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JOAQUÍN "EL CHAPO" GUZMÁN

CRYSTAL CITY, TEXAS

‘El Chapo’s wife speaks Spouse of Mexican drug cartel lord says: ‘I am afraid for his life’

By JOSHUA FECHTER SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

The wife of notorious Mexican drug cartel lord Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán fears for her husband’s life at the hands of prison officials and the Mexican government, the former beauty queen told Telemundo News.

Telemundo will air an exclusive in-depth interview with Emma Coronel Aispuro, a California-born pageant queen who apparently married the drug lord on her 18th birthday, on Sunday, the network announced Friday.

In a sit-down with Mexican journalist Anabel Hernández, Aispuro claims that her husband’s health has deteriorated in the Antiplano prison since the Sinaloa cartel leader was recaptured on January 8.

Photo by Mike Vigil | San Antonio Express-News

Pictured above is Emma Coronel Aispuro Guzman.

"I am afraid for his life," Aispuro told Hernández.

"We don’t know if he is eating well. We don’t know what his situation is be-

cause we haven’t seen him."

Guzmán escaped from the Antiplano prison through a tunnel in the

shower area of his cell in July.

The drug lord’s escape was considered a major embarrassment for the Mexican government as Mexican marines mounted a nationwide manhunt.

Marines finally caught up to Guzmán at a home in Los Mochis in January.

Guzmán’s lawyer has alleged that prison guards in the Antiplano prison are not allowing his client to sleep.

"They want to make him pay for his escape," Aispuro said in the interview.

"They say that they are not punishing him. Of course they are. They are there with him, watching him in his cell. They are right there, all day long, calling attendance. They don’t let me sleep. He has no privacy, not even to go to the

Photo by Tom Reel | San Antonio Express-News

Mary Jane Surita pours from the bottle of discolored water she drew from her bathroom faucet in Crystal City.

Residents cope with black water Sediment and rust flow into pipes after city flushes water tank

See EL CHAPO PAGE 7A

By VINCENT T. DAVIS SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

TEXAS PRISONS

UNDOCUMENTED INMATES Less than 4.6 percent are illegal

By NICHOLE COBLER TEXAS TRIBUNE

About 4.6 percent of the men and women in Texas prisons are undocumented immigrants with standing requests that they be turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement when their sentences are served, according to data released to The Texas Tribune by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

The statistics reflect detainers that ICE has placed on prisoners. Detainers can be placed on immigrants in the country legally or illegally. The Pew Research Center estimates there are 1.7 million undocumented immigrants living in Texas,

See INMATES PAGE 7A

Photo by Jennifer Whitney | Texas Tribune

Shown is the Texas Department of Criminal Justice William G. McConnell Unit at Chase Field in Beeville, Texas. About 4.6 percent of the men and women in Texas prisons are undocumented immigrants.

Dark water is still running from the faucets in Crystal City homes and businesses Thursday, the unexpected result of flushing the city’s water tank.

Chris Jimenez, administrative assistant with the utilities department, said the process was sending rust and sediment flowing into the pipes of the entire town of about 7,200 residents.

There was no advance notice, but a posting on the city’s Facebook page gave this explanation: “This is an unfortunate outcome to extreme building of dirt, mud, etc. in tank. Unfortunately we did not expect such outcome while flushing tank.

This is all part of a major renovation on elevated tank that was drastically overdue.”

Jimenez said officials hoped to have the problem resolved by Friday morning. Meanwhile, residents were urged to boil water for at least two minutes or to use bottled water.

Jimenez said the city has sent water samples to TCEQ to be analyzed.

While awaiting test results to determine safety, he said, residents should continue boiling water before using. But if black water is coming from the tap, he said, residents should use bottled water.

Imelda Allen, superintendent of the Crystal City Independent School District, said the district provided bottled water to its four schools and was prepared to do it again Friday morning, if necessary.

“We’re ready for our kids,” she said. “This keeps us on our toes.”

Schools were let out starting at 1 p.m. Thursday because of low water pressure, but there were expected to be open again as usual Friday morning.

The city’s water problems come amid an unprecedented political crisis, as five city officials are under federal indictment. City Manager and City Attorney James Jonas III, Mayor Ricardo Lopez and City Council members Rogelio Mata and Roel Mata, who are brothers are all charged with bribery, along with former councilman Gilbert Urrabazo. Another council member, Marco Rodriguez, was indicted for human smuggling in an unrelated matter.

Meanwhile, legal efforts to force the council to hold a recall election of Mayor Lopez, Rogelio Mata and Rodriguez, are continuing. Last year, citizens gathered more than 1,200 signatures seeking to recall the three, but the effort was blocked by Jonas.Judge Abascal ordered to proceed with the election.

BRAZOS RIVER

Major water case a win for ranchers

By JIM MALEWITZ TEXAS TRIBUNE

The Texas Supreme Court on Friday handed a victory to farmers, ranchers and other longstanding water rights holders by declining to take up a Brazos River case with widespread implications for future water battles in drought-prone Texas.

Denying a state petition for review, the justices left in place a lower court’s ruling that said Texas cannot give special treatment to cities or power generators over more “senior” water rights holders on parched rivers – even if the state declares it necessary to protect the “public health, safety and welfare.”

That means some cities,

power generators or others with more “junior” river rights would need to pay up or go thirsty when severe drought strikes.

The Texas Farm Bureau, which challenged a Texas Commission on Environmental Quality policy giving cities preferential treatment in certain water skir-

See RANCHERS PAGE 7A

Photo by Michael Stravato | Texas Tribune

The Dow chemical plant is shown along the Brazos River in Freeport, Texas. The Texas Supreme Court on Friday handed a victory to farmers and ranchers by declining to take up a Brazos River case.

PAGE 2A

Zin brief CALENDAR

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2016

AROUND THE NATION

TODAY IN HISTORY

Saturday, February 20

ASSOCIATED PRESS

The first of the Laredo Free Thinkers Lecture series with Professor Shawn Miller will be held at the Holding Institute at 5:30 p.m. This lecture’s theme will be economics and budgeting. It is free and open to the public.

Today is Saturday, Feb. 20, the 51st day of 2016. There are 315 days left in the year.

Today’s Highlight in History: On Feb. 20, 1816, the opera buffa “The Barber of Seville”

by Gioachino Rossini premiered at the Teatro Argentina in Rome under its original title, “Almaviva, or the Useless Precaution.” (Although Rossini’s opera received a hostile reception from the audience the first night, it fared much better at its next performance.)

On this date: In 1792, President George Washington signed an act creating the U.S. Post Office.

In 1905, the U.S. Supreme Court, in Jacobson v. Massachusetts, upheld, 7-2, compulsory vaccination laws intended to protect the public’s health.

In 1944, during World War II, U.S. strategic bombers began raiding German aircraft manufacturing centers in a series of attacks that became known as “Big Week.”

In 1950, the U.S. Supreme Court, in United States v. Rabinowitz, ruled 5-3 that authorities making a lawful arrest did not need a warrant to search and seize evidence in an area that was in the “immediate and complete control” of the suspect.

In 1962, astronaut John Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth as he flew aboard Project Mercury’s Friendship 7 spacecraft.

In 1986, the Soviet Union sent up the core module of space station Mir (Peace), which would serve as a permanently manned base for the next generation in space. (Mir stayed in orbit until 2001.)

In 1998, Tara Lipinski of the U.S. won the ladies’ figure skating gold medal at the Nagano Olympics; fellow American Michelle Kwan won the silver.

In 2003, a fire sparked by pyrotechnics broke out during a concert by the group Great White at The Station nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island, killing 100 people and injuring about 200 others.

Five years ago: Security forces loyal to Libya’s Moammar Gadhafi unleashed heavy gunfire as thousands marched in the rebellious eastern city of Benghazi, cutting down mourners trying to bury victims.

One year ago: Islamic State militants unleashed suicide bombings in eastern Libya, killing at least 40 people in what the group said was retaliation for Egyptian airstrikes against the extremists’ aggressive new branch in North Africa.

Today’s Birthdays: Gloria Vanderbilt is 92. Racing Hall of Famer Roger Penske is 79.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., is 74. Movie director Mike Leigh is 73. Actor Peter Strauss is 69. Former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is 65. Newspaper heiress Patricia Hearst is 62.

Basketball Hall-of-Famer Charles Barkley is 53. Actor French Stewart is 52. Model Cindy Crawford is 50. Actress Lili Taylor is 49. Actress Andrea Savage is 43. Actress Chelsea Peretti is 38. Comedian Trevor Noah (TV: “The Daily Show”) is 32. Actor Jake Richardson is 31. Singer Rihanna is 28.

Thought for Today: “Life begets life. Energy creates energy. It is by spending oneself that one becomes rich.” — Sarah Bernhardt, French actress (1844-1923).

Monday, February 22 Chess Club at the LBV – Inner City Branch Library. Free for all ages and skill levels. Basic instruction is offered. Every Monday from 4-6 p.m. For more information call John at 956-7952400 x2520.

Tuesday, February 23 Join the MOS Library Knitting Circle at McKendrick Ochoa Salinas Branch Library, 1920 Palo Blanco St., from 1-3 p.m. Please bring yarn and knitting needles. For more information, contact Analiza Perez-Gomez at analiza@laredolibrary.org or 795-2400 x2403.

Crochet for Kids at McKendrick Ochoa Salinas Branch Library, 1920 Palo Blanco St., from 4-5 p.m. Please bring yarn and a crochet needle. For more information, contact Analiza Perez-Gomez at analiza@laredolibrary.org or 795-2400 x2403.

Thursday, February 25 The sounds of Broadway giants Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein III take center stage at LCC as the college’s Opera Workshop proudly presents “A Grand Night for Singing.”

The musical revue will feature a medley of classic songs from beloved productions such as “Cinderella,” “The King and I,” “South Pacific,” “The Sound of Music,” and other cherished musicals. Tickets are $10 and benefit student scholarships.

Spanish Book Club from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at City of Laredo Public Library – Calton. For more info, call Sylvia Reash at 763-1810.

STEM Professional Development and Internship Fair from 1–4 p.m. at the Student Center Rotunda. Provides opportunities to those interested in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics sectors for TAMIU students, alumni and the Laredo community. Employers will also host corporate presentations throughout the day.

