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President Trump offers short-term DACA deal Border wall funding requested in exchange By Justin Sink BL OOMBERG NEWS
Evan Vucci / AP
President Donald Trump talks with reporters as he reviews border wall prototypes Tuesday in San Diego.
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has offered to drop demands for changes to legal immigration preferences to ease the way to a deal providing new temporary protection to young undocumented
immigrants in the country in exchange for border wall funding, said a person familiar with the offer. Trump had insisted on a broader agreement that also would end immigration preferences for relatives of legal U.S. residents and eliminate visas awarded by lottery to
applicants from underrepresented countries, a demand that Democratic leaders rejected. White House officials have shared the potential new offer with Republican congressional leaders, the person said. The shift brings the two sides closer to a deal that would fund construction for early phases of Trump’s promised border wall and temporarily restore protections against deportation for
young immigrants brought to the country illegally as children, a group advocates have dubbed "dreamers." In September, Trump canceled the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program established by former President Barack Obama, though the deportation protections remain in place under a temporary court order amid a lawsuit over the action. DACA continues on A5
341ST AND 406TH DISTRICT COURTS
VETERANS TREATMENT PROGRAM Duval, Jim Hogg, Jim Wills, Starr, Zapata counties included By Joana Santillana LA R ED O MORNI NG T IME S
V
eterans who are struggling with alcoholism, drug addiction or post-traumatic stress disorder can find comfort in the Veterans Treatment Program, which has recently expanded to other surrounding counties, including Zapata. The most recent graduation saw two men successfully complete the program. The Veterans Treatment Program was created to help the men and women who have served in the U.S. armed forces, and have a pending crim-
inal case, overcome their addictions and avoid a conviction on their record. Director Paul Torres, a veteran himself, told LMT that he was proud that the program had recently expanded to serve veterans not only in Webb County, but also in the counties of Duval, Jim Hogg, Jim Wills, Starr and Zapata. With 11 graduation ceremonies under its belt, the program has yielded 57 graduates since its inception in 2013. 341st District Court Judge Beckie Palomo and 406th District Court Judge Oscar J. Hale Jr., who oversee and support the program, hosted the Veterans continues on A5
Courtesy photo
The Veterans Treatment Program recently saw two men successfully complete the program. A ceremony was held for them in the 406th District Court.
MEXICO CITY
STATE OF TEXAS
Appeals court backs gun-rights activist ASSOCIATED PRE SS
Ivan Israel Orozco / AFP / Getty Images
Police guard a Jalisco state road where 15 officers were killed in a 2015 ambush by the "Jalisco New Generation Drug Cartel." 18 alleged cartel members were arrested Thursday in connection with the abduction of two prosecution agents.
18 arrested in kidnapping, killing of federal agents A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
MEXICO CITY — Mexican authorities arrested 18 people Thursday in the abduction of two prosecu-
tion agents forced to appear on a video by a drug gang before they were slain, the Attorney General’s Office said. Those arrested included
members of the local police force in Puerto Vallarta who allegedly provided protection and intelligence for the unidentified drug Agents continues on A5
DALLAS — A Texas appeals court has ruled in favor of a gun-rights activist who had complained that county officials were illegally barring firearms from a public building. The Court of Appeals for the 1st District of Texas found in favor of Terry Holcomb Sr. by ruling, in part, that Waller County had no standing to sue Holcomb in 2016 because a complaint he lodged should have been heard by the state attorney general’s office. Thursday’s opinion reversed a lower-court ruling, with justices also Court continues on A5
Loren Elliott / AFP/Getty Images
A man handles a gun during a rifle and pistol show in Sweetwater, Texas. A state appeals court ruled in favor of a gun-rights activist who complained that Waller County illegally barred firearms from a public building.
In Brief A2 | Saturday, March 17, 2018 | THE ZAPATA TIMES
CALENDAR
AROUND THE NATION
TODAY IN HISTORY
MONDAY, MARCH 19
ASSOCIATED PRE SS
Ray of Light Anxiety and Depression Support Group Meeting in Spanish. 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Hold-
ing Institute, 1102 Santa Maria Ave., classroom #1. The support group welcomes adults suffering from anxiety and/or depression to participate in free and confidential support group meetings. Contact information: Anna Maria Pulido Saldivar, gruporayitodeluz@gmail.com, 956-307-2014
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21 First United Methodist Church Used Book Sale. 1220 McClelland
Ave. 10 a.m. to noon. Hard cover $1, paperbacks $0.50, magazines and children’s books $0.25. Public is invited. Proceeds are used to support the church’s missions. Joe Raedle / Getty Images
THURSDAY, MARCH 22 Spanish Book Club meeting. 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Joe A. Guerra Public Library off Calton Road. Meeting will feature PowerPoint presentation on Bosnia, Croatia and Slovenia. For more info, call Sylvia Reash at 763-1810.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28 First United Methodist Church Used Book Sale. 1220 McClelland
Ave. 10 a.m. to noon. Hard cover $1, paperbacks $0.50, magazines and children’s books $0.25. Public is invited. Proceeds are used to support the church’s missions.
THURSDAY, MARCH 29 Villa San Agustin De Laredo Genealogical Society Meeting, from 3
p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Joe A Guerra Public Library- Calton, speaker are Lola O Norris- General Alonso De Leon's Expeditions Into Mexico and Booksigning For more information, call Sylvia Reash at (956) 763-1810.
TUESDAY, APRIL 3 Community Conversation on Teen & Young Adult Mental Health. 6
p.m. to 8 p.m. Border Region Behavioral Health Center, 1500 Pappas St. For more information, call the Area Health Education Center at 956-712-0037.
SATURDAY, APRIL 7 First United Methodist Church Used Book Sale. 8:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
1220 McClelland Ave. Hard cover $1, paperback $0.50, magazines and children’s books, $0.25. Public is invited. Proceeds are used to support the church’s missions.
SATURDAY, APRIL 14 Habitat for Humanity Laredo major fundraiser Golfing For Roofs golf tournament. Max A.
Mandel Municipal Golf Course. Hole sponsorships are title $10,000, platinum $5,000, diamond $2,500, gold $1,500, silver $1,000, bronze. For information, call 724-3227.
Rescue personel work at the scene where a pedestrian bridge collapsed a few days after it was built over southwest 8th street on Thursday in Miami, Florida.
PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE COLLAPSES ON ROAD MIAMI — Authorities said Friday that the cables suspending a pedestrian bridge were being tightened after a “stress test” when the 950-ton concrete span collapsed over traffic, killing at least six people only days after its installation was celebrated as a technological innovation. And officials expected to find more bodies in the rubble. As state and federal investigators worked to determine why the five-day-old span failed, Florida politicians pointed to the stress test and loosened cables as possible factors, and a police chief asked ev-
Vet shot self after killing 3 mental health workers YOUNTVILLE, Calif. — A combat veteran killed himself after fatally shooting three mental health workers last week at a California veterans home, authorities said Thursday. The Napa County Sheriff’s Office said Albert Wong, 36, shot the three workers in the head with a rifle at the California Veterans Home in Yount-
eryone not to jump to conclusions. “This is a tragedy that we don’t want to re-occur anywhere in the United States,” said Juan Perez, director of the Miami-Dade police. “We just want to find out what caused this collapse to occur and people to die.” A Florida International University student was among the fatalities, and several construction workers were among the 10 people injured. One person died at a hospital, and Perez said five bodies were located with the help of cameras but not yet retrieved from under the immense slab. — Compiled from AP reports
ville. The sheriff didn’t release the type of rifle used. The sheriff also serves as the county’s coroner. The sheriff’s office said that Wong then used a shotgun to shoot himself in the head Friday at The Pathway Home building. Pathway home was a nonprofit organization that treated combat veterans for post-traumatic stress syndrome and other mental health disorders. Wong, whose military records show he served in Af-
ghanistan from April 2011 to March 2012, was enrolled in The Pathway Home’s veteran treatment program until he was recently expelled, according to a relative of one of the women he killed. Law enforcement officials did not respond to questions about what led to Wong being dismissed from the program. Wong killed program director Christine Loeber and psychologists Jennifer Golick, and Jennifer Gonzales Shushereba, who was also pregnant. — Compiled from AP reports
TUESDAY, MAY 1 15th Annual Mental Health and Substance Abuse Symposium. 8
AROUND THE STATE
a.m. to 5 p.m. UT Health Regional Campus Laredo. 1937 Bustamante St. For more information, call the Area Health Education Center at 956-712-0037.
