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49TH DISTRICT COURT

MEXICO VIOLENCE

No ruling yet in motion to suppress video

23 found dead

GABRIEL ALVAREZBRIONES: Accused of killing 6-monthold child in 2010.

By STEPHANIE IBARRA THE ZAPATA TIMES

The defendant in a capital murder case took the stand Thursday in Zapata during a hearing to suppress a taped confession.

Gabriel Alvarez-Briones, 36, is accused of killing 6month-old Carlos Eduardo Gonzalez in March 2010.

The video the defense sought to suppress contains one hour of the defendant denying his involvement in the crime. What follows is a two-hour gap and then about 20 minutes of Alvarez-Briones detailing how he struck the child repeatedly.

The defense attorneys, Eduardo Peña and Oscar Peña Sr., argued that the tape was inadmissible in trial because their client was not read his Miranda rights properly.

The law enforcement officer administering the warning spoke in first person, and the time lapse between the two video inter-

views raises questions of direct or implied threats or promises for protection, Eduardo Peña said.

“I took it as a threat that they told me they’d give me the death penalty,” AlvarezBriones said.

The threat to prosecute him for a crime he hadn’t confessed to or been found guilty of, and threats to take away his children, together with a fear of being “tortured,” prompted Alvarez-Briones to confess to the crime, he said.

Interrogators gave him a doll and instructed him on how and where to hit the doll for the camera, and he did, he said.

During cross-examination, the state prosecutor, Pedro Garza Jr., redirected the testimony to the legal grounds on which the de-

Police: 9 hanging from bridge; 14 decapitated

By ADRIANA GOMEZ LICON AND OLGA R. RODRIGUEZ ASSOCIATED PRESS

MEXICO CITY — Police found the bodies of 23 people, some hanging from a bridge and others decapitated, in an explosion of violence Friday in Nuevo Laredo, site of a brutal drug cartel turf war.

Authorities found nine

of the victims, including four women, hanging from an overpass leading to a main highway, said a Tamaulipas state official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to provide the information on the case.

Hours later, police found 14 human heads inside coolers outside city

hall along with a threatening note. The 14 bodies were found in black plastic bags inside a car abandoned near an international bridge, the official said.

The official didn’t release the contents of the note, or give a motive for the killings. But the city across the border from Laredo, Texas, has recently

been torn by a renewed turf war between the Zetas cartel, a gang of former Mexican specialforces soldiers, and the powerful Sinaloa, which has joined forces with the Gulf cartel, former allies of the Zetas.

Local media published photos of the nine blood-

See MEXICO PAGE 10A

FALCON LAKE

LAKE LEVELS DROP

See TRIAL PAGE 10A

POLITICS

Candidates expected to speak at forum

By JJ VELASQUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES

With early voting slated to begin May 14, candidates in the Zapata County primary will have a chance Tuesday to make their cases for election.

The Zapata County Community Center will host a political forum Tuesday at 7 p.m. The Zapata County News, which is a co-sponsor of the event, invited each candidate to participate, including State Rep. Tracy O. King and his Democratic Party challenger, Webb County Commissioner Jerry Garza.

Karran Westerman, the newspaper’s publisher, said the newspaper began holding the forums every election cycle in 2004.

It is not structured specifically as a debate, but she said attendees can anonymously submit questions for certain candidates and their opponents would be

able to rebut any response.

Before the question-andanswer segment, candidates are given five minutes to present their backgrounds and platforms.

“I think it’s an opportunity for the public to hear what candidates have to say,” said County Judge Joe Rathmell, who is not up for election this cycle.

Three candidates — Alonso Lopez, Raymond Moya III and Joaquin Solis Jr. — are vying to replace Sheriff Sigifredo Gonzalez, who is retiring after 18 years in office.

Constables and county commissioners for precincts 1 and 3 make up the other contested local races on the ballot.

The event is also sponsored by Amistad Home Health. The Zapata County News will provide refreshments Tuesday.

(JJ Velasquez may be reached at 728-2567 or jjvelasquez@lmtonline.com)

Photo / San Antonio Express-News

Manuel and Felix Garza of Roma unload their wave-runner at Falcon Lake on Jan. 10. Rio Grande Watermaster Erasmo Yarrito said the U.S. side owns enough water for municipal and agricultural use to supply itself for two years without rainfall

Officials: Low water could hurt bass fishing

By JJ VELASQUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES

Water levels at Falcon Lake are declining, officials said, because of high usage in Mexico.

But, accounting for the reservoir’s resources still at the county’s disposal, the U.S. side owns enough water for municipal and agricultural use to supply itself for two years without rainfall, said Erasmo Yarrito, Rio Grande watermaster.

“As far as water supplies, we definitely have enough to last us this year and next year as well if we were to receive no rain and no inflows from Mexico,” Yarrito said.

Yarrito said it is within the country’s right to draw as much water as it has.

He said Mexico is slated to release water out of Amistad Reservoir which would flow into Falcon Lake and may increase water levels here. More water is stored in Amistad, he

said, because it less prone to evaporation.

County Judge Joe Rathmell said lake levels have “dropped substantially in the last month or so.”

Rathmell said the county is primarily concerned about its drinking water supply, but dwindling water levels also make the lake difficult to access for anglers.

“If it remains low for many months, certainly it’ll have an impact on the fishery,” he said.

Falcon Lake last month was named the top bass fishing lake in the country by the national magazine Bassmasters.

During peak months, especially, the lake hosts major fishing tournaments that draw avid fishermen from all over the country.

As the county weans itself off oil and gas production, which previously anchored the local economy, it has become more reliant

See LAKE PAGE 10A

PAGE 2A

Zin brief CALENDAR

SATURDAY, MAY 5, 2012

AROUND TEXAS

TODAY IN HISTORY

SATURDAY, MAY 5

ASSOCIATED PRESS

The Starr Bass Club Reunion Tournament will be held. For more information, call George Cabasos at 830-305-1343.

Today is Saturday, May 5, the 126th day of 2012. There are 240 days left in the year.

Today’s Highlight in History: On May 5, 1862, the Battle of Puebla took place in Mexico as forces loyal to Benito Juarez defeated troops that had been sent by Napoleon III during the so-called French Intervention. (The Cinco de Mayo holiday commemorates Mexico’s victory.)

On this date: In 1821, Napoleon Bonaparte, 51, died in exile on the island of St. Helena.

In 1891, New York’s Carnegie Hall (then named “Music Hall”) had its official opening night.

In 1922, construction began on the original Yankee Stadium in New York.

In 1925, schoolteacher John T. Scopes was charged in Tennessee with violating a state law that prohibited teaching the theory of evolution.

(Scopes was found guilty, but his conviction was later set aside.)

In 1936, the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, fell to Italian invaders.

In 1941, Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie returned to Addis Ababa after the Italians were driven out with the help of Allied forces.

In 1942, wartime sugar rationing began in the United States.

In 1955, West Germany became a fully sovereign state.

The baseball musical “Damn Yankees” opened on Broadway.

In 1961, astronaut Alan B. Shepard Jr. became America’s first space traveler as he made a 15-minute suborbital flight aboard Freedom 7, a Mercury capsule launched from Cape Canaveral, Fla. In 1972, an Alitalia DC-8 crashed into Mount Longa near Palermo, Sicily, with the loss of all 115 people on board.

In 1981, Irish Republican Army hunger-striker Bobby Sands died at the Maze Prison in Northern Ireland in his 66th day without food.

In 1987, the congressional Iran-Contra hearings opened with former Air Force Maj. Gen. Richard V. Secord (SEE’kohrd) the lead-off witness.

The federal government began a yearlong amnesty program, offering citizenship to illegal aliens who met certain conditions.

Ten years ago: French President Jacques Chirac (zhahk shih-RAHK’) was reelected in a landslide victory over extreme-right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen. Movie director George Sidney, who had directed dozens of musicals when the genre was at its peak, died in Las Vegas at age 85. Movie producer Michael Todd Jr. died in Ireland at age 72. Former Bolivian President Hugo Banzer died in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, at age 75.

Today’s Birthdays: Former AFL-CIO president John J. Sweeney is 78. Saxophonist Ace Cannon is 78. Actor Michael Murphy is 74. Comedianactor Michael Palin is 69. CBS News corespondent John Miller is 54. NBC News anchor Brian Williams is 53. Actress Tina Yothers is 39. Rhythm and blues singer Raheem DeVaughn is 37. Actor Vincent Kartheiser is 33. Singer Craig David is 31. Actress Danielle Fishel is 31.

Thought for Today: “Great minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events, small minds discuss people.”

— Admiral Hyman G. Rickover, “father” of America’s nuclear navy (1900-1986).

MONDAY, MAY 7 AP Exams Week 1 begins at Zapata High School.

Teacher Appreciation Week begins at Fidel and Andrea R. Villarreal Elementary School.

TUESDAY, MAY 8 Teacher Appreciation Day at Fidel and Andrea R. Villarreal Elementary School.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 9 Fourth grade field trip to TAMIU Planetarium for students at Fidel and Andrea R. Villarreal Elementary School.

FRIDAY, MAY 11 Pre K-4 and Kinder field trip to Laredo.

MONDAY, MAY 14 The Zapata County Commissioners Court will meet at 9 a.m. at the Zapata County Courthouse.

AP Exams Week 2 begins at Zapata High School.

FRIDAY, MAY 18 Second grade field trip to Laredo for Fidel and Andrea R. Villarreal Elementary School.

SATURDAY, MAY 19 The Bass Champs tournament takes place at the county ramp from 7 a.m. through 6 p.m.

TUESDAY, MAY 22 Third grade field trip to San Antonio for Fidel and Andrea R. Villarreal Elementary School.

FRIDAY, MAY 25 ZCISD Service Awards Ceremony.

SATURDAY, MAY 26 Bud Light Trail Open Team Tournament begins at the county ramp.

SUNDAY, MAY 27 Concluding day of Bud Light Trail Open Team Tournament.

MONDAY, MAY 28 Kinder graduation at Fidel and Andrea R. Villarreal Elementary School.

SUNDAY, JUNE 17 The South Texas Five Team Bass Tournament takes place at the county ramp.

SATURDAY, JUNE 30 This is the first day of the Hall of Fame Big Bass Tournament and Cook-off. For more information, call the Zapata County Chamber of Commerce at 956-765-4871.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 21 Sun Country Championship Fishing Tournament begins.

Photo by Brad Loper/The Dallas Morning News | AP

Republican candidates for U.S. Senate, from left, Lt. Governor David Dewhurst, Tom Leppert, Ted Cruz and Craig James debated April 13 and again on Thursday evening with Democrats Paul Sadler and Sean Hubbard on public television and radio.

Sen. candidates debate

By CHRIS TOMLINSON ASSOCIATED PRESS

AUSTIN — The Texas Republican candidates running for U.S. Senate expressed few policy differences while debating Thursday night, but did their best to show differences in style and experience.

The two Democratic candidates appeared on the same stage but offered diametrically opposed answers to questions about taxes, immigration and the other main issues during a debate that was broadcast statewide.

Former Texas Solicitor General Ted Cruz acknowledged as much when he repeatedly asked the audience to look past the rhetoric and question each candidate’s records. Cruz focused most of his attention contrasting himself with Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, suggesting that if elected he would be the stronger conservative in Washington.

But it was Cruz’s record that came under scrutiny when moderators from Houston public radio’s KUHF asked him about his legal work for a Chinese tire company in its appeal against a $26 million judgment that it had stolen intellectual property from an American tire company. Cruz said he was one of several attorneys on the case and that he had represented American companies against Chinese firms as well.

Houston Public Media called the program “A Conversation with the Candidates,” and public radio and television stations across the state relayed the broadcast. Two reporters interviewed the four Republican candidates and two Democrats for 12 minutes and then posed questions.

Democrats Paul Sadler and Sean Hubbard also agreed on the issues, but still posed a stark contrast.

Dallas man gets 20 years for $400M Ponzi scheme

Deputy with son in truck charged with DWI

Vigil for slaying victim marred by fatal shooting

BEAUMONT — A Dallas man accused of a running Ponzi scheme defrauding investors of more than $400 million has been sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Joseph Blimline was sentenced by a Beaumont federal judge after a hearing Thursday.

Blimline pleaded guilty two years ago to mail fraud.

HOUSTON — A Houston-area deputy constable is facing a drunk driving charge after he was found apparently asleep behind the wheel of his idling pickup truck while his 4-year-old son was in the vehicle.

Harris County Precinct 3 Deputy Constable Henry Williams was free on a $10,000 bond Friday.

HOUSTON — A candlelight vigil for the victim of a slaying at a Houston park was interrupted by a shooting that’s left another person dead.

Dexter August was attending the memorial service Thursday evening when he and another person got into an argument.

The other person pulled a gun, shot him in the chest and left.

3 men in custody after suburban Dallas standoff

Boy, 13, busted for spray painting own house

GRAND PRAIRIE — A more than six-hour police standoff has ended outside a suburban Dallas home with three people taken into custody.

