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FEDERAL COURT
“ Faces federal charges Mr. Turi is requesting a reduction in his bond so that he may … graduate from high school.” FEDERAL COMPLAINT
High school senior accused of transporting immigrants By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
A San Ygnacio teenager who expected a $300 payment per illegal immigrant he allegedly transported
has been arrested, a criminal complaint filed Oct. 28 states. Raul Ivan Turi, 18, a senior at Zapata High School, was charged with transporting illegal immigrants,
court documents show. He remained behind bars on a $75,000 bond. “Mr. Turi is requesting a reduction in his bond so that he may attend and hopefully graduate from
high school,” court documents state. But that petition was denied by U.S. Magistrate Judge Guillermo R. Garcia on Nov. 1. Turi’s allegations stemmed from Oct. 25. At
1:30 p.m. that day, an agent observed a maroon Ford Mustang operated by Omar Paredes driving around San Ygnacio. A complaint alleg-
See SMUGGLING
PAGE 11A
OBAMACARE
TEXAS ELECTIONS
National insurance woes difficult
WATER REFERENDUM WINS
Options seem limited in fixing problems By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says he’ll do everything he can to help people coping with health insurance cancellations, but legally and practically his options appear limited. That means the latest political problem engulfing Obama’s health care overhaul may not be resolved quickly, cleanly or completely. White House deputy spokesman Josh Earnest said Friday that the president has asked his team to look at administrative fixes to help people whose plans are being canceled as a result of new federal coverage rules. Obama, in an NBC interview Thursday, said “I am sorry” to people who are losing coverage and had relied on his assurances that if they liked their plan, they could keep it. The focus appears to be on easing the impact for a specific group: people whose policies have been canceled and who don’t qualify for tax credits to offset higher premiums. The administration has not settled on a particular fix and it’s possible the final decision would apply to a broader group. Still, a president can’t just pick up the phone and order the Treasury to cut checks for people suffering from insurance premium sticker shock. Spending would have to be authorized by law. Another obstacle: Most of the discontinued policies appear to have been issued after the law was enacted, according to insurers and inde-
See OBAMACARE PAGE 11A
Photo by Ron T. Ennis/The Fort Worth Star-Telegram | AP
Students arrive at W.P. McClean 6th Grade Center in Fort Worth, on Tuesday. Texas voters cast ballots on several statewide proposals, including a $2 billion water plan, but not before they were legally required to show a photo ID at the polls for the first time.
But Astrodome makeover gets two thumbs down By WILL WEISSERT ASSOCIATED PRESS
AUSTIN — Texas voters have proved they are more than willing to spend big bucks on future water projects — but not on sports stadiums. In Tuesday’s mostwatched decision, voters
statewide approved $2 billion to finance ambitious drought-fighting initiatives meant to help ensure Texas can meet the needs of its booming population and growing economy for the next 50 years. But those in Houston refused to authorize $217 million in bonds to convert the long-shut-
tered Astrodome into a convention center — likely dooming the iconic venue to the wrecking the ball. And, in the well-to-do Houston suburb of Katy, voters rejected a bond package that would have provided $69.5 million for a new, 14,000-seat high school football sta-
dium. The failed measure went on the ballot one year after the Dallas suburb of Allen opened a $60 million high school stadium. The off-year Election Day’s other big winner, meanwhile, was openly gay Houston Mayor Annise Parker, who took a majority of the votes cast
despite facing eight challengers to secure a third and final term leading America’s fourth-largest city. With its about 2.1 million residents, Houston remains the nation’s largest city led by an openly gay person.
See ELECTION
PAGE 11A
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE U.S. AIR FORCE
Doolittle Raiders plan final toast today By DAN SEWELL ASSOCIATED PRESS
CINCINNATI — Military and history buffs will be able to watch online as surviving Doolittle Raiders make a final toast today to comrades who died in or since their World War II bombing attack on Japan. The Air Force plans to live-stream the annual ceremony at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, near Dayton. There will also be news coverage of what traditionally has been a pri-
vate gathering. Public events ahead of the invitation-only ceremony include a gathering to greet the Raiders as they arrive, a memorial service, a B-25 bomber flyover and movies such as the “Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo” depiction of the 1942 mission. Only four of the 80 Raiders are still alive, and one isn’t able to travel. For decades, the Raiders have offered a toast “to those who have gone” with specially engraved silver goblets at their annual re-
The Raiders have offered a toast “to those who have gone” with specially engraved silver goblets. unions. After Maj. Thomas Griffin of Cincinnati died in February at age 96, the survivors decided that this year’s annual April reunion would be the last and that they would gather for one last toast the weekend before Veterans Day. “I’m looking forward to
it,” said David Thatcher, 92, of Missoula, Mont. His wife, children and other relatives will accompany him, he said by telephone this week. He said he can’t predict the emotions he’ll feel at the toast ceremony. “I don’t have any idea what it will be like until
we’re there,” said Thatcher, an engineer-gunner on the mission. The toast grew from reunions led by Lt. Col. James “Jimmy” Doolittle, who commanded the daring mission credited with boosting American morale and shaking the Japanese after a string of military successes. Lt. Col. Richard Cole, Doolittle’s co-pilot, plans to come to the ceremony from Comfort, Texas, while Lt. Col. Edward Saylor is expected from Puyallup, Wash. Lt. Col. Robert Hite of
Nashville, Tenn., 93, who was captured by the Japanese after the attack, won’t be able to attend because of health problems but hopes to watch at home, a museum spokesman said. The goblets, presented to the Raiders in 1959 by the city of Tucson, Ariz., have the Raiders’ names engraved twice, the second upside-down. During the ceremony, white-gloved cadets pour cognac into the participants’ goblets. Those of the deceased are turned upside-down.
PAGE 2A
Zin brief CALENDAR
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2013
AROUND TEXAS
TODAY IN HISTORY
SATURDAY, NOV. 9
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Rummage sale. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. First United Methodist Church, 1220 McClelland Ave. Free. Contact 722-1674 or fumc_office@sbcglobal.net. TAMIU Planetarium shows. “One World, One Sky Big Bird’s Adventure” 2 p.m.; “The Future Is Wild” 3 p.m.; “New Horizons” 4 p.m.; “Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon” 5 p.m. General admission $4 children and $5 adults. Premium shows $1 more. Matinee shows $4 for 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. only. Call 326-3663.
Today is Saturday, Nov. 9, the 313th day of 2013. There are 52 days left in the year. Today’s Highlight in History: On Nov. 9, 1938, Nazis looted and burned synagogues as well as Jewish-owned stores and houses in Germany and Austria in a pogrom that became known as “Kristallnacht.” On this date: In 1620, the passengers and crew of the Mayflower sighted Cape Cod. In 1872, fire destroyed nearly 800 buildings in Boston. In 1918, it was announced that Germany’s Kaiser Wilhelm II would abdicate. He then fled to the Netherlands. In 1952, Chaim Weizmann, the first president of Israel, died. In 1953, Welsh author-poet Dylan Thomas died in New York at age 39. In 1961, U.S. Air Force Maj. Robert M. White became the first pilot to fly an X-15 rocket plane at six times the speed of sound. The Beatles’ future manager, Brian Epstein, first saw the group perform at The Cavern Club in Liverpool, England. In 1963, twin disasters struck Japan as some 450 miners were killed in a coal-dust explosion, and about 160 people died in a train crash. In 1965, the great Northeast blackout occurred as a series of power failures lasting up to 13 1/2 hours left 30 million people in seven states and part of Canada without electricity. In 1967, a Saturn V rocket carrying an unmanned Apollo spacecraft blasted off from Cape Kennedy on a successful test flight. In 1970, former French President Charles de Gaulle died at age 79. In 1976, the U.N. General Assembly approved resolutions condemning apartheid in South Africa, including one characterizing the white-ruled government as “illegitimate.” In 1989, communist East Germany threw open its borders, allowing citizens to travel freely to the West; joyous Germans danced atop the Berlin Wall. Ten years ago: Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi’s (joon-ee-chee-roh kohee-zoo-meez) ruling bloc won a majority in the country’s parliamentary elections. Five years ago: Barack Obama’s transition chief, John Podesta, told Fox News Sunday the president-elect planned to review President George W. Bush’s executive orders on such things as stem cell research and domestic drilling for oil and natural gas. One year ago: The U.S. Geological Survey said a 4.3 magnitude earthquake centered in Kentucky caused little damage but was felt in at least eight other states. Today’s Birthdays: Baseball Hall of Famer Whitey Herzog is 82. Baseball Hall of Famer Bob Gibson is 78. Actor Charlie Robinson is 68. Movie director Bille August is 65. Actor Robert David Hall is 65. Actor Lou Ferrigno is 62. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, is 61. Gospel singer Donnie McClurkin is 54. Rock musician Dee Plakas (L7) is 53. Actress Ion Overman is 44. Rapper Pepa (Salt-N-Pepa) is 44. Rapper Scarface (Geto Boys) is 43. Actor Jason Antoon is 42. Thought for Today: “All life is an experiment.” — Oliver Wendell Holmes Junior, U.S. Supreme Court justice (1841-1935).
THURSDAY, NOV. 14 Los Amigos Duplicate Bridge Club. 1:15 p.m. to 5 p.m. Laredo Country Club. Call 727-0589. Laredo Border Slam Poetry spoken word competition. 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. Second and fourth Thursday of each month. Gallery 201, 513 San Bernardo Ave. Three minutes to perform, two rounds and five random judges from the audience. Cash and quirky prizes. $2 suggested donation at the door. Email Julia Orduña at juliaorduna@gmail.com or visit facebook.com/ laredoborderslam.
SATURDAY, NOV. 16 TAMIU Planetarium shows. “Earth, Moon and Sun” 2 p.m. “Season of Light” 3 p.m. “Mystery of the Christmas Star” 4 p.m.; “Holiday Music Magic” 5 p.m. General admission $4 children and $5 adults. Premium shows $1 more. Matinee shows $4. Call 326-3663.
THURSDAY, NOV. 21 Los Amigos Duplicate Bridge Club. 1:15 p.m. to 5 p.m. Laredo Country Club. Call 727-0589.
FRIDAY, NOV. 22 Dance lock-in to benefit South Texas Food Bank. Noon to 6 a.m. Peter Piper Pizza, 1400 Guadalupe St. Call 285-4441 or email aalisai@mail.com. Email Ron2cal@yahoo.com or 3240322.
SATURDAY, NOV. 23 Sonya Hernandez Memorial 5K Walk/Run. 9 a.m. Lake Casa Blanca State Park. Benefits students whose one parent is battling cancer or has died of cancer. Color Vibe 5K. 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. 6320 Sinatra Parkway. Come as a blank canvas and leave as a colorful mural. Sign up at thecolorvibe.com/Laredo.php. TAMIU Planetarium shows. “Star Signs” 2 p.m.; “Mystery of the Christmas Star” 3 p.m.; “Season of Light” 4 p.m.; “Holiday Music Magic” 5 p.m. General admission $4 children and $5 adults. Premium shows $1 more. Matinee shows $4 for 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. only. Call 326-3663.
SUNDAY, NOV. 24 Laredo Ministerial Association Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service. 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Christ Church Episcopal, 2320 Lane St. Rev. Paul Frye officiating. All religious denominations invited. Monetary collection offering to benefit South Texas Food Bank. Call 324-2432.
MONDAY, NOV. 25 TAMIU Planetarium shows. “One World One Sky Big Bird’s Adventure” 2 p.m.; “Earth, Moon and Sun” 3 p.m.; “Mystery of the Christmas Star” 4 p.m. General admission $4. Call 3263663.
File photo by Louis DeLuca/The Dallas Morning News | AP
The Texas Giant roller coaster at Six Flags Over Texas, in Arlington, is shown on July 20. Workers operating the roller coaster from which a woman fell to her death in July recalled glitches with the safety features, according to a police report.
Police: Workers recall glitches ASSOCIATED PRESS
ARLINGTON — Workers operating a Six Flags Over Texas roller coaster from which a woman fell to her death in July recalled glitches with the safety features on the cars, according to a police report. Rosa Ayala-Goana died when she was ejected from the Texas Giant roller coaster July 19. One employee told police in the aftermath that the safety restraint on the car from which the Dallas woman fell 75 feet to the ground was “a little high, or not as tight as it should be,” The Dallas Morning News reported Thursday. The worker checked a safety light, determined the lap bar was secure on the woman and allowed the coaster train to leave, according to the police report, which the newspaper obtained.
Another employee reported the train had problems in the days previous, including “a trouble light” the week before, the police report says. “The sensors were not working properly and they had to have Maintenance come out and fix it,” the police report stated. The death has been ruled an accident by police, but the woman’s family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Six Flags and Gerstlauer Amusement Rides GmbH, the German company that made the roller coaster train. Gerstlauer and Six Flags have both filed court papers denying any wrongdoing or liability. In a statement to the Morning News on Thursday, Six Flags officials renewed their condolences to the woman’s family and repeated that “safety is our highest priority and at the heart of everything we do.”
Tombstone crushes, kills S. Texas cemetery worker
North Texas has another minor earthquake
I-20 reopens after overpass collapse
EDINBURG — A 64-year-old South Texas cemetery worker has died after a tombstone weighing about a ton fell on him. Edinburg police say the victim was crushed Wednesday morning at Hillcrest Cemetery while trying to stabilize the 5-foot-tall grave marker.
SPRINGTOWN — North Texas has had at least four minor earthquakes this week in the same general area about 20 miles northwest of Fort Worth. Emergency officials say no damage or injuries were immediately reported, including after a 2.9 magnitude quake recorded at 10:32 p.m. CST Thursday.
BIG SPRING — A stretch of Interstate 20 in West Texas that closed after an overpass collapsed during a wreck has reopened. The Texas Department of Transportation says the I-20 accident site just west of Big Spring reopened Thursday afternoon. Two 18-wheelers were involved in the accident Tuesday night near mile marker 170. DPS says the drivers weren’t injured.
Dallas announces pay-by-phone system DALLAS — Drivers lacking cash but with phones have more options for high-tech parking meters in Dallas. City officials and PayByPhone Technologies on Friday announced drivers can pay for metered parking with a credit or debit card using a smartphone app or by calling a toll-free number. City parking enforcement manager Paul Curington says it’s a simple way to add parking time from wherever you are.
