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Officials sue gun rights activist DALLAS — A Texas county sued a gun-rights activist who has complained that county officials were unlawfully barring firearms from being brought into a public building. The lawsuit filed by Waller County, which extends into the suburbs of Houston, takes aim at Terry Holcomb Sr., the executive director of a gun-rights organization called Texas Carry. Holcomb has sent letters to more than 75 local governments and other public entities across the state complaining of restrictions placed on licenseholders from bringing a firearm into a public arena. Others have filed complaints with the Texas attorney general’s office accusing Austin City Hall, the Dallas Zoo, a nature preserve, a suburban Houston convention center and other places with unlawfully banning firearms. Those complaints are on top of regular fights that rage in Texas over guns, most recently with lawmakers approving the concealed carry of firearms on college campuses. In the case of courthouses like the one in Waller County, Texas law prohibits guns from being brought into courtrooms and related offices, but Attorney General Ken Paxton issued separate opinions in December saying firearms can’t be uniformly prohibited from an entire courthouse complex. Holcomb argues that the “heavy-handed” decision by Waller County to sue him makes his case much more than a Second Amendment matter. “We can agree or disagree on the gun issue but this is different than that,” he said, contending that the county’s suit is frivolous and “borderline official oppression.” The suit appears to be a highly unusual step. Dave Workman, spokesman for the Second Amendment Founda-
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HOUSTON, TEXAS
A divided America
Eric Gay / AP
Erika Jaramillo, center, and others hold signs supporting Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton during a Democratic National Convention watch party in San Antonio. In Texas, where 39 percent of the population is Hispanic, Democrats have been shut out of statewide elections for decades.
Hispanic voting bloc remains largely untapped By Will Weissert ASSOCIATED PRE SS
H
OUSTON — Diana Villenas begins her pitch in English, but switches to Spanish if she gets blank stares, which happens often. It’s a tough sell in any language. “Are you registered to vote?” asks the 21-yearold environmental studies student at St. Thomas University in Houston. “Do you want to be?” “No, gracias,” the bearded man in the black baseball cap says. Another ambling by with a cellphone to his ear shakes his head, as does a guy in a black-felt cowboy hat and a woman wearing a yellow blouse. The man in an American flag T-shirt even turns her down. As brassy Banda music blares from a nearby stage at a sprawling Hispanic festival adjacent to the Houston Texans’ dome, Villenas and other volunteers with Mi Familia Vota, a nonpartisan nonprofit which encourages Latino civic engagement, exhort possible voters. They find most aren’t eligible to Voting continues on A11
John Locher / AP
Fabiola Vejar, right, registers Stephanie Cardenas to vote in front of a Latino supermarket in Las Vegas. Shielded from deportation under an Obama administration program that protects those brought to the country illegally as children, Vejar, 18, cannot vote.
Activist continues on A11
US-MEXICO BORDER
Mexican and American Officers jointly inspect cargo By Astrid Galvan ASSOCIATED PRE SS
Astrid Galv'n / AP
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer Rachel McCormick, left, and Mexican customs officer Alejandra Galindo demonstrate how they would jointly inspect a cargo truck carrying goods from Mexico into the U.S. while at the Mariposa Inspection Facility at the Nogales Port of Entry in Arizona.
NOGALES, Ariz. — Federal authorities say a program that allows U.S. and Mexico officers to jointly inspect commercial trucks heading north has drastically reduced border crossing wait times in Arizona. U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Gil Kerlikowske and his Mexican counterpart, Ricardo Trevino, said at a news conference on Thursday in Nogales, Arizona, that wait times for certain cargo shipments from Mexico into the U.S. dropped from three to four hours to just 25 minutes. The pilot program that began last week includes only trucks enrolled in a special anti-terrorism program that
allows them to go through expedited inspections. The dual inspection program, which is currently in a 90-day pilot phase, allows Mexican customs officers who have been screened by U.S. authorities to work in the cargo inspection facility at the Nogales Port of Entry in Arizona. Mexican authorities already inspect outbound trucks before they get to the U.S., meaning the co-inspections were cut from two different searches to just one. “The things we are talking about today are just very important to improve the speed of commerce,” Kerlikowske said. “The unified cargo processing saves time, it saves trade stakeholders money, and that means that cargo, especially produce that is so subject to environ-
mental concerns, moves more quickly.” Trade with Mexico accounts for billions in profit in the United States. Arizona ports of entry alone facilitated $18.1 billion in imports from Mexico to the U.S. last year, according a report by the Economic and Business Research Center at the University of Arizona’s Eller College of Management. “The key thing to keep in mind is that both import and exports through our ports of entry can improve the state’s economy,” the program’s director, George Hammond, said. “Mexico is a key trade partner with us.” A similar operation in Southern California and Laredo, Texas, allows U.S. agents to inspect cargo vehicles from the Border continues on A11
Zin brief A2 | Saturday, August 6, 2016 | THE ZAPATA TIMES
CALENDAR
AROUND THE NATION
TODAY IN HISTORY
SATURDAY, AUGUST 6
ASSOCIATED PRE SS
1
Greens of Guadalupe Rummage Sale. 8 a.m.–3 p.m. Our Lady of Guadalupe Church hall, 1700 San Francisco Ave. 1 Book sale. 8:30 a.m.–1 p.m. Widener Book Room, First United Methodist Church. No admission charge. Everyone is invited. 1 Laredo Northside Farmers Market. 9 a.m.–1 p.m. North Central Park playground behind the trailhead facility. The market will feature the usual vendors plus three new vendors as well. Two adult gift baskets and five pre-K to kindergarten backpacks with school supplies and five elementary backpacks with school supplies will also be raffled. 1 Chess Tournament for middle/ high school age students. 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Inner City Branch Library, 202 W. Plum St. Players must register in person, and the tournament is open to the first 40 players. The tournament is non-rated and trophies will be awarded to the top three finishers. Free snacks will be available for children. For more information, call 795-2520.
MONDAY, AUGUST 8 1
Family Gardening Club. 10–11 a.m. McKendrick Ochoa Salinas Branch Library, 1920 Palo Blanco St. Free and for all ages. Fun gardening activities and gardening science. 1 Chess Club. 4–6 p.m. Every Monday. Inner City Branch Library, 202 W. Plum St. Compete in this cherished strategy game played internationally. Free. For all ages and skill levels. Instruction is offered. 1 Laredo Stroke Support Group. 7 p.m. San Martin de Porres Church, Family Life Center. Meetings are held the second Monday of each month and are open to all stroke survivors, family and caregivers. Everyone is welcomed to share their story, encourage and support others, and hear informative speakers. For more information on the support groups, call 956-286-0641 or 956-763-6132.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 13
Today is Saturday, Aug. 6, the 219th day of 2016. There are 147 days left in the year.
Today’s Highlight in History: On Aug. 6, 1945, during World War II, the U.S. B-29 Superfortress Enola Gay dropped an atomic bomb codenamed “Little Boy” on Hiroshima, Japan, resulting in an estimated 140,000 deaths.
Chadd Cady / AP
The honor guard salutes the hearse carrying the body of Officer Jonathan De Guzman. Hundreds of law enforcement vehicles and motorcycles escorted the hearse to a final memorial service.
SLAIN OFFICER REMEMBERED By Julie Watson ASSOCIATED PRE SS
EL CAJON, Calif. — Jonathan De Guzman constantly prodded his fellow officers to excel at their jobs, saying “much work to do. Must catch the bad guys,” words remembered Friday at a memorial service for the San Diego police officer slain in the line of duty. More than 4,000 people attended the public service at a church in the city of El Cajon, east of San Diego. The crowd included more than 2,000 police officers and elected officials, including Gov. Jerry Brown and San Diego
1
Brews and Cruise Pedal Party. 8 p.m. sharp. Meet at Caffe Dolce, 1708 Victoria St. Let’s Brews and Cruise it downtown and zip along San Bernardo Ave. If you plan on joining the fun please make plans to arrive before 8 p.m. and bring your own bikes, helmets, locks and lights.
MONDAY, AUGUST 15 1
Chess Club. 4–6 p.m. Every Monday. Inner City Branch Library, 202 W. Plum St. Compete in this cherished strategy game played internationally. Free. For all ages and skill levels. Instruction is offered.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 18 1
Cancer Friends Meet. 6 p.m. Every third Thursday of the month. Laredo Medical Center, A.R. Sanchez Cancer Center, Tower A, 1st Floor. Having cancer is often one of the most stressful experiences in a person’s life. However, support groups help many people cope with the emotional aspects of cancer by providing a safe place to share their feelings and challenges and learn from others who are facing similar situations. For more information, call Nancy Santos at 956-285-5410.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 19 1
South Texas Food Bank Empty Bowls X fundraiser. 6–11 p.m. Laredo Energy Arena. Concert by Grand Funk Railroad The American Band. Tickets are $10, $15, $25 at the LEA box office or ticketmaster.com.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 20 1
‘Lucha Libre’ pro wrestling. 7 p.m. Laredo Firefighters Union Hall, 5219 Tesoro Plaza. General admission $5 to benefit the South Texas Food Bank mission of feeding the hungry. Tickets at the door. For more information call the South Texas Food Bank at 726-3120 or Salo Otero at 324-2432.
MONDAY, AUGUST 22 1
Chess Club. 4–6 p.m. Every Monday. Inner City Branch Library, 202 W. Plum St. Compete in this cherished strategy game played internationally. Free. For all ages and skill levels. Instruction is offered.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 25 1
Spanish Book Club. 6–8 p.m. Laredo Public Library on Calton. For more information, contact Sylvia Reash at 763-1810.
Murder suspect shakes severely during first hearing ATLANTA — The suspect accused of killing two teenagers in an Atlanta suburb appeared before a judge for the first time Friday, his hands, wrists and legs shaking continuously. Jeffrey Hazelwood, 20, jerked his head around as he shook, and said nothing to the judge at his first hearing at the Fulton County Jail, video from WSBTV showed.
Mayor Kevin Faulconer. Many did not know De Guzman — who was shot five times July 28 while sitting in his patrol car after his partner had approached a man on a dark San Diego street last week — but said they were moved to show their support for police because of the recent killings of officers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Dallas. People watched a procession of 200 uniformed motor officers and 600 police cars snaked from San Diego’s Qualcomm Stadium to Shadow Mountain Community Church in El Cajon.
Hazelwood was arrested Wednesday and charged with two counts of murder in the killings of Carter Davis and Natalie Henderson. The 17-yearolds were each shot once in the head. Hazelwood also mumbled to himself during the hearing and appeared to pet an imaginary animal, WSB reported. “I can just surmise that being charged with such a heinous crime — that is a terrifying experience,” his lawyer, Lawrence Zimmerman, told The Associated Press after Friday’s
hearing. Zimmerman said he just recently joined the case, and has yet to learn details of the allegations. A judge denied bond for Hazelwood, whose next court hearing is set for Aug. 19. Shortly before Hazelwood appeared before the judge, classmates, friends and relatives of Henderson gathered Friday at a Roswell church for her funeral. Henderson was funny, compassionate and incredibly giving, said Alex Macchione. — Compiled from AP reports
AROUND THE WORLD Nigeria using power, persuasion to curb oil militant attacks WARRI, Nigeria — Nigeria’s government has resumed paying stipends to former militants even as security forces’ air and ground assaults have reportedly killed scores of fighters disrupting petroleum production in the oil-rich Niger Delta. President Muhammadu Buhari’s government is using power and persuasion in a bid to halt attacks on oil installations that have cut production from 2.2 million to 1.2 million barrels a day. The attacks have slashed the budget of a government dependent on oil for 70 percent of its revenue. The Nigerian Air Force says it has been bombing “legitimate targets, such as observation post, anti-aircraft gun position, boats laden with suspected stolen petroleum products and armed combatants.” Residents say scores of mil-
George Osodi / Associated Press
Nigeria's government has resumed paying stipends to former militants, on the week of Thursday.
