The Zapata Times 4/15/2017

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OPERATION BORDER SMART

Sheriff testifies while in Austin Officials seek $90M for project

By César G. Rodriguez TH E ZAPATA T IME S

Zapata County Sheriff Alonso M. Lopez and Chief Raymundo Del Bosque Jr. recently went to Austin to testify in favor of Operation Border SMART. Zapata officials were part of a delegation —comprised of seven sheriff’s offices and police departments from Val Verde to Starr County — led by Webb County Sheriff Martin Cuellar.

Cuellar said Wednesday he and the delegation returned with high hopes from Austin.

Officials went before the Committee on Homeland Security and Public Safety at the Texas Capitol in Austin to talk about Operation Border SMART (Strategic Mobile And Response Team).

“We have the participation of everyone saying this plan will work,” Cuellar said.

Authorities are seeking a little over $90 million to fund the project for five years.

“We’re hopeful that the Homeland Security Committee will plan this out … We are hopeful that this operation will be funded,” Sheriff’s Office Chief Fred Garza said.

Cuellar pointed the out the operation would include marine enforcement along the Rio Grande, sensors along the border, drones, high tech cameras deployed in hot spots, helicopter support and boots on the ground.

“The unique part about (Border SMART) is that we have reached out to the Wounded

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CRIME STOPPERS

Man sought for alleged robbery of charity money Cash will be rewarded for info leading to arrest A man is wanted for allegedly breaking into a corner store and stealing the donation bucket belonging to a children’s hospital, authorities said Thursday.

The Zapata County Sheriff's Office and the Zapata Crime Stoppers are requesting the community's assistance to identify the man.

Authorities said the burglary occurred sometime after 11 p.m. Tuesday at the Valero at

Davis Lane and U.S. 83 in the Siesta Shores neighborhood.

Sheriff ’s officials released video surveillance of the incident.

In the video, the suspect is seen wearing what appears to be a red hooded sweatshirt and black pants. Surveillance footage shows him throwing an object at the glass door to break it, according to authorities.

Courtesy photo / Zapata County Sheriff’s Office

Authorities said this man is allegedly seen reaching for a donation bucket at a local convenience store before running away from the scene.

Robbery continues on A11

COUNTY OFFICIALS/BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB

CHILDREN ENJOY EASTER CELEBRATION Lopez: Thanks to all that made the event a hit

By Cesar G. Rodriguez THE ZAPATA TIME S

The Easter Celebration and Egg Hunt on Saturday was a great success, authorities said.

Children had a chance to have fun with the Easter egg hunt, moon jump, water slide and snacks.

“The Zapata County Sheriff's Office, The Zapata Boys and Girls Club and The Zapata Crime Stoppers did a tremendous job in making this event possible,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.

“A big thank you to all the

Sheriff continues on A11

Easter continues on A11

Courtesy photo / Zapata County Sheriff’s Office

County officials and the Zapata Boys and Girls Club recently held an Easter Celebration and Egg Hunt.

DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION

Tips to avoid illness during mosquito season

By Paul Bryant A S S O CIAT E D PRE SS

No cases of West Nile virus were confirmed here last year, and Chief Keith Kiplinger of Nacogdoches Fire and Rescue said residents can keep it that way by helping employees with mosquito-control efforts.

“Mosquitoes always carry West Nile,

so try not to get bit, especially if your immune system is compromised or if you are already sick. If that happens, you could have a serious problem.”

West Nile is a mosquito-borne virus, and two forms exist — West Nile neuroinvasive disease and West Nile fever, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. Symptoms include headache, high fever, neck stiff-

ness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, paralysis, body aches, skin rash and swollen lymph glands.

It is generally transmitted by Culex mosquitoes, and they are most active around dawn and dusk.

“Mosquito season is related to the amount of rain we get and how long it lasts,” Kiplinger said. “We’ve had a

fairly wet spring, so water will be all over the place with our lakes and creeks. That means we have standing water everywhere. In July, it will be worse.”

To mitigate the mosquito population during peak season, city crews spray larvicide and adulticide between 4 a.m. and 7 a.m. five days a week.

Tips continues on A11

Zin brief A2 | Saturday, April 15, 2017 | THE ZAPATA TIMES

CALENDAR

AROUND THE NATION

TODAY IN HISTORY

MONDAY, APRIL 17

ASSOCIATED PRE SS

Chess Club. Every Monday, 4-6 p.m.

LBV-Inner City Branch Library, 202 W. Plum St. Compete with other players in this cherished game played internationally. Free instruction for all ages and skill levels. Chess books and training materials are available.

Today is Saturday, April 15, the 105th day of 2017. There are 260 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History: On April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson, baseball's first black major league player, made his official debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers on opening day at Ebbets Field.

SATURDAY, APRIL 22 TAMIU Scholarship Benefit Concert.

7 p.m. Laredo ISD Civic Center, 2400 San Bernardo Ave. One of México’s most revered mariachi music groups, Mariachi Nuevo Tecalitlán de Guadalajara, will perform their concert México Mágico. The annual event is presented

by TAMIU and benefits the Artist in Residence Program and mariachi music student scholarships. Tickets are $40, $30 and $25 and available at the TAMIU Bursar’s Office in Senator Judith Zaffirini Student Success Center, room 137, or by calling Andria Hernández at 956.326.2152.

SUNDAY, APRIL 23 Spaghetti lunch. Noon to 1:30 p.m.

First United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall. Sponsored by the United Methodist Men. No admission fee, free-will donations accepted.

MONDAY, APRIL 24 Chess Club. Every Monday, 4-6 p.m.

LBV-Inner City Branch Library, 202 W. Plum St. Compete with other players in this cherished game played internationally. Free instruction for all ages and skill levels. Chess books and training materials are available.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26 “A Toast to 25 Years of Music, Art and Fashion.” 11:30 a.m. Laredo Country Club. The Volunteer Services Council for Border Region Behavioral Health Center invites the community to this event to celebrate Administrative Professional Day Luncheon and Fashion Show. A raffle will also be held at the event. To purchase a table, contact Laura Kim at 956-794-3130 or blaurak@borderregion.org.

THURSDAY, APRIL 27 Villa San Agustin de Laredo Genealogical Society Meeting . 3 to 5 p.m.

Joe A. Guerra Public Library, second floor. Speaker: Celso Sanchez, "Don Tomas Sanchez, The Founder of Laredo.” Members free, guests $5. For more info, call Sylvia Reash at 763-1810.

Spanish Book Club. 6 to 8 p.m. Joe A Guerra Public Library, conference room.

For more info, call Sylvia Reash at 763-1810.

MONDAY, MAY 1 Chess Club. Every Monday, 4-6 p.m.

LBV-Inner City Branch Library, 202 W. Plum St. Compete with other players in this cherished game played internationally. Free instruction for all ages and skill levels. Chess books and training materials are available.

Ray of Light anxiety and depression support group meeting. 6:30—7:30 p.m. Area Health Education Center, 1505 Calle del Norte, Suite 430. Every first Monday of the month. People suffering from anxiety and depression are invited to attend this free, confidential and anonymous support group meeting. While a support group does not replace an individual’s medical care, it can be a valuable resource to gain insight, strength and hope.

FRIDAY, MAY 5 2017 Laredo Open. May 5-7. Laredo Country Club. $150 registration fee, which includes live music, food, drinks and raffle prizes. Guest fee: $20 per day. Registration deadline: May 2 at midnight. Sponsor and player packet pickup and party is set for 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. May 3 in the Rosewood Room.

Sign up today at tennislaredo.com or at the LCC Tennis Pro Shop.

SATURDAY, MAY 6 Book Sale. 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Widener Book Room, First United Methodist Church. Public invited, no admission fee.

2017 Laredo Open. Laredo Country Club. $150 registration fee, which includes live music, food, drinks and raffle prizes. Guest fee: $20 per day.

Registration deadline: May 2 at midnight. Sponsor and player packet pickup and party is set for 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. May 3 in the Rosewood Room.

Sign up today at tennislaredo.com or at the LCC Tennis Pro Shop.

SUNDAY MAY 7 2017 Laredo Open. Laredo Country Club. $150 registration fee, which includes live music, food, drinks and raffle prizes. Guest fee: $20 per day.

Registration deadline: May 2 at midnight. Sponsor and player packet pickup and party is set for 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. May 3 in the Rosewood Room.

Sign up today at tennislaredo.com or at the LCC Tennis Pro Shop.

SATURDAY, MAY 6 Health and Wellness Fair 2017. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Joe A. Guerra Laredo Public Library, 1120 E. Calton Road. The fair will have free screenings for blood pressure, fitness and nutrition demos, a puppet show and reading time, giveaways and door prizes.

MONDAY, MAY 8 Chess Club. Every Monday, 4-6 p.m.

LBV-Inner City Branch Library, 202 W. Plum St. Compete with other players in this cherished game played internationally. Free instruction for all ages and skill levels. Chess books and training materials are available.

Amy Amerell / AP

In this April 11 image provided by Amy Amerell, Clearwater police officer Rich Edmonds holds the hand of a 6-year-old girl on Clearwater Beach, Florida.

OFFICER GUIDES LOST GIRL TO FAMILY MIAMI — The lost little girl on the beach was wearing a T-shirt with Disney’s Frozen princesses. She was crying. But all was made right after a kind stranger comforted her and a police officer walked her back to her family. Edmonds said his heart almost stopped as it always does he gets calls involving children. Edmonds found 6-year-old Hannah with a woman whose family had been enjoying the afternoon at the beach. “She calmed the little girl down, gave her a juice box and called police,” Edmonds recalled. Meanwhile, authorities learned that someone about a

Delta to offer nearly $10K to flyers who give up seats Delta is letting employees offer customers almost $10,000 in compensation to give up seats on overbooked flights, hoping to avoid an uproar like the one that erupted at United after a passenger was dragged off a jet.

In an internal memo obtained Friday by The Associat-

half-mile down the beach had approached lifeguards about a missing child. Edmonds planned to take Hannah to his patrol vehicle and drive her there.“She was upset and didn’t want to get in the vehicle,” Edmonds said. “So I said, ‘OK, let’s walk.” As they walked down the beach, Edmonds said he told Hannah she did the right thing by finding a family to ask for help. He said everyone needs to have a plan in case they get lost. Their walk ended at the lifeguard station, where Hannah’s uncle was waiting for her.

— Compiled from AP reports

ed Press, Delta Air Lines said gate agents can offer up to $2,000, up from a previous maximum of $800, and supervisors can offer up to $9,950, up from $1,350.

United is reviewing its own policies, including incentives for customers, and will announce any actions by April 30, a spokeswoman said. The airline would not disclose its current compensation limit.

Other airlines did not immediately comment on whether they would raise their ceiling.

When there aren't enough

seats, airlines usually ask for volunteers by offering travel vouchers, gift cards or cash.

Last year Delta got more passengers to give up their seats than any other U.S. airline, partly by paying more than most of the others.

Overselling flights is a fact of life in the airline business.

Industry officials say that it is necessary because some passengers don't show up, and that overbooking keeps fares down by reducing the number of empty seats.

— Compiled from AP reports

US bomb kills 36 Afghanistan militants

Rahmat Gul / AP

Afghan commandos arrive near the site of a U.S. bombing in the Achin district of Jalalabad, east of Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday.

State, which has a far smaller but growing presence in Afghanistan. That apparently reflects President Donald Trump's vow for a more aggressive campaign against the group.

The bomb unleashed 11 tons of explosives.

The Afghan Defense Ministry said in a statement that

Ten years ago: Riot police beat and detained dozens of anti-Kremlin demonstrators in St. Petersburg, Russia, on a second day of protests against the government of President Vladimir Putin. Brant Parker, the original illustrator of "The Wizard of Id" comic strip, died in Lynchburg, Virginia, at age 86, just days after the passing of the strip's writer, Johnny Hart.

