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ZIKA
$560,000 secured to help fight virus Laredo and Zapata County were selected for their higher risk of infection S P ECIAL TO THE TI ME S
This afternoon, Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX-28) announced the allocation of $560,000 in federal funding to fight the Zika virus on the border. “I fought for these federal funds, along with the City of Laredo, so our community can invest in proven prevention methods,” said Rep. Henry Cuellar. “Zika virus infections have been reported here in our border communities, so vigilance is more important than ever. Now, our local offi-
cials have the resources they need to protect Laredo and Zapata families. I thank the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Dr. John Hellerstedt, Commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services, for their help in securing these funds.” “When Federal, state and local authorities work together, we get results. This announcement today is evidence that Congressman Henry Cuellar is working hard for Laredo to get federal reinvestment dollars channeled into our city,”
said Mayor Saenz. “And when Laredo goes to make its story known in Austin and Washington, D.C., there are people that hear us and take us into account. Recently, during our advocacy trip to Austin in January, we met with Commissioner John Hellerstedt of the Department of State Health Services about releasing these federal funds administered by the State; these monies will go a long way in assisting our Health Department to test for and prevent the spread of Zika.” ZIKA continues on A11
Courtesy photo
Congressman Cuellar (D-TX-28) announces $560,000 in federal funds to the City of Laredo Thursday to help with Zika prevention and management. Pictured from left to right are Robert Eads, City of Laredo Asst. City Manager; Dr. Hector Gonzalez, City of Laredo Health Department Director; Cynthia Collazo, Deputy City Manager; Pete Saenz, Laredo Mayor; Congressman Henry Cuellar; Jesus Olivares, Laredo City Manager; and Julia Perales of the City of Laredo Health Department.
SHERIFF’S OFFICE
TRAVEL BAN
WHITE HOUSE LEGAL DEFEAT Courtesy photo / Zapata County Sheriff’s Office
The Zapata County Sheriff’s Office said a tip to Zapata Crime Stoppers led them to seize the contraband shown in this picture.
Narcotics tip leads to arrest By César G. Rodriguez TH E ZAPATA T IME S
A Crime Stoppers tip yielded street-level narcotics ready for distribution and landed one man behind bars, authorities said Friday. Rogelio Rodriguez III was charged with possession of a controlled
substance and possession of marijuana. At 9:45 p.m. Tuesday, Zapata Rodriguez Crime Stoppers received a tip about narcotics being sold in the Arrest continues on A11
US-MEXICO
Rick Bowmer / AP
Refugee supporters look on after Abdisellam Hassen Ahmed, a Somali refugee who had been stuck in limbo after President Donald Trump temporarily banned refugee entries, arrival at Salt Lake International Airport, Friday in Salt Lake City.
President Trump says he is open to signing new order with changes By Julie Pace and Jill Colvin ASSOCIATED PRE SS
Cuellar discusses border relations By Judith Rayo LA R ED O MORNI NG T IME S
One person can’t break the relationship the United States has had with Mexico for many years, is the message U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar delivered Friday morning. Cuellar met with local and Mexican federal officials to discuss ongoing border relations,
NAFTA and the future of cross-border trade and immigration. “We have a relationship with Mexico that one person can’t change,” he said. “We can’t let one person divide us.” Although the meeting was held in private, all elected officials said they all agree on one thing: the bond between Mexico and the United States Border continues on A11
W
ASHINGTON — Seeking to regroup after a stinging legal defeat, President Donald Trump said Friday he is considering signing a “brand new order” after his refugee and immigration travel ban was halted in court. Trump, speaking to reporters on Air Force One as he flew to Florida for the weekend, said he expected his administration to win the legal battle over his original directive. But he said the White House was also weighing other alternatives, including making changes to the order, which suspended the nation’s refugee program and barred all entries from seven Muslim-majority countries. The president said a new executive order would likely change “very little” from the
first. Trump’s comments came a day after the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a restraining order on the original travel ban. A White House official suggested the administration was not planning to immediately ask the Supreme Court to overturn that order and would instead argue for its constitutionality in the lower courts, though the official cautioned that the next steps were not finalized and could change. The official was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and insisted on anonymity. Trump’s executive order was hastily unveiled at the end of his first week in office. It caused chaos at airports in the U.S. and sparked protests across the country. The president has cast the order as crucial for national security. Earlier Friday, he promised to take action “very rapidly” to protect Ban continues on A11
Zin brief A2 | Saturday, February 11, 2017 | THE ZAPATA TIMES
CALENDAR
AROUND THE NATION
TODAY IN HISTORY
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13
ASSOCIATED PRE SS
Chess Club. Every Monday, 4-6 p.m. LBV-Inner City Branch Library, 202 W. Plum St. Compete with other players in this cherished game played internationally. Free instruction for all ages and skill levels. Chess books and training materials are available.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15 Book Room open. 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Widener Book Room, First United Methodist Church. Public invited, no admission fee.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18 Harry Potter Book Club. 3-4:30 p.m. McKendrick Ochoa Salinas Branch Library, 1920 Palo Blanco. Free and family-friendly. Children and adults are welcome. We will discuss “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” by J.K. Rowling.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20 Chess Club. Every Monday, 4-6 p.m. LBV-Inner City Branch Library, 202 W. Plum St. Compete with other players in this cherished game played internationally. Free instruction for all ages and skill levels. Chess books and training materials are available.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22 Book Room open. 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Widener Book Room, First United Methodist Church. Public invited, no admission fee. International Bank of Commerce Keynote Speaker Series. 7:30 p.m. TAMIU Student Center Ballroom, 5201 University Blvd. The presentation is called Economic Crisis: The Hit Men Strike Home ... What Wrecked our Economy and How to Fix It, by John Perkins, New York Times bestselling author. Free and open to the public.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23 Villa San Agustin de Laredo Genealogical Society. 3-5 p.m. Joe A. Guerra Public Library, second floor. Meeting and speaker: Ricardo Palacios “The Green Street Kid.” Members free; guests: $5. For more information call Sylvia Reash 763-1810. Spanish Book Club. 6-8 p.m. Joe A. Guerra Public Library. For more information call Sylvia Reash 763-1810.
Aaron Lavinsky / AP
Activist Mel Reeves delivers a statement to the media Friday in response to the shooting of 25-year-old Chard Robertson, of Minneapolis, by an Amtrak police officer in Chicago.
MAN SHOT BY OFFICER PARALYZED CHICAGO — Relatives of a Minneapolis man shot in Chicago by an Amtrak police officer say he is paralyzed and clinging to life. Chad Robertson’s sister, Nina Robertson, said Friday the 25-year-old father of two has a bullet lodged near his spine and has been in and out of consciousness. Robertson was shot late Wednesday by one of two Amtrak officers patrolling outside Union Station. Nina Robertson said officers confronted
her brother and his friends and said they had received complaints that Robertson’s friend was smoking marijuana. She says her brother panicked and ran when an officer opened fire. Amtrak said in a statement Friday that Chicago police and the Cook County state’s attorney’s office are investigating the shooting. Amtrak says the officers involved in the incident are on administrative assignment.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27 Chess Club. Every Monday, 4-6 p.m. LBV-Inner City Branch Library, 202 W. Plum St. Compete with other players in this cherished game played internationally. Free instruction for all ages and skill levels. Chess books and training materials are available.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28 Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper. 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Fellowship Hall, First United Methodist Church. Public invited, no admission fee, but freewill donations accepted.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1 Book Room open. 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Widener Book Room, First United Methodist Church. Public invited, no admission fee.
Trump travel ban kills surgeon’s lifesaving trip to Iran HOUSTON — A Houston surgeon has canceled a trip to Iran to perform lifesaving surgeries because of uncertainty over the future of President Donald Trump’s refugee and immigration travel ban. Dr. Alireza Shamshirsaz is an Iranian-born professor of obstetrics and gynecology at
Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. He specializes in fetal surgery, and he has already had devastating video chats with two sets of parents who expected him to operate on their unborn children. “It was a disaster. They were sobbing, completely and totally devastated. Now, there is no hope for them,” he told the Houston Chronicle. Technically, nothing stood in the way of Shamshirsaz’s planned 10-day trip. He has a permanent resident’s visa, the “green card” the U.S. issues to
permanent noncitizen residents. However, foreign nationals with green cards and other visas were stopped and detained at U.S. airports in the days following the implementation of Trump’s ban. “There’s just too much uncertainty right now to know what is the right thing to do,” said Shamshirsaz, who is only one of a handful of surgeons capable of operating on fetuses. — Compiled from AP reports
SATURDAY, MARCH 4 Book sale. 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Widener Book Room, First United Methodist Church. Public invited, no admission fee.
MONDAY, MARCH 6 Chess Club. Every Monday, 4-6 p.m. LBV-Inner City Branch Library, 202 W. Plum St. Compete with other players in this cherished game played internationally. Free instruction for all ages and skill levels. Chess books and training materials are available. Ray of Light anxiety and depression support group meeting. 6:30—7:30 p.m. Area Health Education Center, 1505 Calle del Norte, Suite 430. Every first Monday of the month. People suffering from anxiety and depression are invited to attend this free, confidential and anonymous support group meeting. While a support group does not replace an individual’s medical care, it can be a valuable resource to gain insight, strength and hope.
MONDAY, MARCH 13 Chess Club. Every Monday, 4-6 p.m. LBV-Inner City Branch Library, 202 W. Plum St. Compete with other players in this cherished game played internationally. Free instruction for all ages and skill levels. Chess books and training materials are available.
MONDAY, MARCH 20 Chess Club. Every Monday, 4-6 p.m. LBV-Inner City Branch Library, 202 W. Plum St. Compete with other players in this cherished game played internationally. Free instruction for all ages and skill levels. Chess books and training materials are available.
SATURDAY, MARCH 25 Rally at the Border Laredo. 4-7 p.m. Convent Avenue.
MONDAY, MARCH 27 Chess Club. Every Monday, 4-6 p.m. LBV-Inner City Branch Library, 202 W. Plum St. Compete with other players in this cherished game played internationally. Free instruction for all ages and skill levels. Chess books and training materials are available.
AROUND THE WORLD Mexico: Cartel capo killed in shootout with federal forces MEXICO CITY — An alleged regional leader of the Beltran Leyva drug cartel and 12 accomplices have been killed in a clash with Mexican marines who poured gunfire into a house from a helicoptermounted machine gun. The federal Interior Department said via Twitter that Juan Francisco Patron Sanchez headed the cartel’s operations in the Pacific coast state of Nayarit and in the southern part of Jalisco state. The Navy official identified the dead capo by the criminal nickname “H2.” A Mexican Navy official who was not authorized to be quoted by name said Friday that Patron’s group had opened fire on marines and had barricaded themselves in the upper part of a house in the Nayarit state capital of Tepic. The official said that a heli-
Cesar Rodriguez / Bloomberg
Local newspapers hang for sale displaying coverage of the killing of Juan Francisco Patrón Sánchez.
