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PUBLIC HEALTH
ACCIDENT
8 dead in crash Mother, several children among casualties THE ZAPATA TIMES
Photo by Cuate Santos | The Zapata Times
Laredo Health Department director Dr. Hector Gonzalez, left, addresses the media as Dr. Fernando Sanchez, infectious disease control specialist at Laredo Medical Center, listens Monday morning.
Officials clear air about flu By ALDO AMATO THE ZAPATA TIMES
Rumors and myths surrounding the flu were debunked Monday by the City of Laredo as health officials continue to urge the public to get vaccinated. Amid inaccurate information circulating social media sites, Dr. Hector Gonzalez, Laredo Health Department director, reiterated that the department has only confirmed 14 cases of influenza and one related death. The city has not come close to the number of cases it saw during last year’s flu season, when more than 40 cases were confirmed. Texas has one of the highest flu rates in the country with more than 900 confirmed cases this flu season. Gonzalez said although the city has not witnessed an outbreak or epidemic, he strongly recommends the public receive the vaccination to prevent contracting the virus. “This is the city’s normal cold, flu and respiratory (illness) season,” Gonzalez said. “It is no different from when we see a spike in gastrointestinal illnesses in the summer months. What is important is that the public gets the vaccination that adequately prevents against all strains.” A person cannot contract the flu from the vaccination itself and even if a person has been diagnosed with the flu, officials suggest getting vaccinated anyway as a pre-
ventative measure. It can take up to three days after receiving the shot to become immune to the virus. Gonzalez also debunked the rumor about a “cedar flu” outbreak. There is no such variation of the virus called “cedar flu.” It can commonly be confused with cedar fever, which has symptoms such as sinus congestion, sneezing, coughing, irritated eyes and a low-grade fever.
Eight people are dead and four others injured after the sports utility vehicle they were traveling in Monday rolled over on a highway between Monterrey and Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, according to the U.S. Consulate’s office in Nuevo Laredo. In an emailed statement sent to the Laredo Morning Times, authorities confirmed the accident and said the family was from Laredo. “Due to privacy considerations, we can not discuss details of the case,” the U.S. Consulate’s office added. The victims were returning to Texas from the town of San Luis Potosi in Cerritos, Mexican au-
thorities said. The accident occurred around 7:45 a.m. Monday, according to the Department of Public Safety in Sabinas Hidalgo, Nuevo León. The black Ford Expedition had Texas license plates. Mexican federal police say Roxana Torres, 40, was driving the vehicle. She died at the scene, along with her five children and another woman. The deceased children were identified as: Tania Torres, 20 Ashley Torres, 17 Jesus Manuel Torres, 16 Mario Adolfo Gonzalez Torres, 12 Victor Gonzalez Torres, 12 Hector Jesus Collazo Torres, 4 Vianey Carolina de la Rosa, 2
The four injured were identified as: Briana Nicole Rojas, 5 Keziah Monik de la Rosa Torres, 3 Manuel de la Rosa Torres, 3 Lizandra Torres, 1 The injured are being treated at the Regional Hospital in Sabinas Hidalgo. Dr. Serna Orfelio Saenz, director general of the hospital, could not confirm the conditions of those being treated. According to investigators, the left rear wheel came off the vehicle, and Torres turned the steering wheel suddenly. The SUV then veered off the road. A federal source said the Expedition had four more passengers than recommended.
STAYING WARM
No cancelled classes Despite calls for a petition to cancel school in Laredo, Gonzalez said his department does not think there is any reason to close campuses. “We didn’t know what we were fighting back then with H1N1, (a subtype of influenza A that’s commonly called swine flu),” he said, referencing cancelled classes in 2009. “Unless it’s a brand new virus, schools would never be shut down. “Right now, what is out there is the normal flu strain that can either be prevented or treated. In only the rarest of cases we would exercise the option to close schools.” A. Marcus Nelson, superintendent of Laredo Independent School District, said the district monitored reports of the virus throughout the weekend and remained in close contact with the health department. “When people were pan-
Photo by Johnny Hanson/Houston Chronicle | AP
At left, Terrance Franklin, Gladys Hemphill and Henry Smith stay warm outside near the corner of Drew Street and Cullen Boulevard with a barrel fire Monday, in Houston. The group of Third Ward residents say they like to gather to socialize and drink beer. "It’s warm by the fire," Hemphill said.
TO READ MORE ABOUT THE COLD SNAP, GO TO PAGE 10A
See FLU PAGE 10A
CRIME
ERCOT
Alleged kidnap victims alive New record in Court records: Two allegedly beaten while being held against their will power use By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Two Laredoans who had been allegedly kidnapped and taken into Mexico in November are back in Laredo, according to court records obtained by The Zapata Times on Monday. The criminal complaint, however, does not specify how the Laredoans, Martin Ramos and Adalberto Alejandro Reyes, managed to return to the states following the alleged drug-related kidnappings. According to the criminal complaint, the men were kidnapped Nov. 11 by people who were trying to find a stolen load of marijuana. Both were allegedly beaten while being held against their will. On Dec. 6, a Laredo police investigator received a call from an FBI task force officer, informing him they had Ramos and Reyes in Laredo. The complaint states Ramos was taken to Laredo Medical Center for treatment to injuries he sustained while being held against his will in
AUSTIN — The operator of the electricity transmission grid for most of Texas says this week’s freezing temperatures have pushed demand for power in the state to a new winter record. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas says electricity use peaked Tuesday morning at 57,277 megawatts. The previous winter record was 57,265 megawatts on Feb. 10, 2011. ERCOT has discontinued a conservation alert it had issued on Monday calling on customers to reduce their use of electricity. The alert came after problems with high electricity use across much of
AGUIRRE
CONTRERAS
Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. He was being held by people demanding marijuana that he was allegedly holding for them. No suspects were identified in the complaint. No injuries are mentioned for Reyes. Requests for additional information submitted to agencies involved in the case were not returned as of Tuesday. On Nov. 11, Ramos was allegedly tricked into picking up a load of narcotics at the riverbanks, where La-
RODRIGUEZ
fayette Street ends in West Central Laredo. Police said Roberto Aguirre, 23, Steven Rodriguez, 22, and Mauricio Contreras, 17, lured Ramos to the location. Once there, several people emerged from the brush and took Ramos into Nuevo Laredo, the complaint states. Interviewed at the hospital by police upon his return, Ramos said the people holding him asked him about the
See KIDNAP PAGE 10A
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas says electricity use peaked Tuesday at 57,277 megawatts. the state due to frigid temperatures were compounded by the failure of two power plants. ERCOT spokeswoman Robbie Searcy says the electricity supply is in good shape and the system is operating normally.
PAGE 2A
Zin brief CALENDAR
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2014
AROUND TEXAS
TODAY IN HISTORY
Thursday, Jan. 9
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Los Amigos Duplicate Bridge Club. 1:15 p.m. to 5 p.m. Laredo Country Club. Call Beverly Cantu at 7270589.
Saturday, Jan. 11 CFC Trail Ride and Rib Cook Off. Alexander Station, Jacaman and McPherson roads behind Texas Community Bank. Round robin from Alexander Station to Crescent Loop Park. Riders $20. Hay ride $5. Registration onsite 8 a.m. Trail ride 10 a.m. Rib cookoff (beef and pork categories) $100 per team. Benefits local charities. Call United Way of Laredo office at 7239113, extension 2. 3rd Annual “Let’s Move for Scholars.” On-site registration for race 7:30 a.m. Race 9 a.m. Zumbathon 9:30 a.m. Registration for run and walk $25 for adults, $10 for UISD students. Registration for Zumbathon $15 per person. Registration to any two events include free entrance to health fair. Proceeds benefit scholarships. Call 473-6283 or 473-6201.
Monday, Jan. 13 Zapata County Commissioners Court meeting. 9 a.m. Zapata County Courthouse. Call Roxy Elizondo at 7659920.
