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Man granted bond Zapata native accused of receiving stolen oil By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
NUQUES
School district improves
A Zapata native accused of receiving $1.5 million worth of alleged stolen oil from Eagle Ford Shale companies was granted bond Tuesday morning in federal court. U.S. Magistrate Judge J. Scott Hacker set a $125,000 bond with $2,500 cash deposit and two co-sureties for Victor Manuel Guerra Jr., who was indicted on two counts of theft from interstate shipment, 69 counts of wire fraud and 58 counts of money laundering. Guerra, 37, was arrested Nov. 19. On Wednesday, the prosecution did not go forward with the detention hearing. Instead,
See BOND PAGE 9A
IMMIGRATION SUIT
By JUDITH RAYO THE ZAPATA TIMES
See ZCISD PAGE 9A
69 counts of wire fraud. They recently pleaded not guilty to the charges. The indictment alleges that the trio “devised a scheme to steal oil” from energy companies operating in the Eagle Ford Shale from January 2011 to August 2014. “After obtaining the oil, the co-conspirators then sold the ill-gotten product to third-party companies for financial gain,” the indictment states. Guerra allegedly controlled a bank account where buyers would pay for the oil via wire transfer. Furthermore, Guerra coordinated with Bernal and Peña to determine when his truck drivers could enter oil
OBAMA’S EXECUTIVE ACTION
TEA concerned about selected programs
ZCISD received a visit from the Texas Education Agency due to concerns in the Performance-Based Monitoring Analysis System, or PBMAS, report. The annual report indicates the performance of school districts and charter schools in selected programs such as special education, career and technical education, bilingual/ESL education and certain title programs under the No Child Left Behind Act. Such title programs include Title I, a federal program that provides funds to school districts and schools with a high percentage of children who are considered disadvantaged. Its purpose is to ensure that all children have an equal opportunity to obtain a high-quality education. The indicators are designed to reflect critical areas of student performance, program effectiveness and data integrity. The TEA on-sight team audited the district for a week on Nov. 10. “They did a complete audit and were impressed with all the changes that have taken place,” said Raul Nuques, Zapata County Independent School District superintendent. Audits included effective communication between campus and central office administrators and self-monitoring and auditing. “They could not find anything wrong and that is a first for (ZCISD),” Nuques said. According to the ZCISD report, the special education program is struggling in the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, or STAAR, testing, special education, No Child Left Behind Act and the bi-
Hacker heard bond amount proposals from prosecutors and the defense until the judge set the amount. “We at this time deny the allegations. We’re going to investigate the case thoroughly. He’s presumed innocent because these are only allegations,” said attorney Oscar A. Vela Jr., who represents Guerra. Vela, who described Guerra as a hardworking family man, said the case will be defended vigorously. Earlier this month, federal authorities also arrested two men whom they identified as Juan Martin Bernal, 49, of Eagle Pass, and Carlos Samuel Peña, 25, of Del Rio. Both men were charged with one count of theft from interstate shipment and
Photo by Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman | AP
Texas Attorney General and Gov.-elect Greg Abbott speaks against President Barack Obama’s executive order on immigration at the Price Daniel Building in Austin on Monday. Abbott is again vowing to sue the Obama administration for lifting the threat of deportation from millions of immigrants living illegally in the U.S.
Abbott insists on legal standing to sue federal government By PAUL J. WEBER
legal standing to sue the federal government over President Barack Obama’s executive actions on immigration, but he gave himself two weeks to make a final decision.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
AUSTIN — Republican Gov.elect Greg Abbott insisted Monday that Texas has firm
The outgoing Texas attorney general has forcefully vowed a court challenge, but he stopped short of guaranteeing a lawsuit during his first press conference since Obama
laid out plans last week to spare nearly 5 million people living in the U.S. illegally from deportation. Abbott’s defiance
See ABBOTT PAGE 9A
TEXAS FARM BUREAU
Thanksgiving dinner to cost less than last year WACO — Family, fun and cost-savings are on the menu this month as shoppers prepare for the holiday season. A traditional, Texas-style Thanksgiving dinner for 10 will cost $46.79 this year, marking nearly 3 percent savings over last year, according to the special Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) 2014 Thanksgiving Meal Report. The 2014 report shows a decrease of $1.29, or 2.68 percent, from the 2013 TFB Thanksgiving Meal Report. The survey records the cost of 10 holiday staples—including turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce and pecan pie—to feed a family of 10 people. “Texans are sensitive to grocery prices, especially when preparing large meals. This year, shoppers will notice a slight decrease in the overall price of their Thanksgiving meal,” TFB Presi-
Changes in the Price of Thanksgiving Meals Low-Cost Items
High-cost Items
Cost (in Dollars)
SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
25
3.00
20
2.50
15
2.00
10
1.50
5 2012 Thanksgiving Turkey
2013 Year
2014 Pecans (Shelled)
1.0
2012 Sweet Potatoes
2013 Year Brown & Serve Rolls
2014 Whipping Cream
SOURCE: Texas Farm Bureau
dent Kenneth Dierschke said. Despite reports suggesting a decrease in turkey supplies, Texas shoppers shouldn’t feel the pinch at the cash register. Survey shoppers found the price of a
16-pound, frozen, self-basting, young tom turkey to be more than $1 less than last year, marking a 6.11 percent decrease. In addition to the turkey, five other items decreased in price: brown and
serve rolls, 12 per package (down 8.33 percent); green beans, frozen (down 6.08 percent); 9-inch pie shells, frozen (down 3.73 percent); cubed stuffing, herb seasoning (down 1.83 percent); and pecans, shelled and halved (down 1.23 percent). A large, global supply of wheat is a driving factor in low prices for wheat-derived products. And recent rains have helped pecan growers come out of the drought, dropping pecan prices to the lowest since 2010. “Lower pecan prices and lower wheat prices mean a less expensive pecan pie—a Texas tradition—to round out Thanksgiving dinner,” Dierschke said. Texans, however, will pay more for four of the Thanksgiving staples this year: whipping cream (up 22.7 percent); sweet potatoes, fresh (up 4.44 percent); cranberry sauce, jellied (up 2.96 percent);
See THANKSGIVING PAGE 9A
PAGE 2A
Zin brief CALENDAR
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014
AROUND TEXAS
TODAY IN HISTORY
THURSDAY, NOV. 27
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Register for the 35th Guajolote 10K Race. Register at Hamilton Trophies (1320 Garden), Hamilton Jewelry (607 Flores), or on-line at www.raceit.com, Guajolote 10K Race. Call 956-724-9990 or 956-722-9463.
