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ZCISD
ZAPATA COUNTY
Gonzalez named new superintendent
Former employee files lawsuit
Claims age and sex Previously served as career and technical education discrimination director and assistant athletic director at RISD By Taryn T. Walters By Judith Rayo ZA PATA T I ME S
ZCISD trustees on Wednesday officially hired Carlos Gonzalez as the school district’s superintendent. Gonzalez was named the Zapata County Independent School District superintendent finalist in December. He previously served as a career and technical education director and assistant athletic director at Roma Independent School District. Gonzalez’s contract
Gonzalez
will end June 2020. His annual salary will
be $133,000. He is also eligible to receive a $1,000 monthly allowance for expenses. Gonzalez has 11 years of principal and assistant principal experience. In 1993, he served ZCISD as a science teacher and as head basketball coach. Gonzalez replaces Raul Nuques who resigned from the district in 2015. After his resignation, trustees appointed Robert Hein as acting superintendent. Trustees spent about one year searching for a
NUEVO LAREDO, MEXICO
superintendent. “The district is excited to have Mr. Gonzalez lead the district and serve the students, staff, parents and the entire community of ZCISD,” states a news release issued after trustees named Gonzalez the lone finalist. Gonzalez said in December that it had been his dream to become superintendent one day. “I’m honored and excited for this opportunity,” he said. “I expect many good things to happen.”
LAREDO MORNING TIME S
Zapata County is facing a lawsuit from a former employee on allegations of unlawful age and sex discrimination, according to federal court records obtained by the Laredo Morning Times. Dalia Arreola, a former administrative assistant for the county, filed a lawsuit against Zapata County and the Commissioners Court of Zapata County, records state. She alleges both younger and male
employees with less experience were hired by the county to perform the same or similar duties to those she performed at a higher wage than hers. The county denies these allegations in its filed response to the lawsuit. U.S. Magistrate Judge J. Scott Hacker extended proposed deadlines for the lawsuit by three weeks during a telephonic conference held Wednesday. Records state court mediation in the case is County continues on A11
MEXICO
LOOTING, PROTESTS OVER GAS PRICE HIKES TURN DEADLY Courtesy photo
Pictured is the crime scene in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico where a top state prosecutor and three other officials were killed.
State prosecutor assassinated 3 officials were also killed after meeting By César G. Rodriguez ZA PATA T I ME S
The top state prosecutor in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico was gunned down in the Sister City late Wednesday. Tamaulipas authorities said gunmen ambushed, shot and killed Ricardo Martinez Chavez and three other public servants after they left a workrelated meeting. Martinez headed the local office for the Tamaulipas state attorney general. A fifth public servant was wounded in the attack. She was taken to a hospital in Nuevo Laredo for further care, according to Tamaulipas authorities. They did not identify her or the three others who were killed.
Gunmen intercepted the group at the Martinez intersection of Avenida Eva Sámano and Blvd. Municipio Libre shortly after 10:30 p.m. Martinez and the public servants had just come out of workrelated meeting at the Attorney General’s Office, which is located nearby. Social media users quickly warned the community to avoid the area due to multiple shots fired. “The Attorney General's Office reiterates its commitment to investigate and enforce the law against anyone who objects to order, peace and the Mexico continues on A11
Erick Herrera / AP
Residents steal gasoline and diesel from a gas station following protests against an increase in fuel prices in Allende, southern Veracuz State, Mexico, late Tuesday. The gas station attendants who had turned off the power to inactivate the pumps were intimidated by demonstrators into turning them back on, and allowing the residents to take the fuel. Nationwide protests continued as small groups shut down or looted gas stations and blocked roads to protest a price deregulation that has sent the cost of fuel up by as much as 20 percent.
4 deaths reported and over 1,000 detained By Mark Stevenson ASSOCIATED PRE SS
MEXICO CITY — The death toll in protests and looting fueled by anger over gasoline price hikes in Mexico rose to six Friday when authorities confirmed that two men died in a confrontation between protesters and police in the central state of Hidalgo. There were four previous deaths in looting-related
incidents and over the course of the week, at least 300 stores were looted and more 1,000 people were detained, officials said. The protesters in Hidalgo were blocking a highway on Thursday and confronted police who were trying to keep order, when gunfire broke out. Two people also were found dead near looting in the eastern port city of Veracruz. Earlier, officials said a bystander was run over and killed by a
driver fleeing police in another part of Veracruz state, and a police officer was killed trying to stop robberies at a gas station in Mexico City. In the northern city of Monterrey, officials said a crowd of protesters had smashed some of the stained glass windows of the Nuevo Leon state capital building. Several reporters were hurt, and 182 people were detained. The country’s business
chambers said the combination of highway, port and terminal blockades and looting this week forced many stores and businesses to close and threatened supplies of basic goods and fuel. The scenes of mass lootings came as parents were trying to buy presents for the Jan. 6 Three Kings Day holiday. The looting and protests quieted somewhat Friday, but protesters continued to Protests continues on A11
Zin brief A2 | Saturday, January 7, 2017 | THE ZAPATA TIMES
CALENDAR
AROUND THE NATION
TODAY IN HISTORY
SATURDAY, JANUARY 7 Book Sale. 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Widener Book Room, First United Methodist Church. Public invited, no admission fee.
ASSOCIATED PRE SS
Laredo Northside Market Association’s Farmers Market. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. North Central Park. For more information on vendor’s spaces please contact Erna Pelto at 956-763-0138.
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.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11 Book Room open. 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Widener Book Room, First United Methodist Church. Public invited, no admission fee.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 12 Laredo Area Retired Teachers Association meeting. 11 a.m. Blessed Sacrament Parish Hall. The topic is legislative.
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.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18 Book Room open. 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Widener Book Room, First United Methodist Church. Public invited, no admission fee.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 21 Harry Potter Book Club. 3 p.m. McKendrick Ochoa Salinas Branch Library, 1920 Palo Blanco. Free and family friendly. Children and adults are welcome. United ISD 6th Annual 5K Run, Walk and Health Fair. Registration will be from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. at the SAC, 5208 Santa Claudia Lane. Special ceremony dedicated to Adriana Rodriguez and Karina Villarreal will be held at 8:30 a.m. with the race at 9 a.m. Fee is $25 and includes a goody bag, T-shirt, and certificate of completion. Medals will be awarded to the top male and female winners in each age division. All proceeds to benefit United ISD students with scholarships to college. For more information call, 956-473-6201 or visit www.uisd.net
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.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25 Book Room open. 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Widener Book Room, First United Methodist Church. Public invited, no admission fee.
Tomas Munita / NYT
A Border Patrol agent watches from the U.S. side of the border fence in Nogales, Ariz., Sept. 22, 2016.
WILL TRUMP’S WALL BECOME A FENCE? By Erica Werner and Jill Colvin ASSOCIATED PRE SS
WASHINGTON — It was the signature promise of his campaign: Donald Trump vowed to build an impenetrable, concrete wall along the southern border. And Mexico was going to pay for it. Now as he nears inauguration, that wall is sounding increasingly like it could end up a fence. And his team and Congressional Republicans are hatching a plan in which taxpayers — at least initially — would foot the bill. Trump and his aides insisted Friday the president-elect wasn’t breaking with his campaign vow. “Nothing has changed from our perspective,” said top Trump adviser Kellyanne
Avalanche kills Montana skier in Glacier National Park KALISPELL, Mont. — An endurance athlete and firefighter who was partially buried in an avalanche while backcountry skiing in Montana’s Glacier National Park died as emergency crews tried to rescue him, officials said Friday. Ben Parsons, 36, of Kalispell, was a skilled outdoor adventur-
Conway in an interview with CBS. She said Congress was “taking it on themselves to explore different options to pay for the wall,” and voiced no objections. Trump was more direct: “The dishonest media does not report that any money spent on building the Great Wall (for sake of speed), will be paid back by Mexico later!” he tweeted. Under the plan being discussed, the new construction would be pushed through without any new border legislation, relying on a 2006 law that authorized more fencing along the southern border. Congress would pay for it in its annual spending bills. Trump told the New York Times in an interview Friday that the spending plan would help “speed up the process”.
er who competed in mountain biking and ski mountaineering races and worked as a firefighter and paramedic in the town of Whitefish, the Flathead Beacon reported. He died Thursday, Flathead County Sheriff Chuck Curry said. Emergency personnel received a call from Parsons’ skiing partner, who said Parsons was partially buried by snow on a mountain and was severely injured, park spokeswoman Lauren Alley said. Parsons was conscious and responsive when the helicopter
crew extracted him about 500 yards below the summit of Stanton Mountain, said Jim Pierce, a pilot for Two Bear Air, which helps search and rescue crews. Parsons died of his injuries during the rescue. Both skiers were experienced traveling in the backcountry and were equipped with safety gear, including probes, shovels, beacons and helmets, officials said. The avalanche danger in the area Thursday was rated moderate. — Compiled from AP reports
THURSDAY, JANUARY 26 Villa San Agustin de Laredo Genealogical Society. 3-5 p.m. St. John Neumann Parish Hall. Meet and greet membership drive. The speaker’s subject is “How I Traced My Family Roots.” Open to the public. For more information, contact Sylvia Reash at 763-1810. Spanish Book Club. 6-8 p.m. Joe A. Guerra Public Library - Calton. For more information, contact Sylvia Reash at 763-1810.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 28 United ISD Zumba Master Class event. Registration at 8 a.m. at the United 9th Grade Campus (gym), 8800 McPherson Road. Zumba class to be held from 9 to 11 a.m. and will be taught by elite Zumba instructors from the city. Fee is $20 and includes a goody bag and T-shirt. All proceeds to benefit United ISD students with scholarships to college. For more information call, 956-473-6201 or visit www.uisd.net.
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.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1 Book Room open. 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Widener Book Room, First United Methodist Church. Public invited, no admission fee.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4 Book sale. 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Widener Book Room, First United Methodist Church. Public invited, no admission fee.
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.
AROUND THE WORLD DEA opens shop in China to help fight synthetic drug trade SHANGHAI — In a sign of improving cooperation between the U.S. and China to fight the global drug trade, the Drug Enforcement Administration will open a new office there and its top chief will visit next week for the first time in more than a decade. The DEA said acting administrator Chuck Rosenberg will visit Beijing, Guangzhou and Hong Kong Monday through Thursday, at the invitation of China’s Ministry of Public Security. The last time the head of the DEA visited the country was 2005. The planned new office in the city of Guangzhou will likely be staffed with two spe-
Cliff Owen / AP
This Aug. 9, 2016, file photo shows a bag of 4-fluoro isobutyryl fentanyl which was seized in a drug raid.
cial agents, pending final approvals, said Russell Baer, a DEA special agent in Washington. DEA maintains that China is
the top source country for synthetic opioids like fentanyl and its precursors. — Compiled from AP reports
Officials say that unlike similar artist-in-residence programs, this one is focused not on creating works of art but on problem-solving. “The idea is to introduce to the department the eye of an artist, because they think outside of the box,” said Kathleen Stimpert, a cultural arts division spokeswoman. The idea was the brainchild of city Cultural Arts Manager Meghan Wells, who said she’d been thinking about it for a long time. “We want to retain the artist
community, and this was a way to boost them and pay for their time and also get something beneficial out of it with a new perspective,” she said. The first year will look for a visual artist. Wells said she hopes to expand it in future years to include more departments and types of artists that could include musicians, actors and others. The artist will be required to put in at least 250 hours between March and November. — Compiled from AP reports
AROUND TEXAS Austin looks to artists for help with tackling city problems AUSTIN, Texas — Austin is hoping the creativity of artists can help it tackle a variety of city issues, including flooding and community outreach. City officials are set to begin an artist-in-residence program to embed an artist in various city departments, the Austin American-Statesman reported.