Five years ago: Six people were killed by a tornado in the Woodward, Oklahoma, area. North Korea's new leader, Kim Jong Un, gave his first public speech since taking power upon death of his father, Kim Jong Il, the previous December, portraying himself as a strong military chief unafraid of foreign powers. Passengers and crew of the cruise ship MS Balmoral said prayers at the spot in the North Atlantic where the Titanic sank 100 years earlier.

One year ago: House Republicans departed Washington, having missed a deadline to pass their long-stalled budget in an embarrassment for House Speaker Paul Ryan. A North Korea missile launch meant to celebrate the birthday of the country's founder, Kim Il Sung, apparently ended in failure.

AROUND THE WORLD

KABUL, Afghanistan — The biggest non-nuclear bomb ever dropped in combat by the U.S. military killed 36 militants in eastern Afghanistan, officials said Friday, and villagers in the remote, mountainous area described being terrified by the "earsplitting blast."

The strike using the Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb, or MOAB, was carried out Thursday morning against an Islamic State group tunnel complex carved in the mountains that Afghan forces have tried to assault repeatedly in recent weeks in fierce fighting in Nangarhar province, Afghan officials said.

U.S. and Afghan forces have been battling the Taliban insurgency for more than 15 years. But the U.S. military brought out the biggest conventional bomb in its arsenal for the first time to hit the Islamic

On this date: In 1865, President Abraham Lincoln died nine hours after being shot the night before by John Wilkes Booth at Ford's Theater in Washington; Andrew Johnson became the nation's 17th president.

In 1892, General Electric Co., formed by the merger of the Edison Electric Light Co. and other firms, was incorporated in Schenectady, New York.

In 1912, the British luxury liner RMS Titanic foundered in the North Atlantic off Newfoundland more than 2 1/2 hours after hitting an iceberg; 1,514 people died, while less than half as many survived.

In 1920, a paymaster and a guard were shot and killed during a robbery at a shoe company in South Braintree, Massachusetts; Italian immigrants Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti were accused of the crime, convicted and executed amid worldwide protests that they hadn't received a fair trial.

In 1945, during World War II, British and Canadian troops liberated the Nazi concentration camp BergenBelsen. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who had died on April 12, was buried at the Roosevelt family home in Hyde Park, New York.

In 1959, Cuban leader Fidel Castro arrived in Washington to begin a goodwill tour of the United States.

Secretary of State John Foster Dulles resigned for health reasons (he was succeeded by Christian A. Herter).

In 1974, members of the Symbionese Liberation Army held up a branch of the Hibernia Bank in San Francisco; a member of the group was SLA kidnap victim Patricia Hearst, who by this time was going by the name "Tania" (Hearst later said she'd been forced to participate).

In 1989, 96 people died in a crush of soccer fans at Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield, England. Students in Beijing launched a series of prodemocracy protests; the demonstrations culminated in a government crackdown at Tiananmen Square.

the bomb destroyed several IS caves and ammunition caches.

Gen. Daulat Waziri, a ministry spokesman, said 36 IS fighters were killed, and that the death toll could likely rise. He said Afghan forces were at the tunnel complex assessing the damage.

— Compiled from AP reports

Today's Birthdays: Country singer Roy Clark is 84. Actress Claudia Cardinale is 79. Rock singer-guitarist Dave Edmunds is 74. Actor Michael Tucci is 71. Actress Lois Chiles is 70. Writerproducer Linda Bloodworth-Thomason is 70. Actress Amy Wright is 67.

Columnist Heloise is 66. Actor Sam McMurray is 65. Actress-screenwriter Emma Thompson is 58. Bluegrass musician Jeff Parker is 56. Singer Samantha Fox is 51. Rock musician Ed O'Brien (Radiohead) is 49. Actor Flex Alexander is 47. Actor Danny Pino is 43. Actor Douglas Spain is 43. Country singer/songwriter Chris Stapleton is 39. Actor Luke Evans is 38. Rock musician Patrick Carney (The Black Keys) is 37. Actor-writer Seth Rogen is 35. Actress Alice Braga is 34. Americana singer-songwriter Margo Price is 34. Rock musician De'Mar Hamilton (Plain White T's) is 33. Actress Samira Wiley (TV: "Orange is the New Black") is 30. Actress Emma Watson is 27.

Actress Maisie Williams is 20.

Thought for Today: "History would be an excellent thing if only it were true." — Leo Tolstoy, Russian author (1828-1910).

CONTACT US AROUND TEXAS Texas sheriff turns to retired investigators to solve cold cases GEORGETOWN, Texas — A Central Texas sheriff is taking a novel approach to solving cold cases by assembling a team of retired investigators to voluntarily work on high-profile

cases dating back nearly 40 years.

Williamson County Sheriff Robert Chody tells KVUE-TV and the Austin AmericanStatesman the volunteers have previous experience investigating homicides and other major crimes across Central Texas.

Retired officers commonly serve as reservists who help patrol streets and perform administrative functions, but

it’s unusual for them to work unsolved homicides.

Chody, who took office in January, is hoping the volunteer team can shake loose new leads and information on about 10 unsolved killings in the county.

He says they could see evidence differently or spot something that prior investigators may have missed.

— Compiled from AP reports

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THE ZAPATA TIMES | Saturday, April 15, 2017 |

LOCAL

Interest grows in YWCA's community garden in Corpus Christi

A3

Easter Egg Hunt Picnic

By Beatriz Alvarado

By César G. Rodriguez

COR P US CHRI ST I

LAREDO MORNING TIME S

CA LLER-T I ME S

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The tomato seeds Estela Smithwick planted in the YWCA's new community garden didn't make it.

The Corpus Christi Caller-Times reports the 67-year-old lamented the week-old vine's shriveled end, but was asked not to give up and instructed to replant the fruit.

With professional guidance, the garden will yield tomatoes, as well as cucumbers, squash, peppers, basil, sage, corn and beans, said Ronda Dizney, a Nueces County Master Gardener.

"I don't have a green thumb for this here. All of this I have learned," Smithwick said as she pointed at the 4- by 8-foot raised bed garden.

As a volunteer and having undergone the

Gabe Hernandez / AP

In this Monday photo, Cristina Herrera, left, and David Haller, right, grab soil as they prepare to plant vegetables, herbs and flowers at the community garden at the YWCA in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Nueces Master Gardener program, Dizney was asked by YWCA of Corpus Christi's president and CEO, Nancy Wesson-Dodd, to lead the first community garden at the Corona Drive site.

Twelve seniors signed up for six classes and planted four gardens.

The group, whose oldest participant is 85,

recently graduated from the program's first phase.

They planted their last bed.

The once-a-week lessons covered how to choose a garden location; soil and compost basics; how to set up raised beds; garden maintenance; diseases and insects and the harvesting process.

The classes are open to anyone.

An Easter Egg Hunt Picnic took place at La Tinaja Park on Thursday.

The event was to benefit the students at Arturo L. Benavides Elementary School.

Pct. 2 Commissioner Olga M. Elizondo, who organized the event, provided hotdogs, two piñatas, four Easter baskets and 900 Easter eggs.

The Zapata County Sheriff’s Office also pitched in. Chief Raymundo Del Bosque Jr. provided waters, sodas and two piñatas.

Elizondo, Del Bosque and the school worked together for the students, county officials said.

“Special thanks to all the teachers, parents, volunteers, sponsors, and students for their help, dedication and efforts,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.

Courtesy photo

Zapata County Sheriff’s Office Chief Raymundo Del Bosque Jr. and Pct. 2 Commissioner Olga M. Elizondo pose with a child during the Easter Egg Hunt Picnic in San Ygnacio.

Zopinion

Letters to the editor Send your signed letter to editorial@lmtonline.com

A4 | Saturday, April 15, 2017 | THE ZAPATA TIMES

OP-ED

OTHER VIEWS

Five myths about the cross symbol

By Robin M. Jensen WA S H INGT ON P O ST

Christians worldwide are commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus in Good Friday worship services, followed by celebration of his resurrection on Easter Sunday.

But as often as the cross appears in Christian artwork and Western culture at large, misunderstandings and myths persist as to its history, origins and image.

Myth No. 1 Jesus’ cross was consisted of an upright stake intersected partway down by a crossbeam.

The iconic image of the Christian cross tends to feature a central vertical beam transected by a perpendicular beam about a third of the way down.

But the actual crosses Romans used for executions probably took a different shape. They refer to an upright stake upon which the condemned could be bound with hands above their heads. Most historians surmise that Jesus’ cross was more likely to have been T-shaped, with the vertical element notched to allow executioners to tie the victim to the crossbeam, then raise it and set it securely into the top.

Myth No. 2 Jesus was fixed to the cross by nails in his hands and feet.

Nearly every depiction of Jesus’ crucifixion shows Him attached to the cross by nails through his palms and his feet.

The New Testament Gospels do not, however, directly say that Jesus was nailed to the cross. In fact, the only reference to such nails in the Gospels comes from the book of John and the story of doubting Thomas, who asks to see the marks of the nails in Jesus’ hands to confirm that he is really encountering the resurrected Christ (John 20:25).

The tradition that Jesus was nailed to the cross may also derive from the passage in some translations of Psalm 21:16 that says, “They pierce my hands and feet.”

Yet, while some physical evidence for nailing the feet of crucifixion victims has been found by archaeologists, it would have been impossible to fix the condemned to a cross by nails alone, since the bones in the hands or wrists would not have supported the weight of the body.

Myth No. 3 Jesus carried the cross to Golgotha.

The Gospel of John

states that Jesus bore the cross by himself (John 19:17) to a hill called Golgotha, while the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke claim that authorities compelled a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, to carry the cross for Him, presumably because the flogging He had received had left Him too weak to carry it.

Yet Romans generally had the upright beam already set up at the place of execution. To the extent that the condemned carried their own crosses, they would have been given only the horizontal piece, according to historians of ancient execution methods.

Myth No. 4 Early Christians did not emphasize the crucifixion.

“For almost 1,000 years, the Christian church emphasized paradise, not Crucifixion,” two authors wrote in UU World magazine.

It is true that crosses were extremely rare symbols for Christians to use before the mid-4th century. Moreover, the first images of crosses portray them more as slender, gemmed staffs than as sturdy instruments of execution.

Yet there’s a reason this is surprising: Christian authors, poets and preachers wrote and spoke at great length about the significance and meaning of Jesus’ death on the cross. Christian thinker Justin Martyr wrote that “when they crucified Him, driving in the nails, they pierced His hands and feet; and those who crucified Him parted His garments among themselves,” emphasizing the humiliation and suffering of Jesus’ execution.

Myth No. 5 The Christian cross was adapted from preChristian religious symbols.

This idea has some convinced followers.

Yet there is simply no evidence that Christians intentionally borrowed the cross from pre-Christian cultic symbols.

While it is true that many ancient religions used symbols similar to the cross, two intersecting lines are a simple and very common figure. This makes it difficult to assert that early Christians consciously adopted a particular sign rather than inventing one specifically referring to their unique story of Jesus’ death upon a cross.

Jensen is the Patrick O’Brien professor of theology, University of Notre Dame, and author of “The Cross: History, Art, and Controversy.”

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The phone number IS NOT published; it is used solely to verify identity and to clarify content, if necessary.

Identity of the letter writer must be verified before publication. We want to assure our readers that a letter is written by the person who signs the

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

OP-ED

On the Fifth Day: A presidency poem

By Jane Hirshfield WASHINGTON P O ST

On the fifth day the scientists who studied the rivers were forbidden to speak or to study the rivers.

The scientists who studied the air were told not to speak of the air, and the ones who worked for the farmers were silenced,

and the ones who worked for the bees.

Someone, from deep in the Badlands, began posting facts.

The facts were told not to speak and were taken away.

The facts, surprised to be taken, were silent.

Now it was only the rivers that spoke of the rivers, and only the wind that spoke of its bees,

while the unpausing factual buds of the fruit trees continued to move toward their fruit.

The silence spoke loudly of silence, and the rivers kept speaking, of rivers, of boulders and air.

Bound to gravity, earless and tongueless, the untested rivers kept speaking.