Army dogs get new Fort Bliss kennel complex FORT BLISS — Military working dogs at Fort Bliss are getting a spanking new dog house. The El Paso Times reports the Army is building a $2 million kennel complex for military working dogs trained in drug and bomb detection. The deputy director of emergency services at the Army post, Steve Edmonds, says the complex will replace aging kennels that once served as the Rod and Gun Club in the 1970s.
Teenage girl accused of recruiting friends for sex WEBSTER — A 17-year-old girl has been charged with compelling prostitution after she was accused of recruiting her girlfriends to have sex with a 62year-old Houston-area businessman for money. Police say the friends were as young as 14. The alleged teen madam is free on a $40,000 bond. — Compiled from AP reports
AROUND THE NATION
TUESDAY, NOV. 26 TAMIU Planetarium shows. “Zula Patrol: Down to Earth” 2 p.m.; “Secret of the Cardboard Rocket” 3 p.m.; “Season of Light” 4 p.m. General admission $4. Call 326-3663.
THURSDAY, NOV. 28 Guajolote 10k Race. 9 a.m. to noon. Hamilton Trophies, 1320 Garden St. Register at Hamilton Trophies, Hamilton Jewelry (607 Flores Ave.) or at http://www.raceit.com/search/ event.aspx?id=23722. Call 724-9990 or 722-9463.
SATURDAY, DEC. 7 First United Methodist Church will hold a used book sale, from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at 1220 McClelland Ave. Hardback books are $1, paperback books 50 cents, and magazines and children’s books 25 cents. Submit calendar items at lmtonline.com/calendar/submit or by emailing editorial@lmtonline.com. Items will run as space is available.
Airports hold tribute for slain TSA officer LOS ANGELES — Airports around the nation have observed a moment of silence to honor the TSA officer killed by a gunman at Los Angeles International Airport a week ago. Passengers and Transportation Security Administration officers alike stopped Friday at LAX as “Taps” was played to remember Gerardo Hernandez. Operations were halted at hundreds of U.S. airports at 9:20 a.m. PST — the same time Hernandez was shot and killed last week. The 39-year-old father of two was the first TSA officer killed in the line of duty.
Some statements partially barred DENVER — The judge in the Colorado theater shooting case is limiting the use of some of the statements James Holmes made
CONTACT US
Photo by Stephan Savoia | AP
The grave of Medal of Honor recipient Jared Christopher Monti is shown at the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne, Mass., on Friday. The Country Music Association awarded song of the year to "I Drive Your Truck," inspired by Jared’s father, Paul, whose story was told by the song writers saying they were inspired by Monti driving the pickup truck left behind by his fallen soldier son. after his arrest. In a ruling Friday, Arapahoe (uh-RAP’-uh-hoh) County District Judge Carlos Samour said statements Holmes made after he had been read his rights and requested an attorney can’t be used against him. However, he
said the statements were voluntarily made, so prosecutors can bring them up if they’re needed during his trial next year. The statements were redacted so it’s not known how significant they are to the case. — Compiled from AP reports
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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2013
THE ZAPATA TIMES 3A
911 cell calls lacking info ASSOCIATED PRESS
AUSTIN — An advocacy group says two-thirds of all wireless 911 calls in Texas don’t provide enough location information for the caller, violating federal requirements. Find Me 911 Coalition reported Thursday that recent Federal Communications Commission data shows the rate of Texas wireless emergency callers with detailed location information has fallen by about half since 2011. Statewide data released by the FCC shows that 403,571, or 67 percent, of the 601,106 wireless 911 calls in June didn’t provide full location information. Mostly, those calls showed the location of the cell tower where the call originated.
Money rewarded in sheep mutilations PORT LAVACA — More than $7,000 in rewards have been offered for tips leading to arrests after more than 20 sheep were stolen or mutilated and slain at a farm. The Houston Chronicle on Wednesday reported the Hu-
mane Society of the U.S. has offered a $5,000 reward for information in the Port Lavaca animal killings. The Calhoun County Sheriff ’s Department has also been offering up to $2,500 from a private donor. Wayne and Karen Daggs of Port Lavaca since July have had 21 of their prized Barbado sheep disappear or the animals were found slain.
Feds give $5.6M to 10 new health centers AUSTIN — The federal Department of Health and Human Services has given $5.6 million in grants to 10 new health centers in Texas. HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced the awards Thursday as part of a national program that handed out $150 million in grants. In Texas, the money will go to new health centers that will provide primary care to about 46,000 people. The money is provided under the Affordable Care Act to expand routine health care for people without insurance, or those who too often rely on expensive emergency room care. Texas has the highest per-
centage of uninsured people of any state.
Second immigration protester deported EL PASO — Federal authorities have deported a second protester from a group of 34 that surrendered to immigration agents in September at the border with Mexico. The lawyer for Brandon Efren Pena Valencia says he was handed to Mexican authorities Tuesday. Of the 34, nine were released shortly after crossing into the U.S.; 16 others were later released after interviews determined they were eligible for asylum; and seven remain in custody, with two awaiting release and the others facing deportation. They all were brought to the U.S. as children but are not citizens. They’re called “dreamers” in reference to the federal Dream Act that would grant immigrants like them lawful status in the U.S. They were protesting in September to reunite deported youths with their families in the U.S.
Veterans get free meals SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
Veterans living along the border will be honored at Applebee’s with a free meal to pay tribute to their service to the country Monday in observance of Veterans Day. For the fifth year, Applebee’s will salute the nation’s military by serving an estimated 1 million free meals, nationwide. Since Applebee’s first began thanking the military with a free meal, restaurants have served approximately 4 million veterans and active duty military members on their day of remembrance and respect. “Each year, service mem-
bers gather in our restaurants to share stories, meet up with old friends and make new ones. It’s our favorite day of the year, and it’s an honor to serve the people who make this a special tradition for us,” said Brent Joens, director of operations. Laredo Applebee’s is offering a Veterans Day menu including some of its signature and favorite items, including the: 7 oz. House Sirloin Bacon Cheddar Cheeseburger Three-Cheese Chicken & Sundried Tomato Penne Fiesta Lime Chicken® Double Crunch Shrimp Chicken Tenders Platter
Oriental Chicken Salad Guests will need to provide proof of service, which includes: U.S. Uniform Services Identification Card, U.S. Uniform Services Retired Identification Card, Current Leave and Earnings Statement, Veterans Organization Card, photograph in uniform or wearing uniform, DD214, Citation or Commendation. Offer is valid for dine-in only. Traditional sides are included with free entrees; 2 for $20 appetizers, upgraded side items or extras, beverages, desserts and gratuity are not included. Applebee’s Thank You Meals will be offered during normal business hours Monday.
Feds to use military goods along river SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
U.S. Customs and Border Protection will soon begin the deployment of military-owned equipment for protection of the homeland in the Rio Grande Valley. The equipment is being evaluated in a key operational environment to assess its usefulness to CBP. The equipment could have significant benefits to the protection of the United States. In August 2012, CBP evaluated this same equipment in the same area. This year’s test will build on what was learned then and provide an opportunity to further understand the capability. The equipment, being deployed in three locations, will consist of large balloon-like devices called “aerostats.” They contain sensor equipment that allows operators to view activity along the border that could be a threat to the public and the nation. The sensor equipment is similar to what the Border Patrol already uses but allows for a greater viewing area. The aerostats and their associated equipment will be deployed in Peñitas, on the Starr/Hidalgo county line
and in Brooks County, near Falfurrias. In addition to the aerostats, CBP has acquired a large amount of equipment from the Department of Defense for use by Border Patrol and Office of Field Operations personnel. The significant advantages of using excess military equipment include economic benefits and, in partnership with DoD, quality training in the use and maintenance of the equipment. Congressman Henry Cuellar applauded the use of aerostats in border security efforts in a statement released Friday. “As a member of Congress representing a district along the U.S.-Mexico border, I applaud the work of U.S. Customs and Border Protection in creatively allocating funds for border security,” said Cuellar. “I have consistently advocated for law enforcement and border security agencies to use smart border technology to address the 21st century problem of securing our nation’s boundaries. By reusing military equipment along the southern border, Customs and Border Protection saves valuable federal funds and improves border security for Valley residents and people across the country.”
PAGE 4A
Zopinion
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2013
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR SEND YOUR SIGNED LETTER TO EDITORIAL@LMTONLINE.COM
COLUMN
OTHER VIEWS
Guillen now Dairy Queen champion AUSTIN — In the past, state Rep. Ryan Guillen, D-Rio Grande City, counted on weekday stops at traditional places, such as city halls, when he set out on “listening tours” to hear what was on constituents’ minds. The tours went fine, but this year, representing a rejiggered district that includes much new territory, Guillen was looking for something different. And he decided to do the tour of his sprawling, 10-county, South Texas district on a weekend day. “The big problem with weekends is what’s opened,” he told me. “What’s opened early enough in the morning and late enough in the evening so I can do as much as I can in one day?”
The right thing A brainstorming session produced some ideas, but nothing seemed quite right. There was some talk about going to supermarkets, but Guillen said supermarkets weren’t interested. Then Guillen’s wife, Dalinda, provided the eureka moment. “She said, ‘What about Dairy Queen?”’ Guillen recalled. “I said, ‘Gosh, that’s brilliant.’” So, on Saturday, Guillen probably will be the only Texas husband who, at his wife’s suggestion, will stop at nine Dairy Queens in nine cities during a 12-hour driving tour. The fun and food begins at 7 a.m. at the Rio Grande City Dairy Queen and ends with a 6:30 p.m. stop at the Cotulla Dairy Queen. There’s a 10th stop at a convenience store in Tilden, which is Dairy Queenless.
Tasty trail I’m heartbroken (though perhaps hearthealthier) that my Saturday schedule doesn’t allow me to tag along on Guillen’s Tour de DQs. Sounds tasty. “Our leaders do too much of the talking,” Guillen said in announcing the schedule. “This tour gives us the opportunity to shut up and listen to the folks back home over a Blizzard or two.” Five of the nine DQs Guillen will visit are owned by one person. Each of the other four is independently owned. Guillen said he had “an interesting time” trying to get the owners to OK his visit. “There was a lot of skepticism,” he recalled. “They wanted to know more.
All-day eats “I told one of the owners that of course we were going to be eating breakfast, lunch, midafternoon snack and dinner at Dairy Queens that day,” Guillen said. “I think that’s what sold it.” Guillen is rarin’ to go. And if this goes well, I think that instead of identifying him as Guillen, D-Rio Grande City, we should make him Guillen, DQ-Rio Grande
“
KEN HERMAN
“
This tour gives us the opportunity to shut up and listen to the folks back home over a Blizzard or two.”
COLUMN
STATE REP. RYAN GUILLEN City. Or maybe just the DQ Dude. “I think Dairy Queens are perfect because you already have a lot of folks who sit and visit with neighbors there. That’s kind of what they do already,” he said. If all works out, Guillen plans on making the Dairy Queen circuit the permanent home of his thrice-a-year listening tours. “The only thing that would keep us from doing that is if there is some kind of disruption to business at one of the Dairy Queens, and one of the owners says this is not going to work out,” he said.
Guillen’s buying It is in the constituents’ interest to make sure the events remain orderly. It is in their interest because Guillen is picking up the tab for anything his guests order while he’s in the building. FYI, the closest DQ he’s visiting to Austin is in Jourdanton, about 120 miles southwest of Austin. Guillen will be at that one from 5 to 5:30 p.m. But it would be wrong for you to drive there and pretend you’re a Guillen constituent just to get a free TripleBuster with cheese and Jalitos — “thin slices of mild jalapenos fried to golden perfection.” “Dairy Queen is Texas,” said Guillen, who, as chairman of the House Committee on Culture, Tourism and Recreation, is an expert on Texas culture. “I think this is a great idea, and, hopefully, we will get some good turnout.”
Wifely credit And if it goes as well as he’s anticipating, Guillen figures he’ll be hearing about it from his wife. “She makes a list of all the great ideas that she’s ever given me, and she reminds me every now and then,” he said. Politicians, DQs, wives who urge their politician husbands to go to a bunch of DQs and politician husbands wise enough to respond by saying, “Gosh, that’s brilliant”: Like the DQ ad says, “That’s what I like about Texas.” Ken Herman is a columnist for the Austin American-Statesman. Email: kherman@statesman.com.
Can King Coal be helped back onto his throne? By LLEWELLYN KING HEARST NEWSPAPERS
WASHINGTON — Forty years after the Arab oil embargo, which triggered decades of turbulence in the energy markets, there is a sense of plenty at last. There also is a sense, says Barry Worthington, executive director of the United States Energy Association, that “technology came through.” And it has. Windmills are producing more and more electricity around the globe; the cost of solar energy, particularly rooftop collectors is falling; and there is, above all, enough natural gas and oil to keep a voracious world supplied. In oil and gas there is real technology triumph, the culmination of decades of effort by the government and private enterprise to develop better ways of mapping reserves with 3-D seismic surveys, horizontal drilling, and finally the development and deployment of geological fracturing, known as “fracking.” With fracking, a well is drilled vertically and then two horizontal wells shoot off from the mother well; one for breaking up the rock with sand, water and chemicals, and another for transporting the oil or gas, which has been loos-
ened from shale formations. This technology has revolutionized oil production made the United States — which has abundant oil and gas-bearing shale — a potential gas exporter, and possibly selfsufficient in oil. In 1973 the energy picture was pretty bleak, and it remained bleak through the decades. The United States was resigned to the reality that it could not be self-sufficient in energy. Natural gas, according to the then-Deputy Secretary of Energy Jack O’Leary was a “depleted resource” not worth worrying about. Oil production was declining and consumption was climbing. Coal was the great hope because there was a lot of it and it could burned, made into a gas, and turned into a liquid for transportation. With coal and nuclear — then still a cutting-edge technology — electricity would be the only safe bet. In 1973 climate change was a phrase yet to enter the language, and only in obscure academic settings was the possibility of global warming hinted. The rage of what was a relatively new environmental movement was directed toward coal and nuclear. But, for social and political reasons, it settled on a course of hostility —
bordering on the psychopathic— toward nuclear, which stumbled first in public esteem and then in the marketplace, mostly from costs driven up by delay occasioned by environmental litigation. The world oil picture was changed by technology as well. Not only was extraction better and cheaper and, therefore, possible in increasingly hostile environments and in very deep water off shore, but oil was discovered in the Southern Hemisphere, where oldline geology had declared it would not exist. The challenge now, as seen by Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz, is to make the burning of fossil fuels more environmentally benign by reducing the emission of greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide. Moniz was at a ministerial conference in Washington this week to push for the capture of carbon from coal-burning plants, the most intense emitters. This embryonic technology, known as “carbon capture and storage,” removes the carbon dioxide from the effluent streams chemically. Then it is compressed to a liquid and pumped into geological formation for storage. In time, scientists believe, it will eventually harden and become part
of the earth that hosts it. Twenty-three nations represented at the meeting heard Moniz spur them on to greater effort to catch the wave of technological euphoria and to see if King Coal, now under attack by environmentalists and by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, can be helped back onto his throne. Since 2009, according to Moniz, the United States has committed $6 billion to carbon capture and eight large demonstration projects are underway. China, often dismissed as an environmental renegade, is working on carbon capture. “It is wrong to think that China doesn’t care about the environment,” said Sarah Forbes of the World Resources Institute, which has an office in China and is working with the Chinese. There are more questions than answers about whether carbon can be captured from utility chimneys cheaply and whether enough of it can be kept out of the atmosphere to make the effort worthwhile. But the effort is underway. Remember, it took 40 years to beat back the energy crisis. (Llewellyn King’s email is lking@kingpublishing.com.)
