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Zeta plaza THREATS ONGOING boss gets FROM NORTH KOREA 30 years Admitted he was part of a multiyear drug conspiracy ZA PATA T I ME S
A former high-ranking Zetas drug cartel plaza boss who was arrested in Zapata County in 2015 has been sentenced to 30 years in prison on Friday. Jose Manuel Saldivar-Farias, also known as “Z-31” or “El Borrado,” was ordered to federal prison for his role in a seven-year conspiracy that resulted in an estimated 40,000 kilograms of marijuana imported into the United States from Mexico. Saldivar-Farias, 29, of Tamaulipas, Mexico, pleaded guilty July 26 and admitted he and his co-conspirators coordinated the importation multi-kilogram loads of marijuana on a monthly basis. U.S. District Judge Melinda Harmon in Houston accepted the plea and imposed a 30-year term of imprisonment. Saldivar-Farias was arrested in March 2015 in Zapata County on immigration charges related to his illegal presence. “In early 2015, Pedro Perez-Ocampo, 39, of Estado de Guerrero, Mexico, and Osiel HernandezMartinez, 29, of Nueva Ciudad Guerrero, Tamaulipas, Mexico, had obtained permission from Saldivar-Farias and paid him the “piso” or “tax” to transport approximately one ton of marijuana from Nueva Ciudad Guerrero, Tamaulipas, Mexico, into the United States across Falcon Lake by boat. On the night of March 12, 2015, they were at the Lake’s shore preparing to load the marijuana onto boats when they encountered Saldivar-Farias. He was fleeing from the Mexican military as they were attempting to capture him. SaldivarFarias jumped into Hernandez-Martinez’s boat and ordered him to take him across to the United States. While crossing Falcon Lake, Saldivar-Farias instructed everyone in the boat to lie about his identity in the event they were apprehended, to deny association with the Zetas and to tell U.S. authorities that he was “Carlos Cruz-Jimenez.” Shortly after crossing the lake, law enforcement apprehended the men. At that time, Saldivar-
BEDMINSTER, New Jersey — President Donald Trump said North Korean leader Kim Jong Un “will regret it fast” if he continues his threats to U.S. territories and allies, in another warning that the U.S. is willing to act swiftly against the nuclear-armed nation. In remarks to reporters, Trump issued the threat directly at Kim, who is also known for his bellicose rhetoric, and all but drew a red line that would trigger swift U.S. action. “If he utters one threat in the form of an overt threat — which by the way he has been uttering for years and his family has been uttering for years — or he does anything
Zeta continues on A9
Threats continues on A9
Spencer Platt / Getty Images
A leftover fallout shelter sign, one of hundreds in New York, is displayed on a building Friday in New York City. The signs signifying a protective space to sit out a nuclear attack date back to the early 1960's when America was in a Cold War with Russia. Americans are once again contemplating the possibility of a nuclear attack as America and North Korea threaten each other with war.
Trump: Kim Jong Un ‘will regret it fast’ if his words become actions By Jonathan Lemire and Eric Talmadge ASSOCIATED PRE SS
Ahn Young-joon / AP
A man watches a television screen showing President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during a news program at the Seoul Train Station in Seoul, South Korea on Thursday.
UNITED STATES/MEXICO
New map details Texas border wall plan By Jeremy Schwartz COX NEWSPAPERS
Jerry Lara / San Antonio Express-News
A U.S. Border Patrol boat rides the Rio Grande by a 150-acre tract in Roma, Texas on April 19.
AUSTIN, Texas — The full scope of the Trump administration’s border wall ambitions in the Rio Grande Valley emerged this week with the revelation that the U.S. Border Patrol has
plans to build 32 miles of barrier in Starr County, where flooding concerns helped kill off similar plans half a decade ago. According to a Border Patrol map shown to local officials and stakeholders, and obtained by the Austin American-Statesman, the agency has prelimi-
nary plans to wall off nearly the entirety of Hidalgo County’s southern edge. In neighboring Starr County, the map shows substantial border wall segments would be built in Rio Grande City, west of Sullivan City and a lengthy stretch from Border continues on A9
Zin brief A2 | Saturday, August 12, 2017 | THE ZAPATA TIMES
CALENDAR
AROUND THE WORLD
TODAY IN HISTORY
SATURDAY, AUG. 12
ASSOCIATED PRE SS
Today is Saturday, Aug. 12, the 224th day of 2017. There are 141 days left in the year.
Harry Potter Book Club. 3 p.m - 5 p.m. McKendrick Ochoa Salinas Branch Library. 1920 Palo Blanco. Event is free and children, teens and adults are welcome to attend. Discussion about “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” will be held at the meeting. For more information, contact Analiza Perez-Gomez at 956795-2400 ext. 2401.
Today's Highlight in History: On August 12, 1867, President Andrew Johnson sparked a move to impeach him as he defied Congress by suspending Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton, with whom he had clashed over Reconstruction policies. (Johnson was acquitted by the Senate.)
FRIDAY, AUG. 18 South Texas Food Bank Empty Bowls XI. Laredo Energy Arena. Tex-Mex power rock trio Los Lonely Boys will perform. The event includes a dinner, a benefit concert and a silent auction featuring artworks from local and regional artists. Sponsorship tables of 10 that include dinner and access to silent auction items are available. There are different levels of sponsorship available: Diamond $20,000, Platinum $10,000, Gold $5,000, Silver $2,500 and Bronze $1,500. Individual table tickets are $150. Table tickets are available at the food bank, 1907 Freight at Riverside. Concert only tickets are $10, $15 and $25. Tickets are available at the LEA box office, Ticketmaster.com, select Ticketmaster outlets or charge by phone at 1-800-745-3000.
MONDAY AUG. 21 Ray of Light Anxiety and Depression Support Group Meeting in Spanish. 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m. Recurring event. Spanish group meets every 3rd Monday of the month. Holding Institute, 1102 Santa Maria Ave., classroom 1. Ray of Light Anxiety and Depression Support Group provides a forum for people with anxiety and/or depression to meet, talk, share experiences and learn more about the conditions. Support groups can help individuals make connections with others facing similar challenges. While a support group does not replace an individual's medical care, it can be a valuable resource to gain insight, strength, and hope. The support group welcomes adults suffering from anxiety and/or depression to participate in free confidential support group meetings and social events. For more info, contact Anna Maria Pulido Saldivar at gruporayitodeluz@gmail.com or 956-307-2014.
TUESDAY. AUG. 22 Habitat for Humanity fundraiser. Wings To Go family sports restaurant, 2019 Bob Bullock Loop near H-E-B Plus! will donate percentage of sales to Habitat For Humanity Laredo-Webb County. Wings To Go is open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Call 728-9464 for takeout orders. For Habitat information call, 724-3227.
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 23 Release of new pictorial history of Laredo by Dr. Jerry Thompson. 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Villa Antigua Border Heritage Museum, 810 Zaragoza St. The brand new edition of “Laredo: A Pictorial History” by Thompson makes its long-awaited debut at a reception hosted by the Webb County Heritage Foundation. The event celebrates the latest publication of this exciting local history which features five new chapters and beautiful photos. To preorder the book, call the Heritage Foundation at 956-727-0977
SATURDAY, AUG. 26 Football Tailgating Cook-Off. 2 p.m. - 11 p.m. Uni-Trade Stadium. Event will feature cook-off competitions, brisket tasting/sampling for People's Choice from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., car show, live music, food vendors, arts & crafts and merchandise vendors and much more. For more information, contact LULAC Council 14 at 956-286-9055
MONDAY, AUG. 28 Google Computer Science Club. 4 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. McKendrick Ochoa Salinas Branch Library. 1920 Palo Blanco. This free program is limited to 18 participants each week. Participants, ages 12-17, will receive community hours. Learn to code social media projects with the Scratch programming language.
THURSDAY, AUG. 31 Spanish Book Club. 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Joe A Guerra Public Library off Calton Road. For info, call Sylvia Reash 7631810 Submit calendar items by emailing editorial@lmtonline.com with the event’s name, date and time, location, purpose and contact information for a representative. Items will run as space is available.
AFP/Getty Images
Relatives mourn the death of a child at Baba Raghav Das Hospital in Gorakhpur district of the Indian northern state Uttar Pradesh on Friday. More than 30 children have died at a government-run hospital in northern India over 48 hours allegedly due to lack of oxygen supply to the wards housing the sick.