Bus drivers, shelf

stockers, code writers, machinists, accountants, lab techs, cellists kept speaking.

They spoke, the fifth day, of silence.

Hirshfield is a chancellor of the Academy of American Poets. Her most recent collection is “The Beauty.”

She will read this poem from the stage at the March for Science on April 22.

OP-ED

Adults lack basic tax literacy

By Marjorie E. Kornhauser WASHINGTON P O ST

For the past few years, I’ve sat in New Orleans high school classrooms watching students debate the fairest way for government to raise revenue. Are there limits on what or who can be taxed? Is a flat tax or a progressive rate structure fairer? Sometimes their discussions are heated.

These teenagers, however, have an edge that many adults don’t: basic tax literacy. They examine key concepts such as the difference between marginal rates and effective rates. They learn that narrower tax bases, such as sales tax, need higher rates than broader bases, such as income taxes, to raise equivalent amounts of revenue.

They discover that changing the method of taxation increases how much some taxpayers owe and decreases that amount for others.

If more people knew what these students know, we’d have a far more reasonable tax debate and better tax laws.

As Tax Day approaches, many of us bemoan our tax bills coming due.

Why is taxation such a charged issue? A year ago, 57 percent of Americans polled told Gallup

they pay “too much” in federal income taxes; note, though, that 45 percent of Americans pay no federal income taxes at all. We fight about taxes because we disagree about what is fair and what government should do. If we knew more, we’d still have disagreements, but at least our discussions would be more rational and produce more coherent policies.

Is a flat or a progressive tax fairer? It depends on your sense of justice — but before you can even answer that question, you need to know how each mechanism works. So students learn that the relative tax burden on individuals depends on which tax base is used. Sales taxes place a higher burden on lower-income people because lower income taxpayers generally spend a greater percentage of their income than higher income taxpayers do. A flat income tax is easy to understand: You pay a certain percentage of your income, no matter how much you make.

With a progressive income tax, escalating rates apply as income increases. For example, if a married couple had $52,000 of taxable income in 2016, the return they file this year will show a tax liability of $6,872.50 (assuming no

tax credits). They will pay 10 percent on their first $18,550 and 15 percent on the rest of their taxable income. Their marginal rate is 15 percent, but their effective, or average, tax rate is 13.2 percent.

Real-world discussions often occur in a tax-ignorant universe.

Many people incorrectly say that the IRS, not Congress, writes federal tax laws. They say that some taxation is needed to pay for the government but that it should be lower and “fairer.” An astonishing number don’t realize that they already get tax breaks for many things they want, such as education, housing and child care.

Often they state that we should lower the income tax rate to a number that is actually higher than the current top rate.

Some have no idea what rate they pay or whether they’ve benefited from a tax cut.

Unfamiliarity with tax basics is harmful. At the individual level, people may pay more than necessary when they don’t know about deductions and credits that can reduce their burden. At the local, state and national levels, lack of tax knowledge hampers the promulgation of rational laws that could help spur the economy and lead to prudent budgets. A tax-

CLASSIC DOONESBURY | GARRY TRUDEAU

literate electorate could demand that politicians provide coherent tax policy options.

To be tax literate, citizens should understand that taxes are not just numbers and abstract principles, and they are not arbitrary. “Taxation is an art and a technique as well as science,” said Harold M. Groves, an economics professor who was a Wisconsin state legislator in the 1930s, “and it always needs to be judged against the conditions of time and place.”

How can more Americans become tax knowledgeable? The first step, of course, is to include more discussion of taxes in schools — not just in high school and college, but even elementary school. This is no less important than the financial-literacy programs many schools now incorporate into their curriculum.

Without tax knowledge, voters enable politicians who spout inflammatory, empty rhetoric and perpetuate counterproductive, unfair tax policies. Democracies need informed voters to function properly. The cost of tax ignorance is too high.

Kornhauser is the John E. Koerner professor of law at Tulane University Law School.

THE ZAPATA TIMES | Saturday, April 15, 2017 |

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A6 | Saturday, April 15, 2017 | THE ZAPATA TIMES

STATE

US prosecutors are geared to target border crossers

By Elliot Spagat A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS

SAN DIEGO — Through Republican and Democratic presidential administrations, the top federal prosecutor on California’s border with Mexico has resisted going after people caught entering the U.S. illegally on their first try and instead targeted smugglers and serial offenders.

That approach may face a day of reckoning under President Donald Trump.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ new directive on border crimes suggests prosecutors in California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas will be forced to tow a narrow line.

He says each should consider felony prosecution for anyone convicted twice of entering illegally and develop plans to target first-time offenders and charge them with misdemeanors that could send them to jail for up to

six months.

The president and attorney general typically set broad priorities for the Justice Department’s 94 appointed U.S. attorneys and give them significant leeway. Prosecutors in Texas, New Mexico and Arizona have taken a stance closer to what Sessions wants.

Not so in California’s Southern District covering about 140 miles (225 kilometers) of border from San Diego to Yuma, Arizona.

Peter Nunez, the top federal prosecutor in the district from 1982 to 1985 who believes the change is long overdue, said Trump is the first president since Dwight Eisenhower in the 1950s to make immigration enforcement a top priority and U.S. attorneys “will not be able to ignore that.”

Immigration cases already make up about half of arrests in federal courts and more along the

Ringo H.W. Chiu / AP

In this Feb. 18 file photo, thousands protest the actions taken by President Donald Trump and his administration, in Los Angeles, California.

2,000-mile border with Mexico. Any increase is likely to meet resistance from some judges and prosecutors in California.

James Stiven, a retired federal judge in San Diego, told the U.S. Sentencing Commission last year that the California border district chose its cases carefully, “preserving resources throughout the federal criminal-justice system rather than squandering them on unproven ‘zero-tolerance’ approaches.” Of the proposed shift announced by Sessions on Tuesday, he said, “I can’t imagine it would be well-received by the judges.”

Carol Lam, who was named U.S. attorney for the Southern District of

California in 2002 by President George W. Bush and forced to resign nearly five years later, prosecuted fewer immigrant smuggling cases and turned limited resources on “the most dangerous offenders,” according to a report by the U.S. Justice Department’s internal watchdog on the bungled dismissals of Lam and eight other U.S. attorneys.

The Justice Department’s inspector general concluded Lam’s low immigration and firearms caseloads led to her firing.

Some Republican members of Congress and at least one Democrat, California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, questioned Lam’s record on immigration.

But her successor, Ka-

ren Hewitt, took a similar approach to immigration from 2007 to 2010. By the time Hewitt left, most border districts had embraced zero-tolerance policies. There were 70 crossers shackled together at the ankles each day for lightning-quick appearances at the federal courthouse in Tucson, Arizona, and 80 a day in tiny Del Rio, Texas.

First-time offenders generally spent less than a week behind bars but their misdemeanor convictions exposed them to felonies if caught again.

Prosecutions of lowlevel border crossers more than quadrupled from 2002 to 2008 to more than 50,000 a year, while smuggling cases

climbed modestly and drug cases fell sharply in border districts, according to a 2010 article by Joanna Lydgate in the California Law Review.

Hewitt focused on smugglers and generally avoided prosecutions of first-time crossers. She told Lydgate that her approach was “consistent with what the public (in the Southern District of California) would like to see.”

Laura Duffy, Hewitt’s successor, hewed to the same strategy until she resigned in December to become a state judge. U.S. attorneys often change under new administrations, and Trump is expected to name permanent replacements soon.

Man gets 5 years for stomping death of puppy ASSOCIATED PRE SS

Eric Gay / AP

In this 2014 file photo, detained immigrant children play kickball at the Karnes County Residential Center, a temporary home for immigrant women and children detained at the border in Karnes City, Texas.

Texas to get first immigrant center built under Trump

By Meredith Hoffman A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS

AUSTIN, Texas — A private prison company announced Thursday it has won a $110-million federal contract to build in Texas the first new immigrant detention center under the Trump administration.

The GEO Group said that its 1,000-bed detention facility will be in Conroe, north of Houston, and will open by the end of next year. The facility coincides with President Donald Trump’s promised expansion of immigration detention, part of a larger crackdown on immigrants in the country illegally that includes detaining people seeking asylum while they go through immigration proceedings.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement already has a record of

more than 41,000 detainees.

The agency has also identified an additional 21,000 unused beds that it plans to use for detention, according to a memo reported Wednesday by the Washington Post.

That memo notes that “ICE will be unable to secure additional detention capacity until funding has been identified.”

GEO, ICE’s secondlargest private prison contractor, has approximately 3,000 empty beds nationwide, according to a February investor call.

Faced with a lack of funds and potentially thousands of empty beds, ICE’s move to secure a new contract with GEO surprised immigrant rights advocates.

“This is totally unprecedented,” said Silky Shah, Co-Director of Detention Watch Network, a Washington-based non-profit fighting to end immigrant

detention. “Even the most recent expansion we’ve seen has been county jails and repurposing facilities that have been shuttered.”

Trump has instructed ICE to detain all individuals suspected of violating immigration laws.

“Aliens who illegally enter the United States without inspection or admission present a significant threat to national security and public safety,” the president said in a Jan. 25 executive order asking ICE to “allocate all legally available resources to immediately construct, operate, control, or establish contracts to construct, operate, or control facilities to detain aliens at or near the land border with Mexico.”

Still, Carl Takei, Staff Attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union’s National Prison Project, said the contract was a “sign that the Trump administration’s

plans are a huge boondoggle for the private prison industry,” which already operates about 75 percent of immigrant detention facilities.

Takei said the new facility’s location was also striking, given that GEO already operates the 1,517bed Joe Corley immigrant detention center in the same small town.

“Frankly this surprises me ... This raises the question both of how much ICE is actually planning to expand its already enormous detention system and where they’re going to get the money for all this,” Takei said. “ICE has a pretty limited amount of money and they can’t fund expanding detention in 2017 unless Congress passes supplemental appropriations.”

GEO referred all questions to ICE, which did not return requests for comment.

DALLAS — A former Dallas man has been sentenced to five years in prison for the 2016 stomping death of his puppy following a night of drinking alcohol.

The Dallas Morning News reports 36-year-old Thyren Justus acknowledged being too drunk to remember beating his Australian shepherd named Luke.

A judge in Dallas sentenced Justus, who pleaded guilty to felony animal cruelty. Justice

testified Thursday that he couldn’t recall what happened to his 5month-old dog.

An attorney for Justus sought probation and said his client is a recovering alcoholic.

Dallas police in March 2016 responded to reports of a disturbance at some apartments, a dog barking and stomping sounds.

The News reports Justus was evicted following his arrest, moved to Oklahoma to live with a relative and later relocated to San Angelo.

Secret Service firings to follow fence-jumping

By Alicia Caldwell ASSOCIATED PRE SS

EAGLE PASS, Texas — Two Secret Service officers who were on duty the night a man jumped the White House fence and spent 17 minutes roaming the grounds have been told the agency intends to fire them.

That’s according to a congressional aide who was not authorized to discuss details of a briefing on the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity.

The agency said in a statement that a review of the March 10 incident is ongoing but that it does not comment on personnel actions.

The intruder managed to spend 17 minutes on White House grounds while President Donald Trump was inside.

The chairman of the House Oversight Committee said the intruder was able to look through a White House window and “rattle the door handle” before being apprehended.

Defense rests in Dallas leader's corruption trial A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS

DALLAS — The defense completed presenting its case Thursday in the federal corruption trial of longtime Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price after calling just two witnesses.

Price's legal team called a county administrator and an accountant as a defense expert before resting its case. Price did not testify.

Testimony extended over an eight-week trial in federal court in Dallas.

Closing arguments are scheduled for Tuesday morning, after which jurors will begin deliberations.

Price is charged with mail fraud, conspiracy to defraud the Internal Revenue Service and filing a fraudulent income tax return. The longtime political leader and civic activist would spend decades in prison if convicted of all 11 counts against him. Three other co-defendants have already been convicted on charges related to the Price corruption probe.

AP

In this 2014 file photo, Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price speaks to reporters outside the federal courthouse in Dallas.