Today is Saturday, Jan. 7, the seventh day of 2017. There are 358 days left in the year. Today’s Highlight in History: On Jan. 7, 1942, Japanese forces began besieging American and Filipino troops in Bataan during World War II. (The fall of Bataan three months later was followed by the notorious Death March.) On this date: In 1610, astronomer Galileo Galilei began observing three of Jupiter’s moons (he spotted a fourth moon almost a week later). In 1789, America held its first presidential election as voters chose electors who, a month later, selected George Washington to be the nation’s first chief executive. In 1800, the 13th president of the United States, Millard Fillmore, was born in Summerhill, New York. In 1904, the Marconi International Marine Communication Company of London announced that the telegraphed letters “CQD” would serve as a maritime distress call (it was later replaced with “SOS”). In 1927, commercial transatlantic telephone service was inaugurated between New York and London. In 1949, George C. Marshall resigned as U.S. Secretary of State; President Harry S. Truman chose Dean Acheson to succeed him. In 1959, the United States recognized the new government of Cuba, six days after Fidel Castro led the overthrow of Fulgencio Batista. In 1963, the U.S. Post Office raised the cost of a first-class stamp from 4 to 5 cents. In 1979, Vietnamese forces captured the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh, overthrowing the Khmer Rouge government. In 1989, Emperor Hirohito of Japan died in Tokyo at age 87; he was succeeded by his son, Crown Prince Akihito. In 1999, for the second time in history, an impeached American president went on trial before the Senate. President Bill Clinton faced charges of perjury and obstruction of justice; he was acquitted. In 2015, masked gunmen stormed the Paris offices of Charlie Hebdo, a French newspaper that had caricatured the Prophet Mohammad, methodically killing 12 people before escaping. Ten years ago: Newly elected House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, interviewed on CBS’ “Face the Nation,” said Democrats running Congress would not give President George W. Bush a blank check to wage war in Iraq. Five years ago: Three days before the New Hampshire primary, Mitt Romney brushed aside rivals’ criticism in the opening round of a weekend debate doubleheader that left his Republican presidential campaign challengers squabbling among themselves and unable to knock the frontrunner off stride. Record-shattering Drew Brees threw for 466 yards and three touchdowns, and the New Orleans Saints poured it on in the second half for a 45-28 NFC wild-card victory over the Detroit Lions. One year ago: President Barack Obama tore into the National Rifle Association during a televised town hall meeting in Fairfax, Virginia, as he dismissed what he called a “conspiracy” alleging that the federal government — and Obama in particular — wanted to seize all firearms as a precursor to imposing martial law. A former carnival worker who was convicted of killing three Tampa Bay-area women was executed in Florida. Singer Kitty Kallen (”Little Things Mean a Lot”) died in Cuernavaca, Mexico, at age 94. Today’s Birthdays: Author William Peter Blatty is 89. Magazine publisher Jann Wenner is 71. Singer Kenny Loggins is 69. Singer-songwriter Marshall Chapman is 68. Actress Erin Gray is 67. Actor Sammo Hung is 65. Actress Jodi Long is 63. Actor David Caruso is 61. Talk show host Katie Couric is 60. Country singer David Lee Murphy is 58. Rock musician Kathy Valentine is 58. Actor David Marciano is 57. Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., is 56. Actress Hallie Todd is 55. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., is 54. Actor Doug E. Doug is 47. Actor Kevin Rahm is 46. Actor Jeremy Renner is 46. Country singer-musician John Rich is 43. Actor Dustin Diamond is 40. Actor Reggie Austin is 38. Singer/rapper Aloe Blacc is 38. Actor Robert Ri’chard is 34. Actress Camryn Grimes is 27. Actor Max Morrow is 26. Actor Marcus Scribner is 17. Thought for Today: “I do not believe that sheer suffering teaches. If suffering alone taught, all the world would be wise. To suffering must be added mourning, understanding, patience, love, openness and the willingness to remain vulnerable.” — Anne Morrow Lindbergh, American author (1906-2001).
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THE ZAPATA TIMES | Saturday, January 7, 2017 |
A3
LOCAL & STATE
Falcon Lake Classic 4-H and FFA Prospect show ZA PATA T I ME S
22 Buckles are to be awarded at Zapata’s ninth annual Falcon Lake Classic 4-H and FFA Prospect show Jan. 7. At an entry fee of $25, contestants will be able to compete in various showmanship events for the chance to win Buckles for Grand and Reserve Champions and Showmanship. Banners will be awarded to Breed Champions. Age divisions for the showmanship are: nine- 11, 12-14, and 15-18 years old. Located at the Oswal-
do and Juanita Ramirez Exhibit Hall, 23rd and Glenn St., the event will begin with the weigh in and classify of the animals in both Rings A and B at 7 a.m. Steers and Hogs will be judged by Jay Jimerson and Roel Garza will judge Sheep and Goats. In Ring B, Hogs are scheduled for 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. followed by Steers and Heifer from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. A Hog Showmanship will be conducted at 10 a.m. with the show to follow. An hour after at 11 a.m. the Heifer and Steer show will take the stage. Heifer and Steer partici-
pants move on to the Cattle Showmanship where one buckle will be given to the winner. Immediately after the Cattle Showmanship will be the Steer Show. In Ring A, Lambs and Goats are scheduled for 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. followed by the Lamb Showmanship at 10 a.m. with the Goat Show set for after. Those interested in participating may pay their entry fees on the day of the show. For more information contact Fernando Rodriguez at 763-1344, Joevanna Sanchez at 437-0952 or Zar Rodriguez IV at 285-5527.
Critics pan Texas’ issuing of preliminary A-F school ratings By Will Weissert A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
AUSTIN, Texas — Public schools across Texas received preliminary grades Friday under the still-being-overhauled academic accountability system — but education groups say the incomplete results already show the new A to F scale stigmatizes classrooms in poor and heavily minority areas. The Texas Education Agency released grades for more than 1,000 school districts and 7,000-plus K-12 campuses in the categories of student achievement, student progress, college
readiness and efforts to close the achievement gaps between minority students and whites. But it didn’t provide overall grades because results weren’t ready for a fifth category measuring “community and student engagement.” Education Commissioner Mike Morath cautioned that the grades, which were included in a 494-page report to the state Legislature, weren’t official and that binding results won’t come until next year. In the meantime, Texas will continue adhering to an accountability system that rates districts and schools as “met standards” or “im-
provement required.” On that scale, 94 percent of school districts received passing assessments last academic year. “The ratings in this report are for informational purposes to meet a legislative requirement and represent work-inprogress models that are likely to change before A-F ratings become effective in August 2018,” Morath said in a statement. “These ratings should not be considered predictors of future district or campus performance ratings.” The number of districts awarded As statewide didn’t rise above 190 in any of the report’s four categories.
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A4 | Saturday, January 7, 2017 | THE ZAPATA TIMES
COLUMN
OTHER VIEWS
Celebrating both the new year and the president we never thought we’d see By Gracie Bonds Staples COX N EWSPAPE RS
ATLANTA — As I’ve done for at least the last half of my life, I spent New Year’s Eve at church with my husband and one of our two daughters. That’s a particularly special time for me because it marks the end of the old with God, the one who saw me safely through to yet another new beginning. In the African-American tradition, we call that observance watch night, a time to celebrate our freedom from slavery. As the night wore on, as President Barack Obama’s name and that of his wife, Michelle, were invoked, I was reminded of how far we’d come. Neither of them were there physically, but you could almost feel their presence as just the mention of their names caused members to rise in applause. We are still proud that America put a black family in the White House, and prouder still that their tenure there was free of scandal and, yes, drama. But there was an undeniable mix of relief and weariness, too. For most of his presidency, Obama faced what many would consider a mostly uncooperative Congress. No one would argue that his presidency was perfect. It certainly had its challenges. Nevertheless, he named two women — Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan — to the Supreme Court. He ended the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. He established 23 national monuments and protected public lands. He expanded overtime pay for 4.2 million workers making under $47,476 per year. He gave us Obamacare, providing health care coverage to Americans who didn’t have insurance. Those were big moments, but putting partisan politics aside, here’s what I especially appreciated about the Obamas. They softened the lens, if you will, on AfricanAmerican families who are often seen as dysfunctional. They were examples of the American dream, bootstrapping and overcoming obstacles, proof that black families can’t be reduced to any common denominator. They were well educated. They worked hard and took care of their children. They were proud of their blackness. They loved each other. Then last February, the month we set aside to celebrate black history, I was warmed to see on TV a meeting between the
president, Michelle Obama and Virginia McLaurin, the 106-year-old retired seamstress at the White House. “I tell you, I am so happy,” she said, looking up at Obama before turning to the first lady. “A black president, yay, and his black wife.” Nearly two years earlier, McLaurin had submitted a petition to the White House asking to meet with the president. “I’ve never met a president,” she wrote. “I didn’t think I would live to see a colored president because I was born in the South and didn’t think it would happen.” Few of us did, which brings me back to Watch Night. Love Henry Whelchel Jr., professor of church history at the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, told me once that while the African-American watch night is a celebration of freedom, it did not begin that way. It started as a night of expectation. In the early months of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln’s primary goal was to preserve the Union. On Sept. 22, 1862, Whelchel said, Lincoln threatened that if the Confederacy did not stop fighting and return to the Union by Jan. 1, 1863, he would sign the Emancipation Proclamation. So on Dec. 31, 1862, black people who could gathered in churches from Boston to South Carolina to await news of the signing. Sometime around 11:55 p.m., legend has it that in Tremont Temple Baptist Church in Boston —where many prominent abolitionists were gathered — a man started running down the aisle. It’s coming! he yelled. It’s on the wire. It’s coming. When the clock struck 12:01, someone shouted, God may not come when you want him, but he’s always on time. Lincoln had signed the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing all slaves in Confederate states. “That was our jubilee,” Whelchel said. “It was a very exciting time.” On this watch night, we celebrated both the start of a new year and the president we never thought we’d ever see. We felt at once grateful and, yes, still excited about what God had done. And I’d venture to say we felt like dancing much the way Mrs. McLaurin danced when she met the president and his wife back in February. She hadn’t anticipated ever seeing a black president, but here she was dancing with him during his second term in office. That’s what I call the substance of things unseen.