Monday, Jan. 27 Zapata County Commissioners Court meeting. 9 a.m. Zapata County Courthouse. Call Roxy Elizondo at 7659920.
Thursday, Feb. 13 Zapata County Fair. 8 a.m. to 1 a.m. Zapata County Fairgrounds.
Friday, Feb. 14 Zapata County Fair. 8 a.m. to 1 a.m. Zapata County Fairgrounds.
Saturday, Feb. 15 Zapata County Fair. 8 a.m. to 1 a.m. Zapata County Fairgrounds.
Thursday, Feb. 20 Winter Texan & Senior Citizen Appreciation Day. 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Monday, March 10 Zapata County Commissioners Court meeting. 9 a.m. Zapata County Courthouse. Call Roxy Elizondo at 7659920.
Thursday, March 13 42nd Annual Zapata County Fair. 8 a.m. Zapata County Fairgrounds. Call Zapata Chamber of Commerce at 7654871.
Friday, March 14 42nd Annual Zapata County Fair. 8 a.m. Zapata County Fairgrounds. Call Zapata Chamber of Commerce at 7654871.
Saturday, March 15 42nd Annual Zapata County Fair. 8 a.m. Zapata County Fairgrounds. Call Zapata Chamber of Commerce at 7654871.
Monday, March 24 Zapata County Commissioners Court meeting. 9 a.m. Zapata County Courthouse. Call Roxy Elizondo at 7659920.
Photo by Jay Janner/Statesman.com/file | AP
Scott Van Allen of Sweetwater picks up a Western diamondback rattlesnake at the Capitol in Austin, on Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2013. Using gasoline fumes to force rattlesnakes from their dens will be banned if a state wildlife proposal is implemented.
Gassing of snakes ban eyed ASSOCIATED PRESS
AUSTIN — Using gasoline fumes to force rattlesnakes from their dens will be banned if a state wildlife proposal is implemented. Officials with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department said the pumping of fumes to force out rattlers also threatens 20 species of endangered animals that live underground. The department will hold six public hearings on the proposal in January in cities across the state, including Sweetwater, where rattlers are rounded up annually in a charity event attended by tens of thousands, according to the Austin American-Statesman. Sweetwater Jaycee member David Sager told the newspaper that a ban would kill the “World’s Largest Rattlesnake Roundup,” which brings millions in economic benefits
Dallas, Denton counties confirm 19 flu deaths
Background requirement brings end to gun show
Family given ‘Makeover’ home trying to sell it
DALLAS — Health officials in Dallas and Denton counties have confirmed 19 flu-related deaths as medical experts urge people to get vaccinated. Dallas County Health and Human Services confirms 17 adult flu deaths since late December. The Denton County Health Department on Monday confirmed the deaths of one adult and a girl. Both people from the Carrollton area had underlying medical problems.
AUSTIN — County commissioners in Central Texas have decided not to renew a contract for a monthly gun show because organizers declined to require background checks for all firearm sales. Travis County leaders voted Tuesday not to extend a lease allowing Saxet Gun Shows to hold the event at the county-owned Exposition Center in Austin.
KEMAH — A Galveston County family given a house for free by the TV show “Extreme Makeover” is trying to sell the place because they say they no longer need such a big home. Larry and Melissa Beach, who have taken in some 80 foster children and adopted some of them over 23 years, lost their home to Hurricane Ike in 2008. The program provided them with a new 5,000-foot house two years later.
Man kills brother after mistaking him for burglar KILLEEN — Police in Central Texas say a man has shot and killed his brother after mistaking him for a burglar attempting to enter his home late at night. Killeen police said Monday that 32-year-old Terry Lee Moon Jr. was found early Sunday with a gunshot wound. He was taken to a hospital where he died.
Monday, April 28 Zapata County Commissioners Court meeting. 9 a.m. Zapata County Courthouse. Call Roxy Elizondo at 7659920.
Monday, May 12 Zapata County Commissioners Court meeting. 9 a.m. Zapata County Courthouse. Call Roxy Elizondo at 7659920.
Monday, May 26 Zapata County Commissioners Court meeting. 9 a.m. Zapata County Courthouse. Call Roxy Elizondo at 7659920. Submit calendar items at lmtonline.com/calendar/submit or by emailing editorial@lmtonline.com. Items will run as space is available.
I-35 wreck near Dallas scatters utility poles CARROLLTON — Two drivers have been hurt in an Interstate 35 wreck near Dallas that scattered a load of utility poles across the highway and backed up traffic. Carrollton police say the accident before dawn Tuesday involved a car and an 18-wheeler hauling the poles on a flatbed trailer.
Police chase over 4 southeast counties HUMBLE — A man is facing charges after a two-hour police chase that extended over four Southeast Texas counties. Authorities in Livingstontell Houston TV station KTRK the man took off after he was confronted at a Walmart store where he was trying to break into vehicles. — Compiled from AP reports
AROUND THE NATION
Monday, April 14 Zapata County Commissioners Court meeting. 9 a.m. Zapata County Courthouse. Call Roxy Elizondo at 7659920.
to the town each March. But Tim Cole, the owner of a business called Austin Reptile Service, called the practice “animal cruelty.” John Davis, the department’s wildlife program diversity director, said the gassing of snake dens isn’t common. A survey sent to 868 Texans who have permits to collect “nongame” species in the state yielded 97 responses and of those only six said they used gas fumes. Gassing, when done properly, sends a fine mist of gasoline into snake dens, which makes it hard for the reptiles to breathe and prompts them to slither outside. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission needs to approve the proposal for it to become law. It will consider the issue in March, department spokesman Mike Cox said.
Aspen, Colo., airport reopens after crash ASPEN, Colo. — Flights have resumed at the Aspen airport in western Colorado now that the wreckage from a fatal jet crash has been removed from the runway. An airport official says private and commercial flights resumed Tuesday morning after airlines worked out details on staffing and operations. Two men from Mexico were being treated for serious injuries and another was dead after the fiery plane crash Sunday. Sheriff ’s spokesman Alex Burchetta says the plane went off the right side of the runway, flipped over and burst into flames while landing.
KC mother pleads guilty to keeping girl in closet KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A Kansas City woman has pleaded
Today is Wednesday, Jan. 8, the eighth day of 2014. There are 357 days left in the year. Today’s Highlight in History: On Jan. 8, 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson, in his State of the Union address, declared an “unconditional war on poverty in America.” On this date: In 1790, President George Washington delivered his first State of the Union address to Congress in New York. In 1815, U.S. forces led by Gen. Andrew Jackson defeated the British in the Battle of New Orleans — the closing engagement of the War of 1812. In 1912, the African National Congress was founded in Bloemfontein, South Africa. In 1918, President Woodrow Wilson outlined his Fourteen Points for lasting peace after World War I. Mississippi became the first state to ratify the 18th Amendment to the Constitution, which established Prohibition. In 1935, rock-and-roll legend Elvis Presley was born in Tupelo, Miss. In 1959, Charles de Gaulle was inaugurated as president of France’s Fifth Republic. In 1973, the Paris peace talks between the United States and North Vietnam resumed. In 1982, American Telephone and Telegraph settled the Justice Department’s antitrust lawsuit against it by agreeing to divest itself of the 22 Bell System companies. In 1989, 47 people were killed when a British Midland Boeing 737-400 carrying 126 people crashed in central England. In 1994, Tonya Harding won the ladies’ U.S. Figure Skating Championship in Detroit, a day after Nancy Kerrigan dropped out because of the clubbing attack that had injured her right knee. (The U.S. Figure Skating Association later stripped Harding of the title.) In 2003, a commuter plane crashed after takeoff from Charlotte-Douglas International Airport in North Carolina, killing all 21 people on board. A Turkish Airlines jet crashed in Turkey, killing 75 people (five passengers survived.) Ten years ago: A U.S. Black Hawk medivac helicopter crashed near Fallujah, Iraq, killing all nine soldiers aboard. Five years ago: Presidentelect Barack Obama urged lawmakers to work with him “day and night, on weekends if necessary” to approve the largest taxpayer-funded stimulus ever. One year ago: Former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and her husband, Mark Kelly, launched a political action committee aimed at curbing gun violence as her Arizona hometown paused to mark the second anniversary of the deadly shooting rampage. Today’s Birthdays: Former Independent Counsel Lawrence E. Walsh is 102. Actor-comedian Larry Storch is 91. Actor Ron Moody is 90. Broadcast journalist Sander Vanocur is 86. CBS newsman Charles Osgood is 81. Singer Shirley Bassey is 77. Game show host Bob Eubanks is 76. Country-gospel singer Cristy Lane is 74. Thought for Today: “The devil is easy to identify. He appears when you’re terribly tired and makes a very reasonable request which you know you shouldn’t grant.” — Fiorello LaGuardia, mayor of New York City (1882-1947).
