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WEDNESDAY- MAY 11, 2016 A HEARST PUBLICATION ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM THE NEXT BIG FIGHT ALL SIGNS POINT TO ALVAREZ-TRIPLE G, 7A FREE After enduring months of scandal, conflict and harsh media attention, Crys- tal City voters spoke loudly Saturday, re- calling three indicted City Council members and electing two new ones, all by landslide margins. Former Mayor Frank Moreno re- turned to the position he held almost two decades ago, gaining almost two-thirds of the vote in a three-way race. Newcomer Mi- chele Ruiz also was easily elected to the council. The three incum- bents targeted for recall — Mayor Ricar- do Lopez and Council- men Roy Mata and Marco Rodriguez, all facing federal charges — were swept out of office by crushing margins. “We were on a mis- sion. We walked the streets. It was a long haul, and history was made here,” said Di- ana Jimenez, 67, one of the organizers of the recall attempt, which began in October but ultimately required a court order to succeed. “It was very embar- rassing to look at all the media, but it’s not fair to say we’re all like that. There are a lot of good people in Crystal City,” she added. The low point for this low-income city 130 miles southwest of San Antonio came in February, when more than 80 federal agents and other police con- ducted an early-morn- ing raid, seizing docu- ments and arresting city officials. Charged with brib- ery in a three-year FBI investigation were City Manager James Jonas III, Lopez, Council- men Roy and Roel Mata, who are broth- ers, and former Coun- cilman Gilbert Urraba- zo. All were accused of taking money from people seeking favors or city business, and all five remain free on bail, awaiting trial. Councilman Joel Barajas, who was not charged and regularly found himself in the minority, remains on the council. Rodriguez, who was not named in the brib- ery investigation, had been charged earlier with human smug- gling. He, too, awaits trial. The bribery arrests followed several years of political friction and council dysfunction, which included coun- cil members boycott- ing meetings and at times a heavy police presence in the council room. Much of the dis- ruption was blamed on Jonas, a former high-flying lobbyist in Austin and Washing- ton, D.C., who improb- ably reinvented him- self in Crystal City as the combined city manager/city attorney, earning $216,000 a year. The reconstruction task that awaits the new council, which will meet for the first time next Tuesday, remains daunting if CRYSTAL CITY, TEXAS Robin Jerstad / Texas Tribune Former Crystal City Mayor Ricardo Lopez, who was indicted along with four of five city councilmen, was voted out of office Saturday. Mayor, two city councilmen ousted by recall vote Three incumbents face federal charges By John MacCormack SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS Recall continues on A11 State and federal au- thorities seized more than $1.5 million in narcotics at a home in Zapata over the weekend, an affidavit states. Law enforcement also arrested Jose Manuel Ala- niz for allegedly concealing the 124 pounds of cocaine at the property, states the criminal complaint filed Monday. The arrest and seizure unfolded Friday. Drug Enforcement Administra- tion special agents and the Texas Department of Pub- lic Safety conducted sur- veillance at a home at 105 Illinois St. The residence was a suspected a stash house, the complaint al- leged. Authorities met with a man who identified himself as Alaniz, the renter of the property. Alaniz denied ZAPATA 124 pounds of cocaine seized from home Alleged renter arrested by federal, state agents By César G. Rodriguez THE ZAPATA TIMES Cocaine continues on A11 Two special masters appointed by a federal judge to oversee reforms to the state’s embattled foster care system have begun visiting with state officials, and their recent two-and-a- half-day orientation is projected to cost the state roughly $43,000, according to state officials. The cost of the meetings held April 25-27 are just the beginning of an open- ended tab for court-or- dered oversight after U.S. District Judge Janis Jack ruled last year that Texas’ long-term foster care sys- tem treated children in- humanely and violated their civil rights. In that December ruling, Jack ordered the state to pay special masters to study ways to improve foster care over a six- month period. In March, Jack picked two special masters favored by chil- dren’s rights advocates: Francis McGovern, a Duke University law professor, and Kevin Ryan, a partner at the New Jersey nonprofit Public Catalyst, which TEXAS BILLS COMING DUE FOR TROUBLED FOSTER CARE SYSTEM Photo illustration by Todd Wiseman, Karolina Michalak, Felipe Hadler / Texas Tribune In a December ruling, U.S. District Judge Janis Jack ordered the state to pay special masters to study ways to improve foster care over a six-month period. State on the hook for costs of external review By Edgar Walters TEXAS TRIBUNE Bills continues on A11 Laredo Community College trustees could not reach a consensus Monday evening during a special-called meeting regarding the appoint- ment of a new president for the institution. Trustees convened in executive session for about an hour-and-a-half, after which, board president Mercurio Martinez said there was absolutely no consensus and no action was taken. Trustees are currently between four finalists vy- ing for the position. The candidates and their current jobs are: 1 Anthony Cruz, vice pres- ident of enrollment man- agement and student af- fairs at Sinclair Communi- ty College in Ohio 1 Robert Muñoz, vice pres- ident of community and industry education at Tar- rant County College Dis- trict in Fort Worth 1 Luis Pedraja, provost and vice president for academic affairs at Antioch University in California 1 Ricardo Solis, dean of academic professional and technical education at Gateway Community Col- lege in Arizona Martinez said trustees skyped with members of the National Association of Community Colleges, ask- ing for their “guidance and advice.” “At the present time, we’re still in the negotia- tion stages,” Martinez said. Martinez was not able to provide a timeframe in which he expects a candi- date will be chosen. Philip Balli may be reached at 728-2528 or [email protected] LAREDO COMMUNITY COLLEGE Trustees undecided on president Board reaches no consensus on finalists By Philip Balli THE ZAPATA TIMES Solis Muñoz Cruz Pedraja