Police surrounded the home in Grand Prairie after getting a call after 3 a.m. from a woman who reported a fracas involving drugs and armed men she said were chasing her.

She was outside when they arrived and pulled to safety.

CORPUS CHRISTI — A 13year-old boy is charged with two counts of suspicion of graffiti after he was turned over to police by his own parents for spray painting fences and signs and his own house.

The damage was estimated at $1,700 to his home, auto dealer signs and fences.

The boy’s mother said he’d been sneaking out.

— Compiled from AP reports

Rare white buffalo calf killed in North Texas GREENVILLE — Authorities are investigating the death of a rare white buffalo on a North Texas ranch just days shy of its first birthday.

Lakota Ranch owner Arby Little Soldier says he found the buffalo dead Monday. The mother was found dead the next day.

Hunt County Sheriff Randy Meeks said his agency is working with the Texas Rangers to determine “whom or what killed” the calf.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 22 BLT fall 2012 San Antonio Division.

AROUND THE NATION

FRIDAY, SEPT. 28 Sun Country Championship Fishing Tournament concludes.

THURSDAY, OCT. 18 Anglers Quest Tournament begins.

SUNDAY, OCT. 21 Anglers Quest Tournament concludes.

SATURDAY, OCT. 27 The first day of the Bass Champs South Region Championship takes place at the county ramp.

SUNDAY, OCT. 28 The Bass Champs South Region Championship concludes.

FRIDAY, NOV. 10 Registration for the South Texas College Team Open at Falcon Lake Tackle. For info call 830-931-1025.

Panetta: Troop scandals hurt US Afghan mission WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Leon Panetta warned troops Friday that it takes just seconds for misconduct to make headlines and said that enemy insurgents can use recent military scandals to fuel their fight.

Speaking to soldiers at Fort Benning, Ga., where Panetta began his military career as an Army lieutenant nearly 50 years ago, the defense chief delivered a personal plea, urging troops to honor their military values.

“These days, it takes only seconds — seconds — for a picture, a photo, to suddenly become an international headline,” Panetta said.

Lawyer: Edwards knew money was for his benefit GREENSBORO, N.C. — The lawyer for an heiress who provided secret payments to an aide

CONTACT US

Photo by Tom Dodge/The Columbus Dispatch | AP

Workers transport an animal from the Columbus Zoo in Columbus, Ohio, on Friday to bring it back to Zanesville, Ohio, where Terry Thompson released 56 animals from his eastern Ohio farm Oct. 18 before he committed suicide. of John Edwards has testified that the former presidential candidate conceded that the money had been given for his benefit.

Alex Forger said Friday that Edwards’ then-lawyer Wade Smith told him in the fall of 2008 that the former candidate agreed

that the $725,000 given by wealthy heiress Rachel “Bunny” Mellon had been provided for his benefit.

Some of Mellon’s money was used to hide Edwards’ pregnant mistress.

— Compiled from AP reports

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Local

SATURDAY, MAY 5, 2012

LCC discusses worker buyout

By STEPHANIE IBARRA THE ZAPATA TIMES

The discussion of an employee buyout program surfaced once more during a recent LCC board of trustees meeting.

Though no action was taken on the matter, a presentation to the campus assembly for feedback on the current proposed plan was tentatively scheduled for May. The board is expected to consider the item for ap-

proval in August.

Under the current plan, 72 Laredo Community College employees with a combined salary of $4.5 million would be eligible for the “voluntary separation agreement.”

Participant employees executing the agreement would receive their base salaries as an incentive.

In a previous interview with Laredo Morning Times, Fred Solis, LCC institutional effectiveness offi-

cer, discussed the “rule of 80.”

Solis said that under the current proposal, eligibility would be limited to the employees’ age and service to LCC, a minimum of 20 years. They must also be full time employees and would be required to perform contractual duties until the end of the 2013 fiscal year.

The salary savings would impact the school’s 20132014 fiscal year.

The college stands to save $1.4 million a year in a 3-4 year payback if all eligible employees were to retire.

LCC’s proposed buyout follows in the steps of other public education intuitions from across the state that have implemented these plans in light of state public and higher education cuts in the 2011 legislative session.

(Stephanie Ibarra may be reached at 728-2547 or sibarra@lmtonline.com)

THE ZAPATA TIMES 3A

THE BLOTTER ANIMAL CRUELTY Deputies responded to a cruelty to animals call April 29 in the 100 block of Mayflower Road in Ramireño. Two horses and a calf were found dead. An investigation is under way.

ASSAULT Atiliano Flores Jr., 22, was arrested and charged with assault, family violence at about 5:30 p.m. April 29 at Fifth Street and Ramireño Avenue. He was at Zapata Regional Jail on a $10,000 bond.

Martin Salinas, 45, was arrested and charged with assault, family violence at about 2:30 a.m. Friday in the 1800 block of Third Street after a domestic disturbance. He was taken to Zapata County Jail.

BURGLARY

Deputies say bomb device a hoax

By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES

A hoax bomb was found April 28 outside the Boys and Girls Club, 302 Sixth Ave., according to a Zapata County Sheriff ’s Office news release.

But officials say the artifact did not pose a threat to the community.

At 1:48 a.m. April 28, sheriff ’s deputies responded to call reporting a suspicious packet by the Boys

and Girls Club. Sheriff ’s Sgt. Mario Elizondo said deputies found a white plastic bag with a suspicious device by the county easement by a brick wall.

Deputies blocked off the area and requested assistance from the Laredo Police Department’s bomb squad.

Investigator Joe E. Baeza, Laredo police spokesman, said the artifact was made of PVC pipe, duct tape, wires and batteries.

But he added there was no explosive component to the device.

The bomb squad detonated the device at approximately 5:05 a.m. without incident, according to a sheriff ’s office news release. Baeza said there was no danger to the community.

“There was no real threat other than the fact that someone was playing a prank,” Baeza said.

Elizondo said the re-

maining components of the bomb were recovered and logged in as evidence.

An investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information on the case can call the sheriff ’s office at 7659960 or Crime Stoppers at 765-8477 (TIPS). Callers may remain anonymous.

Information leading to an arrest may be rewarded.

(César G. Rodriguez may be reached at 728-2568 or cesar@lmtonline.com)

Feds: Man had 18 undocumented

By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES

A Rio Grande man remains in federal custody accused of smuggling undocumented people, according to court documents released late last week.

Ruben Zamorano was arrested, accused of conspiring to transport 18 undocumented people within the Southern District of Texas.

On April 20, a U.S. Border Patrol agent was assigned to FM 2687, the road of choice for alien and narcotic smugglers because of the lack of law enforcement in the area and its accessibility to spread out to other roads, a complaint states.

At about 6:10 p.m., an off-duty Bor-

der Patrol field operations supervisor reported he had seen several people hiding in the bed of a white Ford F150 traveling north on U.S. 83 near Lobos Road.

At 6:25 p.m., the Zapata County Sheriff ’s Office relayed a call to Border Patrol from a concerned citizen.

The information indicated that a white F150 loaded with undocumented people had turned east on FM 2687.

The complaint states the white pickup was following a red GMC truck. An agent responding to the scene spotted the white truck stopped in the middle of the road. About 18 people ran into the brush but were later apprehended. Agents detained three people from the red truck, including Zamorano. He is the sole per-

son facing charges listed on the complaint.

Zamorano, a United States citizen, said he was traveling from a place south of Zapata and that he was a passenger in a red Chevrolet pickup. A complaint states he was looking out for any law enforcement in the area.

Zamorano was to be paid $800.

According to the complaint, a man dubbed “El Oso (The Bear)” gave gas money to Zamorano and another person. “El Oso” is considered the boss.

He provides the vehicles and instructs the smugglers to take food to the undocumented people, a complaint states.

(César G. Rodriguez may be reached at 728-2568 or cesar@lmtonline.com)

Three juveniles were detained and charged with burglary of a habitation at about 12:30 p.m. Thursday in the 1700 block of Villa Avenue. The alleged offenders were turned over to juvenile probation.

CRIMINAL MISCHIEF A 43-year-old man reported at 10:14 a.m. Monday that the Little League field concession stand at First Avenue and Carla Street was vandalized.

GRAFFITI A 72-year-old woman reported at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday in the 1800 block of First Street that her cinderblock fence was spray-painted with graffiti.

INJURY TO CHILD Deputies responded to an assault call at 4 p.m. Thursday in the 700 block of Villa Street. Child Protective Services contacted the sheriff’s office regarding an assault on a 5year-old boy. An injury to a child report was filed. The case is being investigated.

POSSESSION Carlos Valadez, 20, was arrested and charged with having drug paraphernalia at about 11 p.m. Wednesday at Seventh Street and Falcon Avenue. He was taken to Zapata Regional Jail and later released to appear in court.

THEFT A 28-year-old woman reported at 10:07 a.m. Monday in the 300 block of Gonzalez Street that her digital camera was stolen from her residence.

A 38-year-old man reported Tuesday at Barrocito Ranch, off Aguilares Road, that a 1991 Suburban was stolen from the ranch. The complainant also stated that the guest house was burglarized.

Deputies responded to a theft call at 10:03 p.m.

Wednesday at The Steak House Restaurant, off U.S. 83. The complainant stated that someone stole fishing rods and reels from a parked vehicle outside the restaurant.

PAGE 4A

Zopinion

SATURDAY, MAY 5, 2012

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR SEND YOUR SIGNED LETTER TO EDITORIAL@LMTONLINE.COM

OTHER VIEWS

Herbicide creates problems S “

cientists are observing with increasing alarm that some very common hormone-mimicking chemicals can have grotesque effects.

A widely used herbicide acts as a female hormone and feminizes male animals in the wild. Thus male frogs can have female organs, and some male fish actually produce eggs. In a Florida lake contaminated by these chemicals, male alligators have tiny penises.

These days there is also growing evidence linking this class of chemicals to problems in humans. These include breast cancer, infertility, low sperm counts, genital deformities, early menstruation and even diabetes and obesity.

Males’ problem Philip Landrigan, a professor of pediatrics at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, says that a congenital defect called hypospadias — a misplacement of the urethra — is now twice as common among newborn boys as it used to be. He suspects endocrine disruptors, so called because they can wreak havoc with the endocrine system that governs hormones.

Endocrine disruptors are everywhere. They’re in thermal receipts that come out of gas pumps and ATMs. They’re in canned foods, cosmetics, plastics and food packaging. Test your blood or urine, and you’ll surely find them there, as well as in human breast milk and in cord blood of newborn babies.

In this campaign year, we are bound to hear endless complaints about excessive government regulation. But here’s an area where scientists are increasingly critical of our government for its failure to tackle Big Chem and regulate endocrine disruptors adequately.

Last month, the Endocrine Society, the leading association of hormone experts, scolded the Food and Drug Administration for its failure to ban bisphenol-A, a common endocrine disruptor known as BPA, from food packaging. Last year, eight medical organizations representing genetics, gynecology, urology and other fields made a joint call in Science magazine for tighter regulation of endocrine disruptors.

Shouldn’t our government be as vigilant about threats in our grocery stores as in the mountains of Afghanistan?

Researchers warn that endocrine disruptors can trigger hormonal changes in the body that may not show up for decades.

One called DES, a synthetic form of estrogen, was once routinely given to pregnant women to prevent miscarriage or morning sickness, and it did little harm to the women themselves. But it turned out to cause vaginal cancer and breast cancer decades later in their daughters, so it is now banned.

Scientists have long known the tiniest variations in hormone levels influence fetal development. For example, a fe-

NICHOLAS KRISTOF

male twin is very slightly masculinized if the other twin is a male, because she is exposed to some of his hormones.

Studies have found that these female twins, on average, end up slightly more aggressive and sensation-seeking as adults but have lower rates of eating disorders.

Fetus woes Now experts worry that endocrine disruptors have similar effects, acting as hormones and swamping the delicate balance for fetuses in particular. The latest initiative by scholars is a landmark 78-page analysis to be published next month in Endocrine Reviews, the leading publication in the field.

“Fundamental changes in chemical testing and safety determination are needed to protect human health,” the analysis declares. Linda S. Birnbaum, the nation’s chief environmental scientist and toxicologist, endorsed the findings.

The article was written by a 12-member panel that spent three years reviewing the evidence.

It concluded that the nation’s safety system for endocrine disruptors is broken.

“For several well-studied endocrine disruptors, I think it is fair to say that we have enough data to conclude that these chemicals are not safe for human populations,” said Laura Vandenberg, a Tufts University developmental biologist who was the lead writer for the panel.

Worrying new research on the long-term effects of these chemicals is constantly being published. One study found that pregnant women who have higher levels of a common endocrine disruptor, PFOA, are three times as likely to have daughters who grow up to be overweight. Yet PFOA is unavoidable. It is in everything from microwave popcorn bags to carpet-cleaning solutions.

Big Chem says all this is sensationalist science.

So far, it has blocked strict regulation in the United States, even as Europe and Canada have adopted tighter controls on endocrine disruptors.

Yes, there are uncertainties. But the scientists who know endocrine disruptors best overwhelmingly are already taking steps to protect their families.