Today is Wednesday, Nov. 26, the 330th day of 2014. There are 35 days left in the year. Today’s Highlight in History: On Nov. 26, 1864, English mathematician and writer Charles Dodgson presented a handwritten and illustrated manuscript, “Alice’s Adventures Under Ground,” to his 12year-old friend Alice Pleasance Liddell; the book was later revised and turned into “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.” On this date: In 1789, this was a day of thanksgiving set aside by President George Washington to observe the adoption of the Constitution of the United States. In 1825, the first college social fraternity, the Kappa Alpha Society, was formed at Union College in Schenectady, New York. In 1933, a judge in New York ruled the James Joyce book “Ulysses” was not obscene and could be published in the United States. In 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered nationwide gasoline rationing, beginning Dec. 1. The motion picture “Casablanca,” starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, had its world premiere at the Hollywood Theater in New York. In 1950, China entered the Korean War, launching a counteroffensive against soldiers from the United Nations, the U.S. and South Korea. In 1965, France launched its first satellite, sending a 92pound capsule into orbit. In 1989, “America’s Funniest Home Videos” debuted as a special on ABC-TV; it later became a successful regular series. In 1992, the British government announced that Queen Elizabeth II had volunteered to start paying taxes on her personal income, and would take her children off the public payroll. Ten years ago: Leading Iraqi politicians called for a six-month delay in the Jan. 30, 2005, election because of spiraling violence; President George W. Bush said, “The Iraqi Election Commission has scheduled elections in January, and I would hope they’d go forward in January.” (The vote took place as scheduled.) Five years ago: An investigation ordered by Ireland’s government found that Roman Catholic Church leaders in Dublin had spent decades sheltering child-abusing priests from the law and that most fellow clerics had turned a blind eye. One year ago: Pope Francis denounced the global financial system that excluded the poor as he issued the mission statement for his papacy. Today’s Birthdays: Actress Ellen Albertini Dow is 101. Impressionist Rich Little is 76. Singer Tina Turner is 75. Singer Jean Terrell is 70. Country singer Linda Davis is 52. Blues singer-musician Bernard Allison is 49. Actor Peter Facinelli is 41. Actress Tammy Lynn Michaels Etheridge is 40. Country singer Joe Nichols is 38. Actress Jessica Bowman is 34. Pop singer Natasha Bedingfield is 33. Ben Wysocki (The Fray) is 30. Singer Lil Fizz is 29. Singer Aubrey Collins is 27. Thought for Today: “Don’t for heaven’s sake, be afraid of talking nonsense! But you must pay attention to your nonsense.” — Ludwig Wittgenstein, Austrian-born philosopher (1889-1951).
TUESDAY, DEC. 2 South Texas Food Bank Fundraiser. 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Hal’s Landing. For information call 324-2432. Or visit the website southtexasfoodbank.org. The Alzheimer’s support group. 7 pm. Room 2, building B of the Laredo Medical Center. Los Amies Birthday Club. . 11:30 am to TBA. Ramada Plaza. Honorees Alicia D. Laurel and Olga Laurel. Hostesses will be Consuelo Lopez, Olga Hovel and Magda Sanchez.
THURSDAY , DEC. 4 Primped’s Christmas Party. From 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Primped the Style Bar. 7718 McPherson Rd. Ste. #1. Contact Ariana Mora at arianamora@stx.rr.com or go to the website www.ruthebcowl.com .
SATURDAY, DEC. 6 Trail clean up. 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. LCC Lamar Bruni Vergara Environmental Science Center. “Shine the Light on Hunger” Health Fair. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 4500 Marco Drive. Call 324-2432 or www.southtexasfoodbank.org. First United Methodist Church. Used Book Sale, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., hardcovers $1; paperbacks 50¢; magazines and childrens books 25¢; Public is welcome. Sue Webber, fumc_office@sbcglobal.net.
SUNDAY, DEC. 7 Pet Fest Laredo 2014. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Laredo Civic Center. Woof@gopetfest.com. 5th Annual Christmas Animal Posada. From 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. St. Peter’s Plaza (Matamoros Street and Main Avenue). Contact Berta "Birdie" Torres, President of Gateway Gatos of Laredo, at birdtorres@hotmail.com. For more details call Birdie at 286-7866.
TUESDAY, DEC. 9 Monthly Orthopaedic Clinic. From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. 1220 N. Malinche.Contact Norma Rangel at program.manager@laredo.twcbc.com. Prior registration is required. The South Texas Food Bank Kids Café program honors World War II and Korean War veterans. 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Boys and Girls Club, 500 Moctezuma. For information call veteran Dr. Jesse J. Olivarez of the STFB Kids Cage program 726-3120 or vet officer David Garza 523-4399
THURSDAY, DEC. 11 Spanish Book Club, Laredo Public Library, Calton Road, from 6 to 8 p.m. Sylvia Reash- 763-1810.
FRIDAY, DEC. 12 “The Great Gatsby” Christmas Party, 7 p.m. Laredo Country Club. For more information contact Nancy De Anda at 763-9960.
SUNDAY, DEC. 21
AP file
This undated file photo shows Nobel laureate Gabriel Garcia Marquez at an undisclosed location. The University of Texas’ Harry Ransom Center has acquired Marquez’s archive. The writer died on April 17, 2014.
Esteemed archive at UT By WILL WEISSERT ASSOCIATED PRESS
AUSTIN — The archive of celebrated Colombian novelist and Nobel laureate Gabriel Garcia Marquez has been acquired by the University of Texas — meaning the critic of U.S. foreign policy is having his papers end up in a country he wasn’t always too fond of. The Harry Ransom Center, a top literary archive located on the university’s Austin campus, announced Monday that the collection spans more than 50 years and features original manuscript material for 10 books, including Garcia Marquez’s acclaimed 1967 novel, “One Hundred Years of Solitude.” Also included are drafts of Garcia Marquez’s acceptance speech for his 1982 Nobel Prize in Literature and 2,000 pieces of correspondence, such as letters to novelists Carlos Fuentes and Graham Greene. There are also
Police: Woman run over by own SUV in South Texas
EPA: Coal plants should spend to cut emissions
Man drops keys, falls 40 feet, rescued in Austin
CORPUS CHRISTI — Authorities say a woman was killed on Saturday after being run over by her own vehicle while she had been looking for her dog. Police believe 30-year-old Melody Hubbard had failed to put her SUV in park after she had spotted her dog and got out of her vehicle. Police found Hubbard under the SUV with injuries to her head and torso. She was taken to a hospital, where she later died.
FORT WORTH — Federal regulators are proposing that the largest coal-powered plants in Texas invest $2 billion in new technology to reduce sulfur dioxide emissions, a measure energy companies are likely to resist. The Environmental Protection Agency says the proposal would cut about 230,000 tons of sulfur dioxide emissions each year.
AUSTIN — A man trying to retrieve his keys that slipped through a grate has been rescued after falling about 40 feet into a concrete utility box in downtown Austin. Emergency personnel rappelled to reach the man, who suffered fractures, dislocations and other injuries. He was transported to street level and taken to a hospital.
Gas prices drop amid busy travel time IRVING — Retail gasoline prices across Texas have dropped again as motorists take to the road for the Thanksgiving holiday. AAA Texas on Tuesday reported the statewide average for unleaded this week has settled at $2.60, down from $2.66 last week. Drivers nationwide are paying an average of $2.81.
“Ring we now of Christmas” from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. First United Methodist Church 1220 McClelland. Linda Mott at lmott@stx.rr.com or the church office at 722-1674.
MONDAY, DEC. 29 Monthly meeting of Laredo Parkinson’s Disease Support Group. 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Laredo Medical Center, Tower B, First Floor Community Center. Patients, caregivers and family members invited. Free info pamphlets available in Spanish and English. Richard Renner (English) at 645-8649 or Juan Gonzalez (Spanish) at 237-0666. (Submit calendar items at lmtonline.com/calendar/submit or by emailing editorial@lmtonline.com with the event’s name, date and time, location and purpose and contact information for a representative. Items will run as space is available.)
typewriters and computers used by Garcia Marquez, who lived most of his life in Mexico City and died there in April at age 87. Most of the collection is in Spanish. The center plans to digitize part of it eventually to increase accessibility to the university community. “The University of Texas at Austin — with expertise in both Latin America and the preservation and study of the writing process — is the natural home for this very important collection,” University of Texas President Bill Powers said in a statement. The university said Monday it bought the collection from Garcia Marquez’s family, but wouldn’t say how much it cost, citing a competitive bidding process. Garcia Marquez was a close friend of Fidel Castro and was sometimes outspoken in his opposition to U.S. policy in Latin America.