OP-ED
Trump would do well to surround himself with smart people, not wise guys By Paul Davies THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER
I’m glad Donald Trump reminded everyone he is "like, a smart guy." Because for a person who has never held elected office, he doesn’t seem to be boning up much for a job that is like, hard. Instead, since winning the election, Trump has been seeking input from a cast of characters who would seem to know little about global affairs. Trump has met with rapper Kanye West, romance novel cover model/actor Fabio, and actor Sylvester Stallone, to name a few. The Stallone meeting went so well Trump reportedly offered him a top post at the National Endowment for the Arts. To be sure, Trump is also busy assembling his administration. (That’s a separate cast of characters.) But the meetings with B-list stars resemble a casting call for the next "Celebrity Apprentice." Then again, Omarosa made the leap from "The Apprentice" to the White House. Trump has also spent time with shady characters, including boxing promoter Don King, who was convicted (and later pardoned) of manslaughter; boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr., who has a history of domestic violence; and former pro football star Ray Lewis, who was charged in a double murder following a fight at a Super Bowl party in 2000. The charges were later dropped and Lewis pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice. It would seem Trump’s time could be better spent preparing for the global challenges that
"Trump’s career has benefited from a decades-long and largely successful effort to limit and deflect law enforcement investigations into his dealings with top mobsters, organized crime associates, labor fixers, corrupt union leaders, con artists, and even a one-time drug trafficker whom Trump retained as the head of his personal helicopter service"
await. Then again Trump has long associated with disreputable characters. Consider one of the attendees at Trump’s $525-a-ticket New Year’s Eve party in the Grand Ballroom of his Mar-aLago resort in Palm Beach, Florida: Joey "No Socks" Cinque, a felon with ties to the Gambino crime family. Cinque, who was convicted of possessing nearly $100,000 worth of stolen artwork in 1989, was shot three times in what authorities described as a mob hit, according to a profile in New York Magazine. Cinque is chairman of the American Association of Hospitality Sciences, a company best known for giving out hospitality awards. More than a dozen of Trump’s golf courses, hotels, casinos. and private clubs have been awarded the association’s International Star Diamond Award, according to the Associated Press. In fact, the association listed Trump as an "ambassador extraordinaire." That beats winning a Dundie. In a 2009 video, Cinque had this to say about Trump: "There’s
nobody like him." You can say that again. When the AP asked Trump about Cinque in May, he denied knowing anything about him or his criminal past. "If a guy is going to give you an award, you take it," Trump said. "You don’t tend to look up his whole life story." So, remember kids, when Joey No Socks makes you an offer you can’t refuse, take it - and the cannoli. To be sure, Trump knows a little bit about working with mobsters. He used mob-connected firms on development projects in New York and Atlantic City, according to David Cay Johnston, a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter who published a book this year titled "The Making of Donald Trump." "Trump’s career has benefited from a decadeslong and largely successful effort to limit and deflect law enforcement investigations into his dealings with top mobsters, organized crime associates, labor fixers, corrupt union leaders, con artists, and even a one-time drug trafficker
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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.
DOONESBURY | GARRY TRUDEAU
whom Trump retained as the head of his personal helicopter service," Johnston wrote in a May story for Politico. Much has also been written about how Trump’s career was greatly influenced by hard-nosed attorney Roy Cohn, who was Sen. Joe McCarthy’s henchman during the Red Scare and represented mobsters, including Anthony "Fat Tony" Salerno. Cohn, who died of AIDS in 1988, was one of the most feared lawyers in the country until he was disbarred. Cohn represented Trump for a number of years and the two frequently socialized together and spoke numerous times a day, according to a New York Times story in June. "I hear Roy in the things (Trump) says quite clearly," Peter Fraser, who was Cohn’s companion the last two years of his life, told the Times. "That bravado, and if you say it aggressively and loudly enough, it’s the truth - that’s the way Roy used to operate to a degree, and Donald was certainly his apprentice." Cohn also introduced Trump to Roger Stone, a former adviser to Richard Nixon, known for digging up dirt on opposing candidates. Stone has been a longtime Trump confidant. Stone’s website quotes articles that describe him as a "political hit man" and "dirty trickster." What a supporting cast. Former Ronald Reagan speechwriter Peggy Noonan wrote: "In a president, character is everything." That brings to mind a Japanese proverb: "When the character of a man is not clear, look at his friends."
THE ZAPATA TIMES | Saturday, January 7, 2017 |
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BUSINESS
How to pounce on best credit card offers (before banks pull them) By Ron Lieber N EW YORK T I ME S
While many of us weren’t paying attention, some credit card sign-up bonuses became so eyepoppingly large that the analysts at Bernstein Research wondered in November if the industry was afflicted with temporary insanity. One particular bit of madness — a Chase offer that effectively puts $1,500
in your pocket without a lot of effort, if you’re a relatively big spender — is close to ending, and many people have just a few more days to take advantage of it. But the mere existence of four-figure bonuses on top of the points and perks that come with everyday spending raises a number of questions for consumers. Even if you thought you’d had enough of cardhopping to get the best
deals, shouldn’t you at least grab those 15 100dollar bills if you have the means? Or might the offers actually get better? And is it time to bet against the stocks of the maniac bankers who are tossing around offers like this? CHASE, TODAY? First things first: That giant bonus comes from the Chase Sapphire Reserve card. Here’s how it works (and don’t confuse it with the similarly
named Preferred card). If the bank accepts your application, you have three months to spend $4,000. Once you do, Chase hands over 100,000 of its proprietary rewards points. Then, you can trade them for $1,500 worth of travel, as long as you book your flights or rooms through Chase. The card has a $450 annual fee, but it gives back $300 of it each year once you purchase at least that amount in trav-
el. It also gives a generous amount of points — three per dollar spent — on travel and dining. Plus, you can swap points for miles on many airlines if you want to take your chances with seat availability in those reward schemes. Other perks include access to some airport lounges and a rebate for fees you pay for TSA PreCheck, the expedited security screening, or Global Entry, which speeds international re-
turns. Any offer this lucrative tends not to last. This week, Chase said it would cut the 100,000-point bonus in half for anyone who applied online after Jan. 12 or in a branch (which isn’t possible for people in parts of the country where there are no Chase branches) after March 12. To be safe, the company suggests applying online by Jan. 11, before it flips the switch the next day.
Obama’s final jobs report: Big pay gain, slower hiring By Christopher S. Rugaber A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
WASHINGTON — Americans’ paychecks rose in December at the fastest pace in more than seven years as steady hiring and low unemployment led some businesses to pay more to attract and keep workers. Employers added 156,000 jobs, a decent total that shows that moderate hiring remains sustainable 71⁄2 years after the recovery from the Great Recession began. The report provided the last major snapshot of the economy President-elect Donald Trump will inherit from President Barack Obama. The figures also reflect the job market’s vast improvement from the deep layoffs and surging unemployment rate that prevailed when Obama took office in January 2009. Last month, the jobless rate was just 4.7 percent, up from a nine-year low of 4.6 percent in November, but far below the painful 10 percent peak of October 2009. Employers have added jobs for 75 straight months — the longest streak on record. Even so, the job market remains a mixed picture. Hiring slowed last year, with the economy adding 2.2 million jobs, the smallest full-year gain since 2012. Job growth averaged 180,000 a month — enough to lower the unemployment rate over time — but down from 229,000 in 2015. And many people, particularly men without a college education, have suffered as the job market has shifted away from blue collar work in manufacturing and mining toward industries that either require higher skills, like information technology, or that pay less, such as health care. The proportion of men in their prime working years who either have a job or are looking for one has continued to drop. In addition, the number of
Ruth Fremson / NYT
President Barack Obama holds a town hall meeting after a brutal jobs report, the first issued during his administration, in Elkhart, Ind., Feb. 9, 2009. The Obama years have been a gloomier period for American workers than the those of Ronald Reagan or Bill Clinton, but Obama’s record looks much better if you make adjustment for the fact that he took office in the middle of an economic free fall, or if you compare him with either President Bush.
part-time workers who would prefer full-time work, while declining, remains well above its pre-recession level. Those weak spots will likely challenge Trump as much as they did his predecessor. “More people are back at work than at any point since the recession,” noted Jed Kolko, chief economist at the job site Indeed. “However, Trump will inherit an economy that’s riding high but faces long-term challenges. Fewer adults are at work than before the recession, manufacturing is lagging despite an uptick in December and the acceleration in wage growth, while great for workers, could raise inflation fears.” Hourly pay jumped 2.9 percent from a year earlier, a welcome change from the sluggish wage growth that has been a longstanding weak spot in the economic recovery. Many companies will likely raise prices to offset the cost of raises, which in turn would lift
inflation. If inflation accelerates, the Federal Reserve may raise short-term interest rates at a faster pace this year. “Pay raises, while good for workers, represent cost increases for firms,” Andrew Chamberlain, chief economist at employment website Glassdoor. “The Fed pays attention to that.” Paul Saginaw, co-founder of Zingerman’s, a mail order food store and deli based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, says he thinks hiring has become more competitive in the past several years. The company, which has 740 permanent employees, is staffing up to open a new restaurant. In Ann Arbor, home of the University of Michigan, “everybody’s hiring most of the time,” Saginaw said. “It’s an employees’ market right now.” Hiring last month was led by the health care sector, which added 43,000 jobs, mostly in doctors’ offices and hospitals.
Manufacturing resumed hiring after four months of job cuts, adding 17,000. Restaurants and bars gained 30,000 positions. Transportation and warehousing, fueled by online shopping during the holiday season, added 15,000. On the other hand, construction and mining companies shed jobs. A broader gauge of unemployment, which includes the part-time workers who would like full-time work as well as people who have stopped looking for jobs, dipped to 9.2 percent from 9.3 percent. That’s the lowest level since April 2008. Though the unemployment rate has returned to its prerecession level, the proportion of Americans in their prime working years who are either working or looking for work remains far below where it was before the recession began. When people stop looking for a job, they’re no longer counted
as unemployed. Those “dropouts” have contributed to a declining unemployment rate over the past eight years. Trump spotlighted that trend as a shortcoming in Obama’s record and charged during the election campaign that the unemployment rate was a “hoax.” He now faces the steep challenge of bringing back those who have left the workforce. Since the election, Trump has successfully pressured several manufacturers to keep some jobs in the United States, including Ford and United Technologies’ air conditioning unit Carrier. Even so, and despite last month’s increase in factory jobs, manufacturing employment declined by 45,000 in 2016. For many employers, finding qualified software developers, data scientists and other IT professionals is a top priority. The insurance company Progressive is stepping up its hightech hiring to implement its Snapshot program, which uses a smartphone app and plug-in devices to track customers’ driving habits. Erin Hendrick, a recruiting manager at Progressive, says this enables Progressive to customize its premiums. “You might not think of technology when you think of an insurance company,” she says. “But we have a strong need for IT developers, data analysts, and data scientists.” Consumers and small businesses have become more confident since the election, which could lead to increased spending and hiring. Consumer confidence reached a 15-year high last month. And purchases of costly items like homes and cars have been strong, though they’re threatened by higher interest rates. But if hiring and wage gains continue, they could offset at least some of the depressive effects of higher borrowing costs.
Zfrontera THE ZAPATA TIMES | Saturday, January 7, 2017 |
RIBEREÑA EN BREVE 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. CONFERENCIA 1 La Sociedad Genealógica Nuevo Santander invita a la conferencia impartida por Mauricio Javier González, quien tiene raíces en San Ygnacio. Él es el autor del libro “Un Encuentro con el pasado en San Ygnacio, Texas”, entre otros libros. El evento se llevará a cabo el sábado 14 de enero a las 2 p.m. en el salón del Museo de Historia del Condado de Zapata, ubicado en 805 N US-Hwy 83. Pida informes en el 956-765-8983 BOYS & GIRLS CLUB 1 La organización Boys & Girls Club invita a su evento Clays for Kids Skeet Shoot & Cook-Off en su décima edición, que se celebrará el sábado 28 de enero. Para registrarse o para mayores informes llame a Mark Alvarenga al (956) 337-5751.