Spanish Book Club from 6-9 p.m. at City of Laredo Public Library – Calton. For more info, call Sylvia Reash at 956-763-1810 Preschool Read & Play at McKendrick Ochoa Salinas Branch Library, 1920 Palo Blanco St., from 11 a.m.–12 p.m. Story time and crafts for preschoolers. For more information, contact Priscilla Garcia at priscilla@laredolibrary.org or 795-2400 x2403.

Family Story Time & Crafts at McKendrick Ochoa Salinas Branch Library, 1920 Palo Blanco St., from 4-5 p.m. For more information, contact Priscilla Garcia at priscilla@laredolibrary.org or 795-2400 x2403.

Meeting of the Villa San Agustin de Laredo Genealogical Society. Dr. Jose Barragan will speak about land grants from 3-5 p.m. at St John Neumann Parish Hall. The public is invited.

For more info call Sanjuanita MartinezHunter, 722-3497.

Friday, February 26 The sounds of Broadway giants Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein III take center stage at LCC as the college’s Opera Workshop proudly presents “A Grand Night for Singing.”

The musical revue will feature a medley of classic songs from beloved productions such as “Cinderella,” “The King and I,” “South Pacific,” “The Sound of Music,” and other cherished musicals. Tickets are $10 and benefit student scholarships.

A Fresh Start to a Healthier You. Learn practical cooking and shopping tips and recipes for success in the kitchen at McKendrick Ochoa Salinas Branch Library, 1920 Palo Blanco St., from 4:30-5:30 p.m. For more information, contact Angie Sifuentes, Webb County Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, 956-523-5290, angelica.sifuentes@ag.tamu.edu.

Saturday, February 27 The sounds of Broadway giants Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein III take center stage at LCC as the college’s Opera Workshop proudly presents “A Grand Night for Singing.”

The musical revue will feature a medley of classic songs from beloved productions such as “Cinderella,” “The King and I,” “South Pacific,” “The Sound of Music,” and other cherished musicals. Tickets are $10 and benefit student scholarships.

Photo by WBRZ-TV | AP file

In this file photo made from video and released by WBRZ-TV in Baton Rouge, Albert Woodfox walks into a courthouse in Louisiana. Woodfox, the last inmate of a group known as the "Angola Three" has pleaded no contest to manslaughter and a lesser offense in the 1972 death of a prison guard and is expected to be released after more than four decades in prison.

‘Angola Three’ released

By MICHAEL KUNZELMAN AND KEVIN MCGILL ASSOCIATED PRESS

ST. FRANCISVILLE, La. — The last inmate of a group known as the “Angola Three” pleaded no contest Friday to manslaughter in the 1972 death of a prison guard and was released after more than four decades in prison.

Albert Woodfox and two other men became known as the “Angola Three” for their decades-long stays in isolation at the Louisiana Penitentiary at Angola and other prisons. Officials said they were kept in solitary because their Black Panther Party activism would otherwise rile up inmates at the maximum-security prison farm in Angola.

Woodfox consistently maintained his innocence in the killing of guard Brent Miller. He was being held at the West Feliciana Parish Detention Center in St. Francisville, about 30

miles north of Baton Rouge. He was awaiting a third trial in Miller’s death after earlier convictions were thrown out by federal courts for reasons including racial bias in selecting a grand jury foreman.

Woodfox, who turned 69 on the same day he was released from custody, spoke to reporters and supporters briefly outside the jail before driving off with his brother.

Speaking of his future plans, he said he wanted to visit his mother’s gravesite. She died while he was in prison, and Woodfox said he was not allowed to go to the funeral.

As to whether he would have done anything differently back in 1972, Woodfox responded: “When forces are beyond your control, there’s not a lot you can do. Angola was a very horrible place at the time and everybody was just fighting to survive from day to day.”

Iowa Supreme Court: Stun Jesse Jackson leads Flint Virginia issues violation guns require carry permit water crisis protest towards Dominion for spill DES MOINES, Iowa — If you plan on carrying a stun gun in Iowa, you’d better have a permit for it, even if it doesn’t work.

The state Supreme Court on Friday restored the conviction of a woman who was charged with carrying a dangerous weapon, even though the weapon was a non-working stun gun police found in her purse during a 2013 arrest for shoplifting at a Waterloo Walmart.

According to court records, Taquala Howse, now 25, was handcuffed and taken to a police officer’s vehicle after she was identified as a theft suspect at the store. Waterloo officer Kyle Jurgensen searched her purse and found a small hand-held stun gun, which Howse said she carried for her own security when she went to nightclubs.

She did not have a gun permit and was charged with going armed with a dangerous weapon, an aggravated misdemeanor.

FLINT, Mich. — The Rev. Jesse Jackson led hundreds of protesters Friday to the Flint water treatment plant, which the civil rights leader referred to as a “crime scene.”

The mile-long march began at Metropolitan Baptist Tabernacle, where Jackson, television Judge Greg Mathis, and others spoke to a packed sanctuary before heading out into the street.

Their route took them past the site of a once-mighty General Motors plant that now sits empty.

Chants included, “No pipes, no peace,” and “What do we want?

Free water. When do we want it?

Now.” For 18 months, Flint used the Flint River for drinking water. A lack of corrosion control caused lead to leach from old plumbing.

Jackson accused government officials of covering up the distribution of “dirty and poisoned water.”

RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia environmental regulators are issuing a notice of violation to Dominion Virginia Power for a mineral oil spill that fouled a portion of the Potomac River in northern Virginia.

The notice issued Friday by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality is a first step to ensure that Dominion is held accountable for the Feb. 3 spill. It could lead to civil penalties, corrective actions and reimbursement for cleanup costs.

In a statement, Dominion said it has accepted responsibility for the spill and that more than 95 percent of the oil had been recovered.

The DEQ said a transformer failure at the Crystal City substation released approximately 13,500 gallons of mineral oil. It said 29 fish and waterfowl were found dead after the spill.

— Compiled from AP reports

AROUND TEXAS Judge moves ‘affluenza’ teen’s case to adult court FORT WORTH, Texas — A judge on Friday sent the Texas teenager who used an “affluenza” defense in a fatal drunkendriving wreck to adult court, raising the possibility that he could get jail time for the 2013 crash that killed four people.

Ethan Couch was 16 at the time of the crash. During his juvenile trial, a defense expert invoked the term “affluenza” while arguing that Couch’s wealthy parents had coddled him into a sense of irresponsibility.

Friday’s ruling means the now 18-year-old Couch could face up to 120 days in jail, then finish his 10-year probation. But if he violates his probation during that time, he could get up to 10 years in prison for each of the four people who were killed.

Among those attending the hearing was Sergio Molina, who was riding in the back of Couch’s

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Ethan Couch is led by sheriff deputies after a juvenile court for a hearing Friday, in Fort Worth, Texas. A Texas judge ruled Couch, who used an "affluenza" defense in a fatal drunken-driving wreck will be moved to adult court. pickup and left paralyzed. He can only communicate by blinking his eyes.

Molina attended with his mother and brother, Alexander Lemus, who said that what he wanted from the Couches was “that they pay.”

“What’s 120 days in county?”

Lemus asked. “That’s nothing.

We need help. They have so much money, they need to pay.”

The judge ordered that the case be transferred before Couch turns 19 in April.

— Compiled from AP reports

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State

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2016

THE ZAPATA TIMES 3A

Houstonians hope to save Freedmen’s Town

By CLAUDIA FELDMAN HOUSTON CHRONICLE

HOUSTON — Dorris Ellis Robinson tried almost everything to stop the city of Houston from digging up the historic brick streets of Freedmen’s Town. Phone calls. Community gatherings. Even a meeting with then-Mayor Annise Parker.

The morning contract workers thrust their picks into the street and dislodged the first two or three dozen bricks, Robinson lay down in the coffinsized hole. All eyes were on her, suddenly the central character in a decades-old story marked by racism and greed.

“I didn’t know what else to do,” the 65-year-old, who believes the bricks were laid by former slaves and have spiritual significance, told the Houston Chronicle.

“I thought maybe I’d just lie there and slow the process down.”

Robinson succeeded, at least for now. But the battle over the bricks, which has moved to the courts, is just the latest chapter in a longrunning conflict over the survival of Houston’s oldest African-American community. A long string of city bureaucrats and developers say it’s too late to save Freedmen’s Town - it’s already gone. Activists and preservationists insist there are still historic structures worth saving if the city will mobilize immediately.

Robinson and the group that filed a lawsuit to stop the city and the contractor from further brick removal won a temporary injunction in state district court.

The contractor then asked the First Court of Appeals to reverse the trial court.

Those justices have heard oral arguments, and a written decision is expected any day.

It’s time for black and white Houstonians to pull together and save Freedmen’s Town, Robinson

says. “You don’t have to be African-American to celebrate the idea that even in the toughest of circumstances, you can start a new life. I can take my children and my grandchildren to Freedmen’s Town, and say, ‘You can do anything, baby.’?“ Adds Vanessa Sampson, executive director of the Fourth Ward Redevelopment Authority, “How did we let Freedmen’s Town slip through the cracks? If we destroy our history, what are people going to come to Houston to see? A shopping mall? The Galleria?”

Most vociferous is activist Gladys House, who was born in Freedmen’s Town more than 50 years ago and still lives there today. Outraged, she watches what may be the nation’s only freedmen’s community still populated by founders’ descendants slowly melting into Midtown and downtown, Houston’s bigger and more politically powerful neighborhoods.

“Most white people don’t care about black people’s history,” she says.

Freedmen’s Town sits within the old Fourth Ward, which functioned like a city council district between 1839 and 1905. Formerly enslaved men, wom-

Photo by Michael Ciaglo/Houston Chronicle | AP

Freedmen’s Town Preservation Coalition President Dorris Ellis Robinson sits at the intersection of Wilson and Andrews Street. en and children moved into the area in 1865 and settled on land just south of Buffalo Bayou.

The area was swampy and flooded frequently, but against the odds, it flourished and became the center of African-American life in Houston. Residents inspired by Rev. Jack Yates, the dynamic leader of early Freedmen’s Town, built churches, businesses, a school. Recognizing the importance of education, they trained to become the city’s first black professionals.

At its peak in the early 1900s, Freedmen’s Town was booming, practically a city in its own right. By the

middle of the century, though, it was a splintering community divided by Allen Parkway, the old Jefferson Davis Hospital, Interstate 45 and San Felipe Courts, a new public housing project for white defense workers. As the city slowly desegregated, even

more families moved away.

Freedmen’s Town Fourth Ward, as people often said in one breath, became synonymous with renters, poverty and crime.

But that view, if prevalent, certainly wasn’t unanimous.