Toxic air, explosion risk keeps crews from plant fire
SATURDAY, MAY 5
CRESSON, Texas — Investigators believe a worker dragging his foot along a factory floor sparked a Thursday explosion at a Texas chemical plant that injured two workers and left a third unaccounted for, and fears of another blast amid the toxic chemicals prevented crews from battling the ensuing blaze, an official said. Nine emergency-rescue and fire departments responded to the blaze at the Tri-Chem Industries plant in Cresson, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) southwest of Dallas, but were evacuated from the vicinity because of risk of exposure and of another explosion, Cresson Mayor Bob Cornett told The Associated Press. The worker who dragged his foot while chemicals were being mixed caught fire from the waist up and was airlifted with
First United Methodist Church Used Book Sale. 8:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
1220 McClelland Ave. Hard cover $1, paperback $0.50, magazines and children’s books, $0.25. Public is invited. Proceeds are used to support the church’s missions.
SATURDAY, JUNE 2 First United Methodist Church Used Book Sale. 8:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
1220 McClelland Ave. Hard cover $1, paperback $0.50, magazines and children’s books, $0.25. Public is invited. Proceeds are used to support the church’s missions.
SATURDAY, JULY 7 First United Methodist Church Used Book Sale. 8:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
1220 McClelland Ave. Hard cover $1, paperback $0.50, magazines and children’s books, $0.25. Public is invited. Proceeds are used to support the church’s missions.
FRIDAY, JULY 13
KDFW video / AP
A fire burns at the Tri-Chem plant in Cresson, Texas. Fears of another blast prevented crews from battling the blaze.
critical burn injures to a Dallas hospital. Another worker with less severe injuries also was treated at a hospital. Cornett identified the missing worker as 27-year-old Dillon Mitchell. Rescuers “haven’t even attempted to try to find him. It’s too hot,” Cornett said late Thursday, as the fire continued to burn.
Aerial photos showed that the plant’s metal beams had caved in, and Cornett said the earliest rescuers could begin searching for Mitchell was Friday morning, after the fire had extinguished itself and heavy excavation equipment could be brought to the site. — Compiled from AP reports
Today is Saturday, March 17, the 76th day of 2018. There are 289 days left in the year. This is St. Patrick's Day. Today's Highlight in History: On March 17, 1968, a peaceful antiVietnam War protest in London was followed by a riot outside the U.S. Embassy; more than 200 people were arrested and over 80 people were reported injured. On this date: In A.D. 180, Marcus Aurelius, the last of what were considered the "Five Good Emperors" of Rome, died at his military headquarters in present-day Vienna at age 58; he was succeeded by his adopted son and co-emperor, Commodus. In 1762, New York held its first St. Patrick's Day parade. In 1776, the Revolutionary War Siege of Boston ended as British forces evacuated the city. In 1861, Victor Emmanuel II was proclaimed the first king of a united Italy. In 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt first likened crusading journalists to a man with "the muckrake in his hand" in a speech to the Gridiron Club in Washington. In 1912, the Camp Fire Girls organization was incorporated in Washington D.C., two years to the day after it was founded in Thetford, Vermont. In 1936, Pittsburgh's Great St. Patrick's Day Flood began as the Monongahela and Allegheny rivers and their tributaries, swollen by rain and melted snow, started exceeding flood stage; the high water was blamed for more than 60 deaths. In 1943, the Taoiseach of Ireland, Eamon de Valera, delivered a radio speech about "The Ireland That We Dreamed of." In 1958, the U.S. Navy launched the Vanguard 1 satellite. In 1970, the United States cast its first veto in the U.N. Security Council, killing a resolution that would have condemned Britain for failing to use force to overthrow the white-ruled government of Rhodesia. In 1988, Avianca Flight 410, a Boeing 727, crashed after takeoff into a mountain in Colombia, killing all 143 people on board. In 1993, Helen Hayes, the "First Lady of the American Theater," died in Nyack, New York, at age 92. Ten years ago: Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton, recalling a goodwill trip she'd made to Bosnia as first lady in March 1996, said she remembered landing under "sniper fire" — a statement that conflicted with accounts of the time. David Paterson was sworn in as governor of New York, succeeding Eliot Spitzer, who resigned because of a prostitution scandal. Paul McCartney's divorce from Heather Mills was settled for $48.6 million. Five years ago: Two members of Steubenville, Ohio's celebrated high school football team were found guilty of raping a drunken 16-year-old girl and sentenced to at least a year in juvenile prison in a case that rocked the Rust Belt city of 18,000. Former Oklahoma quarterback Steve Davis, 60, who led the Sooners to back-toback national championships in the 1970s, was killed in a private plane crash in northern Indiana. Louisville earned the top overall seed in the NCAA tournament after a topsy-turvy season in college basketball. One year ago: President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel tried to sidestep their differences in a meeting at the White House, but their first public appearance was punctuated by some awkward moments (during a photo op in the Oval Office, the two did not shake hands before reporters). U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson visited the world's most heavily armed border, greeting U.S. soldiers on guard near the tense buffer zone between rivals North and South Korea. Today's Birthdays: Myrlie EversWilliams, is 85. Former astronaut Ken Mattingly is 82. Jim Weatherly is 75. Singer-songwriter John Sebastian (The Lovin' Spoonful) is 74. Former NSA Director and former CIA Director Michael Hayden is 73. Rock musician Harold Brown (War; Lowrider Band) is 72. Actor Patrick Duffy is 69. Actor Kurt Russell is 67. Country singer Susie Allanson is 66. Actress Lesley-Anne Down is 64. Actor Mark Boone Jr. is 63. Country singer Paul Overstreet is 63. Actor Gary Sinise is 63. Actor Christian Clemenson is 60. Former basketball and baseball player Danny Ainge is 59. Actor Arye Gross is 58. Actress Vicki Lewis is 58. Actor Casey Siemaszko is 57. Writer-director Rob Sitch is 56. Actor Rob Lowe is 54. Thought for Today : "When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive — to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love." — Marcus Aurelius (A.D. 121-A.D. 180).
6th U.S. – Mexico Regional Binational Health Conference. 8 a.m.
to 5 p.m. UT Health Regional Campus Laredo. 1937 Bustamante St. For more information, call the Area Health Education Center at 956712-0037.
SATURDAY, AUG. 4 First United Methodist Church Used Book Sale. 8:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
1220 McClelland Ave. Hard cover $1, paperback $0.50, magazines and children’s books, $0.25. Public is invited. Proceeds are used to support the church’s missions. Submit calendar items by emailing editorial@lmtonline.com with the event’s name, date and time, location, purpose and contact information for a representative. Items will run as space is available.
