent 43-year lows. The numbers: Weekly applications for jobless benefits rose by 13,000 last week to 260,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday. That was the highest level since an identical 260,000 claim applications were filed the week of Sept. 10. Since that time, claims had fallen to the lowest levels since November 1973. Even with last week’s gain, claims, which are a proxy for layoffs, remain at levels indicating that workers are enjoying job security despite sluggish economic growth. The increase in benefit applications was bigger than economists had been forecasting but some suggested that disruptions in filing applications earlier caused by Hurri-
cane Matthew might have been a factor. Stephen Stanley, chief economist at Amherst Pierpont Securities, said that there were claims increases in North Carolina that could have been hurricane related and he said that big gains in California and Kentucky might be “a garden variety makeup” for lowerthan-expected readings in the previous two weeks. The four-week average for claims, a less volatile measure, rose by 2,250 to 251,750 last week. Overall, 2.06 million Americans are collecting unemployment checks, down 6 percent from a year ago. The takeaway: The labor market has continued to show steady improvement this year although at a slower pace than in 2015. Employers added 156,000 jobs in September, fewer than the 167,000 jobs added in August and below last year’s average monthly gain of 230,000. The unemployment rate inched up to 5 percent in September, com-
pared to 4.9 percent in August, as more than 400,000 people entered the labor market to look for jobs but not all of them were immediately successful. Still, the unemployment rate is just half the 10 percent high hit in October 2009 as the country was struggling to pull out of the Great Recession. Key drivers: Applications for jobless benefits staying close to a fourdecade low provides strong evidence that the job market remains resilient despite the fact that economic growth has been anemic so far this year. The economy, as measured by the gross domestic product, grew at a rate of just 1.4 percent in the second quarter after an even weaker 0.8 percent increase in the first three months of the year. Economists believe that growth has accelerated in the just-completed third quarter to around 2.5 percent to 3 percent. The government will report that number next week.
Seth Perlman / AP file
This photo shows the Illinois Department of Employment Security office in Springfield, Ill. The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits rose to the highest level in five weeks but still remained close to the recent 43-year lows.
A10 | Saturday, October 22, 2016 | THE ZAPATA TIMES
FROM THE COVER DEBATE From page A1
Courtesy photo / Zapata County Independent School District
Counselor Noemi Ramirez, Principal Marlen Guerra and Assistant Principal Patricia Saldaña presented Laredo police officers Alberto Escobedo, Raul Cantu, Abraham H. Diaz Jr. and Armando Garcia with a cookie cake as an appreciation for the McGruff: The Crime Dog presentation.
MCGRUFF From page A1 moves. Each year, the unit is tasked with sharing the message twice a day in area elementary schools throughout the month of October. “It was a lot of fun,” Ramirez said. Following energetic movements, things got serious when Officer Alberto Escobedo spoke to students about making the right decisions. As he showed children an orange Webb County Jail inmate shirt, he told them making the wrong choices can land them in jail. Escobedo then spoke about drugs. He taught the children three important words. “Just say no,” he said. There are consequences for making bad decisions, such as using drugs. “Drug free starts with me,” Escobedo said. Escobedo then showed the children a graduation gown. “The reason you go to school every day is to graduate,” he said. “The power of education can take you anywhere.” Officer Armando Garcia took time to talk about bullying.
bingo cards with things said by the candidates — and ribs and brisket were served from the side of a silver camper. However, the campaign seems to have a real impact in Mexico where citizens have watched the peso swing in recent weeks with the polls and are flooded with news from the campaign trail. “It’s affecting us right now,” said Alejandra Cardenas, a video director from Mexico City. “Our economy is clearly linked, that’s why we’re all here together.” That impact extends beyond Mexico though. Colombian postdoctoral student Natalia Guevara Jaramillo said she opposes Trump’s stigmatization of immigrants. “What happens in the United States directly affects the entire conti-
ARREST From page A1
Courtesy photo / Zapata County Independent School District
Laredo Police Officer Alberto Escobedo tells students at Fidel and Andrea R. Villarreal Elementary School they need to make the right decisions if they want to graduate from high school.