Delusional inmate loses at top Texas appeals court AP El Paso correspondent Llorca dies at 40 HOUSTON — The state’s top criminal court has refused to halt next week’s scheduled execution of a convicted killer whose lawyers contend is severely delusional. A divided Texas Court of Criminal Appeals voted 5-4 Tuesday to reject an appeal from lawyers for 56-year-old Scott Panetti. He’s scheduled for lethal injection Dec. 3 for fatally shooting his in-laws 22 years ago at their Fredericksburg home.
EL PASO — Juan Carlos Llorca, the El Paso correspondent for The Associated Press and a veteran reporter in his native Guatemala, has died. He was 40. Llorca’s sister, Maria Jimena Llorca, says her brother collapsed at his home Monday. He was rushed to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The cause of death is pending. — Compiled from AP reports
AROUND THE NATION Police: Students ran high school prostitution ring VENICE, Fla. — Authorities say two southwest Florida high school students organized a prostitution ring of students from nearby high schools. Police say a 15-year-old Venice High School student was already in juvenile custody for an unrelated case when he was charged Tuesday with human trafficking. On Friday, a Sarasota High School student, 17-year-old Alexa Nicole De Armas, was arrested and charged with human trafficking of a person under 18.
Window washer fights for life after 11-story fall SAN FRANCISCO — A 58year-old window washer who fell 11 stories from a building onto a moving car is “fighting for his life” and opens his eyes when relatives speak to him, his family said. San Francisco General Hos-
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Police look over a car that has a caved in roof after a window washer fell at least 11 stories onto a moving vehicle in San Francisco, Friday. The man remains in critical condition. pital released a statement from his family, who asked to not be identified. “We are amazed that he fell from such a high distance and still survived. Landing on the car really helped, and we are so thankful for that,” the statement
said. Police said the man was moving equipment on the roof of a bank building in San Francisco’s financial district and not on a window-washing platform when he fell at 10 a.m. Friday. — Compiled from AP reports
SUBSCRIPTIONS/DELIVERY (956) 728-2555 The Zapata Times is distributed on Saturdays to 4,000 households in Zapata County. For subscribers of the Laredo Morning Times and for those who buy the Laredo Morning Times at newsstands, the Zapata Times is inserted. The Zapata Times is free. The Zapata Times is published by the Laredo Morning Times, a division of The Hearst Corporation, P.O. Box 2129, Laredo, Texas 78044. Phone (956) 728-2500. The Zapata office is at 1309 N. U.S. Hwy. 83 at 14th Avenue, Suite 2, Zapata, TX 78076. Call (956) 765-5113 or e-mail thezapatatimes.net
Local
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014
Roma TxDOT employees awarded for public service
THE ZAPATA TIMES 3A
Z WINGS SPORTS BAR OPENS IN ZAPATA
SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
Four TxDOT Pharr District employees were awarded the Texas Department of Transportation Administration’s annual Extra Mile Award on Oct. 14. The award recognizes employees who surpass expectations for exemplary public service. Roma maintenance equipment operator Jose L. Garcia and general transportation techs equipment operators Santiago Hernandez, Antonio L. Moreno, and Angel M. Renteria were honored for their efforts. On Nov. 13, 2013, during an overlay project on U.S. 83, a rollover accident caused a 16-year-old driver to be ejected from his vehicle over the median and into traffic of the opposite lanes. Santiago rushed to call for assistance on his twoway radio. He ran into the highway blocking traffic using his voice and arms to catch the attention of the drivers that were coming to close to the injured youth. The others soon joined him, and together they formed a human moving traffic block, to protect the injured driver. Additional help came from an unmarked police unit who assisted the crew in traffic control by applying the blue and red emergency lights. The young man was conscious but badly hurt, and survived his injuries.
Photo by Danny Zaragoza | The Zapata Times Photo courtesy of Texas Department of Transportation
Pictured from left to right, John Barton, Santiago Hernandez, Jose Garcia, Antonio Moreno, Angel Renteria Jr. and Lt. Gen. Joe Weber.
Paco Mendoza, Jose Emiliano Vela, owner Hector Sanchez, Zerlinda Sanchez, Idalia Escobedo, and Arnulfo Gonzalez stand with employees of Z Wings Sports Bar on Friday afternoon during the grand opening of the sports bar in Zapata, Texas.
PAGE 4A
Zopinion
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR SEND YOUR SIGNED LETTER TO EDITORIAL@LMTONLINE.COM
EDITORIAL
OTHER VIEWS
Too little, far too late THE WASHINGTON POST
University of Virginia officials are fond of talking about the principles of honor and character on which Thomas Jefferson’s school was founded. Living by those principles is another matter, if we are to judge by the sorry way they handled the case of a young woman who alleges she was gang-raped during a fraternity party. Only after a damning story roiled the Charlottesville campus, bringing unfavorable national attention, did officials act. Only now have they suspended, for a few weeks, activities of fraternities and sororities. Only now have they promised to investigate the incident — which took place in 2012. Rolling Stone magazine recounted the harrowing allegations of an 18-yearold freshman who says she was raped by seven men during a party at the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. The particulars of the alleged assault churn the stomach, but no less disturbing is the indifference she reportedly encountered from friends who warned her not to seek help and from an administration clearly not anxious to open the school to scandal. Decisions about whether to report sex crimes, whether on- or off-campus, are generally left to victims, and this young woman declined to report. But the circumstances raise questions about the kind of advice and support she received. Even more wor-
risome is that university officials had been told about other instances of sexual assault at this same fraternity but failed to investigate until the Rolling Stone reporter started asking questions. Since the controversy erupted, President Teresa Sullivan and other U-Va. officials have released a series of statements stressing how seriously they take rape. Their message is undercut by other victims who maintain that the experience detailed by Rolling Stone is not unique on a campus where the fraternity system is king and heavy drinking is part of the culture. Not a single student has been expelled by the Sexual Misconduct Board in the past 10 years, even as dozens have been kicked out for honor-code violations such as cheating. A student-run media outlet at U-Va. released a video recording of the dean who handles sexual assault cases saying that even an admission of guilt is not likely to result in expulsion. In other words, there are no real consequences. That perpepuates sexual violence. More than canceling a few parties and giving lip service to doing better are needed. School officials need to recognize rape by students against other students for what it is: a serious crime. If the Rolling Stone article is accurate, the seven male students should be not only expelled. They belong in prison.