AROUND THE WORLD French court issues mixed ruling on Facebook nudity PARIS — A French court ruled Thursday that Facebook failed to fulfill its contractual obligations by closing without prior notice the account of a user who posted a photo of a famous 19th century nude painting. But the Paris civil court also refused to order the company to restore the account or pay damages as requested by
the user, a primary school teacher and art lover. The court said no damages were warranted because he didn’t prove any harm suffered due to the account’s closure and there was no need to order the account reopened because he was able to set up a new account immediately. The court also said the 60-year-old Parisian teacher, Frederic Durand-Baissas, didn’t prove the deactivation was caused by his posting of the painting. The judge wrote that Du-
CONTACT US rand-Baissas also didn’t provide evidence that he lost contact information for hundreds of “friends,” as his lawyer argued during a trial last month. The plaintiff claimed his profile was suspended in 2011 hours after he posted a photo of Gustave Courbet’s “The Origin of the World,” a painting from 1866 that depicts female genitalia. He asked the court to order Facebook to reactivate his account and to pay him 20,000 euros in damages. — Compiled from AP reports
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THE ZAPATA TIMES | Saturday, March 17, 2018 |
A3
CRIME
Report alleges torture in missing students case By Maria Verza A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
MEXICO CITY — The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said Thursday that Mexico’s investigation of the 2014 disappearance of 43 college students has been based on statements obtained through torture. In a report, the office said 34 of the 129 people arrested in connection with the students’ disappearance in the southern state of Guerrero suffered torture. It says federal police, investigators and marines inflicted pain to obtain statements after the Attorney General’s Office took the case. “You cannot resolve a serious human rights violation with other violations,” said Jan Jarab, the office’s representative in Mexico. The U.N. is calling on Mexican authorities to
throw out the material, which forms the foundation of the government’s explanation of what occurred. Mexico’s government said in a statement that it was concerned the U.N. would publish conclusions about matters still under investigation or in the courts. It said all of the purported rights violations referred to in the report are under investigation. Federal prosecutors have said the students were attacked by local police in Iguala on Sept. 26, 2014, then turned over to drug gang members, who killed the youths and burned the bodies at a garbage dump. A team of international experts convened by the InterAmerican Commission on Human Rights has disputed that hypothesis, saying it was not supported by scientific evidence, but rather based solely on statements from
Rebecca Blackwell / AP
This 2016 photo shows family members and supporters of 43 missing teachers college students. The official investigation into the disappearance of the 43 students in 2014 is being questioned again. In a report Thursday, the UN said the investigation was based on statements obtained under torture and warned that federal officials may have covered up irregularities.
17 people arrested in the case who were tortured. Jarab said he is not favoring any theory in the case and is seeking only to tell the judges involved in trying those facing charges that evidence gathered through torture should be thrown out. The U.N. report noted cases of people arrested without resistance who later appeared with mul-
audience before the InterAmerican Commission on Human Rights, Mexican government representatives said that of all the torture allegations investigated so far, only two had resulted positive. The Attorney General’s Office recently said it has new information that will help explain the motive for the attack and will soon lead to about 30 more arrests.
tiple injuries. It also mentioned people who were not immediately presented to court because of repeated delays blamed on car trouble or nonexistent street protests. For example, Patricio Reyes Landa, one of those allegedly tied to the students’ burning, suffered electric shocks, beatings and suffocation as well as threats that his wife and daughters
would be raped and killed, the report said. The U.N. agency blamed in particular the Criminal Investigation Agency, a branch of the Attorney General’s Office, for many of the human rights violations. “A person cannot be sentenced with only a statement obtained through torture,” Jarab said. In the most recent
against nine of them. Ultimately, the grand jury indicted only four. Gruver’s father, Stephen, praised the work of investigators. East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Hillar Moore said Louisiana’s hazing statute doesn’t sufficiently address the harm done in this case. He said Gruver’s family is trying to rally support for changing the law to toughen the penalties.
In this 2017 photo, Matthew Alexander Naquin is escorted from a university building by LSU police officers after being booked on a hazing charge in Baton Rouge, La.
4 indicted in death of university frat pledge By Michael Kunzelman A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
BATON ROUGE, La. — A grand jury indicted four people Thursday in the death of a Louisiana State University student whose blood-alcohol content was more than six times the legal limit for driving after fraternity members allegedly subjected him to a hazing ritual. The state grand jury issued the indictments six
months after 18-year-old Maxwell Gruver died at a hospital after a night of drinking at the Phi Delta Theta house on LSU’s campus. Fraternity members found the freshman from Roswell, Georgia, lying on a couch and couldn’t tell if he was breathing. The jury indicted Matthew Alexander Naquin, 20, of Boerne, Texas, on a felony negligent homicide charge, which is punishable by up to five years in
prison. Three others were indicted on a misdemeanor charge of hazing: SeanPaul Gott, 21, of Lafayette, Louisiana; Ryan Isto, 19, of Baton Rouge; and Patrick Forde, 21, of Westwood, Massachusetts. The misdemeanor charge is punishable by up to a maximum of 30 days in jail. Police originally arrested 10 people in October, but prosecutors presented the grand jury with evidence of possible charges
Travis Spradling/The Advocate / AP
Letters to the editor Send your signed letter to editorial@lmtonline.com
A4 | Saturday, March 17, 2018 | THE ZAPATA TIMES
COLUMN
OTHER VIEWS
Toys R Us will shutter its doors forever By Christine M. Flowers P H ILA D E LPHI A DAI LY NEWS
When I was about 4 or 5, I discovered the Sears Wish Book. I’d sit at the kitchen table and page through all of the amazing toys that Mom Mom and Pop Pop could be snookered into buying for me, since my parents were a bit more impervious to my dimples. That book was the blueprint for many joyful birthdays, where happiness was found at the end of a 60-watt light bulb screwed into my Susie Homemaker oven. Many of the people reading these words will have no idea what I’m talking about. Sadder still, they won’t understand why I was devastated to hear that Toys R Us will shutter its doors forever. It might seem strange that a woman who has passed the half century marker on her mortal journey is mourning the death of a retail store that sells toys. And why in the world is she reminiscing about pretend ovens and glossy throwback magazines filled with advertisements and hope? But this column isn’t for those people. This is for the women who remember what it was like to wander down the aisles of vast "kiddie kathedrals" filled with dolls that blinked and sang and pirouetted on one pink plastic slipper. This is for the people who, despite nascent wrinkles and sprinkles of silver in their hair, can locate that inner child who exulted in delight when a benevolent adult said, "Let’s go check out the new Barbies!" This is dedicated to the now-middle-aged boys who knew exactly where to find the shelves that held shiny tin sheriff ’s badges, pop guns that made authentic sounds and filled the air with sulfer, and those bags of plastic green soldiers frozen in combat poses and deadly when you accidentally stepped on them, barefoot, at three in the morning. When I heard that Toys R Us had been forced to declare bankruptcy after years of obvious mismanagement and billion-dollar debt, I didn’t think about our market economy and how profit was king. I thought about the world that was disappearing, one that faded deeper into the mists with the loss of this franchise. Some will say that waxing nostalgic for a giant chain store is stupid, because Toys R Us
and Kiddie City and even the magnificent FAO Schwarz, were anachronistic monoliths that sold things you can get elsewhere for much cheaper and without the surly employees cracking gum in your face. But those people don’t get it, and I have a sad suspicion that they never will. We long ago entered an age where human contact and experience were expendable, and virtual exchanges were more efficient and economical. Why get in your car, waste gas, look for parking, trudge into a store, stand in line at the checkout, pay retail and head back home when you could sit down at your computer with your skinny chai latte and surf the web for everything that money can buy? Except that money can’t purchase the beauty that comes from tangible, tactile experience. The other day I was looking at a photo of my grandfather from an afternoon that we’d spent at Wanamaker’s in 1968, when we picked up my princess vanity set from the children’s department and then carted it home to my bedroom. Meghan Markle may be marrying Prince Harry, but I doubt she’ll ever feel as royal as I did 50 years ago, brushing my hair in front of that mirror and setting out my empty bottles of pretend perfume. I recall going to Kiddie City and running toward the aisle that held the Chrissy doll, the one who had an auburn pony tail that would flow in great waves out of her plastic scalp when you pushed her belly button. (I eventually pushed it so hard that, to my horror, her hair fell out of the gaping hole in her head and landed at my feet.) And when I got older, I took my godsons and nephews and nieces to the toy stores just to see, reflected in their upturned faces, the same joy my grandparents had seen in me. It’s a magic that dies when you click on a mouse and use PayPal. It’s a world that’s been lost in Jeff Bezos’ Amazon jungle. Childhood is a fragile tower, built on dreams and wishes. Toys are its bricks and mortar. Building that tower, choosing those bricks with our own hands, was always a labor of love. Now, with a shallow and economical click of the mouse, we’re done. How sad. Christine M. Flowers is a Philadelphia Daily News columnist.