30 CHILDREN DIE IN INDIAN HOSPITAL By Jeffrey Gettleman and Hari Kumar NEW YORK TIME S NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI — Thirty children have died at a public hospital in India over the past two days, with government critics blaming a shortage of oxygen for the surge after a supplier of liquid oxygen cut off deliveries because of unpaid bills. Government officials were scurrying to explain what happened, admitting that the state-run hospital owed more than $50,000 to a supplier of liquid oxygen and that oxygen supplies had been “disrupted.”
Mexico says remains of missing woman found MEXICO CITY — Human remains found beside a highway in northern Mexico are those of a Spanish woman whose husband reported she was abducted at gunpoint last month, authorities announced Friday. Tamaulipas state prosecu-
“There was some payment issue to the oxygen supplier, and there was a shortage of liquid oxygen,” said Anil Kumar, the commissioner of Gorakhpur. But, he added, “those deaths were not due to lack of oxygen.” Other officials said the hospital had a backup oxygen supply, though they did not explain why so many children had died in such a short time span. Since Monday, a total of 60 children have died at the hospital, many from acute encephalitis and others in the neonatal unit.
tors said the family of 34-yearold Maria del Pilar Garrido Santamans and the Spanish government were notified earlier in the day after lab testing confirmed the identification. The remains were discovered July 26 along the highway between the state capital, Ciudad Victoria, and Soto La Marina, according to a statement from prosecutors. The victim’s husband, a Mexican citizen, told author-
ities they were driving with their child on July 2 when gunmen stopped their vehicle and took her. The husband and child were not harmed. Garrido had lived in Mexico for several years. Police searched the area with dogs and a helicopter for days. Tamaulipas, which borders Texas along the Gulf coast, has suffered intense drug cartel violence for several years. — Compiled from AP reports
AROUND THE NATION Civil rights agency condemns ‘no foreigners’ sign MASON, Mich. — The Michigan Department of Civil Rights has opened a complaint against a man whose frontyard sign advertising the sale of his home indicates he won’t sell to foreigners. The sign in front of Iraq veteran James Prater’s home in Mason says “Terms No foreigners Iraq vet” next to “For Sale by Owner.” The civil rights department says the sign violates state and federal laws against discrimination based on national origin. “When an ad like this goes unchallenged, it sends a message to the community that such ads are legal and accepted,” Civil Rights Director Agustin V. Arbulu said. Arbulu said the sign can wrongly encourage others to use similar discriminating
Judy Putnam / AP
This Aug. 2 photo shows the "no foreigners" sign in front of James Prater's home in Mason, Michigan.
language. “The perception that a community accepts discrimination of this sort discourages potential purchasers from considering other properties in the area,” he said. Department spokeswoman Vicki Levengood said the agency filed the complaint
with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Lansing State Journal reported Friday. The state has an agreement with HUD to investigate some complaints of housing discrimination. — Compiled from AP reports
AROUND TEXAS Home health agency gets 75 years for fraud HOUSTON — The operator of a Houston home health agency has been sentenced to 75 years in prison for a $13 million Medicare fraud scheme. A federal judge in Houston sentenced Marie Neba on Friday. The 53-year-old Sugar Land, Texas, woman was coowner with her husband and
On this date: In 1898, fighting in the SpanishAmerican War came to an end. In 1915, the novel "Of Human Bondage," by William Somerset Maugham, was first published in the United States, a day before it was released in England. In 1937, President Franklin D. Roosevelt nominated Hugo Black to the U.S. Supreme Court. In 1944, during World War II, Joseph P. Kennedy Jr., eldest son of Joseph and Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy, was killed with his co-pilot when their explosives-laden Navy plane blew up over England. In 1981, IBM introduced its first personal computer, the model 5150, at a press conference in New York. In 1985, the world's worst singleaircraft disaster occurred as a crippled Japan Airlines Boeing 747 on a domestic flight crashed into a mountain, killing 520 people. (Four people survived.) In 1992, after 14 months of negotiations, the United States, Mexico and Canada announced in Washington that they had concluded the North American Free Trade Agreement. Avant-garde composer John Cage died in New York at age 79. In 1994, Woodstock '94 opened in Saugerties, New York. Ten years ago: A gunman opened fire in the sanctuary of a southwest Missouri church, killing a pastor and two worshippers. (A suspect later pleaded guilty to three counts of murder and four counts of assault, and received three life sentences without parole, plus four 30-year sentences for the assaults.) Tiger Woods captured the PGA Championship to win at least one major for the third straight season and run his career total to 13. Crooner, talk show host and game show producer Merv Griffin died in Los Angeles at age 82. Five years ago: With a little British pomp and a lot of British pop, London brought the curtain down on the Olympic Games with a spectacular pageant. Before the closing ceremony, the U.S. men's basketball team defended its title by fighting off another huge challenge from Spain, pulling away in the final minutes for a 107-100 victory and its second straight Olympic championship. The victory by the men's basketball team gave the United States its 46th gold medal in London; the U.S. initially won 104 medals overall, but was later stripped of a silver medal after a men's relay team member tested positive for steroids. Rory McIlroy won the PGA Championship with a 6-under 66 for an eight-shot victory at Kiawah Island, South Carolina. One year ago: The Pentagon said that Hafiz Saeed Khan, a top Islamic State group leader in Afghanistan, had been killed in a U.S. drone strike the previous month. A judge in Milwaukee overturned the conviction of Brendan Dassey, who was found guilty of helping his uncle kill a woman in a case profiled in the Netflix series "Making a Murderer," ruling that investigators coerced a confession using deceptive tactics. Katie Ledecky won her fourth gold medal of the Rio Olympics, shattering her own mark in the 800-meter freestyle; fellow American Anthony Ervin won the men's 50-meter freestyle. Today's Birthdays: Actor George Hamilton is 78. Actress Dana Ivey is 76. Actress Jennifer Warren is 76. Rock singer-musician Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits) is 68. Actor Jim Beaver is 67. Singer Kid Creole is 67. Jazz musician Pat Metheny is 63. Actor Sam J. Jones is 63. Actor Bruce Greenwood is 61. Country singer Danny Shirley is 61. Pop musician Roy Hay (Culture Club) is 56. Rapper Sir Mix-A-Lot is 54. Actor Peter Krause is 52. Actor Brent Sexton is 50. International Tennis Hall of Famer Pete Sampras is 46. Actor-comedian Michael Ian Black is 46. Actress Yvette Nicole Brown is 46. Actress Rebecca Gayheart is 46. Actor Casey Affleck is 42. Rock musician Bill Uechi is 42. Actress Maggie Lawson is 37. Actress Dominique Swain is 37. Actress Leah Pipes is 29. Actor Lakeith Stanfield is 26. Actress Cara Delevingne is 25. Actress Imani Hakim is 24. Thought for Today: "Wisdom is born, stupidity is learned." — Russian proverb.
CONTACT US nursing director of Fiango Home Healthcare. Trial evidence showed Neba used the proceeds from fraudulent Medicare claims to pay kickbacks to patient recruiters for referring Medicare beneficiaries to her agency. So far, four other co-defendants have entered guilty pleas to charges arising from the federal probe. — Compiled from AP reports
Video shows car’s 7-story fall from
parking garage AUSTIN, Texas — Police in Austin have released surveillance video showing a car plunging seven stories from a downtown parking garage and striking another vehicle as it lands in an alley. The video released Thursday shows the car landing atop an SUV then rolling upside down onto the ground. Moments later, people run to help the driver escape. Police say the July accident
happened when the woman drove through retention wires on the seventh floor, hit a building across the street and plunged to the alley below. The SUV’s driver wasn’t hurt. Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services officials said at the time that the woman was treated at a hospital. Last September, a sport utility vehicle plunged from the ninth floor of the same parking garage. — Compiled from AP reports
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THE ZAPATA TIMES | Saturday, August 12, 2017 |
A3
CRIME AND MORE
DA to seek death penalty for man accused of killing 2 A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
FORT WORTH, Texas — A Texas district attorney says she will seek the death penalty against a man who authorities say killed two women and raped a third. Tarrant County District Attorney Sharen Wilson said in a statement Thursday that 24-year-old Reginald Gerald Kimbro is charged with capital murder for the April strangulation of Molly Matheson in Fort Worth. Kimbro also is charged in the death days later of 36-year-old Megan Getrum of Plano. Both women were sexu-
Both women were sexually assaulted prior to their deaths. ally assaulted prior to their deaths. Meanwhile, South Texas prosecutors previously charged Kimbro with sexually assaulting an Oklahoma woman at a South Padre Island resort in 2014. Kimbro’s being held in the Tarrant County jail on a bond in excess of $2 million. Online jail records do not indicate an attorney for him.