ZCISD
CONDADO DE ZAPATA
Superintendente
Ex empleada presenta demanda
Junta directiva otorga contrato oficial a junio 2020
Por Taryn T. Walters TIEMP O DE LAREDO
Por Judith Rayo TIEMP O DE ZAPATA
Miembros del consejo del distrito escolar del Condado de Zapata (ZCISD por sus siglas Foto de cortesía | ZCISD inglés) contrataron oficialmente a Carlos González como Carlos M. González Jr., segundo de izquierda a derecha en la primera fila aparece rodeado de miembros de la junta superindentende del distrito. directiva del Distrito Escolar Independiente del Condado de González fue nombrado finalista en diciembre. Previa- Zapata, quienes aprobaron oficialmente a González como mente sirvió como director de superintendente del distrito. educación técnica y director En 1993, sirvió a ZCISD 133.000 dólares y será elegible atlético asistente en el distrito como maestro de ciencia y para recibir 1.000 dólares escolar independiente de Rocomo entrenador del equipo mensuales para gastos. ma. González cuenta con 11 años de baloncesto. Debido a un El contrato de González asunto familiar regresó a Rode experiencia como director termina en junio de 2020. ma. y director asistente. Su salario anual será de
H-E-B PLUS
DÍA DE LOS REYES MAGOS
LABORATORIO COMPUTACIONAL 1 La Ciudad de Roma pone a disposición de la comunidad el Laboratorio Computacional que abre de lunes a viernes en horario de 1 p.m. a 5 p.m. en Historical Plaza, a un lado del City Hall. Informes en el 956849-1411. 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. GRUPOS DE APOYO 1 El grupo de apoyo para personas con Alzheimer se reunirá en su junta mensual, a las 7 p.m., en el Laredo Medical Center, primer piso, Torre B en el Centro Comunitario. Las reuniones se realizan el primer martes de cada mes en el mismo lugar y a la misma hora. 1 El grupo Cancer Friend se reúne a las 6 p.m. el primer lunes del mes en el Centro Comunitario de Doctors Hospital. Padecer cáncer es una de las experiencias más estresantes en la vida de una persona. Sin embargo, los grupos de apoyo pueden ayudar a muchos a lidiar con los aspectos emocionales de la enfermedad. 1 Grupo de Apoyo para Ansiedad y Depresión Rayo de Luz. En Centro de Educación del Área de Salud, ubicado en 1505 Calle del Norte, Suite 430. El grupo se reúne de 6:30 p.m. a 7:30 p.m. en 1505 Calle del Norte, Suite 430, cada primer lunes de mes.
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Foto por Cuate Santos | Laredo Morning Times
Gerentes y miembros del personal de HEB Plus celebraron el Día de los Reyes Magos con la bendición del pan por parte del Padre Toby Guerrero, pastor de la parroquia San Francisco Javier, el viernes por la mañana. Los compradores fueron obsequiados con una pieza de pan y café como parte de la celebración de la Fiesta de la Epifanía.
El Condado de Zapata está enfrentando una demanda de una ex empleada por supuesta discriminación con respecto a la edad y al sexo, de acuerdo a registros de la corte federal obtenidos por Laredo Morning Times. Dalia Arreola, una ex administradora asistente para el condado, presentó una demanda en contra del Condado de Zapata y la Corte de Comisionados del Condado de Zapata, se establece en registros. Ella alega que tanto empleados jóvenes y del sexo masculino con menos experiencia fueron contratados por el condado para ejecutar las mismas o similares funciones a aquellas que ella realizaba con un salario más alto que el de ella. El condado niega estos alegatos en su respuesta presentada a la demanda. El Juez Magistrado J. Scott Hacker extendió el plazo propuesto para la demanda por tres semanas durante una conferencia telefónica realizada el miércoles. Los registros establecen la mediación de la corte en el caso para el 18 de mayo. “A pesar de su historial laboral y su competencia en sus deberes y su reclasificación, (Arreola) fue despedidad de su empleo en el condado por los comisionados de la corte el 30 de septiembre ...debido a recortes presupuestales”, se establece en la petición. La demanda además establece que los empleados más jóvenes que Arreola que fueron despedidos por los comisionados de la corte o fueron retenidos, o si eran despedidos, se les reinstalaba a su antigua posición o eran colocados en puestos con los mismos o similares deberes. Arreola presentó un cargo administrativo quejándose de discriminación ilegal por edad y por sexo ante la Comisión de Igualdad de Oportunidades en el Empleo en Estados Unidos y la división de derechos civiles de la Comisión Laboral de Texas el 5 de enero. Ella presentó la demanda después de recibir el aviso de despido ante la comisión del empleo el 2 de julio, de acuerdo a la demanda. Las acciones del condado al despedir y rehusarse a recontratar a Arreola con las mismas bases que a otros empleados con menor edad y un género diferente son una violación del Código de Trabajo de Texas, se establece en la demanda. El condado niega tales alegatos en su respuesta a la demanda. “(El condado) mostraría que cualquier pérdida o daño alegado (por Arreola), si lo hubiera, fue en todo o en parte su culpa al utilizar esfuerzos razonables para mitigar sus daños”, se establece en la respuesta del condado. El condado dice que cualquier persona alegando despido injustificado tiene un deber de mitigar los daños al hacer un esfuerzo de buena fe para obtener y retener el empleo. Eileen Leeds, abogada del condado y Murray Edward Malakoff, abogado de Arreola, no pudieron ser localizados para comentarios. El condado declinó comentar debido a un litigio en curso. Taryn Walters puede ser localizada en el 956-728-2528 o en twalters@lmtonline.com.
COLUMNA
Indicios de Revolución Cubana remiten a Tamaulipas Por Raúl Sinencio Chávez TIEMP O DE ZAPATA
Después de recorrer el territorio tamaulipeco, Fidel Castro vuelve a la Ciudad de México. Enfrenta ahí nuevas dificultades, bastante serias. Elementos de la Dirección Federal de Seguridad lo detienen el 20 de junio de 1956. Extienden la redada a una veintena de reclutas, incluido Ernesto El Che Guevara. Al enterarse por los periódicos, Armando Ayech Villegas recuerda de inmediato su encuentro fortuito con el dirigente exiliado. Acababa de sorprenderlo en la carretera Mante-Tampico. Aunque transporta armamento y parque, le permite entonces marcharse
y se convierte en firme partidario de Castro Ruz. Otros acontecimientos sacuden al país:.Alumnos del Instituto Politécnico Nacional en abril estallan huelga por demandas propias y efectúan; a fines de junio, maestros capitalinos realizan paros. Reclaman mejores salarios y la autonomía del gremio, encabezándolos Othón Salazar. Tamaulipas está asimismo por renovar la gubernatura. Desafíos muy distintos concentran los ahíncos de Ayech Villegas. Sucede a partir de que por accidente conoce la gesta castrista y decide secundarla, cueste lo que cueste. Hasta el 24 de julio sale libre Castro, a instancias de Lázaro Cárdenas.
Reagrupa fuerzas y zarpa de Tuxpan, Veracruz, el 24 de noviembre de 1956 para emprender la insurgencia contra Fulgencio Batista. Concedida la baja del puesto vial, el joven ex agente de El Mante atiende tareas de apoyo rebelde. Desempeñándolas, se traslada a Cuba. De allá lo deportan y prosigue aquí labores. Pisándole los talones espías batistianos, monta un centro operativo en San Luis Potosí. Compra en junio de 1958 indumentaria de campaña a La Moderna, fábrica local. Similar pedido le surten en León, Guanajuato. Acompañándolos de modestos pertrechos, envía los uniformes por mar o vía aérea desde litorales de
Tamaulipas, Veracruz o Yucatán. Refiriéndose a embarques de esta clase, El Che recuerda: “Se fijó como lugar de entrega […] un aserrío [isleño] de la costa”. En filas guerrilleras habría alcanzado el rango de capitán Ayech Villegas. Implícito el reclutamiento en amplia franja de la Huasteca, dispone para sus actividades de un Buick negro, con matrícula de Nueva York, punto a donde viaja Castro en noviembre de 1955. Las contribuciones de nuestro país a la Revolución Cubana, pueden resultar interesantes. Ciertos indicios de manera pertinaz remiten en concreto a Tamaulipas. Ayech Villegas nos hubiera aportado rev-
eladores testimonios. Lástima que devenga imposible conocerlos. El régimen golpista –apunta Ernesto Guevara—“inició la ofensiva el 25 de mayo” con “diez mil hombres” y la sostuvo “dos meses y medio”. Solidario, el capitán guerrillero Ayech Villegas retorna a la isla del Caribe y el 16 de julio de 1958 muere en combate, mortalmente herido, al pie de la sierra Maestra. Con él caen 17 compatriotas, en que figuran varios tamaulipecos Se aproximaba la victoria de Fidel Castro, el conductor de aquel raudo vehículo en la carretera ManteTampico. Publicado con autorización del autor según aparece en su blog Puras Historias
A8 | Saturday, January 7, 2017 | THE ZAPATA TIMES
NATIONAL
4 suspects in beating of disabled man appear in court By Don Babwin A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
Ashlee Rezin / AP
Family members of Brittany Covington and Tanishia Covington, left and right, leave the Leighton Criminal Court Building.
The suspects are all are charged with two hate crimes — one because the young man was disabled and one because of race. They are also accused of kidnapping and battery, among other offenses. The four were identified as Brittany Covington and Tesfaye Cooper, both of Chicago, and Jordan Hill, of suburban Carpentersville. All are 18. A fourth suspect was identified as Covington’s 24-year-old sister, Tanishia Covington, also of Chicago. Two of the suspects were arrested as juveniles on armed robbery and other serious charges. Hill was arrested in 2015 on allegations of armed robbery, possession of a stolen vehicle and residential burglary. Chicago police said they did not know the disposition of those arrests by suburban officers. Tanishia Covington was arrested in 2007 on attempted armed robbery and aggravated battery charges. Police records do not show any convictions as a juvenile. As an adult, she was arrested on charges of battery and aggravated assault, but those charges were
dropped. The beating was captured on cellphone video by one of the assailants and has since been viewed millions of times on social media. The uproar over the beating intensified the glare on Chicago after a bloody year of violent crime and protests against Mayor Rahm Emanuel and a police department that has been accused of using excessive force and hushing-up wrongdoing. The department has also been the subject of a long civilrights investigation by the Justice Department, which is expected to report its findings soon. The incident also stirred emotions still raw after a presidential election campaign that split the nation. The case heightened political tensions on social media, with some conservatives suggesting it was linked to the Black Lives Matter movement. Police said there was no indication of any connection. Excerpts of the video posted by Chicago media outlets show the victim with his mouth taped shut and slumped in a corner of a room.