John Peterson Myers, chief scientist at Environmental Health Sciences and a co-author of the new analysis, said that his family had stopped buying canned food.

“We don’t microwave in plastic,” he added.

“We don’t use pesticides in our house. I refuse receipts whenever I can.

My default request at the ATM, known to my bank, is ‘no receipt.’ I never ask for a receipt from a gas station.”

I’m taking my cue from the experts, and I wish the Obama administration would as well.

COLUMN

Bill won’t solve postal woes

By JOE DAVIDSON THE WASHINGTON POST

WASHINGTON — No other service Uncle Sam provides gets as up-close and personal as mail delivery.

Mail carriers come to our doors almost every day.

They sometimes see us in ways only allowed for loved ones’ eyes: unwashed, unbrushed and maybe even undressed. They bring the good — wedding invitations and birth announcements — and the bad — overdue bills, a parent’s death certificate.

So the financial distress of the U.S. Postal Service can have personal implications for everyone, particularly its employees, who are both USPS workers and customers. Last week, the Senate approved legislation that is designed to help rescue the Postal Service from its budgetary sinkhole.

How well the bill would do that is debateable.

Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman, I-Conn., a sponsor of the bill, said it would “remove some of the immediate financial pressure on the Postal Service” and encourage long-term innovative thinking and measures to reduce excess capacity, while “avoiding extreme changes that could further destabilize USPS.” But the legislation leaves postal union leaders ambivalent, at best.

John F. Hegarty, president of the National Postal Mail Handlers Union, said: “We’re not endorsing it wholeheartedly. We’ve come

out in cautious support, recognizing there are still some improvements that need to be made.”

James Sauber, chief of staff for the National Association of Letter Carriers, said: “We’re sort of disappointed. . . . It’s sort of a missed opportunity, sort of tinkering around the edges.”

And Greg Bell, executive vice president of the American Postal Workers Union, said: “It’s an improvement over the original bill, but we have some issues.”

The first issue Bell cited is a provision in the legislation that would reduce some workers’ compensation payments three years after enactment, not including those who are totally and permanently disabled or already above retirement age. This would apply to federal employees generally, not just postal workers.

That measure “cracks down on fraud, making the system fairer, and encouraging a return to work for employees who are able to work,” says a statement from the office of Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, author of the provision and a co-sponsor of the overall legislation.

But that provision was enough to earn the opposition of Sen. Daniel K. Akaka, D-Hawaii, chairman of the subcommittee on the federal workforce, although he supported many other sections.

“Unfortunately, I cannot support a bill that cuts benefits for federal employees who have been injured in

service to their country,” he said. “It is simply cruel to change the rules after-thefact for disabled employees who were relying on the promise of these benefits.

I’m disappointed my amendment to fix this issue was defeated.”

Another provision that could affect all federal employees allows the Postal Service to set up its own employee health insurance plan and withdraw from the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. But Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV, DW.Va., may have undermined the push by postal officials to do that with his amendment, which would require any new postal program to have the same quality as the current government-wide program.

The major drain on Postal Service finances has been the congressionally imposed requirement to prefund retiree health benefits.

It’s a requirement no other federal agency must meet.

Last year, officials said the USPS would have made about $1 billion from 2007 to 2010, instead of losing money, if they did not have the prefunding requirement. At that point, relieving the service of that burden essentially would have solved its problems. At least in theory.

“However, that is no longer the case due to the deepening decline of first-class mail volume, our most ‘profitable’ product,” said David Partenheimer, a USPS spokesman. “This decline is expected to continue.”

Prefunding still accounts

for 84 percent of the agency’s net loses. “The Postal Service has had over $25 billion of cumulative net losses in the past five fiscal years, which included $21 billion of the prefunding,” Partenheimer said.

The legislation provides significant but not total relief on this front, including cancellation of the 2011 through 2017 payments. Prefunding also would be at the 80 percent level, over 40 years, instead of 100 percent over 10 years. None of this, by the way, affects the health benefits retirees actually receive.

A postal issue that has drawn some of the greatest attention is the proposal to move to five-day delivery.

Surveys show support for cutting Saturday delivery.

That would not be allowed immediately under the legislation, but it could happen after two years if certain conditions are met.

That would cost 80,000 jobs, according to the National Association of Letter Carriers. It would save $2.7 billion annually (down from last year’s estimate of $3.1 billion), according to the Postal Service, or 3.9 percent of the $69.5 billion USPS budget. The Postal Rate Commission, however, says the USPS overstates the savings and says a more modest $1.7 billion is closer to the truth.

Either way, union officials argue, a budget savings of less than 4 percent for a 17 percent cut in service — which is what dropping one day of six amounts to — is a lopsided bargain.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY The Zapata Times does not publish anonymous letters.

To be published, letters must include the writer’s first and last names as well as a phone number to verify identity. The

phone number IS NOT published; it is used solely to verify identity and to clarify content, if necessary. Identity of the letter writer must be verified before publication.

We want to assure our

readers that a letter is written by the person who signs the letter. The Zapata Times does not allow the use of pseudonyms.

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DOONESBURY | GARRY TRUDEAU

ing or gratuitous abuse is allowed.

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

SATURDAY, MAY 5, 2012

THE ZAPATA TIMES 5A

Nurse dies while on Skype with wife

By MICHAEL GRACZYK ASSOCIATED PRESS

HOUSTON — The wife of an Army officer serving in Afghanistan witnessed her husband’s death as the two video chatted via Skype, his family said Friday.

The circumstances of Capt. Bruce Kevin Clark’s death were not immediately available. The Pentagon said it was under investigation, and his brother-in-law said he didn’t have details.

“We are entrusting the military with investigating and with finding out what happened to Capt. Clark,” Bradley Taber-Thomas told The Associated Press.

Clark, a 43-year-old Army chief nurse, grew up in Michigan and lived previously in Spencerport, N.Y., a suburb of Rochester and his wife’s hometown. He joined the Army in 2006 and was stationed in Hawaii before he was assigned to the William Beaumont Army Medical Center in El Paso. He deployed to Afghanistan in March.

A statement from the family released by TaberThomas said Clark died Monday while talking to his wife during one of their regular Skype sessions.

“At the time of the incident, the family was hoping for a rescue and miracle, but later learned that it was not to be,” the statement said. “Although the circumstances were unimaginable, Bruce’s wife and extended family will be forever thankful that he and his wife were together in his last moments.”

Clark’s body was returned Thursday to Dover Air Force Base.

A funeral is planned in Spencerport, but details were not immediately available. Clark and his wife moved there in 2000. While living there, he worked for about four years at High-

Photo by U.S. Army | AP

The U.S. Army says Capt. Bruce Kevin Clark’s wife witnessed his death on Skype. Clark was a medic serving in Afghanistan. land Hospital in Rochester, N.Y., first as an operating room assistant, then as an operating room technician.

“He was a friendly guy, always joking, always picking on me because of my (British) accent,” said Ellie Villanueva, a nurse who worked with Clark at the hospital and kept in touch with him after he left. They spoke a few days before his death, and he talked about coming for a visit. “After work, we would all go out. It was like a family. He was my son.”

Clark was an EMT before he worked at the hospital.

He went on to earn his nursing degree and planned to become a certified registered nurse anesthetist, Villanueva said.

“He was always willing and always wanting to better himself,” she said.

Military records show Clark finished his nursing degree before joining the military in 2006.

He received a number of awards and decorations for

his service.

“When you were in Bruce’s presence it was apparent he served a higher purpose,” the family’s statement said. “He was deeply honored to serve his country, and he paid the ultimate sacrifice to serve people, his children, family, community, and church.”

A memorial service also was planned in Addison, Mich., where Clark graduated from high school.

Villanueva said the delay in releasing the cause of Clark’s death was difficult on those who knew him.

“Why is it taking so long?

It’s odd,” she said. “It’s a real shame.”

Clark is survived by his wife and two daughters, age 3 and 9, he said.

State

6A THE ZAPATA TIMES

SATURDAY, MAY 5, 2012

BOMBER FLY-BY

UT Regents reject increase for Austin

By JIM VERTUNO ASSOCIATED PRESS

AUSTIN — Rejecting a request to raise tuition over the next two years, University of Texas System regents instead froze rates Thursday for most students at the flagship Austin campus and decided to give the school a short-term boost of cash from its multibillion-dollar endowment fund.

Pressure The vote comes at a time when the state’s colleges and universities are under political pressure — led by Republican Gov. Rick Perry — to reduce costs and simultaneously improve graduation rates.

Each of the system’s nine campuses asked for some sort of rate increase.

Most were approved, although a few were at rates lower than requested.

The major exception was the University of Texas at Austin, one of the largest public schools in the country and the most prominent target of critics in the public debate over whether state universities are efficiently educating students.

The university asked to raise tuition from about 2.6 percent to 3.6 percent starting in the fall of 2012.

Much of the nearly $26 million it hoped to raise was to be used for improving academic advising and adding courses to help more students graduate in four years.

Alternatives Regents instead froze tuition for undergraduate resident students and agreed to dip into money generated by the Permanent University Fund for about $13 million. The re-

gents approved raising tuition for non-resident undergraduates (2.1 percent) and graduate students (3.6 percent).

System officials said the endowment money, combined with the higher rates for non-resident and graduate students, should get Texas close to the nearly $26 million target.

But University of Texas President Bill Powers said he was disappointed by the freeze. Powers said the higher rates were going to pay for student benefits and programs for years to come and freezing them at the current levels will make it harder to plan for the future.

Raising money State universities have had to use tuition rates to raise money as the Legislature has cut state higher education funding in recent years. Lawmakers gave the universities the power to set their rates in 2003.

“Every penny of this plan ... was designed and dedicated to student success programs,” Powers said.

Undergraduate resident students at the Austin campus pay $4,896 per semester. Non-resident students will see their tuition jump from $16,190 per semester to $17,377 by fall 2013.

The regents approved tuition increases for the system’s other campuses starting in fall 2012. Those schools also were promised a short-term boost from the endowment to help mitigate the difference.

The University of TexasArlington did not ask for a rate increase in 2012, but was authorized to raise rates in 2013 if needed.

Before the vote, Texas system Chancellor Fran-

cisco Cigarroa called the proposed rate increases “modest” and said they were “necessary to continue to provide the highest quality education.”

Proposal Regents chairman Gene Powell, a Perry appointee, proposed the plan that was passed instead. Powell noted regents can’t promise schools will get the extra endowment money in the future and urged college presidents to keep cutting costs.

Powell praised a new program at UT-Permian Basin in Odessa that will offer a four-year bachelor of science degree for no more than $10,000, a goal Perry set for universities last year. He also noted that UT-Arlington’s efforts to boost online classes has helped the school increase enrollment by 6,000 students.

Texas A&M University System regents were expected to vote on tuition rates at their campuses on Friday. The president of the A&M system’s flagship campus in College Station did not request a tuition increase this year.

The Texas system regents on Thursday also gave a big boost to the creation of new medical schools in Austin and South Texas with public endorsements and commitments to help finance the projects.

Supporters of a medical school in Austin note the flagship campus already does a lot of medical-related research and the school will help solidify the campus as a world-class university.

Those supporting a South Texas medical school say it would boost health care and research in one of the fastest-growing regions in the country.

Jerry Larson/Waco Tribune Herald | AP

A B1 bomber flies past the World War II B-17 bomber “Texas Raiders” on the opening day of the Central Texas Airshow, on Friday, in Temple. The show will last through the weekend.

Complaint: 115 illegal immigrants found ASSOCIATED PRESS

McALLEN — Two men were charged Thursday with conspiring to harbor illegal immigrants after authorities responding to a 911 call found about 115 suspected illegal immigrants in three clustered South Texas homes.

A U.S. magistrate judge ordered Vicente Ortiz Soto and Marcial Salas Gardunio held Thursday pending their detention hearings. Both requested that lawyers be appointed to represent them.

A criminal complaint

filed against them described authorities arriving to find immigrants fleeing two houses in Edinburg while others remained locked in a third.

The call came from an immigrant inside one of the houses who said he was being held against his will with about 50 others. Immigrant witnesses told authorities that Salas greeted them at the stash house with “Welcome to hell,” according to the complaint.

Salas told investigators Ortiz paid him $500 per week to smuggle immigrants.

Immigrants from El Salvador and Honduras told agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations that both Ortiz and Salas drove them to the houses from the border and sold them snacks.

Officers found the windows and doors locked from the outside with chains and padlocks and no light in the house. Seven people inside the house were hospitalized for treatment of dehydration and malnourishment, The Monitor of McAllen reported.

SÁBADO 5 DE MAYO DE 2012

Agenda en Breve LAREDO 05/05 — First United Methodist Church tendrá una venta de libros usados de 8:30 a.m. a 1 p.m. en 1220 avenida McClelland.

05/05 — Conozca al ex laredense Edward Wright y a su esposa Shirley, autores de la novela “Todos Santos”, en la Sala de usos Múltiples H-E-B de la Biblioteca Pública de Laredo, 1120 East Calton Rd., de 2 p.m. a 4 p.m.