COMMENTARY
Obstructing immigration enforcement is wrong By Hans von Spakovsky HERITAGE FOUNDATION
Is history repeating itself ? Consider two states and two issues, almost two centuries apart. The first is South Carolina. It opposed the high tariffs that the federal government enacted in 1832 so strongly that it declared them unconstitutional and unenforceable within its borders. A political compromise defused the crisis at the time, but it took a civil war three decades later to put the theory of "nullification" to rest. Fast-forward to 2018 and the battle over immigration. "Sanctuary" areas have popped up nationwide, most notably in California, leaving federal immigration law facing a modern nullification crisis. The U.S. Justice Department has, quite correctly, filed a lawsuit against California over three state statutes that unconstitutionally interfere with the federal government’s authority over immigration. If the courts follow the law and the Constitution, Attorney General Jeff Sessions - and the American people - will win the case. "Sanctuary state" sounds noble, but not when we’re talking about providing a safe haven for dangerous criminals. In fiscal year 2017 alone, according to the lawsuit, federal authorities apprehended more than 20,000 aliens in California — roughly 14 percent of the aliens apprehended nationwide. How many of that number, per the lawsuit, were crimi-
The U.S. Justice Department has, quite correctly, filed a lawsuit against California over three state statutes that unconstitutionally interfere with the federal government’s authority over immigration. nal aliens convicted of murder, rape, burglary and/or other crimes in the state after entering the country illegally? 90 percent. As Sessions said in a speech to the California Peace Officers Association on March 7, "California found these people dangerous enough to detain them in the first place, but then insists on releasing them back into the community instead of allowing federal officers to remove them." That not only defies common sense, it is reckless. Yet California state legislators, Gov. Jerry Brown and state Attorney General Xavier Becerra apparently believe it’s better for lawabiding residents if criminal aliens who have been convicted of numerous crimes are returned to their local communities. California’s new statutes impose a number of requirements that, as a report by the state legislature’s judiciary committee admits, are intended to frustrate "an expected increase in federal immigration enforcement actions." For example, SB 54 restricts state law enforcement officials from providing information about the release date of criminal aliens in local custody, as well as prohibiting the actual transfer of
criminal aliens to federal custody. This directly violates a provision of federal immigration law that forbids states from restricting such an exchange of information. More importantly, however, this law endangers the lives of federal agents and the public. Having to find and pickup dangerous criminal aliens in local communities instead of at local jails "unquestionably involve(s) a greater possibility of the use of force or violence by the target . and have greater access to weapons, exposing officers, the public, and the alien to greater risk of harm(,)" according to Thomas Holman, deputy director of ICE. A second statute, AB 103, imposes a state-run inspection system on federal facilities where illegal aliens are detained, including giving state officials access to federal records that are confidential under federal immigration law, and requiring the California attorney general to "examine due process provided" to detained aliens. This is an extraordinary attempt to regulate federal immigration detention facilities and processes, which the complaint asserts violates the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution. The third statute, AB
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letter. Laredo Morning Times does not allow the use of pseudonyms. This space allows for public debate of the issues of the day. Letters are edited for style, grammar, length and civility. No name-calling or gratuitous abuse is allowed. Also, letters longer than 500 words will not be accepted. Via email, send letters to editorial@lmtonline.com or mail them to Letters to the Editor, 111 Esperanza Drive, Laredo, TX 78041.
DOONESBURY | GARRY TRUDEAU
450, prohibits private employers from cooperating with federal immigration officials despite the requirements of federal law, which include allowing work place inspections and enforcement by federal officials to ensure that employers are not hiring illegal aliens. Xavier Becerra has already said that he will criminally prosecute employers for violating this provision, which puts employers in an obvious Catch-22: they will be unfairly prosecuted by the state for complying with federal immigration law! As Sessions said, imagine if California passed a law forbidding employers "from cooperating with OSHA (the Occupation Safety and Health Administration) in ensuring workplace safety. Or the EPA, looking for a polluter. That would obviously be absurd." But it "would be no different in principle from this new law enacted by California." Through their sanctuary policies, California and other states and cities are trying to nullify federal immigration law to create safe havens for illegal aliens, including convicted criminals who endanger the public. But as Sessions told California law enforcement officials, "There is no nullification. There is no secession. Federal law is ’the supreme law of the land.’ I would invite any doubters to Gettysburg, and to the graves of John C. Calhoun and Abraham Lincoln." Hans A. von Spakovsky is a Heritage Foundation columnist.
THE ZAPATA TIMES | Saturday, March 17, 2018 |
A5
FROM THE COVER COURT From page A1 determining that lower court didn’t have jurisdiction in the matter. The Legislature in 2015 adopted a law forbidding state agencies and other public entities from posting notices barring entry to armed concealed handgun license holders. The attorney general’s office is charged with investigating any claims that the law is being violated. Attorney General Ken Paxton wasn’t named as a party in the county’s lawsuit, and the appeals court determined that Holcomb’s complaint would have to be heard by Paxton’s office before any court action. Holcomb is executive director of a gun-rights group called Texas Carry. He’s sent dozens of letters to local governments and others across the state complaining of restrictions placed on license holders. In the case of courthouses like the one in Waller County, Texas law prohibits guns from being brought into courtrooms and related offices, but Paxton has issued opinions saying firearms can’t be uniformly prohibited from an entire courthouse complex that may also include tax, planning and other offices. Holcomb’s lawyer,
AGENTS From page A1 cartel as well as Colombian citizens. Acting Attorney General Alberto Elias Beltran said at a news conference late Thursday that the arrests were made earlier in the day during a series of raids in western Nayarit and Jalisco states. Nayarit is dominated by the Jalisco New Generation cartel. The agents’ remains were found in Xalisco, a town in the Pacific coast state of Nayarit, two weeks after their disappearance.
DACA From page A1 One idea that has been proposed is a three-year extension of the DACA program in exchange for three years of funding for border wall construction. The White House didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. The offer was reported earlier by The Washington Post. Trump on Tuesday inspected eight wall prototypes constructed in the desert south of San Diego as he fights to overcome opposition from Democrats and skepticism from some Republican lawmakers
Edwin Walker, on Friday criticized the county’s decision to sue Holcomb. “This is the first time I’m aware of a government turning around and suing a citizen for doing something a citizen does, and that is basically complain about the actions of the government,” Walker said. A Texas law offers protections for people who file grievances over government action. Waller County District Attorney Elton Mathis has said that Holcomb misunderstood the county’s intentions. Mathis previously said he was simply seeking a ruling that the county had the legal right to ban guns from the entire courthouse building. He wasn’t available for comment Friday. County Judge Trey Duhon, the county’s top administrator, deferred questions to Mathis’ office. The county has the option of appealing to the full appeals court or to the Texas Supreme Court, but it was unclear Friday how the county might proceed. Paxton, meanwhile, has a pending lawsuit against Waller County over its interpretation of state licensed carry laws. “This is a great day for the First Amendment and the right of citizens to participate in government,” Paxton said in a statement Friday.
They had worked for the Criminal Investigation Agency, a kind of federal detectives’ bureau. In the video, they were accused of being undercover agents, but the government said they were off duty when they were abducted. Elias Beltran said those who ordered, carried out, cooperated and protected those involved in the killings “now will have the punishment they deserve.” Among those arrested was a man who allegedly oversaw the publication of the video.
over the cost of a barrier that was a central promise of his presidential campaign. House and Senate negotiators are trying to wrap up work on a $1.2 trillion spending bill in order to get it passed by March 23 in order to avert another government shutdown.
Courtesy photo
The Veterans Treatment Program recently saw two men successfully complete the program. A ceremony was held for them in the 406th District Court.