Tough rules passed on reporting abortion complications A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Legislature has approved requiring physicians and clinics to report complications from abortions performed statewide, and impose fines on those who don’t. Final passage came Friday in the state Senate, sending the bill to Gov. Greg Abbott to be signed into law. Doctors and medical facilities would be required to submit detailed reports on cases of abortion complications, and could face daily, $500
fines for non-compliance. Similar bills stalled during Texas’ regular legislative session, which ended in May. Abbott revived the issue for a special session ending next week. Complications from abortion are rare. But Republicans say spotty reporting may be to blame. Democratic opponents called the rules unnecessary, noting that pulling wisdom teeth and many other, less politically charged procedures result in far more complications that abortion.
BP agents detain 86 immigrants in South Texas ASSOCIATED PRE SS
HIDALGO, Texas — U.S. Border Patrol agents detained nearly 90 immigrants found walking near a canal in a South Texas city, including 50 children. A Border Patrol state-
ment Friday said all 86 people were apprehended in Hidalgo and are believed to be from Guatemala. Agents based in nearby Weslaco saw a large group of people walking toward them on a trail Monday night.
The statement says all of the detainees acknowledged being in the U.S. illegally. The statement didn’t say how the immigrants got to the area or why they were traveling in a large group. A Border Patrol official didn’t
immediately return a message Friday. Separately, agents assigned to Rio Grande City confiscated about 1,350 pounds of marijuana after an SUV they were chasing crashed early Monday. The driver fled.
Legislature increases Former teacher mail-in voter fraud gets 10 years in punishments sex parties case ASSOCIATED PRE SS
AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Legislature has approved increasing criminal penalties for improper mail-in voting. The bill, now headed to Gov. Greg Abbott to be signed into law, makes some cases of mail-in voter fraud felonies punishable by lengthy jail sentences. It also increases ballot signature verification rules. Disabled Texans, those 65 or older, or people outside their home counties on Election Day can
vote by mail. The Senate gave final approval Friday 21-10. Among other things, the measure is meant to stop “ballot harvesting,” where campaign officials fill out ballots, then have voters send them in. That sometimes occurs among the elderly. Combating mail-in voter fraud was one of around 20 priorities Abbott declared when convening a special legislative session. It ends Wednesday, though, and, so far, few bills have passed.
ASSOCIATED PRE SS
SAN ANTONIO — An ex-high school English teacher in San Antonio accused of throwing lewd parties for boys must serve 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to child sex abuserelated counts. Prosecutors in San Antonio say Jared Anderson was sentenced Tuesday after pleading guilty to multiple counts of sexual performance by a child and indecency with a child by exposure.
The 29-year-old Anderson was a teacher at Judson High School when he was arrested in March 2016 on allegations he hosted sex parties for boys. Police have said Anderson encouraged the boys to get naked and engage in sexual activity with him and each other during gatherings at his residence. Authorities say Anderson later texted apologies to some parents amid the investigation.
Fort Worth man gets life sentence for toddler’s death ASSOCIATED PRE SS
FORT WORTH, Texas — A 24-year-old Fort Worth man has been sentenced to life in prison without parole for the 2015 fatal beating of his girlfriend’s toddler son. Christian Tyrrell was convicted Thursday in Fort Worth of capital
Prosecutors say Tyrrell smashed the child’s head against a wall. murder in the death of 2-year-old Adrian Langlais. Prosecutors say Tyrrell smashed the child’s head against a wall. Officials say the boy was admitted to a hospital
on his second birthday, March 18, 2015, and died the next day. His 21-yearold mother — Jessica Langlais — was indicted on a capital murder charge in May and re-
mains jailed. Prosecutors did not seek the death penalty for Tyrrell, who testified Langlais caused her son’s injuries. Tarrant County District Attorney Sharen Wilson said in a statement Thursday that Tyrrell was “not fit to be a member of society.”
Zopinion
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A4 | Saturday, August 12, 2017 | THE ZAPATA TIMES
COLUMN
OTHER VIEWS
The alternative to nuclear war is a revolution By Eli Lake BL O O M BE RG
The most depressing aspect of the current North Korean crisis is that even if Donald Trump wins, he loses. Despite doubling down on his rhetoric of “fire and fury” and deriding his predecessors for failed negotiations, Trump looks as if he wants to eventually strike a deal with the nation’s tyrant, Kim Jong Un. Just look at what Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is doing. Trump threatens war and Tillerson promises no regime change. Remember it was only a few months ago that Trump said he would be honored to meet with Kim. The president’s recent bellicosity aims for deterrence and leverage. And it’s easy to understand why talks are better than war. The prospect of a military confrontation is too horrific. North Korea effectively holds its neighbor to the south as a hostage because of its conventional military capabilities. This says nothing of allies like Japan, or U.S. forces stationed on the peninsula. And the critics of war are correct. A pre-emptive strike is not worth the risk. But neither is another deal. There are a few reasons for this. First, the North Koreans don’t keep their promises. Nearly every commitment the regime has made to the U.S., its allies and China, it has violated. Then there is the tyrant himself, Kim Jong Un. He is in every respect a rogue. It’s not just his threats, or his assassination of his relatives. Kim’s regime detained an American student, Otto Warmbier, and sent him back to the U.S. this year only when he was in a coma. He died soon after returning home. Negotiating with such a man presents a moral hazard. If Kim gets more inducements to negotiate, what’s to stop him from conducting more abductions or assassinations on foreign soil in the future? There are no easy answers here. Invading North Korea would risk a major war with China, not to mention commit the U.S. to keeping the peace on the peninsula at a time when most Americans are rightly weary of military adventurism. While it would be nice to think our intelligence agencies could foment a coup, this too is more spy fiction than a realistic foreign policy. So traditional “regime change” should be off the table. But this should not stop the U.S. and its allies
More and more Koreans living there have access to portable DVD players and cell phones, which are tools to break the state’s control over the minds of their citizens. from helping to create conditions for the day when Koreans can take their country back. This requires some patience and imagination. The patient part of the policy should be a combination of sabotage and deterrence. North Korea should understand their provocations bring consequences. The imaginative part is to continue to give North Koreans a glimpse of a better future. Tom Malinowski, who served as President Barack Obama’s assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights and labor, wrote in Politico in June that the U.S. should continue to flood North Korea with information. This may sound strange. But in recent years, the state’s ability to control information has waned. More and more Koreans living there have access to portable DVD players and cell phones, which are tools to break the state’s control over the minds of their citizens. To be sure, feeding information into North Korea is not a silver bullet. It’s impossible to predict the timing of popular revolutions. But it is possible to predict the outcome: a revolution would prevent a catastrophic war. “Just as with the Cold War, the only sustainable solution is when the North Korean people will be able to take matters into their own hands,” Malinowski told me. “We can’t make that happen. We have to be very careful with the ‘regime change’ rhetoric. But we can help to accelerate the process that is already under way, namely the process of raising consciousness inside the country.” That may sound like a long shot. It is one. But consider the alternative. For nearly 25 years the U.S. and its allies have threatened North Korea, cajoled North Korea and “won” by reaching deals with North Korea. And yet the regime continues to build nuclear weapons and blackmail the rest of the world. It’s time for a change in Washington as well as Pyongyang. Eli Lake is a Bloomberg View columnist.