copter gunship had been called in to provide “dissuasive fire,” to suppress outgoing gunfire from the structure on Thursday. Use of such “minigun” weapons from a helicopter gunship is extremely rare in urban areas. The Navy said the helicopter gunship was used in accor-
dance with its rules of engagement, “with the aim of reducing the level of aggression and reducing the risk of civilian or federal casualties.” The Navy said that a grenade launcher and several rifles and pistols were found at the scene. — Compiled from AP reports
Today is Saturday, Feb. 11, the 42nd day of 2017. There are 323 days left in the year. Today’s Highlight in History: On Feb. 11, 1929, the Lateran Treaty was signed, with Italy recognizing the independence and sovereignty of Vatican City. On this date: In 660 B.C., tradition holds that Japan was founded as Jimmu ascended the throne as the country’s first emperor. In 1812, Massachusetts Gov. Elbridge Gerry signed a redistricting law favoring his Democratic-Republican Party — giving rise to the term “gerrymandering.” In 1858, a French girl, Bernadette Soubirous reported the first of 18 visions of a lady dressed in white in a grotto near Lourdes. (The Catholic Church later accepted that the visions were of the Virgin Mary.) In 1862, the Civil War Battle of Fort Donelson began in Tennessee. (Union forces led by Brig. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant captured the fort five days later.) In 1937, a six-week-old sit-down strike against General Motors ended, with the company agreeing to recognize the United Automobile Workers Union. In 1945, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Soviet leader Josef Stalin signed the Yalta Agreement, in which Stalin agreed to declare war against Imperial Japan following Nazi Germany’s capitulation. In 1963, American author and poet Sylvia Plath was found dead in her London flat, a suicide; she was 30. In 1972, McGraw-Hill Publishing Co. and Life magazine canceled plans to publish what turned out to be a fake autobiography of reclusive billionaire Howard Hughes. In 1986, Soviet dissident Natan Sharansky was released by the Soviet Union after nine years of captivity as part of an East-West prisoner exchange. In 1990, South African black activist Nelson Mandela was freed after 27 years in captivity. In 2011, Egypt exploded with joy after pro-democracy protesters brought down President Hosni Mubarak (HOHS’-nee moo-BAH’-rahk), whose resignation ended three decades of authoritarian rule. In 2013, Pope Benedict XVI announced his resignation during a routine morning meeting of Vatican cardinals. (The 85-year-old pontiff was succeeded by Pope Francis.) Ten years ago: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (ah-muhDEE’-neh-zhahd), marking the 28th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, vowed his country would not give up uranium enrichment. The Dixie Chicks won five Grammys, including Album of the Year for “Taking the Long Way” and Record and Song of the Year for “Not Ready to Make Nice,” in a defiant comeback after being shunned over their anti-President George W. Bush comments about the Iraq war. Five years ago: Whitney Houston, 48, who ruled as pop music’s queen until her majestic voice was ravaged by drug use and her regal image was tarnished by erratic behavior and a tumultuous marriage to singer Bobby Brown, was found dead in a hotel room in Beverly Hills, California. Mitt Romney eked out a narrow win in Maine’s Republican caucuses. One year ago: Surrounded by FBI agents in armored vehicles, the last four occupiers of a national nature preserve in Oregon surrendered, ending a 41-day standoff that left one man dead. Today’s Birthdays: Actor Conrad Janis is 89. Fashion designer Mary Quant is 83. Actor Burt Reynolds is 81. Actress Tina Louise is 79. Actor Sonny Landham is 76. Bandleader Sergio Mendes is 76. Actor Philip Anglim is 65. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush is 64. Actress Catherine Hickland is 61. Rock musician David Uosikkinen (aw-SIK’-ken-ihn) (The Hooters) is 61. Actress Carey Lowell is 56. Singer Sheryl Crow is 55. Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is 53. Actress Jennifer Aniston is 48. Actor Damian Lewis is 46. Actress Marisa Petroro is 45. Singer D’Angelo is 43. Actor Brice Beckham is 41. Rock M-C/vocalist Mike Shinoda (Linkin Park) is 40. Singer-actress Brandy is 38. Country musician Jon Jones (The Eli Young Band) is 37. Actor Matthew Lawrence is 37. Rhythm-and-blues singer Kelly Rowland is 36. Actress Natalie Dormer is 35. Singer Aubrey O’Day is 33. Actress Q’orianka (kohr-ee-AHN’-kuh) Kilcher is 27. Thought for Today: “Perhaps when we find ourselves wanting everything, it is because we are dangerously close to wanting nothing.” — Sylvia Plath (1932-1963).
CONTACT US AROUND TEXAS Travis County to notify convicted people of faulty DNA tests AUSTIN, Texas — Travis County prosecutors will begin notifying thousands of people convicted of crimes that forensic evidence in their cases may be flawed because of faulty testing
at the Austin police crime lab. The Austin American-Statesman reports the county will notify about 2,200 people convicted of crimes, including people in prison for murder and rape. Inmates serving prison terms may be entitled to an appeal. The first batch of letters will be sent to 642 people whose information has been verified by prosecutors and investiga-
tors. Officials say they’re working to locate the other remaining defendants. Recipients of the notices include people who are in prison, have already served prison terms or are on probation. The crime lab was closed in June amid revelations that staff members weren’t using commonly accepted practices for analyzing DNA evidence. — Compiled from AP reports
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THE ZAPATA TIMES | Saturday, February 11, 2017 |
A3
STATE
Suspect wanted in tailgate theft By César G. Rodriguez TH E ZAPATA T IME S
The Zapata County Sheriff’s Office said they need to track down the person or persons responsible for a missing tailgate. The theft was reported Jan. 21 in the 200 block of
Third Street in the Flores Addition. Authorities said the theft happened between Jan. 20 and Jan. 21. “The stolen tailgate is blue in color with the Ford King Ranch logo on the right side of it. The tailgate also has a rearview camera and a pull
out step,” states the Sheriff’s Office report. People with information on the case are asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at 956-765-9960 or Zapata Crime Stoppers at 765TIPS (8477). Information leading to an arrest may be eligible for a cash reward.
Courtesy photo / Zapata County Sheriff’s Office
Zapata County authorities said they need assistance from the community to locate the people responsible for allegedly stealing the tailgate from the pickup in this picture.
Official: $4B bond meant as jab at trend of exorbitant bonds By David Warren A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
DALLAS — A Texas court official said Friday that she imposed a $4 billion bond on a murder suspect as a jab at a “broken” judicial system that too often sets bond so high that defendants are forced to remain in jail. Bell County Justice of the Peace Claudia Brown said setting exorbitant bonds force too many people to remain in jail until trial. She called the trend “ridiculous.” Brown said she wanted to impose a $100,000 bond on 25-year-old Antonio Marquis Willis when he turned himself in last week, an amount she said most people in the county would have difficulty posting. But she said she was challenged by law enforcement officials involved in the case who wanted a $1 million bond. Irritated, she then changed the amount to $4 billion.
“I changed the 1 to a 4 and added a whole bunch of zeroes,” she told The Associated Press. “At some point in time, I had to alert the system that I am a new judge and I’m committed to changing the system. And this was the perfect time, because this man had come in and turned himself in and they were starting the bail at $1 million.” Willis is charged with first-degree murder in the December death of a man at a house in Killeen, a city about 60 miles north of Austin. An arrest affidavit alleges the man was shot after repeatedly returning to the home after Willis told him to leave. Willis’ attorney, Billy Ray Hall Jr., said he hasn’t had a chance to review evidence in the case. But he said Willis has told him he’s innocent. A state district judge lowered the bond to $150,000 later Friday. Brown had acknowledged her bond amount could be seen as a consti-
tutional violation, noting that a judge could lower it. Brown, who was elected to a four-year term in November, told the Temple Daily Telegram that “everything in the system is broken,” and she saw Willis’ case as illustrating those failings. Seana Willing, executive director of the Texas Commission on Judicial Conduct, said she couldn’t speak publicly about a specific case. But she said judicial officials must adhere to rules of conduct, such as conducting themselves outside the courtroom in a way that their actions don’t call into question their impartiality. “We would not ever advocate in our sessions to use due process rights as an opportunity to make a statement,” added Thea Whalen, executive director of the Texas Justice Court Training Center, which provides training sessions for justices of the peace who are new to the position.
“But that’s a personal decision that each judge could make.” Some state policymakers are pushing for reforms that would allow indigent defendants with low-level offenses to get out of jail without posting large amounts of bail money. According to the Texas Judicial Council, about a quarter of the 41,000 inmates awaiting trial in Texas pose little threat to the public but are incarcerated because they can’t afford to post bail. In some cases, they have been unfairly identified as flight risks, the council said. A study by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards found that the percentage of inmates waiting for trial 25 years ago was 32 percent. Now it’s 75 percent. Brown, for her part, says she’s OK with any criticism that may come her way. “I will be a fool all day long as long as the system is changed,” she said.
Lawyer: ‘Pro-Trump’ attitudes part of voter fraud sentence By Paul J. Weber ASSOCIATED PRE SS
AUSTIN, Texas — A lawyer for a Mexican national sentenced to eight years in prison for voter fraud in Texas says President Donald Trump’s widely debunked claims of election rigging was “the 800-pound gorilla” in the jury box. Attorney Clark Birdsall said Friday that 37-yearold Rosa Maria Ortega will likely be deported. She was convicted in Fort Worth this week on two
felony counts of illegal voting. Voting fraud convictions often result in probation. A spokeswoman for Tarrant County prosecutors says jurors made clear they value voting rights. Birdsall says he believes “pro-Trump” attitudes in the county played a role. Trump carried North Texas’ Tarrant County with 52 percent of the vote. Birdsall says he wanted to urge jurors not to hold Ortega “accountable” over Trump’s voter fraud claims but the judge refused.
Zopinion
Letters to the editor Send your signed letter to editorial@lmtonline.com
A4 | Saturday, February 11, 2017 | THE ZAPATA TIMES
COLUMN
OTHER VIEWS
It’s never too soon for a functional White House By Jonathan Bernstein BL O O M BE RG
Perhaps we’re getting somewhere. From a Politico profile of an administration ending its third week: “The interviews paint a picture of a powder-keg of a workplace where job duties are unclear, morale among some is low, factionalism is rampant and exhaustion is running high. Two visitors to the White House last week said they were struck by how tired the staff looks. “In Washington circles, talk has turned to whether a staff shake-up is in the works. “One person close to Trump said: ‘I think he’d like to do it now, but he knows it’s too soon.’ “ It is most certainly not “too soon.” It’s not entirely clear how much of what’s wrong would be cured by imposing a proper structure onto a Donald Trump White House. The president would still be ill-informed, intemperate, and just entirely unsuited for the job. However, putting a real chief of staff in charge would at least help compensate for Trump’s utter lack of management skills. The real problem here is that unless outsiders intervene, a Trump “staff shake-up” will most likely just replicate the current problems with different personnel. To be sure: Several White House players are utter disasters and should be replaced. And none of the current top players, including nominal chief of staff Reince Priebus, had any governing experience before the last three weeks, let alone White House experience. But a big part of the problem is Trump doesn’t have the skills needed to, say, pick a White House press secretary or strategist, and doesn’t have the experience and skills necessary to structure how the White House works. Indeed, while apparently Trump realizes things aren’t going smoothly, it’s not clear he has any sense of what the problem is. He’s reportedly obsessed with press secretary Sean Spicer’s daily briefings, for example, rather than with the process which has produced the negative stories Spicer has to deal with. As I’ve been saying, the solution which could at least fix some of what’s broken is to bring in an
“It’s not entirely clear how much of what’s wrong would be cured by imposing a proper structure onto a Donald Trump White House.” experienced, capable White House chief of staff with the authority to clean house and set up a proper working structure. One in which executive actions have been properly examined by those who should weigh in before they are promulgated; presidential calls to foreign leaders are prepped with proper guidance about U.S. policy; executive branch nominees are vetted before being announced; and decisions about military action take place after a careful process, not over dinner with whoever happens to be around. Oh, and a structure in which the president doesn’t throw off the day’s agenda by tweeting out something he sees on whatever cable news show he’s watching. Trump likely has no idea why things are going wrong. Every president believes they know better than anyone else, because every president—Republicans and Democrats alike—believes they are in the Oval Office in spite of whatever critics say about them. So while he certainly is likely to fire people and hire new ones — that’s part of his chaotic normal management style, as we saw in the campaign — he’s very unlikely to actually shift to a functional working style. At least, not on his own. The hope is that senior Republicans would step in and impose a better structure on Trump’s administration. So far, at least in public (and practically everything this administration does winds up in public within hours), that’s not happening. They’re not even floating names for a White House chief of staff who could get this thing back on the rails. Too soon? For Congressional Republicans, it’s almost too late. Their strongest, easiest, leverage -- the cabinet confirmation process in the Senate — isn’t gone yet, but each time a nominee is confirmed, Republican leverage over Trump is diminished. And the White House train wreck continues.
LETTERS POLICY Laredo Morning Times does not publish anonymous letters. To be published, letters must include the writer's first and last names as well as a phone number to verify identity. The phone number IS NOT published; it is used solely to verify identity and to clarify content, if necessary. Identity of the letter writer must be verified before publication. We want to assure our readers that a letter is written by the person who signs the
letter. 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.
