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Post office gets new name Obama signs Cuellar’s bill to honor veterans SPECIAL TO THE TIME S B. Jefferson Bolender / The Texas Tribune
Texas lawmakers are celebrating a new federal law they say will decrease wait times and increase productivity at the country’s ports of entry.
New law lets private businesses support ports
Rep. Henry Cuellar announced Tuesday that the president has signed a bill he authored to rename the post office located at 810 North U.S. Highway 83 in Zapata, as the “Zapata Veterans Post Office.” The bill has previously passed in both the House and Senate. A news conference will be held in Zapata at a fu-
ture date. “In Zapata and across my district, there are many examples of fine men and women who have honorably served our country, which is why I introduced legislation to honor their defense of our country,” Cuellar said. “Zapata is home to approximately 503 veterans, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The six Treviño brothers of Zapata, all World War II
veterans, are one of many great examples of Zapata’s brave veterans. Teodoro, Leopoldo, Cuellar Antonio, Anselmo, Filberto Jr. and Jose Manuel Treviño performed many acts of bravery, including taking down enemy plans and protecting soldiers by using their own bodies as shields. Their courage and dedication to our nation demonstrate what it really means to be
an American. “Veterans all across our nation, just like the Treviño brothers, share a wonderful love for country, which is why I am recognizing our veterans with the dedication of this post office. I also thank the Veterans Services Office in Zapata County, one of many organizations that work tirelessly to provide the essential care to those who have returned home from service, as well as my colleagues in the House and Sen. John Cornyn and Sen. Ted Cruz for their support that helped pass this bill,” Cuellar added.
UNITED STATES By Julián Aguilar TH E TEXAS TRI BUNE
Texas lawmakers are celebrating a new federal law they say will decrease wait times and increase productivity at the country’s ports of entry. President Obama on Friday signed the Cross-Border Trade Enhancement Act, which allows private businesses and local governments to pay for
beefed-up staffing and infrastructure improvements at the ports of entry on Texas’ southern border by entering into agreements with U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The law comes amid questions about whether the North American Free Trade Agreement will be reworked or even eliminated under the Trump administration. The trade pact has
AMERICA’S PRESIDENT Revolt fizzles as Trump easily wins Electoral College vote
Ports continues on A11
By Stephen Ohlemacher
U.S.-MEXICO
ASSOCIATED PRE SS
New surge of immigrants headed for border S P ECIAL T O T HE T I ME S
Next year, an estimated 40,000 migrants from Haiti, Africa, Asia and the Middle East will enter Costa Rica through its border with Panama and then attempt to cross the U.S.-Mexico border, according to Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Zapata. “I recently spoke with the Ambassador of Costa Rica to the United States, Roman Macaya, regarding a pending immigration crisis on their border and which will soon have major impacts here at the U.S. bor-
der,” Cuellar said. “If the Cuban crisis this past year has shown, (these immigrants) will likely soon find their way to our border, putting additional stress on our already thinlystretched humanitarian resources; not to mention our immigration judges, who are working through a backlog of over half a million immigration cases. “This past year, we struggled through a surge of approximately 56,000 Cuban migrants running up through Surge continues on A11
W
David J. Phillip / AP
Rex Teter, a member of the Electoral College, poses at his home in Pasadena, Texas, Dec. 13. A Marco Rubio supporter in the primaries, he is solidly for Trump.
ASHINGTON — So much for an Electoral College revolt. Despite weeks of lobbying and a day of protests, President-elect Donald Trump won all but two of the Electoral College votes he claimed on Election Day, ensuring he will become America’s 45th president. There were more protest votes among Democratic electors — five — than there were among Republicans. All 538 electors met in state capitals across the country Monday to cast their votes. Trump’s polarizing victory in November and the fact that Democrat Hillary Clinton won the popular vote by more than 2.8 million votes had Vote continues on A11
Zin brief A2 | Wednesday, December 21, 2016 | THE ZAPATA TIMES
CALENDAR
AROUND THE WORLD
TODAY IN HISTORY
MONDAY, DECEMBER 26
ASSOCIATED PRE SS
Chess Club. Every Monday, 4-6 p.m. LBV-Inner City Branch Library, 202 W. Plum St. Compete with other players in this cherished game played internationally. Free instruction for all ages and skill levels. Chess books and training materials are available.
Today is Wednesday, Dec. 21, the 356th day of 2016. There are 10 days left in the year. Winter arrives at 5:44 a.m. Eastern time.
Today’s Highlight in History: On Dec. 21, 1891, the first basketball game is believed to have been played at the International YMCA Training School in Springfield, Massachusetts; devised by James Naismith, “Basket Ball” involved the use of a soccer ball and two peach baskets, with nine players on each team. (The final score of this experimental game: 1-0.)
MONDAY, JANUARY 2 Chess Club. Every Monday, 4-6 p.m. LBV-Inner City Branch Library, 202 W. Plum St. Compete with other players in this cherished game played internationally. Free instruction for all ages and skill levels. Chess books and training materials are available. Ray of Light anxiety and depression support group meeting. 6:30—7:30 p.m. Area Health Education Center, 1505 Calle del Norte, Suite 430. Every first Monday of the month. People suffering from anxiety and depression are invited to attend this free, confidential and anonymous support group meeting. While a support group does not replace an individual’s medical care, it can be a valuable resource to gain insight, strength and hope.
MONDAY, JANUARY 9 Chess Club. Every Monday, 4-6 p.m. LBV-Inner City Branch Library, 202 W. Plum St. Compete with other players in this cherished game played internationally. Free instruction for all ages and skill levels. Chess books and training materials are available.
MONDAY, JANUARY 16 Chess Club. Every Monday, 4-6 p.m. LBV-Inner City Branch Library, 202 W. Plum St. Compete with other players in this cherished game played internationally. Free instruction for all ages and skill levels. Chess books and training materials are available.
MONDAY, JANUARY 23 Chess Club. Every Monday, 4-6 p.m. LBV-Inner City Branch Library, 202 W. Plum St. Compete with other players in this cherished game played internationally. Free instruction for all ages and skill levels. Chess books and training materials are available.
Eduardo Verdugo / AP
Firefighters and rescue workers comb through ashes and rubble at the open-air San Pablito fireworks market, in Tultepec, on the outskirts of Mexico City, Tuesday.
26 DEAD IN BLAST AT MARKET TULTEPEC, Mexico — A powerful chain-reaction explosion ripped through Mexico’s best-known fireworks market on the northern outskirts of the capital Tuesday, killing at least 26 people, injuring scores more and sending a huge plume of charcoal-gray smoke billowing into the sky. The blast leveled the open-air San Pablito Market in Tultepec in the middle of the afternoon as it bustled with shoppers stocking up on fireworks to celebrate Christmas and New Year’s, reducing vendors’ stands to piles of rubble, ash, and charred metal. It was the third devastat-
ing explosion and fire to ravage the market since 2005. Crescencia Francisco Garcia said she was in the middle of the grid of stalls along with a few hundred others when the thunderous explosions began. She froze, reflexively looked up at the sky and then took off running through the smoke once she realized everyone was doing so. As she ran she saw people with burns and cuts, and lots of blood. “Everything was catching fire. Everything was exploding,” Francisco said. — Compiled from AP reports
MONDAY, JANUARY 30 Chess Club. Every Monday, 4-6 p.m. LBV-Inner City Branch Library, 202 W. Plum St. Compete with other players in this cherished game played internationally. Free instruction for all ages and skill levels. Chess books and training materials are available.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6 Chess Club. Every Monday, 4-6 p.m. LBV-Inner City Branch Library, 202 W. Plum St. Compete with other players in this cherished game played internationally. Free instruction for all ages and skill levels. Chess books and training materials are available. Ray of Light anxiety and depression support group meeting. 6:30—7:30 p.m. Area Health Education Center, 1505 Calle del Norte, Suite 430. Every first Monday of the month. People suffering from anxiety and depression are invited to attend this free, confidential and anonymous support group meeting. While a support group does not replace an individual’s medical care, it can be a valuable resource to gain insight, strength and hope.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13 Chess Club. Every Monday, 4-6 p.m. LBV-Inner City Branch Library, 202 W. Plum St. Compete with other players in this cherished game played internationally. Free instruction for all ages and skill levels. Chess books and training materials are available.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20 Chess Club. Every Monday, 4-6 p.m. LBV-Inner City Branch Library, 202 W. Plum St. Compete with other players in this cherished game played internationally. Free instruction for all ages and skill levels. Chess books and training materials are available.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27 Chess Club. Every Monday, 4-6 p.m. LBV-Inner City Branch Library, 202 W. Plum St. Compete with other players in this cherished game played internationally. Free instruction for all ages and skill levels. Chess books and training materials are available.
MONDAY, MARCH 6 Chess Club. Every Monday, 4-6 p.m. LBV-Inner City Branch Library, 202 W. Plum St. Compete with other players in this cherished game played internationally. Free instruction for all ages and skill levels. Chess books and training materials are available. Ray of Light anxiety and depression support group meeting. 6:30—7:30 p.m. Area Health Education Center, 1505 Calle del Norte, Suite 430. Every first Monday of the month. People suffering from anxiety and depression are invited to attend this free, confidential and anonymous support group meeting. While a support group does not replace an individual’s medical care, it can be a valuable resource to gain insight, strength and hope.
MONDAY, MARCH 13 Chess Club. Every Monday, 4-6 p.m. LBV-Inner City Branch Library, 202 W. Plum St. Compete with other players in this cherished game played internationally. Free instruction for all ages and skill levels. Chess books and training materials are available.