itants have been killed. There was no way to get a death toll independently. The commander of a joint task force, Rear Admiral Joseph Okojie, said the massive military deployment since Sunday is in response to “threats by militants to declare the Niger Delta Republic on August 1, 2016.” Such demands are new
in the Niger Delta, where oil militants are threatening to join forces with separatists from the southeast who have renewed their intentions to create a state called Biafra. Nigeria suffered a civil war that killed a million people in the late 1960s after the Igbo people declared an independent Biafra. — Compiled from AP reports
On this date: In 1813, during the Venezuelan War of Independence, forces led by Simon Bolivar recaptured Caracas. In 1825, Upper Peru became the autonomous republic of Bolivia. In 1914, Austria-Hungary declared war against Russia and Serbia declared war against Germany. In 1916, D.W. Griffith’s silent film epic “Intolerance,” which intercut four stories in four different settings and time periods, was sneak-previewed in Riverside, California. In 1926, Gertrude Ederle became the first woman to swim the English Channel, arriving in Kingsdown, England, from France in 14 1/2 hours. Warner Bros. premiered its Vitaphone sound-on-disc movie system in New York with a showing of “Don Juan” featuring synchronized music and sound effects. In 1930, New York State Supreme Court Justice Joseph Force Crater went missing after leaving a Manhattan restaurant; his disappearance remains a mystery. In 1956, the DuMont television network went off the air after a decade of operations. In 1961, Soviet cosmonaut Gherman Titov became the second man to orbit Earth as he flew aboard Vostok 2; his call sign, “Eagle,” prompted his famous declaration: “I am Eagle!” In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act. In 1978, Pope Paul VI died at Castel Gandolfo at age 80. In 1986, William J. Schroeder died at at Humana Hospital-Audubon in Louisville, Kentucky, after living 620 days with the Jarvik 7 artificial heart. In 1991, the World Wide Web made its public debut as a means of accessing webpages over the Internet. TV newsman Harry Reasoner died in Norwalk, Connecticut, at age 68. Ten years ago: Oil giant BP announced an indefinite shutdown of the biggest oilfield in the U.S., at Prudhoe Bay in Alaska, after finding a pipeline leak. Sherri Steinhauer shot an even-par 72 to win the Women’s British Open for the third time, and the first since it became a major. Tiger Woods won his 50th PGA Tour title with a three-stroke victory over Jim Furyk in the Buick Open. Five years ago: Insurgents shot down a U.S. military helicopter during fighting in eastern Afghanistan, killing 30 Americans, most of them belonging to the same elite Navy commando unit that had slain Osama bin Laden; seven Afghan commandos also died.Deion Sanders, Marshall Faulk, Shannon Sharpe, Richard Dent, Chris Hanburger, Les Richter and NFL Films founder Ed Sabol were inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. One year ago: The first Republican presidential debate aired on Fox News Channel; when the 10 candidates were asked whether any of them would not pledge to support the eventual GOP nominee, only Donald Trump raised his hand, saying, “I will not make the pledge at this time,” angering Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, who accused Trump of “hedging his bets.” Today’s Birthdays: Actor Michael Anderson Jr. is 73. Actor Ray Buktenica is 73. Actor Dorian Harewood is 66. Actress Catherine Hicks is 65. Rock singer Pat MacDonald (Timbuk 3) is 64. Country musician Mark DuFresne (Confederate Railroad) is 63. Actress Stepfanie Kramer is 60. Actress Faith Prince is 59. Rhythm-and-blues singer Randy DeBarge is 58. Actor Leland Orser is 56. Actress Michelle Yeoh is 54. Country singers Peggy and Patsy Lynn are 52. Basketball Hall of Famer David Robinson is 51. Actor Jeremy Ratchford is 51. Actor Benito Martinez is 48. Country singer Lisa Stewart is 48. Movie writer-director M. Night Shyamalan is 46. Actress Merrin Dungey is 45. Singer Geri Halliwell is 44. Actor Jason O’Mara is 44. Singeractor David Campbell is 43. Actress Vera Farmiga is 43. Actress Ever (cq) Carradine is 42. Actress Soleil Moon Frye is 40. Actress Melissa George is 40. Rock singer Travis McCoy (Gym Class Heroes) is 35. Actor Leslie Odom Jr. is 35. Actress Romola Garai is 34. Rock musician Eric Roberts (Gym Class Heroes) is 32. Thought for Today: “The one predominant duty is to find one’s work and do it.” — Charlotte Perkins Gilman, American economist and feminist (1860-1935).
SATURDAY, AUGUST 27 1
Doctors Hospital at Renaissance 11th Annual “Fishing for Hope” Tournament. Louie’s Backyard, 2305 Laguna Blvd., South Padre Island.
AROUND TEXAS Father, sons found dead identified
Cop fired for using excessive force
Man kills self after brief police chase
MONDAY, AUGUST 29
LUBBOCK — Officials have released the names of a Lubbock man and his two children who were discovered dead last month in a vehicle in rural West Texas. Texas Department of Public Safety Sgt. John Gonzalez said Friday that the Texas Rangers continue to investigate the deaths of 37-year-old Jeremy Contreras, Garett Contreras and Avery Contreras.
BRENHAM — Brenham police say an officer was fired for striking a woman in the head and face after she was removed from a suspected stolen vehicle following a chase. The Bryan-College Eagle reports Cpl. Richard Bobbitt was fired Monday. A police chief says there was “no question excessive and unnecessary force was used.”
VICTORIA — Victoria police say their preliminary investigation shows a man fatally shot himself after a brief police chase. Police Chief J.J. Craig said Thursday an officer tried to pull over a vehicle without headlights Wednesday night, but the driver embarked on a slow-speed chase. — Compiled from AP reports
1
Chess Club. 4–6 p.m. Every Monday. Inner City Branch Library, 202 W. Plum St. Compete in this cherished strategy game played internationally. Free. For all ages and skill levels. Instruction is offered.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3 1
Book sale. 8:30 a.m.–1 p.m. Widener Book Room, First United Methodist Church. No admission charge. Everyone is invited.
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THE ZAPATA TIMES | Saturday, August 6, 2016 |
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Zopinion
Letters to the editor Send your signed letter to editorial@lmtonline.com
A4 | Saturday, August 6, 2016 | THE ZAPATA TIMES
OP-ED
OTHER VIEWS
Can the government raise wages? By Noah Smith B L OOM BE RG V IEW
As economists, we are supposed to start with a problem. What is the market failure that stops companies form putting in productivity enhancing profit sharing programs? ... The idea that forcing companies to pay out greater wages is … brandnew, made-up-on-the spot economics, designed to buttress policies decided on for other reasons. Is Cochrane right? Certainly, 10 or 15 years ago, the idea that politicians could force up gross domestic product by pressing companies to raise wages or share profits would have been considered a fringe idea. Should society give this idea serious consideration? It all comes down to the burden of proof. Should we assume that markets work well, and that a special reason is needed in order to try an intervention? Or should we assume that there are all kinds of opportunities out there for tinkering to work, and try them out without first getting a theoretical consensus? It’s important to see the big picture here. Every economics student learns about the “equity-efficiency tradeoff.” This is the idea that government can redistribute wealth from rich to poor, but only at a cost -- the more redistribution gets done, the more overall economic output shrinks. The classic metaphor is that of a leaky bucket: While you’re carrying water from one person to another, some of it leaks through the bottom and gets wasted. But sometimes this analogy doesn’t work. There are cases when government tinkering with the economy can actually increase overall productivity. These are called “market failures,” because they represent situations where the unfettered free market isn’t optimal. Classic examples include pollution, monopolies and scientific research. Strategic interactions, in particular, can lead to a lot of market failures, as in the infamous Prisoner’s Dilemma. A crucial question is how common market failures really are. If they’re rare, then only in extreme situations should we have the government intervene to improve the economy. That has been the default assumption of most economists for decades. But some people believe that such circumstances are a lot more ubiquitous. British economist John Kay has proposed that market failure should be seen not as a limited set of special cases, but as the norm. If that’s true, then we shouldn’t need to wait for theoretical justification in order to try out new pol-
icies designed to improve productivity. If market failures are everywhere, there’s a decent chance that any given policy intervention will hit one, even if we don’t know what it is in advance. Let’s take wage policies as a case in point. Some people have suggested government incentives for companies to adopt profitsharing plans. Evidence shows that when companies do this, their productivity tends to jump up by a modest amount -- maybe around 4 or 5 percent. Is this causation, or just correlation? Cochrane asks: If profit-sharing makes companies more productive, why don’t all companies do it? It’s a reasonable question. In 1990, economists Martin Weitzman and Douglas Kruse pondered it. They conclude: A society’s labor payment system seems to be one of the more likely candidates for historical inertia, institutional rigidities, and imitation effects. The profit sharing-productivity link is obviously complicated and depends on different environmental factors, some of a public-goods nature. This is a very John Kay style argument. Basically, Weitzman and Kruse — two highly respected economists -- essentially shrug, and say, “Look, lots of stuff is going on; maybe the government can help.” I tend to find Weitzman and Kruse’s attitude, and John Kay’s, more compelling than Cochrane’s. The economy is so complicated that it will probably be many decades before we understand all of its deep structures and mechanisms — if we ever do. We shouldn’t wait to try policies until there’s a compelling, watertight theoretical case, because in econ there rarely is one. That doesn’t mean we should cavalierly go around initiating government programs on the off chance that they might be helpful. Even when markets fail, government is sometimes too incompetent, politicized or unwieldy to improve the situation. Also, trying out policies has risks — if an intervention ends up hurting rather than helping, people’s livelihoods will suffer. So I suggest an intermediate position: Go slow. Experiment with policy interventions like minimum wage hikes, wage subsidies and profit-sharing incentives. Try them out in limited locations -just one or two states, for example. Don’t try out extreme versions first -go for a light touch until the initial evidence comes in. Then see how the pilot program works, make sure the evidence is scrutinized carefully, and — if the policy shows unambiguous good results -expand it to the federal level.
COLUMN
Melania Trump visa questions need to be answered By Christine Flowers PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS
Normally I’m no fan of the silly-season stuff, and you know exactly what I’m talking about. I’d rather know what a political candidate thinks about the federal debt than whether his wife is a looker. I’d rather have some understanding of what another candidate will do to lower the unemployment rate than whether her husband is still playing around on the side. These are the somewhat boring, yet nonetheless crucial issues that face us in an election year. Still, the silly stuff is amusing, and if you’re having a particularly long and stressful day, it’s enjoyable to plunge into the sticky, sordid little pool of sound bites and nonnews. For example, that thing about Donald Trump yelling at a baby was good for a chuckle. We all know he was joking, but some of us will pretend he eats children for breakfast because it advances our partisan narrative. And that whole dust-up when Hillary Clinton said, "What difference does it make?" in front of the Bengazi panel last year? We all knew she wasn’t a callous witch who brushed off the deaths of four Americans as if they were bits of dandruff on her pantsuit lapel. But it makes for great talking points on the cable news shows, so we run with it. Those silly-season things, along with the fabricated scandal of a reporter who was manhandled by a Trump operative and the attacks on Megyn Kelly (who can defend herself quite well), are an insult to the voter’s intelligence. Unfortunately, the voters have shown that they deserve to be insulted, particularly this
Melania did not slip across any border that will be sealed if her husband gets to build his wall. She walked in, head held high. But if she came in with the intention of working, and had only that tourist visa, she could be charged. year, with their "Entertainment Tonight" tastes. It’s a bit ironic to have so many people complaining about the way the media focus on the irrelevancies when these are exactly the things that drive the ratings. Chicken/egg? Perhaps, but I think it’s more egg (public)/chicken (media, which want public to pay attention). Of course, one man’s "silly" is another’s "important," and depending upon whom you are supporting in the presidential election, that could all be relative. And speaking of relative, or relatives, I normally don’t like to talk about them when it comes to politics. That’s because they, generally, do not choose to be thrust into the public spotlight when their husband, wife, mother, daughter, sibling or former step-cousin, once removed, decides to throw his or her hat in the ring. With Clinton, that’s, of course, a different story, because her most visible relative was himself a politician who did the sort of thing men often do whenever they have the opportunity, but who rarely get that opportunity in the Oval Office. Now, up until a short while ago, I strongly believed that Trump’s better half fell into that general category of "off-limits," because Melania never thrust herself into the public spotlight. OK, she did, but that spotlight had less to do with elections and more to do with something that rhymes
with elections. Something Hillary’s husband could appreciate. I was someone who basically said the racy photos Melania had posed for over two decades ago were a personal matter, between her and several million subscribers to the racy gentleman’s magazine in which they appeared. But seriously, it had nothing to do with Trump’s candidacy. Now, however, there is a suggestion that Melania shot those photos when she was working as a model in the United States but before she actually had permission to work in the United States. It’s still only speculation at this point, because her original visa documents haven’t been made available to the public, but Melania’s description of having to return to her native Slovenia "every few months" to get her "papers stamped" is not consistent with what I know to be the visa procedures for a professional model. Usually, models are given permission to work under what is known as an H-1B visa, which is good for up to three years at a time. This would have obviated the need to travel back and forth to Slovenia every few months to "stay legal," as Melania has been quoted as saying. The most plausible explanation for what Melania did appears to be coming in and out of the country - legally, mind you - on a tourist visa. There are tourist visas for pleasure, and tourist visas
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letter. Laredo Morning Times does not allow the use of pseudonyms. This space allows for public debate of the issues of the day. Letters are edited for style, grammar, length and civility. No name-calling or gratuitous abuse is allowed. Also, letters longer than 500 words will not be accepted. Via email, send letters to editorial@lmtonline.com or mail them to Letters to the Editor, 111 Esperanza Drive, Laredo, TX 78041.