05/05 — Big River Foundation y Ciclo Mania invitan a una clínica para reparación de bicicletas, de 3 p.m. a 6 p.m. en Rio Grande Plaza Hotel, 1 avenida South Main.

05/05 — Planetario Lamar Bruni Vergara de TAMIU presenta “Star Signs” a las 4 p.m., “Seven Wonders” a las 5 p.m., “2012: Ancient Skies, Ancient Mysteries” a las 6 p.m., “2012: Ancient Skies, Ancient Mysteries” a las 7 p.m. Costo general: 5 dólares para adultos y 4 dólares para niños.

05/05 — Ceremonia del 150 Aniversario de la Batalla de Puebla, de 5:30 p.m. a 6 p.m. a los pies de la Estatua General Ignacio Zaragoza, Plaza San Agustín, 1000 calle Zaragoza St. 05/05 — La comedia teatral “Ha!” de Rich Orloff, debuta a las 8 p.m. en el Teatro del Center for the Fine and Performing Arts.

Costo: 5 dólares.

05/06 — Taller de Belly Dance gratuito para mamás, a partir de las 9 a.m. (inscripciones) en Laredo Civic Center Ballroom. Lo impartirá Bel Cantú, instructora de Bel’s Dance Studio.

05/06 — El Comité Juvenil de Ciudades Hermanas de la Ciudad de Laredo invita al Torneo de Boliche, para recaudación de fondos, a las 12 p.m. en Jett Bowl North.

05/08 — Ross and Friends se presentan en Hal’s Landing Restaurant and Bar, 6510 Arena Blvd., en una campaña para recaudar fondos del South Texas Food Bank. El concierto será de 6 p.m. a 1 p.m. Costo: 10 dólares.

05/08 — La iniciativa para Prevención/Educación sobre la Diabetes “Healthy Living/Viviendo Mejor” inicia a las 8 a.m. en el Departamento de Salud de la Ciudad de Laredo, 2600 avenida Cedar. Las clases serán martes y miércoles durante 10 semanas. Más información llamando al (956) 7954900 ext. 4557.

05/12 — Clase especial de TACTIX por el Día de las Madres, a cargo de Laredo Martial Arts Center, de 2 p.m. a 3 p.m. en las instalaciones de LMAC, 618 W. Calton Rd. Unit 103. Más información con Claudia Pérez Rivas al (956) 744-0725.

05/15 — Club Una Mirada de Amor dentro de su campaña “Bullying Stops Here” invita a la Conferencia para Niños, Jóvenes y Adultos impartida por el Ptr. Jeff, Sister Paula & Marionetas, a las 5 p.m. en el 4519 E. Del Mar Blvd. Más infromes en 712-2484.

05/18 — Laredo Heat SC recibe a Texas (Houston) Dutch Lions en el Complejo de Soccer de TAMIU a las 8 p.m.

NUEVO LAREDO 05/05 — Estación Palabra invita al “Bazar de Arte” a las 12 p.m.; Lecturas Antes de Abordar a la 1 p.m.; Festival Infantil “Letras y Música” a las 2 p.m.; Taller de Creación Literaria con Jacobo Mina a las 3 p.m. Todos los eventos son gratuitos.

05/05 — Museo para Niños “Leonardo Da Vinci, vida y obra” a las 4 p.m. en la Sala de Servicios Educativos del Centro Cultural. Entrada libre.

Zfrontera

PÁGINA 7A

CANDIDATOS DEL PARTIDO DEMÓCRATA SE PREPARAN PARA LAS VOTACIONES

CORTE

Proceso listo

Defensa pide suprimir video

POR JJ VELASQUEZ TIEMPO DE ZAPATA

El Alguacil del Condado de Zapata Sigifredo González mantuvo su cargo por 18 años antes de decidir retirarse este año y no pensar en seguir por otro ciclo.

Hay tres candidatos con experiencia en el condado quienes buscan reemplazar a González.

La elección primaria democrática del Condado de Zapata será el 29 de mayo.

Alonso López, quien trabaja como un administrador en la oficina del alguacil; Joaquín Solís, un veterano agente en el Condado de Zapata quien se retiró el año pasado; y Raymond Moya III, un investigador en la oficina de abogados del Condado, buscarán ganar la nominación del partido. La contienda no tendrá oposición en la elección general.

López, quien trabaja como capitán administrador bajo las órdenes de González, empezó su carrera como despachador y carcelero en 1982.

López siente que su experiencia administrativa lo califica para ser alguacil. Dijo que su conocimiento del presupuesto y sus buenas relaciones con la oficina de tesorería le dan una ventaja.

El residente de Lopeño, de 54 años de edad, dijo que hablaría con los comisionados de la corte

acerca de mejorar salarios de los despachadores, si es electo.Uno de sus contrincantes, Joaquín Solís, busca ser alguacil, y cuenta con 32 años de experiencia como agente.

Solís ha trabajado tanto en la oficina del alguacil como en la oficina de abogados del condado, donde fue jefe de investigación.

Solís, de 63 años, dijo que buscará mejorar la seguridad en Zapata. Dijo que mantendrá las mismas cosas como las encuentre, si es que todo está trabajando de forma adecuada.

Moya, investigador de la oficina de abogados del Condado, con 43 años de edad, es originario de Kingsville. Sí es electo, Moya se enfocará en el Lago Falcón. Sostuvo que existe una necesidad para establecer patrullaje en el lago. También mencionó que trabajará más de cerca con las escuelas del distrito y también para atrapar la venta de drogas en la calle.

Además de la elección de alguacil, otros cuatro cargos están en juego: los comisarios y comisionados del condado para el precinto la guardia de policía y los comisionados del Condado para los precintos 1 y 3.

(Localice a JJ Velasquez en el (956)728-2567 o en jjvelasquez@lmtonline.com)

Presidente del Partido Demócrata del Condado de Zapata:

Doroteo Noe Garza

Abogado del Condado

TIEMPO DE ZAPATA

Said Alfonso ‘Poncho’ Figueroa

Alguacil Alonso López; Raymond Moya III; Joaquín Solís Jr.

Asesor/Recaudador de Impuestos Luis Lauro González

Comisionado del Condado, Precinto 1 José Emilio Vela (actual); José Luis ‘Tata’ Flores

Comisionado del Condado, Precinto 3 Belinda R. Bravo; Eddie Martínez (actual)

Comisario Precinto 1 Gabriel Villarreal III; Adalberto ‘Beto’ Mejía Jr. (actual); Obed ‘O.B.’ Luera

Comisario Precinto 2 Julián J. ‘Jay’ Gutiérrez

Comisario Precinto 3 Erica María Benavides-Moore; Randall L. Ivey Eloy ‘Jay’ Martínez (actual)

Comisario Precinto 4 Manuel M. Flores Jr. Fuente Condado de Zapata

EU-MÉXICO

Foto de archivo/Delcia López | San Antonio Express-News

Esta foto de archivo muestra a la Presa Falcón. El Condado de Zapata se encuentra preocupado por el bajo nivel que presenta el lago Falcón de un mes a la fecha.

NIVELES BAJOS Poca agua en Lago Falcón preocupa a Zapata POR JJ VELASQUEZ TIEMPO DE ZAPATA

Los niveles de agua en el Lago Falcón están en declive, dijeron oficiales, esto debido al alto uso en México.

Pero, contabilizando los recursos de embalse que siguen estando a disposición del condado, el lado americano posee suficiente agua para el uso municipal y de agricultura para sostenerse durante dos años, aún si no lloviera, dijo Erasmo Yarrito, encargado de irrigación con agua del Río Bravo.

“En cuanto a recursos de agua, definitivamente tenemos suficiente para el resto del año y el siguiente, inclusive si no recibiéramos lluvia ni agua de México”, dijo Yarrito.

Yarrito dijo que se encuentra dentro del derecho del país extraer tanta agua

como lo ha hecho.

Dijo que México tiene previsto liberar agua de la Reserva La Amistad, lo cual llegaría al Lago Falcón y pudiera incrementar sus niveles de agua. La Amistad tiene más agua reservada porque es menos propensa a evaporarse, agregó.

El Juez del Condado, Joe Rathmell dijo que los niveles en el lago han “disminuido sustancialmente en el mes pasado, o por esas fechas”.

Rathmell dijo que el condado está principalmente preocupado acerca del suministro de agua potable, pero la disminución de los niveles del agua también hacen difícil el acceso al lago para los pescadores.

“Si continúa en un nivel bajo durante muchos meses, ciertamente tendrá un impacto en la pesca”, dijo.

POR STEPHANIE IBARRA

El mes pasado el Lago Falcón fue nombrado uno de los principales lagos de pesca de lubina del país por la revista nacional Bassmasters.

Especialmente durante los meses pico, el lago es anfitrión de torneos de pesca que atraen a pescados de todo el país.

Mientras el condado baja en su producción de petróleo y gas, lo cual previamente fue principal en la economía local, ha dependido más en el lago y los pescados que acuden a pescar sus abundantes especies.

Yarrito dijo que la recreación y la pesca, conforme lo dicta el código de agua de Texas, ocupa el sexto lugar en la lista de prioridades para el monitoreo de uso de agua por la oficina del encargado de irrigación. El uso municipal y para irrigación ocu-

pan el primer lugar en la lista.

Un encargado de irrigación aplica los derechos de agua administra los niveles cuando hay poco recurso.

Rathmell dijo que el condado tiene un plan en lugar si los niveles de agua alcanzan un nivel bajo. Dijo que el agua sería desviada a un sistema parecido a un pozo que pudiera proveer agua potable.

Los niveles del lago se encuentra a unos 20 pies de alcanzar ese punto, explicó.

Por ahora, dijo que el condado tiene pensado conservar agua.

Yarrito advirtió a residentes del condado cuidar su consumo.

Una buena lluvia, sin embargo, solucionaría algunas preocupaciones del condado, dijo Rathmell.

El acusado en un caso de homicidio capital subió al estrado el jueves en Zapata durante una audiencia para suprimir una confesión grabada.

Gabriel Álvarez-Briones, de 36 años de edad, está acusado del homicidio de Carlos Eduardo González, de 6-meses de edad, en marzo del 2010.

El video que la defensa buscó suprimir contiene una hora del acusado negando su participación en el crimen. Lo que sigue es un espacio de dos ahora y después alrededor de 20 minutos de Álvarez-Briones detallando cómo golpeó en repetidas ocasiones al menor.

Los abogados de la defensa, Eduardo Peña y Oscar Peña Sr., argumentaron que la grabación era inadmisible en el juicio debido a que a su cliente no le leyeron sus derechos Miranda de forma apropiada.

“Yo lo tomo como una amenaza que ellos me dijeran que me iban a dar la pena de muerte”, dijo Álvarez-Briones.

La amenaza de enjuiciarlo por un crimen que él no había confesado o del que no había sido encontrado culpable, y las amenazas de quitarle a sus hijos, junto con un temor de ser “torturado”, obligaron a ÁlvarezBriones a confesar el crimen, dijo él.

Durante el contra-interrogatorio, el fiscal estatal, Pedro Garza Jr., redirigió el testimonio a terrenos legales en los cuales los abogados de la defensa habían argumentado la supresión. Álvarez-Briones aceptó que en ningún momento entendió mal o no entendió la lectura de sus derechos, ni tampoco expresó el deseo de que ya no se le interrogara o solicitó sus derechos en cualquier momento.

Varios testigos estuvieron presentes durante el interrogatorio a ÁlvarezBriones: Juan A. Garza, ex oficial del alguacil del Condado de Zapata, el Texas Ranger John Ramírez y otros Rangers. Garza y Ramírez fueron llamados por el estado.

Garza y Ramírez negaron realizar amenazas contra Álvarez-Briones. Garza dijo que nunca esperó que Álvarez-Briones lo aceptara y que solamente ocurriera tras que la grabación fue detenida y que los dos estuvieran solos en su oficina.

Ramírez fue cuestionado acerca de por qué se le pidió al acusado reiterar su confesión a los Rangers antes de que el equipo de video fuera encendido nuevamente o antes de que a Álvarez-Briones se les leyeran sus derechos Miranda.

“Desconocía exactamente lo que él nos dijo”, dijo Ramírez. “Quería escucharlo — lo que él tenía que decir”.

Un Álvarez-Briones con mayor peso y cabello corto, podía ser visto viendo hacia la cámara de forma solemne, conforme se le leían sus derechos.

Tras las casi tres horas de audiencia el jueves, el Juez de la Corte de Distrito 49, Joe López, declinó realizar un fallo.

López dijo que estaba inclinado a negar la moción para suprimir el video pero que necesitaba continuar viéndolo de cerca, sobre lo que Álvarez-Briones le dijo a los Rangers cuando fue esposado, pero que antes de que se les leyeran sus derechos Miranda.

El caso está programado para ir a juicio a finales de septiembre o inicios de octubre.

8A THE ZAPATA TIMES

SATURDAY, MAY 5, 2012

Economy weakens as job growth slows

By CHRISTOPHER S. RUGABER AND PAUL WISEMAN ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON — One month of slower job growth might have been a blip.