COLUMN
Anti-Trump movement can learn from the 1960s By Sam Tanenhaus BL OOMBERG
Political theater, democracy “in the streets” -- it’s supposed to feel like the 1960s again. The high so far was likely the impassioned but mostly orderly march in Washington the day after Donald Trump’s inauguration. Drawing a halfmillion people, it included a broad range of participants. The low came not quite two weeks later, when 100 or so masked militants disrupted an appearance by the rightwing provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos at the University of California at Berkeley, forcing administrators to lock down the campus. The backlash began almost immediately. Trump threatened to cut off Berkeley’s federal funding, and Republican legislators in as many as 10 states have introduced bills to curtail certain forms of protest. Some of those sympathetic to the anti-Trump movement cautioned that even the peaceful protests are futile and may backfire. “Your demonstrations are engineered to fail,” wrote the journalist David Frum, an outspoken conservative critic of Trump’s. The question is, when can protest politics actually work? Here, the 1960s may offer a model, if we look at two examples: the civil rights movement and the conservative movement. Both had big successes in the 60s. Carefully planned demonstrations against Jim Crow laws in Birmingham and Selma, Alabama, helped lead to the passage of the Civil Rights Act (1964) and the Voting Rights Act (1965). In the same period, campus activists in the Young Americans for Freedom helped revitalize the Republican Party through events like the Conservative Rally for World Liberation, which drew more than 18,000 people to Madison Square Garden in 1962. It made a star of the featured speaker, Sen. Barry Goldwater, who went on to capture the Republican nomination two years later. Leaders in both groups conceived their demonstrations less as protests against (an unpopular
president, “the establishment”) than as campaigns for (racial equality, a more ideologically rigorous conservatism). They forged alliances with politicians who espoused similar ideas, then tried to prod them toward stronger action. When the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. approved the strategy of including young children in the Birmingham protests, he calculated that the brutal response of the local police, who loosed dogs and high-pressure hoses on the children, would expose the underlying lawlessness of Southern authorities. The message came through to President John F. Kennedy, who made a speech calling for new laws that would grant AfricanAmericans equal justice and opportunity. “Birmingham Strife Spotlights Kennedy Civil Rights Approach” read a typical headline from the time. Right-wing activists also looked to more established figures. In 1960 about 100 young conservatives, most of them college students, gathered on the Connecticut family estate of a 34-year-old elder, William F. Buckley Jr., and approved their founding document, the Sharon Statement. Instead of rallying behind a third party -- always a strong temptation on the right -they supported conservative Republicans like Goldwater and John Tower of Texas. By working within the party, and helping conservatives gain control of it, they showed how “organized and dedicated conservative youth can materially affect the course of political events,” the YAF chairman, a student at Yale Law School, explained. The Sharon Statement itself was a skeletal list of conservative principles -anti-Communist and promarket. It was less stirring than the Port Huron Statement, adopted in 1962 by the Students for a Democratic Society, with its Camus-tinged references to “loneliness, estrangement, isolation,” and its vision of a new leftist politics that might also guide the young toward “finding meaning in personal life.” But it was the more
practical approach that yielded results. An example came in the Berkeley Free Speech Movement of 1964-1965, a pivotal episode in the decade’s protest politics. When administrators would not allow students to hand out leaflets and fliers on a busy campus plaza, conservative students joined with leftist ones in the call for free speech. But then the stand-off became confrontational, and “the right-wingers could not go along,” wrote the sociologist Nathan Glazer, who was teaching at Berkeley at the time. “They stood aside from further escalations,” Glazer noted, such as when protesters surrounded a police car and staged a sit-in that sealed off a campus building. Eventually some on the left embraced ever-more aggressive tactics, including clashes with the police and even bombbuilding. But young conservatives stuck to electoral politics. Some worked on Buckley’s run for mayor of New York City in 1965. Others found a new and more electable Goldwater, Ronald Reagan, whose ascendancy in California in 1966 was closely tied to citizens’ anger over the unrest at Berkeley. The same left-right differences resurfaced in the Obama years. The opposing models then were the tea party insurgency and the Occupy Movement. With their slogan, “We are the 99 percent,” Occupiers had some early success. They made income inequality an issue and inspired Bernie Sanders’s campaign. But with his loss, protesters withdrew from broader politics or adopted fiercely adversarial views. Hillary Clinton “is a true enemy of the people,” the Occupy website declared at the time of the Democratic National Convention. “Her lies have infected the body politic of our global community.” Today the site boasts of being “a leaderless resistance movement” and highlights the accomplishments of a member who directs “an activist think tank specializing in impossible campaigns.” This purism resembles
that of the 1960s Berkeley organizer who later vowed, “The day I tone down is when we have a Marxist-Leninist revolution and justice for all the people.” Compare this with tea party rebels. They too began as “take it to the street” dissidents, with their anti-tax rallies, the tricorns, their placards with caricatures of Barack Obama, their disruptions of town-hall meetings. But many soon educated themselves on constitutional issues. Some got involved in practical politics with strong results. Tea Party groups helped sweep in a new generation of national politicians, including Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Mike Lee and Rand Paul. Tea Party principles also helped create the powerful Freedom Caucus in the House of Representatives. (Once in power, many continued to act like insurgents, repeatedly challenging the Republican leadership.) There are some signs that anti-Trump activists are making the same appeal to principles and tradition that the most effective protesters have made in the past. In Nevada, for example, a broad coalition that includes environmentalists and religious activists has organized a campaign against Republican Sen. Dean Heller, whom they accuse of not defending “American values currently under attack by the Trump administration.” And progressives in New Jersey are pressuring a Republican representative, Rodney Frelinghuysen, to break with Trump’s agenda. They have deluged his office with phone calls and are organizing constituents to show up in force at all his scheduled appearances in the state. Many would-be activists are now studying the Google document “Indivisible.” Put together by former congressional staffers, it includes a list of tea party successes (from changing votes in Congress to helping elect conservative Republicans) and argues that progressives can do the same. This isn’t to say that careful protests are guaranteed to work or that gains come quickly.
THE ZAPATA TIMES | Saturday, February 11, 2017 |
A5
NATIONAL
Hundreds walk out of Virginia high schools in support of immigrants By Moriah Balingit WASHINGTON P O ST
Drew Nash / AP
In this Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017 photo, irrigation pipes are under water along Highway 50 near the Interstate 84 exit 182 off ramp near Eden, Idaho. Warm winter weather is threatening to flood most of Idaho, with southern Idaho already under water.
Ice jam breaks, allowing some Idaho flood waters to recede A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
BOISE, Idaho — An ice jam that was blocking the Weiser River near the Idaho-Oregon border has begun to break up, allowing flood waters to start to recede. “Once this ice gets through, that should put an end to the threat,” said Steve Penner, spokesman for Washington County’s disaster services department. A flash flood damaged several homes in Weiser, Idaho, and forced residents to flee to the tops of their cars and roofs to escape the icy waters Friday morning. Emergency workers used a large front-end loader to rescue four adults and five children, along with several horses and other animals, from one property outside of the southwestern Idaho town of
Weiser. Two people remained trapped inside their homes by the flood Friday afternoon, Penner said. One man appeared to be unharmed and told officials he didn’t want to be rescued. Emergency workers had been unable to make contact with the other man for the last few hours, Penner said, and they were unsure of his status. The town, like much of Idaho, was hit hard with a series of snowstorms in December and January, and snowfall reached historic levels across much of the state. Quickly rising temperatures and rainfall caused the accumulated snow to begin to rapidly melt, swelling rivers, creeks and irrigation canals and causing many to overflow their banks. The last few storms
have been punctuated with buildings collapsing from the weight of the snow, and now the flooding. Still, Penner was optimistic. “The sun’s out, and it’s going to get nothing but better,” he said on Friday. Residents elsewhere in the state were still bracing for floods and a heightened risk of landslides and avalanches. The St. Joe River in northern Idaho was also blocked by an ice jam on Friday, forcing the water to nearly 31⁄2 feet above flood levels and swamping roads in the small village of Calder. The National Weather Service warned residents in the towns of St. Joe and St. Maries to expect flooding downstream once the ice jam breaks. Several families were displaced in southern
Idaho near Castleford and Buhl when agricultural canals breached. A car that got past a police barricade in Twin Falls County was swept away by violent floodwaters. Roads have been swept away by the rushing water in the area, though no deaths or serious injuries have been reported. Officials, however, are warning people to stay off water-covered roads. “Becoming submerged is a danger,” Cassia County Undersheriff George Warrell said. “If it looks deep, don’t enter it, especially if you have a small vehicle.” In higher elevations, officials were warning residents of high avalanche danger and asking people who live in avalanche areas to stay inside their homes or cars at all times.
Hundreds of Northern Virginia high school students walked out of class Friday afternoon to show solidarity with immigrants at a time of intense national debate over President Trump’s executive order on refugees and immigration. Demonstrations were reported in at least two Loudoun County schools, and possibly more. At Rock Ridge High, a student said at least 150 classmates walked out. At Broad Run High, about 80 students walked out for about 15 minutes, some bearing signs. “I’m skipping history to make it,” one read. One student carried the flag of Mexico, another the U.S. flag. The students sat on the curb in front of the school in the bitter cold and then stood to face the flag in front of the school, reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Rida Ali, 16, a junior who helped organize the demonstrations, told the shivering group that she assembled them not to protest or make a political statement but because “it’s time to come together to outline the importance of diversity and immigration in our country.” “Immigrants are your teachers, your principals, your best friends, your government officials, your doctors, your neighbors,”
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she said. Facing a diverse crowd, she said: “This is what Broad Run looks like. This is what America looks like.” Syed Hashain, 18, a senior born in Pakistan, said he wanted to push back against anti-immigrant sentiment. “It’s all about love and embracing people who don’t look like you,” Hashain said. The event drew a few communityy members who voiced support from the sidewalk. It also drew a counter-protester: Vinnie Sack, 18, a senior and the student body president. Sack, who did not have classes in the afternoon, returned to school wearing a “MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN” hat and a Trump-Pence T-shirt. He carried a sign that said: “RESPECT OUR PRESIDENT GO BACK TO SCHOOL.” Ali said Loudoun students were responding to Trump’s executive order barring refugees and people from seven Muslimmajority countries from entering the United States. The order, which has been frozen due to a court challenge, included Yemen, which is home to her mother’s family. Ali said she and her mother, Rubina Ali, have volunteered for refugee causes, and the mosque they attend in Maryland is preparing to host a refugee family from Syria.
A6 | Saturday, February 11, 2017 | THE ZAPATA TIMES
BUSINESS
Amazon to begin collecting sales taxes in Arkansas in March By Andrew DeMillo A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Amazon said Friday that it will begin collecting sales taxes next month in Arkansas, which lawmakers say could generate as much as $100 million to help lift the state’s lagging revenue and potentially fund future income tax cuts. Arkansas will be the latest state where the e-commerce giant has relented after years of resisting effort to collect taxes in states where it doesn’t have a physical presence. Amazon spokeswoman Jill Kerr said the company will begin collecting the sales tax on March 1, but declined to elaborate on the move. The decision, first reported by Little Rock television station KATV, comes days after Arkansas lawmakers advanced separate efforts to force Amazon to begin collecting sales taxes. A Senatebacked proposal would require Amazon and similar out-of-state companies to begin collecting sales taxes. A state House-backed measure
would require Amazon and similar companies to tell Arkansas customers they owe the state sales tax and provide a list to finance officials of purchases made by state residents. The first sales taxes collected by Amazon will be paid to the state in April. State finance officials declined to comment on Amazon’s decision or the expected revenue from the move, citing a state law that bars them from commenting on the specific status of taxpayers. Republican state Sen. Jake Files, who proposed the Senate-backed bill, has estimated it could bring in between $32 million and $100 million a year. Files said his proposal is still needed to recover funds from other out-ofstate companies. “I think it’s a good move for fairness, but it doesn’t complete the fairness circle,” Files said. Files’ measure is modeled after a 2016 law in South Dakota, where officials last month said Amazon agreed to begin collecting sales taxes. The state House bill is modeled after a Colorado law that the U.S. Su-
Andrew DeMillio / AP
Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, signs into law legislation outlining a $50 million tax cut for thousands of low-income residents in Little Rock, Ark. A Senate panel endorsed a separate proposal aimed at forcing Amazon to collect state sales taxes, and lawmakers are eyeing the potential revenue from the move to help pay for future income tax cuts.
preme Court let stand last year. The proposals had the backing of Bentonville-based Wal-Mart, but faced opposition from conservative groups such as Americans for Tax Reform. To avoid collecting taxes, Amazon has historically relied on another high court ruling that predates the era of online shopping. That 1992 decision bans states from forcing out-of-state retailers to collect taxes if they don’t have a physical presence in the state. But the company has
shifted recently, with Amazon this winter collecting sales taxes in at least 10 states where it hadn’t previously. Neighboring Oklahoma announced last week that Amazon would begin collecting sales taxes there starting next month. Amazon currently collects sales taxes in 38 states and the District of Columbia, according to the company’s website. Prior to Friday’s announcement, Amazon collected or was preparing to collect sales taxes
in every state bordering Arkansas. The decision could raise hopes about Arkansas’ finances. Gov. Asa Hutchinson told several state agencies last week to prepare for possible budget cuts after finance officials said the state’s revenue was $57 million below forecast. Hutchinson, a Republican, repeated his desire Friday that any additional revenue from online sales to go toward further cutting Arkansas’ income tax. Hutchinson last month signed into
law a measure cutting the state’s income tax by $50 million and forming a task force to recommend further cuts before the 2019 legislative session. “This strengthened revenue stream will allow us to continue to make progress in cutting the income tax rate, making Arkansas more competitive with our surrounding states, and putting money back into the pockets of hardworking Arkansans,” he said in a statement.