DOONESBURY | GARRY TRUDEAU
for business, but neither of those visas allow you to work. Yes, there are tiny exceptions, but you don’t want to hear about them because (1) your eyes will glaze over and (2) none of them applies to sexy Slovenian models. Melania was never, it appears, illegally present in the country. She did not slip across any border that will be sealed if her husband gets to build his wall. She walked in, head held high. But if she came in with the intention of working, and had only that tourist visa, she could be charged with visa fraud. And that is a big no-no if your husband is accusing lots of other people of being murderers, rapists and terrorists. Her ex-agent swears that he obtained an H1-B for Melania before she ever modeled for money, and that she was just "confused" when she made those statements about going in and out of the country to "stay legal." But until we see the paperwork, which is as readily available as Trump’s tax returns, there will be a cloud over Melania Trump. So that is why this story is not part of the "silly season." Donald Trump’s unfortunate commentaries about illegal aliens made this story a relevant one, and it unfortunately dragged his wife into a situation that will make her homage to Michelle Obama at the Republican National Convention seem tame in comparison. Moral of the story: Not everything that seems silly really is. Now, can we talk about Hillary’s horrendous taste in pantsuits? Christine Flowers is a lawyer and a columnist for the Philadelphia Daily News.
THE ZAPATA TIMES | Saturday, August 6, 2016 |
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A6 | Saturday, August 6, 2016 | THE ZAPATA TIMES
STATE
GOP angst rises as Trump’s poll numbers slip By Chuck Lindell COX N EWSPAPE RS
AUSTIN, Texas — With the latest round of polls showing support for Donald Trump slipping amid the GOP presidential candidate’s criticism of party leaders and of the parents of a U.S. soldier killed in Iraq, Texas state Rep. Jim Keffer felt compelled to advise fellow Republicans that the “Trump slump” is no reason to abandon ship. Shifting support to Democrat Hillary Clinton isn’t the answer, Keffer said Thursday in a tweet, adding that there is “way too much at stake for our country.” Election Day is still three months away, but Republican angst over the direction of the presidential campaign is evident, even in the GOP stronghold of Texas, as headlines focus on Trump’s refusal to endorse U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan, his call for Russia to search for Clinton emails and his seem-
ingly flippant response to a supporter’s gift of a Purple Heart, Trump saying it was a far easier way to get a medal he had “always wanted.” Keffer acknowledged that some voters are having a difficult time warming to Trump, a nontraditional candidate in almost every respect. “He’s a hard guy to understand where he’s coming from on some of his outbursts and criticisms and off-the-cuff (remarks). He’s pretty much: ‘This is what I am and take it or leave it,' so it’s hard to like him, I’ll be honest with you,” Keffer told the Austin American-Statesman. “But I don’t think that just out and out leaving him and saying you’re going to vote for Clinton is the proper way to go,” added the Republican from Eastland. “We need to stay and try to work
with him and make him a better candidate, and hopefully he will listen to those that want to help him.” Trump lost the support of some Republicans outside Texas this week, including U.S. Rep. Richard Hanna, R-N.Y., who said he’s voting for Clinton. Both U.S. senators from Texas have made it clear that they are done talking about Trump and aren’t interested in joining the running commentary on his campaign controversies. U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, who has said he will vote for Trump because Clinton would continue the policies of President Barack Obama, declared a moratorium on Trump comments in June and stuck to his policy when reporters confronted him Wednesday in San Marcos. “Well, I guess everybody, almost everybody, has commented on it, but I don’t see the need for me to comment on it,”
Cornyn said. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, who was booed two weeks ago when he didn’t endorse Trump at the Republican National Convention -- instead urging Americans to vote their conscience -- declined through a spokeswoman to comment on the candidate who defeated him in the GOP primaries. U.S. House Republicans from Central Texas have all indicated support for a Trump presidency, with Rep. Michael McCaul joining Trump’s team of national security advisers and delivering a convention speech praising the GOP candidate. “It is time to unify as a party,” McCaul, R-Austin, told delegates in Cleveland. “He will never bow down to our enemies, he will stand up to them, and Donald will never allow terrorists to gain ground against America -- he will shake the ground they walk on.” McCaul’s office, however, didn’t respond to ques-
State reaches deal on weaker voter ID rules By Paul J. Weber A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
AUSTIN, Texas — Texas agreed Wednesday to weaken its voter ID law, which federal courts have said discriminated against minorities and the poor and left more than 600,000 registered voters potentially unable to cast a ballot. The state worked fast to soften the law before November’s election, moving from requiring voters to show one of seven forms of suitable ID — a list that included concealed handgun permits, but not college IDs — to letting those without such an ID to sign an affidavit. That will allow them to cast a regular full ballot, and their vote will be counted. Texas must also spend at least $2.5 million on voter outreach before November, according to the agreement submitted to U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos, who must still approve the changes. The changes come as judges across the U.S. are blocking several Republican-controlled states from imposing stricter election rules this November. Donald Trump referenced the rulings Tuesday while reiterating his concerns that the presidential election will be “rigged”
Eric Gay / AP
An election official checks a voter's photo identification at an early voting polling site in Austin, Texas.
against him. North Carolina last week was found to have not only discriminated against minorities but passed tougher election rules with the intent on doing so. A court isn’t done considering whether Texas had the same motives, but for now, the state and U.S. Justice Department agreed on looser voter ID rules to get through this election year. The joint proposal was the result of negotiations between Texas, the Justice Department and minority rights groups who sued over the 2011 law, which a federal appeals court said last month violated the federal Voting Rights Act. “The provisions we’ve agreed to now are critical safeguards for voters,” said Houston attorney Chad Dunn, one of the lead attorneys in the lawsuit against Texas. “It’s a
critical leap forward.” Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton signaled the fight wasn’t over despite the compromise for this election and didn’t rule out eventually going to the U.S. Supreme Court. “This case is not over,” Paxton spokesman Marc Rylander said. He said the law has wide support in Texas to defend the integrity of elections. In 2014, Gonzales Ramos accepted findings from opponents that more than 600,000 Texas voters lacked a suitable ID under the law, which is 4.5 percent of all registered voters in the state. More than 30 states have some form of voter ID rules. But President Barack Obama’s administration in recent years joined the fight on a new breed of voter ID laws passed in Republicancontrolled statehouses,
sending the U.S. Justice Department to join lawsuits in Texas and North Carolina. Other states also have had election rules sidelined for the coming November election. In addition to the North Carolina law that required photo identification, federal courts loosened a similar measure in Wisconsin and halted strict citizenship requirements in Kansas. North Dakota’s voter identification requirements is on hold after a federal judge Monday sided with a group of American Indians who said the law unfairly burdens them. Trump, the GOP presidential nominee, speculated this week that people without proper identification “are going to vote 10 times” during an interview on Fox News Channel’s “The O’Reilly Factor.” Trump suggested at a rally Monday that he fears the general election “is going to be rigged” without offering any immediate evidence. “You don’t have to have voter ID to now go in and vote and it’s a little bit scary,” Trump said on Fox News. The proposed changes would require registered voters to present a certified birth certificate, utility bill, bank statement or paycheck.
Medicaid to cover mosquito repellent By Nomaan Merchant A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
DALLAS — Texas Medicaid will begin providing mosquito repellent to all expectant mothers and women between the ages of 10 and 45, as public health officials grapple with the likelihood that Texas will see at least some local transmissions of the Zika virus. Women in the state program will be eligible to receive two cans of repellent a month through October, when Texas’ peak mosquito season ends. The state Health and Human Services Commission said Wednesday that distribution of the repellent will begin next week, and women will be able to pick it up at pharmacies after calling their doctor. The state is expected to spend about $12.6 million on the program. At least 15 people
around Miami have already become infected locally with Zika, which has been linked to fetal deaths and severe birth defects in the children of women infected during pregnancy. Public health officials have long believed that mosquitoes transmitting Zika in Texas would be inevitable. They are particularly concerned about urban centers along the U.S. Gulf Coast, with its humid climate and existing populations of the mosquito known to carry the virus. So far, 93 people in Texas are reported to have been infected. All of the infections have been linked to travel or sexual transmission. Officials at all levels have spent months urging residents to wear insect repellent regularly, particularly those who travel to countries where Zika is widespread.
“Insect repellent has a greater potential as a tool, a weapon, against Zika than practically anything else we can do,” said Dr. John Hellerstedt, commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services, in an interview Wednesday. The federal agency overseeing Medicaid issued a bulletin two months ago advising states that they could provide insect repellent through the program, which is funded jointly by the federal government and states. Of the other Gulf Coast states, Florida had already been providing mosquito repellent through Medicaid, and Mississippi began doing so this week. Louisiana has plans to distribute repellent only if there are local transmissions of Zika in the state. Officials in Alabama did not return a message. Hellerstedt said state
officials moved with “all deliberate speed” to pay for the expansion, which will cover Medicaid recipients, participants in the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and the state’s Healthy Texas Women and family planning programs. “It’s all about having access to something that is potentially very, very useful,” Hellerstedt said. “What might seem to be a trivial barrier to somebody who is middle class or upper-middle class may be a significant barrier to some of the folks on Medicaid.” The state health department has also expanded its capacity to test for Zika both in people with symptoms and those who believe they may have been previously infected. The department currently estimates it can run up to 32 serology tests a week, intended for people who no longer have symptoms.
tions this week about Trump’s criticism of an American Muslim family whose son, U.S. Army Capt. Humayun Khan, was killed in Iraq. U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith, a Republican who represents parts of Central and South Austin and Hays County, also didn’t respond. U.S. Rep. Bill Flores, a Republican representing parts of North Austin, who in early June said that Trump needed to show “more vision and less trash talk” to earn his endorsement, was reassured by Trump’s choice of Indiana Gov. Mike Pence as his running mate, but Flores said he hoped for fewer distractions on the campaign trail. “It is my hope that Donald Trump focuses more on defeating Hillary Clinton. The Trump campaign must be centered on winning the White House in November,” Flores told the Statesman. U.S. Rep. Roger Williams, R-Austin, said he
doesn’t believe Trump’s proposed tax cuts go far enough, and “on social issues I may be a little more to the right.” But, Williams added, “I’ve endorsed Trump because he’s our candidate. It comes down to the Supreme Court. I don’t want Hillary Clinton nominating the justices. Whether you like him or not, the people voted for him. The people spoke.” U.S. Rep. John Carter, R-Round Rock, believes Trump is the best candidate to keep America safe, support the military and improve the economy, said Corry Schiermeyer, a Carter spokeswoman. “I am not going to comment on every statement made by Trump throughout the remainder of the campaign,” Schiermeyer said. “What I will say is the congressman has the utmost respect for and honors all Gold Star families for their sacrifice to our great nation.”
Dove-banding gives insight on harvested birds By Josie Musico LUBB OCK AVAL AN C HE -JOU R NAL
LUBBOCK, Texas — South Plains mourning doves have wings, feathers and shiny new ankle bracelets — well, the ones Aaron Sisson’s been managing do. The Texas Parks and Wildlife biologist spends his mornings catching the abundant local bird species and banding them to monitor their migration. “It doesn’t hurt them at all,” he told the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal (http://bit.ly/2ay99yi) as he used pliers to carefully attach a band just above a dove’s clawed foot. He then loosened his grip on the creature that flapped its wings and took flight. The rings are tiny and silver, each marked with its own number. The birds appear fairly cooperative, struggling only occasionally. The task requires almost as much writing as dove-handling. Sisson records the number from each band he’s assigned, then lists a description of the bird now wearing it. “All the information associated with that bird is on that number,” he said. Now look ahead a couple months, and say you’re hunting doves. If you harvest a bird that Sisson has banded, entering that number online will lead you to that data. You might learn, for example, that your dove is an adult male banded in mid-July in Lubbock. But it just as likely could have come from farther. They generally travel south in the winter and north in the summer, but specifically where they’ll land is hard to say. “They can go anywhere from Canada to Mexico,” Sisson said. And while Sisson works for the state of Texas, biologists from equivalent wildlife agencies in other states and countries have similar marking programs. The website you enter your dove’s number — www.ReportBand.gov — is managed by a federal agency. Other migratory species are banded in similar programs. Game warden Aaron Sims recalls finding a hawk in Brownfield with
an ankle bracelet. A search revealed its branding home: Saskatchewan, Canada. “It’s fun to see where they started and where they ended up,” he said. When banding, some of the doves’ descriptors are easier to determine than others. Date and location captured are no-brainers, but age and sex require inspection. Sisson pointed out the solid coloring on an adult female: “See how she’s just kind of plain-jane brown? There’s nothing really special about her.” Males, on the other hand, have a rosy-colored breast area. Determining the sex of young birds is harder. To find out the doves’ approximate age, the researcher looks at their feathers. The primary covert, or tip, feathers are a buffy tan color on doves that have yet to reach their first birthday. Adult feathers are almost completely gray. As they grow older, they’ll eventually replace all their feathers. Sisson traps the birds using a bait of corn and sorghum. He leaves the bait on empty land for a week before he introduces the traps, allowing them to develop a taste for the grains. Next, he lays the traps upside down. In three more days, the doves accustomed to the presence of the bait and traps, he’ll set them correctly. Another trick is to is to avoid keeping the traps active 24-7. The wildlife biologist baits before sunrise, then returns to the traps at hour or two later. Sisson: “If they get trapped every time they come, they’ll stop coming. I only do one round in the morning.” Nontarget species tend to wander into the traps. Sisson has had to release plenty of quail and blackbirds, along with an occasional cottontail rabbit. Dove season starts Sept. 1. This year, it’s extended a few extra weeks. Sims, the game warden, reminds hunters of bag limits: 15 per person day. Some hunting enthusiasts see doves as the kick-off to months of other hunting seasons, he added: “It’s kind of a tradition — that’s how you start your hunting season.”
