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NATIONAL PRESCRIPTION DRUG TAKE BACK
TAMAULIPAS POLICE
Unwanted medications collected Courtesy
Expired or unused drugs were properly disposed of By César G. Rodriguez TH E ZAPATA T IME S
Authorities collected 96 pounds of expired or unused medications as part of the recent National Prescription Drug Take Back on April 29. The Zapata County Community Coalition said in a statement it is always a pleasure to collaborate with amazing people. “Thanks to the Drug Enforcement Administration, Zapata County Sheriff’s Office, Zapata Crime Stoppers, Zapata County Adult Probation, (coalition) members and volunteers,”
the coalition said on Facebook. “And a huge shout out to everyone who stopped by and helped by bringing their expired or unused medications.” DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge James Reed noticed the great turnout throughout the country. “Nationwide, we collected more than 900,000 pounds of unwanted prescription drugs. We worked with more than 4200 law enforcement partners at approximately 5,500 sites around the country,” Reed said. “Locally, we collected 741 Drugs continues on A10
Pictured is the armored vehicle dubbed “Monstruo.”
Officials seize armed vehicle By César G. Rodriguez THE ZAPATA TIME S Courtesy
Authorities collected 96 pounds of expired or unwanted medication during the National Prescription Drug Take Back on April 29.
LAREDO POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION UNITY HALL
TEN RECEIVE JAIME ZAPATA SCHOLARSHIPS
Tamaulipas state police officers recently seized an armored vehicle dubbed “Monstruo” across the border from Starr County, according to authorities. “Monstruos” are used by criminal groups to engage in firefights, the Tamaulipas public safety department said MonTamaulipas continues on A10
ZAPATA COUNTY
Wanted man arrested in Laredo By César G. Rodriguez THE ZAPATA TIME S
César G. Rodriguez / The Zapata Times
Ten young men and women were honored in Laredo as part of the 2017 Jaime Zapata Scholarship.
Friends of Jaime Zapata organized a luncheon for the honorees By César G. Rodriguez TH E ZAPATA T IME S
Ten young Zapatans were among the 2017 Jaime Zapata Scholarship recipients. They were honored Friday in a ceremony held at the Laredo Police Officers Association
Unity Hall. Gabriella Gutierrez, 21, was among the recipients. “I feel very honored to be included with the recipients,” she said. She plans to study nursing at Texas A&M International University.
“This money helps me because right now, it’s very hard financially. Everything helps,” Gutierrez said. This is the sixth year the nonprofit Friends of Jaime Zapata organizes a luncheon to give away scholarships to honor ICE Special Agent Jaime J.
Zapata, who was killed in the line of duty in Feb. 15, 2011 in Mexico. “For us, it’s great to honor my son in a positive way in this community he made his second home,” said Mary Zapata, the agent’s mother. Scholarship continues on A10
A man wanted here on a drug possession charge has been arrested in Laredo while he was playing maquinitas, authorities said. On Thursday, Laredo police responded to reports of an eight-liner establishment operating after hours. Peña Officers responded to the location in the 7000 block of San Bernardo Avenue, next to the Days Inn. While checking the names of the customers, officers said one man returned as wanted out of Zapata County. Police identified him as Gilberto Peña. Peña, 22, was served with the warrant charging him with misdemeanor possession of marijuana.
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
Attorney general pushes tougher sentencing By Sadie Gurman A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
WASHINGTON — The nation's federal prosecutors should bring the toughest charges possible against most crime suspects, Attorney General Jeff Sessions instructed in a move that critics assailed as a
return to failed drug-war policies that unduly affected minorities and filled prisons with nonviolent offenders. The move announced Friday is a reversal of Obama-era policies that is sure to send more people to prison and for much longer terms. It has long been expected from Sessions, a
former federal prosecutor who cut his teeth during the height of the crack cocaine epidemic and who has promised to make combating violence and drugs the Justice Department's top priority. "This policy affirms our responsibility to enforce the Justice continues on A10
Alex Brandon / AP
In this April 18 file photo, Attorney General Jeff Sessions is seen at the Justice Department in Washington.
Zin brief A2 | Saturday, May 13, 2017 | THE ZAPATA TIMES
CALENDAR
AROUND THE WORLD
TODAY IN HISTORY
SATURDAY, MAY 13
ASSOCIATED PRE SS
Lighthouse Assembly of God Church invites you to a conference
Today is Saturday, May 13, the 133rd day of 2017. There are 232 days left in the year.
on the power of the Holy Spirit with international speaker Vivian Boyles. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. 8731 Belize Drive. For more information, call 956-334-6901 or 956-251-1784.
Today's Highlight in History: On May 13, 1917, three shepherd children, Lucia de Jesus dos Santos and two of her cousins, Jacinta and Francisco Marto, reported seeing a vision of the Virgin Mary near Fatima, Portugal; it was the first of six such apparitions that the children claimed to have witnessed.
MONDAY, MAY 15 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, MAY 17 LEGO Night. 6:15 p.m. – 7:15 p.m. McKendrick Ochoa Salinas Branch Library, 1920 Palo Blanco. Free and family friendly. LEGOs, DUPLOs, and LEGO Robotics will be made available to the public for freeplay.
SATURDAY, MAY 20 Harry Potter Book Club. 3 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. McKendrick Ochoa Salinas Branch Library, 1920 Palo Blanco. Free and family friendly. Children and adults are welcome. We will discuss “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” by J.K. Rowling.
SUNDAY, MAY 21 St. Patrick Men's Club steak asado plate sale scholarship fundraiser. 11
a.m. to 2 p.m. St. Patrick Church ground, 555 Del Mar Blvd. $5 per plate. For more information call, 956-324-2432.
MONDAY, MAY 22 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, MAY 24 LEGO Night. 6:15 p.m. – 7:15 p.m. McKendrick Ochoa Salinas Branch Library, 1920 Palo Blanco. Free and family friendly. LEGOs, DUPLOs, and LEGO Robotics will be made available to the public for freeplay.
Alessandra Tarantino / AP
Pope Francis prays at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima on Friday in Fatima, Portugal.
POPE HONORS THOSE WHO URGE PEACE FATIMA, Portugal — Pope Francis urged Catholics on Friday to "tear down all walls" and spread peace as he traveled to this Portuguese shrine town to mark the 100th anniversary of one of the most unique events of the 20th-century Catholic Church: the visions of the Virgin Mary reported by three illiterate shepherd children and the "secrets" she told them. Thousands of pilgrims lined Francis' motorcade route and tossed flower petals. Cheers of "Viva o papa!" — "Long live the pope" — erupted when Francis pulled into Fatima's main
square, which had been doused by heavy rains but was treated to a brilliant warm sun by the time he arrived. There was no official crowd estimate, but the main square has a capacity of 600,000 and was overflowing. Authorities said they expected 1 million people. "It is a big emotion because it is the first time he comes here, and we are always hopeful that something can improve," said Laurindo Pereira, a 55-yearold carpenter. "It is faith. In everything, it is about faith and it is a beautiful thing." — Compiled from AP reports
THURSDAY, MAY 25 Landscaping with Native Plants.
6:30 p.m. Lake Casa Blanca International State Park Ranchito. Presented by George Altgelt, Sr., Soil Scientist, and Danny Gunn, Sr., Master Gardener. Free and open to the public. For more information, email: brushcountrychapter@gmail.com. Villa San Agustin de Laredo Genealogical Society regular meeting.
3-5 p.m. Joe A Guerra Public Library, second floor. Speaker: Judy Jordan, "When It Rains It Pours; The Story of the Jordan Family.” For more information, call Sylvia Reash at 763-1810. Spanish Book Club. 6-8 p.m. Joe A. Guerra Public Library, conference room. Discussion of La Quinta Montaña by Paulo Coelho of Brazil. Power Point on Brazil. For more information, contact Sylvia Reash at 763-1810.