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Page 1: The Zapata Times 5/11/2016

WEDNESDAY-MAY 11, 2016

DELIVERED EVERY SATURDAY

A HEARST PUBLICATION ON THE WEB: THEZAPATATIMES.COM

TO 4,000 HOMES

THE NEXT BIG FIGHTALL SIGNS POINT TO ALVAREZ-TRIPLE G, 7A

FREE

After enduringmonths of scandal,conflict and harshmedia attention, Crys-tal City voters spokeloudly Saturday, re-calling three indictedCity Council membersand electing two newones, all by landslidemargins.

Former MayorFrank Moreno re-turned to the positionhe held almost twodecades ago, gainingalmost two-thirds ofthe vote in a three-wayrace. Newcomer Mi-chele Ruiz also waseasily elected to thecouncil.

The three incum-bents targeted forrecall — Mayor Ricar-do Lopez and Council-men Roy Mata andMarco Rodriguez, allfacing federal charges— were swept out ofoffice by crushingmargins.

“We were on a mis-sion. We walked thestreets. It was a longhaul, and history wasmade here,” said Di-ana Jimenez, 67, one ofthe organizers of therecall attempt, whichbegan in October butultimately required acourt order to succeed.

“It was very embar-rassing to look at allthe media, but it’s notfair to say we’re all likethat. There are a lot ofgood people in CrystalCity,” she added.

The low point forthis low-income city130 miles southwest ofSan Antonio came inFebruary, when morethan 80 federal agentsand other police con-

ducted an early-morn-ing raid, seizing docu-ments and arrestingcity officials.

Charged with brib-ery in a three-year FBIinvestigation were CityManager James JonasIII, Lopez, Council-men Roy and RoelMata, who are broth-ers, and former Coun-cilman Gilbert Urraba-zo.

All were accused oftaking money frompeople seeking favorsor city business, andall five remain free onbail, awaiting trial.

Councilman JoelBarajas, who was notcharged and regularlyfound himself in theminority, remains onthe council.

Rodriguez, who wasnot named in the brib-ery investigation, hadbeen charged earlierwith human smug-gling. He, too, awaitstrial.