Zfrontera THE ZAPATA TIMES | Saturday, August 6, 2016 |
RIBEREÑA EN BREVE Fin de semana libre de impuestos 1 Los compradores locales podrán disfrutar de un fin de semana libre de impuestos sobre las ventas locales y estatales del 5 al 7 de agosto. Como en años anteriores, la ley exenta de impuestos a artículos como ropa, calzado, útiles escolares y mochilas. Un listado completo de los artículos está disponible a través del sitio de Internet de Texas Comptroller.
Cambio de domicilio 1 La Extensión Educativa de Texas A&M Agrilife Extension en el Condado de Zapata ha cambiado sus oficinas a 200 E. 7th Avenue, Suite 249, Zapata County Courthouse. Tel.: 956-7659820. Fax 956-7658627.
Fiebre de Garrapata 1 Texas A&M Agrilife Extension en el Condado de Zapata está invitando al público a asistir a la sesión del Programa de fiebre de garrapata para el ganado vacuno, el jueves 11 de agosto, en el que se tratarán temas relacionados con la prevención y control de esta fiebre. Las personas interesadas deberán registrarse el 8 de agosto. Charlas inician a las 9 a.m., en Zapata County Pavillion, 405 E. 23rd. Ave.. Evento tiene costo.
Campamentos en Museo 1 El Gobierno Municipal de Nuevo Laredo, México, invita al Campamento en los Museos, del 8 al 12 de agosto, para niños de 6 a 12 años de edad. Habrá clases de pintura, autoretratos, creación de fósiles, pedernales, funciones de cine y visitas guiadas al Museo de Historia Natural y al Museo Reyes Meza. El horario será de 9 a.m. a 12:30 p.m. en la Sala de Servicios Educativos del Centro Cultural Nuevo Laredo. Informes e inscripciones 867-717-5960. 1 Es importante señalar, que el Museo Reyes Meza y el Museo de Historia Natural, permanecerán en horario normal de martes a domingo, de 10 a.m. a 7 p.m.
Backpack Bash 1 La Ciudad de Roma informa que el Backpack Bash se realizará el jueves 11 de agosto a partir de las 9 a.m. en Roma Guadalupe Plaza. Los primeros 500 estudiantes recibirán mochilas con útiles escolares.
Academia para padres. 1 Zapata County ISD invita a los padres de estudiantes desde Prekinder hasta 12avo. Grado a la Academia para Padres que se llevará a cabo el jueves 18 de agosto, de 5 p.m. a 7 p.m. en las instalaciones de Zapata High School, 2009 State Highway 16. Todos los participantes recibirán una caja de útiles escolares mientras duren las existencias.
Inicio de clases 1 Zapata County ISD informa que el primer día de clases será el 22 de agosto.
A7
CASO LAKESIDE
Buscan a hombre Identifican a segunda persona de interés Por César G. Rodríguez TIEMP O DE ZAPATA
La policía de Laredo dijo el viernes que están buscando a un hombre con quien necesitan hablar sobre el doble homicidio de Lakeside reportado en junio. Las autoridades identificaron al hombre como Ernesto Rodríguez, también conocido como “Neto”. LPD dijo que Ernesto Rodríguez no tiene lazos familiares con George O. Rodríguez, cuyo cuerpo fue encontrado junto a su concubina Alondra Arroyo Gutiérrez de 19 años el 26 de junio. Ernesto Rodríguez de 25 años de edad, pesa 160 libras y mide 5 pies y 9 pulgadas. Él es un ciudadano de los EU de tez clara y una cicatriz en su
Rodríguez
codo izquierdo. Su último paradero del que se tiene registro es en la cuadra 700 de Elk
Drive. Ernesto Rodríguez es la segunda persona de interés identificada en el caso. Una orden de cateo recientemente obtenida por el Laredo Morning Times identifica a la primera persona de interés en el caso como Francisco “Frankie” Villarreal, un ex convicto que salió de prisión en febrero después de cumplir con una sentencia por robo con agravantes. “Los detectives de la división de homicidios han identificado tanto a (Ernesto) Rodríguez como
a Villarreal como personas de interés en la investigación por el doble homicidio. Ninguno de los dos ha sido localizado”, dijo el Investigador Joe E. Baeza, vocero de LPD. Para reportar sobre el paradero de cualquiera de los dos, llame LPD al 956-795-2800. Las llamadas realizadas a través de Laredo Crime Stoppers al 727-TIPS (8477) son anónimas y pueden ser elegidas para un recompensa en efectivo. Se Busca La policía dijo que Villarreal es buscado por disparar y herir a Esteban Yruegas, de 22 años de edad, en una pierna, el 13 de junio, en la cuadra 3600 de la calle Galveston. Villarreal y George O. Rodríguez, de 20 años, tienen órdenes activas de arresto por agresión agravada con un arma de fuego, se establece en los registros. Los familiares de George O. Rodríguez han mantenido que es
inocente. Después del tiroteo, George O. Rodríguez y Alondra Arroyo Gutiérrez, de 19 años de edad, desaparecieron, por lo que miembros de la familia de ambos presentaron reportes como personas desaparecidas con LPD. El 26 de junio, un hombre reportó a la policía haber descubierto dos cuerpos en un terreno baldío cerca del área de las calles Iguazu Falls Creek y Lake Victoria Road. Los cuerpos fueron identificados como George O. Rodríguez y Arroyo Gutiérrez. Los detectives pronto descubrieron que George O. Rodríguez había estado con Villarreal. Los investigadores se dirigieron a su dirección ubicada en la cuadra 5100 de Shark Bay Road, donde la policía encontró a dos hombres cambiando la alfombra. La policía registró el hogar y descubrieron lo que parecían manchas “cafés” consistentes con
RÍO 2016
Por Mauricio Savarese ASSOCIATED PRE SS
ZAPATA
Foto por Buda Mendes | Getty Images
La portadora de la antorcha de Coca-Cola Alessandra Ambrosio corre con la flama olímpica por las calles de Río de Janeiro el viernes.
de la música como Caetano Veloso y Gilberto Gil participarían en la ceremonia, al igual que la supermodelo Gisele Bundchen. Pero el clímax del show, el encendido de la antorcha, podría sufrir por la ausencia del deportista más famoso de Brasil, Pelé. El astro del fútbol dijo esta semana que había sido invitado, pero en principio dijo que asuntos de negocios se lo estaban dificultando. El mismo viernes indicó que no podrá asistir por problemas de salud. La caldera fue diseñada por el escultor estadounidense Anthony Howe, quien dijo que se inspiró en la vida en el trópico. Habrá dos calderas en Río, una en el estadio de
fútbol Maracaná, donde se realizará la ceremonia de inauguración, y otra abierta al público en el centro de la ciudad. Se espera que esa caldera en el centro de Río sea encendida por un corredor una vez que termine la ceremonia de apertura, dijo Howe. El piso del estadio fue un vasto escenario para proyecciones, un sustituto de estructuras más costosas ante los problemas económicos de Brasil. En total, 4.800 artistas y voluntarios participaron en el espectáculo de Río, creado en base a tres “pilares” básicos relacionados con la sustentabilidad, particularmente la reforestación, la “sonrisa” y la idea de la “gambiarra”, el arte brasileño de
improvisar reparaciones usando cualquier pieza disponible. “La sonrisa es el modo como los brasileños abordan la vida”, dijo Marco Balich, el productor ejecutivo del evento. “Brasil no es una nación ostentosa. En esta ceremonia están diciendo, somos quienes somos, con muchos problemas sociales, mucha crisis en el sistema político, etcétera”. Las limitaciones de espacio en el Maracaná también refrenaron las posibilidades creativas para el espectáculo. El estadio no tiene las típicas dimensiones olímpicas, ni tiene una pista. Los únicos eventos olímpicos que se realizarán ahí serán los partidos de fútbol.
Aumentan ventas de propiedades en Texas ZAPATA
AUSTIN — Las ventas y los precios de las viviendas en Texas tuvieron importantes incrementos en el segundo trimestre de 2016, según el Informe Trimestral de la Vivienda de Texas, publicado por la Asociación de Agentes de Bienes Raíces de Texas. “Los últimos meses fueron uno de los comienzos más sólidos de la temporada de ventas del verano en la historia de los bienes raíces en Texas”, señaló Leslie
Dos personas resultan heridas E SPECIAL PARA TIEMP O DE
ECONOMÍA
E SPECIAL PARA TIEMP O DE
Homicidio Yruegas es una de las dos personas buscadas por el tiroteo donde murió César Javier Sarmiento, de 44 años de edad. Las autoridades identificaron a otros sospechoso como Pedro Vásquez, de 29 años de edad. Yruegas y Vásquez supuestamente dispararon a Sarmiento en la cuadra 3300 de la calle Guerrero, en el exterior de una casa móvil equipada con un sistema de cámaras de vigilancia, de acuerdo a la policía. La policía declaró que Sarmiento presentaba varias heridas de bala en el área del pecho, cabeza y abdomen. Sarmiento fue declarado muerto en el lugar de los hechos. Yruegas y Vásquez son considerados armados y peligrosos, de acuerdo a la policía.
MATAMOROS
RESALTA CULTURA La rica cultura brasileña fue reflejada el viernes durante la ceremonia inaugural de los Juegos Olímpicos de Río de Janeiro, donde no faltó el samba, la diversidad y la historia de esta nación sudamericana que también exhibe orgullosamente sus tradiciones y maravillas naturales. Millones de televidentes alrededor del mundo vieron la ceremonia de tres horas, realizada en medio de una agitación política y económica. Puesto que el evento no podrá soslayar los problemas que padece el país, como el juicio político a la presidenta, una profunda recesión y amenazas medioambientales, los organizadores se aseguraron de que el calentamiento global y el medioambiente, en especial la imponente selva amazónica, sean una parte importante del espectáculo. “El mundo está muy tenso y Brasil también, pero estamos dispuestos a decirle al mundo que deje de atacar nuestro hogar. El mundo está amenazado por el calentamiento global. Hacemos un llamado a actuar”, dijo Fernando Meirelles, uno de los directores del evento. Ídolos internacionales
las características manchas de sangre, se establece en una declaración jurada.
Rouda Smith, presidenta de la Asociación de Agentes de Bienes Raíces de Texas. “Hay una gran demanda de viviendas de todos los tipos y precios en Texas. Esto es particularmente cierto para las viviendas de menos de 200.000 dólares, que a menudo son las que prefieren los compradores de vivienda por primera vez, y de las que hay mayor escasez en todo el estado”. Según el informe, se vendieron 91.418 viviendas en Texas en el segundo trimestre de
2016, un aumento del 4.4 por ciento con respecto al segundo trimestre de 2015, y el mayor volumen de ventas de viviendas en Texas de la historia. Más del 45 por ciento de las viviendas vendidas en el segundo trimestre estaban valuadas en menos de $200,000, mientras que casi el 47 por ciento tenían un precio de entre 200.000 y 500.000 dólares. Los precios de las viviendas siguieron subiendo en medio de un gran crecimiento poblacional y un inventario de
viviendas bajo en todo el estado, mientras que el precio medio de las viviendas en Texas aumentó un 7.5 por ciento de año a año a 215.000 dólares en el segundo trimestre de 2016. Los listados activos subieron 4.1 por ciento de año a año en el segundo trimestre de 2016 a 98.495 listados activos. Las casas en Texas también siguieron estando menos tiempo en el mercado, con un promedio de 54 días, lo cual es un día menos que en el mismo trimestre de 2015.
Un grupo delincuencial agredió a fuerzas federales y estatales, resultando en dos ciudadanos de heridos el jueves por la tarde en Matamoros, Tamaulipas, México, de acuerdo con autoridades tamaulipecas. Según un comunicado de prensa del estado dos de los agresores fueron detenidos. Alrededor de las 7 p.m. un grupo de soldados se encontraban patrullando la calle Leyes de Reforma esquina con la avenida Manuel Cavazos, ahí los elementos detectaron varios vehículos con hombres armados a quienes marcaron un alto, de acuerdo con el comunicado. Los delincuentes hicieron caso omiso de la indicación y abrieron fuego contra los militares, al tiempo que emprendían la huida, provocando daños a un vehículo de un particular, así como lesiones a dos ciudadanos. Las dos personas lesionadas se movilizaban en vehículos particulares y como consecuencia de la agresión, sufrieron heridas por esquirlas que no ponen en peligro su vida. Su estado de salud fue reportado como estable, según autoridades. Posteriormente, policías estatales de Fuerza Tamaulipas detectan a los delincuentes en la Calle 21, entre las avenidas Diagonal y Morelos de la zona centro, quienes lo agreden para escapar. Al repeler el ataque en defensa de sus vidas, los estatales lesionaron a dos de los agresores, siendo identificados como Eleno González García, de 40 años y Gerardo Rodríguez Polaco, de 28 años, quienes quedaron hospitalizados y a disposición del Ministerio Público de la Federación.