Students should respect each other, he said. When it comes to bullying, asking for help doesn’t mean the person is a loser, police told the children. LPD encouraged children to report bullying to an adult such as teachers, counselors, coaches or parents. “Don’t bystand. Lend a hand,” Garcia said. Lastly, Officer Abra-
ham H. Diaz Jr. offered the following Halloween safety tips to children: 1 Use a flashlight. 1 Look both directions before crossing the street. 1 Go out trick-or-treating with mom, dad or an older sibling. 1 Go to well-lit houses. 1 Knock on the door and take three steps back. 1 Have candy inspected by mom or dad. 1 Eat candy at home.
said Flores is accused of offenses including organized crime and kidnapping the students. He is alleged to have followed the then-mayor’s order to attack the students and then tried to cover up the role of Iguala police in the disappearances. “The investigations indicate that this person was one of the people responsible for coordinating the operation that turned into the aggression against the students,” Sales said at an afternoon news conference. Attorney General Arely Gomez tweeted that the detention “will allow the collection of key testimony to clarify the
He set the tone in declaring his candidacy last year when he talked about Mexico sending “rapists” to the U.S. His attacks of Mexico have only continued since, blaming the country for stealing jobs and filling the U.S. with heroin. nent and a large part of the world,” she said. Trump’s comments on immigration have been especially harsh. He set the tone in declaring his candidacy last year when he talked about Mexico sending “rapists” to the U.S. His attacks of Mexico have only continued since, blaming the country for stealing jobs and filling the U.S. with heroin. During a segment on immigration during Wednesday’s debate, Trump explained again how he would halt illegal immigration by building a wall along the U.S.Mexico border and de-
port those in the country illegally, including “bad hombres,” or bad guys. “I think the way that Trump has talked about Mexicans from the start of the campaign is to call them rapists, criminals, he hasn’t changed,” said Mexican Santiago Betancourt. “I don’t think it’s a presidential discourse and we saw it today in the debate; he’s talking about the wall, he’s talking about immigration and the only thing that occurs to him to say in that moment is that in the U.S. there are ‘bad hombres’ and that they have to get them out of the country.”
facts of Iguala.” The students from the teacher’s college at Ayotzinapa were taken by police in Iguala on Sept. 26, 2014, and have not been heard from since. Prosecutors say they were handed over to a drug gang, killed and incinerated in a massive fire at a trash dump. But independent experts who reviewed evidence in the case have cast into doubt the contention that the students’ bodies were burned, and the victims’ families continue to vocally demand more answers. Authorities have now arrested 131 people in connection with the disappearances. Seventy of those, mostly police officers and alleged cartel members, are currently being prosecuted. A number of them have
alleged torture by officials and it is unclear how that will affect their cases. But Flores could provide a break or at least a new perspective on how events unfolded that night. “We hope that the arrest of this person leads to some good news for us,” said Felipe de la Cruz, a spokesman for the families. “We hope that what he says takes us definitively toward the truth and to where the youths are, because that’s what we’ve looked for all this time.” The disappearances and authorities’ inability to conclusively clear up what happened to the students have been an embarrassment for the government of President Enrique Peña Nieto.
Sports&Outdoors THE ZAPATA TIMES | Saturday, October 22, 2016 |
B1
NCAA FOOTBALL: NO. 6 TEXAS A&M AGGIES AT NO. 1 ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE
‘Season-defining’ game No. 6 A&M heads to No. 1 Alabama By John Zenor ASSOCIATED PRE SS
Elizabeth Conley / Houston Chronicle file
In one of the biggest games of the year, No. 6 Texas A&M heads to No. 1 Alabama in a battle of unbeaten SEC schools.