The bribery arrestsfollowed several yearsof political friction andcouncil dysfunction,which included coun-cil members boycott-ing meetings and attimes a heavy policepresence in the councilroom.

Much of the dis-ruption was blamedon Jonas, a formerhigh-flying lobbyist inAustin and Washing-ton, D.C., who improb-ably reinvented him-self in Crystal City asthe combined citymanager/city attorney,earning $216,000 ayear.

The reconstructiontask that awaits thenew council, whichwill meet for the firsttime next Tuesday,remains daunting if

CRYSTAL CITY, TEXAS

Robin Jerstad / Texas Tribune

Former Crystal City Mayor Ricardo Lopez,who was indicted along with four of five citycouncilmen, was voted out of office Saturday.

Mayor, two citycouncilmenousted byrecall voteThree incumbentsface federal chargesBy JohnMacCormackSAN ANTONIO

EXPRE SS-NEWS

Recall continues on A11

State and federal au-thorities seized more than$1.5 million in narcotics at ahome in Zapata over theweekend, an affidavit

states.Law enforcement also

arrested Jose Manuel Ala-niz for allegedly concealingthe 124 pounds of cocaineat the property, states thecriminal complaint filedMonday.

The arrest and seizureunfolded Friday. DrugEnforcement Administra-tion special agents and theTexas Department of Pub-lic Safety conducted sur-veillance at a home at 105Illinois St. The residence

was a suspected a stashhouse, the complaint al-leged.

Authorities met with aman who identified himselfas Alaniz, the renter of theproperty. Alaniz denied

ZAPATA

124 pounds of cocaineseized from homeAlleged renter arrested by federal, state agents By César G. RodriguezTHE ZAPATA TIME S

Cocaine continues on A11

Two special mastersappointed by a federaljudge to oversee reforms tothe state’s embattled fostercare system have begunvisiting with state officials,and their recent two-and-a-

half-day orientation isprojected to cost the stateroughly $43,000, accordingto state officials.

The cost of the meetingsheld April 25-27 are justthe beginning of an open-ended tab for court-or-dered oversight after U.S.District Judge Janis Jack

ruled last year that Texas’long-term foster care sys-tem treated children in-humanely and violatedtheir civil rights.

In that December ruling,Jack ordered the state topay special masters tostudy ways to improvefoster care over a six-

month period. In March,Jack picked two specialmasters favored by chil-dren’s rights advocates:Francis McGovern, a DukeUniversity law professor,and Kevin Ryan, a partnerat the New Jersey nonprofitPublic Catalyst, which

TEXAS

BILLS COMING DUE FORTROUBLED FOSTER CARE SYSTEM

Photo illustration by Todd Wiseman, Karolina Michalak, Felipe Hadler / Texas Tribune

In a December ruling, U.S. District Judge Janis Jack ordered the state to pay special masters to study ways toimprove foster care over a six-month period.

State on the hook for costs of external reviewBy Edgar WaltersTEXAS TRIBUNE

Bills continues on A11

Laredo CommunityCollege trustees couldnot reach a consensusMonday evening duringa special-called meetingregarding the appoint-ment of a new presidentfor the institution.

Trustees convened inexecutive session for aboutan hour-and-a-half, afterwhich, board presidentMercurio Martinez saidthere was absolutely noconsensus and no actionwas taken.

Trustees are currently

between four finalists vy-ing for the position.

The candidates and theircurrent jobs are:1 Anthony Cruz, vice pres-ident of enrollment man-agement and student af-fairs at Sinclair Communi-ty College in Ohio1 Robert Muñoz, vice pres-

ident of community andindustry education at Tar-rant County College Dis-trict in Fort Worth1 Luis Pedraja, provostand vice president foracademic affairs at AntiochUniversity in California1 Ricardo Solis, dean ofacademic professional and

technical education atGateway Community Col-lege in Arizona

Martinez said trusteesskyped with members ofthe National Association ofCommunity Colleges, ask-ing for their “guidance andadvice.”