VETERANS From page A1
ceremony. Palomo congratulated the newest graduates for deciding to make a positive change in their lives and reaching sobriety. One testimony that rendered the room silent was veteran Manuel Ramirez’s, the keynote speaker. A veteran of the Korean War, Ramirez was only 17 years old when he enlisted. He was captured and held as a prisoner of war for 33 months. Ramirez spoke about the struggles all veterans face not only during combat but also after returning home. He told attendees that most people would never understand the things veterans have seen and experienced. “We, as veterans, go through hell, regardless if you were in combat or not,” he said. “Once you’re a veteran, you never forget what you went through. I still haven’t. I dream it. I remember it.” Hale’s kindness and genuine interest boosted him up, Ramirez said. He added that although he was still coping with sleepless nights and bad dreams stemming from traumatic memories, he was grateful for his life. “(Judge Hale) took me to eat and we talked and I said to myself, ‘there are people that care about us.’ I thought that we were forgotten and that
The Veterans Treatment Program was created to help the men and women who have served in the U.S. armed forces, and have a pending criminal case, overcome their addictions and avoid a conviction on their record. nobody cared for us. And right there I said, somebody does care for veterans,” Ramirez said. He congratulated the graduates for their decision to lead better lives and become role models for their families. “To me, and to a lot of other people, you guys are heroes,” Ramirez said. “You had your problems and I’m glad that you overcame them. Not many people do that ... We go to war and we come home, but we’re not the same persons.” “These gentlemen here
are examples of veterans,” he told attendees. “I’m proud to have met them. And I hope you are too.” Hale’s passion for helping veterans comes from a very personal place. His father served in the Vietnam War and his grandfather was a decorated World War II veteran. Hale said his father never really talked about his time in uniform and his grandfather passed away when he was only 5 years old. The opportunity arose
at a luncheon with local veterans where Hale learned about not only his father’s service, but also heard stories from men and women who have gone and fought in various wars throughout the years. Hale said listening to the veterans’ war stories was a live history lesson that made him value the rights and freedom that everyone has thanks to their service. “It means a lot to me, to be able to share moments with heroes like yourself, Mr. Ramirez,” Hale said. “Just know that your sacrifices are appreciated and aside from being proud of your service and everything you’ve done, I’m proud to be your friend.” Joana Santillana may be reached at 956-728-2528 or jsantillana@lmtonline.com
Sports&Outdoors
A6 | Saturday, March 17, 2018 | THE ZAPATA TIMES
NCAA BASEBALL: TEXAS LONGHORNS
Smart and Brown reflect on Garrido Longhorns reflect on loss of colleague By Nick Moyle SA N A N TONI O E XPRE SS-NEWS
NASHVILLE – Texas basketball coach Shaka Smart, like so many others around the nation, were left heartbroken by news of Augie Garrido's death. The legendary Texas baseball coach, who over 48 years won more games than any other manager in college baseball history, was recently hospitalized following a stroke and passed away early Thursday morning at the age of 79. Speaking moments after the news was announced, Smart was left at a loss for words. "Augie was a mentor of mine," Smart said Thursday at Bridgestone Arena. "I'm just, I'm heart-
broken. I don't know what to say. I loved Augie. "Augie – he taught me so much in the time when we were together. And he taught me so much about the fact that what we're doing, in our case is so much bigger than basketball, and in his case is so much bigger than baseball. "One of the things about Aug is, you guys know, he was so far ahead of his time with that stuff. And it was frustrating at times for him when people didn't see what he saw. And I think he saw, in me, that at least I had an appreciation for that. Not that I understood it on his level, but I appreciated those same things. But I'm just going to miss those con-
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE: HOUSTON TEXANS
versations, man, because he taught me so much." Garrido spent his final 20 seasons (1997-2016) with Texas, leading the Longhorns to national titles in 2002 and 2005. He captured three with Cal State Fullerton in 1979, 1984 and 1995. A six-time Big 12 coach of the year and six-time national coach of the year, Garrido's death prompted mourning and reflection from those whose lives he had touched. "I loved my dear friend Augie Garrido," former Texas football coach Mack Brown said in a statement. We had many, many great times together, and he was a person who always had a unique way of looking at everything. He really made you think, made you laugh and always was so much fun to be around. He was truly a special man, one of a kind. He also was obviously the best college baseball coach ever. He
will be missed, but his legacy will live on through all those he impacted. Our thoughts, prayers and support are with Jeannie, his family and his friends during this difficult time." UT athletic director Chris Del Conte called Garrido a "great philosopher" who could give even "Sigmund Freud a battle." "He was more than a baseball coach," Del Conte added. "I think to me, coaches are the most important figures in a student's life. If you think back to your own life, you think about a coach who either had a positive or negative impact on what you're doing. "Augie knew the gravitas of being a coach. He knew the moment. And in that moment, he knew what to do and not do to get the best out of people." Said Smart: "This is terrible, sad news."
Rodolfo Gonzalez / Associated Press file
Augie Garrido, who led the Longhorns to two national championships in 20 seasons, passed away Thursday morning at age 79.
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE: DALLAS COWBOYS
JONES LOST HIS EDGE
LM Otero / Associated Press file
The Cowboys reportedly considered moving on from Dez Bryant to make a run at Sammy Watkins before he signed with the Chiefs.
Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle file
Johnson Bademosi has stints with Cleveland, Detroit and New England in six seasons. He played in every game for the Patriots last season with three starts and made 29 tackles.
Texans sign defensive back Bademosi By Aaron Wilson H OUSTO N CHRONI CLE
The Texans have signed former New England Patriots cornerback and special-teams contributor Johnson Bademosi to a two-year, $6.5 million contract, according to a league source not authorized to speak publicly. Bademosi, 27, is a big corner at 6-foot, 209 pounds. He recorded 29 tackles last season for the AFC champions, playing in every game and starting three times. Bademosi has previous stints with the Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns. He played collegiately at Stanford. Bademosi has 122 career tackles and one interception with nine passes defended. Texans re-sign special-
teams ace Brian Peters The Texans have reinforced their special teams, re-signing linebacker Brian Peters one day after not tendering him as a restricted free agent. The special-teams ace was brought back by the Texans on Thursday. Peters played in every game last season and recorded 17 tackles. For his career, Peters has 45 tackles in three seasons with the Texans. The 6-4, 235-pounder played safety at Northwestern and went undrafted. One of the Texans' best conditioned athletes, Peters won a Gray Cup championship in the Canadian Football League with the Saskatchewan Roughriders followed by a stint with the Minnesota Vikings' practice squad. He's also played in the Arena Football League with the Iowa Barnstormers.
Cowlishaw: Owner/GM fails to capitalize By Tim Cowlishaw THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS
When the Cowboys came up short in their pursuit of free-agent wide receiver Sammy Watkins this week, two alarming things happened. And neither the club’s failure to land the new Chiefs receiver nor its willingness to cut Dez Bryant to make the money work are among them. That’s not to say those things are completely insignificant. Even though Stephen Jones has been telling us that releasing Bryant is a real possibility this offseason, it would still generate a fair amount of shock value if it happens. Clubs generally don’t release their most dangerous offensive player, no matter how far those players have fallen. But the Cowboys, it seems, were at least willing to take on the risk of Watkins, whose foot injuries have limited him to one full 16-game season in four tries, in exchange for the continuous risk that Bryant now represents. No, I would say the first alarming part is that it didn’t happen and the money was at least close. That means Watkins must have chosen Kansas City over Dallas for reasons that go beyond the bottom line. Perhaps he simply thinks the Chiefs are clos-
er to a Super Bowl than the Cowboys. But maybe Watkins thinks Patrick Mahomes provides greater hope for a deep threat than Dak Prescott. It’s not the end of the world if that was part of his decision. Mahomes is the former Texas Tech strong-armed quarterback the Chiefs selected in the first round last April. He was given a one-year apprentice under Alex Smith, who merely led the NFL in passer rating before being traded to Washington the week of the Super Bowl. Mahomes does have a bigger arm than Prescott, but he is unproven. Prescott has thrown 914 more NFL passes than Mahomes with a considerable degree of success (22-10 record). If his inability to connect with Bryant is now having an impact on free agents’ decisions, that’s got to be worrisome for this club. But that one’s just a guess. The second alarming factor is a real thing. And it cuts to the core of Jerry Jones’ flawed philosophy about how to run an NFL franchise. In those days where Jones finds himself having to defend his decision to serve as the club’s general manager, the owner’s prime tenant is this: I have the advantage of taking risks that would get other
general managers fired. Jones knows that in a sport in which teams spend months agonizing over which quarterbacks to pick or sign and are inevitably proven wrong more often than right, team-building is a risk game. By serving as his own general manager, Jones doesn’t have to worry about an owner secondguessing him. He is the owner. I have thought a lot about this one through the years, and there’s definitely merit to the argument. Or at least there was some as long as Jerry was the one pulling the trigger. More and more this team is guided by the more prudent and cautious Jones son. Maybe the worst thing that ever happened to this team was Stephen being right about Zack Martin over Johnny Manziel in the 2014 draft. Really, really right. When you’re on the right side of that kind of a landslide, you start to think that your way is always going to work. At the same time the enormous hits of the 2016 draft that allowed this team to jump from 4-12 to 13-3 without making an expensive addition in free agency again sent the same message to Stephen. Conservative works. Don’t rock the boat. Meanwhile, what we
have seen in the first 48 hours of free agency is the Jones philosophy flipped upside down. It is now all the other general managers - the ones that do operate with the risk of being fired - making the biggest rolls of the dice. The Giants have a new GM, Dave Gettleman, who had some success in Carolina before he was fired. Now it’s his turn in New York. He didn’t waste time in spending $62 million on Tom Brady’s blindside protector, left tackle Nate Solder. The Chiefs have a new GM in former Eagles scout Brett Veach. He’s spending big money on Watkins and former Cowboy Anthony Hitchens. Jerry used to play the game. Stephen prefers not to. The Cowboys have a de facto GM who cannot be fired, but the inherent ability to maximize risk that comes with that is no longer in play. Jerry Jones needs to figure out a new reason that the family running the Cowboys’ operation cannot be fired. We know an entire generation has come and gone since this team made it so far as an NFC Championship Game. So it’s not pedigree that keeps things in place. And, as we have seen once again, it sure as hell isn’t a willingness to take risk.