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National
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2013
THE ZAPATA TIMES 5A
Perry group’s national ad No jail time touts state’s job growth for mother of activist By WILL WEISSERT ASSOCIATED PRESS
AUSTIN — Texas Gov. Rick Perry hit national airwaves again Friday, this time with a television spot blaming the White House for the nation’s stubbornly high unemployment rate and touting stronger job growth in his and other Republican-led states. Americans for Economic Freedom, a nonprofit aimed at helping Perry gear up for another possible presidential run, is sponsoring the 30-second ad. It will air for 10 days on Fox News and a few other cable channels and involves a “six-figure media buy,” said Sara Marie Kinney, a spokeswoman for the group. Amid the federal government shutdown last month, Perry appeared in a national TV and radio ad blasting gridlock in Washington while promoting GOP leadership in states around the country. This time, over images of shuttered storefronts and close-ups of a man and a woman with strained looks on their faces and their heads in their hands, Perry is heard saying: “Today almost 2 million people would need a job just to get us back to where we were before the Obama administration.” The governor notes that many of those out of work have given up looking for jobs, meaning they aren’t counted in official unemployment tallies. Then, over sunnier images of Americans working, he says, “But places like Nevada, Texas and Florida are leading the way in job growth.” Nevada and Florida are led by fellow Republicans governors, reinforcing Perry’s message that while the federal government flounders, states with conservative leaders are in better shape. Later appearing on-screen from a factory floor, Perry continues: “Progrowth and pro-free enterprise policies are putting people to work, something we need more of in Washington.” Perry was briefly the Republican presidential front-runner during the 2012 campaign, but flamed out amid a series of public gaffes. He isn’t seeking a fourth full term in office next year but hasn’t ruled out a second run for president in 2016. Texas Democrats have scoffed at
By NOMAAN MERCHANT ASSOCIATED PRESS
Photo by Reed Saxon/file | AP
Gov. Rick Perry is seen in Anaheim, Calif., on Oct. 4. He hit national airwaves again Friday, this time with a television spot blaming the White House for the nation’s woes. Perry’s attempts to rehabilitate his image outside of Texas. “He’s still a national joke in a very literal way,” said Matt Glazer, a Democratic strategist based in Austin. “I get what’s he’s trying to do promoting Texas and Texans ... but that’s not what his ad is about.” Glazer said that instead, the spot promoted “corruption and a corrupt system” where businesses and other wealthy interests benefit from generous state tax breaks and subsidies, while spending on social programs and basic infrastructure has fallen under Perry. Still, in a statement, Americans For Economic Freedom cited the Bureau of Labor and Statistics in reporting that labor force participation nationwide is at its lowest point since August 1978. In a statement Friday, Perry said, “We only need to look to states with conservative leadership to find the keys to job creation and the blue-
print for economic growth — low taxes, smart regulations and fair courts.” Since taking over the governorship from George W. Bush in December 2000, Perry has been a proponent of laws limiting jury awards in civil cases, which he and other supporters say helps prevent frivolous lawsuits against businesses. Americans for Economic Freedom is using $200,000-plus left over from a political action committee that raised millions during Perry’s 2012 campaign. The governor announced the creation of the group meant to raise his national profile in September, during a trip to Missouri to lure job-creating firms from that state to Texas. Also on the Americans For Economic Freedom advisory board is another former GOP presidential hopeful, Newt Gingrich. Perry endorsed Gingrich after dropping out of the race for the White House in South Carolina in January 2012.
DALLAS — A federal judge declined to order jail time for the mother of a writer and activist with ties to the hacking collective Anonymous, after she pleaded guilty to helping her son hide laptops from federal agents. Karen Lancaster McCutchin was sentenced to six months’ probation and a $1,000 fine. She apologized Friday in Dallas federal court for hiding the laptops from agents during a March 2012 raid at their home. Her son faces three separate federal indictments and has gotten widespread attention among groups who believe he’s being unfairly prosecuted. “My better judgment was clouded by my maternal instinct,” McCutchin said. U.S. Magistrate Judge Paul Stickney said McCutchin’s crime “does not warrant any jail sentence at all.” “I feel for you, as a parent,” Stickney told McCutchin, adding: “I know you did the best you could.” Brown, 32, has written extensively about the Internet and the relationships between the federal government and private contractors — and has continued to be published while in federal custody. He’s previously served as a de facto spokesman for Anonymous, the shadowy movement of “hacktivists” that has built a reputation for its bold attacks on governments and companies. Brown landed in jail in
September 2012 after posting YouTube videos and tweets that ripped his opponents in the online world and the FBI, which was later revealed to have been investigating him. In the videos, he names one agent and threatens to “ruin his life and look into his (expletive) kids.” He was arrested shortly after that video was posted online. Since then, federal prosecutors have obtained three indictments against him: for making Internet threats and retaliating against law enforcement; for aggravated identity theft and device fraud charges for posting an Internet link; and for concealing the laptops. In total, he faces more than 100 years in prison. Defenders say he simply posted a link to a private contractor’s documents obtained by Anonymous that included credit card numbers, and that he said what he did in the videos because he feared authorities coming after his mother. “When it comes to your family, it’s hard to be rational,” said one of his attorneys, Charles Swift, earlier this year. McCutchin’s attorney, Bob Webster, said she wanted to try to help Brown, who has acknowledged using drugs in media interviews and in court, and did what she thought was right at the moment. “The last thing she wanted was to bring harm to Barrett,” Webster said. “She would do that until her dying breath. If circumstances arose, I’m sure she would do that again.”
6A THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2013
Wrong conviction gets ex-prosecutor jail By PAUL J. WEBER ASSOCIATED PRESS
GEORGETOWN — A former Texas prosecutor charged over a wrongful murder conviction agreed to a 10-day jail sentence Friday, accepting the punishment in front of the innocent man he helped put in prison for nearly 25 years. Ken Anderson also will be disbarred and must serve 500 hours of community service as part of a sweeping deal that was expected to end all criminal and civil cases against the embattled ex-district attorney, who was the face of the law in a tough-on-crime Texas county for 30 years. Anderson, 61, never spoke in his return to the same Williamson County courthouse where he served as a state judge for 11 years before resigning in September. Sitting behind Anderson in the gallery was Michael Morton, who was released
from prison in 2011 after DNA evidence showed he didn’t beat his wife to death in 1986. “It’s a good day,” said Morton, surrounded by family members. Asked if he felt satisfaction in watching the role reversal — Anderson at the defense table, waiting to be put behind bars — Morton took the high road. “It was one of those necessary evils, or distasteful requirements that you have to do in life,” he said. Morton didn’t dwell on the length of the jail sentence, saying the punishment “or lack thereof ” was as much as the legal system could dole out at this time. Anderson entered a plea of no contest to contempt of court. The charge stemmed from a 1987 exchange when Anderson, then the Williamson County district attorney, was asked by a judge whether he had anything to offer that was favorable to Morton’s defense. He said no.
Photo by Ricardo Brazziell/pool/statesman.com | AP
Ken Anderson, a former district attorney who wrongfully sent a man to prison for 25 years, agreed to a 10-day jail sentence Friday. But among the evidence Morton’s attorneys claim was kept from them were statements from Morton’s then-3-year-old son, who witnessed the murder and said his father wasn’t responsible. There were also interviews with neighbors who told authorities they saw another man near the Morton home before the slaying. Judge Kelly Moore said
Friday the case against Anderson revealed a difficulty in determining justice. “There is no way that anything we can do here today can resolve the tragedy that occurred in these matters,” Moore said. “I’d like to say to Mr. Morton, the world is a better place because of you.” Anderson must report to Williamson County jail by Dec. 2. Morton’s attorneys
acknowledged that Anderson could serve as few as four days with good behavior and time already served. A Texas judge had ordered Anderson’s arrest in in April on the contempt and tampering charges. He faced up to 10 years in prison if found guilty on the tampering charges, but prosecutors said statues of limitations made it a difficult conviction to pursue. Anderson has previously apologized to Morton for what he called failures in the system but has said he believes there was no misconduct. Eric Nichols, Anderson’s attorney, made it a point to say in court Friday his client “has not been convicted, and will not be convicted, of any criminal offense.” Morton’s attorneys announced afterward there will be an audit of all cases previously handled by Anderson to look for other instances of alleged misconduct.
Since being freed from prison, Morton has become a visible embodiment of problems in the legal system in Texas, which leads the nation in prisoners set free by DNA testing — 117 in the last 25 years. Earlier this year, the former Republican chief justice of the Texas Supreme Court urged lawmakers to act on the issue. Morton was a regular presence at the Texas Capitol this spring and helped push through the Michael Morton Act, which helps compel prosecutors to share files with defense attorneys that can help defendants’ cases. Morton said his only goal since being freed was to get Anderson off the bench and make sure he’ll never practice law again. Now that both have been accomplished, Morton said he didn’t know what’s next. “It’s kind of like winning the Super Bowl. The next day is like, ‘Now what?’ Morton said. “We’ll see.”
Priest agrees ‘Virtual kidnapping’ claim nets 4 to leave the priesthood to settle case ASSOCIATED PRESS
By KATIE ZEZIMA ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEWARK, N.J. — In a rare agreement with prosecutors, a priest who admitted to violating a court order barring him from unsupervised contact with minors has agreed to ask to be laicized. Michael Fugee has agreed to seek laicization from the Roman Catholic Church as part of settling charges with the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office. Fugee resigned from the Archdiocese of Newark in May. Prosecutors charged him with flouting FUGEE a 2007 agreement that allowed him to return to ministry after being convicted that he fondled a boy. Friday, Bergen County Prosecutor John Molinelli slammed the archdiocese for not properly monitoring Fugee after he returned to the priesthood. “It has not appeared that the Archdiocese made any significant effort to adhere to the terms” of the agreement, Molinelli said in a statement. Molinelli said he and others “no longer have confidence” in the archdiocese’s ability to honor its terms. The crux of the agreement was that Fugee refrain from having unsupervised contact with minors. Despite this, Fugee became a fixture at a Colts Neck, N.J., church youth group, traveling with teenagers and hearing confessions. The archdiocese said it did not know Fugee was spending time at the church, which is in a neighboring diocese. In addition to requiring that Fugee asked to be laicized, a rare prosecutorial move because it involves petitioning to the Vatican, Molinelli put a plethora of restrictions on Fugee. Fugee will be barred from holding any job or volunteer position involving children and from unsupervised contact with children under 18. He must give his address and employment information to the prosecutor’s office each year and cannot present himself as a priest or spiritual adviser. Fugee must release his medical and psychological records to the prosecutor. “The Archdiocese did not violate the terms of the Fugee Memorandum of Understanding,” archdiocesan spokesman James Goodness said in a statement, “and never authorized or condoned Fugee’s unauthorized actions that led to the Prosecutor’s investigation.” In the prior case, Fugee confessed to police that while wrestling with a teenage boy he “grabbed his crotch” and was sexually excited.
SAN DIEGO — Four people have been charged in a scheme that used telemarketing tactics to shake down immigrants for ransom money under the guise that loved ones had been kidnapped, according to an indictment unsealed Friday. In reality, no one had been snatched and the callers didn’t even know who they were dialing. But in a small percentage of successes since 2007, the “virtual kidnappers” collected at least $500,000, federal investigators said. Callers in Tijuana, Mexico, used about 30 different San Diego phone numbers to make the calls — up to 5,000 a day — demanding that money be wired, saying they were holding a relative who
had been heading to the U.S. illegally. The four charged with wire fraud and other crimes are accused of picking up ransom payments in the San Diego area and bringing the money to Tijuana. While authorities say the scammers were targeting immigrants, the numbers were dialed at random. “They would just randomly run through a sequence of numbers, like 1 to 100,” said Daniel Page, assistant special agent in charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs and Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations unit in San Diego. “They’re just like your professional telemarketer. They have a script. ‘You need to pay this money. If you don’t, something’s going to happen.”’ Callers had no idea if their
victims really had loved ones crossing the border but figured that enough calls would eventually produce a hit, Page said. When someone took the bait they usually paid between $1,000 and $3,000. They targeted the Washington, D.C., area because it is home to large numbers of Central American immigrants whose migrant relatives are often out of contact during the long journey north. “Virtual kidnapping” is a common scam in Latin America, especially in Mexico, Brazil and Guatemala, where high crime rates lead people to be more likely believe it when a random caller tells them a family member has been kidnapped. Calls in Latin America are often placed by inmates in
prison who use smuggled cellphones. The perpetrators often cull information from social networking websites to convince people they have kidnapped their family members. Federal authorities in Arizona reported a spate of calls in 2008, but this case is rare because it resulted in arrests. The latest investigation began in 2011 with a real kidnapping, Page said. A Fresno woman wired $2,500 to a Walmart store in suburban San Diego to free a brother-in-law who was beaten and held for several days in Tijuana. The woman got another call demanding more money, but knew her brother-in-law was free. She called Fresno police, which led to the arrests of a married couple at a 7-Eleven store after investigators told her to play along.
