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UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
FEDERAL COURT
Trillion (it’$ a T)
Motion made to dismiss Zapata lawsuit
Dozens of trade-offs in $1.1 trillion budget bill By ANDREW TAYLOR ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON — A massive $1.1 trillion spending bill, aimed at funding the government through October and putting to rest the bitter budget battles of last year, is getting generally positive reviews from House Republicans who are eager
to avoid another shutdown crisis with elections looming. Republicans say the favorable response to the all-encompassing spending bill reflects the desire of the rank and file to avoid a repeat of the politically damaging standoffs with the White House that led to last year’s 16day partial government
shutdown. The closure sent congressional approval numbers plummeting and roughed up Republicans in particular. Since then, they have regained support amid the troubled rollout of President Barack Obama’s health care law. “The shutdown educated — particularly our younger members who
weren’t here during our earlier shutdown — about how futile that practice is,” said House Appropriations Chairman Harold Rogers, R-Ky. “There is a real hard determination now that we will reacquire and use the power of the purse that the Congress constitutionally has
See TRILLION
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NUEVO LAREDO, MEXICO
BORDER PROMOTION
Courtesy photo
Shoppers in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, look over vendors’ wares in a city park recently. The city is planning a promotion to call attention to what it has to offer to foreign and domestic tourists.
N. Laredo plans to promote its attractions THE ZAPATA TIMES
Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, officials are planning to promote Nuevo Laredo as the place to visit this year. To help with this goal, the city’s Tourism Department has prepared information that will be available at strategic locations in Mexico and outside the country. The information will highlight tourism involving health matters,
business and hunting. “We are creating a portfolio with information about the city, such as maps, sightseeing, brochures and all that is required for both foreign and domestic tourism, for visitors to get to know Nuevo Laredo,” explained Samuel Lozano Molina, director of Tourism. The portfolios will be available in Laredo and Nuevo Laredo, in cities near the border including Monterrey,
Saltillo and Monclova, and in locations in the United States. “All of these places have the potential for visitors, and we are driving the different types of tourism, as in the case of health, such as those who visit us for quality medical services at a reasonable cost,” Lozano Molina said. Veterinary tourism will also be
See NUEVO LAREDO PAGE 9A
By MARK REAGAN THE BROWNSVILLE HERALD
BROWNSVILLE — In a motion to dismiss a lawsuit filed by parents and fellow agent of slain ICE Special Agent Jaime J. Zapata, the Department of Justice is relying on case law from the dismissal of a lawsuit that followed the torture and killing of DEA agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena. In 2011, ICE special agent Jaime J. Zapata was murdered by drug cartel members in Mexico after being ordered to travel a dangerous highway with ICE special agent Victor Avila, who was seriously injured and suffered multiple gunshot wounds. His parents and Avila have filed a civil lawsuit against the government and several other defendants alleging a federal tort claim, which includes allegations of negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The Zapata family’s lawsuit demands $75 million over allegations that the U.S. government is inflicting emotional distress on the Zapata family and agent Avila by refusing to explain why the men were sent on the fatal mission in 2011. To fight the lawsuit, the federal government is calling upon case law established by a lawsuit filed by an acquitted suspect in Camarena’s death. In 1985, Enrique “Kiki” Camarena was kidnapped, tortured and murdered in Mexico. A huge investigation in Mexico netted many arrests, including that of Dr. Humberto Alvarez-Machain. In 1990, Alvarez-Machain stood trial in Los Angeles for his alleged role in the plot to murder Camarena, specifically for claims the doctor kept the agent alive for further torture. Alvarez-Machain was acquitted and sent back to Mexico. He then filed a federal tort claim against the United States alleging false arrest and imprisonment. The suit went up to the U.S. Supreme Court, where it was dismissed in 2004 because of a foreign-country exception that bars federal tort claims based on any injury suffered in a foreign country, according to the
ZAPATA
DOJ’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit brought by Zapata’s parents and Avila. “A federal grand jury had indicted Mexican physician Humberto Alvarez-Machain for the torture and murder of a Drug Enforcement Administration agent in Mexico. The DEA hired Mexican nationals to seize Alvarez from his house in Mexico and bring him to the United States to stand trial,” the motion to dismiss states. “Alvarez later brought an FTCA (Federal Tort Claims Act) action against the United States, seeking damages for false arrest. He argued that the FTCA exception did not bar his tort claim because his seizure was planned, arranged, financed, and monitored by United States officials acting in the United States.” But the Supreme Court dismissed the case “because the alleged harm occurred in Mexico.” The federal government is claiming the Zapata lawsuit is similar to the Alvarez-Machain claim that was dismissed because both occurred outside the jurisdiction of the Federal Tort Claims Act and the injuries and death in the Zapata lawsuit occurred in Mexico. According to the motion to dismiss the Alvarez-Machain case, the Supreme Court ruled that the lower court rulings that the U.S. government was liable in Alvarez-Machain’s lawsuit were wrong because they were “inconsistent with Congress’ intent in enacting the foreign country exception.” The Supreme Court ruled that where the injury occurred was more impor-
See LAWSUIT
PAGE 10A
RIO GRANDE VALLEY
Water bill spat closes La Villa school district By CHRISTOPHER SHERMAN ASSOCIATED PRESS
LA VILLA — A dispute over the water bill between a one-stoplight Valley town and its school district has shuttered the schools and left students and parents scrambling. The city of La Villa shut off water and sewer service to the La Villa Independent School District in December, shortly after students started their holiday break. The city had raised a water surcharge, but the district refused to pay the increase. The district’s approximately 625 students were
supposed to return to classes Monday, but instead found this message on the school district’s website: “All La Villa I.S.D. schools will be closed until further notice.” The Office of Public Interest Counsel, a state public-interest advocacy agency, told the Texas Commission on Environmental that it should issue an emergency order to force La Villa to restore water service to its school district. In a letter dated Jan. 13, it says La Villa’s decision to shut off the water service to its school district
over a billing dispute “presents an imminent and serious threat to public health and safety.” The TCEQ is scheduled to take up the issue today in Austin. Students raising pigs at the district farm just behind the baseball field had to find new homes for their projects. The boys and girls basketball teams have had their home games converted to away games until the dispute is resolved. They beg court time for practices from other area districts. Seniors fret — perhaps pre-
See LA VILLA
PAGE 9A
Photo by Joel Martinez/The Monitor | AP
City of La Villa Mayor Hector Elizondo reacts at the end of negotiations Saturday after learning that school district administrators adjourned without coming to an agreement over water rates.
PAGE 2A
Zin brief CALENDAR
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2014
AROUND TEXAS
TODAY IN HISTORY
Thursday, Jan. 16
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Los Amigos Duplicate Bridge Club. 1:15 p.m. to 5 p.m. Laredo Country Club. Call Beverly Cantu at 7270589.
Saturday, Jan. 18 Crime Stoppers Menudo Bowl. 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. L.I.F.E. Fairgrounds, Highway 59. Admission for adults $5 and children 12 years and under free. Live music, Brush Country Trail Ride, Laredo Wrestling Alliance, motorcycle ride, merchandise booths, children’s games and rides, food booths, displays on federal agencies, ranch rodeo starting at 10 a.m. and team roping at 2 p.m. Proceeds benefit Crime Stoppers. Contact 724-1876 or crimestoppers@bizlaredo.rr.com.
Thursday, Jan. 23 Los Amigos Duplicate Bridge Club. 1:15 p.m. to 5 p.m. Laredo Country Club. Call Beverly Cantu at 7270589. Kickoff rally for American Cancer Society’s 2014 Relay for Life. 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Laredo Firefighters Union Hall, 5219 Tesoro Lane. Receive information, join the committee, sign up as a survivor/caregiver, become a sponsor. Light refreshments. Call event chair Terry Alvardo at 236-2231 or Diana Juarez at 319-3100, or visit relayforlife.org/webbtx.
Friday, Jan. 24 Strength Within Me support group meeting. 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Ruthe B. Cowl Rehabilitation Center, 1220 Malinche Ave. Unites people with physical disabilities, from ages 14 to 35. Visit facebook.com/strengthwithinme13 or email strengthwithinme13@hotmail.com. TAMIU Planetarium shows. “Earth, Moon and Sun” 6 p.m. and “Destination Saturn” 7 p.m. General admission $4 children and $5 adults. Premium shows $1 more. Call 3263663.
Saturday, Jan. 25 Team Captain University for 2014 Relay for Life. 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Border Region Behavioral Health Center auditorium, 1500 Pappas St. Webb, Zapata and Hebbronville committee members invited. Get team registration info and goodies. Lunch provided. Contact Diana Juarez at 319-3100 or diana.juarez@cancer.org. TAMIU Planetarium shows. “One World, One Sky, Big Bird’s Adventure” 3 p.m.; “Force 5: Nature Unleashed” 4 p.m.; “IBEX: The Search for the Edge of the Solar System” 5 p.m.; “Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon” 6 p.m. General admission $4 children and $5 adults. Premium shows $1 more. Call 326-3663.
Monday, Jan. 27 Zapata County Commissioners Court meeting. 9 a.m. Zapata County Courthouse. Call Roxy Elizondo at 7659920.