Frontera THE ZAPATA TIMES | Saturday, March 17, 2018 |
RIBEREÑA EN BREVE CONSULADO MÓVIL 1 El Consulado de México en McAllen invita al evento Consulado Móvil en Roma, el sábado 17 de marzo, en el Centro Mundial de las Aves, ubicado en Portscheller St., y avenida Convento de 8 a.m. a 1:30 p.m. Prepare sus documentos y haga una cita en consulmex.sre.gob.mx/ mcallen/ VACACIONES DE PRIMAVERA 1 El distrito escolar Zapata County Independent School District anuncia el periodo de vacaciones por primavera del 12 al 16 de marzo en todos sus campus. Las clases reiniciarán el 19 de marzo. GENEALOGÍA 1 ¿Desea saber más sobre su historia familiar? ¿Necesita ayuda para iniciar su genealogía? Venga y reciba ayuda personalizada para investigar a sus ancestros utilizando recursos en línea. Voluntarios entrenados le ayudarán, este martes 20 de marzo de 6:30 p.m a 8 p.m., en Roma Birding Center. Evento gratuito patrocinado por la Iglesia de Jesús de los Santos de los Últimos Días. IMPUESTOS 1 Voluntarios de VITA estarán asistiendo de forma gratuita a aquellas personas con ingresos menores a 66.000 dólares y que deseen presentar su declaración de impuestos. La cita es el 24 de marzo en Zapata County Technical and Advanced Education Center, en la Carretera 83 y 7th Street. HUEVOS DE PASCUA 1 Evento de Búsqueda de Huevos de Pascua en su sexta edición, organizado por la Ciudad de Roma, de 10 a.m. a 12 p.m., en Roma Texas Municipal Park, el sábado 24 de marzo. AVIARIO 1 La Ciudad de Roma invita a visitar el aviario Roma Bluffs World Birding Center en el distrito histórico de Roma. El aviario estará abierto desde el jueves a domingo de 8 a.m. a 4 p.m. hasta enero. Mayores informes al 956-849-1411 BOTES DE BASURA 1 La Ciudad de Roma informa a la comunidad que sólo estará recolectando basura contenida en botes propiedad de la ciudad. Informes al 849-1411 PAGO DE IMPUESTOS 1 Desde diciembre, los pagos por impuestos a la propiedad de la Ciudad de Roma deberán realizarse en la oficina de impuestos del Distrito Escolar de Roma, localizado en el 608 N. García St. PAGO EN LÍNEA 1 La Ciudad de Roma informa a sus residentes que a partir de ahora el servicio del agua puede pagarse en línea a cualquier hora las 24 horas del día.
A7
DEPORTES
Vuelven Tecolotes Equipo gana juego de primavera Por Andrea Castañeda y Zach Davis TIEMP O DE ZAPATA
Una tradición renace: Por primera vez desde 2002, los Tecolotes entraron al campo como equipo local en Laredo el martes. El estadio UniTrade cobró vida el martes con el bullicio de alrededor de 400 laredenses fanáticos del béisbol que dieron la bienvenida a Los Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos con los brazos abiertos. Los Tecolotes Dos Laredos, que preparan su regreso a la Liga Mexicana, jugaron su primer juego de entrenamiento de primavera al enfrentarse a los Palominos de Laredo Community College. El marcador terminó 6-1 a favor de los Tecolotes, quienes fueron impulsados hacia el triunfo luego de la sexta entrada en la que anotaron cuatro carreras y terminó finalmente con una larga sequía de anotaciones para ambas partes. Aunque el público presente durante el juego de exhibición del martes provenía de diferentes ámbitos de la vida, todos tenían algo en común: la
Danny Zaragoza / Laredo Morning Times
Los Tecos de los Dos Laredos en un encuentro contra el equpo Palominos de LCC, el jueves.
tradición. Arturo Guajardo III y su esposa, Nora, se sentaron en la tranquilidad del estadio antes de que llegaran las masas. La pareja estaba esperando apoyar a su hijo, que juega para LCC y aprendió su amor por el béisbol de su padre. Guajardo jugó con los Tecos en la década de los ochentas. Dijo que fue emocionante ver a su hijo jugar contra su antiguo equipo. Entre la multitud que fluía hacia el estadio estaba Alan González, de 11 años, equipado con su propio guante de béisbol. “Vine a ver el juego de béisbol porque cuando crezca quiero ser un jugador de grandes ligas”, dijo González. “Hoy voy a practicar a las 8
p.m.” González, quien es parte del equipo juvenil Rebels, decidió asistir al juego de los Tecos antes de asistir a su entrenamiento. Dijo que considerará convertirse en un fanático. Por otra parte, su padre ha sido un seguidor leal de los Tecos por muchos años. Javier Sánchez fue otro de los fanáticos de Tecos que asistió al juego. Su padre, Pedro Armando Sánchez, jugó con los Tecolotes en la década de los años cincuenta. Sánchez dijo que recuerda tener 6 años y ver a su difunto padre jugar con el equipo durante una reunión de jugadores retirados. Sánchez estaba especialmente emocionado por el regreso del equipo de béisbol a
Danny Zaragoza / Laredo Morning Times
Los Tecos de los Dos Laredos juegan contra el equipo Palominos de LCC, el jueves.
Laredo. Dijo que está esperando los próximos juegos y planea traer a su madre. "Ya era hora", dijo Sánchez sobre el tan esperado regreso del béisbol al estadio UniTrade. "Solo espero que permanezcan en la fron-
tera y continúen jugando, no solo por una temporada. Espero que continúen jugando durante un par de años porque Laredo es una ciudad de béisbol ya sea TAMIU o los Tecolotes o un béisbol semiprofesional. Es fantástico."