COMMENTARY
The Democrats are fighting scared By Karen Attiah WASHINGTON P O ST
It’s August in Washington, which means the nation’s lawmakers are taking their summer break from getting, it seems, not a lot done. Democrats, who are still reeling from last fall’s election loss, may do well to do a bit of summer homework before coming back to work in the fall. Specifically, they could learn a thing or two from the martial art of Muay Thai, the official kickboxing sport of Thailand. My Muay Thai coach once advised
me, if your opponent punches you and you decide to return with a quick counter, you better make darn sure that you strike back with equal or greater force. “No baby punches!” My coach likes to scream at our Muay Thai class. In case you missed it, the Democrats released their new economic platform this summer, “A Better Deal.” The deal tackles issues such as the North American Free Trade Agreement, wants to penalize companies that outsource jobs to other countries, and aims to take on China as
a currency manipulator. (Some of that sounds familiar, doesn’t it?) “A Better Deal” is the Democrats’ attempt to counter Donald Trump’s knockout blow to Hillary Clinton and scramble after white, workingclass voters, who tipped the fight in Republicans’ favor in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. While the platform echoes many of the progressive economic messages that captivated Sen. Bernie Sanders’s supporters, it leaves out issues such as climate change, LGBT rights, criminal-justice reform or specific actions
EDITORIAL
American students should be taught to code in school BL OOMBERG
During a recent White House meeting with President Donald Trump, Apple CEO Tim Cook remarked that “coding should be a requirement in every public school.” He’s right. But turning an aspiration into a reality -whether in the classroom or in the Apple store — takes time, money and concentrated effort. The economic argument for upgrading computer science education in the U.S. is strong. According to one estimate, there are as many as 500,000 open computing and datascience jobs in the U.S. but fewer than 50,000 college students graduating with the qualifications to fill them. Between 2014 and 2024, jobs in computer science and data research are projected to increase by 12 percent, faster than any other occupation. The benefits of learning code aren’t limited to
future software engineers. Computers influence virtually every aspect of daily life, and advances in artificial intelligence promise to accelerate that trend. In order to thrive in a technology-driven society, people need a basic understanding of how that technology works. In the European Union, 15 countries have made coding part of the national curriculum. In Finland, instruction starts in the first grade. But shockingly, a majority of public schools in the U.S. don’t offer any computer science classes at all. At the very least, coding classes should be offered at all U.S. public high schools — and those classes should meet standards developed by states, in coordination with experts from industry and academia. States should also treat computer science as a graduation credit that can substitute for upperlevel math and science
courses, and allow students to take coding classes at nearby schools or online. A bipartisan group of governors has committed to versions of those goals, though only four states have passed legislation requiring schools to comply. As is often the case in education reform, the biggest obstacle to expanded classroom instruction is teacher quality. Only Arizona, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia require computer science teachers to be certified in the subject, which means that most classes are taught by instructors with little, if any, background in coding. Arkansas, which has spent $5 million since 2015 on improving computer science education, provides grants to local school districts for teachers to attend a state-sanctioned summer coding camp, followed by additional coaching during the
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.
to tackle voting rights. “A Better Deal” comes up short for people of color and marginalized groups in the United States. The Democrats might think they can win by ducking so-called identity politics and paying less attention to issues affecting women, the environment and marginalized groups in the United States. But unfortunately, “A Better Deal” sounds like the strategy of a party that’s fighting scared of Trump, not fighting back. Simply put, the Democrats are throwing baby punches.
DOONESBURY | GARRY TRUDEAU
school year. The state is also bolstering computer science courses at degreegranting schools of education, with the goal of certifying 1,000 junior-high and high school computer science teachers within five years. The federal government can play a constructive role by supporting similar teacher-training initiatives and providing subsidies to states that offer financial bonuses to experienced teachers who voluntarily take coding classes. Unfortunately, the Trump administration aims to cut $2.3 billion from the Department of Education’s budget for teacher training. Giving all American students a basic grounding in computer science is a sound idea. But it will take time, and it can’t be done on the cheap. Perhaps that’s something Cook can remind the president on his next visit to the White House.
THE ZAPATA TIMES | Saturday, August 12, 2017 |
A5
NATIONAL
Billionaire suggests senator worse than Ku Klux Klan deeply hurtful and offensive and there is no place for this type of rhetoric in any discourse — political or otherwise,” Cuomo said in a statement. Stewart-Cousins’ spokesman Mike Murphy said there was “no place in our discourse, political or otherwise, for these dangerous words.” “Daniel Loeb should be utterly ashamed of his disgusting statements,” Murphy said. “This whole episode speaks volumes about the state of our politics right here in New York.” Loeb’s Facebook post was in response to a story in The New York Times earlier this week on the
Klan, was deleted late Thursday. Loeb, the CEO of the investment firm Third Point, is a top donor to Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo and many other politicians. He is a leading supporter of charter schools. “I regret the language I used in expressing my passion for educational choice,” he said in his statement about the post, emailed to The Associated Press on Friday morning. “I apologize to Sen. Stewart-Cousins and anyone I offended.” Cuomo and other Democrats quickly denounced Loeb’s comments. “These comments were
By David Klepper A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
ALBANY, N.Y. — A billionaire hedge fund manager has apologized for an online post saying that a black state senator has “done more damage to people of color than anyone who has ever donned a hood” because of her support for teachers unions. Daniel Loeb issued a statement saying he regrets the language he used in the Facebook post about Senate Minority Leader Andrea StewartCousins, a Yonkers Democrat. The post, an apparent reference to the white headgear of the Ku Klux
Mike Groll / AP
ongoing tension among Cuomo, mainline Democrats and a Democratic Senate faction led by Sen. Jeff Klein, of the Bronx, who broke ranks with the party to empower Republicans, who now control the Senate. The story detailed an exchange between Stewart-Cousins and Cuomo in which Cuomo suggested that Klein had a better grasp of suburban issues than mainline Senate Democrats. “You look at me, Mr. Governor, but you don’t see me,” Stewart-Cousins told Cuomo in response, according to the article. “You see my black skin and a woman, but you
In this 2015 file photo, Andrea Stewart-Cousins, D-Yonkers, speaks during a news conference in Albany, New York. Billionaire Daniel Loeb has apologized for an online post saying Stewart-Cousins has done "more damage to people of color than anyone who has ever donned a hood."
don’t realize that I am a suburban legislator. Jeff Klein doesn’t represent the suburbs. I do.” While Loeb deleted his remarks, the Times reported the text and the AP obtained a screenshot of the post. “Thank God for Jeff Klein and those who stand for educational choice and support Charter (sic) funding that leads to economic mobility and opportunity for poor knack
kids,” the post read. “Meanwhile hypocrites like Stewart-Cousins who pay fealty to powerful union thugs and bosses do more damage to people of color than anyone who has ever donned a hood.” Klein, another recipient of Loeb contributions, also distanced himself from the remarks. “The statements are wrong and have to be repudiated,” he said in a statement.
Sleeping mother who accidentally suffocated her newborn sues hospital WA S H INGT ON P O ST
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Monica Thompson had given birth to her first child, a baby boy, and was almost ready to take him home from the hospital. It was nearly midnight one Sunday in the summer of 2012 when Thompson, who had undergone a Caesarean section a few days earlier, was given a cocktail of narcotic painkillers and sleep aids. A nurse took the newborn to his mother for breast-feeding and put the child next to her in her hospital bed at Adventist Medical Center in Portland, Oregon. An hour
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baby boy, causing him severe and permanent brain damage,” according to the lawsuit. Doctors determined that her newborn had gone without oxygen for too long. Thompson is suing Adventist Medical Center for negligence, which the lawsuit alleges caused Jacob pain and suffering. The lawyer, Diego Conde, called the death “senseless” and said in a statement that “a hospital doesn’t get to load a breast-feeding mother with narcotics and sleep aids, drop a newborn child on the same bed to breast-feed, and abandon them to their luck.”
later, Thompson, “still drowsy and groggy,” realized that her son, Jacob, was not moving. “When no nurse came to help, Mrs. Thompson carried her son to the hallway and frantically yelled for help,” according to the lawsuit. “A nurse noticed the situation, examined Jacob and called a Code Blue.” Jacob was not breathing; once he was stabilized, he was placed on life support and transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit at nearby Randall Children’s Hospital. Six days later, he died. Thompson “unintentionally suffocated her
By Lindsey Bever
Sports&Outdoors A6 | Saturday, August 12, 2017 | THE ZAPATA TIMES
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE: HOUSTON TEXANS
Blue credits yoga, Pilates for explosiveness Houston running back rushed for 420 yards last season By Aaron Wilson H OUSTO N CHRONI CLE
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W. Va. - Texans backup running back Alfred Blue uses brute force and power to fuel his rugged style on the football field. He's all shoulders, thighs and knees as he collides with opposing linebackers. Blue has employed a strategy to make him more durable, flexible and explosive, utilizing the practices of yoga and Pilates to prepare for the rigors of the game. "Pilates, yoga, you name it," Blue said. "I would say I'm probably a little stronger. More fit." Between warrior poses and other elements of yoga designed to make his body a fine-tuned machine, the 6-2, 225-pound former LSU standout has made a strong impression already this preseason. Blue is noticeably leaner and quicker, making
sharp cuts in the open field. “I think it’s helping a lot," Blue said. "I think it’s made me more explosive. It's the range of motion in your hips and stuff (to) be able to make those cuts and stuff in the open field.” During the Texans' 27-17 loss to the Carolina Panthers in Wednesday's preseason opener, Blue delivered a 16-yard touchdown run where he busted into the end zone in a hurry as he followed a downfield block from wide receiver Wendall Williams. Blue finished with 33 yards on five carries and was the first back into the game after a few snaps for Pro Bowl alternate Lamar Miller. “It was just great blocking up front, made a great cut off, Wendall made a great block," Blue said. "From there, I saw the end zone and there was a safety in front of me. It was just the mindset of going in and not being
Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle
Houston running back Alfred Blue ran for 33 yards on five carries during the Texans’ 27-17 loss to Carolina on Wednesday.
