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US-MEXICO BORDER
MISS TEXAS TEEN USA
Rio Bravo gunbattle GEIS
GLORIA
GUTIERREZ
HOWARD
Two community police officers, five gunmen die ASSOCIATED PRESS
MEXICO CITY — Mexican authorities said attackers killed four members of a civilian police patrol in the turbulent southern state of Guerrero, while two city police officers and five gunmen died in a series of gunbattles in the northern border town of Rio Bravo. The prosecutors’ office in Guerrero said late Thursday that seven members of a community police force were attacked as they patrolled the
streets of the city of Tixtla, which is home to the teachers college that had 43 of its students vanish more than a year ago after being detained by municipal police in a nearby city. Four members of the vigilantestyle community force died in the attack. The community police are civilians allowed to carry weapons and defend their towns in many parts of rural Mexico where official police forces are mistrusted. They have often clashed with organized crime
gangs. The attackers have not been identified, but residents have said two drug gangs appear to be fighting over turf in the area. On Friday, officials in the northern border state of Tamaulipas said two police officers and five suspected gunmen died in at least three gunbattles in Rio Bravo, which on the Texas border near McAllen. Two confrontations occurred late Thursday when gunmen attacked police patrols in the town, killing two officers and
wounding a female officer. Her injuries are not life-threatening. A bystander was also hit by gunfire and was listed in stable condition. The officers returned fire and killed two suspects while other attackers fled, authorities said. Gunmen later opened fire on state police in the pre-dawn hours of Friday, and three suspected attackers were killed, officials said. The area has been the scene of turf battles between rival factions of the Gulf Cartel.
TEXAS
IMMIGRATION
More languages spoken at home
GROWING STREAM
MENDOZA
Five to appear in pageant Area teens to compete for title
By ALEXA URA AND JOLIE MCCULLOUGH By GABRIELA A. TREVIÑO
TEXAS TRIBUNE
THE ZAPATA TIMES
Immigrants from all over the world — China, Russia, India, Italy, Venezuela — gathered at the First United Methodist Church in downtown Austin on a recent Monday with a shared goal: learning English. In one classroom, they ran through pronunciation exercises, sounding out phrases like “sit on the seat” and “so you saw him.” In another, they learned vocabulary words related to apartment complexes. “Fire escape, playground, big screen TV, balcony,” they repeated after their teacher, stumbling over “recreation room” and “landlord.” As the state’s demographics shift, the number of languages spoken in Texas households is growing — up to 164 in the last U.S. Census count. So are the challenges associated with providing educational services to an increasingly diverse state population. Of the 23.7 million people in Texas who are five years of age or older, more than a third speak a language other than English at home. A large majority of those — almost 85 percent — speak Spanish. But changing immigration patterns are increasing the number of other foreign languages spoken in Texas households, from Vietnamese and Chinese to Tagalog, the language spoken in the Philippines. “In some ways it speaks to immigrant patterns,” said state demographer Lloyd Potter. “Most of the individuals who are
See LANGUAGES PAGE 13A
across the southwest border. The increases come as Americans’ concerns about border security are heightened after the Nov. 13 attacks in Paris raised fears that terrorists would try to sneak into the United States. And they are complicating the Obama administration’s efforts to reassure
Five area teens will compete for the title of Miss Texas Teen USA 2016 this weekend in Houston at the Hilton Post Oak Hotel. Eighty-four contestants from all over the state will be competing in the pageant. A Laredoan, Daniella Rodriguez, Miss Texas USA, will be hosting the show. Rodriguez previously won the title of Miss Texas Teen USA in 2013. Lauren Guzman, another local pageant winner, previously won Miss Teen Texas USA and Miss Texas USA 2014. A preliminary pageant will be held Saturday night. The final show will be held Sunday afternoon, where the girls will compete in interview, swimsuit and evening gown competitions. The winner will go on and compete at Miss Teen USA 2016 pageant to be held next year in the Bahamas. Contestants are under the direction of Laredo Pageant Production’s executive director, Roel Gonzalez, and director, Saul Gonzalez. The following local contestants will be participating: Vielka Gutierrez, 15, Miss Falcon Lake Teen USA Elba Mendoza, 16, Miss Laredo Teen USA Karla Howard, 17, Miss Del Rio Teen USA Andrea Gloria, 18, Miss
See BORDER PAGE 13A
See PAGEANT PAGE 13A
Photo by Ilana Panich-Linsman | New York Times
The Anzalduas Dam on the Rio Grande in Mission, Texas, Nov. 12. The numbers of migrants crossing the Rio Grande illegally have risen sharply in recent weeks, replaying scenes from the influx of Central American children and families in South Texas last year.
More migrants crossing border recently By JULIA PRESTON NEW YORK TIMES
MISSION, Texas — The numbers of migrants crossing the Rio Grande illegally have risen sharply in recent weeks, replaying scenes from the influx of Central American children and families in South Texas last year. Once again, smugglers are bringing hundreds of women and children each day to the Mexican banks of the river and sending them across in rafts. In a season when illegal crossings normally go down, “The numbers have started going the other way,” said Raul L. Ortiz, acting chief of the Border Patrol for the Rio Grande Valley. Since Oct. 1, official figures show, Border Pa-
The increases come as Americans’ concerns about border security are heightened after the Nov. 13 attacks in Paris raised fears that terrorists would try to sneak into the United States. trol apprehensions of migrant families in this region have increased 150 percent over the same period last year, while the number of unaccompanied children caught by agents has more than doubled. The new flows here are smaller than the surge in the summer of 2014 but come after a year of declines in illegal crossings
PAGE 2A
Zin brief CALENDAR
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2015
AROUND TEXAS
TODAY IN HISTORY
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28
ASSOCIATED PRESS
RGISC Mural Unveiling Block Party from 2-5 p.m. at North Central Park. Five nature-themed murals and yarnbombings will be unveiled as a part of the 21st annual Dia del Rio celebration. Spiritual Wisdom on Conquering Fear. Free bilingual discussion with booklet included. 1-2:30 p.m., room A at the Laredo Public Library, 1120 E. Calton. Se habla español. For more info please call 210-831-7113 or go to www.Eckankar-Texas.org. Presented by the Texas Satsang Society, Inc.
Today is Saturday, Nov. 28, the 332nd day of 2015. There are 33 days left in the year. Today’s Highlight in History: On Nov. 28, 1990, Margaret Thatcher resigned as British prime minister during an audience with Queen Elizabeth II, who then conferred the premiership on John Major. On this date: In 1520, Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan reached the Pacific Ocean after passing through the South American strait that now bears his name. In 1861, the Confederate Congress admitted Missouri as the 12th state of the Confederacy after Missouri’s disputed secession from the Union. In 1942, nearly 500 people died in a fire that destroyed the Cocoanut Grove nightclub in Boston. In 1958, Chad, Gabon and Middle Congo became autonomous republics within the French community. In 1964, the United States launched the space probe Mariner 4 on a course toward Mars, which it flew past in July 1965, sending back pictures of the red planet. In 1979, an Air New Zealand DC-10 en route to the South Pole crashed into a mountain in Antarctica, killing all 257 people aboard. In 1987, a South African Airways Boeing 747 crashed into the Indian Ocean with the loss of all 159 people aboard. In 1994, serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer was slain in a Wisconsin prison by a fellow inmate. In 2001, Enron Corp., once the world’s largest energy trader, collapsed after wouldbe rescuer Dynegy Inc. backed out of an $8.4 billion takeover deal. Ten years ago: Eight-term Congressman Randy “Duke” Cunningham pleaded guilty to graft and tearfully resigned; the California Republican had admitted taking $2.4 million in bribes mostly from defense contractors in exchange for government business and other favors. (Cunningham was later sentenced to eight years, four months in prison; his term was cut by more than a year for good behavior.) Five years ago: WikiLeaks began disclosing over 250,000 private cables written by U.S. diplomats, divulging candid comments from world leaders and detailing occasional U.S. pressure tactics aimed at hot spots in Afghanistan, Iran and North Korea. One year ago: A gunman fired more than 100 rounds at downtown buildings in Austin, Texas, and tried to set the Mexican Consulate ablaze before he died during a confrontation with police. Today’s Birthdays: Recording executive Berry Gordy Jr. is 86. Singer Randy Newman is 72. CBS News correspondent Susan Spencer is 69. Movie director Joe Dante is 68. Former “Late Show” orchestra leader Paul Shaffer is 66. Actor Ed Harris is 65. Former NASA teacher in space Barbara Morgan is 64. Actor Judd Nelson is 56. Movie director Alfonso Cuaron is 54. Comedian Jon Stewart is 53. Actress Gina Tognoni is 42. Actress Aimee Garcia is 37. Rapper Chamillionaire is 36. R&B singer Trey Songz is 31. Thought for Today: “Knowledge is proud that it knows so much; wisdom is humble that it knows no more.” — William Cowper, English poet (1731-1800).
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30 Chess Club meets at the LBV–Inner City Branch Library from 4–6 p.m. Free for all ages and skill levels. Basic instruction is offered. Call John at 7952400x2521. Parkinson’s Disease Support Group will meet at 6:30 p.m. at Laredo Medical Center, first floor, Tower B in the Community Center. Meetings are open to individuals who have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease as well as family, friends and caregivers of Parkinson’s patients. For more information, call Richard Renner at 645-8649 or 237-0666.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1 Take the challenge and climb the Rock Wall. Free. All participants must bring ID and sign release form. 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at LBV–Inner City Branch Library, 202 W. Plum St. Call 7952400, x2520. Alzheimer’s Disease Support Group will meet at 7 p.m. at Laredo Medical Center, first floor, Tower B in the Community Center. Meetings are open to individuals who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease as well as family, friends and caregivers of Alzheimer’s patients. For more information, call Melissa Guerra at 724-7141 or Laredo Medical Center at 796-3223. TAMIU Lamar Bruni Vergara Planetarium shows. 6 p.m.: Wonders of the Universe; 7 p.m.: Seven Wonders. Admission is $4 for children and $5 for adults. Admission is $4 for TAMIU students, faculty and staff. For more information, call 956-326-DOME (3663). Les Amies Birthday Club is holding their monthly meeting at 11:30 a.m. at the Ramada Plaza. Hostesses are: Olga Novel, Consuelo Lopez and Magda Sanchez. Honorees are: Alicia D. Laurel and Olga Laurel.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3 The 2nd Annual IMPACT Economic Development Forum at the Laredo Country Club, 1415 Country Club Drive. Leaders in international trade, manufacturing and logistics, petroleum technology, allied agencies, contracting personnel and oilfield industries are invited. The forum includes a keynote address by LULAC National President Roger Rocha. For ticket and table info, call 721-5110. Historic Laredo Photo Exhibit from 6-8 p.m. at the Villa Antigua Border Heritage Museum, 810 Zaragoza St. The Webb County Heritage Foundation will host an opening reception for the exhibit of entries in the “Historic Laredo” Photo Competition. The public is invited to view all the competition entries, which will be on exhibit through January. The new 2016 Historic Laredo Calendars will be available for sale that evening. For more information, please contact the Webb County Heritage Foundation at 727-0977 or visit us at www.webbheritage.org or on Facebook.
Photo by Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News | AP
Geese walk along the edge of rising floodwater in Towne Lake Park on Friday, in McKinney, Texas. Most of the Dallas-Fort Worth area was under a flash flood watch or warning Friday, with rain expected to continue throughout the day.
Three dead in flooding By EMILY SCHMALL ASSOCIATED PRESS
FORT WORTH — At least three people have died in fast-moving floodwaters in Texas as freezing rain and flooding pummeled the state and other parts of the central U.S. on Friday, with forecasters warning that the chilling weather would worsen over the holiday weekend. Forecasters issued flash-flood watches and warnings from northern Texas up to St. Louis, with up to 4 inches of rain reported in some places as the storm system makes a slow trek to the northeast. Freezing rain and strong winds also caused at least two fatal traffic accidents in western Kansas on Thursday. “There’s a pretty substantial shield of rain extending from parts of Texas across a lot of Oklahoma and into the mid-Mississippi Val-
Man accused of setting fire to girlfriend
DNA test on discarded cigarette leads to arrest
Grand jury indicts 2 in death of off-duty officer
KATY — A 41-year-old suburban Houston man has been jailed on an aggravated assault charge after he was accused of dousing his girlfriend with rubbing alcohol and setting her on fire. Jose Luis Hernandez Jr. is jailed on $100,000 bond after the Thanksgiving Day incident at a Katy home. His 52-year-old girlfriend was in serious condition at Memorial Hermann Hospital.
ARLINGTON — North Texas police say DNA testing on a discarded marijuana cigarette led to the arrest of a man investigators say killed a married couple in their home in 2012. Arlington police said that test results identified a suspect last month. The man was arrested at the time on a parole violation and a subsequent saliva test confirmed the DNA results.
BAIRD — A West Texas grand jury has returned a murder indictment against two suspects in the strangulation death of an offduty Abilene police officer. The Callahan County grand jury returned the indictment Tuesday against Phillip and Violet Walter. Both are accused of strangling Officer Don Allen at Allen’s home in Clyde, 15 miles east of Abilene.