MLB NLDS: DODGERS AT CUBS
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Kevin Sumlin and Texas A&M have celebrated a colossal win and endured a humiliating loss at Alabama’s BryantDenny Stadium. Now, they’re back. The sixth-ranked Aggies return Saturday to face No. 1 Alabama in a matchup of the Southeastern Conference’s last unbeaten teams and a game that’s every bit as important as any previous meeting. It’s even more intriguing with the Crimson Tide (7-0, 4-0) having edged closer to the Texas A&M style of speedy
tempo and quarterback runs. The Aggies (6-0, 4-0) haven’t abandoned that formula by any stretch but have taken over the role of the SEC’s top running team that would seem more ‘Bama’s domain traditionally. No wonder Tide coach Nick Saban said “we’re full of challenges for this week.” “This is one of those season-defining games for us,” Saban said. For both teams. It’s the second time in four seasons that the SEC West showdown has featured No. 1 versus No. 6 and the third Top 10 matchup in that span. The budding rivalry has produced A&M continues on B2
NCAA FOOTBALL: TEXAS LONGHORNS AT KANSAS STATE WILDCATS
TEXAS FACES K-STATE Ground games to be on display By Dave Skretta ASSOCIATED PRE SS
Nam Y. Huh / Associated Press
With the Cubs a win away from the World Series, the Dodgers hand the ball to ace Clayton Kershaw Saturday in Game 6 needing two straight wins in Chicago.
Dodgers save Kershaw for Game 6, and now they’ll need him By Greg Beacham A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
LOS ANGELES — Clayton Kershaw gripped a baseball in his left hand and grimaced while he watched Game 5 of the NL Championship Series from the dugout. The Los Angeles Dodgers’ best pitcher was ready and eager, and he was sitting on three days of rest. Manager Dave Roberts could have deployed him Thursday night in Chavez Ravine and probably again in relief at Wrigley Field. Roberts declined to play his ace, instead holding his top card for the weekend. The Dodgers decided to rely on rookie Kenta Maeda and their busy bullpen against the NL’s best offense. Those pitchers hung in for the first three hours, but eventually proved to be no match for Jon Lester in the Chicago Cubs’ 8-4 victory. Los Angeles now trails the NLCS 3-2 after getting outscored 18-6 in two straight home
games. But the Dodgers didn’t sound discouraged as they packed up for their flight. “We can grab that momentum by one name,” Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez said. “Kershaw.” Although Roberts has already proven unafraid to do unorthodox things with his pitchers in October, he stuck to a conventional plan to save Kershaw for Game 6. And instead of pitching to clinch a pennant Saturday night, Kershaw must attempt to save the Dodgers’ season again. “We’ve got Clayton going in Game 6, so that’s a game we expect to win,” Roberts said. Kershaw volunteered to pitch Game 5, but Roberts had several reasons to turn him down. Roberts figured he would need to start Maeda at some point in the next three games, and he hoped the home crowd would benefit the inNLDS continues on B2
MANHATTAN, Kan. — The Big 12 has developed a reputation over the years for high-flying offenses, mainly because of the pass-happy exploits of teams like Texas Tech, Baylor, Oklahoma State and Oklahoma. Kansas State and Texas are bucking the trend. The two teams meet Saturday in what can only be described as an old-school matchup between teams that take pride in pounding the football. The Wildcats average more than 175 yards rushing per game and the Longhorns (3-3, 1-2 Big 12) nearly 240. Texas also has the league’s top running back in D’Onta Foreman. The 250-pound bruiser averages 146 yards, second nationally to San Diego State’s Donnel Pumphrey, and has reached the end zone eight times through the Longhorns’ first six games. Texas continues on B2
Michael Thomas / Associated Press
Breaking a three-game losing streak with a home win against Iowa State last week, Texas heads to Manhattan to face Kansas State Saturday.
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Silver says NBA labor deal not done yet, but getting close By Brian Mahoney ASSOCIATED PRE SS
NEW YORK — This season hasn’t started and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver already has good news about next season. It appears there’s no chance it will be affected by a work stoppage. Silver said Friday the league and players have made “tremendous progress” toward an extension of the collective bargaining agreement, saying he
hoped a deal would be completed soon. “We are not done, done as we say as bargainers in terms of ultimately having a completed collective bargaining agreement, but we’re on our way towards getting an extension done of this collective bargaining agreement,” Silver said. “I’m very pleased to report that.” Silver said the process was far different than the contentious negotiations of 2011, which led to a NBA continues on B2
Mary Altaffer / Associated Press
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver says the league and players have made "tremendous progress" toward an extension of the collective bargaining agreement.