Thursday, Feb. 20 Winter Texan & Senior Citizen Appreciation Day. 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Monday, March 10 Zapata County Commissioners Court meeting. 9 a.m. Zapata County Courthouse. Call Roxy Elizondo at 7659920.
Photo by Valerie Mosley/Springfield News-Leader | AP
Southwest Airlines Flight 4013 sits at the M. Graham Clark Downtown Airport in Hollister, Mo., on Monday. The plane was supposed to land at the nearby Branson Airport on Sunday evening, but instead landed at Clark Airport, also known as Taney County Airport, which has a much shorter runway than at Branson, about 7 miles away.
Investigation ongoing By DAVID KOENIG AND JIM SALTER ASSOCIATED PRESS
DALLAS — A third person in the cockpit of a Southwest Airlines plane that landed at the wrong Missouri airport was a company dispatcher who had authority to be there, airline officials said Tuesday. The airline and federal officials say they’re continuing to investigate why the Southwest Boeing 737 with 124 passengers headed for the main airport in Branson, Mo., instead landed several miles away at a smaller airport with a runway roughly half as long. Southwest spokeswoman Brandy King said Tuesday that a dispatcher was sitting behind the captain and first officer on the flight. Dispatchers work with pilots to plan flight routes and fuel loads after considering weather and other factors.
Big Bend National Park to close areas for falcons
Ransom Center acquires 21 Salinger letters
Girl, 2, hospitalized after liquor incident
BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK — The National Park Service says some parts of Big Bend National Park in West Texas will be temporarily closed to allow endangered peregrine falcons to nest free of human disturbance. In a statement released Monday, the National Park Service says that from Feb. 1 to May 31 some trails and campsites along the Southeast Rim Trail and Northeast Rim Trail will be closed.
AUSTIN — The University of Texas’ Harry Ransom Center has acquired 21 letters by author J.D. Salinger that were previously unrecorded and unpublished. The Austin American-Statesman reports the letters have been processed and cataloged. They are now part of the center’s collection of items related to the secretive author of “The Catcher in the Rye.”
LUFKIN — East Texas authorities are trying to determine how a 2-year-old girl drank so much liquor that her blood alcohol content reached 0.18 percent. The Angelina County Sheriff ’s Office says the girl, whose name wasn’t released, was in serious but stable condition Tuesday at a Houston hospital.
Student arrested in bomb Body under Texas chicken scare appears in court KATY — A 19-year-old high coop was missing man school student has made an ini-
HOUSTON — A body found buried under a chicken coop has been identified as a Houston-area man who disappeared on New Year’s Eve. The Harris County Sheriff ’s Office on Monday identified the victim as 41-year-old Jesus Leal Valdez of Pasadena. Nobody has been arrested.
Thursday, March 13 Zapata County Fair. 8 a.m. to 1 a.m. Zapata County Fairgrounds.
Friday, March 14 Zapata County Fair. 8 a.m. to 1 a.m. Zapata County Fairgrounds.
Saturday, March 15 Zapata County Fair. 8 a.m. to 1 a.m. Zapata County Fairgrounds.
Monday, March 24 Zapata County Commissioners Court meeting. 9 a.m. Zapata County Courthouse. Call Roxy Elizondo at 7659920.
Monday, April 14 Zapata County Commissioners Court meeting. 9 a.m. Zapata County Courthouse. Call Roxy Elizondo at 7659920. Submit calendar items at lmtonline.com/calendar/submit or by emailing editorial@lmtonline.com with the event’s name, date and time, location and purpose and contact information.
The two pilots, each with at least 12 years at Southwest, were placed on paid leave after Sunday’s flight. The airline said Tuesday that the dispatcher also has been placed on paid leave. It’s not uncommon for airline employees to sit in the jumpseat with the pilots’ permission, but investigators are likely to consider whether the dispatcher’s presence distracted the pilots. Investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board seized the plane’s cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder — the so-called black box. NTSB investigators plan to interview both pilots, but nothing has been scheduled, board spokesman Keith Holloway said. No one was injured in the landing at a small airport built for light jets and private planes, but passengers smelled burning rubber as the pilots braked hard to stop.
tial court appearance on charges that he brought a weapon to his Houston-area school, prompting an evacuation and campus sweep by a bomb squad. Bond for Thomas Scott Barfield was set Tuesday at $20,000. He remains in the Fort Bend County jail on a charge of possession of a prohibited weapon.
Training planned in area of 2011 wildfires CAMP SWIFT — A prescribed burn in Central Texas is meant to help researchers learn more about fighting wildfires in an area still recovering from devastating 2011 blazes. Texas A&M Forest Service program special Mary Leathers said Tuesday that three spots of about an acre apiece will be studied. Drones will help document how fire burns under certain weather and conditions. — Compiled from AP reports
AROUND THE NATION NY derailment caused $9 million in railroad damage NEW YORK — Officials say the commuter train derailment that killed four people in New York caused more than $9 million in damage to the railroad. Metro-North Railroad says the figure covers repair or replacement of the locomotive, seven coaches and tracks. It does not include any costs from personal injury lawsuits. The figure was disclosed as the National Transportation Safety Board released a preliminary report on the Dec. 1 derailment. The report did not come to a conclusion on whether human error caused the accident.
Judge says girl wrestler allowed on boys’ team WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — A federal judge is allowing a central Pennsylvania seventh-grader to be a member of the all-boys
Today is Wednesday, Jan. 15, the 15th day of 2014. There are 350 days left in the year. Today’s Highlight in History: On Jan. 15, 1929, civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. was born in Atlanta. On this date: In 1559, England’s Queen Elizabeth I was crowned in Westminster Abbey. In 1777, the people of New Connecticut declared their independence. (The republic later became the state of Vermont.) In 1862, the U.S. Senate confirmed President Abraham Lincoln’s choice of Edwin M. Stanton to be the new Secretary of War, replacing Simon Cameron. In 1919, in Boston, a tank containing an estimated 2.3 million gallons of molasses burst, sending the dark syrup coursing through the city’s North End, killing 21 people. In 1943, work was completed on the Pentagon, headquarters of the U.S. Department of War (now Defense). In 1947, the mutilated remains of 22-year-old Elizabeth Short, who came to be known as the “Black Dahlia,” were found in a vacant Los Angeles lot; her slaying remains unsolved. In 1967, the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League defeated the Kansas City Chiefs of the American Football League 35-10 in the first AFL-NFL World Championship Game, known retroactively as Super Bowl I. In 1973, President Richard Nixon announced the suspension of all U.S. offensive action in North Vietnam, citing progress in peace negotiations. In 1974, the situation comedy “Happy Days” premiered on ABC-TV. In 1989, NATO, the Warsaw Pact and 12 other European countries adopted a human rights and security agreement in Vienna, Austria. In 1993, in Paris, a historic disarmament ceremony ended with the last of 125 countries signing a treaty banning chemical weapons. In 1994, singer-songwriter Harry Nilsson died in Agoura Hills, Calif., at age 52. Ten years ago: The NASA Spirit rover rolled onto the surface of Mars for the first time since the vehicle bounced to a landing nearly two weeks earlier. Five years ago: US Airways Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger ditched his Airbus 320 in the Hudson River after a flock of birds disabled both engines; all 155 people aboard survived. One year ago: Twin blasts ripped through a university campus in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo, killing more than 80 people, most of them students, in the government-controlled part of the city. Today’s Birthdays: Actress Margaret O’Brien is 77. Actress Andrea Martin is 67. Actor-director Mario Van Peebles is 57. Actor James Nesbitt is 49. Singer Lisa Lisa (Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam) is 47. Actor Chad Lowe is 46. Alt-country singer Will Oldham (aka “Bonnie Prince Billy”) is 44. Actress Regina King is 43. Actor Eddie Cahill is 36. NFL quarterback Drew Brees is 35. Rapper/reggaeton artist Pitbull is 33. Electronic dance musician Skrillex is 26. Thought for Today: “A man can’t ride your back unless it’s bent.” — Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968).
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Washington D.C. based troop Six Step Afrika! perform during a program to fourth graders at Stone Spring Elementary School on Tuesday morning, in Harrisonburg, Va. wrestling team at her middle school. U.S. District Judge Matthew Brann says in a ruling Monday that the Line Mountain School District failed to justify its reasons for preventing girls from wrestling with boys.