Houston Zoo reinstalls signs prohibiting guns
Board changes policy on Confederate names
Families sue drillers over contaminated water
HOUSTON — The Houston Zoo has reinstalled signs that prohibit carrying firearms into the zoo, three months after they were removed due to threat of legal action. Houston Zoo spokeswoman Jackie Wallace said the signs were put back because the zoo is an educational institution that exempts if from being forced to allow firearms within its gates.
AUSTIN — The Austin school board has voted to change a policy that would allow schools named after Confederate figures to proceed with name changes. The school board voted on Monday to change the policy. The shooting at a church in Charleston, South Carolina, when nine African-Americans were killed, sparked a national debate about Confederate symbols.
GRAFORD — Two families in rural North Texas have sued oil and gas drilling companies for contamination of their water wells. The state’s oil and gas regulator, the Texas Railroad Commission, said in a report that one of the family’s well water contained chemicals that may pose “adverse health effects” and an “explosion hazard.” — Compiled from AP reports
AROUND THE NATION
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4 TAMIU Lamar Bruni Vergara Planetarium shows. 6 p.m.: Stars of the Pharaohs; 7 p.m.: Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon. Admission is $4 for children and $5 for adults. Admission is $4 for TAMIU students, faculty and staff. For more information, call 956326-DOME (3663).
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5 One year anniversary of Operation Feed the Homeless at Jarvis Plaza from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Food, music and a coat drive. Please donate or volunteer. For additional information contact us on Facebook on the Laredo Free Thinkers page or call 744-5674. Trail Clean-Up and Open House. LCC’s Lamar Bruni Vergara Environmental Science Center will host their trail day clean up from 8 a.m.–12 p.m. at the Paso del Indio Nature Trail. The center will be open from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Admission is $4 for adults and $2 for students and senior citizens. Entrance is free for children 3 and under, and LCC and TAMIU students, faculty and staff with a valid ID.
ley,” said John Hart, a meteorologist with the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma. In North Texas, where more than 4 inches of rain fell overnight in the Dallas-Fort Worth area — pushing the annual rainfall total into the record books — three people died after being washed away in the deep, rapid floodwaters. At least one other person is missing. Firefighters in Garland, Texas, found a 29year-old man dead inside a submerged Hyundai Elantra, fire department spokesman Merrill Balanciere said. The man’s name hasn’t been released. Crews found the body of 33-year-old Sandra Jones just after 8 a.m. downstream from her vehicle just west of Fort Worth. Jones’ car was washed off the road in waters flowing 10 to 12 feet above the banks of Rock Creek.
Baby red pandas at Philly zoo named Betsy and Ben PHILADELPHIA — A pair of baby red pandas at the Philadelphia Zoo have been named after two of the city’s most famous residents: Betsy and Benjamin. Zoo officials said Friday that the monikers, which pay homage to Betsy Ross and Benjamin Franklin, received overwhelming support in a public naming contest. Officials say the cubs’ birth on June 26 was important for red panda conservation, since the species is considered vulnerable in the wild. The brother and sister made their public debut Nov. 18.
Police say man in Waffle House kills employee NEW ORLEANS — A customer pulled out a gun and shot and killed an employee at a Waffle House restaurant in Mississippi
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Red panda cubs, born in June, made their public debut at the Philadelphia Zoo, Nov. 18, in Philadelphia. At left is the female and the male cub is on the right. The cubs have been named Betsy and Ben. on Friday after she asked him not to smoke, police said. Police received a call about the shooting at 1:11 a.m., said Biloxi police Sgt. Donnie Dobbs. The customer, Johnny Max Mount, had argued with an employee after being told that he could not
smoke, Dobbs said. “He pulled out a handgun and shot her in the head,” Dobbs said. The woman died on the way to the hospital, he said. The suspect surrendered without incident. — 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
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2015
THE ZAPATA TIMES 3A
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Zopinion
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2015
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OTHER VIEWS
COMMENTARY
How ‘Charlie Brown’ became a Christmas tradition By MARK NOON THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER
The final cut of "A Charlie Brown Christmas" was first shown in early December 1965 in California, to the staff that had hustled to meet a demanding six-month deadline. After the credits finished rolling over "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing," the crew was silent, unsure if the show’s many innovations worked. An animator in the back of the theater, who reportedly had a bit too much to drink while celebrating the special’s completion, broke the tension with what seemed like a ridiculous statement: "‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ will run for a hundred years." Remarkably, it might make it. Monday night’s airing, almost a half century after that first showing, prompts speculation about the show’s longevity. How has a cartoon become as traditional as decorating the tree? "Peanuts" creator Charles M. Schulz’s attack on the commercialization of Christmas is often cited as the key. More significant, though, is the show’s power to touch viewers personally. As recent reviews of "The Peanuts Movie" note, the comic strip’s wide appeal rests in its ability to link adult sensibilities with the exploits of a gang of kids. In "A Charlie Brown Christmas," Schulz focuses on alienation, one of his favorite themes. Early in the program, Charlie Brown looks for just one Christmas card to help him shake the yuletide blues. When he finds his mailbox empty, he remarks: "I almost wish there wasn’t a holiday season. I know nobody likes me. Why do we have to have a holiday season to emphasize it?" Charlie Brown’s real dilemma is being rejected and misunderstood. Schulz realized that Christmas has a dark side, murkier than the stress caused by excessive shopping, partying and entertaining. Despite the glow of lights, many face a terrible struggle with loneliness and loss during the season. Of course, the creator of "Peanuts" was not the first to recognize the incongruity of Christmas. Consider "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens. An overlooked point in the definitive holiday tale is that Ebenezer Scrooge is Ebenezer Scrooge because of a difficult childhood. The Ghost of Christmas Past, the first of the three spirits to call on Scrooge, has the supernatural ability to make the miser an unnoticed visitor to his youth. At first, Scrooge enjoys reexperiencing his past and recalling, as Dickens puts it, the "hopes, and joys, and cares long, long forgotten." The spirit’s mission, however, is to change the selfish money-grubber by reminding him what it’s like to be abandoned. In possibly the most moving scene in "A Christmas Carol," the old miser’s first vision of himself is in school on Christmas Eve
as "a solitary child, neglected by his friends." Just as Charlie Brown is the only character feeling empty as Christmas approaches, Scrooge is the only schoolboy who has not gone home for the holiday. In an empty classroom, he desperately seeks comfort in reading books. Scrooge weeps to see "his poor forgotten self as he used to be." It’s a crucial moment. Reminded of the pain of loneliness, Dickens’ most famous character takes the first step to becoming a loving, generous soul. Like Scrooge’s encounter with the Ghost of Christmas Past, "A Charlie Brown Christmas" can take us back to the earlier Christmases in our lives. Yes, visiting the past can haunt us as we’re reminded how quickly we move through the stages of life. We can be saddened by recollections of a better self, friends lost or loved ones no longer with us. Remembering, however, can also inspire fond memories. The generation that grew up in the pinnacle of the "Peanuts" craze in the 1960s should be particularly sentimental when the animated special airs. An age-old maxim maintains that "incidents of our childhood we often remember best." When baby boomers now watch "A Charlie Brown Christmas," they can reminisce about a carefree, less distracted time when they were as young as the "Peanuts" characters. They might recall the neighborhood and home where they grew up. And inside that home, the Christmas tree lights were just plugged in and the entire family was together before a three-channel television, waiting for the miraculous moment when the program’s disheartened title character overcomes despair as he hears, "Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown!" Schulz, later in his life, wondered if "Peanuts" would stand the test of time. "Art is something so good it speaks to succeeding generations," he said. "I doubt my strip will hold up for generations to come." But he overlooked another story about the making of "A Charlie Brown Christmas." The show’s producers repeatedly tried to convince the cartoonist to cut a scene using an old source, one much older than "A Christmas Carol." Quoting the Bible was too religious for television, they argued. Schulz was adamant, and what many consider the greatest minute in animation history remained. Linus proclaims at the end of his recitation of eight sentences from the Gospel of Luke: "Glory to God in the highest, and on Earth peace, goodwill toward men." That’s the timeless idea at the heart of the program. God loves us. Given this, "A Charlie Brown Christmas" may well endure as long as the holiday is celebrated. Mark Noon is an assistant professor of English at Bloomsburg University. He wrote this for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
COLUMN
We should model on schools that build real community We live in an individualistic age. As Marc J. Dunkelman documents in his book “The Vanishing Neighbor,” people tend to have their close group of inner-ring family and friends and then a vast online outer-ring network of contacts, but they are less likely to be involved in middle-ring community organizations. But occasionally I stumble across a loving, charismatic and super-tight neighborhood organization. Very often it’s a really good school. You’d think that schools would naturally nurture deep community bonds. But we live in an era and under a testing regime that emphasizes individual accomplishments, not community cohesion. Even when schools talk about values, they tend to talk about individualistic values, like grit, resilience and executive function, not the empathy, compassion and solidarity that are good for community and the heart. Researchers at the Harvard Graduate School of Education asked 10,000 middle and high school students if their parents cared more about their personal achievement or whether they were kind. Eighty percent said their parents cared more about achievement — individual over the group. But there are some schools that nurture achievement precisely by building tight communities. The Denver School of Science and Technology has an intense values-cen-
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DAVID BROOKS
tered culture, emphasizing values like respect and responsibility. Four days a week everybody gathers for a morning meeting. Those who contribute to the community are affirmed. When students have strained the community, by being rude to cafeteria workers, for example, the rift is recognized, discussed and healed. Last week I visited the Leaders School in Brooklyn, New York, which is a glowing example of community cohesion. This is a school with roughly 300 students who speak between them 22 languages. Eightyfive percent are on free and reduced lunch. Last year the graduation rate was an amazing 89 percent and every single graduate went to college. The average SAT score was 411 math and 384 verbal. The school’s approach and curriculum is organized by Outward Bound. (The New York Times’ publisher, Arthur Sulzberger Jr., once was chairman of the NYC Outward Bound Schools chapter.) When the students arrive at Leaders as freshmen they are assigned to a crew, a group of 12-15 students with an adviser. Right at the start they go on a wilderness adventure, and go through a process of “storming, norming and
performing.” As they learn to cook for each other and deal with outdoor challenges, first they fight, then they come up with community norms, and then they perform. The crew stays together for the next four years, supporting each other with family, romantic and academic issues. Students are given tremendous responsibility, and are put in challenging social circumstances that call forth compassion, judgment, sensitivity and mercy. If one student writes something nasty about another on social media, then the two get together with two student mediators and together they work out a resolution. If there’s a serious infraction that would merit a suspension at another school, the guilty party meets with a Harm Circle, and they figure out some proper act of contrition and restorative justice. One day each December the community gathers outside the school and the seniors march as a unit with their college application letters through cheering crowds and to a waiting mail truck. Most classes are conducted through Socratic dialogue. Students learn to negotiate disagreements. They get academic grades, but also leadership grades that measure their character. The students lead their own parent-teacher conferences. They stand up before their parents, a teacher and other observers and
they give a presentation on their successes, failures and how they might improve. I was amazed by how well the students had been trained at group discussion, using a talking and listening method they call “Step Up/Step Back.” “Let me build on what Shazzarda was saying ...” one student would say. If a member of the group had been silent for a few minutes, somebody would pull her in: “Maybe Essence is the best person to explain that ...” Most of all I was struck by their kindness toward one another. No student could remember any racial or ethnic conflict. Many upperclassmen serve as peer mentors to the underclassmen. There’s a palpable sense of being cared for. That’s in part because the school has a wide definition of student achievement. Kurt Hahn, the founder of Outward Bound, once wrote, “It is the foremost task of education to insure the survival of these qualities: an enterprising curiosity, an undefeatable spirit, tenacity in pursuit, readiness for sensible denial, and above all, compassion.” All over the country there are schools and organizations trying to come up with new ways to cultivate character. The ones I’ve seen that do it best, so far, are those that cultivate intense, thick community. Most of the time character is not an individual accomplishment. It emerges through joined hearts and souls, and in groups.
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
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2015
THE ZAPATA TIMES 5A
PÁGINA 6A
Zfrontera RÍO BRAVO, MÉXICO
Ribereña en Breve
Mueren cuatro
VOLCADURA Recientemente, una patrulla de la Oficina del Alguacil del Condado de Zapata se volcó sobre U.S. 83, de acuerdo con autoridades del estado. El agente del alguacil que conducía la unidad, quien tiene 26 años de edad, fue trasladado a Laredo Medical Center como medida de precaución. Más tarde fue dado de alta, de acuerdo con el Oficial de Caminos Conrad J. Hein, portavoz del Departamento de Seguridad Pública de Texas. DPS no identificó al oficial involucrado en la volcadura. La Oficina del Alguacil del Condado de Zapata, no respondió a las peticiones de comentarios. DPS dijo que la volcadura ocurrió a las 12:46 p.m. del 18 de noviembre, sobre U.S. 83 en el Condado de Zapata. Un camión de UPS se dirigía al sur sobre U.S. 83, en el cax rril interior. Atrás estaba una unidad de patrulla Chevy Tahoe, modelo 2009, dijeron las autoridades. Entonces, la unidad cambió de carril para sobrepasar al camión, pero el vehículo de UPS cambió de carril al mismo tiempo, causando que la patrulla realizara una “acción evasiva fallida”, de acuerdo con reportes. DPS dijo que el oficial perdió el control del vehículo y se volcó. El caso continúa bajo investigación.