COLUMNA
POLICÍA
‘El Machete’, precursor de iconografía de lucha
Arrestan alumno por amenaza terrorista
Por Raúl Sinencio Chávez E SPECIAL PARA TIEMP O DE ZAPATA
Si los hermanos Flores Magón potencian en México el periodismo de combate, fuerte impulso da José Guadalupe Posada a la estampa autóctona. Contemporáneas aunque diferenciadas, ambas tradiciones las funde El Machete, periódico que aporta con sentido precursor la iconografía consustancial a los movimientos reivindicativos del siglo XX: cadenas rompiéndose, brazos entrelazados, estrellas de cinco puntas, etcétera. Decide fundarlo el Sindicato de Obreros Técnicos, Pintores y Escultores. Atienden la tarea Diego Rivera, Xavier Guerrero y David Alfaro Siqueiros –miembros del organismo–, que componen el comité ejecutivo de la publicación. Aparece cada quince días, a partir de la primera mitad de marzo de 1924. “La cabeza con el título y” la vigorosa mano que empuña “un machete la dibujó Siqueiros”, explica Raquel Tibol. “El lema en verso, que pronto correría de boca en boca –complementa–, lo escribió Graciela Amador. Enfatizan las rimas: “El machete sirve para cortar la caña, / para abrir veredas en los bosques umbríos, / decapitar culebras, tronchar toda cizaña / y humillar la soberbia de los ricos impíos”. De izquierda militante, nutren sus páginas not-
icias críticas del acontecer nacional e internacional, además de análisis teóricos. Dan también cabida a lo que Tibol llama “corridos teatralizados … escritos en un estilo sencillo”, “de claro contenido político”, anhelándose “despertar la conciencia de las masas”. Meta de fondo es influir en las clases sociales menos favorecidas de la ciudad y del campo. Difícil reto. Porque concentran bajos niveles educativos o amplio espectro de analfabetas. Ello lleva a complementar los textos con imágenes alusivas de fácil comprensión. Deviene al efecto idóneo el grabado, caído en desuso ante los rotativos modernos. Reintroducida por Jean Charlot, acababa Guerrero de aprender la técnica de la navaja y el buril. Elaboran “las ilustraciones … especialmente … Siqueiros, Xavier Guerrero y (José) Clemente Orozco”, rememora este último, quien amplía: “Eran grabados en madera o fotograbados”, reproducidos junto con los escritos. A la par muralistas en despegue, marcan auténticos hitos los talentosos colaboradores. “Es tal la identificación entre” las viñetas proporcionadas a El Machete por Orozco y sus murales “de la (Escuela Nacional) Preparatoria (en ciernes entonces) que podemos hablar de mutua correspondencia”, puntualiza Antonio Rodríguez. Equivalentes concordancias dejan ver Rivera
y Siqueiros. El periódico enseguida despierta el interés de la comunidad receptora. Impreso en la Ciudad de México, rápido trasciende el ámbito capitalino. Orozco detalla: “Nuestros dibujos originales fueron comprados por los obreros petroleros de Tampico, quedando el producto a beneficio de El Machete”. Habla del gremio que en 1924 protagoniza exitosa huelga contra la compañía El Águila. Provistas de atractivo visual, las planas ilustradas suelen asimismo pegarse en muros exteriores de concurridos sitios. A manera de carteles, despliegan acaso por vez primera puños en alto, patrones opulentos, multitudes desafiantes, retratos de Emiliano Zapata y otras figuras. El acervo gráfico redunda en la identidad propagandística de sucesivas luchas sindicales, campesinas, estudiantiles y populares. Al cabo de 35 números, el 1 de mayo de 1925 se vuelve El Machete vocero oficial del Partido Comunista, que lo mantiene hasta el 15 de septiembre de 1938. La saga iconográfica continúa, retomándola durante el gobierno de Lázaro Cárdenas la Liga de Escritores y Artistas Revolucionarios, seguida por los integrantes del Taller de Gráfica Popular. Lo anterior cimienta el grabado mexicano, poseedor de “una fisonomía propia y reconocida en el mundo”, como señala Alma Lilia Roura.
Por César G. Rodríguez TIEMP O DE ZAPATA
Un estudiante de la preparatoria Martin High School ha sido arrestado por supuestamente publicar una amenaza en Facebook, de acuerdo al Departamento de Policía de Laredo (LPD por sus siglas en inglés). Konrad William Maxwell, de 17 años, fue recientemente arrestado y acusado de hacer una amenaza terrorista. Él está libre, bajo fianza, de la Cárcel del Condado de Webb. LPD dijo que el caso inició el 15 de febrero, cuando recibieron una pista a través de Laredo Crime Stoppers. Maxwell supuestamente publicó en Facebook un meme mostrando a personas que habían realizado tiroteos masivos con el mensaje: “Tenemos un problema en este país...y ellos no han cruzado la frontera”. Maxwell luego escribió: “Soy el siguiente”, de acuerdo con una declaración jurada. En una entrevista con la policía, Maxwell declaró que quería ver cuántos likes (me gusta) obtendría su publicación por parte del público en general, de acuerdo a la querella criminal. Al decir, “Soy el siguiente”, quiso decir que él sería el siguiente tira-
Maxwell
dor masivo, de acuerdo a documentos de la corte. Él además declaró que esperaba obtener “risas y me gusta” cuando publicó, “Soy el siguiente”. Los registros de la corte mencionan que Maxwell es una víctima de acoso en la escuela. Él recientemente se volvió más agresivo, dijo su madre a la policía, se establece en la querella. Maxwell supuestamente dijo a la policía que experimentaba pensamientos suicidas. Cuando se le cuestionó acerca de los pensamientos, él supuestamente declaró: “No hay esperanza y que no quería seguir viviendo”, se establece en la querella. Además cree que experimenta estos episodios porque su novia, sin identificar, fue asesinada en Nuevo Laredo, México, hace cuatro años, de acuerdo a documentos de la corte.
A8 | Saturday, March 17, 2018 | THE ZAPATA TIMES
BUSINESS
Ford revamping product line to boost sagging sales By Tom Krisher A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
DEARBORN, Mich. — Ford, with a sagging U.S. market share and one of the oldest vehicle lineups in the industry, is promising to revamp three-quarters of its models in the next two years. Much of the emphasis will be on refreshing or revamping the entire lineup of SUVs while adding gaselectric hybrid powertrains, two new off-road SUVs and two new trucks. It’s all part of the larger plan to prepare the company for the future by cutting costs, increasing the number of common parts and feeding a long-starved product lineup. The move, detailed at a presentation on Thursday at Ford’s product development center in Dearborn, Michigan, comes at a time when Ford’s aging lineup has had trouble appealing to U.S. customers. In the past five years the company’s market share has fallen over 2 percentage points to 14.4 percent so far this year. Last year its market share rose 0.1 percentage point. “I have a reinvigorated view of the future,” said Richard Bazzy, who runs a Ford dealership in Pitts-
Ford Motor Company / The New York Times
This photo shows the new Ford Explorer ST, a high-performance version of its existing SUV model. In a bid to reinvigorate its business and shore up sagging profits, Ford outlined plans to introduce a number of new SUVs over the next three years on Thursday.
burgh’s northern suburbs and is among dealers who have been critical of company management. “We’ve been waiting for a long time. We weren’t sure what we were waiting for. Now we know.” Included in the hybrid plan is one for the F-150 pickup, the top-selling vehicle in America, that will offer increased towing power and an on-board generator. Ford pledged to be the hybrid sales leader, unseating Toyota in the U.S. by 2021. The new products, including complete revamps of the Explorer big SUV
and Escape compact SUV, should help dealers who have struggled against competitors with fresher vehicles. Ford concedes its model lineup is among the industry’s oldest, with an average age of 5.7 years. It promised to drop that to 3.3 years by 2020. The Escape small SUV hasn’t been completely redone since 2012, while the Explorer was last all-new in 2011, both long cycles compared with competitors. Among the new product announcements: 1 The two off-road vehicles designed to compete with Jeep and Land Rover will be
Toys R Us going out of business By Anne D’innocenzio A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
NEW YORK — The demise of Toys R Us will have a ripple effect on everything from toy makers to consumers to landlords. The 70-year-old retailer sought court approval Thursday to liquidate its remaining 735 stores, eliminating the jobs of some 30,000 employees while spelling the end for a chain known to generations of children and parents for its sprawling stores and Geoffrey the giraffe mascot. The closing of the company’s U.S. stores over the coming months will finalize the downfall of the chain that succumbed to heavy debt and relentless trends that undercut its business, from online shopping to mobile games. And it will force toy makers and landlords who depended on the chain to scramble for alternatives. CEO David Brandon
told employees Wednesday the company’s plan is to liquidate all of its U.S. stores, according to an audio recording of the meeting obtained by The Associated Press. There is still some hope. Toys R Us will try to bundle its Canadian business, with about 200 U.S. stores, and find a buyer. The company’s U.S. online store would still be running for the next couple of weeks in case there’s a buyer for it. Workers in the U.S. will get paid for the next 60 days if they show up for work, but after that all benefits and pay will be cut, Brandon told employees at the meeting, according to the recording. Some workers will be asked to stay longer to help with the liquidation. The company said that gift cards will be honored for the next 30 days. It will not accept returns once the liquidation sales start. It’s likely to also liquidate its businesses in Australia, France, Poland,
Portugal and Spain. It’s already shuttering its business in the United Kingdom. That would leave it with stores in Canada, central Europe and Asia, where it could find buyers for those assets. Toys R Us Asia Ltd. has more than 400 retail outlets in Brunei, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand. It is a Hong Kong-based joint venture with the Fung Group, which owns a 15 percent stake. It also controls Asian sourcing giant Li & Fung, a major supplier to Western retailers like Wal-Mart. A Fung spokesperson did not immediately reply to a request for comment. When Toys R Us initially announced it was filling for bankruptcy protection last year, the Asian venture said it was not affected and operated as a separate legal entity independent of other Toys R Us businesses around the world.