The school district says there are psychological, physical and moral risks for girls wrestling boys, but Brann says the district did not present any expert testimony or examples to support those claims. — Compiled from AP reports
SUBSCRIPTIONS/DELIVERY (956) 728-2555 The Zapata Times is distributed on Saturdays to 4,000 households in Zapata County. For subscribers of the Laredo Morning Times and for those who buy the Laredo Morning Times at newsstands, the Zapata Times is inserted. The Zapata Times is free. The Zapata Times is published by the Laredo Morning Times, a division of The Hearst Corporation, P.O. Box 2129, Laredo, Texas 78044. Phone (956) 728-2500. The Zapata office is at 1309 N. U.S. Hwy. 83 at 14th Avenue, Suite 2, Zapata, TX 78076. Call (956) 765-5113 or e-mail thezapatatimes.net
Local
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2014
MENUDO BOWL IS AROUND THE CORNER
Woman takes plea By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
A woman accused of hiding two illegal immigrants underneath her bed inside her San Ygnacio home pleaded guilty in federal court in Laredo on Monday, according to court records. Rosa Imelda Orozco pleaded guilty to harboring undocumented people, according to her plea documents filed Monday. Her remaining counts of conspiracy to conceal, harbor or shield undocumented people and conceal, harbor or shield undocumented people for financial gain will be dismissed at sentencing. Orozco could face up to 10 years in prison. Orozco’s sentencing date has not been determined. On Oct. 29, agents conducting ongoing investigations on the riverbanks in the San Ygnacio area noticed people on a boat making landfall on U.S. soil. The people then
walked toward a home in San Ygnacio. Agents approached the homeowner, later identified as Orozco, and received consent from her to search the residence. Court documents allege that two illegal immigrants were found underneath a bed. Both people were from Mexico. Orozco acknowledged hiding and harboring the immigrants in her house, her plea documents state. “Defendant admitted harboring the (people) in her house and told them to hide under the bed and avoid detection by the … agents,” court records state. Two illegal immigrants held as witnesses stated Orozco instructed them to hide in her house until agents had left the area. Orozco told the immigrants they would have to pay her before exiting the vehicle in Laredo. (César G. Rodriguez may be reached at 728-2568 or cesar@lmtonline.com)
Photo by Cuate Santos | The Zapata Times
Piping hot Menudo and all the trimmings were on hand Tuesday afternoon at the Guerra Communication Reception Hall in Laredo as the Laredo Crime Stoppers held a press conference to announce the 19th Annual Crime Stoppers Menudo Bowl scheduled for Saturday at the L.I.F.E. Fair Grounds on U.S. Highway 59 east of the city.
Man pleads to charge By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
A man pleaded guilty to being in the country illegally last week in federal court in Laredo, according to court records. Jose Guadalupe Luna-Martinez was charged with illegal entry after deportation, the indictment filed Dec. 3 states. Luna-Martinez could face a maximum punishment of 20 years
in prison, according to court documents. On Dec. 9, Luna-Martinez had pleaded not guilty. But at re-arraignment held Jan. 9, he pleaded guilty to the sole count in the indictment. A sentencing date is yet to be determined. U.S. Border Patrol agents detained Luna-Martinez in Zapata on Nov. 15. It was determined he was an illegal immi-
grant from Mexico. Authorities allege that Luna-Martinez had been previously deported Dec. 2, 2011, in the Brownsville-Matamoros area. Luna-Martinez did not apply for or received permission to re-enter the country after deportation, a criminal complaint filed Nov. 18 states. (César G. Rodriguez may be reached at 728-2568 or cesar@lmtonline.com)
Man returns, is arrested By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
Federal agents arrested a man accused of being in the country illegally, court records show. U.S. Border Patrol detained Juan Amando Cavazos Jan. 8 near Zapata. A criminal complaint filed
Monday charges him with reentry of deported immigrant. Agents determined Cavazos was an illegal immigrant from Mexico following a brief interview during his detention, court records states. Further investigation revealed he had been previously removed from the country
THE ZAPATA TIMES 3A
July 2. No record exists indicating he had applied for or received permission to re-enter the country after deportation. Cavazos is in federal custody on a $75,000 bond. He has a preliminary hearing set for Jan. 24. (César G. Rodriguez may be reached at 728-2568 or cesar@lmtonline.com)
BLOTTER Assault Roberto Piedra was served with a warrant charging him with aggravated assault with a motor vehicle Jan. 11 in the 1100 block of Carla Street. Cesar Sanchez Jr. was arrested and charged with assault, family violence Jan. 12 in the 1900 block of Miraflores Street. Adalberto Perez Jr. was arrested and charged with assault Monday in the intersection of 16th Street and Diaz Avenue. Bobby Joe Green was arrested and charged with assault Tuesday in the 2400 block of Carla Street.
ing him with burglary of vehicle Jan. 9 along U.S. 83 in Zapata. Enrique Sanchez was arrested and charged with burglary of habitation at about Jan. 10 at the Zapata County Sheriff ’s Office. Jorge Arambula was arrested and charged with burglary of habitation and assault Jan. 12 in the 1100 block of Morelos.
Phone Interference Benito Ubalde Jr. was arrested and charged with interference with emergency phone call Jan. 11 in the 600 block of Falcon Avenue.
Burglary
Possession
Sheriff ’s Office deputies served an arrest warrant on Jose Guillermo Cantu charg-
Marc Anthony Quintanilla was arrested and charged with possession of a con-
trolled substance Jan. 10 at the Stripes Convenience Store, off U.S. 83.
Probation Violation Servando Rafael Garcia was arrested and charged with probation violation Jan. 10 in the intersection of Fourth Street and Flores Avenue.
Reckless Driving Romeo Trinidad Flores was arrested and charged with reckless driving Jan. 10 in the 100 block of Valle Verde Road.
Terroristic Threat Fernando Cuellar Jr. was arrested and charged with terroristic threat Jan. 10 at the Zapata County Sheriff ’s Office.
PAGE 4A
Zopinion
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2014
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR SEND YOUR SIGNED LETTER TO EDITORIAL@LMTONLINE.COM
COMMENTARY
OTHER VIEWS
Meaning behind numbers By ROBERT HIGGS MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE
The U.S. unemployment rate dipped to 6.7 percent in December, stirring considerable joy in Mudville. Before we spend time shouting hurrah, however, we should bear in mind a few other facts and recall that not so long ago an unemployment rate of 6.7 percent would have been considered scandalous. One of the main reasons for containing our joy is that the rate fell from 7 percent in November despite the addition of just 74,000 net new jobs, a weak performance by any measure — and far below the 2013 monthly average of 182,000 new jobs. Another reason for caution is that the standard unemployment measure (U-3) provides a distorted picture of what’s taking place in the job market. A better measure of the health of the job market is total employment: how many people have jobs. After all, it is employment that contributes to our well-being. Jobs, not unemployment, produce the goods, services and earnings that our families rely on. And on this front the picture is grim by historical standards, with 2 million fewer civilians working at the end of 2013 than at the end of 2007, when the economy began to tank. But even this doesn’t tell the full story, because while the economy and job market have been struggling, the population has been growing. This means that a smaller percentage of the job-eligible civilian population — that is, non-institutionalized individuals age 16 and older — has jobs. The employment-population ratio plummeted, of course, during the recession. While the economy has slowly inched its way back since hitting bottom in mid 2009, the ratio of employment to population has been stuck in the 58 percent to 59 percent range ever since — anemic by historical standards. In December, the employment-population ratio remained stuck at 58.6 percent. What these numbers tell us is that the labor market remains in a funk. The latest Bureau of Labor Statistics jobs report clearly shows that employment continues its recovery. Over the course of 2013, the number of unemployed fell by 1.9 million. And since the low point during the recession, more than 7 million jobs have been added. But in terms of total jobs, we’re still in the hole. The collapse of the employmentpopulation ratio is particularly troubling, indicating that something must have occurred since 2008 or 2009 to depress the job market. The White House and its allies don’t want to talk about this issue. They continue to focus on the slowbut-steady monthly job gains and equally slow-but-steady decline in the unemployment rate. Administration critics respond by pointing out that the unemployment statistics are improving because the labor force has been shrinking, with many people abandoning their job searches, retiring sooner than they would have under normal circumstances, or finding ways to qualify for disability, using it as a de facto long-term unemployment insurance program. In December, for example, 2.4 million people were classified as “marginally attached” to the labor force. These individuals wanted and were available for work, had looked for work sometime in the past year, but hadn’t searched for a job in the four weeks prior to the BLS survey. As a result, they were not counted as unemployed, though unemployed they certainly are. While there are many reasons for the sub-par performance, the many (and ongoing) uncertainties related to the future costs of ObamaCare, the Dodd-Frank financial reform act, and other pending regulations and taxes loom large among them. It seems clear from the evidence that these policies have discouraged hiring. For many decades the U.S. population and the U.S. labor force grew in tandem. That is no longer the case. Whatever the reason, one thing is clear: unless the labor force resumes something like its historically normal growth, we cannot expect the economy to resume its historically normal growth.
COMMENTARY
NFL should let players smoke pot By STEVE FOX SPECIAL TO THE WASHINGTON POST
It’s been a big year for NFL fans in Denver and Seattle. On the field, the Broncos and the Seahawks had dominant regular seasons and cruised into the playoffs. Off the field, ballot initiatives that passed in 2012 went into effect, making it legal for adults in Colorado and Washington to possess and consume marijuana. So fans in those states now have the option of grabbing a Bud Light (proud sponsor of the NFL) or lighting a bud while watching at home. NFL players, however, do not enjoy the same freedom. Instead, they are subject to drug testing — not just for performance-enhancing substances but for “substances of abuse,” including marijuana. Those screenings tend to be sporadic but can become far more frequent after an initial positive test. Testing positive just once can get a player suspended, without pay, for four games. The Broncos and the Seahawks have each lost key players this season to marijuana-related suspensions. Denver’s Von Miller, the 2011 NFL defensive rookie of the year, missed the first six games for allegedly failing drug tests and failing to comply with league drug testing. And the Seahawks lost cornerback Walter Thurmond for four games during the latter part of the season, reportedly for testing positive for marijuana. Less than a month later, the league suspended Seahawks cornerback Brandon Browner indefinitely for failing a drug test.