SÁBADO 28 DE NOVIEMBRE DE 2015
ASSOCIATED PRESS
MEXICO— Dos policía y dos delincuentes murieron durante tiroteos diferentes que se registraron en una localidad fronteriza en el norte México. Un comunicado del Grupo de Coordinación Tamaulipas, uno de los estados más violentos de México,
informó que dos enfrentamientos entre policía y miembros de grupos criminales se registraron el jueves por la noche en el municipio de Río Bravo, que colinda con Texas, Estados Unidos. La policía mató a dos delincuentes no identificados que se desplazaban en un automóvil deportivo y éstos mataron a un policía e hirieron
a una mujer policía. Durante una operación de búsqueda de los implicados en el incidente anterior, los policías se vieron envueltos de nuevo en un enfrentamiento y otro agente perdió la vida. Los integrantes del grupo armado provocaron bloqueos en el municipio durante el operativo policial. Los bloqueos de calles y carrete-
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CÁMARA DE COMERCIO
PRESENTACIÓN DE LIBRO
Organizan desfile y encendido de árbol POR MALENA CHARUR TIEMPO DE LAREDO
RECORRIDO DE CASAS Se invita a recorrer las decoraciones en casas ubicadas en La Hacienda De Las Flores, Torres Homes, Lozano Home y Treviño Ranch el domingo 13 de diciembre, de 1 p.m. a 5 p.m. La entrada tiene costo de 7 dólares. Adquiera su boleto en el Museo de Historia del Condado de Webb, 805 N. US Hwy 83. También se le hará entrega de un mapa. Informes en el (956) 7658983.
DESFILE POR NAVIDAD La Cámara de Comercio del Condado del Condado de Zapata invita al Desfile de Navidad y Encendido de la Plaza del Condado, el jueves 3 de diciembre. Se invita a que se registren para participar en el evento llamando para detalles al (956) 7655434. El día del desfile la alineación iniciará a las 5 p.m. en Glenn St. y 17th Ave. (detrás de Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church). El desfile dará inicio a las 6 p.m. y proseguirá por 17th Ave. hacia el Sur sobre US Hwy 83 tomando a la izquierda sobre 6th Ave. para concluirlo. Posteriormente será el encendido anual del árbol de Navidad en la Plaza del Condado, seguido de entrega de regalos por Santa.
DECORACIÓN DE ÁRBOL NAVIDEÑO El Museo de Historia del Condado de Zapata invita a las diversas organizaciones locales al concurso de decoración del árbol navideño. La fecha límite de entrada es el viernes 4 de diciembre a las 4 p.m. Los árboles serán colocados del 8 al 11 de diciembre. La comunidad elegirá, por medio de voto, el árbol ganador. Costo de entrada para votar es de 3 dólares, para adultos, y 1 dólar para niños. El museo se ubica en 805 N. US Hwy 83. Informes en el (956) 765-8983.
ras por parte del crimen organizado son una estrategia utilizada habitualmente para evitar enfrentamientos con policía y ejército y escapar de los operadores de la ley en los municipios fronterizos con los Estados Unidos, plazas clave para diversos cárteles del narcotráfico que pelean por el control de las rutas clandestino de paso hacia el norte.
Foto de cortesía
Maria Alma González Pérez autora de “Cantos del Alma y el Corazón —Poesía Original", durante una firma de libros en la presentación de su obra, el domingo.
Tomo compila 50 poemas en español ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
R
ecientemente, Del Alma Publications organizó un evento para el lanzamiento del libro “Cantos del Alma y del Corazón – Poesía Original”, una obra original de poesía en español escrita por la ex directora del campus de University of Texas – Pan American Starr County, Maria Alma González Pérez. El evento tuvo lugar el domingo en Zapata y albergó a 50 invitados que disfrutaron de la lectura de los poemas favoritos de González, tales como Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, así como algunos poemas de su propia autoría. Pérez dijo estar feliz de ver el
apoyo de los asistentes al evento y el apoyo que recibió para desarrollar la literatura en la comunidad, especialmente en la poesía en español. Continuó diciendo que lo único que se necesita para escribir poesía es dejar libre la mente y unir los pensamientos con los sentimientos. Durante el evento, Pérez habló sobre su proceso de escritura, así como la importancia y el significado de “literatura culturalmente relevante”. Añadió que la literatura ayuda a formar y desarrollar a los niños y adolescentes al darles conceptos y perspectivas. La presentación terminó con Pérez entregando fotografías enmarcadas de algunos de los poe-
mas del libro a personas que colaboraron con ella o sirvieron de inspiración al momento de escribir. “Cantos del Alma y del Corazón — Poesía Original”, es una colección de 50 poemas que da al lector una perspectiva sobre el amor, la familia y la cultura, junto a otros temas y expresa sentimientos y emociones derivadas de la experiencia cotidiana. Cada poema se complementa de una fotografía tomada en algunos lugares del Condado de Zapata. El libro se compone de siete secciones, 51 fotografías y un total de 104 páginas. Para adquirir un libro puede visitar delalmapublications.com, o llamar al (956) 451-6964.
Un desfile navideño junto con el encendido del árbol, organizado por la Cámara de Comercio del Condado de Zapata, se llevará a cabo en la Plaza del Condado, el jueves por la tarde. José F. “Paco” Mendoza, Jr., Presidente de la Cámara de Comercio del Condado de Zapata, dijo que este es el séptimo año que se realiza el desfile. “Este es nuestro séptimo año y se presentarán entre 30 a 40 carros alegóricos con el tema de las festividades navideñas”, señaló Mendoza. El desfile iniciará su recorrido a las 6 p.m., en el cruce de Glenn Street y la avenida 17, para continuar hacia el sur sobre la Carretera US 83 y terminando sobre la 6a. avenida. “En nuestro desfile participan principalmente escuelas, diferentes compañías de salud, la Oficina del Alguacil del Condado de Zapata, el Departamento de Transporte así como otros organismos y agencias a nivel estatal y federal”, explicó. Un trofeo se entregará a cada uno de los tres carros alegóricos mejor decorados. Al término del desfile se procederá con el encendido del árbol navideño en la Plaza del Condado. “Todos los años al terminar el desfile, encendemos el árbol navideño y Santa Claus entrega regalos a los menores”, indicó. Mendoza dijo que el año pasado se entregaron alrededor de 600 regalos a los niños de hasta 10 años de edad y tuvieron una asistencia de cerca de 1.000 personas. “Es un evento muy bonito. Las familias esperan esta fiesta especial y todos se la pasan muy bien”, expresó. “Invitamos a la comunidad a este evento especial que será de alegría y diversión para chicos y grandes”. Si requiere mayor información sobre el evento, puede llamar al (956) 765-4871. (Localice a Malena Charur en el (956) 728-2583 o en mcharur@lmtonline.com)
COLUMNA
Independencia deja puerto trasatlántico Nota del Editor: en la segunda parte de Leyendas de Tamaulipas, el autor nos cuenta de aquellas acerca de personajes que han fallecido en condiciones trágicas.
POR RAÚL SINENCIO CHÁVEZ ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE LAREDO
Por el litoral de Tamaulipas se llega a Soto la Marina, sitio que, tras la independencia mexicana, adquiere rango de puerto trasatlántico. Goza de mala fama por su pésima vigilancia, de acuerdo con altos directivos hacendarios. Las condiciones reinantes le parecen idóneas al velero mercante británico “Spring”, el cual ancla frente a playas marsoteñas durante el verano de 1824. Agustín de Iturbide es via-
jero en el Spring. Él juega con lumbre porque a vivir en Italia lo compromete a una espléndida pensión. Tan de acuerdo está, que tiene cobrada arriba de la mitad. Llega un momento en que decide volver a escondidas y pisa la orilla cubierto por gruesa cobija en una tarde calurosa. Presentándose como súbdito inglés, monta un jamelgo. Bajo el manto de la noche galopa territorio adentro y atrae miradas curiosas al paso. Van multiplicándose las voces de alerta. Comandante militar de Tamaulipas, el general Felipe de la Garza lo alcanza e identifica. Conducido a Padilla – sede de los constituyentes locales –, muere el 19 de julio de 1824, en cumplimiento de la proscripción que
sobre él pesaba. “Al emperador Agustín de Iturbide nunca lo fusilaron. O eso cuenta una leyenda: que […] llegó […] a bordo del barco inglés ‘Spring’, el 14 de julio de 1824 al puerto de Soto la Marina”. Ahí “ya lo esperaba […] un informante aliado de toda su vida, el criollo […] Xavier de Castilla, quien trepó […] a la embarcación para advertirle” del “castigo que tenían programado sus enemigos”, publica en 2009 David Somellera. Impuesto del peligro – según esto –, Agustín en su lugar manda a un sirviente, que “podía pasar como su hermano gemelo”. “Antes de morir” – de igual modo –, el criado “redactó una carta que memorizó de labios de Iturbide”. “En el
paredón […] justo afuera de la iglesia de […] Padilla […] rezó el Credo y sonó la descarga”. A salvo y manteniéndose Agustín de incógnito – relata Somellera –, “halló casa en una cueva en el norte de Puebla […] Los que convivieron con él aseguran que vivió hasta muy viejo”. Y “cuando ocho años después de” su falso patíbulo abren la tumba del exrealista en Padilla, nomás “encuentran […] tierra”. Habiéndolo tratado antaño en forma directa, De la Garza conoce perfectamente el rostro, la voz y el distintivo comportamiento del proscrito. Resulta en consecuencia improbable que pudiera confundirse. Lo mismo cabe referir del sacerdote y congresista José
Antonio Gutiérrez de Lara, último confesor de Iturbide. Respecto a éste, ninguno externa mínima duda. Por lo demás, en vez de “una carta”, el cautivo redacta numerosas comunicaciones, y al dedillo maneja datos que sólo él sabe. En días cruciales – tampoco huelga mencionarlo – refrenda el típico carácter ampuloso y engreído. Tanto así que regresa de la isla de Elba: confiado a su buena estrella. Como si hiciera falta, se incluye al “criollo […] Xavier de Castilla […] con sus fuerzas” castrenses. Sacado de la manga, en los documentos relativos por ninguna parte aparece. (Con permiso del autor, según fuera publicado en La Razón, Tampico, Tamps)
Local
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2015
THE ZAPATA TIMES 7A
Phone scams threaten citizens SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
The Zapata County Sheriff ’s Office has received numerous calls from citizens regarding unknown persons calling and attempting to scam money from their victims, according to their Facebook page. Sheriff Alonso M. Lopez asks all citizens and residents of Zapata County to be alert and wary of such
callers. Sheriff Lopez has provided a list of the 10 most common “phone scams” threatening Zapata County. No. 1: Home security systems: The caller offers a free home security system, and may mention a rash of burglaries in the neighborhood to frighten the victim into action. But the system is far from free. It comes with expensive long-term monitoring
costs or fees. No. 2: Spam text messages: Victims receive a text saying to call a certain number or check a particular website to win a prize. The message is designed to get you to reveal personal information, or to put malware on your computer. No. 3: Free cruises: This scam involves calls or texts offering victims a free cruise. They’re pres-
sured into disclosing credit card information to pay for taxes and fees. No. 4: Government grants: Victims are told they’re receiving a government grant of between $5,000 and $25,000 just for being good citizens. They’re charged hundreds of dollars in "processing fees" and may be asked for their bank account in-
See PHONE SCAMS PAGE 13A
Courtesy photo
There will be a Christmas tree decorating contest at the Zapata County Museum of History on Dec. 13 as part of their homes tour.
Homes tour, decorating contest slated SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
The Zapata County Museum of History will host their annual Christmas Town & Country Homes Tour on Sunday, Dec. 13 from 1-5 p.m. There will be new displays and refreshments, and the tour will stop at La Hacienda De Las Flores, Torres Homes, Lozano Home and Treviño Ranch. General admission is $7. Come by the
museum for tickets and a map. Local organizations will also display their themed Christmas trees in the Christmas tree decorating contest at the museum. Admission is $3 for adults and $1 for children. Visitors may vote for their favorite tree. The Zapata County Museum of History is located at 805 N. U.S. Hwy 83 and can be reached at 765-8983.
Courtesy file photo
Floats representing businesses were part of last year’s Christmas Parade and Lighting of County Plaza activities. Parade entry forms must be turned in no later than Dec. 1 at the Zapata County Chamber of Commerce.