the new Bronco midsize SUV and a yet-to-be named small sport utility. 1 A new all-electric SUV with 300 miles of range between charges by 2020. Six more battery electric vehicles by 2022. 1 Standard safety features across nearly all models by 2020 including automatic emergency braking, lanekeeping assist and backup cameras. 1 Internet connectivity on all vehicles by the end of next year, enabling overthe-air software updates by 2020. CEO Jim Hackett, who is approaching one year on the job, said having hybrids in high-volume SUVs will aid performance and help the company and its customers hedge against the possibility of rising fuel prices. He also promised to speed up new product development in the future. Ford showed off some of the new vehicles but reporters had to promise not to describe or photograph them. There were no compact cars shown, but Ford says cars are still important. Ford shares rose 5 cents Thursday to close at $11.07. They are down 9.2 percent so far this year.
Radio giant iHeartMedia files for bankruptcy ASSOCIATED PRE SS
NEW YORK — IHeartMedia, one of the world’s largest radio companies, is seeking bankruptcy protection as part of an agreement with its lenders to reduce debt it took on to become a privately held company. The company formerly known as Clear Channel Communications said Thursday that it will operate its businesses as usual while it restructures its finances under Chapter 11 protection to reduce debt by more than $10 billion. IHeartMedia, which is based in San Antonio, operates 858 broadcast radio stations in more than 150 markets around the U.S. It also runs big live events such as the iHeartRadio Music awards. Though iHeartMedia has a large online presence and its iHeartRadio app is popular for streaming music, it faces stiff competition from Spotify, Apple Music and other online streaming services. Spotify, which recently filed for an initial public offering, said Thursday that its shares would begin trading on the New York Stock Exchange around April 3. The reason for iHeartMedia’s financial problems is primarily its massive debt, which it amassed when private equity firms Thomas H. Lee Partners and Bain Capital led a buyback of publicly held shares to take the company private in 2008. IHeartMedia had warned in 2016 that it had reached an impasse with lenders. IHeartMedia Inc. said its billboard subsidiary, Clear Channel Outdoor, isn’t part of the bankruptcy proceedings.
THE ZAPATA TIMES | Saturday, March 17, 2018 |
X1
Synthetic 2 Stroke Engine Oil
15" Straight Shaft Gas Trimmer
25 CC 7.99 - 2.99 00
109.99 - 25.00 99
84
5
64945 163-678 5524731
65808
4.5 HP Gas Push Mower
20”
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CU
14" Gas Saw HUSQ 14"Cut GAS Off CUT OFF SAW
169.99 - 20.00 99
149
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69662
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59.99 - 20.99 00
39 I-Beam Poly oly y Levell
999.99 - 40.00 99
959
44434
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74260
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4-1/2 Angle Grinder
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39.99 - 10.99 99
29
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24 PC
29.99 - 10.00 99
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39.99 - 10.00 99
179.99 - 20.00 99 24872 4872
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**PRICE MATCH PRODUCT MUST BE IN STOCK LOCALLY. RIGHT TO LIMIT QUANTITY. SEE STORE FOR DETAILS
59756
X2 | Saturday, March 17, 2018 | THE ZAPATA TIMES
7-1/4" Circular Circu ula larr Saw Saw
4.5” Ang A Angle ngle e Grinder Gri rind inder nd de er
6 AMP MP 39.99 - 7.99 00
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Save Money On Ceramic Tile Sold By Full Box
Save Money On Ceramic Tile Sold By Full Box
1.19 S.F.
73082
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1.19 S.F. Box 20.69
.99 S.F.
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73088
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73090
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Subject to stock on hand. No rain checks. Quantities are limited. Some items not available at all store.
PROMO #ZMT1811B P.O. #816501 ENDS: 03.31.2018
**PRICE MATCH PRODUCT MUST BE IN STOCK LOCALLY. RIGHT TO LIMIT QUANTITY. SEE STORE FOR DETAILS
THE ZAPATA TIMES | Saturday, March 17, 2018 |
X3
$AVE Wheelbarrow W/ Wood Handle
39.99 - 4.00 99
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35
70188
Premium Color Enhanced Red Mulch Pre
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161-994
74123 137-943
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50491 5504 49911
50909
187-747
49
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24
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21.99 - 5.00 99
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PROMO PROM PR OMO O #Z #ZMT #ZMT1811B MT18 1811 11B BP P.O. .O O. # #816501 8165 81 6501 01 E ENDS: NDS ND S: 0 03.31.2018 3.31 31.201 2018 8
**PRICE **PRIC **P RICEE MATCH MATCH MATC H PRODUCT PRODUCT PROD UCT MUST MUST BE IN STOCK STOCK LOCALLY. LOCALL LOC ALLYY. RIG RIGHT HT TO LIM LIMIT IT QUA QUANTI QUANTITY. NTITY TY. SE SEEE STOR SSTORE TOREE FOR FOR DET DETAIL DETAILS AILSS
49137 65-0588
62974 126-802
X4 | Saturday, March 17, 2018 | THE ZAPATA TIMES
Beverage Dispenser
Real Tree Hammock W/ Stand
1.75 GAL 19.99 99 9 00 0 0 - 5.00 99
14
139.99 - 20.00 99
119
227-815 22 27-815
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53746
Black B lack ck Ba B Battery Operated F lamele Candle Lantern Flameless
3 PK -21.99 5.00
16
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Rattan Solid Wood d Char-Log Rocker
99
203-302
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119.99 - 20.00
99
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299.99 - 20.00 99
139.99 - 20.00 99
119
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279
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2227-701 22 27 7 1 27-70
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26.5" Butterfly & Flowers we wer errss Bird Bath W/ Metal Stan Stand nd d
Single Burner g Cooker W/ Regulator
19.99 - 5.00 99
14
49.99 - 10.00 99
39
186432
10 LB 2 PK
7.99 - 2.00 99
5
49799
55326 590-448 6763882
Green/Blue Striped Canopy Swing
YOUR CHOICE
Texas Metal Bench
Aggies Metal Bench
9.99 . . - 4.00 99
5
139.99 9 - 20.000 99
53753
LED Bug Zappe Zapper perr
119
53752
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2 PK 15.99 - 3.00 99
12
9.99 - 4.00 99
5
41946 217-121 8212417
143-490
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119.99 - 20.00 99
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53755
The Tecolotes will be playing in los dos Laredo starting this season. Come meet the mascot, some players and visit the team bus on Saturday, March 17, from
11-1 at DR.IKE’S NORTH EXPRESS WAY @ CHICAGO Visit Us @
www.drikes.com
LAREDO NORTH IH-35 @ Chicago 956-721-7300
LAREDO SOUTH 3710 Jaime Zapata Memorial Hwy 956-726-8000
ZAPATA, TEXAS 496 East @ 430 FM 956-765-8430
FREE DELIVERY THURSDAY! LAREDO AND ZAPATA CITY LIMITS
We reserve the right to limit quantities to individuals, dealers and competitors. To serve you better, all regularly stocked merchandise will be accepted for return within 30 days of date of purchase in original unbroken package. Receipt is required. Sorry no lumber returns. We reserve the right to substitute products of equal quality. We reserve the right to limit quantities subject to stock on hand. *No rain checks. *Not responsible P.O. #494242 ENDS: 10.05.2017 for typographical errors. Some items not carried in all stores. All Art for Illustration Purposes Only. *While suppliesPROMO last. #LMT1738B PROMO #ZMT1811B P.O. #816501 ENDS: 03.31.2018 Page 7 Subject to stock on hand. No rain checks. Quantities are limited. Some items not available at all store. **PRICE MATCH PRODUCT MUST BE IN STOCK LOCALLY. RIGHT TO LIMIT QUANTITY. SEE STORE FOR DETAILS