COLUMN
Think about retail workers on Thursday By C. NICOLE MASON TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE
Thanksgiving ought to be a time for all Americans to relax and enjoy themselves. For salaried workers and for most two-income households, working on Thanksgiving or Christmas is the exception, not the rule. However, for minimum-wage workers and those without job security, staying home is simply not an option. Workers who boycott or refuse to work on holidays often face intimidation or fear the loss of their jobs. There is no grievance process, union or human resources department eager to take up their cause. Entry-level managers are often in the same boat as workers, as they have very little job security and are in no position to close stores. Those hefty decisions are made in corporate offices by salaried employees whose chief concern is the financial bottom line, rather than the workers. The average minimum wage workers earn just $13,920 annually, a little more than half of the federal poverty rate for a family of four, which stands at $23,850. For families struggling to make ends meet, missing a day of work can mean going without food, lifesaving medication, electricity and, at this time of
year, presents under the Christmas tree. For low-income individuals, Black Friday is not only a time to snag a great deal on televisions or game consoles, it is also a time to stock up on necessities like hats, gloves, shoes, and coats — many of the items that may be priced out of reach during any other time of the year. Shopping the day after the holiday is not sport but what must happen to ensure that meager earnings stretch as far as they can. More than any time of the year, the holiday season reveals the extreme economic inequities and cleavages in our society. The disparities are hard to miss with the hordes of canned food drives and calls to give to the less fortunate, which ironically often include our friends, neighbors and local checkout clerks. Raising the minimum wage would help ease the pressure to work on holidays like Thanksgiving. So would providing workers with adequate protections, benefits and workplace flexibility. These are steps in the right direction in terms of lessening the gap between the haves and the have-nots. Workers should not have to choose between their families and their jobs — especially on Thanksgiving.
COLUMN
Grand jury’s decision in Ferguson case not a surprise By JAMES E. CAUSEY MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL
A grand jury in Ferguson, Mo., on Monday decided not to indict police officer Darren Wilson, who fatally shot Michael Brown in August. I wish I could say I was surprised by the decision, but I’m not. As an AfricanAmerican male I have seen this play out the same way too many times to count. Anytime a police officer says he "fears for his life" and uses deadly force, especially if the force is being used against a black man, the officer is hardly ever convicted. The jury of 12 — nine white and three black — could have charged Wilson with first-degree murder or involuntary manslaughter, but they decided not to indict the officer. A CNN poll showed that Americans were split along racial lines over whether Wilson should have faced murder charges. Fifty-four percent of non-whites — including blacks, Latinos and Asians — say Wilson should be charged with murder, while just 23 percent of whites agree. And 38 percent of whites say Wilson should not be charged with any crime. Only 15 percent of non-whites held that position. Wilson is white and Brown was black. We know that the two
were involved in a physical altercation in which Brown was shot six times. Brown, 18, was not armed. People are angry and they are frustrated with the decision and they are angry with the way Ferguson officials handled the incident. They are also angry at the fact that while Ferguson’s population is nearly 70 percent black, African-Americans make up just under 6 percent of the police force. On Sunday’s "Meet the Press," former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani chose to address "black-onblack" crime statistics instead of looking at the disparities in the racial makeup of the Ferguson police department. Giuliani got into a heated discussion with Georgetown professor Michael Eric Dyson after Giuliani asked why blacks protesting the shooting death of Brown do not display the same passion over blackon-black crime. Giuliani said "93 percent of blacks are killed by other blacks … I would like to see the attention paid to that, paid to this." He also said the 93 percent figure was the reason why so many white police officers have to be in black areas. Dyson called it a false argument. He’s right, because, according to the FBI’s most recent homicide statistics, whites kill
83 percent of white murder victims. Yet, Giuliani did not decry "white-on-white" crime. It is also a falsehood that African-Americans don’t care about black-onblack crime. This is just not true. In cities like Milwaukee, all you have to do is look at the hard work done by many at the grassroots level by organizations that work with the young people that society has turned its back on. These youths are disadvantaged and have been told that they will never amount to anything but being a drug dealer or a "thug." These grass-roots organizations are changing lives and saving lives because the people in them are sick and tired of seeing too many young people die in the streets. Just because they don’t protest doesn’t mean they don’t care. People are mostly frustrated because when black people kill other black people they go to prison. When police do it, they generally do not get any jail time, and sometimes they even receive full disability. Firing an officer takes guts. In October, Milwaukee Police Chief Edward Flynn fired officer Christopher Manney after the officer failed to follow proper procedures in the fatal shooting of Dontre
Hamilton. Manney shot Hamilton 14 times on April 30 in a downtown park after the two were involved in a physical confrontation. Days after Flynn fired Manney, the police union took a "no confidence" vote in Flynn. Flynn’s frustration boiled over during a meeting of a police oversight panel. At one point during the meeting, members of the audience criticized Flynn for looking at his phone instead of listening to their concerns. Flynn was actually keeping up with the developments of a 5-year-old girl who was shot and killed on the south side. "The fact is that the people out here — some of them who have the most to say — are absolutely MIA when it comes to the true threats facing this community," Flynn said. "It gets a little tiresome when you start getting yelled at for reading the updates for the kid who got shot. Yeah. You take it personally." Flynn’s frustrations are no different from those who are fighting on the front lines for the young people who society has forgotten. It’s not easy for either side, but they both need to be able to trust each other. The division highlighted by the Ferguson case proves we still have a long ways to go.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY The Zapata Times does not publish anonymous letters. To be published, letters must include the writer’s first and last names as well as a phone number to verify identity. The
phone number IS NOT published; it is used solely to verify identity and to clarify content, if necessary. Identity of the letter writer must be verified before publication. We want to assure our
readers that a letter is written by the person who signs the letter. The Zapata Times does not allow the use of pseudonyms. Letters are edited for style, grammar, length and civility. No name-call-
ing or gratuitous abuse is allowed. Via e-mail, send letters to editorial@lmtonline.com or mail them to Letters to the Editor, 111 Esperanza Drive, Laredo, TX 78041.
CLASSIC DOONESBURY | GARRY TRUDEAU
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014
ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM
Sports&Outdoors NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE: HOUSTON TEXANS
MLB: BOSTON RED SOX
Mallett finished Houston QB tears pectoral
Photo by Charlie Riedel | AP
The Boston Red Sox have agreed to terms with Pablo Sandoval (pictured) and Hanley Ramirez.
By JOHN MCCLAIN
Red Sox go big in free agency
HOUSTON CHRONICLE
When Ryan Mallett’s teammates found out he had suffered a torn pectoral muscle in Sunday’s 2213 loss to Cincinnati, they lined up to praise his toughness. “That’s a pretty significant injury, and for him to push through something like that says a lot about him as a player and as a person,” inside linebacker Brian Cushing said. “He’s a tough kid. It’s unfortunate. He showed a lot of guts.” Mallett is out for the season, according to several people familiar with the quarterback situation. He’ll be replaced by Ryan Fitzpatrick in the starting lineup against Tennessee. Mallett will be placed on injured reserve and replaced on the roster by veteran Thaddeus Lewis, who played for coach Bill O’Brien at Duke. O’Brien declined to discuss Mallett and the quar-
By JIMMY GOLEN ASSOCIATED PRESS
Photo by David J. Phillip | AP
Houston Texans quarterback Ryan Mallett will reportedly miss the remainder of the season after suffering a torn pectoral muscle in Sunday’s 22-13 loss against the Cincinnati Bengals. terback situation on Monday. “He’s still being evaluated,” O’Brien said. “I’ll have more to report by the end of the week.” After throwing two touchdown passes and leading the Texans to a 23-7 victory at Cleveland in the first start of his four-year career, Mallett struggled from the beginning of the Cincinnati game. Mallett wasn’t the same quarterback against the
Bengals. Most of his passes were off-target. He finished 21-of-45 for 189 yards with one interception. “On the last two drives, just saw him kind of grimacing in pain a little after a couple of throws,” left tackle Duane Brown said. “I didn’t know exactly what was going on or the extent of it. “He’s tough, man. He didn’t back down at all. He didn’t ease up at all. He showed his fight to even try to get a score on
that last drive. That’s the kind of player he is and the kind of person he is. He wants to win. He wants to compete. We really respect that.” Receiver DeAndre Hopkins, who had five catches, noticed something wasn’t right with Mallett. “I did, but I didn’t have any idea about how serious it was until after the game,” Hopkins said. “Him playing through that speaks a lot about his toughness.”