Local Christmas parade nears SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
The Zapata County Chamber of Commerce would like to invite all businesses, churches, clubs, schools, organizations and elected officials to participate in this year’s Christmas Parade
and Lighting of the County Plaza. The parade will take place Thursday, Dec. 3 at 6 p.m. Those participating in the parade can line up from 5-5:30 p.m. on Glenn Street and 17th Avenue behind Our Lady of
Lourdes Catholic Church. Immediately following the parade, the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony will take place at the County Plaza, followed by gifts from Santa for children up to the age of 10. Trophies will be award-
ed to the top three bestdecorated parade entries. Parade entry forms must be turned in no later than Dec. 1 at the Zapata County Chamber of Commerce, 601 N. U.S. Hwy 83, or emailed to cbalderas@zapatachamber.com
Zapata County Sheriff’s Office unit rolls over By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
A marked Zapata County Sheriff ’s Office unit recently rolled over on U.S. 83, according to state authorities.
The 26-year-old sheriff ’s deputy was taken to Laredo Medical Center for precautionary measures. He was later medically cleared, according to Trooper Conrad J. Hein, Texas Department of Public safety
spokesman. DPS did not identify the deputy involved in the rollover. The Zapata County Sheriff ’s Office did not return requests for comment. DPS said the rollover
occurred at 12:46 p.m. Nov. 18 on U.S. 83 in Zapata County. A UPS truck was traveling south on U.S. 83 in the inside lane. Behind it was a 2009 Chevy Tahoe marked patrol unit, authorities said.
The unit then changed lanes to pass the truck, but the UPS vehicle changed lanes at the same time, causing the patrol unit to take “faulty evasive action,” according to reports.
DPS said the deputy lost control of the vehicle and rolled over. The case remains under investigation. (César G. Rodriguez may be reached at 728-2568 or cesar@lmtonline.com)
8A THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2015
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2015
THE ZAPATA TIMES 9A
Nation
10A THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2015
Gay marriage not legal on tribal lands By FELICIA FONSECA ASSOCIATED PRESS
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — Cleo Pablo married her longtime partner when gay weddings became legal in Arizona and looked forward to the day when her wife and their children could move into her home in the small Native American community outside Phoenix where she grew up. That day never came. The Ak-Chin Indian Community doesn’t recognize same-sex marriages and has a law that prohibits unmarried couples from living together. So Pablo voluntarily gave up her tribal home and now is suing the tribe in tribal court to have her marriage validated. “I want equal opportunity,” Pablo said. “I want what every married couple has.” Pablo’s situation reflects an overlooked story line following the U.S. Supreme Court’s historic decision
this year that legalized gay marriages nationwide: American Indian reservations are not bound by the decision and many continue to forbid gay marriages and deny insurance and other benefits. The reasons vary and to some extent depend on cultural recognition of gender identification and roles, and the influence of outside religions, legal experts say. Other issues like high unemployment, alcoholism and suicides on reservations also could be higher on the priority list, said Ann Tweedy, an associate professor at the Hamline University School of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota, who has studied tribes’ marriage laws. Advocacy groups largely have stayed away from pushing tribes for change, recognizing that tribes have the inherent right to regulate domestic relations within their boundaries. “Tribal sovereignty is ve-
Photo by Matt York | AP
In this Nov. 9, photo, Cleo Pablo and her wife, Tara Roy-Pablo, stand outside their home in Phoenix. ry important to tribes,” Tweedy said. “They don’t want to just adopt what the U.S. does.” Pablo follows in the footsteps of a handful of other tribal members in Oregon, Washington state and Michigan who lobbied their governments for marriage equality. The Navajo Nation is one of a few of the country’s 567 federally recognized tribes that have outright bans on gay marriage. Some tribes expressly allow it, while oth-
ers tie marriage laws to those of states or have gender-neutral laws that typically create confusion for gay couples on whether they can marry. The mish-mash occurs because tribes are sovereign lands where the U.S. Constitution does not apply. But Pablo argues in her lawsuit that members of the Tribal Council are violating the Ak-Chin constitution by denying her equal protection and due process — rights also guaranteed un-
der the federal Indian Civil Rights Act. Her lawyer, Sonia Martinez, said tribal members could have a persuasive argument against gay-marriage bans if their tribe incorporated federal constitutional rights into tribal laws, which she says is the case on the Ak-Chin reservation. The Ak-Chin Indian Community wouldn’t comment directly on Pablo’s lawsuit but said marriage laws are a matter for the tribe to decide, not the U.S. Supreme Court. “Whether our current law stays the same or needs to change, it must still be addressed in a manner that best promotes and protects the community’s sovereignty and right of self-governance, and best reflects the culture, tradition, and morals of the community and all of its members within the confines of our laws,” read a statement provided to The Associated Press.
Change for some tribes came easily. The Central Council Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska enacted a marriage statute in March to expand court services. Chief Justice Debra O’Gara said leaders talked more about whether to allow members of the same clan to marry than members of the same sex. “There was very little controversy over the same gender aspect because everybody believed it should be open,” she said. “Whoever our citizens are should have the same rights as everyone else.” Navajo Nation lawmaker Otto Tso said he would expect a heated debate on the tribe’s marriage laws that likely will be brought forth by tribal members. One of them, Alray Nelson, has been outspoken about the Navajo Nation’s ban on gay marriage, but he knows he doesn’t have support from enough lawmakers.
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Nation
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2015
Protesters flood city
THE ZAPATA TIMES 11A
Gunman hits clinic
By SARA BURNETT
By SADIE GURMAN
ASSOCIATED PRESS
ASSOCIATED PRESS
CHICAGO — Hundreds of protesters blocked store entrances and shut down traffic in Chicago’s ritziest shopping district on Black Friday to draw attention to the 2014 police killing of a black teenager who was shot 16 times by a white officer. Demonstrators stood shoulder to shoulder in a cold drizzling rain to turn the traditional start of the holiday shopping season on Michigan Avenue’s Magnificent Mile into a high-profile platform from which to deliver their message: The killing of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald — captured on a squad-car video made public earlier this week — was another example of what they say is the systemic disregard police show for the lives and rights of black people. They chanted “16 shots! 16 shots!” and stopped traffic for blocks to express their anger over the Oct. 20, 2014, shooting and the subsequent investigation, which they say was mishandled. While shoppers continued to make their way along sidewalks and the empty street, some major retailers were forced to close, at least temporarily. Among them was the typically swamped Apple store, where dozens of employees in red shirts stood in an otherwise empty two-story space and watched through store windows as protesters linked arms to stop anyone from entering. It was the largest demonstration in Chicago’s streets since police on Tuesday released the video under a court order to make it public. The footage shows McDonald jogging down a
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — A gunman was arrested Friday hours after opening fire at a Colorado Springs Planned Parenthood clinic, wounding multiple people and engaging in gun battles with police inside the building, officials said. At least 11 people, including five police officers, were taken to hospitals, police Lt. Catherine Buckley said. Authorities were still trying to determine if anybody was left inside the building. Authorities were expected to spend several hours investigating unspecified items the gunman left outside the building or carried inside, Buckley said. An unknown number of people were evacuated during the standoff — some wrapped in blankets in the blowing snow — to a nearby Veterans Administration clinic. Three officers were injured while responding to the initial report of shots fired at the clinic before noon, authorities said. More than two hours later, the gunman shot and injured a fourth officer in another exchange with police inside the clinic, Buckley said. Authorities said they don’t know the motive of the gunman or whether the shooter had any connection to Planned Parenthood. The name of the suspect was not released. “We don’t have any information on this individual’s mentality, or his ideas or ideology,” Buckley said. Planned Parenthood released a statement that said it did not know the full circumstances or motives behind the attack, or whether the organization
Photo by Chris Walker/Chicago Tribune | TNS
Protesters demonstrate over the police shooting of Laquan McDonald amid Black Friday shopping on Michigan Avenue in Chicago. street and then veering away from Officer Jason Van Dyke and another officer who emerge from a police SUV drawing their guns. Within seconds, Van Dyke begins firing. McDonald, who authorities allege was carrying a three-inch knife and was suspected of breaking into cars, spins around and falls to the pavement as Van Dyke keeps shooting. Prosecutors charged Van Dyke with first-degree murder on Tuesday, hours before the video’s release. Frank Chapman, 73, of Chicago, said the video confirms what activists have said for years about Chicago police brutality. “That needs to end,” Chapman said. “Too many have already died.” Chicago police blocked off roads to accommodate the march down Michigan Avenue, and officers in some areas formed a barrier of sorts between protesters and stores and helped shoppers get through the doors. But protesters succeeded in blocking main entrances on both sides of the street for more than three blocks. When one person tried to get through the front door of Saks Fifth Avenue, pro-
testers screamed at him, shouting, “Shut it down! Shut it down.” Entrances were also blocked at the Disney Store, the Apple Store, Nike, Tiffany & Co., and Neiman Marcus, among others. Several protesters were seen lying face-down on the ground in handcuffs, but a police spokeswoman said she hadn’t been informed of any arrests. Shoppers seemed to take the disturbance in stride, with some even snapping photos of the crowd. “Honestly it’s the cold that’s likely to scare us away first,” said Christopher Smithe, who was visiting from London with his girlfriend. With the rain and the protests, there seemed to be less foot traffic than on a normal Black Friday, said John Curran, vice president of the Magnificent Mile Association, which represents 780 businesses on North Michigan Avenue. “The storefronts that were blocked by the demonstrators certainly had an impact on some of the businesses,” he said. Throughout the week, protesters have expressed anger over the video of the shooting.
Photo by Rachel D’Oro | AP
Sculptures made of straw, cement, plaster and burlap are part of a public art installation Tuesday, at Point Woronzof in Anchorage, Alaska.
Artists plan to rebuild By RACHEL D’ORO ASSOCIATED PRESS
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Creators of a public art installation damaged by tides and high winds at an Anchorage beach plan to rebuild the statue-filled exhibit by the original opening date. Lead project artist Sarah Davies said Friday that participants at Point Woronzof have recovered 82 of 85 of the sculptures made of straw, cement, plaster and burlap. She said the official opening is still scheduled for Dec. 5. Most of the figures were toppled by the elements this week, just days after they were installed. Participants say the 100Stone project is about the personal wellness-management stories of Alaskans. The sculptures represent real people dealing with real emotional vulnerabilities, including trauma and mental illness. Davies said the sculptures will be repositioned beyond the high tide line. Because the placement will differ from the original plan, participants will have to amend various government permits required for the installation, according to Davies. The vulnerability to the tides was always part of the project because it reflects human frailties, and the tides were mentioned in various government
permits required for the project, according to Davies. The damage just happened more aggressively and sooner than expected. It’s just too soon for all of them to be so affected, she said. “That’s where all my emotions are right now,” she said. “And at the same time, it’s so perfect for the message.”
Davies has been visiting the site daily, and was there again Friday, inspecting some of the downed sculptures. She is still hoping to find the three sculptures that remain missing. “These are people. These are people’s stories, and if they are still there, I’m their steward,” Davies said. “I need to take care of them.”
Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post | AP
A person is escorted after reports of a shooting near a Planned Parenthood clinic Friday, in Colorado Springs, Colo. was the target. The shots sent people inside the clinic racing for cover. Jennifer Motolinia hid behind a table inside the clinic and called her brother, Joan, who said he heard multiple gunshots in the background. “She was telling me to take care of her babies because she could get killed,” Joan Motolinia said of his sister, the mother of three. He rushed to the clinic but was frustrated because a police barricade kept him from getting close. “People were shooting for sure. I heard someone shooting. There was a lot of gunfire. She was calm, she was trying to hide from those people,” he said. Police cordoned off the clinic, nearby medical offices and a shopping center. Authorities ordered everyone in the area to take shelter where they were. Denise Speller, manager of a nearby hair salon, said she heard as many as 20 gunshots in less than five minutes. She told The Gazette newspaper that she saw a police cruiser and two officers near a Chase Bank branch, not far from the Planned Parenthood facility.
One of the officers appeared to fall to the ground and the other officer knelt down to help and then tried to get the officer to safety behind the car, she said. Another officer told Speller to seek shelter inside the building. “We’re still pretty freaked out,” Speller said by phone. “We can’t stop shaking.” Ambulances and police vehicles lined up at a nearby intersection and police told people via Twitter to stay away from the shooting scene because it was not secure. Shelley Satulla said she saw five or six people put on stretchers and placed in ambulances lined up next to King Soopers shopping center near the clinic. Later in the afternoon, other people were able to walk out of the shopping center area accompanied by police officers toward a line of ambulances. Mike Pelosi, who works at a deli at a nearby King Sooper grocery store, said he heard over the store’s loudspeaker just before noon that nobody could leave the store. Pelosi said customers and store employees were confused about what was going on but not panicked.