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The SpaceX Falcon 9 launched right on time Monday, at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Good friends Suzanne Peters, Mary Ann Sigler, Gail Heebner and Holi Hassinger get excited as they watch the launch from the Cocoa Beach Pier. guilty to abusing her 10-year-old daughter who was found in a locked closet in 2012. The woman entered the plea Tuesday to felony child abuse, child endangerment and assault charges. The Associated Press is not naming her to protect the
child’s identity. The woman will be sentenced April 25 and prosecutors have agreed to seek a prison sentence of no more than 20 years. The girl weighed just 32 pounds when she was found. — Compiled from AP reports
SUBSCRIPTIONS/DELIVERY (956) 728-2555 The Zapata Times is distributed on Saturdays to 4,000 households in Zapata County. For subscribers of the Laredo Morning Times and for those who buy the Laredo Morning Times at newsstands, the Zapata Times is inserted. The Zapata Times is free. The Zapata Times is published by the Laredo Morning Times, a division of The Hearst Corporation, P.O. Box 2129, Laredo, Texas 78044. Phone (956) 728-2500. The Zapata office is at 1309 N. U.S. Hwy. 83 at 14th Avenue, Suite 2, Zapata, TX 78076. Call (956) 765-5113 or e-mail thezapatatimes.net
Local
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2014
MENUDO SEASON
THE ZAPATA TIMES 3A
CBP promotes one of its own SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
Photo by Cuate Santos | The Zapata Times
Laredo Crime Stoppers board president Viky Garcia, holding microphone, is surrounded by board members and volunteers during a press conference Tuesday afternoon at the Guerra Communications Reception Hall to announce the 19th Annual Crime Stoppers Menudo Bowl. The event will be held Saturday, Jan. 18, at the L.I.F.E. Fair Grounds.
Beer festival now week-long SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
This February’s Border Beer Fest in Laredo has expanded to a week-long event, now called Border Beer Week. The week of activities starts Friday, Jan. 24 and concludes with the main beer tasting Saturday, Feb. 1 at the Laredo Civic Center Ballroom, from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. Beer enthusiasts from the surrounding areas are invited to sample beer, vote on their favorite brews, learn how to pair beer with food, eat cuisine from Laredo’s most popular beer joints and listen to live music. Presale tickets to sample will cost $20 and $25 the day of the event. VIP tickets will be available online only and cost $35, while designated drivers enjoy a $10 cover that gives them access to the festival without being able
to drink any alcohol. Sample glasses will be given to those who wish to taste beer. They will also receive a card with 12 total samples. Additional cards may be purchased for $5. Those interested must be 21 or older. All attendees will be required to present proof of age. No exceptions will be made, according to a news release. Other festival activities during the week include: Border Bike Challenge, Border Beer & Doughnut Run, Border Bowling Tournament and 2014 Beerlympics qualifier leading up to the Border Beer Fest. The Border Beer Fest, an affiliate of the Washington’s Birthday Celebration Association, is the biggest beer-tasting festival in South Texas. For more information and a full calendar, visit borderbeerfest.com.
File photo by Cuate Santos | The Zapata Times
Anselmo Venegas sips one of the brews available for tasting during the second annual Border Beer Fest at the Laredo Civic Center Ballroom in 2012. The event was part of the year’s Washington’s Birthday Celebration festivities.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced Monday that Noel Sanchez Jr., formerly the deputy commander for the South Texas Campaign, will serve as acting director of Field Operations for Laredo Field Office. Sanchez succeeds Eugenio Garza Jr., who retired Friday after completing 42 years of federal service. “I am excited to be able to reach out to our law enforcement partners and stakeholders, moving forward by continuing to build upon the excellent partnerships and trade facilitation tempered with sound border security practices that my predecessor has developed during his tenure as (director of field operations),” Sanchez said. As acting director, Sanchez oversees the operations of eight ports of entry extending from Brownsville to Del Rio. The Laredo Field Office processes the largest amount of landbased commercial traffic in the United States with nearly $134 billion in merchandise entering in fiscal year 2012 through the 23 crossings, six airports and one seaport, which comprise the eight ports of entry. In addition, in fiscal year 2012, CBP officers seized 132,327 pounds of narcotics valued at $347 million while processing over 2.7 million commercial trucks, 18.9 million privately owned vehicles, 50.5 million passengers and pedestrians and 67,744 buses within the Laredo Field Office. Since April 2012, Sanchez has served as the deputy commander of the South Texas Campaign, headquartered in Laredo. In this capacity, he was responsible to ensure that the campaign’s intent of identify-
ing, disrupting and degrading the transnational criminal organizations throughout SANCHEZ the campaign corridor was carried out using CBP personnel and resources, leveraging other GARZA JR. communities of interest and the government of Mexico. Prior to his tenure as deputy commander, Sanchez was appointed in December 2010 as the assistant director for Border Security at the Laredo Field Office. As assistant director for Border Security, he was responsible for all activities related to the admissibility of people, addressing and preventing threats of terrorists and terrorism, and the deterrence of smuggling of contraband and narcotics through the eight ports of entry in the Laredo Field Office. Sanchez was also the port director in Progreso from 2001-2009, port director in Hidalgo from 19941996 and has previously held the position of assistant port director for Passenger Operations at the Port of Laredo. Sanchez started his federal career with the former U.S. Customs Service in January 1978 at the Port of Laredo and is a graduate of the Customs Leadership Institute course, with Columbia University, in 2001 and a graduate of the Senior Executive Fellows class at the Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. Sanchez has been married for 34 years to his wife, Teresa, and has two children.
PAGE 4A
Zopinion
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2014
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COLUMN
OTHER VIEWS
Fewer headaches with air travel THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS
Anybody who has had to pay extra for luggage or an airport soft drink, who has lined up, deshoed and un-belted, or wedged into a cramped seat in a crammed plane can attest to the fact that air travel has become a chore. So it is heartening to see that federal agencies are trying to make traveling a little less onerous. First, there was a fall announcement by the Federal Aviation Administration that rules for the use of electronic devices during flights would be relaxed. Now, the Transportation Security Administration is expanding — in a big way — its expedited screening program for low-risk fliers. PreCheck has been around since October 2011, and about 100 airports offer the expedited lines. Although an expedited security check is not guaranteed, if you are pre-checked, there’s a good chance you can avoid pulling off the belt, shedding shoes and taking out the laptop. But there’s been a huge Catch-22: Because of security concerns, you can’t simply apply for PreCheck online. You have to personally go to a processing center, talk to a TSA representative, be fingerprinted and show proof of citizenship or legal immigration in order to complete the application. And there were processing centers in only four cities: New York, Los Angeles, Washington
and Indianapolis. Recently, Nashville was added. None, you’ll note, are close to Dallas/Fort Worth International — the fourth-busiest airport in the country. This newly announced expansion will place processing centers in 300 airports. D/FW is near the top of the expansion list and should have its center by the end of March. That will make it much easier for Texans who are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents and have not been convicted of crimes to become a “Trusted Traveler.” Getting your number will cost $85 and take two to three weeks; it is valid for five years. Think of it as getting a passport for air travel. Such an expansion is much needed for an airline industry that has struggled over the past decade. With airlines merging and dropping routes, the recession and the inconvenience of post-9/ 11 security, U.S. air travel has taken a hit. The number of boardings at D/FW in 2012 (the most recent statistics available), for example, is still lower than 10 years ago. Given all the extra inconveniences travelers face these days, anything that can make traveling easier — without compromising security — is a plus. Beyond that, the TSA’s decision offers us hope that government isn’t totally impervious to common sense.
