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HEALTH CARE
THE BORDER
Insurance woes Official: State opposition hasn’t helped sign-ups By PAUL J. WEBER ASSOCIATED PRESS
AUSTIN — Political opposition in Texas to the federal health care overhaul hasn’t helped enrollment numbers that lag behind expectations as next week’s deadline to sign up looms, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said Friday. Texas has the highest rate of uninsured residents in the nation. As of March 1, about 295,000 people in Texas had signed up for coverage — less than half of the target of 629,000 enrollees originally set by the federal Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Gov. Rick Perry and Repub-
KATHLEEN SEBELIUS lican leaders have consistently slammed the health overhaul while simultaneously refusing Medicaid expansion in a state where nearly 1 out of every 4 residents is uninsured. Millions of uninsured na-
tionwide have until Monday to pick a plan or face penalties. More than 6 million Americans have signed up so far. “I don’t think it’s been a help when you have government officials trying to block navigators from getting information to the people. And you have everything from legal challenges to a constant barrage of misinformation,” Sebelius said. “That isn’t terribly helpful to folks trying to figure out what the law means and whether or not the law applies to them, or whether it’s even in place in Texas.” Making a final push, Sebelius visited a United Way center in Austin where about a dozen navigators manned a
call center for coverage-seekers. Texas is hostile territory. State regulators in January mandated that “navigators” who help Texas residents enroll under the Affordable Care Act undergo an additional 20 hours of training — half what Perry originally sought, but still enough to rankle nonprofits receiving
See INSURANCE
PAGE 9A
HOUSTON SHIP CHANNEL
TRYING TO CLEAN UP
By CHRISTOPHER SHERMAN ASSOCIATED PRESS
See OIL SPILL PAGE 9A
See SHERIFF PAGE 9A
Investigation ongoing in Houston oil spill AUSTIN — The barge operator that spilled nearly 170,000 gallons of tar-like oil into the Houston Ship Channel, closing one of the nation’s busiest seaports for several days, will be fined by Texas regulators regardless of the outcome of state and federal investigations. Investigators are still trying to pinpoint the cause of last weekend’s accident in-
Lupe Treviño cites ‘pressures’ in his decision to step down
volving a barge owned by Houston-based Kirby Inland Marine Corp., but Texas law considers the company carrying the oil a responsible party, said Greg Pollock, deputy director for the Texas General Land Office’s oil spill response division. “What that will be now I can’t say because we don’t have a closed case,” Pollock said. It won’t be the first fine
Top: photo by Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle | AP; below: photo by Kevin M. Cox/The Galveston County Daily News | AP
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Hidalgo Co. sheriff out EDINBURG — A South Texas sheriff whose office had attracted the attention of federal investigators suddenly announced his resignation Friday, only slightly more than a year into a new elected term. Hidalgo County Sheriff Lupe Treviño cited “internal and external pressures placed on me since December 12, 2012,” in a letter to the county judge. The letter first referred to his retirement, but Treviño issued a new letter later at the county judge’s request changing the language to resignation. County Judge Ramon Garcia said the wording made a difference for the process to fill the position. Hidalgo County’s location on the TexasMexico border brought Treviño national attention in recent years as he became an outspoken counterweight to claims from the state’s Republican leadership that the border was being overrun and its communities falling prey to spillover violence from the drug war in Mexico. The 2012 date referenced by Treviño in his letter was significant, coming only weeks after his overwhelming re-election victory. But on Dec. 13, 2012, federal prosecutors announced the arrests of one of Treviño’s sons — a local police officer — and two of Treviño’s deputies. They were members of a joint task force targeting the street-level drug trade. Within months they pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to steal drug loads and resell them to another trafficker. Treviño has maintained that he had no knowledge of the rogue unit’s activities, including the role of his son, who was living in his home at the time. During the trial of one of his deputies, Treviño took the stand to testify in federal court. The sheriff, who had spent 12 years commanding the local High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area task force, detailed the events of Dec. 12, 2012, when he was among the first from his department to arrive on the scene of what turned out to be the federal sting operation that took down his son. Treviño testified that “it was pretty obvious to me what the deal was” — that it was a federal sting. He and officers from his department had found drug packages carrying tracking devices.
Top: An oiled gull preens its feathers at the Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary in Bolivar, on Monday. Below: An oil-covered containment boom waits to be decontaminated on the Texas City Dike on Wednesday, in Texas City, in the aftermath of an oil spill.
By PAUL J. WEBER
Photo by James Coburn/The Monitor | AP
Hidalgo County Sheriff Guadalupe “Lupe” Treviño, whose office had attracted the attention of federal investigators, announced his resignation Friday.
MEXICO
Consulate General of Mexico is in town today THE ZAPATA TIMES
The Consulate General of Mexico has announced it will station a mobile unit in Zapata today from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. to provide consular services to local and area resi-
dents. The unit will be located at the Zapata County Technical & Advanced Education Center, on U.S. Highway 83 at 9th Street. Services will include issuing Mexican identification cards, also
known as matricula consular, passport services and providing legal advice to those needing this guidance. Also, Texas’ Health and Human Services, through its Border Affairs office, will hold a health fair
where free services will include taking glucose readings, taking blood pressure, measuring body mass index and providing information on dental hygiene, sexually transmitted diseases and medical insurance, among other topics.
Consulate General officials urge residents in Zapata and the area to visit the mobile unit to take advantage of its services. For more information, call 956723-0990 or toll free 1-877-639-4835 in the United States.
PAGE 2A
Zin brief CALENDAR
SATURDAY, MARCH 29, 2014
AROUND TEXAS
TODAY IN HISTORY
Saturday, March 29
ASSOCIATED PRESS
65th Annual UMW Flower & Art Show. 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. First United Methodist Church, 1220 McClelland Ave. Tickets available at door. Contact 722-1674 or fumc_office@sbcglobal.net. TAMIU Planetarium shows: “Zula Patrol: Under the Weather” 3 p.m.; “Black Holes” 4 p.m.; “The Great Space Race” 5 p.m.; “Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon” 6 p.m.. General admission $4 children and $5 adults. Premium shows $1 more. Call 3263663.
Today is Saturday, March 29, the 88th day of 2014. There are 277 days left in the year. Today’s Highlight in History: On March 29, 1951, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were convicted in New York of conspiracy to commit espionage. (They were executed in June 1953.) On this date: In 1638, Swedish colonists settled in present-day Delaware. In 1812, the first White House wedding took place as Lucy Payne Washington, the sister of first lady Dolley Madison, married Supreme Court Justice Thomas Todd. In 1882, the Knights of Columbus was chartered in Connecticut. In 1912, British explorer Robert Falcon Scott, his doomed expedition stranded in an Antarctic blizzard after failing to be the first to reach the South Pole, wrote the last words of his journal: “For Gods sake look after our people.” In 1943, World War II rationing of meat, fats and cheese began. In 1951, the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical “The King and I” opened on Broadway. In 1962, Jack Paar hosted NBC’s “Tonight” show for the final time, although the network aired a repeat the following night. (Johnny Carson debuted as host the following October.) In 1973, the last United States combat troops left South Vietnam, ending America’s direct military involvement in the Vietnam War. In 1974, Chinese farmers digging a well discovered the Terracota Warriors, an “army” of sculpted soldiers dating from the third century B.C. In 1989, at the Academy Awards, “Rain Man” won best picture, best director for Barry Levinson and best actor for Dustin Hoffman; Jodie Foster won best actress for “The Accused.” (This was the Oscars ceremony that featured the notorious opening number with Rob Lowe and “Snow White.”) Ten years ago: In a stinging rebuke, Secretary-General Kofi Annan fired one top U.N. official and demoted another for security failures leading to the August bombing of the U.N.’s Baghdad headquarters that killed 22 people. Five years ago: General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner resigned under White House pressure. One year ago: President Barack Obama promoted a plan to create construction and other jobs by attracting private money to help rebuild roads, bridges and other public works projects during a visit to a Miami port that was undergoing $2 billion in upgrades paid for with government and private dollars. Today’s Birthdays: Political commentator John McLaughlin is 87. Author Judith Guest is 78. Former British Prime Minister Sir John Major is 71. Comedian Eric Idle is 71. Composer Vangelis is 71. Basketball Hall of Famer Walt Frazier is 69. Singer Bobby Kimball (Toto) is 67. Actor Bud Cort is 66. Actor Brendan Gleeson is 59. Thought for Today: “The fate of love is that it always seems too little or too much.” — Amelia Edith Barr, American author and journalist (1831-1919).
Sunday, March 30 65th Annual UMW Flower & Art Show. 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. First United Methodist Church, 1220 McClelland Ave. Tickets available at door. Contact 722-1674 or fumc_office@sbcglobal.net.
Monday, March 31 Monthly meeting of Laredo Parkinson’s Disease Support Group. 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Laredo Medical Center, Tower B, First Floor Community Center. Patients, caregivers and family members invited. Free info pamphlets available in Spanish and English. Call Richard Renner (English) at 645-8649 or Juan Gonzalez (Spanish) at 2370666.
Photo by LM Otero | AP
Lucas McConnell, 13, right wipes tears from his eyes after speaking to reporters with his attorney Todd Clement, left, by his side Wednesday, in Burleson. The family of Lucas McConnell, injured by a drunken teen driver whose attorneys later claimed he suffered from "affluenza," plans to continue its lawsuit against the driver.
Family continues suit By NOMAAN MERCHANT
Tuesday, April 1
ASSOCIATED PRESS
April meeting of Webb County Community Coalition. 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. San Martin De Porres Catholic Church meeting room, 1704 Sandman St. Speaker Linda Mendiola from Lutheran Social Services discussing foster care. To RSVP, call Veronica Jimenez at 724-3177. Meeting of Alzheimer’s support group. 7 p.m. Meeting Room 2, Building B of Laredo Medical Center. For family members and caregivers of those afflicted with Alzheimer’s. Call Melissa L. Guerra at 693-9991. Les Amies Birthday Club monthly meeting. 11:30 a.m. Holiday Inn. Hostesses will be Alicia Garcia and Dora Rocha. Leonor “Noni” Daves will be the honoree.
BURLESON — The parents of a boy injured in a North Texas wreck that killed four other people said Wednesday that they will not settle with the teenage drunken driver, whose “affluenza” defense and probation sentence garnered nationwide attention. Lucas McConnell, 13, spoke briefly to reporters Wednesday, flanked by his parents and his attorney. He described how he had always been taught that things in life happen for a reason. “I know everyone always says, ‘Things always happen for a reason,’ but I haven’t really seen the reason yet, and I know I would like to, and I know people around me would like to,” Lucas said. Lucas’ family has filed one of several law-
Friday, April 4 Wellness & Women Connection Monthly Business Networking Lunch. 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Posh Sushi & Grill, 2715 E. Del Mar. Call Abby Willette at 645-0377 and RSVP at rsvp@wwconnection.org. Christian Life Seminar: What It Means To Be A Christian. 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., every Friday until April 11. San Martin De Porres Catholic Church’s St. Elizabeth Room. Free. Light snacks served. Contact Leah Cayanan at 2860654 or leigh.cayanan@gmail.com.