Politics
12A THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2015
Candidates differ on energy By MATTHEW DALY ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON — Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders calls climate change the greatest threat to national security. Front-runner Hillary Rodham Clinton promises to install more than 500 million solar panels across the country. On the Republican side, Jeb Bush would phase out tax credits for solar power. Rival Marco Rubio wants to cut the federal gas tax by 80 percent. There are stark differences between the two parties on energy and environment issues that underscore the sky-high stakes for both sides of the debate in the 2016 presidential race. After President Barack Obama’s two terms, business and environmental groups see a game-changing election. Many environmental groups and Democrats fear a potential rollback of the Obama administration’s policies on climate change and renewable energy under a Republican president. Business groups and Republicans are eager to boost oil and gas production following years of frustration with Obama. “At the end of the day, there’s a clear choice for all” of the candidates, said Tom Pyle of the pro-business American Energy Alliance. “Either continue the Obama administration’s anti-energy agenda or chart a new course that promotes affordable and reliable energy for all Americans.” “Everywhere you look, from New York’s Wall Street to Iowa’s Main Street, voters are ready for real climate action and the clean energy revolution,” countered Khalid Pitts of the Sierra Club, “except if you are a Republican running for president.” Some of the issues dividing the candidates in the presidential election:
Climate change
Photo by Charlie Neibergall | AP file
In this Nov. 22 file photo, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton speaks in Clinton, Iowa. Differences between the two parties on energy and climate issues are stark.
Obama heads to Paris on Sunday for an international climate conference, and Republicans are united in opposition to a possible pact and the president’s plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions from U.S. power plants. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump are among several Republican candidates who reject mainstream climate science. Ben Carson calls himself a “climate science questioner” and says “the temperature of the earth is always fluctuating.” Bush said at a New Hampshire town hall last month that he thinks the climate is changing and that “humans have some say in it for sure.” But, he added, “What I don’t want to do is destroy the American economy as the solution.” Rubio asserted at a recent GOP debate that “America is not a planet” and said that when it comes to global warming, he was “not going to destroy our economy the way the left-wing government we are under now wants to do.” Republican candidates all warn that Obama’s plan to curb greenhouse gas emission from U.S power plants could cost thousands of jobs and raise electricity costs for businesses and families. Clinton, Sanders and fel-
low Democrat Martin O’Malley support the president’s Clean Power Plan, calling it a legacy-worthy effort to slow climate change.
Oil & gas drilling Republican candidates all say they would approve the Keystone XL oil pipeline recently rejected by Obama. Democrats support the president’s action. Republicans also agree on lifting the 40-year-old U.S. ban on crude oil exports; Democrats are opposed. Sanders wants to stop all new oil and gas drilling on federal lands, as well as in the Arctic and Atlantic oceans, while Republicans would expand drilling for oil and natural gas. Like Sanders, Clinton opposes drilling in the fragile Arctic region, which she calls “a unique treasure.” But she generally supports drilling on federal lands.
Renewables Democrats back federal subsidies for renewable energy such as wind and solar power. On the GOP side, the candidates range from skeptical to hostile about a policy several describe as Washington “picking winners and losers.” Trump has long opposed wind power. He famously objected to a proposed wind
farm near a golf course he was building in Scotland. But as a presidential candidate, his views have evolved. At a recent event in Iowa, one of the nation’s top wind-farm states, Trump offered grudging support for a federal tax credit for wind energy. While calling wind turbines “very, very expensive” to build and maintain, Trump said he is “OK” with subsidies. “I don’t think they work without subsidy, which is a problem,” he said. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie backs credits for wind energy and supports a federal Renewable Fuel Standard that mandates ethanol in gasoline, a policy Cruz has denounced as “corporate welfare.” Trump also supports the corn-ethanol mandate, which is hugely popular in early-voting Iowa. Rubio, Bush and Ohio Gov. John Kasich say it should be phased out over time. “Ultimately, whether it’s ethanol or any other alternative fuel ... the markets are going to have to decide this,” Bush said. Democrats back the ethanol mandate as well as incentives for biofuels.
Coal and nuclear After running as a champion of coal in 2008, Clinton now calls for protecting health benefits for coal miners and their families and helping retrain them for new jobs. She would use a combination of tax incentives and government grants to help coal-dependent communities repurpose old mine sites and attract new economic investment. Republicans all support coal production and enthusiastically back nuclear energy; Clinton offers cautious support for nuclear power. Sanders has called for a moratorium on nuclear-plant license renewals and cheered the closure of the aging Vermont Yankee nuclear plant.
Photo by Willis Glassgow | AP
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign event on Tuesday in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Reporter mocked by Trump ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON — Donald Trump said he couldn’t have been making fun of a reporter’s disability because he doesn’t know the man. Not so, says the reporter. Serge Kovaleski of The New York Times says he has met Trump repeatedly, interviewing him in his office and talking to him at news conferences, when he worked for the New York Daily News in the late 1980s. “Donald and I were on a firstname basis for years,” he said in a Times story about the Republican presidential candidate’s behavior at a rally in South Carolina last week. Onstage Tuesday, a mocking Trump flailed his arms in an apparent attempt to imitate mannerisms of the “poor guy.” He accused Kovaleski of backing off a story from a week after the 9/11 attacks that said authorities in New Jersey detained and questioned “a number of people who were allegedly seen celebrating the attacks.” Kovaleski then worked for The Washington Post. Trump cites the story as proof of his claim that “thousands” of Muslims in New Jersey celebrated the devastation across the river. But the story did not suggest “thousands” were observed celebrating
or that the reports of such a scene were true. Other accounts from that time concluded the allegations were unfounded. Kovaleski has arthrogryposis, a congenital condition that restricts joint movement. In his speech, Trump cited the 2001 story, “written by a nice reporter,” and went on: “Now the poor guy, you oughta see this guy — uh, I don’t know what I said, uh, I don’t remember. He’s going like, I don’t remember.” He made jerking gestures and his voice took on a mocking tone. On Thursday, Trump posted a statement on his Twitter account saying “I have no idea” who Kovaleski is and claiming to have “one of the all-time great memories.” He wrote: “If Mr. Kovaleski is handicapped, I would not know, because I do not know what he looks like. If I did know, I would definitely not say anything about his appearance.” Kovaleski challenged that statement in a Times story posted online Thursday night. “I’ve interviewed him in his office,” he said. “I’ve talked to him at press conferences. All in all, I would say around a dozen times, I’ve interacted with him as a reporter” when he worked for the Daily News.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2015
THE ZAPATA TIMES 13A
Pope honors martyrs in Uganda Christmas tree By NICOLE WINFIELD AND RODNEY MUHUMUZA ASSOCIATED PRESS
KAMPALA, Uganda — Pope Francis is paying his respects to 19th century Ugandan Christians who were burnt alive rather than renounce their faith, the latest group of martyrs from around the world honored by Francis in hopes of giving today’s faithful missionary role models. Francis will pray Saturday at shrines dedicated to the 23 Anglican and 22 Catholic martyrs who were killed between 1885 and 1887 on the orders of a local king eager to thwart the influence of Christianity in his central Ugandan kingdom. At Namugongo, where most of the martyrs were burned alive, he will celebrate Mass in their honor to mark the 50th anniversary of the Catholics’ canonization. As many as 2 million people are expected to attend, including the president of neighboring South Sudan, with whom Francis met in private after his official welcome ceremony Saturday with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni. “They remind us of the importance that faith, moral rectitude and commitment to the common good have played, and continue to play, in the cultural, economic and political life of this country,” Francis told Museveni and other Ugandan authorities and diplomats at a ceremony at the State House. After the ceremony, Francis was welcomed at a secondary shrine to the
Photo by L’Osservatore Romano | AP
Pope Francis arrives at the Kasarani Stadium, in Nairobi, Kenya, Friday. Pope Francis is in Africa for a six-day visit that is taking him to Kenya, Uganda and the Central African Republic. Pope Francis denounced the conditions slum-dwellers are forced to live in. martyrs by tens of thousands of shrieking faithful and a hip-gyrating traditional dancers, evidence of the enthusiasm that has greeted Francis on his first trip to Africa. During his two days in Uganda, Francis is expected to touch on some of the same themes he emphasized during the first leg of his trip in Kenya: corruption, poverty and giving young Christians hope and encouragement. After the Mass on Saturday, Francis has a rally with young people, a visit to a charity and a meeting with local priests, seminarians and nuns. In preparation for his visit, workers have been busy day and night fixing the narrow road leading to the shrine in Namugongo. The
shrine itself underwent major repairs that were carried out like a military project: Ugandan troops from the engineering brigade joined the contractor to do everything from planting grass to laying pavers. Francis has made a point on his foreign travels to honor local martyrs in hopes of inspiring a new generation of missionaries. When he was in South Korea, for example, he beatified 124 missionaries who helped bring the faith to the Korean Peninsula. He has also spoken out frequently about today’s martyrs, the Christians in the Middle East and Africa who have been slaughtered by Muslim militants. The history of Uganda’s martyrs has helped shape the Catholic Church here,
PHONE SCAMS Continued from Page 7A formation. No. 5: Microsoft tech The caller support: claims to be from Microsoft tech support and says your computer is infected with a virus. He’ll request remote access to your computer to fix the problem and then may install malware to steal your personal information. You may be charge for this "service." No. 6: Auto insurance: The caller says you’re eligible for a lower auto insurance rate and asks for your personal information, which is used for identity theft. No. 7: Payday loans: The caller targets those who have applied for a payday loan, claiming to be a debt collector. He’ll demand payment and late fees. You’ll be told to send payment, and you’ll be threatened with arrest if you don’t pay up. No. 8: IRS scam: This is a quickly growing problem. Someone claiming to be from the IRS says you owe taxes and penalties. If you don’t pay by prepaid card, wire transfer or credit card, you’re threatened with arrest or legal action.
Your personal information also may be targeted. No. 9: Bank scams: The caller claims to be from your bank and says there’s a lock on your account or a hold has been placed on your debit card. You’re asked to verify your financial information, which the bad guys then use. No. 10: The Friday scam: Scammers make an urgent call on a Friday afternoon, saying your debit card is about to be deactivated and ask for your financial information. If you receive such a call, hang up the phone, then look up your financial institution’s phone number yourself and call directly. Never use a number the caller provides.
Credit card scams The Sheriff ’s Office is also warning locals against credit card scams. They offer the following tips: Don’t respond to text messages or automated voice messages from un-
known or blocked numbers on your mobile phone. Treat your mobile phone like you would your computer…don’t download anything unless you trust the source. When buying online, use a legitimate payment service and always use a credit card because charges can be disputed if you don’t receive what you ordered or find unauthorized charges on your card. Check each seller’s rating and feedback along with the dates the feedback was posted. Be wary of a seller with a 100 percent positive feedback score, with a low number of feedback postings, or with all feedback posted around the same date. Don’t respond to unsolicited e-mails (or texts or phone calls, for that matter) requesting personal information, and never click on links or attachments contained within unsolicited emails. If you want to go to a merchant’s website, type their URL directly into your browser’s address bar.
with huge numbers of pilgrims flocking to the Namugongo shrine, many of them Africans arriving from as far away as Congo and Tanzania. Most of the pilgrims walk long distances to the site to underscore their faith. King Mwanga II of Buganda Kingdom ordered the martyrs killed during a period of political and religious turmoil as he tried to assert his authority amid the growing influence of missionaries from Europe. But the history of the martyrs also shows a personal grudge Mwanga held against them: After the martyrs converted to Christianity, they began rebuffing his sexual advances since church teaching forbid homosexuality. That was part of the reason they were ordered killed, according to the history of the slaughter, “African Holocaust” by J.F. Faupel. “It is absolutely true. It is a fact,” said Bishop Giuseppe Franzelli, a longtime Italian missionary in Uganda. “When they became Christians, they saw that this was not according to the Gospel, the teaching of Christ and they said no.” The little-known history might help explain why homosexuality remains so taboo today in Uganda, which is 47 percent Catholic and has criminalized homosexuality. The Vatican has refused to say whether Francis will discuss gay rights while here. On Sunday, Francis heads to his final destination, the Central African Republic.
sets record ASSOCIATED PRESS
CANBERRA, Australia — An Australian set his third Christmas-themed world record in as many years Friday by illuminating a tree in downtown Canberra with 518,838 twinkling lights. Guinness World Records confirmed that David Richards had broken the record for the most lights on an artificial Christmas tree that had been held for five years by Universal Studios Japan in Osaka. That 36-meter (118-foot) Japanese tree had set a new benchmark of 374,280 lights this month. Richards, a Canberra lawyer and businessman, brought together a team of volunteers including an electrical engineer, structural engineer, welders, carpenters, masons and steel fixers to erect the dazzling display on a 22meter (72-foot) steel tree. Richards creates such Christmas extravaganzas to raise money for Can-
berra’s Sudden Infant Death Syndrome charity, SIDS and Kids, by drawing large crowds and inviting them to donate. “Some people say I’ve got quite a knack for getting people to do things for nothing,” Richards said. “I get people to do things for nothing because they know that I do things for nothing and I’m contributing my own money, resources, time and effort as well — so maybe they feel sorry for me,” he added. He set his first Guinness World Record in 2013 for the most lights on a residential property by covering his suburban home with 502,165 bulbs. Traffic snarls in his neighborhood created by 75,000 sightseers who visited the display over four weeks made it difficult for his family to get to and from their home and irritated some neighbors. So Richards promised never to try to better that record.