Goodyear to pay $1.75M after 4 deaths at Virginia factory By Sarah Rankin A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
RICHMOND, Va. — Goodyear will pay $1.75 million to settle workplace health and safety violations at its Danville, Virginia, tire plant where four workers died on the job over the course of a year, officials announced Friday. Goodyear, the United Steelworkers and the state Department of Labor and Industry reached a settlement agreement calling for the penalty and laying out a process to fix workplace hazards, the department said in a statement. Between August 2015 and August 2016, four workers died at the plant near the North Carolina border that manufactures aviation and specialty tires. State inspectors conducted 11 inspec-
tions that resulted in more than 100 violations. Among the workers killed was 53-year-old Charles “Greg” Cooper, who died of burns and drowning. His body was found in April in a pit of boiling water and oil, 6 feet, 8 inches deep. Investigators found that the floor around the pit was slick with oil, grease and slurry and the opening Cooper fell into had been unguarded for more than five months since a sump pump had been removed. “While nothing will replace our sister and brothers who were fatally injured, the elements of the settlement agreement ... will greatly improve safety at the Danville plant,” Danny Barber, the local union chapter president said in a statement. Akron, Ohio-based Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company will pay $1
Matt Bell / AP
This April 12, 2016, file photo, shows the Goodyear plant in Danville, Va. Goodyear will pay $1.75 million to settle workplace health and safety violations found in inspections following four deaths at its Danville tire plant.
million to the state, which will go into the general fund, assistant labor and industry Commissioner William Burge said. The remaining $750,000 can be used to fix hazards found in the inspections and to help meet the requirements of a workplace safety train-
ing program. The department’s Occupational Safety and Health program issued the scores of violations in October, and the company contested them, which led to the settlement talks. Among the more serious violations cited were
those in Cooper’s death, along with instances in which dangerous machinery hadn’t been properly guarded. The department said the lack of proper machine control-devices led to the death of Jeanie Strader, 56. Strader was attempting to straighten part of a machine in August 2015 when the operator turned it on and she became caught. Six months later, 54year-old Kevin Waid Edmonds was killed when he became pinned between a wall and a pallet containing rubber. The fourth fatality occurred on Aug. 12, 2016, and violations in that death were detailed for the first time in Friday’s settlement agreement. William Scheier was adjusting a machine that hadn’t been properly turned off or shut down when it activated and a
part struck him, according to a citation. With around 2,200 workers, the plant is the largest employer in the city of about 42,000. It’s also one of the largest in the whole Southside region — which has struggled economically as the textile, tobacco and furniture industries have declined, Danville Mayor John Gilstrap said. The plant, which marked its 50th anniversary in Danville in the fall, has “had a tremendous impact on the entire community,” he said. The Associated Press couldn’t immediately reach relatives of the victims for comment. A judge still must sign off on the settlement agreement. Burge said he expects the court documents to be filed within two weeks.
Zfrontera THE ZAPATA TIMES | Saturday, February 11, 2017 |
A7
FRONTERA
TLCAN
Gobernador defiende TLCAN
Incertidumbre invade a empresarios Por Silvia Foster-Frau SAN ANTONIO EXPRE SS-NEWS
Dijo que promoverá relaciones comerciales E S P ECIAL PARA T I E MP O DE ZAPATA
MISSION, Texas.- El gobernador de Tamaulipas, Francisco García Cabeza de Vaca, reiteró este miércoles que como mandatario fronterizo defenderá la relación comercial entre México y los Estados Unidos y el Tratado de Libre Comercio. Durante un encuentro con integrantes de la Asociación de Maquiladora de Reynosa, INDEX, el Gobernador de Tamaulipas expuso que hoy más que nunca será un promotor de la relación comercial y familiar que existe entre ambos lados de la frontera. Como el primer Gobernador de Tamaulipas binacional y bicultural, García Cabeza de Vaca expuso que su gestión
Foto de cortesía | Gobierno de Tamaulipas
García Cabeza de Vaca durante la reunión del sector empresarial manufacturero.
ante autoridades federales de ambos lados de la frontera seguirá siendo en el sentido de mejorar el comercio internacional en beneficio de la comunidad de los dos países. “Defender NAFTA, defender el Tratado de Libre Comercio, y creanme, de hacer todo lo que sea posible para mantener fortalecida la relación entre México y los
RIBEREÑA EN BREVE Reunión La Sociedad Genealógica Nuevo Santander llevará acabo su junta mensual el sábado 11 de febrero a las 2 p.m. en el Museo del Condado de Zapata ubicado en 805 N US-Hwy 83
Estados Unidos”, dijo el gobernador ante empresarios de Reynosa y el Valle de Texas. Agregó que las autoridades de la frontera están obligadas a hacer entender a los Gobiernos de México y los Estados Unidos que la vida en la frontera se complementa, en materia de seguridad y economía. “Eso es algo en lo que
todos podemos contribuir, por mi parte como Gobernador de un estado fronterizo el cual tiene mayor relación con Estados Unidos, les repito que yo voy a seguir fortaleciendo esta relación”. García Cabeza de Vaca fue el orador principal de la reunión ordinaria de INDEX Reynosa, organismo que agrupa a cerca de 140 empresas manufactureras, que generan alrededor del 50 por ciento de los empleos de esta industria en Tamaulipas. Reiteró García Cabeza de Vaca que las autoridades deben de enfocarse más que en construir muros, construir puentes de oportunidades que generen más empleos y mejor calidad de vida a las familias que viven en los dos lados de la frontera.
ZCISD
JUGARÁ CON JAVELINAS
PESCA La cámara de comercio de Zapata presenta el torneo de pesca Texas B.A.S.S. Nation, el cual será llevado a cabo del 16 al 19 de febrero de 7 a.m. a 4 p.m. Registro en línea en www.basschamps.com TRÁMITES CONSULARES El Consulado de México estará en la Ciudad de Roma, el sábado 4 de marzo, donde los residentes podrán realizar los trámites de expedición de matrícula consular y pasaporte, en el Centro Mundial de las Aves, Plaza Histórica frente a la Iglesia Católica Nuestra Señora del Refugio, esquina de Portscheller y avenida Convento. Mayores informes en el Consulado de México en McAllen al teléfono 956-686-0243. LABORATORIO COMPUTACIONAL 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 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.
Foto de cortesía | ZCISD
El estudiante de doceavo grado de la preparatoria Zapata, Mateo Mendoza, oficializó su llegada al equipo de fútbol americano de Texas A&M University-Kingsville mediante una ceremonia llevada a cabo en el gimnasio de la preparatoria.
MÉXICO
Liberan empresario buscado por EE.UU. ASSOCIATED PRE SS
MONTERREY, México — Autoridades federales mexicanas detuvieron el jueves a un empresario buscado en Estados Unidos por lavado de dinero y horas después lo dejaron en libertad. El gobierno de Nuevo León, el estado del norte del país donde fue arrestado Fernando Cano Martínez, indicó por la noche en un comunicado que Cano fue liberado porque la fiscalía general de la República les informó que aunque existía una ficha roja de Interpol para localizarlo, no había una orden de captura con fines de extradición. En noviembre de 2016,
fiscales federales de Estados Unidos en Texas dijeron a un juez que querían la extradición de Cano, pero no está claro si se culminó el trámite necesario para que esa extradición fuera efectiva. La oficina del fiscal que lleva el caso en Texas declinó hacer comentarios. De acuerdo con una nota interna de autoridades federales mexicanas a la que The Associated Press tuvo acceso, Cano "no contaba con una orden de detención provisional o formal de detención con fines de extradición emitida por autoridad judicial competente" en México. Lo que la nota no aclara es si Estados Unidos había
completado o no previamente todo el trámite para solicitar la extradición. Las autoridades estadounidenses consideran que Cano ayudó al exgobernador de Tamaulipas, Tomás Yarrington, a lavar millones de dólares procedentes del Cártel del Golfo. Yarrington se encuentra actualmente en paradero desconocido y también es prófugo de la justicia de Estados Unidos. La Procuraduría General de la República ofreció en noviembre una recompensa para quien aporte información que ayude a detenerle y le acusa de delitos contra la salud, es decir, vinculados al tráfico de drogas.
Nota del editor: Esta es la segunda parte de dos sobre los posibles efectos de la eliminación del TLCAN en México. Una pintura de George Washington cuelga de la oficia de Feliz Cárdenas. El capitalista de riesgo ha sido un fan fiel de los Estados Unidos y su primer presidente durante años, tras haber obtenido la mayor parte de su educación allá. “Hemos sido amigos por tantos años, buenos vecinos. En 1994, cuando el TLCAN finalmente fue ejecutado, no era solamente para ser buenos vecinos, sino que Canadá y México estaban creando su destino juntos. Estábamos formando un bloque económico”, dijo Cárdenas. “Así que eso es lo que alentamos a nuestros amigos estadounidenses y asociados de negocios que hagan— vernos como asociados. Una relación simbiótica mutua. Y ese tipo de relaciones— y los trabajos creados— es lo que está en juego, él dijo. Cuando comenzó el TLCAN y las tarifas fueron esencialmente eliminadas entre Canadá, México y los Estados Unidos, pequeños negocios cerraron en México, sin poder seguirle el paso a los multinacionales— muchos estadounidenses— se mudaron y realizaron productos a un menor costo. Miles de empleos se perdieron, pero miles más fueron creados en plantas de manufactura, al punto en que mayormente fue visto como una ganancia. Mientras que Cárdenas puede ver a los Estados Unidos como amigo, dice estar preocupada de que el sentimiento no sea mutuo. “México se ha aprovechado de los Estados Unidos lo suficiente. Déficits de comercio masivos y muy poca ayuda en la débil frontera, eso debe cambiar, ¡AHORA! Tuiteó Trump el 28 de enero. Trump dice que el TLCAN es “el peor tratado comercial del mundo”. Las importaciones de los EU sobrepasan las exportaciones a México, contribuyendo a un déficit de 58,8 billones de dólares en 2016. No es lo más alto que ha estado— en 2007 el déficit alcanzó 74,8 billones de dólares — y los expertos dicen que no fue el movimiento de compañías sino los avances tecnológicos que causaron que muchos trabajos manufactureros cerraran. Con el crecimiento del comercio norteamericano, después del TLCAN, también crecieron los lazos entre Texas y el estado fronterizo de Nuevo Leon y su capital Monterrey. Ahora, productos frescos y partes automotrices son exportados a los EU, mientras que compañías con base en Texas, como HEB se han expandido a Nuevo León. México es el segundo mercado más grande de exportaciones de los Estados Unidos y en 2015 Texas importó más de 84 billones de dólares en productos de México, constituyendo el 33 por ciento de las importaciones totales de México. Alrededor del 80 por ciento de las exportaciones de México son para
Estados Unidos. La posibilidad de eviscerar esa expansiva e intrincada relación de comercio ha sacudido a líderes comerciales en ambos lados de la frontera. “El mayor problema es que hay una incertidumbre absoluta sobre lo que sucederá. Creo que esto es lo más peligroso” dijo Zita Horvath, una profesora asociada en la escuela de negocios EGADE y abogado corporativo. Ella dijo que inversionistas la han abordado “muy preocupados” por la “nueva dirección proteccionista” de los EU. Un hombre de negocios encargado de las exportaciones internacionales de una compañía que vende la mayoría de sus productos a los Estados Unidos dijo que ha detenido todas las exportaciones hasta que obtenga más claridad para el futuro de las relaciones de comercio entre EU y México. “Oficialmente, hemos detenido todo. Es como si estuviéramos en una recesión— todos detuvieron sus decisiones hasta que se aclaren las cosas”, él dijo. “Estamos en espera”. Él quería poner la primera oficina de su firma en San Antonio. Pero una vez que Trump fue elegido y después inaugurado, él decidió que sería muy arriesgado lidiar con los Estados Unidos. Él dijo que escogió Texas porque solía pensar que tenía mucho en común con Nuevo Leon. “Hasta hace un par de meses, pensaba que teníamos culturas muy similares. Nuestra cultura aquí se parece más a la de Texas que la de California o cualquier otro estado de EU”, él dijo. Pero ahora se pregunta si en realidad son tan similares como pensaba. “Culturalmente están cambiando las reglas para todos. De este lado, solamente estamos esperando a ver como las reglas van a cambiar y esperamos que cambien lo más rápido posible”, dijo el hombre de negocios. “Pero realmente, es alarmante”. Para balancear las cosas, él dijo que su compañía se encuentra cambiando su dirección buscando posibles compradores en Centro y Sudamérica. Cárdenas y Horvath también mencionaron que quizá era tiempo de que México empezara a buscar otros tratados, otras soluciones, de ser expulsado del comercio con EU. Pero quizá es muy pronto— no lo pudieron asegurar. “No podemos planear de aquí a dos o tres años, como lo hemos hecho antes, bueno ahora no podemos. Planeamos no más de seis meses adelante, y la mayor parte del tiempo, ni siquiera”, dijo Alberto Leal, quien trabaja para la firma de finanzas Vivati. “Es una ironia que por los Estados Unidos y el empuje que tuvo en esa era— abrió países al mercado. Es increíble que hoy vaya en la dirección contraria. Es sorprendente”, dijo Pedro David Martinez, fundador de Regius Capital en Monterrey. “Tenemos una persona que quiere revertir más de 50 años de integración global en una semana”, dijo Martinez. “Esto es un problema”.