“At the present time,we’re still in the negotia-tion stages,” Martinez said.

Martinez was not able toprovide a timeframe inwhich he expects a candi-date will be chosen.

Philip Balli may be reachedat 728-2528 [email protected]

LAREDO COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Trustees undecided on presidentBoard reaches no consensus on finalistsBy Philip BalliTHE ZAPATA TIME S

Solis Muñoz Cruz Pedraja

Page 2: The Zapata Times 5/11/2016

Zin briefA2 | Wednesday, May 11, 2016 | THE ZAPATA TIMES

ASSOCIATED PRE SS

Today is Wednesday, May 11, the132nd day of 2016. There are 234 daysleft in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:On May 11, 1946, the first CARE

packages, sent by a consortium ofAmerican charities to provide relief tothe hungry of postwar Europe, ar-rived at Le Havre, France.

On this date:In 1647, Peter Stuyvesant arrived in

New Amsterdam to become governorof New Netherland.

In 1816, the American Bible Societywas founded in New York.

In 1858, Minnesota became the32nd state of the Union.

In 1927, the Academy of MotionPicture Arts and Sciences was found-ed during a banquet at the BiltmoreHotel in Los Angeles.

In 1935, the Rural ElectrificationAdministration was created as one ofPresident Franklin D. Roosevelt'sNew Deal programs.

In 1945, the aircraft carrier USSBunker Hill was attacked and se-verely damaged by two kamikazeaircraft off Okinawa; according to theU.S. Navy's website, 346 men werekilled, 43 were left missing, and 264were wounded.

In 1953, a tornado devastatedWaco, Texas, claiming 114 lives.

In 1960, Israeli agents capturedNazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann inBuenos Aires, Argentina.

In 1973, the espionage trial ofDaniel Ellsberg and Anthony Russo inthe "Pentagon Papers" case came toan end as Judge William M. Byrnedismissed all charges, citing govern-ment misconduct.

In 1981, legendary reggae artist BobMarley died in a Miami hospital atage 36.

In 1985, 56 people died when aflash fire swept a jam-packed soccerstadium in Bradford, England.

In 1996, an Atlanta-bound ValuJetDC-9 caught fire shortly after takeofffrom Miami and crashed into theFlorida Everglades, killing all 110people on board.

Ten years ago: Lawmakers demand-ed answers after a USA Today reportthat the National Security Agencywas secretly collecting records ofmillions of ordinary Americans'phone calls; President George W.Bush sought to assure Americanstheir civil liberties were being "fierce-ly protected." A priest was convictedin Toledo, Ohio, of murdering a nun;the Rev. Gerald Robinson was imme-diately sentenced to 15 years to life inprison for the 1980 death of SisterMargaret Ann Pahl. (Robinson died ina prison hospice in 2014 at age 76.)Former heavyweight champion FloydPatterson died in New Paltz, NewYork, at age 71.

Five years ago: Former hedge fundtitan Raj Rajaratnam was convictedby a federal jury in New York in aninsider-trading case of five counts ofconspiracy and nine of securitiesfraud. (Rajaratnam was sentenced to11 years in prison.) Two earthquakesstruck southern Spain in quick suc-cession, killing at least nine people,injuring dozens and causing majordamage to buildings.

One year ago: Joyce Hardin Garrard,the Alabama woman convicted ofrunning her 9-year-old granddaugh-ter, Savannah Hardin, to death aspunishment for lying about candy,was sentenced by a judge in Gadsdento life in prison without the possibil-ity of parole. The NFL came downhard on its biggest star and its cham-pionship team, suspending SuperBowl MVP Tom Brady for the firstfour games of the season, fining theNew England Patriots $1 million andtaking away two draft picks as pun-ishment for deflating footballs usedin the AFC title game.