PAGEANT Continued from Page 1A Central Laredo Teen USA Sheanne Geis, 18, Miss Southwest Texas Teen USA If you’re interested in competing in the upcoming pageant for Miss Laredo and Miss Southwest Texas, five-category pageants and are between the
ages of 6 and 26, you can call Roel Gonzalez more information at 956-2863695. You may also register at www.misslaredo.com. (Gabriela A. Treviño may be reached at 956-7282579 or gtrevino@lmtonline.com)
LANGUAGES Continued from Page 1A speaking a language other than English at home are fairly recent immigrants.” Texas has seen dramatic fluctuations in the origin of its incoming immigrants in the last decade. Though people born in Latin American countries continue to make up the largest group of immigrants in Texas, their share has decreased from 69.4 percent in 2005 to 42.9 percent in 2013. Meanwhile, the share of Asian immigrants to Texas has more than doubled, from 17.3 percent in 2005 to 40.4 percent in 2013. Those Asian migrants have not dispersed across the state in equal numbers; they’ve largely settled in the state’s big metropolitan areas, like Harris, Dallas, Tarrant and Travis counties — what Potter calls "little enclaves of language concentration." Compared to the state overall, those four counties have a larger share of residents who speak languages other than English or Spanish at home. Among the major metropolitan areas, Bexar County has the largest share of residents who speak Spanish at home, while Tarrant and Travis counties have
the smallest shares. That means English as a Second Language (ESL) classes like the one at First United Methodist Church in Austin are more likely to enroll immigrants who speak neither English nor Spanish at home. “People tend to think when we say ESL class, ‘Oh, you have people from Mexico,’” but Spanishspeakers only make up a fourth of the students, said Catherine Bingaman, the church’s director of ESL education. At First United, ESL classes are largely made up of immigrants from Asia, the Middle East and Europe, and cite employment as the main reason they are working to improve their English, Bingaman said. In the Houston area, a common immigrant resettlement spot, public schools face some of the toughest challenges associated with a growing number of spoken languages. In Fort Bend County, which has been called the most ethnically diverse county in America, the school district is charged with educating children who speak up to 100 different languages at home. On-
ly 17 percent of the Fort Bend Independent School District’s student population is white. Asians and Middle Eastern students make up a quarter of the student population; of the remaining students, half are black and half are Hispanic. District administrators say this demographic breakdown has prompted them to offer ESL courses at all but a handful of campuses, consider bilingual skills in hiring of faculty and staff and invest in ESL certification for teachers. With a large Asian and Middle Eastern student population — and a correspondingly wide range of languages spoken — parents will often bring their own translators when meeting with teachers or school officials, said Lupita Garcia, the district’s senior executive director for federal and special programs. “It brings very unique challenges to us in that respect," Garcia said, "because there’s also the cultural divide in learning as well as language [and] communicating with the parents about our culture, our schools and our expectations."
places where the dark river runs slowly and push them across on rafts. “They crossed a group right there in front of me,” said one agent on the riverbank, pointing to a high point where he had been standing watch on a recent day. The smugglers were not deterred by his green uniform and badge, he said. The migrants “jump out of the coyote’s truck and head down to the water,” the agent said, using the Mexican term for a smuggler. “They’re moving, and boom, they’re in.” They scramble up through the thorny brush on the U.S. side. “They come straight to you,” said the agent, who was not authorized to speak by name. Women and children who turn themselves in to the Border Patrol and ask for asylum pass preliminary security checks and are turned over, generally within two days, to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Most are sent to two detention centers in South Texas, where they pass further
checks and interviews to determine if they have credible claims to request asylum. Last week, three Syrian families with children and two men, all seeking asylum, presented themselves in two separate episodes to the authorities at the border station in Laredo, Texas. The women and children were sent to the family detention centers, officials said, and the men were sent to another immigration detention center near the border. Border officials said they have seen no increase in Syrians at the border. But some lawmakers are concerned that if the flow from Central America continues to rise, migrants from Syria and Iraq could be attracted to join it. “If people start seeing they can come to the United States this way,” said Rep. Henry Cuellar, a Democrat whose district includes a stretch of the Texas border, “the word will get back that you don’t have to wait two years in a refugee camp.”
BORDER Continued from Page 1A the country that the border is under control. Border officials said they were monitoring the growing stream, but they have not signaled a higher security risk or activated any special response. A mix of factors seems to be driving the new flow. Many of the migrants are women and children fleeing vicious gangs and endemic sexual violence in Central America who are hoping for asylum in the United States. Rather than hiding from Border Patrol agents they often try to find them, to ask for protection and start the long legal battle to remain here. In October, the U.N. High Commissioner for refugees, Antonio Guterres, said uncontrolled violence by the gangs had become “pervasive” in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. He issued an “early warning” of “a looming refugee crisis.” A report by his agency found that women in particular “face a startling degree of violence that has a devastating impact on their daily
lives.” According to U.N. figures, this year El Salvador moved into first place in the world for the rate of murders of women and Guatemala ranked third, while Honduras had the highest murder rate overall. Border officials argue that reductions in detention of migrant women with children could also have had an impact. Responding to federal court decisions, the Department of Homeland Security ended a policy of detaining most of the women to convey a dissuasive message to Central America. The authorities have been releasing women and children in three weeks or less, sending them to pursue claims for asylum in immigration courts around the country. “I’m sure some information has filtered down to those countries that maybe they have some opportunities with respect to our inability to detain families and kids,” Ortiz said in an interview at his headquarters near here. “Family members that are already
here are saying, now is potentially a pretty good time to come to the U.S.” In addition, there are signs that enforcement by the Mexican authorities along their border with Guatemala, which was stepped up aggressively in summer 2014 with assistance from the United States, is becoming less effective. “The smuggling organizations are starting to figure out where their checkpoints are, how they’re deploying their officers, so they’re making some adjustments to get around them,” Ortiz said. There have also been smaller increases in migrants caught as they were trying to get away. On Saturday, agents at a checkpoint north of here in Falfurrias, Texas, found 11 migrants stashed in a load of vegetables in a refrigerator truck. Last week, Border Patrol agents apprehended five Pakistanis and one Afghan, along with two smugglers, near Sonoita, Arizona. Background checks
showed those men had no history of suspicious activity, border officials said. Until recently, illegal crossings in this Border Patrol sector, the nation’s busiest, had dropped sharply. About 147,000 migrants were caught in the year that ended Sept. 30, a decline of 43 percent from the 265,000 caught the previous year. The numbers went down across the southwest border, mainly because of the lowest crossings by Mexicans since the 1970s. But the flow in South Texas of migrants from Central America spiked in July and just kept rising. Across the border, apprehensions of migrants in families — mostly women and their children — soared in October to 6,029, an increase of 179 percent over October 2014. Border Patrol agents, scouting dirt roads along the Rio Grande that are sinking in mud after fall rains, are recalling the surge of 2014. Smuggler guides, as they did then, bring migrants down to
International
14A THE ZAPATA TIMES
Paris subdued by mourning victims By LORI HINNANT ASSOCIATED PRESS
PARIS — A subdued France paid homage Friday to those killed two weeks ago in the attacks that gripped Paris in fear and mourning, honoring each of the 130 dead by name as the president pledged to “destroy the army of fanatics” who claimed so many young lives. With each name and age read aloud inside the Invalides national monument, the toll gained new force. Most, as French President Francois Hollande noted, were younger than 35, killed while enjoying a mild Friday night of music, food, drinks or sports. The youngest was 17. The oldest, 68. Meanwhile, in Belgium, authorities charged a man with “terrorist attacks” as investigators worked to hone in on culprits. The federal prosecutor’s office said the man was arrested a day earlier in Brussels and was “charged with terrorist attacks and taking part in the activities of a terrorist group.” He was not identified and it was not immediately clear if he was one of two fugitives authorities have been seeking. France’s somber homage to the victims bespoke the horrors of Nov. 13. Throughout Paris, French flags fluttered in windows and on buses in uncharacteristic displays of patriotism in response to Paris’ second deadly terror attack this year. But the mood was grim, and the locked-down ceremony at the Invalides national monument lacked the defiance of January, when a million people poured through the streets to honor those killed by Islamic extremist gunmen. Hollande, who in January locked arms with world leaders in a show of global unity against terrorism, sat
Photo by Pierre Terdjman | AP
Faded flowers and other memorials around the statue of Marianne in the Place de la Republique in Paris, Nov. 25. alone in a hard-backed chair in the cavernous Invalides courtyard, the assembled mourners behind him as victims’ names were recited. France’s military provided the only images of Friday’s ceremony, and no one without an invitation was permitted inside. The night of Nov. 13, three teams of suicide bombers and gunmen struck across Paris, beginning at the national stadium — where Hollande was among the spectators — and ending in the storming of the Bataclan concert venue. In all, 130 people died and hundreds were injured. The crowd at the stadium shakily sang France’s national anthem as they filed outside that night; a military band played the Marseillaise again on Friday, lingering slightly on the refrain: “Aux armes, citoyens!” The courtyard went silent after the reading of the names finished, broken finally by a mournful cello. Hollande stared straight ahead, before finally rising to speak. “To all of you, I solemnly promise that France will do everything to destroy the army of fanatics who committed these crimes,” Hollande said. The speech was dedicated above all to the dead and France’s young.
“The ordeal has scarred us all, but it will make us stronger. I have confidence in the generation to come. Generations before have also had their identity forged in the flower of youth. The attack of Nov. 13 will remain in the memory of today’s youth as a terrible initiation in the hardness of the world. But also as an invitation to combat it by creating a new commitment,” he said. Hollande noted that many of the dead, especially those at the Eagles of Death Metal show at the Bataclan, had careers in music — a music he said the attackers found intolerable. “It was this harmony that they wanted to break, shatter. It was this joy that they wanted to bury with the blast of their bombs. Well, they will not stop it. We will multiply the songs, the concerts, the shows. We will keep going to the stadiums, and especially our beloved national stadium in Saint-Denis. We will participate in sports gatherings great and small,” Hollande said. “And we will commune in the best of emotions, without being troubled by our differences, our origins, our colors, our convictions, our beliefs, our religions. Because we are a single and unified nation, with the same values.”
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2015
Two Palestinians killed By IAN DEITCH ASSOCIATED PRESS
JERUSALEM — Israeli troops shot and killed two Palestinians after they rammed their cars into soldiers in separate attacks in the West Bank on Friday as the country’s defense minister urged Israelis to brace themselves for more violence, saying he cannot see an end to the near-daily Palestinian attacks. Friday’s attacks, in which at least eight Israeli soldiers were injured, were the latest in over two months of bloodshed that erupted over tensions at a sensitive holy site in Jerusalem, sacred to Jews and Muslims, and quickly escalated and spread to the West Bank, Israel and the Gaza border. Since mid-September, 19 Israelis have been killed in Palestinian attacks, mostly stabbings and shootings. At least 96 Palestinians have also died, including 61 said
by Israel to be attackers. The others died in clashes with Israeli forces. Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon told Israelis to be prepared for more attacks by Palestinians. “This terror wave will accompany us in the coming days, the coming weeks and maybe longer than that,” Yaalon said at a conference in the Red Sea resort of Eilat. “It might escalate and therefore we need to prepare,” Yaalon was quoted as saying by the Army Radio’s website. In the first attack early Friday morning, police spokeswoman Luba Samri said a Palestinian intentionally drove his car into a group of Israeli soldiers at a bus stop in the West Bank, injuring two before he was shot and killed by soldiers. Soon after, the military said a Palestinian rammed his car into Israeli soldiers near the volatile West Bank city of Hebron, injur-
ing six before he was shot and killed. Soldiers later blocked off the main entrance to Beit Ummar, where the attack took place, preventing traffic from moving in or out in what the military said was a security measure. Other entrances remained open. Later Friday, police said a Palestinian stabbed an officer with a knife and then ran away in the northern city of Nahariya. Israel’s emergency service said the officer was stabbed in his upper body and moderately wounded. Searches for the assailant were continuing Friday night. Hebron is the largest Palestinian city in the West Bank and a frequent flashpoint for violence. Many of the Palestinians involved in the current round of violence have come from there. Tensions have been running high in Hebron, where some 850 Jewish settlers live amid tens of thousands of Palestinians.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2015
THE ZAPATA TIMES 15A
Super Bowl of shopping starts early ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Super Bowl of shopping had an early start again this year, but the game isn’t over yet. Early numbers aren’t out yet on how many shoppers headed to stores on Thanksgiving. But it’s expected that more than three times the number of people who shopped on Thanksgiving will venture out to shop on the day after the holiday known as Black Friday. Sabrina Rajkumar, 36, a writer from New York, started shopping with her stepmom at Macy’s at 7:30 p.m. on Thanksgiving and was just wrapping up at 5:30 a.m. Friday. She found a $50 bedding set and a dress for her niece marked down to $25 from $74 and Godiva chocolates for $8. “I’m from New York and I’ve never done Black Friday before,” she said. "We just wanted to experience the madness.” She said she didn’t think she’d like it since she usually buys personalized gifts at places like Etsy, but she had fun. A highlight was free samples of espresso from machines on sale. “It was crazy, not as crazy as I expected, but there were still a lot of folks there up to the wee hours,” she said. Overall, the National Retail Federation expected about 30 million to shop on
Thanksgiving, compared with 99.7 million on Black Friday. Overall, the trade group estimates about 135.8 million people will be shopping during the fourday weekend, compared with 133.7 million last year. And it expects sales overall for November and December to rise 3.7 percent to $630.5 billion compared with the same period last year. But people may not be in the mood to shop much this year. Unemployment has settled into a healthy 5 percent rate, but shoppers still grapple with stagnant wages that are not keeping pace with rising daily costs like rent. And years later, they still insist on the deep discounts they got used to retailers offering during the recession. Here are the big themes emerging on Black Friday:
Hello, can you hear me? For the first time, there’s expected to be more people visiting retailers’ web sites through their smartphones than on desktop computers or tablets during the first weekend of the holiday shopping season that begins on Thanksgiving Day. Mobile traffic during the five-day start to what is typically the busiest shopping period of the year is expected to reach 56.9 per-
Toys are getting pricey
Photo by Mike Lawrence | AP
Black Friday shoppers at Kohl’s lineup all the way to the back of the store as they wait to check out, Friday. cent of total traffic, up from 48.5 percent last year, according to IBM Watson
No one will start a fight over anything, really Yet again, trend experts say there’s no single item that’s making shoppers run to stores. Perhaps that’s why some shoppers experienced lighter crowds. Ron Waxman, 51, a sports agent from New York, was able to shop with ease on Black Friday morning and find a nearby parking spot at 2 a.m. “It’s quiet very quiet,” he said. “This is dead for Black Friday.’ Toys R Us CEO Dave Brandon said the lines at the stores weren’t quite as long as last year for the 5
p.m. opening on Thanksgiving, but the traffic built throughout the night. He declined to give any more details on sales and traffic but said that he saw substantial growth in online sales.