COLUMN
Colo. pot law a good experiment By TOM KEANE THE BOSTON GLOBE
Colorado’s experiment with legalizing marijuana for recreational use shows the genius of the Founding Fathers — and, no, I’m not kidding. A federal system means something. The states that banded together to form the United States were independent entities that under the Constitution kept significant power for themselves. In one conception, they’re “laboratories of democracy,” a term drawn from a comment by Justice Louis Brandeis in a 1932 case that “a single courageous state may, if its citizens choose, serve as a laboratory, and try novel social and economic experiments without risk to the rest of the country.” Colorado looks to be the pot field of democracy. On New Year’s Day, it became the first state to make legal the recreational use of marijuana. It’s not the only one on that path (Washington state likely will do so later this year), but it is definitely breaking ground. We’ve all seen the images of buyers queued up to make their purchases, read impassioned commentary on both sides of the issue, and endured lame jokes about late-night munchies and Rocky Mountain highs. But this is serious stuff. Colorado’s experiment is worth trying, and it should teach us a lot. Massachusetts itself has a long history as a laboratory for democracy. The Affordable Care Act was patterned on Romneycare. The Bay State was the first to legalize same-sex marriage; its example led to a wave of other states taking the same steps. Massachusetts was also well ahead of the curve on education reform, inspiring national efforts to require standards in all schools. But when it comes to pot we’re laggards. Voters in 2008 decriminalized possession of small amounts, well after many other states. We’re just about to launch medical marijuana dispensaries, making us the 20th state to do so. And while a group called Bay State Repeal is pushing for a referendum to make pot legal, any ballot measure is at least two or more years off. (Meanwhile, we have in place a mishmash of rules. My favorite: In Boston, the fine for
smoking weed on a crowded sidewalk is $100, while the fine for smoking a cigarette in an empty park is $250.) The pro-marijuana folks believe there will be few negative effects of legalization. Indeed, they argue there will be much benefit, including a reduction in organized crime and a significant savings in police resources. They don’t think use will climb among kids, nor do they foresee any increase in auto accidents as a result of folks driving while high. They point as well to public opinion; an October Gallup poll found 58 percent of Americans supporting legalization. There is stiff opposition, however, some coming from credible organizations such as Smart Approaches to Marijuana, founded by former U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy. They fear that legal pot will become simply another product for a big tobacco-like industry that will vigorously promote the use of weed among adults as well as kids (from Marlboro Man to Marijuana Man?). They are uneasy about the effects on work and society from a generation consistently using a psychoactive drug and worry too that pot is a gateway to harder drugs. The arguments on both sides are largely hypothetical, however. The beauty of the Colorado experiment is that eventually we’ll know the answers, and, once we do, Colorado will become a model for the rest of us. The various state experiments rarely stay in the lab forever. They either catch on (as did Romneycare, gay marriage, and education reform) or they fall flat (as did Nevada’s legalization of prostitution). We’re one country, after all, and in the long run it doesn’t make sense to have different rules apply to residents of different states. That’s especially the case when criminal law is involved — where something done in one state can mean jail time while in another it’s perfectly permissible. If pot’s proponents are right and Colorado’s experiment succeeds, then marijuana will eventually be legal across the country. On the other hand, if its opponents are correct, Colorado may rue the day it made the stuff legal — and other states will breathe a sigh of relief that it was someone else who took the risk.
COLUMN
When government seeks the permission to kill
“
I used to support (capital punishment). Still do, in concept. It’s the execution that bothers me.
KEN HERMAN
AUSTIN — Monday morning brought the usual, if chillier, parade of folks asking government’s permission to get married, vote and register their vehicles. But the longest line at the Travis County complex included folks from whom the government will seek permission to do something: kill a man. About 200 potential jurors showed up as summoned at 9 a.m. for the first step leading to a 12-member jury, and up to four alternates, for the trial of Brandon Daniel, who faces the death sentence in the April 6, 2012, slaying of Austin police officer Jamie Padron at a North Austin Wal-Mart. Another 200 potential jurors showed up at 1 p.m. Monday was a getting-toknow-you process as lawyers gathered, by way of a 13-page, 92-question form, info about potential jurors they’ll question in person later this month. By appearance and attire, it looked like a proper cross-section of folks, right down to the penultimate guy in line who had knee pads around his ankles, construction residue on his boots and a tape measure on his belt. Also as a proper cross-section, it’s fair to assume some did not know they were in a line that would lead to a potential decision on whether somebody is killed. Anyone who didn’t know what the case is about got the message when handed paperwork, a clipboard and a pen. “At this time, you are considered to be a potential juror in the trial of Brandon Daniel for the offense of Capital Murder,”
said the form, which also told them not to discuss the case with anybody or “read, listen to or view materials” about it. The potential jurors were assured their answers would be seen only by attorneys in the case. The questionnaire prodded them about a variety of topics, some quite personal, including their religion, hobbies, mental health, medications, substance addictions, criminal record, ACLU membership and “your personal view of psychiatrists and psychologists.” There also were questions that could foreshadow possible defense strategies, including whether “you, a family member or a friend (has) ever been the victim of physical or sexual abuse” or “emotional or mental abuse as a child.” “If yes,” it said, “please describe.” And there were questions with questionable relevance, such as “What type of car(s) do you drive?” There were 11 death penalty related questions, starting with “Do you believe in the death penalty? If yes, why?” That was followed by more nuanced queries, including one seeking the “statement which best summarizes your general views” about the death penalty. One possible answer was “I am generally opposed to capital punishment except in those very few cases of an unusually brutal, bizarre or extreme nature.” Question 24 asked if life with-
out parole could be “more appropriate” in some capital murder cases. Question 25 asked if death could be “more appropriate” in some capital murder cases. Question 26 asked if answers to questions 24 and 25 would change in “the intentional killing of a police officer.” Question 19 asked, “Have your views on the death penalty changed over the years?” Mine have. I used to support it. Still do, in concept. It’s the execution (pardon the expression) that bothers me. There are people who commit acts so heinous they have forfeited their right to live. To me, that’s a fact. But, to all of us, there are two other facts that make capital punishment indefensible: 1. Our criminal justice system makes heinous mistakes. 2. The improperly convicted have no post-execution recourse. “I do want to thank you for your time,” State District Judge Brenda Kennedy told the Monday morning panel. “I know there is no convenient time for jury service. This certainly isn’t, but it is a wonderful opportunity that you have to serve that many other people in other countries don’t have.” Correct. Many other people in other countries don’t have the opportunity to use a rulesand-evidence based system to sit in judgment of the accused. And many other people in other countries (Paraguay, Iceland, Great Britain, etc.) don’t have the opportunity to decide whether somebody should die.
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DOONESBURY | GARRY TRUDEAU
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2014
THE ZAPATA TIMES 5A
PÁGINA 6A
Zfrontera
Agenda en Breve MIÉRCOLES 8 DE ENERO LAREDO — El equipo de baloncesto femenil de United High se enfrentará al de John B. Alexander High a las 6 p.m. en LEA. Costo de boletos 3 dólares por adulto y 2 dólares por estudiantes de las escuelas y niños menores de 17 años. LAREDO — El equipo varonil de baloncesto de United High jugará en contra de Alexander High a las 8 p.m. en LEA. Costo de boletos 3 dólares por adulto y 2 dólares por estudiantes de las escuelas y niños menores de 17 años.