denied.” Blue rushed for 420 yards last season, including a season-high 73 yards on 21 carries and a game-winning 24-yard touchdown run during a 12-10 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. In three NFL seasons, Blue has rushed for 1,646 yards and five touchdowns and caught 42 passes for 262 yards. "I thought Alfred did a nice job on the drives that
he had," O'Brien said. "He ran hard, saw the cut, had a nice touchdown run. " Blue is competing with rookie running back D'Onta Foreman, a Texas City native and a thirdround draft pick from the University of Texas. Blue emphasized that it's a friendly competition with a lot of joking around and encouragement offered on the field. Foreman rushed for a
game-high 76 yards on nine carries against the Panthers, including a 41-yard run. He took notice of everything Blue was doing, receiving advice from the veteran runner. "He ran the ball really well, so my first thing was what can I learn from him when he comes off the field?" Foreman said. "So, I asked him like, ‘What do you see out there? What are those guys doing?
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE: DALLAS COWBOYS
ELLIOTT SUSPENDED IN DOMESTIC CASE Cowboys running back will appeal six-game suspension By Schuyler Dixon A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
DALLAS — The NFL suspended star Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott for six games Friday, concluding after a yearlong investigation that the league rushing leader caused injuries to his then-girlfriend in three separate incidents last summer. The ruling under the NFL’s personal conduct policy came despite prosecutors in Columbus, Ohio, deciding nearly a year ago not to pursue the case in the city where Elliott starred for Ohio State. According to the letter Elliott received informing him of the suspension, the NFL believed he used “physical force” three times in a span of five days in a Columbus apartment last July resulting in injuries to Tiffany Thompson’s face, neck, shoulders, arms, hands, wrists, hips and knees. The league said its investigation was based on photographs, text messages and other electronic evidence. Commissioner Roger Goodell made his decision based on the league’s investigation and in consultation with four advisers, including Hall of Fame player Ken Houston. Elliott, who turned 22 last month, has three days to appeal the ruling. The NFL Players Association
Rodger Mallison / TNS file
The NFL suspended Dallas running back Ezekiel Elliott for six games Friday.
said it was reviewing the decision and had been in touch with Elliott’s representatives to consider his options. The ruling requires Elliott to get an evaluation to determine whether he needs counseling or treatment, and to show proof that he is following up on any recommendations. If Goodell’s ruling stands, Elliott will go on the suspended list the first week of the regular season and be eligible to return to the active roster Oct. 23. His first possible game would be Week 8 at Washington. NFL special counsel for conduct Todd Jones wrote in the letter to Elliott that advisers “were of the view that there is substantial and persuasive evidence supporting a finding that (Elliott) engaged in physical violence against Ms. Thompson on multiple occasions during the week of July 16, 2016.” Last September, the office of Columbus City Attorney Richard Pfeiffer cited conflicting and inconsistent information in the evidence in deciding
against criminal charges. Pfeiffer’s office declined comment Friday. Peter Harvey, one of the advisers to Goodell, said the NFL had access to forensic electronic evidence that prosecutors didn’t have. Harvey said an example was proof that photographs were taken by Thompson the same day she alleged that she was injured by Elliott. Harvey also said some of the explanations offered by Elliott’s representatives, including that Thompson was injured in a fight with a woman or by falling down stairs, weren’t supported by evidence. “It is also important to note that, while there may be conflicting testimonial evidence regarding the nature and substance of conversations, there is no dispute that you and Ms. Thompson were together in the same location on the dates identified, and no evidence to suggest that anyone else could have caused these injuries,” the letter said. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones had maintained he
hadn’t seen anything to indicate Elliott was guilty of domestic violence and he didn’t think his star back would be suspended. Jones made the comments several times, including during festivities last weekend when he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The ruling potentially could put Goodell and Jones, a strong supporter of the commissioner, at odds the same way Goodell clashed with New England owner Robert Kraft over last year’s fourgame suspension for quarterback Tom Brady over the “Deflategate” controversy. The NFL revised its personal conduct policy in 2014 following sharp criticism of a case involving former Baltimore running back Ray Rice. The policy gave Goodell authority to suspend players for at least six games in domestic cases, with or without a conviction. The NFL’s letter to Elliott cited the Ohio case as well as an incident this past spring when Elliott
was caught on video pulling down a woman’s shirt while watching a St. Patrick’s Day parade in Dallas. While the league said the St. Patrick’s Day incident wasn’t part of the decision on discipline, it reflected poorly on Elliott. “You should understand, however, that your behavior during this event was inappropriate and disturbing, and reflected a lack of respect for women,” Todd Jones wrote. “When viewed together with the July incidents, it suggests a pattern of poor judgment and behavior for which effective intervention is necessary for your personal and professional welfare.” Elliott has had a string of off-field issues in the year since the Cowboys made him the fourth overall pick in the 2016 draft. He was seen in a legal marijuana shop during the preseason in Seattle last year and was also involved in a bar fight in Dallas a week before training camp this year. An All-Pro as a rookie, Elliott finished with 1,631 yards rushing in helping the Cowboys to the best record in the NFC at 13-3 before a divisional playoff loss to Green Bay. He set rookie franchise records for yards, rushing touchdowns (15) and total touchdowns (16). The NFL’s letter tried to offer Elliott some encouragement. “While this is a serious matter, it by no means suggests a belief that you cannot have a long and productive career in the NFL,” the letter said. “Our goal is for you to have as successful a career as possible.”
How are the linebackers flowing?’ Stuff like that. He was very open with me, told me everything he saw. "So when I went out there, ultimately I have to go out there and find out myself, but when you get pointers like that before you go in, it’s like you already know what to look for. So, when I got in I just jumped right into it and I was able to make some plays.”
NBA: SAN ANTONIO SPURS
Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle file
Joffrey Lauvergne, who was traded from Oklahoma City to San Antonio this offseason, suffered a minor knee injury while warming up for France’s exhibition game with Croatia.
Spurs center injures knee By Tom Orsborn SAN ANTONIO EXPRE SS-NEWS
SAN ANTONIO – Spurs center/forward Joffrey Lauvergne suffered a minor knee injury while warming up for France’s exhibition game with Croatia on Aug. 8 in the lead up to the EuroBasket Tournament, according to the website for Federation Francais de Basketball, the governing body of basketball in France. Lauvergne saw a specialist in France, but the injury is not considered to be serious and he is expected to play in the French team’s next exhibition game against Lithuania, according to the French Basketball Federation. The Spurs signed Lauvergne in free agency. He averaged 5.4 points and 3.6 rebounds while splitting last season between Chicago and Oklahoma City.
Zfrontera THE ZAPATA TIMES | Saturday, August 12, 2017 |
RIBEREÑA EN BREVE PERMISO DE ESTACIONAMIENTO 1 El Departamento de Policía del distrito escolar Zapata County Independent School District invita a los estudiantes de preparatoria que son conductores de vehículos a que recojan su permiso de estacionamiento del martes 15 de agosto al viernes 25 de agosto de 9 a.m. a 12 p.m. y de 1:30 p.m. a 3:30 p.m. en la oficina frontal de la preparatoria Zapata High School. Estudiantes deberán presentar comprobante de seguro vigente y licencia de manejo. Costo del permiso 5 dólares. Mayores informes al departamento de policía de ZCISD o con Patricia Flores.