Saturday, April 5 Used book sale, hosted by First United Methodist Church. 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. 1220 McClelland Ave. Hardback books are $1, paperback books 50 cents, and magazines and children’s books 25 cents.
Sunday, April 6 SCAN’s 16th Annual Children Play Day. 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Laredo Civic Center Ballroom and Grounds. Free. Games, prizes, food and refreshments. Contact Veronica Jimenez at 724-3177 or veronica.jimenez@scan-inc.org.
State unemployment rate Woman cited in Beaumont Airline apologizes for note remains at 5.7 percent crash involving city bus on deaf couple’s bag AUSTIN — The Texas unemployment rate remained at 5.7 percent for the second straight month, continuing to reflect the state’s lowest jobless figure since November 2008. The Texas Workforce Commission on Friday reported the seasonally adjusted rate for February is down from 6.5 percent for the same month last year. TWC officials say Texas employers in February added 37,600 seasonally adjusted jobs.
Retail gasoline prices up by 2 cents across state IRVING — Retail gasoline prices continue to rise in Texas, increasing by 2 cents over the last week. AAA Texas on Thursday reported the average price per gallon of regular unleaded has reached $3.36. The national average is $3.54.
Friday, April 11 Christian Life Seminar: What It Means To Be A Christian. 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., every Friday until April 11. San Martin De Porres Catholic Church’s St. Elizabeth Room. Free. Light snacks served. Contact Leah Cayanan at 2860654 or leigh.cayanan@gmail.com.
Saturday, April 12 Larry Hernandez Memorial 6th Annual Crime Stoppers 5K Run/Walk Against Crime. Registration 7 a.m. Race 8 a.m. Entrance of Lake Casa Blanca State Park. Pre-registration fee $15 through April 11. $20 day of event. Kids run ages 10 and under. Proceeds benefit Laredo Crime Stoppers. Forms can be picked up at administrative office, 1200 Washington St., from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., or Laredo Ciclo Mania, 611 Shiloh Road, Suite No. 2, from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. call 724-1876.
Monday, April 14 Zapata County Commissioners Court meeting. 9 a.m. Zapata County Courthouse. Call Roxy Elizondo at 7659920. Submit calendar items at lmtonline.com/calendar/submit or by emailing editorial@lmtonline.com. Items will run as space is available.
suits against the family of Ethan Couch, the Burleson teenager who was 16 when he plowed an SUV into a crowd of people helping a driver with a disabled vehicle. His case and sentence drew national attention due to a defense expert’s testimony that Couch’s parents had coddled him into a sense of irresponsibility — a condition the expert called “affluenza.” Todd Clement, who is representing the McConnell family, said he intended to seek testimony from Couch and his parents, Fred and Tonya Couch, and move the case to trial. An attorney for the Couch family did not return a phone message seeking comment. Four people were killed in the crash, including Brian Jennings, a local youth pastor who had pulled over to help the driver. Lucas and a friend were in the back seat of Jennings’ vehicle.
BEAUMONT — Police say an 80-year-old Beaumont woman who crashed into a city bus in an accident that injured 10 people has been cited for running a red light. The accident Wednesday resulted in the bus crashing into a house. Police said on Thursday that the investigation into the crash was complete and that the woman had been cited.
Texas College celebrates 120 years TYLER — Alumni of Texas College gathered Wednesday to mark the 120th anniversary of the founding of the historically black college. The college in Tyler was started by a group of Christian Methodist Episcopal Church members in 1894. The college also celebrated 50 years of existence for the Top Ladies of Distinction Inc.
DALLAS — A deaf couple is upset over a note that an American Airlines employee attached to one of their bags, referring to the pair as “deaf and dumb.” Airline spokesman Casey Norton said an American employee who is not a native English speaker scrawled the note to alert a delivery driver that he should contact the couple by text message. One of the couple’s bags was misplaced on the couple’s journey home.
Fort Worth officers pull man from burning vehicle FORT WORTH — Fort Worth police say three patrol officers responding to a traffic accident pulled the driver out of a burning vehicle that had overturned. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports that the driver was taken to a hospital in unknown condition after the accident Thursday. — Compiled from AP reports
AROUND THE NATION School pressures ‘tomboy’ to transfer FOREST, Va. — An 8-year-old Virginia girl who keeps her hair short and wears boys’ clothes has withdrawn from a private Christian academy under pressure from its administration. Timberlake Christian School’s principal recently told the child’s great-grandparents, who have custody, that the school runs on biblical principles and has a right to deny admission to applicants for condoning sexual immorality, homosexuality or alternative gender identity. They said if the family could not adhere to those principles, the second-grader should not re-enroll. The family transferred the child to a public school.
Teen accused of spending cash after bank error DANIELSVILLE, Ga. — Authorities say a Georgia teen is
CONTACT US Publisher, William B. Green........................728-2501 Account Executive, Dora Martinez ...... (956) 765-5113 General Manager, Adriana Devally ...............728-2510 Adv. Billing Inquiries ................................. 728-2531 Circulation Director ................................. 728-2559 MIS Director, Michael Castillo.................... 728-2505 Copy Editor, Nick Georgiou ....................... 728-2565 Sports Editor, Zach Davis ..........................728-2578 Spanish Editor, Melva Lavin-Castillo............ 728-2569 Photo by Spc. Matthew Sissel/Washington National Guard | AP
A search dog waits to be washed by the feet of Washington National Guardsmen after working the debris field created by a mudslide near Oso, Wash., on Thursday. Some 70 Guardsmen from across Washington have been activated to help. under arrest and accused of spending about $25,000 that a bank accidentally deposited into his account. The Madison County Sheriff ’s Department says 18-year-old Steven Fields of Hull in northeastern, Ga., turned himself in Fri-
day. He faces a charge of theft by taking. The department says a teller at a bank in Hull inadvertently deposited a check for approximately $31,000 into the wrong account. — Compiled from AP reports
SUBSCRIPTIONS/DELIVERY (956) 728-2555 The Zapata Times is distributed on Saturdays to 4,000 households in Zapata County. For subscribers of the Laredo Morning Times and for those who buy the Laredo Morning Times at newsstands, the Zapata Times is inserted. The Zapata Times is free. The Zapata Times is published by the Laredo Morning Times, a division of The Hearst Corporation, P.O. Box 2129, Laredo, Texas 78044. Phone (956) 728-2500. The Zapata office is at 1309 N. U.S. Hwy. 83 at 14th Avenue, Suite 2, Zapata, TX 78076. Call (956) 765-5113 or e-mail thezapatatimes.net
SATURDAY, MARCH 29, 2014
THE ZAPATA TIMES 3A
Two arrests in Laredo Dr. Ike’s to mark 30th Zapata man posts bail twice in incidents 12 hours apart By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
A Zapata County resident was arrested twice in Laredo on Wednesday, according to police. Laredo police identified him as Kevin Montemayor, 18, of Zapata. Police first arrested Montemayor and charged him with theft at about 4:30 a.m. Wednesday at a convenience store in the 7500 block of McPherson Road in North Laredo. The clerk reported a “suspicious male” who had been walking around the store picking up items. Later identified as Montemayor, he allegedly took the store items worth about $75 and placed them inside a Toyota Tacoma. Police arrived to detain Montemayor before he could drive off. The property was recovered.
Montemayor would eventually post bail. But he would have a second encounMONTEMAYOR ter with the law about 12 hours later, said Investigator Joe E. Baeza, Laredo Police Department spokesman. At 4:39 p.m. Wednesday, police responded to reports of a suspicious man looking inside a vehicle parked along the 1200 block of San Agustin Avenue. An officer who had arrived at the scene observed a man, later identified as Montemayor, exiting a gray Toyota 4Runner that was parked outside a home. Montemayor claimed that the Toyota belonged to his friend who had left the keys inside the vehi-
cle. “(Montemayor) broke the window to get the keys,” Baeza said. Police said the vehicle appeared to have been ransacked. An ambulance was requested for Montemayor since he had a small laceration on his arm but he refused treatment. While speaking to Montemayor, the officer was approached by a woman who claimed ownership of the vehicle. “The woman then stated to police she did not give anyone any permission to enter her vehicle and further stated she did not know Montemayor,” Baeza said. Montemayor was then charged with burglary of a vehicle. He posted bail again later that same day. (César G. Rodriguez may be reached at 728-2568 or cesar@online.com)
Possession charge Man arrested in Laredo on controlled substance charge By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
A Zapata County resident was recently arrested in Laredo for allegedly possessing synthetic narcotics, police said this week. Ramon Secilio Hinojosa, 21, was charged with possession of a controlled substance (synthetic narcotics) at about 9:30 p.m. March 5 in the 600 block of Lafayette Street in Laredo, according to a police report released this week. He bonded March 6. An officer working Operation Stonegarden detail was dispatched to what appeared to be a physical confrontation at a gas station parking lot in the 600 block
of Lafayette. Police arrived to find a black Ford F-150 unattended and with all of its doors open, HINOJOSA said Investigator Joe E. Baeza, Laredo Police Department spokesman. Authorities identified the owner of the vehicle as Hinojosa, of Zapata County. An investigation revealed there had been a “hysterical gesture” to have one passenger exit the pickup before vomiting inside. “It was apparent that one occupant had vomited inside the vehicle,” Baeza said.
While at the scene, the officer noticed in plain view a green leafy substance in the center console cup holder. Hinojosa claimed he knew nothing about the substance found by police. That substance tested positive for 5.4 grams of synthetic cannabinoids. “(Hinojosa) then verbally admitted to police as being the possessor of the synthetic marijuana,” Baeza said. Police also seized a metal pipe allegedly used by Hinojosa to smoke the narcotic. The suspected narcotics were logged as evidence. (César G. Rodriguez may be reached at 728-2568 or cesar@lmtonline.com)
THE ZAPATA TIMES
Dr. Ike’s is celebrating 30 years of service to Zapata County and area residents with a celebration at its store, on Saturday, April 5. The day kicks off with light sweets and refreshments beginning at 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. At 10 a.m.
will be a ribbon cutting ceremony hosted by the Zapata County Chamber of Commerce. Then, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. is a fish fry, with sides including french fries and assorted vegetables. Beginning at 5 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. is a merienda that will include the Don
Chema Show with Oscar Zamora, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Dr. Ike’s is located at 430 Farm-to-Market Road 496 in Zapata. For more information, contact the Zapata Chamber of Commerce at 7654871 or the store at 7658430.
Town awaits death toll By JONATHAN J. COOPER AND MATT VOLZ ASSOCIATED PRESS
ARLINGTON, Wash. — A mountainside community waited in anguish Friday to learn the full scope of the Washington state mudslide as authorities worked to identify remains and warned that they were unlikely to find anyone alive nearly a week after the disaster. Leslie Zylstra said everybody in town knows someone who died, and the village was coming to grips with the fact that many of the missing will never turn up. “The people know there’s no way anybody could have survived,” said Zylstra, who used to work in an Arlington hardware store. “They just want to have their loved ones, to bury their loved ones.” Authorities delayed an announcement that they said would substantially raise the death toll to allow the Snohomish County medical examiner’s office to continue with identification efforts. That job, along with the work of the exhausted searchers, was complicated by the sheer magnitude of the devastation from Saturday’s slide. Tons of earth and ambulancesized boulders of clay smashed everything in their path, leaving unrecognizable remnants in their wake.