Again, it was believed that marijuana was the culprit. These are just a few of the many marijuana-related suspensions handed down by the NFL over the past decade. Such suspensions deny the league and its fans of talented players who are not hurting anyone and are not cheating: Marijuana is not a performanceenhancing drug. There is no reason to punish players for using it in their free time. What makes these suspensions all the more unjust is that marijuana use seems to be pretty common in the NFL. Lomas Brown, a former Detroit Lion and longtime ESPN analyst, estimated in 2012 that at least 50 percent of players use marijuana, a share he said was down from about 90 percent when he entered the league in 1985. Former Seahawk John Moffitt recently echoed Brown’s estimate of at least half, adding: “If you’re an athlete and you’re drinking ‘alcohol,’ you’re deteriorating your body far more than if you’re an athlete and you’re using marijuana.” Sure, unlike alcohol, marijuana is illegal, at least federally. And those opposing it may think that if someone is dumb enough to use an illegal drug, in violation of his employer’s policy, he deserves whatever punishment he gets. But consider a far more serious issue: chronic pain. While some players might use marijuana simply to unwind — just as other players might have a beer or two — many of them also use it for the pain they are subjected to as warriors in a
brutal game. Howard Bryant, senior writer for ESPN the Magazine, made an even stronger appeal last month to the league to reconsider its policies: “Given that marijuana is a legitimate pain reliever — especially for the migraines that can be a byproduct of head trauma — and is far less dangerous and potentially addictive than, say, OxyContin, it is almost immoral to deny players the right to use it.” Bryant’s mention of head trauma is significant. In light of the lawsuits that former players who’ve suffered concussions have brought against the NFL, the league should be especially interested in marijuana’s potential to diminish the long-term effects of brain injuries. As it turns out, recent studies are starting to contradict the notion that marijuana kills brain cells. Last year, researchers at Tel Aviv University in Israel gave low doses of THC, one of marijuana’s primary cannabinoids, to mice either before or after exposing them to brain trauma. They found THC produced heightened amounts of chemicals in the brain that actually protected cells. Weeks later, the mice performed better on learning and memory tests, compared with a control group. The researchers concluded THC could prevent long-term damage associated with brain injuries. So, are diminishing pain and potentially protecting brain cells enough to convince the NFL that players should be allowed to use marijuana? Not necessarily. For some, the same old refrain — “What about the
children?” — still reigns. For example, former Broncos tight end Shannon Sharpe says the league’s policy will never change “because of the way kids follow what NFL players do.” Sorry, Mr. Sharpe, but kids who idolize NFL players are already bombarded by beer ads, the contracts for which enrich team owners and, by extension, players. And alcohol is objectively more harmful than marijuana in terms of its damage to the body, its addictiveness and its association with violent behavior. If players use marijuana out of the public spotlight to alleviate their pain or to simply help them relax or sleep during a stressful season, society won’t crumble. The NFL’s current 10-year collective-bargaining agreement was adopted in 2011, so changing its marijuana policy would take some maneuvering. That said, opportunities do exist. For example, it was reported last summer that the league wanted to work with players to increase penalties for driving under the influence of alcohol. Stronger penalties for DUIs in exchange for more lenient policies for marijuana use seems like a fair trade-off for all sides. Not acting will only delay the inevitable. During the span of the current collective-bargaining agreement, it is likely that many more states will make marijuana legal. Instead of waiting, the NFL should address the issue now so that players can derive the benefits of the substance — or simply use it as an alternative to alcohol — sooner rather than later.
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.
DOONESBURY | GARRY TRUDEAU
No name-calling or gratuitous abuse is allowed. Via e-mail, send letters to editorial@lmtonline.com or mail them to Letters to the Editor, 111 Esperanza Drive, Laredo, TX 78041.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2014
THE ZAPATA TIMES 5A
WBCA announces marshals US district judge will lead big parade while Miss Texas USA leads the youth SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
The Washington’s Birthday Celebration Association announced this year’s parade marshals Monday for their Youth Parade Under the Stars and WBCA main parade. U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña will serve as parade marshal for the Anheuser-Busch Washington’s Birthday Parade, and Miss Texas USA 2014 Lauren Guzman will preside over the Youth Parade Under the Stars. The youth parade will be held 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20 and Saturday’s main parade begins at 9 a.m. Feb. 22. Both will follow a route south on San Bernardo Avenue to the center of Laredo’s historic downtown district. “I am honored to serve as the marshal for the
Washington’s Birthday Parade,” Saldaña said. “The parade is the culmination of our Washington’s Birthday festivities and highlights the best that our community has to offer.” President Barack Obama appointed Saldaña as the U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Texas in Laredo in February 2011. Born and raised in Carrizo Springs, she was a migrant student who worked alongside her mother and five siblings, thinning and weeding the sugar beet and soybean fields in and around Ada, Minn., for much of her childhood. Saldaña received bachelor’s degrees in history and government at the University of Texas in Austin. In 1997, she received her law degree from the University of Texas’ School of Law.
Youth parade Guzman, a native Laredoan, has become the fifth former Miss Texas Teen USA to win both titles. “It feels really great to be an ambassador for the youth of Laredo,” she said. “I hope to inspire them to continue their education and strive to reach the goals they set for themselves.” A graduate from St. Mary’s University with a major in forensic science, Guzman plans to pursue a career as a special agent with the FBI. She received the St. Mary’s Presidential Merit Scholarship, President’s Award for Educational Excellence and President’s Volunteer Service Award — while volunteering in various associations, such as Women Involved in Nurturing, Giving, and
Sharing (WINGS), Girl Talk and the Texas State Guard Rapid Reaction Force. This year’s parade theme is “Greatness Starts Small… Today’s Youth, Tomorrow’s Leaders.” “Float entries and parade units can find inspiration in the youth of today who impact us, and in past and present stellar figures such as living legends, historical characters, veterans and military leaders, and other notable luminaries who serve as inspirational role models and help shape the world we live in,” a WBCA news release states. The 117th Washington’s Birthday Celebration takes place Jan. 23 to Feb. 24. Tickets for events may be purchased Feb. 10 at the WBCA Kiosk inside Mall Del Norte (at Macy’s Center Court).
Photo by Cuate Santos | The Zapata Times
WBCA officials announce the parade marshals for this year’s celebration Monday morning at the IBC Community Suite. Miss Texas USA 2014 Lauren Guzman, left, was named marshal for the IBC Youth Parade Under the Stars, and U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña will serve as marshal for the Anheuser-Busch Washington’s Birthday Parade.
PÁGINA 6A
Zfrontera
Agenda en Breve LAREDO 01/18 — El Programa Académico Avanzado del Club de Ajedrez tendrá un torneo de ajedrez para estudiantes, desde jardín de niños hasta el grado 12, en Christen Middle School de 8 a.m. a 4 p.m. Será un torneo de cinco rondas Estilo Suizo. Gratis para estudiantes de LISD y 5 dólares para otros. Más información con Patricia Cisneros al 273-1744. 01/18 — Area Health Education Center ofrecerá un Taller gratuito de SAT para estudiantes de preparatoria del nivel Junior y Senior, de 8:30 a.m. a 12:30 p.m. en el UTHSC Regional Campus Laredo, 1937 E. Bustamante. 01/18 — “Menudo Bowl” de Alto al Crimen será de 10 a.m. a 7 p.m. en terrenos del LIFE Fair Grounds por la Carretera 59. Costo: 5 dólares, adultos; gratis para niños de 12 años de edad y menores. Concurso de Menudo de 1 p.m. a 3:30 p.m.; actividades varias a partir de las 10 a.m. 01/18 — El equipo de baloncesto femenil de TAMIU recibe a St. Mary’s a la 1 p.m. en el Kinesiology-Convocation Building; en tanto que el equipo de baloncesto varonil de TAMIU recibe a St. Mary’s a las 3 p.m. en el Kinesiology-Convocation Building. 01/18 — “Clínica de Bateo” en TAMIU, a cargo del entrenador Scott Libby, el entrenador asociado Arek Zambanini y el equipo de Softball de TAMIU, se realizará de 2 p.m. a 4:30 p.m. en instalaciones de la universidad. Está dirigido a jugadores de softball que estudien del 9no al 12vo grado. Costo: 50 dólares por jugador; 80 dólares por dos jugadores; y, 140 dólares por cuatro jugadores. 01/22 — Se estará presentando la Serie de Oradores Distinguidos por parte de United South High School a las 9 a.m. dentro de la biblioteca de la escuela ubicada en 4001 avenida Los Presidentes.