Two suggest a worrisome trend: The economy may be faltering again.

The United States generated just 115,000 jobs last month, well below expectations and the fewest since October. The unemployment rate fell to 8.1 percent, but for the wrong reason — workers abandoned the labor force.

From December through February, employers added 252,000 jobs a month on average. But the figure dipped in March and dropped further in April, raising doubts about an economic recovery that can’t seem to reach escape velocity.

The report Friday by the Labor Department indicated “an economy that is losing momentum — especially on the jobs front,” said Tom Porcelli, chief U.S. economist at RBC Capital Markets.

It also dealt a blow to President Barack Obama’s re-election prospects. His presumed Republican opponent, Mitt Romney, called the report “very disappointing.”

Romney said the country should be adding 500,000 jobs a month and said any unemployment rate above 4 percent is “not cause for celebration.” The rate has not been that low since the last days of the Clinton administration.

“We seem to be slowing down, not speeding up,” Romney said on Fox News Channel. “This is not progress.”

Obama, at a Virginia high school to promote a freeze on interest rates for student loans, focused on the six-month total of more than 1 million jobs created.

But he said: “We’ve got to do more.”

The 8.1 percent unemployment rate is the lowest since January 2009, the month Obama was sworn in.

Still, the weak job growth caused stocks to fall sharply on Wall Street. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index lost 1.6 percent and closed its worst week of the year. The price of oil fell more than 4 percent because of fears of a slowing economy, which should mean lower gasoline prices soon.

Some of the slower job growth may be because an unusually warm winter allowed construction firms and other companies to add workers ahead of schedule in January and February, effectively stealing jobs from the spring.

The weaker job growth in March and April “looks like some weather payback,” said Paul Ashworth, chief U.S. economist at Capital Economics.

The balmy weather probably exaggerated job growth in the winter and makes it look small now, Ashworth said. He expects job creation to settle into a lackluster range between 175,000 and 200,000.

The economy may not be growing fast enough to produce anything stronger.

Economists surveyed by The Associated Press expect the economy to grow 2.5 percent this year. That is consistent with monthly job growth of only about

Photo by Rick Bowmer/file | AP

In this April 24 file photo, job seeker Alan Shull attends a job fair in Portland, Ore. The Labor Department said Friday that the economy added just 115,000 jobs in April.

135,000, according to calculations by Brad DeLong, an economist at the University of California, Berkeley.

That is barely enough to keep up with population growth, not nearly enough to recover the jobs lost in the Great Recession quickly.

At this year’s pace, it will take until May 2014 to restore employment to its 2008 peak of 138 million.

The United States has only recovered 3.8 million, or 43 percent, of the 8.8 million jobs lost between the peak, in February 2008, and January 2010.

David Boyce, 30, is one of those still looking for work.

He lost his sales job two years ago and ran out of unemployment benefits in September. He and his wife, who is working reduced hours as a nanny, are struggling to get by.

“We lived off savings for a while,” he said. “And now we’re living off ramen noodles basically.”

April’s hiring slump was broad. Only two of 10 large categories tracked by the government, retailers and professional and business services, hired more workers in April than they did in March.

The categories of manufacturing and education

US revamps visa program

By HOLBROOK MOHR ASSOCIATED PRESS

JACKSON, Miss. — The State Department announced major changes Friday to one of its premier cultural-exchange programs following an investigation by The Associated Press that found widespread abuses.

The agency issued new rules for the J-1 Summer Work and Travel Program, which brings more than 100,000 foreign college students to the United States each year.

The changes are the latest in a series of steps the State Department has taken to fix the program since the 2010 AP investigation. The investigation found that some participants were working in strip clubs, not always willingly, while others were put in living and working conditions they compared to indentured servitude.

The J-1 Summer Work and Travel Program, created under the FulbrightHays Act of 1961, allows foreign college students to spend up to four months living and working in the United States. It was meant to foster cultural understanding, but has be-

come a booming, multimillion-dollar international business.

“In recent years, the work component has too often overshadowed the core cultural component necessary for the Summer Work Travel Program to be consistent with the intent of the Fulbright-Hays Act,” the State Department said in announcing the new rules.

“Also, the Department learned that criminal organizations were involving participants in incidents relating to the illegal transfer of cash, the creation of fraudulent businesses, and violations of immigration law.”

The new rules are meant to ensure that students are treated properly and that they get jobs where there will be interaction with Americans and exposure to U.S. culture.

Some of the rules are effective immediately, while others will take effect in November, including a significant one that would prohibit participants from working in “goods-producing” industries such as manufacturing, construction and agriculture. The rules also ban participants from working in jobs in

which the primary hours are between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

“The new reforms for the Summer Work Travel program focus on strengthening protections for the health, safety and welfare of the participants, and on bringing the program back to its primary purpose, which is to provide a cultural experience for international students,” Robin Lerner, a deputy assistant secretary for the State Department, said in a statement Friday.

“This is a valuable people-to-people diplomacy program and the changes allow us to improve the unique qualities of the program by providing clarity for participants, their sponsors and employers on what is and is not appropriate.”

George Collins, an inspector with the Okaloosa County Sheriff ’s Department in the Florida Panhandle who has investigated abuses in the program for nearly a decade, said he is pleased with the changes.

“While I might have preferred stronger requirements here or there, I think the new regulations go a long way to help protect workers from the

kinds of abuse we have seen routinely,” Collins said. “We intend to check implementation in the field, and will notify the State Department of any activities we believe violate these rules.”

The visa program is aimed at allowing students of modest means to work in seasonal or temporary jobs as a way of offsetting the costs of their travel to the U.S. More than 1 million students have participated in a variety of jobs in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Most participants enjoy their time in the U.S., establishing lifelong memories and friendships. For some, the program is a frightening experience.

In one of the worst cases of abuse, a woman told the AP she was beaten, raped and forced to work as a stripper in Detroit after being promised a job as a waitress in Virginia. A federal indictment last year in New York charged that members of the Gambino and Bonnano mafia families and the Russian mob were using fraudulent job offers to help Eastern European women come to the U.S. to work in strip clubs.

and health services added the fewest jobs in five months. Hotels, restaurants and entertainment companies added the fewest in eight months.

Friday’s report noted that that the average hourly wage went up one penny in April. Over the past year, average pay has increased 1.8 percent, almost a full percentage point shy of the inflation rate, which means the average American isn’t keeping up with price increases.

Even April’s bright spot, the lower unemployment rate, fades on closer inspection.

The government only counts people as unemployed if they’re looking for work. And 340,000 Americans stopped looking and dropped out of the labor force in April, which is why the unemployment rate fell slightly. The dropouts mean just 63.6 percent of workingage Americans were working or looking for work, the lowest since 1981.

It has been almost three years since the Great Recession ended in June 2009.

Economists say countries usually flounder for several years after a financial crisis like the one that hit the United States in 2008.

Interior sets drilling rules on public land

By MATTHEW DALY ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration said Friday it will for the first time require companies drilling for oil and natural gas on public and Indian lands to publicly disclose chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing operations.

The proposed “fracking” rules also set standards for proper construction of wells and wastewater disposal.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said the long-awaited rules will allow continued expansion of drilling while protecting public health and safety.

“As we continue to offer millions of acres of America’s public lands for oil and gas development, it is critical that the public have full confidence that the right safety and environmental protections are in place,” Salazar said.

The proposed rules will “modernize our manage-

ment of well-stimulation activities, including hydraulic fracturing, to make sure that fracturing operations conducted on public and Indian lands follow common-sense industry best practices,” he said.

The new rules, which have been under consideration for a year and a half, were softened after industry groups expressed strong concerns about an initial proposal leaked earlier this year. The proposal would allow companies to file disclosure reports after drilling operations are completed, rather than before they begin, as initially proposed. Industry groups said it could have caused lengthy delays.

Some environmental groups criticized the change as a cave-in to industry, but Salazar said the rules were never intended to cause delays, but to ensure that the public is “fully aware of the chemicals that are being injected into the underground.”

Mexico’s chance for first female president weakens

By ADRIANA GOMEZ LICON ASSOCIATED PRESS

MEXICO CITY — Josefina Vazquez Mota exulted in the camera flashes as a crowd cheered her victory in a bruising three-way race to become the ruling party’s presidential candidate and this country’s first woman to lead a major ticket.

With her daughters beaming behind her, the candidate pledged in February to become Mexico’s first female president. Over the next weeks, she pulled within single digits of the front-runner in the July 1 election.

In 12 years the toughtalking, workaholic economist had transformed herself from a motivational speaker and self-help author to one of the most

powerful women in the country. She worked her way up from the lower ranks of the conservative National Action Party and scored a confident victory over two influential male competitors to win its presidential nomination. She had what looked like a solid shot at the country’s highest office.

Then it all fell apart.

A series of gaffes and mishaps in the opening days of the relentless threemonth march to the election halted Vazquez Mota’s rise in the polls against Enrique Peña Nieto, the charismatic, 45-year-old candidate of the Institutional Revolutionary Party.

Her momentum lost, Vazquez Mota is now as much as 20 points behind Peña Nieto in many polls, weighed down by voter fa-

Photo by Eduardo Verdugo/file | AP

In this March 30 file photo, Mexican presidential candidate Josefina Vazquez Mota waves through a car window in Mexico City. tigue over economic hardship that some blame on President Felipe Calderón, also of the National Action Party, and his administration’s grueling, nearly sixyear-old war against drug cartels.

The candidate notes that polls still show about a fifth of voters still undecided.

“The goal is to go for a sector of important indecisive voters who will really define this election,” she

said in an interview with The Associated Press. “We began 40 points behind and we will make a sweep and overcome and get a very good victory.”

Accustomed to winning and working so hard she has made herself sick at times, Vazquez Mota has bounced back from plenty of setbacks throughout her political career. But if the poll numbers hold, a landslide defeat would deal a painful blow to a woman who’s carved out an unusually powerful position in a culture still imbued with machismo.

Mexican women have voted since 1953, but unlike other Latin American countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Chile, Mexico has never elected a woman president.

In a particularly bitter assessment by a fellow PAN member, former President Vicente Fox, who first recruited Vazquez Mota as a Cabinet member, proclaimed last month that “only a miracle” could save her race for the presidency.

It isn’t just Fox. The entire political machine that brought Vazquez Mota, 51, into politics as an appointed member of Congress is being blamed for what many see as her likely defeat.

Some critics say divisions and disorganization within the PAN caused the logistical slipups in the campaign’s opening days.

Vazquez Mota has also struggled to reconcile voters’ desire for change with the baggage of the ruling party’s two consecutive presidential terms.

SATURDAY, MAY 5, 2012

THE ZAPATA TIMES 9A

MARIA G. BENAVIDES Maria G. Benavides, 87, passed away April 28, 2012, in San Antonio, at St. Luke Baptist Hospital.

Mrs. Benavides is preceded in death by her husband, Rodolfo Benavides; brothers: Isidro (Alicia) Guzman and Abdon (Margarita) Guzman; sister Felicidad Guzman Chapa; and son-in-law, Francisco Caballero.

Mrs. Benavides is survived by her sons: Juan Rodolfo (Gilda) Benavides and Jose David (Leticia) Benavides; daughters: Amanda B. Caballero, Amparo B. (Manuel) Garza and Maria Yolanda (Juan A., Jr.) Garza; 19 grandchildren; 37 great-grandchildren; sisters Angelica G. (Manuel) Jasso, Socorro G. (Antonio) Ortiz and Concepcion (Israel) Barrera; brothers and sisters-inlaw, and numerous nephews, nieces and friends.

Visitation hours were Monday, April 30, 2012, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. with a rosary at 7 p.m. at Rose Garden Funeral Home and

By BETH FOUHY ASSOCIATED PRESS

Tuesday, May 1, 2012, from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. for a 10 a.m. Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Zapata.

Committal services followed at Zapata County Cemetery.

Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Rose Garden Funeral Home, Daniel A. Gonzalez, funeral director, 2102 U.S. 83, Zapata.

Photo by Gerardo GarciaDurrell/Wildlife Conservation Trust/file | AP

An adult female mountain chicken frog sits on the Caribbean island of Montserrat on March 6, 2009. Scientists are hoping nearly 100 frogs brought back to the island will mate.

Scientists hope big frogs mate

By DANICA COTO ASSOCIATED PRESS

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Scientists are hoping that one of the world’s largest frogs is singing songs of love on the tiny Caribbean island of Montserrat and not just singing in the rain.

Mating calls would mean the so-called mountain chicken frogs are looking to breed and hopefully dodge extinction. But scientists say the whooping calls they make by night could also be due to the rainy season.

The mountain chickens are the offspring of dozens of frogs weighing up to two pounds that were airlifted to Britain and Sweden in 2009 in hopes of saving them from a deadly fungus that has killed nearly 80 percent of the species.

In the past year, scientists have brought back nearly 100 more frogs and released them into a rocky valley filled with small

Fundraising battles begin

ponds where they like to hide. Breeding season has started, and scientists are anxiously waiting to see if the frogs actually mate.