Report: More Afghan troops die By LOLITA C. BALDOR ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON — The number of Afghan national security troops killed in combat shot up almost 80 percent during this summer’s fighting season, compared with the same time in 2012, as Afghans take the lead in the fight across the country. A Pentagon report says that U.S. and coalition deaths, meanwhile, dropped by almost 60 percent during the same six-month period. The Defense Department refused to release numbers to explain the percentages, but U.S. military leaders have said that the number of Afghans killed each week had spiked to more than 100 earlier this year. The high number of casualties and the Afghans’ limited ability to evacuate their wounded, “adversely affects morale, retention and recruiting,” according to the report, which the Defense Department released Friday. A senior U.S. military offi-
cial, when asked about the casualty rate, said late last month that as the fighting season begins to wind down, the Afghan deaths had also started to decline. In one recent week, about 50 were killed in action, said the official, who spoke to reporters at a recent NATO meeting and requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly under NATO rules. The Pentagon report covers the time period from April 1, 2013, to Sept. 30, 2013, before snow and cold temperatures begin to make travel difficult. The drop in U.S. and coalition casualties reflects the Afghans’ increased role taking the lead of combat operations as well as the ongoing decrease in the number of international forces in the country. As of this week, there are about 48,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan, down from a peak of slightly more than 100,000 in 2010. According to the report, Afghan forces now conduct
95 percent of conventional operations and 98 percent of special operations in Afghanistan. Coalition forces continue to provide training and assistance but are still needed for air support, security, route clearance for roadside bombs, air lift for wounded or dead troops and counterterror operations. Under the current plan, coalition combat forces will leave Afghanistan at the end of next year. Negotiations between the U.S. and the Afghan government are continuing to determine whether a small U.S. force will remain after 2014, and, if so, how many. U.S. and coalition officials have outlined plans to leave between 8,000-12,000 troops there to train and advise the Afghans, but any decision depends on whether the two sides can finalize a security agreement. The U.S. is expected to provide no more than 8,000, but the number could be substantially fewer depending on the agreement reached. Overall, the report said
that the Afghans are gaining capabilities, but it also warned that the insurgency “consolidated gains in some of the rural areas in which it has traditionally held power.” And it says that as more U.S. and coalition troops leave in the coming months it will be difficult for the Afghans to take on all the needed capabilities, including both the fighting force and the government institutions and ministries needed to support it. Afghan capabilities, “are not yet fully self-sustainable, and considerable effort will be required to make progress permanent,” the report said. “After 2014, (Afghan forces’) sustainability will be at high risk without continued aid from the international community and continued coalition force assistance including institutional advising.” With international aid, however, the Afghans could continue to increase their ability to maintain a force and fight the Taliban, the report said.
Probe: Police ordered from rampage By ERIC TUCKER ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON — It was reasonable for officials to reroute a Capitol Police tactical squad away from the Washington Navy Yard rampage amid concerns about possible threats to the U.S. Capitol after the officers got stuck in traffic, according to a report released Friday that defends the decision. The officers in the specially trained unit, which handles crises such as mass shootings, tried to respond to the Navy Yard but could not even reach the command post there because of traffic snarls caused by emergency vehicles, according to the two-
page document. There were also no demands for additional Capitol Police resources beyond the teams that were already there and commanders were faced with “the potential of threats or secondary attacks” to the Capitol building, the report states. The unit was directed to the Capitol more than a half-hour after the first reports of the attack. “Everyone’s intentions were the right intentions ‘cause they’re the type of people who want to go,” Capitol Police Chief Kim Dine said in an interview. “That’s what they want to do. We respect that and appreciate that.” The Capitol Police Board, which oversees the
agency and released a summary of a review team’s findings, initiated the investigation days after the Sept. 16 shooting amid reports that a Capitol Police supervisor had told the Containment and Emergency Response Team to stand down and not respond to the rampage. Senate Sergeant at Arms Terrance Gainer, who serves on the board, said at the time the investigation was announced that the reports, if true, would represent an “unbearable failure.” But he said Friday that the reality uncovered by a special review team was far more nuanced, and that the decision to recall the four-member unit made sense in light of the overall
circumstances. “It was reasonable to have them come back,” he said. Gainer, a former Capitol Police chief, said while he understood the inclination to second-guess the decision he did not think it was appropriate to speculate whether the unit would have made a difference if allowed inside the building. Tactical officers from multiple other law enforcement agencies also responded to the rampage and the gunman was killed during a police shootout. “These are very fluid, fast-moving events and they’re sort of multilayered,” Dine said. The Capitol Police is responsible for protecting
congressional buildings as well as members of Congress and their families. But its units sometimes respond to emergencies away from the Capitol complex. On the day of the shooting, two motorcycle units deployed to the Navy Yard to help with traffic control, along with another team that helped protect the perimeter and a sergeant who served as a command post liaison, according to the report. The gunman, Aaron Alexis, a 34-year-old former Navy reservist and government contractor who worked at the Navy Yard, killed 12 people before being shot to death by police. The FBI has said he was experiencing delusions in
the months leading up to the shooting, leaving behind writings indicating that he believed he was being bombarded by extremely low frequency radio waves. The review team conducted dozens of interviews and evaluated radio transmissions and command center incident logs. Several other recommendations were made as part of the investigation, including improving communication between different Capitol Police units during an emergency. The full report was not publicly released. Dine said in an email to the department that the report “will truly help our Department moving forward.”
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2013
THE ZAPATA TIMES 7A
Mexico
8A THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2013
Town’s residents win fight against cartel By KATHERINE CORCORAN ASSOCIATED PRESS
TEPALCATEPEC, Mexico — For lime grower Hipolito Mora, it was time to organize and pick up arms when a packing company controlled by a brutal drug cartel refused to buy his fruit. For Bishop Miguel Patino Velazquez, it was seeing civilians forced to fight back with their own guns that made him speak out. For Leticia, a lime picker too afraid of retribution to give her last name, it was the day she saw a taxi driver kidnapped in front of his two young children that convinced her to join those taking the law into their own hands. In Mexico they call it “the drop that makes the glass overflow,” and it came at different points for the people living for years in fear of the brutal Knights Templar in the western Valley of Apatzingan, an emerald green tapestry of orchards bordered by bluegray peaks. “We lived in bondage, threatened by organized crime,” said Leticia, 40, who ekes out a living picking fruit and selling chicken on the side. “They wanted to treat people like animals.” Eight months after locals formed self-defense groups, they say they are free of the cartel in six municipalities of the Tierra Caliente, or “Hot Land,” which earned its moniker for the scorching weather but whose name has also come to signify criminal activity. What’s more, the self-defense group leaders, who are clearly breaking Mexican law by picking up military-style arms to fight criminals, say the federal government is no longer arresting them, but recruiting them to help federal forces identify cartel members. The Mexican government, which over seven years has repeatedly sent troops and federal police into the area without success,
Photo by Dario Lopez-Mills | AP
Villagers belonging to a self-defense group stand at a checkpoint in the town of Las Colonias, in the state of Michoacan, Mexico, on Tuesday. Self-defense groups now claim several thousand members, competing with the Kights Templar cartel in raw numbers if not firepower. has reached its own limit: an Oct. 27 attack by alleged cartel agents on power distribution plants and electrical sub-stations in 14 towns and cities that were intended to terrorize the public. At least 400,000 people were left in the dark. Attorney General Jesus Murillo Karam arrived by helicopter to the ranch town of Tepalcatepec two days later to meet with self-defense group leaders. “The attorney general came with two army generals to speak to me and said ‘We’ve come to help. What do you want us to do?”’ said Dr. Jose Manuel Mireles, self-defense group leader in Tepacaltepec, speaking over breakfast in a grove of fat mango trees, his two-way radio crackling with movements of his patrols. He said the government promised operations in major cities around the state. Federal security spokesman Eduardo Sanchez did not respond to several requests for comment about the government’s cooperation. On Monday, military and federal police moved into the Michoacan port of Lazaro Cardenas, a major source of cartel income due to the trafficking of drugs and precursor chemicals, as well as
extortion. They dismissed 113 local police and took over security. About 40 officers were bused to Mexico City for questioning into rumors of corruption, according to one security official who wasn’t authorized to speak on the record. On Thursday, the army arrested the entire 25-officer police force of Vista Hermosa, also in northern Michoacan, a violent area where the Knights Templar are battling the New Generation, a cartel in neighboring Jalisco state. The self-defense groups started small with just a few dozen civilians from two communities: lime pickers, ranchers and business owners who began patrolling the streets, setting up roadblocks and ambushing the Knights Templar as the drug men roamed with their heavy artillery and grand SUVs. The ragtag groups now claim several thousand members in a valley of more than 300,000 people, competing with the cartel in raw numbers if not firepower. Despite some success in the six municipalities of Tierra Caliente, the cartel continues to enforce a stranglehold on Michoacan, a rich farming state that is a
major exporter of lime, avocado and mango. On Thursday, Ygnacio Lopez Mendoza, a Michoacan mayor who staged a hunger strike in Mexico City to seek government help, saying he was extorted by the cartel, was found dead in his car after being taken from him home, according to a local government association. While cartels terrorized communities all over Mexico, many say Michoacan is a case unto itself. The region has long tolerated marijuana and poppy growers, and corruption and organized crime have permeated the social, political and economic fabric of the region for years. “Michoacan has all the characteristics of a failed state,” Patino, the bishop of Apatzingan, wrote last month in an unusually candid letter naming the Knights Templar and other cartels. “Municipal governments and police are in the service or colluding with criminals, and the rumor continues to grow that the state government is also in the service of organized crime.” The archdiocese this week denied reports that the clergyman was threatened for speaking out and is
in protective custody, saying he is at a pastoral retreat. Rumors circulate that some self-defense groups have been infiltrated by the New Generation cartel, charges the groups vehemently deny. A rebel band of former Knights Templar, curiously nicknamed “Los Viagra,” have also tried to use self-defense groups as cover for illegal activities, according to residents. Self-defense leaders say they are simply ordinary citizens trying to defend themselves against unending violence because the state has proved unable to do it for them. Mireles, the self-defense group leader, says the big trouble began 12 years ago, when the local community unwisely made a deal with a local cartel known as La Familia to oust upstarts from an even more brutal cartel, the nationally powerful Zetas. When La Familia fell apart under heavy attack from the government of former President Felipe Calderon, the faction that was left took up the name Knights Templar. Initially, the gang told people it wouldn’t bother them. But then the cartel realized it could make more money from extorting local busi-
nesses than it could from selling drugs. “They were very ambitious,” said Mora, who leads the self-defense group in La Ruana. “And that was their mistake, getting involved with civilians, with honest employment. They started step-by-step to take over all of the farm production.” Mora and Mireles, who started first with recruiting and secret night meetings, said at first 95 percent of the people said no, but the movement built quickly after their first appearance on Feb. 24. They plan to continue their attacks on the cartel in other cities, despite being stopped by the military on Oct. 26 when they tried to take over Apatzingan. They negotiated a peaceful march, unarmed, with the protection of the military. As some 3,000 entered the square, sharpshooters believed to be from the Knights Templar opened fire on the crowd from a church tower and city hall, where municipal police were standing watch. Several were injured. Now the self-defense groups say they are working to help federal forces identify criminals in the city, and their joint efforts resulted Monday in the capture of Leopoldo Jaimes Valladares, a mid-level cartel dealer believed to control the extortion in the central lime market. In the Valley of Apatzingan, daily life continues under the watch of military helicopters and around sandbags marking dozens of checkpoints, some by soldiers and others by self-defense groups. Fruit trucks rumble by in the heat, and school children practice their civic marches, the sounds of drumming and brass filling the dusty streets. Outside of Apatzingan, men roam with hunting and semi-automatic assault rifles. It’s a fragile peace.
SÁBADO 9 DE NOVIEMBRE DE 2013
Agenda en Breve LAREDO 11/09— Se estará llevando a cabo un triatlón, dentro de un Festival de Yoga, en el North Central Park a partir de las 7:30 a.m. Costos son de 40 dólares por persona o 60 dólares por equipo. El recorrido incluye, recorrido ciclista de 15.8 millas, carrera de 5 kilómetros y nado de un cuarto de milla. Fondos serán destinados a comprar árboles. 11/09— El equipo de voleibol de TAMIU se estará enfrentando a Newman a las 9 a.m. en el KinesiologyConvocation Building. Costo 5 dólares, gratis a estudiantes con credencial de la escuela. 11/09— El Laredo Community College y LCC Education Foundation estarán honrando a los veteranos durante el Veterans Day Observance a partir de las 9:30 a.m. dentro de la Capilla Privada de Veteranos David B. Barkeley Cantu, dentro del Campus Fort McIntosh. 11/09— Liberty Tax Service estará impartiendo un seminario gratuito sobre ley asequiblem a partir de la 1 p.m. en las oficinas ubicadas en 1102 de N Meadow. Para más información puede llamar al 717-1040. 11/09— El Planetario Lamar Bruni Vergara de TAMIU estará presentando One World, one Sky”, “The Future is Wild”, “New Horizons”, “Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon”, a partir de la 1 p.m. y hasta alas 5 p.m. Precios van de 4 a 6 dólares. Para más información llame al 326.DOME (3663). 11/11— La Semana de la Educación a Distancia de Tamiz comienza hoy a las 8:30 a.m. en el Teatro del Centro de Bellas Artes y Artes Escénicas. Para más información escriba a elearning@tamiu.edu. 11/11— TAMIU estará celebrando la exposición de Servicios-Aprendizaje 2013 de 10 a.m. a 2 p.m. en el Salón del Centro de Estudiantes. Durante el evento podrá conocer más acerca del objetivo y los servicios de las clases. Para más información llame al 326.3133. 11/11— La Banda de Alexander High School se estará presentando después del desfile por el Día de los Veteranos en la Plaza San Agustín, a partir de las 11 a.m. 11/11— Artes y Ciencias de la Dirección General de Bellas Artes y Artes Escénicas de TAMIU presentará un recital con instrumentos de viento de madera a las 6 p.m. Evento gratuito.