Price's lawyers have argued that money he received from his chief of

staff was repayment of loans and not evidence of a scheme to avoid paying

taxes. They contend Price was helping his aide, Dapheny Fain, launch a side business and that she repaid the loans.

Federal officials accuse him of taking almost $1 million in bribes over the course of a decade from a lobbyist to help her clients. They said he failed to report those bribes and other income in his tax fillings.

Fain is charged with helping Price avoid paying his taxes and with lying to the FBI. Her lawyer has denied the accusations.

Prosecutors earlier in the week were admonished by U.S. District Judge Barbara Lynn for repeatedly failing to turn over evidence to the defense in a timely manner.

Price, an influential commissioner who has served in the role since 1985, is being portrayed on the one hand as a hardworking public servant who helped his close friends in need, and on the other as a greedy and corrupt man who enriched himself by selling his vote, The Dallas Morning News reported.

Zfrontera THE ZAPATA TIMES | Saturday, April 15, 2017 |

RIBEREÑA EN BREVE Pago de impuestos 1 Desde diciembre, los pagos por impuestos a la propiedad de la Ciudad de Roma deberán realizarse en la oficina de impuestos del Distrito Escolar de Roma, localizado en el 608 N. García St. PAGO EN LÍNEA 1 La Ciudad de Roma informa a sus residentes que a partir de ahora el servicio del agua puede pagarse en línea a cualquier hora las 24 horas del día.

DÍA DE LA TIERRA 1 Por segundo año consecutivo, la Ciudad de Roma invita a la Recolección de Llantas para celebrar el Día de la Tierra, el sábado 22 de abril, desde las 8 a.m., en la Plaza Guadalupe.

TAMAULIPAS

SEMANA SANTA 2017

Atrapan a prófugos Faltan 11 presos por aprehender E SPECIAL PARA TIEMP O DE ZAPATA

CIUDAD VICTORIA, Tamaulipas— En operativo conjunto del Grupo de Coordinación Tamaulipas, la mañana de hoy se logró la reaprehensión de Jonathan de Jesús Paredes Santos, alias “El Cochiloco”, de 25 años de edad, y Demetrio González Rodríguez, alias “El Chacalin”, de 30 años, quienes se fugaron el 22 de marzo del Centro de Ejecución de Sanciones (CEDES) de Ciudad Victoria. Restan 11 prófugos.

Gracias a una denuncia anónima, recibida en el curso de la madrugada de este día, se localizó a am-

bos prófugos en un domicilio ubicado en la calle Ocampo esquina Aldama de la colonia Lomas de Guadalupe de Ciudad Victoria.

Se reportó que en ese lugar había dos hombres parecidos a dos de los fugados del CEDES. De inmediato, elementos de corporaciones integrantes del Grupo de Coordinación Tamaulipas implementaron un operativo para confirmar el dato y llevar a cabo las detenciones.

Tras su captura, Paredes Santos y González Rodríguez fueron reingresados al CEDES de Ciudad Victoria por personal de la Procuraduría Gener-

al de Justicia de Tamaulipas. Ahí se reconfirmó su identidad por medio del sistema de huellas.

Respecto a las 11 personas que aún están prófugas, se mantiene la petición de apoyo al Grupo de Coordinación Tamaulipas, así como a las policías de Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí y Veracruz, a fin de lograr sus recapturas.

Con estas acciones, el Gobierno tamaulipeco reafirma su compromiso de mantener la paz, el orden y el Estado de Derecho en la entidad, con el apoyo de las corporaciones integrantes del Grupo de Coordinación Tamaulipas.

Caminata/Carrera 5K 1 La Ciudad de Roma invita al Tributo a las Fuerzas Armadas con Caminata/Carrera 5K iniciando en Guadalupe Plaza, el sábado 20 de mayo a las 8 a.m. a 12 p.m.

Más de 772.000 visitantes se han reportado en el estado de Tamaulipas, México, por el periodo vacacional de Semana Santa.

Recibe Tamaulipas gran número de visitantes E SPECIAL PARA TIEMP O DE

EVENTO DE PASCUA

1 La Ciudad de Roma pone a disposición de la comunidad el Laboratorio Computacional que abre de lunes a viernes en horario de 1 p.m. a 5 p.m. en Historical Plaza, a un lado del City Hall. Informes en el 956-849-1411.

Día de Independencia 1 La Ciudad de Roma invita a la Celebración por el 4 de julio en el Distrito Histórico de Roma desde las 6 p.m.

MUSEO EN ZAPATA 1 A los interesados en realizar una investigación sobre genealogía de la región, se sugiere visitar el Museo del Condado de Zapata ubicado en 805 N US-Hwy 83. Opera de 10 a.m. a 4 p.m.

Existen visitas guiadas. Personal está capacitado y puede orientar acerca de la historia del Sur de Texas y sus fundadores. Pida informes en el 956-765-8983.

Foto de cortesía | City of Roma

1 El grupo de apoyo para personas con Alzheimer se reunirá en su junta mensual, a las 7 p.m., en el Laredo Medical Center, primer piso, Torre B en el Centro Comunitario. Las reuniones se realizan el primer martes de cada mes en el mismo lugar y a la misma hora.

1 El grupo Cancer Friend se reúne a las 6 p.m. el primer lunes del mes en el Centro Comunitario de Doctors Hospital. Padecer cáncer es una de las experiencias más estresantes en la vida de una persona.

Sin embargo, los grupos de apoyo pueden ayudar a muchos a lidiar con los aspectos emocionales de la enfermedad.

1 Grupo de Apoyo para Ansiedad y Depresión Rayo de Luz. En Centro de Educación del Área de Salud, ubicado en 1505 Calle del Norte, Suite 430. El grupo se reúne de 6:30 p.m. a 7:30 p.m. en 1505 Calle del Norte, Suite 430, cada primer lunes de mes.

Foto de cortesía | Gobierno de Tamaulipas

CIUDAD DE ROMA

Laboratorio Computacional

Grupos de apoyo

A7

Chicos y grandes disfrutaron del Evento de Pascua y Búsqueda de Cascarones, organizado por la Comisión de Parques y Recreo de Roma en el Parque Municipal de Roma, el sábado.

ZAPATA

CIUDAD VICTORIA, México— En los primeros días del período vacacional de Semana Santa, poco más de 772.000 visitantes han disfrutado de las playas, ríos, lagunas, montañas, de los Pueblos Mágicos Tula y Mier, de los sabores y gastronomía, de museos, parques y centros de entretenimiento en las principales ciudades de Tamaulipas.

La Secretaría de Turismo de Tamaulipas, María Isabel Gómez Castro, dijo que comparado con el 2016, la afluencia turística ha crecido en un 10 por ciento en el mismo número de días y se espera que este fin de semana, lleguen más familias a disfrutar de todo lo que ofrece Tamaulipas.

Atribuyó este incremento a la confianza que genera la administración de Francisco García Cabeza de Vaca y la atención que se ha destinado a cuidar en todo momento la integridad y seguridad de los visitantes.

“En Tamaulipas, nos hemos preparado para recibir a nuestros amigos turistas y a las familias tamaulipecas que aprovecharán los días de descanso. Nos coordinamos con distintas instituciones municipales, estatales y federales para

la atención y asistencia turística desde el viernes 7 de abril”, dijo Gómez Castro.

Playa Miramar es el destino turístico más visitado en Tamaulipas desde que iniciaron las vacaciones; más de 300 mil visitantes se han deleitado con las cálidas aguas del Golfo de México y con sus blancas arenas, también con los conciertos y eventos nocturnos.

Le sigue Tampico que, con su historia, gastronomía y sus diversos lugares de entretenimiento registra una afluencia con cerca de 170 mil visitantes. Playa Bagdad también ha sido visitada por familias de la región fronteriza, así como de Monterrey.

Durante esta temporada vacacional, Tamaulipas recibe visitantes de Nuevo León, Coahuila, San Luis Potosí, Estado de México, Ciudad de México, Veracruz, de muchos municipios del estado y de Texas, principalmente.

El jueves, se registró el mayor número de visitantes en todo el estado; más de 211 mil visitantes llegaron a los distintos sitios turísticos que se monitorean en Tamaulipas.

Se espera que el número de paseantes se incremente en los principales destinos turísticos durante el fin de semana.

COLUMNA

Bad hombres venían de EU Por Raúl Sinencio Chávez TIEMP O DE ZAPATA

En apariencia, sólo del sur proceden los extranjeros indeseables que atraviesan la extensa línea divisoria entre México y EU. Prejuicios, flaca memoria e ignorancia pueden conducir a falsas apreciaciones.

Veamos qué sorpresas nos depara el reverso de la moneda.

El célebre escritor, Manuel Payno cabalga en 1839 rumbo a la villa tamaulipeca de Camargo. El día previo, Domingo de Ramos, visita Reynosa y oye misa.

Tortuosas complicaciones dominan la vida en aquellos parajes. Incluso al trote, saltan a la vista. “Pasaba yo cerca de un jacalito, al cual me acerqué a pedir (…) agua. Una joven bastante hermosa quiso “ofrecerme el agua en una jarra (…) de loza fina (…) Estaba de luto porque unos moradores texanos habían asesinado a su marido (…) Seguí mi camino pensando que es muy raro encontrar habitantes “que no lloren la pérdida de un

hijo, de una hermana o de un padre. Los (…) bandidos civilizados de Texas van acabando con los ganados y con las personas”, deplora Payno.

Gente de Sam Houston poco antes, en 1835, arrebata Texas a nuestro país. Diez años después termina incorporada a la Unión Americana. Tras injusta guerra, que nos arranca medio territorio, el Tratado de Guadalupe Hidalgo en 1848 extiende los dominios estadounidenses hasta el río Bravo. La renovada vecindad nada tarda en imponer secuelas de veras terribles.

Nomás para darnos idea, volvamos a Reynosa. Desde la ribera opuesta el 26 de marzo de 1853 llega ahí míster N. P. Norton. Aunque juez del condado de Starr, ni remoto interés muestra en honrar la investidura judicial. Qué va.

Presa del miedo, cualquiera lo nota a simple vista. Porque acude el funcionario angloamericano en compañía de 50 forajidos, liderándolos. Bajo control el lugar, secuestra literalmente por sus pistolas al jefe edilicio.

Reúne a los pobladores y hace

perentoria amenaza: el alcalde será fusilado en dos horas, a menos que paguen un cuantioso rescate de 20 mil pesos. Mientras, ordena cometer saqueos y robos. Obtenidos apenas 2 mil pesos, ante refuerzos provenientes de Camargo, en la noche huye por donde vino.

Autoridades mexicanas denuncian los hechos mediante procedimientos formales. La corte de Brownsville abre las respectivas indagatorias, dándoles largas pese a evidenciarse violaciones a la vigente ley de neutralidad. “Dilatando el juicio dos años –según revelan viejas constancias–, se sobreseyó”.

Quedan de plano impune las tropelías.

Justificadísima desconfianza muestran vecinos reynosenses el 4 de abril de 1860, al presentarse 70 elementos voluntarios de Texas. Dirigidos por el capitán John S. Ford, ocupan la plaza del municipio. Prestos a defenderse, en bocacalles y azoteas circundantes aparecen lugareños armados.

Ford se atemoriza de inmediato. Aduce poseer autoriza-

ción del comandante Guadalupe García para internarse. Pero el papel exhibido habla de sitio muy distinto, ni siquiera contiguo a esa villa. Descubiertos in fraganti, ponen los gringos pies en polvorosa. Asientan documentos contemporáneos: “Ford se vio precisado a abandonar la población (…) por el vado” cercano, “no consintiéndose que lo hiciera por otra parte, por recelarse de sus intenciones” verdaderas. Heridos en su orgullo los bribones, luego “sobrevinieron (…) disparos de armas de una a otra orilla” del cauce fluvial.