A7
JEFE DE ZETAS COORDINABA IMPORTACIÓN DE DROGA
Lo sentencian a 30 años E SPECIAL PARA TIEMP O DE ZAPATA
HOUSTON — José Manuel Saldívar-Farías, también conocido como “Z-31” o “El Borrado” ha sido condenado a prisión por su participación en una conspiración de siete años que resultó en la importación de alrededor de 40.000 kilos de marihuana de México a los Estados Unidos, anunció el Fiscal General Interino Abe Martínez. SaldívarFarías, de 29 años, procedente de Nueva Ciudad Guerrero, Tamaulipas, México se declaró culpable el 26 de julio de 2017 y admitió que él y sus
FERIA DE SALUD COMUNITARIA 1 El Condado de Zapata junto con organismos y entidades públicas invita a la Primera Feria Anual de Salud Comunitaria, el 16 de agosto, de 5 p.m. a 7 p.m.; Club Boys & Girls, 302 6th Avenue. Habrá regalos para los primeros 500 niños.
cómplices coordinaron la importación mensual de grandes cargamentos de marihuana. Ayer, la Jueza de Distrito Melinda Harmon aceptó formalmente la declaración de culpabilidad y le impuso una condena de 30 años en prisión. Saldívar-Farías fue inicialmente arrestado por cargos migratorios relacionados a su estancia ilegal en los Estados Unidos en marzo de 2015. A principios de 2015, Pedro Pérez-Ocampo, de 39 años, procedente del estado mexicano de Guerrero y Osiel HernándezMartínez, de 29 años, de
Nueva Ciudad Guerrero, obtuvieron permiso de Saldívar-Farías y le pagaron la cuota de “piso” para transportar aproximadamente una tonelada de marihuana de Nueva Ciudad Guerrero a los Estados Unidos en botes a través de la Presa Falcón. En la noche del 12 de marzo de 2015, mientras cargaban los botes con droga en las orillas de la presa se encontraron con SaldívarFarías. Él estaba huyendo del Ejército Mexicano que intentaba capturarlo. Saldívar-Farías abordó un bote de Hernández-Martínez y le ordenó que lo llevará a los Estados Unidos.
Mientras atravesaban la Presa Falcón, SaldívarFarías ordenó a todos en el bote mentir sobre su identidad en caso de ser aprehendidos, para ocultar cualquier asociación con los Zetas y mencionar a las autoridades estadounidenses que su nombre era “Carlos Cruz-Jiménez”. Poco tiempo después de atravesar la presa, fuerzas del orden capturaron a los hombres. En ese momento, Saldívar-Farías se identificó como “Carlos Cruz-Jiménez” y aseguró que había viajado a los Estados Unidos en busca de trabajo. Ayer, Saldívar-Farías admitió que su identidad
verdadera es José Manuel Saldívar-Farías y que era un jefe de plaza de los Zetas y comandante de la región norte de México que incluye a los estados de Coahuila, Tamaulipas y Nuevo León, México, así como en Zapata, Texas. De tal manera que estaba a cargo de todos los narcóticos que se transportaban a través del área. Durante el transcurso de la conspiración, Saldívar-Farías y otros miembros de los Zetas y socios, aseguraron, mantuvieron y regularon las rutas de transporte usadas para importar marihuana de México a los Estados Unidos a través de la Presa Falcón.
CIUDAD DE ROMA
REGRESO A CLASES
REGRESO A CLASES 1 El primer día de clases para las escuelas del distrito escolar Zapata Independent School District se realizará el 28 de agosto. SOCIEDAD GENEALÓGICA 1 La Sociedad Genealógica Nuevo Santander invita a su reunión el sábado 9 de septiembre a las 2 p.m. en el Museo de Historia del Condado de Zapata. NOCHE MEXICANA 1 La Ciudad de Roma invita a la Noche Mexicana que se celebrará el 14 de septiembre de 7 p.m. a 11 p.m. Disfrute de bailes folclóricos y antojitos mexicanos en la Plaza Guadalupe de la Ciudad de Roma. FESTIVAL NUEVO SANTANDER 1 La Sociedad Genealógica Nueva Santander invita al Festival Nuevo Santander el 13 y 14 de octubre de 10 a.m. a 4 p.m. en el Museo de Historia del Condado de Zapata. CAMINATA CONTRA CÁNCER 1 Walk All Over Cancer! en su cuarta caminata anual. Inscripciones en el Ayuntamiento llamando al 956-8491411 x 9241 o en el 956-844-1428. Caminata iniciará en Citizens State Bank o en el Centro Comuniario de Roma el sábado 21 de octubre. ANIVERSARIO DE CIUDAD DE ROMA 1 La ciudad de Roma invita al 250 aniversario de su fundación el sábado 14 de noviembre de 2015, de 8 a.m. a 11:30 p.m. 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 Roma informa que el agua puede pagarse en línea.
Foto de cortesía | Ciudad de Roma
Cerca de 500 niños recibieron útiles escolares dentro del evento de Regreso a Clases del distrito escolar Roma Independent School District y la Ciudad de Roma donde participaron voluntarios, entidades gubernamentales, organizaciones y comercios.
COLUMNA
REYNOSA, MÉXICO
Tamaulipeca se distingue por trabajos posrevolucionarios Por Raúl Sinencio TIEMP O DE ZAPATA
La Revolución Mexicana dota al país de sólidos ideales progresistas. Bajo su influjo buscaría conciliarse el desarrollo nacional con las más legítimas aspiraciones populares. A ello se propuso contribuir en primera línea la tamaulipeca, Martha Chávez Padrón, originaria del sureste tamaulipeco. De cuna proletaria, el terruño le proporciona conocimientos básicos a través de la educación pública. Da el siguiente paso en la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM). Hacia 1948 egresa con el título de abogada. Seis años después obtiene el único doctorado en Derecho conferido entonces a una dama. Tiene presente el compromiso implícito con la igualdad de géneros. A la vez se hace eco del México profundo. Cerebro del zapatismo, Antonio Díaz Soto y Gama pondera: “La doctora Chávez Padrón” realiza “detallado estudio de la legislación agraria” y aporta “conceptos muy humanos … así, al citar el Plan de Ayala, también analiza a (Emiliano) Zapata”, el “Caudillo del Sur, calificándolo de Apóstol de la Justicia Social”. Correspondiéndole de inmediato a su Alma Mater, es la primera mujer del ramo en impartir cátedra allá. Esposa y madre, alterna los
Foto de cortesía
Martha Chávez Padrón, fue la primera mujer en obtener un doctorado en derecho. Su trayectoria profesional se enfocó, entre otras actividades magisteriales y políticas, al estudio de la legislación agraria.
quehaceres domésticos con el servicio público, al que ingresa en 1964 como jefa del Registro Agrario Nacional. No obstante, aclara, “hice fila para inscribir a mis hijos en escuelas oficiales”. En 1975 alcanza la subsecretaría de la Reforma Agraria, naciente dependencia que Chávez Padrón impulsara. Más tarde integra la comitiva oficial que visita Cuba e intercambia experiencias y criterios en la materia. Entre 1976 y 1982 ocupa la curul tamaulipeca en el Senado de la República, presidiéndolo. Tras impecable carrera, de 1985 a 1994 sería ministra de
la Suprema Corte de Justicia de la Nación. Por aquellas fechas pondera, a propósito del 27: “Ningún otro artículo constitucional enriqueció –por primera vez en la historia jurídica” del mundo—“a la teoría … contemporánea … con la creación … de los derechos y garantías sociales”. También conferencista y académica, nos lega prolífica bibliografía. Destaca “El derecho agrario en México”. Su “Testimonio de una familia petrolera” inspiraría los murales de Abel Quezada en la máxima sede de Petróleos Mexicanos. Con sobrados motivos, desde 2003 en la Facultad de Derecho de la UNAM un aula ostenta su nombre. Ese año recibe conmemorativa medalla de la Cámara de Senadores. Bienio de por medio, en el Museo Nacional de Antropología le entregan el galardón al mérito “Emiliano Zapata”. Tampico la honra en 2012 con la presea “Fray Andrés de Olmos”. La trayectoria de tan ilustre tamaulipeca resalta el valor del legado femenino al México posrevolucionario. Chávez Padrón fallece en la Ciudad de México el 2 de agosto de 2017. Ella misma rememoraría: Cuando salíamos “a los campos … a trabajar con y por sus campesinos, no sólo” íbamos “al encuentro impactante de un país” multiétnico, sino al “del verdadero México”.