A8 | Saturday, August 6, 2016 | THE ZAPATA TIMES
ENTERTAINMENT
Indie pop-rockers bring fresh feel in new album By Mesfin Fekadu A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
NEW YORK — Tegan and Sara remember the unfiltered advice Neil Young and his manager gave them when they were signed to the rock icon’s Vapor Records 16 years ago as budding 19-year-old singers. “There was a very poignant speech about ‘you could go this way and you’re taking a real risk if you don’t have success, there’s a chance a major label won’t be interested in you for very long, but then there’s this path and this path is harder, there’s less money and you’re going to struggle but it’s going to give you time to develop as an artist.’ And that’s, quite literally, the best gift you can be given as a young artist is time to develop,” Tegan, now 35, recalled in a recent interview with her sister. “We really in a huge way owe our incredibly long career to Neil Young and his manager, Elliot Roberts, because they afforded us that time.” After self-releasing their 1999 debut, the twin sister duo, who are advocates for the LGBT community, released their 2000 sophomore album and other efforts on Young’s label until 2007. Now, Tegan and Sara have released their eighth album, taking on a fresh sound and playing the field like new artists with veteran experience. The sound on “Love You to Death,” which reached the Top 20 on the Billboard 200 albums chart in June, extends the ‘80s pop sound they introduced on 2013’s “Heartthrob,” leaving behind their alternative rock style
Scott Gries / AP
Sara Quin, left, and Tegan Quin, of the Canadian singing duo Tegan and Sara, pose for a portrait in New York. The sisters released their eighth album, Love You to Death, in June and will launch an international tour this fall.
behind. “We’ve been sort of in the indie-rock community for a long time and we’ve done really well there ... but I think there was still something lacking for us. We felt that we were still sort of kind of limited and I think probably a lot of that was that guitar is not our primary instrument, piano was,” Tegan said. “Pop continues to be very interesting. It’s actually kind of hard to write a pop song ... and we love the challenge of that.” “Love You to Death” is a bold, upbeat adventure with topics ranging from stalking ex-lovers to family drama. The album was produced by Greg Kurstin, who worked on the Canadian duo’s last album and also produced hits like Adele’s “Hello” and Sia’s “Chandelier.” “You’re not going to hear Sia and not know it’s Sia. He’s going to work with Adele, you always know it’s Adele. These are people who have a really established character and sound and voice, and I feel honored that in a way by working with Greg we get to be that voice, too. He’s not changing it or distorting it (in) some kind of way that people don’t recognize it’s us. I think that was sort of
what allowed us to feel confident with changing the sound a bit and going in a more pop production,” Sara said. They’ll bring the new songs to life with a U.S. and Canadian tour kicking off Sept. 9 and running through Nov. 16. They will visit New York City, Nashville, Tennessee, and even their hometown of Calgary, Alberta. Tegan and Sara say they’re also excited to see fellow Canadians such as Drake, Justin Bieber and The Weeknd dominate the pop charts in America and around the world. “In Canada there’s a lot of government grants and a lot of money that comes from taxes that actually gives funding to artists like us to make music videos, travel internationally, fund small business projects, and what’s amazing about Canadian talent doing so well internationally is it reinvigorates those funds. It makes people go, ‘Yes, we need to continue to fund small acts, develop young bands,’ so it is win-win,” Tegan said. “Drake and Bieber and Weeknd absolutely have a hand in helping to support the arts in Canada just by default by being successful.”
THE ZAPATA TIMES | Saturday, August 6, 2016 |
A9
BUSINESS
A burst of hiring helps dispel concerns about the US economy By Christopher S. Rugaber A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
WASHINGTON — U.S. employers added a healthy 255,000 jobs in July, a sign of confidence in the economy that will likely ease concerns about signs of weak growth in the midst of the presidential race. The unemployment rate remained a low 4.9 percent, the government said Friday in its monthly jobs report. Many more Americans began looking for a job, and nearly all were hired. But the influx of job seekers meant that the number of unemployed fell only slightly. The figures suggest that employers were unfazed by either Britain’s lateJune vote to quit the European Union or the U.S. economy’s tepid growth in the first half of the year: Just 1 percent at an annual
rate. Most analysts expect the solid hiring to fuel an economic rebound in the second half of this year, with more paychecks and higher pay fueling spending and growth. A sharp fall-off in hiring in May, when only 24,000 jobs were added, had spurred fears about an economic slowdown. But job growth roared back in June with a gain of 292,000. July’s increase provided further evidence that May’s slowdown was likely temporary. “It puts to bed a lot of the concerns that had risen up after the May report that we had come to a screeching halt in the job market,” said Curt Long, chief economist at the National Association of Federal Credit Unions. Investors appeared pleased by the data, with the Dow Jones industrial average surging about 160
Consumer borrowing slows to $12.3B gain in June
points — nearly 1 percent — in midmorning trading. Some economists raised the possibility that the job gains will embolden the Federal Reserve to resume raising rates later this year, though perhaps not before December. The Fed raised its benchmark rate from a record low in December last year but has since held that rate steady in the face of economic uncertainty. “These job numbers are good enough to keep the Fed on track for a December rate increase despite sluggish GDP growth in the first half of this year,” said Scott Anderson, chief economist at the Bank of the West. Average hourly pay picked up in July and is 2.6 percent higher than it was a year ago, matching the fastest pace since the Great Recession officially ended in mid-2009. With
unemployment low, some employers are likely being forced to compete with one another for new hires by offering higher pay. Solid hiring occurred last month across a range of industries, including middle- and high-wage jobs, one factor that likely boosted average pay. Professional and business services, a category that includes architects, engineers and managers, added 70,000 jobs, the most since October. Financial services added 18,000 and construction 14,000. Government positions rose 38,000, the most in more than a year. Health care, which includes jobs at all pay levels, gained nearly 49,000 new jobs. Hotels and restaurants added 27,000. July’s robust job gain may be enough to reassure investors — and
perhaps Fed policymakers — that the economy will pick up. The sluggish growth it has managed to achieve since last fall has been driven mainly by consumers, who ramped up spending in the AprilJune quarter at the second-fastest pace since the recession. One of the most optimistic outlooks for the economy has come from the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta: It predicts that annualized growth will reach 3.7 percent in the current July-September quarter. Public perceptions of the economy have been largely negative during this election season despite low unemployment. A top adviser to Donald Trump said last week that the annual economic growth rate of just 1.2 percent in the April-June quarter was “catastroph-
Amazon unveils cargo plane as it expands delivery network By Phuong Le
By Martin Crutsinger A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
WASHINGTON — Consumers increased their borrowing in June but at the slowest pace in 17 months as auto and student loans registered the slowest growth in nearly five years. The Federal Reserve said Friday that total borrowing rose by $12.3 billion in June, down sharply from an increase of $17.9 billion in May. That was the smallest monthly gain since January 2015. The slowdown in borrowing came from a big decrease in the growth of auto and student loans, which rose by just $4.6 billion in June, the weakest monthly performance since this loan category declined in August 2011. The category that covers credit cards rose by $7.7 billion in June, up from an increase of $1.8 billion in May and the largest monthly gain in this category since March. Much of the slowdown in borrowing reflects a slowing in auto sales which have hit a plateau after six straight years of
growth. Last year, auto sales climbed to a record of 17.5 million new vehicles. In the first half of the year, auto sales were up 1.5 percent, compared to a gain of 4 percent for the first half of 2015. The increase in overall borrowing pushed total credit to a fresh record of $3.63 trillion. Many economists expect total borrowing will keep rising at a solid pace as consumers keep spending, bolstered by strong job growth. In a separate report Friday, the government said that employers added 255,000 jobs in July while the unemployment rate held steady at 4.9 percent. The overall economy grew at a disappointing rate of 1.2 percent in the April-June quarter following an even weaker 0.8 percent growth rate in the first quarter. But economists expect growth will pick up in the second half of the year to a more respectable pace around 2.5 percent. The Fed’s consumer borrowing report does not cover home mortgages or other loans, such as home equity loans, that are secured by real estate.
ic.” Hillary Clinton has tended to credit the Obama administration for rescuing the economy from the Great Recession but has also said “none of us can be satisfied with the status quo.” Other recent economic data have been mixed. Americans are confident enough to step up home purchases, aided by nearrecord-low mortgage rates. Sales of existing homes reached a nine-year high in June, and sales of new homes accelerated to an eight-year high. Services companies, which range from retailers to banks to shipping firms, expanded at a healthy pace in July, according to a survey by the Institute for Supply Management, a trade group. Their expansion slowed a bit from the previous month.
ASSOCIATED PRE SS
SEATTLE — Seattlebased Amazon is unveiling its first branded cargo plane, one of 40 jetliners that will make up the e-commerce giant’s own air transportation network as it takes more control of its delivery process. The latest push to speed delivery of its products comes as the company ships an increasing number of packages worldwide. Amazon’s parcel volume was an estimated 1 billion packages in 2015 — the same number that FedEx delivered three years earlier for hundreds of thousands of customers. Amazon has had issues with the reliability of air freight services. In 2013, it offered refunds to customers who got their Christmas orders late after bad weather and a jump in online shopping caused delays for UPS and FedEx. Analysts say it makes sense for Amazon to use an air fleet it controls as another way to get its products to online shoppers drawn to fast, no-
Ted S. Warren / AP
A Boeing 767, an Amazon.com "Prime Air" cargo plane is parked on display Thursday.
extra-cost delivery. “They’re such a big online retailer,” said Satish Jindel, president of shipping consultant ShipMatrix. “There’s so much volume that if you have to add transportation for yourself, why would you pay a retail price when you can get wholesale? It makes sense.” Amazon will reveal its branded cargo plane, Amazon One, on Friday at the annual Seafair Air Show. The plane will buzz over Seattle’s Lake Washington just before the Navy’s Blue Angels take to the skies, a company official said. Amazon leased 40 Boeing jets from Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings and Air Transport Ser-
vices Group Inc., which will operate the air cargo network. Eleven of the planes already are delivering packages for Amazon’s annual Prime loyalty program, which offers free two-day shipping and other perks. The remaining freighters will be rolled out in the next couple of years. Aircraft like Amazon One allow the company to “continue to maintain our fast delivery speeds and lower our costs as our Prime base and our Prime member growth continue to soar,” said Dave Clark, Amazon’s senior vice president of worldwide operations. Despite its growing fleet of aircraft, Amazon said it plans to continue to use FedEx, UPS and
other transportation partners. “Because of our growth and the sheer amount of packages, we are supplementing our transportation needs,” Clark said. The company has been furiously building out distribution centers, where workers and robots pull products off shelves and package them for delivery, as well as smaller sorting plants, which arrange packages by ZIP code for faster delivery. It has a network of more than 125 fulfillment centers worldwide. Amazon recently reported a second-quarter profit of $857 million on $30 billion in revenue. The company doesn’t yet have plans to carry packages for others but says it’s constantly evaluating its situation. Amazon has not been shy about competing in businesses areas far-flung from its e-commerce roots. “Once you have those planes, it certainly creates the opportunity for new products for customers,” Clark said, adding: “Stay tuned and we’ll see what happens in the future.”
A10 | Saturday, August 6, 2016 | THE ZAPATA TIMES
NATIONAL
Federal agents search union boss’ properties By Kristen De Groot A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
PHILADELPHIA — Federal agents spread out across the city on Friday to search properties linked to a powerful labor boss and the City Hall office of his protege on City Council. FBI and IRS agents searched properties including the Philadelphia home of Johnny “Doc” Dougherty, a nearby union bar named Doc’s Union Pub, the electricians’ union headquarters and Councilman Bobby Henon’s office. FBI spokeswoman Carrie Adamowski said she could not disclose the nature of the ongoing investigation, which also appeared to involve state police. IRS spokesman Edward Manning said also said he couldn’t give additional information about the searches. Dougherty, 56, runs the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 98 and has long been a powerful political force in the city, most recently helping Mayor Jim Kenney win election last year. Henon is a longtime union official who joined council in 2012. Dougherty stood out-
side his South Philadelphia home on Friday, chatting with neighDougherty bors, shaking hands and conferring with his lawyer as agents loaded boxes of evidence into a car. “Nothing’s changed since they were there 10 or 12 years ago. The only thing different is the tomato bushes in the back,” Dougherty told The Associated Press. Later Friday at the IBEW headquarters, agents loaded dozens of cardboard boxes and computer hard drives into a large yellow moving truck. Frank Keel, an IBEW spokesman, defended the union’s financial practices. “Local 98 undergoes an extensive annual audit and is subject to many layers of financial controls and oversights, which make us question some media reports of allegations of financial impropriety as the basis of the investigation,” he said in a statement. He called the search of Dougherty’s home “puz-
zling.” Dougherty’s lawyer declined to comment. Calls to Henon’s office and union headquarters rang unanswered. Dougherty has led the electricians union since 1993. He also took over last year as head of the 40,000-worker Philadelphia Building and Construction Trades Council, an umbrella group of the city’s major trade unions. A decade ago, the FBI investigated him in an apparent tax fraud case. Documents later unsealed in court suggested the investigation involved renovations to his home that were not reported as income. Last fall, he allegedly scuffled with a nonunion electrician outside a construction site. The accuser said that Dougherty broke his nose. No charges have been filed.