A8 | Saturday, February 11, 2017 | THE ZAPATA TIMES
NATIONAL
US officials won’t fill in the blanks on names of deported By Patricia Hurtado B L OOM BE RG NEWS
MANHATTAN - It’s a seemingly simple question the U.S. government just won’t answer. Who was detained at U.S. immigration or deported in the wake of President Donald Trump’s executive order barring entry to refugees and citizens of seven mostly Muslim countries? U.S. District Court Judge Carol Bagley Amon ordered the government on Feb. 8 to respond to a request in a lawsuit over the travel ban for a list of people who were detained or removed under the executive order, the countries they were sent to and the flights they were put on. The government’s answer: zero being detained, as of Feb. 7. Also, no one’s been deported as of Feb. 7, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. That doesn’t answer whether anyone was deported or held because of the ban before that date, immigrants’ lawyers said Friday. Nor, they say, does it answer the question whether the government violated an earlier order not to send anyone already in the U.S. out of the country, as a result of the executive order. In an emergency hearing on Jan. 28, a day after Trump closed the borders to refugees and citizens of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen, U.S. District Judge Ann Donnelly ordered the government
not to send anyone already in the U.S. and affected by the order out of the country. "This is dodging our question because our case says there were people who were removed after the Jan. 28 order and we have documented at least a dozen," said Becca Heller, Director and CoFounder of the International Refugee Assistance Project. "We want a full list." In documents filed Friday, the U.S. said that Donnelly never ordered it to provide such a list. It also said there’s no need to provide it because an order by a Seattle judge prohibiting enforcement of Trump’s executive order means the individuals can travel freely. "The judge would know if her order was being complied with," said Karen Tumlin, director of the National Immigration Law Center. "We’re asking for basic information of what happened to these folks." The government is trying to say it didn’t deport anyone, but some people may have left voluntarily, Heller said. People wouldn’t have left without some element of coercion, she said. "I want to know who had to leave the country against their will." Customs and Border Protection said it can’t comment on pending litigation and referred inquiries to the Justice Department. The Justice Department didn’t respond to requests for comment on the court filing.
Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP
In this photo taken Jan. 18, 2017, President Barack Obama speaks during his final presidential news conference, in the briefing room of the White House in Washington. The former president and Michelle Obama announced Friday, Feb. 10, 2017, they have picked The Harry Walker Agency to handle their post-White House speaking gigs.
Obama hires agency for speaking gigs, lawyers for book deals ASSOCIATED PRE SS
WASHINGTON — Former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama announced Friday they have picked the prestigious agency that represents Bill Clinton, Mia Farrow and others to handle their post-White House speaking gigs. The Harry Walker Agency will represent both Obamas for speaking appearances, said Kevin Lewis, a spokesman for the former president. It’s the same firm that recently resumed representing Hillary Clinton for future speeches and handled the speeches
she gave for big sums after stepping down as secretary of state in 2013. Former House Speaker John Boehner, pilot Sully Sullenberger and former White House press secretary Josh Earnest are all represented by the Harry Walker Agency. Obama and the former first lady have also tapped attorneys Robert Barnett and Deneen Howell to handle their contracts for books that both plan to write, Lewis said. Barnett, known as a “Washington super-lawyer,” has represented Obama on past
book deals along with other top politicians. The Obamas haven’t yet set dates to release their books or announced any scheduled speeches. The couple is living in Washington while developing the presidential library and center that will eventually be built in Chicago. Obama, who has written two previous bestsellers, has retained his chief White House speechwriter Cody Keenan to help him craft his next book. Keith Urbahn, a literary agent at Javelin
DC who’s handled bestsellers for other political figures, said Obama can expect to fetch an advance of more than $20 million. Vice President Joe Biden and wife, Jill Biden, said Friday they’ve hired Hollywood’s Creative Artists Agency, which counts Brad Pitt and Will Smith among its clients, to represent them, but they haven’t said what projects that might entail. The Biden Foundation, launched this month to promote Biden’s policy goals, also said it was hiring five staffers.
THE ZAPATA TIMES | Saturday, February 11, 2017 |
A9
ENTERTAINMENT
Rich Fury / AP
This Dec. 4, 2015 file photo shows DJ and producer Zedd at 106.1 KISS FM's iHeartRadio Jingle Ball in Los Angeles.
Johnny Vy / AP
This Feb. 9 photo shows trophy presenters, from left, transgender model Martina Robledo, actor and model Derek Marrocco, and model and actress Hollin Haley in Los Angeles.
5 reasons to watch the Grammy Awards By Kelli Skye Fadroski TH E O RANGE COUNTY R EGISTE R
The 59th annual Grammy Awards ceremony will once again take place at Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles and will air live on CBS on Feb. 12. But why should you watch? If you live on the West Coast, the ceremony will not interfere with the undoubtedly bloody and savage season seven midseason premiere of AMC’s "The Walking Dead," which airs at 9 p.m. (plus that’s what DVRs are for anyway), and with the current political climate there’s bound to be enough quotable bits to set social media sites on fire. There are also numerous possible upsets as artists such as Beyoncé, Adele, Drake, Rihanna, Chance the Rapper, Justin Bieber and Kanye West are all up for trophies in top categories. So gather your friends and break out the drinks and snacks because here are five solid reasons to tune into the Grammy’s on Sunday. NEW HOST After a five-year run as Grammy host, rapper and actor LL Cool J has been replaced by "The Late Late Show" host James Corden.
He’s a fitting choice since he’s found viral success with his "Carpool Karaoke," during which he has managed to get artists including Adele, Madonna, Mariah Carey, Bruno Mars and the Red Hot Chili Peppers to join him in belting out tunes while out on a drive. The English actor and writer also has some award show hosting experience since he presented the Brit Awards for five years. TRIBUTES Last year was brutal as the music industry lost numerous legends including Prince, George Michael, Sharon Jones, Leonard Cohen, Merle Haggard, Phife Dawg of A Tribe Called Quest, Earth, Wind & Fire singer Maurice White and more. The possibilities for tributes seem endless given the fallen talent within a 12month period. During the ceremony last year, Lady Gaga paid tribute to David Bowie, who passed on Jan. 10, with an elaborate medley of his songs and Jackson Browne, Don Henley and Joe Walsh performed a touching version of "Take it Easy" for Eagles player Glenn Frey, who died on Jan. 18. Hollywood Vampires, including Alice Cooper, Johnny Depp and Joe Perry, paid tribute to Motörhead frontman
Lemmy Kilmister, who died on Dec. 28, 2015. BEYONCÉ People went bonkers online recently when 35-year-old Beyoncé shared the news that she and husband rapper Jay Z were expecting twins later this year. The 2017 Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival headliner is still set to perform both weekends in Indio in April as well as perform during the Grammy ceremony where she’s nominated for nine awards including song of the year and record of the year for "Formation" and album of the year for "Lemonade." She is, however, up against Adele’s top-selling "25" release in all three of those categories. PERFORMANCES AND COLLABORATIONS The Grammy ceremony is always filled with collaborative surprises, but so far, country star and best new artist nominee Maren Morris will perform with R&B singersongwriter Alicia Keys, who won best new artist in 2002. Two-time Grammy winner and current nominee the Weeknd will perform with French electronic duo and sixtime Grammy winners Daft Punk. Rapper and best new artist nominee Anderson
.Paak will join A Tribe Called Quest for a set. As previously announced, Adele, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, John Legend, Metallica and Bruno Mars will all perform and it was revealed that Chance the Rapper, Little Big Town, Gary Clark Jr. and Sturgill Simpson have been added to that line-up as well. Anything can happen, like in 2006 when Jay Z, Linkin Park and Sir Paul McCartney took the stage at the Grammys. PASSIONATE ACCEPTANCE SPEECHES People are fired up about politics this year and we’ve already heard and seen some high profile entertainers use their moment in the spotlight at the Golden Globes and Screen Actors Guild Awards to speak about the causes they’re the most passionate about. Though the Grammys are a bit more relaxed in format, there’s no doubt that some of the winning artists and performers will make sure their voices and opinions are heard and then everyone can debate about it on social media the following day. Taylor Swift, who scored a Grammy for album of the year for her release "1989" just last year, threw a little shade into her acceptance speech.
Imagine Dragons, Macklemore, Skrillex lead ACLU concert By Mark Kennedy ASSOCIATED PRE SS
NEW YORK — Outrage over President Donald Trump’s travel ban has prompted a spring fundraising concert for the American Civil Liberties Union that will feature a diverse lineup, including Macklemore, Imagine Dragons, Incubus, Miguel and Skrillex. DJ and producer Zedd, a Russian-born immigrant, organized the April 3 concert called “Welcome!” at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Other performers include Bebe Rexha, Camila Cabello, Machine Gun Kelly, Mija, Daya, Halsey and Tinashe. “All of us artists have a huge responsibility, whether we want it or not,” said Zedd, whose real name is Anton Zaslavski. “I was really surprised how above and beyond people were willing to go to be part of this show.” Ticket prices range from $49.50 to $249.40 and more for VIP experiences. The ACLU was chosen as the beneficiary because the organization has been fighting Trump’s executive order on immigration, which included a temporary travel ban on people from seven Muslim-majority countries. Zedd won a Grammy Award for “Clarity,” which appeared on his 2012 debut album of the same name. His sophomore album, “True Col-
ors,” was released in 2015, and features “I Want You to Know” with Selena Gomez. He was born in Russia and raised in Germany before coming to America and said he has never a politically outspoken person, until now. The travel ban struck a raw nerve and he reached out to all the music acts he could. “This is something very personal and important to me,” he said. “It felt natural and it felt like I had to use my voice to say what is on my mind. Whether people agree with it or not is up to them. Everybody should have their own opinion. But this is my opinion.” The concert’s lineup includes musicians from a multitude of genres: rap, EDM, rock, pop and R&B. “For me, it was really important to try to get somebody from each market,” said Zedd. “I mean, it’s called ‘Welcome!’ Everything and everybody is welcome.” He said he hopes the artists collaborate, in the spirit of inclusion: “Hopefully there’s some sort of natural swing where people will be interested in performing with somebody else that has nothing to do with their type of music,” he said. “It may be metaphorical but this still speaks for the same cause: Everybody comes together, no matter who you are, no matter what you do, we are all here together doing this for a good reason.”
Rock musician charged with having loaded gun on Delta flight By Jeff Martin A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
ATLANTA — Rock guitarist Rick Derringer carried a loaded gun in his carry-on bag on a Delta Air Lines flight from Cancun, Mexico, but was stopped after landing in Atlanta and now faces a criminal charge, authorities said. Derringer told a federal air marshal that he flies 30 to 50 times per year with the gun in his carryon bag, and has never had a problem, a court affidavit states. Days earlier, the musician had also managed to pass through security with the gun at a Florida airport on his way to Mexico, the court records say. And an airport official in Mexico told The Associated Press Friday that authorities must investigate what happened at the Cancun airport. “Derringer explained that he was aware that his pistol was in his carry-on bag but he thought that it was acceptable to carry a pistol on an airplane,” according to the criminal
Rob Carr / AP
In this Feb. 18, 2006 file photo, Rick Derringer performs during a campaign rally kicking off George Wallace Jr.'s bid for the office of lieutenant governor in Montgomery, Ala.
complaint filed this week in U.S. District Court in Atlanta. He was charged this week with unlawfully entering the Atlanta airport’s secure area Jan. 9. The Kel-Tec pistol with six rounds of ammunition was found during a search of Derringer’s tan bag after his flight had landed in Atlanta authorities said. Since he had arrived on an international flight, he was
was being re-checked by security in order to continue on to Sarasota when the weapon was found, the court records indicate. Derringer meant no harm, and will work with the government to clear his name, his manager Kenn Moutenot said in a statement. He thought he was permitted to have the gun because he has a license to carry one, Moutenot said in the statement
given to the AP and WSB-TV in Atlanta. Derringer has a Florida pistol permit that’s valid through 2020, the court records indicate. But numerous signs are displayed in the Atlanta airport warning passengers that they are not allowed to carry guns on airplanes. On Jan. 5, Derringer had been processed through the Sarasota, Florida, airport by its
screeners and then flew to Atlanta and on to Cancun, records indicate. “The person who missed this in the screening was terminated,” said Rick Piccolo, president and CEO of SarasotaBradenton International Airport. “This is one where it got through, and the person did not do what they’re supposed to do or trained to do.” “Unfortunately in this business you have to be
right 100 percent of time,” Piccolo added. Derringer told the air marshal during questioning in Atlanta that he had also passed through security in Cancun and was able to board the Delta flight. Passenger carry-on bags are checked at that airport, and guns are not allowed, said Adolfo Castro, the director of Grupo Aeropuertos del Sureste, which runs the Cancun airport. Castro said he didn’t know how Derringer could have boarded a flight with a weapon, adding “this will have to be investigated.” “I am very surprised that he would say he flies 30 times per year with a gun,” Castro said. A Transportation Security Administration spokesman had no immediate comment but said he would check on the matter. Delta Air Lines representatives had not yet returned a message late Friday. Derringer sang the 1965 hit “Hang on Sloopy” with The McCoys and later recorded “Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo.”