Riña en penal deja nueve muertos E SPECIAL PARA TIEMP O DE ZAPATA
Ciudad Victoria, México— La Secretaría de Seguridad Pública de Tamaulipas, informó que la tarde del jueves, se registró una riña entre reos al interior del Centro de Ejecución de Sanciones (Cedes) de Reynosa. Los hechos se registraron poco después de las 13:30 horas, cuando dos grupos de la población penitenciaria protagonizaron un enfrentamiento entre ellos, utilizando armas contundentes como palos, piedras y puntas hechizas. Como resultado del enfrentamiento, nueve de los reos murieron y otros 11 resultaron heridos. Debido a que era día de visita, el personal de custodia se enfocó a resguardar a las familias en la entrada del Cedes, para que posteriormente ingresaran elementos de la Policía Estatal a fin de controlar la situación realizando disparos al aire para disuadir y poder concentrar a los reos en los módulos, para lo cual contaron con el apoyo de la Policía Ministerial, Policía Federal, Secretaría de Marina y Ejército Mexicano para la vigilancia del perímetro del centro penitenciario. Los heridos fueron trasladados en las ambulancias de la Cruz Roja y de Protección Civil a un hospital de la localidad para su atención médica, mientras personal del Servicio Médico Forense (Semefo) ingresó para realizar los procedimientos para la identificación de los occisos. La Secretaría de Seguridad Pública a través de la Policía Estatal reforzó la seguridad dentro y fuera del Cedes Reynosa para mantener el orden.
A8 | Saturday, August 12, 2017 | THE ZAPATA TIMES
ENTERTAINMENT
Judge considers dropping case against Taylor Swift By James Anderson and Tatiana Flowers A S S O CIAT E D PRE SS
DENVER — The judge in the groping trial between Taylor Swift and a former radio host sent jurors home Friday as he weighed whether to dismiss the DJ’s claims that the singer ruined his career. U.S. District Judge William Martinez was considering Swift’s lawyer’s argument that David Mueller had failed to prove the pop star got him fired and promised a ruling late Friday. Mueller denies groping Swift during a 2013 meetand-greet and is suing Swift, her mother and her radio liaison for up to $3 million. Swift is countersuing for a symbolic $1 and what she says is a chance to stand up for other women. With jurors outside the courtroom Friday afternoon, attorneys on both sides argued over whether Mueller had presented enough evidence to send his full case to the jury. Those statements and the judge’s questions focused on whether Swift herself had done anything to get Mueller fired. That left open the possibility that the judge would throw out the claims against her but let Mueller press ahead with his allegations against her mother, Andrea Swift, and Frank Bell, their point man with radio stations. Swift’s lawsuit alleging assault and battery by Mueller was not discussed. Jurors are to return Monday to hear closing arguments about whichever claims remain. Earlier Friday, Swift’s
Macall B. Polay / AP
This file image shows Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Jaime Lannister in "Game of Thrones."
David Zalubowski / AP
Workers in an office building taped up a message to pop singer Taylor Swift borrowing a title from one of her albums before the start of the civil trial Friday in Denver.
former bodyguard testified that he saw Mueller reach under her skirt a moment before a photographer snapped their picture during the preconcert meet-and-greet at Denver’s Pepsi Center. Security guard Greg Dent, who no longer works for Swift, said he was standing a few steps away but did not intervene because he generally took his cues from the pop star, and she gave him no signals during the 2013 pre-concert encounter at a Denver arena. Seated at her legal team’s table in a federal courtroom, Swift chuckled when Dent testified that, after the photo was taken, he suspected that Mueller would be at the bar of the arena — and another guard found him there. A day earlier, Swift spent an hour on the witness stand herself defiantly recounting what she called a “despicable and horrifying and shocking” encounter. “He stayed attached to my bare ass-cheek as I lurched away from him,” Swift testified. Swift’s testy exchange with Mueller’s attorney occasionally elicited
chuckles — even from the six-woman, two-man jury. She got a laugh when she said Dent saw Mueller “lift my skirt” but someone would have had to have been underneath her to see the actual groping — “and we didn’t have anyone positioned there.” Swift testified that after the photo was taken, she tried to get as far away Mueller as she could. She said she told him and his girlfriend, who was also in the photo, “thank you for coming” in a monotone voice before they left. She also said she was stunned and did not say anything to Mueller or halt the event after he left because she did not want to disappoint several dozen people waiting in line for photos with her. In the image, shown to jurors during opening statements but not publicly released, Mueller’s hand is behind Swift, just below her waist. Mueller’s then-girlfriend, Shannon Melcher, is on the other side of Swift. Melcher testified Friday that she saw nothing happen during the brief encounter. Melcher testified Mueller was devastated by the accusation.
Leaked email shows HBO negotiating with hackers By Matt O’Brien and Tali Arbel ASSOCIATED PRE SS
BOSTON — Hackers released an email from HBO in which the company expressed willingness to pay them $250,000 as part of a negotiation over electronic data swiped from HBO’s servers. The July 27 email was sent by John Beyler, an HBO executive who thanked the hackers for “making us aware” of previously unknown security vulnerabilities. The executive asked for a 1-week delay and said HBO was willing to make a “good faith” payment of $250,000, calling it a “bug bounty” reward for IT professionals rather than a ransom. HBO declined to comment. A person close to the investigation confirmed the authenticity of the email, but said it was an attempt to buy time and assess the situation. The same hackers have subsequently released two dumps of HBO material and demanded a multimillion dollar ransom. Whether or not HBO ever intended to follow through with its $250,000 offer, the email raised questions Friday among security professionals about the importance of the data as well as how it
will affect future attacks. “It’s interesting that they’re spinning it as a bug bounty program,” said Pablo Garcia, CEO of FFRI North America, based in Aliso Viejo, California. “They’re being extorted. If it was a bug bounty, it’d be on the up and up.” Beyler’s email to the hackers said the company was working “very hard” to review all the material they provided, and also trying to figure out a way to make a large transaction in bitcoin, the hackers’ preferred payment method. “You have the advantage of having surprised us,” Beyler wrote. “In the spirit of professional cooperation, we are asking you to extend your deadline for one week.” The first HBO hack became publicly known on July 31. Then, last week, hackers using the name “Mr. Smith” posted a fresh cache of stolen HBO files online, and demanded that the network pay a ransom of several million dollars to prevent further such releases. The leaks included scripts from “Game of Thrones” episodes and a month’s worth of email from the account of HBO’s vice president for film programming. There were
also internal documents, including a report of legal claims against the network and job offer letters to top executives. HBO has said that it is working with law enforcement and cybersecurity firms to investigate the attack, which is the latest to hit a Hollywood business. The leaks so far have fallen well short of the chaos inflicted on Sony in 2014. In April, a hacker claimed to have released episodes of Netflix’s “Orange is the New Black” ahead of their official launch date. But paying ransoms to hackers can be dangerous because it shows that being a bad-guy hacker is a good business, said cybersecurity expert Oren Falkowitz, CEO of Redwood City, Californiabased Area 1 Security. Companies would be better off investing in preventing email spearfishing attempts and other hacking techniques, he said. “The reason they got in this scenario is they didn’t have the right pre-emption strategy,” Falkowitz said. “The next company, whether it’s Showtime or Death Row Records or whomever, needs to see that they’re going to wake up one day to this reality unless they confront it.”
THE ZAPATA TIMES | Saturday, August 12, 2017 |
A9
BUSINESS
SoundCloud gets $170 million investment By Adam Satariano and Lucas Shaw B L OOMBE RG
SoundCloud, the popular but financially strapped digital music service, is getting a lifeline from new investors who have agreed to pump $170 million into the company. The new investment keeps the Berlin-based company alive but comes with strings attached. SoundCloud Chief Executive Officer Alex Ljung is being replaced by Kerry Trainor, the former head of the online video service Vimeo. The company is also
Andrew Harrer / Bloomberg
The SoundCloud Ltd. application is seen in the App Store on an Apple Inc. iPhone in in Washington, D.C.