Board outlines measures to fight Puerto Rico crisis SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — A federal control board overseeing Puerto Rico’s finances gave the governor on Tuesday a list of proposed measures to turn around the U.S. territory’s economy including downsizing the government, privatizing ports and charging tourists more for certain services. The board warned that Puerto Rico needs to take swift
action because it faces a larger deficit than originally projected at $68 billion, in addition to nearly $70 billion in public debt the governor has said is unpayable and needs restructuring. “Puerto Rico’s fiscal and economic problems are severe and could have dire consequences to its people and society if left unattended,” the board said. Board members said the new projected deficit is $10 billion larger than the one included in a proposed fiscal plan that has become a point of contention
between the board and Puerto Rico’s governor. The board last month rejected the plan submitted by Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla, who has refused to revise the plan to include any austerity measures. In a 10-page letter sent to Garcia, the board said Puerto Rico should privatize certain government assets, implement labor, energy and tax reforms, seek public-private partnerships and cut non-essential services, among other things. — Compiled from AP reports
AROUND TEXAS Texas officially kicking Planned Parenthood out of Medicaid AUSTIN — After more than a year of delays, Texas is officially kicking Planned Parenthood out of the state’s Medicaid program. In a move that could affect thousands of low-income women, state health officials on Tuesday delivered a final legal notice to defund the organization from the Medicaid program through which it provides family planning and women’s health services to the poor. Planned Parenthood had previously received $3.1 million in Medicaid funding, but those dollars will be nixed in 30 days, according to the notice which was obtained by The Texas Tribune. That cut-off day will only be delayed if the organization appeals the state’s decision in
Eric Gay / AP file
Alyssa Travino, center, wears a birth control pill box costume during a Planned Parenthood rally at the Texas Capitol.
the next 15 days by requesting an administrative hearing with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. But Planned Parenthood officials say they will instead turn to the courts to block the cuts. The battle over the funding Planned Parenthood received for those health services — which are separate from its
abortion services that receive no public funds — began in October 2015 when Gov. Greg Abbott and state health officials first moved to cut off Medicaid dollars, about 90 percent of which comes from the federal government, to the organization’s Texas affiliates. — Compiled from AP reports
AROUND THE NATION Uncertainty on eve of ‘bathroom bill’ debate RALEIGH, N.C. — Legislators who passed the North Carolina law known as the “bathroom bill” nine months ago head back to the capital on Wednesday to consider repealing it. But there’s uncertainty over exactly what lawmakers will do, in part because this Republican-controlled legislature has shown a willing-
ness to go its own way, despite intense outside pressure to scrap the law. Over the past year, there has been bitter fighting between Democrats and Republicans. Just last week, Republican leaders convened a surprise legislative session and passed two laws designed to bring Democratic Gov.-elect Roy Cooper’s powers in check when he becomes governor Jan. 1. Cooper blasted outgoing Republican Gov. Pat McCrory over the law known as House
On this date: In 1620, Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower went ashore for the first time at present-day Plymouth, Massachusetts. In 1864, during the Civil War, Union forces led by Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman concluded their “March to the Sea” as they captured Savannah, Georgia. In 1879, the Henrik Ibsen play “A Doll’s House” premiered at the Royal Theater in Copenhagen. In 1937, Walt Disney’s first animated feature, “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” had its world premiere in Los Angeles. In 1940, author F. Scott Fitzgerald died in Hollywood, California, at age 44. In 1945, U.S. Army Gen. George S. Patton, 60, died in Heidelberg, Germany, 12 days after being seriously injured in a car accident. In 1958, Charles de Gaulle was elected to a seven-year term as the first president of the Fifth Republic of France. In 1968, Apollo 8 was launched on a mission to orbit the moon. In 1971, the U.N. Security Council chose Kurt Waldheim to succeed U Thant as Secretary-General. In 1976, the Liberian-registered tanker Argo Merchant broke apart near Nantucket Island, off Massachusetts, almost a week after running aground, spilling 7.5 million gallons of oil into the North Atlantic. In 1988, 270 people were killed when a terrorist bomb exploded aboard a Pam Am Boeing 747 over Lockerbie, Scotland, sending wreckage crashing to the ground. In 1991, eleven of the 12 former Soviet republics proclaimed the birth of the Commonwealth of Independent States and the death of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Ten years ago: Final results showed opponents of Iran’s ultra-conservative president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, winning nationwide elections for local councils. Five years ago: The U.S. Army announced charges against eight soldiers related to the death of a fellow GI, Pvt. Daniel Chen, who apparently shot himself in Afghanistan after being hazed. (Of the eight, five received prison sentences and two received demotions; four of the eight faced dismissal from the service.) One year ago: The nation’s threedecade-old ban on blood donations from gay and bisexual men was formally lifted, but major restrictions continued to limit who could give blood in the U.S. Today’s Birthdays: Country singer Freddie Hart is 90. Talk show host Phil Donahue is 81. Movie director John Avildsen is 81. Actress Jane Fonda is 79. Actor Larry Bryggman is 78. Singer Carla Thomas is 74. Musician Albert Lee is 73. Conductor Michael Tilson Thomas is 72. Actor Josh Mostel is 70. Actor Samuel L. Jackson is 68. Movie producer Jeffrey Katzenberg is 66. Actor Dennis Boutsikaris is 64. Singer Betty Wright is 63. International Tennis Hall-of-Famer Chris Evert is 62. Actress Jane Kaczmarek is 61. Country singer Lee Roy Parnell is 60. Entertainer Jim Rose is 60. Former child actress Lisa Gerritsen is 59. Actorcomedian Ray Romano is 59. Country singer Christy Forester (The Forester Sisters) is 54. Rock musician Murph (The Lemonheads; Dinosaur Jr.) is 52. Actor-comedian Andy Dick is 51. Rock musician Gabrielle Glaser is 51. Actress Michelle Hurd is 50. Actor Kiefer Sutherland is 50. Actress Karri Turner is 50. Actress Khrystyne Haje is 48. Country singer Brad Warren (The Warren Brothers) is 48. Actress Julie Delpy is 47. Contemporary Christian singer Natalie Grant is 45. Actor Glenn Fitzgerald is 45. Singer-musician Brett Scallions is 45. World Golf Hall of Famer Karrie Webb is 42. Rock singer Lukas Rossi (Rock Star Supernova) is 40. Actress Rutina Wesley is 38. Rock musician Anna Bulbrook (Airborne Toxic Event) is 34. Country singer Luke Stricklin is 34. Actor Steven Yeun is 33. Thought for Today: “Many human beings say that they enjoy the winter, but what they really enjoy is feeling proof against it.” — Richard Adams, English author.
CONTACT US Bill 2 during the governor’s race, and the fallout over the law — job losses, canceled concerts and sporting events — contributed to McCrory’s narrow defeat. The wide-ranging law is best known for requiring transgender people to use restrooms corresponding to the sex on their birth certificate in many public buildings. The state’s Republican leaders say they’ve been willing for months to consider repealing the state law. — Compiled from AP reports
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THE ZAPATA TIMES | Wednesday, December 21, 2016 |
LOCAL & STATE
Newsweek reporter seeks ID of Twitter user after seizure By Claudia Lauer ASSOCIATED PRE SS
Courtesy photo
Dec. 15 marked the second-year anniversary for the Primary Care Clinic at Border Region Behavioral Health Center, which serves Zapata County.
Primary Care Clinic celebrates two years S P ECIAL T O T HE T I ME S
Dec. 15 marked the second-year anniversary for the Primary Care Clinic at Border Region Behavioral Health Center. The clinic has been a great asset for the local mental health authority, a news release from the
center states. Services are available in all four counties which encompass Webb County, Jim Hogg County, Starr County and Zapata County. The Primary Care Clinic has given clients access to services to engage in their medical
A3
needs. Now clients are able to integrate both their behavioral and medical needs all in one visit. At this time, the community center says it is looking forward to expanding the clinic and to what the future will bring.
DALLAS — A Newsweek reporter who has epilepsy said he had a seizure after being sent a message on Twitter intended to trigger such an episode and is seeking information from the social media company to identify the person responsible for the tweet. The image in question — which included a strobe effect and the words, “You deserve a seizure for your posts” — was apparently sent in response to Kurt Eichenwald’s outspoken criticism of President-elect Donald Trump. Eichenwald, who has a home in Texas, said in court documents that the image triggered a seizure. Eichenwald posted a signed copy of a Dallas County District Court order to Twitter on Tuesday that allows him to depose Twitter executives and orders the company to preserve any informa-
tion or documents regarding the person who sent the image. Eichenwald wrote that “Twitter agreed to an expedited order.” A Twitter representative said via email that the company does not comment on individual accounts or investigations. Guidelines for law enforcement listed on the company’s website include a requirement for a court order or subpoena before it releases user information. That deposition request, filed Monday, says Twitter suspended the account of @jew—goldstein “upon learning of the assault.” The sender had identified him or herself with the alias Ari Goldstein. The sender “succeeded in his effort to use Twitter as a means of committing assault, causing Petitioner to have a seizure which led to personal injury,” Eichenwald’s attorneys wrote. Eichenwald’s attorney
didn’t immediately return a message seeking comment Tuesday. Eichenwald did not immediately return an email seeking comment. Eichenwald told ABC’s “Good Morning America” that he has received numerous copycat strobe messages from “people who identify themselves as Trump supporters” and that he is reporting each of them to Twitter to ask that their accounts be suspended. “It is amazing to me that simply because I am a political reporter, simply because I write about Donald Trump that we have become so sick and twisted in this country that people think they have the right and obligation to inflict potentially very serious injury,” he said. Mark Bennett, a Houston criminal defense and free speech attorney, said he believes a lawsuit alleging physical harm from a tweet would be “novel.”
Q&A on Corpus Christi’s water crisis, chemical leak A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
eased as officials excluded outlying areas from being at risk.
HOUSTON — A week after a chemical leak at an asphalt plant in Corpus Christi triggered a fourday water ban, the Texas attorney general’s office has joined an investigation by state and federal environmental authorities and key questions remain unanswered. The ban was imposed the night of Dec. 14 out of concern that hydrochloric acid and Indulin AA-86, a corrosive asphalt-emulsifying agent, may have entered the water system. The ban was gradually
Q: Was the water supply of Gulf Coast city of 320,000 residents contaminated? Was anyone sickened? All of more than 100 water samples taken across the city and tested by the EPA for Indulin turned up negative so there is no evidence so far of contamination. The EPA and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality said Tuesday that included samples taken where 12 people reported illnesses possibly related
By Frank Bajak
system and damage internal organs, the manufacturer says. The attorney general will decide whether to pursue legal action against the polluter, said TCEQ spokesman Terry Clawson. Several lawsuits have been filed and the mayor, Dan McQueen, has pledged to recover as-yet unspecified damages. Gabe Hernandez / Corpus Christi Caller-Times/AP
Leeroy Luna moves cases of water to Magee Elementary School, Dec. 15, in Corpus Christi.
to tainted water. Their symptoms could not immediately be determined.
Contact with the chemical concentrate can blister skin and the respiratory
Q: How much of the chemical leaked, over what time period, who was responsible and when was the city notified? Employees of the oil
refiner Valero Energy Corp. at an asphalt plant leased to Ergon Asphalt and Emulsions, Inc. first noticed rusty brown water coming from a faucet in the administration building on Nov. 23, Valero said in a timeline released Saturday. Valero said its employees noticed “milky, sudsy water” at the faucet on Dec. 7 and notified the city and municipal workers flushed the water line. A day later, Valero said, Ergon officials were alerted and asked if their operations were the source of the tainted water.