VIERNES 10 DE ENERO LAREDO — Se llevará a cabo el día de las carreras en Muller Elementary School de 9 a.m. a 12 p.m. dentro de la escuela, ubicada en 4430 de Muller Memorial Blvd.
MIÉRCOLES 8 DE ENERO DE 2014
ACCIDENTE
Fatalidad vial TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
Ocho personas muertas y cuatro lesionadas fue el saldo que dejara una volcadura de una camioneta a la altura del Kilómetro 94 de la Autopista Monterrey-Laredo, el lunes. Eran residentes en Laredo. “Sí, una familia de Laredo estuvo involucrada en un terrible accidente el 6 de enero”, reveló el Consulado de Estados Unidos en Nuevo Laredo, a través de un correo electrónico. “Debido a las consideraciones de privacidad, no podemos discutir los detalles del caso”. Las víctimas regresaban a Laredo tras haber visitado familiares y pasado las fiestas de fin de año en el municipio de Cerritos en San Luis Potosí, confirmó un familiar. El accidente ocurrió alrededor de las 7:45 a.m. del lunes, indicó la
Dirección de Seguridad Pública en Sabinas Hidalgo, Nuevo León. Reportes oficiales de la Policía Federal indican que Roxana Torres, de 40 años de edad, conducía una camioneta Ford Expedition, color negro, con placas de circulación CRX-9246 de Texas. Roxana falleció en el lugar de los hechos junto con sus hijos, Tania Torres, de 20 años; Jesús Manuel Torres, de 16; Ashley Torres, de 17; Victor Gonzalez Torres, de 11; Héctor Jesús Collazo Torres, de 4; además de su nieta, Vianey Carolina de la Rosa, de 2 años de edad. Vianey Carolina era hija de Tania. Nora Salinas, prima de las víctimas, comentó que Jesús Manuel, quien estudiaba en Martin High School, el martes hubiera cumplido 16 años de edad.
Igualmente, el martes falleció en un hospital de Monterrey, México, Mario González Torres, de 12 años de edad, y quien estudiaba en Christen Middle School. Mario también era hijo de Roxana Torres, confirmó Salinas. Los otros cuatro lesionados fueron identificados como Briana Nicole Rojas, de 5 años; Keziah Monik de la Rosa Torres y Manuel de la Rosa, ambos de 3 años hijos de Tania; y, Lizandra Torres, de 1 (hija de Ashley). Salinas comentó que Lizandra Torres continúa en estado crítico siendo atendida en un hospital de Monterrey, México. Los otros menores de edad están siendo atendidos en el Hospital Regional de Sabinas Hidalgo, México. El peritaje inicial señala que la llanta izquierda trasera de la ca-
mioneta se desprendió cuando Torres viró repentinamente y se salió de la carpeta asfáltica. La Expedition llevaba un sobrecupo de cuatro personas, según indicó una fuente federal. Familiares de las víctimas, todas ciudadanos de Estados Unidos y con residencia en Laredo, ya se encuentran en México, para poder trabajar con las autoridades. “Nuestra preocupación es traernos los cuerpos a Laredo”, dijo Salinas vía telefónica. “Hemos perdido a ocho personas. Estamos en una total conmoción”. Salinas dijo que debido a que el seguro no ha accedido pagar el traslado de los cuerpos, se encuentran solicitando ayuda tanto al Consulado de EU como a la comunidad en general para que les presten ayuda financiera.
EDUCACIÓN
SALUD
REGRESO A CLASES
Piden extremar medidas
SÁBADO 11 DE ENERO LAREDO — Cuarta Cabalgata y Competencia de Costillitas Anual del CFC, saliendo de Alexander Station (Jacaman/McPherson detrás de Texas Commerce Bank) hasta Crescent Loop Park (frente al estacionamiento de LEA). Costo: cabalgantes, 20 dólares; carruajes, 5 dólares. Inscripciones inician a las 8 a.m. con la cabalgata iniciando a las 10 a.m. CFC utilizará lo recaudado en campañas de ayuda social. LAREDO — Se llevará a acabo la Tercer Caminata/ Carrera y clase de Zumba “A moverse para las Escuelas”, en el Complejo de Actividades Estudiantiles Johnson, ubicado en 5208 de Santa Claudia Lane, a partir de las 9 a.m. La inscripción anticipada tiene un costo de 20 dólares y el registro en el lugar será de 25 dólares. La inscripción para la clase de zumba es de 20 dólares. LAREDO — Exposición de arte “Zoolirium” de Ricardo A. Guerrero III, se presentará de 7 p.m. a 10 p.m. en Caffe Dolce, 1708 Victoria.
DOMINGO 12 DE ENERO NUEVO LAREDO, México— El grupo de Teatro Laberintus estará presentando la obra infantil “La Nave”, de José Luis Pineda Servín, a las 12 p.m. dentro del teatro del IMSS, entre Reynosa y Belden.
MARTES 14 DE ENERO LAREDO — Se estarán realizando las inscripciones al programa “Viviendo Mejor”, del Departamento de la Salud, a las 8 a.m. en el Departamento de Salud de la Ciudad de Laredo, en 2600 avenida Cesar. El programa ofrece, clases de diabetes y cocina, clases de actividad física y exámenes de glucosa, todo gratuito. Más información llamando al 7214994. LAREDO — El Capítulo 965 del AARP se reúne hoy a las 2 p.m. en la Biblioteca Pública de Laredo, 1120 E. Calton Road. Se invita a personas mayores de 50 años. El orador invitado será alguien del Departamento de Bomberos de Laredo NUEVO LAREDO, México— El grupo de Teatro Laberintus estará presentando la obra para adolescentes y adultos “Sueño de una noche de verano” de William Shakespeare, a las 7 p.m. dentro del teatro del IMSS, entre Reynosa y Belden. Costo 20 pesos.
SÁBADO 18 DE ENERO LAREDO — “Menudo Bowl” de Alto al Crimen será de 10 a.m. a 7 p.m. en terrenos del LIFE Fair Grounds por la Carretera 59. Costo: 5 dólares, adultos; gratis para niños de 12 años de edad y menores.
TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
Foto de cortesía | Gobierno de Tamaulipas
Estudiantes de todos los niveles escolar regresaron a clase esta semana en Tamaulipas, después del descanso vacacional de finales de año.
Alumnos volvieron a la escuela tras vacaciones de diciembre TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
Más de 900.000 alumnos regresaron a las aulas escolares el martes en el estado de Tamaulipas. Concluyeron los 18 días de vacaciones, como lo marcaba el calendario escolar 2013-2014, informó Lucía Aimé Castillo Pastor, Subsecretaria de Planeación de la Secretaría de Educa-
ción en Tamaulipas. Agregó que, pese a las bajas temperaturas, no se reportaron afectaciones y los plantes recibieron a los 964.458 estudiantes. “La infraestructura educativa en toda la entidad no presentó ningún tipo de afectación por las inclemencias de clima”, sostuvo Castillo. El martes regresaron a las aulas alrededor de 400.878 alum-
nos en el nivel primaria; 170.916 en el de secundaria; 119.964 en pre-escolar; 112.892 en el nivel Superior; 110.687 de Bachillerato; 16. 600 de Unidades de Servicio y Apoyo a la Educación Regular; 10.445 de nivel Inicial; 10.402 en nivel profesional Medio; 7.255 de educación inicial no escolarizada; y, 4.419 alumnos en los Centros de Atención Múltiples.