shifting its business strategy, to focus on selling more tools for artists, podcasters and other content creators to share material online. Trainor said the company will compete less directly with larger rivals Spotify Ltd. and Apple Music, an acknowledgment
ZETA From page A1 Farias identified himself as “Carlos Cruz-Jimenez” and claimed he traveled to the United States to find employment. Today, Saldivar-Farias admitted his true identity was Jose Manuel Saldivar-Farias and that he was a Zeta plaza boss and then regional commander of the northern region of Mexico to include the states of Coahuilla, Taumalipas and Nuevo Leon, Mexico, as well as Zapata, Texas. As such, he was
THREATS From page A1 with respect to Guam or anyplace else that’s an American territory or an American ally, he will truly regret it and he will regret it fast,” Trump said. The words followed an early morning tweet in which Trump declared the U.S. military is “locked and loaded” if the isolated rogue nation acts “unwisely.” The compounding threats came in a week in which the longstanding tensions between the U.S. and the isolated nation seemed to abruptly boil over. North Korea threatened to launch an attack on the U.S. territory of Guam, while Trump vowed to deliver “fire and fury” if threatened. Tough talk aside, there was scant sign the U.S. military was preparing for imminent action and an important, quiet diplomatic channel remained open. The Associated Press reported Friday that talks between North Koreans and a U.S. official continue through a back channel previous used to negotiate the return of
that the company’s costly years-long effort to build a rival subscription service wasn’t successful. Raine Group and Singapore’s Temasek Holdings have agreed to inject the new money, however SoundCloud had to accept a steep drop in its valuation. The new
in charge of all narcotics moving through the area. Throughout the conspiracy, SaldivarFarias and other Zeta members and associates, secured, maintained and regulated the transportation routes used to import marijuana from Mexico to the United States across Falcon Lake. Saldivar-Farias charged and collected a “piso” or “tax” for permission to store and transport marijuana and other controlled substances through the transportation routes and areas he controlled. Individuals who did not pay the “piso” or “tax” faced a potential conse-
Americans held in North Korea. The talks have expanded to address the deterioration of relationship, according to U.S. officials and others briefed on the process. They weren’t authorized to discuss the confidential exchanges and spoke on condition of anonymity. Still, Trump on Friday sought to project the military strength. Trump tweeted Friday: “Military solutions are now fully in place, locked and loaded, should North Korea act unwisely. Hopefully Kim Jong Un will find another path!” He later retweeted a posting from U.S. Pacific Command that showed B-1B Lancer bomber planes on Guam that “stand ready to fulfill USFK’s #FightTonight mission if called upon to do so.” Such declarations, however, are not necessarily indicators of new more aggressive posture. ‘’Fight tonight” has long been the motto of U.S. forces in South Korea to show they are always ready for combat on the Korean Peninsula. U.S. officials insist that there have been no new significant movement of
funding round valued the music streaming company at $150 million, compared with the $700 million valuation it was said to have received last year. SoundCloud’s earlier backers had to accept a mark down on those earlier investments as part of the deal. “We see an incredible opportunity for growth in this business,” said Fred Davis, a partner at Raine who is joining SoundCloud’s board of directors. Raine, a boutique investment bank, has also backed Vice Media, DraftKings and Imagine Entertainment.
quence and potentially would be threatened, beaten, kidnapped, tortured or murdered. To date, 18 defendants have been indicted for their roles in the conspiracy. Fourteen have been convicted, while the remaining four are fugitives. The FBI and Border Patrol conducted the investigation with the assistance of Drug Enforcement Administration and Texas Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Casey N. MacDonald and Anibal Alaniz are prosecuting the case.
troops, ships, aircraft or other assets to the region other than what has already been long planned for previously scheduled exercises. American and South Korean officials said they would move forward later this month with the exercises, which North Korea claims are a rehearsal for war. The days of war rhetoric have alarmed international leaders. “I don’t see a military solution and I don’t think it’s called for,” said German Chancellor Angela Merkel. She declined to say whether Germany would stand with the U.S. in case of a military conflict with North Korea and called on the U.N. Security Council to continue to address the issue. “I think escalating the rhetoric is the wrong answer,” Merkel added. Russia’s foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, estimated the risk of a military conflict between the U.S. and North Korea as “very high,” and said Moscow was deeply concerned. “When you get close to the point of a fight, the one who is stronger and wiser should be the first
BORDER From page A1 Roma to the southern tip of Falcon Lake. The U.S. House of Representatives has approved $1.6 billion in funding to build 74 miles of border wall, more than 80 percent of which is slated for the Rio Grande Valley. But the border wall funding is expected to be the subject of a bruising battle in the U.S. Senate, where Democrats have vowed to fight additional money for physical border barriers. The U.S. Border Patrol’s current budget includes funding for 35 gates to plug gaps in the existing border fencing in the Rio Grande Valley. Dozens of miles of fencing were built last decade in Hidalgo and Cameron counties. Rio Grande City Mayor Joel Villarreal, a longtime wall opponent, said his goal at this point is to “minimize the impact” of the wall on his Starr County city. So far, he said, local Border Patrol officials have been receptive to his concerns, and he said plans he has seen appear to spare his southernmost neighborhoods. “I don’t want any of our neighborhoods south of the wall,” he said. “Any property south of the wall would be rendered worthless.” Villarreal said that federal officials have agreed to allow city engineers to work with them on flood analyses, which have proven controversial in the past. “I can’t say I’m 100 percent convinced, but in good faith they are allowing our engineers to look at it as well,” he said. “Hope-
to step back from the brink,” Lavrov said Friday. Trump’s rhetoric, however, stands in stark contrast to an ongoing back channel for negotiations between the United States and North Korea. People familiar with the contacts say the interactions have done nothing thus far to quell tensions over North Korea’s nuclear weapons and missile advances. But they say the behind-thescenes discussions could still be a foundation for more serious negotiation. Despite tensions and talk of war, life on the streets of the North Korean capital remains calm. There are no air raid drills or cars in camouflage netting as was the case during previous crises. North Koreans have lived for decades with the state media message that war is imminent, the U.S. is to blame and their country is ready to defend itself. State-run media ensure that the population gets the North Korean side of the story, but don’t convey any sense of international concern about the situation. As it is, the U.S. has a robust military presence
fully we can address any concerns before construction would begin.” Border Patrol officials, who told the Statesman it would be “premature” to comment on specific locations because the project is still in the planning phase, have long sought to build border barriers in Starr County. Along with neighboring Hidalgo and Cameron counties, Starr forms part of the agency’s Rio Grande Valley sector, one of the border’s busiest in terms of immigrant apprehensions and drug seizures. “The Rio Grande Valley has been an area of exploitation and an area lacking in border infrastructure,” acting Deputy Commissioner Ronald Vitiello said in June. “These miles will help connect existing segments of wall throughout the area and fill critical gaps.” Vitiello has said that the Border Patrol has ruled out about 130 miles of border, including Texas locales like Big Bend and Lake Amistad in Del Rio, where “fencing is not practical nor necessary.” “The natural barrier already slows people down as they’re trying to cross the border in that space,” he said. Victor Manjarrez, retired Border Patrol chief and associate director of the University Of Texas at El Paso’s Center for Law & Human Behavior, said the areas targeted for new walls in the Rio Grande Valley make strategic sense. “This tells me someone is paying attention to what the (agents) are asking for,” he said. “These areas provide lots of egress to highway systems.”
in the region, including six B-1 bombers in Guam and Air Force fighter jet units in South Korea, plus other assets across the Pacific Ocean and in the skies above. U.S. military options range from nothing to a full-on conventional assault by air, sea and ground forces. Any order by the president could be executed quickly. The U.S.-South Korea exercises are an annual event, but they come as Pyongyang says it is readying a plan to fire off four Hwasong-12 missiles toward the tiny island, which is U.S. territory and a major military hub. The plan would be sent to Kim for approval just before or as the U.S.-South Korea drills begin. Called Ulchi-Freedom Guardian, the exercises are expected to run Aug. 21-31 and involve tens of thousands of American and South Korean troops on the ground and in the sea and air. Washington and Seoul say the exercises are defensive in nature and crucial to maintaining a deterrent against North Korean aggression. The exercises were scheduled well before tensions began to rise over Trump’s increasingly
fiery rhetoric and North Korea’s announcement of the missile plan, which if carried out would be its most provocative launch yet. Along with a bigger set of maneuvers held every spring, the exercises are routinely met by strong condemnation and threats of countermeasures from North Korea. The heightened military activity on the peninsula this time is a concern because it could increase the possibility of a mishap or an overreaction of some sort by either side that could spin into a more serious escalation. North Korea has been increasingly sensitive to the exercises lately because they reportedly include training for “decapitation strikes” to kill Kim Jong Un and his top lieutenants. The possibility of escalation is made even more acute by the lack of any means of official communication across the Demilitarized Zone, though there has been no easing of the barrage of inflammatory comments in the U.S. and the North since new sanctions against North Korea were announced last week.
A10 | Saturday, August 12, 2017 | THE ZAPATA TIMES
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