Today's Birthdays: Comedian MortSahl is 89. Nation of Islam leaderLouis Farrakhan is 83. Jazz keyboard-ist Carla Bley is 80. Rock singer EricBurdon (The Animals; War) is 75.Actress Shohreh Aghdashloo is 64.Actress Frances Fisher is 64. ActorBoyd Gaines is 63. Country musicianMark Herndon (Alabama) is 61.Actress Martha Quinn is 57. Countrysinger-musician Tim Raybon (TheRaybon Brothers) is 53. Actor TimBlake Nelson is 52. Actor JeffreyDonovan is 48. Country musicianKeith West (Heartland) is 48. ActorNicky Katt is 46. Actor Coby Bell is 41.Cellist Perttu Kivilaaksois 38. Actor-singer Jonathan Jackson is 34. Rap-per Ace Hood is 28. Musician HowardLawrence (Disclosure) is 22.

Thought for Today: "Life is 10 per-cent what you make it, and 90 per-cent how you take it." — Irving Berlin,American songwriter (born this datein 1888, died 1989).

TODAY INHISTORY

WEDNESDAY, MAY 111 TAMIU Student Film Festival.1:30–4:30 p.m. TAMIU’s StudentCenter Auditorium, room 236. Freeand open to the public.1 LEGO Robotics. 6:15–7:15 p.m.McKendrick Ochoa Salinas BranchLibrary, 1920 Palo Blanco St. Make aLEGO robot and program its move-ment. Duplo LEGO play available fortoddlers.1 Bible study. 7–9 p.m. LighthouseAssembly of God Church, 8731 BelizeDrive. Every Wednesday. The Word ofGod has the power to comfort, healand change hearts. For more in-formation, contact Norma Perez at251-1784 or [email protected]

SATURDAY, MAY 141 Garden Club. 11 a.m.–12 p.m. LaredoPublic Library – Calton, MultipurposeRoom on the first floor. Come sharegardening tips, tools and ideas. KeepLaredo Beautiful will be doing a freeseed giveaway. Open to everyone.1 LCC Rio Grande Arts Festival.2–11 p.m. Fort McIntosh Campus. Freeand open to the public. During thefestival, local musical acts, artists,dancers, theater groups and filmmak-ers will showcase their talents andcompete for the top spots in sevendifferent arts-themed contests.1 Laredo Philharmonic Concert.7:30–9:30 p.m. TAMIU’s Center for theFine and Performing Arts Recital Hall.

SUNDAY, MAY 151 LCC Rio Grande Arts Festival.2–8 p.m. Fort McIntosh Campus. Freeand open to the public. During thefestival, local musical acts, artists,dancers, theater groups and filmmak-ers will showcase their talents andcompete for the top spots in sevendifferent arts-themed contests.

MONDAY, MAY 161 Chess Club. Every Monday from4–6 p.m. LBV – Inner City BranchLibrary. Free for all ages and skilllevels. Basic instruction is offered. Formore information call John at 956-795-2400 x2520.

TUESDAY, MAY 171 Knitting Circle. 1–3 p.m. McKen-drick Ochoa Salinas Branch Library,1920 Palo Blanco St. Please bring yarnand knitting needles. For more in-formation, contact Analiza Perez-Gomez at [email protected] or795-2400 x2403.1 Crochet for Kids. 4–5 p.m. McKen-drick Ochoa Salinas Branch Library,1920 Palo Blanco St. Please bring yarnand a crochet needle. For more in-formation, contact Analiza Perez-Gomez at [email protected] or795-2400 x2403.1 Rock wall climbing. 4–5 p.m.LBV-Inner City Branch Library, 202 W.Plum St. Free. Take the challenge andclimb the rock wall! Fun exercise forall ages. Must sign release form. Formore information, contact John Hongat 795-2400 x2521.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 181 LEGO Robotics. 6:15–7:15 p.m.McKendrick Ochoa Salinas BranchLibrary, 1920 Palo Blanco St. Make aLEGO robot and program its move-ment. Duplo LEGO play available fortoddlers.1 Bible study. 7–9 p.m. LighthouseAssembly of God Church, 8731 BelizeDrive. Every Wednesday. The Word ofGod has the power to comfort, healand change hearts. For more in-formation, contact Norma Perez at251-1784 or [email protected]