Esta semana el estado de Tamaulipas se encuentra registrando temperaturas bajo cero y propable caída de aguanieve en zonas del Altiplano, confirmó la Coordinación General de Protección Civil. Fue la Comisión Nacional del Agua quien envió un comunicado confirmando la presencia de una masa de aire polar asociada al frente frío número 24, la cual genera temperaturas de menos un grado centígrado en zonas altas de los municipios de Miquihuana, Palmillas, Bustamante y de cinco grados centígrados en Burgos, Mainero y San Nicolás. En el resto de Tamaulipas se espera un ligero aumento en las temperaturas, sin embargo exhortó a la población a mantenerse alerta a los avisos de Protección Civil del Estado y autoridades locales ante el pronóstico de más frentes fríos que se esperan para esta temporada invernal. Protección Civil lanzó un llamada para extremar medidas preventivas. “La recomendación para la población es que extreme precauciones y se abrigue bien para reducir los riesgos a la salud ocasionados por las enfermedades respiratorias, así como en el uso de anafres o fogatas al interior de la vivienda para evitar una intoxicación por inhalación”, dijo Pedro Benavides Benavides, director de Protección Civil. En los diferentes municipios, el Sistema DIF Tamaulipas y autoridades municipales se encuentran brindando ayuda a la población vulnerable a las bajas temperaturas, manteniéndose recorridos en zonas urbanas y rurales durante noche y día.
SEGURIDAD
Reiteran autoridades estatales continuar coordinando acciones TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
El Gobierno de Tamaulipas continuará estrechando acciones junto con la Secretaría de la Defensa Nacional para consolidar “el clima de paz, orden y tranquilidad” en la entidad. Lo anterior fue el resultado de la sesión ordinaria del Grupo de Coordinación Tamaulipas (CGT) celebrada el lunes en Reynosa, México. Durante la reunión “se vieron resultados de la estrategia de seguridad que se aplica en el Estado para garantizar la integridad y tranquilidad de las familias tamaulipecas”, indica un comunicado de prensa del Gobierno de Tamaulipas. El Gobernador del Estado, Egidio Torre Cantú, sostuvo que es importante y fundamental estrechar aún más la coordinación con la Secretaría de la Defensa Nacional, Secretaría de Marina, Policía Federal, PGR y CISEN en diversos operativos y programas especiales de seguridad.
Foto de cortesía | Gobierno de Tamaulipas
El Gobernador de Tamaulipas, Egidio Torreo Cantú, a la extrema derecha, encabezó junto con representantes de la Secretaría de la Defensa Nacional, la sesión ordinaria del Grupo de Coordinación Tamaulipas, el lunes, en Reynosa, México.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2014
THE ZAPATA TIMES 7A
Beauty queen killed By FRANK BAJAK & JORGE RUEDA ASSOCIATED PRESS
CARACAS, Venezuela — A former Miss Venezuela and her ex-husband were shot and killed and their 5year-old daughter was wounded after they resisted robbers by locking the doors of their broken-down car, police said Tuesday. The slaying of Monica Spear, 29, a popular soapopera actress, and Thomas Henry Berry, a 39-year-old British citizen, was the latest high-profile crime in a country where killings are common in armed robberies and where rampant kidnapping has ensnared even foreign ambassadors and professional baseball players. Spear and Berry were slain late Monday night near Puerto Cabello, the country’s main port, while headed to Caracas after their car hit “a sharp object that had been placed on the highway,” the director of the country’s investigative police, Jose Gregorio Sierralta, told reporters. Sierralta said the attack occurred after the car had been lifted onto a tow truck and, seeing the assailants coming, the family locked themselves in their car. He said the daughter, Maya, was treated for a light leg wound and was with relatives in Caracas.
Photo by Rungroj Yongrit | AP
In this 2005 file photo, Monica Spear, Miss Venezuela 2005, competes at the Miss Universe competition in Bangkok, Thailand. Police in Puerto Cabello had arrested five suspects, some under age 18, Sierralta added. The family had spent New Year’s in the mountains of the western state of Merida then traveled to the plains, said Luis Carlos Dominguez, a longtime friend and former business associate of Berry. He said Berry was raised in Venezuela and
ran a travel agency. “He knew Venezuela a lot better than many Venezuelans,” said Dominguez. He described the slain couple as people “who really loved the country,” had a good relationship despite their divorce and made it a point to vacation together. “They weren’t together,” Dominguez said. “But they were very attached for the benefit of their daughter.”
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2014
ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM
Sports&Outdoors NCAA: FLORIDA STATE
HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS’ BASKETBALL: ZAPATA HAWKS
Starting strong Zapata wins district opener
Photo by David J. Phillip | AP
Florida State’s Jameis Winston and the Seminoles completed a perfect season after coming back to beat Auburn 34-31 in the BCS Championship game.
By CLARA SANDOVAL THE ZAPATA TIMES
The Lady Hawks started off the district season on the right note routing Rio Grande City-La Grulla 68-25 on Friday night. Zapata (1-0) had three players score in double figures, led on the offensive end by Isela Gonzalez and Clarissa Villarreal who each scored 16. Tere Villarreal added 13 points. Zapata came out firing on all cylinders and was able to score in double figures in the first three quarters. The Lady Hawks took the early lead pouring in 18 points in the opening quarter. They followed that effort with 22 in the second to be in command at halftime. Zapata did not cool down after the break and came in with the same determination to get to the basket to finish the third quarter with 20 points. They finished off the game with 12 points in the fourth. On the defensive end, Zapata was quick with their hands and forced many turnovers that led to baskets at the other end of the court. "We were able to play great defense and were to shut down La Grulla’s best player," Zapata head coach Hector Garcia said. "Our transition game was another part of our success. It feels great to be 1-0 in district. You always want to be top of your game during district." Zapata will have some time to iron out any wrinkles before they meet with one of the district favorites, Kingsville, on Friday. The Lady Hawks were idle on Tuesday and have been working hard for the past two days to get ready for their upcoming game against the Lady Brahmas. "We just continue working hard in practice, breaking down film on Kingsville to get ready for Friday," Garcia said. "We know Kingsville since they
FSU looks to stay No. 1 By KAREEM COPELAND ASSOCIATED PRESS
File photo by Clara Sandoval | The Zapata Times
Rebecca Villarreal and the Lady Hawks won the district opener pummeling Rio Grande CityLa Grulla 68-25. have been in our district. Kingsville has two good players that can score. The key to the game is going to be containing their two players. For us it is to continue what we have been doing, play good defense and go on the fast break as many times as we can." Kingsville, along with Raymondville and Lyford, are considered the top contenders in the district.
Hawks boys’ basketball Zapata’s last tune up before the start of the district race proved to be too
much as the Hawks dropped both games in the series against Crystal City. In the first game, Crystal City won 59-39. The Javelinas jumped out to a 13-2 lead after the opening quarter and then led 27-12 by halftime. They took a 42-24 lead at the end of the third quarter. Leading scorers for the Hawks were Ruben Gutierrez with 10 points and five rebounds while Rod Saldivar had 10 points, seven rebounds, two assists and two steals. Clara Sandoval can be reached at Sandoval.Clara@Gmail.com
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Deng swapped for Bynum ASSOCIATED PRESS
CHICAGO — The Cleveland Cavaliers traded Andrew Bynum in time — and got an All-Star in return. The Cavaliers acquired Luol Deng from the Chicago Bulls late Monday night for Bynum and three future draft picks, beating the deadline to
guarantee his full contract for the season. Along with Bynum, who had recently been suspended indefinitely by the Cavaliers for conduct detrimental to the team, the Cavaliers also sent the Bulls a first-round pick, two second-rounders, and gave Chicago the right to swap first-round choices in
2015 if the Cavs are not in the lottery. Deng has been an All-Star the last two seasons. But he will be a free agent after this season, and with Bulls’ championship aspirations gone following Derrick Rose’s seasonending knee injury, there was no reason to hold onto him and risk losing him for noth-
ing. Deng is averaging a careerbest 19 points this season and has been a member of the league’s All-Defensive team. He’s also a former winner of the NBA’s sportsmanship award, and his professionalism will be welcomed by the Cavaliers, who quickly ran out of patience with Bynum.