Growing up in the ‘60s, House understood that she lived in a close-knit and historic neighborhood.

What puzzled her was that she couldn’t read about it at school or the public library. At age 14, she interviewed family and friends, wrote the community’s history herself and scattered copies like seeds.

About a decade later, in 1977, Houston filmmaker James Blue also tried to raise awareness. He made a documentary titled, “Who Killed Fourth Ward? A Non-fiction Mystery in Three Parts.”

Blue is dead but Rick Lowe, the founder of Project Row Houses in the

Third Ward and a 2014 MacArthur Fellow, remembers the film well.

“The heart of the Fourth Ward (Freedmen’s Town) was ripped out, it’s truly been ripped out,” Lowe says. “In the film, politicians and developers said it was progress. It’s progress for some but not progress for the cultural heritage of Freedmen’s Town. There are always winners and losers, and in this case, Freedmen’s Town lost.”

In 1984, not ready to admit defeat, a group of determined activists including House and late Congressman Mickey Leland pressed to have one portion of what remained of Freedmen’s Town listed on the National Register of Historic Places, about 45 blocks within West Gray, West Dallas, Interstate 45 and Genesee. But the new designation offered no protection from developers more interested in building.

PAGE 4A

Zopinion

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2016

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR SEND YOUR SIGNED LETTER TO EDITORIAL@LMTONLINE.COM

COLUMN

OTHER VIEWS

Republicans, please don’t vote (yet)

By KEN HERMAN COX NEWSPAPERS

Early voting is underway in Texas. It’s fun. It’s easy. You get a nifty “I voted’ sticker that certifies your superiority. Through Wednesday, the first two days of early voting, 9,160 Travis County residents had voted early.

There’s a name for that kind of civic involvement: dumb, especially for the 2,921 local folks who voted early in the GOP primary.

If you see a known Republican wearing an “I voted” sticker, ask him or her this question: Did you vote for somebody who might no longer be running come March 1, primary day in the Great State of Texas?

My purpose here today is voter suppression, which often gets a bad rap.

But I believe there is a time and place for voter suppression, and a good time and place for it is a time and place when we don’t know who the candidates are.

Early voting started Tuesday and ends Feb. 26.

The March 1 Texas presidential primary ballots include eight Democratic candidates -- two real ones, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders; one who dropped out too late to get off the Texas ballot, Martin O’Malley; and five I’ll mercifully refer to as “others,” Star Locke, Keith Judd, Roque “Rocky” De La Fuente, Willie L. Wilson and Calvis L. Hawes.

The GOP presidential ballot in Texas includes 13 candidates and an “uncommitted” option. Because of candidate filing deadlines, the Texas GOP presidential ballot includes several would-be presidents who now acknowledge they won’t be, at least not starting next January.

But feel free to vote for dropouts Rand Paul, Lindsey Graham, Mike Huckabee, Chris Christie, Rick Santorum or Carly Fiorina.

That’s not really a problem, assuming voters know those people now are noncandidates. The problem is voting for future noncandidates -- and the future could come shortly after the South Carolina GOP primary polls close Saturday evening. Vote totals could force another candidate or two or three out of the race who would still appear on the Texas ballot.

I went by an early voting location (the Austin Public Library’s George Washington Carver Branch in East Austin) Thursday morning to talk with a Republican voter about the relative merits of potentially casting a ballot for someone who could be out of the race by March 1.

Shouldn’t Republicans wait a few days?

“I personally like the convenience of early voting to make sure that, if something happens between now and election day, at least I’ve had a chance to cast my ballot,” the voter said.

But what if your candidate is out of the race by March 1?

“I think the risk is well worth it,” said the voter, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, RTexas, “to the extent there is a risk.”

Oh, there is a risk, perhaps especially for any Texans voting for Jeb Bush. (And this isn’t to say Cornyn voted for Bush.)

Cornyn declines to say who he’s backing for president, prompting a local, naive, fishing-for-a-story journalist to say to him Thursday: “We can assume, of course, that you voted for your Texas Senate colleague, Senator (Ted) Cruz. He’s a Texan.

You work closely with him. I’m sure you consider him a good friend. So you probably voted for him, correct?”

“Um,” Cornyn told the journalist, “nice try, Ken.” (FYI, there’s little chance Cornyn voted for Cruz or Donald Trump).

I then asked Cornyn if he’s sure that whoever got his vote won’t drop out of the race pre-March 1.

“I’m not sure of anything in this election cycle,” Cornyn said. “I think most of the things I thought I knew about electoral politics seem to have gone by the wayside.”

While not giving an inch toward revealing who got his vote for the GOP presidential nomination, Cornyn did talk about the importance of “electability,” which, this year, often is code for not backing Trump or Cruz.

Cornyn said the presidential race is additionally important because of the U.S. Supreme Court vacancy, a reality that focuses on the importance of making sure “that we Republicans nominate the most electable person so that we can have a president who will make that appointment.”

“And,” I said to Cornyn, “that’s why you just voted for Jeb Bush for president, right?”

Cornyn laughed. I explained that I had to ask that question because I’m a trained professional.

Cornyn had another conclusion: “You’re like a dog with a bone.”

Bottom line, he said, is his enduring faith that “the voters will make the right decision in the end.”

“But it’s still early,” he said.

Yes, too early on the GOP side for a Texan to be voting. You really should wait to see who’ll still be running come March 1.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY The Zapata 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. The Zapata Times does not allow the use of pseudonyms.

Letters are edited for style, grammar, length and civility. No namecalling or gratuitous abuse is allowed.

Via e-mail, send letters to editorial@lmtonline.com or mail them to Letters to the Editor, 111 Esperanza Drive, Laredo, TX 78041.

COLUMN

Coke seeks to trademark the word ‘zero’ from rivals’ use

By MATT KEMPNER COX NEWSPAPERS

Coke is trying to get dibs on nothing. Or more specifically “zero.”

As in Coke Zero. As in the zero-calorie soft drink that some men apparently feel better about drinking in part because it doesn’t include the word “diet.”

See how words twist us around?

So, for more than a decade, the soft drink Goliath has been trying to win trademark rights not only to the name Coke Zero but also, incredibly, to the word “zero,” at least as it relates to beverage and particularly soft drinks.

It might get a decision from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office by this summer, according to a recent Wall Street Journal story.

We’ve heard this kind of thing before with companies trying to control use of common words.

But it still sounds goofy in this context. After all, we’re not talking about a common word that was plucked for an uncommon use, such as “Apple” to describe a computer or “Delta” to describe an airline.

I understand Coke’s thinking. It’s got a lot of money wrapped up in this; it doesn’t want to risk that. Of course, nobody forced it to use a number for a product name, then try to swat everybody else away from it.

The company already lost trademark attempts over “zero” in Canada and the United Kingdom.

If Coke also loses in the U.S., it won’t be able to throw a trademark hammerlock on rivals like Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, which also likes using “zero.” If Coke wins, it could

If Coke wins, it could protect Coke Zero, its best soft drink launch in decades and one that is actually growing stronger, unlike Diet Coke which has been losing ground.

A Coke spokeswoman declined to comment. protect Coke Zero, its best soft drink launch in decades and one that is actually growing stronger, unlike Diet Coke which has been losing ground.

A Coke spokeswoman declined to comment much on the trademark case, other than to tell me that no matter what the outcome, the company plans to continue selling drinks with the word “zero.”

Consider the advantage a company has if it can use a crucial word and simultaneously bar its rivals from doing the same.

Coke Zero was hatched as a way for Coke to hold on to young men tired of drinks with lots of calories but turned off by the taste of Diet Coke and the four-letter word that begins with “d.”

Coke Zero became a billion-dollar-a-year seller long ago.

What’s in a number?

Lots of other companies have used number names before: Six Flags, Porsche 911, 3M, Saks Fifth Avenue, V8, 7-Eleven and Heinz 57. On the drink front alone there’s also been 7Up, Dr Pepper TEN and Pepsi One (which is officially now the null set, since it’s no longer sold).

There are even rivals that use “zero,” including Diet Rite Pure Zero.

Coke, though, says it has pretty much cornered the market on what we think of when we’re thirsty and see “zero.”

But I found Coke doesn’t have as much of a hold on nothing as they would have us believe.

I googled the word “zero.” Where do you think I found Coke Zero, a hot brand for one of the world’s biggest marketers and a company that had more than $44 billion in sales last year?

It was long after Chris Brown’s music video “Zero,” links for a pro video game player named ZeRo, Zero Motorcycles, Zero Hedge, Zero Skateboards, ZERO Lighting, Raspberry PI Zero (a $5 computer board, I think), ZERO — the end of prostate cancer nonprofit, Zero App (”best way to get to inbox zero!”), Arctic Zero frozen desserts, Zero candy bar, Zero fishing reels, etc.

Coke Zero wasn’t even the first “zero” beverage in the search results.

Zero Gravity Craft Brewery in Burlington, Vermont, beat Coke.

“Wow,” Matt Wilson said when I informed him

DOONESBURY | GARRY TRUDEAU

of this.

He’s a co-owner of Zero Gravity, which opened in 2004 (the year Coke says it added Zero to the name of Diet Sprite) and includes a brew pub and a small brewing operation. It is, Wilson told me, “one of most exciting, fastest growing brands in the Vermont brewing scene.”

News to him I told him about Coke’s trademark bid for “zero.”

Wilson said it was news to him.

“I’m sure Coke would like to trademark the word ‘cola’ too, but I don’t think it is going to happen,” he said. “It seems like a long shot to me, based on my fairly remedial knowledge of U.S. trademark laws.”

I checked with a professor who specializes in such issues.

Tim Holbrook of Emory University thinks Coke has a decent shot at winning. But it’s not altogether clear.

Numbers can be trademarked in some situations, he said. But Coke didn’t pick a number out of the blue. It choose one that refers to the absence of calories.

It’s harder to win trademark protection for a word that is descriptive (like the word “beer” for the name of a beer) than it is for one that is merely suggestive and requires a further leap in thinking, he said.

So, when you hear the word “zero” in connection with a drink, do you immediately know it means zero calories or does it just sort of hint in that direction?

“It’s a strange bit of line drawing,” Holbrook acknowledged.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2016

National

Shooter to remain jailed

By FELICIA FONSECA ASSOCIATED PRESS

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — The man charged in the fatal shooting of a Northern Arizona University student will remain jailed, but a judge left open the possibility of home confinement.