THURSDAY, MAY 191 Cancer Friends Meet. 6 p.m.Laredo Medical Center, A.R. SanchezCancer Center, Tower A, 1st Floor.Having cancer is often one of themost stressful experiences in a per-son’s life. However, support groupshelp many people cope with theemotional aspects of cancer by pro-viding a safe place to share theirfeelings and challenges and learnfrom others who are facing similarsituations. For more information, callthe A.R. Sanchez Cancer Center at956-796-4725.

MONDAY, MAY 231 Chess Club. Every Monday from4–6 p.m. LBV – Inner City BranchLibrary. Free for all ages and skilllevels. Basic instruction is offered. Formore information call John at 956-795-2400 x2520.

TUESDAY, MAY 241 Knitting Circle. 1–3 p.m. McKen-drick Ochoa Salinas Branch Library,1920 Palo Blanco St. Please bring yarnand knitting needles. For more in-formation, contact Analiza Perez-Gomez at [email protected] or795-2400 x2403.1 Crochet for Kids. 4–5 p.m. McKen-drick Ochoa Salinas Branch Library,1920 Palo Blanco St. Please bring yarnand a crochet needle. For more in-formation, contact Analiza Perez-Gomez at [email protected] or795-2400 x2403.1 Rock wall climbing. 4–5 p.m.LBV-Inner City Branch Library, 202 W.Plum St. Free. Take the challenge andclimb the rock wall! Fun exercise forall ages. Must sign release form. Formore information, contact John Hongat 795-2400 x2521.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 251 LEGO Robotics. 6:15–7:15 p.m.McKendrick Ochoa Salinas BranchLibrary, 1920 Palo Blanco St.

CALENDAR

By Jacque Hilburn-SimmonsTYLER MORNING TELEGRAPH

VAN — School Superintendent DonDunn’s eyes twinkle as he watchessquealing elementary school childrenscamper around their new gym duringphysical education class.

The structure, one of two completed inrecent months, has a light, airy feel withgleaming striped wood floors and thefaint aroma of fresh paint.

There also is a spiffy new cafeteria, andacross campus, efforts are underway toconstruct a shiny new school, a much

larger version of the old one that was de-stroyed last spring.

“It’s been a long year,” he said. “We’veworked really hard to get where we aretoday.”

This same time last year, a deadly EF3tornado plowed through the Van Indepen-dent School District, wiping away entireportions of its elementary campus anddamaging the administration building.

The storm attacked the town with avengeance on May 10, 2015, Mother’s Day,killing two people and injuring dozensmore.

AROUND TEXAS

Andrew D. Brosig / Tyler Morning Telegraph/AP

Kaylee Holleman, left, school board member Ted Mitchell and Karlee Hopkins plant shrubs infront of a home on Vandal Day of Service in Van, Texas, Tuesday.

PROGRESS IN YEARAFTER TORNADO

Uncle IDs kidskilled by their dad

HONOLULU — An uncle oftwo Hawaii children police saywere shot to death by theirfather was given the grim taskof identifying their bodies,police said Tuesday.

“We were trying to avoidthat,” Hawaii Police Capt. Rob-ert Wagner said. “It’s a lastingimpression.”

But with limited dental re-cords available — none for the

younger child — police askedtheir mother’s brother for helpeven though it would be trau-matic for him, Wagner said.

Police said they were 7-year-old Clara Hoffman and 5-year-old John Hoffman.

Their father, John Ali Hoff-man, remained held on $2.75million bail and is also chargedwith murder in the death of hiswife. Earlier, police used finger-prints to identify her as AracelyHoffman, whose name beforemarriage was Aracely del Car-men Monroy Urruela. Docu-

ments found in their homeshow they were married in2008, police said.