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. — Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher says winning the national championship was the culmination of a fouryear process that began when he replaced Bobby Bowden as the head of the program in 2010. The next challenge is to sustain that success. Fisher now finds himself in Bowden’s old shoes where titles will be expected from a passionate fan base. Florida State beat Auburn 3431 Monday night to win its first crown since 1999. “You’ve got to go back to ground zero and you can’t worry about expectations,” Fisher said Tuesday. “That’s the thing, once expectations get so high, is to not let complacency set in.” “It’s human nature, you take winning for granted. You take success for granted,” he said. A quick glance at the roster shows why Florida State (14-0) will enter 2014 as the favorite. The Seminoles return Heisman quarterback Jameis Winston for his sophomore season and lose just three senior offensive starters. Florida State must replace four senior defensive starters and Fisher said he thinks there are up to three underclassmen who have decisions to make about a possible move to the NFL. “The future is bright,” freshman cornerback Jalen Ramsey said. “We know what it takes now. We know how it feels. We don’t be disappointed next year from not being here. “We want to make this thing a dynasty. Florida State is back to where it should always be.” That senior class was Fisher’s first as head coach and was the cornerstone of the new foundation. The 2011 class, however, was widely considered the No. 1 recruiting class in the country and one of the best in school history. Then there’s the 2012 class that includes Winston, another handful of starters and more young talent that had to wait their turn. This was not an old team that will need to replace starters all over the field. “I don’t care how talented you are,” Fisher maintained. “This team has to go back, get its own identity, get its own leadership and develop that, and that’s going to be our challenge now. It’s how hungry can you stay to be able to do it over and over again, and that’s going to be the challenge and our mindset and that’s going to be my temperament going in, to be able to set that stage so we can do that and stay on top and be very competitive at the top.”
NCAA FOOTBALL: TEXAS LONGHORNS
Texas booster upset ASSOCIATED PRESS
AUSTIN — A billionaire donor to the University of Texas says the hire of new football coach Charlie Strong was like a “kick in the face.” Red McCombs has donated millions to Texas, and his name is on the north side of the football stadium. He publicly lobbied for Texas to hire Jon Gruden. Hours after Strong was introduced Monday, McCombs complained to KZDC-AM in San Antonio that he was ignored in the coaching search. McCombs said Texas got the selection “wrong” and that Strong would be a good position coach or coordinator. He later said he would support Strong and wished
Photo by Eric Gay | AP
Former Texas coach Mack Brown, right, reaches out to long-time Texas booster Red McCombs, left, following a Valero Alamo Bowl news conference. him well when they spoke by phone Sunday night. Texas athletic director Steve Patterson said Strong
was the best choice. McCombs did not immediately return a telephone message.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2014
THE ZAPATA TIMES 9A
Railroad announces another area service SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
File photo by Jim Suhr | AP
In this Dec. 26, 2013 photo, a coal truck is being loaded with another payload at the Crown III underground coal mine near Farmersville, Ill.
Coal rebound expected Comeback would be short-lived and modest, experts say By MATTHEW BROWN ASSOCIATED PRESS
BILLINGS, Mont. — The U.S. coal mining industry will see a modest and short-lived rebound in 2014, driven by more production in Western states after two successive years of declines, according to a government forecast released Tuesday. The Energy Information Administration projected a 36 million ton increase in coal production for the year, to 1.04 billion tons. That’s up 3.6 percent from 2013 figures. Low prices for natural gas have been largely to blame for coal’s decline in recent years. But that pressure began to ease in 2013 as gas prices rose and coal regained some of its once-dominant share in the electricity generation business, the EIA said. Coal mining output is projected to resume its downward slide and fall by more than 25 million tons in 2015, when new rules for mercury pollution kick in. Agency analyst Elias Johnson said the
mercury reduction rules already have prompted many utilities to announce they will shutter coal-burning power plants rather than sink money into costly upgrades. Combined, the plant retirements will result in the loss of almost 18 gigawatts of coal power this year and next, Johnson said. That’s the equivalent of three dozen 500-megawat power plants and includes only those retirements that have been reported to federal officials, Johnson said. The short-term impacts on mining are expected to be heaviest in terms of volume in the Powder River Basin of Wyoming and Montana, which produces more than 40 percent of U.S. coal. Western coal production is expected to grow by 24 million tons this year, before declining by almost 15 million tons in 2015. Coal production from the Appalachian region is forecast to rise by just 3.5 million tons in 2014, then drop by 10 million tons next year.
Shipping more coal to power-hungry Asia has been held up as a potential savior for the industry. Those hopes have yet to pan out as several new coal ports on the West coast have stalled, and the government projects U.S. coal exports to drop to 105 million tons in both 2014 and 2015, after peaking at 123 million tons in 2012. The government’s projections do not factor in proposed EPA regulations to curtail the release of greenhouse gases that are blamed for global warming. Coal power plants are a major source of those gases, including carbon dioxide, and the mining industry already is digging in to oppose the EPA’s proposal. On Tuesday, the National Mining Association released a statement warning that the EPA’s proposal “effectively bans coal from America’s power portfolio.” Supporters counter that reining in greenhouse gas emissions from coal is desperately needed to slow the pace of climate change.
OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific Railroad recently initiated a new intermodal service between Laredo and Memphis, Tenn. The company says it aims to support growing transportation needs for the automotive manufacturing and intermodal marketplaces. Intermodal shipping, a service combining multiple modes of transportation, primarily involves transporting consumer products, which are increasingly produced in Mexico. “The development of this Laredo-Memphis service lane represents Union Pacific’s commitment to creating innovative products and services to meet the evolving needs of our automotive customers,” said Linda Brandl, vice president of automotive at Union Pacific. “With a truck-competitive transit time, this service allows our automotive manufacturing customers to convert truck shipments to rail with minimal impact to their on-hand inventory of auto parts and the customized racks required to ship them.” The Laredo-Memphis rail service connects manufacturers located in Mexico with retail storefronts and distribution centers in the southeastern United States. As the automotive industry continues to rebound and shift production to North America, manufacturers increasingly are locating vehicle production and auto parts distribution facilities near where they are most likely to be consumed or purchased. “The (service) is a great addition to the unparalleled Mexico market access Union Pacific offers its intermodal customers,” said John Kaiser, vice president of intermodal at Union Pacific. Union Pacific serves all six Mexico gateways: Laredo, Eagle Pass, El Paso and Brownsville in Texas; Calexico, Calif.; and Nogales, Ariz.
File photo by Smiley N. Pool | Houston Chronicle
Rail cars are shown at the the Union Pacific intermodal hub on Wallisville Road in Houston on Friday, May 17, 2013.
The Laredo-Memphis rail service connects manufacturers located in Mexico with retail storefronts and distribution centers in the southeastern US. As the automotive industry continues to rebound and shift production to North America, manufacturers increasingly are locating vehicle production and auto parts distribution facilities near where they are most likely to be consumed or purchased.
Earthquakes lead agency to hire seismologist ASSOCIATED PRESS
AUSTIN — A key state agency announced Tuesday it is hiring a seismologist, part of an effort to tackle a sudden increase in earthquakes in areas with significant oil and gas drilling activities. The Railroad Commission, which regulates drilling statewide, said the move came after a public meeting last week in Azle, a town frequently rattled
of late by earthquakes, about 50 miles northwest of Dallas. “It is imperative that the commission remain engaged and involved in gathering more evidence and data into any possible causation between oil and gas activities and seismic events,” Commissioner David J. Porter said in a statement. “Commission rules and regulations must be based on sound science and proven facts. In order to do so, I propose the com-
mission hire an in-house seismologist.” The statement said an onstaff seismologist will help the commission follow new research and better coordinate scientific information with the research community. The job has been posted, and the commission says it will conduct a nationwide search before filling it. Earthquakes are not unheard of in North Texas, though they
have been reported with greater frequency as the state experiences a boom in oil and natural gas exploration. Experts aren’t sure what’s causing the spike in seismic activity, but one theory is that the shaking could be related to wastewater from oil and gas drilling that is often discarded by injecting it deep into underground wells. Research at various drilling sites around the country has shown that wastewater injec-
tions can weaken nearby fault lines and produce quakes big enough to be felt. Drilling systems that rely on hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” can also trigger quakes, but they are typically smaller than magnitude 2. Fracking forces millions of gallons of water, sand and other materials underground to free pockets of fossil fuels. The energy industry has repeatedly insisted that the practice is safe.