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CHICAGO — A judge rebuked four black people accused of beating a mentally disabled white man and broadcasting the attack on Facebook, sternly asking, “Where was your sense of decency?” before denying their attorneys’ pleas to set bail so they might be released from jail. “I find each of you a danger to yourself and society,” Cook County Circuit Judge Maria Kuriakos Ciesil said, sounding baffled that the suspects who hold jobs, attend school, live with grandparents and, in one case, care for a brother in a wheelchair, could stand accused of attacking the 18-year-old victim. How, she wondered, could she agree to allow people accused of such “terrible actions” walk out of jail? Prosecutors offered new details of the assault, explaining that one of the suspects demanded $300 from the victim’s mother and that the beating started in a van and continued at a house. The suspects are accused of forcing the victim to drink toilet water and kiss the floor. They allegedly stuffed a sock into his mouth, taped his mouth shut and bound his hands with a belt. Authorities say they also threatened him with a knife and taunted him with profanities against white people and President-elect Donald Trump. The 18-year-old victim, who is from a Chicago suburb, suffers from schizophrenia and attention-deficit disorder, authorities said.
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THE ZAPATA TIMES | Saturday, January 7, 2017 |
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ENTERTAINMENT
HBO film on Reynolds and Fisher becomes unexpected memorial By David Bauder ASSOCIATED PRE SS
Andy Kropa / AP
In this May 16, 2016 file photo, Kim Kardashian West attends the 20th Annual Webby Awards in New York.
Kim Kardashian West breaks silence on Paris heist in teaser A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
NEW YORK — A tearful Kim Kardashian West breaks her silence on her Paris robbery in a new teaser for the family’s reality show, telling two of her sisters her thoughts at the time: “They’re going to shoot me in the back. There’s no way out.” She’s also seen on the short clip released Friday by E! ahead of the upcoming March season sobbing on the phone over husband Kanye West’s hospitalization in November. “Don’t scare me, please. What’s going on,” Kardashian West said. “I think he really needs me, and I have to go home.” Kardashian West was
bound, gagged and held at gunpoint in October inside a Paris hotel room by masked men who stole jewelry and escaped. She recalls the incident in the clip to sisters Khloe Kardashian and Kourtney Kardashian, adding: “It makes me so upset to think about it.” Her rapper husband was admitted to UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles for sleep deprivation and exhaustion, later canceling his Saint Pablo tour. It was unclear where Kardashian West was at the time she learned the news. The show, “Keeping Up with the Kardashians ,” returns in March but no specific date has been announced.
Spanish-language Vme TV dropped in large Hispanic region By Russell Contreras A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — New Mexico PBS, a public television station in a state with the largest percentage of Hispanic residents, is dropping Spanish-language TV channel Vme from its lineup due to low ratings and amid continued struggles by media companies to reach Latino audiences. The move comes as Vme TV — the first and only Spanish broadcast television network associated with public television stations — recently announced it was transitioning to commercial cable over the next year. New Mexico PBS marketing manager Michael Privett said after seven years, Vme TV never caught on in the Albuquerque area despite the region’s large Latino population. “I’m surprised by that but it just never took off for whatever reason,” Privett said. New Mexico PBS is replacing Vme TV with a new 24-hour PBS Kids Channel, and Privett said station officials believe that new project will attract Hispanic audiences on air and online. A spokeswoman listed on the website for Vme TV said her firm no longer represented the station. A message sent to Vme TV through its Facebook page was not immediately returned. Launched in 2007 to much fanfare, Miamibased Vme TV broadcast in more than 40 markets and partners with WNET in New York. The 24-hour network prom-
ised to offer entertaining and educational programming aimed at Spanish-speaking families. Vme officials announced last month that the network was phasing out multicast service for public television as contracts with PBS affiliates were set to expire. Jesse Holcomb, associate director of journalism research at the Pew Research Center, said recent data show some Spanish-language television outlets have seen declining viewership while others have seen slight increases. But overall Hispanics, like the general population, are moving to streaming service for media consumption, affecting viewership of Spanish-language television stations. “Also, some of the efforts in recent years to tap into the Hispanic digital market have faltered,” Holcomb said. Richard Pineda, director of the Sam Donaldson Center for Communication Studies at the University of Texas at El Paso, said Spanish-language television stations outside of markets with large immigrant populations face challenges because Mexican Americans are many generations removed from their immigrant parents. That’s the population in places like Albuquerque and a growing number of other Latino cities, he said. “Broadly speaking, they have cultural affinity, not language affinity,” Pineda said. “They won’t understand what’s on a total exclusive Spanish-speaking station.”
NEW YORK — HBO thought its documentary “Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds” would be perfect for Mother’s Day. Instead, it has turned into a television memorial service. “Life took over and changed the rules,” Sheila Nevins, who runs the network’s documentary unit, said Friday. The deaths of Fisher and her mother on two successive days last week compelled HBO to swiftly schedule the film’s television premiere for Saturday night at 8 p.m. EST/ PST. While nothing good comes from such a tragedy, those who see the documentary will find comfort knowing that the two Hollywood stars who loved and depended upon each other would not have to spend much time apart. “Debbie was so strong that she seemed almost in control of what was going on,” said Fisher Stevens, who made the film with his wife, Alexis Bloom. “She held on for a long time. She went through a lot of pain while we were filming and it seemed like (she said) ‘OK, I held on long enough. I’m not going to bury my daughter.”’ Fisher, of “Star Wars” fame, was the film’s instigator. Learning her mother, at age 82, insisted upon performing some final nightclub shows, Fisher thought the experience should be preserved on film and contacted Stevens through mutual friends. The idea intrigued the filmmakers; Reynolds was the last of the MGM contract employees still performing and was a link to a disappearing world. Fisher became known as much for her humor-
Fisher Family Archives / AP
This image shows Carrie Fisher, left, and her mother Debbie Reynolds from the documentary, "Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds”.
ous writing as acting and, in the film, is a one-woman one-liner machine. Both women found the process of making a documentary difficult. Reynolds was used to being on-camera, but not without playing a role; she would request a nonexistent script. Fisher didn’t understand how much filming would be necessary. In the process, a story the filmmakers didn’t necessarily expect made itself clear. “Carrie said, ‘I’m my mom’s best friend,’ and that’s when we knew we had a love story,” Stevens said. “I wasn’t sure about that before. Then it just started unfolding as Debbie got more and more ill and Carrie started coming apart emotionally” as a result. The film depicts Reynolds’ frailty, her good days and bad days. One day she wasn’t up to being interviewed and called to apologize. She also had the capacity to bounce back; filmmakers thought Reynolds’ final Las Vegas appearance would be
their endpoint. Instead, it turned out to be the actress receiving a lifetime achievement award. The archival material is rich, some shot by Reynolds herself. A 15-yearold Carrie sings “Bridge Over Troubled Water” at one of her mom’s shows, years before she met, married and divorced the song’s author, Paul Simon. One memorable passage catches Fisher visiting her father, singer Eddie Fisher, three months before his death in 2010. HBO happened to have that footage, never-used outtakes from a previous Carrie Fisher project. Bloom and Stevens took “Bright Lights” to several film festivals last year. Pleased by the outcome, both stars helped to promote it. Stevens said he last saw them at a birthday party for Fisher at the end of October. Fisher was in good spirits and Reynolds seemed healthier than she was during much of the filming; she even walked up to Fisher’s house for the party. The two women lived in adjacent houses in
a Beverly Hills, California, compound. He and his family were in South Africa, where Bloom is from, when Fisher fell ill. “It’s still weird to me, it’s still surreal,” he said. “I’m still kind of unsettled.” Fisher’s death didn’t change HBO’s scheduling plans, but Reynolds’ death did. There was some discussion of whether HBO would seem ghoulishly opportunistic by airing it so quickly, but that consideration was dismissed. Stevens said he requested that HBO seek the blessing of Fisher’s daughter and brother. He said he hoped the film would inspire viewers to call family members they don’t speak to often enough. “Yes, it’s on the bandwagon of a lot of publicity,” Nevins said. “But it’s our own special thing. We didn’t create it for the events that happened the past two weeks. We created it a year ago and it became relevant in terms of giving you a reason for turning the page.”
Behind the bar, ‘the only Oscar at the Golden Globes’ By Ryan Pearson ASSOCIATED PRE SS
BEVERLY HILLS, California — Win or lose, Hollywood’s biggest stars will be looking forward to Oscar once again at Sunday’s Golden Globe Awards. But not necessarily THAT Oscar. As longtime bartender in the show’s off-camera green room, Oscar Zuleta has toasted with Sean Connery, gotten a head rub from Tom Hanks and shared a selfie with Jessica Alba. The 48-year-old Beverly Hilton Hotel staffer keeps the drinks flowing at the awards circuit’s booziest gathering. “A lot of people know me for that - you are the only Oscar at the Golden Globes,” Zuleta says. “I know many of the presenters for years now wonderful people and I get to see them every year and they happen to remember me, luckily.” Zuleta emigrated to Los Angeles from Guatemala as a teenager. He started working for the Hilton in 1986, at first just pouring cups of coffee. Eventually, he landed on the hotel’s banquet staff, commuting daily from the working class Mid-City area to the mecca of affluence that is Beverly Hills to dish out meals at business conventions or clean up after the hotel’s many charity galas. His first brush with Globes glamour was in an
Rick Taber / AP
This Jan. 3, 2017 image taken from video shows Beverly Hilton hotel bartender Oscar Zuleta mixing drinks at the hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif. Zuleta has toasted with Sean Connery, gotten a head rub from Tom Hanks, shared a selfie with Jessica Alba while working previous Golden Globe Awards.
eighth-floor suite afterparty in 1995. Tom Hanks was celebrating his win for “Forrest Gump” and noticed Zuleta’s “Oscar” name tag. “He says, ‘Come here. Let me rub your head. I need some luck,”’ Zuleta recalled, laughing. Hanks went on to win at the Oscars. One year, Zuleta delivered extra food to a Globes guest mid-show and found himself crawling between tables as the televised ceremony continued — and while an amused Angelina Jolie looked on. Then there’s the time he held an extended conversation with Mike Tyson — in Spanish. And Zuleta is ready with a ginger ale as soon as he spots Robert Downey Jr. “Frankly, it wouldn’t be
a Golden Globes without Oscar. Everybody looks for him,” said Globes executive producer Barry Adelman. “Everybody who is anybody has been served a drink by Oscar.” Meryl Streep, an Affleck brother or two, and dozens of other actors will be packed into Cabana Room 138 on Sunday as they wait their turns onstage in the hotel’s International Ballroom. But Zuleta says he won’t have time to chat much as he pours out martinis and Champagne. It’s the stars’ loss; the bartender has stories of his own to tell. He raised three children alone for years after his first wife, Cecilia, died of a brain aneurysm. He saved enough money from his unionized job to help
pay tuition for his two older daughters at East Coast colleges. After remarrying, his current wife, Zonia, also suffered a brain aneurysm. She’s doing OK, though, and Zuleta took her on vacation last month to visit California’s Monterey Bay Aquarium, the place that inspired his favorite movie of 2016, “Finding Dory.” Moments of kindness stand out for Zuleta in the yearly whirlwind of fame and glitz. “Everybody is nice to me, but there are people that show you that you matter,” he said. Jessica Alba posted a selfie with the heavyset bartender on her Instagram feed. One man tipped him an envelope stuffed with $300. But it was a red wine toast with James Bond actor Connery that’s become Zuleta’s favorite Globes moment. “He did a wonderful thing. He told me with his heavy accent that his custom is not to have a drink of wine - only if the person that is serving it to him has it with him. But you know, being a worker, I’m not allowed to do that. But he insisted,” Zuleta said. After getting permission from the banquet manager and Globes host Dick Clark himself, Zuleta took a sip. “And he says, ‘Cheers, my son,”’ Zuleta recalled. “I’ll never forget that.”