“We were entering a very difficult situation three years ago,” Andrew Terry, field program director with British-based Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, said Friday. “A species we knew well, that was already under pressure, was brought to the very edge of extinction.”

Durrell is one of three institutions abroad that helped rescue the frogs and created a breeding program that has resulted in dozens of offspring.

Frogs also were sent to The Zoological Society of London, Chester Zoo and Parken Zoo in Sweden.

The whooping calls on Montserrat is an encouraging sign, and the male frogs also have started to grow a black spur on their legs used to hold females during mating, said an official at the Department of Environment.

NEW YORK — It’s on.

Independent groups favoring Mitt Romney already are launching TV advertisements in competitive states for the November general election, providing political cover against President Barack Obama’s well-financed campaign while the Republican candidate works to rebound from a bruising and expensive nomination fight. Some conservative organizations also are planning big get-out-thevote efforts, and Romney backers are courting wealthy patrons of his former GOP rivals.

Changes Taken together, the developments underscore how dramatically the political landscape has changed since a trio of federal court cases — most notably the Supreme Court’s Citizens United ruling — paved the way for a flood of campaign cash from corporations and tycoons looking to help their favored candidates.

“Citizens United has made an already aggressive anti-Obama movement even more empowered,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington. “There’s now a regular Republican line of attack on Obama, even when the Romney campaign is taking a breather, raising money and preparing for the general election.”

The general election spending — and advertising — has only just begun.

Voters in roughly a dozen hard-fought states will be inundated with TV ads, direct mail, automated phone calls and other forms of outreach by campaign staff members and volunteers pleading for their votes. While Obama and Romney both will spend huge amounts of money in the coming months, an untold additional amount will come from outside organizations called super PACs that can collect unlimited contributions from corporations, unions and individuals.

Already, Obama’s campaign has spent $3.6 million on commercials in key battlegrounds in the weeks since Romney became the presumptive Republican nominee.

Its latest ad depicts Romney, a wealthy former private equity executive, as a corporate raider who once maintained a Swiss bank account. The president had $104 million on hand at the end of March,

Photo by Jae C. Hong| AP

Republican presidential candidate Gov. Mitt Romney speaks at a campaign stop in Pittsburgh, Pa., on Friday. Romney is hoping super PACs can help overcome Obama’s 10-to-1 fundraising advantage. giving his campaign a 10-1 advantage over Romney, who had just $10 million in his campaign bank at the same time.

But Obama is unlikely to receive anywhere near the kind of financial backup Romney is already getting from outside groups.

The pro-Obama super PAC Priorities USA Action has raised just $10 million since its inception, and few other Democratic-leaning groups have signaled they plan to compete with the pro-Romney efforts.

The latest of these comes from Restore Our Future, a super PAC run by former Romney advisers.

Millions in ads The group announced Wednesday it will go up with $4.3 million in ads this week in nine states that will be key to winning the White House. The ad, “Saved,” describes Romney’s efforts that helped lead to the rescue of the teenage daughter of a colleague after she disappeared in New York for three days.

ROF was by far the biggest advertiser during the Republican nominating contest, spending $36 million on ads attacking Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich. The group has raised more than $51 million since its inception.

Its initial general election push follows a $1.7 million, three-state ad buy from Crossroads GPS. That group’s spot attacks Obama’s energy policies.

And it is an arm of American Crossroads, a super PAC with ties to President George W. Bush’s longtime political director Karl Rove and one of the most prolific spenders in the 2010 cycle that put the

House in Republican hands. The two Crossroads groups have already raised $100 million collectively for 2012 and plan to spend as much as $300 million to defeat Obama and other Democrats.

Americans for Prosperity, a conservative-leaning independent group backed by the billionaire energy tycoons Charles and David Koch, dropped $6.1 million on ads in eight general election swing states last week hitting Obama for allowing millions in federal stimulus money to be directed to green energy companies overseas. The group spent $6.5 million earlier this year on ads criticizing Obama over Solyndra, a California-based solar energy company that went bankrupt despite a $535 million federal loan guarantee.

AFP president Tim Phillips said the group planned to raise $100 million and that slightly less than half would go to advertising. Much of the remaining amount, he said, would be used for field operations like rallies, bus tours, canvassing, phone banks and micro-targeting.

AFP boasts chapters in 34 states and its field operations have included annual conservative conferences.

Phillips cited Florida, where the group now has a staff of 20 and has promoted bus tours assailing Obama and Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson.

“We use our rallies to let people know how their president and their senators and congressmen are voting on key issues,” Phillips said. “A rally focusing on government over-spending can be as effective as a media buy.”

The Romney campaign, by contrast, has not run

its own TV ads since former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum dropped out of the GOP nomination fight in April.

Senior Romney aides said they are closely tracking the super PAC ad buys from allies but insist there is no coordination between the campaign and the outside groups.

At the same time, Romney’s team also is working to improve relations with Sheldon Adelson and Foster Friess, billionaires who almost single-handedly financed super PACs supporting Romney’s opponents during the nomination fight.

Representatives of ROF and other Romney backers have reached out to Adelson, a casino mogul who contributed about $20 million to a super PAC supporting Newt Gingrich.

But Adelson has not yet given money to the proRomney efforts, and a person close to him said he doesn’t want to be a campaign distraction and may give money only to groups like Crossroads GPS and other nonprofit advocacy organizations not required to disclose their donors.

Friess, who helped bankroll a super PAC supporting Santorum, has said he would back Romney and has spoken to Romney supporters.

Romney’s campaign concedes that the super PAC activity alleviates financial stress as he works to add staff and raise campaign cash.

His aides are also noting Priorities USA Action’s slow start compared to the pro-Romney groups.

The disparity is fueling a quiet confidence among Romney advisers who believe that his super PAC support will significantly narrow Obama’s current 10-to-1 cash advantage.

10A THE ZAPATA TIMES

SATURDAY, MAY 5, 2012

Diocese removes five priests

By MARYCLAIRE DALE ASSOCIATED PRESS

PHILADELPHIA — Five priests will be permanently barred from ministry after the Philadelphia archdiocese substantiated allegations of sexual abuse or inappropriate conduct, a Roman Catholic archbishop said Friday.

Three other suspended priests will return to ministry, and another died during the investigation, Archbishop Charles Chaput said. Another 17 cases remain under review, he said.

“When a child is harmed, the church has failed. When trust is lost, the church has failed. When the whole community suffers as a result, the church has failed,” Chaput said. “We can’t change the past. But I pray — and I do believe — that the lessons of the last year have made our church humbler, wiser, and a more vigilant guardian of our people’s safety.”

Four of the five cases substantiated were said to involve “boundary” or “behavioral” problems, not sexual assaults.

Yet a lawyer for one accuser said one of those four priests had raped his client at St. Timothy’s Parish in Philadelphia in the early 1970s.

“How do they define boundary issues, if somebody reports, credibly, that he was sexually raped — both orally and anally — as a 9-to-11-yearold?” said the man’s lawyer, Daniel Monahan of Exton.

The accuser, now in his 50s, con-

ARCHBISHOP CHARLES CHAPUT: Five priests out of ministry due to allegations of misconduct. tacted the archdiocese in 2006. He met last year with church investigators, a team led by a former child sex-crimes prosecutor and retired detective, and detailed his allegations, Monahan said.

The announcements came as a former archdiocesan official, Monsignor William Lynn, stands trial on child-endangerment and conspiracy charges. He faces up to 28 years in prison if convicted of helping the church cover up abuse complaints as the secretary for clergy from 1992 to 2004. Defense lawyers say he took orders from the late Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua.

None of the accused priests whose fates were announced Friday could be reached for comment. Phone listings rang unanswered or had been disconnected.

About two dozen other priests were suspended more than a year ago, after a grand jury report again blasted the archdiocese for keeping accused priests in ministry. A 2005 grand jury report had raised the same concern.

U.S. bishops have had a “zero tolerance” policy for abusers since 2002.

Priests removed from ministry can agree to serve a life of prayer and penance in a church-run facility, where they can be monitored. Some

might agree to leave the priesthood, while others may be laicized after a church trial. The priests can also appeal the decision.

Chaput inherited the sex-abuse problem when he arrived from Denver last year. He declined to provide details Friday of how old or how serious the cases might be. Most had earlier been deemed not credible by his predecessors.

“I need to balance the need for transparency with the pain already felt by victims — pain which we acknowledge and do not wish to compound,” Chaput said.

Priests who were cleared of the accusations could return to their parishes or perhaps move to new assignments, decisions Chaput plans to make after consulting with the priests and parishes. He met with the eight accused priests this week to tell them their fates, meetings he called “very difficult.”

About 65 other Philadelphia priests have been credibly accused of sexual assault or abuse since the 1940s, according to the archdiocese’s website. Twenty are now deceased.

Twenty more remain have been placed in restricted ministry in recent years, and another 25 have been laicized. The archdiocese lists their names and church assignments on the website. Philadelphia prosecutors unearthed hundreds of abuse complaints from secret church files for a watershed 2005 grand jury report that named 63 credibly accused priests, many still in ministry at the time.

MEXICO Continued from Page 1A ied bodies, some with duct tape wrapped around their faces, hanging from the overpass along with a message threatening the Gulf cartel.

Interior Secretary Alejandro Poire met with Tamaulipas Gov. Egidio Torre Cantu on Friday and agreed to send more federal forces to the state, according to a statement from Poire’s office.

Nuevo Laredo was the site of a 2003 dispute between the Sinaloa and Gulf cartels that set off a

wave of violence that has left thousands dead and spread brutal violence across Mexico. That year, then-Gulf cartel leader Osiel Cardenas was arrested and accused drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, sensing weakness, tried to move in on Nuevo Laredo, unleashing a bloody battle.

The city of tree-covered plazas and hacienda-style restaurants was transformed as the Zetas, then working as enforcers for the Gulf cartel, and Sina-

loa cartel fighters waged battles with guns and grenades in broad daylight.

Killings and police corruption became so brazen that then President Vicente Fox was forced to send in hundreds of troops and federal agents, and the only man brave enough to take the job of police chief was gunned down hours after he was sworn in.

The Zetas won that fight and have since ruled the city with fear, threatening police, reporters and city officials and extorting

money from businesses.

They broke off their alliance with the Gulf cartel in 2010, worsening the violence across northeast Mexico.

But last month, 14 mutilated bodies were found in a vehicle left in the city center. Some media outlets reported that the Sinaloa cartel took responsibility for those bodies and in a message allegedly signed by its leader, Guzman, said the group was now back in Nuevo Laredo “to clean” the city.

LAKE Continued from Page 1A on the lake and the anglers that come to fish its famously abundant and large supplies.

Yarrito said recreation and fishing, as dictated by the Texas water code, is ranked sixth on the priorities list for water usage monitored by the watermaster’s office. Municipal and irrigation use top that list.

A watermaster enforces water rights and manages levels when water is in short supply.

Rathmell said the county has a plan in place if water levels reach a critical low.

He said water would be di-

verted into a well-like system that would supply drinking water.

Lake levels are about 20 feet above reaching that point, he said.

For now, he said the county plans to conserve water.

Yarrito advised county residents to mind their consumption. Tips for conserving water can be found at www.takecareoftexas.org.

A good rain, though, would fix some of the county’s concerns, Rathmell said.

(JJ Velasquez may be reached at 728-2567 or jjvelasquez@lmtonline.com)

TRIAL Continued from Page 1A fense attorneys had argued for a suppression.

Alvarez-Briones agreed that at no point did he misunderstand or not understand the reading of his rights, nor did he express the desire to stop the interview and invoke his rights at any time.

Several witnesses were present during AlvarezBriones’ interrogation: Juan A. Garza, former Zapata County sheriff ’s deputy, Texas Ranger John Ramirez and other Rangers.

Garza and Ramirez were called on by the state.

Although AlvarezBriones had not been arrested and was not a suspect when he was interviewed, Garza said he read Alvarez-Briones his rights before the first videotaped interview to be “on the safe side” and the defendant agreed to waive his rights.

Garza and Ramirez denied making threatening statements to AlvarezBriones. Garza said he never expected an admission from Alvarez-Briones and that it only happened after the tape had been shut off and the two were alone in his office.

Garza said he then instructed Alvarez-Briones to stop speaking and the two exited the office to go out-

side and smoke. Briones was handcuffed, and Garza said he informed the Rangers of the confession.

Ramirez was questioned about why the defendant was asked to reiterate his confession to the Rangers before the video was turned on or Alvarez-Briones was Mirandized.

“I didn’t know exactly what he had to tell us,” Ramirez said. “I wanted to hear it — what he had to say.”

The state showed the court a video of the interview. A heavier-set, shorthaired Alvarez-Briones could be seen facing the camera solemnly as his rights were read.

Following the nearly three-hour hearing Thursday, 49th District Court Judge Joe Lopez declined to make a ruling.

Lopez said he was inclined to deny the motion to suppress the video but that he needed to continue to look closely at what Alvarez-Briones told the Rangers when he was handcuffed but not yet Mirandized.