Photo by Elaine Thompson | AP
Footprints from searchers remain in mud Tuesday at the edge of a deadly mudslide Tuesday, in Oso, Wash. “There’s a process that we have in place, and I don’t want to get into too many details of that,” Snohomish County District 21 Fire Chief Travis Hots said Friday. “It’s not as simple as saying this is the number of people that we have that we have recovered.” The fire chief said he expected to receive an update from the medical examiner’s office by Friday evening. In addition to bearing the stress of the disaster, townspeople were increasingly frustrated by the lack of information from authorities, said Mary Schoenfeldt, a disaster traumatologist who has been providing counseling services at schools and for public employees and volunteers. “The anger and frustration is starting to rise,”
she said. That’s normal for this phase of a disaster, as is the physical toll taken by not having eaten or slept normally in days, she said. There were also signs of resilience. Handmade signs have appeared that say “Oso strong” and “530 pride” in reference to the stricken community and state Highway 530 that runs through it. Authorities have acknowledged the deaths of at least 25 people — with 17 bodies recovered. Reports of more bodies being found have trickled in from relatives and workers on the scene. Searchers are working from a list of 90 missing people, which equates to about half of the population of Oso, a North Cascades community some 55 miles northeast of Seattle.
PAGE 4A
Zopinion
SATURDAY, MARCH 29, 2014
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COMMENTARY
OTHER VIEWS
Meet Fothergill, the other Noah By LLEWELLYN KING HEARST NEWSPAPERS
In the Bible, it was Noah who stuffed the animals into the ark, two by two. Now there is Russell Crowe, whose movie “Noah” was just released, and whose animals are almost the backstory compared to Noah’s family disputes. But from 1958-64, on the Zambezi River and in the Zambezi valley between Zimbabwe and Zambia, there was another Noah: a game warden for the colonial government in Southern Rhodesia, who was the nearest thing to the biblical Noah. He led a small band of ingenious men, who between them saved about 6,000 creatures, great and small, from a watery grave. The man who mounted probably the greatest animal rescue since the captain of the vessel in Genesis was Rupert Fothergill. This quiet “man of the bush” was in his forties when he undertook the rescue of every kind of living creature trapped by rising waters from the giant Kariba hydroelectric dam project, which flooded the Zambezi valley downstream from Victoria Falls. At the time, the waters behind the dam created the largest man-made lake in the world. Because the governments of the British colony of Southern Rhodesia and the British Protectorate of Northern Rhodesia were primarily concerned with relocating about 57,000 Tonga people from the flood plain, little attention was paid to the density of game that would be drowned. Enter Fothergill, who orchestrated “Operation Noah.” With few resources, and often no idea how to do it, Fothergill and team went to work, learning as they went along. As Tim Abbott, an American conservationist, told me, “How do you tranquilize a black rhino?” Well on YouTube, you can watch some amazing footage of the enormous, beautiful beast being secured, fighting back and finally being tied to a giant stretcher that was dragged onto a raft made of oil drums for the journey to her new life on high ground. As the waters of Lake Kariba rose, islands formed in the flood plain, trapping everything. There is a searing image, recorded in a blog by Abbott, of a giant bull elephant, found by Fothergill’s team when it was near death, having swum for five hours, its trunk changing color from the exertion. Some big game was more or
less ridden to safety through the rising water. Small creatures were carried in loving arms onto small boats and taken to safety. There are photographs and there is 16mm film of the rescues, even of Fothergill pampering a baby giraffe. Peter Jones, now 77 and living in Durban, South Africa, was on Fothergill’s team. He told me by phone that gradually and with very few resources, they leaned how to save everything from poisonous snakes to the big game — buffaloes, elephants and rhinos; the big antelopes, eland, kudu, sable and wildebeest; cheetahs, leopards and lions; and hyenas. Fothergill and his men (about seven white Rhodesians and 50 Africans, Jones recalls) had a small flotilla of dinghies with Evinrude outboard motors. There were six or seven of these, but later a larger boat (Jones thinks it was 30- or 35feet-long and fitted with a diesel engine) was procured and used to tow the other boats with men sitting in them, holding animals in bags and nets and sometimes just in their hands. The boat’s name was “The Tuna,” and it had come overland from South Africa — boats were in very short supply in that part of Southern Africa, a largely arid area. I missed “Operation Noah” by a year. When I was a young reporter (17 years old), I was sent to the Kariba Dam site to cover floods that threatened to wash the whole project away. It was just a year before the great animal rescue began but my boss, Eric Robins, a man from whom I learned my trade, was aware of the coming wildlife tragedy. Later, he wrote a book about it called “Animal Dunkirk: The story of Lake Kariba and ‘Operation Noah,’ greatest animal rescue since the Ark.” It was. It was. Sadly, “Operation Noah” got lost in the turbulent history of Africa that was to follow and particularly the civil war in Rhodesia, which brought an end to the colonial era and tended to inter its good deeds with the dominant race issues. Happily more and more images of “Operation Noah” are being digitized, largely by Fothergill’s family, and are making their way onto the Internet. Watch Crowe, marvel at Fothergill. Llewellyn King is executive producer and host of “White House Chronicle” on PBS. His email is lking@kingpublishing.com.
WORST WEEK IN WASHINGTON
Secret Service is not so secret By CHRIS CILLIZZA THE WASHINGTON POST
When tasked with protecting the president of the United States, it’s probably not a good idea to pass out drunk in a hotel hallway the day before he arrives. And yet, that’s what happened this past week in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. The incident led to a trio of Secret Service agents being sent back stateside and placed on administrative leave, and handed the agency tasked with protecting America’s commander in chief yet another black eye. The Amsterdam imbroglio comes two years after Secret Service agents got caught up in a drinking-and-prostitution scandal in Cartagena, Colombia. That episode led to a tighter code of conduct for the agency but, it seems, not a change in behavior among some in its ranks. The three agents put on leave were apparently out drinking in Amsterdam until 2:30 a.m., despite the fact that
they were due to work at 10 that morning. One didn’t make it all the way back to his room; he was found asleep in the hallway by hotel employees, who carried him to his room. And it gets worse. In the wake of the Amsterdam incident, The Washington Post reported that two counter-sniper Secret Service officers who were suspected of drinking were involved in a car accident during President Barack Obama’s visit to Miami this month. The three incidents led Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., to wonder whether the agency has a “systemic” problem. “It is essential that the culture and behavior within the United States Secret Service be beyond reproach to ensure that the agency has the credibility and integrity to fulfill its vitally important national security function,” Johnson added. The Secret Service, for serving poorly and not keeping it secret, you had the worst week in Washington. Congrats, or something.
COLUMN
Critic shouldn’t deter kid
“
KEN HERMAN
AUSTIN — Looks like we’re in for a nice spring weekend. I’ve got the company picnic on Saturday and a wedding on Sunday (mazel tov to Ben Kuryk and Rachel Goldstein!) so the weekend menus are pretty much taken care of. In between those events, I’ll watch a bunch of basketball as I gear up for my annual trip to the Final Four. Headed into the Sweet 16, I was in pretty good shape in our office brackets. State Editor Bob Gee won last year. I won it the year before. Somebody’s cat (really) won it the year before that by picking teams with “cat” in their nicknames. (The doggone cat won even though the Connecticut Huskies beat the Butler Bulldogs in the title game that year.) Now that we’ve disposed of happiness and light, let me tell you about the meanest thing I’ve seen in a while. I hope this will make you feel as miserable as it made me feel. Oddly, it starts with an uplifting tale, told recently on KVUE, of a high school sophomore who, through something called National Novel Writing Month, wrote and self-published a novel. Good for her, especially in light of the fact that about 40,000 words into her 50,000-word novel she lost the thumb drive on which it was stored. Part of it also was on her laptop, but, KVUE reported, most of it wasn’t. (How many times do I have to tell you people? Back up your stuff. And moisturize.) Anyway, “Journey to the Clouds” was completed. It’s about a high school girl who suffers through the deaths of three
It’s in another review that we veer into over-the-top criticism. Anybody who writes is fair game for criticism, but we’re talking about a 15-year-old kid. close friends. The book is available on Amazon.com. That’s where we pivot to meanness so mean I’m going to protect this young author by not naming her. (And if you know her, please don’t tell her about this. I hope she doesn’t see what I’m about to show you.) The “about the author” section on Amazon notes the author is 15 and “aspires to be a true author in her later years.” Again, good for her. The first Amazon review for “Journey to the Clouds” says: “Simply amazing how such wonderful work can be done by a 15year-old. This girl definitely has what it takes!!” It’s in another review that we veer into over-the-top criticism. Anybody who writes is fair game for criticism (see the online comments under my columns), but we’re talking about a 15-year-old kid. Constructive criticism? Fine. But Poet4Life’s critique seems a bit harsh for a 15-year-old kid. “As my title says,” the reviewer writes, “I did only read the ‘Look inside.’ Am being unfair by rating it a one star when I haven’t read all of it? Maybe, but NEVER, and I mean NEVER, have I read a book that made me want to claw my own eyes out so fast. And I’ve probably read hundreds of books in my lifetime.” But wait, there’s more. “To start, the prologue: Teens are NOT good little kids, they stereotypically disobey whenever
possible! And rebel as much as possible. I’m sorry, but I found it somewhat offensive and completely unnecessary to add that part about sexual orientation. I am an ally of the LGBT community and have PLENTY of gay friends, heck my own brother is gay, yet my mind didn’t jump to sexual orientation when the narrator mentioned ‘experimentation.”’ “Next, there are NO contractions,” Poet4Life complained, referring to grammar, not childbirth. “Well to be fair there’s one. But there should be A LOT more. Two teens are talking. So why are they saying ‘can not’ and ‘I am.’ Normal teens don’t do that, at least not consistently. ... Then there’s the fact that she gave a guy she doesn’t know who’s clearly a jerk her number! Maybe I’m just an oddball, but there’s no way in heck I’d do that, especially if I didn’t even know his name.” “All in all,” the review concludes, “I have negative interest in finishing this novel.” OK, don’t. Though I find myself wishing you would if it would lead you to follow your urge to claw your own eyes out. Have a nice weekend. And, really, don’t tell the kid author about the Amazon review, but do tell her this: Write on. Ken Herman is a columnist for the Austin American-Statesman. E-mail: kherman(at)statesman.com.
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SATURDAY, MARCH 29, 2014
THE ZAPATA TIMES 5A
PÁGINA 6A
Zfrontera
Agenda en Breve COTULLA 04/02— Taller de Seguridad en Oleoductos en el Centro de Convenciones de Cotulla, de 9 a.m. a las 2 p.m. Autoridades y expertos discutirán la seguirad en oleoductos y la concientización del público. Reserve su lugar escribiendo a Michelle Joseph a mlsjoseph@hotmail.com.