Cyberattack cripples UK hospitals, demands ransoms LONDON — Britain's health service was hit Friday by a huge international cyberattack that froze computers at hospitals across the country. Hospitals in areas across Britain found themselves without access to their computers or phone systems. Many canceled all routine procedures
and asked patients not to come to the hospitals unless it was an emergency. Some chemotherapy patients were even sent home because their records could not be accessed. Most of the affected hospitals were in England, but several facilities in Scotland also reported being hit. Doctors' practices and pharmacies reported similar problems. As similar widespread ransomware attacks were reported in Spain, Romania and elsewhere, experts warned that online extortion attempts by
MONDAY, MAY 29
AROUND THE NATION
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.
Michelle Obama criticizes Trump’s school lunch decision
WEDNESDAY, MAY 31 LEGO Night. 6:15 p.m. – 7:15 p.m. McKendrick Ochoa Salinas Branch Library, 1920 Palo Blanco. Free and family friendly. LEGOs, DUPLOs, and LEGO Robotics will be made available to the public for freeplay.
MONDAY, JUNE 5 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.
SATURDAY, JUNE 10 The Martin High School Class of 1957 60th Reunion. Embassy
Suites, 110 Calle Del Norte. Classmates wishing to attend should register by checking the class website at mhsclassof57.org or calling Irma Perales Mireles at 956-286-6385.
THURSDAY, JUNE 22 Why Invasive Species are So Invasive—An Ecosystem Approach.
6:30 p.m. Lake Casa Blanca International State Park Ranchito. Presented by Stephen Lange, Project Leader, South Texas Ecosystem Project, Chaparral and Daughtrey Wildlife Management Areas. Free and open to the public. For more information, email: brushcountrychapter@gmail.com
WASHINGTON — Michelle Obama on Friday criticized a Trump administration decision to delay federal rules aimed at making school lunch healthier, saying kids will end up "eating crap" instead. Mrs. Obama told an annual health conference in Washington that more nutritionally sound school lunches are needed since millions of kids eat federally subsidized breakfast and lunch at school. Without mentioning President Donald Trump by name, she urged parents to think about the government's decision and "look at motives." "Moms, think about this. I don't care what state you live in, take me out of the equation, like me, don't like me, but think about why someone is OK with
hackers are a growing menace. Hospitals, with their often outdated IT systems and trove of confidential patient data, are a particularly tempting target. British Prime Minister Theresa May said there was no evidence that patient data had been compromised in the attack, and that it had not specifically targeted the National Health Service. "It's an international attack and a number of countries and organizations have been affected," she said. — Compiled from AP reports
Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP
Michelle Obama voiced her concerns at the Partnership for a Healthier American 2017 Healthier Future Summit on Friday.
your kids eating crap," she said. In one of his first major acts, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced earlier this month that the department will delay an upcoming requirement to reduce the amount of sodium in meals. Purdue said he also planned to keep issuing waiv-
ers to a regulation requiring that more whole grains be served at schools. The move partially rolls back rules the former first lady supported as part of her "Let's Move" antichildhood obesity initiative. She said parents shouldn't sit idly by and allow that to happen. — Compiled from AP reports
AROUND TEXAS United flight delayed after scorpion reported aboard HOUSTON — A United flight from Houston to Ecuador was delayed after a scorpion was spotted aboard. United says Flight 1035 re-
turned to the gate Thursday night after a scorpion "reportedly emerged from a customer's clothing." Paramedics examined the man and determined that he hadn't been stung. It's unclear whether a scorpion was found. United says it found a new aircraft for the flight and all passengers were given a meal voucher for the inconvenience.
The flight eventually got underway 3½ hours late. Another man was stung by a scorpion on a United flight from Houston to Calgary, Alberta, last month. United has been under fire since a passenger was violently dragged off an overbooked flight by aviation police in Chicago on April 9. — Compiled from AP reports
On this date: In 1607, English colonists arrived by ship at the site of what became the Jamestown settlement in Virginia (the colonists went ashore the next day). In 1846, the United States declared that a state of war already existed with Mexico. In 1918, the first U.S. airmail stamps, featuring a picture of a Curtiss JN-4 biplane, were issued to the public. (On a few of the stamps, the biplane was inadvertently printed upside-down, making them collector's items.) In 1935, T.E. Lawrence, who earned international fame as Lawrence of Arabia, was critically injured in a motorcycle accident in Dorset, England; he died six days later. In 1940, in his first speech as British prime minister, Winston Churchill told Parliament, "I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat." In 1958, Vice President Richard Nixon and his wife, Pat, were spat upon and their limousine battered by rocks thrown by anti-U.S. demonstrators in Caracas, Venezuela. In 1985, a confrontation between Philadelphia authorities and the radical group MOVE ended as police dropped a bomb onto the group's row house; 11 people died in the resulting fire that destroyed 61 homes. In 1992, the Falun Gong movement had its beginnings in the northeastern Chinese city of Changchun. In 1996, the U.S. Supreme Court, in 44 Liquormart v. Rhode Island, unanimously struck down Rhode Island's ban on ads that listed or referred to liquor prices, saying the law violated free-speech rights. Ten years ago: President George W. Bush made a pilgrimage to the site of the Jamestown settlement in Virginia to mark the 400th anniversary of its founding. Pope Benedict XVI, ending a five-day visit to Brazil, blamed both Marxism and unbridled capitalism for Latin America's problems. Canada won hockey's world championship with a 4-2 victory over Finland. Five years ago: The mutilated bodies of 49 people were found near Monterrey, Mexico, apparent victims of a drug cartel. A gunman assassinated Arsala Rahmani, a former high-ranking Taliban official working to end the decade-long war in Afghanistan. Donald "Duck" Dunn, 70, the bassist who helped create the gritty Memphis soul sound at Stax Records in the 1960s as part of the legendary group Booker T. and the MGs, died in Tokyo while on tour. One year ago: The Obama administration issued a directive requiring public schools to permit transgender students to use bathrooms and locker rooms consistent with their chosen gender identity. President Barack Obama hosted a state dinner honoring the leaders of Sweden, Iceland, Finland, Denmark and Norway following a multilateral summit that Obama used to laud the Nordic states as model global citizens on climate change, security, humanitarian efforts and economic equality. Today's Birthdays: Actor Buck Taylor is 79. Actor Harvey Keitel is 78. Author Charles Baxter is 70. Actress Zoe Wanamaker is 69. Actor Franklyn Ajaye is 68. Singer Stevie Wonder is 67. Ohio Gov. John Kasich is 65. Actress Leslie Winston is 61. Producerwriter Alan Ball is 60. Basketball Hall of Famer Dennis Rodman is 56. "Late Show" host Stephen Colbert is 53. Rock musician John Richardson (The Gin Blossoms) is 53. Actor Tom Verica is 53. Country singer Lari White is 52. Singer Darius Rucker (Hootie and the Blowfish) is 51. Actress Susan Floyd is 49. Contemporary Christian musician Andy Williams (Casting Crowns) is 45. Actress Samantha Morton is 40. Former NBA player Mike Bibby is 39. Former MLB player Barry Zito is 39. Rock musician Mickey Madden (Maroon 5) is 38. Actor Iwan Rheon is 32. Actress-writer-director Lena Dunham is 31. Actor Robert Pattinson is 31. Actress Candice Accola King is 30. Actor Hunter Parrish is 30. Folk-rock musician Wylie Gelber (Dawes) is 29. Actress Debby Ryan is 24. Thought for Today: "The worsttempered people I've ever met were people who knew they were wrong." — Wilson Mizner, American playwright (1876-1933).
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THE ZAPATA TIMES | Saturday, May 13, 2017 |
A3
STATE
Top Texas official out over ‘unacceptable’ Iraq consulting
Texas house fire kills 3, injures 6 ASSOCIATED PRE SS
By Paul J. Weber A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
AUSTIN, Texas — The former watchdog over U.S. reconstruction efforts in Iraq has been forced out of a powerful Texas job after he moonlighted as a consultant for the Iraqi government. Stuart Bowen was asked to resign as inspector general of the sprawling Texas Health and Human Services Commission, said John Wittman, a spokesman for Republican Gov. Greg Abbott. Bowen’s ouster came after Texas Monthly discovered his consulting work. “This was a serious and unacceptable lapse in judgment by Mr. Bowen,” Wittman said Thursday.