Steven Jones claims he acted in self-defense when he opened fire on the Flagstaff campus last October, killing Colin Brough and injuring three other students. Prosecutors say he wasn’t justified in using lethal force, painting him as a loose cannon who chose to introduce a gun into a largely verbal fight.

Jones’ attorneys asked Coconino County Superior Court Judge Dan Slayton on Friday to release Jones to the custody of his parents, citing his lack of criminal history and no desire to flee. Slayton de-

nied the motion but said A pretrial services rehe’d reconsider port found that once he has Jones is at the more informalowest risk of tion on aroundre-offending, the-clock moniSlayton said. toring, access to That didn’t weapons, potenquell the fear of tial searches of Nicholas Piring the Jones’ home and Nicholas and the availaPrato, two of bility of counselthe shooting ing. victims who “This aspect testified at FriJONES about the danday’s hearing. ger Mr. Jones presents, “He attempted to take it’s really he has no histo- my life once,” Prato said. ry and took this action “Please protect all of us. that night that causes me Keep him in police customore concern than any- dy.” thing,” Slayton said.

Kyle Zientek, the other Brough’s mother, Clau- student injured, didn’t apdia, made a tearful plea to pear at the hearing. His Slayton to keep Jones be- lawyer said he was studyhind bars. With her hands ing abroad. clenched, trembling and Jones, wearing thicksobbing, she told Slayton rimmed black glasses and what she believed her son a blue jumpsuit, kept his would have said: “We hands clasped in his lap don’t solve our problems during much of the hearwith pulling out a gun. ing.

He occasionally It’s not an option.” glanced around at report-

ers sitting in the jury box.

His family was seated behind him.

Earlier Friday, Slayton denied a motion to send Jones’ case back to the grand jury without elaborating on the ruling.

Brough is charged with one count of first-degree murder and six counts of aggravated assault.

Jones’ attorneys argued that prosecutors presented a biased case, downplaying Jones’ injuries from being punched in the face by an unidentified person and tackled, and mischaracterized witness statements.

Prosecutors accused defense attorneys of cherrypicking statements in arguing for reconsideration by a grand jury. They said scrapes on Jones’ body, a split lip and red marks were superficial at best, and that the evidence was presented fairly and impartially.

THE ZAPATA TIMES 5A

Snake head found in green beans ASSOCIATED PRESS

SALT LAKE CITY — An Oregon food distribution company has halted some shipments of canned green beans after a Utah woman said she found a severed snake head in a can.

The unsettling discovery was made Wednesday night at a Mormon church in Farmington, Utah, while women and youth were preparing a meal for older members of the congregation.

Troy Walker said she was taking beans out of a slow cooker when she spotted something odd,

KSL-TV in Salt Lake City reports.

“It looked pretty much like a burnt bean, and then as I got closer to lift it off the spoon, I saw eyes,” Walker said.

“That’s when I just dropped it and screamed.”

Christi Smith also was cooking that evening and told The Associated Press it was a very small snake that had clearly been cut up. After the kids all came to see it, they threw out several other large pots of string beans that were also cooking before looking inside. “Who knows where the other parts were?” Smith said.

PÁGINA 6A

Zfrontera

Agenda en Breve FERIA DEL CONDADO DE ZAPATA La Asociación de la Feria del Condado de Zapata dio a conocer los artistas que se presentarán en su edición 44.

Las presentaciones iniciarán el jueves 10 de marzo con Randy García y Conjunto Estrella, de 6:30 p.m. a 7:30 p.m.; Los Fantasmas Del Valle de 7:45 p.m. a 8:45pm; Lázaro Pérez y Su Conjunto, de 9 p.m. a 10:15 p.m.; y de 10:30 p.m. a 12 a.m. se presentará Ricky Naranjo y Los Gamblers. La entrada a los conciertos de este día es gratuita.

El viernes 11 de marzo se presentará Kix Garcia Band, de 6 p.m. a 6:45 p.m.; Michael Salgado de 7 p.m. a 8 p.m.; de 8:30 p.m. a 10 p.m.

Aaron Watson; y como grupo estelar, Duelo, de 10:30 p.m. a 12 a.m.

El sábado 12 de marzo, los grupos que se presentarán son Sólido, de 7:30 p.m. a 9 p.m.; La Mafia, de 9:30 p.m. a 11 p.m. y como artista estelar Pesado, de 11:30 p.m. a 1 p.m.

La venta previa de brazaletes ya está disponible en Zapata County Chamber of Commerce, ICE Zapata, Casa Raul South y North, y en Mike’s Western Wear, a un costo de 15 dólares por persona.

Niños de 12 años y menores entran gratis. Para más información sobre el evento puede visitar www.zapatacountyfair.com.

SÁBADO 20 DE FEBRERO DE 2016

NUEVO LAREDO, MÉXICO

Eventos violentos POR CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ TIEMPO DE ZAPATA

Dos muertos es el saldo que dejara una serie de enfrentamientos que ocurrieron esta semana al oeste de Nuevo Laredo, México, el martes, de acuerdo con reportes.

Hasta el momento se desconoce la identidad de las víctimas.

Autoridades mexicanas además reportaron el arresto de dos sospechosos, mismos que fueron identificados como José Vicente González Juárez y Christian Santos Martínez.

De acuerdo con el reporte, uno presentaba una herida de bala.

El martes, los tiroteos comenzaron cuando oficiales del ejército mexicano patrullaban sobre Carretera al Aeropuerto, y se cruzaron con un vehículo Toyota, color gris, donde viajaban cuatro personas.

Reportes indican que los sospechosos dispararon contra los oficiales mientras huían hacia el poniente.

En algún momento, el conductor perdió el control del vehículo e invadió el predio de un negocio. Los sospechosos abandonaron el vehículo y continuaron disparando contra los soldados mientras trataban de eludir su captura a pie, agregan los reportes.

Fue ahí donde soldados dispararon y dieron muerte a dos de los presuntos agresores, y detuvieron a los otros dos, indica el reporte.

Autoridades sospechan que los cuatro hombres pertenecían a un grupo criminal cuyo nombre no fue revelado.

En el comunicado se añade que en el interior de la unidad fueron encontrados 11 rifles, una Barrett calibre .50, cartuchos, municiones, chalecos anti balas, entre otros objetos.

Por otra parte, residentes en Nuevo Laredo utilizaron el foro social Facebook para exhortar al público a permanecer en sus casas

ZCISD

CYSTAL CITY

FERIA DEL LIBRO

Esperan destituir Alcalde ASSOCIATED PRESS

CRYSTAL CITY — Un alcalde del sur de Texas bajo una acusación federal por corrupción salió libre bajo fianza tras pasar la noche en la cárcel por supuestamente interrumpir una reunión de cabildo municipal mientras supuestamente incitaba un disturbio.

El alcalde de Crystal City, Ricardo López, fue puesto en libertad el miércoles de la Cárcel del Condado Zavala después de pagar una fianza de 12.000 dólares. Hablando con reporteros que estaban afuera de la cárcel, dijo que “no se presentará en otra reunión de cabildo”.

La ciudad de unos 7.100 residentes en el sur de Texas está unas 115 millas al suroeste de San Antonio.

Eso hizo surgir una duda acerca de si el cabildo de la ciudad tendrá el quorum requerido para continuar su trabajo como lo planeaban para el miércoles por la noche cuando la reunión de la noche anterior no pudo se concluida.

López está acusado con obstaculizar un proceso con desorden público, resistirse al arresto y por tener una sustancia prohibida en una instalación correccional. El alguacil Eusevio Salinas dijo que cuando fichaban a López, descubrieron que llevaba consigo una sustancia prohibida. Salinas sostuvo que creía que era una tableta de la medicina controlada Vicodin.

“Pienso que era un medicamento recetado que no estaba en el envase correcto”, le dijo el alguacil al San Antonio Express-News.

ELECCIÓN DE REINA La Feria del Condado de Zapata elegirá a sus representantes de belleza a finales de este mes. El Concurso para Reinas de la Feria del Condado de Zapata se celebrará el 28 de febrero a las 2 p.m. en el Auditorio de Zapata High School.

DÍA PARA AGRADECER Winter Texan and Citizen Appreciation Day se realizará el jueves 25 de febrero en el Zapata Community Center, 605 N. U.S. Hwy 83, de las 12 p.m. a las 5 p.m.

La música en vivo estará a cargo de Terry Porter Rowe & Jeanette Silva. Asistentes podrán participar en la “Mesa Mejor Decorada”, donde habrá premios para el primer, segundo y tercer lugar.

Durante el evento habrá revisiones de salud, comidas, refrigerios, rifas de regalos, módulos de información, entretenimiento y una serie de actividades.

Informes llamando al Zapata County Chamber of Commerce en el (956) 7654871.

BRAVO FEST MIGUEL ALEMAN, México— El evento “Bravo Fest” se realizará del 25 al 27 de marzo en las márgenes del Río Bravo, abajo del puente internacional.

El festival tiene como objetivo promover el turismo local y regional, especialmente en el Valle de Texas.

SOCIEDAD GENEALÓGICA La Sociedad Genealógica Nuevo Santander se reunirá el sábado 5 de marzo, a las 2 p.m. en Zapata County Museum of History.

DESFILE La Feria del Condado de Zapata invita a los residentes, organismos y grupos de la comunidad a inscribirse en el Desfile de la Feria de Zapata.

La fecha límite para entregar su solicitud de entrada es el miércoles 9 de marzo. El desfile tendrá lugar a las 9 a.m. del sábado 12 de marzo.

La alineación del desfile será de 7 a.m. a 8:30 a.m., en U.S. Hwy 83 y 3rd Ave.

cuando se empezaron a escuchar disparos en el área de las colonias Infonavit y Concordia, al sur de la ciudad.

Algunos tiroteos se dieron, de acuerdo a las redes sociales, en avenida Paseo Loma Real, entre calles Platón Sánchez y Miguel López, en el fraccionamiento Benito Juárez/Infonavit. Usuarios publicaron imágenes en Facebook.

Es incierto si estos incidentes tienen relación con la confrontación armada que arrojó las dos muertes al oeste.

(Localice a César G. Rodriguez en 728-2568 o en cesar@lmtonline.com)

Foto de cortesía | ZCISD

Recientemente se realizó una feria del libro en la biblioteca de North Elementary School. Se contó con el apoyo de estudiantes, padres de familia y comunidad en general. En un comunicado de prensa, Zapata County Independent School District expresó que el respaldo de las familias hizo posible el éxito de la feria.