NUEVO LAREDO, MÉXICO 11/09— NUEVO LAREDO, México— Estación Palabra presenta “Bazar de Arte” en la Sala Gabriel García Márquez a las 12 p.m.; Presentación musical de Alberto Galván y Anaí Pedraza a la 1 p.m.; “Festival Infantil” con cuentacuentos, dinámicas y una platica con “Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz” en el área infantil de Estación Palabra, a las 2 p.m.; “Círculo de Lectores” donde se discutirá sobre el libro ‘La ternura canibal’ a las 3 p.m.; Eventos gratuitos. 11/10— NUEVO LAREDO, México— El grupo de Teatro Laberintus estará presentando la obra de teatro “La Nave de José Luis Pineda Servín, a las 12 p.m. en el Teatro del IMSS, entre las calles Reynosa y Belden (sector centro). 11/10— NUEVO LAREDO, México— Domingos de Tearo presenta “Adictos a la Vida” de Enrique Mijares, a cargo del grupo de teatro DGETI, en el teatro Lucio Blanco a las 5 p.m.
Zfrontera
PÁGINA 9A
NACIONAL
Faltaría tiempo
En junio Senado aprobó Republicano asegura no habrá tiempo para iniciativa para ampliar sacar reforma migratoria este año en EU. reforma a ley migratoria POR DONNA CASSATA ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON — No queda tiempo para sacar una reforma migratoria este año en Estados Unidos, afirmó el tercer republicano de más rango en la Cámara de Representantes, confirmando lo que muchos pensaban desde hace semanas. En declaraciones con defensores de la inmigración, Kevin McCarthy, representante por California, se comprometió a trabajar en la reforma el año próximo, pero reconoció que no quedaban días suficientes para que la Cámara pudiera hacer algo sustancial sobre el tema este
año. Su oficina confirmó sus declaraciones. Angélica Salas, directora de consejo de la organización Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (Coalición para los Derechos Humanos de los Inmigrantes), con sede en Los Ángeles, describió el viernes su conversación con McCarthy en una conferencia telefónica con la prensa. “Lo que dijo fue que quedan 13 días, es un difícil hacer algo en ese tiempo”, dijo en una entrevista subsecuente con The Associated Press. La Cámara de Representantes regresará la próxima semana después de un receso de una semana, pero sólo quedan pocos días de la agen-
da legislativa. En junio, el Senado aprobó una iniciativa para una amplia reforma a la ley de migración que podría dar un camino a la ciudadanía a unas 11 millones de personas que viven sin permiso legal en el país y reforzaría la seguridad fronteriza, pero la Cámara de Representantes no ha trabajado en ese proyecto. Salas y media decena de mujeres protestaron en la oficina de McCarthy en Bakersfield, California, el jueves. Salas dijo que McCarthy habló con ella y les explicó que sólo quedan unos días en el calendario legislativo. Alrededor de las 11 de la noche de ayer, McCarthy y su esposa se reunieron
con las que se manifestaban. “Él dijo, ‘señoritas, escucho que quieren hablar conmigo. Sin embargo, esta no es la forma de hacerlo’”, relató Salas. Agregó que el legislador y el grupo hablaron durante casi una hora y las mujeres explicaron que aunque aprecian el apoyo del congresista a la reforma migratoria es imperativo que la Cámara actúe tan pronto como sea posible. “Es cuestión de voluntad política hacer lo que es correcto”, dijo Salas. “Esto es lo que estamos pidiendo”. La mayoría de los republicanos en la Cámara de Representantes rechazan un proyecto de reforma amplia, así como el proyecto del Senado y muchos ponen en duda que el gobierno deba ofrecer la ciudadanía a personas que violaron las leyes migratorias de Estados Unidos para residir aquí.
TAMAULIPAS
GOBIERNO
QUINTA ETAPA
Anuncian planes de segundo periodo TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
Foto de cortesía | Gobierno del estado de Tamaulipas
En la imagen algunos de los ciclistas que participaron en la Quinta Etapa de la Vuelta a Tamaulipas 2013.
Competencias han arrojado ganadores TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
CD. VICTORIA, Tamaulipas.- Se llevó a cabo la Quinta Etapa de la Vuelta a Tamaulipas 2013 en la cual resultó ganador el representante del equipo Tenis Stars, Ricardo Aurelio Torres con un tiempo de 3 horas, 06 minutos y 17 segundos, con un recorrido de 162.7 kilómetros de San Fernando a la capital tamaulipeca. En segundo lugar, llegó Irving Aguilar del equipo Empacadora San Marcos y en tercero, José Gerardo Soto del Arenas Tlax Mex, todos ellos con
el mismo tiempo que Torres y a una velocidad promedio de 42 kilómetros por hora. El banderazo de salida oficial fue realizado por el Alcalde de San Fernando, Mario Alberto de la Garza Garza. A partir del punto de partida, los pedalistas recorrieron los municipios de Jiménez, Padilla, Güemez, llegando a la meta final en las instalaciones del Parque Bicentenario de Ciudad Victoria.
Otros ganadores El Líder General de esta
Vuelta a Tamaulipas 2013, es José Antonio Alarcón, oriundo de Venezuela pero participando con el tradicional equipo mexicano Canel´s Turbo; el Líder de Metas Volantes es Ignacio de Jesús Prado del sorprendente equipo Tenis Stars. El Líder de la categoría Sub 23, es Jesús Ortiz del Tenis Stars. El Líder de Montaña lo es Irving Aguilar del equipo Empacadora San Marcos y finalmente, el Líder como Mejor Tamaulipeco es Edgar Iván Leija del Rabbit Cycling Team que comanda Antonio Camarillo de Matamoros.
A casi la mitad de la administración del Gobierno de Tamaulipas que encabeza Egidio Torre Cantú, el miércoles fue presentada la actualización del Plan Estatal de Desarrollo 2011-2016, que busca “mover a México hacia la ruta de la paz, inclusión y la prosperidad”. Torre dijo que se busca “responder mejor a las nuevas condiciones de nuestro entorno, para responder mejor a las nuevas formas que caracterizan a la sociedad de nuestros días”. Los cuatro ejes rectores del Plan Estatal de Desarrollo, alineados a la visión federal, busca tener un México en Paz, por un Tamaulipas humano para tener un México incluyente y con educación de calidad, y por un Tamaulipas competitivo y sustentable para tener un México próspero y contribuir a que sea un actor con responsabilidad global, indica un comunicado de prensa. “Queremos un México donde las oportunidades y el desarrollo lleguen a todas las regiones y a todos los sectores de la población”, dijo Torre durante la ceremonia. “El Plan Estatal de Desarrollo que hemos actualizado, es ahora nuestra guía en la segunda parte de mi gobierno, es nuestra estrategia de largo aliento para seguir trabajando por el crecimiento y el bienestar de los tamaulipecos”. El Plan Estatal de Desarrollo se formó a través de una consulta pública durante la primera quincena de septiembre de este año, lo cual ayudó a sustentar las nuevas estrategias, objetivos y línea de acción. Según el comunicado de prensa, en el nuevo contenido se refuerzan, entre otros temas, la participación social en la prevención del delito, el sistema tamaulipeco en la salud universal, las escuelas de calidad y de tiempo completo, ciencia y tecnología, seguridad, prevención social, Tamaulipas en el contexto internacional y cambio climático. “Hoy, nuevamente los convoco a seguir trabajando con orden, honestidad y firmeza. Los convoco a seguir trabajando juntos en una sola voluntad y en una sola voz de prosperidad, esperanza y felicidad para Tamaulipas y para México”, concluyó Torre.
SALUD
Estrategia busca disminuir casos de tosferina en bebés TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
Será en el año 2014 cuando el Gobierno de Tamaulipas inicie una estrategia para vacunar contra la tosferina a todas las mujeres embarazadas. La tosferina es una enfermedad grave que puede causar discapacidad permanente en los bebés e incluso la muerte, indicó el secretario de Salud de Tamaulipas, Norberto Treviño García Manzo. Treviño refirió que con esta medida de prevención,
se espera que los infantes tengan menor riesgo de sufrir esta enfermedad, ya que a través de la madre, se pueden transmitir los anticuerpos y los mecanismos de defensa. El Gobierno de Tamaulipas está siguiendo una disposición a nivel México, ya que la mayoría de los casos registrados, han sido en niños menores de 2 meses, los cuales todavía no están en el grupo blanco de vacunación. “De ahí la importancia de que las mujeres tamauli-
pecas se acerquen a su Centro de Salud más cercano, sobre todo las embarazadas, para ya vacunadas, protejan inmunológicamente a sus bebés”, explicó Treviño. Explicó que este padecimiento está reemergiendo en el país a consecuencia de que a partir del año 2000, se han presentado casos de tosferina en Estados Unidos, lo que ha provocado que en el país se incremente el número de casos en los estados de la frontera de México, después de haber tenido bajo control y prácti-
camente eliminada esta enfermedad. La tosferina es una enfermedad infecciosa respiratoria que se manifiesta con fiebre, tos muy insistente que habitualmente genera vómito y dificultad respiratoria, principalmente. Treviño indicó que para reducir el riesgo de contraer este padecimiento, es recomendable: completar el esquema de vacunación, vacunar a mujeres embarazadas; en caso de convivir con alguien enfermo, todos los artículos de uso personal se
utilicen solamente por él, las personas que atienden a los pacientes lleven a cabo acciones de desinfección en la habitación con agua hiperclorada, se laven las manos frecuentemente con agua y jabón o con algún gel antibacterial. Destacó que es importante que cuando los menores presenten alguno de estos signos de alarma, se tomen las medidas precautorias y se acuda a la unidad de salud de manera oportuna, ya que esta enfermedad es curable.
International
10A THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2013
Tests say no poison By LUIS ANDRES HENAO ASSOCIATED PRESS
Photo by Nelson Salting | AP
A house is engulfed by the storm surge brought about by powerful typhoon Haiyan that hit Legazpi city, Albay province, on Friday. Haiyan is one of the most powerful typhoons ever recorded.
Philippines hit by very strong storm By OLIVER TEVES AND TERESA CEROJANO ASSOCIATED PRESS
MANILA, Philippines — One of the strongest storms on record slammed into the central Philippines, killing at least four people, forcing hundreds of thousands from their homes and knocking out power and communications in several provinces. But the nation appeared to avoid a major disaster because the rapidly moving typhoon blew away before wreaking more damage, officials said. Typhoon Haiyan left the Philippines early Saturday on a path toward Southeast Asia, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration tweeted. Forecasters said the storm was expected to pick up renewed strength over the South China Sea on its way toward Vietnam. Nearly 750,000 people in the Philippines were forced to flee their homes. Weather officials said Haiyan had sustained winds of 147 mph with gusts of 170 mph when it made landfall. By those measurements, Haiyan would be comparable to a strong Category 4 hurricane in the U.S., nearly in the top category, a 5. Hurricanes, cyclones and typhoons are the same thing. They are just called different names in different parts of the world. Because of cut-off communications in the Philippines, it was impossible to know the full extent of casualties and damage. At least two people were electrocuted in storm-related accidents, one person was killed by a fallen tree and another was struck by lightning, official reports said. Southern Leyte Gov. Roger Mercado said the typhoon ripped roofs off houses and triggered landslides that blocked roads. The dense clouds and
heavy rains made the day seem almost as dark as night, he said. “When you’re faced with such a scenario, you can only pray, and pray and pray,” Mercado told The Associated Press by telephone, adding that mayors in the province had not called in to report any major damage. “I hope that means they were spared and not the other way around,” he said. “My worst fear is there will be massive loss of lives and property.” Eduardo del Rosario, head of the disaster response agency, said the speed at which the typhoon sliced through the central islands — 25 mph — helped prevent its 375-mile band of rain clouds from dumping enough of their load to overflow waterways. Flooding from heavy rains is often the main cause of deaths from typhoons. “It has helped that the typhoon blew very fast in terms of preventing lots of casualties,” regional military commander Lt. Gen. Roy Deveraturda said. He said the massive evacuation of villagers before the storm also saved many lives. The Philippines, which is hit by about 20 typhoons and storms a year, has in recent years become more serious about preparations to reduce deaths. Public service announcements are frequent, as are warnings by the president and highranking officials that are regularly carried on radio and TV and social networking sites. President Benigno Aquino III assured the public of war-like preparations, with three C-130 air force cargo planes and 32 military helicopters and planes on standby, along with 20 navy ships. Among the evacuees were thousands of residents of Bohol who had been camped in tents and other makeshift shelters
since a magnitude-7.2 earthquake hit the island province last month. Relief workers said they were struggling to find ways to deliver food and other supplies, with roads blocked by landslides and fallen trees. World weather experts were calling the typhoon one of the strongest tropical cyclones on record at the time it hit land, but not quite the windiest. There were disputes over just how strong it is because of differences in the way storms are measured. “In terms of the world I don’t think it’s the strongest,” said Taoyang Peng, a tropical cyclone scientist at the World Meteorological Organization in Geneva. But he added that “it is one of the strongest typhoons to make landfall” and probably the strongest to hit the Philippines. The U.S. Joint Typhoon Warning Center put Haiyan’s sustained winds at 196 mph just minutes before it made landfall Thursday, which would be a world record. However, officials in Tokyo and the Philippines but the wind speed at about 147 mph. Peng said his group considers Tokyo the authority in this case because it’s the closest regional center to the storm. The best way to measure a storm is with radar from a plane flying in and out of it. That’s not done in Asia, where they use satellite imagery and ground measurements instead. Not until meteorologists can conduct a deep investigation will scientists know just how strong Haiyan actually was, but it will easily be one of the strongest on record, former U.S. National Hurricane Center director Max Mayfield told the AP on Friday. Mayfield described looking at radar images of Haiyan, saying, “it has got to weaken, it has got to weaken” — and yet it didn’t.