It’s cheap to get warm Heavy sweaters and winter coats piled up at department stores and specialty chains heading into the Black Friday weekend. Unseasonably warm weather and a shift in changing shopping habits toward experiences like spas have limited shoppers’ appetite for such clothing. So plenty of stores like Macy’s, Nordstrom and Dick’s Sporting Goods say they plan to further mark down excess goods.
Prices are climbing for toys as manufacturers pack lots of technology into them. Deborah Weinswig of the Fung Business Intelligence Center says in a recent report that prices of what the company considers the top 20 expected toys was nearly 36 percent higher than last year, with the average price of $64.99. And there are plenty of toys that cost $100 or more, observed Toys R Us CEO Dave Brandon. He cited Fisher-Price’s Smart Bear, which has a suggested price of $99.99, as an example.
You can still order online and get it today More retailers are taking on the challenge of same-day delivery. Amazon has been making an aggressive push to offer same-day delivery to people who’ve paid its $99 fee for Prime loyalty club membership. Start-up delivery service Deliv is working with Macy’s, Kohl’s, Express, WilliamsSonoma and other brickand-mortar retailers to expand same-day delivery options. Craft-selling site Etsy is working with Postmates
for a holiday season pilot that will let some shoppers in New York City have items delivered to their door within hours for a flat fee of $20. Apple is also working with Postmates on same-day deliveries in New York and San Francisco. And Uber in October launched UberRush service in New York, San Francisco and Chicago that lets small businesses offer same-day delivery.
Is your new sweater trending? eBay’s holiday heat map is an interactive map that shows what are the most popular gifts across the country. (THINK: Who’s buying what and where?): https://www.ebayinc.com/ holiday/
Workers protest Wal-Mart workers and their supporters plan to protest outside the daughter of Sam Walton, the company’s late founder. The protest outside her New York City apartment will conclude 15 days of fasting, organizers say. The number of days reflects the call for pay of $15 an hour and full-time work. Organizers say more than 1,400 people will participate in the action nationwide.
Stocks inch mostly higher in quiet trading By MARLEY JAY ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK — Stocks finished mostly higher Friday as they wrapped up a quiet week of trading. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index fluctuated early on, but managed to eke out a small gain as telecommunications and financial stocks rose. Disney dragged down the Dow Jones industrial average after the company said ESPN lost 3 million subscribers in the last year. Oil prices slumped, dragging down energy stocks. The Dow fell 14.90 points, or 0.1 percent, to 17,798.49. The S&P 500 picked up 1.24 points, or less than 0.1 percent, to 2,090.11. The Nasdaq composite index added 11.38 points, or 0.2 percent, to 5,127.52. U.S. markets were closed Thursday for the Thanksgiving holiday, and closed at 1 p.m. on Friday. Stocks didn’t have much momentum in a week of light trading. The market made its biggest weekly
gain of 2015 last week, but this week the Dow fell 0.1 percent and the S&P 500 rose less than 0.1 percent. Oil prices dropped. Benchmark U.S. crude fell $1.33, or 3.1 percent, to $41.71 a barrel in New York. Brent crude, a benchmark for international oils, gave up 60 cents, or 1.3 percent, to $44.86 a barrel in London. The largest losers on the S&P 500 were energy stocks. Consol Energy lost 52 cents, or 6.5 percent, to $7.48 and Southwestern Energy gave up 68 cents, or 7.2 percent, to $8.74. Prudential Financial market strategist Quincy Krosby said oil prices gained a premium this week because of geopolitical concerns like increased military action against the Islamic State and growing tensions between Russia and Turkey after Turkey shot down a Russian fighter plane on Tuesday. Krosby said those gains may not last long. Next week OPEC will hold a meeting in Vienna, and the group could send oil
Photo by Richard Drew | AP file
In this May 11, 2007, file photo, a Wall Street sign is mounted near the flag-draped facade of the New York Stock Exchange. Stocks moved slightly higher in trading Friday, as traders return from the Thanksgiving holiday. prices higher by deciding to cut back on production. Or, it could decide to keep producing oil at its present rate, which might make prices fall further. That premium on the price of oil “can move up dramatically but also come down or dissipate just as quickly,” Krosby said. Disney fell $3.54, or 3 percent, to $115.13, its biggest one-day loss since August. Late Wednesday, Disney disclosed that U.S. subscribers to its ESPN sports channel fell for the second year in a row, to 92 million as of Oct. 3, match-
ing the lowest total since 2006. ESPN’s subscriber totals had hovered around 100 million for years. Disney has said that ESPN has lost subscribers, but investors appeared shaken by the size of the losses. Small but growing numbers of people are opting out of traditional cable TV bundles and buying smaller, less expensive groups of channels instead. Investors in media companies are worried about potential losses of subscribers and revenue. A dispute over the health and mental capacity of media mogul Sumner
Redstone hit shares of Viacom, the owner of media properties including Paramount Pictures, Comedy Central, MTV and Nickelodeon. In a lawsuit filed Wednesday, Manuela Herzer, Redstone’s former companion, said the 92year-old executive can’t make informed decisions anymore and needs medical care at all times. Lawyers for Redstone, who controls the shareholder vote at Viacom as well as at CBS, disputed the claims. Viacom’s Class B shares fell $1.19, or 2.3 percent, to $51.16. Spam maker Hormel didn’t miss a beat over the holiday break, rising $1.46, or 2 percent, to $75.01. Earlier this week Hormel posted strong-quarterly results and announced a planned stock split. Its shares rose 10 percent this week. Hewlett Packard Enterprise also continued to rise. The technology services company, formerly part of Hewlett-Packard, saw an increase in sales of data-center hardware dur-
ing the fourth quarter. Its shares added 23 cents, or 1.3 percent, to $14.35 after picking up 3 percent Wednesday. Retail stocks didn’t move much on Black Friday, when millions of shoppers hit the stores in search of bargains. Target rose 28 cents to $73.44 and Wal-Mart Stores dipped 35 cents to $59.89. Amazon fell $2.08 to $673.26. In other energy trading, wholesale gasoline fell 0.6 cents to $1.391 a gallon. Heating oil fell 5 cents, or 3.6 percent, to $1.352 a gallon. Natural gas tumbled 8.7 cents, or 3.8 percent, to $2.212 per 1,000 cubic feet. Gold fell $13.80, or 1.3 percent, to $1,056.20 an ounce. Silver declined 15 cents, or 1.1 percent, to $14.008 an ounce. Copper inched up 0.5 cents to $2.051 a pound. U.S. government bond prices rose. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note fell to 2.22 percent from 2.24 percent late Wednesday. The euro fell to $1.0597 from $1.0617 and dollar rose to 122.84 yen from 122.72 yen.
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Sports&Outdoors NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Romo finished Cowboys QB out for the rest of the season By SCHUYLER DIXON ASSOCIATED PRESS
Photo by Brandon Wade | AP
Dallas quarterback Tony Romo broke his left collarbone for the second time this season and will miss the remainder of the year.
ARLINGTON — Tony Romo knew he was risking another left collarbone injury by coming back eight weeks after breaking it. The Dallas quarterback won’t have to worry about another return. He’s out for the season this time. Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said on his radio show Friday that Romo would sit out the remaining five games with a small fracture in the same collarbone that had already sidelined him for seven games. Romo will not need surgery after getting hurt in the third quarter of Thursday’s 33-14 loss to Carolina. He didn’t need surgery after breaking the collarbone in Week 2 at Philadelphia, either. It’s the third fracture in Romo’s non-throwing shoulder in his nine-year career as the Dallas start-
er. He missed most of 2010 after getting hurt against the New York Giants. “The hard part is playing when you’re trying not to get hurt, which is silly,” Romo said after he threw three interceptions and Carolina returned two of them for touchdowns before the injury. “I’m disappointed in costing our team a good chance to stay in the game early. Then on top of it, who knows how long after that. It’s just a disappointing day.” Romo was in his second game back after the Cowboys (3-8) lost seven straight without him. The skid ended in his return at Miami, and the Carolina loss was his first of the season. “We felt that the risk was worth the potential of having him be the impact he can be and he is on our team,” Jones said on his radio show. “You shouldn’t ever quit trying to do something that is extraor-
File photo by Gene J. Puskar | AP
Cleveland quarterback Johnny Manziel may not dress for Monday’s game against the Ravens after his demotion this week.
More Manziel punishments? By TOM WITHERS ASSOCIATED PRESS
BEREA, Ohio — Johnny Manziel’s demotion might include him not dressing for the game. Browns coach Mike Pettine said Friday that he hasn’t decided if Manziel, who was stripped of his starting job this week, will be active for Monday night’s matchup against Balti-
See COWBOYS PAGE 2B
more. Manziel was downgraded from starter to third string when a video surfaced of him partying during Cleveland’s bye week in an Austin, Texas, club. Josh McCown will start when the Browns (2-8) host the Ravens (3-7) with Austin Davis serving as the backup. Manziel is next on the depth chart and
See MANZIEL PAGE 2B
NCAA FOOTBALL: HOUSTON 52, NO. 16 NAVY 31
Houston tops Navy, wins AAC West title ASSOCIATED PRESS
HOUSTON — Houston rebounded from their first defeat of the season with its biggest victory yet under coach Tom Herman. Greg Ward, Jr. threw for 308 yards and three touchdowns to lead Houston to a 52-31 win over No. 16 Navy on Friday, sending the Cougars to the first American Athletic Conference
championship game. Houston (11-1, 7-1 American) clinched the West Division title and will host either Temple or South Florida in the championship game Dec. 5. The Cougars are also well positioned to earn a bid to a New Year’s Six bowl game, likely the Fiesta Bowl, if they win the league championship. “I’m excited for the city,
and I’m excited for our university that we earned the right to host this game,” said Herman, the first-year coach who has quickly turned the Cougars into championship contenders. “We’ll certainly celebrate the victory tonight, but our goal was not to go 12-0; it was not to win the West. It was to win the
See HOUSTON PAGE 2B
NCAA FOOTBALL: TEXAS A&M AGGIES
Photo by Juan DeLeon | AP
Quarterback Keenan Reynolds is sacked by Houston’s Elandon Roberts as the Cougars defeated Navy 52-31 for the AAC West title.
NCAA BASKETBALL: SYRACUSE 74, NO. 25 TEXAS A&M 67
A&M meets Miles, LSU A&M upset by Orange By BRETT MARTEL
By KYLE HIGHTOWER
ASSOCIATED PRESS
ASSOCIATED PRESS
BATON ROUGE, La. — What is supposed to be Senior Day at Tiger Stadium is bound to take on an air of “Les Miles Day,” no matter how much the embattled coach would rather the focus be on his players when LSU hosts Texas A&M on Saturday night. Speculation that the regular-season finale will also be Miles’ final game as LSU’s coach has dominated Louisiana sports talk shows, internet chat rooms and newspaper columns lately. Athletic director Joe Alleva has declined to address the matter publicly, allowing speculation about Miles’ status to fester on the heels of his first three-game skid in 11 years at LSU. One could argue it would be rash to fire Miles now, given his overall LSU record of 110-32. But when asked if the clash with
PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas — Michael Gbinije had 20 points, Malachi Richardson added 16 and Syracuse held off No. 25 Texas A&M 74-67 on Friday in the Battle 4 Atlantis championship game. Gbinije was selected the tournament’s most valuable player. Trevor Cooney added 15 points and also made the alltournament team. It is Syracuse’s first early season tournament title since the Orange won the 2013 Maui Invitational. The game was tight throughout the second half and featured nine ties and 12 lead changes. But after the score was tied at 61, the Orange (6-0) outscored the Aggies (6-1) 13-6 over the final 5:38.