CORTE

Joven en caso ‘affluenza’ será enjuiciado como adulto POR EMMILY SCHMALL ASSOCIATED PRES

FORT WORTH, Texas— Un juez en Texas ordenó el traslado a una corte para adultos del caso del adolescente que causó un accidente vial en 2013 en el que murieron cuatro personas cuando conducía ebrio, lo que implica que el joven podría pasar tiempo en prisión, al margen del argumento de la defensa en aquellos hechos de que el acusado sufría el síndrome del niño rico irresponsable.

Ethan Couch tenía 16 años cuando se produjo el accidente cerca de Forth Worth.

Debido al fallo emitido el viernes, Couch, hoy de 18 años, podría enfrentar 120 días de prisión y después concluir su libertad condicional de 10 años. Sin embargo, si Couch infringe su libertad condicional durante ese tiempo, podría pagar 10 años de cárcel por cada una de las personas que perdieron la vida en el accidente.

El juez ordenó que el caso sea transferido a una corte para adultos antes de que Couch cum-

pla 19 años en abril. El joven se encuentra recluido.

Durante el juicio contra Couch, un experto para la defensa dijo que el joven actuó mal porque fue malcriado por sus padres acaudalados, que lo consintieron y no le enseñaron a ser responsable. Tildó el fenómeno de “affluenza”, una combinación de “influenza” (gripe) y “affluent” (pudiente, en inglés).

Couch y su madre desaparecieron en diciembre en tanto que los fiscales investigaban si el joven había violado su libertad condicional. Ambos fueron descubiertos después en México y entregados a Estados Unidos.

Couch conducía con niveles de alcohol en la sangre que rebasaban en tres veces el límite legal para conductores adultos cuando embistió una camioneta pickup y a varias personas que ayudaban a un automovilista varado a un lado de un camino cerca de Fort Worth.

La sentencia que un juez de un tribunal juvenil impuso entonces a Couch de que cumpliera libertad condicional puso furiosos a los fiscales, quienes ha-

bían exigido que lo enviaran a prisión.

Las autoridades creen que Couch y su madre, Tonya Couch, huyeron a México a principios de diciembre, después de la difusión de un video en internet en el que se veía a Ethan Couch en una fiesta en la que se servían bebidas alcohólicas. Beber alcohol podría constituir una infracción a su libertad condicional.

Madre e hijo fueron aprehendidos el 28 de diciembre en la ciudad de Puerto Vallarta, en México. Tonya Couch fue deportada de inmediato y después de que la regresaran a Texas fue puesta en libertad bajo fianza y le colocaron un grillete electrónico con SPG. La mujer, de 48 años, está acusada de impedir la aprehensión de un infractor sobre el que pesa un delito es grave.

Inicialmente, el joven se opuso a que lo deportaran de México, pero después renunció a esa prerrogativa y fue entregado a las autoridades estadounidenses a finales de enero. Se encuentra recluido en la prisión del condado Tarrant.

Incidente El alcalde fue arrestado durante la reunión del concejo el martes en la que la discusión se centraba en las gestiones de destitución lanzadas el año pasado por preocupaciones de los residentes sobre altos impuestos y cómo se gastaba el dinero público. El pedido de destitución afecta a López y dos concejales.

Una disputa estalló en la reunión cuando la secretaria municipal Selina Ramos dijo que había pasado el período de cinco días para que los tres decidiesen si renunciarían o enfrentaban destitución. Insistiendo en que le quedaba más tiempo, López declaró un receso y salió a recoger documentos para respaldar su posición. A su regreso, reportaron varios medios de prensa, López tuvo una refriega con un miembro de la audiencia y fue detenido.

Video de estaciones televisivas locales muestran a López esposado y siendo colocado en un patrullero policial.

El jefe de policía Jesús López, que no está relacionado con el alcalde, dijo que éste estaba "incitando un disturbio” en la reunión.

En la reunión del concejo municipal se discutía su destitución, un proceso que comenzó antes de que fuera encausado este mes en una investigación por corrupción que lo ha involucrado a él y a la mayoría del concejo.

El alcalde es uno de los seis actuales o ex oficiales de Crystal City que se encuentran bajo una acusación federal.

López, el Gerente de la Ciudad James Jonas III, y los concejales Rogelio Mata y Roel Mata, así como el es concejal de la ciudad Gilbert Urrabazo están acusados de soborno y conspiración. El concejal Marco Rodríguez fue arrestado en enero por cargos separados de contrabando humano, lo que dejó solamente a un miembro del concejo municipal libre de cargos criminales.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2016

THE ZAPATA TIMES 7A

EL CHAPO Continued from Page 1A restroom."

The special, titled "The Queen of El Chapo," will detail Aispuro’s life with Guzmán — including when and where the pair were

married, her life as Guzmán’s wife and the drug lord’s relationship with his twin daughters.

"Not everything people say is true," Aispuro says

in the interview. "I think that all human beings have the right to have at least the basic things for life handy. They are not giving that to him."

INMATES Continued from Page 1A about 6.3 percent of the state’s total population.

In December 2015, 9,158 Texas prisoners were under ICE detainers, and 6,698 of them were determined by ICE to be undocumented.

TDCJ turns inmates with detainers over to federal authorities when they have finished serving their terms, said department spokesman Jason Clark.

Among other findings in the data: Mexican nationals account for most of the inmates with ICE detainers.

ICE determined that 78 percent of Mexican nationals in Texas prisons are undocumented.

El Salvador and Hondu-

ras nationals account for the next greatest numbers of offenders with ICE detainers.

Sexual assault against a child is the most common crime for inmates with ICE detainers. There were 1,731 such cases involving inmates with detainers, and 69 percent of those inmates were determined to be in the country illegally. Homicide is the second most common crime by offenders with ICE detainers.

There are 21 offenders with ICE detainers on death row, and 12 of those offenders have been determined to be in the country illegally.

There are 595 offenders with ICE detainers who have life

sentences, and 62 percent of those were determined to be in the country illegally.

There are 1,875 undocumented inmates with sentences of 21 years or more, including life and death sentences. That’s equal to 1.3 percent of the general state prison population.

The higher number of Mexican prisoners doesn’t surprise Alexandre Afanassiev, a Houston immigration attorney at Quan Law Group, given the country’s geographic proximity to the United States.

In 2011, the Obama announced to focus deportation efforts on undocumented immigrants convicted of dangerous crimes.

RANCHERS Continued from Page 1A mishes, hailed the Supreme Court’s decision to leave in place an April 2015 decision from the 13th Court of Appeals in Corpus Christi.

“We were very pleased,” said Regan Beck, assistant general counsel for the group. “We think it’s a great victory because people will continue to have property rights that would otherwise be taken away from them.”

The commission did not immediately have a comment Friday. But it has called prioritizing access for cities and power plants "essential for public health, safety and welfare throughout the state,” during times of drought.

Texas is not currently grappling with severe drought, but the ruling could have major implications the next time those conditions strike.

The case — set in motion after Dow Chemical asserted its rights to Brazos River water — centered on whether Texas regulators may

grant exceptions to the state’s longstanding ‘first-inline, first-in-time’ surface water rights regime.

The giant chemical manufacturer is by far the largest water user on the Brazos, which also supplies farmers and ranchers, cities and other industries along its 900-mile stretch from northwest Texas to the Gulf Coast. It also holds the oldest water rights, giving the company priority over all others.

Dow first set up shop in Freeport in 1940 to extract magnesium from seawater.

Since then, its Gulf Coast operations have grown rapidly, and the Brazos supplies the company with the 100,000 gallons of freshwater per minute it needs to operate.

But years of drought and rapid growth along the river have, at times, strained the river’s supplies.

In mid-2009, the Brazos was flowing at just 50 cubic feet per second, less than

half the speed required for Dow’s smallest pump to pull the water the company needed out of the river – an unprecedented condition.

Dow issued a series of priority calls beginning in 2009 asserting its “senior” right to divert water from the Brazos River — and force “junior” water rights holders to curtail their use.

It was the first time the TCEQ had received such a request, and it took the agency weeks to respond.

Dow had the right. But by the time the TCEQ determined it several weeks later, the company said it was too late. Junior water rights were suspended that summer, cutting off mostly farmers and ranchers from using about 46 billion gallons of water, but no additional water flowed down to Dow’s pumps.

Dow argued that by law, the TCEQ should have cut off even more water users than it did; in the interest of public health and safety.

PAGE 8A

Zentertainment

Kesha goes to court against producer

By JENNIFER PELTZ ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW YORK — Watching tearfully from a courtroom audience, pop star Kesha lost a bid Friday to be freed from her contract with a top record producer she says drugged, sexually abused and psychologically tormented her.

But the ruling is far from the end of the platinum-selling singer’s clash with hitmaker Dr. Luke, who denies her claims and says SEBERT she’s smearing him to try to shirk her contract. Friday’s decision wasn’t the final word on their court fight in New York, to say nothing of related lawsuits in California and Tennessee.

Kesha, full name Kesha Rose Sebert, declined to comment as she left court and hugged some of the scores of fans gathered to support her, many of them dusted with the “Tik Tok” singer’s trademark glitter.

The dispute is a strikingly personal fight in an industry with a long history of strife between artists and those who work with them.

“I cannot work with this monster,” Kesha said in a sworn statement in August that accused Dr. Luke of raping her a decade ago.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2016

‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ author dies

By KENDAL WEAVER AND HILLEL ITALIE ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW YORK — Harper Lee, the elusive novelist whose child’s-eye view of racial injustice in a small Southern town, “To Kill a Mockingbird,” became standard reading for millions of young people and an Oscarwinning film, has died. She was 89.

Lee died peacefully Friday, publisher HarperCollins said in a statement. It did not give any other details about how she died.

“The world knows Harper Lee was a brilliant writer but what many don’t know is that she was an extraordinary woman of great

joyfulness, humility and kindness. She lived her life the way she wanted to — in private — surrounded by books and the people who loved her,” Michael Morrison, head of HarperCollins U.S. general books group, said in the statement.

For most of her life, Lee divided her time between New York City, where she wrote the novel in the 1950s, and her hometown of Monroeville, which inspired the book’s fictional Maycomb.

“To Kill a Mockingbird,” published in 1960, is the story of a girl nicknamed Scout growing up in a Depression-era Southern town. A black man has been wrongly accused of raping a white woman, and

HARPER LEE

Scout’s father, the resolute lawyer Atticus Finch, defends him despite threats and the scorn of many.