Documents show that Bowen was introduced to Trump administraBowen tion officials in recent months as a senior adviser to a Washington law firm representing the Iraq government. He previously was special inspector general for Iraq reconstruction under presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. But in 2015, Abbott hired him to bolster accountability and oversight to the state’s $40 billion health agency, which at the time was reeling from a contracting scandal. In a statement, Bowen said he never worked for
the Iraq government and consulted with an ethics adviser at Texas’ health agency before taking the job. He said he had been approached in October to help with an introduction to the governor of Iraq’s central bank and was later asked to advise the firm Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck on anticorruption efforts in the country. The firm in February wrote letters, some of which mention Bowen, to Vice President Mike Pence, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and others asking for meetings with Iraqi officials. The letters came after Trump issued an executive order on immigration barring refugees and citizens of seven predominantly Muslim countries, in-
cluding Iraq, from entering the U.S. Bowen said his work did not concern the ban. “I have never worked for Iraq and was not involved in any law firm activities regarding the travel ban issue,” Bowen said. State officials on Thursday released a draft contract found on Bowen’s agency email account from the law firm. The unsigned copy called for Bowen to start in January and be paid $300 an hour “to further Government of Iraq work” earned by the firm. The contract said that Bowen would not perform work that would require him to register with the federal government as a foreign agent.
CONROE, Texas — Three children trapped on the second floor of a burning house died early Friday, despite the efforts of police officers to rescue them as flames engulfed the building near Houston. Six members of the same family were hurt, including three with critical injuries, authorities said. Montgomery County sheriff's Lt. Scott Spencer said the children who died ranged in age from 6 to 13 years and that their bodies were found amid the debris of the home that collapsed during the fire. The blaze spread to adjacent properties, destroying at least one more home,
Spencer said. About 10 people lived at the house, including a woman and her brother, both with children, and their parents, Spencer said. Montgomery County Fire Marshal Jimmy Williams said two Shenandoah police officers were the first to arrive and helped members of the extended family escape. But Williams said the heat and flames prevented the officers from climbing a stairwell. "They tried to reach the second floor but they were not able to reach the children," he said. The officers were hospitalized for smoke inhalation and other injuries. A third officer with another department also was hurt.
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Zopinion
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A4 | Saturday, May 13, 2017 | THE ZAPATA TIMES
COLUMN
OTHER VIEWS
Deadline day in the Texas House By Ken Herman COX N EWSPAPE RS
State Rep. Armando Martinez’ 2017 legislative effort to criminalize a dangerous strain of stupidity began with a New Year’s Eve bullet in his skull and ended Thursday night with a kick in his aspirations. With the May 29 end of the legislative session approaching, Thursday was the last day for the Texas House members to consider House bills other than those destined for the uncontested list. For House members with bills scheduled for debate, it was a day when every tick counted. Each minute spent on something meant the legislative death of something else. And, in the midst of personal and petty politics that brought progress to a halt as the deadline approached, the House found a way to move on. More on that in a minute. It was destined to be a long day in the chamber, one during which Speaker Joe Straus took some breaks and handed the almighty gavel to stand-in speakers, many of whom lean heavily on the House whisperer. That would be the parliamentarian who whispers instructions to the substitute speakers on exactly what to say. Inevitably, they dutifully repeat, word for word, what the parliamentarian tells them to say. By late afternoon, it was something of a twilight zone on the House floor as we heard surreal stuff such as Rep. Ron Reynolds, D-Dallas, voicing support -- albeit limited to “buy American” efforts -for President Donald Trump. On Twitter there was crankyosity, such as this from Rep. Mike Schofield, R-Katy, “The Texas House is now wasting valuable time debating a Senate bill we could hear tomorrow while House bills die at midnight.” On the positive side, Rep. Jason Villalba, RDallas, the House candyman, made a well-received delivery to the press table. At 6 p.m., barbecue buffet was set up in the back hall for the reps. At 6:30, there was brief discussion on whether a specific amendment would result in the phrase “wiener dog” being placed in state law for the first time. There seemed to be consensus that it would be. By 9:30, frustrated members of the House Freedom Caucus stalled action by “chubbing,” the House’s time-honored method of asking questions, filing amendents and generally becoming legislative traffic hazards to waste time and kill bills further down the list.
They picked a non-controversial bill concerning industrial workforce training. The chubbing lasted about an hour until Straus, at 11 p.m., solemnly instructed House members to take their seats to hear a personal privilege speech from Rep. Drew Springer, R-Muenster, who wanted to talk about the next bill scheduled for debate, a measure that would allow investigational stem cell treatments for Texans with severe chronic disease or terminal illness. Springer, crying, begged the chubbers to stand down to allow HB 810 to come up for consideration. Springer’s wife, Lydia, has been in a wheelchair since a diving accident more than 20 years ago. The treatments envisioned by HB 810 offer some hope for her and many other Texans, Springer told colleagues. The bill, he said, “might give somebody like my wife a chance to walk.” “Members,” he said with raw emotion, “I’m asking you if there’s any way we can move to get to (HB) 810 and be able to help these Texans that are struggling from so many different things.” By then, supportive colleagues clustered around him as he struggled to finish his remarks. “It’s right in front of us and to know the apple is so close and I can’t grab it,” Springer said, crying. “So members, please, if you can find it in your heart I would appreciate it if we can move a bit forward tonight.” The chubbers demurred long enough for the House to OK the bill, which now goes to the Senate. By then, with 37 minutes to go, we were still pages and pages away from Martinez’ bill. He had known for hours he’d need a miracle. Midnight came. No miracle. “I think it’s going to be pretty tough to get to it,” he had told me when he arrived in the chamber. “It’s part of the process,” Martinez said of the death of his bill. I asked him if he wished he’d have filed the bill prior to Feb. 28, a late date. “There were a lot of things we were working on,” he said, adding he was unable to pre-file the bill prior to the legislative session, “because obviously we didn’t know this was something that was going to happen.” Yes, I helpfully advised, you should have gotten shot in the head sooner. Ken Herman is a columnist for the Austin American-Statesman.
LETTERS POLICY Laredo Morning Times does not publish anonymous letters. To be published, letters must include the writer's first and last names as well as a phone number to verify identity. The phone number IS NOT published; it is used solely to verify identity and to clarify content, if necessary. Identity of the letter writer must be verified before publication. We want to assure our readers that a letter is written by the person who signs the
letter. Laredo Morning Times does not allow the use of pseudonyms. This space allows for public debate of the issues of the day. Letters are edited for style, grammar, length and civility. No name-calling or gratuitous abuse is allowed. Also, letters longer than 500 words will not be accepted. Via email, send letters to editorial@lmtonline.com or mail them to Letters to the Editor, 111 Esperanza Drive, Laredo, TX 78041.
EDITORIAL
Sean Spicer is still contradicting President Donald Trump By Callum Borchers WASHINGTON P O ST
Perhaps, after a twoday absence, White House press secretary Sean Spicer is out of the loop. Maybe his ego simply will not allow him to admit that he was wrong. Either way, Spicer still is not on the same page as President Donald Trump. Trump made clear on Thursday in an interview with NBC News that he had made up his mind to fire James Comey as FBI director before asking the Justice Department to produce a report on Comey. “Oh, I was going to fire regardless of recommendation,” Trump told Lester Holt. The president’s statement contradicted Spicer’s assertion from Tuesday night that Trump made the call based on a critical memo authored by Deputy Attorney Gen-
eral Rod Rosenstein. “It was all him,” Spicer had said of the decision, referring to Rosenstein. Incredibly, Spicer returned to the White House briefing room Friday and told reporters that Trump “made a decision, in part based on the recommendation” after Trump said a day earlier that he “was going to fire regardless of recommendation.” Spicer seemed disconnected from the change Trump had made to the official White House explanation of his decision. “Why did you come out with information that was later contradicted by the president two days later?” Time magazine’s Zeke Miller asked during Friday’s briefing. “Why were the American people given incorrect information night?” “I don’t necessarily believe that that’s true,
Zeke,” Spicer replied. What? It is true. Or, if it’s not, then Trump lied to NBC on Thursday. Surely Spicer doesn’t want to give the impression that the president lied. His response made zero sense. “What can the administration do better when it comes to communication?” Trey Yingst of One America News asked at another point during Friday’s briefing. “Today the president tweeted out that he felt that from behind that podium, it’s not always possible to present the information with perfect accuracy.” “As many of you know, we get here early; we work pretty late,” Spicer answered. “We do what we can, but the president is an activist president. He keeps a very robust schedule, as many of you are very well aware and as you can tell by the activities of next week
alone, and I think sometimes we don’t have an opportunity to get in to see him, to get his full thinking.” All of that makes sense. But if Trump’s spokespeople haven’t had an opportunity to “get his full thinking,” they ought to just say so, instead of providing false information to reporters. Spicer’s deputy, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, said “no” when asked on Wednesday whether Trump had made his decision before commissioning the report on Comey. Like Spicer, she was wrong. Like Spicer, she later blamed the error on having not spoken to Trump. Unlike Spicer, however, Sanders got in line with Trump when she said on Thursday that “he had already made that decision.” Spicer is still telling a story that does not match the president’s.