THE ZAPATA TIMES | Saturday, August 6, 2016 |
A11from the
FROM THE COVER
Video shows Chicago police firing at car as it drives away By Don Babwin A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
CHICAGO — Video released Friday shows Chicago police firing repeatedly at a stolen car as it careens down the street away from them, then handcuffing the mortally wounded black teenager who was at the wheel after a chaotic foot chase through a residential neighborhood. None of the footage from last month shows the suspected car thief getting shot in the back. Moments after the shots are fired, Paul O’Neal can be seen lying face-down on the ground, blood soaking through his Tshirt in a backyard.
An officer is heard angrily accusing the 18year-old of firing at police. Another officer asks, “They shot at us too, right?” suggesting police believed they had been fired upon and that they did not know how many suspects were present. No gun was recovered from the scene. Attorney Michael Oppenheimer, who represents O’Neal’s family, said the video showed officers taking “street justice into their own hands.” In all, nine videos were released from both body cameras and at least one dashboard camera. It was the city’s first release of video of a fatal police shooting under a new
policy that calls for such material to be made public within 60 days. That and other policy changes represent an effort to restore public confidence in the department after video released last year showed a black teenager named Laquan McDonald getting shot 16 times by a white officer. The McDonald video sparked protests and led to the ouster of the former police superintendent. The officer who shot him is now awaiting trial on murder charges. The latest recording catches the stolen car being pursued by officers as it blows through a stop sign. Before gunfire breaks out, the suspect
sideswipes one squad car and then smashes into another as officers open fire. An officer can be heard explaining that the suspect “almost hit my partner. I (expletive) shot at him.” Another officer who apparently fired his weapon laments that he was going to be on “desk duty for 30 (expletive) days now.” Soon after the July 28 shooting, Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson stripped three of the officers of their police powers after a preliminary investigation concluded they had violated department policy. On Friday, he promised that if the officers acted im-
Tae-Gyun Kim / AP
Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson, second from right, is blocked by three protestors as he tries to deliver a written statement about the recent release of police shooting video to television reporters.
properly, they would “be held accountable for their actions.” Authorities have not said specifically what policy the officers broke. In February 2015, former Superintendent Garry McCarthy revised the department’s policy on the use of deadly force to prohibit officers from “firing at or into a moving vehicle when the vehicle is the only force used against the sworn member or another person.” But the policy also says
that officers “will not unreasonably endanger themselves or another person to conform to the restrictions of this directive,” meaning they have the right to defend themselves if they or someone else are in imminent danger of being struck. Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said the officer’s body camera could have been deactivated when the stolen Jaguar slammed into his squad car and set off the air bags.
Self-radicalized Tunisian held in Italy on terror suspicion A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
MILAN — A Tunisian resident has been arrested on terror charges after being identified as a selfproclaimed radical during a year-long investigation into an illegal immigration
ring, authorities said Monday. Police investigator, Gen. Giuseppe Governale, told a press conference Friday that the suspect, identified as a caretaker at a mosque outside of Naples, demonstrated an intention to
carry out attacks in Italy but had not yet made any concrete plans. He had recently been radicalized and had celebrated terror attacks, including the one in Nice last month that killed 85 people. Governale said the
suspect had written in Arabic on his Facebook page: “I am a member of ISIS until I am dead, and if I die I will exult in being a part of it,” and posted a photograph of a French flag being trampled. The Tunisian was
among eight people arrested following a yearlong investigation into a ring that procured false documents to help illegal immigrants, mainly northern Africans and Pakistanis, to obtain residency in Italy.
California mayor says he never endangered children By Kristin J. Bender and Janie Har A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
SAN FRANCISCO — The embattled mayor of one of California’s largest cities forcefully declared his innocence Friday, denying charges that he supplied alcohol to teenagers for a strip poker game in his room at a youth camp and declaring himself a victim of a smear campaign by politi-
VOTING From page A1 vote because they’ve not yet turned 18 or are recent immigrants who aren’t U.S. citizens. Many others, though, simply aren’t interested. Texas is home to 10.2 million Hispanics, 19 percent of the country’s Latino population. Excluding noncitizens and those under 18, about 5 million Texas Hispanics will be eligible to vote in the 2016 presidential election, but less than half may register and fewer still are likely to cast ballots. Consider the 2014 midterm elections, when less than 2.3 million Texas Hispanics reported in U.S. Census surveys that they were registered to vote — about 46 percent of the nearly 4.9 million that were eligible and about 300,000 fewer than reported being registered in 2012. Turnout in 2014 was worse than 2012: 22 percent of eligible Texas Hispanics voted compared to 39 percent. Nationwide, 48 percent of Hispanics reported voting in 2012, which declined to 27 percent in 2014. That untapped elector-
ACTIVIST From page A1 tion, based in Bellevue, Washington, says he’s never heard of a situation where a government has sued a person who complained about a gun restriction. Holcomb has responded by filing a countersuit that asserts the county is acting in bad faith. Waller County District Attorney Elton Mathis said Friday that Holcomb
The arrest comes the day after Interior Minister Angelino Alfano announced the expulsion of two more Tunisians with suspected links to extremism, bringing to 106 the number of such suspects expelled since 2015.
BORDER From page A1
cal enemies. Stockton Mayor Anthony Silva made brief remarks outside his lawyer’s office, neatly dressed in a suit and tie a day after leaving jail in shorts and a T-shirt following his arrest on charges that included child endangerment and secretly recording confidential communications without consent. Silva didn’t take questions and didn’t talk
about his political future amid growing calls for his resignation. Prosecutors say a review of Silva’s cellphone turned up an audio recording of a gathering last August in his bedroom at the summer camp he hosts annually where at least four young adults and a 16-year-old were playing strip poker and drinking with the mayor. Silva vigorously denied
all charges while not specifically addressing whether the game occurred. “Everyone there was 18 years old,” Silva said, flanked by his attorneys. “I never ever, ever, ever endangered a child. Ever... I never provided alcohol to anyone. And I certainly did not secretly record anyone. I’m innocent and I appreciate your patience.” He and his lawyer, N.
Allen Sawyer, said the charges were politically motivated. Silva is running for re-election this fall. The summer camp Silva has run since prior to being elected mayor is in neighboring Amador County. District Attorney Todd Riebe rejected the mayor’s declaration that counselors were all over 18, saying that investigators know the minor’s date of birth.
ate helps explain how, even though a majority of the state’s residents will be Hispanic by around 2030, Texas has grown increasingly conservative. No Democrat has won statewide office here since 1994, the country’s longest political losing streak. Some Hispanics support Texas conservative causes, such as religious values and opposing abortion, but overall, Latinos statewide still lean strongly Democratic, as do their counterparts elsewhere. Higher Latino turnout won’t turn this red state blue in November’s presidential election, but given how much the Hispanic population is booming, even small improvements could make a big difference in the future. The trick will be pulling that off. “We should know that demography is not destiny,” said Henry Munoz III, a longtime San Antonio community organizer who now serves as the Democratic Party’s National Finance Committee Chair. Hispanic voting habits are like church attendance, said Mario Salinas, Mi Familia Vota’s deputy Texas director. “If you grow up in a
house where mom and dad go to church, you’ll go too as an adult. If they don’t, you probably won’t,” Salinas said. “If parents don’t vote, the kids won’t.” Texas ranks near the bottom nationally in total voter turnout, due in part to a heavily-under-30 population, which tends to vote less than elder counterparts. Count Lesley Resendiz, a 20-year-old from Houston, among them. She is registered and said she knows how important it is for Hispanics to embrace voting, but that her work schedule kept her from doing so in the March primary. “A lot of people I know use social media to talk about politics,” Resendiz said. “But they don’t vote because it’s not as easy as just going online.” Across the country, naturalization applications are up 14 percent in the last six months of 2015 compared with the same period the previous year. That has fueled speculation that many Hispanics are anxious to vote against Donald Trump, fearful of the Republican nominee’s harsh immigration rhetoric. But Alberto Morales, project coordinator for
the Advocacy Alliance Center of Texas, which leads voter registration drives along the TexasMexico border, cautions that it might not translate to higher turnout. “There is frustration,” Morales said. “We would just like for more of the population to come out to vote and they’re just not.” Because Texas is so solidly Republican, neither Trump nor Democrat Hillary Clinton will focus on it for November’s election, meaning there’ll likely be little excitement and potentially fewer people at the polls. Still, Crystal Zermeno, the director of special projects for the Democratic field organization Texas Organizing Project, said Hispanic voter outreach hasn’t been a top priority for decades. “Very little is spent on the field, going out there and knocking on doors,” Zermeno said. “And you have to have real, authentic conversations with people. Simply showing up isn’t enough.” A 2014 Gallup poll found that Texas Hispanics prefer Democrats to Republicans by a 19 percentage-point margin. Nationwide, Democrats enjoy a more comfortable
30 percentage-point advantage. So, the state Republican Party has staffers focused on boosting minority turnout; Ted Cruz became the first Hispanic elected to the U.S. Senate from Texas in 2012, despite his support for strict immigration policies. Sergio Terreros, a 34year-old marketing professional in Houston originally from Monterrey, Mexico, who became a U.S. citizen last year, said he may vote for Trump. “I don’t like the hate he talks about,” Terreros said. “But I do agree with what he says about running the country like a business.” Terreros was attending the same festival as Villenas, who continued approaching would-be voters despite numerous rejections. Finally, she found Jonathan Avalos waiting in line for free McDonalds smoothies. The 18-year-old agreed to register to vote for the first time, though Avalos said he’s not sure he’ll actually cast a November ballot. “I’d heard about Trump and everything,” he said. “But I really have no idea what’s going on.”
Mexican side of the border. Kerlikowske said that although it’s been in effect in Arizona for only a week, it’s clear the program is already working. CBP has dedicated a special lane for the companies whose trucks qualify for faster inspections. Officers from the U.S. and Mexico side work side by side to inspect shipments, making sure they are what they’re supposed to be and free of any illegal or dangerous items. Guillermo Valencia, the chairman of The Greater Nogales and Santa Cruz County Port Authority, said his organization lobbied CBP to implement the program in Arizona and that it has already reduced wait times. “I think that the program is gonna work so well that we’re gonna be pressed to expand it. I really think it’s a novel idea,” Valencia said. “It shows how most governments can work together and collaborate on improving the efficiency of the importing.” The port authority in the past has criticized CBP over low staffing at Nogales ports, especially in the inspection facility. The agency has struggled to attract new officers for its Office of Field Operations since announcing nearly two years ago that it had been allocated 170 new positions in Arizona. Kerlikowski said Thursday that several officers from the north and southeast regions of the country have been temporary assigned to Arizona. “We’re not about to lower our standards. Our hiring standards are very high,” he said.
misunderstands the county’s intentions. Mathis said he’s simply seeking a ruling by a state judge that the county had the legal right to ban guns from the entire courthouse building. The county’s suit seeks up to $100,000 in damages from Holcomb but Mathis said that was included as boilerplate language and he promised that the county would not pursue any monetary damages. Lawyers in his office
have spent months reviewing state statutes to ensure any restrictions on weapons are lawful, Mathis said, but a mishmash of laws continue to create confusion in Texas. “We decided we wanted to put the issue to bed,” he said. Firearms must be barred from courthouse grounds because courtrooms are the scene of emotionally charged cases that have been known to erupt in violence. “My courtroom doors
are made out of glass and that’s not going to stop a bullet,” he said. David Anderson, a University of Texas law professor specializing in First Amendment issues, said he understands how Waller County wants a judicial ruling to settle the matter. “But you don’t do that by suing the person who filed the complaint,” he said. The county may be running afoul of state protections against frivolous lawsuits, Anderson
said, explaining that rules are in place to prevent litigation that’s meant to silence or intimidate critics. “I’ve never heard of a county using litigation to dissuade a person from complaining,” he said. Mathis acknowledges he’s brought an unconventional lawsuit but says Holcomb has filed dozens of complaints across the state and is “in the business of pushing an agenda.” What’s needed now, beyond a judge’s ruling, is
action by the Texas Legislature that brings greater clarity to where guns are allowed in public places and where they’re not, he said. Holcomb argues he’s willing to compromise and wants to work with local leaders rather than antagonize. Waller County took an approach that he believes was unnecessary. “I’m not going to kowtow to a local government acting like a group of thugs,” he said.
A12 | Saturday, August 6, 2016 | THE ZAPATA TIMES
Sports&Outdoors THE ZAPATA TIMES | Saturday, August 6, 2016 |
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE: HOUSTON TEXANS
Young receivers adjusting A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
HOUSTON — Entering his sixth season in the NFL, Cecil Shorts has stepped into the role of the savvy veteran among Texans wide receivers. With a group of young talent around him, including Jaelen Strong, Will Fuller and Braxton Miller, Shorts knows his role. “I think it’s my role to lead by example,” Shorts said. “Speak up when I need to speak up. The guys are doing a great job right now, they’re ahead of the learning curve. They learn the offense pretty well. I’m excited for them.” In the offseason, Houston went out and got
younger and faster at the wide receiver position. Five of the Texans’ wide receivers are going through their first NFL training camp, while both learning a new offense and getting used to a new quarterback. “It’s building. It’s building every single day,” Texans quarterback Brock Osweiler said about his relationship with the receivers. “Timing with those skill guys is something that can’t be accomplished overnight. It’s a constant process. It’s something that could take months with certain routes and certain receivers. But every single day we’re getting a little bit better.” The transition into this
NASCAR: WATKINS GLEN
Mel Evans / AP
Dale Earnhardt Jr., right, is still out with concussion symptoms but has no plan to retire. Jeff Gordon came out retirement to replace him.