Zopinion A4 | Wednesday, December 21, 2016 | THE ZAPATA TIMES
COLUMN
OTHER VIEWS
Trump’s stance regarding Russia cause for concern By Carl P. Leubsdorf TH E DA L LAS MORNING NEWS
Explanations for Donald Trump’s election victory have proliferated almost as much in recent weeks as the presidentelect’s tweets. It’s an insoluble debate, deciding which factor was most crucial: Trump’s promise of sweeping change; Hillary Clinton’s weakness as a candidate, her email server or her campaign’s blue state political malpractice; the mistaken intrusions of FBI Chief James Comey; damage from Bernie Sanders’ exaggerated primary criticisms; or apparent Russian efforts to help Trump. The likeliest answer is that all contributed to the unexpected outcome, which hinged on Trump’s victory in three Rust Belt states by less than 80,000 votes. In any case, the election’s unfortunate fallout is becoming increasingly evident, such as Trump’s decision to install domestic Cabinet chiefs who support policies that would weaken federal protections for many Americans. Even more serious perhaps is the growing evidence Trump would abandon 70 years of U.S.led Western firmness against Soviet and Russian expansionism by seeking friendlier relations with President Vladimir Putin, whose aggressive policies represent one of the greatest threats to European stability. From picking top aides with long-standing ties to the autocratic Russian leader to dismissing the increasing evidence Putin’s agents sought to manipulate the 2016 U.S. election, Trump is pushing ahead with his unproven belief that a friendlier approach will somehow benefit the United States. (It may benefit business interests whose pro-Trump lobbyists are already at work in Moscow.) Unlike the sharply conservative tone of the heretofore politically androgynous Trump’s domestic appointments, his pro-Putin thrust should come as no surprise. Throughout the campaign, Trump made it clear he favors closer ties with Russia, and he mocked suggestions it sought to influence the outcome. He called Putin “a better leader” than Barack Obama. He gave misleading answers about their relationship, at one point telling George Stephanopoulos on ABC’s “This Week,” “I’ve no relation-
ship with Putin. I’ve never met him.” But in a 2014 Fox News interview, he said, “When I went to Russia with the Miss Universe pageant, he contacted me and was so nice.” Trump said he had no financial dealings with Russia other than running the 2008 Miss Universe pageant there. But the website eturbonews.com quoted Donald Trump Jr. telling a 2008 real estate conference: “Russians make up a pretty disproportionate cross-section of a lot of our assets. We see a lot of money pouring in from Russia.” In a detailed article, Josh Marshall of Talking Points Memo suggested Trump is “highly reliant on money from Russia” to finance his debts - something that could be checked if Trump followed past practice and released his tax returns. Whether Trump was motivated by his finances or wishful thinking, there was little doubt before intelligence agencies confirmed Russian efforts that Putin favored Trump’s election. His antagonism toward Clinton seems to stem mainly from her December 2011 statement expressing “serious concern” about the fairness of Russian parliamentary elections and calling for a “full investigation” of irregularities. In other words, Putin objected to the fact that, as secretary of state, Clinton properly decried his increasingly anti-democratic tendencies, a stance the United States has traditionally taken around the world. Now, Russian leaders reportedly are delighted with Trump’s election, believing the United States will be more interested in financial dealing than in opposing Russian expansionism and autocracy. Still, whatever Putin’s motives, it’s far worse that he tried actively to interfere in our election, probably to help elect Trump. That’s why leading Republicans such as Sens. John McCain and Lindsey Graham joined top Democrats in bipartisan calls to investigate. Even some lawmakers who don’t acknowledge Putin sought to help Trump understand his ultimate goal is to destabilize the Western alliance that has kept European peace since World War II and remains a vital barrier to renewed Russian expansionism. Trump may face considerable resistance if he tries to ease economic sanctions on Russia.
OP-ED
Feeling like a Grinch? Remember Seuss’ message By Mark A. Noon THE PHIL ADEL PHIA INQUIRER
Christmas can wear you out, and the stress and frayed nerves make you wonder why you go through the pretense of it all. Don’t despair, though. That yuletide soulsearching can inspire — to quote one of the mostloved holiday stories — a “wonderful, awful idea.” One morning on the day after Christmas, Theodor (aka: Dr. Seuss) Geisel, the author of “The Cat in the Hat,” “Green Eggs and Ham” and a host of other children’s classics, felt disheartened, convinced he had lost the meaning of the holiday. Geisel realized that his gloomy mood mirrored the attitude of a disagreeable creature he created a few years earlier — the Grinch. Thus, an idea for another book was born, one that could help him rediscover the truth about Christmas. His work on “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” would not be complete until he joined forces with animator Chuck Jones, famous for his Looney Tunes shorts, and the celebrated horror actor Boris Karloff. When “The Grinch” made its television debut on Dec. 18, 1966, it became so popular that a new word was added to the holiday lexicon. Even after a half-century, “The Grinch” has few detractors, even when considered in a cultural context. Take, for example, the annual “war on Christmas” debates, epitomized by arguments over wishing someone a “Merry Christmas” vs. “Happy Holidays.” In the
perceived divide over religious and secular holiday celebrations, “The Grinch” has a unique ability to satisfy both camps. “The Grinch” is often described as secular. The program never mentions the birth of Jesus. In fact, a direct reference to Scripture would have been out of place among the peculiar, insect-like residents of Whoville and their Tah Tinkers, Floo Floobers, Bizzel Binks and Dafflers. Geisel even commented that he had a hard time finding the right note to end his Christmas tale because he did not want to make it a “religious tract.” Concluding that “The Grinch” is theologically silent, however, is a mistake. Anyone willing to risk falling into the trap of overanalyzing Dr. Seuss’ books might begin by noting that they have often been used to teach Christian doctrine, even though Geisel did not consider himself a highly religious person. Still, he was steeped in Christianity while growing up in Springfield, Mass. Geisel not only attended his mother’s Episcopal church but his father’s Lutheran congregation. His earliest experiences of Christmas came when he joined the other members of the town’s German-American community to sing “Stille Nacht” and “O Tannenbaum.” Later, at Dartmouth and Oxford, he participated in chapel services. He was drawn to church in part by hymns and their use of rhyme and repetition. One particular hymn seems significant. He memorized “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord
God Almighty,” including the final lines, “God in Three Persons, blessed Trinity.” Perhaps Geisel recalled the song’s numerical reference when he depicted the Grinch’s conversion in the book: “And he puzzled three hours, till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before “Maybe Christmas,” he thought, “doesn’t come from a store.” The importance of three hours in the New Testament goes without saying. Two pages later, the Grinch’s heart grows “three sizes” as Christmas’ true meaning dawned on him, a point magnified — literally — in the animated cartoon. Geisel was reportedly a perfectionist who selected words with extreme care. If he sought to give his readers and viewers a concise, subtle reminder of the spiritual nature of Christmas — that God became flesh and dwelt among men — he called up the right number. In the Bible, three represents the presence of God. Christian imagery is used to the same effect in the cartoon. As the Whos sing “Welcome Christmas” in the cartoon’s climactic scene, they form a circle around a rising star — a clear reminder of the Star of Bethlehem in the Nativity narrative. Ultimately, Christmas morning in Whoville provides a lesson for everyone, whether the holiday is approached from a religious perspective, a secular one, or, most likely, a combination of both. All the Whos have faith and know in
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letter. Laredo Morning Times does not allow the use of pseudonyms. This space allows for public debate of the issues of the day. Letters are edited for style, grammar, length and civility. No name-calling or gratuitous abuse is allowed. Also, letters longer than 500 words will not be accepted. Via email, send letters to editorial@lmtonline.com or mail them to Letters to the Editor, 111 Esperanza Drive, Laredo, TX 78041.
CLASSIC DOONESBURY | GARRY TRUDEAU
their hearts that they have something that can never be stolen. And Geisel seems to emphasize their diversity — young, old, tall and small. No one is kept away from the celebration. Even the green guy whose burglary spree left the Whos’ houses with nothing but hooks and wire is welcomed. As the Grinch ends his descent down Mount Crumpit, the Whos open their circle unconditionally. There is no protest over what he had done. No retribution. No questions asked. This holiday season could be happier if more people imitated this capacity for forgiveness. This sense of harmony could be what Geisel was missing on the morning he first imagined “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” He certainly longed for it. One of his earliest commentaries on Christmas was an illustrated poem published in Collier’s Magazine on Dec. 23, 1955. “A Prayer for a Child” describes a child’s Christmas wish to God: “Please tell all men That Peace is good. That’s all That need be understood.” As a year highlighted by division starts to close and we deal with the stresses of the Christmas rush, look for those moments of peace. It’s what the Grinch found as he carved the roast beast. And, no, Dr. Seuss would not mind — not in the least. Mark A. Noon is an assistant professor of English at Bloomsburg University in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania.
THE ZAPATA TIMES | Wednesday, December 21, 2016 |
A5
ENTERTAINMENT
Van Dyke will appear in ‘Mary Poppins’ sequel By Erin McCann N EW YORK T I ME S
Dick Van Dyke says he will appear in “Mary Poppins Returns,” a sequel to the 1964 film in which he co-starred with Julie Andrews, as part of a high-powered cast that includes Emily Blunt and Lin-Manuel Miranda. The new musical, directed by Rob Marshall, is scheduled to be released on Christmas Day 2018. Blunt will play Mary Poppins, a role that Andrews portrayed in the first film. “This one supposedly takes place 20 years later, and the kids are all grown up,” Van Dyke told The Hollywood Reporter. “It’s a great cast: Meryl Streep, Angela Lansbury and that guy from ‘Hamilton,’” a reference to Miranda, who
will play a lamplighter named Jack, according to media reports. Van Dyke, 91, will not revisit his character, Bert, the chimney sweep with a cockneyish accent who joined Poppins, a magical nanny who flew under the power of her umbrella, and her two young charges on a romp through Edwardian London. Instead, he told “Entertainment Tonight,” he will portray the son of a greedy banker who employed the childrens’ father. (Van Dyke, under heavy makeup, also played the elderly banker, as well.) “Well, I’ve got to be a part of it,” he said, adding that he would travel to London next spring to film the movie. “I think I’ll just have the one scene, and a little song
John Salangsang / AP file
In this April 24 file photo, Dick Van Dyke attends the 29th Annual Gypsy Awards luncheon.
and dance in it.” “Mary Poppins Returns,” which is mining the book series by P.L. Travers for plot inspiration, has drawn criticism from some fans of the original film. But An-
Bob Barker, a pioneer of videotape, marks its 60th year By Frazier Moore A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
NEW YORK — The problem for Bob Barker wasn’t getting up early every day for his new TV gig. On the morning of Dec. 31, 1956, he had bowed as host of NBC’s weekday game show, “Truth or Consequences.” And he was thrilled. But here was the hitch: Viewers in the Eastern U.S. tuned in for his show at 11:30 a.m. It aired live — which meant each zany, stunts-filled 30-minute telecast had to originate from its studio in Hollywood at what, for Barker and his fellow Californians, was a not-so-chipper three hours earlier than that. “I liked live television,” says Barker. What he didn’t like was trying to rouse sleepy-eyed contestants who were still digesting breakfast. “Can YOU imagine doing an audience-participation show at 8:30 in the morning?” Barker, 93, laughs, speaking by phone from his home just a few blocks from the theater that, 60 years ago, summoned early passersby with the lure of free coffee and seeing a TV host in the flesh. (After a couple of weeks, Barker recalls, he persuaded his bosses to give him billing above “FREE COFFEE” on the marquee, which, he jokes, “was my first step to stardom.”) Then a high-tech breakthrough came to his aid. The 33-year-old Barker, launching what would be a half-century run as a beloved star first on “Truth,” and through 2007 as host of “The Price Is Right,” would notch a huge TV milestone after only three weeks: On Jan. 22, 1957, “Truth or Consequences,” with Barker presiding, became the first program to be prerecorded on videotape for subsequent airing in all time zones. As of that show, each “Truth” half-hour not only could be produced a day or more before its intended airdate, but, more importantly to Barker, could be staged at a more agreeable hour of the day. “We all rejoiced,” says Barker. “The bigger the studio audience and the wider-awake it was, the better for me!” “No longer will Hollywood tourists be importuned to face a custard pie routine at 8:30 a.m.,” echoed The New York Times in explaining how Barker’s show would introduce a prototype of Ampex’s amazing new quadruplex videotape machine. This year, the television industry is observ-
NBC / AP
This 1958 photo shows Bob Barker, host of the game show “Truth or Consequences.” On January 22, 1957, the game show “Truth or Consequences,” became the first program prerecorded on videotape for subsequent airing in all time zones.