BOSTON — Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez spent the last two seasons as NL West rivals. Now they’re teammates, signing with the Boston Red Sox as free agents for a combined $183 million to try to boost Boston out of the AL East cellar. Sandoval finalized a five-year, $95 million contract that will add him to a lineup with Ramirez and David Ortiz. He called them “The Three Amigos.” About five hours later, the Red Sox confirmed a four-year, $88 million deal with Ramirez. He’s a former Boston prospect who spent the last nine years with the Marlins and Los Angeles Dodgers.
Sandoval told Boston reporters he was happy in San Francisco, where he won three World Series. But he said, “I need a new challenge.” White Sox sign Adam LaRoche for 2 years, $25M CHICAGO — The Chicago White Sox and first baseman Adam LaRoche have agreed to terms on a two-year, $25 million deal. The team said Tuesday that the 35-year-old player will receive $12 million next year and $13 million in 2016. LaRoche is likely to see most of his time at designated hitter because Jose Abreu is entrenched at first and won the AL Rookie of the Year award. LaRoche gives Chicago sorely needed power from the left side.
PÁGINA 6A
Zfrontera
Ribereña en Breve DESFILE DE NAVIDAD La Cámara de Comercio del Condado de Zapata invita al Desfile de Navidad y Encendido de la Plaza del Condado, el jueves 4 de diciembre. Se invita a empresas, iglesias, clubes, escuelas, organizaciones, y oficiales a participar durante el desfile. Se entregarán trofeos a los tres mejores carros alegóricos. Los participantes empezarán a alinearse a las 5 p.m. del 4 de diciembre en calle Glenn y 17th Ave (detrás de Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church). El desfile iniciará a las 6 p.m., tomando 17th Ave y continuando al sur sobre US Hwy 83, y girando a la izquierda en 6th Ave, para concluir el desfile. Al concluir el desfile, se realizará la ceremonia anual de encendido del árbol de Navidad en la Plaza del Condado, seguido de regalos de Santa. Para más información, comunicarse con Celia Baldes, del Zapata County Chamber of Commerce, al (956) 7654871.
MIÉRCOLES 26 DE NOVIEMBRE DE 2014
NACIONAL
Decisión legal POR JIM KUHNHENN ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON— Más de 100 expertos en inmigración declararon el martes que la decisión del presidente Barack Obama de proteger de la deportación a varios millones de inmigrantes que viven en el país sin autorización es constitucional y puede tomarla como parte de su autoridad administrativa. Los 135 expertos se centraron en dos aspectos principales de la decisión ejecutiva de Obama anunciada la semana pasada. Una proteger a los padres de ciudadanos estadounidenses o residentes permanentes de la deportación y les permite solicitar el
permiso de trabajo. La otra medida amplía un programa que protege a los inmigrantes que llegaron al país ilegalmente cuando eran niños. Esos dos programas pudieran beneficiar a un máximo de 4,4 millones de personas. La declaración de los expertos afirma que las decisiones del presidente constituyen un uso debido de su autoridad discrecional. Los republicanos reaccionaron con furia a la decisión de Obama, calificándola de ilegal e inconstitucional. Algunos de los expertos jurídicos que critican la decisión de Obama alegan que el trabajo del presidente es hacer cumplir las leyes que aprueba el Congreso y que Obama desafía a la legislatura federal.
La Casa Blanca ha señalado que en el pasado otros presidentes, tanto republicanos como demócratas, han usado su autoridad ejecutiva para proteger inmigrantes de la deportación. Sin embargo, la decisión de Obama beneficiaría a un número mucho mayor de inmigrantes que las de otros mandatarios. Críticos como John Yoo y Robert Delahunty, que trabajaron en la Oficina de Asesoría Legal del Departamento de Justicia en el gobierno del presidente George W. Bush, alegan que el presidente no tiene tal autoridad amplia y que la discrecionalidad sólo puede aplicarse de manera limitada. En su declaración, los expertos dijeron que el amplio alcance de
DÍA INTERNACIONAL DE LA ELIMINACIÓN DE VIOLENCIA CONTRA LA MUJER
NACIONAL
JM: UN INFIERNO
Dictan 22 años de cárcel a traficante
VISITA DE CASAS Se invita a pasar la tarde del 7 de diciembre visitando casas históricas y puntos de referencia de San Ygnacio. Las ganancias se destinarán a la Escuela Primaria Arturo L. Benavides.
POR MICHAEL TARM ASSOCIATED PRESS
CAMPAMENTO DE SOFTBALL La Ciudad de Roma, Texas estará realizando un campamento de softball dirigido a jugadores de entre 8 y 14 años de edad. El evento se llevará a cabo el sábado 13 de diciembre, dentro de las instalaciones del Roma High Softball Field, en los siguientes horarios: de 9 a.m. a 12 p.m.; de 12 p.m. a 1 p.m. (se proporcionará la comida); y de 1 p.m. a 3 p.m. Los asistentes recibirán entrenamiento para cubrir las áreas de picheo, bateo, cubrir las bases, moverse entre campos, robar bases, entre otros aspectos. El costo del campamento será de 25 dólares, e incluirá la comida y una playera. Para más información puede llamar a Joel Hinojosa Jr., al 353-1442.
VISITA DE PAISANOS Se fortalecerá la vigilancia en las carreteras del Estado de Tamaulipas, señala un comunicado de prensa del Estado. Durante una reunión entre el Gobernador Egidio Torre Cantú, las fuerzas federales y estatales que integran el Grupo de Coordinación Tamaulipas, se acordó implementar la vigilancia y la presencia policial durante la temporada decembrinas, periodo durante el cual crece el número de paisanos que visitan México, a través del Estado.
PLÁTICAS SOBRE VIOLENCIA CONTRA LA MUJER El Instituto de la Mujer Tamaulipeca (IMT) reveló que el 70 por ciento mujeres maltratadas que son atendidas en las comunidades rurales están relacionados con violencia psicológica, por lo que se realizarán una serie de pláticas y talleres enfocados a la familia, con los que se busca generar conciencia sobre este tema, en los centros de atención itinerantes en los municipios de Reynosa, San Fernando, Victoria, Tula y Altamira, México. Los Centros de Atención Itinerante permiten el acercamiento de atención legal, psicológica y de trabajo social a las zonas y comunidades más marginadas, facilitando a la mujer salir del círculo de violencia, señala un comunicado de prensa.
la decisión de Obama no la hace menos válida jurídicamente. La declaración es una versión actualizada de una carta del 3 de septiembre enviada a Obama por los mismos profesores y expertos en inmigración en que explican los argumentos jurídicos y precedentes de las decisiones ejecutivas. La declaración fue coordinada por los expertos jurídicos Hiroshi Motomura, de la Facultad de Derecho de la Universidad de California en Los Angeles; Shoba Sivaprasad Wadhia, de la Facultad Dickinson de Derecho de la Universidad Estatal de Pennsylvania, y Stephen H. Legomsky, de la Facultad de Derecho de la Universidad Washington.
Foto por Cuate Santos/archivo | Laredo Morning Times
Una silueta representando a una víctima de violencia doméstica, se observa al frente, conforme la Hermana Rosemary Welsh habla durante una vigilia llevada a cabo en Kaplan College, en esta imagen de archivo. Josefina Moreno fue víctima de violencia doméstica durante 17 años de matrimonio, hasta que un día tomó la decisión de dejar a su esposo abusador.