The book quickly became a best-seller, won the Pulitzer Prize and was made into a memorable movie in 1962, with Grego-

ry Peck winning an Oscar for his portrayal of Atticus.

As the civil rights movement grew, the novel inspired a generation of young lawyers, was assigned in high schools all over the country and was a popular choice for citywide, or nationwide, reading programs.

By 2015, its sales were reported by HarperCollins to be more than 40 million worldwide, making it one of the most widely read American novels of the 20th century. When the Library of Congress did a survey in 1991 on books that have affected people’s lives, “To Kill a Mockingbird” was second only to the Bible.

Lee herself became more

mysterious as her book became more famous. At first, she dutifully promoted her work. She spoke frequently to the press, wrote about herself and gave speeches, once to a class of cadets at West Point.

But she began declining interviews in the late 1960s and, until late in her life, firmly avoided making any public comment at all about her novel or her career.

Other than a few magazine pieces for Vogue and McCall’s in the 1960s and a review of a 19th-century Alabama history book in 1983, she published no other book until stunning the world in 2015 by permitting “Go Set a Watchman” to be released.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2016

THE ZAPATA TIMES 9A

Stocks edge low, but wrap best week of year

By MARLEY JAY ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW YORK — U.S. stocks inched lower Friday as the price of oil slipped and investors worried again about the health of the global economy. Chemicals companies fell the most. Despite the loss, the market still had its best week of the year.

Stocks declined as the price of oil slipped 4 percent, giving back some of its gains from the last week, and agricultural equipment giant Deere cut its sales projections. That helped touch off a wider slump that hurt chemicals, materials and mining companies. Consumer stocks like home improvement retailers and travel companies rose after the government said consumer prices are rising, a sign the U.S. economy is in good shape.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 21.44 points, or 0.1 percent, to 16,391.99. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index dipped 0.05 points to 1,917.78. The Nasdaq composite index rose 16.89 points, or 0.4 percent, to 4,504.43.

Stocks made big gains Tuesday and Wednesday.

Then the rally stalled and indexes took small losses over the last two days. Still,

the Nasdaq, which is still down 10 percent this year, logged its biggest weekly gain since July and the S&P 500 had its best week in two months.

Benchmark U.S. crude fell $1.13, or 3.7 percent, to $29.64 a barrel in New York.

It climbed 17 percent over the previous week. Brent crude, a benchmark for international oils, slid $1.27, or 3.7 percent, to $33.01.

That sent oil and gas stocks tumbling. Southwestern Energy dropped $1.40, or 16.5 percent, to $7.09 and Murphy Oil fell $1.24, or 7.3 percent, to $15.76.

Agricultural equipment company Deere lowered its sales forecast for the year as sales of farm and construction remain weak. That canceled out first-quarter results that were better than analysts expected. Deere lost $3.33, or 4.1 percent, to $77. Elsewhere, chemicals maker LyondellBassell Industries dipped $2.06, or 2.6 percent, to $78.14 and agricultural chemicals maker Monsanto fell $1.40, or 1.6 percent, to $88.52.

The government reported that consumer goods prices are still rising, and consumer stocks traded higher. Online retailer Amazon gained $9.90, or 1.9 percent, to $534.90, while home im-

Photo by Mark Lennihan | AP file

American flags fly in front of the New York Stock Exchange, in New York. Global stock markets turned lower on Friday. provement retailer Home Depot added $1.72, or 1.4 percent, to $121.69 and online travel company Priceline rose $31.79, or 2.5 percent, to $1,283.74.

The Labor Department said prices for consumer goods have risen 1.4 percent over the last year, a sign that the pace of inflation is picking up and the economy is improving. The combination of a strong dollar and cheaper oil has suppressed inflation across much of the economy, but prices of other goods have been rising.

Michael Scanlon, managing director and portfolio manager for John Hancock Asset Management, said consumers are still spend-

ing plenty of money on cars, homes and travel. He thinks that spending is going to grow.

“People feel more stable in their jobs with increasing wages (and) home prices continue to rise,” he said.

Gas prices are also very low, and while consumers have mostly put their gas savings in the bank instead of spending it, Scanlon thinks that’s going to change. Gas prices have stayed low for more than a year, and he thinks shoppers will start to trust that pump prices are going to stay low.

For the moment, retailers are continuing to struggle.

Department store operator

Nordstrom disappointed Wall Street with its holidayseason results. The company said its sales were weaker than it expected and its profits were hurt because it had to match discounts offered by competitors.

Nordstrom gave up $3.55, or 6.7 percent, to $49.17 while Macy’s fell 90 cents, or 2.2 percent, to $40.23 and JC Penney lost 31 cents, or 4.1 percent, to $7.32. Retail stocks also stumbled Thursday after Wal-Mart reported weak quarterly sales and cut its forecasts for the year.

Several other major retailers will report their quarterly results next week.

Department stores have struggled since they disclosed weak third-quarter results in November. Nordstrom is down 23 percent since its previous report a little more than three months ago.

Chipmaking equipment company Applied Materials climbed after it reported stronger-than-expected profit and sales. Its stock gained $1.21, or 7 percent, to $18.38.

That was its biggest increase in almost two years.

Yahoo rose 62 cents, or 2 percent, to $30.04 after the Internet company said it has created a committee of independent directors and hired advisers as part of an

effort to redefine itself. Big shareholders are pushing Yahoo to sell its main Internet business. The company eliminated 15 percent of its staff earlier this month.

European stocks fell as the leaders of Britain and the rest of the 28-country European Union entered a second day of talks on how to reform the country’s membership in the bloc.

The talks are stalled over a series of issues, including immigration rights.

Germany’s DAX fell 0.8 percent, while France’s CAC 40 and Britain’s FTSE 100 both declined 0.4 percent.

Asian stocks were mixed, as Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 lost 1.4 percent and South Korea’s Kospi added 0.4 percent. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell 0.4 percent and the Shanghai Composite in mainland China inched down 0.1 percent.

In other energy trading, wholesale gasoline fell 1.3 cents to 95.9 cents a gallon.

Heating oil lost 5.4 cents, or 5 percent, to $1.026 a gallon.

Natural gas slid 4.8 cents, or 2.6 percent, to $1.804 per 1,000 cubic feet.

The price of gold increased $4.50 to $1,230.80 an ounce and silver fell 5.9 cents to $15.373 an ounce.

Copper held steady at $2.068 a pound.

Companies show off new tech toys at Toy Fair

By BREE FOWLER ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW YORK — From a preschool toy designed to teach pre-coding skills to a hands-on molecule-building set for older kids that works with an app, technology abounded at this year’s Toy Fair.

The annual showcase of upcoming toys held recently in New York included a slew of tech-related products from the titans of the toy industry and tiny startups, all looking to attract increasingly tech-savvy kids.

Here are the highlights.

Some of the toys are educational, while others are just kind of cool. All of them are set to go on sale this fall unless otherwise specified.

——— CODE-A-PILLAR (Fisher-Price, $50) Even preschoolers can learn the basics of coding.

That’s the idea behind this toy, which is aimed at kids ages 3 to 6.

The Code-a-Pillar is made up of different colored sections connected by USB plugs. The sections perform different commands such as go straight, turn right or make various sound effects.

Kids “program” the toy

by connecting the various sections in a particular order. While the toy doesn’t teach an actual coding language, it does try to impart some of the same critical thinking and problem solving skills that coding does.

A starter kit includes eight sections, but expansion packs featuring additional commands will be sold separately.

——— THINGMAKER 3D PRINTER (Mattel, $300) Created through a partnership with Autodesk Inc., a 3D design software company, kids use an app to design items such as action figures and jewelry.

They can choose the colors and shapes they want, then send their design to the ThingMaker to print.

The app shows them what their finished product will look like and also gives an estimated print time.

The ThingMaker hits stores this fall, but can be preordered through Amazon. Pricing for the spools of plastic used in the printer has yet to be determined.

——— HAPPY ATOMS AND CODEGAMER SCIENCE KITS (Thames & Kosmos, $150 for CodeGamer) These kits teach science by combining hands-on

Photo by Moose Toys | AP

This photo provided by Moose Toys shows the Selfiemic. This toy lets kids create and share their own pop music videos. It’s basically a selfie stick with a microphone on one end. and app-based activities.

Happy Atoms, for kids ages 8 and up, involves building molecules with wooden atoms that connect with magnets. The atoms become “happy” when they pick up the appropriate number of electrons through the formation of molecules. The molecules can then be scanned into the app, which gives the kids information about the substance they just made.

Pricing for Happy Atoms has yet to be determined.

Meanwhile, CodeGamer, ages 10 and up, connects physical and digital play to teach coding skills. Kids solve video game puzzles by both programing the game on a tablet and by physically modifying a Bluetooth-connected controller.

——— MAKERBLOKS ($200) These circuit builder

sets are specifically designed for young children.

The blocks, which look a lot like dominos, connect with magnets and are easy for little hands to manipulate.

The company offers three sets of 26 blocks, each with a separate theme: music, circuitry and spy.

There’s a tablet app to go with each set, which tells a story, prompting the kids to build certain kinds of circuits.

MakerBloks, designed for kids 6 and up, launches this summer and will be sold through the company’s website, though talks with retailers are under way.

——— AIR HOGS CONNECT: MISSION DRONE (Spin Master, $150) This toy, designed for kids ages 10 and up, combines a handful of the hottest trends, including drones, app-based gaming and augmented reality.

Players place the quadcopter drone on a mat that “sees” it and places a digital version of it within an augmented reality video game played on a smartphone or tablet. The player flies the physical drone as part of the game and the digital drone on the smartphone or tablet screen mirrors its movements.

——— CHIP (WowWee, $200) CHiP is was one of several products at Toy Fair controlled by a wristband worn by the user. The connection allows the little robot dog to follow his owner around, play soccer and do other tricks. The more it’s played with, the more tricks are unlocked.

Sensors allow CHiP, designed for kids ages 8 and up, to zoom around while avoiding obstacles. And when he gets tired, the little pup will automatically retire to his charging bed for more juice.

——— SELFIEMIC (Moose Toys, $25) This toy lets kids create and share their own pop music videos. It’s basically a selfie stick with a microphone on one end. It comes with an earpiece and works with a smartphone app.

Kids sing into the microphone, while the smartphone app plays the music and the smartphone’s camera films them singing and places them into the music video.

There are optional sound and video effects and the videos, which don’t need to be stored on the phone and take up space, can be shared.