A10 | Saturday, January 7, 2017 | THE ZAPATA TIMES
NATIONAL
Fort Lauderdale airport shooting leaves 5 dead By Lizette Alvarez, Neil Reisner, Erin Mccann and Christine Hauser N EW YORK T I ME S
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — A gunman opened fire Friday in a crowded baggage claim area at the airport in Fort Lauderdale, killing five people and wounding eight others, officials said. “The gunman is in custody and unharmed,” the Broward County sheriff, Scott Israel, said, adding that he was being interviewed by FBI agents and county investigators. The injured have been taken to an area hospital. The sheriff said investigators were trying to determine the motive of the gunman, who was identified by Sen. Bill Nelson of Florida as Esteban Santiago. Nelson said the gunman as carrying a military identification. “He was a lone shooter and we have no evidence at this time that he was acting with anyone else,” said Barbara Sharief, a Broward County commissioner. The Fort LauderdaleHollywood International Airport authority said on Twitter that the shooting had taken place in the baggage claim area in Terminal 2, which is used by Delta Air Lines and Air Canada. The baggage claim would have been outside the secure area of the airport. Israel would not say whether the gunman was a passenger on a flight or had come to airport from the Fort Lauderdale area. On Twitter, Presidentelect Donald Trump said he was “monitoring the
Joe Raedle / Getty
First responders secure the area outside the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International airport after a shooting took place near the baggage claim on Friday.
terrible situation in Florida” and he had spoken to Gov. Rick Scott, who was on his way to the airport. The shooting in a crowded post-holiday airport, which began shortly before 1 p.m., set off a panic as travelers rushed out of the terminal. “Everyone is running,” Ari Fleischer, the former White House press secretary for President George W. Bush said on Twitter just before 1 p.m. Video footage showed hundreds of people waiting on the tarmac as law enforcement officers rushed to the scene. Fleischer later tweeted that the situation had calmed “but the police aren’t letting anyone out of the airport.” About 90 minutes after the shooting, panic broke out briefly with passengers and police officers running frantically. Passengers in other parts of the airport were reporting shots being fired, and dozens of officers could be seen with automatic weapons drawn, directing a large group of travelers. The Broward County sheriff said initially that it was investigating reports of additional shots being fired, but Israel said during the news conference
that the reports were false. Witnesses told news outlets that the gunman, who appeared to be a man in his 20s wearing a “Star Wars” T-shirt, had been firing into the crowd at baggage claim. Israel said no shots were fired by law enforcement, countering reports that the gunman had been shot by police. John Schlicher, who told MSNBC that he witnessed the attack, described the gunman as a “slender man” who was “directly firing at us” while passengers waited for their bags to come off the carousel. “I put my head down and prayed,” Schlicher told the television network. Dr. Michael Massa, who was traveling home to Los Angeles from Europe, said they heard shots shortly after getting into the terminal. “We ran from the terminal out to the tarmac,” Massa said, who added that officials then directed them toward the east side of the airport where they were waiting behind an airport building. At one point, he said, officials made everyone go single file, hands up, and then patted everyone.
THE ZAPATA TIMES | Saturday, January 7, 2017 |
A11
FROM THE COVER
Putin ordered ‘influence campaign’ aimed at U.S. election, report says By David E. Sanger N EW YORK T I ME S
WASHINGTON — U.S. intelligence officials have concluded that Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin, personally “ordered an influence campaign in 2016 aimed at the U.S. presidential election,” and turned from seeking to “denigrate” Hillary Clinton to developing “a clear preference for Presidentelect Trump.” The conclusions were part of a declassified intelligence report, ordered by President Barack Obama, that was released Friday. Its main conclusions were described to Donald Trump by the nation’s top intelligence officials earlier in the day, and he responded by acknowledging, for the first time, that Russia had sought to hack into the Democratic National Committee’s computer systems. But he insisted that the effort had no effect on the election, and he said nothing about the conclusion that Putin, at some point last year, decided to aid his candidacy. The report, a damning and surprisingly detailed account of Russia’s efforts to undermine the U.S. electoral system and Clinton in particular, went on to assess that Putin had “aspired to help President-elect Trump’s election chances when possible by discrediting Secretary Clinton and pub-
COUNTY From page A1 due by May 18. “Notwithstanding her work history and her competence at her duties and her reclassification, (Arreola) was terminated from her job position at the county by the commissioners court on Sept. 30, 2015 … due to budgetary cuts,” the petition states. The lawsuit further alleges employees younger than Arreola that were slated for termination by the commissioners court were either retained or, if terminated, reinstated to their former position or a position with the same or similar duties. Arreola filed an administrative charge complaining of unlawful age and sex discrimination with the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the civil rights division of the Texas Workforce Commission on Jan. 5. She filed the lawsuit after receiving notice of the termination of proceedings before the employment commission on
PROTESTS From page A1 post themselves at highway toll booths with banners. Mexicans were enraged by the 20 percent fuel price hike announced over the weekend as part of a government deregulation of the energy sector. While acknowledging the anger, President Enrique Pena Nieto said Thursday he would forge ahead anyway with the
licly contrasting her unfavorably to him.” The report described a broad campaign that included covert operations, including cyberactivities and the “trolling” on the internet of people who were viewed as opponents of Russia’s effort. While it accused Russian intelligence agencies of obtaining and maintaining “access to elements of multiple U.S. state or local electoral boards,” it concluded — as officials have publicly — that there was no evidence of tampering with the tallying of the vote Nov. 8. The report, reflecting the assessments of the CIA, the FBI and the National Security Agency, stopped short of backing up Trump on his declaration that the hacking had no effect on the election. “We did not make an assessment of the impact that Russian activities had on the outcome of the 2016 election,” the report concluded, saying it was beyond its responsibility to analyze U.S. “political processes” or public opinion. The intelligence agencies also concluded “with high confidence” that Russia’s main military intelligence unit, the GRU, created a “persona” called Guccifer 2.0 and a website, DCLeaks.com, to release the emails of the Democratic National Committee and the chairman of the Clinton campaign, John Podesta.
Crews in Lake Erie find what may be human remains from plane ASSOCIATED PRE SS
CLEVELAND — Crews searching Lake Erie on Friday found what may be human remains on a seat from a plane that was carrying six people when it disappeared more than a week ago. Officials said Friday night that the remains were being analyzed by a medical examiner to determine if they are human. They said the remains were found on a seat from the plane’s passenger compartment. Divers guided by an underwater detector earlier Friday found the cockpit voice recorder and pieces of the tail from the plane. They continued to search into the evening for the plane’s fuselage debris despite rough conditions that limited visibility to less than a foot just off shore from downtown Cleveland. Authorities later said they had concluded their search for the day, would resume Monday and would be meeting to determine their next steps. They said they’d continue to search until they’re confident they’ve found all they can.
Marvin Fong / AP
An Ohio Department of Natural Resources boat heads out to Lake Erie to help in the recovery operation of a missing plane, Friday near Cleveland. Crews searching Lake Erie on Friday found what may be human remains on a seat from a plane that was carrying six people when it disappeared more than a week ago.
Transmissions from a locator beacon detector helped narrow the search area, but divers moved slowly as they followed the signals. Daytime temperatures have been in the teens throughout the search, and Friday’s noon reading in Cleveland was 14 degrees with a wind chill of 3. The search by air and along the shore for debris continued as weather permitted. Investigators have said the cockpit voice recorder appeared to be intact and would be sent to Washington, D.C., for further examination. National Transportation
Safety Board investigator Tim Sorenson said the review is only in the beginning stages. Searchers said previously they were looking for the cockpit voice recorder in an underwater area about 125 feet by 325 feet. They have found almost daily debris that is consistent with the Cessna 525 Citation, which vanished shortly after takeoff from Burke Lakefront Airport on Dec. 29. The plane was piloted by John T. Fleming, the president of a Columbus beverage distribution company. The passengers were his wife, Suzanne
Fleming; their teenage sons, Jack and Andrew; and two neighbors, Brian Casey and his teenage daughter, Megan Casey, a freshman nursing student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The group was returning to Columbus after attending a Cleveland Cavaliers game in downtown Cleveland. The Flemings’ relatives have scheduled calling hours Sunday and a memorial service Monday at a church in Canfield, near Youngstown. A second memorial is planned Tuesday at a church in Delaware, north of Columbus.
Man accused of dismembering parents returning to Tennessee Michael Guy Jr. sent back to Tennessee, where he is expected to face firstdegree murder charges. Guy had refused to waive his right to an extradition hearing following his Nov. 29 arrest at his Baton Rouge apartment. Guy is accused of killing his parents — 61-yearold Joel Guy Sr. and 55year-old Lisa Guy — in their Knoxville home and trying to dissolve their remains in a homemade acid-based solution. Dep-
uties discovered their bodies Nov. 28. Authorities said the suspect had visited his parents for Thanksgiving. During Friday’s hearing, a prosecutor asked for Guy to be released from jail Friday so two sheriff’s officials could take him back to Knoxville before winter weather reached the region. Lindsay Blouin, one of Guy’s courtappointed attorneys in Baton Rouge, said Guy didn’t want to be ques-
tioned on his way back to Tennessee. An arrest warrant says video shows Guy at a Walmart in Knoxville buying items that were found in his parents’ home. The warrant says the items “were apparently used in the attempted destruction of the crime scene.” Investigators believe Guy spent at least one night in his parents’ home after they were dismembered.
Taryn Walters may be reached at 956-728-2528 or twalters@lmtonline.com.