LAREDO 03/29— La Serie de Conferencias “Manténgase Sano por Más Tiempo” le invita al tema “Nutrición: su impacto en enfermedades del corazón, diabetes y memoria”, de 8 a.m. al mediodía, en el UT Health Science Center Regional Campus, 1937 E. Bustamante, Auditorio D.D. Hachar. Orador especial: Gloria Lena Vega. Evento gratuito abierto a la comunidad. 03/29— El LCLAA del Condado de Webb invita a la 11a Marcha Por la Justicia Anual “César Chávez. Un Paso a la Vez”. La reunión será a las 8:30 a.m. en St. Peters Plaza, para partir a las 10 a.m. rumbo a la Plaza San Agustín. Informes al 7757027. 03/29— La Asociación de Tennis de Laredo realizará un día familiar de tennis a partir de las 10 a.m. en las canchas ubicadas en 1300 de calle Market. No se requiere experiencia para participar. Se proporcionarán juegos, aperitivos saludables y premios a los participantes. 03/29— Feria y Exposición NeighborWorks Home, a partir de 10 a.m. a 5 p.m. en Laredo Energy Arena. Informes en el 712-9100. Evento gratuito. 03/29— La Oficina del Congresista Henry Cuellar y Texas A&M International University serán anfitriones de la Alianza Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) de 12 p.m. a 4 p.m., hasta el 29 de marzo. Llame al (956) 7250639 para más información. 03/29— BÉISBOL: El equipo Dustdevil de TAMIU recibe a St. Edward’s University a la 1 p.m. en el Jorge Haynes Field. Costo: 5 dólares. 03/29— 65o Programa Annual de Flores y Arte del UMW, de 1 p.m. a 5 p.m. Boletos en la puerta. Evento será en First United Methodist Church, 1220 McClelland Ave. 03/29— Planetario Lamar Bruni Vergara de TAMIU presenta, “Zula Patrol: Under the Weather”, a las 3 p.m.; “Black Holes”, a las 4 p.m.; “The Great Space Race”, a las 5 p.m.; “Pink Floyds Dark Side of the Moon”, a las 6 p.m. Costos: 4 dólares, niños; y, 5 dólares, adultos. 03/29— LTGI invita al evento “Celebrando Íconos de las Artes” y patrocinado por la Fundación Guadalupe and Lilia Martinez Foundation, en homenaje a Hortense Offerle, Elmo López Sr., Stanley Keilson y Sam Johnson (†), a partir de las 6:30 p.m. en Laredo Center for the Arts. Costo: 75 dólares. Informes en (956) 3198610.
NUEVO LAREDO, MÉXICO 03/29— Recepción de Residuos Peligrosos y Electrónicos de 9 a.m. a 4 p.m. en el estacionamiento de El Palomar, en avenida Reynosa y Bolívar; en el Parque Polvo Enamorado, en calle 16 de Octubre 1900; y en el estacionamiento de Seguridad Pública en la colonia La Fe. 03/29— La actriz Astrid Hadad participará en el programa “Leo… Luego Existo”, dando lectura a la novela “Alta Infidelidad” a las 6 p.m. en Estación Palabra. Evento gratuito.
SÁBADO 29 DE MARZO DE 2014
SALUD
Fecha límite
POR MALENA CHARUR TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
Si usted aun no se ha inscrito para obtener la cobertura médica de acuerdo a la Ley de Cuidado de Salud, este puede ser el momento para que inicie los trámites y pueda gozar de una extensión al plazo que termina el 31 de marzo. El Dr. Esteban López, presidente regional de Blue Cross y Blue Shield de Texas, comentó que aunque la administración de salud no ha dado todos los detalles de la extensión de este plazo, la fecha clave para poder inscribirse sigue siendo el 31 de marzo. “Es muy importante que la gente empiece hoy mismo con su inscripción a un plan de salud, ya sea por medio de Internet o por teléfono. Aunque los detalles no se han comunicado, sabemos que no todas las personas van a tener derecho a
esa extensión. De cualquier modo terminará el 31 de marzo” expresó López. Agregó que aunque pudiera ser complicado para los residentes, los proveedores de este servicio cuentan con los recursos para ayudar en el proceso de inscripción. En Laredo, cerca de un 36 por ciento de la población no contaba con seguro médico hasta enero de 2014, de acuerdo a estadísticas proporcionadas por Blue Cross y Blue Shield de Texas. López indicó que algunas de las razones por las que las personas en esta área se resisten a adquirir un plan de cobertura reside en que la mayoría de la población es latina, y que algunos se rehúsan a proporcionar su información a entidades del gobierno para evitar afectar a familiares que no puedan acreditar su estancia legal en el país.
“El porcentaje de latinos en Laredo es muy alto, cerca del 90 por ciento. Sabemos que la información que proporcionen no les va a perjudicar, pues estos datos no se proporcionarán al servicio de inmigración”, comentó. Las personas que viven en Estados Unidos sin documentos legales de residencia no son elegibles para adquirir cobertura médica, de acuerdo con el sitio en Internet oficial de la Ley de Cuidado de Salud. Añadió que es muy importante que las familias cuenten con un plan de cobertura que asegure la tranquilidad de ser atendidos ante alguna emergencia médica. “Un seguro médico es parte de un plan financiero para la familia pues un problema médico puede ser muy costoso. Un seguro puede ser el medio que da acceso a médicos y hospitales para mantener su salud y debe ser un plan para to-
das las familias en Laredo y el Condado de Webb”, sostuvo. López indicó que la mayoría de los planes médicos son accesibles y que muchas personas pueden contar con ayuda financiera del gobierno para pagar el seguro. “Se sabe que personas que están entre el 100 y el 400 por ciento sobre el nivel de pobreza cuentan con una ayuda del gobierno. Si una persona se encuentra entre el 115 o el 120 por ciento, la ayuda puede ser suficiente para cubrir todo el seguro médico”, dijo. Aún con extensión el plazo vence el 31 de marzo. Los tiempos de inscripción varían pero, en promedio, a una persona le puede llevar cerca de una hora completar el proceso. Si requiere más información puede acceder al sitio de Internet healthcare.gov, o en español cuidadodesalud.gov.
NUEVO LAREDO, MÉXICO
CONDADO DE ZAPATA
NUEVO PROGRAMA
Consulado móvil impartirá asesorías ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
Foto de cortesía | Secretaría de Gobernación
El Secretario de Gobernación Miguel Ángel Osorio Chong, dio a conocer el programa “Somos Mexicanos” en instalaciones del Puente Internacional Juárez-Lincoln, en Nuevo Laredo, México, el 26 de marzo.
‘Somos Mexicanos’ ayudaría a inmigrantes TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
El gobierno de México dio inicio al programa denominado “Somos Mexicanos”, el cual busca respaldar a aquellos connacionales que regresen a su país, ofreciéndoles una fuente de empleo. El Secretario de Gobernación, Miguel Ángel Osorio Chong, hizo el anuncio el miércoles en las instalaciones del Puente Internacional Juárez-Lincoln, en Nuevo Laredo, México, donde sostuvo que, de esta manera, “ya no será un retorno con temor, un retorno con miedo; será un retorno con felicidad y un retorno con la alegría que da el regresar a su país”. Dijo que el objetivo es considerar que “todos los que migraron
algún día puedan estar nuevamente aquí y puedan encontrar las oportunidades que alguna vez no encontraron y que los hicieron decidir estar fuera y estar lejos de sus familias”. Por su parte, la Subsecretaria de Población, Migración y Asuntos Religiosos de la Secretaría de Gobernación, Mercedes del Carmen Guillén, dijo que ‘Somos Mexicanos’, es la respuesta del gobierno para atender “el fenómeno de retorno de los mexicanos que en los últimos años ha cobrado indiscutible importancia”. Guillén explicó que esto incluye que la política migratoria sea humanizada a fin de que los flujos que ocurren en el país sucedan en forma segura y digna.
Con el programa se pretende que los mexicanos que regresen al país se incorporen de nuevo, en el corto plazo, a la fuerza laboral y mercado productivo, indica un comunicado de la Secretaría de Gobernación. Aclara además que mediante módulos de atención se ofrecerá un esquema con el programa de auto-empleo y vivienda, canalización a ofertas laborales, vinculación para la educación, asistencia médica, comunicación y reunificación familiar, alberges y traslados. A decir del Presidente Municipal de Nuevo Laredo, Carlos Canturosas Villarreal, el nuevo programa vendrá a aminorar las necesidades básicas de los deportados e inmigrantes.
El Consulado General de México estará llevando a cabo un Consulado Móvil para brindar servicio a los residentes del Condado de Zapata. Debido a que hay habitantes del Condado de Zapata que no cuentan con el transporte necesario para llegar al Consulado de México, un Consulado Móvil será ofrecido para entrega de documentos e información requerida por los residentes. El evento se realizará el día de hoy dentro de las instalaciones del Zapata County Technical & Advance Education Center, ubicado en calle N. Hwy. 83 y 9th Street, de 9 a.m. a 2 p.m. El Consulado Móvil tiene como principal objetivo proporcionar servicios básicos como la expedición de Matrícula Consular (ID mexicana), de Pasaporte, así como prestar asesoría legal y orientación al público que lo requiera en el ámbito de Protección. Asimismo y con el apoyo de la Comisión de Salud y Servicios Humanos – Oficina de Asuntos Fronterizos, se llevará a cabo una Feria de Salud en donde se proporcionarán algunos servicios de salud de manera gratuita (toma de glucosa, presión arterial, índice de masa corporal) y se proporcionará información sobre higiene dental, enfermedades de transmisión sexual y seguros médicos, entre otros temas. Para mayor información puede llamar al 723-0990 o través del Servicio Mexitel para hacer citas y solicitar requisitos al 01-800-900-0773, llamando desde México o al 1-877-6394835, llamando desde Estados Unidos.
EAGLE FORD SHALE
Senadora insta a procurar seguridad al excavar ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
Autoridades gubernamentales buscan incrementar la conciencia pública sobre el cuidado de las nuevas tuberías de gas y petróleo que se han instalado en todo el estado. Cientos de millas de tubería nueva han sido construidas como resultado del auge energético que actualmente presenta nuestro estado, por lo que la Senadora Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, insta a los residentes a ser concientes del cuidado que se tiene que tener con ellas para mantener la seguridad. “Las tuberías que transportan los productos energéticos alrededor del estado, no solamente pasan por áreas rurales, sino que también están instala-
“
Los problemas serios con las tuberías son poco comunes, pero si sospecha de un problema, deben dejar el área y llame al 911”. SENADORA JUDITH ZAFFIRINI
das en nuestras ciudades y pueblos”, dijo Zaffirini, una de las organizadoras de Eagle Ford Shale Legislative Caucus. “Los tejanos debemos ser pro-activos en cuanto a aprender sobre la ubicación de las tuberías en sus barrios y saber qué hacer en caso de un problema”. Debido a la exploración y desarrollo petrolero se
ha incrementado el desarrollo de Eagle Ford Shale, y por ello se han construido nuevos gasoductos en SD 21. El distrito incluye la mayor plataforma en su mayoría de producción y abarca las regiones de más alta producción de Eagle Ford Shale. Los residentes que tengan la intención de cavar o excavar en su propiedad
primero deben identificar los lugares de donde se han ubicado los ductos. Esto lo puede hacer llamando al 811 o consultando el Sistema Nacional de Pipeline Mapping, accesando a www.npms.phmsa.dot.gov. De igual manera puede entrar a la página de mapeo de tuberías en línea del ferrocarril de la Comisión de Texas en
www.gis2.rrc.state.tx.us/ public/. “Los problemas serios con las tuberías son poco comunes, pero si sospecha de un problema, deben dejar el área y llame al 911 y la compañía de la tubería de inmediato”, dijo Zaffirini. Para promover la conciencia pública sobre la seguridad de las tuberías el Eagle Ford Shale Center for Research, Education and Outreach (EFCREO) en Texas A&M UniversityKingsville realizará un taller de Seguridad Pública para Tuberías en el Centro de Convenciones de Cotulla el miércoles 2 de abril de 9 a.m. a 2 p.m. Para más información sobre la seguridad de las tuberías puede acceder a www.pipeline-safety.org.