A10 | Saturday, February 11, 2017 | THE ZAPATA TIMES
NATIONAL
Residents say 1st atom bomb test caused cancer cases By Russell Contreras A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Residents say the world’s first atomic bomb test caused generations of southern New Mexico families to suffer from cancer and economic hardship, according to surveys gathered by an advocacy group seeking compensation for descendants. The surveys released Friday detailed residents’ stories from areas around the 1947 Trinity Test and argue that many Hispanic families later struggled to keep up with cancerrelated illnesses. The health effects of the test have long been debated in New Mexico. “It’s the first ever study done on the Tularosa Downwinders,” said Tina Cordova, co-founder of the Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium. “We wanted people
to tell their stories in the fashion because it’s never been done before.” Members of the Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium have long contended that those living near the site of the world’s first atomic bomb test in 1945 weren’t told about the dangers or compensated for their resulting health problems. Since then, they say, descendants have been plagued with cancer and other illnesses while the federal government ignored their plight. Chuck Wiggins, director of the New Mexico Tumor Registry, has said data shows cancer rates in Tularosa are around the same as other parts of the state. Cancer is one of the leading causes of death all over New Mexico, he said. On Friday, Wiggins said he hadn’t gone through the report yet. “It is detailed and
Associated Press
This July 16, 1945 file photo shows an aerial view after the first atomic explosion at Trinity Test Site, N.M. A report is scheduled to be released Friday, Feb. 10, 2017, on the health effects of the people who lived near the site of the world's first atomic bomb test. The Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium will release the health assessment report, on residents of a historic Hispanic village of Tularosa near the Trinity Test in the New Mexico desert.
lengthy,” he said. “I have not had a chance to systematically review the entire document.” Around 800 community health surveys and two community focus groups were used to collect data for the report in partnership with the New Mexico Health Equity Partnership, an initiative of the Santa Fe Community Foundation. Cordova said the report wasn’t a scientific epidemiology study but
an attempt to gather information from residents who have complained about various forms of cancers in families who had limited access to health insurance. The surveys involved residents of the historic Hispanic village of Tularosa and four New Mexico counties. They want lawmakers to include New Mexico in a federal law that compensates residents near atomic tests.
The Trinity Test took place as part of the Manhattan Project, a topsecret World War II nuclear development program run out of the thensecret city of Los Alamos, New Mexico. Residents did not learn that the test had involved an atomic weapon until the U.S. dropped bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the war ended. In 2015, U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, D-New Mexico, pressed the Senate to
include New Mexico residents in the law after meeting with Tularosa Downwinders. “The Consortium’s Health Impact Assessment Report is important work,” Udall wrote in a letter to the group on Friday. “It adds to the body of evidence that people in this area were injured as a result of radioactive fallout and should be compensated by the federal government.”
Lawyers want video of police shooting barred from trial By Jeffrey Collins A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
COLUMBIA, S.C. — A federal judge should not allow prosecutors to use statements that an exSouth Carolina police officer gave to investigators about shooting an unarmed driver who ran from a traffic stop because authorities lied about a video of the killing, defense lawyers say. Those same lawyers also said in a flurry of motions on Friday the video itself should not be shown to jurors. Prosecutors asked in their motions to stop defense lawyers from mentioning police officers who die in the line of duty or suggesting jurors can send a message about the treatment of police through a not guilty verdict. Michael Slager only spoke to state investigators three days after the April 2015 shooting on the advice of his first lawyer, who asked agents if there was any video of the shooting and was told there wasn’t, defense lawyer Andy Savage wrote in a brief filed Friday. Slager goes on trial in May in federal court for
violating Walter Scott’s civil rights by shooting and killing the black man after pulling him over for a broken brake light. Meanwhile, state prosecutors have promised a retrial on a murder charge after Slager’s state trial ended in a hung jury. Before recommending he talk to State Law Enforcement Division agents, Slager’s first lawyer, David Aylor, asked if there was any video or evidence from the coroner about where Scott was shot to guide his advice. Prosecutors said a SLED agent gave a vague answer. But in an email to Savage, Aylor said she
“wasn’t vague. She lied.” Savage doesn’t want jurors to see the video of the shooting made by a bystander and broadcast worldwide. He said it doesn’t show the entire encounter between Slager and Scott, including how Scott took Slager’s Taser and tried to shock him with it, making the officer fear for his life. A judge at Slager’s state trial ruled the video could be presented as evidence. He also ruled police are allowed to be deceptive with suspects and attorneys when they question them, as long as they inform them of their rights.
At last year’s trial, prosecutors noted that Slager’s statements were contradicted by the bystander video. The video showed Slager, who is white shoot several times at Scott’s back as he ran away. Prosecutors on Friday
asked the judge to prevent defense lawyers from presenting evidence that Slager was a good officer before the shooting. They also don’t want the defense to introduce evidence of low staffing in the North Charleston
police department. Slager’s lawyers presented that type of evidence in the state trial. In all, 11 motions were filed Friday, including a defense motion asking for permission to file more motions if needed.
THE ZAPATA TIMES | Saturday, February 11, 2017 |
A11
FROM THE COVER
Phoenix urban garden mysteriously closes amid land dispute By Astrid Galvan A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
PHOENIX — A sprawling urban garden on a vacant lot where Phoenix residents have grown everything from melons to okra closed Friday after the gardeners were mysteriously ordered out as a federal agency reassumes ownership of the land, stupefying and angering gardeners who called their eviction a classic case of government dysfunction. Families, senior citizens and refugees spent the last week harvesting their final crops and expressing frustration that the U.S. Department of the Interior won’t say why they have to leave — or what it plans for the 15 acres of land in the shadow of high-rise apartment buildings. The department is getting the land back from a Florida-based developer that bought it decades ago but stopped making payments promised to two Native American education trusts. The developer now owes about $60 million and is immersed in several related lawsuits,
including one being settled now that gives the lot back to the government. Caught in the middle are the gardeners, who turned the ugly lot into a tidy, verdant grow-yourown food area in Phoenix’ center. “That lot was a fencedin, locked-up vacant eye sore on the busiest intersection in the city of Phoenix for 20 years. We beautified it and now it’s gonna go back to being dust and Bermuda grass,” said Tom Waldeck, the chief executive of the nonprofit Keep Phoenix Beautiful group. The garden was born from a city effort to get rid of eyesore vacant lots that emerged throughout Phoenix following the 2008 financial crisis that hit the city’s then-hot real estate boom extremely hard. The lot’s owner, Florida-based Barron Collier Companies, had obtained the land from the federal government and agreed to allow the gardeners in. But Barron Collier notified Phoenix officials and Keep Phoenix Beautiful late last year that the land would go back to the
government and all gardeners had to vacate the premises because the government wanted the land back vacant. Interior Department spokeswoman Nedra Darling declined comment because the agency is involved in an ongoing lawsuit with Barron Collier. Longtime U.S. Sen. John McCain, an Arizona Republican, did not get a response after he wrote a letter late last month asking about the garden’s future prospects to Acting Interior Department Secretary Kevin Haugrud. Haugrud is running the department pending a Senate confirmation vote on President Donald Trump’s interior secretary pick, Sen. Ryan Zinke, a Montana Republican. “Complying with the request to vacate the property presents a challenge to the city of Phoenix, Keep Phoenix Beautiful and their community partners, many of whom are nonprofits who are actively engaged in community projects on site,” McCain wrote. Phoenix’s balmy climate lets the 150 or so gardeners grow their fruit and
Ross D. Franklin / AP
In this Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017 photo, Tom Waldeck, the president and CEO of Keep Phoenix Beautiful, stands among the growing crops at a public garden in Phoenix.
vegetables in small plots all year. The city’s mild winter is best for broccoli, cauliflower, herbs and tomatoes while the scorching summer is good for cucumbers and melons. Refugees resettled in Phoenix by the International Rescue Committee often grew food from their countries that they can’t find in local supermarkets. Among them was Tareke Tekie, an Eritrean refugee, who said through an interpreter that he cultivated okra and a leaf he can’t buy anywhere in the U.S. Joanne Beard started growing broccoli and kale as a form of physical and mental therapy after she suffered a heart attack in 2013, and is angry that the empty space she helped make useful is going away. “It’s helped me heal my
body and my mind. I call it my therapy,” Beard said. “You know, this used to be just a trashed corner. It used to be so ugly, and we just made it so beautiful.” The lot was home many years ago to the Phoenix Indian School for Native American children operated by the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs. The federal government in 1988 agreed to trade it to Barron Collier for about 100,000 acres of Florida Everglades swampland that officials wanted to preserve in a deal considered the largest land trade in U.S. history. The Florida land was valued lower than the Phoenix land, so Barron Collier agreed to pay $34.9 million plus interest to two Native American education trust accounts. Payments started in 1997 but Barron Collier
stopped making them in 2012, blaming a drop in the land’s value, according to a letter from the company to the Department of Interior dated Jan. 7, 2013. The company declined to comment. The land is probably worth at least $32 million now and would be a good site for apartment complexes in strong demand by young professionals seeking an urban lifestyle, said Don Arones, a managing director in the Phoenix office of the Cushman & Wakefield real estate agency. Keep Phoenix Beautiful is exploring the possibility of a nearby half-acre lot to relocate some gardeners, but there wouldn’t be enough room for all of them. Four and a half acres alone in the larger lot were being used by the refugees, Waldeck said.
Pardoned Chicago man says he felt abandoned by Pence A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
CHICAGO — A Chicago man who spent more than eight years in prison for a wrongful conviction said Friday he’s angry that his name wasn’t cleared by Vice President Mike Pence during his time as Indiana governor. Keith Cooper was surrounded by his wife, daughter, stepchildren, mother and other supporters as he told reporters that he was grateful to new Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb, who granted his pardon request on Thursday. Cooper, now 49, was sentenced to 40 years in prison after being convicted for a 1996 robbery in Elkhart, Indiana, during which a teenager was shot. He was released in 2006 after a co-defendant’s conviction was
ZIKA From page A1 “These funds will assist with local testing for Zika virus and other infectious diseases, mosquito control, disease surveillance and education,” said Dr. Hector F. Gonzalez, MD, MPH, Director of Health, City of
BORDER From page A1 won’t be broken. Mexican Congresswoman Yahleel Abdala Carmona described the meeting as excellent. “We will defend our immigrant brothers and the relationship that exists in the United States,
ARREST From page A1 500 block of Mission Lane in the Siesta Shores Subdivision. Deputies responded to the location, where they met with Rodriguez. He verbally allowed authorities to search the home, according to the police report. Deputies said they found multiple aluminum foil wrappings be-
Keith Cooper with the DOC number 975234. I know that number better than my own (Social) Security.” A Pence spokesman
didn’t immediately return a message seeking comment Friday. Holcomb, who was Pence’s lieutenant governor, took office in early January when Pence’s four-year term ended. Cooper’s attorney, Elliot Slosar, said Pence was callous in his handling of the matter. “Gov. Pence deliberately ignored Keith Cooper’s pardon petition because he knew that it would not be politically palatable for the presidential campaign,” Slosar said. The Indiana Court of Appeals overturned the conviction of Cooper’s co-defendant in 2005, and Cooper was given the choice of being released with a felony record or facing a new trial before the same judge who had convicted him. He decid-
ed he wanted to be released so he could reunite with his wife and children, who were homeless at times during his incarceration. Slosar said he expects to file a claim against Elkhart police soon seeking compensation over Cooper’s arrest, but declined to give details. Cooper’s family described him as a caring man who dotes on his grandchildren and rises at 3:30 a.m. for his job as a factory forklift operator. Cooper said his time behind bars was “a hard journey” for his family, noting that his son who’s now 21 was just a 1-yearold when he was arrested. “I walked to the store and never came back with their groceries,” Cooper said.
a $25 million federal allocation for Zika preparedness to the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), about $10 million of which is flagged for local jurisdictions including 16 health departments. Those jurisdictions, including Laredo and Zapata County, were selected for their higher risk of
Zika cases: mainly border, gulf coast, and urban areas. The City of Laredo will also conduct mosquito control operations in Zapata County with these funds. Rep. Cuellar has worked to protect the people of his district from Zika since the epidemic began. In April 2016, he hosted
an international meeting at Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) to discuss Zika prevention in Texas, bringing together experts from American and Mexican academia, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Department of Homeland Security, medical centers, and Texas state government.
In July 2016, in response to a request from Rep. Cuellar, the CDC established an office in Laredo and contracted a team of public health professionals to work on the border from Laredo to Brownsville, focusing on increasing surveillance, prevention, preparation and education to combat the Zika virus.