Dichos sucesos, junto a numerosas pillerías análogas, sustancian el amplio informe que en 1874 rinde al gobierno federal la Comisión Pesquisidora de la Frontera Norte. Una vez consultados archivos oficiales de ambas naciones, acredita con honrosas salvedades que hacia México cruzan desde Estados Unidos abigeos, viciosos, bandoleros, contrabandistas e inmigrantes de baja estofa. Bad hombres, les dirían hoy.

A8 | Saturday, April 15, 2017 | THE ZAPATA TIMES

NATIONAL

University: Idaho students alert after explosion A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS

MOSCOW, Idaho — Four University of Idaho students are hospitalized, but alert and communicating, Friday after an explosion in a school parking lot where they had gathered to test a fuel system for an experimental rocket.

The device exploded after the fuel was ignited just before 10 p.m.

Thursday at the lot outside the northern Idaho university’s steam plant.

A faculty adviser to the Northwest Organization of Rocket Engineers club was with the students, university spokeswoman Jodi Walker said.

He was not injured.

The injured students were transported to Gritman Medical Center in Moscow, Idaho. Hospital spokesman Eric Hollenbeck reported that all were in good condition.

Initially, hospital officials had said one student was in critical condition.

The school said the students, whose names

haven’t been released, were alert and communicating with university officials Friday morning.

Vice President Daniel Ewart said the four students underwent surgery.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is investigating the incident, but it is not a criminal investigation, Moscow Police Chief James Fry said.

“There is no reason to believe this is anything other than an accident at this point,” Walker said.

The club members did not intend to launch the experimental rocket, Ewart said. Instead, they were using a device made up of a galvanized pipe, which measured about a foot (0.3 meter) in length and an 1 inch and a half (27 millimeters) in diameter, to test the fuel, he said.

“There was no intention to launch a rocket,” Ewart said.

Ewart did not know how many people were in the vicinity of the

explosion.

Grant Thurman, a student and member of the Northwest Organization of Rocket Engineers, said the club was attempting to test the rocket fuel, but when one of the club’s co-presidents ignited the fuel, it exploded.

“We were testing a new fuel design for the rocket engine and we didn’t have reason to believe it would blow up or anything because it was a slow-burning fuel,” Thurman said.

“But as soon as it was lit, it blew up.”

Thurman said the man igniting the fuel wore face protection, but the others wore only eye protection.

The club is made up of students and faculty who design and test rockets.

The school said there’s no damage to the steam plant, which heats most of the campus.

Ewart said that classes on the 12,000-student campus would not be interrupted Friday.

THE ZAPATA TIMES | Saturday, April 15, 2017 |

A9

BUSINESS

U.S. Food & Drug Administration / AP

This image provided by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration shows Hyland's Baby Teething Tablets.

Hyland's teething tablets recalled, contains toxic herb Andrew Harnik / AP

By Linda A. Johnson A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS

The maker of Hyland's teething tablets has issued a recall for any remaining packages at the urging of U.S. regulators, who say the medicine has inconsistent levels of a herb that can be poisonous.

Standard Homeopathic Co. of Los Angeles, stopped making and shipping the tablets last October. It said it's notifying distributors and stores to return any leftover products, while consumers should throw them out.

The recall announced late Thursday covers Hyland's Baby Teething Tablets and Hyland's Baby Nighttime Teething Tablets, meant to relieve gum discomfort from emerging teeth.

The Food and Drug Administration, which has been investigating the safety of such products for some time, had issued a warning in September that homeopathic teething tablets containing the herb, belladonna, shouldn't be used. Belladonna, also called nightshade, is a poisonous herb that nonetheless has been used at low dosages as a homeopathic medicine for centuries.

"FDA believes that

belladonna represents a serious health hazard to children and that the effects of belladonna are unpredictable," the company said in its recall notice .

According to the FDA, some homeopathic teething products are made with very small amount of belladonna, but at levels so low they should not be detectible even with FDA's sophisticated testing. However, the agency found varying levels of belladonna when it tested Hyland's teething tablets, including some that far exceeded what was listed on the labels.

The company stopped making the tablets, but the FDA had been urging the company to issue a recall for months.

The FDA noted at the time that such tablets were sold online and in stores by Hyland's, pharmacy chain CVS and other companies. CVS promptly pulled from store shelves and stopped online sales of all belladonna-containing teething products, including its store brand and Hyland's.

FDA urged consumers to contact a doctor if young children who have used the teething tablets have symptoms including seizures, difficulty breathing, lethargy, skin flushing and agitation.

In this Feb. 9 file photo, the HealthCare.gov website, where people can buy health insurance, is displayed on a laptop screen in Washington.

Trump insurance changes could affect coverage next year

By Tom Murphy ASSOCIATED PRE SS

A much tighter sign-up deadline and coverage delays will be waiting for some health insurance customers now that President Donald Trump's administration has finished a plan designed to stabilize shaky insurance markets.

Customers will have 45 days to shop for 2018 coverage, starting Nov. 1 and ending Dec. 15. In previous years, they had twice that much time, and could still buy coverage until Jan. 31. The tighter time frame aims to prevent people from gaming the system by waiting until they become sick before signing up for coverage.

The smaller enrollment window could be tough on some shoppers because they often have to search for an insurance plan that includes their doctor to avoid big medical bills. That's no quick task when a patient has several doctors, insurers

are leaving exchanges, and those that remain have narrow doctor networks. Then shoppers have to figure out whether they can afford the coverage and if any tax credits are available to help.

"It's a very delicate subject when you're dealing with someone's health and if the plan doesn't work, you're stuck with it for the next year," said Dallas-based broker Tanya Boyd. "It's not a five-minute conversation."

The administration also placed curbs on "special enrollment periods" that allow consumers to sign up or change coverage outside the normal enrollment period if they have a big change in their life like a move, divorce or the birth of a child. Insurers say loose enforcement of these periods has been an expensive problem because it also allows people to game the system.

Customers will now have to verify first that

they qualify for a specialenrollment period before they can enroll. That could create coverage delays.

"For some people, the hassle or difficulty in pulling together verification could discourage them from signing up altogether," said Larry Levitt, a health insurance expert with the Kaiser Family Foundation, which studies health care issues.

The administration also gave insurers more flexibility to design lowercost coverage that may attract younger and healthier customers, which would help insurers offset the higher cost of insuring older, less healthy people. That lower-cost coverage could come with a higher deductible, though, which means those customers will need to pay more out of their own pockets for most care before the insurer starts paying.

Whether these changes help convince insurers to stick around for 2018

remains to be seen. They are weighing their options and may soon announce whether they plan to offer coverage for next year. But customers won't know for sure for months, because insurers can still back out up to a few weeks before the start of the open enrollment period.

Insurers have called the changes — most of which they had requested — a step in the right direction. But a key concern has yet to be addressed.

Insurers, doctors, hospitals and the business community have asked the Trump administration to preserve "costsharing" subsidies that help reduce the impact of high deductibles and copayments for consumers with modest incomes.

Most communities will have competing insurers on their public marketplaces next year, but a growing number will be down to one, and some areas may face having none.

Facebook fights fake news with full-page newspaper ads

By Hayley Tsukayama WA S H INGT ON P O ST

Facebook has turned to an unexpected tool to expand its ongoing fight against fake news online: the print newspaper.

The social network put fullpage ads in France and Germany that outline the ways that readers can evaluate news stories and identify false reports.

Facebook confirmed that the ads appeared in several publica-

tions, including Le Monde, L’Express, Süddeutsche Zeitung, Der Spiegel and BILD. The company also ran digital ads as part of a broader effort to educate people on and off of its platform, said Facebook spokesman Andy Stone.

The ads in France drew particular attention, however, because the country is about to hold an election.

Facebook said earlier this week that it had closed 30,000

false accounts in France, thanks to changes in the way it authenticates users.

“While these most recent improvements will not result in the removal of every fake account, we are dedicated to continually improving our effectiveness,” said Shabnam Shaik, Facebook’s technical program manager on the Protect and Care Team, in an official blog post. “Our priority, of course is to remove the accounts with the

largest footprint, with a high amount of activity and a broad reach.”

The social network recently also introduced a tool for its users in 14 countries, including the U.S., advising them on the ways to vet information they read and identify false articles.

Facebook users may have seen a post appear at the top of their feeds offering “tips for spotting false news.” These include “be skeptical of the headlines,”

“investigate the source” and “check the evidence.”

Facebook has been stepping up its efforts to combat questionable articles on its social networks, after fielding stinging criticism about how false reports spread through the network during the U.S. election last year. Many media experts called on the company to acknowledge that it is a major source of news and to educate its users.

A10 | Saturday, April 15, 2017 | THE ZAPATA TIMES

ENTERTAINMENT

Director of ‘The Last Jedi’ debuts teaser trailer The trailer whetted the appetites of ravenous "Star Wars" fans who turned out in droves in Orlando and online, where the event was streamed live.

By Jake Coyle A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS

NEW YORK — Is the Force still strong with Luke Skywalker?

The first trailer for "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" dropped on Friday, showcasing a morose and withdrawn Skywalker. The two-minute teaser , unveiled by director Rian Johnson at the "Star Wars Celebration" fan event in Orlando, Florida, offered few clues to the film. But it notably includes Mark Hamill's iconic hero gravely intoning, "It's time for the Jedi to end," from a dark cave.

The trailer whetted the appetites of ravenous "Star Wars" fans who turned out in droves in Orlando and online,

Film Frames Industrial Light & Magic / Lucasfilm

Pictured is the Star Wars: The Last Jedi’s star John Boyega playing Finn.

where the event was streamed live. Actor Josh Gad hosted a panel including Johnson, producer Kathleen Kennedy and cast members Daisy Ridley, John Boyega and a new addition, Kelly Marie Tran.

"The Last Jedi" picks off where "The Force Awakens" left off, with Rey (Ridley) meeting Luke on a remote island, filmed off the coast of Ireland. Some shots in the trailer also suggested Skywalker training Rey

on the island. In "The Force Awakens," Adam Driver's Kylo Ren has turned to the dark side after being tutored by Luke.

The presentation was mostly a game of teasing hints about the film

while revealing very little about it.

"I actually can tell you some things. A small amount," said Ridley, laughing. She said the film will go "deep" into Rey's story and reveal how it can be difficult meeting your heroes — presumably alluding to a cranky Skywalker. "They may not be what you expect," said Ridley to knowing groans in the crowd.

"The Force Awakens" director and "Last Jedi"

producer J.J. Abrams has previously hailed Hamill's performance in the film, suggesting it could land him an Oscar nomination. Hamill, the most raucously received star on Friday, said he drew on his own experiences for this new chapter in Luke's life.

"I said: I have to relate to things that are real in my own life to understand where Luke is at this point in his life," Hamill said.

"The Last Jedi" is due in theaters Dec. 15.

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THE ZAPATA TIMES | Saturday, April 15, 2017 |

A11

FROM THE COVER

Lady Gaga to be 1st female Coachella headliner in history

By Mesfin Fekadu A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS

NEW YORK — Lady Gaga will make history when she performs at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts festival this weekend, marking a decade since a solo woman has been billed as a headliner on the prestigious musical stage.

Beyonce had been slated to headline the festival in Indio, California, but backed out because she's pregnant with twins. Bjork was the last solo female to headline Coachella in 2007, so it begs the question: Why has it taken so long?

Women have always performed at Coachella, which began Friday, since it was launched in 1999. In the last few years the number of female performers has grown, including acts that blend alternative and pop, such as Sia and Tegan & Sara, to mega genre-mashers like M.I.A., Janelle Monae and Santigold.

Coachella is known as the festival for cool kids — and musicians. That leaves little to no room for acts that dominate Top 40 radio, where women have a strong presence, from Katy Perry to Rihanna.

Halsey, the Grammynominated singer who is readying her second alternative album and had one of last year's biggest pop hits with "Closer" alongside the Chainsmokers, performed at Coachella last year. The 22-year-old said women who perform alternative music are often billed as pop artists because of their sex.