Nation
SATURDAY, MARCH 29, 2014
THE ZAPATA TIMES 7A
Poll: Obama health law fails to gain support By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR AND DENNIS JUNIUS ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON — Despite a late surge in signups, support for President Barack Obama’s health care law is languishing at its lowest level since passage of the landmark legislation four years ago, according to a new poll. The Associated PressGfK survey finds that 26 percent of Americans support the Affordable Care Act. Yet even fewer — 13 percent — think it will be completely repealed. A narrow majority expects the law to be further implemented with minor changes, or as passed. “To get something repealed that has been passed is pretty impossible,” said Gwen Sliger of Dallas. “At this point, I don’t see that happening.” Sliger illustrates the prevailing national mood. Although a Democrat, she’s strongly opposed to Obama’s signature legislation. Yet she thinks “Obamacare” is here to stay. “I like the idea that if you have a pre-existing condition you can’t be turned down, but I don’t like the idea that if you don’t have health insurance you’ll be fined,” said Sliger. That central requirement that virtually all Americans have coverage or face fines remains highly unpopular. Forty-one percent said it should be completely repealed, about double the 19 percent who said it should remain in the law as passed. Obama, insurers, and most policy experts consider the so-called individual mandate essential to creating a big insurance pool that keeps premiums affordable. The poll was taken before Thursday’s announcement by the White House that new health insurance markets have surpassed the goal of 6 million sign-ups,
Photo by Health and Human Services | AP
This photo shows the main landing web page for HealthCare.gov. Support for President Barack Obama’s health care law is languishing at its lowest level since its passage four years ago, according to a new poll. so it did not register the potential impact of that news on public opinion. Open enrollment season began with a dysfunctional HealthCare.gov website last Oct. 1. It will end Monday at midnight EDT, on what looks to be a more positive note. Impressions of the coverage rollout while low, have improved slightly. Only 5 percent of Americans say the launch of the insurance exchanges has gone very or extremely well. But the number who think it has gone at least somewhat well improved from 12 percent in December to 26 percent now. The exchanges are marketplaces that offer subsidized private coverage to people without a plan on the job. Of those who said they or someone in their household tried signing up for coverage, 59 percent said there were problems. Repealing the health care law is the rallying cry of Republicans running to capture control of the Senate in the fall elections. The Republican-led House has already voted more than 50
times to repeal, defund or scale back “Obamacare,” but has been stymied in its crusade by Democrats running the Senate. Playing defense, Democrats are campaigning with a message of fixing the law to make it work better. The poll found that 7 in 10 Americans believe the law will be implemented with changes. Forty-two percent think those changes will be minor, and 30 percent say they think major changes are in store. Combining the 42 percent who see minor changes coming and 12 percent who say they think the law
will be implemented as passed, a narrow majority of 54 percent see either tweaks in store, or no changes at all. The only part of the law that seems immune to changes is an early provision allowing young adults to stay on their parents’ plan until they turn 26. Fifty-one percent said it should remain as passed. The poll suggests that even the popular ban on insurers denying coverage to people with pre-existing medical conditions could be tweaked. While 39 percent said it should remain as passed, 43 percent wanted to keep it with changes.
Larry Carroll, 64, a church deacon from Cameron, W.Va., says he’s strongly opposed to the health care law, but doesn’t have high hopes for repeal. “The federal bureaucracy simply seems to be too strong,” he said. “The federal bureaucracy is like an anaconda.” Teresa Stevens, a factory supervisor from Jacksonville, Fla., said her two adult sons shopped for coverage on the health insurance exchanges and found it too expensive. “There are so many different things they say about (the law) that are not true,” she said. “It’s not af-
fordable.” A supporter of former Democratic President Bill Clinton, Stevens said the economy has soured for working people under Obama. “Everything is so expensive, not just health care,” she said. The poll found that much of the slippage for the health care law over the last four years has come from a drop in support, not an increase in opposition. In April of 2010, soon after the law passed, 50 percent of Americans said they were opposed to it, while 39 percent were in favor. Now, just 26 percent say they are in favor, a drop of 13 percentage points. Fortythree percent say they are opposed, a drop of 7 percentage points since four years ago. The AP-GfK Poll was conducted March 20-24 using KnowledgePanel, GfK’s probability-based online panel designed to be representative of the U.S. population. It involved online interviews with 1,012 adults and has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.4 percentage points for all respondents. Respondents were first selected randomly using phone or mail survey methods and were later interviewed online. People selected for KnowledgePanel who didn’t otherwise have access to the Internet were provided with the ability to access the Internet at no cost to them.
International
8A THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, MARCH 29, 2014
Search moves 700 miles, based on radar study By KEITH BRADSHER, MICHAEL S. SCHMIDT, THOMAS FULLER AND MICHELLE INNIS NEW YORK TIMES
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Australia announced Friday morning that it had moved the search area for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 nearly 700 miles to the northeast, the latest in a long series of changes by the authorities on where they think the plane might have disappeared. The authority said it was acting after further analysis of radar data from when the plane, which was supposed to be flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, instead turned over the South China Sea and flew back over Peninsular Malaysia. The analysis showed that the aircraft was moving faster than previously estimated and so would have used more fuel. That in turn would mean that the aircraft could have run out of fuel sooner as it flew out over the southern Indian Ocean, according to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority. “This is a credible new lead and will be thoroughly investigated today,” Prime Minister Tony Abbott of Australia said in a statement Friday morning, adding that 10 aircraft, six vessels and various satellites would focus on the new search area. The revision of the search area, based on further analysis by an international team of experts working with Malaysian officials, means that Australia is redirecting the search far from the floating objects seen in the previous search area in satellite images released by Australia, China and the European satellite launch company Airbus Defense and Space. At 123,000 square miles, or 319,000 square kilometers, the new area is about the size of New Mexico and
Photo by Rob Griffith | AP
Ground crew unloads a Sea Hawk helicopter from a Royal Australia Air Force C-17 after it landed at RAAF Base Pearce to help with the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 in Perth, Australia, on Friday. is only one-fifth of the size of the previous search area. John Young, the director general of the Maritime Safety Authority, said at a news conference near Canberra on Friday that the ocean was 2,000 to 4,000 meters deep in the new search area, or 6,500 to 13,000 feet, making it shallower in some places than the previous search area. Young also said at the news conference that the weather in the new area should be considerably better than that of the zone previously searched. The new zone is 1,150 miles west-southwest of Perth, Australia, closer to Perth than the previous zone, shortening the flight for surveillance aircraft by as much as an hour in each direction and allowing crews to spend more time looking for debris from Flight 370. “It is a different ballpark,” said Erik van Sebille, an oceanographer of New South Wales University, of the new search area. “Where they are searching now is more like a subtropical ocean. It is not nearly
as bad as the southern Indian Ocean, which should make the search easier.” “The water in this area is more like the oceans around the Bahamas,” van Sebille added. But he also warned that the seabed in the area is marked by a steep ridge and that prevailing currents drag in more debris from other parts of the ocean. “It may be harder to spot from the air the debris related to the plane because there is more garbage floating in this area,” he said. The new zone also creates a further challenge in finding the data recorders from the missing Boeing 777-200, which are believed to have sunk to the ocean floor wherever the aircraft hit the surface of the sea. Aircraft and ships have dropped buoys and tracked them for the past week in the previous search area in an attempt to document sea currents and figure out how far floating debris might have drifted from the original point of impact. The new search area is farther north, in an area where currents tend to be
less strong, but also may not have been tracked in as much detail in the past week. The currents to the northeast of the search area
are more likely to move north or east, possibly toward Australia, oceanographers said this week. Asked whether the
search over the past week had been a waste of time, Young replied that big changes like this were not unusual in searches. Martin Dolan, the chief commissioner of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, cautioned at the same news conference that the search area was still large and that further analyses could yet result in another change in the search area. “This has a long way to go yet,” Dolan said. Young said that the new search area took into account the likely drifting of any floating debris in the nearly three weeks since the plane vanished. As the search in the Indian Ocean continued, the flight simulator and hard drives that the pilots of Flight 370 had at their homes appeared to be a dead end, yielding few clues that shed any light on whether they deliberately diverted the missing jet, according to two people briefed on the investigation.
SATURDAY, MARCH 29, 2014
THE ZAPATA TIMES 9A
IRASEMA ‘IRIS’ VELA-CUELLAR
GM adding 971,000 vehicles to recall, bringing total to 2.6M
MAY 2, 1971 — MARCH 26, 2014 FALCON — Irasema “Iris” Vela-Cuellar passed away Wednesday, March 26, 2014, at Starr County Memorial Hospital in Rio Grande City. Iris is preceded in death by her mother, Alma F. Vela. Iris is survived by her father, Romeo Sr. (Paz) Vela; brother, Romeo Jr. (Veronica) Vela; nephews, Rocko Vela, Romeo Vela III and Diego Gonzalez; aunts, Elma (Abelardo) Flores, Josefa (Concepcion) Bustamante, Pilar (Roberto) Guerra, Melva (Jesus) Garcia and by numerous friends and other family members. Visitation hours will be Saturday, March 29, 2014, at 1 p.m. with chapel service at 3 p.m. at Rose Garden Funeral Home. Committal services will follow
General Motors has admitted that it knew the switches were possibly defective as early as 2001, and has overshadowed the improved quality of its newer cars By TOM KRISHER AND DEE-ANN DURBIN ASSOCIATED PRESS
at Falcon Cemetery. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Rose Garden Funeral Home, Daniel A. Gonzalez, funeral director, 2102 N. U.S. Hwy 83, Zapata, Texas.
INSURANCE federal funds to implement navigator programs. Perry shot back at Sebelius’ remarks, saying that the more people learn about the federal health law the less they like it. “Yet again, the Obama administration would rather point fingers at other people than accept any of the responsibility for Obamacare’s failure,” Perry said in a statement. Sebelius said sign-ups in Texas are on the upswing but didn’t offer more recent enrollment data. She also said HealthCare.gov is up to the task of handling a lastminute surge of visitors before the deadline. Sebelius said the site han-
DETROIT — General Motors is boosting by 971,000 the number of small cars being recalled worldwide for a defective ignition switch, saying cars from the model years 2008-2011 may have gotten the part as a replacement. The latest move brings the total number of cars affected to 2.6 million. The questionable handling of the problem, including GM’s admission that it knew the switches were possibly defective as early as 2001, has embarrassed the nation’s largest automaker. The recalls — which are under investigation by Congress and federal regulators — have overshadowed the improved quality of GM’s newer cars.