NUEVO LAREDO, MÉXICO 01/15— Cine en tu Barrio presenta “El Secreto de sus Ojos” a las 6 p.m. en la Casa de la Cultura Polivalente en la Colonia Infonavit. Entrada gratuita. 01/16 — “Concierto de temporada de invierno enero 2014” con la Orquesta Sinfónica Infantil y Juvenil de Nuevo Laredo, a las 6 p.m. en la Sala Sergio Peña de la Antigua Aduana. Entrada gratuita. 01/16 — Jueves de Museo presenta al fotógrafo y artista visual Miguel Ángel Camero con la conferencia “Aquello que se llamaba fotografía” a las 7 p.m. en el Museo Reyes Meza dentro del Centro Cultural. 01/17 — “Tamaulipas en Corto” es una muestra de cortometrajes de cineastas tamaulipecos. Se presentarán “Muy en el fondo” de Víctor Contreras; “Disculpe las molestias” de Antonio Rotunno; “El cielo en el lago” de Ruy Portillo; “Leticia y la moneda” de Adrián Contreras; y, “La vulka” de Ramiro Medina, a las 6 p.m. en el Auditorio de Estación Palabra. 01/19 — El grupo de Teatro Laberintus estará presentando la obra infantil “La Nave”, de José Luis Pineda Servín, a las 12 p.m. dentro del teatro del IMSS, entre Reynosa y Belden. 01/21 — El grupo de Teatro Laberintus estará presentando la obra para adolescentes y adultos “Sueño de una noche de verano” de William Shakespeare, a las 7 p.m. dentro del teatro del IMSS, entre Reynosa y Belden.
MIÉRCOLES 15 DE ENERO DE 2014
CONDADO DE ZAPATA
Persecución POR CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
Un hombre llevó a oficiales en una persecución en un aparente intento fallido de tráfico/contrabando de personas, la madrugada del domingo en el Condado de Zapata. Alejandro Barbosa, de 18 años, fue arrestado y acusado de evadir el arresto con un vehículo de motorizado y lograr un escape en un área rodeada de maleza a las afueras de Texas 16. Los registros de custodia muestran que Barbosa estuvo en la Cárcel Regional de Zapata a partir del martes por la tarde. A las 4 de la mañana del domingo, los diputados intentaron detener una Dodge Ram, color blanca,
Un hombre llevó a una persecución a oficiales de policía del Condado de Zapata. Se sospecha que el hombre intentaba el tráfico/contrabando de personas. Alejandro Barbosa, fue arrestado y acusado de evadir el arresto con un vehículo de motorizado y lograr un escape en un área rodeada de maleza a las afueras de Texas 16. modelo 1998, por violaciones de tráfico, señala el informe la oficina del alguacil. Pero el conductor aceleró,
lo que dio inicio a una persecución que llegó hasta Texas 16 dentro de 20th Street.
Después el vehículo entró en un área de maleza y giró en círculos de nuevo hacia Texas 16. Tras un seguimiento de 2 millas, la camioneta se salió de la carretera y se impactó contra una valla y en un área de maleza. Los oficiales dicen que el vehículo continuó conduciendo durante unos 75 metros antes de detenerse. Varias personas salieron de la camioneta, según el informe. Agentes asistidos por agentes de Patrulla Fronteriza de EU, registraron la zona y encontraron a Barbosa, a quien los oficiales identificados como el conductor. (Localice a César G. Rodriguez en 728-2568 o en cesar@lmtonline.com)
FRONTERA
REFORMA ENERGÉTICA
ATRAEN TURISMO
Aseguran beneficios para Tamaulipas TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
Foto de cortesía | Gobierno de Nuevo Laredo
Una turista observa los artículos de joyería elaborados a mano durante un evento organizado por el Gobierno Municipal de Nuevo Laredo, México, en la Plaza Juárez.
Detallan un programa para promoción TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
Promocionar a Nuevo Laredo, México, como un punto para visitar es uno de los objetivos del Gobierno Municipal. Por tal razón, la Dirección de Turismo prepara un portafolio de información que será distribuido en puntos estratégicos de México y el exterior. Entre los aspectos que se destacarán se encuentran la salud, negocios y turismo cinegético. “Estamos conformando un portafolio con información de la ciudad, como son mapas, lugares turísticos y toda la folletería que se requiere para que, tanto el turismo extranjero como el nacional, conozca Nuevo Laredo”, explicó Samuel Lozano Molina, director de Turismo.
La información será distribuida, además de en Ambos Laredos, en ciudades cercanas a la frontera como son Monterrey, Saltillo y Monclova, en Laredo y localidades próximas en EU, principalmente. “Todos estos lugares son un potencial de visitantes, y estamos impulsando a los diferentes tipos de turismo que tenemos, como el caso de salud, que nos visitan para recibir servicios médicos de calidad y con un costo preferencial”, sostuvo Lozano. También se promoverá el turismo médico veterinario, debido a que existen varias opciones de atención de buena calidad y a un costo más atractivo que en EU. “Con el turismo médico veterinario se busca brindar una op-
ción más económica y rápida a quienes busquen atención médica para sus mascotas”, indicó Lozano. “Se está creando un nuevo perfil que le dará mayor impulso a los veterinarios locales por medio de folletos, trípticos y guías, que se otorgarán principalmente en la ciudad de Laredo”. Las divisas que ingresan a Nuevo Laredo provenientes del turismo nacional y extranjero, se traducen en empleos y en un mayor desarrollo económico. Otro atractivo que ofrece la vecina ciudad, a decir de Lozano, es la oferta de hoteles, restaurantes, medios de transporte y comercios. “Esto permite hacer de su estancia, una experiencia positiva”, concluyó.
Tras la aprobación de la Reforma Energética en México, se efectuarán una serie de cambios en la exploración y explotación de hidrocarburos en Tamaulipas, dijeron autoridades tamaulipecas el domingo. De acuerdo con las declaraciones de Humberto René Salinas Treviño, Secretario de Desarrollo Urbano y Medio Ambiente el gobierno tamaulipeco ha establecido una estrategia oficial a través de la cual se buscará aprovechar la reforma a la Ley Energética y explotar el potencial que en ésta materia tiene Tamaulipas. Entre las áreas en las que el vecino estado presenta ventaja están energías renovables, energía convencional y el aprovechamiento de fuertes alternativas. De acuerdo con Salinas, durante este año se buscará promover la generación y uso de energías limpias para el consumo industrial y doméstico que representará una ventaja competitiva y un factor de atracción de los inversionistas en este rubro. Esta energía contribuye en la reducción del consumo de combustibles de origen fósil y evita la emisión de gases efecto invernadero, principales causantes del cambio climático, señaló. Salinas dijo que en este año en el municipio de Reynosa, con la instalación de 30 aerogeneradores con una capacidad de producción de 54 mega watts, iniciará operaciones la primera etapa del parque eólico ‘El Porvenir’. Se espera que al término de las tres etapas previstas, genere 126 MW con la instalación de 63 aerogeneradores. “(La reforma energética y la reforma financiera) cambiarán el desarrollo económico no solamente de la región noreste del país sino en lo particular de Tamaulipas, de tal forma que para eso sé que estamos y seguiremos preparados para poder obtener aquí los beneficios que en esta materia se van a generar”, dijo Salinas a través de un comunicado de prensa.
SEGURIDAD
Graduan 347 nuevos agentes de policía TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
Durante el fin de semana se realizó la ceremonia de graduación de 347 nuevos elementos para la Policía Estatal Acreditable en Tamaulipas. El Gobernador del Estado, Egidio Torre Cantú, entregó a 347 policías nuevos el certificado que valida su entrada a fortalecer las tareas de seguridad pública. “No cabe duda que hoy es un gran día para Tamaulipas, ya que seguimos construyendo el estado fuerte para todos y lo hacemos con la participación de todos y cada uno de ustedes”, dijo Torre.
Los 347 nuevos elementos se vienen a sumar a los ya casi 2.400 hombres y mujeres que conforman la Policía Estatal Acreditable. “Cada uno de ustedes forma parte fundamental de la seguridad en Tamaulipas, siéntanse orgullosos de que reconocemos y valoramos su trabajo cotidiano, su esfuerzo, su dedicación y su voluntad por cuidar a Tamaulipas”, puntualizó Torre. Durante el evento también se realizó la entrega de reconocimientos y estímulos económicos por parte del Consejo de Desarrollo Policial de las Instituciones de Seguridad Pública, a
integrantes que por su actuación reconoce y promueve conductas ejemplares, creando conciencia de que el esfuerzo y sacrificio son honrados y reconocidos por el Estado y la Institución. “El orgullo que hoy siente por la culminación exitosa de una etapa formativa que marca el ingreso a la profesión de funcionarios del sistema de seguridad pública, deben sumarse las fuerzas para trabajar unidos por esta gran institución y haciendo honor para Tamaulipas, así como fortalecer la seguridad y vigencia de derechos”, dijo el Secretario de Seguridad Pública, Rafael Lomelí.