BAN From page A1
tremendous things that you could only learn, frankly, if you were in a certain position, namely president. And there are tremendous threats to our country. We will not allow that to happen, I can tell you that. We will not allow that to happen.” The 9th Circuit ruling represented a significant setback for Trump in just his third week in office. The appellate decision brushed aside arguments by the Justice Department that the president has the constitutional power to restrict entry to the United States and that the courts cannot secondguess his determination that such a step was needed to prevent terrorism. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer tweeted that Trump “ought to see the writing on the wall” and abandon the proposal. The New York Democrat called on the presi-
dent to “roll up his sleeves” and come up with “a real, bipartisan plan to keep us safe.” House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California promised, “Democrats will continue to press for President Trump’s dangerous and unconstitutional ban to be withdrawn.” And Trump’s former presidential rival Hillary Clinton offered a terse response on Twitter, noting the unanimous vote: “3-0.” Congress’ Republican leaders, House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, declined to comment. U.S. District Judge James Robart in Seattle issued the temporary restraining order halting the ban after Washington state and Minnesota sued, leading to the federal government’s appeal. The Trump adminis-
tration has said the seven nations — Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen — have raised terrorism concerns. The states have argued that the executive order unconstitutionally blocked entry based on religion and the travel ban harmed individuals, businesses and universities. Trump and his aides frequently refer to a ruling by a federal judge in Boston who declined last week to extend a temporary injunction against Trump’s travel ban. In a separate federal ruling in Seattle, a different federal judge put the ban on hold nationwide; it is that judge’s decision that the White House has challenged. “It’s a decision that we’ll win, in my opinion, very easily and, by the way, we won that decision in Boston,” Trump said.
overturned but the felony armed robbery conviction had remained on his record. “I feel like a thousand pounds of weight just lifted off my chest,” Cooper said. His pardon request, which the Indiana Parole Board recommended be granted in 2014, received renewed attention last summer after Pence became now-President Donald Trump’s running mate. Pence’s general counsel notified Cooper’s attorney in September that Cooper needed to first exhaust all his options in court for having the conviction overturned before a pardon would be considered. Cooper said he was thankful Holcomb “had the heart to do what Pence couldn’t do.” “He left me, he aban-
doned me,” Cooper said of Pence. “But thanks to Eric Holcomb, I’m a free man now. I’m finally free. I got my name back. I’m Keith Cooper. Not the
Laredo Health Department. “It will also allow us to spend more time in prevention assuring that women access health care early to prevent infection during pregnancy and to prevent birth defects.” Congress provided 394 million to the CDC as part of the Zika supplemental funding bill. These funds were part of
Mexico and other border cities,” she said. When asked if President Donald Trump would reconsider his actions, Cuellar quickly replied “no.” He added Trump will realize congress has allies with Democrats and Republicans, and they will fight to have a relationship with Mexico.
lieved to be crack cocaine on top of a kitchen table. Authorities also discovered a bag containing marijuana by the kitchen sink. In total, deputies found 40 aluminum foils containing crack cocaine and two “large rock-like” substances believed to be crack cocaine. Authorities said the combined weight of the cocaine was 36.2 grams while the marijuana weighed 2.125 ounces.
Charles Rex Arbogast / AP
Attorney Elliot Slosar, left, flanks his client Keith Cooper, during a news conference Friday, Feb. 10, 2017, in Chicago, after new Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb granted him a pardon Thursday.
the U.S. and its citizens in the wake of the appeals court decision, but he did not specify what steps he planned to take. “We’ll be doing things to continue to make our country safe,” Trump pledged at a news conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. “It will happen rapidly. We will not allow people into our country who are looking to do harm to our people.” The president’s comments were far more restrained than his angry reaction to last week’s initial court ruling blocking the travel ban. Trump took aim at both the “socalled judge” in that case and the ruling, which he called “ridiculous.” Trump continued to conjure images of unspecified danger Friday, saying he had “learned
A12 | Saturday, February 11, 2017 | THE ZAPATA TIMES
Sports&Outdoors THE ZAPATA TIMES | Saturday, February 11, 2017 |
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL: TEXAS RANGERS
B1
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
Rangers head to spring after ‘incomplete mission’
Alan Greth / Associated Press file
Athletics great Rickey Henderson broke Lou Brocks all-time record for stolen bases in 1991. But the stolen base has been stolen from much of baseball, now an afterthought when spring training starts next week.
Tony Gutierrez / Associated Press file
Texas’ Adrian Beltre goes into his 20th major league season only 58 hits shy of 3,000 in his career. He is also coming off another stellar campaign defensively winning his fifth Gold Glove.
Texas heads into Spring Training with big goals
Stolen bases scarcer as spring training starts By Ronald Blum ASSOCIATED PRE SS
By Stephen Hawkins A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
ARLINGTON — The Texas Rangers have been AL West champions in each of manager Jeff Banister’s first two seasons, and their 95 wins last year were the most in the American League. That is a lot to celebrate. But
not nearly enough after another AL Division Series loss to Toronto and again coming up short of that elusive World Series title . “I think that burns deeper than just the prospects of being good. You’ve got to have talent, but desire overrides a lot of that,” Banister said. “Still burns deep. Incomplete mis-
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION: NEW YORK KNICKS
sion.” Texas heads to spring training in Arizona five seasons removed from their only World Series appearances in 2010 and 2011. Adrian Beltre goes into his 20th major league season only 58 hits shy of 3,000 in his career, and after winning his fifth Gold Glove last year. But
the third baseman, who will turn 38 days after the opener, is still looking for his first World Series ring. “We do have a team that can compete, obviously,” Beltre said. “Find a way how to get it done. Not only get to the playoffs, but go all the way.” Even though Gold Glove-
The stolen base has been stolen from baseball, an afterthought when spring training starts next week. Baltimore swiped just 19 bases last year, the fewest for any team in more than four decades. In 1982, Rickey Henderson stole his 19th base on
Rangers continues on B2
MLB continues on B2
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
NFL WEIGHS IN ON NEW ‘BATHROOM BILL’
Chuck Burton / Associated Press file
Former Knicks star Charles Oakley was forcefully removed from his seat at Madison Square Garden and arrested Wednesday after an altercation near team owner James Dolan.
Dolan: MSG bans Oakley after arrest Jay Janner / Associated Press file
By Brian Mahoney A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
NEW YORK — Madison Square Garden chairman James Dolan banned Charles Oakley from the arena Friday, though said he was open to reconciling with the former Knicks forward. In an interview with ESPN Radio’s Michael Kay, Dolan also confirmed a report that he had fired the Garden’s
security chief, two nights after Oakley was forcefully removed Dolan from his seat and arrested at a Knicks game. Dolan said the firing of the security head stemmed from more than just the handling of the incident. Knicks continues on B2
Brad Kent, Chief Sales and Services Officer for Visit Dallas, holds a sign at a news conference at the Capitol in Austin to oppose a Texas "bathroom bill." The NFL is expressing sharper warnings about the bill targeting transgender persons than statements prior to the Super Bowl in Houston.
NFL offers stern warning if bill is approved By Paul J. Weber ASSOCIATED PRE SS
AUSTIN — The NFL sharpened its warning to Texas on Friday about a “bathroom bill” targeting transgender people, suggesting for the first time
that the football-crazed state could miss out on hosting another Super Bowl if the proposal is enacted. “If a proposal that is discriminatory or inconsistent with our values were to become law
there, that would certainly be a factor considered when thinking about awarding future events,” league spokesman Brian McCarthy said in response to an email question about the Texas bill. Although the NFL
released a statement about inclusiveness earlier this month prior to the Super Bowl in Houston, it didn’t address whether the bill could put future such events at risk for the state. NFL continues on B2
B2 | Saturday, February 11, 2017 | THE ZAPATA TIMES
SPORTS year with 33 homers — and that punch to Jose Bautista’s jaw.
RANGERS From page B1 winning first baseman Mitch Moreland, All-Star center fielder Ian Desmond and Carlos Beltran all left in free agency, Texas may be in better shape heading into this spring than a year ago. Cole Hamels and Yu Darvish, their two aces, are set to start a season in the rotation together for the first time. Sam Dyson had 38 saves after taking over as the closer in mid-May, while Tony Barnette and Matt Bush excelled in their MLB debuts as 30-something relievers. Catcher Jonathan Lucroy is set for a full season in Texas after being acquired in an Aug. 1 trade. Carlos Gomez, who came even later than that after his release from Houston, hit eight homers in 33 games and now moves to center field, where he won a Gold Glove in 2013 for Milwaukee. “A lot of reasons that
KNICKS From page B1 The Knicks said Oakley was “abusive” Wednesday even before reaching his seats in the first quarter, and on Friday distributed a witness report featuring more than a dozen witnesses who described his behavior and their interactions with him. The team also shared with The Associated Press a 1-minute security video of moments leading up to the altercation, containing brief clips of Oakley in his seat, talking to a hostess and being confronted by Garden officials. There was no audio. Dolan said Oakley used racial and sexual overtones and that games must remain safe for fans, so he was enforcing the ban. “We are going to put the ban in place and hopefully it won’t be forever,” Dolan said. He praised Oakley as a great Knick and said he hoped that the power forward would be able to join his former teammates to be honored on the court someday. But he said Oakley first must address what he characterized as anger and perhaps alcohol issues, adding that the team would help if asked. “He should be up there being recognized because the fans do love him,”
MLB From page B1 April 28 — Oakland’s 20th game of the season. “You’re not going to have the stolen-base numbers like Rickey Henderson and Tim Raines and those guys had,” Orioles manager Buck Showalter said Thursday after arriving at camp in Sarasota, Florida. “When you’ve got a lot of guys that hit the ball out of the park, it makes the baserunners real cautious. What’s the analyst and all the people on TV going to say when a guy gets thrown out with Chris Davis and Mark Trumbo hitting?” Oakland set an American League record with 341 steals in 1976, six shy of the post-1900 big league mark established by the 1911 New York Giants. The game has changed since Tim Raines swiped 70 or more each year from 1981-86, among the 808 he accumulated over 23 major league seasons. “Today’s game is the long ball and strikeouts,” Raines said last month after he was elected to the Hall of Fame. “Pitchers have gotten so good
THEY’RE NOT The Rangers have no plans for a full-time DH, giving Banister flexibility to use that spot to give different guys a break from the field while staying in the lineup. “We have a third baseman (Beltre) that’s a little prickly about getting days off, and it’s a little easier to convince him to take half a day,” Daniels said.
LM Otero / Associated Press file
Mike Napoli is expected to rejoin the Rangers this season as a free agent after playing last year with the Indians.
THEY’RE SET Up the middle, Texas has shortstop Elvis Andrus and second baseman Rougned Odor. Andrus, at 28 the team’s longest-tenured player going into his ninth season, hit a career-best .302 last season. Odor, who just turned 23, had plenty of big shots last
ON DECK Mike Napoli is expected to officially rejoin the Rangers at the start of spring training for a third stint with the team, filling the pressing needs for a first baseman and another big bat in the middle of the lineup. Former AL MVP and five-time All-Star outfielder Josh Hamilton will be in camp on a minor league deal and working out at first base after missing last season following three operations on his left knee.
Cashner and Tyson Ross. Cashner, a Texas native, finished last season in Miami, while Ross was on the disabled list the rest of the year after starting the Padres’ opener. Ross is still rehabbing from thoracic outlet syndrome surgery in October. Texas didn’t re-sign veteran starters
Colby Lewis or Derek Holland.
Dolan said. “But this behavior just doesn’t work with that.” Oakley maintains he did nothing wrong before arena security approached him his seat Wednesday, just a few rows behind Dolan. On Friday, DnainfoNewYork.com reported that Frank Benedetto , the senior vice president for security at the Madison Square Garden Company, was fired Friday. “That was just a situation where the person didn’t work out and this was probably the last straw,” Dolan said. “We’re obviously looking at everything that we did here along the way and what happened, and that’s one of the casualties.” Oakley played for the Knicks from 1988-98, helping them become one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference. But they have been one of the worst franchises of the last 15 years, and Oakley’s criticisms of the team and management has led to a strained relationship with the organization. “This is not just a daybefore-yesterday incident. We’ve had a relationship with Charles since he retired and left the Knicks, right, and every time we have tried, right, to do, to patch things up with him, to mend things with him, we invite him to games, that every time it ends
the same way, right: abusive, disrespectful,” Dolan said. “And we eventually gave up, right, and we stopped trying to reach out for him.” Oakley is no longer comped tickets or invited to official team functions, though still goes a few times a year when he buys his own tickets. He was there only a matter of minutes Wednesday before the altercation that included him hitting one security guard in the face and shoving at least one other before he was dragged away and handcuffed. “The manner in which Mr. Oakley has been treated is troubling and he intends to pursue all legal rights and remedies he may have,” attorney David Z. Chesnoff said in a statement. “We look forward to resolving this matter and welcome anyone who may have additional information, photographs, or videos of the events that took place to contact us.” The Knicks contend the trouble with Oakley on Wednesday started even before he reached his seat, and Dolan said in the interview that Garden officials never should have let him get there. “It’s very clear to us, right, that Charles Oakley came to the Garden with an agenda, right, with a mission in mind, and from the moment he stepped into the Garden,
and I mean the moment he walked through the first set of doors, he began with this behavior, abusive behavior, disrespectful behavior,” Dolan said. Still, the Knicks have been criticized by current and former NBA players, as well as some of their own fans, for the treatment of Oakley during the game that was televised nationally on ESPN. Fans chanted his name during a New York Rangers hockey game on Thursday, and earlier in Friday’s game there were chants of “We want Oakley!” and “Free Charles Oakley!” But while he understands why fans are so supportive of Oakley, because of the way he played and how much more the Knicks won, he feels he can’t allow anyone in the building who can ruin the experience for others. “The same people that fans who come to the game tonight, who are going to help those fans, right, find their seats, get them food, try to make them comfortable, they were abused and abused not — in really horrible, right, angry, nasty way, with racially, with racial overtones, the sexual overtones, the stuff you never, ever want to hear,” Dolan said. “And how do you bring your kids to a game if you think that’s going to happen? You don’t.”