Five receivers going through first camp By Joshua Koch
B1
Earnhardt Jr. not ready to quit By John Kekis ASSOCIATED PRE SS
Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle
Will Fuller is one of five wide receivers that are going through their first NFL training camp this season.
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. — Say this about Dale Earnhardt Jr. — he follows doctor’s orders. After missing three straight Sprint Cup races because of lingering effects of a concussion, NASCAR’s most popular driver did something Friday that’s part of his therapy — he made his first public appearance to speak about his recovery. “I missed my team, my teammates,” Earnhardt said. “I just wanted to come see everybody. I get to hang out with my guys a little bit. This has been so weird not to be at the
track. It’s frustrating, but it’s the process. We’re just taking it one evaluation at a time. “I just want to get better. Nothing else is a priority. Our intentions are to get cleared and get back to racing. I’m not ready to quit.” Doctors told Earnhardt his latest injury occurred June 12 at Michigan International Speedway. He was clipped in the rear by Chris Buescher’s No. 34 while racing three wide with AJ Allmendinger and hit the wall at an angle that softened the impact. He drove three more races before symptoms became too severe. NASCAR continues on B2
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE: DALLAS COWBOYS
MLB: NEW YORK YANKEES
MAKING AN EARLY IMPACT
Seth Wenig / AP
Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira announced his plans to retire at the end of the season on Friday afternoon.
Yankees’ Mark Teixeira to retire at season’s end By Ronald Blum A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
NEW YORK — Mark Teixeira plans to retire at the end of the season, announcing his decision during a tear-filled news conference Friday at Yankee Stadium. “I gave you everything I had,” he said to Yankees fans during the televised announcement, his voice cracking before he took 15 seconds to regain his composure. “It wasn’t always enough.” Slowed by injuries, the 36-year-old switch-hitting first baseman is batting .198 with 10 homers and 27 RBIs. A three-time All-Star and five-time Gold Glove winner, he is in the final season of a $180 million, eight-year contract. His 404 home runs are fifth among switch-hitters, trailing only Mickey Mantle (536), Eddie Murray (504), Chipper Jones (468) and Carlos Beltran (415). “As the season went on, I just kind realized that my body can’t do it anymore,” Teixeira said dur-
ing a news conference as many of his teammates looked on. “If I’m going to grind through seasons not being healthy, I’d rather be home with my family. I’d rather do something else. And I miss my kids way too much to be in a training room in Detroit rather than being at their dance recital or their school play.” When he arrived at spring training in February, Teixeira said “I’d love to play five more years. My body feels so good. Why not play until 40?” But he was slowed early this season by a bulging disk in his neck and was on the disabled list from June 4-25 with a right knee cartilage tear, an injury that has caused manager Joe Girardi to schedule repeated off days since his return. “My neck hurts almost every day. The knee thing popped up,” he said. “It’s been a struggle for me to stay on the field consistently the last three, four years now. And so it just Yankees continues on B2
Gus Ruelas / AP file
Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott is among several first-round picks, not including quarterbacks, that are intriguing potential players expected to have a major impact for their new teams.
Elliot opened camp taking first-team snaps By Schuyler Dixon ASSOCIATED PRE SS
OXNARD, Calif. — Ezekiel Elliott leaves the field to screams of “Zeeeeeke!” from autograph-seeking fans who haven’t even seen him carry the ball in a game yet for the Dallas Cowboys. The fourth overall pick in this year’s draft opened his first training camp taking first-team snaps before a mild hamstring strain put him on the sidelines with Darren McFadden, who led the team in rushing last season but still could be replaced as the starter even after he returns from a broken right elbow.
If he’s healthy and not sidelined over a domestic violence allegation in Ohio, Elliott is likely to begin his career in a way that Cowboys Hall of Famers Emmitt Smith and Tony Dorsett didn’t: starting the opener as a rookie running back. Even if he doesn’t start in his debut, the former Ohio State star is the future of the running game for a once-proud franchise now 20 years removed from its last Super Bowl. He’s high on a list of non-quarterbacks that were taken in the first two rounds and could play significant roles right away. “I’m just doing what they’re asking me to do,” said Elliott, taken two
spots after quarterbacks Jared Goff (Rams) and Carson Wentz (Eagles) went 1-2 in the draft. “At running back we’re down a couple bodies right now, but we got to come together and get in shape and lean on each other right now.” Elliott waited a day to face the expected swarm of reporters while knowing the conversation would quickly turn to the case in Columbus, Ohio, where his girlfriend accused him of assaulting her about a week before camp opened. The 21year-old Elliott has denied the claims. Looking a bit winded at times during his first two days in camp, Elliott also struggled with Ohio
State’s school song and was forced into a second night of singing in front of his teammates — a popular rookie initiation in NFL camps. “They can be all-conference in the biggest conferences there are, they can be All-American, they can win Heisman trophies. And then they step into this environment, it’s a step up,” coach Jason Garrett said. “We certainly like the transition that Zeke has made up to this point.” A look at other picks that weren’t quarterbacks but could have significant impacts nonetheless: ELI APPLE, NY GIANTS: The 10th selection was Elliott’s former teamCowboys continues on B2
B2 | Saturday, August 6, 2016 | THE ZAPATA TIMES
SPORTS
Strong promises to name starting QB ‘early’
If it’s Buechele, it would be the biggest home start for a Texas freshman quarterback since Colt McCoy led the No. 2 Longhorns against No. 1 Ohio State in 2006. McCoy already had a win
over North Texas a week earlier, but his national debut was a disaster of a 24-7 loss. Strong and Gilbert call Buechele a natural leader, a strong competitor and gifted athlete. But
they are reluctant to anoint him too soon. “Each one of them, they’re different and they all bring something different to the game,” Strong said. There are other worry
spots, like a defense that struggled all last season and is woefully short on experience up front. Texas welcomed five freshmen defensive linemen who all pack over 300 pounds. Strong will be counting on them for depth. “And they’re not sloppy. It’s weight put on the right way,” Strong said. Strong is 11-14 in heading into his third season. Texas hasn’t had three consecutive losing seasons since 1954-56. “The whole attitude of the team is totally different. The whole team has a sense of urgency. You have a group of guys who are willing to work with one another. It’s a totally different feel than it has been the last two years,” Strong said. That will be tested immediately by Notre Dame in a special Sunday night game that could turn up the heat on Strong if the Longhorns lose. “(Notre Dame) is a crucial game. We have the spotlight. We’re at home,” Strong said.
NASCAR From page B1
the Finger Lakes of upstate New York served a purpose. “My doctor wants to put me in situations that drive the symptoms,” Earnhardt said. “My doctor calls that exposure, and this is probably the worst situation as far as making my systems go haywire. That’s what he wants. That’s just part of the process. “The one thing that I worry most about is ... people making assumptions of where I’m at, what I’m doing, and what I’m up to. I don’t want people making assumptions. To give me peace of mind and to bring down any type of stress and
anxiety through the process is to open up and be honest about what’s going on and how we’re doing.” Earnhardt won’t drive at Watkins Glen on Sunday and also will miss the race at Bristol on Aug. 20. Four-time series champion Jeff Gordon, who came out of retirement to fill in for Earnhardt the last two races, will remain behind the wheel in the No. 88 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports. There remains no timetable for Earnhardt’s return. That decision will be left to his doctors. He underwent further evaluation Monday at the University of Pittsburgh
Medical Center Sports Medicine Concussion Program and said afterward that he continues to experience issues with balance and an ability to focus on an object while he moves his head. Earnhardt expressed frustration at how long he’s been out. “I never anticipated being out this long,” he said. “I didn’t have this massive accident. The symptoms crept in slowly. I didn’t think this was that serious. It’s a challenge. I really believe and trust what they’re telling me. They’re telling me without question we’re going to get back to normal.”
YANKEES From page B1
two years later. He was traded to Atlanta in July 2007, dealt to the Los Angeles Angels the following year and signed with the Yankees in January 2009. Succeeding Don Mattingly and Tino Martinez at first, Teixeira helped New York win a World Series title in his first season. He hit .292 with 39 homers and 122 RBIs and finishing second behind Minnesota’s Joe Mauer in AL MVP voting. At the time, Teixeira didn’t appreciate the accomplishment. “I was like, oh, Yankees win the World Series all the time. We’ll probably win three or four more,” he thought to himself. “But you realize how difficult it is. It’s so hard.” Teixeira was limited to 15 games and a .151 average in 2013 after tearing the tendon sheath in his right hand while with the U.S.
team at the World Baseball Classic. He had surgery that July 1 and missed the remainder of the season, then hit .216 with 22 homers and 62 RBIs the following year, when the hand was still regaining strength and he was slowed by a hamstring injury. Fully recovered, he made the All-Star team again in 2015 but fouled a pitch off his right leg Aug. 17, played two more games in pain and then found out he had fractured his shin. He finished the season with a .255 average, 31 homers and 79 RBIs. Greg Bird, a 23-yearold who missed this season following shoulder surgery, is expected back for the Arizona Fall League and is projected by the Yankees as Teixeira’s successor. Girardi anticipates Tyler Austin can challenge for the job during spring training.
By Jim Vertuno A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
AUSTIN, Texas — Charlie Strong had barely settled into his seat Friday when the first — and biggest — question of preseason training camp came within seconds: Do you have a starting quarterback? No, Strong said with a laugh. Not yet. But he did promise to announce one “early.” “Starting quarterback. Why is that always the question?” Strong said. Because no bigger personnel question hangs over Strong and the Longhorns as the 2016 season approaches. And no answer will likely have a bigger impact on his future at the program after two losing seasons. Texas opens the season at home Sept. 4 against Notre Dame. Whether Strong opts for freshman Shane Buechele, senior Tyrone Swoopes or sophomore Jerrod Heard, he simply has to get this one right. Buechele appears to be
Eric Gay / AP file
With the Texas quarterback situation up in the air, senior Tyrone Swoopes is vying with freshman Shane Buechele and sophomore Jerrod Heard for the Longhorns’ starting job as practice opened up Friday.
the clubhouse leader after a strong performance in spring drills. But Swoopes and Heard, both former starters, will get their chance under new offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert.
Mel Evans / AP
There remains no timetable for Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s return from a concussion and he will leave that decision to his doctors.
TEXANS From page B1 new era for the Texans’ offense is apparent. Houston is one of six teams in the NFL to have just one receiver on the roster with more than five years of experience. However, despite the lack of experience, the age difference isn’t that much. “I’m having a lot of fun, we are all in the same age category so it’s a lot of fun and we all relate to each other,” Fuller said. Houston selected Fuller, the speedster from Notre Dame, with the No. 21 pick in the draft. Fuller ran a 4.32 at the combine months earlier. At training camp, Fuller has caught the attention of coach Bill O’Brien. Houston’s thirdyear coach said Fuller has been doing well.
COWBOYS From page B1 mate at Ohio State and is now an NFC East rival. He is rotating at cornerback with veterans Janoris Jenkins and Dominique-Rodgers Cromartie, and first-year coach Ben McAdoo isn’t hesitating to start rookies after former coach Tom Coughlin rarely did in 12 seasons. “Everything is happening really fast,” said Apple, one of three Buckeyes taken in the top 10. “The meetings are really long, but I am having fun with it.” LAREMY TUNSIL, MIAMI: The 13th choice out of Mississippi became one of the biggest stories on draft night when his stock fell after a video of him taking a bong hit in a gas mask circulated on social media. He’s making
“The doctors feel they can make my brain stronger to be able to cope with these common events,” he said. “The event that I had at Michigan I shouldn’t have had a concussion from. I should be able to get through events like that without having any issues.” Earnhardt has been keeping fans updated on his condition via weekly podcasts. Besides reconnecting with his team and his competitors in the garage, his appearance at the road course in
In addition to Fuller, the Texans added Miller with the 85th overall pick. At Ohio State, Miller played just one season at wide receiver, finishing with 24 catches for 329 yards and three touchdowns. Miller said making the transition to the NFL at wide receiver isn’t something that worries him because he picks up things pretty fast and is learning the playbook. Miller’s playmaking ability, which was on display at Ohio State on multiple occasions, is what he wants to bring. “When I get the ball in my hands I’m looking for one thing and that’s making big plays getting into the end zone and celebrating with my teammates,” Miller said. Helping Miller’s transition to the NFL are veterans such as Shorts and DeAndre Hopkins.