Foto de cortesía | Gobierno de Tamaulipas
El Gobernador de Tamaulipas, Egidio Torre Cantú, a la derecha, felicita a uno de los nuevos 347 agentes para la Policía Estatal Acreditable en Tamaulipas.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2014
ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM
Sports&Outdoors HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL: ZAPATA
Ready for action Zapata softball opens practice this week By CLARA SANDOVAL THE ZAPATA TIMES
The softball season is right around the corner as the first game is scheduled for Jan. 20 when teams across the state of Texas officially open practice to start the year. Zapata will welcome back an experienced team which placed fourth last year and is looking to break into a postseason spot, but has a tough district to deal with. Kingsville, Raymondville and Lyford have strong softball programs and are always looking for a playoff spot, but Zapata is getting ready to try and join them this year. Coach Jaime Garcia welcomes back 11 letterman and the majority of the starting lineup with only two spots to fill. This experienced team took their bumps and bruises last year and is ready to try to break into the top three spots. Returning for Zapata are senior outfielder Clarissa Villarreal, senior catcher Secilia Mata, junior infielders Isela Gonzalez, Lydia Garza and Daniella Martinez, junior outfielder/pitcher Selissa Lopez, sophomore outfielders Norma Ramirez and Andrea Garza, sophomore infielders Tere Villarreal and Roxy Galvan and sophomore out-
fielder/pitcher Cassandra Garcia. With strong returning class, Garcia is excited for the upcoming season and the promise they have shown already. "I am excited that we have a young team with talent," Garcia said. "If we put everything together and play as a team, no one can tell where that will lead us. It is very promising." Zapata is trying to forget last year, when the Lady Hawks fell short of a playoff spot with only the top three teams in 3A heading to the postseason. It’s unlike their 4A and 5A counterparts, where the top four teams go to the playoffs. Despite not making the postseason, not all was lost as the Lady Hawks gained a lot of experience and that will be a plus for Garcia’s team. "It’s going to help a great deal, the experience will help them with confidence and of course release pressure," Garcia said. Garcia will also turn to Selissa Lopez and Cassandra Garcia to take the mound for the Lady Hawks, while Lydia Garza and Andrea Garza led the team at the plate last year. Zapata opens up with four scrimmages as the Lady Hawks take on Martin on Jan. 28 and Cigarroa on Jan. 31 on the road be-
fore welcoming Rio Grande City on Feb. 4. They finish with a triscrimmage on Feb. 8 against Roma and LBJ. Zapata opens up the season with Bruni at home on Feb. 11 and then heads to the Mission Tournament on Feb. 11-15. The Lady Hawks open District 31-3A action on March 13 when Zapata welcomes Rio Grande City-La Grulla. Clara Sandoval can be reached at Sandoval.Clara@Gmail.com
2014 ZHS softball schedule Feb. 11 Bruni Feb. 13-15 Mission Tournament Feb. 18 Falfurrias Feb. 20-22 La Joya Tournamnet March 4 Progresso March 8 United March 10 Cotulla March 13* La Grulla March 21* Kingsville March 25* Raymondville March 28* Lyford April 4* La Grulla April 12* Kingsville April 15* Raymondville April 17* Lyford BOLD denotes home games * denotes district games
Photo by Clara Sandoval | Laredo Morning Times
Zapata coach Jaime Garcia and the Lady Hawks softball team practice this week with their first game on Feb. 11 at home against Bruni.
8A THE ZAPATA TIMES
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2014
W.Va.’s 5-day water crisis near its end By BRENDAN FARRINGTON ASSOCIATED PRESS
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — For the fifth straight day, hundreds of thousands of people in West Virginia had to wash, cook and brush their teeth with bottled water, but officials promised the ban on tap water that was tainted by a chemical spill would soon be lifted. Over the weekend, tests showed that levels of the licoricesmelling chemical used in coal processing were consistently below a toxic threshold, and in some samples, there was no trace of the chemical at all. As the tests were expected to continue Monday, there were still questions about how and why the leak occurred and whether the company, Freedom Industries, took too long to let state officials know about the problem. If tests continue to show the water is safe, the ban affecting about 300,000 people across a nine-county region will be lifted in waves for specific areas, the first of which would be in downtown Charleston, said West Virginia American Water President Jeff McIntyre. He gave no timetable for when people could start using the water again. “I can tell you at this point, I don’t believe we’re several days from starting to lift (the ban), but I’m not saying today,” McIntyre said at a news conference Sunday. “We see light at the end of the tunnel,” Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin told reporters. The governor urged residents not to use the water for anything but flushing toilets. Some people have put plastic bags around faucets so that they will be reminded not to use the water while others have left town to take a shower and find an open restaurant. Water distribution centers have handed out bottled water
Photo by Steve Helber | AP
Jonathan Steele, owner of Bluegrass Kitchen, fills a jug with cleaning water in the back of his restaurant in Charleston, W.Va., on Tuesday. Steele installed a large tank in the back of his restaurant and was able to open Sunday using bottled water. and trucks with large tanks of water have filled up containers for people to take home. So far, only 10 people exposed to the contaminated water were admitted to the hospital, and none were in serious condition, Health and Human Resources Secretary Karen Bowling said. The chemical, even in its most concentrated form, isn’t deadly. However, people were told they shouldn’t even wash their clothes in affected water, as the compound can cause symptoms ranging from skin irritation and rashes to vomiting and diarrhea. Other than schools, day-care centers, hotels and many restaurants that will be closed Monday, the region was open for business, but foot traffic was slow. Stores and offices adjusted by providing bottled water and hand sanitizer. The governor said state govern-
ment offices would be open Monday. Lawmakers were to return to the Capitol on Monday after Friday’s session was cut short because there wasn’t any water. Their work now will likely include a look at how Freedom Industries flew under the regulatory radar. Freedom Industries’ tanks don’t fall under an inspection program and the chemicals stored at the facility weren’t considered hazardous enough to require environmental permitting. Essentially, Freedom Industries wasn’t under state oversight at all, said Michael Dorsey, chief of the state Department of Environmental Protection’s Homeland Security and Emergency Response office. A leak in one of the company’s 40,000 tanks containing the chem-
ical 4-methylcyclohexane methanol is what caused the disruption in water service. “In my world — I’m a hazmat guy — this stuff ’s below my radar screen until this happens,” said Dorsey. “The tanks themselves, we don’t have the regulatory authority to inspect those tanks.” There’s already talk about changing that, Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Randy Huffman said. “We are working on some ideas right now,” Huffman said. “I think a lot of folks will be calling for legislation and rightly so.” And there are signs that Freedom Industries did not respond appropriately. A state law requires immediate reporting, but Huffman said state environmental workers were on the spill site at 11:15 a.m. Thursday because of
a call from the water company — not Freedom Industries. State officials started investigating when people complained about an odor coming from near the company’s river terminal. Freedom officials were also at the spill site when state officials arrived, yet they still did not actually report the spill until nearly an hour later. “There’s no question that they should have called earlier,” Huffman said. The company has said it removed the remaining chemical from the site and took it elsewhere, and the removal of other chemicals was ongoing. Company president Gary Southern held a brief news conference Friday night, but otherwise company officials have declined to comment. “We have mitigated the risk, we believe, in terms of further material leaving this facility,” he said then. About 7,500 gallons of the chemical is believed to have leaked from the tank and a containment area and some of it got into the Elk River and the water treatment plant, which is about a mile downstream from Freedom Industries. The chemical quickly dissolves in water, meaning it can’t be filtered out or skimmed from water, so people have had to wait for it to pass through the water system or be diluted to the point where the water is again safe. Online maps and automated phone calls will let water customers know when their areas have been cleared. Residents will also be instructed on how to flush their homes of any contaminated water. About 170 people were treated and released from emergency rooms for exposure. There were 1,045 calls to a poison control center about human exposure and 65 animal-related calls, officials said.
Cleaning up the past Bill would clear convictions from ‘60s ‘Fish Wars’ By PHUONG LE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Photo by Seth Wenig | AP
A waitress walks under a television tuned to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie delivering the State of the State address at the Plaza Diner in Fort Lee, N.J., on Tuesday. Christie apologized again Tuesday, saying his administration “let down the people we are entrusted to serve.”
Yet another apology By ANGELA DELLI SANTI ASSOCIATED PRESS
TRENTON, N.J. — Faced with a widening political scandal that threatens to undermine his second term and a possible 2016 presidential run, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie apologized again Tuesday, saying his administration “let down the people we are entrusted to serve” but that the issue doesn’t define his team or the state. On the eve of his second term, the governor opened his annual State of the State address by touching only briefly on the apparent political payback plot before moving on to take credit for the state’s improving economy and cycle through such familiar themes as avoiding tax increases and working with the Democrats who control both chambers of the state Legislature. He also promoted the state’s rising high school graduation rate and proposed lengthening both the school day and school year but did not offer details. He promised to present choices to overhaul the state’s tax system next month when he presents his budget proposal but did not offer an insight on how he might want to do that. A tax cut he proposed two years ago foundered in the Legislature. “The last week has certainly tested this administration,” he told legislators and others gathered at the Statehouse. “Mistakes
were clearly made. And as a result, we let down the people we are entrusted to serve. I know our citizens deserve better.” He received tempered applause after he went on, saying, “This administration and this Legislature will not allow the work that needs to be done to improve the people’s lives in Jersey to be delayed.” Among his audience were lawmakers who announced this week that they’re intensifying their probe of the political retribution scheme. The scandal broke wide open last week with the release of documents showing the involvement of Christie aides and appointees in apparently politically orchestrated traffic lane closings in September that caused massive gridlock. The governor has fired one close aide and others on his team have resigned. Christie first apologized last week during a nearly two-hour news conference, saying he was blindsided by his staff ’s involvement. Christie has denied any knowledge in the planning or execution of the plot, and there is no evidence linking him to it. A popular figure in the Republican Party, Christie won re-election by 22 points in November after earning high marks from New Jerseyans for his handling of the state’s recovery from Superstorm Sandy, and his stock had been rising as a candidate for president in 2016.