OP-ED
Pregnancy myths exposed By Amy Tuteur WASHINGTON P O ST
Pregnancy has never been safer. Ironically, as major risks have receded into the past, minor risks have taken center stage. Pregnancy often feels like a minefield: Watch what you eat, watch how you exercise, watch what you do. But many of these worries are based on myths. Here are five of the most stubborn. Myth No. 1 Prenatal vitamins are necessary for healthy pregnancies. Where did we get the idea that big, expensive multivitamins are necessary for a healthy pregnancy? For women who aren’t malnourished, nearly every vitamin and mineral contained in those bulky pills appears to have no impact on pregnancy outcomes. Since folate and iron are each available on their own, there’s no need to take a huge, often nauseating prenatal vitamin, which does little more than give women expensive urine. Myth No. 2 Pregnant women should monitor their diets carefully. Despite alarming articles warning against
foods from coffee to chicken wings, elaborate dietary rules aren’t necessary. The most important guidance for pregnant women in the United States involves foods that can transmit illnesses; that’s why women should avoid undercooked meats and raw dairy products. But there is no evidence that small amounts of caffeine affect unborn babies. Studies on alcohol are more ambiguous. Although it is quite clear that large amounts of alcohol can cause fetal alcohol syndrome, the limit of safe consumption is unknown. Myth No. 3 Bed rest can prevent miscarriage. According to Natural Fertility Info, one of the oldest alternative-medicine advice sites about pregnancy, “Bed rest and removal of stress factors is the most important first step to take” to prevent miscarriage. It’s not a rare experience: Up to 20 percent of pregnancies will naturally end in miscarriage. More broadly, studies have found that bed rest does not change a woman’s chances of having a miscarriage. So why did doctors start recommend-
ing bed rest to reduce miscarriages? It’s not because there was ever high-quality scientific evidence to support it. At most, it seemed like a harmless recommendation — a way for women to feel that they were doing something to preserve the pregnancy, though benefits in the first trimester are usually limited to peace of mind. Myth No. 4 Pregnant women should not have X-rays. Like any medical procedure, X-rays carry risks, whether one is pregnant or not. But as the Mayo Clinic notes, having an X-ray while pregnant usually poses no danger to the developing fetus. And addressing a mother’s health issues could be vitally important to both her and her child. Myth No. 5 Pregnant women should avoid vaccinations. Alternative-medicine practitioners and those selling “natural” health advice often tell women to avoid being vaccinated while pregnant. It’s best to make sure you are fully up to date on your vaccinations before you become pregnant, since some vaccines do pose risks during preg-
nancy. But others are safe, such as those for tetanus, flu and pertussis (whooping cough). In fact, the pertussis vaccine also protects babies after birth. Whooping cough is one of the greatest infectious threats to infants. With the recent resurgence of the disease because of under-vaccination, babies younger than 6 months (and therefore not fully vaccinated) face serious risks. We’ve always known that mothers can pass whooping cough antibodies across the placenta. Immunizing or re-immunizing women in the third trimester boosts the production of maternal antibodies, thereby increasing the antibodies their babies get. This can dramatically reduce the risk of an infant contracting whooping cough, with its high incidence of serious complications and death. Pertussis vaccine is recommended for every pregnant woman in every pregnancy. Amy Tuteur is an obstetrician-gynecologist and former clinical instructor at Harvard Medical School and the author of “Push Back: Guilt in the Age of Natural Parenting.”
THE ZAPATA TIMES | Saturday, May 13, 2017 |
A5
STATE
Veteran gets life for killings A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
DALLAS — A Dallasarea military veteran will serve life imprisonment without parole for the 2013 shooting deaths of four women, including his girlfriend and estranged wife. A judge sentenced 48year-old Erbie Lee Bowser on Friday after a Dallas
County jury deliberated for 10 hours over two days before becoming deadlocked on a death penalty. He was convicted of capital murder on May 5 in the fatal shootings of girlfriend Toya Smith and her 17-year-old daughter, Tasmia Allen, in Dallas. Investigators say Bowser then drove to nearby DeSoto and fatally shot his
wife, Zina Bowser, and her 28-year-old daughter Neima Williams. Four other children were wounded. Bowser’s attorneys had argued that he’s mentally ill and suffered concussions playing football. Bowser is a former member of the Dallas Mavericks ManiAAC male dance troupe.
Police fatally shoot gunman at Texas car dealership A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
ARLINGTON, Texas — Investigators say North Texas police fatally shot an armed man who drove to a used car dealership and demanded to speak to the owner then opened fire on officers. Arlington police Lt. Christopher Cook says no officers were hurt in Thursday afternoon's incident. The name of the suspect wasn't immediately released.
Cook says employees say the man stopped at the dealership several times in recent weeks, demanding to see the owner. Workers told investigators that the suspect had a knife during one visit, so when he showed up again Thursday the staff called Arlington police. Authorities aren't sure why the man sought out the owner before the standoff in the dealership parking lot. Cook says the suspect twice fired at officers through windows of his car before police returned fire.
Oregon man sentenced for groping girl on Texas flight By Steven Dubois ASSOCIATED PRE SS
PORTLAND, Ore. — A federal judge on Thursday sentenced an Oregon man to home detention and probation for groping a 13-year-old girl who was traveling alone a flight from Dallas to Portland last year. U.S. District Judge Michael Mosman gave Chad Camp credit for the nearly 11 months he has spent in jail since his June arrest. He will be on home confinement for six months while participating in an outpatient treatment program for alcohol dependency and a severe opiate addiction. In addition to attending treatment, the judge said Camp can leave his suburban Portland home to do “useful activities,”
such as looking for work or meeting with his attorney. “What Camp you won’t be able to do is go out and party with friends,” he said. Mosman imposed a five-year term of probation, and the 27-year-old Camp must register as a sex offender for 15 years. Camp apologized during the brief hearing at the federal courthouse in Portland. The victim was not in the courtroom. Her family has filed a $10 million lawsuit against American Airlines. With that matter pending, they did not seek restitution. Camp pleaded guilty in January to two
charges — making an indecent sexual proposal to a minor and assault with intent to commit abusive sexual contact of a minor. FBI agents arrested Camp after the flight landed at Portland International Airport. Authorities said a flight attendant delivering snacks noticed Camp’s hand in the girl’s crotch area and a tear falling down her face. Camp was returning to Portland after completing a residential treatment for alcohol dependency in Florida. A witness told police Camp had at least four mixed drinks during a layover in Dallas. Camp acknowledged having a lot of alcohol before sitting next to the girl.
Sports&Outdoors A6 | Saturday, May 13, 2017 | THE ZAPATA TIMES
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION: SAN ANTONIO SPURS
Spurs face quick turnaround before conference finals San Antonio faces off with Golden State By Kristie Rieken A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
HOUSTON — The San Antonio Spurs are thrilled to be in the Western Conference finals for the first time since winning the title in 2014. But they won’t have much time to celebrate with a series against the well-rested Golden State Warriors starting on Sunday. In fact, they were barely going to give themselves two hours to bask in their 114-75 win over the Houston Rockets in Game 6 before looking ahead. “We’re just going to enjoy this one right now until midnight, at least,” Danny Green said. “I think this one prepared us for the next one. They’re a fast-paced team that likes to shoot on the perimeter. We have to communicate even better and be more perfect because it doesn’t get any easier.”