10A THE ZAPATA TIMES
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2014
East, South states endure cold By RAY HENRY ASSOCIATED PRESS
ATLANTA — Fountains froze over, a 200-foot Ferris wheel in Atlanta shut down, and Southerners had to dig out winter coats, hats and gloves they almost never have to use. The record-breaking polar air that has made the Midwest shiver over the past few days spread to the East and South on Tuesday, sending the mercury plunging into the single digits and teens from Boston and New York to Atlanta, Birmingham, Nashville and Little Rock — places where many people don’t know the first thing about extreme cold. “I didn’t think the South got this cold,” said Marty Williams, a homeless man, originally from Chicago, who took shelter at a church opposite Georgia’s Statehouse in Atlanta. “That was the main reason for me to come down from up North, from the cold, to get away from all that stuff.” The morning weather map for the eastern half of the U.S. looked like an algebra worksheet: lots of small, negative numbers. In fact, the Midwest and the East were colder than much of Antarctica. The big chill started in the Midwest over the weekend, and by Tuesday, it covered about half of the country. In New York City, the high was expected to be 10; in Boston, around 18. Across the South, records were shattered like icicles. Birmingham, Ala., dipped to a low of 7, breaking the record of 11 degrees set in 1970. Atlanta saw a record low of 6. Huntsville, Ala., dropped to 5, Nashville, Tenn., got down to 2, and Little Rock, Ark., fell to 9. It was just 1 degree at Washington Dulles International airport, eclipsing the 1988 mark of 8. The deep freeze dragged
Photo by Jeff Schrier/The Saginaw News | AP
A woman pushes her daughter and their groceries through blowing snow in the Kroger parking lot in Green Acres Plaza on State Street in Saginaw Township, Mich., on Monday. on in the Midwest as well, with the thermometer reaching minus 12 overnight in the Chicago area and 14 below in suburban St. Louis. More than 500 Amtrak passengers were stranded overnight on three Chicago-bound trains that were stopped by blowing and drifting snow in Illinois. Food ran low, but the heat stayed on. The worst should be over in the next day or two. Warmer weather — at least, near or above freezing — is in the forecast for much of the stricken part of the country. On Tuesday, many schools and day care centers across the eastern half of the U.S. were closed so that youngsters wouldn’t be exposed to the dangerous cold. Officials opened shelters for the homeless and anyone else who needed a warm place. Emergency workers in Atlanta drove the homeless to shelters or hospitals. With the bitter cold slowing baggage handling and aircraft refueling, airlines canceled more than 2,000 flights in the U.S., bringing the four-day total to more than 11,000. In New Orleans, which reported a low of 26 degrees,
hardware stores ran out of pipe insulation. A pipe burst in an Atlanta suburb and a main road quickly froze over. In downtown Atlanta, a Ferris wheel near Centennial Olympic Park that opened over the summer to give riders a bird’s eye view of the city closed because it was too cold. Farther south in Pensacola, Fla., a Gulf Coast city better known for its white sand beaches than frost, streets normally filled with joggers, bikers and people walking dogs were deserted early Tuesday. A sign on a bank flashed 19 degrees. Patches of ice sparkled in parking lots where puddles froze overnight. Monica Anderson and Tommy Howard jumped up and down and blew on their hands while they waited for a bus. Anderson said she couldn’t it recall it ever being so cold. “I’m not used to it. It is best just to stay inside until it gets better,” said Anderson, who had to get out for a doctor’s appointment. The Lower 48 states, when averaged out, reached a low of 13.8 degrees overnight Monday, according to calculations by Ryan Maue of Weather Bell Analytics. An estimated 190 million
people in the U.S. were subjected to the icy blast, caused by a kink in the “polar vortex,” the strong winds that surround the North Pole. Farmers worried about their crops. Diane Cordeau of Kai-Kai Farm in Indiantown, Fla., about 90 miles north of Miami, had to pick her squash and tomatoes Monday to beat the freeze but said her leafy vegetables, such as kale, will be sweeter and tastier because of the cold. “I’m the queen of lettuce around here, so the colder the better,” said Cordeau, whose farm serves high-end restaurants that request specific produce or organic vegetables. PJM Interconnection, which operates the power grid that serves more than 61 million people in the Mid-Atlantic, Midwest and South, asked users to conserve electricity because of the cold, especially in the morning and late afternoon. Across the South, the Tennessee Valley Authority said power demand in the morning reached the second-highest winter peak in the history of the Depression-era utility. Temperatures averaged 4 degrees across the utility’s sevenstate region. In South Carolina, a large utility used 15-minute rolling blackouts to handle demand, but there were no reports of widespread outages in the South. Natural gas demand in the U.S. set a record Tuesday, eclipsing the mark set a day earlier, according to Jack Weixel, director of energy analysis at Bentek Energy. In Chicago, it was too cold even for the polar bear at the Lincoln Park Zoo. While polar bears can handle below-zero cold in the wild, Anana was kept inside Monday because she doesn’t have the thick layer of fat that bears typically get from feeding on seals and whale carcasses.
FLU Continued from Page 1A icking, we weren’t ignoring them,” Nelson said. “But we ignited a conversation with the Health Department and got the right information to make a decision on school closures. It’s not necessary to petition to close schools because attendance is really the key as to what we want to do academically.” United ISD had an 84 percent attendance rate Monday, which district officials said is slightly less than usual. In the 2011-12 school year, UISD had an attendance rate of 95.6 percent, according to the Texas Education Agency. LISD officials reported an 88 percent attendance rate Monday. “We cannot speculate why the children did not go to school,” said Veronica Cantu-Yunes, UISD spokeswoman. “But … we know a number of students went to the
school nurse and were subsequently sent home.” Cantu-Yunes said the district is also staying in contact with the health department. “I think what parents need to realize is that our schools are the safest places for our students right now,” she said. The flu vaccine is still available for city residents at the health department on a first-come, first-served basis. It costs $20 for adults and $10 for children and can be covered by Medicaid, Medicare or CHIP. Gonzalez said the vaccine can also be found at various pharmacies and department stores throughout the city. “The best thing people can do is to get vaccinated and take preventative measures,” he said. “It is our best protective measure and we don’t want the public to panic.”
KIDNAP Continued from Page 1A marijuana he had. He told them that “Tavo,” later identified as Reyes, had the pot, the complaint states. Ramos then overheard a man identified in the complaint as “Cuate” telling Aguirre that Reyes had the marijuana. “Cuate then told Martin Ramos to call Adalberto Reyes and tell him if he wanted to make some money crossing a vehicle,” the complaint states. Aguirre was instructed to pick up Reyes in Laredo and to use international bridge I to cross him into Nuevo Laredo, according to the complaint. Aguirre, Contreras and Rodriguez picked up Reyes at his home, the complaint states. Reyes was allegedly given $100 to cross the vehicle into Mexico. Once in Nuevo Laredo, Cuate, along with
other men, met with Reyes, according to the complaint. One of the suspects allegedly had a gun. “(Reyes) was taken to an undisclosed area where they were holding Martin Ramos and was beaten with a piece of wood. The subjects wanted to know where (Reyes) had taken the marijuana he had stolen,” the complaint states. Following the alleged kidnapping, police arrested Aguirre, Contreras and Rodriguez. Each was charged with kidnapping Nov. 13. Aguirre posted bail Nov. 18 but was re-arrested Dec. 23 on a second count of kidnapping and engaging in organized crime. Also, on Dec. 13, Contreras and Rodriguez were charged with an additional count of kidnapping.