The episode has also consumed the time and efforts of GM’s new CEO, Mary Barra, in her first few months on the job. Barra has apologized publicly for the deaths linked to the switch defect and ordered what she promises will be an “unvarnished” internal investigation of the matter. GM previously announced the recall of 1.6 million cars, only through the 2007 model year, which were built with the faulty switch. The recall involves six cars: the Chevrolet Cobalt, Chevrolet HHR, Pontiac G5, Pontiac Solstice, Saturn Ion and Saturn Sky. GM says it sold 95,000 faulty switches to dealers and aftermarket wholesalers for use as replacement parts. Of those, 90,000 were used to repair vehicles from the 20032007 model years. But 5,000 of the switches were used to fix
fy before two congressional committees next week. The committees want to know why it took GM more than a decade to recall the cars after engineers discovered the faulty switches. The Justice Department is also investigating. GM has said that it expects to have replacement switches starting next month for the cars originally included in the recall. GM expects those repairs to be completed in October. The company said owners of the cars added to the recall Friday will be contacted the week of April 21. Until the recalls are performed, the company says drivers should remove everything but the key from their key chains, to avoid pulling the ignition switch out of the “run” position.
SHERIFF Continued from Page 1A
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dled 90,000 simultaneous visitors at times Thursday, but cautioned that wait times on the phone are getting longer. “As this volume increases, we are going into sort of new territory,” Sebelius said. Binta Jalloh, a quality manager in the United Way office, said phone traffic is at peaks not seen since enrollment began in October. Her office had received nearly 200 calls by lunchtime Friday, including more than 50 Spanish-speaking callers. “The amount of calls we’re getting this week is definitely more so than we’ve gotten previously,” she said.
cars from the 2008-2011 model years. GM said it doesn’t know which cars got those 5,000 switches, so it needs to recall all of them. Of the cars being added to the recall, 824,000 were sold in the U.S. The ignition switches can move out of the “run” position and cause the car’s engine to stall. It can also knock out power steering and power brakes, making the vehicle harder to maneuver, and disable the air bags. GM has said the defect is linked to at least 12 deaths in cars from the 2003-2007 models years. On Friday, the company said it isn’t aware of any fatalities connected to the defect in the 2008-2011 models. “We are taking no chances with safety,” Barra said in a statement. Barra is scheduled to testi-
Treviño said he either cut the wires on the tracking devices himself or told his sergeant to do so. He instructed his deputies to pack everything up and return to the sheriff ’s office for safety. Treviño then called the FBI and DEA to see if the devices were theirs, he said. In December 2013, federal authorities arrested Treviño’s No. 2 at the department, Cmdr. Jose “Joe” Padilla, on money laundering and drug conspiracy charges. Throughout the past year, Treviño has faced additional criticism from former employees who alleged improprieties in his
re-election campaign and said they had been forced out for not supporting him. On Tuesday, Treviño’s chief of staff and campaign manager Patricia Medina resigned for personal reasons. Treviño has not been charged with any wrongdoing. “The Hidalgo County Sheriff ’s Office, being the eighth-largest sheriff ’s office in the state, deserves dedicated attention which I have not been able to give it,” Treviño wrote in his letter. His office issued a statement saying Treviño would not grant interviews. Treviño, who began
serving as sheriff in 2005, started as a local police officer in the 1970s. He spent 14 years as an officer in the Austin Police department before returning to South Texas to work in the district attorney’s office. But Treviño has watched sheriffs in neighboring counties and even his own go down before. Former Starr County Sheriff Rey Guerra was sentenced to federal prison in 2009 for his role in a drug smuggling conspiracy. Former Cameron County Sheriff Conrado Cantu was sentenced to federal prison in 2005 for running a criminal enter-
prise. And former Hidalgo County Sheriff Brig Marmolejo was sentenced to prison for taking bribes in 1994. The department will be run by four commanders until county commissioners vote Wednesday for a sheriff to fill the position until another is elected in November. “I find it to be a very unfortunate situation,” Garcia said at news conference Friday. Garcia said he thought Treviño had been doing a good job for the county. “A member of his family got arrested and the pressures began,” Garcia said.
OIL SPILL Continued from Page 1A for the company, which has paid more than $51,000 for at least 77 spills since 2008, most of which were minor incidents. Saturday’s accident closed the main artery linking the area’s busy ports with the largest petrochemical complex in the country. The channel in Texas City, about 45 miles southeast of Houston, typically handles about 70 ships and 300 to 400 tugboats and barges a day, and sees more than 200 million tons of cargo move through each year. The channel wasn’t fully reopened until late Thursday. At its height, the closure stranded some 100 vessels. “As long as the weather holds up, we can get caught up in a couple days,” said Capt. Clint Winegar of the Houston Pilots,
an association of sea pilots. The Coast Guard is investigating the accident with an assist from the National Transportation Safety Board, said Commander Gary Messmer, the Coast Guard’s chief of prevention for the Houston-Galveston sector. He noted that investigators were reviewing communications recordings between ships and doing interviews. But what is known is that two barges and a towboat were leaving Texas City and heading for the Intracoastal Waterway, which is designed exclusively for barges, while an inbound ship was traveling through the Houston Ship Channel. The collision occurred when the barges made a left turn to enter the Intracoastal Waterway and were crossing the ship channel.
It is unclear whether the barge hit the ship or the other way around, Messmer said. The Coast Guard has given no timeline on when its investigation might be finished, and NTSB spokesman Peter Knudson said he didn’t know how long his agents would be on the scene. Experts say not to expect a conclusion soon. “Sometimes it can take years. Sometimes they can do it a lot quicker,” said Jim Crawford, a retired Coast Guard officer now with Ohio-based Introtech, which reconstructs accidents. “It just depends on the workload and the amount of personnel that they have, and the complications they face.” Investigators will likely look at the role fog may have played
and try to determine the speed of the vessels, said Crawford, who served 29 years in the Coast Guard. “You make a determination of whether that speed was safe and reasonable for those conditions. And obviously it wasn’t because these two vessels collided and oil got spilled,” he said. A critical report from the U.S. Office of Inspector General said in May 2013 that the Coast Guard didn’t have adequate processes to investigate marine accidents or take corrective actions. The report said a lack of dedicated Coast Guard resources, including “adequate training” in reporting accidents, had resulted in a backlog of more than 6,000 investigations. So far, there are no cost estimates for cleaning up the oil
spill, but Kirby has said it will cover the bill. Kirby has reported dozens of incidents that were investigated by the Coast Guard in recent years, including at least 20 involving the Miss Susan, the tow boat involved in Saturday’s accident. A database of Coast Guard incidents shows that some are minor, such as equipment failure, though the records don’t reflect any fines or penalties. The largest fine that Texas imposed on Kirby in the past six years came in 2012, when the company had to pay $20,350 for a spill that dumped 8,400 gallons of oil in the Corpus Christi Ship Channel, according to state land office records. But Pollock praised Kirby as a responsible and well-run company despite the fines.
10A THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, MARCH 29, 2014
SATURDAY, MARCH 29, 2014
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Sports&Outdoors NFL: EAGLES
HIGH SCHOOL POWERLIFTING: ZAPATA
State medalists File photo by Nick Wass | AP
The Eagles cut wide receiver DeSean Jackson on Friday despite his careerbest season with 82 catches for 1,332 yards and nine touchdowns.
Eagles cut WR Jackson By DAN GELSTON ASSOCIATED PRESS
File photo by Clara Sandoval | The Zapata Times
Ed Sanchez placed fifh overall at the Class 3A Texas High School Powerlifting Association Championships last weekend in Abilene.
Zapata Hawks lifters place at state championships
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CLARA SANDOVAL VAL
The Zapata Hawks powerlifting team was represented by two lifters at the Class 3A Texas High School Powerlifting Association State Championships on March 22 in Abilene. Senior Francisco Moreno and junior Ed Sanchez competed for the Hawks in the super heavy weight division and came away with a pair of medals. Moreno and Sanchez tied for fourth place but were
awarded the fourth and fifth place medals. The top-five finishers receive state medals. Kennedale’s Nate Bow took the state title in the super heavy weight with a total combined lift of 1,735 pounds. Moreno and Sanchez had 1,635. "They competed in a tough division because the kids in this weight class are always bigger kids," Zapata head football coach and athletic director Mario Arce said. "Sometimes they make our kids look small but they both went out there and did their best. We knew that it was going to tough and it was not until the end that they were both able to move up
and medal." Moreno opened with 675 pounds in the squat while Sanchez struggled a bit and was able to lift 615 to stay on pace with the leaders. In the second lift, Sanchez really flourished as he outlifted Moreno by 40 pounds to pull within the leaders. Sanchez lifted 430 in the bench press while Moreno valiantly fought to bench press 390. In the final lift of the day, the deadlift, which tests the lifters after enduring two previous events, pushed the Hawks duo into the top five and a medal. Moreno finished his high school powerlifting career with
a 570 and Sanchez had a 590. The Hawks’ season concludes as no one hit the qualifying marks to get invited to the national meet that is taking place this weekend in Killeen. Lifting Zapata has been a hot bed for powerlifting success thanks to the efforts of Arce who saw the need for all programs to implement a weightlifting program. The girls and the boys consistently are a fixture at the regional and state meets with this past season sending a total of 15 lifters.
NCAA FOOTBALL: NORTHWESTERN
PHILADELPHIA — DeSean Jackson went from the trading block to the chopping block. Jackson is out in Philly — just as Mark Sanchez was on his way into town. Unable to find a taker on the trade market, the Eagles released him, ending the Pro Bowl wide receiver’s six-year stint with the team. His playmaking days are over in Philly, and the tailspin from key cog to unexpected free agent comes with a hint that offfield issues are at the root of the split. Jackson thanked the Eagles organization and fans in a statement Friday, and also denied “unfounded reports” that he was released for any reason related to his lifestyle. “I would like to make it very clear that I am not and never have been part of any gang,” Jackson said. “I am not a gang member and to speculate and assume that I am involved in such activity off the field is reckless and irresponsible. I work very hard on and off the field and I am a good person with good values. “I am proud of the accomplishments that I have made both on
See ZAPATA PAGE 2B See EAGLES PAGE 2B
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
MLB revises drug agreement By RONALD BLUM ASSOCIATED PRESS
File photo by Nam Y. Huh | AP
In this Sept. 21, 2013 photo, Northwestern quarterback Kain Colter wears APU for "All Players United" on wrist tape as he scores a touchdown against Maine in Evanston, Ill.