John Hoffman called policeearly Friday saying three tofour intruders entered thehouse and shot his wife, ac-cording to court documents.Officers who arrived about 1:30a.m. saw Hoffman driving awayin a car with headlights off.They pulled him over, saw ahandgun in front passengerseat and blooding drippingfrom the trunk, police said.

— Compiled from AP reports

AROUND THE NATION

Most of Canada’s oilsands productionshut down by fire

EDMONTON, Alberta —The majority of the oil sandsindustry has stopped produc-tion and will only start back upwhen it is “absolutely safe” butthat should happen soon, Al-berta’s premier said Tuesdayafter meeting with companyofficials to discuss the impactof a massive wildfire that de-stroyed more than 10 percent ofthe homes and buildings inCanada’s main oil sands city.

Suncor chief executive SteveWilliams, the head of Canada’slargest oil company, said abouta million barrels a day wentoffline but said some of that hasalready started to come back.Alberta Premier Rachel Notleysaid the massive oil sandsmines north of Fort McMurrayhave not been damaged.

But the wildfire that brokeout a week ago has forced asmuch as a third of Canada’s oil

output offline and was expect-ed to impact an economy al-ready hurt by the fall in oilprices. Alberta’s oil sands havethe third-largest reserves of oilin the world behind Saudi Ara-bia and Venezuela. Its workerslargely live in Fort McMurray, aformer frontier outpost-turned-city whose residents come fromall over Canada.

Notley said getting pipelinesand electricity operational arepriorities. She said gettingproduction back online will bea matter of “days and shortweeks.”

“The majority of productionhas stopped, certainly not all ofit, but the majority,” Notleysaid.

— Compiled from AP reports

AROUND THE WORLD

Rachel La Corte / The Canadian Press/AP

Fort McMurray, Alberta, fire chief Darby Allen speaks tomembers of the media at a fire station, Monday.

30-year-old cat isoldest in the world

MANSFIELD — A Siamesecat born during President Ron-ald Reagan’s administration hasbeen named by GuinnessWorld Records as the world’soldest living cat.

Guinness says Scooter cele-brated his 30th birthday onMarch 26. He lives in Mans-field, Texas. Owner Gail Floydtells Guinness he keeps busy bytraveling and has visited 45 ofthe 50 states.

Woman, estrangedhusband dead

SAN ANTONIO — Officialssay a gunman crashed histruck into an SUV driven byhis estranged wife during aSouth Texas chase that endedwhen he fatally shot her, thenhimself. The man was chasinghis wife and eventually crashedhis pickup truck into the backof her SUV as she stopped neara grocery store. The man shothis spouse during an argument,then turned the gun on himself.

Woman who wasmauled by dogs dies

DALLAS — A woman maul-ed by a pack of dogs runningloose in South Dallas has died aweek after the attack.

Antoinette Brown, 52, diedMonday. She had been hospi-talized since the May 2 maul-ing. Dallas police say animalcontrol officers on Fridayseized six dogs suspected in theattack as Brown was walkingnear a vacant lot.

— Compiled from AP reports

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Page 3: The Zapata Times 5/11/2016

THE ZAPATA TIMES | Wednesday, May 11, 2016 | A3

STATE

Rep. Henry Cuellar,D-Zapata, announcedTuesday the inclusion oflanguage in the FiscalYear 2017 House MilitaryConstruction and Veter-ans Affairs appropria-tions bill to increase tele-health options for veter-ans. The bill also includesthe nearly $2.4 billionrequested by the presi-dent for telehealth.

Telehealth is the use ofelectronic and telecom-munications technologiesto support remote healthcare delivery. While inmany cases veterans canaccess a medical office,this often does not extendto the specialty care theyneed or those who are invery rural areas or areinfirm. Within the field oftelehealth is telemedicine,which tends to refer spe-cifically to health careservices provided remote-ly via technologies suchas the computer, phone orvideoconferencing, al-though the terms aresometimes used inter-changeably. The fundsand language, whichencourages the U.S. De-partment of VeteransAffairs to explore in-novative ways to usetelemedicine to care forrural and infirmed veter-ans, have to be passed bythe full House and Senatebefore being sent to thePresident’s desk.