"Festivals like Coachella, they pride themselves on being part of the counterculture, being tastemakers, upholding themselves to a certain standard of the artists that they include, and I think one of the problems is that female artists are so often tainted as pop artists even when they don't necessarily intend to be," Halsey said. "Female artists can put out the same style of a record as a male artist and when a male artist does it, it has a certain

type of dignity, it has a certain type of edge ... as soon as a woman puts out a record of the same caliber, it's immediately filed as a pop record no matter what."

Halsey said it's something she's experienced in her own career with the success of "Closer."

"It was this giant pop record and immediately I was a pop artist even though I put out an alternative album, I played alternative festivals and I was on alternative radio," she said. "As soon as (you) do one pop record it's like the kiss of death for a female artist sometimes."

Gary Bongiovanni, CEO of concert trade publication Pollstar, said he didn't think the gap between male and female headliners at Coachella was calculated.

"I don't see that there's any sexism. There's nothing more than trying to put together a bill of artists that the public wants to see. And we live in a world where a significant majority of the acts are either male or malefronted bands versus females or female-fronted bands," he said. "If you look at the level of business all of those artists do and you try to cobble together a lineup that's going to be appealing, it's difficult, and there are a lot of the female acts that may not lend themselves to performing in front of 60,000 or 80,000 people in an open field, versus headlining an area or more likely a theater."

In last year's Pollstar chart of the 100 topgrossing North America tours, women made up about 15 percent of the list, which was dominated by male acts and male-fronted bands. Only two women cracked the Top 10: Beyonce was No.1 and Adele came in fifth.

Coachella is sold out before the lineup is announced, so the festival has the luxury of picking performers instead of relying on acts to help sell tickets.

Along with Gaga, this year's headliners include Radiohead and Kendrick Lamar, who released his hotly anticipated new

album Friday. Some of the female performers include Lorde, Banks, Tove Lo, Kehlani, Nao, Kiiara and Bishop Briggs.

Yukimi Nagano, who fronts Swedish band Little Dragon, is returning to Coachella for a third time.

Nagano said she was surprised that it's been 10 years since a woman headlined the festival, adding: "I think it's a really positive thing."

Jason White, executive vice president of marketing at Beats by Dre, said the company is purposely, and exclusively, giving attention to women at the festival: Their space at Coachella will only feature female performers, including Erykah Badu, DJ Kiss, Ana Calderon, JCK DVY and Jasmine Solano.

"I think it really meshes incredibly well with what's going on with Coachella because you do have Gaga, we're excited about seeing Kehlani (and) there's some really solid performers this year," he said.

Halsey, who spoke over the phone Thursday as she drove to the desert to watch Coachella as a fan, said she was thrilled to see Gaga take the stage.

She said the recent Super Bowl halftime performer is one of those pioneering female acts that haven't been boxed into a genre, though she knows "the extremes (Gaga) has to go to maintain that counterculture are much greater than that of what a male artist has to do."

"Drake is still considered a rap/rhythm artist even though he is essentially a pop artist when you look at the decisions that he makes and the climate that kind of surrounds his projects," Halsey said.

"And when you have a female artist in the same lane, they get written off as a pop artist simply because they're female, simply because the conversation with them, it goes to fashion, makeup or whatever, and those are questions and comments that don't surround the brand and surround the career of a male artist."

1996 Washington school shooter apologizes for incident

By Nicholas K. Geranios A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS

SPOKANE, Wash. — The prisoner who as a teenager opened fire at his middle school in Washington state more than 20 years ago has spoken out for the first time, apologizing for killing a teacher and two fellow students.

Barry Loukaitis’ handwritten letter to the Grant County Superior Court was filed last week as part of a court-ordered resentencing in the 1996 bloodshed.

“I’ve never apologized for what I’ve done,” Loukaitis wrote. “I didn’t because I feared that trying to apologize after doing something so terrible would only add insult to injury.

“If that feeling was wrong, I’m sorry for not speaking before,” he said.

Loukaitis was 14 when he opened fire in a classroom, and he was sentenced to life in prison

without the possibility of parole.

But the U.S. Supreme Court Loukaitis ruled in 2012 that people younger than 16 could not receive life terms without parole.

Washington state is recommending that Loukaitis be resentenced to 189 years in prison. In his letter dated March 27, Loukaitis said he would not fight the move.

A hearing starts next Wednesday before Superior Court Judge Michael Cooper, the original judge in the case who came out of retirement to handle the new sentence.

Loukaitis carried a hunting rifle and two handguns into his math class at Frontier Middle School in Moses Lake on Feb. 2, 1996. He shot and killed teacher Leona Caires, 49, and classmates Manuel Vela and Arnold Fritz, both 14.

Another student was wounded before teacher Jon Lane confronted and disarmed Loukaitis.

He was tried as an adult in Seattle in an attempt to find an impartial jury. He claimed an insanity defense that was rejected by the jury and convicted in 1997.

In his letter, Loukaitis described himself as a hostile and rude 14-yearold and apologized for not pleading guilty after the shootings.

“None of this should have happened in the first place,” Loukaitis wrote in his recent letter.

“But if it did, I could have at least have had the decency to have pled guilty instead of trying to escape justice.

“I put you and an entire community through an agonizing, senseless and expensive process in an attempt to flee from justice,” he wrote.

In prison, Loukaitis has earned a high school diploma and worked as a teacher’s aide.

Courtesy photo / Webb County Sheriff’s Office

Representatives of seven sheriff’s offices and police departments from Val Verde to Starr County, including Zapata, recently went to Austin to speak in favor of Operation Border SMART.

SHERIFF From page A1 Warrior veterans who were injured in combat.

They are coming back (from serving) and want

ROBBERY From page A1 He goes in and exits the store in a matter of seconds with a donation bucket from the counter.

EASTER From page A1 volunteers and staff that worked hard and helped out in making this event a success.

to continue to work,” Cuellar said.

“It has a lot of potential because a wounded warrior would want to monitor cameras and operate drones … At the same

time, they’ll be protecting the United States. That’s what they’re trained for.”

Cuellar said he told the committee, “The security of our counties is in your hands.”

Sheriff’s officials said the donation bucket belonged to a children’s hospital.

People who can recognize the man are asked to call authorities at 956765-9960 or Zapata Crime

Stoppers at 765-TIPS (8477).

Zapata Crime Stoppers pays a cash reward to anyone who provides anonymous information leading to an arrest.

“Special ‘Thank You’ Sheriff Alonso M. Lopez, Commissioner Olga Elizondo and (Boys and Girls) Club Director Cipriana Wells for their Support and dedication to

our community.”

Lopez thanked all the volunteers and staff that worked hard and helped out in making this event success, the sheriff said in a statement.

LM Otero / AP

In this 2016 file photo, Dallas County Mosquito Lab microbiologist sorts mosquitos collected in a trap in Hutchins, Texas.

TIPS From page A1 “Every street is covered once a week,” said Brian Bray, Nacogdoches’ director of community services. “If a big event is planned at, say, at Pecan park, we will spray that area ahead of time and again before it happens.”

But the abatement program, of course, cannot eliminate the threat of West Nile.

“We encourage everyone to help us out,” Bray said.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people should follow these tips to avoid contracting the virus: 1 Use insect repellents while being outside.

1 When possible, wear long sleeves and pants and socks.

1 Install or repair window screens and doors.

Use air conditioning if possible.

1 Regularly remove standing water from gutters, buckets, flower pots, pool covers, pet water dishes, discarded tires and birdbaths.

1 Report dead birds to the appropriate officials.

“Zika remains a significant health risk to pregnant women and their babies, and it’s only a matter of time until we see local transmission here again,” said DSHS Commissioner Dr. John Hellerstedt in a press release.

On Friday, DSHS issued a health alert that recommends testing all pregnant residents in Webb, Willacy, Cameron, Starr, Hidalgo and Zapata counties during the first and second trimesters.

The alert also includes testing those with rashes along with other common Zika symptoms — joint pain, fever or eye redness.

“Zika remains a significant health risk to pregnant women and their babies, and it’s only a matter of time until we see local transmission here again,” said DSHS Commissioner Dr. John Hellerstedt in a press release.

“We want to cast as wide a net as possible with testing to increase

our ability to find and respond to cases, and the Lower Rio Grande Valley remains the part of the state most at risk for Zika transmission.”

For the remainder of Texas, DSHS continues to recommend testing anyone who has at least three of the four Zika symptoms and all pregnant women who have traveled to areas with ongoing Zika transmission, including any travel to Mexico.

The Zika virus is transmitted to people primarily through mosquitoes. It can also spread by sexual contact.

While symptoms are usually minor, Zika can cause severe birth defects in babies of some women infected during pregnancy.

A12 | Saturday, April 15, 2017 | THE ZAPATA TIMES

Sports&Outdoors THE ZAPATA TIMES | Saturday, April 15, 2017 |

B1

NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION

Westbrook vs Harden headlines first round Both players are considered frontrunners to take home MVP

By Brian Mahoney ASSOCIATED PRE SS

Alonzo Adams / Associated Press file

Houston guard James Harden and Oklahoma City guard Russell Westbrook square off in the first round of the playoffs.

NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION

Russell Westbrook against James Harden is a sensational start to the NBA postseason.

Golden State against Cleveland no longer looks like the certain finish.

The playoffs open this weekend, highlighted by a

must-see matchup in the first round between record-setting guards who are former teammates and now leading MVP candidates.

They swapped spectacular highlights during the regular season: Westbrook averaging a tripledouble in carrying Oklahoma City after Kevin

Durant’s departure; Harden leading the league in assists for a high-octane Houston offense that shattered the NBA record for 3-pointers.

“As great of a season as LeBron (James) and Kawhi (Leonard) have had, the two main guys on the card, the main draw, have Harden continues on B2

NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION

FAMILIAR FOES MEET IN OPENING ROUND

Brandon Wade / Associated Press file

Dallas forward Dirk Nowitzki will return next year. It will mark his 20th season with the Mavericks.

Nowitzki set for 20th season, Mavs needing more star power

Darren Abate / Associated Press file

San Antonio forward LaMarcus Aldridge and the Spurs finished the regular season with a 61-21 record.

San Antonio and Memphis square off in fourth playoff series since 2011

By Schuyler Dixon A S S O CIAT E D PRE SS

DALLAS — Dirk Nowitzki decided a while back that he would play a 20th season for the Dallas Mavericks.

The big German has a potential heir in Harrison Barnes, some intriguing young players with rotation potential around him and a good enough feeling about his body that the 38-yearold might even hang around beyond next season.

But the Mavericks are coming off their worst record (33-49) since 1997-98, the season before Nowitzki arrived. They’ve missed the playoffs twice in five seasons after qualifying 12 straight years. And they still haven’t won a playoff series since winning the franchise’s only championship in 2011.

Whether with a top 10 draft pick or a signing in free agency after years of summer failures, Dallas needs more star power.

“It’s an important summer for this franchise, for sure, to head back in the right direction, if you want to say, starting with the draft,” Nowitzki said. “And then free agency is important, too. So, yeah, this is a big summer, but we tend to stand here the last few years and always say it’s a big summer for the franchise.”

The losing record was the first in the 17 full seasons that Mark Cuban owned the team. Rick Carlisle had just his second sub.500-season in 15 years as a head coach.

Injuries, including an Achilles problem for Nowitzki, played a part because most of them came during a difficult schedule early, dooming Mavericks continues on B2

By Teresa M. Walker ASSOCIATED PRE SS

N

Darren Abate / Associated Press file

San Antonio center Pau Gasol will be going up against his brother Marc, who plays for Memphis.

obody in the NBA has played against each other in the playoffs since 2011 more than the San Antonio Spurs and Memphis Grizzlies.

And with the exception of 2011, the Spurs have simply dominated the Grizzlies.

So much so that Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph focuses only on the pain of being swept in the 2013 Western finals and again last year in the first round .

His incredible performance in 2011 — when the Grizzlies pulled off a stunning upset as an 8 seed over the West’s best — fades away.

“That’s what sticks in my mind more, getting swept and them beating us the last couple years, so let’s hope (we) go back to 2011,” Randolph said.