POR MALENA CHARUR TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
“Es mi deber quedarme con mi marido aunque me mate”. Así era como le habían inculcado a pensar a Josefina Moreno, inclusive su esposo la maltrataba. Ella sufrió violencia doméstica durante 17 años de su vida matrimonial. Una vida que califica como “un verdadero infierno”. “Yo tenía 16 años y él tenía 17 años cuando nos casamos. Fue una decisión tonta y nuestro primer error”, recordó Moreno. “Duré 17 años casada pero fui una esposa abusada y muy maltratada. Me llevé muchos golpes. Es una vida que no le deseo a nadie”. Fue en 1999 cuando la Asamblea General de las Naciones Unidas instituyó el Día Internacional de la Eliminación de la Violencia contra la Mujer. En un reporte global del organismo emitido en el 2013, el 35 por ciento de las mujeres en el mundo han experimentado violencia física y/o sexual ya sea por un compañero íntimo o violencia sexual por parte de un compañero no íntimo Explicó que durante su noviazgo su esposo fue una persona muy noble y buena con ella, pero después todo cambió. “Él siempre fue muy lindo
conmigo. Cuando nos casamos su papá lo obligaba a trabajar y no lo dejaba descansar ni un solo día. Para no dormirse empezó a tomar pastillas, lo que le causó una dependencia a la benzedrina. Noté un cambio drástico en su personalidad y ahora era muy agresivo”, expresó. Moreno logró establecer contacto con el Women’s Shelter a donde acudía a escondidas para recibir consejería. “Yo no me quería divorciar, yo quería que lo curaran pero los consejeros me decían que no podían curarlo porque, en su mente, yo representaba su enemiga número uno por querer quitarle el vicio”, indicó. “A usted lo que le va a pasar es que un día de estos él la va a matar con un golpe insignificante. Él irá la cárcel. Usted al panteón y a sus hijos ¿quién los va a cuidar?”. En el 2011, una investigación del Instituto sobre Violencia Doméstica y Agresión Sexual y la Universidad de Texas, arrojó que entre las mujeres tejanas, el 23 por ciento reportó violencia física, un dos por ciento, violencia sexual y un 13 por ciento reportó ambas. Además los tres tipos más frecuentes de abuso reportado por las mujeres fue la agresión física, ser lanzadas contra algo, asfixiadas, estranguladas o sofocadas. Después de varias visitas al
Women’s Shelter Moreno tomó la decisión de abandonar a su esposo y refugiarse ahí. La Hermana Rosemary Welsh, directora de Casa de Misericordia, en Laredo dijo que durante el 2013 se recibieron a 275 mujeres y 500 menores. “Siempre tenemos mucho trabajo. Cada mes llegan de 22 a 24 mujeres a solicitar albergue. Lo importante es que sepan que existe ayuda, que no están solas y que les podemos ayudar”, expresó. Casa de Misericordia proporciona servicios a víctimas de violencia doméstica sin importar raza, origen, edad, discapacidad física, religión, género o preferencia sexual, de acuerdo a su sitio de Internet. Recientemente durante una presentación en un concurso de talentos en Los Ángeles, Josefina Moreno dijo que ahora ella era una mujer diferente. “Yo no soy nada de lo que fui ayer. Aquella mujer se quedó atrás, aquella mujer sufría, se quedaba en el suelo llorando. Esta mujer que ves ahora es una mujer valiente, una soldada de su propia vida y ya no hay nadie que la lastime”, dijo. Si requiere de información sobre Casa Misericordia puede llamar al 712-9590 o visitar el sitio de Internet casademisericordia.org
CHICAGO— Un juez federal sentenció el lunes a 22 años de prisión a un lugarteniente del capo mexicano Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán por su papel en una confabulación de tráfico de drogas por 1.000 millones de dólares a Chicago y otras ciudades. Al sentenciar a Alfredo Vásquez Hernández, el juez federal de distrito Rubén Castillo dijo que quería enviar un mensaje fuerte a éste y a otros traficantes mexicanos. Hernández, de 58 años, es una de 11 personas encausadas en ChicaVÁSQUEZ go, incluido el propio Guzmán. Hernández es el primero en ser sentenciado. “Le digo a nombre de todos los ciudadanos de Chicago... estamos cansados del tráfico de drogas”, le dijo Castillo a Hernández. El caso se considera uno de los más importantes del gobierno federal contra los cárteles mexicanos de las drogas. En el proceso que llevó a la sentencia de Hernández la atención se centró en la credibilidad de dos aliados del cártel de Sinaloa que se convirtieron en testigos del gobierno, los mellizos Pedro y Margarito Flores. Grabaciones secretas y otras pruebas ofrecidas por los hermanos llevaron al encausamiento en Chicago en 2008 de Hernández y otras 10 personas, entre ellos Guzmán y los propios hermanos Flores. Sin embargo, los abogados de la defensa acusan a los hermanos de exagerar la importancia de Hernández en la estructura de la organización para ganarse el favor de la fiscalía y conseguirse una condena menor. Abogados de Hernández alegan que, desde prisión, compraron un carro de lujo Bentley de 100.000 dólares como regalo para la esposa de Pedro Flores. Los fiscales alegan que los Flores tenían acuerdos con Guzmán, Hernández y otros del cártel de Sinaloa para distribuir drogas en EU. Hernández, se declaró culpable de posesión de drogas con intención de distribuirlas
TAMAULIPAS
Inicia temporada de caza ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
Con la temporada de caza del venado cola blanca en puertas, el Estado de Tamaulipas espera una importante derrama económica, han dicho autoridades tamaulipecas. Este año, la temporada de caza comienza el 28 de noviembre y concluye el 25 de enero de 2015, de acuerdo a un comunicado de prensa. “La campaña que se dio en Estados Unidos ya está dando frutos, ya que varios hoteles y campos cinegéticos ya tienen reservaciones y están a la espera de los cazadores”, dijo Mónica González García, secretaria de Desarrollo Económico y Turismo (Sedet).
Además de la temporada de caza de venado, también se podrán cazar codornices escamosa, coyotes, gato montés, marrano alzado y pecarí de collar, entre otros. De acuerdo con estadísticas presentadas por el Estado, municipios tales como Nuevo Laredo, México, esperan una derrama económica de 7 millones de dólares. La cantidad de cazadores registrados el año pasado fue de 3.200. Para mantener el control de la población de la especie, Tamaulipas está certificado con Unidades de Manejo para la Conservación de la Vida Silvestre (UMAS) que sirve para verificar fechas y cantidades y tiene el objetivo de no deteriorar el ambiente ni desbalancear la vida silvestre.
Foto de cortesía | Gobierno de Tamaulipas
A partir del 28 de noviembre y hasta el 25 de enero del 2015, el venado cola blanca estará en temporada de caza, en el Estado de Tamaulipas. Se espera la presencia de más de 3.000 cazadores.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014
State
5 children killed in South Texas mobile home fire
THE ZAPATA TIMES 7A
Top federal health official visits Texas ASSOCIATED PRESS
ASSOCIATED PRESS
EDNA — Authorities say five children were killed when a fire engulfed their South Texas mobile home and partially collapsed the roof, which made rescue attempts impossible. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the deaths Tuesday afternoon. The names of the children haven’t been released. Emergency personnel arrived shortly after 5 a.m. Tuesday at the home in Edna, about 100 miles southwest of Houston. Sheriff A.J. Louderback says the children’s parents were found outside the home with one child but told firefighters five children were still inside. The home was engulfed in flames when authorities arrived. Edna Fire Department Capt. Nick Strauss says firefighters weren’t able to make rescue attempts due to the roof collapse.