Family keys union push from Colter By JAY COHEN AND TIM REYNOLDS ASSOCIATED PRESS
CHICAGO — Kain Colter’s grandmother often spoke about rights and equality, values she brought home from her job managing an office of a Colorado law firm. Those conversations planted a seed for Colter, who would go on to become a quarterback at Northwestern Uni-
versity — and the face of an exploding movement to give college athletes the right to form unions and bargain. “He understands that he’s been put on this earth to serve people,” Colter’s father, Spencer, said. From an esteemed athletic career at Cherry Creek High School in suburban Denver all
See UNION PAGE 2B
NEW YORK — Baseball players suspended during the season for a performance-enhancing drug violation will not be eligible for that year’s postseason under changes to the sport’s drug agreement announced Friday. In the most significant toughening to the drug rules in eight years, Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association said the penalty will increase from 50 games to 80 for a first testing violation and from 100 games to a seasonlong 162 for a second. A third violation remains a lifetime ban. Baseball started testing with penalties in 2004, established a 10-day suspension for a first testing violation in 2005 and increased the discipline to 50 games in 2006. While there were two-to-four major league suspensions annually from 2008-11, the number increased to12 in 2012 and 14 players were penalized following last year’s investigation of the Biogenesis of American anti-aging clinic. Among them were AllStars Jhonny Peralta and Nelson Cruz, former NL MVP Ryan Braun and three-time AL MVP Alex Rodriguez, who is suspended for the entire 2014 season. “Our hope here is that the ad-
File photo by Mike Groll | AP
Commissioner Bud Selig and Major League Baseball toughened drug agreement provisions in changes announced Friday. justments that we’ve made do inevitably get that number to zero,” said new union head Tony Clark, a former All-Star himself. “In the event that that doesn’t happen, for whatever reason, we’ll reevaluate and move forward from there. But as I sit here, I am hopeful that players make the right decisions that are best for them, for their careers and for the integrity of the game.” Peralta and Cruz returned from their suspensions in time to participate in the playoffs,
which angered some of their colleagues. Clark said the union membership wanted to make sure “a player is not coming back and affecting a change in the postseason as a result of the decision that particular player made earlier in the year.” In addition to the postseason ban, players who serve PED suspension will not be eligible for automatic postseason money shares but may be given cash awards at the discretion of their
See MLB PAGE 2B
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Zscores
SATURDAY, MARCH 29, 2014
EAGLES Continued from Page 1B and off the field. I have worked tirelessly to give back to my community and have a positive impact on those in need. It is unfortunate that I now have to defend myself and my intentions. These reports are irresponsible and just not true.” Before releasing Jackson, the Eagles announced they had signed Sanchez. Bounced out of New York after the Jets signed Michael Vick last week, Sanchez moved down turnpike to Philadelphia in what essentially was a swap with Vick. “I think we passed each other on the train,” Sanchez said, laughing. Sanchez can wave goodbye to Jackson, too. Jackson was coming off a career-best season in Philadelphia, leading the team with 82 catches for 1,332 yards and nine touchdowns. He had a $10.25 million contract for the 2014 season and was signed through 2016. “After careful consideration over this offseason, the Philadelphia Eagles have decided to part ways with DeSean Jackson,” the Eagles said in a statement. The Eagles had no other comment. Jackson’s agent, Joel Segal, did not immediately return a request for comment. Jackson has 356 career receptions for 6,117 yards and 32 touchdowns. He’s a dangerous returner who went to the Pro Bowl in 2009 after taking two punts the distance. Jackson has four career scores on punt returns, including the memorable 65-yard game-ending return to cap a comeback win over the New York Giants in 2010. The 27-year-old receiver is entering his seventh NFL season. The Eagles had been put out feelers that Jackson was available. Coach Chip Kelly refused to commit on Jackson’s return at this week’s NFL meetings. But other teams could be quick to sign one of the NFL’s top receivers. Speaking at the NFL meetings, Jets owner Woody Johnson expressed interest in Jackson, saying: “We’re looking at a number of players, including DeSean.” Jackson could be a showboat — memorably dropping the ball in celebration before the goal line after an apparent long touchdown — and upset the Eagles this season when he lobbied for a new contact shortly after they were eliminated in the playoffs. His departure leaves the Eagles with Riley Cooper, who survived a video scandal that showed him using the N-word at a concert, and Jeremy Maclin as the starting wide receivers.
ZAPATA Continued from Page 1B "Powerlifting is becoming a big deal in the past few years and it is just growing. Now a days everyone is lifting," Arce said. "The days of not lifting are gone. Every program has some sort of lifting program and we have seen the results. The programs that are not lifting are left behind." Clara Sandoval can be reached at sandoval.clara@gmail.com
MLB Continued from Page 1B
File photo by Marcio Jose Sanche | AP
The Eagles released wide receiver DeSean Jackson on Friday. He was coming off a career-best season in Philadelphia, leading the team with 82 catches for 1,332 yards and nine touchdowns. “We just made an extremely unpopular decision, but I couldn’t be more excited and happy with where this organization is going!! (hash)FlyEaglesFly,” offensive lineman Jason Kelce tweeted. There’s no locker room divide at quarterback. Sanchez, in his sixth year in the league, will be added to a mix of quarterbacks that includes Nick Foles, Matt Barkley and G.J. Kinne. In college, Barkley succeeded Sanchez at
Southern California. “I’m not stirring up a controversy,” Sanchez said at a news conference. “I’m here to help this team win.” While Vick will compete with Smith for the starting job in New York, Sanchez comes to Philadelphia as insurance. Foles had a breakout sophomore season and led the Eagles to the NFC East title after replacing an injured Vick in Week 5. Foles threw 29 touchdowns and only two interceptions in 11
starts, including a playoff loss to New Orleans. The Eagles still have plenty of offensive playmakers, trading for running back Darren Sproles to go along with NFL rushing champion LeSean McCoy. The options were part of what made Philadelphia so appealing to Sanchez. “This team, this coach, the kind of offensive firepower they have,” Sanchez said, “it’s just an exciting element to being here in Philadelphia.”
teammates. A player serving a season-long suspension will lose all his pay. Under the previous rules, Rodriguez gets 21-183rds of his salary this year, or $2,868,852. “Although we had the strongest program in professional sports before these changes, I am committed to constantly finding ways to improve the program in order to eradicate performance-enhancing drugs from the game,” baseball Commissioner Bud Selig said in a statement. An arbitrator would be allowed to reduce a suspension for a first or second testing violation by up to 50 percent if a player proves by “clear and convincing evidence” that a positive test was not caused by his “significant fault or negligence.” However, penalties may not be cut for muscle-building substances such as testosterone, human growth hormone, Boldenone, Nandrolone and Stanozolol. In-season random urine tests will increase from 1,400 to 3,200 overall in addition to the minimum two for each player, and offseason tests will rise from 250 to 350. There will be 400 random blood collections used to detect human growth hormone in addition to the mandatory one for each player during spring training. Players with PED violations, other than those who penalties are reduced for mitigation, will receive six additional random urine tests and three more blood tests annually for the rest of their careers. Foreign players entering the major leagues and those not subject to the major- or minor-league testing program for at least a year will be required to take urine and blood tests before signing contracts. “There are certain considerations we need to make in an effort to put guys in a position where the guys who are doing it correctly aren’t being adversely affected any more than necessary,” Clark said.
UNION Continued from Page 1B the way to a football revival at Northwestern, Colter has accumulated a list of admirers who rave about his leadership and intelligence. After a decision this week by a regional director of the National Labor Relations board who said full scholarship players can be considered employees of the university, he also could leave a legacy as the athlete who formed the foundation of a dramatic overhaul of college sports that could potentially give athletes a chance to fight for a piece of an industry that generates billions based on their performance. “Looking out for people and making sure people are treated fairly has always been in our family morals,” Colter said in an interview with The Associated Press in Bradenton, Fla., where he is training for the NFL draft. “Obviously people come from different backgrounds and different situations, but everybody deserves to be treated fairly and they deserve basic rights and basic protections.” Colter’s grandmother, Betty Flagg, died last month and was buried in some of his Northwestern gear. She only watched television when the Wildcats were playing. Colter, 21, said he thinks his grandmother would be proud of his role in the unionization effort. “We were talking at the funeral and they were telling stories about how she came from picking cotton to working as an office manager in the firm,” he said. The attorney at the firm described how she fought for certain employees to receive fair bonuses for their work. “She was doing that, fighting
“Kain’s never said that he’s been mistreated, never said that he doesn’t love Northwestern. He loves Northwestern. He loves his coaches that he played for and his teammates. “But the bottom line is this is bigger than Northwestern. This is about all of college athletics and everybody understands that but nobody is willing to step out and make a change and Kain’s done that.” - Spencer Colter for their rights and fighting for them to be treated fairly, basically,” Colter said. Colter will never benefit from a union if one is formed, but was thrilled by the decision that moved the issue forward. Northwestern immediately said it would appeal the decision to labor authorities in Washington, D.C., and the NCAA came out strongly against the ruling classifying athletes as employees of the university. “Unionization and collective bargaining are not the appropriate methods to address the concerns these students are raising,” Alan Cubbage, Northwestern’s vice president for university relations, said Friday in a statement. “The life of a student-athlete is extremely demanding, but the academic side and the athletic side are inextricably linked.” To see Colter have success in what was once an unthinkable proposition in college sports comes of no surprise to some of the people who know him best. “Whatever he chooses to do, he can do it, and I mean that sincerely,” Cherry Creek basket-
ball coach Mike Brookhart said. “He’s just one of those kids that gets it and has it.” Growing up, Colter was regarded as one of the top prep athletes in Colorado. Listed at 6foot and 195 pounds, he played point guard on the basketball team and competed in the long jump and triple jump for track and field. But he had his greatest success on the football field, following in the footsteps of his father, who was a safety on Colorado’s 1990 national championship team, and his uncle, Cleveland Colter, who was an All-America safety at Southern California. Kain Colter helped the Bruins reach the state championship game during his junior year, accounting for 31 touchdowns. “He was one of the more respected kids at school,” said Brookhart, who coached Colter in football and basketball. “He was a great leader.” Colter’s athletic ability and intelligence made him a great fit for Northwestern, and he helped the Wildcats return to respectability in college football. He threw for 76 yards and
rushed for 71 more when Northwestern beat Mississippi State in the 2013 Gator Bowl for its first postseason win since 1949. “When he got there, I really could see the fire in his eyes from Day One,” former Northwestern linebacker David Nwabuisi said. “He was always the kind of guy that was always trying to push the team further, always expecting more of us.” Nwabuisi said he helped recruit Colter to the school, and they quickly became friends. But Nwabuisi said that’s a common experience when it comes to Colter. “Everybody loves Kain, man,” he said with a chuckle. Colter set Northwestern records for single-season rushing yards by a quarterback and a career rushing yards by a QB. He also played some receiver with the Wildcats, and that’s the position he’s hoping to play in the pros. The union battle has taken a toll on his relationship with his college teammates and his former school. After the NLRB decision was announced on Wednesday, he took to Twitter
to reiterate his love for coach Pat Fitzgerald and Northwestern. “Kain’s never said that he’s been mistreated, never said that he doesn’t love Northwestern,” Spencer Colter said. “He loves Northwestern. He loves his coaches that he played for and his teammates. “But the bottom line is this is bigger than Northwestern. This is about all of college athletics and everybody understands that but nobody is willing to step out and make a change and Kain’s done that.” During hearings on the union effort earlier this year in Chicago, Colter presented himself as calm, cool and precise — and wasn’t afraid to challenge the school. He spoke about abandoning his hopes of entering a pre-med program because of time demands Northwestern makes on football players. He said chemistry was offered at times that conflicted with football practice. “You fulfill the football requirement and, if you can, you fit in academics,” he said at the time. “You have to sacrifice one. But we can’t sacrifice football. ... We are brought to the university to play football.” This week was pretty much business as usual after the NLRB ruling. Colter got right back to this training at IMG Academy on the southwest coast of Florida, where he’s preparing for a possible late-round draft, or to get a free agent offer to come to an NFL camp. “To the people that think I’m shaking the boat, I’m changing the status quo, I’m a rebel, I’m this, I’m that — I’m just a guy out there doing what’s right, doing what I believe in,” he said.