rule of law in Tamaulipas,” authorities said in a statement. Tamaulipas Gov. Francisco García Cabeza de Vaca issued a statement about the ambush on his Twitter account. “I mourn and condemn the cowardly murder in Nuevo Laredo. I give my condolences to their families,” García Cabeza de Vaca stated. He added, “I reiterate that nothing will stop the actions undertaken by my government to give back to the Tamaulipecos the peace snatched by a few. We will not take a step back in this fight against the enemies of Tamaulipas.” Rescue Nuevo Laredo record-
ed more criminal activity prior to the killing of the four public servants. On Wednesday, Tamaulipas authorities said Mexican troops rescued eight immigrants who were held against their will. The rescue occurred Tuesday. An anonymous tip led authorities to a home in Colonia Valles de Anáhuac in west Nuevo Laredo. Mexican soldiers and state officers rescued eight people who came from Puebla, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí and Jalisco. Two suspects fled the scene when authorities arrived. A group of people had intercepted and kidnapped the immigrants at a bus station in Nuevo Laredo. During the operation, officials said they seized a 2005 Pontiac Grand
Am with no license plates. Since Dec. 24, Mexican authorities said they have rescued 43 people who were allegedly kidnapped in Nuevo Laredo, according to reports. Recently, a criminal group that operates across the border held a Christmas toy giveaway to families in need in Nuevo Laredo. On Dec. 28, the Tamaulipas Attorney General’s Office announced they were investigating the event. Authorities said two newspapers and a radio station in Nuevo Laredo publicized the toy distribution. It was also publicized by three websites. Nuevo Laredo had been experiencing a period of relative calm until last year, when infighting between factions that
once formed the notorious Zetas drug cartel spread to the city. For the last several months, the city has been the site of occasional shootouts between security forces and heavily armed gang members. Until the fighting started in 2016, Nuevo Laredo had experienced nearly three years of peace. Before then, the city had suffered under almost a decade of unchecked cartel violence. Between 2005 and 2013 at least three of the city’s police chiefs were assassinated or disappeared. The city currently does not have a municipal police force and is patrolled by federal and state security agents. San Antonio ExpressNews staff writer Jason Buch contributed to this report
deregulated price scheme, which would do away with fuel subsidies and allow gasoline prices to be determined by prevailing international prices. “I know that allowing gasoline to rise to its international price is a difficult change, but as president, my job is to precisely make difficult decisions now, in order to avoid worse consequences in the future,” Pena Nieto said in a televised address. “Keeping gas prices artificially low would mean taking mon-
ey away from the poorest Mexicans, and giving it to those who have the most.” Pena Nieto said the other big challenge for Mexico in 2017 was to “build a positive relationship with the new U.S. administration,” something he said would be done with Mexico’s “unbreakable dignity.” Veracruz Gov. Miguel Angel Yunes Linares ventured out Thursday and tried to persuade a crowd not to attack a grocery store that had
already been looted a day earlier. About 300 people were detained in Veracruz. In Mexico State, which borders Mexico City, 529 people had been detained as suspected looters. Four state police officers were fired and detained after they were caught on video taking some looted items and putting them in their patrol vehicles. The state government said the looting had quieted Thursday. But video of the Wednesday disturbances showed riot-like
scenes of people streaming out of stores carrying flat-screen TVs and other items. Officials claimed many of the lootings incidents were promoted through social media. With blockades affecting everything from gas distribution terminals, seaports and highways to shopping centers and gas stations, the Communications and Transport Department announced it would cancel permits for any truckers who block roads.
The change boosted the average price for a liter of premium gasoline to 17.79 pesos (about 90 cents). That makes 4 liters, or about a gallon, equal to nearly as much as Mexico’s just raised minimum wage for a day’s work — 80 pesos (about $4). The National Association of Self-Service and Department Stores of Mexico has said in a statement that more than 79 stores had been looted and 170 were closed or blockaded in central Mexico, including the capital.
July 2, according to the lawsuit. The county’s actions in terminating and refusing to rehire Arreola on the same basis as similarly situated employees of less age and a different gender are in violation of the Texas Labor Code, the lawsuit states. The county denies such allegations in its response to the lawsuit. “(The county) would show that any loss or damages alleged by (Arreola), if any, were caused in whole or in part by (her) failure to use reasonable efforts to mitigate her damages,” the county states in its response. The county says anyone alleging wrongful termination has a duty to mitigate the damages by making a good faith effort to obtain and retain employment. Eileen Leeds, attorney for the county, and Murray Edward Malakoff, attorney for Arreola, could not be reached for comment. The county declined to comment due to the pending litigation.
ASSOCIATED PRE SS
BATON ROUGE, La. — A man arrested in Louisiana on suspicion of stabbing and dismembering his parents at their Tennessee home will be returned to the state where the killings occurred. The Advocate in Baton Rouge reports sheriff’s officials from Knox County, Tennessee, were in a Louisiana courtroom Friday when a judge ordered 28-year-old Joel
MEXICO From page A1
A12 | Saturday, January 7, 2017 | THE ZAPATA TIMES
NATIONAL
SeaWorld: Tilikum, orca that killed trainer, has died By Mike Schneider A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
ORLANDO, Fla. — Tilikum, an orca that killed a trainer at SeaWorld Orlando in 2010 and was profiled in a documentary that helped sway popular opinion against keeping killer whales in captivity at SeaWorld parks, has died. Sea World officials said Friday that Tilikum died but did not give a cause of death. In a statement, the officials said Tilikum had faced serious health issues including a persistent and complicated bacterial lung infection. He was estimated to be 36 years old. A necropsy
will be performed, according to the statement. “Tilikum had, and will continue to have, a special place in the hearts of the SeaWorld family, as well as the millions of people all over the world that he inspired,” SeaWorld President & CEO Joel Manby said. “My heart goes out to our team who cared for him like family.” Tilikum was SeaWorld’s most prolific male orca, siring 14 calves while he was at SeaWorld Orlando. He arrived at the park about 25 years ago. He was noticeable for his size at more than 22 feet and 11,800 pounds. Tilikum was born off the waters of Iceland and
moved to Sealand of the Pacific in Canada after being captured. While at Sealand in 1992, Tilikum and two female orcas were responsible for the death of a part-time trainer who slipped and fell into their pool and was submerged by them. Tilikum was moved to SeaWorld Orlando a short time later, and Sealand later closed. In 1999, a naked man who had eluded security and sneaked into SeaWorld at night was found dead the next morning draped over Tilikum in a breeding tank in the back of Shamu Stadium. But it was the 2010 death of SeaWorld trainer Dawn Brancheau by
Tilikum after a “Dine with Shamu” show that left the biggest impact on the future of orcas at SeaWorld parks. Brancheau was interacting with Tilikum before a live audience at SeaWorld Orlando when he pulled her from a platform by her arm and held her under the water. An autopsy report said Brancheau drowned but also suffered severe trauma, including multiple fractures. SeaWorld Entertainment officials announced in March 2016 that the tourist attraction would end its orca breeding program and theatrical shows involving killer whales. The decision
Gerardo Mora / Getty
Tilikum, the orca held by SeaWorld after it was involved in multiple deaths, has died at 35.
came six years after Brancheau’s death and three years after the release of the documentary, “Blackfish,” which chronicled Tilikum’s life and Brancheau’s death. The documentary argued that killer whales, when in captivity, become more aggressive toward humans and each other. After the documentary played at the Sundance Film Festival and aired
on CNN, several entertainers pulled out of planned performances at SeaWorld parks and animal rights activists increased their demonstrations outside the parks. Attendance at SeaWorld parks dipped, the company faced falling profits and Southwest Airlines ended its 25-year relationship with the theme park company.
Sports&Outdoors THE ZAPATA TIMES | Saturday, January 7, 2017 |
B1
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE: HOUSTON TEXANS
Texans’ top-ranked ‘D’ faces Raiders Backup QBs meet in wild-card game By Kristie Rieken ASSOCIATED PRE SS
Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle
Texans defensive end Jadeveon Clowney and Houston’s top-ranked defensive unit faces off Saturday with the Raiders in the AFC wild-card game.
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE: 2016 AP NFL ALL-PRO TEAM
HOUSTON — Two weeks ago, the Oakland Raiders were heading for the playoffs with MVP candidate Derek Carr at quarterback. Now they’re down to rookie third-string quarterback Connor Cook as they prepare for their first postseason game since the 2002 season with a wild-card matchup against the Houston Texans on Saturday. Cook was named the starter this week after Carr broke his leg on Dec. 24 and backup Matt McGloin injured his shoulder on Sunday. Cook, who made his NFL debut last week, will be
the first quarterback in NFL history to make his first start in a playoff game. But the Raiders (12-4) aren’t feeling sorry for themselves. “You do the best you can regardless of the circumstances,” Raiders coach Jack Del Rio said. “To me it’s a great opportunity. You have these great opportunities in life to be at your best, and you get these great challenges. “So, how do you respond? What we want to do is respond like men and go in there full of energy and belief and fight our (tails) off.” Cook was a fourthround pick after a fourTexans continues on B2
NFL: DALLAS COWBOYS
ROOKIES HIGHLIGHT 2016 ALL-PRO TEAM Elliott, Lee among 5 Cowboys on team Rich Schultz / Getty Images
By Barry Wilner A S S O CIAT E D PRE SS
The Associated Press 2016 NFL All-Pro Team is showing off the new wave of pro football stars. Three rookies among 17 first-time selections highlight the team, including Dallas running back Ezekiel Elliott, and Kansas City’s Tyreek Hill, who is a unanimous choice as a punt returner. Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan, edging New England’s Tom Brady, who was suspended for four games, is another first-time All Pro. Tennessee right tackle Jack Conklin is the other rookie making the revamped roster announced Friday. “It’s special,” Elliott said. “Just to be able to come into this league my first year and dominate and just play at the level I’m playing, and just kind of get these honors already as a rookie, it
means a lot. I was never even All-American in college. I was never a first-team All-American. I’ll never get a Buckeye tree at Ohio State. That’s the one thing that I regret the most. “Kind of seeing it come into the league and making All-Pro this rookie year, it definitely means a lot.” It’s the first time since 1981 that so many firstyear players made the team. Back then, it was future Hall of Famers Lawrence Taylor and Ronnie Lott, and 1980 Heisman-winning running back George Rogers. For the first time, the nationwide panel of 50 sports writers and broadcasters who regularly cover the NFL voted for specific positions on the offensive line, a flex player on offense, a fifth defensive back, a punt returner and a special teamer. All-Pro continues on B2
Cowboys defensive end Randy Gregory was suspended for the third time this season Thursday receiving at least a one-year ban for violating the substance abuse policy.
Cowboys’ Randy Gregory gets 1-year ban for substance abuse By Schuyler Dixon ASSOCIATED PRE SS
Michael Ainsworth / Associated Press file
Dallas rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott was named to the AP 2016 NFL All-Pro Team on Friday.
FRISCO, Texas — Dallas defensive end Randy Gregory was suspended for at least a year Thursday for another violation of the NFL’s substanceabuse policy. It’s the third time this season Gregory has been suspended. The first was a four-game ban, followed by 10 games on top of that. The latest suspension
makes him ineligible for the playoffs, which start Jan. 15 for Dallas, the top seed in the NFC. The suspension is for one calendar year, meaning Gregory could be eligible for the playoffs without another violation if the Cowboys make it again next season. Gregory played the final two games of his second regular season, recording the first sack of his career Gregory continues on B2
NCAA FOOTBALL: MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS
P.J. Fleck leaving Western Michigan to coach Minnesota By Jon Krawczynski A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
MINNEAPOLIS — P.J. Fleck is leaving Western Michigan to take over a Minnesota program reeling from a threatened player boycott of a bowl game and the handling of a sexual assault investigation. Minnesota athletic director Mark Coyle said Friday that he was bringing in Fleck in hopes that his seemingly boundless enthusiasm would help unite a program and school that have been fractured over the last month.
“P.J. is a proven winner and a strong leader,” Coyle said in a statement issued before an afternoon news conference. “He’s built a unique, positive culture that gets the best out of his students on the field and in the classroom. His infectious energy and passion make him a terrific coach and dynamic recruiter.” The hiring comes three days after Coyle fired Tracy Claeys following a standoff between players and the administration over the suspension of 10 players in connection with the assault allegations that date to Septem-
ber. Coyle needed to quickly find a replacement who could plunge into recruiting and he found someone he hopes can help bridge the deep divisions that remain between the team and school leaders. “I look forward to meeting my new players and getting to know them as quickly as possible,” Fleck said. “I am excited to put together a staff and turn my efforts to recruiting, but also want Gopher fans to know that my wife, Heather, and I and our four children will be visible in the community and we are eager to con-
nect with them. I am ready to go.” Fleck guided the Broncos to a 13-1 record this season and a spot in the Cotton Bowl, where they lost 24-16 to Wisconsin. The 36-year-old coach is 30-22 in four years at Western Michigan, with three bowl appearances. His relentless, youthful energy and motivational team motto “Row the boat!” helped push the Broncos into the national spotlight this fall, with the campus and city of Kalamazoo abuzz over a program that had never Fleck continues on B2
Anthony Souffle / TNS
Minnesota chose Western Michigan’s P.J. Fleck as its next head football coach. The Broncos were unbeaten in the regular season before losing to Wisconsin in the Cotton Bowl.