B2 | Saturday, October 22, 2016 | THE ZAPATA TIMES
SPORTS
Giants’ Brown on ‘exempt’ list pending abuse probe By Shawn Pogatchnik A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
LONDON — The NFL placed Josh Brown on paid leave Friday hours after coach Ben McAdoo struggled to answer questions about how the New York Giants might discipline the kicker for abusing his wife. In a letter to the 14-year veteran, NFL senior vice president of labor policy Adolpho Birch said Brown was being placed on the league’s “exempt list” while the league investigates whether he should be suspended as punishment for several alleged acts of spousal abuse. Birch said the move “does not represent
NBA From page B1 lockout and a 2011-12 season that was shortened to 66 games. This time, the sides have been meeting for a few months and seem eager to make a deal long before Dec. 15, when either side can notify the other of its intention to opt out of the 10-year pact, which expires in June 2021. If either side chooses to opt out, the deal would end on June 30, 2017. The sides met Wednesday, the day before owners began their two-day preseason meetings. They received an encouraging report on the status of the talks.
NLDS From page B1 consistent Japanese righthander. With a day off Friday, Roberts also knew he could go deep into his bullpen — which has thrown a majors-high 43 innings in the postseason — with no repercussions. “It’s not an elimination game,” Roberts said after Game 4. “And I think the accumulation of (Kershaw’s) usage over the last ten days plays a factor in our decision.” Instead of pitching on three days’ rest in Game 5, Kershaw will be pitching on a luxurious five days’ rest in Game 6. Although the three-time NL Cy Young Award winner already has pitched 19 1-3 innings in the postseason, a midseason injury kept him off the mound for 2 1/2 months, leaving his arm with much less accumulated action than in a normal season — 168 1-3 innings combined this year, compared to 246 1-3 last season. Kershaw shrugs off that notion, saying he feels pretty much the same as he did in previous Octobers. The biggest difference is that Kershaw, who acquired a reputation for postseason struggles over the past several seasons, has begun to erase that reputation this fall while he attempts to reach his first World Series. “That’s who you want in your decision game,”
A&M From page B1 classics like the Johnny Manziel-led 2012 upset by the Aggies in Tuscaloosa and ‘Bama’s 49-42 win a year later. It’s also supplied Alabama’s biggest beatdown against a ranked team, a 59-0 win on the Aggies’ last visit two seasons ago. Such a one-sided outcome seems unlikely this time but Alabama is a whopping 18-point favorite coming off dominating performances against Tennessee and Arkansas. Texas A&M quarter-
a finding that you have violated the personal conduct policy,” but does pave the way toward potential further sanctions. Being placed on Commissioner Roger Goodell’s “exempt” list means Brown cannot attend practices or Giants games but can go to Giants headquarters for meetings and workouts. It also means Brown continues to be paid and his presence won’t be counted on the Giants’ 53-man roster. Brown could appeal the decision. “The NFL has the ability to place a player on the exempt list and the player has the right to appeal that decision, if he chooses,” the NFL Players As-
sociation said in a statement. “The League office wanted unilateral control of this process and accordingly, their system lacks transparency.” The action on Brown came hours after McAdoo had trouble explaining the Giants’ intentions toward Brown, their kicker since 2013. The questions about how much the Giants knew about Brown’s offfield troubles have overshadowed preparations for Sunday’s game in London against the Los Angeles Rams. Brown did not travel to London following Wednesday’s release of police records which contained the player’s written admissions that he physical-
ly abused his wife, Molly, over a protracted period. She told police in the documents released by the King County Sheriff’s Office in Washington state that the abuse and other threatening behavior stretched from 2009, when she was pregnant with their daughter, to the Pro Bowl in January 2016. In May 2015, Molly Brown sought and was granted a temporary protection order against her husband. A King County Superior Court commissioner issued the temporary restraining order on May 27, 2015. The order was reissued several times until July 24, 2015 when the order was terminated by the court at Molly
Brown’s request. At the Pro Bowl in Honolulu, Brown’s wife said she called NFL security to move her and her three children to another hotel to avoid harassment from her estranged husband. She said he had pounded on their hotel door seeking to get in. The allegation is included in the final report filed last month by the local investigating detective, Robin Ostrum. Brown’s former wife did not respond to messages seeking comment from The Associated Press. A law firm representing the kicker declined to comment. When asked whether the Giants knew about
Brown’s behavior at the Pro Bowl, McAdoo repeatedly said the Giants were still gathering information on the 9-month-old event. Finally, he said: “I’m not going to answer that.” The NFL’s official policy is to suspend players guilty of domestic abuse for six games on their first offense. Brown was suspended for one game, the Giants’ season-opening victory over the Dallas Cowboys, in punishment for his May 2015 arrest at his family home in Woodinville, Washington, on suspicion of assaulting his wife by grabbing one of her wrists as she tried to reach for a phone, leaving an abrasion and bruising. No charges were filed.