“It’s a definite learning curve, just learning from two guys that have been in the league that know how to take care of their body, know how to come out and practice,” Miller said. “That’s what I look forward to every day is learning from those two guys and putting my efforts in and making this whole receiving corps come together.” O’Brien said they have multiple uses for the group moving forward. “We’ve got a lot of different skillsets at that position,” he said. “You’ve got guys that can play on all three downs. You’ve got guys that can play on first and second down and also help us on special teams. “You’ve got guys that can play on third down, play some receiver, return punts. It’s a very diverse group and it’s a very competitive position.”
the transition from left tackle to left guard and might not start the opener. “We were talking about how training camp is going to be another speed,” coach Adam Gase said. “Preseason is going to feel like another speed. And then when you hit the regular season, it’s a completely different speed.” RYAN KELLY, INDIANAPOLIS: The 18th selection out of Alabama is the first center the Colts have taken in the opening round since Auburn’s Jackie Burkett in 1959, and Burkett never played the position. Indianapolis has used five starters at center in four seasons with Andrew Luck, who has been hit more times (375) than any quarterback in that span. “I think playing center, obviously I think you have to have a sense of
leadership,” Kelly said. “But at the same time I think you have to establish yourself as a good player and kind of walk the walk before you can say stuff as a leader.” LAQUON TREADWELL, MINNESOTA: The 23rd pick from Mississippi made an impression by frequently catching extra passes after practice and as the first player to arrive on reporting day at camp. The receiver is still trying to regain his explosiveness from a lower left leg injury at Ole Miss in 2014, part of the reason he was available late in the first round. Treadwell still had 1,153 yards and 11 touchdowns coming off the devastating injury. “Laquon will remain a student of the game and learn from guys in that room,” quarterback Teddy Bridgewater said.
all kind of dawned on me that that’s not in the cards.” Teixeira first thought about retiring after he spoke to his father in San Diego at the time of his 400th home run on July 3. He finalized his decision when talking with his family during the All-Star break, deciding he didn’t want to play next year after knee surgery. “My body can’t do it anymore,” he said. At the start of the news conference, Teixeira anticipated breaking down as he spoke about the end of his career. “Teixeiras are criers by the way, so if you don’t know that yet,” he said. He was taken by Texas with the fifth overall pick in the 2001 amateur draft and made his big league debut with the Rangers
Gus Ruelas / AP file
Cowboys rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott was taking first-team snaps before a mild hamstring strain pushed him to the sidelines.
THE ZAPATA TIMES | Saturday, August 6, 2016 |
Dear Readers: Spring was wet and hot for most of the country. This has led to an explosion of bugs, including FLEAS. Here are some classic Heloise Hints on flea control: * Check your pets daily for fleas. Use a comb to move fur about. * Ask your veterinarian what he or she recommends for flea treatment, and be sure to carefully read the instructions on flea-control products. * DO NOT use a combination of a flea powder, a flea dip AND a flea spray, as that could be harmful to your pet, especially a smaller one. * Vacuum your carpets slowly and thoroughly, and every day. Put a flea collar in the vacuum bag or canister to kill captured fleas. Launder fabrics and bedding in the hottest water possible. * Pyrethrin is a safe and effective ingredient in flea shampoo. Look for it.
Woof, woof! -- Heloise CONSIGNMENT TIME Dear Heloise: If people plan to donate to consignment stores, here are two hints: * Don't cut off the washing instructions or size and manufacturing information from the garment. * Launder donations before submission. Check for stains and tears. Buying consignment is a fun way to stay in style, and if you are losing or gaining weight, it is a way to find a good fit. -- Carol H., Cortland, Ohio Readers, when donating to charities, such as women's shelters, etc., PLEASE wash the items to be sure they are clean and in good shape. -Heloise
B3
B4 | Saturday, August 6, 2016 | THE ZAPATA TIMES
SPORTS
Anthony embraces role as US team’s leader By Tom Withers A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
RIO DE JANEIRO — Carmelo Anthony was the last one to take the practice floor Friday, joining his U.S. teammates after wrapping up interviews where he was asked about everything from the opening ceremony to his diet. He was in heavy demand. With two Olympic gold medals and a chance to be the first men’s player to win three, Anthony has become the unlikely face of USA Basketball, a rise that couldn’t have been imagined 12 years ago. This star-studded American squad, missing some big names but still ferocious, needed someone to show the way. And like Jason Kidd, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James before him, Anthony has emerged as the ring leader inside the five rings. “Carmelo is the veteran and a super-likable guy,” said Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan. “We got 12 Alphas in here. But he’s the leader of this team and we follow him.” Probably to the top tier
on the medal platform. The Americans’ journey to a probable gold begins Saturday against China, a team the U.S. drubbed by 49 and 50 points in two recent exhibitions. The matchup will likely dissolve into another lengthy layup drill, but it will give Brazil’s passionate hoop fans inside Barra Carioca Arena the chance to snap selfies and scream for every thunderous dunk and 3-pointer by players they’ve only seen on TV. Anthony, though, has warned his teammates not to take any opponent lightly. It’s a lesson he learned in his first Olympics at Athens in 2004, when the U.S. was stunned by Puerto Rico in the opener and then fell to Lithuania and Argentina while stumbling to a bronze — and worldwide embarrassment. “He’s very open about what happened there,” forward Draymond Green said, “and he’s very open about how that pushed them into wanting to get back to the top.” While close friends James and Chris Paul skipped Rio and a chance
at winning their third golds, Anthony, the New York Knicks All-Star often criticized for not winning more and not making his teammates better, embraced the chance to take a leading role in this summer blockbuster. This is an Anthony those outside his inner circle have rarely seen, a player unafraid to raise his voice on and off the floor, one who demands with compassion. Following the recent police shootings of black men in Louisiana and Minnesota and the ambush on officers in Dallas, Anthony was moved to take social action. During the pre-Olympic tour, he organized a community event in Los Angeles to help curb gun violence, and it’s possible he and his U.S. teammates could use these games to promote causes to a global audience. The 32-year-old Anthony said he hasn’t changed, but his actions say otherwise. Bryant and James may have been more extroverted as Olympians, but Anthony says he’s always been willing to express his opinion, provide advice
Charles Krupa / AP file
With two Olympic gold medals and a chance to be the first mens player to win three, Carmelo Anthony has become the unlikely face of USA Basketball, a rise that couldnt have been imagined 12 years ago.
or steer a straying teammate back on track. He’s just doing it more. “Even with those guys around, I’m still the same and so my role hasn’t changed since 2007 when we first started creating what we wanted to create,” said Anthony, who along with Kevin Durant are the only holdovers from 2012. “Even though guys lead in their own way, that Olympic experience and the type of player that I am and the type of person that I am, it’s been easier and it’s been more genuine. “I’ve always been a person who has embraced that role and it’s just become more visible now to people. If you’re around us or at our prac-
tices, they know that this is who I am and this is not anything new.” It’s nothing Jim Boeheim hasn’t seen before. He coached Anthony for one year at Syracuse and the U.S. assistant sees his elevated status as an extension of his personality. “He’s the most vocal,” Boeheim said. “They all look at him as the senior guy and this team has a lot of guys that qualify as leaders because they all play hard, they all do the right things. That’s what leadership does, anyway.” Although U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski has not officially named a captain, Anthony is the one he meets with to discuss scheduling practices,
team meetings and anything else that might pop up. Krzyzewski, who served as an U.S. Army Captain, believes leadership is earned. “First of all, a leader has to lead by example,” he said. “A leader always has to have courage and whatever the leader says, he has to back up. And by doing that he’s trustworthy. Those things help a really good player become better because that means you have to be ‘on’ all the time. “I’ve always said that if your best player is a leader he’ll be a better best player.” And, in Anthony’s case, a third-time gold medalist.
Brady calls no appeal a personal decision By Maureen Mullen ASSOCIATED PRE SS
Ross D. Franklin / AP
Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald signed one-year extension with the Arizona Cardinals on Friday, extending his contract to 2017.
Cardinals extend contracts of Fitzgerald, Palmer By Bob Baum A S S OCIAT E D PRE SS
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald and quarterback Carson Palmer have signed one-year contract extensions with the Arizona Cardinals. The deals put Fitzgerald under contract through the 2017 season and Palmer through 2018. Fitzgerald, holder of virtually all the franchise receiving records with statistics among the NFL’s all-time greats, turns 33 on Aug. 31. Palmer is 36 and entering his 14th NFL season, fourth with the Cardinals. He set franchise records and personal bests for yards passing, touchdown passes and quarterback rating in leading Arizona to a 13-3 record last season. Fitzgerald is entering his 13th NFL season, all with Arizona. His 109 catches last season broke the franchise mark he set a decade earlier. “Clearly these are two core members of our team who have played major roles in our success,” Cardinals general manager Steve Keim said
in a news release announcing the signings. “Each of them had contracts that were due to expire in the next year or two so these extensions provide a measure of certainty and clarity for the players and organization, both now and in the years ahead. It also reaffirms our long-stated intention that when the time comes, these two great players end their stellar careers as Cardinals.” The team practiced after the announcement was made Friday but neither player was to be made available to reporters, apparently at their request. Fitzgerald spoke to reporters in the locker room earlier but made no mention of the contract. Fitzgerald, who has spent all 12 of his seasons with the Cardinals, had evaded questions about whether he would play beyond this year, saying, “I don’t even know what I’m having for dinner.” Fitzgerald, the No. 3 overall draft choice of the Cardinals in 2004, was on the second year of a two-year, $22.5 million deal. Palmer has thrived in coach Bruce Arians’
wide-open system. After Arians was hired prior to the 2013 season, Palmer was acquired in a trade with Oakland. His 2014 season was cut short by a torn ACL but he came back to have arguably his best season in 2015. Palmer completed 64 percent of his passes last season for 4,671 yards and 35 touchdowns with a quarterback rating of 104.6. Palmer had two years left on the three-year, $49.5 million extension he signed in 2014. A Heisman Trophy winner at USC, Palmer was the No. 1 overall pick by Cincinnati in the 2003 draft. The deals came one day after Arizona signed defensive back Tyrann Mathieu to a five-year, $62.5 million extension, with $21.5 million guaranteed at signing. Three other major players on the roster have contracts that expire at the end of the coming season — outside linebacker Chandler Jones, defensive lineman Calais Campbell and wide receiver Michael Floyd. Starting inside linebacker Kevin Minter’s contract also expires at the end of this season.
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Addressing reporters for the first time since opting not to pursue further appeals of his fourgame suspension in the “Deflategate” saga, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady called it a personal decision and said he is trying to move on. The four-time Super Bowl winner spoke to the media Friday at New England’s training camp. He is allowed to practice with the team and play in the Patriots’ preseason games but will miss the first four regular-season games. “I tried to come out here and just focus on what I need to do to get better and help our team,” he said. “I’ll be excited to be back when I’m back, and I’ll be cheering our team on, hoping they can go out and win every game.” Brady was suspended for his role in the use of deflated footballs in the 2014 AFC championship win over Indianapolis. He initially won a court appeal, but that was overturned, and Brady chose not to continue the legal fight. The 39-year-old led the league with 36 touchdown passes last season. He must be away from the team beginning Sept. 3, the day of final cuts, and can return on Oct. 3, the day after the Patriots’ fourth game of the season, against AFC East rival Buffalo. The first game for which Brady will be eligible is Oct. 9 at Cleveland. The suspension will snap his streak of 126 consecutive games played — 112 in the regular season and 14 playoff games. Asked if it was a difficult decision not to pursue legal avenues to dismiss the suspension imposed by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Brady replied: “I think it’s just personal and I’ve tried to move on from it so I try to, like I said, focus on the positive and being out here with my teammates and getting better. I don’t want to go out and do anything but
Steven Senne / AP file
Tom Brady called it a personal decision to not appeal ‘Deflategate’ and said he is trying to move on.
try to be a great example for your teammates, and we’ve got a lot of competitive guys that are down here on the practice field, and I think that’s where the focus needs to be.” Brady cited the support he’s received from the Patriots, his family and fans throughout the process. He would not say if he was angry at Goodell for the punishment. “I have a job to do and I try to approach it the best way I can,” Brady said. “I’ve always tried to do things the same way and every day’s important to me. Certainly, as someone who’s been around here a long time, I know I’ve got to bring it every day, and I think I just try to go out there and lead by example, try to bring it and show my teammates that I’m ready to go mentally and physically every day.” Brady would not say whether the suspension has changed the way he’s preparing in training camp. He seemed especially vocal during the morning practice session, an intrasquad scrimmage. “Honestly, I’m just trying to be as good as I can be every day,” he said.
“And I think that making improvements in certain areas, and we’ve tried to make them when they changed our offense. And we’ve got a lot of new players on the team and we’re just trying to incorporate them. So I feel like we’re building toward something. And we’ve got a lot of meaningful preseason games coming up that we have to see some improvements in, and we’ve got a lot of practices left. It’s a long season, so it’s just going to be a lot of hard work and discipline and effort, and like I said, I’m going to go out and do the best that I can do.” Brady said he is trying not to think about what it will be like to be away from his team. He would not say how he plans to spend his time away from the Patriots. “I try to just be as positive as I can be,” he said. “I think that’s kind of always been my motto. I know over the course of my career I’ve been faced with different things and tried to overcome them the best way I could or the best way I knew how and I’ll try to do the same thing.”