B2 | Saturday, January 7, 2017 | THE ZAPATA TIMES
SPORTS
Bonner announces retirement after 10 years with Spurs By Jeff McDonald SA N A N TONI O E XPRE SS-NEWS
The Red Rocket has been officially de-commissioned. Matt Bonner has retired from the NBA, he announced through the Players Tribune this afternoon. Bonner, 35, played the final 10 of his 12 seasons in San Antonio, making him one of the longest tenured players in franchise history. He played on NBA championship teams in 2007 and 2014, averaged
FLECK From page B1 before won more than nine games in a season. Minnesota is buzzing for different reasons. Players threatened last month to boycott the Holiday Bowl after expressing reservations about a university investigation that led to the suspensions. Some players were accused of pressuring a woman into sex during a party after the
5.5 points and shot 41.3 percent from 3-point range in a Spurs uniform, and was one of the most beloved members of the locker room in his time in San Antonio. Bonner ranks eighth on the franchise's all-time games-played list (632), fourth in 3-pointers made (656) and fifth in 3-point percentage. News of Bonner's retirement does not come as a shock. The Spurs opted not to re-sign Bonner last summer, and he has been unable to hook on with another NBA team.
Center Matt Bonner retired Friday after he had not been signed by an NBA team this season. He spent the past 10 years with the Spurs.
team’s season-opening win over Oregon State. Prosecutors twice declined to file charges, but the school’s investigation found that a number of players violated its conduct code and could face punishments up to and including expulsion. The appeals process is still pending. Many players remain upset with Coyle and school President Eric Kaler for how the situation was handled. Coyle said federal privacy laws
prevented him from communicating more with a confused team, but the issue has not gone away after the Gophers posted a 9-4 record and a win over Washington State in the bowl game. “I get they’re upset. I get they’re frustrated. I understand that,” Coyle said on Tuesday. “It’s our job to find a leader who will take this program forward and unite all of them in one direction, one goal.” Fleck, a star receiver at
David Zalubowski / Associated Press
Northern Illinois, played briefly in the NFL for the San Francisco 49ers. He has worked as a college assistant at Northern Illinois, Ohio State and Rutgers. In 2012, he was an assistant for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before taking over the Broncos. Mid-American Conference coaches have been plucked by Big Ten teams several times before, with mixed success. Tim Beckman started at Illinois in 2012 after leaving Toledo, and he was fired after a
12-25 record over three seasons amid allegations of player mistreatment. Darrell Hazell left Kent State to join Purdue in 2013. The Boilermakers finished 9-33 and was fired halfway through his fourth season. Ohio State’s Urban Meyer launched his career at Bowling Green, but he had stops at Utah and Florida in between. Jerry Kill, the predecessor to Claeys, left Northern Illinois for the Gophers six years ago and went a
respectable 29-29 before epilepsy forced his retirement. The Gophers also considered former LSU coach Les Miles and reached out to Penn State offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead but were turned down early in the process, two people with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press. They spoke on condition of anonymity because Minnesota was not commenting publicly on its search.
GREGORY From page B1
Ronald Martinez / Getty Images file
After not being selected to the Pro Bowl, Cowboys linebacker Sean Lee was named an All-Pro by the AP.
ALL-PRO From page B1 Other first-timers include Arizona running back David Johnson (flex); Denver cornerback Chris Harris Jr. (DB); and New England’s Matthew Slater (special teamer). One other unanimous pick is Baltimore placekicker Justin Tucker. With only seven repeaters from last season’s squad, the All-Pro Team has a decidedly new flavor not only in alignment, but makeup. Not surpris-
TEXANS From page B1 year career at Michigan State where he threw for 9,194 yards with 71 touchdowns and 22 interceptions. He expects to be a bit nervous early on Saturday, but believes his biggame experience with the Spartans will help him calm down quickly. “You always have the nerves leading up to the game and once you get out there you have a couple snaps and you get hit, get knocked down then all of that stuff kind of goes away and you start to play ball,” he said. The Texans (9-7) also had a quarterback shakeup this week and Brock Osweiler returns to the starting lineup after being benched two weeks ago.
ingly, the Cowboys have the most players selected with five: Elliott, the league’s leading rusher; linebacker Sean Lee ; and offensive linemen Tyron Smith (left tackle), Travis Frederick (center) and Zack Martin (right guard). Kansas City is next with four: Hill, tight end Travis Kelce, safety Eric Berry and cornerback Marcus Peters. Ryan, the league’s top passer (117.1 rating, 38 touchdowns, 7 interceptions), is one of three Falcons, joined by edge
rusher Vic Beasley Jr., the NFL’s sacks leader with 15 1/2, and wide receiver Julio Jones. “There are so many things that don’t show up on the stat sheet,” Falcons coach Dan Quinn said of Ryan. “How many people he’s affected on our team. He’s a fantastic teammate. That’s one of the highest praises you can give to a ballplayer.” Jones and Steelers wideout Antonio Brown are repeaters from 2015, along with Berry, edge rusher Khalil Mack of Oakland, interior line-
man Aaron Donald of Los Angeles, linebacker Von Miller of Denver, and punter Johnny Hekker of the Rams. Also having previously made an AllPro team: Seattle linebacker Bobby Wagner (2014) and Minnesota kick returner Cordarrelle Patterson (2013). “It still means a ton,” said Wagner, who led the NFL in tackles. “Those things are hard to come by. I will always be appreciative of the ... All-Pros because you look at guys who have played a long period of time at a very
high level and weren’t able to get them for whatever reason.” First-timers along with the three rookies are Ryan, Johnson, Kelce, Beasley, Lee, Slater, Harris, Peters, Martin, Frederick, Oakland left guard Kelechi Osemele, Denver cornerback Aqib Talib, and Giants safety Landon Collins and interior lineman Damon Harrison. Three players make the first team for the third time: Miller, Brown and Berry. In all, 14 teams are represented.
Tom Savage started Houston’s last two regular-season games, but is out this week after suffering a concussion on Sunday. Osweiler is looking to redeem himself and help Houston to its first playoff win since the 2012 season after failing to live up to expectations in his first season after signing a $72 million contract. Under his guidance Houston’s passing game has been one of the worst in the league and he’s thrown more interceptions (16) than touchdowns (15). The Texans liked the way he performed after taking over when Savage went down on Sunday and expect him to build off that against the Raiders. “There’s nothing different from a regular-season
game to a playoff game,” Osweiler said. “The stakes are higher, obviously ... but it’s just a normal football game. I’ve had great success in this league playing football, so I’m very confident. I’m very confident in my teammates and I know we’ll be ready to go.” Some things to know about the Raiders-Texans game:
gence of 2014 top overall pick Jadeveon Clowney, who has a career-high six sacks and 16 tackles for losses, has been a key to Houston’s success against the run, and safety Quintin Demps starred in the secondary with a careerhigh six interceptions.
linebackers or their defenders who try and cover us,” Murray said. “We’re always trying to attack that weakness because we feel we’re good in space once we get out of the backfield catching the rock.”
TOP-RANKED DEFENSE While Houston’s offense has struggled this season, the defense has flourished despite a season-ending injury to star defensive end J.J. Watt. The Texans ended the regular season ranked first in the NFL for the first time in franchise history by allowing 301.3 yards a game. The emer-
OUT OF THE BACKFIELD While the Raiders struggled to run the ball in the first meeting with a season-low 30 yards on 20 carries, that didn’t mean it wasn’t a productive game for the running backs. Latavius Murray, Jamize Olawale and Jalen Richard combined for 199 yards receiving on 11 catches, including a game-tying 75-yard TD pass to Olawale in the fourth quarter. “We’re a threat out of the backfield against any
HE’S BACK Texans running back Lamar Miller will return after missing two games with an ankle injury. It will be the first career playoff game for Miller, who had a career-high 268 carries for 1,073 yards in his first season in Houston after four years with the Dolphins. After being banged up for much of the season, he feels fresh after getting a couple of weeks off. “I feel like it’s Week 1,” he said. “I’ve been doing a lot of treatment, getting massages, doing the little
in the finale against Philadelphia. The 24-year-old former Nebraska standout slid to the second round of the 2015 draft over off-field concerns that included a positive test for marijuana at the NFL combine. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has said he intends to support Gregory, but the latest ban raises doubt as to whether he will be on the Dallas roster when he is eligible to return. He only has one full season remaining in 2018 under his four-year rookie contract, and it won’t cost the Cowboys much to cut him. Gregory was considered one of the best pass rushers in his draft, and the Cowboys were comfortable with the gamble late in the second round. There was promise early with a strong rookie training camp and vows from Gregory that he wanted to make good on his word to Jones that he could control his issues with marijuana. But he only made it through one season, and didn’t have a sack while missing four games with an ankle injury. The first suspension was announced last February, and he was away from the team during training camp while in rehab. The second suspension was announced in September, but Gregory remained with the team while serving the 14-game ban.
things to prepare myself for this upcoming week.” SHODDY TACKLING With questions at quarterback, the Raiders know their defense must play better than it did in the season finale at Denver when numerous missed tackles contributed to the 24-6 loss. Oakland allowed an openingdrive touchdown, a 64yard run from Justin Forsett to set up a field goal and a 43-yard touchdown on a screen pass to Devontae Booker on a third-and-18 late in the first half. “If you want to win in the playoffs, you can’t have 20 missed tackles,” linebacker Bruce Irvin said. “You can’t have missed assignments. You can’t have mental errors. That’s how you’ll be sitting at home next week.”
THE ZAPATA TIMES | Saturday, January 7, 2017 |
Dear Heloise: My dog was CHEWING ON HER SKIN AND FEET. She is on flea and heartworm preventative, so I was perplexed why she was so uncomfortable. I tried skin creams and balms, and these did not work. Then I made an appointment with the veterinarian. Oh my goodness! What a relief -- literally. After the doctor examined my dog and asked me some questions, she decided that the right choice for us was a prescription oral medication. Immediate relief. We are all so happy. We may do some testing to see if my dog has food allergies, but for now she is happy and healthy. Thank you for your column! -- Elizabeth Z. in San Antonio Testing is key. Readers, make sure your doctor has the resources to test for all kinds of allergies. -- Heloise INSPIRED RETIREMENT
Dear Heloise: I retired last month, and my staff gave a donation to Southeastern Guide Dogs in my name! I was thrilled to help this charity. I want to suggest this as an idea for any party. It's a wonderful feeling to give back -- try it, everybody! -- B.G. in The Villages, Fla. LOW-COST PET Dear Heloise: I love animals, but affording an animal can be hard. Food, housing, medical care, a license, day care -- the costs can add up quickly. I talked to a vet office in my neighborhood. They told me of some typically low-cost animals: a parakeet or a goldfish. The bird singing softly is soothing, and watching the fish is calming, too. The vet office also mentioned that the food bank may have dog food for people who need assistance feeding their dogs. -- A Reader in Oregon
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B4 | Saturday, January 7, 2017 | THE ZAPATA TIMES