ing the 60th anniversary of that radical breakthrough, which spared television shows from either going live, with resulting inconvenience and potential screw-ups, or resorting to a fuzzy kinescope (a film copy of a broadcast captured directly off the TV screen) if re-airings were required. That first Ampex machine had the bulk of an industrial kitchen range, cost upward of $45,000 (about $200,000 in 2016 dollars) and recorded only in monochrome. Since it was incapable of electronic editing, it required laboriously cutting and splicing the tape. The wear-and-tear of four magnetic spinning heads raking the tape’s emulsion at 3,600 rotations per minute meant a reel of the expensive two-inchwide tape could only be used about 40 times before it was worn out (“al-
tho 100 reuses is the ultimate goal,” a 1957 article in The Chicago Daily Tribune reported hopefully). But beside the godsend of instant playback (by contrast, kinescopes had to be developed at a lab like any other film), a TV show preserved on videotape looked as good replayed as it would have looked aired live. “The sense of presence is extraordinary,” marveled the July 1957 edition of Television magazine. “It is difficult to believe that what you are seeing is not actually taking place then and there.” At the time no one could have foreseen how, a few decades hence, videotape would have supplanted most live broadcasts, or that, by then being far more affordable and user-friendly, it would gain a role with viewers for their own home recorders.
drews, 81, who won an Academy Award for her acting in the 1964 movie, has reportedly given her blessing to the sequel. Appearing in “Mary Poppins Returns” is, perhaps, a chance for
Van Dyke to atone for the sins of his much-maligned accent in the original, the sound of which is something quite atrocious, many Britons have noted. He has for years faced criticism for the dialect, which isn’t quite English and isn’t quite American. “Someone should have told me I needed to work on my cockney accent,” he told The Guardian last week. “Nearly everyone in the ‘Mary Poppins’ cast was a Brit, but no one said anything.” He added: “Years later, I asked Julie [Andrews]: “Why didn’t you tell me?” She said it was because I was working so hard.” For his role, Miranda has promised to deliver an accent even less accurate than the one that Van Dyke offered.
“I intend to represent a corner of London with my accent that has not yet been invented,” he was quoted as saying in an interview with USA Today last month. “I’m going to have the worst accent in the history of English accents — I’m going to sound like I’m from another planet.” Van Dyke’s interview with The Hollywood Reporter was part of a feature called “Creative Until You Die,” focusing on the careers of actors who are working into their 90s and beyond. Asked if he would ever retire, Van Dyke, who has appeared in the “Night at the Museum” films over the past decade and continues to perform with a barbershop quartet, said absolutely not: “No, I think it’s the worst thing you can do.”
Zfrontera A6 | Wednesday, December 21, 2016 | THE ZAPATA TIMES
RIBEREÑA EN BREVE SANTA CLAUS EN ROMA, TEXAS 1 Santa Claus estará de visita en Roma el jueves 22 de diciembre a partir de las 4 p.m. en la Plaza Histórica de Roma frente a la Iglesia Católica. PISTA DE PATINAJE 1 Diversión en patines sobre hielo. Todos los días hasta el viernes 23 de diciembre en Laredo Energy Arena. Todos los días hata el 23 de diciembre desde las 4 p.m. a 9 p.m. Renta de patines 8 dólares y 5 dólares llevando los propios patines. Sesiones de patinaje son de 45 minutos. Boletos en venta en las taquillas de LEA, 6700 Arena Boulevard. Mayores informes al 956-791-9192. PAGO DE IMPUESTOS 1 A partir del 7 de diciembre, los pagos por impuestos a la propiedad de la Ciudad de Roma deberán realizarse en la oficina de impuestos del Distrito Escolar de Roma, localizado en el 608 N. García St. CURSOS DE LENGUAJE DE SIGNOS (ASL) 1 El Departamento de Educación Especial local está ofreciendo clases de Lenguaje Americano de Signos para el personal profesional y paraprofesional así como para padres, estudiantes o administradores del distrito Zapata County Independent School District, todos los jueves desde el 20 de octubre al 15 de diciembre (ocho semanas de duración). En el horario de 4:15 p.m. a 5:15 p.m. en el laboratorio de computadoras de la escuela primaria Zapata North Elementary School. Mayores informes al 956-285-6877 o a la Oficina de Educación Especial al 956-756-6130 antes del 13 de octubre. MUSEO EN ZAPATA 1 A los interesados en realizar una investigación sobre genealogía de la región, se sugiere visitar el Museo del Condado de Zapata ubicado en 805 N US-Hwy 83. Opera de 10 a.m. a 4 p.m. Existen visitas guiadas. Personal está capacitado y puede orientar acerca de la historia del Sur de Texas y sus fundadores. Pida informes en el 956-765-8983. LABORATORIO COMPUTACIONAL 1 La Ciudad de Roma pone a disposición de la comunidad Laboratorio Computacional de lunes a viernes en horario de 1 p.m. a 5 p.m. en Historical Plaza. Informes en el 956-849-1411. VACACIONES EN LA BIBLIOTECA PÚBLICA DE LAREDO 1 Películas navideñas a las 10:30 a.m. y manualidades navideñas a las 2:30 p.m. La biblioteca esta localizada en 1120 E. Calton Rd. Informes al 7952400. Todos los martes, miércoles, jueves y viernes hasta el 30 de diciembre de 2016.
FRONTERA
PROYECTO DE LEY H.R. 5591
Alertan sobre posible Oficina postal cambia crisis migratoria Miles de inmigrantes llegarían a frontera E SPECIAL PARA TIEMP O DE ZAPATA
Una ola de inmigración en Centroamérica pronto tendrá impacto en la frontera de Estados Unidos, de acuerdo con un comunicado de la Oficina del Congresista Henry Cuellar. Se estima que 40.000 inmigrantes de Haití, Asia y el Medio Oriente llegarán a la frontera en los próximos meses, según Román Macaya, embajador de Costa Rica en Estados Unidos. “Si la crisis cubana del año pasado ha demostrado, pronto encontrarán su camino a nuestra frontera, poniendo un énfasis adicional en nuestros recursos humanitarios ya muy escasos; esto no incluye el trabajo adicional a nuestros jueces de inmigración que están trabajando con un
retraso de más de medio millón de casos de inmigración”, dijo Cuellar. Cuellar Los migrantes ingresarán a Costa Rica a través de su frontera con Panamá el próximo año. A continuación, intentarán llegar hasta la frontera entre los Estados Unidos y México. Actualmente, los inmigrantes en Costa Rica están bloqueados de moverse hacia el norte por el ejército nicaragüense. “Continúo pidiendo al Departamento de Estado y a mis colegas en el Congreso que dejen de jugar la defensa en nuestra línea de meta en la frontera y busquen maneras en que podemos
ayudar a nuestros vecinos de América Central y del Sur a tratar de detener esta ola de migración ilegal. El año pasado, brindamos 750 millones de dólares en ayuda para Centroamérica. Sin embargo, estaba atado con tantos requisitos de certificación que poco de ese dinero realmente se ha ejecutado en este momento. Tengo la esperanza de que ese dinero estará obligado en los próximos días. Además, estoy trabajando con mis colegas para proveer a nuestro sistema de justicia un acuerdo elaborado en la Ley de Apropiaciones de la Casa FY17 para proveer 25 jueces adicionales. Seguiré trabajando con mis colegas para encontrar soluciones para hacer cambios en estos procesos en la frontera”, finalizó Cuellar.
de nombre E SPECIAL PARA TIEMP O DE ZAPATA
El congresista Henry Cuellar anunció ayer que el presidente firmó el proyecto de ley H.R. 5591. Cuéllar inició el proyecto para cambiar el nombre de la oficina postal localizada en la cuadra 810 de North U.S. Highway 83 en Zapata a “Oficina Postal de los Veteranos de Zapata”. Previamente el proyecto había pasado ambas cámaras del Congreso. “En Zapata y a través de mi distrito, hay muchos ejemplos de grandes hombres y mujeres que han servido a nuestro país con honor, esa es la razón por la que inicié esta legislación para honrar como han defendido nuestro país”, dijo Cuéllar. De acuerdo con la Oficina de Censo de los Estados Unidos, aproximadamente 503 veteranos viven en Zapata. Cuéllar mencionó que los
actos realizados por los veteranos de Zapata demuestran lo que significa ser estadounidense. “Veteranos alrededor de la nación, como los hermanos Treviño, comparten un amor grandioso por este país, esa la razón por la que estoy reconociendo a nuestros veteranos con la dedicación de esta oficina postal. También agradezco a la Oficina de Servicios de Veteranos en el Condado de Zapata, una de las muchas organizaciones que trabaja arduamente para brindar cuidados esenciales a aquellos que han regresado a casa, a mis colegas en la Cámara de Representates y a los Senadores John Cornyn y Ted Cruz por su apoyo en este proyecto”, dijo Cuéllar. Se espera que proximamente sea llevada una conferencia de prensa en Zapata.
ZCISD
ENTREGAN DONACIÓN
Foto de cortesía | ZCISD
Estudiantes del distrito escolar de Zapata recibieron una donación de parte de ex-alumnos de la generación 1995.