10A THE ZAPATA TIMES

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2016

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2016

ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM

Sports&Outdoors NASCAR: DAYTONA 500

NBA TRADE DEADLINE

Speedy Amelia Earnhardt’s top car has four wins in six starts

By JENNA FRYER ASSOCIATED PRESS

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Her name is Amelia, and boy, can she fly.

She’ll be forever treasured

by Dale Earnhardt Jr., even though he wants nothing more than to give her away Sunday.

Amelia Earhart is the nickname of the sleek and superfast Chevrolet that Earnhardt drove to three wins last season. The car never finished lower than third in five races, and Earnhardt couldn’t find a reason to keep her out of the upcoming Daytona 500.

The decision was easy. Instead of building a new car specifically for the “The Great American Race” —

Photo by David Graham | AP

Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be gunning for his third Daytona 500 win in a car that hasn’t finished lower than third in five races last season. what most teams do every offseason — Earnhardt opted to give Amelia another shot at getting to victory lane. She delivered Thursday

night when Earnhardt won a 150-mile qualifying race to up her record to four wins in six starts over the last 13 months.

“The car really does everything I ask it to do,” Earnhardt said after his win. “When you have a car that you know can do the things that this car can do, you’re willing to take those gambles and risks to pull out and pass. It’s just a fun car to drive. Really special car.”

When Rick Hendrick leaned into the window after Earnhardt’s latest victory, the driver urged his team owner to keep track of Amelia and consider putting her on display in his museum.

For now, he’s just fine if he says goodbye to her Sunday. Daytona International Speedway displays the winning car for a year, and teams gladly exchange them

Photo by Craig Mitchelldyer | AP

Al Horford stayed with the Hawks in Atlanta despite many rumors he’d be on the move at the trade deadline.

Caution abounds at deadline

See NASCAR PAGE 2B

NCAA MEN’S BASKETBALL

By TIM REYNOLDS ASSOCIATED PRESS

Texas Tech eyeing NCAA tournament

By DAVE SKRETTA ASSOCIATED PRESS

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Big 12 has bragged the past few years that it’s the toughest conference in college basketball, and its brutal double-round robin format has consistently produced strong RPI ratings.

When March Madness rolls around, the league keeps coming up empty.

After qualifying seven of its 10 teams for last year’s NCAA Tournament, conference aficionados were aghast when none reached the round of eight. No. 3 seeds Baylor and Iowa State were upset by 14-seeds in their openers, and secondseeded Kansas was bumped the opening weekend by Wichita State.

Might that dubious track

record come into play Selection Sunday?

With conference tournaments beginning in just a couple of weeks, the Big 12 has more than half of its schools in the Top 25, led by second-ranked Kansas and No. 3 Oklahoma. West Virginia, Iowa State, Texas and Baylor give the conference a virtual certainty that it will qualify six for the field of 68 teams.

But sitting firmly on the bubble is Texas Tech, which is going through a renaissance under Tubby Smith.

The Red Raiders knocked off the Sooners on Wednesday night to improve to 16-9 overall, and they still have winnable games remaining against TCU and Kansas State, and opportunities in

See BUBBLE PAGE 2B

Photo by Brad Tollefson | AP

Texas Tech could give the Big 12 seven NCAA Tournament teams.

MIAMI — In past years, a team like the Toronto Raptors almost certainly would have been looking to add some help for the stretch run. They’re holding down second place in the Eastern Conference, have been one of the league’s hottest teams for the last month and seem poised to make a significant playoff push.

Yet on this trade-deadline day, they did nothing.

They weren’t alone.

For the most part, Thursday’s deadline came and went with most NBA teams seeming cautious, with the huge rise in the salary cap for next season — and the uncertainty of how the free-agent market will react to that over the summer — deterring clubs from making moves that might adversely affect their flexibility going forward.

“Yes, we are in a different situation from last year,” Raptors general manager Masai Ujiri said.

He was talking about his team. He may as well have been talking about

the league, where there’s a clear wait-and-see approach about how the massive cap jumps that are coming will inevitably change the way teams go about their business. This season’s cap was a record $70 million. That seems like pocket change when compared to how next season will likely top $90 million, and a cap of $110 million or more for 201718 is possible.

“The spike is something we’re all aware of ... as we’re thinking about things and trying to create more financial opportunities in the coming summer, for us to grow and get better,” Atlanta coach Mike Budenholzer said. “I’m sure every team is similar.”

There were several deals Thursday, but no blockbusters.

Cleveland landed Channing Frye and the Los Angeles Clippers got Jeff Green for perhaps the two biggest player moves among contending teams, while Miami got under the luxury-tax threshold and Orlando opened up about $45 million in a pair of key accomplishments with an

See DEADLINE PAGE 2B

NCAA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: BAYLOR LADY BEARS

Baylor women focused on Final Four

By STEPHEN HAWKINS ASSOCIATED PRESS

WACO, Texas — Baylor All-America forward Nina Davis and the fourthranked Lady Bears are just fine with all that focus on the teams ahead of them in the AP Top 25 poll.

“That’s only three teams and it’s four teams that go to the Final Four,” Davis said. “If they talk about those teams, that still leaves an open spot, and that’s the spot we’re going for.”

While somewhat under the radar nationally, even with two national championships under coach Kim Mulkey, the Lady Bears (26-1) have the most wins in Division I this season. They are also the Big 12 leader again after winning their league’s regular season and tournament titles each of the past five years.

“All I want is to put

them in a position to win a Big 12 championship and get a big seed in the NCAA Tournament, and see how far we can take it,” said Mulkey, in her 16th season at Baylor. “Talk about Connecticut, you should. Talk about Notre Dame, you should. Talk about South Carolina, you should. But it’s been fun coaching this bunch, and we think we’re pretty good.”

UConn (25-0) is the 10time national champion with a 62-game winning streak going into the weekend. No. 2 Notre Dame and No. 3 South Carolina were both 25-1, and their only losses were to the Huskies.

Davis and record-setting senior point guard Niya Johnson were among seven returners from last season, when the Lady Bears ended with a loss to Notre Dame in an NCAA regional final for the second year in a row. It was their fifth

Photo by Rod Aydelotte | AP

With two national championships, the No. 4 Lady Bears are again leading the Big 12 and trying to win their sixth straight Big 12 title. consecutive season with at least 32 wins, and 15th year in a row winning more

than 20 games.

Former Duke transfer Alexis Jones joined the

mix after sitting out last season. The Lady Bears also added a pair of freshman post players who were McDonald’s All-Americans and are already having a big impact — 6-foot-7 Kalani Brown and 6-4 Beatrice Mompremier.

“Every game, we’re starting to come together,” Davis said. “The freshmen, they’re more comfortable now. They’re rebounding, they’re scoring. You have Alexis Jones being the Alexis Jones that we all knew she could be. Throw Niya in the mix, and Niya does what she does. You have Alexis Prince who’s finally healthy now, and (sophomore shooting guard) Kristy Wallace, and the list goes on and on.”

Jones started all 64 games she played at Duke over two seasons out of MacArthur High in Irving, Texas, the same school as former Lady Bears point

guard Odyssey Sims, a twotime All-American whose career assists record has been obliterated by Johnson.

After tearing her ACL in her left knee as a sophomore at Duke and having a microfracture procedure on her other leg, Jones rehabbed while redshirting last season following her transfer. Prince, a junior guard, missed 14 games after arthroscopic surgery in November on her right knee but has worked her way back into the starting lineup.

“Having all your team does matter,” Mulkey said.

“It makes a difference.”

Baylor lost its Big 12 opener 52-45 at Oklahoma State without Johnson or Prince, then won its next 13 games. The Lady Bears avenged that loss with a 6641 victory Wednesday

See BAYLOR PAGE 2B

PAGE 2B

Zscores

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2016

Spieth ends West Coast swing with missed cut

By DOUG FERGUSON ASSOCIATED PRESS

LOS ANGELES — Jordan Spieth started his second round at Riviera with a driver into the front bunker on the 10th hole, the ball slightly on a downslope with no margin for error to keep it on the green. He hit it perfectly, and it stopped about a foot from the hole for an easy birdie.

When someone jokingly suggested he might have a future in this game, the world’s No. 1 player replied, “So my career is not over?”

Not quite.

But it wasn’t long before his week at the Northern Trust Open was over.

Spieth needed a lot of birdies and a flawless round Friday to overcome a 79, his highest score ever in the opening round. He only made good on half of that plan. His eight birdies were offset by five bogeys in his round of 3-under 68, not nearly enough to make the cut.

“Coming into the day, the hardest part is trying to make enough birdies, and I did that,” he said. “Just too many mistakes.”

They started early. After that birdie on No. 10, his third shot from the rough on the par-5 15th spun off the green and into a bunker, leading to back-to-back bogeys. Spieth at least made it interesting with seven consecutive one-putt greens, including four straight birdies around the turn, only for too many loose swings to cost him shots that he couldn’t afford to lose.

His approach on the second hole stayed up on the hill and left him no chance to get it close, and he made too more bogeys

Photo by Eric Risberg | AP

Jordan Spieth missed the cut at the Northern Trust Open in Los Angeles Friday after a 79 in the first round, his highest score ever in the opening round. He plans to head back to Dallas for a week off of rest and practice before returning in the Cadillac Championship at Doral. from the grass — the fairway at No. 5, and then his tee shot on the par-3 sixth that he thought was so good that he told longtime friend Justin Thomas to reach for his wallet because it was going in.

This was one shot he didn’t call right. It didn’t even reach the green.

Spieth now has missed the cut four times in the last year, and that led to a discussion with Michael Greller over the final few

holes.

“I’m not going to let this one get to me very much,” Spieth said. “Did a lot of talking with Michael throughout the end of the round today just saying, ’Don’t make this a bigger deal than it is. Look at your missed cuts last year and what happened right after.’ And he’s right.

“We rebounded in a perfect form last year on just about every missed cut,” he said. “We’ll

be fine.”

After successive missed cuts in the FedEx Cup playoffs, Spieth rebounded with a tie for 11th and then a victory in the Tour Championship to claim the $10 million bonus. He missed the cut at The Players Championship last May and finished no worse than third in four of his next five events. Two were victories, including the U.S. Open.

The plan was to head back to Dallas for a week off of rest and

practice before returning in the Cadillac Championship at Doral.

He said he would increase the number of balls he hits in practice, especially as the Masters gets closer.

Rory McIlroy said at the start of the week that the Northern Trust Open was effectively the start of his road to the Masters.