The Spurs roll into this first-round series, which starts Saturday night with Game 1 in San Antonio, as the No. 2 seed in the West with 61-21 regular-season record that was second only to Golden State in the NBA. The Grizzlies slumped to the seventh seed by going 9-15 after the All-Star break and limp into the postseason going 1-5 in April.

Last year the Grizzlies were swept with Marc Gasol and Mike Conley both sidelined by season-ending injuries. Both are healthy and have turned in the best seasons of their careers, helping Memphis split the season series with its Southwest Division rival.

Spurs continues on B2

B2 | Saturday, April 15, 2017 | THE ZAPATA TIMES

SPORTS

Jackson says that a trade might be best for Carmelo, Knicks

By Brian Mahoney ASSOCIATED PRE SS

Yi-Chin Lee / Houston Chronicle file

Houston guard Lou Williams was acquired at the trading deadline and is one of the Rockets top 3-point threats.

HARDEN From page B1 been James Harden and Russell Westbrook,” Hall of Famer and TNT analyst Reggie Miller said.

“And to have both of those guys go at one another in the first round — former teammates, great friends, the two leading scorers in the Association — from our side ... this is a dream matchup to sit and have a chance to watch.”

Now one of them will be gone by May. Super stats give way to tremendous teams in the playoffs, and the Warriors look the part after going 67-15 in their first season with Durant, now healthy after a late-season injury.

The question mark is the Cavaliers, the defending champions who were just 10-14 after February, yielding the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference to Boston while James sat out the final two games during their late-season slide.

The Warriors and Cavs were overwhelming favorites to meet again after splitting the last two NBA Finals, though Cleveland’s struggles have thrown that into doubt — outside of Cleveland, anyway.

“I’m not going into the playoffs thinking that,” coach Tyronn Lue said.

“I’m going into it thinking we can win.”

The answers start arriving Saturday, when the two-month chase for 16 wins begins.

The Cavaliers open against No. 7 Indiana, while No. 3 Toronto hosts No. 6 Milwaukee. In the West, it’s seventh-seeded Memphis at No. 2 San Antonio, and the No. 4 Clippers against the No. 5 Utah Jazz.

On Sunday, the Warriors open against Portland, before the thirdseeded Rockets and No. 6 Thunder play the other Game 1 in the West. The East openers are Boston against Chicago, and No. 4 Washington against fifth-seeded Atlanta.

Just five years ago, Westbrook, Harden and Durant were young guns on an Oklahoma City team that lost to Miami in the NBA Finals. All three may have been worthy MVP winners this season had Durant not hurt his knee in late February.

He’s back now, with perhaps his best chance yet to win something better than a second MVP award: a first championship.

“Playing against the

SPURS From page B1 These teams last met March 4 when Conley forced out of a 95-89 overtime loss in San Antonio after being head-butted by Kawhi Leonard late in the fourth quarter. Conley needed 13 stitches below his right eyebrow for that cut.

“Yeah I’ve been seeing those guys too often lately,” Spurs guard Manu Ginobili said Friday. “But good. I think

best players in the world, at the biggest stage, that’s the goal for every player,” Durant said.

Some other things to watch in the first round FANTASTIC FORWARDS James and Paul George have had tremendous battles in the both the regular season and postseason. The most recent may have been the best, as James finished with 41 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists to George’s 43 points, nine rebounds and nine assists in Cleveland’s 135-100 doubleovertime victory on April 2 . The Pacers haven’t lost since, winning their final five to surge into the No. 7 seed.

TOO CLOSE TO CALL The Clippers and Jazz both finished 51-31, with Los Angeles winning the season series 3-1 to earn the tiebreaker and homecourt advantage. Should Los Angeles not win the series — and maybe at least one after it — count on more questions about whether it’s time to break up the core of Chris Paul and Blake Griffin.

BOSTON BEST The Celtics are a No. 1 seed for the first time since 2008, when they won their last NBA title.

But that was a ready-towin powerhouse with Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen.

This team is in some ways still in its building stage, perhaps ahead of schedule for where even the franchise expected, and has to show it’s ready to take the leap after not winning a playoff series since 2012.

RAPTORS READY Toronto reached the East finals last season in its best season ever and loaded up for another run, fortifying the frontcourt with trades for Serge Ibaka and P.J. Tucker. Knocked off by the Cavs last season, they would get Cleveland one round sooner this time if both advance. But to face King James, the Raptors have to stop the Greek Freak, and Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo will be a handful .

FAMILIAR FOES San Antonio and Memphis will meet for an NBA-high fourth time since 2011, when the Grizzlies upset the top-seeded Spurs. San Antonio has won the last two, including a first-round sweep last season. This meeting features brothers Pau and Marc Gasol going against each other.

they are fresh on our minds. We know them, they know us. It’s a tough team as we all know, but we are optimistic. We know that if we play our best game we have a good chance, so looking forward to it.”

The Spurs lead Memphis 14-4 all-time in the postseason, including a sweep in the Grizzlies’ first postseason berth back in 2004. Coach Gregg Popovich said none of that matters.

“Every night is a new game,” Popovich said.

“You’ve just got to deal

GREENBURGH, N.Y. — Phil Jackson thinks Carmelo Anthony and the Knicks might be better off going their separate ways.

“We have not been able to win with him on the court at this time and I think the direction with our team is that he is a player that would be better off somewhere else and using his talent somewhere he can win or chase that championship,” Jackson said Friday.

Jackson stopped short of saying he wanted to trade his All-Star forward, but certainly seems eager to explore a deal that would help the Knicks get younger and more athletic.

“Right now we need players that are really active, can play every single play, defensively and offensively,” Jackson said. “That’s really important for us.”

Jackson spoke to the local media Friday for the first time since September. The Knicks finished 31-51 in their fourth straight season out of the playoffs.

He met with Anthony a day earlier, a meeting he said was cordial. The 32-year-old veteran wants to play for a winning team, and Jackson explained that it may be time for Anthony to go looking for one elsewhere because the Knicks can’t provide it.

“We just talked about how we could make things the best possible things for both of us,” Jackson said, “(find) a place where he could go to be competitive and to be back in the hunt, and something that would benefit us moving forward as a young, developing team.”

The team’s president of basketball operations says he believes there’s been progress, but signaled he will start another rebuilding of the team, a year after acquiring a number of veterans he hoped would join Anthony in becoming a playoff

MAVERICKS From page B1

Dallas to a 4-17 start.

Since the Mavericks were out of contention, president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson transformed the roster at the trading deadline.

Nerlens Noel, an athletic center and sixth overall pick in 2013, came from Philadelphia in a trade. Undrafted rookie point guard Yogi Ferrell, added on a 10-day contract and now signed for next year, was given a chance to start when veteran Deron Williams was waived by his hometown team.

Seth Curry, Stephen Curry’s younger brother, emerged as an option at both guard spots before a late-season shoulder injury. Argentine rookie Nicolas Brussino showed

with that.”

Some things to know about this series: Yes, Parker and Ginobili remain on the roster, their 15th season together. But this is the first season in San Antonio for Pau Gasol, who started his career with Memphis and is Marc’s older brother. Pau is one of seven new additions to the Spurs this season.

That includes three rookies — Davis Bertans, Dewayne Dedmon and Dejounte Murray — along with veteran David

Elsa / Getty Images file

New York’s Carmelo Anthony may be traded this offseason after the Knicks went 31-51 this past season.

squad.

Moving Anthony will be difficult, given his age and the $54 million remaining on the five-year deal Jackson gave him in 2014. He also granted Anthony a no-trade clause in that contract, but said he doesn’t regret it.

“He’s carried the basic load for this team. I thought he stood up well this year in a lot of tough situations. I can’t regret it. I can’t go back and regret that,” Jackson said.

“Obviously it hasn’t worked out, this partnership together. Somehow or other it didn’t click here with this team, but he’s done his role and played his role quite well.”

Jackson said he warned Anthony after last season the Knicks wouldn’t be able to provide him a winning team, but Anthony opted to stay. The Knicks had trade talks during the season but couldn’t find anything workable, and it was during that time that their relationship suffered, along with the team’s record.

“So in our talks this time we talked about how we’re going to go about doing what we have to do,” Jackson said. “We will take into account his consideration. I told him this is not a situation where we’re going to dump you or do anything like that, but we’re looking to improve ourselves however we can.”

Jackson said he we would want back a “significant player” to replace Anthony, who remains the Knicks’ leading scorer, and was vague on whether he thought Anthony could return if there was no trade.

“That’s a long way down the road, but there’s very few options at that level,” Jackson said. “But there are options.”

some promise as a 3point threat, and the Mavericks like the defense of Dorian FinneySmith.

“I love the way Mark and Donnie turned over the roster at the All-Star break and just pointed us in the direction of developing younger guys for our young core,” Carlisle said. “But we have to have great players.”

Things to consider with the Mavericks currently holding the ninth pick in the draft going into the lottery May 16:

I just can’t imagine myself in a different uniform,” said Nowitzki, who reached 30,000 points for his career and has an outside shot at Wilt Chamberlain for No. 5 on the career list. “If we’re rebuilding, then I’m the face of that.”

DIRK’S OUTLOOK The smooth-shooting 7-footer said a year ago he didn’t want to be part of any rebuilding. But he essentially backed off that, acknowledging once and for all that he’s a Mav for life.

“At the end of the day,

Lee. “It’s a lot different,” Parker said.

POP VS. FIZDALE Popovich has guided the Spurs to the longest postseason streak in major league sports with this now the 20th berth for San Antonio. This is the Grizzlies’ seventh straight with Fizdale the third different coach in that span, and this is his postseason debut as a head coach. “For me personally, I know everybody’s looking at this going: ‘Here’s the greatest coach in the league,

Other player news: — Jackson said Derrick Rose, whose first season with the Knicks ended with him needing surgery to repair torn knee cartilage, told him he wants to return as a free agent “to have a chance to redeem himself as a player.”

— He hopes Joakim

BARNES’ TEAM After signing a max contract at $94 million over four years, Barnes led the Mavericks at 19.2 points per game and could have averaged 20 without a late-season focus on youth. He’s ready to accept the role as the next face of the franchise, and likely will play Nowitzki’s old power forward spot most of the time. It’s where he had his best success this season.

BUT FIRST, NOEL The 6-11 center is a restricted free agent, and

and here’s the youngest guy, and he doesn’t have a chance,”’ Fizdale said.

“So, for me, it frees my mind. I’m taking free swings at Pop right now.

He’s supposed to beat me. But I have a lot of confidence in me. I have a lot of confidence in this team.”

BEYOND THE ARC San Antonio led the NBA shooting 39.1 percent from 3-point range.

The Grizzlies just turned in their best season yet shooting 3s and ranked 14th in the league making

Noah can return to form, after the center had knee surgery and may be headed for shoulder surgery this summer. He signed a four-year, $72 million in July.

“He expressed his great dedication toward getting back to what he was, or who he is as a basketball player, so I have to trust him on that,” Jackson said.

As for Jackson, he painted a picture that’s rosier than reality, saying the Knicks are building a foundation and that fans see progress. As always, he stood firmly behind his belief in the triangle offense, which the Knicks began featuring even more after the All-Star break at Jackson’s insistence after he allowed coach Jeff Hornacek to blend it with his own offensive schemes earlier.

The 11-time champion as a coach, most in NBA history, acknowledged that losing as a first-time executive has been difficult.

“I never took a jump shot, never made a substitution, but the buck stops here,” Jackson said.

Cuban has said the Mavericks are likely to match any offer. Dallas covets Noel’s shot-blocking and general athleticism, and wants to make him more of a threat on the offensive end. “He’s an exciting young talent and I do think he can expand his game. But we’ve got to be careful about doing too much too soon,” Carlisle said.

FERRELL’S FUTURE After a flashy start that got him a multiyear deal, Ferrell was steady enough to make the Mavericks believe he has a future. But Carlisle still isn’t ready to say the former Indiana player is an NBA starter.

