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ZAPATA COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFTEY
Fatal accident 3 dead in vehicle wreck By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
burglary happened sometime between the night of Sept. 13 and the early hours of Sept. 14. Authorities recently released pictures of the suspected burglar. People with information on the burglary or the identity of the person
Three Houston residents died in a single vehicle accident on Christmas, the Texas Department of Public Safety said Monday. DPS said the accident happened at about 3:21 p.m. on FM 2687, approximately 29 miles southeast of Zapata. Authorities identified those who died as Julian Martinez, 38, Maria Martinez, 15, and Richard Martinez, 10. Julian and Maria died at the scene while Richard was pronounced dead at a hospital, reports state. Reports state a gold 2008 Chevrolet sport utility vehicle traveling west had a blowout to the back right tire.
See LOCAL PAGE 9A
See FATAL PAGE 9A
Courtesy photo
Authorities recently released these pictures of the suspected burglar.
Local restaurant burglarized By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
Authorities are asking the community for assistance to solve a break-in at a local restaurant. The Zapata County Sheriff ’s Office said the burglary occurred at El Paraiso Restaurant, off U.S. 83. Reports state the
Courtesy photo
The vehicle is said to have skidded and rolled over multiple times striking a fence line. “The vehicle ended up on the south side of the road off the highway,” states the DPS report.
SUPREME COURT
ZAPATA FAMILY MEDICAL CENTER
OBAMA’S PLAN BLOCKED Clinic no longer open 24 hours A decrease in local funding has caused the clinic to make changes By JUDITH RAYO THE ZAPATA TIMES
Photo by Eric Gay | AP file
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is pictured on Aug. 1, 2015.
Texas asks not to review immigration case By SETH ROBBINS ASSOCIATED PRESS
SAN ANTONIO — Texas on Tuesday asked the U.S. Supreme Court not to review a lower court’s decision blocking President Barack Obama’s plan to spare millions of immigrants from deportation. A 42-page brief by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton claims the president’s plan to protect millions of immigrants bypasses constitutional authority and established federal laws. A coalition of 26 states, led by Texas, argues that the Obama administration also failed to provide them the notice and opportunity for comment that should have been required before such
a major policy change. At issue is the Obama administration’s Deferred Action for Parents of Americans program, announced in November 2014 that calls for shielding from deportation and giving work permits to as many as 5 million immigrants, most of whom are the parents of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents. The states argue in the brief that the “lawful presence” granted to immigrants under the program has significant cost repercussions for them, including increased “healthcare, law-enforcement, and education expenditures.” Under DAPA immigrants would be eligible
to apply for driver’s licenses, Social Security, Earned Income Tax Credit, unemployment insurance, Medicare and other benefits. The states claim that as “one of the largest changes in immigration policy in our Nation’s history,” the plan required notice and comment from stakeholders, including the states, that did not occur. “The president alone does not have the authority to grant millions of illegal immigrants a host of benefits — like Social Security and Medicare — which should be reserved for lawful citizens,” Paxton said in a statement. The court’s current timeframe could allow arguments to be held in
April and a decision to be issued two months later. If the justices rule for the administration, Obama would have roughly seven months in office to implement his plan. Obama said last year that the plan would allow people who have been in the United States more than five years and who have children who are in the country legally to “come out of the shadows and get right with the law.” The states that challenged the plan have won every round in court so far. Most recently, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled for them on Nov. 9.
See PLAN PAGE 9A
Due to a decrease in local funding, the Zapata Family Medical Center will operate during daytime hours. The clinic, which used to be open 24 hours a day, is now open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday to Saturday. Other changes include nurse practitioners operating the clinic instead of doctors. The changes were made effective Dec. 26. The Zapata Family Medical Center was the only clinic open 24 hours a week for Zapata residents. Zapata County Judge Joe Rathmell said the reason for the change of hours of operation and staffing is due to the decrease in local funds. He said the county has low tax revenues because of the collapse of the natural gas market. In 2011, the clinic was under operation through the Medicaid Medicare Services 1115 waiver. According to Medicaid.gov, section 1115 of the Social Security Act gives the Secretary of Health and Human Services authority to approve pilot projects that promote the objectives of the Medicaid and CHIP programs.
The county has low tax revenues because of the collapse of the natural gas market. The purpose of the pilot programs, which gives states additional flexibility to design and improve their programs, is to demonstrate and evaluate policy approaches. Such approaches include expanding eligibility to individuals who are not Medicaid or CHIP eligible, provide services not typically covered by Medicaid and using innovative service delivery systems that improve care, increase efficiency, and reduce costs. Rathwell said at the time the program became available, only hospitals were allowed to participate, thus partnering with Laredo Medical Center. “It’s been a good partnership,” he said. When the program first kicked off, Rathmell said the county had
See CLINIC PAGE 9A