“This was not my start to the run at the Masters,” Spieth said with a laugh. “Mine will start next time.”

BUBBLE Continued from Page 1B Kansas and West Virginia to make another strong statement to the selection committee.

“At the beginning of the season, we didn’t close out those games like we needed to. I think we’re starting to mature,” senior guard Toddrick Gotcher said. “We’re growing up.”

But the Red Raiders (6-7 Big 12) haven’t been to the NCAA Tournament since 2007 and may be hurt by the perception that the Big 12 is overrated when it comes to March Madness.

“We’ve been underdogs for quite a few games,” said Smith, whose team has won

three straight against ranked teams. “We have the incentive to get to postseason play. It’s at hand and a possibility for us.”

Indeed, the Red Raiders appear on the way up.

Here are some others changing the bubble outlook: ON THE RISE Alabama: The Crimson Tide (16-9, 7-6 SEC) have won five straight, including victories over Texas A&M and LSU, to give first-year coach Avery Johnson a legit shot at the dance. That ugly stretch of five losses in six league games earlier this year? A distant memory.

Ohio State: Thad Matta’s crew has been playing catch-up ever since losing four straight to non-conference opponents. But the Buckeyes (17-10, 8-5 Big 10) have rattled off three straight wins, and can make a big statement with a strong finish. They play Nebraska before home-andhome games against No. 8 Michigan State sandwiched around a visit from fourthranked Iowa.

Houston: Nobody has ever doubted that Kelvin Sampson can coach. After winning 13 games in his first season, the Cougars (19-7, 9-5) are on the precip-

ice of 20 wins. They’ve also climbed onto the NCAA Tournament bubble along with fellow AAC foe Tulsa thanks to six wins in seven games.

Wichita State: The Shockers can take the drama out of Selection Sunday by winning the Missouri Valley tourney, where they’ll be heavy favorites.

But after a rough, injury filled start to the season, the Shockers (20-7, 13-2) have made a compelling at-large case with 15 wins in 17 games.

FADING HOPES Florida State: The Seminoles (16-10, 6-8 ACC) are

led by a brilliant bunch of youngsters, but consecutive losses to Syracuse, Miami and Georgia Tech have hurt their NCAA Tournament hopes. They still have games against top-20 teams Duke and Notre Dame to turn things around.

Marquette: Is there a more difficult team to figure out than the Golden Eagles?

They won nine straight to enter Big East play, but a poor conference record may doom them. Marquette (1610, 5-8) has lost three of four, though their lone victory did come against then-No. 20 Providence.

Washington: The Husk-

ies (15-11, 7-7 Pac-12) had a solid non-conference win over Texas, swept UCLA and nearly beat Arizona.

But nearly may not be enough. Lorenzo Romar’s team has dropped five of its last six, including one to fellow bubble team California on Thursday night.

Oregon State: Another Pac-12 team on the bubble, the Beavers (15-9, 6-7) had things rolling with three straight wins before stumbling at Cal. Their finishing kick begins Saturday at No. 16 Oregon, a good opportunity to prove they are still worthy of the NCAA Tournament.

anyway, which some teams seemed willing to consider.

But with Howard holding a $23 million player option for next season, he could — and by all indications, will — opt to become a free agent instead. So landing him would have come at a huge cost for some team who likely would have seen him leave July 1 anyway, and no deal got struck.

“There’s no question that the new cap impacted not only the fundamentals of this trade period, but maybe even more the psy-

chology of it as well,” Utah Jazz general manager Dennis Lindsey said.

Minnesota GM Milt Newton understood why teams were hesitant.

“Why bring someone into the fold that might take away some of your cap space when you’re not necessarily sold?” Newton said. “It may make your team better if you’re a playoff team for this year, but how will it affect you next year?”

The NBA will know that answer in a few months.

DEADLINE Continued from Page 1B eye toward the future.

Besides, with Golden State off to a 48-4 start, there probably aren’t that many teams thinking they have a legitimate chance of winning it all this year anyway.

Hence, wait ’til next year — or at least ’til next summer — might have been the most prudent policy.

“We’ve been on the other side of it not too long ago when you never knew if you were one piece away or one move away or how a trade could impact a sea-

son either positively or negatively,” Warriors guard and reigning MVP Stephen Curry said. “I like where we are.”

Detroit was the most notable exception at trade time, with the Pistons adding Tobias Harris (his contract that runs through 2018-19), plus taking a chance on Donatas Motiejunas. He’ll be a restricted free agent, so Detroit will have a chance to keep him if it so chooses.

“I don’t think anybody in the NBA knows exactly

what the market is going to look like for guys this summer,” Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy told the team’s website. “You gauge it the best you can. ... We weren’t going to give away assets for unrestricted free agents and so we feel good about it.”

Most of the deals that were bandied about in recent weeks never happened.

Dwight Howard, Al Horford and Kevin Love — all big names who got trade attention — stayed put.

BAYLOR Continued from Page 1B night, matching their season-opening 13-game winning streak that was snapped in that Dec. 30 game.

“No. 4 in the country, and obviously that good,” Oklahoma State coach Jim Littell said after his team lost the rematch.

“With all the pieces to the puzzle right now, they’re the team to beat in this league right now.

They’re very similar to KU men. Until somebody beats them and knocks them off, they’re controlling this league right now.”

Kansas has won the last 11 Big 12 men’s titles, and tops the league again this season.

Mulkey described herself being “as disappointed in a basketball team as I’ve ever been in a

win” after Baylor allowed 37 points in the fourth quarter of an 81-75 victory at TCU, which had trailed by 25 points after scoring only 38 the first three quarters.

In their two games after that, the Lady Bears allowed only 36 points in a 30-point win at Texas Tech and held the Cowgirls to 41.

“We respond in a lot of different ways, but at the same time, we all stick together,” Jones said. “I think after we know we play a bad game, we always come back and clean it up. Now is just trying to find that consistency of playing good every single game.”

Into March, and hopefully all the way to Indianapolis for the Final Four.

“Certainly the cap changes are going to make players under contract more valuable,” Cleveland general manager David Griffin said. “But I think in some cases people who had a big expiring contract weren’t getting the value they hoped to get because the guy was most likely going to walk.”

That’s likely why Howard is still with Houston.

It would have taken a strong combination of players and draft picks to get the Rockets to move him

NASCAR Continued from Page 1B for the trophy. Earnhardt, a two-time 500 winner, decided chassis No. 88-872 needed a name when crew chief Greg Ives declined to retire the car.

“The fact that we’re going to keep running it, I said, ’We gotta name it,’ and we were thinking of a woman who has accomplished something that was an awesome person that was something we could be proud of,” Earnhardt said. “Amelia Earhart was the first thing that came to my mind. She must have been the most daring. She sort of fits that mold of the courage and determination that you need as a race car driver. She must have had that and more to be able to do the things she did in her lifetime.”

So it’s the car that gives Earnhardt the confidence to

make the moves he did Thursday night while winning for the 17th time at Daytona. The victory came on the 15th anniversary of his father’s death. Although he daydreamed about winning to honor his father, he really just didn’t want to embarrass himself with a poor showing.

There was no chance of that happening as he dominated by leading 43 of the 60 laps Saturday and passing Denny Hamlin, winner of last week’s exhibition race, with ease to claim the victory.

Earnhardt dismissed that any special power got him past Hamlin with six laps remaining. Hamlin, who seemingly has one of the few cars that can contend with Amelia, said the pass didn’t surprise him at all.

“I’ve seen those moves a

lot because I watch him a lot. You always are watching guys that are really successful at this kind of racing,” Hamlin said. “I kind of knew what was going on, but when he’s coming at such a fast pace from behind, you have to anticipate.

It’s almost like a free kick in soccer. It’s like, ’OK, I committed to the right side and (he) kicked to the left.”’

So Earnhardt’s intent and desire for Sunday are absolutely clear, and through one week of Speedweeks, it’s developing as a Hendrick Motorsports vs. Joe Gibbs Racing showdown, with a possible challenge from Team Penske.

Defending Daytona 500 winner Joey Logano, along with teammates Brad Keselowski and Ryan Blaney, all appear able to keep up. It remains to be seen if they can

actually organize enough to become serious threats.

Kyle Busch gave JGR a victory Thursday in the second qualifier, which also included teammates Matt Kenseth and Carl Edwards.

The three raced nose-to-tail for a bit, but Kenseth wrecked in a last-lap crash that cost him his front-row starting spot. He’ll start from the rear of the field and try to align with his Toyota teammates.

Hamlin was alone in his qualifying race and lacked the help needed to beat Earnhardt — and Amelia.

“I mean, I could have chopped (Earnhardt) a little bit more, but I saw in my mirror it would have been close and it’s just not - this isn’t the time to cut it close,” Hamlin said. “Sunday is probably the time to do it.”

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2016

Dear Readers: WEDDING SEASON (one of them, anyway) is a short time away. So much planning and preparation, revision and rewriting!

One thing is for sure, though: Being organized, keeping lists and clear communication can help prevent a zillion dilemmas!

Here are a few hints collected from past columns: THE WEDDING DRESS! Plan to have it cleaned after the wedding. Properly storing your wedding gown is critical to its longevity and maintaining its beauty.

Find a dry cleaner who specializes in cleaning wedding gowns. You may not SEE any stains, but they are there: a drop of water or white wine, the hem may be dirty, perspiration stains under the arms and around the neck, and makeup from the bride and guests.

Staying organized will save so much time and effort. Start a file on the computer, or use a notebook or 3-by-5 cards for each invitee and the bridal party. Check and update this file often.

THE ZAPATA TIMES 3B

These simple hints and more are in my wedding pamphlet. Hints include how to save money, planning a wedding at home, even decoration hints. To order one, visit www.Heloise.com, or send $3 and a business-size, stamped (71 cents), self-addressed envelope to: Heloise’s Bridal Gown Hints, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5001. Birdseed or rice is all right to shower the couple with on departure.

Do ask permission from the location or venue. Some are OK with it; others are not. -- Heloise P.S.: Birds will NOT explode if they eat dried rice used after the wedding. If using birdseed, you can "roast" it to stop the seed from germinating.

PET PAL Dear Readers: Shawna in South Texas sent a picture of her gorgeous white and brownspotted, gangly puppy, Bailey. He’s a "San Antonio Special" (mixed breed) and loves to play fetch, then snuggle! To see Bailey and other Pet Pals, visit www.

Heloise.com. -- Heloise

4B THE ZAPATA TIMES

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2016