COLUMNA
Mosquito, fuente de epidemias e inspiración Por Raúl Sinencio E SPECIAL PARA TIEMP O DE ZAPATA
Aun diminutos, enferman e irritan. Basta uno solo para sacarnos de quicio. Imposible transigir con ellos. Hablamos de los zancudos, cínifes o mosquitos, que vuelan en verdaderos escuadrones, inspiradores también de versos ingeniosos y sarcásticos. Víctimas La fiebre amarilla afectaba de manera recurrente zonas costeras. Se extiende incluso a poblaciones interiores el vómito prieto, así llamado durante la centuria decimonónica. Nadie sabe qué lo causa y propicia gran mortandad de personas, cualquiera que sea la clase social. Tamaulipas posee extensos litorales. Hay kiló-
metros y kilómetros de playa hacia el oriente extremo. Por ello padece el temible mal con frecuencia. Fundada el 3 de septiembre de 1750, Soto la Marina registra drástico ataque. Muchos decesos produce y la villa termina reubicándose en 1810 sobre terrenos altos y menos próximos al Golfo de México. Sin embargo, los embates continúan en la entidad, acumulándose saldos lamentables. Bastante tierra adentro, al correr del siglo XIX ni Ciudad Victoria consigue salvarse. Diversos municipios resienten lo propio. Uno de tantos repuntes prospera en cierta temporada de lluvias. “El vómito prieto que en poco más de dos meses que hace está reinando en esta ciudad [y puerto a orillas del río Pánuco] ha sacrificado cerca de seiscientas vícti-
mas”, aunque “principia a disminuir en sus estragos”, reporta “ El Boletín” de Tampico el 5 de octubre de 1843. Protagonista Reina la epidemia y por casualidad dicho tabloide reproduce jocosas líneas a “un cínife chillón y zanquilargo, / eternos huésped de la alcoba mía, / que se ha tomado el oficioso encargo / de perturbarme el sueño noche y día”. En dos entregas, insertas el 20 y 24 de agosto del referido año, la composición añade: “No doy cuartel al músico sutil; / le siento, tiro un golpe, escurre el bulto, / y doy al aire manotazos mil / Y cuando el filarmónico volante / parecía cansarse de chillar, / me vino a visitar el sol radiante, / y el gato negro comenzó a maullar”.
“El Boletín ” omite quién compone el poema. Titulado “A un mosquito”. Pero en 1842 Modesto Lafuente escribe “Los viajes de fray Gerundio” A propósito del sufrido protagonista humano, justo ahí leemos: “Mosquito de Barrabás, / ¿Quién a mi alcoba te envió? / Dámelo con Satanás / y no gerundies [sic] más, / que soy fray Gerundio yo”. Trasmisores Resulta paradójico que coincida el flagelo de 1843 con la publicación tamaulipeca de estas rimas, todavía frescas. En resumen, al “filarmónico volante” le reprocha fray Gerundio malograrle los favores de Morfeo: “¡Dormir! ¡Ay, ojalá! Comienzo apenas / el deseado sueño a conciliar, / y el cínife inoportuno ¡oh crudas penas! / viene a mis orejas a zumbar”.
Como sus lectores, fray Gerundio ignora lo que acarrean las picaduras del insecto. Del brote de 1843 en Tamaulipas se ocupa el doctor Carlos Heinemann. Sin atinarle, concluye: “No cabe la más mínima duda que la enfermedad fue importada por” tropas provenientes del puerto de Veracruz, para guarnecer la bocana del Pánuco. Tocayo y colega de Heinemann, tiempo después Carlos Finlay por fin descubre a los trasmisores de la fiebre amarilla. Modesto Lafuente algo parecía intuir. Remata el hispano: “Mosquito de Barrabás, / ¿Quién a mi alcoba te echó? / ¿Cuándo en paz me dejarás? / Ya no puedo sufrir más: / O callas tú o muero yo”. Con autorización del autor según se publicó en el blog Puras Historias
Sports&Outdoors THE ZAPATA TIMES | Wednesday, December 21, 2016 |
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE: DALLAS COWBOYS
A7
NCAA FOOTBALL: TEXAS A&M AGGIES
Prescott, Cowboys back on track after win over Bucs Prescott dominates Tampa Bay By Schuyler Dixon A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
FRISCO, Texas — Dak Prescott had no interest in joining fellow rookie Ezekiel Elliott for the Salvation Army kettle jump. The Dallas quarterback is a little more low-key, happy to let his most accurate game as Cowboys quarterback do the talking coming off his worst game as a pro. And now Prescott puts his focus on an NFC East title and the top seed in the conference after once again quieting talk about backup Tony Romo. “I think he’s shown that he can do what you hope that a quarterback can do, and that’s come back from when he didn’t play as well as he wanted to play,” owner and general manager Jerry Jones said after Sunday’s 26-20 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. “And I think that ought to show you that he’s sure not worried about anything that’s being said about him. He’s going to go to work and go to town, and we can quit worrying about that kind of stuff.” Not that he was worried, but Elliott won’t get fined by the NFL for jumping into one of the red kettles beyond the end zone after a short touchdown run.
Ron Jenkins / Associated Press
Dak Prescott was 32 of 36 for 279 yards and ran for a touchdown Sunday in the Cowboys’ 26-20 win over Tampa Bay.
The league’s leading rusher, who was expecting a fine, said on Twitter that he still planned to give money to the Salvation Army, which had a 61 percent increase in donations in the hours after Elliott’s creative celebration. The made-for-TV moment overshadowed Prescott’s 32-of-36 showing, and his 11th game without an interception against a defense that a week earlier picked off New Orleans’ Drew Brees three times. “I don’t really pay attention to the noise,” said Prescott , who had 279 yards passing. “I couldn’t tell you much that was said all week. That’s the only thing in my mind, to respond to last week’s performance. ‘He said, she said,’ doesn’t affect me.” Elliott also overshadowed a Dallas defense that
held Tampa Bay to one first down in five possessions in the fourth quarter, when Dallas rallied with three of Dan Bailey’s four field goals. The Cowboys kept a two-game cushion over New York in the division a week after the Giants ended their 11-game winning streak. Instead of being just one game up on the team that swept them in the regular season, the Cowboys (12-2) are a win or a New York loss or tie from their second division title in three years and their first No. 1 seed since 2007, when Romo led them to a 13-3 record. Dallas finishes the regular season with a Monday night home game against Detroit and a visit to fading Philadelphia. Then it’s on to the play-
offs for Prescott, who is set to become the first rookie quarterback to start in the postseason for Dallas. “He’s someone who’s handled every situation he’s come across since he’s been with us very, very well,” coach Jason Garrett said. “He’s handled success really well, he’s handled adversity. Adversities within games, adversities from week to week. He’s just the same guy.” Elliott wasn’t really worried about his road roommate after Prescott completed less than 50 percent of his passes and looked generally uncomfortable in a 10-7 loss to the Giants, the only team to beat Dallas this season. While Prescott didn’t have a touchdown pass, one of his best throws against the Bucs came on the run when he hit Brice Butler in stride on the sideline at the 2. It set up Prescott’s sixth rushing touchdown of the season, breaking Don Meredith’s 50-year-old franchise record. “That’s the type of athlete he is,” said Elliott, who has 1,551 yards rushing. “That’s the type of competitor he is.” NOTES: DE Randy Gregory is eligible to practice and play this week after serving a 14-game suspension for violating the NFL’s substance-abuse policy. The Cowboys thought Gregory would get to practice starting two weeks ago before the NFL altered that plan and kept him sidelined.
Mark Humphrey / Associated Press
Texas A&M wide receiver Speedy Noil turned himself into police Tuesday on a marijuana charge.
Texas A&M WR Noil arrested on marijuana charge By Ben Baby THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS
Texas A&M junior wide receiver Speedy Noil was released from College Station, Texas, jail on Tuesday morning following his arrest for a drug charge. Noil turned himself in on Tuesday morning and was charged with possession of marijuana under two ounces, according to the College Station Police Department. The receiver was released Tuesday afternoon on a $2,000 bond, according to CSPD Lt. Steve Brock. The Houston Chronicle first reported the arrest. According to the probable cause statement, an officer was dispatched to Noil’s off-campus apartment for a noise complaint. Noil, according to the report, became "verbally defensive and overall uncooperative" after a CSPD officer smelled marijuana. After a search warrant was issued, police found five grams of marijuana, according to the report. Noil was arrested earlier this year for driving without a license. He was suspended for two games during his sophomore season and was also suspended for this year’s season opener against UCLA. Noil, who was rated by 247Sports as the top receiving prospect in the country while at Edna Karr (La.) high school, caught 21 passes for 325 yards and two touchdowns.
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE: HOUSTON TEXANS
SAVAGE WILL START SATURDAY FOR TEXANS Houston benches Brock Osweiler By Kristie Rieken A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
H
OUSTON — Tom Savage will start at quarterback for the Houston Texans on Saturday against the Cincinnati Bengals. Coach Bill O’Brien announced the decision on Monday, a day after Savage took over in the second quarter when Brock Osweiler was benched against the Jacksonville Jaguars. “We make decisions on what we think is the best way to help the team, what helps the team win,” O’Brien said. “And I think that yesterday and this week I feel like Tom Savage gives us the best chance to win. I’m going to give him a week to prepare as a starter and see what he can do for us on Saturday night against the Bengals.” Savage threw for 260 yards to help Houston rally from a 13-point deficit for a 21-20 win in his first regular-season action since 2014. “He threw the ball very accurately,” O’Brien said. “I thought he made the right reads. It wasn’t perfect. There were some
Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle
Tom Savage was 23 of 36 for 260 yards Sunday leading the Texans to a 21-20 win over the Jaguars after replacing Brock Osweiler in the second quarter.
things he needs to improve on, but I thought he made some good throws, made some big throws, a couple on third down, a couple down the field. “Some were caught, some weren’t caught, but I thought they were in the right spot.” O’Brien wouldn’t say if he planned to start Savage for the rest of the season, saying the team is focused on the Bengals. Osweiler has struggled
in his first season in Houston after signing a $72 million contract to join the Texans from Denver. He threw two interceptions before he was benched on Sunday to give him 16 interceptions and just 14 touchdowns this season. O’Brien praised Osweiler for his work this season and how he handled the benching and talked about the difficulty of
making the change. “It’s a hard thing to do as a coach,” O’Brien said. “That’s what they pay me to do is to make decisions like this in the best interest of the team and that’s what I’m trying to do. I think that it will help our team.” O’Brien recounted his conversation with Osweiler when he gave him the news. “He didn’t say much,” O’Brien said. “I’m sure he
didn’t agree with the decision, but he’s a pro. That’s what he is. He’s a pro football player and he understands that he’s got to continue to compete, and he needs to be ready to play ... now he’s in a similar situation that Tom (was) in. He’s one play away. Got to be ready to go.” Savage was a fourthround pick in the 2014 draft and appeared in just two games that season.
In the first one he did not attempt a pass and in the second one he was 10 of 19 for 127 yards with an interception after taking over midgame when Ryan Fitzpatrick broke his leg on Dec 14. But Savage injured his knee in that game and missed the last two games before suffering a shoulder injury the next preseason and missing all of the 2015 season. “He’s a very consistent person,” O’Brien said. “He’s been the same guy as far as his personality and how he approaches his day to day workload since he arrived here. “He’s a hardworking guy. He’s done a lot to work in the weight room to change his body. He’s worked to get in better shape over the years. He’s always trying to do something to prepare.” When Savage starts on Saturday he will be the sixth quarterback that has started for Houston in the past two seasons after injuries and ineffective play forced the Texans to start four quarterbacks last season. The Texans believed they had found the answer to their longtime woes at the position when they snagged Osweiler from Denver. Now they’re left with the league’s most expensive backup and must figure out how they’ll deal with him moving forward with three years left on his huge contract.