“We’ve made tremendous progress and I’m pleased to report that,” Silver said. An agreement wasn’t reached in 2011 until Thanksgiving weekend, and 16 games from each team’s schedule had been shaved before the season opened on Christmas. The players’ guarantee of basketball-related income was reduced from 57 percent to about 50 percent. The sides aren’t fighting over money this time, not after the national TV deals worth more than $2.6 billion annually sent revenues soaring and the salary cap skyrocketing. Silver credited union executive director Michele Roberts for the more cordial tone of these talks
and noted the role on the negotiating committee of Hall of Fame player Michael Jordan, now owner of the Charlotte Hornets. Silver said Jordan’s relationship with players has “added an enormous amount to the atmosphere in the room.” “For players to see him in that position, it doesn’t mean if Michael says it, it necessarily means that they should accept it as the position they should take,” Silver said, “but I think that’s really added a special element unique to this league to have a superstar player like that owning a team now.” Longtime Commissioner David Stern led owners and former NBPA executive director Billy Hunter
represented players in the last few negotiations, and the league lost games in both 1998-99 and 2011-12. Silver said both sides feel that the most recent deal has been working. “I think the fortunes of the league, the fact that there is more money to distribute among our players and teams, has created an atmosphere that makes it more conducive to continue a deal that looks a lot like the current deal,” Silver said. And because they are working to extend it, rather than negotiate a new one, Silver said there would be more tweaks than wholesale changes. Silver and Roberts appear to have developed a stronger working rela-
tionship than their predecessors, and players have long looked up to Jordan for what he accomplished on and off the court. All-Stars Chris Paul, the union president who took part in this week’s meeting, and vice presidents LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony are among the players thinking business as well as basketball. “I’ll say that when you have someone like Michael Jordan now on the owners’ side of the table, we all remember the old slogan from when Michael was a player of ‘Be like Mike.’ I think there’s the sense now for the players that that’s yet another area where they want to be like Mike,” Silver said. “Look
what he’s done, taking sort of his success on the floor and translated that into being an incredibly successful businessman.” Silver didn’t want to comment on specifics of the deal since it had not been completed, though it’s expected to include new league-funded programs to help retired players with education and medical expenses, and an increase in the rookie salary scale. But he’s optimistic he’ll be able to discuss them soon. “Hopefully, we will be back to all of you in the not-too-distant future to say that negotiations have been completed, but we’re not quite there yet,” he said.
Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager said. “We’re looking forward to the battle.” After pitching decently in his two starts in the NL Division Series against Washington, Kershaw dominated the Cubs with seven innings of two-hit ball in Game 2, and closer Kenley Jansen finished off a 1-0 victory. Regardless of the success of this call, Roberts has made a series of canny decisions in the postseason. His clever pitching staff management in the decisive Game 5 of the NLDS against Washington thrilled long-suffering fans who found manager Don Mattingly too reactive. Roberts used setup man Joe Blanton in the third inning, kept Jansen in for 51 pitches and seven outs, and went to Kershaw to close out a 4-3 thriller. Although Kershaw wasn’t chosen for Game 5, Roberts clearly didn’t have much faith in the alternative, pulling Maeda after just 3 2-3 innings and 76 pitches. Maeda trailed 1-0 after three batters in Game 5, but after striking out two Cubs to end the first, he held them without a hit until Javier Baez’s leadoff double in the fourth. Moments later, Roberts curiously pulled him with Lester coming up for Chicago. Roberts said he thought Maeda’s stuff was fading, and he decided to rely on his highmileage bullpen.