See A&M PAGE 2B
File photo by Sam Craft | AP
Texas A&M finishes the regular season Saturday in Baton Rouge as the Aggies square off with LSU.
See BASKETBALL PAGE 2B
File photo by Sam Craft | AP
Guard Danuel House and the 25th-ranked Aggies were upset by Syracuse in the Bahamas Friday 74-67.
PAGE 2B
Zscores
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2015
HOUSTON Continued from Page 1B conference, and that’s something that has not been done around here in a long time.” After struggling to its lowest point total of the year last week in a 20-17 loss at Connecticut, during which Ward hardly played because of an ankle injury, the Cougars were firing on all cylinders. Herman said it was nice to have an offense back. Ward, who was injured two weeks ago against Memphis, was 26-of-35 passing and ran for 83 yards and another score as Houston opened up a 38-17 lead by the end of the third quarter. “It really means a lot for
the seniors for them to have another home game, but the preparations doesn’t stop because we have another game next week we have to get ready for,” Ward said. Keenan Reynolds rushed for 84 yards on 19 carries and a fourth quarter touchdown and was 13 of 16 for 312 yards passing and a touchdown for Navy (9-2, 7-1). The Heisman Trophy contender scored his 83rd career touchdown to match the FBS record set by Wisconsin’s Montee Ball. Reynolds also set a Navy record with his 29th career TD pass. “Whatever works to get us down the field we’re go-
ing to do,” Reynolds said. “Football is both. We’re able to run the ball for 300plus yards, so the game plan was for us to throw it, and we were able to complete some big plays in the passing game.” Navy had its five-game winning streak snapped. “Our kids battled hard and did some things, but they made a ton of plays,” Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo said. “We had a hard time. The difference in the game was that we couldn’t get them off the field. 16for-19 on third downs, and they converted all of their fourth downs. We played decent on first and second down, but we could not get
them off the field on third downs. It just killed us.” Houston’s Brandon Wilson, who was moved from cornerback to running back this week because of injuries, ran for 111 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries. Demarcus Ayers had eight catches for 161 yards and a touchdown and threw a 29-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter for Houston, which compiled 555 yards of offense. “It was amazing,” Ayers said of the postgame celebration, which included the fans rushing the field. “Last week was the first time ever getting the field rushed on me. To come
back this week and bounce back the way we did, showed we can overcome adversity.” Navy’s Jamir Tillman caught five passes for 162 yards and a touchdown. Chris Swain ran for two touchdowns for Navy. Navy had rushed for 400 yards in back-to-back contests, but its triple-option offense was limited to 147 yards by Houston’s defense. The Midshipmen tried to make up for the lack of ground production through the air. After Reynolds was intercepted on the second play of the second half, Ward threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Linell Bon-
ner to increase Houston’s lead to 17 with 11 1-2 minutes left in the third quarter. Following Austin Grebe’s 39-yard field goal for Navy, Ayers extended Houston’s lead to 38-17 with a one-handed catch and run for a 62-yard touchdown reception from Ward with 2:26 left in the third. Ward put Houston ahead for good, spinning away from four Navy defenders and scampering for a 5yard touchdown with five minutes left in the first half. Ty Cummings hit a 45-yard field goal to end the half to give the Cougars a 24-14 lead.
A&M Continued from Page 1B A&M should not mark his final day on the home sideline at Death Valley, Miles responded that he was “not going to look to defend or make a case.” “I love the place. I’m going to work hard. I’m not going to get into what is my view,” Miles added. “I’m fortunate to be the head coach here. I’ve always felt that way. I love the players that I’ve recruited. ... I want to finish strong in Tiger Stadium. I want the seniors to go out great.” If Miles’ situation wasn’t enough to enliven a clash of unranked teams, there is also the return to Tiger Stadium of Aggies defensive coordinator John Chavis, who spent the previous six seasons in the same post at LSU. From a personal standpoint, Chavis said he would not consider his return to Baton Rouge to be difficult, “Because when the time comes to compete, that’s what you go do.” “Lot of good kids there I really care for and wish them the best,” Chavis continued, “but not on this Saturday.” Some things to know
File photo by Sam Craft | AP
The Aggies will face an LSU team on a three-game losing streak Saturday with coach Les Miles’ job in jeopardy. about LSU:
Texas
A&M
vs.
MILES’ GUYS Some current and former LSU players have expressed support for Miles or warned that firing him could be a mistake. “Our best and easiest way to defend the coach is with our play,” receiver Malachi Dupre said, adding that Miles “is looked at as
one of the greatest coaches in college football.” Former LSU quarterback Matt Flynn, who won a national title with Miles in the 2007 season and is now with the New Orleans Saints, said those who want Miles out should “be careful what you’re asking for.” AWKWARD REUNION? LSU defensive players say Chavis’ abrupt departure
COWBOYS Continued from Page 1B dinary. The dream was if Tony could have come in, been the catalyst, played similarly and had results we had the week before against Miami ... that it would’ve been the beginning of maybe something special.” Matt Cassel, who started four games during Romo’s first absence, will be the starter as long as he’s healthy. He lost all four of his starts after Brandon Weeden was 0-3 filling in for Romo. The Cowboys re-
leased Weeden the week Romo was activated, and he signed with Houston. “You have to step in and try to fulfill that role,” Cassel said after leading Dallas’ only touchdown drive against the Panthers. “Hopefully the guys rally around you. You have to move forward. I have confidence in myself and confidence in this team.” The 35-year-old Romo is becoming injury-prone late in his career. He’s had two
back surgeries since 2013, and a third back injury that sidelined him for a game last year. He also played through broken ribs and a punctured lung earlier in his career. He missed two games in 2008 with a broken finger. “We wouldn’t let Tony play if he wasn’t ready to play physically,” coach Jason Garrett said after the game. “There is no evidence we brought him back too soon.”
last season didn’t allow for many proper goodbyes. “He was gone after the bowl game and we had a lot of questions and there were guys making decisions whether to go to the (NFL) ... so it was a shocker,” senior linebacker Lamar Louis said. “You feel a little sad and disappointed, but at the end of the day, college football has turned into a
business. It’s the mini NFL and sometimes people have to make the right decisions for themselves and sometimes as players we’ve got to understand that.” FOURNETTE’S FINISH Despite three straight below-average outings, LSU running back Leonard Fournette still leads the Southeastern Conference with 158.2 yards rushing per
game and has scored 17 TDs, two short of LSU’s single-season record. His last chance to make an impression on Heisman Trophy voters comes against an A&M defense allowing 202.5 yards rushing per game. YOUNG TIGERS LSU’s Senior Day ceremonies will celebrate only 15 players, which begs questions about leadership, but also speaks to Miles’ record of recruiting NFL talent. “When people come to school here, they realize there’s a huge possibility of leaving early,” said Dupre, a sophomore who could leave after his junior season for the NFL. “So you can praise it, and at the same time I don’t want to feel like that’s an excuse for us in any games that we’ve lost.” HEAD TO HEAD Texas A&M seeks its first victory over LSU since joining the SEC in 2012. Aggies coach Kevin Sumlin refers to his seniors as “pioneers” for being part of A&M’s first SEC team, but also noted that LSU “is the one program they haven’t beaten in the West (Division) in their time here. ... It’s something they want to accomplish.”
BASKETBALL Continued from Page 1B Jalen Jones led Texas A&M with 23 points, and Danuel House added 15. The Aggies led by two at halftime. That changed in the final 20 minutes as they struggled to get easy baskets. They finished 7 for 11 from the free throw line. The game was played within a basket for most of the second half. The Orange was aggressive with its zone, but the Aggies were just as
patient working for open shots. The 3’s kept falling for Syracuse, though, and it finally got some separation at 72-63 on a threepoint play by Cooney with 3:10 remaining. Texas A&M got 16 firsthalf points from Jones and took two-point lead into halftime. The Aggies held the edge despite a strong shooting performance from the Orange that in-
cluded six 3-pointers. TIP-INS Syracuse: Finished 11 for 25 from the 3-point line. ... Had just two fastbreak points. Texas A&M: Had 36 bench points. ... Had 18 assists on its 27 field goals. UP NEXT Syracuse hosts Wisconsin on Wednesday. Texas A&M hosts Florida Gulf Coast on Wednesday.
MANZIEL Continued from Page 1B that could mean he doesn’t get to put on his uniform. “I haven’t done the worksheet yet, but that always comes down to projected health, where we are at other positions,” Pettine said. “So I haven’t made that decision yet.” Manziel’s swift downfall came shortly after he was elevated to starter for the remainder of this season. But after promising Pettine and other coaches he would behave during the time off, Manziel, who spent 10 weeks in a rehab facility during the offseason, couldn’t resist going out on the town. Pettine refused to divulge any more details for his decision to bench Manziel, but he did not deny that part of the punishment was due to the 22-year-old not being honest with him. “I already addressed it,” Pettine said. “I said trust and accountability was where we had a shortfall. I have nothing more to add.” Manziel made a brief appearance in Cleveland’s locker room following practice, but was not available for an interview. He has not spoken to reporters since his demotion. Browns offensive coordinator John DeFilippo said he supports Pettine’s deci-
File photo by Gene J. Puskar | AP
Johnny Manziel was reportedly demoted from starter to third-string quarterback after lying to the team about a night of partying during its bye week. Manziel was checked into an alcohol treatment facility earlier this year. sion to penalize Manziel. He understands the reason, but that doesn’t ease the sting. “It’s disappointing,” he said. “I’m not going to lie. You have a player that I think we would all agree
has come so far from a football standpoint from the product he put on the field from a year ago.” DeFilippo has been supportive of Manziel all season, and he’s not going to bail on him now.
“All of us as people, myself included, we all are a work-in-progress every day,” he said. “Some of us are dealing with some different issues than others. We know Johnny’s issues and we are working with
him every day. There is no doubt in my mind that Johnny is going to bounce back.” Like Pettine, DeFilippo sidestepped questions about his conversations with Manziel. He still be-
lieves the 22-year-old, who went 1-2 as a starter this season, can develop into a franchise QB. “I like what I’ve seen. I really do,” he said. “Even the jump that he made from the Cincinnati game to the Pittsburgh game was a huge jump. I think Johnny’s played enough football where we know what we have in him and as we all know a six-game season in the NFL is a long stretch — a very long stretch.” “We’re a long way from the end of the season, so you don’t close doors on anything. You never say never in this profession. So to say Johnny Manziel won’t play again this season, I’m not ready to say that,” he said. NOTES: Pettine said CB Joe Haden, who will miss his fifth game this season with a concussion, has been unable to pass a memory test to get back to his preseason baseline score. ... WRs Taylor Gabriel and Andrew Hawkins will also miss Monday’s game with concussions. ... LG Joel Bitonio returned to practice after injuring his ankle on Nov. 5 at Cincinnati and sitting out against Pittsburgh the following week. He’s hoping to be healthy enough to face the Ravens.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2015
Dear Heloise: Your response to Carole regarding her concerns about environmental issues prompted a question. The trash company sent a notice that everything that goes in the RECYCLE container must be clean (pizza boxes are unacceptable because of the grease). I use a bit of water to clean things before putting them in the recycling receptacle. During extreme drought, what would be recommended: washing items for recycling, or saving water and throwing them in the trash? I use the end of the dishwater when possible, or stick items in a free space when I run the dishwasher. It makes sense to rinse the item before the remnants of food or drink have dried. Thank you! – Nancy, via email I hear you, Nancy – it can be a dilemma! Most recycle centers just want the can or carton to be reasonably clean, NOT a drippy, greasy, yucky mess. A quick rinse (or
THE ZAPATA TIMES 3B
even wiping out with old newsprint or paper towels) is all that is needed. For people in areas following water conservation and/or restrictions (as many of us are in Texas), it’s better for us to save water. One ingenious reader pulled the top off the toilet tank, dipped the cans in there and used that water to flush. You have to do what’s right for your environment where YOU live. – Hugs, Heloise P.S.: If you have other water-saving hints, please send them along! CATS ARE CURIOUS! Dear Heloise: Kittens are naturally curious and will get into just about anything. Please keep the toilet-seat lid down at all times to avoid a tragedy. My kitten fell into the toilet and couldn’t get out. Fortunately, I was home and heard him. He was wet, but none the worse for wear. – Carol B., Spokane, Wash. Meow, wow! Glad little kitty was OK. Thanks for writing. – Heloise
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