SATURDAY, MARCH 29, 2014
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HELOISE
Dear Readers: WATER DAMAGE to your home is just plain no fun! Plus, it can be very, very expensive! But it’s even worse to discover it after you return from a vacation. That said, here are a few hints to keep in mind before going on a trip: Check hoses in the house for leaks or damage, including ones attached to the washing machine and dishwasher. Most of these should be replaced every five years or so, but it might be worth the peace of mind to do so before leaving for a long vacation or other trip. Check faucets to be sure they are not leaking, especially in seldom-used rooms, like a guest bathroom, and outside faucets. Have someone check your home while you’re gone. Otherwise, consider shutting off the main watersupply line to the house, but only if you are going to be gone for a short while. You
THE ZAPATA TIMES 3B
should have a professional do it if you are not the most handy person. A quick walk-through will reveal if there is a water leak, and it can be taken care of right then. No one wants to walk into a damp, mushy, smelly mess! — Heloise PET PAL Dear Readers: Jill Bernick sent a picture of her 4year-old golden retriever, Angel, wrapped up in a blanket thanks to her granddaughter, Sarah. Angel is a certified therapy dog who visits several hospitals and even a library to read with kids. To see Angel’s picture, go to my website, www.Heloise.com, and click on "Pets." — Heloise SPILL-CATCHING LIDS Dear Heloise: I use plastic lids for many things. I use the large ones under oil bottles in my cupboard so oil doesn’t get on my cupboard shelves. I use smaller lids under cooking-spray bottles. I also use them under my liquid dishwashing soap. All I have to do is wash the lid. — Lois in Oregon
Sports
4B THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, MARCH 29, 2014
Oakland signs RB Maurice Jones-Drew ASSOCIATED PRESS
ALAMEDA, Calif. — Free agent running back Maurice Jones-Drew has agreed to a three-year contract with the Oakland Raiders. The team announced the deal on Friday to bring Jones-Drew back to his native Oakland. Jones-Drew was hampered by injuries and poor play his final two seasons in Jacksonville and was allowed to leave as a free agent. He had 8,071 yards rushing and 68 touchdowns in eight seasons with the Jaguars. Jones-Drew will join recently resigned Darren McFadden in the backfield this season for Oakland. Redskins add McGlynn ASHBURN, Va. — The Washington Redskins have signed free agent offensive lineman Mike McGlynn. The team announced the move Friday. McGlynn can play center and both guard positions. He’s started 48 games over five NFL seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, Cincinnati Bengals and Indianapolis Colts. McGlynn is expected to add depth to a line that allowed 43 sacks last year, and possibly contend for a starting job. The Redskins recently signed free agent Shawn Lauvao to play left guard and released center Will Montgomery. They plan to move Kory Lichtensteiger from left guard to center, while keeping Chris Chester at right guard. Heads Up Football program flourishing ORLANDO, Fla — When USA Football created a program to teach safe tackling to youngsters, it projected reaching a few hundred football organizations
File photo by Stephen Morton | AP
Running back Maurice Jones-Drew agreed to a three-year contract with the Oakland Raiders on Friday. throughout the nation. In one year, Heads Up Football was adopted by nearly 2,800 groups. As the second season of the educational program begins,
there’s no telling how widespread it will become. The NFL has noticed, providing USA Football, the national governing body for the sport,
with a five-year, $45 million grant. There are nearly 11,000 football leagues in the United States, and USA Football is hoping Heads Up Football someday
becomes a teaching tool for all of them. “Pioneering is exactly what it is turning out to be,” former NFL running back Merril Hoge, now a member of USA Football’s Board of Director, says of Heads Up Football, which teaches youngsters to take the head out of tackling. “Anytime you find you need to do something you haven’t been doing because of a lack of information, you absolutely need to do something. We’ve done a lot of work and put in a lot of man-hours and have people involved who care about the kids.” Among those people is Gabe Infante, the head coach at Philadelphia’s St. Joseph’s Prep and a master trainer in the program. Infante clearly knows his football, having led the Hawks to the Pennsylvania AAA state title last season. He was drawn to Heads Up Football because, for years, he’s been searching for a teaching progression that made tackling safer. He likes the flexibility to scale down or ramp up the elements of the program to fit the audience, while still focusing on the key points of the techniques USA Football is emphasizing. “It’s really efficient and you can reinforce things. There’s a way to measure the different aspects of tackling and then go back and work on that particular part of tackling, all the while stressing we are trying to make it safer,” Infante says. The key components of Heads Up Football are coaching education and certification; equipment fitting; concussion education and response; heat and hydration; the establishment of a player safety coach; and tackling with the head up and out of contact.
Cabrera gets record deal Detroit Tigers star and winner of last two AL MVP awards signs 10-year deal for $292M, the richest contract in American sports By JEFF BERLINICKE ASSOCIATED PRESS
LAKELAND, Fla. — This is one number put up by Miguel Cabrera that is not subject to debate. The Triple Crown winner agreed Friday to the richest contract in American sports, a $292 million, 10-year deal with the Detroit Tigers. “I want to finish my career here. I have worked hard to get better, and Detroit is like a house for me,” Cabrera said. Cabrera has won the last two AL MVP awards, both times beating out Angels phenom Mike Trout in votes that set off heated disputes in the baseball world. Those in Cabrera’s corner claimed his fearsome hitting stats and triple-digit RBIs were worthy. Those touting Trout argued he was a better all-around player and pointed to the value of his WAR, sabermetric for wins above replacement. Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski and manager Brad Ausmus stood by Cabrera, flanking him for the announcement at the Tigers’ spring training complex. “He’s on track to be one of the greatest players in the history of baseball,” Dombrowski said. “He’s done a lot for the team and a lot for Detroit.” Cabrera was due $44 million over the final two years of his $152.3 million, eight-year contract. The new agreement incorporates that money and adds $248 million guaranteed over the following eight years, including an option buyout. Cabrera turns 31 next month and has helped the Tigers win three straight AL Central championships. A slugger with power to all fields and still very much in his prime, he is among seven players to hit at least .320 with 365 homers and 1,260 RBIs, joining Babe Ruth, Jimmie Foxx, Ted Williams, Lou Gehrig, Albert Pujols and Stan Musial, according to STATS. “Good for him,” Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said before Cabrera went 1 for 3 in an exhibition against the Rays. “He plays in another stratosphere.” The deal came shortly before opening day in Detroit, on Monday against Kansas City at Comerica Park, and soon after Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer turned down the team’s long-term contract proposal. The Tigers are again among the favorites to go far this season. Cabrera won a World Series
Photo by Mike McCarn | AP
Sprint Cup driver Denny Hamlin (11) leads Danica Patrick and Clint Bowyer through turn four during the first round of practice Friday at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Va.
Hamlin eager to get back on track Denny Hamlin is cleared to race at Martinsville Speedway where he has won four times Photo by Carlos Osorio | AP
By HANK KURZ JR.
Miguel Cabrera agreed Friday to the richest contract in American sports, a $292 million, 10-year deal with the Detroit Tigers.
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ring with the Marlins as a 20year-old rookie and is trying to bring a title to Motown for the first time in three decades. Cabrera will make $43,195 per plate appearance under the deal, based on his yearly average of 676 plate appearances during six seasons with the Tigers. That’s higher than the average U.S. yearly wage of $42,498 in 2012, according to the Social Security Administration. His new salaries are $28 million apiece in 2016 and ’17, $30 million in each of the following four years and $32 million annually in 2022 and ’23. The contract also includes $30 million options for 2024 and 2025 that would become guaranteed if Cabrera finishes among the top 10 in MVP voting in the previous season. If Cabrera doesn’t finish in the top 10 in ’23, the following year becomes a $30 million team option with an $8 million buyout. Cabrera’s new deal will raise his career MLB earnings to $413.8 million, including the $1.8 million signing bonus he got as a 16-year-old with Florida in 1999 when Dombrowski oversaw the move by the Marlins. Cabrera was acquired by Detroit in a December 2007 trade. An eight-time All-Star, Cabrera has a .321 career average with 365 homers and 1,260 RBIs. He
played 148 games last year despite a sore back and left hip flexor, a strained lower abdomen, shin trouble and a groin tear that hampered him in the postseason and led to offseason surgery. His body might get more of a break this season. He’s moving across the diamond, shifting from third base back to his previous position at first base after Prince Fielder was traded to Texas. Cabrera takes over baseball’s highest-paying contract from Alex Rodriguez, who agreed to a $252 million, 10-year deal with Texas that started in 2001, was traded to the Yankees after three seasons and then signed a $275 million, 10-year deal with New York in December 2006. Cabrera’s average of $29.2 million is second only to the $30,714,286 that Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw averages under the $215 million, seven-year deal he agreed to in January. A steady presence in the lineup — Cabrera has played 157 or more games in eight of the last 10 seasons — he hit .348 with 44 homers and 137 RBIs last season to win his second straight MVP award. In 2012, Cabrera put together baseball’s first Triple Crown since 1967, hitting .330 with 44 homers and 139 RBIs.
MARTINSVILLE, Va. — Being told he couldn’t race last weekend because of an eye and vision problem will not make Denny Hamlin less likely to seek the help of medical staffs available at NASCAR tracks every weekend, he said Friday. Hamlin let Sam Hornish Jr. drive his car last weekend at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif., after he sought the assistance of the on-site medical team when his face swelled up and his vision blurred. Initially thought to be a sinus infection, it turned out to be a small piece of metal in his eye, Hamlin said at Martinsville Speedway. Hamlin said he doesn’t blame the two doctors who examined him for failing to see the rusting metal, and it wasn’t until he saw an optometrist that it was discovered, removed, and he started feeling better. “It took someone who was in the business of eyes to find it,” he said. Hamlin has been cleared to return this weekend at Martinsville Speedway, where he has won four times, and he took umbrage at the notion that his reputation might have been tarnished when he missed the race. “People who think negatively of me or think that we sidestepped some sort of drug test or something is ridiculous,” he said, adding that he was making an ef-
fort not to get angry at the suggestion that something untoward was afoot. “I’m in one of the topthree cars in NASCAR. I would have to be an absolute moron — moron — to risk that.” Dale Earnhardt Jr., who originally said he was concerned about Hamlin’s point of view about how he wound up being told he couldn’t race, said his concern wasn’t for the medical team’s competency, but for his fellow driver. “I feel great about the process and what NASCAR has had in place for years,” Earnhardt said. NASCAR travels with two registered nurses who have access to each driver’s medical records each week, and tracks work with local doctors and hospitals to staff a full trauma unit when cars are on the track. Hamlin, 34, said he’s frustrated by spending so much time answering medical questions. The Fontana race was where he sustained a broken back a year ago, and he rushed back into competition hoping to make the playoffs, but came up short. “I feel better than I ever have,” he said. “Pilates has changed my life as far as my back is concerned. My back is no longer an issue — knock on wood. Everything — you hate getting attention for those reasons, but a lot of it is because we haven’t won a whole lot over these last year and a half. “We’re going to change that this weekend.”