A8 | Wednesday, December 21, 2016 | THE ZAPATA TIMES
NATIONAL
DEA records show W. Va. flooded with painkillers A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Drug wholesalers shipped 780 million hydrocodone and oxycodone pills to West Virginia in just six years, a period when 1,728 people fatally overdosed on these two painkillers, according to an investigation by the Charleston GazetteMail. That amounts to 433 of the frequently abused opioid pills for every man, woman and child in the state of 1.84 million people. The Gazette-Mail obtained previously confidential records sent by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration to the office of West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey. They disclose the number of pills sold to every pharmacy and drug shipments to all 55 counties in West Virginia between 2007 and 2012. Four of these counties — Wyoming, McDowell, Boone and Mingo — lead the nation in fatal overdoses caused by pain pills, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The records — which leading drug wholesalers had fought in court to keep secret — show the wholesalers shipped ever-higher doses of the pills — a telltale sign of growing addictions — even as the death toll climbed, the newspaper reported on Sunday. “These numbers will shake even the most cynical observer,” former
Toby Talbot / AP file
This Feb. 19, 2013, file photo shows pills of the painkiller hydrocodone at a pharmacy in Montpelier, Vermont.
Delegate Don Perdue, D-Wayne, a retired pharmacist who finished his term earlier this month, told the newspaper. “Distributors have fed their greed on human frailties and to criminal effect. There is no excuse and should be no forgiveness.” McKesson Corp., Cardinal Health and AmerisourceBergen Drug Co. together control about 85 percent of the U.S. drug distribution market by revenue and provided more pills to West Virginia than other wholesalers. As hydrocodone and oxycodone overdose deaths increased 67 percent in West Virginia between 2007 and 2012, their chief executives were paid millions and their companies made billions. McKesson became America’s fifthlargest corporation, with the nation’s highest-paid CEO in 2012, according to Forbes. The drug distributors say they’re just middle-
men in a highly regulated industry and that pills would never get in the hands of addicts and dealers if not for unscrupulous doctors who write illegal prescriptions, and pharmacists who turn a blind eye. “The two roles that interface directly with the patient — the doctors who write the prescriptions and the pharmacists who fill them — are in a better position to identify and prevent the abuse and diversion of potentially addictive controlled substance,” McKesson General Counsel John Saia wrote in a letter released by the company, the newspaper reported. But the doctors and pharmacists weren’t slowing the influx, and the pills being shipped became much more potent, DEA records show. “It starts with the doctor writing, the pharmacist filling and the wholesaler distributing. They’re all three in bed together,” said Sam Suppa.
McConnell rejects calls for select panel on Russian meddling By Matthew Daly ASSOCIATED PRE SS
WASHINGTON — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is rejecting bipartisan calls for a special committee to investigate Russian interference in the U.S. election, which American intelligence says was aimed in part at helping Republican Donald Trump defeat Democrat Hillary Clinton. The likely meddling by Russia “is a serious issue, but it doesn’t require a select committee,” said McConnell, R-Ky. The Senate intelligence committee is able to investigate the matter, he added. CIA Director John Brennan has said the intelligence community is in agreement that Russia tried to interfere in the U.S. presidential election,
although there’s no evidence Moscow succeeded in helping Trump win. “There’s no question that the Russians were messing around in our election,” McConnell told Kentucky Educational Television on Monday night. “It is a matter of genuine concern and it needs to be investigated.” Still, McConnell said the issue should be investigated in “regular order” by the Senate intelligence panel, which is “fully capable of handling this.” McConnell’s comments put him at odds with Arizona Sen. John McCain and other Republicans who have joined with incoming Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer in calling for a special committee to investigate efforts by Russia, China and
Iran to interfere in U.S. elections. A select committee is a high-profile panel created by congressional leaders that taps lawmakers from a variety of committees to focus on a single issue, such as Watergate or the Iran-contra arms deal. McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said Russian interference in the election threatens to “destroy democracy,” adding that a select committee is needed to find out exactly what Russia did and what effect it had on the election. “We need to get to the bottom of this,” McCain said. “We need to find out exactly what was done and what the implications of the attacks were, especially if they had an effect on our election.”
THE ZAPATA TIMES | Wednesday, December 21, 2016 |
A9
BUSINESS
SiriusXM to give WNYC podcasts a radio home
Volkswagen deal on diesel cars gives buyback option for some By Sudhin Thanawala ASSOCIATED PRE SS
A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
NEW YORK — The satellite giant SiriusXM is giving a radio home to several popular podcasts, picking up 11 programs produced by New York’s WNYC Studios, including Alec Baldwin’s “Here’s the Thing” and the irreverent “2 Dope Queens.” Starting Jan. 9, the programs will air on SiriusXM’s Insight channel, a news-talk station that frequently has a comic bent. Sirius currently airs a handful of podcasts among its 170 channels that reach 31 million subscribers, including one with Neil DeGrasse Tyson. The deal with WNYC announced Tuesday aligns the satellite network with the secondmost popular producer of podcasts behind NPR, potentially giving those programs a much wider audience. The two-time Peabody Award-winning “Radiolab,” hosted by Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich, will make it on to SiriusXM. “Freakonomics Radio,” which discusses the oddities of human behavior, and “2 Dope Queens” hosted by Phoebe Robinson and Jessica Williams, are among the nation’s most popular podcasts. Actor Baldwin is frequently in the news, particularly with his “Sat-
urday Night Live” portrayal of Donald Trump. The deal also includes some programs that currently air on radio, including “The New Yorker Radio Hour” and “On the Media,” which is hosted by Brooke Gladstone and Bob Garfield. The podcasts will also be a testing ground for SiriusXM; some shows that prove popular may become regular radio programs of their own, said Scott Greenstein, the company’s president and chief content officer. By looking at podcasts, Greenstein said Sirius hopes to guide listeners through what can be a chaotic medium, he said. “There are so many of them, they’re like YouTube videos,” Greenstein said. “There are only so many of them that you can consume. It’s great if you can find a way to curate them.” The narrative program “Snap Judgment” and host Anna Sale’s “Death, Sex & Money” will also get Sirius exposure. The deal is part of Sirius’ effort to diversify content so people will pay for radio when there are free alternatives. It has expanded its country programming this year, added a new talk channel devoted to music, hired new hosts like Brett Favre and aired town hall events and concerts.
SAN FRANCISCO — Volkswagen reached a deal that will give at least some owners of the remaining 80,000 diesel vehicles caught in the company’s emissions cheating scandal the option of a buyback and provide all of them with compensation on top of any repurchase or repairs, a federal judge announced Tuesday. The settlement with U.S. regulators and attorneys for owners of the 3-liter diesel cars will include a choice of a buyback for 20,000 vehicles, according to U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer in San Francisco. Volkswagen believes it can bring the other 60,000 vehicles into compliance with pollution regulations and will not offer a buyback if that’s the case, Breyer said. The German automaker also will contribute $225 million to an environmental fund to offset the excess pollution from the cars, according to a court filing by the U.S. Department of Justice. The judge didn’t disclose how much the owners will be paid and said the parties still have more work to do. “I am optimistic the parties will resolve the
Paul J. Richards / Getty
This file photo taken on Sept. 29, 2015 shows the Volkswagen logo at a dealer in Woodbridge, Virginia.
remaining issues,” Breyer said, without elaborating on what was left to be done. The settlement was a major step toward rectifying lawsuits stemming from the global scandal that erupted last year, damaging Volkswagen’s reputation and hurting its sales. The company previously reached a deal for the remaining 475,000 cars also programmed to cheat on emissions tests. The outlines of Tuesday’s settlement appear to mirror the terms for those 2-liter diesel cars. The previous deal gives 2-liter owners the option to have the automaker buy back their vehicle regardless of its condition for the full
trade-in price on Sept. 18, 2015, when the scandal broke, or pay for repairs. Volkswagen also will pay the 2-liter diesel owners $5,100 to $10,000 each, depending on the age of the car and whether the owner had it prior to Sept. 18 of last year. The company has agreed to spend up to $10 billion compensating those consumers. That settlement also includes $2.7 billion for unspecified environmental mitigation and $2 billion to promote zero-emissions vehicles. The settlements emerged out of lawsuits from car owners and the U.S. Department of Justice after the U.S. Envi-
ronmental Protection Agency said Volkswagen had fitted many of its cars with software to fool emissions tests. The software recognized when the cars were being tested on a treadmill and turned on pollution controls. The controls were turned off when the cars returned to the road. The EPA alleged the scheme let the cars spew up to 40 times the allowable limit of nitrogen oxide, which can cause respiratory problems in humans. The company has reached a separate $1.2 billion deal with its U.S. dealers and is still facing potentially billions more in fines and penalties and possible criminal charges.
Obama bans future oil leases in much of Arctic, Atlantic By Kevin Freking A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
HONOLULU — President Barack Obama on Tuesday designated the bulk of U.S.-owned waters in the Arctic Ocean and certain areas in the Atlantic Ocean as indefinitely off limits to future oil and gas leasing. The move helps put some finishing touches on Obama’s environmental legacy while also testing President-elect Donald Trump’s promise to unleash the nation’s untapped energy reserves. The White House announced the actions in conjunction with the government of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, which also placed a moratorium on new oil and gas leasing in its Arctic waters, subject to periodic review.
Obama is making use of an arcane provision in a 1953 law to ban offshore leases in the waters permanently. The statute says that “the president of the United States may, from time to time, withdraw from disposition any of the unleased lands of the outer Continental Shelf.” Environmental groups hope the ban, despite relying on executive powers, will be difficult for future presidents to reverse. The White House said it’s confident the president’s directive will withstand legal challenge and said the language of the statute provides no authority for subsequent presidents to “unwithdraw” waters from future lease sales. The Atlantic waters placed off limits to new oil and gas leasing are 31
Elaine Thompson / AP file
In this May 14, 2015, file photo, the oil drilling rig Polar Pioneer is towed toward a dock in Elliott Bay in Seattle.
canyons stretching off the coast of New England south to Virginia. The administration cited environmental concerns to justify the moratorium. The president also issued a statement noting the minimal level of fuel production occurring in the Arctic. Obama
said just 0.1 percent of offshore crude production came from the Arctic in 2015, and at current oil prices, significant production would not occur in future decades. “That’s why looking forward, we must continue to focus on economic empowerment for Arctic
communities beyond this one sector,” Obama said. Still, industry officials objected to Obama’s proclamation, calling it “last minute political rhetoric.” “Instead of building on our nation’s position as a global energy leader, today’s unilateral mandate could put America back on a path of energy dependence for decades to come,” said Dan Naatz of the Independent Petroleum Association of America. In issuing a permanent ban, Obama appears to be trying to tie the hands of his successor. Trump has vowed a domestic energy revolution and is filling his Cabinet with nominees deeply opposed to Obama’s environmental and climate change actions. Environmental groups were calling for a perma-
nent ban even before the presidential election, but Trump’s victory has provided greater urgency for them and for businesses that rely on tourism and fishing. Trump has said he intends to use all available fuel reserves for energy self-sufficiency — and that it’s time to open up offshore drilling. This decision will help protect existing lucrative coastal tourism and fishing businesses from offshore drilling, which promises smaller, shortlived returns and threatens coastal livelihoods,” said Jacqueline Savitz, a senior vice president at the advocacy group, Oceana. “The people of the Atlantic coast refused to allow their way of life to be compromised and we commend their hard work making their voices heard in Washington.”