While San Antonio fought through six games with the Rockets, the Warriors have been off since wrapping up a sweep of the Utah Jazz on Monday. Along with the fatigue factor, there are also questions about the their lineup heading in Game 1 after All-Star Kawhi Leonard sat out on Thursday night after rolling his left ankle in Game 5. Coach Gregg Popovich didn’t provide many details about Leonard’s injury on Thursday. When asked if he protested when he chose to sit him, Popovich said: “He’d rather play.” But it still seemed to be bothering him quite a bit after the game when he headed to the bus still walking with a noticeable limp. The Spurs will certainly need his stellar defensive skills to contend with a Warriors team that not only swept the Jazz, but
also eliminated the Trail Blazers in four games in the first round. “We understand that the team we’re now facing is the most dangerous team in the league with a lot of weapons,” Pau Gasol said. “The challenges they present, in some ways, are similar to Houston as far as the ability to shoot the ball from the 3-point line, but they have different personnel overall.” The Spurs know that limiting Golden State’s 3-point shooting will be a key in the next round, just as slowing Houston from long range was in the conference semifinals. Houston averaged 20.5 3-pointers in its two wins and just 13 in the four losses. Leonard’s ankle problem wasn’t the only injury San Antonio dealt with in this series, as it came after the Spurs lost veteran Tony Parker to a seasonending quadriceps injury
in Game 2. Neither injury seemed to have a major impact on the team, except for the fact that it gave LaMarcus Aldridge a chance to emerge as a dominant scorer for the Spurs. The 11-year veteran, in his second season with the Spurs, averaged just 9.5 points in the first two games before averaging 23.5 in the last four, highlighted by a season-high 34 in Game 6. Though the Spurs won two of three regular-season meetings with Golden State, they know that this series will be much more difficult than their previous meetings this season. But they’re ready for the challenge. “We’re hungry, we’re not satisfied,” Mills said. “This was a good series and we’re moving on, but we’re not satisfied. Everyone is focused in on what we’re trying to achieve here.”
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION: HOUSTON ROCKETS
Kin Man Hui / San Antonio Express-News
Forward LaMarcus Aldridge and the Spurs eliminated the Rockets from the postseason in a blowout Thursday night in Houston despite not having either Kawhi Leonard or Tony Parker in their lineup.
NHL: DALLAS STARS
HARDEN’S GREAT SEASON ENDS IN EMBARRASSING LOSS Jeff McIntosh / Associated Press file
Former Kings goalie Ben Bishop signed a six-year, $29.5-million deal to join the Stars next season. The deal comes less than a week after acquiring rights to the 30-year-old Bishop for a fourth-round pick in next month's draft.
Stars sign goalie Bishop to 6-year, $29.5M deal Ronald Martinez / Getty Images
Houston’s Trevor Ariza and James Harden walk off the court after losing Game 6 of the Western Conference Semifinals to the Spurs. Harden had an MVP-caliber season but it came to a disappointing end as he finished with 10 points in a blowout loss against a Spurs team without Kawhi Leonard.
Rockets eliminated by Spurs in Game 6 blowout at home By Kristie Rieken A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
HOUSTON — James Harden went up for a 3-pointer, changed his mind and tossed the ball between two teammates. He drove for a layup before inexplicably throwing the ball into a sea of San Antonio Spurs. After putting together an MVPcaliber year, the indelible images of Harden and the Houston Rockets will be the lowlights from a 39-point loss in Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals to a San Antonio team playing without Kawhi Leonard and starting point guard Tony Parker. And those images will linger for some time. Harden, who didn’t even attempt a shot until midway through the second quarter, was 2 of 11 and finished with 10 points to tie a season low as the Rockets were embarrassed on their home court on Thursday night to end their season with a thud.
“I feel so sorry for him because he’s had an unbelievable — he’s had an historic year,” coach Mike D’Antoni said. Most people outside the organization aren’t feeling sorry for the point guard, and were left scratching their heads at how such an elite player could perform so poorly in a game that mattered so much. Harden wasn’t available on Friday, but took blame for the loss after the game. However, he had no answers as to what went so terribly wrong on Thursday night. “It’s frustrating definitely,” he said. “Especially the way we were resilient all year long, fought through adversity. We’ve been really good at bouncing back ... it hurts. It stings. We’ve just got to figure out a way to get better and we will.” Harden averaged 29.1 points, 11.2 assists and 8.1 rebounds a game — all career bests — in helping Houston to a 55-27 record and the third best record in the NBA a year after
the Rockets squeaked into the playoffs an eighth seed. He had 22 triple-doubles in the regular season and became the first player in NBA history to have 2,000 points (2,356), 900 assists (907) and 600 rebounds (659) in a single season. He displayed flashes of brilliance in the playoffs to be sure, but couldn’t deliver when the Rockets needed it most. Houston had a chance to tie Game 5 as overtime expired, but Harden’s shot was blocked from behind by Manu Ginobili. The Spurs carried that momentum into Game 6 in Houston, and Harden didn’t respond. He was out of sorts from the start and the Rockets were all but out of the game by halftime. Harden is a leading MVP candidate, and could walk away with the award next month. But even bringing it to Houston for the first time since Hakeem Olajuwon won it in 1994 is unlikely remove that terrible taste of how the season ended.
ASSOCIATED PRE SS
FRISCO, Texas — The Dallas Stars have locked up a goalie with Stanley Cup Final experience in hopes of solving one of their biggest problems. Ben Bishop signed a six-year, $29.5 million deal with the Stars, whose announcement Friday came only three days after the team acquired rights to the 30-year-old goalie from the Los Angeles Kings. Dallas gave up a fourth-round pick in next month’s NHL draft. The Stars, who last month re-introduced Ken Hitchcock as their coach after firing Lindy Ruff, see the two-time Vezina Trophy finalist as their new starter in net. They had a two-goalie system with Kari Lehtonen and Antti Niemi each of the last two seasons, and missed the playoffs this year. While the 6-foot-7 Bishop was born in Denver, he graduated from high school in Frisco. That was back when there was only
one high school in the suburban area north of downtown Dallas where the Stars’ practice facility is located. At age 18, Bishop played during the 2004-05 season for the Texas Tornado, an NAHL team out of that same building as the Stars. Before missing the playoffs this year with their two 33-year-old goalies from Finland, the Stars had been the top seed in the Western Conference in 2015-16 when Lehtonen and Niemi both won 25 games in the regular season before Dallas was ousted in the second round of the playoffs. Lehtonen and Niemi are both under contract for next season at a combined $10.4 million. Niemi has a $4.5 million salary for next season, and the Stars could buy him out with a salary cap hit of $1.5 million each of the next two years. In 270 career NHL regular-season games over his career, Bishop has a 2.32 GAA and a .919 save percentage.
Zfrontera THE ZAPATA TIMES | Saturday, May 13, 2017 |
RIBEREÑA EN BREVE Proyecto gastronómico 1 “Ven a comer. Recorre México a través de su gastronomía”, organizado por el Consulado General de México y el Instituto Cultural Mexicano invita a la comunidad a visitar los restaurantes Palenque Grill en sus dos ubicaciones, Siete Banderas, La Mariscana, Thirty Thirty, Lolitas Bistro, Fuddruckers, El Capataz, Border Foundry y el restaurante Zaragoza del hotel La Posada. Pida el Menú Prehispánico Fusión Gourmet, hasta el 21 de mayo.