Photo by Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle | AP
Firefighters sift through the charred remains of a mobile home where five children perished in an early-morning fire Tuesday in Edna, Texas.
DALLAS — Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell made another trip to Texas on Monday to encourage residents to sign up for insurance under the Affordable Care Act, while those helping to get people signed up said they are seeing a steady number of inquiries. Burwell made stops in the San Antonio area and in Dallas. She was in Houston last week and has promised to make frequent visits to Texas, which has the nation’s highest rate of residents without medical insurance, during the second enrollment period. “In one year alone in our nation, 10.3 million adults are no longer uninsured ... and we want to build on that record,” she said during her Dallas stop.
Burwell is trumpeting the White House’s signature health care law in a state full of Republicans who oppose it. Texas declined to set up its own insurance exchange as Gov. Rick Perry staunchly opposed the health care overhaul. Between October 1, 2013, and March 31, 2014, the first enrollment period, 733,757 individuals in Texas selected an insurance plan. The second enrollment period started on Nov. 15 and runs through Feb. 15. Mimi Garcia, Texas’ state director for Enroll America, a nonprofit established to educate people about the ACA, said the group’s outreach has included almost 60 enrollment events across the state since the second rollout started. “The interest has been strong,” she said.
Nation
8A THE ZAPATA TIMES
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014
Protests arise over shot 12-year-old By MARK GILLISPIE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Photo by Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution | MCT
A law enforcement officer watches over Morehouse College students raising their fists in the air, joining others in a rally at the CNN Center after marching from King’s Chapel on their Atlanta campus.
Ferguson protesters rally across US By SADIE GURMAN ASSOCIATED PRESS
People protesting the Ferguson, Missouri, grand jury decision took to the streets in cities across the U.S. for a second day Tuesday, showing the racially charged case has inflamed tensions even hundreds of miles from the predominantly black St. Louis suburb. Peaceful demonstrators marched in Seattle and disrupted traffic in St. Louis and Cleveland. Rallies also formed in New Jersey, Maine, Maryland and elsewhere. In Washington, D.C., protesters lay on the ground to stage a “die-in” in front of Metro police headquarters. The group planned to occupy various buildings in the district over 28 hours. For many, the shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown by Officer Darren Wilson recalled other troubling encounters with law enforcement. The refrain “hands up, don’t shoot” became a rallying cry over police killings nationwide. Here is a look at some of Tuesday’s demonstrations:
ST. LOUIS Protesters disrupted downtown traffic for several hours by blocking major intersections, an interstate highway and a Mississippi River bridge connecting the city to Illinois. Riot police arrested several demonstrators who sat in the middle of Interstate 44 near the Edward Jones Dome. They used pepper spray to disperse the crowd. Demonstrators also swarmed the steps of the federal courthouse, overturning barricades while chanting, “You didn’t indict. We shall fight.”
Innocent man freed By LISA CORNWELL ASSOCIATED PRESS
CINCINNATI — A man imprisoned nearly four decades for a slaying and freed when a witness said he lied as a boy came to Cincinnati on Tuesday to thank the law project that worked to win his freedom. A beaming Ricky Jackson told members of the Ohio Innocence Project and others at the University of Cincinnati that he would have walked to Cincinnati from Cleveland if necessary to thank the people he says “saved my life.” “They came through like a knight in shining armor,” he said of the project at UC’s College of Law. It works to free people using DNA evidence but took Jackson’s case despite the lack of DNA. “Life is so beautiful right now,” he said.
SEATTLE Hundreds of Seattle high school students walked out of classes and rallied at the University of Washington or marched to the downtown federal courthouse. The protest came a day after demonstrators threw canned food, bottles and rocks, and police responded with pepper spray and flash-bang grenades. Five people were arrested. Demonstrators included the rapper Macklemore
MINNEAPOLIS A rally in Minneapolis turned scary when a car hit and then drove through several protesters. Several hundred people gathered Tuesday afternoon near the 3rd Precinct police outpost to show solidarity with Brown. Helicopter footage from KSTPTV showed the car pushing through protesters and driving over at least one. A woman suffered minor injuries.
OAKLAND Police were bracing for more demonstrations in Oakland, where officials were still cleaning up after scores of people hurled bottles, broke windows, set small fires and vandalized a police car Monday night. At least 40 people were arrested in the melee that escalated after some protesters shut down traffic on a major highway in the San Francisco Bay Area. A police spokeswoman said several officers were injured, but she did not elaborate.
CLEVELAND Several hundred people marched down a freeway
exit ramp to block rushhour traffic while protesting the Missouri developments and Saturday’s fatal shooting of a 12-year-old Cleveland boy by an officer. “The system wasn’t made to protect us,” said one of the protesters, 17year-old Naesha Pierce, who stayed up until 3 a.m. watching television coverage from Ferguson. “To get justice, the people themselves have to be justice.” Police diverted traffic but took no action against the protesters as they sat in a major intersection. They were demonstrating after the death of Tamir Rice, who was shot when police responded to a 911 call about a gun at a playground. Police later determined the boy had a pellet gun that looked like a real firearm.
ELSEWHERE In New York, police noted protests have been large but mostly peaceful, with just two arrests including that of a man who threw a jar of fake blood that struck Police Commissioner William Bratton and his security detail. After a night of rallies in Chicago, dozens of protesters upset with the grand jury’s decision camped out at the doors of Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s office and planned to remain there throughout the day and overnight. Rallies also were forming Tuesday in Newark, New Jersey, Portland, Maine, Baltimore, Washington, D.C. In the nation’s capital, one group lay on the ground to stage a “die-in” in front of Metro police headquarters. The group planned to occupy various buildings in the district over 28 hours.