A10 | Wednesday, December 21, 2016 | THE ZAPATA TIMES
INTERNATIONAL
Islamic State claims Berlin Christmas market attack By David Rising and Frank Jordans
Russia, Iran, Turkey cast themselves as deal-makers in Syria By Vladimir Isachenkov and Zeina Karam ASSOCIATED PRE SS
A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
BERLIN — The Islamic State group claimed responsibility Tuesday for a truck attack on a crowded Berlin Christmas market that German authorities said came right out of the extremist group’s playbook, inflicting mass casualties on a soft target fraught with symbolic meaning. The Monday night attack on the popular market by the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church in the heart of former West Berlin left 12 dead and 48 injured — the first mass casualty attack by Islamic extremists carried out on German soil. German security forces were still hunting for the perpetrator after releasing a man from custody for lack of evidence. The claim of responsibility carried on the Islamic State group’s Amaq news agency described the man seen fleeing from the truck as “a soldier of the Islamic State” who “carried out the attack in response to calls for targeting citizens of the Crusader coalition.” Germany is not involved in anti-IS combat operations, but has Tornado jets and a refueling plane stationed in Turkey in support of the coalition fighting militants in Syria, as well as a frigate protecting a French aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean, among other assets. The claim of responsibility came not long after German prosecutors said they had released a man picked up near the scene of the attack, initially suspected of driving the truck. The man, a Pakistani citizen who came to Germany last year, was taken into custody based on a description from witnesses of a suspect who jumped out of the truck and fled after the attack. Even before his release, officials had expressed doubt the man was behind the attack. “We may still have a dangerous criminal out there,” warned Berlin police chief Klaus Kandt, whose office urged people to be “particularly vigilant” and report “suspicious movement” using a special hotline. Though Germany had not seen any successful mass-casualty Islamic extremist attacks until Monday, attempts and recent attacks in neighboring France and Belgium had made many feel it was inevitable. “We’ve all been prepared that something like this could happen, so we were not surprised,” said economics student Maxi-
Michele Tantussi / Getty
Signs lay on the ground as people leave flowers and candles in Berlin, Germany.
milian Much. The 24-year-old Berliner said the attack hit home because he’d often visited the Christmas market with his girlfriend, but that he wouldn’t let himself be led by emotion. “I’m not going to change my life style now,” he said. “The chances that I get killed in a car or bike accident are bigger.” Germany’s top prosecutor, Peter Frank, told reporters the attack on the popular market was reminiscent of July’s deadly truck rampage in Nice and appeared to follow instructions published by the Islamic State group. “There is also the prominent and symbolic target of a Christmas market, and the modus operandi that mirrors at least past calls by jihadi terror organizations,” Frank said. The man arrested near the scene denied any involvement in the attack. Under German law, prosecutors have until the end of a calendar day following an arrest to seek a formal arrest warrant keeping a suspect in custody. Prosecutors said they decided to release him after turning up no forensic evidence proving he was in the truck’s cab during the rampage, and no witnesses who were able to follow him from the scene to where he was picked up. Among the injured was Inaki Ellakuria, who underwent surgery Tuesday for a broken tibia and fibula on his left leg. He said he knew immediately it was no accident. “It came fast, too fast to be driving off the road accidentally,” the 21-yearold student from Spain tweeted only minutes after the attack. “It has swept me and ran over both of my legs.” Juan Jose Ellakuria told the Associated Press his son also suffered broken bones in his right ankle and instep, as well as damage to his hip. “He’s come out of surgery and he’s making good progress,” Ellakuria said. Frank, the German prosecutor, said there were still a lot of unanswered questions. “We don’t know for sure whether it was one or
several perpetrators,” he said. “We don’t know for sure whether he, or they, had support. These investigations aren’t concluded yet.” Witnesses saw only one man flee from the truck after it hurtled through the market for 60 to 80 meters (200 to 260 feet) before finally coming to a stop near the 19th-century church, which was badly damaged in World War II bombing but left standing as a memorial to the destruction of the war. The head of the Federal Criminal Police Office said authorities had yet to find a pistol that is believed to have been used to kill the Polish truck driver who was supposed to be delivering the steel beams the truck was carrying. The Polish owner of the truck, Ariel Zurawski, said he last spoke with the driver, his cousin, around noon on Monday and he told him he was in Berlin and scheduled to unload Tuesday morning. “They must have done something to my driver,” he told TVN24. Germany ordered flags flown at half-staff on government buildings across the country, and in Berlin the national and city flags were projected onto the Brandenburg Gate in tribute to the victims. Authorities said that in addition to the Polish truck driver, six of the people killed were German but the others have not yet been identified. Germans have been increasingly wary since two attacks by asylumseekers last summer were claimed by the Islamic State group. Five people were wounded in an ax rampage on a train near Wuerzburg and 15 were wounded in a bombing outside a bar in Ansbach, both in the southern state of Bavaria. Both attackers were killed. Those attacks and two others unrelated to Islamic extremism in the same weeklong period, contributed to tensions in Germany over the arrival last year of 890,000 migrants. Far-right groups and a nationalist party seized on Monday night’s attack, blaming Chancellor Angela Merkel for what happened.
MOSCOW — Russia, Turkey and Iran cast themselves as the essential deal-makers in Syria on Tuesday, saying at a trilateral meeting in Moscow that their cooperation could pave the way for a future settlement in Syria. The meeting of foreign and defense ministers of the three nations that previously backed the opposing sides in the nearly six-year conflict reflected a shared interest in brokering a compromise. The talks come a day after the killing of the Russian ambassador in Turkey, but Moscow and Ankara vowed that the attack wouldn’t hurt their rapprochement. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said after the talks that the three nations believe their efforts could overcome the “stagnation” in the Syrian peace process. “The format you see today is the most efficient one,” Lavrov said. “It’s not an attempt to cast a shadow on the efforts taken by our other partners, it’s just stating the facts.” He cited the evacuation of civilians and rebels from Aleppo, brokered by Moscow and Ankara, as proof of the efficiency of the trilateral cooperation. “More than any others, our states are ready to help the settlement with real deeds and not just words,” he said. Lavrov added that it would take one or two days to complete the evacuations. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said 37,500 people had been evacuated from Aleppo, crediting Russia with making it possible.
Associated Press
Armed Syrian fighters evacuated from Aleppo arrive at a refugee camp in Rashidin, Tuesday.
Cavusoglu said they talked about establishing a cease-fire across the entire territory of Syria, adding that the Islamic State group and al-Qaida’s branch in Syria, the Fatah al-Sham Front, would be excluded from the deal. The three ministers carefully tip-toed around their differences. Lavrov noted the need for all parties to stop sponsoring “terrorists,” while Cavusoglu said that policy should also apply to the Hezbollah, a close ally of both Tehran and Damascus. Zarif replied with a smile that the United Nations Security Council has branded the Islamic State group and Fatah al-Sham Front terrorist organizations, while opinions about other groups may vary The ministers said in their statements that the three nations are ready to act as guarantors of a cease-fire deal that would also allow the deliveries of humanitarian assistance and free travel of civilians, inviting other nations which have influence with Syrian groups to help reach the agreement. The United States was notably absent from the meeting, although Lavrov had a phone call with U.S. Secretary of State John
Kerry later Tuesday, informing him about the results of the trilateral talks. The meeting appears to signal that the former rivals may have reached a deal on dividing spheres of influence in Syria that would see Turkey cut support for Assad’s foes in exchange for freedom of action in the areas along its border. Turkey’s priority is to prevent Syria’s Kurds from merging areas under their control. Sergei Fokin, a Moscow-based military analyst, said that the trilateral meeting marked a significant step toward settling the conflict. “Russia, Iran and Turkey will clearly play a dominant role while the influence of other players, primarily Saudi Arabia, will dwindle,” he said, according to the Interfax news agency. In Aleppo, a fleet of buses entered east Aleppo again Tuesday afternoon to evacuate the remaining rebels and civilians from the city, activists said. Thousands of people have been evacuated over the past week, heading to opposition-held areas further north. Residents from eastern Aleppo and the Syrian opposition say the evacuation amounts to forced displacement.
THE ZAPATA TIMES | Wednesday, December 21, 2016 |
A11
FROM THE COVER
Trump hosts candidates for key Veterans Affairs post By Jonathan Lemire A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
PALM BEACH, Fla. — President-elect Donald Trump met Tuesday met with candidates for his unfilled Cabinet positions, including prospective hires to run the Department of Veterans Affairs, a beleaguered agency that the Republican businessman has vowed to overhaul. Vice President-elect Mike Pence met with members of his incoming national security team a day after acts of violence rocked the world. At Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s palatial Florida estate, the president-elect met with Luis Quinonez, who runs a company with military and health care ties and is said to be under consideration for VA secretary. He also interviewed Toby Cosgrove, the CEO of the Cleveland Clinic, who was a top contender to replace Eric Shinseki when he resigned at the VA in 2014. Cosgrove later withdrew from consideration. Trump repeatedly pledged during the campaign to fix the woes at the department and said he would “take care of great veterans.” But he also came under scrutiny for being slow in paying out money raised for veterans groups and for suggesting that “strong” veterans don’t need treatment for mental health problems. Others said to be considered for the post include former Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown, Florida Rep. Jeff Miller and Pete Hegseth, an
VOTE From page A1 stirred an intense lobbying effort. But the endeavor produced more noise than results. With all states reporting, Trump finished with 304 votes and Clinton had 227. It takes 270 Electoral College votes to win the presidency. Texas put Trump over the top, despite two Republican electors casting protest votes. “We did it!” Trump tweeted Monday evening. “Thank you to all of my great supporters, we just officially won the election (despite all of the distorted and inaccurate media).” He later issued a statement saying: “With this historic step we can look forward to the bright future ahead. I will work hard to unite our country and be the President of all Americans.” Befitting an election filled with acrimony, thousands of protesters converged on state capitals Monday, urging Republican electors to abandon their party’s winning candidate. More than 200 demonstrators braved freezing temperatures at Pennsylvania’s capitol, chanting, “No Trump, no KKK, no fascist USA!” and “No treason, no Trump!” In Madison, Wisconsin, protesters shouted, cried and sang “Silent Night.” In Augusta, Maine, they banged on drums and held signs that said, “Don’t let Putin Pick Our President,” referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Among the Republican electors in Texas who cast protest votes, one voted for Ohio Gov. John Kasich; the other
Army veteran and former CEO of Concerned Veterans for America. Trump is also considering Jovita Carranza, who worked in President George W. Bush’s administration, as his choice for U.S. trade representative. She served as deputy administrator of the Small Business Administration under Bush. With just a handful of Cabinet posts to fill, Trump is facing some criticism for a lack of diversity in his senior team, which currently includes no Hispanics. The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials said Tuesday that it was “deeply concerned” at the lack of Hispanics considered for top jobs. Carranza was a member of Trump’s Hispanic advisory council during the campaign. Pence, meanwhile, met in Washington with former Texas state official Susan Combs, who served both as state agriculture commissioner and comptroller. Trump also needs to fill the Agriculture Cabinet slot. Transition officials did not immediately confirm if Combs is up for that post. Earlier Tuesday, Trump was back on Twitter after Bill Clinton told a suburban New York City newspaper this month that Trump “doesn’t know much. One thing he does know is how to get angry, white men to vote for him.” The Bedford-Pound Ridge Record Review also reported that Clinton claimed that Trump
called him after his election victory over Hillary Clinton. “Wrong, he called me (with a very nice congratulations),” Trump tweeted. The president-elect added that Clinton is the one who “’doesn’t know much’... especially how to get people, even with an unlimited budget, out to vote in the vital swing states (and more).” The Clinton campaign, he said, “focused on the wrong states.” Clinton later responded on Twitter, writing, “Here’s one thing @realDonaldTrump and I can agree on — I called him after the election.” The tweets come after a rattling day of violence around the world — with Trump appearing to jump ahead of investigators to blame Islamic terrorists for deadly incidents in Turkey and Germany and vowing anew to eradicate their regional and global networks. Pence met with retired Lt. Gen. Mike Flynn, the incoming national security adviser; retired Gen. John Kelly, Trump’s nominee for head of Homeland Security; retired Gen. James Mattis, the pick for defense secretary; and Rex Tillerson, the head of Exxon Mobil and the intended nominee for secretary of state. Aides said the meeting was planned before the acts of violence, though they would be discussed. Flynn was also slated to meet with Trump at Mar-a-Lago on Wednesday. The president-elect is planning on staying at his lush Palm Beach resort through the holidays.