Miguel Bosé e Intocable
CIUDAD CAMARGO, MX
Decomisan “monstruo” Encuentran camión blindado utilizado por grupo criminal el lunes. Los oficiales descubrieron el vehículo el domingo mientras patrullaban un área Oficiales de policía del rural en la municipalidad de estado de Tamaulipas, México, recientemente decomisa- Ciudad Camargo, Tamaulipas. Las autoridades dijeron ron un vehículo blindado denominado “Monstruo”, en que vieron una bodega abandonada. En el interior, los la frontera mexicana a la altura del Condado de Starr, oficiales encontraron un de acuerdo a las autoridades. camión armado marca Ford que portaba placas de Texas. Los “Monstruos” son Las autoridades están utilizados por los grupos criminales para participar en investigando quiénes son los propietarios. El caso permabalaceras, dijo el Departamento de SeguridadPública, nece bajo investigación. Por César G. Rodríguez TIEMP O DE ZAPATA
1 Presentación de Miguel Bosé con su gira Estaré Tour 2017, el sábado 13 de mayo, desde las 20:30 p.m. en Laredo Energy Arena, 6700 Arena Boulevard,. Boletos en ticketmaster. 1 Intocable y Sólido en vivo en Casa Blanca Ballroom a partir de las 7 p.m., el sábado 13 de mayo. Reservaciones llame al 956-726-9393.
Foto de cortesía | Gobierno de Tamaulipas
Un camióm blindado denominado “Monstruo” fue encontrado en Ciudad Mier, Tamaulipas, México. Autoridades mexicanas dijeron que los grupos criminales utilizan este tipo de vehículos para participar en balaceras.
FRIENDS OF JAIME ZAPATA
MIGUEL ALEMÁN, MX
ENTREGAN BECAS
Trabajan a favor de áreas rurales
CARRERA/ CAMINATA 5 K 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.
E SPECIAL PARA TIEMP O DE ZAPATA
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. LABORATORIO COMPUTACIONAL 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 956849-1411. 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 956-765-81 983. GRUPOS DE APOYO 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.
A7
Foto por César G. Rodríguez | Tiempo de Zapata
Diez jóvenes fueron honrados en Laredo con la entrega de las becas Jaime Zapata Scholarship 2017.
Reconocen a diez estudiantes de Zapata en ceremonia Por César G. Rodríguez TIEMP O DE ZAPATA
Diez jóvenes de Zapata estuvieron entre los acreedores de las becas Jaime Zapata Scholarships 2017. Ellos fueron honrados el viernes en una ceremonia llevada a cabo en el salón de la Asociación de Oficiales de Policía de Laredo. Gabriella Gutiérrez, de 21 años, estuvo entre las beneficiadas. “Me siento muy honrada de haber sido incluída entre los acreedores a la beca”, dijo. Ella planea estudiar enfermería en la universidad Texas A&M
International University. “Este dinero me ayuda porque ahora mismo, es muy difícil económicamente. Todo ayuda”, dijo Gutiérrez. Este es el sexto año que la organización sin fines de lucro Amigos de Jaime Zapata oraniza una comida para dar las becas en honor del agente especial de ICE Jaime J. Zapata, quien perdió la vida en el cumplimiento del deber el 15 de febrero en el 2011 en México. “Para nosotros, es grandioso dar homenaje a mi hijo de una forma positiva en esta comunidad a la que hizo su segundo hogar”,
dijo Mary Zapata, la madre del agente. “Esto ayuda a que los estudiantes tengan éxito. Mi esperanza para ellos que vayan a la universidad y que tengan éxito”. Rosy Gregory, directora de Amigos de Jaime Zapata, dijo que la organización continúa haciendo eventos para mantener viva la memoria del agente Zapata. “Queremos agradecer a la comunidad y a todos los oficiales del orden por este sacrificio último que hacen”, dijo. “Queremos reconocer todo lo que hace la policía en estos tiempos difíciles. Nunca retroceden”.
Miguel Alemán, México— El Secretario de Desarrollo Rural del municipio de Miguel Alemán, México, Rolando López Aguilar, informó este martes que los trabajos que se vienen realizando en la parte sur del municipio son en el sentido de rehabilitar caminos y brechas además de trabajar en el alumbrado público de toda el área municipal. El funcionario dijo que todos los trabajos hasta la fecha realizados, van haciéndose en coordinación con el departamento de Servicios Primarios, recibiendo ambas dependencias las instrucciones de la alcaldesa Rosa Icela Corro Acosta, en el sentido de atender los requerimientos de los habitantes del medio rural. “Hasta el momento hemos trabajado sobre Los Treviño, Arcabuz, Los Altitos, La Sandía, y una parte de San Antonio, Ahí te podemos informar que los trabajos de rehabilitación de caminos y reposición de lámparas, casi ha finalizado”, dijo López Aguilar. Por otra parte informó que faltan los poblados de Tres Palmas, El Salitrillo, Cerro Azul, y Los García, ya que el material que estuvo utilizando se terminó, agregando que para el fin de semana se estará trabajando en las áreas faltantes.
COLUMNA
Gobernador se arranca la vida Por Raúl Sinencio Chávez TIEMP O DE ZAPATA
Los mandatarios de Tamaulipas dan con frecuencia de qué hablar. Existen casos que se remontan a Nuevo Santander, predecesor de la entidad federativa más extrema del noreste mexicano. Hasta San Carlos nos conduce este repaso. Capital del enclave novosantanderino surgido en las medianías del siglo XVIII, casi 2.000 personas congregan la villa. Despunta ahí la primavera de 1804 y el tranquilo vecindario de pronto se estremece. Atrae miradas el recinto en que habita y atiende la máxima autoridad del rumbo. Impactante noticia corre de boca a oreja. Cada devota se persigna con alarma. En forma inevitable los ancianos quizás se
acuerden del fundador y primer gobernante de Nuevo Santander, José de Escandón y Helguera. El también conde de Sierra Gorda acumula tanto poder omnímodo, que bajo graves cargos termina sometido a juicio y en 1767 pierde la investidura. Concentrado en la Ciudad de México, allá muere después, lejos del pretérito feudo. Sucesor propietario, Vicente González de Santianés a la postre hace tabla rasa. Y de la villa de Santander –residencia de Escandón—cambia a San Carlos el asiento capitalino del polígono norteño. Sin nadie imaginar borrascas adelante, en 1802 asume la gubernatura septentrional Francisco Ixart, teniente coronel. Según protocolos en boga, recibe nombramiento del mismísimo Carlos IV. Recién venido de España, desconoce las complejidades del
área. Peor todavía: la formación castrense lo hace proclive al despotismo. Pronto refleja algo de ello. Porque transcurridos sólo dos años, contra él interpone formal queja el teniente de milicias José Esteban de la Serna. Aduce injusticias al imponérsele castigos disciplinarios. Revisada la causa, decreta el virrey José de Iturrigaray liberar al ofendido y reivindicarlo en las filas milicianas. Parece que por sentarse precedentes sin parangón, el veredicto deprime a don Francisco. De cualquier modo, frescos los hechos referidos, el teniente coronel amanece muerto al interior del palacio gubernamental. Lo descubren el miércoles 18 de abril de 1804, en la recámara que ocupa el ángulo sureste del nivel bajo. Impresiona verlo. El pecho tiene clavado filoso cuchillo, ten-
dido Ixart sobre el piso, en medio de enormes charcos de sangre. Cree posible el comandante regional Félix María Calleja que subalternos inconformes ejecutaran por venganza el crimen. Ante sospechas de magnicidio, abre pesquisas inmediatas Pedro de Alba, teniente y sustituto interino. Diligencias e interrogatorios duran meses enteros. Todo consta en gruesas carpetas. Las pruebas esclarecen que puertas y ventanas estaban cerradas por dentro. Imposible resulta el ingreso de extraños a los exclusivos aposentos. Sin ninguna duda puede determinarse que el propio funcionario se arranca la vida, tal vez molesto con mecanismos de vigilancia y contrapesos. Merece cristiana sepultura, que hubieran prohibido a otro suicida, falto de relevancia.