SANTIAGO, Chile — The four-decade mystery of whether Chilean Nobel Prize-winning poet Pablo Neruda was poisoned was seemingly cleared up on Friday, when forensic test results showed no chemical agents in his bones. But his family and driver were not satisfied and said they’ll request more proof. Neruda died under suspicious circumstances in the chaos that followed Chile’s 1973 military coup. The official version is that the poet died of cancer. But Neruda’s former driver has said for years that dictatorship agents injected poison into the poet’s stomach while he was bedridden at the Santa Maria clinic in Santiago. Neruda’s body was exhumed in April to determine the cause of his death. “No relevant chemical substances have been found that could be linked to Mr. Neruda’s death,” Patricio Bustos, the head of Chile’s medical legal service, said as he read the test results of the seven-month investigation by the forensic team. Bustos said experts found traces of medicine used to treat cancer in Neruda’s remains but that there’s no forensic evi-
Photo by Luis Andres Henao | AP
The four-decade mystery of whether poet Pablo Neruda was poisoned was seemingly cleared up on Friday. dence to prove that Neruda died from anything else other than a natural cause. The highly-anticipated results by the team of Chilean and international experts didn’t satisfy Neruda’s family members and friends who said the poet’s case remains unsolved. “The Neruda case doesn’t close today,” said Chilean Communist Party lawyer Eduardo Contreras. “Today we’re going to request more samples. They referred to chemical agents but there are no studies about biological agents. A very important chapter has closed and was done very seriously but this is not over.” Neruda was a largerthan-life figure with a passion for women, food and
wine. He also enjoyed the company of friends who visited the poet at his homes decorated with collections of everything from ship’s figureheads to giant sea shells. He won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1971 after a prolific career, and he’s still best known for his love poems. “Neruda died 40 years ago but his work is alive,” said Hernan Loyola, 83, a Neruda expert who has been studying the works of the poet for 60 years. “If I go to any library in the world I’ll find the works of Neruda,” Loyola said as he stepped out of the poet’s home in Santiago. “He was our Shakespeare, our Cervantes. A writer who beyond his political convictions is simply a jewel.”
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2013
THE ZAPATA TIMES 11A
REMIGIO ‘REMI’ GUERRA JR. May 9, 1962 — Nov. 7, 2013 Remigio “Remi” Guerra Jr., 51, passed away Thursday, Nov. 7, 2013, at his residence in Zapata. Mr. Guerra is preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Abel and San Juanita Guerra; and his maternal grandparents, Martin and Maria Juana Garcilazo. Mr. Guerra is survived by his sons, Remigio Guerra III, Juan Daniel (Celina) Guerra; daughters, Jackie L. Guerra, Leslie Guerra (Arturo Gutierrez Jr.), Cynthia Guerra (Oscar X. Gonzalez Jr.); grandchildren, Oscar X. Gonzalez III, Arturo Gutierrez III, Alexa Gonzalez; father, Remigio Guerra; mother, Rosa G. Guerra; brothers, Ricardo (Juliana) Guerra, Rene Guerra, Raul Guerra; sisters, Rosa Maria (Roberto) Garza, Ruth Ann (Alejandro) Rodriguez, Ruby Guerra, Rhonda Guerra, Erika Guerra; and by numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews, nieces, friends and other family members. Visitation hours were Friday, Nov. 8, 2013, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. with a rosary at 7 p.m. at Rose Garden
Skulls blessed at Bolivia festival By CARLOS VALDEZ ASSOCIATED PRESS
LA PAZ, Bolivia — Bolivians carried human skulls to the chapel at La Paz cemetery for blessing on Friday, asking for health, money, love and other favors as part of an annual highland festival. The Roman Catholic Church considers the skull festival to be pagan, but it doesn’t prohibit people from
Funeral Home. The funeral procession will depart Saturday, Nov. 9, 2013, at 9:30 a.m. for a 10 a.m. funeral Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. Committal services will follow at Zapata County Cemetery. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Rose Garden Funeral Home, Daniel A. Gonzalez, funeral director, 2102 N. U.S. Hwy 83, Zapata.
SMUGGLING es that Paredes “is a well-known alien and narcotic facilitator that has been arrested in the past by Border Patrol.” The agent spotted Paredes driving on the streets of San Ygnacio as if he was scouting for Border Patrol in the area. At 2:15 p.m., Paredes was then spotted in a red Ford Mustang. At 2:25 p.m., a sensor was activated, prompting a response from an agent. While driving in the general direction of the area, an agent observed a red Chevrolet Cruz driving east away from the river and toward U.S. 83. He made eye contact with the driver, later identified as Turi. “Turi is also a well-known alien and narcotics smuggler who has been arrested before in the past with
OBAMACARE Continued from Page 1A pendent experts. Legally, that means they would have never been eligible for cancellation protections offered by the statute. Its grandfather clause applies only to policies that were in effect when the law passed in 2010. More than five weeks after open-enrollment season started for uninsured Americans, Obama’s signature domestic policy achievement is still struggling. Persistent website problems appear to have kept most interested customers from signing up. Repairs are underway, but Friday the administration said the website’s income verification component will be offline for testing until Tuesday morning. An enrollment report expected next week is likely to reflect only paltry signups. Website woes have been eclipsed by the uproar over cancellation notices sent to millions of people who have individual plans that don’t measure up to the benefits package and level of financial protection required by the law. “It was clear from the beginning that there were going to be some winners and losers,” said Timothy Jost, a law professor at Washington and Lee University in Virginia, who supports the health overhaul. “But the losers are calling reporters, and the winners can’t get on the website.” In the House, a Republi-
can-sponsored bill that would give insurers another year to sell individual policies that were in effect Jan. 1, 2013, is expected to get a floor vote late next week. In the Senate, Louisiana Democrat Mary Landrieu has introduced legislation that would require insurers to keep offering current individual plans. Democrats, who as a group have stood firmly behind the new law so far, may start to splinter if the uproar continues. The legislation faces long odds to begin with, but it may not do the job even if it passes. The reason: States, not the federal government, regulate the individual insurance market. State insurance commissioners have already approved the plans that will be offered for next year. It may be too late to wind back to where things stood at the beginning of this year. “It has taken the industry many months to rejigger their systems to comply with the law,” said Bob Laszewski, a health care industry consultant. “The cancellation letters have already gone out. What are these guys supposed to do, go down to the post office and buy a million stamps?” The insurance industry doesn’t like the legislative route either. “We have some significant concerns with how that would work operationally,” said Robert Zirkelbach, spokesman for
taking part in it. Mass was not being held at the chapel on Friday, but a bowl of holy water was left out so people could bless the skulls they were carrying in the ritual celebrated a week after the Day of the Dead. According to tradition, the skulls should be from unknown people, but in some cases they are distant relatives. The devotees say they get the skulls, which they call “natitas,” from abandoned cemeteries.
the trade group America’s Health Insurance Plans. Behind the political and legal issues, a powerful economic logic is also at work. Shifting people who already have individual coverage into the new health insurance markets under Obama’s law would bring in customers already known to insurers, reducing overall financial risks for the insurance pool. That’s painful for those who end up paying higher premiums for upgraded policies. But it could save money for the taxpayers who are subsidizing the new coverage. Compared with the uninsured, people with coverage are less likely to have a pent-up need for medical services. At one point, they were all prescreened for health problems. A sizable share of the uninsured people expected to gain coverage under Obama’s law have health problems that have kept them from getting coverage. They’ll be the costly cases. Obama sold the overhaul as a win all around. Uninsured Americans would get coverage and people who liked their insurance could keep it, he said. In hindsight, the president might have wanted to say that you could keep your plan as long as your insurer or your employer did not change it beyond limits prescribed by the government.
The festival is a mixture of Andean ancestral worship and Catholic beliefs. Experts say it was common in pre-Columbian times to keep skulls as trophies and display them to symbolize death and rebirth. The skulls are carried to the cemetery chapel in urns of wood or glass, or in toy boxes. Some skulls wear hats or caps inscribed with a name. Others wear sunglasses or even a lit cigarette in their mouths.
Continued from Page 1A
Omar Paredes,” the complaint reads. The agent also noticed that there were several other passengers who appeared to be slouching down in their seats. The Chevrolet Cruze drove into the parking lot of Pepe’s Exxon Gas Station. Turi got off the vehicle to go inside the store. When another agent arrived to assist, two passengers exited the Cruze and ran. Turi could not be found inside the store. An agent boarded his vehicle to begin driving around in the San Ygnacio area. At the intersection of Guerrero and Matamoros streets, he spotted the red Ford Mustang driven by Paredes. Border Patrol pulled over the car for an immigration inspection. They
identified Paredes as the driver, Jaime Buentello as the passenger and Turi, who was in the backseat. Agents took Turi into custody. “Turi admitted that he had been hired to smuggle the undocumented immigrants from San Ygnacio to Laredo in return for $300 per person,” the complaint reads. After picking up the immigrants, he was told to wait at the gas station for further instructions. “Turi admitted that he has been involved in the facilitation of undocumented immigrants about four times prior to this one,” according to court documents. (César G. Rodriguez may be reached at 728-2568 or cesar@lmtonline.com)
ELECTION Continued from Page 1A The election was the first in Texas under a new law requiring voters to show one of seven forms of picture ID, such as a driver’s license or passport, at the polls. The measure was passed in 2011 but had been delayed by a series of court challenges. Only about 1 million out of 13.4 million of the state’s registered voters participated, but that, coupled with stronger-than-expected early voting turnout, was enough for key Republican officials to say concerns that the voter ID rule could cause voting headaches were overblown. Democrats and civil rights groups have again sued to block the law, but the case is still pending. Cases of in-person voter fraud are rare. Critics of voter ID legislation say the laws aim to disenfranchise voters who tend to back Democrats. But Republican Attorney General Greg Abbott, who is running to replace Gov. Rick Perry in 2014, said critics had “run out of claims” about alleged hardships the mandate would create. Voters overwhelmingly approved all nine proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution, including the water measure, an expansion of reverse mortgages, and tax credits for disabled veterans and the surviving spouses of veterans killed in the line of duty. In the four-way race for
an empty Texas House seat anchored in north Austin, Republican Mike VanDeWalle and Democrat Celia Israel advanced to a January runoff. Tuesday’s water referendum attracted the most visibility and campaign funds, drawing support from business and environmental groups alike. It moves $2 billion from Texas’ rainy day fund cash reserves to its water infrastructure fund to help defray the borrowing costs on large-scale water infrastructure projects, including creating reservoirs, laying new pipelines and replacing older ones. Some conservatives opposed using the state’s savings account to finance large-scale construction projects while others were concerned the money could be misused. Still, the results were far from a surprise since Gov. Rick Perry and most of the state’s top Democrats and Republicans cheered the referendum — citing the ongoing effects of a punishing drought in much of the state. Texas House Speaker Joe Straus said of the result: “Tonight was a good night for Texas.” “There’s no doubt the drought and its cost to the economy has been very palpable,” Straus, a San Antonio Republican, said at a campaign party in a downtown Austin rooftop bar. “And I think it was a powerful, powerful mess-
age to voters and a powerful message sent by the Legislature that we will step up to our challenges in a fast-growing state.” Passing a proposed constitutional amendment that had to be approved by voters allowed the GOPcontrolled Legislature to increase funding for major future water projects without raising taxes. Straus said he expects the state comptroller to transfer the funds as soon as possible. Environmentalists also praised the result. “We’re thrilled that Texas voters have chosen to invest in Texas’ water future,” said Luke Metzger, director of Environment Texas, a statewide advocacy group. “Texas is in a water crisis, caused by drought and made worse by wasteful water use.” More surprising was the defeat of a measure to overhaul the Astrodome. Casting her ballot earlier Tuesday in Houston, Wanda Brooks said she voted in favor of saving the stadium. “As a child, I remember going to the Astrodome all the time,” said the 57-yearold nurse’s aide. A fellow Astrodome supporter was 71-year-old Mike Opong, who questioned why the city would destroy the dome when so much money has already been sunk into it. “If they demolish it, what will they do with that land?” Opong asked.
12A THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2013
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2013
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Sports&Outdoors HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL: ZAPATA LADY HAWKS
NCAA FOOTBALL: TEXAS A&M
Playoff run ends Bob Levey | AP
Texas A&M’s Mike Evans has not only become Johnny Manziel’s favorite target but also turned into one of the best college receivers.
Courtesy photo
The Lady Hawks entered the playoffs as the top seed after winning the District 31-3A title. They took down Hidalgo Early College in straight sets before falling to the Pirates Thursday.
Lady Hawks lose to Rockport-Fulton By CLARA SANDOVAL THE ZAPATA TIMES
Zapata opened the postseason with a victory, but the Lady Hawks didn’t make it any further and eventually lost to RockportFulton. The Lady Hawks volleyball team took home the District 31-3A title and headed out to the playoffs as the No. 1 seed. Zapata took on Hidalgo Early College in Roma Tuesday night in their
Class 3A bi-district game. Zapata had to reach deep to take the opening set and then rolled off two consecutive sets to sweep Hidalgo Early College (26-24, 25-20, 25-18) and be crowned bidistrict champions. Zapata junior Alex Garcia came through for the Lady Hawks, as she served eight straight points to bring the team back from a 18-24 deficit in the opening set. The Lady Pirates were on the brink of taking the
opening set and one point from closing it out before Garcia and the Lady Hawks started to come alive. Garcia’s powerful serves brought the team back from a deep hole, as she recorded three aces to start chipping away at Hidalgo’s lead. It was Hidalgo who had the upper hand early in the game before Zapata started to find an offensive flow, and the Lady Pirates built a six-point lead. The Lady Hawks came
Aggies host Miss. St. in home finale Bulldogs’ bring own dual-threat QB in Prescott to counter Manziel By KRISTIE RIEKEN ASSOCIATED PRESS
back with Garcia’s serves and eventually knotted up the game at 24 to finally slip away with a two-point victory. "Despite the 3-0 (ending) it wasn’t an easy win," Zapata coach Rosie Villarreal said. "We were down 18-24 the first game and the team showed a lot of character to win 26-24. That game gave the team the confidence to win the next two. "Alex served the eight
HOUSTON — Mississippi State quarterback Dak Prescott will play on Satur-
day against No. 11 Texas A&M, just days after his mother died of cancer. There was some uncer-
See TEXAS A&M PAGE 2B
NCAA FOOTBALL: TEXAS TECH
See ZAPATA PAGE 2B
NCAA ATHLETICS: TEXAS LONGHORNS
LONGHORNS’ NEW AD Patterson talks program’s future
Tech eyes bounce back against K-State
By JIM VERTUNO ASSOCIATED PRESS
AUSTIN — New Texas athletic director Steve Patterson said Thursday he doesn’t intend to “make change just for the sake of making change” at the nation’s wealthiest athletic department and he didn’t discuss specific Longhorns’ sports during his job interview. “I don’t see it as a situation where we need a dramatic turnaround,” Patterson said at his introductory news conference on campus. “I don’t
See PATTERSON PAGE 2B
Photo by Sue Ogrocki | AP
Texas Tech head coach Kliff Kingsbury, 34, hasn’t been alive as long as Kansas State legend Bill Snyder, 74, has been coaching.