“I was a little surprised,” Maeda said through a translator. The Dodgers’ bullpen kept it even until the sixth, when Addison Russell hit a tiebreaking two-run homer off Blanton, one of Roberts’ most reliable arms until recently. The wheels fell off for Los Angeles in Chicago’s five-run eighth inning, turning a tense game into a second straight blowout victory. The Cubs are one win away from a chance to end the championship drought that dwarfs all others, but Kershaw will finally get another shot to shut them down. “We all know what we have in front of us with Kershaw going into Game 6,” Cubs lefty Jon Lester said after his win Thursday. “Hopefully he’s not the good Kershaw, and we get kind of the mediocre guy that gives up a few runs and we’re able to hold them where they’re at.” The Dodgers are eager to see their ace at his best. “We have Kershaw going the next game, which we’re excited about,” said Blanton, who gave up two homers and five runs to the Cubs in Game 1 after four scoreless appearances against the Nationals. “Our backs are against the wall, but we kind of like that. We’ve been there the whole year. We were in this situation in Washington, too. Maybe it’s where we need to be.”
TEXAS From page B1
be especially crucial with quarterback Jesse Ertz dealing with a nagging shoulder injury . It prevented him from finishing the game against Oklahoma, though Snyder said early in the week that he expects his starter to play on Saturday. As the Wildcats prepare to meet the Longhorns, here are some of the other key story lines:
smart, and we have to be consistent in our play,” Texas coach Charlie Strong said, “but we have to go get stops, and we need to just — on defense we need to go play defense.”
back Trevor Knight, who led Oklahoma to a Sugar Bowl win over Alabama as a redshirt freshman, said the Aggies have this game in its proper perspective. “We’re not over-emphasizing this week and that’s not discrediting Alabama and what they’ve done,” he said. “But this isn’t the end all, be all. This is the seventh game of our season. We still have a bunch of games after that and we realize and respect the opponent that we’re playing but we’re not making it on a pedestal or anything like that.”
Here are some things to watch in Saturday’s Texas A&M-Alabama game: TOP 10 LIST Alabama has grown accustomed to playing much-hyped games, going 23-6 against Top 10 teams since 2008. The Aggies have fared pretty well, too. They’ve won a school-record three road games against Top 10 teams under Sumlin, including that 29-24 win in 2012 that was the program’s second win over a top-ranked team. RUNNING QBS Both defenses will have to be wary of quarterback
“That man right there is rolling right now. He’s really impressive,” Texas quarterback Shane Buechele said, “and he’s fun to watch. Just seeing what he can do with the ball, he’s a great player, and just being able to hand it off to him and seeing what he can do, it’s a lot of fun.” Not so much fun is trying to stop him. But if the Wildcats (3-3, 1-2) has one thing going for them, it just may be that they have the best run defense in the conference. They held the Sooners in check last weekend — they were ripped apart through the air — and have generally made things tough on opposing runners. Then again, Foreman serves up a totally different test. “He’s a very powerful runner, stays on his feet extremely well, has excellent lower-body strength but can bounce the ball out as well,” Kansas State coach Bill Snyder said. “He’s a very talented, young back, and what is impressive to me is he’s been consistent about it throughout the season.” The Wildcats counter with a committee approach to running the ball — Charles Jones, Dalvin Warmack, Justin Silman, Alex Barnes and fullback Winston Dimel all have had a part this season. Their performance will
runs. Tide freshman Jalen Hurts and Knight rank second on their respective teams in rushing, but nobody comes close in reaching the end zone on the ground. Knight has run for nine touchdowns and 502 yards, Hurts has produced 428 yards and eight TDs. NON-OFFENSIVE TDS Alabama’s special teams and defense are on a roll when it comes to scoring, accounting for 11 touchdowns this season and at least one in nine straight games. It would be hard to top the last meeting with the Aggies,