A8 | Saturday, May 13, 2017 | THE ZAPATA TIMES
NATIONAL
5 immigrant women School: Boy, 8, who vie for Miss USA killed himself never
said he was bullied
By Regina Garcia Cano A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
LAS VEGAS — Five of the contestants vying for the Miss USA title have a message to immigrant girls and women watching the pageant this weekend: Set goals, work hard and don't stay in the shadows. The contestants know what they are talking about as they were all born in other countries and immigrated to the U.S. at young ages as their families pursued their versions of the American Dream. The women are now all U.S. citizens. "I want them to see that anything is possible if you work hard," said Linnette De Los Santos, who immigrated with her family from the Dominican Republic when she was 5 years old. "As Miss USA, I would love to be able to be that inspiration for our immigrant community. If I would have stopped following my dreams and working hard towards what I wanted, I wouldn't be sitting here as Miss Florida USA or in law school ready to become an immigration attorney." The competition airs Sunday from Las Vegas. De Los Santos, Miss North Dakota Raquel Wellentin, Miss Hawaii Julie Kuo, Miss Connecticut Olga Litvinengo and Miss New Jersey Chhavi Verg spoke to The Associated Press about the opportunities and challenges they've faced as immigrants. Their remarks stand in stark contrast to the scandal that enveloped the pageant in 2015, when part owner and now President Donald Trump offended Hispanics when he made anti-immigrant remarks in announcing his bid for the White House. Trump
By Lisa Cornwell ASSOCIATED PRE SS
John Locher / AP
In this May 11 photo, Miss New Jersey USA Chhavi Verg, right, competes during a preliminary competition for Miss USA in Las Vegas.
co-owned The Miss Universe Organization with NBCUniversal, but the network and the Spanishlanguage broadcaster Univision quickly cut ties with him, refusing to air the show. Trump sued both networks, eventually settling and selling off the entire pageant to talent management company WME/IMG. Wellentin and her family left the Philippines over safety fears when she was 2 years old. Their first taste of American life was in the small community of Enderlin, North Dakota, where she and her siblings felt isolated. "Nobody wanted to talk to me at all. I came home one day and I asked my dad 'Why am I so different? Why isn't anyone talking to me?'" Wellentin said. "My dad told me, 'You know, you are not different. You are very unique yourself. You have to be strong and really accept this negativity from other people and have it motivate you.' I still keep that in my mind." Their situation improved when they moved to the larger and more diverse Fargo, North Dakota. Wellentin, 24, who wants to be a middle school teacher after she completes a student-teach-
ing requirement, said her experiences have taught her to not take no for an answer. "I want to tell people that they need to make sure that they should not allow anyone to tell them that they can't do something because only you can determine your future," she said. Like thousands of other immigrants, Litvinengo moved to the U.S. with her family after her mother won the lottery for a green card. She was 3 when they relocated from Ukraine a few years after the Soviet Union collapsed. The 27-year-old business owner ventured into pageants when she could no longer play basketball after injuring a foot in high school. She won Miss Connecticut Teen on her first try but had to compete five times to reach the Miss USA competition. Her persistence, Litvinengo said, shows that every effort counts. "I want to showcase that no matter who you are, no matter what your background is, your size or what you have done in the past, through hard work and discipline, through perseverance and determination, you really can achieve what you put your heart towards."
Arizona police: Woman allegedly switched flour for baby formula A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
TUCSON, Ariz. — A Tucson woman is accused of substituting flour for infant formula in containers returned to several local stores for refunds, and police have warned the public to check formula containers' seals for tampering. One child got sick from ingesting tampered formula but is in good condition after being treated at a hospital and released May 5, police said late Thursday. Police Chief Chris Magnus held an unusual nighttime news conference to disclose the arrest and to warn the public. "We're concerned about this and wanted to get the information out as quickly as possible to avoid any other children from becoming sick," Magnus said. Police said the alleged scheme apparently was motivated by money and apparently took place over at least several days and possibly for up to two months. The formula was either purchased or stolen, police said. Dr. Francisco Garcia, chief medical officer for Pima County, said tests are being conducted to determine whether other substances were put in formula containers along with flour, such as something to make it more palatable. Police said Jennifer LaPlante, 30, was arrested Thursday on suspicion of fraudulent schemes and artifices and child endangerment. LaPlante remained jailed Friday. It wasn't immediately known whether she has an attorney who could com-
ment on the allegations. Police listed two Fry's grocery stores and two Wal-Mart stores, all on Tucson's eastside, that are linked to the incident. A police department spokesman, Sgt. Pete Dugan, said Friday he wasn't aware of additional reports of tampered formula. However, detectives remained "smack-dab in the middle of the investigation," Dugan said. "They need to find out if
there's others involved. They need to find out if there's other stores involved." Officials advised recent purchasers of infant formula from Tucson businesses to check seals on containers and to see whether the formula smelled normal. Parents shouldn't feed infants with any formula if there's any question of possible tampering, Garcia said. "Those seals should be intact," he said.
CINCINNATI — An 8-year-old boy shown on surveillance video being knocked to the floor unconscious at school two days before he killed himself told staff he had fainted and never said he had been bullied or assaulted, a school spokeswoman said Friday. Gabriel Taye's mother didn't learn of the bullying until her attorneys saw a copy of an email written by a Cincinnati police homicide detective in an investigative file that describes the scene outside a boys' bathroom, her lawyers said. The attorneys have questioned why the mother was told he fainted on Jan. 24 when the video shows he had been injured by another boy at Carson Elementary School. The school spokeswoman said administrators weren't aware of the recording until days later when the detective investigating Gabriel's suicide requested surveillance videos from security officials. Meanwhile, the Hamilton County coroner said she is reopening the investigation into Gabriel's suicide. He hanged himself with a necktie in the bedroom of his Cincinnati apartment on Jan. 26. On Friday, a small group of demonstrators gathered on the sidewalk outside Carson
Lisa Cornwell / AP
Parents and other demonstrators hold signs against bullying and in memory of Gabriel Taye, an 8-year-old boy who killed himself in January 2017 two days after being knocked unconscious by another Carson School student, on Friday outside the elementary school in Cincinnati.
Elementary, with some parents complaining about their children being bullied. The district released copies of a choppy 24minute-long video that shows one boy bullying other students and then, according to the mother's attorneys, pushing Gabriel into a wall when he tried to shake the boy's hand and knocking him unconscious. The spokeswoman said it's unclear from the video what happened to Gabriel at that moment. An assistant principal arrived about 4½ minutes after Gabriel fell to
the floor, followed by other school employees and the school nurse, who helped him to his feet. He was on the floor just over seven minutes. Coroner Lakshmi Sammarco told Cincinnati radio station WLW on Thursday that she asked police for a full investigation to determine whether there were contributing factors to Gabriel's suicide, WXIX-TV reported. "It was very hard for me to believe that an 8-year-old would even know what it means to commit suicide," Sammarco told WLW.
THE ZAPATA TIMES | Saturday, May 13, 2017 |
A9
BUSINESS
Losses at JC Penney double A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
PLANO, Texas — Losses at J.C Penney doubled in the first quarter and sales at established stores fell again, capping a terrible week for retailers. Though the loss at first did not appear as bad as many industry analysts had expected, many soured on even that after a closer look. "Don't be fooled by the bottom line beat; it was entirely due to a real estate gain that we had not included in our forecast, wrote Citi analyst Paul Lejuez. The direction for sales at J.C. Penney was clear, however, particularly at stores open at least a year, which fell for the third consecutive quarter. Shares of other retailers, which took a huge hit Thursday following dismal reports from Macy's and Nordstrom, fell again after stabilizing overnight. J.C. Penney tumbled 7 percent at the opening bell to below $5 per share, hitting an all-time low. Revenue declined from $2.81 billion, to $2.71 billion, which was worse than Wall Street had expected. For the three months ended April 29, Penney lost $180 million, or 58 cents per share. A year ago the Plano, Texas, company lost $68 million, or 22 cents per share. Stripping out certain items, earnings were 6 cents per share. Analysts polled by Zacks Investment Research expected a loss of 22 cents per share, though those estimates were revisited by
Mark Schiefelbein / AP
A woman shops for chicken at a supermarket in Beijing on Friday.