After two straight losses, No. 25 Raiders try to recover By BETSY BLANEY ASSOCIATED PRESS
Photo by Deborah Cannon | AP
Steve Patterson was officially introduced as the successor to longtime Texas athletic director DeLoss Dodds Thursday. Patterson, 55, earned two degrees from UT.
LUBBOCK — Texas Tech’s Kliff Kingsbury will face off against a counterpart Saturday who’s more than twice his age and has
been at the helm of a Big 12 team longer than any coach. Bill Snyder, who’s in his 22nd season with Kansas State (4-4, 2-3) and has been
See TECH PAGE 2B
NCAA FOOTBALL: TEXAS LONGHORNS
Texas heads east to take on West Virginia By JOHN RABY ASSOCIATED PRESS
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Texas defensive coordinator Greg Robinson will come in handy for the Longhorns’ first trip to West Virginia. Not only has the Texas defense been solid during a five-game winning streak that coincided with Robinson rejoining the team, he
knows all about playing in Morgantown. On Saturday night, the Longhorns (6-2, 5-0 Big 12) will make their first trip to the Eastern time zone since 2007 and debut in a noisy venue where West Virginia (4-5, 2-4) is 3-1 this season. “Greg Robinson will be a really good resource for us this week, because he coached at Syracuse and they were in the Big East with
West Virginia, so he’s been there a lot and we’ll lean on him heavily,” Texas coach Mack Brown said. Robinson was head coach at Syracuse from 2005-08, going 0-4 against West Virginia. He’s helped Texas rebound from a 1-2 start since being hired in September after Brown fired second-year coordinator Manny Diaz.
See TEXAS PAGE 2B
Photo by Jim Cowsert | AP
The Longhorns’ defense will try to stop West Virginia quarterback Clint Trickett, who’s making his sixth straight start.
PAGE 2B
Zscores
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2013
PATTERSON Continued from Page 1B anticipate monstrous changes to the department.” Patterson doesn’t yet have a contract and won’t until at least next week when the university’s board of regents is expected to approve him as the replacement for DeLoss Dodds, who built Texas into one of the most powerful athletic departments in the country over the last 32 years. “This is a premier program, it has been for decades,” Patterson said. “We want to compete for championships, day in and day out.” Patterson inherits a department that has struggled to win at the level fans expect of a program so rich with resources. Mack Brown’s football team has fallen back into the pack in the Big 12 after playing for the 2009 national championship. Men’s basketball had its first losing season since 1997-1998. And baseball, a perennial power, missed the Big 12 tournament last season. Brown, basketball coach Rick Barnes and baseball coach Augie Garrido all have been at Texas more than 15 years and their recent struggles have led to speculation their jobs are on the line. Patterson noted Texas has “very successful coaches.”
When asked what he sees as his biggest challenge, Patterson said he wants to “take some time to evaluate the culture, the people that are here, the way the organization is heading .. I don’t see this as an organization that is over the ditch.” Patterson met with department staff Thursday morning and planned to meet with coaches in the afternoon. Patterson, 55, was hired away from Arizona State, where he had led the Sun Devils athletic department for less than two years. Prior to that, he had executive roles with the Houston Rockets and Portland Trail Blazers in the NBA and the Houston Texans in the NFL. He also earned his undergraduate and law degrees from Texas. “It’s nice to be home,” Patterson said. “(Texas) is a great brand. It’s a great lifechanging place.” Patterson will find Texas a challenge in ways beyond the wins and losses. Although respected, the school’s rivals have sometimes felt Texas carried too much weight in conference decisions. How Patterson maintains relationships with the Big 12 and its members will be watched closely. Former women’s track coach Bev Kearney, who was forced to resign after
ZAPATA
revelations of a romantic relationship with one of her former athletes, has filed state federal discrimination complaints and has threatened to sue the university. Patterson’s boss, school President Bill Powers, is in the middle of his own fight with some regents who want to replace him. Three regents, including Steve Hicks, one of the members of the advisory committee that interviewed Patterson, were involved in efforts last January to gauge Alabama coach Nick Saban’s potential interest in coming to Texas. Texas fans also will be eager to know if the Longhorns will resume the regular-season rivalry with Texas A&M, which broke up in 2011 when the Aggies left the Big 12 for the SEC. And Patterson will also have to study where to build a new basketball arena amid plans for a new medical school. And it won’t be long before it will be time to negotiate a new contract for the annual rivalry football against Oklahoma in Dallas. That game is scheduled to be played at the Cotton Bowl through 2020 and the schools will again have to decide whether to keep it there or break tradition by either moving to another neutral field or making it a home-and-home series.
Continued from Page 1B points we needed to win the set and that just got the team going from that point on as they fought through the three sets." Garcia’s heroics gave Zapata the fuel it needed for the next two sets, the Lady Hawks refusing to back down from Hidalgo. "How they came back really gave us the fire that we needed," Villarreal said."After that they knew they could win." Zapata’s season ends in Area After Tuesday’s victory, Zapata moved on to play Rockport-Fulton Thursday. Zapata could not overcome the Lady Pirates and fell in straight sets (16-25, 18-25, 15-25) to see its postseason run come to an end. "Tonight the girls played their hearts out," Villarreal said. "We started out strong but could not capitalize. They were a lot stronger than us." Alexis Alvarez led the way with seven kills while Cassy Garcia and Tere Villarreal had five kills on the night. Val Galvan and Roxy Galvan added three kills. Zapata’s defense was led by Gaby Gutierrez and Isela Gonzalez, who had 21 digs. Follow @LMTNews on Twitter for the latest on all local sports.
TEXAS A&M Continued from Page 1B tainty about Prescott’s availability for the game after he missed practice early in the week to be with his family. But Bulldogs coach Dan Mullen said on his weekly radio show that Prescott would play. Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin raved about Prescott, a dual threat quarterback like Texas A&M’s Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel. “That’s a difficult situation for anyone, especially a young man of his age,” Sumlin said of Prescott. “He certainly has given them a different element. He’s a big strong guy that can throw it and just run through people.” He has ran for at least 100 yards in three games this season, has thrown for 1,393 yards and five touchdowns and added 10 touchdowns on 568 yards rushing. The Aggies are hoping to build on two straight solid defensive performances after struggling for most of the season. Texas A&M ranks first in the Southeastern Conference in almost every offensive category, but still ranks last in pass defense and second to last
in total defense. “We’ve played pretty well defensively the last few weeks,” Sumlin said. “We’re gaining some confidence. We’re going to find out Saturday how much we’ve improved.” Five things to know about the Mississippi State-Texas A&M game: SLOWING MANZIEL Mullen knows his defense won’t be able to stop Manziel and Texas A&M’s high-powered offense, but they hope to at least slow them down. Manziel accounted for six touchdowns in less than three quarters during the team’s lopsided win over UTEP last week. “The fewest points they’ve scored in a game this season is 41,” Mullen said. “A lot of teams put up huge numbers, but statistics can sometimes be deceiving because you have to do it consistently. When 41 is their lowest point total, they’re a very, very explosive offense.” EVANS ELEVATES Texas A&M receiver Mike Evans is third in the nation with 1,147 yards receiving this season.
He has 12 touchdowns this season and has two of the top three individual receiving performances in a game this year. Mullen is worried about the combination of Manziel and the 6-foot-5 Evans. “If Johnny Manziel scrambles around and throws one up and Mike Evans jumps over our guys and catches the ball, there’s not a whole lot you can do about that,” Mullen said. “What you have to avoid is the scrambles around and having nobody near Mike Evans. That’s a problem.” WHAT A RUSH Sumlin has been encouraged by his team’s recent ability to get to opposing quarterbacks. The Aggies had just seven sacks in their first seven games and have piled up nine in the last two. “We’ve been able to turn it up a little bit,” Sumlin said. “I think early in the year, we had some guys get loose, but we didn’t have contain on the back side because we were taking some chances. The quarterback escaped a bunch early in the year. We’ve been a lot more sound in what we’re doing ... that’s really helped us.”
TEXAS Continued from Page 1B The questions raised about Brown’s job after back-to-back losses to BYU and Mississippi have eased since Texas is now in the thick of battling for a BCS berth. Texas, which can move past No. 5 Baylor into sole possession of first place with a win, has allowed just 40 total points in the last three games. During its winning streak, the Longhorns have scored 30 or more points each time. “It’s fun to watch the guys handle the adversity, pull together when everybody says they were through, come back, fight and overcome all of the things they had overcome,” Brown said. “And now they’ve got to handle success and we’ve got to improve.” West Virginia’s chances of making a splash in the Big 12 ended long ago. But the Mountaineers are still looking to become bowl eligible in their three remaining regular-season games. They’d also like to throw a wrench into Texas’ championship dreams. “It is going to be fun,” said West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen. “I think everyone knows that, and it will be a good time. We know that and our guys will not need extra motivation this week. They are a physical team. Probably the most physical team we have played up until this point. “ Here are five things to know as the Longhorns prepare to face the Mountaineers: TRICKY TRICKETT West Virginia quarterback Clint Trickett, who will make his sixth straight start on Saturday, overcame a poor third quarter by throwing two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter of a 30-27 overtime win last week over TCU. That’s the type of season the Flor-
TECH Continued from Page 1B
Photo by Eric Gay | AP
Quarterback Case McCoy has proved a solid leader of the Longhorns’ offense, throwing for 1,188 yards and five touchdowns. ida State transfer who’s still learning Holgorsen’s system has endured — one minute he’s excelling, the next he could be floundering. “He does not always understand what we are talking about, or where we want him to go with the ball, but he reacts well to the game of football and coaching well,” Holgorsen said. TURNOVER BATTLE Both of West Virginia’s conference victories have come when the Mountaineers won the turnover battle. TCU had four turnovers that led to 20 points for West Virginia last week. And Oklahoma State had four turnovers in a 30-21 loss to the Mountaineers on Sept. 28. Entering this week, West Virginia has recovered 13 fumbles, third most in the Bowl Subdivision, and Texas was close behind with 11, including Chris Whaley’s 40-yard fumble return for a touchdown against Kansas last week. The Longhorns have lost the turnover battle just once this season, and that was against Kansas. But
Photo by Rainier Ehrhardt | AP
Mississippi State quarterback Dak Prescott lost his mother to cancer earlier this week but will play Saturday, according to head coach Dan Mullen.
Texas quarterback Case McCoy has had four interceptions in the last two games. RUN IF YOU CAN West Virginia’s hopes on offense rest with Charles Sims, the Big 12’s thirdleading rusher at 84 yards per game. He’s coming off a season-high 154 yards last week against TCU. Texas has allowed just one 100yard rushing effort during its winning streak. CHILLY CLIMATE Texas and West Virginia are meeting for only the third time, with both previous games in Austin, Texas. Texas has been checking the weather forecast, which calls for temperatures in the 40s in Morgantown. Brown is taking the high approach to playing in a chilly atmosphere. “Our big guys will like that after all the sun and the heat they play in in Texas,” he said. STRIPE THE STADIUM West Virginia fans are being asked to wear gold or blue, depending on their seat locations. It’s the school’s second “Stripe the Stadium” promotion.