PROTECTING THE QB Ertz’s health could become a factor considering Texas ranks fourth nationally with 23 sacks . Kansas State has shuffled the offensive line a bit and surrendered two sacks last week, but a young group has mostly played well this season. BACKUP PLANS The Wildcats’ Joe Hubener struggled after taking over for Ertz last weekend, but Snyder indicated that he would be first off the bench. Alex Delton has also played this season but he’s primarily a run-first threat, and Kansas State would prefer to keep some offensive balance. SHAKY PASS D One reason the Wildcats want to throw the ball? Texas has the nation’s third-worst pass efficiency defense. Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield shredded the Longhorns for 390 yards and three TDs a couple weeks ago, though Iowa State fared much worse last weekend. “We’ve got to play
when the Tide scored on three interception returns . Sumlin cites a number of factors, luck not being among them. “A lot of them are twoway players in high school and frustrated they only get to play defense,” he said. “They are letting the world know about it.” PASS RUSHERS GALORE The game features some of college football’s premier quarterback chasers. Texas A&M has bookends Myles Garrett and Daeshon Hall and ranks third in the nation
BIG NUMBERS While the Wildcats have struggled to move the ball this season, Texas has had no such problems. The Longhorns have piled up at least 500 yards of offense four times, more than the past two seasons combined. The school record for a season is six times. “Part of our preaching is about playing a complete game,” Texas offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert said. “If we’re playing good on the defensive side of the ball and special teams, then we’ve got to do our part on the offensive side of the ball. We’re just continuing to preach that.” K-STATE DOMINANCE The Longhorns have only won once in seven tries in Manhattan, back in 2002, and the Wildcats are the only Big 12 team to have a series lead. They are 9-7 against Texas all-time. “It would mean a lot to keep that streak alive,” said Kansas State offensive lineman Abdul Beecham, a Texas native. “K-State is all about tradition and to keep that tradition going would mean a lot to not only me, but to my teammates and the school as well.”
in tackles for loss (9.7 per game). Alabama counters with Jonathan Allen, Tim Williams and Ryan Anderson. All five players rank among the Top 86 in sacks. “Their front is ridiculous, best way I can put it,” Sumlin said. “As good as there is in football.” YOUNG RUNNERS Led by Texas A&M freshman Trayveon Williams, this game features five of the SEC’s top 20 runners. All but Knight are freshmen or sophomores. Williams is leading the league with 117.3 rushing yards per game.
THE ZAPATA TIMES | Saturday, October 22, 2016 |
Dear Readers: Our pets are so loving and patient with us, but do you think there are things we do that THEY DON'T LIKE? Yep, there are. Here are a few: * Inconsistency. Don't praise the dog and give him a snack after he jumps on you if you are training him not to jump. * Meeting lots of new people. This can overwhelm the dog. He needs to know who is in his pack (family). If he is meeting many people, he will be confused. * Waking them up/ sneaking up on them. Who would like this? It's not funny; teach kids not to tease the dog. * Hugging. Many dogs don't like this. It can be scary, and they can feel trapped. * Changing routines. Keeping the dog on schedule makes everything run more smoothly. The dog needs to feel comfortable and confident in everyday living. -- Heloise
COVERED BOXES Dear Heloise: When I moved into my home, I discovered lots of wasted space in the kitchen cupboards. I couldn't find boxes or baskets that would fit them, so I took apart corrugated-cardboard diaper boxes and re-worked them to fit the shelves. Then I hot-glued thin batting to them and glued on heavyweight cotton fabric. Voila! Beautiful "custom" storage boxes! -Dawn L., Woodstock, Ohio GRIPPER TIP Dear Heloise: I have discovered a valuable tip. I have a pair of boots with hook-and-loop closures. The closures were covered in lint and fuzz. I thought I had to give up wearing the boots anywhere except in the garden! I decided to give it one last try, and used a cat flea comb on it. It worked wonders. I simply "combed" the closure, and all the fuzz came off.
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B4 | Saturday, October 22, 2016 | THE ZAPATA TIMES