The case is scheduled to go to trial in late September or early October.

(Stephanie Ibarra may be reached at 728-2547 or sibarra@lmtonline.com)

SATURDAY, MAY 5, 2012

ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM

Sports&Outdoors SPECIAL OLYMPICS

Zapata strikes gold

Using summer to find strides in sports

T

Courtesy photos

Zapata was represented by a core of athletes from all school levels, claiming many medals and ribbons. Jose M. Garza, Michael Thatcher, Kevin Garza, Denisse Huerta, and Alice Poblano represented in the high school division; Miguel Garcia, Francisco Guzman, and Alexis Servino competed as middle schoolers; and Villarreal Elementary athlete Lorenzo Garza represented Zapata for the elementary division.

he summer months are fast approaching, and while people around Zapata are getting ready to map out their summer vacations, many of the athletes are getting ready to get reacquainted with the weight room — their second home.

Some athletes, like cross country runners, don’t get too much time between the end of school and the next year’s start.

Coach Mike Villarreal is getting his girls’ team ready in June for the cross country season that starts in August.

While he returns twotime state qualifier Jazmin Garcia, Villarreal knows this is the most important part of the season: Where the foundation is laid.

The cross country runners will put in miles around Zapata because they have a tradition to uphold, and the expectations are high year in and year

“

CLARA SANDOVAL OVAL

out.

Hawks football will be in the weight room, pumping iron and working on conditioning drills to get ready for the season.

Zapata also participates in the Laredo 7-on-7 football league to work on its air game, despite being known for its ground game.

The volleyball team will host open gym and participate in the Laredo’s volleyball league.

“The summer months are vital to the volleyball program,” Zapata coach Rosie Villarreal said. “Our sport starts right away and you need to be ready to go 100 percent the first of practice, and you cannot be worrying about conditin-

See SANDOVAL PAGE 2B

HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL

Area Special Olympics hosts Zapata success

By CLARA SANDOVAL LAREDO MORNING TIMES

LAREDO — The Zapata Special Olympic track and field team made its way to Laredo for the 2012 Area Special Olympics at UISD’s Student Activity Complex.

Over 700 athletes from Laredo and the surrounding areas — including Zapata — came to compete in the two-day event.

Winners advance to the next level, the state competition, taking place in May. Law enforcement from various entities brought in the Special Olympics’ torch with a lap around the track, handing the torch off to Cigarroa student Maria Garcia and UISD Superintendent Bobby Santos, who lit the caldron to officially open the games.

Athletes were introduced to the crowd in the Parade of Athletes, as people from Zapata who made the trip to Laredo received each team with great enthusiasm.

After the Special Olympics motto was read, stating, “Let me win, But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”

Zapata was represented by a core of athletes from all school

Over 700 athletes from Laredo and the surrounding areas — including Zapata — came to compete in the two-day event, with winners advancing to the next level, the state competition, taking place in May. levels, claiming many medals and ribbons.

In the high school division, Jose M. Garza, Michael Thatcher, Kevin Garza, Denisse Huerta, and Alice Poblano represented the Hawks.

Jose participated in the 10-meter wheelchair race a received a first place gold medal for all his

efforts.

On the second day, Garza participated in the softball throw and placed fourth to end his Special Olympics experience on a positive note.

Kevin participated in the 25meter walk and received a third-

See SPECIAL OLYMPICS PAGE 2B

NBA PLAYOFFS

Jazz need Favors in full force

By LYNN DEBRUIN ASSOCIATED PRESS

SALT LAKE CITY — Al Jefferson waited seven years for this. Yet instead of experiencing playoff excitement, the Utah Jazz center has been part of two embarrassing losses with a team he acknowledged was “unraveling” before his eyes against the San Antonio Spurs.

Now down 0-2 in their first-round Western Conference series, the Jazz need to turn things around in a big way with Game 3 set for Saturday night in Salt Lake City.

That means more production from their bigs.

Jefferson, for one, is pushing for more minutes for Utah’s big lineup that entails bringing second-

Photo by Eric Gay | AP

Utah Jazz’s Derrick Favors (15) and teammates walk upcourt during the fourth quarter of Game 1 of a first-round playoff series game against the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday in San Antonio. year pro Derrick Favors in at power forward and moving Paul Millsap to small forward.

“I think the big lineup could hurt them if we get into it earlier in the game instead of doing it when

Photo by Clara Sandoval | Laredo Morning Times

Zapata center fielder Alyssa Solis helped carry the Lady Hawks to their exciting bi-district victory over West Oso.

we’re already down,” Jefferson said Friday.

Favors is all for it.

“I’m ready for anything,” the 6-foot-10 forward said. “If (coach) gives me minutes, I’m ready for it.”

The Jazz have lost two games by a combined 46 points, yet when Favors is on the floor, Utah has outscored the Spurs by six points.

When he left Wednesday’s game in the second quarter, the Jazz were down just five only to see San Antonio close out the half on a 22-2 run.

Granted, the run also coincided with the return of Tony Parker and Tim Duncan.

“That run could have happened if I was still in the game,” Favors said.

But the athletic, energetic Favors wants the challenge.

When he looks across the floor at Duncan, he isn’t intimidated but mo-

See JAZZ-SPURS PAGE 2B

Zapata secures bi-district win

By CLARA SANDOVAL LAREDO MORNING TIMES

The Zapata Lady Hawks have been on a mission since starting the season and has crossed two of their goals off their list: Make the play-offs.

Win a bi-district game.

In a dramatic fashion, Zapata beat a heavily favored West Oso team, 5-4, at San Diego High School Softball Complex.

Zapata won its first bidistrict title under coach Jaime Garcia, who has been at the helm for the past five years.

Zapata faced the No. 4 team in the state, Sweeny, on Friday night in a one game play-off for the area championship.

Against West Oso, Zapata reverted to what worked all season — strong pitching, strong hitting and great defense.

Estella Molina, who has been a rock on the mound for the Lady Hawks, was masterful in limiting the Lady Bears to five hits. Molina forced West Oso into routine ground ball plays and kept it off the scoreboard until the bottom of the third inning.

Zapata was the first to come across the plate, as Gabby Chapa (1-for-4) ripped a triple to the outfield to open the third inning.

Jackie Salinas drew a walk to put runners on the corners for Michelle Arce (1-for-4, RBI), who banged out a hit to bring Salinas home.

West Oso stormed back in the bottom of the third inning and scored three runs for a 3-1 lead.

Zapata put together a comeback in the top of the

See SOFTBALL PAGE 2B

PAGE 2B

Zscores

SATURDAY, MAY 5, 2012

AP photo

In this image, taken from video, New York Yankees’ Mariano Rivera, center, grimaces after twisting his right knee during batting practice Thursday in Kansas City, Mo. The Yankees closer was later carted off the field and sent for further tests.

Rivera tears ACL in warm ups

By DAVE SKRETTA ASSOCIATED PRESS Photo by Julie Jacobson | AP

Floyd Mayweather, left, and Miguel Cotto pose for a photo during a news conference Wednesday in Las Vegas. Mayweather and Cotto are scheduled to box for a super welterweight title today.

Mayweather faces Cotto today

By TIM DAHLBERG ASSOCIATED PRESS

LAS VEGAS — Floyd Mayweather Jr. has been doing this all his life, since he was a scrawny kid seeking solace in the gym. The ring is his comfort zone, and he’ll enter it Saturday for the 43rd time as a pro, certain as ever that when the night is through he’ll not only be a lot richer but still unbeaten.

Miguel Cotto is certain of a few things himself.

Certain that he has conquered his worst fears in boxing, certain that he can be the first one to conquer Mayweather.

“I don’t need anyone else giving me a chance,” Cotto said. “If I can trust in myself, I don’t need anyone else believing in me.”

Not many are, especially the oddsmakers who make Mayweather a 6-1 favorite in Saturday night’s fight.

But if any fighter is a live

underdog it’s Cotto, a relentless puncher who believes in himself again after finally avenging a beating he took from Antonio Margarito four years ago that left him searching for answers about his chosen profession.

Cotto stopped Margarito in their rematch in December, and will be defending his version of the 154pound title against a fighter who knows how to promote a big bout almost as well as he knows how to fight one.

“Nobody is invincible in life. I know that because I pass through this point in my life,” Cotto said. “I’m ready for anything Floyd brings me. The question is, is Floyd ready for anything Miguel can bring to him?”

Mayweather has answered that question every time he’s stepped in the ring as a pro, winning all 42 of his fights while becoming the biggest pay-per-view attrac-

tion in the sport. If he needs any added incentive to win this fight, it would be that it might make the nights pass easier when he goes to jail June 1 for what is expected to be a twomonth sentence for domestic abuse.

There are still questions, though, about why Mayweather doesn’t fight Manny Pacquiao in the fight most boxing fans want, a fight that would be the richest in boxing history.

Mayweather answered them in part earlier this week with a lengthy rant about how he believes Pacquiao uses steroids and that he wouldn’t want to risk his health against him.

“Writers are saying, Floyd is scared,”’ he said.

“No, Floyd cares about his family. Floyd is smart. At the end of the day, Floyd is smart. My health is important. My health is more important than money.

They can take all the money and my health is more important. If they say, Floyd, you can live a healthy life like you is right now, or you got to walk with a limp, and walk all bent over, but you can have a lot of money for the rest of your life, I’d say, ‘Take it all back.”’

Mayweather continues to insist he doesn’t need Pacquiao, and he may be right. He gets the biggest cut of the revenues for all his fights, and he probably makes at least $30 million for this one. He may not be doing boxing any favors by not giving the sport a desperately needed fight, but he’s doing fine for himself.

“When I get in the ring it’s like, here we go again, it’s just another day,” Mayweather said. “I’ve got so much experience I can go to him if I want. I know when a fighter is starting to wear down and he will wear down.”

JAZZ-SPURS Continued from Page 1B tivated.

“What he’s accomplished, that’s what I want to accomplish — whether it’s MVP, championships, All-Star (teams),” said Favors, who is averaging 8.5 rebounds and eight points in 23.5 minutes in his first two career postseason games.

Favors is not cocky enough to believe he’s there yet. But he’s confident he can get there.

Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin acknowledged he needs to get Favors on the floor more.

“He’s played well the minutes he’s played,” Corbin said.

“If the big lineup is the answer or him at 4 and playing smaller, we’ve got to see,” Corbin said.

“We’ve got to make sure we’re giving ourselves chances to win and we need everybody to play better, and with him on

the floor, we are better.”

Jefferson certainly hasn’t played up to his Western Conference player of the week award he won in mid-April when he posted three double-doubles and averaged 20 points, a league-high 15.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.0 blocks during a 3-0 Jazz run.

In two postseason losses, he is averaging 13 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3 assists in 31 minutes. He has made 13 of 31 shots.

“I know I can be better than what I’ve been,” said Jefferson, in the playoffs for the first time since his rookie season in 2005.

“But I’m just a little more frustrated, too, with everything that’s been going on and the way we’ve been playing and the way things are kind of unraveling as a team.

“But we’ve been through it before, many times this season. We just got to get

it together as a team because no one man can do it. We don’t have any superstars.”

Jefferson is quick to give Duncan credit for keeping him off his spot, and sometimes even preventing passes from going inside to him.

Corbin said the Jazz also need to execute better, and that means setting better screens, making better passes and getting the ball deeper in to Jefferson.

Jefferson said he needs to do a better job of holding his position against the physical Duncan.

“I’m just going to stand my spot, let him do all the fighting and tell my teammates to give me the ball,” Jefferson said.

Despite using the word “unraveling,” Jefferson insisted the team chemistry that he raved about all year remains intact.

SPECIAL OLYMPICS Continued from Page 1B place bronze medal in his first day of competition.

Garza also competed in the softball throw, placing fifth.

Huerta participated in the 50-meter dash, placing third for the bronze medal.

In her second event, Huerta came in fourth in the softball throw.

Thatcher participated in the 50-meter dash, placing third for a bronze medal.

In the softball throw, Thatcher placed fourth, adding to Zapata’s medal count.

Poblano participated in MAPT and received a first place gold medal.

In the middle school divi-

sion, Miguel Garcia, Francisco Guzman, and Alexis Servino represented Zapata.

Garcia placed fifth in 50meter dash and the softball throw, leaving with two ribbons.

Guzman was a double gold medal winner in the 50-meter dash and the softball throw. Alexis Servin left the Special Olympics with two medals — a silver and bronze. The first medal came in the 50-meter dash in the first day of the competition, and he received a silver medal in the softball throw.

In the elementary division, Villarreal Elementary

athlete Lorenzo Garza represented Zapata.

He placed fourth in the 50-meter dash and second in the softball throw.

Special Olympics head coach, Christina MertensPiña, is from Zapata High School; while the rest of the coaching staff included Rosie Treviño from Villarreal Elementary; Anita Campos from Zapata Middle; Amy Salines from North Elementary; and Susie Gutierrez from South Elementary.

Chaperones that made the trip were Anabelia Navarro, Luis Alaniz, Maria Gonzalez, Emilio Hernandez and Analisa Hinojosa.