coaching football longer than Kingsbury’s been alive, will bring a Wildcats team that’s won two straight to play against Kingsbury’s Red Raiders, who’ve lost their last two. Kingsbury, in his first year as coach, knows the 74-year-old man across the field has earned all the accolades he’s received. “His story is one of the best in college football history,” the 34-year-old Kingsbury said. “I have the utmost respect for coach Snyder, what he’s done there, the kind of man he is and the way he runs his program. It will be an honor to be out there Saturday going against him.” Snyder, who would get his 175th victory with a win over the Red Raiders, remembers his first meeting with Kingsbury. It was in Manhattan, Kan., in 2000 when Kingsbury was the starting quarterback under former Red Raiders coach Mike Leach. Kansas State (4-4, 2-3) won 28-23. “He seemed like a pleasant young guy, bright as a quarterback,” Snyder said. “I thought he was a good leader, so if somebody said at the time he would get into coaching, that wouldn’t have surprised me.” The young coach who treats his players more like peers — while Snyder is more of a grandfatherly figure to his players — said the No. 25 Red Raiders (7-2, 4-2) will need to be on their toes in every facet of the game. “All three phases are going to be well-coached, and they’re not going to give you anything,” Kingsbury said. “It’s going to be one of those games where you have to make the play and take it, because there won’t be any cheap ones.” Here are five things to
Photo by Sue Ogrocki | AP
Quarterback Davis Webb has thrown as many interceptions as touchdowns in losses to Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. watch when Kansas State plays Texas Tech: TURNOVER TORRENT The Red Raiders are tied for sixth worst in the nation with 22 turnovers in nine games, 14 interceptions and eight fumbles. Kansas State is not far behind with nine interceptions and nine fumbles in eight games to tie for ninth worst. MUSICAL QBs The Wildcats have two QBs and they use them both. Jake Waters is the better thrower, while Daniel Sams is the better rusher. It’s taken some time but the duo have found a rhythm. Now, the key is “scoring whenever we get to the red zone,” Sams said. “We cannot walk away with field goals.” RED RAIDERS DEFENSE The Red Raiders defense will likely be without four starters — DL Dartwan Bush, LB Terrance Bullitt, and safeties J.J. Gaines and Tre Porter. Three of the four are senior, multi-year starters. “Our young guys have to step up,” Kingsbury said. “When they’re put in position to make plays,
they have to make plays. So there are no excuses.” The past two games Texas Tech has given up 288 and 277 yards rushing in its only losses and will face two of the Big 12’s top 10 rushers in Sams (74.5 yards per game) and senior RB John Hubert (68.6 ypg). REBOUNDING FROM LOSSES Kingsbury isn’t worried about his team’s morale after back-to-back losses. He says his Red Raiders have yet to show their potential. “I’ve said all along, we haven’t played our best game, and I think that’s what keeps this group excited. When we do put it together, we can be pretty good.” BOWLING WILDCATS? Wildcats WR Tyler Lockett says teammates are tired of losing games and of things not going Kansas State’s way. They need a win Saturday and another, either at TCU, at OU or at home against Kansas to be bowl eligible. “I think that everyone is starting the see that the storm is finally passing and that we see everything that we are capable of doing,” he said.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2013
THE ZAPATA TIMES 3B
HINTS | BY HELOISE SAVING YOUR PET FROM CHOKING Dear Readers: Often a dog will chew and swallow something it shouldn’t, and with a little coughing and hacking, it can get the object out. What do you do if a pet is truly CHOKING? You know what to do when a family member or friend is choking, and your precious pooch should be no different. If your dog is choking, use your fingers to feel around its mouth to remove the object. If you can’t remove it, try the Heimlich maneuver. Give your dog sharp blows on the back (between the shoulder blades) with the heel of your hand. If this does not work, stand behind your dog and hold him or her at the waist, place your fist just below the rib cage and give five quick thrusts. Your dog should cough up the object, and you can comfort and soothe him or her. Be sure that even if you remove the object, you take your pet to the vet’s office to check for
“
HELOISE
any internal damage. It’s always better to be safe than sorry! — Heloise PET PAL Dear Readers: Rose Ann Chaffins in Sidney, Ohio, sent in a picture of her cat Trouble sitting in front of the television watching a hockey game. Trouble was a stray she rescued who loved watching sports on TV with her dad. To see Trouble’s picture, go to my website, www.Heloise.com, and click on “Pets.” — Heloise MAKEUP REMOVER Dear Heloise: The disposable wipes for babies are an effective and economical way to remove makeup. They do a great job of taking the makeup off, and do not leave your face tight and dry. — J.P. in New Jersey Yes, they do, but please don’t flush them down the toilet! — Heloise
DENNIS THE MENACE
FAMILY CIRCUS
PEANUTS
GARFIELD
DAILY CRYPTOQUOTES — Here’s how to work it:
DILBERT
Sports
4B THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2013
Defense anchors undefeated Baylor By STEPHEN HAWKINS ASSOCIATED PRESS
WACO — Baylor is still undefeated, and quite defensive about it. When their fast-paced, highscoring offense sputtered early, the fifth-ranked Bears’ largely overshadowed but consistently solid defense kept stopping No. 12 Oklahoma. While the Bears (8-0, 5-0 Big 12) finished with a lopsided 41-12 victory Thursday night, Oklahoma managed only a field goal despite seven plays at the 12 or closer over consecutive drives before Baylor scored three touchdowns in the final 7 minutes of the first half — two in a 47-second span just before the break. “Defensively, they really were all over us all day,” Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said. “Everyone talks about their offense, which is really good. But I knew that their defense is really good.” Oklahoma (7-2, 4-2) was held to 237 total yards, its lowest total in an 85-game span since the 2007 season. The Sooners lost yardage on eight plays, got nothing on five more and had six plays gaining only 1 yard. They converted on third down only four of 17 times. “Our defense played outstanding,” Bears quarterback Bryce Petty said. “One of the best games I think I’ve ever seen them play. They keep us in it. ... Any time that we can get a stop on defense, then swing back over to us,
Photo by Tony Guiterrez | AP
Baylor linebacker Eddie Lackey pulled in an interception to set up a Bears’ touchdown in Thursday night’s 41-12 victory, just part of its impressive defensive performance against No. 10 Oklahoma. it helps us out a lot.” Petty accounted for five touchdowns, throwing three and running for two more. Both his rushing TDs came in that late firsthalf surge, including a 5-yard keeper that put the Bears ahead to stay at 10-5. Right after Petty added a 1yard run with a minute left in the first half, Baylor linebacker Eddie Lackey had an interception at the Sooners 38. That set up Petty’s 24-yard TD pass to Antwan Goodley, who made a spectacular catch with his arms fully extended going into the end zone to
make it 24-5. The Sooners went three-andout on each of its first two series after halftime, gaining only 4 yards on six plays, before Petty threw a 17-yard TD pass to Levi Norwood. Not long after the Bears won, second-ranked Oregon suffered its first loss of the season, 26-20 at No. 6 Stanford. That leaves topranked Alabama, No. 3 Florida State and No. 4 Ohio State, all traditional powers, as the only undefeated teams ahead of Baylor. Baylor coach Art Briles, who six years ago took over a team
with 12 consecutive losing seasons, isn’t get too caught up in all that. “We’ve played eight football games and when the season started, we were not ranked,” Briles said. “Everything we’ve done, we’ve earned it up to this point.” The Bears have won a schoolrecord 12 games in a row — the equivalent of a full regular season — since losing at Oklahoma last November. They are 8-0 for the first time with the league’s top offense and best defense, allowing only 306 yards and 15 points a game.
Before the Bears return home in a month for their final game ever at Floyd Casey Stadium — Dec. 7 for a potential Big 12 titledeciding game against Texas — they play 25th-ranked Texas Tech at the Dallas Cowboys’ stadium before games at No. 15 Oklahoma State and rival TCU. Next for Oklahoma is its home finale against Iowa State before trips to Kansas State and Oklahoma State. The Sooners’ longest drive before halftime in Waco was nine plays for 69 yards, but 53 of those yards were courtesy of Baylor penalties. There was 15 yards for roughing the passer on a thirddown play that gave Oklahoma a first down, then later on that drive three penalties for 38 yards on the same play that set the Sooners up at the 7. Oklahoma quarterback Blake Bell was tackled for a 1-yard loss on fourth-and-goal from the 1. Two plays later, Petty was sacked in the end zone for a safety and the Sooners were back to the 12 after Jalen Saunders returned the free kick 55 yards. But the Sooners failed to get a first down and had to settle for a field goal and a 5-3 lead. “I hope that it’ll change the outlook on our defense, and it’ll change the outlook on our whole team,” safety Ahmad Dixon said. “Even though our defense did step up, this was a team win and our offense, even though they started out slow, they did a great job picking it up.”
Houston, UCF battle to stay perfect in AAC By KYLE HIGHTOWER ASSOCIATED PRESS
ORLANDO, Fla. — UCF and Houston were expected to play the role of understudy to more established programs like Louisville and Rutgers in the race for the American Athletic Conference crown and the coveted BCS berth that comes with it. Instead, Saturday’s matchup between No. 19 UCF (6-1, 3-0 American) and Houston (7-1, 4-0) could go a long way in proving lots of preseason prognostications wrong. As welcoming as the national spotlight might be for the former Conference USA rivals, UCF receiver J.J. Worton said it didn’t change the approach for the Knights this week. “We see it, but it doesn’t really mean anything to us,” he said. “Yeah, it’s nice to be nationally known, but that’s how we feel every year. We know what we can do, and we know everybody’s got their own opinion — and they’re entitled to it. But like coach says, the people that matter are inside the circle, and that’s us inside the football group. “We know that other people think of us the way they want to. We know what we can do and that’s all that matters.” Unlike in some of their earlier season matchups, UCF and Houston have lots of history with one another, having met four times in C-USA. Most of those matchups were buoyed by title implications as well. A victory Saturday would tie
UCF’s best start in school history. The underdog this time around, Houston coach Tony Levine said he knows what to expect against a George O’Leary-coached team. “When you talk about a Coach O’Leary football team and program, what comes to mind nationally is that they are a well-coached team,” Levine said. “That’s really been a trademark of his as long as he’s been coaching. They make you earn everything, they don’t make mistakes, they don’t turn the ball over, they don’t commit penalties...It’ll be a great challenge for us.” The Knights are coming off a bye-week and remained ranked behind Louisville in the BCS rankings despite a lopsided victory over Connecticut on Oct. 26. BCS rankings could potentially come into play in a tiebreaker scenario should UCF lose one of its final five conference games. Still, O’Leary said he wasn’t thinking about any potential boost that could come with a victory this week. “I think the most important thing is that you keep winning,” O’Leary said. “That’s the only control you have in the polls. Say whatever, but if we keep winning, then we’ll end up where we want to be...That’s the only control we have over anything, really.” Here are five things to watch for in Saturday’s game: PRESSURE UP FRONT Look for the Knights to try to make Cougars freshman quarterback John O’Korn make quick decisions in the pocket. O’Korn leads all FBS true freshmen with 22
touchdown passes this year, and has thrown only four interceptions. UCF ranks third in the American in passing defense, surrendering 221 yards per game. BORTLES’ DECISIONS Since his three interceptions in two games against Penn State and South Carolina, UCF quarterback Blake Bortles has settled down and thrown only one in his last three outings. Expect the Cougars’ defense to make it tough, though. They have 17 picks on the season, ranking second nationally. HOUSTON’S RUN GAME The Cougars don’t average 41.1 points per game just because of their passing attack. They also rank second in the American in rushing offense, averaging 162.2 yards per game. UCF’s defense comes in allowing 128 yards per game. SCOREBOARD This game could be an offensive track meet. Houston has scored in all 32 quarters this season and has scored in 39 straight quarters dating to last year. Houston is the only FBS team to score in every quarter in 2013. UCF has outscored opponents 134-41 in the first half this season, but just 125-94 in the final 30 minutes. ANOTHER CLOSE AFFAIR? Three of the four meetings between the Knights and Cougars have been decided by seven or fewer points. If it comes down to a kicking matchup, UCF has the advantage with Lou Groza Award candidate Shawn Moffitt, who is 9 for 9 on field goal attempts this season. Houston kicker Richie Leone is 11 for 17.
File photo by LM Otero | AP
Former Cowboys player Josh Brent was the driver in the 2012 crash that killed practice squad player Jerry Brown.
Brown’s family sues Dallas club ASSOCIATED PRESS
DALLAS — The family of a Dallas Cowboys practice squad player killed in a drunken-driving crash is suing the nightclub that served him and the car’s driver. Jerry Brown’s family filed suit last week in a Dallas County court against Beamers Private Club of Dallas. The suit alleges the club served “large sums of alcohol” to Josh Brent, the former Cowboys player driving in December when
his car crashed. Police in the Dallas suburb of Irving say Brent was driving with a blood-alcohol level at twice the legal limit. The lawsuit alleges Beamers Private is liable under Texas’ “dram shop” law and seeks wrongful death and other damages. The club has previously said it “promotes responsible drinking.” Brent faces a January trial on intoxication manslaughter and manslaughter charges.
Horned Frogs try to break free fall By LUKE MEREDITH ASSOCIATED PRESS
AMES, Iowa — TCU is reeling after last week’s overtime loss at West Virginia, the third straight for a team whose Big 12 title hopes have been dashed. Iowa State knows how the Horned Frogs feel. The Cyclones (1-7, 0-5 Big 12) have lost their last five games — including three in a row by a combined score of 170-41 — and have already knocked themselves out of bowl eligibility. TCU (3-6, 1-5) needs to win its last three games, starting with Saturday’s game at Iowa State, simply to reach the postseason. This isn’t the way either program envisioned their season going. But a win this weekend could go a long way toward finishing the year on a relative high
note. “We’re obviously not in a place where we’d like to be at this time of year. This hasn’t been a place where we’ve been in a while,” TCU coach Gary Patterson said. “It’s kind of a similar situation to Iowa State. Both of us have been banged up. A lot of different people have been out. At this time of year, you get a chance to play for pride.” This could be the rare Big 12 game where points will be at a premium. TCU is 94th in the nation with just 23.4 points a game, with Iowa State right behind the Horned Frogs at 23.1 points. But TCU should find yards and points easier to come by with a healthy Casey Pachall throwing against a struggling Cyclones defense. Pachall had 394 yards passing in last week’s 30-27
Photo by Jim Cowsert | AP
TCU will likely be without its leading rusher, running back B.J. Catalon, in Saturday’s game against the Cyclones. loss to West Virginia. A hundred of those yards went to Trevone Boykin — who played quarterback when Pachall was unavailable earlier this season. Iowa State coach Paul Rhoads hasn’t announced
whether Sam Richardson or Grant Rohach will start at quarterback. But it sounds like Rhoads is expecting TCU to be aggressive against whoever ends up playing. “Like us a little they’re
a corner, injured animal,” Rhoads said. “They’re going to sense blood in the water and go after it.” Here are five things to look for as the Horned Frogs and Cyclones meet in Ames: LEAPT FROGS B.J. Catalon, TCU’s leading rusher, is injured and likely won’t play — and No. 2 tailback Waymon James has been suspended. The pair has combined for 647 yards and nine touchdowns, so the Horned Frogs won’t replace them easily. Sophomore Aaron Green could see more playing time, though he’s averaging just 3.5 yards a carry, and seldom-used Jordan Moore will probably also see his carries rise. SHONTRELLE TIME Iowa State also has issues at running back, with senior Shontrelle Johnson listed as this week’s start-
er as Aaron Wimberly continues to recover from a hamstring injury. Wimberly has missed the last two weeks after being injured in a 71- loss to Baylor. But Johnson is averaging just 3.3 yards a carry, indicative of a team that has struggled to run the ball much of the season. HISTORY LESSON In 2001, Patterson’s first season as the head coach at TCU, the Horned Frogs rallied to beat Louisville and Southern Mississippi to earn a bowl bid. Though it would be natural to compare that team’s plight to this one, Patterson cautioned that his first TCU squad was healthier than this one. “One of the things is that we got stronger at the end of that year. The difference here is that we’re more banged up, but you have to get ready to go,” Patterson said.