John Roark / AP
In this March 17 file photo, shoppers exit a J.C. Penney store in the Georgia Square Mall in Athens, Georgia.
analysts due to asset gains. Sales at stores open at least a year dropped 3.5 percent. Industry analysts watch that figure closely as a signal of a retailer's health because it excludes the volatility of stores that were recently opened or closed. This week, Macy's, Nordstrom and Kohl's posted fading same-store sales numbers as well. There is good news and bad news for retailers like J.C. Penney, Macy's, Nordstrom and others. Americans are spending money. They're just not spending it at the department stores that have been the cornerstone of the shopping experience in the U.S. for decades. Data released Friday by the U.S. Commerce Department shows that Americans stepped up spending in April, but that money went largely
to auto dealers, online stores or places like hardware stores. In the same period, sales at department stores fell 0.2 percent. In a category that includes online retailers, sales grew of 1.4 percent, the strongest of any group. The path through the new retail landscape was made even more difficult for J.C. Penney after its catastrophic transformation several years ago under a one-time Apple executive. Marvin Ellison took over as CEO in 2015. He has brought major appliances like washing machines back to the stores and is quickly expanding the number of Sephora beauty shops in its stores. J.C. Penney is also trying to modernize, equipping its workers with mobile devices to help online shoppers pick up orders in the
store. J.C. Penney's decision to postpone liquidation sales at 138 stores targeted to close may suggest that the company is trying eke out something from the stores after a weak spring, said Kimberly Greenberger, an equity analyst at Morgan Stanley. Ellison said that trends over the past two months are positive. "While February was a very challenging month for J.C. Penney and broader retail, we are pleased with our comp store sales for the combined March and April period, which improved significantly versus February," he said. Executives said Friday that they still expect full-year adjusted earnings between 40 cents and 65 cents per share. Analysts polled by FactSet predict earnings of 48 cents per share.
Lawyers: Wells Fargo created about 3.5 million fake accounts By Paul Elias A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
SAN FRANCISCO — Lawyers suing Wells Fargo on behalf of aggrieved customers say the bank may have opened about 3.5 million unauthorized accounts, far more than the figure bank and regulators disclosed last year. In a court filing late Thursday, lawyers representing customers told a federal judge in San Francisco that they believe bank workers created 3.5 million unauthorized accounts over the last 15 years, "based on public
information, negotiations, and confirmatory discovery." The bank Stumpf had put the total at about 2 million possibly unauthorized accounts. Bank spokesman Ruben Pulido said the new claim was unverified and only an estimation. "The unauthorized account numbers reported in the filing are estimates made by plaintiffs' attorneys based on a hypothetical scenario and have
not been verified," Pulido said. "The number of unauthorized accounts estimated in the filing do not reflect actual unauthorized accounts." Pulido declined further comment and the bank has not disclosed its own revised estimation. The bank said last month said an internal review showed bogus accounts opening as far back as 2002. San Francisco-based Wells Fargo has seen declines in new account openings and bank traffic, and has been working to restore customers' trust
since the practices came to light. The biggest scandal in the bank's history led to the abrupt retirement of its CEO, John Stumpf. In response, Wells has changed its sales practices, ousted other executives and called tens of millions of customers to check on whether they truly opened the accounts in question. The new estimate was based on the expanded time frame and was included as part the customers' lawyers request that the judge approve the proposed settlement. A hearing is scheduled for next week.
China and US reach agreement on beef, poultry, natural gas By Martin Crutsinger And Jill Colvin ASSOCIATED PRE SS
WASHINGTON — Beijing will open its borders to U.S. beef, while cooked Chinese poultry is closer to landing on American supermarket shelves under a U.S.China trade agreement. Trump administration officials hailed the deal as a significant advance toward boosting U.S. exports and closing America's trade gap with the world's second-largest economy. U.S. trade experts offered a more muted assessment, calling the agreement a modest fulfillment of past assurances made by China. Among other things, the deal enables U.S. companies to export liquefied natural gas to China. It will also lower long-standing barriers that have affected matters ranging from agriculture to the operation of American financial firms in China. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross hailed the agreement, coming on the heels of President Donald Trump's April meeting with President Xi Jinping, as "a herculean accomplishment." "This is more than has been done in the whole history of U.S.-China relations on trade," Ross told reporters Thursday evening at the White House. In Beijing, Vice Finance Minister Zhu Guangyao told reporters the early results of the agreement showed that economic collaboration between the two sides "couldn't be closer." But trade experts questioned the magnitude of the deal.
"These are modest moves which by themselves will not have much effect on the U.S. economy," said David Dollar, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and former Treasury Department official. The beef exports and electronic payments in the agreement have long been promised by China. And the agreement does little to address some key issues of trade friction, such as automobiles or social media. While the Trump administration has touted a surge in U.S. manufacturing, this agreement does little to help that goal. "The challenge is selling manufactured goods into China — there isn't anything in this deal to suggest China is going to become more open to U.S.-manufactured exports," said Brad Setser, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. It remains unclear how far China will go to allow more American exports. Previous administrations have hailed market-opening agreements only to be left disappointed. "The key in these negotiations is specifics that are enforceable — literally, the devil is in the details," said Scott Mulhauser, a former chief of staff at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing. "The more these agreements include real, concrete outcomes rather than platitudes, rehashing old ground or punts to the future, the better they are," Mulhauser said. "American companies, workers, farmers and more are eager for more access to Chinese markets, and they'll look to ensure reality matches the rhetoric of these promises."
A10 | Saturday, May 13, 2017 | THE ZAPATA TIMES
FROM THE COVER JUSTICE From page A1
Coutesy
Pictured are Tamaulipas state police officers patrolling a rural area where they found an armed vehicle.
TAMAULIPAS From page A1
day. Officers discovered the vehicle Sunday as they patrolled a rural area in the municipality of Ciudad Camargo, Tamaulipas. Authorities said they spotted an abandoned warehouse. Inside, officers found the armored Ford truck bearing Texas license plates. Authorities are investigating who the owners are. The case remains open.
SCHOLARSHIP From page A1
“This is to help the students succeed. My hope is for them to go to college and to succeed.”
DRUGS From page A1 pounds from eight locations in Laredo, one location in Cotulla, and one
Corutesy
Pictured is the interior of the armed vehicle that was seized by Tamaulipas state police.
Rosy Gregory, director of Friends of Jaime Zapata, said the organization keeps doing events to keep Agent Zapata’s memory alive. “We want to thank the community and all the
law enforcement officers for this ultimate sacrifice they do,” she said. “We want to compliment everything law enforcement does in these hard times. They never back down.”
location in Zapata.” Reed added that since the program began over six years ago, about 7.1 million pounds of unused or unwanted prescription drugs have been collected
nationwide. The event was an opportunity for the community to rid of expired or unwanted medication properly, according to authorities.
law, is moral and just, and produces consistency," Sessions wrote in a memo to U.S. attorneys made public early Friday. Advocates warned the shift would crowd federal prisons and strain Justice Department resources. Some involved in criminal justice during the drug war feared the human impact would look similar. "It ruined families and took away a large number of African-American men from their communities at their prime working years," said Georgetown law professor Paul Butler, who was a federal prosecutor during the 1990s. "You had people who weren't able to be responsible fathers for their kids, who weren't able to serve a couple of years for making a mistake, then come home and do better. That's the era Jeff Sessions wants to
return us to." The announcement is an unmistakable undoing of Obama administration criminal justice policies that aimed to ease overcrowding in federal prisons and contributed to a national rethinking of how drug criminals were prosecuted and sentenced. Sessions contends a spike in violence in some big cities and the nation's opioid epidemic show the need for a return to tougher tactics. He foreshadowed the plan early in his tenure, when he signaled his strong support for the federal government's continued use of private prisons, reversing another Obama directive to phase out their use. "We know that drugs and crime go hand-inhand," Sessions said in a Friday speech. "Drug trafficking is an inherently violent business. If you want to collect a drug debt, you can't file a
lawsuit in court. You collect it by the barrel of a gun." The policy memo says prosecutors should "charge and pursue the most serious, readily provable offense" — something more likely to trigger mandatory minimum sentences. Those rules limit a judge's discretion and are typically dictated, for example, by the quantity of drugs involved in a crime. The memo concedes there will be cases in which "good judgment" will warrant a prosecutor veering from that rule. And Sessions said prosecutors maintain "discretion to avoid sentences that would result in an injustice." But any exceptions will need to be approved by top supervisors, and the reasons must be documented, allowing the Justice Department to track the handling of such cases by its 94 U.S. attorney's offices.