“We didn’t have a good record,” Carlisle said. “At this point in time, projecting exactly where he’s going to be is not really fair.”

an average of 9.3 3s per game. A key shooter?

All-Star center Marc Gasol, who made 12 combined over his first eight seasons, knocked down 104 this season.

GUARDING KAWHI Leonard led the Spurs averaging 25.5 points a game, and Grizzlies defensive whiz Tony Allen is out indefinitely with a strained right calf. That leaves Fizdale trying to figure who to use and hopefully slow down Leonard.

THE ZAPATA TIMES | Saturday, April 15, 2017 |

Dear Heloise: Can you tell me why all of a sudden I have LADYBUGS? They are outside on my chimney stack when it's warm, and inside my house. Also, how do I get rid of them? Thanks. -Colette, via fax Colette, while ladybugs aren't dangerous at all, they can be annoying if they get inside your home, and it may be creepy to see lots of them outside on your home.

Make sure there are no broken seals around your windows and doors, and torn screens should be replaced. Breezy days may be in your past -- closed windows and doors will help keep these little buggers at bay.

As far as eliminating them from outside, there's not much you can do. But rest assured, ladybugs pose absolutely no threat to anyone except aphids.

Ladybugs love to eat aphids, and this is beneficial to the environment, because aphids can really

do a number on your garden. -- Heloise SCHEDULED TO A 'T' Dear Heloise: I like to write letters, which means I can easily neglect some necessary chores. I set a "schedule" to get things done: set the oven timer for 30 minutes to clean, 30 minutes to write, 30 minutes to clean, 30 minutes to write.

My friends laugh at me, because if the timer goes off and I'm vacuuming, I leave it and go to the desk to write; same with stopping in the middle of a sentence when writing.

It drives my husband nuts when he happens to be home, but when I'm home alone, I generally end up accomplishing quite a bit. Love your column. -- Brenda R., Fremont, Neb.

B3

B4 | Saturday, April 15, 2017 | THE ZAPATA TIMES

SPORTS

Ex-NFL star Hernandez, serving life, acquitted in two slayings

By Denise Lavoie A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS

BOSTON — Former NFL star Aaron Hernandez, already serving a life sentence for a 2013 murder, was acquitted Friday in a 2012 double slaying prosecutors said was fueled by his anger over a drink spilled at a nightclub.

The former New England Patriots tight end choked back tears as the verdicts were read in court. A few moments later, he looked back at his fiancee and nodded somberly as relatives of the victims sobbed loudly. A defense attorney hugged him.

After six days of deliberations, the jury found Hernandez not guilty of first-degree murder in the killings of Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado but convicted him of unlawful possession of a gun. The judge sentenced him to an additional four to five years in prison,

separate from his existing life sentence.

Suffolk District Attorney Daniel Conley said the victims’ families were devastated by the verdicts and by the defense’s portrayal of the men as “gang bangers” and “drug dealers.”

“These were two hardworking, humble, Cape Verdean immigrants,” Conley said. “It was unnecessary, and it was wrong, and it shouldn’t have been done.”

Conley said prosecutors and the families take solace in the fact Hernandez is serving a life sentence in the killing of Odin Lloyd, a semi-professional football player who was dating the sister of Hernandez’s fiancee. Prosecutors in the double murder trial weren’t allowed to mention his conviction in Lloyd’s case.

Conley said one of the victims’ relatives said, “At least he’s not walking out the door today.”

The defense team had

pointed the finger at Alexander Bradley, a drug dealer and close friend of Hernandez, who was with him the night of the shootings. The defense hammered at Bradley’s credibility, citing his immunity deal with prosecutors to testify against Hernandez, his role as the driver of their car the night of the shootings and his criminal record. Bradley is serving a five-year prison term in Connecticut for firing shots at a Hartford nightclub in 2014.

Bradley testified that Hernandez became enraged after de Abreu bumped into him while dancing at the Boston nightclub, spilling his drink. He said Hernandez later opened fire on the men’s car as they waited at a stoplight.

Prosecutors charged Hernandez with shooting Bradley in the face months after the double slaying to try to silence him as a witness. Bradley lost his right eye. Hernan-

dez was acquitted of witness intimidation in that shooting.

Defense attorney Ronald Sullivan Jr. said the jury was able to see through the “smoke and mirrors” that made up the state’s case. He described Hernandez as a “very good young man who happened to hang out with a very bad guy in Alexander Bradley.”

Conley said prosecutors would not go after Bradley in the killings because they believe they already charged the right person.

“Our theory of the case stands,” Conley said. “In our minds, (the evidence) points inescapably to Aaron Hernandez.”

Jury forewoman Lindsey Stringer read a statement noting the more than 70 witnesses and 380 exhibits presented in the case.

“We based our decision on the evidence presented and the law,” said Stringer, who took no questions.

Prosecutors had in-

Stephan Savoia / Associated Press

Former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez was acquitted of a double homicide in 2012 on Friday. Hernandez is currenlty serving a life sentence for a 2013 murder.

troduced evidence Hernandez got a tattoo that memorialized the double slaying. California tattoo artist David Nelson testified Hernandez requested an image of a revolver with the gun barrel facing forward. Hernandez wanted five bullets visible in the cylinder of the gun and one cylinder empty, Nelson said.

Authorities said Hernandez fired five shots from a revolver into the car carrying de Abreu and Furtado.

Hernandez, 27, grew up in Bristol, Connecticut, and played for the Patriots from 2010 to 2012. About six weeks after Furtado and de Abreu were killed, Hernandez signed a five-

year, $40 million contract with the Patriots and went on to play another season before Lloyd was killed.

He was cut from the team shortly after he was arrested in Lloyd’s killing in June 2013. He was not charged in the 2012 killings until 2014.

Hernandez’s defense team in the double murder trial included Jose Baez, known for winning an acquittal for Florida mom Casey Anthony in the death of her daughter.

Baez, dealing with a medial issue, wasn’t in court Friday.

Hernandez’s conviction in Lloyd’s killing will automatically be reviewed by the state Supreme Judicial Court.

Storylines to focus on as the NBA playoffs get underway He’s been used sparingly by the Los Angeles Clippers this season, getting into just 25 games.

And he might not have much of an on-court role — if any — in the playoffs, though his leadership and playoff experience will surely be valued.

Pierce has played in 163 playoff games, mostly with Boston, the franchise with whom he got his first and so far only ring in 2008.

By Tim Reynolds A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS

With the NBA playoffs starting Saturday, here’s 10 things to know before the second season begins: LEBRON IN FIRST ROUNDS Good luck, Indiana.

LeBron James not only never loses in a firstround series, but the man rarely loses first-round playoff games, period.

He’s played in 51 firstround games. His teams went 2-2 in his first four, and are 42-5 since — including 17-0 since May 6, 2012. James hasn’t played in a Game 6 in a first-round series since 2008.

James has been part of 131 wins so far in his playoff career, tied with San Antonio’s Tony Parker for the most among active players.

More milestones await James in these playoffs, too.

If Cleveland makes a deep run, he may take over the No. 1 spot on the all-time career playoff scoring list. He enters this postseason No. 4 at 5,572 points — behind only No. 3 Kobe Bryant (5,640), No. 2 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (5,762) and No. 1 Michael Jordan (5,987).

Another landmark for James comes Saturday in Game 1 against Indiana, when he makes his 200th playoff appearance.

MVP CANDIDATES COLLIDE Mr. Westbrook, meet Mr. Harden.

No, the Maurice Podoloff Trophy — otherwise known as the MVP trophy — won’t automatically go to the winner. But this will be the rage of the Oklahoma City-Houston first-round series, with presumptive MVP frontrunners Russell Westbrook and James Harden set to lead their teams into the postseason.

Westbrook averaged a triple-double this season, 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds and 10.4 assists for the Thunder. Harden averaged 29.1 points, 11.2 assists and 8.1 rebounds for the Rockets.

Including playoffs, Harden and Westbrook have faced off 16 times, each player walking away a winner in eight of those.

Westbrook has posted five triple-doubles in those games, including two this season.

Jason Miller / Getty Images file

Cleveland’s LeBron James and the defending NBA champion Cavaliers open the playoffs against Indiana on Sunday.

THE SPURS REMAIN FANTASTIC San Antonio is in the postseason for the 20th consecutive year. That’s now tied for the thirdlongest such streak in NBA history.

Philadelphia went 22 consecutive times from 1950 through 1971. Portland made 21 straight trips from 1983 through 2003, and Utah got 20 appearances in a row from 1984 through 2003.

But that doesn’t tell anywhere near the whole story of the Spurs’ consistent excellence.

The Spurs haven’t just had an NBA-record 20 straight winning seasons — they’ve won at least 60 percent of their games in each of those seasons.

That streak is eight seasons longer than any other NBA franchise ever posted, and also the longest in any North American major pro sport (the Montreal Canadiens and San Francisco 49ers had winning percentages of .600 or better in 16 consecutive seasons).

BUSY IN BOSTON Sports fans will be sufficiently busy in Boston over the next few days.

Bulls at Celtics on Sunday. Ottawa at Boston in the NHL playoffs on Monday. Bulls at Celtics on Tuesday. Senators at Bruins on Wednesday.

Oh, let’s not forget the

Milwaukee will play Toronto, Morris and Washington will play Atlanta.

No active player had more games without a playoff appearance than Monroe. Once he plays this weekend, the active leaders in most-gamesbut-no-playoffs become Omri Casspi (499 after this season) and DeMarcus Cousins (487).

There will also be playoff debuts for two referees. Brent Barnaky and Matthew Boland are the newcomers in the pool of 37 refs selected to work first-round games. Boland has more than 800 regular-season games in 15 years on his resume, Barnaky more than 400 in parts of eight seasons.

Stephen Lam / Special to The Chronicle file

Golden State’s Stephen Curry and the Warriors are the favorites to win the NBA championship. It would be Golden State’s second championship in three years.

Boston Marathon on Monday — and of course, the annual Patriots Day game coinciding at Fenway Park that morning, with the Red Sox playing host to the Tampa Bay Rays.

FINALLY, THE POST-

SEASON Greg Monroe has played in 538 regularseason games. Markieff Morris, 448 regularseason games.

Combined, they have zero playoff appearances.

That will change this weekend. Monroe and

HELLO AGAIN The first game of the playoffs will look like the first game of the regular season for some clubs.

Washington visited Atlanta in Game 1 for both teams back in October, and Atlanta will visit Washington for Game 1 of their playoff series Sunday. And Dwyane Wade’s first game with the Chicago Bulls was against Boston, so it seems fitting that his first playoff game with his hometown team comes against the Celtics as well.

FAREWELL, THE TRUTH This postseason will mark the end of Paul Pierce’s career.

ELDER STATESMEN The oldest two playoffbound players this season are Vince Carter and Manu Ginobili.

Odds are, they’ll be on the court together in the Memphis-San Antonio series. The 40-year-old Carter is still a key part of what the Grizzlies do, and the 39-year-old Ginobili — possibly in his final season, though speculating about his retirement has sort of become an annual tradition in San Antonio — plays about 19 minutes per game off the Spurs’ bench.

UPSET WATCH No. 1 seeds almost always beat No. 8 seeds in the opening round. Turner Sports analyst and longtime NBA star Reggie Miller seems to think there’s a chance that might not hold up this year.

He indicated he wouldn’t be shocked if Chicago gave Boston all it wants in the first round.

“If you’re Chicago, you think, hey, Dwyane Wade and (Rajon) Rondo have won championships, Jimmy Butler has gone deep in the playoffs before. We have playoff savvy and we know how to win,” Miller said. “I think this is a great matchup for Chicago.”

VEGAS SAYS ...

The oddsmakers in Las Vegas are showing Golden State as a huge favorite to win the NBA title — 1-2 odds as of Thursday, far ahead of 7-2 second choice Cleveland.

San Antonio is the 9-1 third choice, and Boston is showing up in the sports books at 20-1 despite entering the playoffs as the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.

The long shot? Obviously, that would be Golden State’s first-round opponent, Portland — 300-1 right now to win it all.