“It’s been a roller coaster ride all year,” he said.

“We’ve been through it and always find our way to bounce back. I think we got one more bounce back in us.”

The Spurs expect as much.

San Antonio center Boris Diaw knows Salt Lake City is a tough place to play.

“We know the third game will be the hardest in the series,” Diaw said.

Corbin, who learned from Hall of Famer Jerry Sloan, said Sloan relished these situations.

“Your back is up against wall,” he said. “Who’s going to continue to fight?

That’s what you want to see in these situations. It’s easy to fold your tent and go home and say, ‘Oh, it’s too much to do.’ But fighters fight, competitors compete. Guys that want to quit will quit.”

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Mariano Rivera drifted back to the outfield wall, just like he’d done in batting practice so many times before, baseball’s greatest closer tracking down another fly ball with childlike joy.

Everything changed before anybody could blink.

The Yankees’ 12-time All-Star caught his cleat where the grass meets the warning track in Kansas City, his right knee buckling before he hit the wall.

Rivera landed on the dirt, his face contorted in pain, as Alex Rodriguez uttered the words “Oh, my God” from some 400 feet away.

Bullpen coach Mike Harkey was the first to reach Rivera, whistling toward the Yankees’ dugout for help. Manager Joe Girardi had been watching from behind the batter’s box and set off at a run down the third-base line, angling toward center field and his fallen reliever.

“My thought was he has a torn ligament, by the way he went down,” Girardi said later.

His instincts proved correct.

Rivera was diagnosed with a torn ACL and meniscus Thursday night after an MRI exam taken during the Yankees’ 4-3

loss to the Royals. The injury likely ends his season, and quite possibly his career, an unfathomable way for one of the most decorated pitchers in history to go out.

“It’s not a good situation, but again, we’ve been through this before, and we’re being tested one more time,” Rivera said, pausing to compose himself in the Yankees’ clubhouse.

“It’s more mentally than physical, you know? You feel like you let your team down.”

The 42-year-old Rivera has said that he’ll decide after the season whether hang it up after 18 years in the major leagues. And while Girardi said he hopes that baseball’s career saves leader makes a comeback, Rivera sounded as if retirement is a very real possibility.

“At this point, I don’t know,” he said in a whisper. “Going to have to face this first. It all depends on how the rehab is going to happen, and from there, we’ll see.”

The injury seemed to cast a pall over the Yankees, who played from behind the entire way Thursday night. They put the tying run on third base in the ninth inning before Mike Moustakas made a stellar play on a chopper by Rodriguez, throwing him out by a step to preserve the win.

SANDOVAL Continued from Page 1B ing. That part of our program should have been done even before the girls step on the court the first day, and the upperclassman already know what to expect.”

Villarreal also noted that the upperclassmen are the ones that get the girls ready to go.

“The upperclassman have been through the program before and they comprehend the expectations of this program, so they make sure the incoming freshmen are on the same page as everyone else.”

If incoming freshmen should have any questions about the summer conditioning programs or when open gym is avaibale for the variety of sports, please call Zapata

High School’s athletic department.

UIL allows schools six weeks of conditioning during the summer months to get athletes ready for the conditioning aspect of the game.

A school can choose when to start, and most programs like football and volleyball choose to start six weeks prior to the start of the first day of practice.

Cross country does not have any restrictions and can practice all year round, if they choose to.

Athletes also attend a varsity of camps throughout Texas and beyond, but Zapata is fortunate to host several throughout the summer for the younger kiddos in Zapata County.

SOFTBALL Continued from Page 1B fifth inning. Zapata scored three runs as Chapa got on base on an error to open the inning. After a passed ball, she made her way to second base. Salinas hit safely to put runners on third and first.

Ileana Flores hit to score Chapa, and Molina’s two-RBI single knotted the game at four apiece.

Both teams held steady in the sixth inning, forcing the game to come down to the final at bats.

Heading into the seventh inning, Zapata needed one run to get ahead in the game and the Lady Hawks went to work.

Salinas was issued a walk to put the go ahead run on first base, and moved over to second base after the West Oso outfielder dropped a routine fly ball by Arce — putting runners on first and second.

Flores’ laid down sacrifice bunt to move Salinas and Arce over to third and

second.

Maria Espinoza (2-for-4, two RBI) singled and scored Salinas to put the Lady Hawks ahead 5-4.

After two more outs, Zapata relied on its defense for victory.

Zapata forced the first batter into a routine out and Molina worked her magic for the second out.

One out away from victory, Zapata put itself in a pickle with two consecutive errors to put runners on first and second.

A hard hit to Salinas at shortstop allowed the West Oso runner on second to attempt advancing to third. But she was called out for running into Salinas as interference to end the game and give Zapata the bi-district victory.

ZAPATA STATS: Molina (2-for-4, RBI), Espinoza (2-for-4, two RBI), Arce (1-for-4, RBI), Chapa (1-for-4, triple), Ali Solis (1for-4).

SATURDAY, MAY 5, 2012

THE ZAPATA TIMES 3B

HINTS | BY HELOISE Dear Heloise: I think of my grandmother’s household hint every time I do the dishes. Her hint: Always wash the BOTTOMS OF POTS AND PANS. You’d be surprised at the people who don’t, and every time they put that greasy pot on the stove, they are making the stove dirtier.

Wouldn’t it be a cute column idea to ask readers to send in the best hint they ever got from an older relative?

My grandmother’s hint to a newlywed was, “Never go to bed angry,” and my husband’s retort to that always is, “Sometimes we stayed up for days.”

Thanks, Grandma! — H.T., via email Great idea! We certainly can learn from others, and starting with older family members is a great way to go. Readers, let us know your best hints that you’ve learned from an older family member. Write to: Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX, 78279; email: Heloise@Heloise.com; or fax: 210-HELOISE (4356473). — Heloise PET PAL Dear Readers: Irene in New Hampshire sent a picture of her gorgeous, whiteand-orange, 5-year-old short-haired cat, Wilson.

He is sitting on a summertime lounge chair, looking at the snow! To see Wilson and our other Pet Pals, visit www.Heloise.com and click on “Pets.” — Heloise DONATE EVERYTHING Dear Heloise: I volunteered at a church-run thrift store. ALL clothing was accepted, no matter what condition — clean, dirty, ripped, out of date, etc. Anything that was not sellable or needed for the less fortunate was sent to the compactor.

“

HELOISE

These bales were sold to a recycler for cash to help our clients with rent, food, medical, etc. A large truckload can bring in thousands of dollars. — P.P., via email LEAF BLOWER TO DRY CAR? Dear Heloise: When washing my car, I always use my leaf blower before towel-drying. It cuts down on the use of towels to only one to finish drying. — Chris in Warren, Ohio Chris, this certainly is a novel way to have a “home” dryer like at the carwash. However, manufacturers don’t recommend this use for leaf blowers.

Try using a microfiber cloth or chamois to dry the car. You will use fewer, compared with regular towels. — Heloise PULLING WEEDS Dear Heloise: When pulling weeds, if you don’t get all of the root out, that weed will come right back.

After I pull out the weed, I spray some weedkiller in the hole. This keeps me from pulling the same weeds over and over again.

— Jane from Spring Branch, Texas Jane, a glug or two of vinegar would work also!

— Heloise THE LAST LITTLE BIT Dear Heloise: If I have a small amount of bathroom cleaner left in the spray bottle, I spray the toiletbowl brush and pour the residual cleaner into the brush holder.

I like using the freshened-up brush and the last little bit of cleaner. — Rose M., via email

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SATURDAY, MAY 5, 2012

NFLPA challenges Goodell, suspensions

By BARRY WILNER ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW YORK — The NFL players union has challenged Commissioner Roger Goodell’s authority to suspend players who participated in the New Orleans Saints’ pay-for-pain scandal and wants him removed from hearing appeals.

The union filed a grievance late Thursday, one day after Goodell suspended four players who participated in bounties from 2009-11. The complaint says Goodell is prohibited from punishing players for any aspect of the case occurring before the new collective bargaining agreement was signed last August. It argues that a CBA system arbitrator, and not Goodell, has the right to decide player punishment under such circumstances, as well as rule on any appeals.

In a document obtained

by The Associated Press, the union told the league Goodell “released all players from conduct engaged in prior to execution of the CBA.” “Thus, even assuming for the sake of argument that the commissioner had the authority to punish players for conduct detrimental under the alleged facts and circumstances of this particular situation — he does not — he nevertheless would be prohibited from punishing NFL players for any aspect of the alleged ‘pay-for-performance/bounty’ conduct occurring before Aug. 4, 2011,” the union said.

Last August, the league agreed not to file lawsuits against players regarding detrimental conduct that occurred prior to signing the new CBA. But the clause the union cites

Photo by Ralph Lauer | AP

Dale Earnhardt Jr. wants to end his more than four years long winless streak this weekend at Talladega.

Photo by Seth Perlman | AP

This 2011 file photo shows New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma on the sideline. Vilma was suspended by the NFL for the 2012 season. doesn’t deal with conduct detrimental to the league that endangered player safety over three seasons.

Earlier this week, Goodell suspended linebacker Jonathan Vilma for the 2012 season; defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove, now with Green Bay, for eight games; defensive end Will Smith, for four games; and linebacker Scott Fujita, now with the Cleveland Browns, for three games.

The union said the suspensions violate the league’s “duty of fairness to players,” and that the process “violated various procedural requirements of the collective bargaining agreement, including limits of Goodell’s authority over the matter and failure to disclose sufficient evidence of the violations.”

The league said its investigation showed “a significant number of players participated” in the bounty system — by ponying up cash or collecting it — but noted that “the players disciplined participated at a different and more significant level.” The league said anywhere from 22 to 27 Saints players participated.

The suspended players haven’t filed appeals,

league spokesman Greg Aiello said Friday. The deadline is Monday and Vilma and Smith have already said they plan to file.

Aiello said the union is seeking immunity for the four suspended players, “a position it never advanced during the months of discussion on this matter.”

The union letter said the NFL must begin proceedings before arbitrator Stephen Burbank, a University of Pennsylvania law professor, and that he “would ultimately determine whether and to what extent the players should be punished.”

“We expect that the arbitrators will reject the union’s efforts to protect players from accountability for prohibited and dangerous conduct directed against other players,” Aiello said, “and uphold the disciplinary process that was so carefully negotiated in the Collective Bargaining less than a year ago.”

Even if the arbitrator finds that Goodell had the authority to punish the players, the union maintained that appeals for onfield behavior should be heard by Art Shell and Ted Cottrell, not Goodell.

Junior seeks elusive Sprint Cup victory

By JENNA FRYER ASSOCIATED PRESS

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — It has been almost four years since Dale Earnhardt Jr. won a Sprint Cup Series race.

There have been flashes of hope in the humbling drought, and with each one, his rabid fan base holds it breath and prays for that elusive victory. Off to another solid start to the season, there is reason to believe a win could be close.

Maybe even this weekend.

Earnhardt goes into Sunday’s race at Talladega Superspeedway riding a stretch of five straight top-10 finishes, and his second-place finish at Richmond on Saturday night moved him to second in the series standings.

“The team is confident, we’re feeling good,” Earnhardt said. “Really close to winning a race.”

Lest anyone forget, he’s pretty good at Talladega, too.

Earnhardt has five career wins at the Alabama track, none since 2004, but he pushed teammate Jimmie Johnson to the win there last April while sacri-

ficing his own shot at a victory. Earnhardt settled for second, and he was second in this year’s season-opening Daytona 500, a restrictor-plate race just like Talladega.

Working in his favor is that NASCAR spent most of the offseason trying to break up the two-car tandem style of racing that had dominated plate races the last two years. Earnhardt hated tandem racing, hated having his fate in the hands of a drafting partner, and never tried to hide his feelings.

“I feel like the style of racing we had in the Daytona 500 this year suits me better; I feel more confident in that style than I do the tandem,” he said. “The tandem is difficult to really commit with someone all day long. Knowing if you are going to work together and you are going to be going for the win off the corner, you are going to have to split it between the two of you one way or the other. You are going to run second or you might win.

“It is just difficult to really grasp that and feel like that is racing to you.”

The pack was broken up at Daytona, and Earnhardt had an opportunity to

chase down winner Matt Kenseth on his own. Even though he failed, he liked controlling his own destiny.

“Looking out for number one and my team all day long, trying to do whatever I can to put myself in position to win the race, that is really what I feel like I have been doing all my life,” he said. “To do anything different just doesn’t feel comfortable. It feels odd to me.”

Alas, he’s not sure the finish this Sunday will play out the same way. Teams still believe that tandem racing is the fastest way to get around the track, and despite the regulations NASCAR has imposed to prevent two drivers from hooking up and pushing each other, Earnhardt believes teams will still try to find a way circumvent the restrictions.

“Every team in the garage will work toward the same goal and that is to get it back to the tandem, because that is the fastest way to go,” he said.

Even without the tandem, Earnhardt would never think he is running well enough to guarantee his 138-race winless streak will come to an end at Talladega.