Now, he is hoping his State of the State address will help him rebound from the apparent political payback scheme that could damage his second term and cut short any ambitions to run for president. The first year of his second term is considered a key building block for his political future. After his November reelection, his advisers suggested he had a one-year window for accomplishments as a can-do, bipartisan leader before his lameduck status — and a prospective White House campaign — start to interfere. The recent revelations may have slammed that window shut. His top-line new proposal — to extend the school day — was not exactly embraced by one key group. Wendell Steinhauer, president of New Jersey’s largest and most powerful teachers union and a frequent adversary of Christie, said in a statement ahead of the speech that the group would welcome discussion of the proposal with Christie. But Steinhauer also criticized Christie for his veto Monday of a bill that would have implemented full-day kindergarten statewide. An overhaul of public employee retirement benefits by Christie and the Legislature in 2011 was bitterly opposed by the union, which spent millions of dollars on anti-Christie ads during his gubernatorial campaigns.
SEATTLE — Decades after American Indians were arrested for exercising treaty-protected fishing rights during a nationally watched confrontation with authorities, a proposal in the state Legislature would give those who were jailed a chance to clear their convictions from the record. Tribal members and others were roughed up, harassed and arrested while asserting their right to fish for salmon off-reservation under treaties signed with the federal government more than a century prior. The Northwest fish-ins, which were known as the “Fish Wars” and modeled after sit-ins of the civil rights movement, were part of larger demonstrations to assert American Indian rights nationwide. The fishing acts, however, violated state regulations at the time, and prompted raids by police and state game wardens and clashes between Indian activists and police. Demonstrations staged across the Northwest attracted national attention, and the fishing-rights cause was taken up by celebrities such as the actor Marlon Brando, who was arrested with others in 1964 for illegal fishing from an Indian canoe on the Puyallup River. Brando was later released. “We as a state have a very dark past, and we need to own up to our mistakes,” said Rep. David Sawyer, DTacoma, prime sponsor of House Bill 2080. “We made a mistake, and we should allow people to live their lives without these criminal charges on their record.” Lawmakers in the House Community Development, Housing and Tribal Affairs Committee heard public testimony on the bill Tuesday afternoon. Sawyer said he’s not sure exactly how many people would be affected by the proposal. “Even if there’s a handful it’s worth doing,” he added. Sawyer said he took up
Photo by Ted S. Warren | AP
Billy Frank Jr., a Nisqually tribal elder who was arrested dozens of times during the “Fish Wars” of the 1960s and ’70s, looks at a photo from the late 1960s on Monday that shows him, left, fishing on the Nisqually River in Nisqually, Wash. the proposal after hearing about a tribal member who couldn’t travel to Canada because of a fishing-related felony, and about another tribal grandparent who couldn’t adopt because of a similar conviction. Under the measure, tribal members who were arrested before 1975 could apply to the sentencing court to expunge their misdemeanor, gross misdemeanor or felony convictions if they were exercising their treaty fishing rights. The court has the discretion to vacate the conviction, unless certain conditions apply, such as if the person was convicted for a violent crime or crime against a person, has new charges pending or other factors. “It’s a start,” said Billy Frank Jr., a Nisqually tribal elder who figured prominently during the Fish Wars. He was arrested dozens of times. “I never kept count,” he said of his arrests. Frank’s Landing, his family’s home along the Nisqually River north of Olympia, became a focal point for fish-ins. Frank and others continued to put their fishing nets in the river in defiance of state fishing regulations, even as game wardens watched on and cameras rolled. Documentary footage from that time shows game wardens pulling their boats to shore and confiscating nets. One of the more dramatic raids of the time occurred on Sept. 9, 1970, when police used tear gas and clubs to arrest 60 protesters, including juveniles, who had set up an encampment that summer along the Puyallup River south of Seattle. The demonstrations pre-
ceded the landmark federal court decision in 1974, when U.S. District Judge George Boldt reaffirmed tribal treaty rights to an equal share of harvestable catch of salmon and steelhead and established the state and tribes as co-managers of the resource. The U.S. Supreme Court later upheld the decision. Hank Adams, a wellknown longtime Indian activist who fought alongside Frank, said the bill doesn’t cover many convictions, which were civil contempt charges for violating an injunction brought against three tribes in a separate court case. He said he hoped those convictions could be included. “We need to make certain those are covered,” said Adams, who was shot in the stomach while demonstrating and at one time spent 20 days in Thurston County Jail. He also said he wanted to ensure that there was a process for convicted fishermen to clear their records posthumously, among other potential changes. But Sid Mills, who was arrested during the Fish Wars, questioned the bill’s purpose. “What good would it do to me who was arrested, sentenced and convicted? They’re trying to make themselves feel good,” he said. “They call it fishing wars for a reason. We were fighting for our lives,” said Mills, who now lives in Yelm. “We were exercising our rights to survive as Indians and fish our traditional ways. And all of a sudden the state of Washington came down and (did) whatever they could short of shooting us.”
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2014
THE ZAPATA TIMES 9A
Man’s alleged Lots of tunnels under border smuggling try nixed By BRIAN SKOLOFF AND JACQUES BILLEAUD
Immigrant smugglers use “gopher hole” tunnels made up of huge PVC pipes that are buried underground and span the border, providing enough space through which a person can barely squeeze. The storm-drain tunnels in places like Nogales are used for both immigrant and drug smuggling.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
A man led deputies on a chase in an apparent, failed human smuggling attempt early Sunday in Zapata County. Alejandro Barbosa, 18, was arrested and charged with evading arrest with a motor vehicle and striking a fixture/landscape in a brush area off Texas 16. Custody records show Barbosa was at the Zapata Regional Jail as of Tuesday afternoon. At 4 a.m. Sunday, deputies attempted to stop a white 1998 Dodge Ram for traffic violations, a sheriff ’s office report states. But the driver sped off, starting a pursuit that went off of
Texas 16 onto 20th Street. The vehicle then went into a brush area and circled back onto Texas 16. Following a 2mile pursuit, the pickup veered off the road and went through a fence and into the brush area. Deputies say the vehicle continued driving for about 75 yards before stopping. Several people exited the pickup, the report states. Deputies, assisted by U.S. Border Patrol agents, searched the area and found Barbosa, whom deputies identified as the driver. (César G. Rodriguez may be reached at 7282568 or cesar@lmtonline.com)
NUEVO LAREDO Continued from Page 1A promoted because there are several options for quality care and at more attractive prices than in the United States. “With veterinary tourism we aim to provide a more economical and faster treatment for pets,” Lozano Molina said. “It is creating a new profile that will give further impetus to local veterinarians through pamphlets, brochures and guides, which are mainly targeting the city of Laredo.” The various sources of revenue coming into Nuevo Laredo from national and international tourism translates into jobs and further economic development. Another attraction is what Laredo, Texas, has to offer, Lozano said, is its selection of hotels, restaurants, transportation and shopping. “This helps make your stay, for pleasure, business or health reasons, a positive experience,” he said. (Translated by Mark Webber of the Times staff.)
NOGALES, Ariz. — As border security has tightened, drug cartels have turned to tunneling beneath the ground to avoid detection. Nearly 170 tunnels have been found nationwide since 1990, most along the Arizona and California border with Mexico. The job of searching these networks can be dangerous, so the U.S. Border Patrol is unveiling its latest technology in the underground war — a wireless, camera-equipped robot that can do the job in a fraction of the time.
How are they discovered? The majority of tunnels are found by human intelligence, either by Mexican or U.S. authorities patrolling the border and noticing the ground has been disturbed, or through informants who tip authorities to their presence.
How are they built? Tunnel construction ranges from extremely rudimentary, a small burrow dug by hand sometimes only large enough for a person to crawl through, to very sophisticated, including lights, supports to hold up the ceiling and ventilation. They can range from just a few feet stretching from one side of the border to the other, to up to a quarter mile long. Some tunnels merely go from one side of the border to the other with the contraband being offloaded in a field or on public land, while others exit into warehouses or homes along the border. Miners and other laborers hired by cartels use hoes, jackhammers, shovels and picks to gouge out soil and load the dirt into buckets that are brought back out of the tunnel’s starting point in Mexico. Their tools are oldfashioned and can be bought at home improvement stores. Miners, for instance, must use compasses because GPS devices don’t work underground. Smugglers have dug dozens of crude tunnels in No-
Photo by Brian Skoloff | AP
U.S. Border Patrol Agent Ryan Grimm demonstrates how a robot is used to navigate a drainage canal along the border fence during a briefing in Nogales, Ariz., on Tuesday. gales, Ariz., that begin in Mexico and tie into the Arizona city’s storm drainage system. For sophisticated tunnels, such as those found near San Diego, cartels will hire engineers and miners to build the tunnels. A cartel will have a financier or a cell that reports to the cartel bosses and runs the construction. U.S. border officials estimate that the more sophisticated tunnels probably cost between $2 million to $3 million to build.
How are tunnels used? Smuggling groups use tunnels to move drugs, guns and people who want to sneak across the U.S. border, though traffickers are sometimes selective about what they will move through their tunnels.