voted for former Texas Rep. Ron Paul. Clinton lost four electors in Washington state — three voted for former Secretary of State Colin Powell and one voted for Native American tribal leader Faith Spotted Eagle. She also lost an elector in Hawaii to Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. Clinton beat Sanders in the Democratic primaries. Several Democratic electors in other states tried to vote for protest candidates but they either changed their votes to Clinton or were replaced. The Electoral College has 538 members, with the number allocated to each state based on how many representatives it has in the House plus one for each senator. The District of Columbia gets three, despite the fact that the home to Congress has no vote in Congress. There is no constitutional provision or federal law that requires electors to vote for the candidate who won their state — though some states require their electors to vote for the winning candidate. In Baton Rouge, Louisiana, elector Charlie Buckels reached out to Trump’s opponents after the New York businessman got all of the state’s eight votes. “For those of you who wished it had gone another way, I thank you for being here,” said Buckels, the state GOP finance chairman. “I thank you for your passion for our country.” A joint session of Congress is scheduled for Jan. 6 to certify the results of the Electoral College vote, with Vice President Joe Biden presiding as president of the Senate. Once the result is certified, Trump will be sworn in on Jan. 20.
SURGE From page A1 Central America to our border, mostly through my hometown of Laredo, Texas, due to the archaic Cuban Adjustment Act policy and unprecedented benefits the U.S. provides exclusively for Cubans. This was in addition to the swell of 137,366 Central American children and families from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador. Many of the Haitians arriving at our border were previously working in Brazil. However, due to
PORTS From page A1 made El Paso and Laredo two of the busiest trade hubs in the country, but understaffing at the ports has also increased wait times for pedestrian, vehicular and commercial traffic. The legislation was authored by U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and sponsored in the House of Representatives by U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo. Their goal is to allow CBP to staff up during peak crossing periods to alleviate long waits and help offset delays caused by understaffed ports. “Every day, billions of dollars’ worth of goods cross the Texas-Mexico border, including $284 billion in trade at our nation’s largest customs district in my hometown of Laredo and the Rio Grande Valley,” Cuellar said in a statement. “South Texas is a powerhouse for world trade, and this law will help increase the amount and efficiency of trade at our border ports of entry.” Obama’s signature on the legislation comes at a time of uncertainty for the
FBI sought evidence of intrusions in Hillary Clinton emails By Tom Hays ASSOCIATED PRE SS
NEW YORK — The FBI was trying to get a look at thousands of Hillary Clinton’s emails on disgraced former congressman Anthony Weiner’s computer partly to see if anyone had hacked in to steal classified information, according to court documents unsealed Tuesday. Investigating possible hacking appeared to be a secondary rationale for the email search, which FBI Director James Comey launched in the waning days of the presidential election. When the FBI asked a magistrate judge in New York to issue a search warrant for Weiner’s computer on Oct. 30, an agent spent pages describing concerns it might contain evidence Clinton had mishandled classified information. The warrant application, made public Tuesday, was filed two days after Comey informed Congress investigators had discovered email correspondence that could be pertinent to his recently closed probe of Clinton’s use of a private email server while she was secretary of state. In the document, the agent wrote that thousands of emails between Clinton and top aide Huma Abedin had been discovered on a laptop used by Weiner, Abedin’s estranged husband. At the time, investigators had yet to look at the content of those emails, but based on previous work in the case the agent wrote they had reason to suspect they might contain classified material, possibly including topsecret information that could cause “grave damage to national security” if disclosed.
“A complete forensic analysis and review,” the agent added, “will also allow the FBI to determine if there is any evidence of computer intrusions into the subject laptop, and to determine if classified information was accessed by unauthorized users or transferred to any other unauthorized systems.” A magistrate judge signed off on the search warrant that day. The FBI hasn’t publicly revealed whether it found any evidence of a hacking attempt. During the presidential campaign, hackers accessed the email accounts of Democratic Party officials and Clinton’s campaign chief, John Podesta, and leaked them to the anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks. U.S. intelligence officials have linked the hacking to Russia’s intelligence agency and its military intelligence division, although Moscow has denied those accusations. After getting court consent to delve into the newly discovered emails on Weiner’s computer, agents spent several days analyzing them before Comey announced they contained no new evidence of wrongdoing by Clinton.
The surprise restart of the email probe, however, upended the presidential race just days before the election. Clinton supporters have blamed the investigation for her loss to Republican Donald Trump. Weiner’s laptop was initially seized by agents investigating his online relationship with a teenage girl in North Carolina. That inquiry is ongoing. Los Angeles lawyer E. Randol Schoenberg, who had sued to obtain the court papers, said in a statement he saw “nothing at all in the search warrant application that would give rise to probable cause, nothing that would make anyone suspect that there was anything on the laptop beyond what the FBI had already searched and determined not to be evidence of a crime, nothing to suggest that there would be anything other than routine correspondence between Secretary Clinton and her longtime aide Huma Abedin.” U.S. District Judge P. Kevin Castel ruled Monday the public had a right to see the search warrant application and supporting paperwork. He ordered the redaction of sections of the paperwork related to the investigation.
the economic downturn in that country, they are seeking a path to the United States. Many have learned from smugglers and through social media that when they arrive at a port of entry or get picked up by the border patrol to claim they are seeking either a refugee status or asylum for a credible fear of persecution in their home country. This allows them to be granted a “Notice to Appear” for an asylum hearing and they are either briefly detained or allowed to enter the U.S. on their own recognizance.
“I continue to call on the State Department and my colleagues in Congress to stop playing defense on our goal line at the border and look for ways in which we can assist our Central and South American neighbors to try and stem this tide of illegal migration. This past year we provided $750 million in aid for Central America. However, it was tied up with so many certification requirements that little of that money has actually been executed at this point. I’m hopeful that that money will be obli-
gated in the upcoming days. Furthermore, I’m working with my colleagues to provide our justice system with the immigration judges and necessary infrastructure to cut down on the backlog of immigration cases. In FY16 we were able to provide the Justice Department with 55 new immigration judges and had a deal worked out in the FY17 House Appropriations Act to provide 25 more. I will continue to work with my colleagues to find solutions to make changes to these processes at the border.”
future of the North American Free Trade Agreement. Cornyn and his colleagues in the House have expressed concerns over President-elect Donald Trump’s rhetoric on the campaign trail that included eliminating or renegotiating NAFTA. Trump argued the change would benefit American workers by keeping jobs here instead of sending them overseas, but Cornyn and Cuellar said in interviews they hoped Trump’s talk during the campaign was just fodder to lure voters and that his mind would change when he realized NAFTA helps the economy more than it hurts workers. The private-public cooperation is already in places at some ports and airports following legislation in 2013 that created a pilot program for such partnerships. They include international bridges in Laredo, Cameron County, Pharr, McAllen and Rio Grande City, as well as operators of international bridges in El Paso. The legislation signed last week would make the project permanent. In a statement, Cornyn said the pilot program has proven that the legislation
bodes well for the state’s economy. “Pilot programs like these already underway in Texas have reduced wait times, increased efficiency and improved commerce at our ports of entry. I’m pleased President Obama signed this bill into law so more ports of entry can benefit,” he said. Mexico is the state’s largest trading partner and the country’s third largest, behind Canada and China. Through October, more than $437.5 billion in two-way trade has passed between both countries, including $227.3 billion and $79.4 billion through the Laredo and El Paso customs districts, respectively. But one border trade expert says the measure is just a quick, stopgap fix that won’t settle anything over the long term. Instead of asking local governments or private businesses to pay for a federal responsibility, CBP should do more to hire agents, said Nelson Balido, the CEO and chairman of the Border Commerce and Security Council, a nonprofit think tank dedicated to promoting free trade and security. “It’s a slippery slope. You don’t want the gov-
ernment to get used to the private sector [paying],” he said. But it’s not just the private sector that has funded the project so far. In El Paso, for example, the city has used revenue from local bridge tolls paid by pedestrians or drivers to sustain the project. Toll revenue has been used to pay for additional staffing that has resulted in a 15 percent reduction in wait times since 2014, according to the office of US. Rep. Robert “Beto” O’Rourke, a co-sponsor of the new law. But Balido said people shouldn’t be convinced of the program’s successes unless a third party does a comprehensive study on the results. He also said that using local bridge tolls amounts to a tax on ordinary citizens. “If you raise the tolls, then you are funding what the government should be doing,” he said. Cornyn has said for years that the partnerships wouldn’t be needed if the federal government did its job and adequately funded CBP staffing. He’s also said that absent a permanent solution, the public-private partnerships are there to fill in the gap.
Melina Mara / The Washington Post
Hillary Clinton and top aide Huma Abedin are shown in this file photo.
A12 | Wednesday, December 21, 2016 | THE ZAPATA TIMES