CLEVELAND — Several hundred people marched down an exit ramp and temporarily blocked rush-hour traffic on a busy freeway on Tuesday while protesting a police officer’s fatal shooting of a 12-year-old boy who had brandished a pellet gun. Police diverted traffic but didn’t take action against the protesters, who chanted phrases such as “Hands up, don’t shoot” and “No justice, no peace” as they sat in a major intersection before marching past City Hall and onto state Route 2. The protesters were demonstrating after the death of Tamir Rice, who was shot Saturday when police responded to a 911 call about a gun at a playground. Police later determined Tamir had a pellet gun that looked like a real firearm. The demonstration came as protesters across the country blasted a grand jury’s decision not to indict a white police officer who killed an unarmed black teenager in Ferguson, Missouri. Cleveland police Chief Calvin Williams was observing and conferring with officers about the local protest but declined to immediately comment. The crowd blocked the freeway for about an hour before returning to a downtown square, where it dispersed. The demonstrators passed by the Cuyahoga County jail, causing inmates to bang on their windows. Among the protesters was 17-year-old Naesha Pierce, who said she had stayed up until 3 a.m. watching television news coverage from Ferguson, where people marched in streets, destroyed police cars and set businesses on
Photo by Tony Dejak | AP
Demonstrators block Public Square Tuesday in Cleveland during a protest over the weekend police shooting of Tamir Rice. fire. “The system wasn’t made to protect us,” she said. “To get justice, the people themselves have to be justice.” The crowd included people of various races and groups of students from at least three area colleges. “This is the way our democracy is supposed to work, to come out and express your opinions,” Mike Brickner, senior policy director for ACLU of Cleveland, said as the protesters demonstrated near Public Square. Attorneys for Tamir’s family have asked police to release the complete surveillance video of the confrontation between him and the officer. Police allowed the fam-
ily’s attorneys to watch the video on Monday but haven’t released it publicly. Officials noted that the video is considered evidence and said they wanted to be sensitive to the family, the community and the officer, whom they described as distraught. Police say Tamir was told to raise his hands but pulled what appeared to be a handgun from his waistband. Police say the video is clear, but they wouldn’t discuss details of what it shows. City officials planned to hold a public forum Tuesday evening at a recreation center close to where Tamir was shot. Associated Press writers Ann Sanner and Kantele Franko in Columbus contributed to this report.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014
THE ZAPATA TIMES 9A
BENIGNO GUTIERREZ July 16, 1926 — Nov. 22, 2014 Benigno “Guelo Niño” Gutierrez, 88, passed away on Saturday, November 22, 2014 at Laredo Medical Center in Laredo, Texas. Mr. Gutierrez is survived by his wife, Irene Gutierrez; sons, Jose Luis (Maria De La Luz) Gutierrez, Pedro Angel (Francisca) Gutierrez, Rene (Benita) Gutierrez, Juan Carlos (Lupita) Gutierrez, Romeo (Maria) Gutierrez; daughters, Amanda (Domingo) Gonzalez, Alicia (+Jose Antonio) Balderas, Irene (Jesus) Hernandez, Araceli (+Juan O.) Molina, Alma Gloria (Victor) Garcia; 37 grandchildren; sister, Margarita (+Ruben) Alaniz; and by numerous great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, other family members and friends. Visitation hours were held on Monday, November 24, 2014, at 8 a.m. with a rosary at 10 a.m. at Rose Garden Funeral Home. The funeral procession departed at 12:30 p.m. for
By MATT TOWNSEND BLOOMBERG NEWS
“Frozen” merchandise is the most coveted toy for girls this holiday season, knocking Barbie from the No. 1 position for the first time, according to a survey from the National Retail Federation. About 20 percent of parents plan to buy “Frozen” gifts for their daughters, the Washington-based a 1 p.m. funeral Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. Committal services followed at Zapata County Cemetery. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Rose Garden Funeral Home Daniel A. Gonzalez, Funeral Director, 2102 N. U.S. Hwy 83 Zapata, Texas.
trade group found in its annual study. Barbie, which was chosen by 17 percent of parents this year, had been the top pick throughout the lists 11-year history. Lego toys were the most popular choice for parents of boys, with 14 percent opting for them. “The results mark another setback for Mattel Inc.’s Barbie, which has lost ground to other doll brands and drawn criti-
cism for her unrealistic body proportions. Barbie’s worldwide sales sank 21 percent in the most recent quarter. The popularity of ‘Frozen’-themed Halloween outfits, meanwhile, may have boosted the brands visibility,” said Pam Goodfellow, director of Prosper Insights & Analytics, which worked on the survey. “Barbie has been the top girls toy for over a decade,
but it is no surprise that Disney’s ‘Frozen’ has taken the top seat as children have had it on the mind,” she said in the statement. Even with Barbie losing status, Mattel has benefited from the popularity of Frozen, a Walt Disney Co. film about two royal sisters who confront an ice-bound kingdom. The company makes Queen Elsa and Princess Anna dolls, based on characters from the movie.
BOND Continued from Page 1A well areas unnoticed and under the appearance of collecting contaminated water, according to the indictment. Court records state Guerra creat-
ed “an appearance of legitimacy” by reporting to the buyers that the oil came from a well in Zapata County. That well turned out to be an obsolete natural gas well that had not
been used in years, according to court records. (César G. Rodriguez may be reached at 728-2568 or cesar@lmtonline.com)
ZCISD Continued from Page 1A
ABBOTT Continued from Page 1A is now his first big fight since his landslide victory to succeed Gov. Rick Perry earlier this month. The hedging seemed to conflict with unequivocal statements from his own office, including a press release Monday that said the state “will assert a legal action.” Abbott didn’t answer with such certainty when asked if a lawsuit was coming. “I would say odds favor the fact that a lawsuit would be filed,” Abbott said. He said his office was “preparing to finalize our work” in the next two weeks. When asked whether Abbott’s messages conflicted, spokesman Jerry Strickland said in an email that “your conclusion is inaccurate.” Few would bet against Abbott going to court. He often notes that he sued the Obama administration 30 times as attorney general, from challenges over environmental regulations to cut-off federal funding after Texas precluded Planned Parenthood from a women’s health program. But higher political stakes and more attention would follow a challenge to such a defining action from Obama. Abbott said his office is sharing its analysis with other governors and attorneys general, but he said a lawsuit
‘Frozen’ more popular than Barbie
isn’t contingent on other state getting on board. Abbott first pledged a court challenge Thursday, just moments after Obama announced his executive actions. He has kept a defiant tone in nationally televised interviews since, and has begun citing specifics about where he believes Obama runs afoul of the U.S. Constitution. Abbott compared the actions to a presidential candidate saying he or she would dispense with criminal liability against any U.S. citizen who failed to pay income taxes. “The hypotheticals are virtually endless if the chief executive of the United States is not required to abide by the limits were imposed on the president,” Abbott said. The White House has insisted that Obama is on solid legal ground. Legal experts have also greeted Abbott’s threats of a lawsuit with skepticism. “This is nonsense,” said Michael Olivias, who teaches at the University of Houston Law Center. “Governors don’t get to enforce immigration laws.” Olivias said presidents have enormous prosecutorial discretion to exercise. Abbott contends that argument is off the mark, in part, because of the scope of Obama’s actions.
lingual/ESL education programs. Additionally, Fidel and Andrea R. Villarreal elementary and Zapata Middle schools were labeled improvement required campuses. According to the report, students had subpar passing rates on the ESL, migrant and STAAR’s math,
reading, science and writing exams. PBMA standard for the migrant STAAR social studies assessment is 65 percent and the district rate was 32.5 percent, according to the report. “This is a statewide challenge,” Nuques said. “We have already implemented a number of chang-
es such as the addition of chief instructional officers.” According to the data, students in the special education program had subpar passing rates for the math and writing STAAR exams. Nuques said the district received no citation during the visit and will continue to work to move the district
in the right track. “I’m very happy with the board of trustees and for supporting the changes I have recommended. The central and campus administration have worked hard and we are in the right track,” Nuques said. (Judith Rayo may be reached at 728-2567 or jrayo@lmtonline.com)
THANKSGIVING Continued from Page 1A and whole milk (up 1.05 percent). Global demand for milk and milk products remains steady, Dierschke said, but prices are still fluctuating for U.S. consumers. “Farmers and ranchers ensure Texans can serve their families a well-balanced meal at an affordable cost,” Dierschke said. “That allows Texans to gather around the table to enjoy the company of family and friends and reflect on the things for which we are grateful.” TFB’s fourth quarter Grocery Price Watch survey, taken in conjunction with the 2014 Thanksgiving Meal Report, indicated a slight increase of 1.22 percent for household staples from the third quarter. Results from the quarterly survey of 16 common food products increased 61 cents from $49.88 in the third quarter to $50.49 in the fourth quarter of this year. TFB’s Thanksgiving Meal Report and Grocery Price Watch prices were reported by 38 volunteer shoppers at grocery stores statewide from Nov. 4-11. TFB has released its Grocery Price Watch survey quarterly since March 2009.
10A THE ZAPATA TIMES
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2014