LA VILLA maturely — over whether they might be forced to finish out their final year in another district. “It’s a really sad situation knowing they can’t come to terms,” said Angie Reyna, who on Monday coaxed her daughter Amanda, a senior in La Villa, into coming to work at a relative’s drive-thru convenience store in Elsa on Monday. Maxine Elizondo had three grandsons to look after Monday instead of just the youngest. Their parents both work, so Elizondo was thankful she’s retired and can help out. “Some parents may not be as fortunate,” Elizondo said, while the oldest boy, a 5th grader, rode his bike in lazy circles in the street. She said the quibbling adults are acting like children. “I think it’s sad because to me I don’t think they’re thinking about the children,” Elizondo
said. The dispute has been festering for more than a year in the town of about 2,000, 25 miles east of McAllen. In December 2011, the city approved adding a surcharge for water and sewer service to the school district on top of the usage rate. It was initially set at $10 per person — students, staff — but the district fought it down to $6 and the two sides inked an agreement in November 2012. But the city commission turned around the following month and raised the surcharge to $14. The school district has continued paying at the $6 surcharge rate, but the city says it’s more than $58,000 in arrears. “We got here because some adults are irresponsible,” said school district Superintendent Narciso Garcia. He said the city’s financial problems and decrepit water
Experts say sophisticated tunnels are used for mostly drug and gun smuggling, though people who don’t want to risk traveling above ground will occasionally be sneaked through those tunnels. Cocaine and methamphetamine are brought in through the tunnels, but marijuana — which is big and bulky and therefore difficult to move — is the most prevalent drug transported through the tunnels. Authorities found a 600yard tunnel in Southern California during November 2011 that resulted in seizures of 32 tons of marijuana on both sides of the border, with 26 tons found on the U.S. side, accounting for one of the largest marijuana busts in U.S. history. That tunnel was equipped with electric railcars, lighting and ventilation while wooden planks lined the floor.
How are they explored and investigated? So-called tunnel robots have been in use by Border Patrol for several years. They can safely navigate through corrugated pipes, tunnels, and drainage systems while an agent controls the device from the surface, seeing what the robot sees on a handheld screen. The robots are used, in part, as a safety measure to keep agents out of harm’s way as many tunnels can be poorly built and possibly collapse and lack proper ventilation. They also can navigate an underground labyrinth in a fraction of the time it would take an agent to explore the tunnel. Some of the newer robots, which weigh about 12 pounds and can navigate through passageways that are only several feet wide, are being deployed this year across southern Arizona and California. Source: U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
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plant are well known, and that desperate commissioners are just trying to squeeze the school district to get back into the black. The school district and a private jail housing federal prisoners are the town’s two main employers. In a letter to the Texas Education Agency in December, Mayor Hector Elizondo wrote: “This was a raise in rates that was absolutely necessary in order that the City upgrade its aging utility systems and meet quality standards set by (the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality).” Messages left in person at City Hall on Monday for the city manager and mayor were not returned. A phone message left for the city attorney was also not returned. “People are not looking beyond their selfishness,” Garcia said. “They are financially
strapped, but that’s not my problem.” A last ditch attempt at resolving the dispute over the weekend foundered when the two sides, meeting simultaneously blocks apart from each other Saturday night, could not agree. The school district offered to pay a $7 surcharge, the city countered with $12, so the school board decided to go home. Both sides are scheduled to appear Wednesday in Austin before the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The school district has requested an emergency order to compel the city to turn the water back on. School officials made a similar request in December, but the TCEQ declined to act then. If the TCEQ gets the water back on, Garcia said schools could reopen Friday. Victoria Lopez, the senior
class president at La Villa Early College High School, said Monday that she and her classmates just want to get back to school. She was supposed to start a college-level calculus class this semester. If she had to transfer to another district, she worries it could jeopardize her class rank and all the college scholarship benefits that come with it. Lopez managed to move her pig to her brother-in-law’s farm, but worries because it’s competing for food with others there instead of enjoying its private pen at the school district farm. “We just want them to settle it, get an agreement, because we need to get back to school,” she said. On Monday evening she and her basketball teammates were scheduled to drive to Lyford, 16 miles away, for an hour of court time for practice. “That’s all we could get.”
10A THE ZAPATA TIMES
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2014
TRILLION been given.” Rep. Steve Womack, R-Ark., said the new legislation would get “our country off this notion of shutting the government down” and would allow Republicans to keep the spotlight on other issues, a reference to the health care law that’s weighing politically on Democrats. Tea party favorites including Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, also have been slow to criticize the spending measure, which appears likely to pass the Senate no later than Saturday and probably before then. Cruz was a key force in the strategy to shut down the government over funding of so-called Obamacare. The spending measure contains dozens of trade-offs between Democrats and Republicans as it fleshes out the details of the budget deal that Congress passed last month. That pact gave relatively modest but muchsought relief to the Pentagon and domestic agencies after deep cuts last year. Western Republicans from timber country were anxious
about payments to towns surrounded by federal lands but were reassured that the payments would be extended though separate legislation. Gulf Coast lawmakers praised a provision aimed at delaying federal flood insurance premium increases from new flood maps that have proven faulty, but the provision left in place other changes enacted in 2012. The GOP-led House is slated to pass the 1,582-page bill Wednesday, though some tea party conservatives are sure to oppose it. Democrats pleased with new money to educate preschoolers and build high-priority highway projects are likely to make up the difference even as Republican social conservatives worry about losing familiar battles over abortion policy. The bill would avert spending cuts that threatened construction of new aircraft carriers and next-generation Joint Strike Fighters. It maintains rent subsidies for the poor, awards federal civilian and military workers
LAWSUIT tant than where the orders derived from, according to the motion to dismiss. “The plaintiffs in the case at issue allege that their harm occurred in Mexico (where) SA (Special Agent) Zapata was shot and killed, and SA Avila was shot and injured, ‘along Mexico Highway 57 near Santa Maria del Rio, in the northern state of San Luis Potosi,’” the motion to dismiss states.
Other arguments Aside from the foreign country exemption, the motion to dismiss the Zapata case argues more federal tort exemptions backing up its lack-of-jurisdiction arguments. The plaintiffs, however, disagree with the government’s motion to dismiss, alleging Zapata’s parents incurred injuries that hap-
a 1 percent raise and beefs up security at U.S. embassies across the globe. The Obama administration would be denied money to meet its full commitments to the International Monetary Fund but get much of the money it wanted to pay for implementation of the new health care law and the 2010 overhaul of financial regulations. “This agreement shows the American people that we can compromise, and that we can govern,” said Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Barbara Mikulski, D-Md. “It puts an end to shutdown, slowdown, slamdown politics.” The measure doesn’t contain in-your-face victories for either side. The primary achievement was that there was an agreement in the first place after the collapse of the budget process last year, followed by the shutdown and another brush with a default on U.S. obligations. After the shutdown and debt crisis last fall, House Budget committee Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and Senate Budget Committee
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pened inside the United States because that is where they are seeking answers and where they are not getting any answers, alleging a cover-up. “For example, Plaintiffs have alleged a claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress based on injuries inflicted and suffered by Plaintiffs here in the United States. Specifically, the Third Amended Original Complaint states, that ‘the United States has conducted an ongoing cover-up to deprive Avila and the Zapata family of the answers they rightly deserve,’” the motion in opposition states. According to the Zapata family, this is causing them severe emotional distress. “These allegations set forth a claim for damages based on conduct and injury that occurred within the United States, thereby precluding the applicability of the Foreign Country Excep-
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tion (at least as to those claims),” the motion in opposition states. “It is also significant to note that none of the Plaintiffs lives in Mexico nor have any of the Plaintiffs other than Avila been in Mexico for any significant period in the last decade.” Additionally, Zapata’s parents and Avila argue they continue to suffer injury in the United States. “Accordingly, the concerns that the Foreign Country Exception was enacted to guard against are not present here,” the motion in opposition states. “Plaintiffs have not brought any claims under the FTCA that would require the United States to submit to potential liability under the substantive laws of a foreign sovereign.” Rulings on the motion are pending in U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen’s court.
Chairman Patty Murray, DWash., struck an agreement to avoid a repeat of the 5 percent cut applied to domestic agencies last year and to prevent the Pentagon from absorbing about $20 billion in new cuts on top of the ones that hit it last year. To be sure, there is plenty for both parties to oppose in the legislation. Conservatives face a vote to finance implementation of Obama’s health care overhaul and Wall Street regulations, both enacted in 2010 over solid Republican opposition. A conservativebacked initiative to block the Environmental Protection Agency from regulating greenhouse gas emissions was dumped and social conservatives failed to win new restrictions on abortion. Democrats must accept new money for sexual abstinence education programs they often ridicule, and conservatives can take heart that overall spending for daily agency operations has been cut by $79 billion, or 7 percent, from the high-water mark established by Democrats in 2010. That cut increases to $165
billion, or 13 percent, when cuts in war funding and disaster spending are accounted for. Money for Obama’s high-speed rail program would be cut off — a defeat for California Democrats — and rules restricting the sale of less efficient incandescent light bulbs would be blocked. The Pentagon will get about $6 billion more in war funding than the $79 billion Obama requested. The additional money is helping the Pentagon deal with a cash crunch in troop readiness accounts. Including foreign aid related to overseas security operations, total war funding reaches $92 billion, a slight cut from last year. At the same time, the bill is laced with sweeteners. One is a provision exempting disabled veterans and war widows from a pension cut enacted last month. The bill contains increases for veterans’ medical care backed by both sides and fully funds the $6.7 billion budget for food aid for low-income pregnant women and their children.