The NFL has selected future Super Bowl sites through 2021, none of which are in Texas. Dallas hosted the game in 2011 and three Super Bowls have been played in Texas since 2004, which is second only to Florida. Under the Texas bill, people would be required to use bathrooms that correspond to the sex on their birth certificate. It’s similar to a North Carolina law that prompted the NCAA to pull seven championship events from that state last year and is backed by Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, a powerful figure in the state who had cited the Houston Super Bowl as proof that big events will stick around. Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has been quieter on the proposal and, noticeably, never mentioned bathrooms while laying out his legislative agenda last month. Following the NFL statement, Patrick’s office signaled it was remaining firm and was committed to “making sure that every Texan is welcomed” at sporting events. “Despite persistent misinformation in the media, under Senate Bill 6, all Texas teams will be able to set their own policies at the stadiums and arenas where they play
and hold their events. There is no conflict with the NFL’s statement today and Senate Bill 6,” Patrick spokesman Alejandro Garcia said. Spokespeople for the Dallas Cowboys and the Houston Texans did not immediately return emails seeking comment. The NCAA has declined comment so far since the Texas bill was filed last month. Since 2004, Texas has hosted more combined Super Bowls, NBA All-Star Games (three) and NCAA men’s Final Fours (five) than any other state. San Antonio is scheduled to host another Final Four in 2018, and Dallas is hosting the women’s NCAA Final Four in April. Unlike the North Carolina law, the Texas proposal stops short of some provisions the NCAA singled out when defending its decision to relocate events last fall. That includes language that invalidatses local equalrights ordinances, although there is separate legislation in Texas that could have similar effects. The NFL has issued similar warnings before about state legislation that critics say invites discrimination. In 2015, Georgia Republican Gov. Nathan Deal vetoed a “religious liberty” bill that the NFL suggested could result in Atlanta being passed over for Super Bowls.
that teams are relying on their bats more than they’re relying on their speed.” Baltimore was just the third team since the start of the expansion era in 1961 to steal fewer than 20 bases, joining the 1964 Boston Red Sox (18) and 1972 Detroit Tigers (17), according to the Elias Sports Bureau. There were 2,537 steals in 2,428 games last year. The average of 1.04 steals per game combined for both teams last year and 1.03 in 2015 were the lowest two years since 1972 when it was 0.97, Elias said. “You used to be willing to roll the dice and try to make something happen,” Oakland pitcher Sean Doolittle said. “It does seem like it’s not as much a part of the game, just like bunting.” Henderson had 100 steals or more in three of his first four full seasons with the Athletics, setting a season record with 130 in 1982 and a career mark of 1,406 from 19792003. Just three NL teams topped Henderson’s individual record last season, led by Milwaukee with 181, and Cleveland at 134 was the only one in the AL.
“I don’t think I would probably steal as many bases as I stole when I played because they dictate when you run and when you do not run,” Henderson said. There will be drills galore on back fields across Florida and Arizona starting Tuesday: pitchers’ fielding practice, catchers blocking balls in the dirt and wheel defense for bunts, just to name a few. But the simple old steal seems suppressed, gone the way of sacrifice bunts and pregame infield practice. Stolen bases used to be such a priority that Harrison Dillard , a fourtime Olympic gold medalist in 1948 and ‘52, became a spring training running instructor for Cleveland and the New York Yankees. Oakland signed Herb Washington, an AllAmerican sprinter at Michigan State, to be a “designated runner” in 1974-75. He earned a World Series ring in his first season — he famously was picked off by Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Mike Marshall — and scored 33 runs over 105 games in his big league career — without
making a single plate appearance. Sabermetrics have played a huge role in the steal’s slide. When a hitter steps into a batter’s box and a runner takes a lead, managers and coaches know the pitcher’s delivery time to home plate and the catcher’s pop time — the second-plus it takes from the ball hitting the mitt to touching the middle infielder’s glove. “When they’re teaching changeups in rookie ball, they’re teaching times to the plate,” Showalter said. Split seconds separate superb from slipshod. Cleveland’s Josh Tomlin (1.32 seconds) and late Miami pitcher Jose Fernandez (1.33) had the fastest average delivery times to the plate last year among those with 350 pitches or more with runners on first and second open, according to Baseball Info Solutions. Texas’ Cole Hamels (1.84) and Kansas City’s Danny Duffy (1.75) were the worst. Miami’s J.T. Realmuto (1.85 seconds) and Kansas City’s Salvador Perez (1.86) had the fastest pop times to second, and Atlanta’s Tyler Flowers
(2.04) and A.J. Pierzynski (2.01) the slowest among catchers with 30 or more attempts, Baseball Info Solutions said. During the offseason, Major League Baseball senior vice president Chris Marinak gave general managers a presentation on the dwindling totals of steals and sacs. “The metrics say that it’s not a high-percentage play to score a run, so clubs are relying more and more on the long ball for run production,” Baltimore executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette said after that session. “If you’re going to be in love with your long ball, you’ve got to have a little more patience at the plate, so you have a few more baserunners on.” The Orioles led the majors with 253 home runs last season. But there still is a place for steals. In the late innings of close postseason games, a stolen base becomes a priority when a leadoff batter reaches. Many think back to the 2004 AL Championship Series, when the Yankees had a 4-3 lead and were three outs from sweeping Boston. Mariano Rivera
walked Kevin Millar, and pinch runner Dave Roberts stole second and scored on Bill Mueller’s single , sparking the Red Sox to a 12-inning victory , an eight-game winning streak and Boston’s first World Series title since 1918. “You’re facing better relievers late in game, and you know the chance of getting three hits against them isn’t very good,” Showalter said. Fashion is fickle in baseball. A new speedster could spark a counterrevolution. “I think it’s an art that’s coming back,” predicted former Arizona manager Chip Hale, now an Oakland coach. Offense and defense rise and fall in waves, washing over each other like ocean over sandcastles. Dominance is fleeting. “The game is evolving and it’s been evolving for 100 years,” Philadelphia GM Matt Klentak said. “I would be surprised if stolen bases just went the way of the dinosaur and became extinct. Whether it’s this year or five years from now, 10 years from now, 20 years from now, I would expect that it may come back.”
we have to believe that we are better, but that’s all on paper,” general manager Jon Daniels said. “It’s got to play out on the field.” NEW LOOK The Rangers expect to fill out their rotation with former Padres right-handers Andrew
ROOKIE TO WATCH Left-hander Yohander Mendez was the organization’s top minor league pitcher last year and will likely be at Triple-A Round Rock, but made his big league debut last September.
NFL From page B1
THE ZAPATA TIMES | Saturday, February 11, 2017 |
Dear Readers: Traveling IN THE CAR WITH THE DOG -- lots of us love to do it, but there are some factors to consider. Planning is key, and safety always is the priority. Here are some hints to help: >> Keep a copy of the animal's medical history and veterinarian contact information with you. >> NEVER allow the dog to ride with its head out the window. The dangers? Flying debris and inhaling smog. >> Pets need to be restrained: Smaller dogs should be in a carrier on the floor in the backseat, and larger animals in a harness and seat belt. Train the dog from the beginning to use the harness and seat belt, and it will become second nature! >> Don't leave the dog in the car unattended. Temperatures can get extreme inside the vehicle. -- Heloise A CASE FOR BOOTS
Dear Heloise: I broke a bone in my foot and had to wear a boot for six weeks. I found that tying a small pillowcase over the boot made moving my leg in bed much easier. No sticking to the sheets with the hook-and-loop closures on the boot. A bad situation made easier! -- Patti W., Thousand Oaks, Calif. SNOW CLEANER Hello, Heloise: I look forward to reading your advice and interesting articles. After driving on snowy streets and parking in the garage, there's lots of dirt and snow dripping onto the garage floor. I decided to keep the garage floor clean by utilizing the snow. I spread the snow and use a broom/brush to clean the floor. I don't need water this way. -- Lee, via email
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B4 | Saturday, February 11, 2017 | THE ZAPATA TIMES
SPORTS
Holm tries to avoid one-hit wonder status at UFC 208 By Dan Gelston A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
NEW YORK — Holly Holm is already the answer to a trivia question as the first fighter to dominate and defeat Ronda Rousey. Her leap from obscurity to instant celebrity landed her on daytime talk shows and chatting with late-night hosts and made her — oh so briefly — the most talked about fighter in UFC. She’s trying these days to avoid another rather dubious fight conversation. Holm’s championship reign lasted only four
months, and another loss soon followed that left Holm not as the heir apparent to Rousey in the women’s division, but rather on the cusp of being labeled an MMA version of a one-hit wonder like Buster Douglas. Douglas rode a stunning knockout of Mike Tyson in 1990 in Japan all the way to fight immortality — sports fans can’t forget his name, yet he never had another major victory in his career. Holm’s not quite there yet, though she was composed enough this week at Barclays Center to answer questions that lumped her in with Doug-
las. “After the fight with Ronda, I knew that if I didn’t win after that, those would be things that would be tossed around,” Holm said. “But I’m not in this sport to please everybody else and what they think and what they feel. I’m in it because I love it.” Douglas was a 42-1 longshot when he KO’d the undefeated and seemingly indestructible Tyson and won the heavyweight championship. Douglas gained about 35 pounds and had grown lazy on his 15 minutes of fame when he lost the belt in quick fashion eight
months later to Evander Holyfield. Holm lost the bantamweight belt when Miesha Tate choked her out in March 2016 and she lost a decision to Valentina Shevchenko in the main event of a Fox card in July. Holm (10-2) can erase the Douglas comparisons and become the first two-division champion in UFC women’s history when she fights Germaine de Randamie (6-3) in the main event of UFC 208. Holm, fighting in the new 145-pound featherweight division created as a showcase for Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino, can join
Andy Brownbill / Associated Press file
In 2015, Holly Holm held the UFC bantamweight title after defeating Ronda Rousey at UFC 193. Her leap from obscurity briefly made her the most talked about fighter in UFC.
Conor McGregor, Randy Couture and B.J. Penn as the only two-division champs in UFC history. Justino’s UFC fate is in limbo because of a doping violation that knocked her off the New York card. After winning titles in the Invicta and Strikeforce promotions, Justino won her first two fights in
the UFC. But she said she tested positive for a diuretic she is taking as part of a therapeutic treatment due to medical issues. Rousey may not fight again following her 48second loss to Amanda Nunes in her comeback fight at UFC 207.
Astros determined to start fast after last year’s fiasco By Kristie Rieken A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
HOUSTON — The Houston Astros are still thinking about their terrible start to last season and are determined to start things off much better this year. As the Astros prepare for the start of spring training, that 7-17 mark is still firmly in their minds. The Astros got it together after that awful month, but it put them in too big of a hole to dig out of and they just missed reaching the playoffs for the second straight season. “We weren’t expecting that bad start,” general manager Jeff Luhnow said. “Nobody was, and once it happened people were a little but paralyzed (like): ‘What do we do?”’ The Astros added Car-
los Beltran, Josh Reddick and Brian McCann this offseason and Luhnow thinks the trio of proven veterans will help Houston’s young and talented core better deal with the ups and downs of a 162game season. “I think we have a better chance of surviving a downturn, because we know the downturns are coming,” Luhnow said. Luhnow was confident in his team last season, but believes the offseason additions make the Astros a much more complete team and he expects them to compete for the AL-West crown. The added depth will also give manager A.J. Hinch options if his starters struggle. Some things to know about the Astros as they
David J. Phillip / Associated Press file
The Astros brought back outfielder Carlos Beltran on a one-year contract, one of many offseason additions including Josh Reddick and Brian McCann this offseason.
open spring training: NEW LOOK Longtime catcher Jason Castro signed as a free agent with the Minnesota Twins and the Astros got McCann to waive his no-trade clause to be dealt to Houston. Beltran returns for his second
stint with the Astros for what will be his 20th major league season. He is expected to get some time at designated hitter, but Hinch has said that Beltran still enjoys playing in the outfield and will get plenty of time there, too. Along with Beltran,
the Astros beefed up their outfield by adding Reddick and Norichika Aoki and parted ways with Rasmus, who hit just .206 in an injuryfilled 2016. “I think there’s just a general buzz and a general excitement because we’ve added some names, we’ve added some credibility on the position player side to fill in some of the gaps on the guys that we have lost,” Hinch said. ROOKIES TO WATCH Houston doesn’t have any rookies expected to play big roles this season, but they do have some youngsters that they are hoping will take another step this season to help the team. The most important among them is third baseman Alex Breg-
man, the second overall pick in the 2015 draft who made his major league debut last season. Bregman hit .264 with eight home runs and 34 RBIs in 49 games last year and the Astros are eager to see what he can do in his first full season in the majors. ON DECK Ace Dallas Keuchel had a down year in the follow-up to his brilliant 2015 season where he won the Cy Young Award. He started the season 3-9 and was shut down in late August with an injury. He’s healthy now and the Astros say he will be ready for the start of camp and expect him to look more like the pitcher he was in 2015 when he won 20 games with a 2.48 ERA.