The VAstrives toprovide thecare andservicesour coun-try’s veter-ans needclose to

home. Over the years ithas implemented pro-grams such as the Veter-ans Choice Program,which allows veteranswho live more than 40driving miles from thenearest VA medical facil-ity to use local health careproviders. With telemed-icine, veterans can insome cases dial into avisit from home or video-conference with a VAhealth care specialist in aremote location from aVA health care facility. In2015, the VA providedmore than 2 million tele-health consultations toover 677,000 veterans, 45percent of whom were inrural areas.

For those veterans whocannot easily access adoctor’s office, Cuellarhas embraced the adop-tion of new innovativetechnology and the possi-bilities of delivering high-quality medical carethrough telemedicine.Telehealth can improveveterans’ access to careby increasing the waysveterans receive medicaladvice and reducing thetime and cost of having totravel to receive care.

Rep. Cuellarprioritizeshealth ofruralveterans SPECIAL TO THE TIME S

Cuellar

EDINBURG — In-vestigators say morethan three dozen im-migrants have been res-cued from a South Texasstash house a few milesfrom the Mexican bor-

der.A Border Patrol state-

ment Tuesday says a U.S.citizen and a Mexicannational were arrested inthe human smugglinginvestigation.

Authorities say a traf-fic stop led to discovery

of the stash house inEdinburg where 37 peo-ple were located Mondayafternoon. Border Patrolofficials say the immi-grants included threechildren from Mexicoand Honduras.

All of the individuals

were transported to theMcAllen Border Patrolstation for processing.Officials didn’t immedi-ately provide informa-tion on charges againstthe two suspects or fur-ther details on the immi-grants.

More than 3 dozen immigrantsrescued from Edinburg stash houseASSOCIATED PRE SS

DALLAS — Texasleaders have sued thefederal government doz-ens of times, costing mil-lions of dollars, for whatthey contend are policiesthat infringe on local con-trol and states’ rights.

But when cities acrossTexas have attempted topass laws on issues fromfracking bans to regulat-ing ride-hailing compa-nies, state lawmakers timeand again have moved toquash those efforts, par-ticularly when it’s believedthey may hamper thestate’s business climate.

This week, lawmakerstook aim at Austin voterswho decided Saturdayagainst overturning cityrequirements that includefingerprint-based back-ground checks for ride-hailing drivers. As a re-sult, both Uber and Lyftsuspended their Austinoperations Monday.

Republican state Sen.Charles Schwertner saidin a statement that ride-hailing companies “can nolonger operate effectivelythrough a patchwork ofinconsistent and anti-

competitive regulations.”“As a state with a long

tradition of supporting thefree market, Texas shouldnot accept transparent,union-driven efforts tocreate new barriers toentry for the sole purposeof stifling innovation andeliminating competition,”said Schwertner, whopledged to bring legisla-tion meant to legalizeride-hailing services state-wide. Iowa on Mondayadopted such a measure.

Gov. Greg Abbott useda similar argument lastyear in responding to aban on hydraulic fractur-ing passed by voters in

the North Texas town ofDenton. The Republicansigned a law barring localordinances that preventfracking and other oil andnatural gas activitiesharmful to the environ-ment unless they aredeemed commerciallyreasonable. He said at thetime that he was protect-ing private property rightsfrom the “heavy hand oflocal regulation.”

Abbott and some statelawmakers have criticizedother municipal mea-sures, too, such as smalltowns adopting sex-of-fender residency restric-tions, Dallas’ efforts to

ban plastic bags and aHouston anti-discrim-ination measure.

“Legally, they can dothis to us, but the questionis, should they?” askedBennett Sandlin, executivedirector of the Texas Mu-nicipal League.

Criticism of overreachby the federal governmentcould hold true for stategovernment, Sandlin said.“You’ve got larger govern-ments micromanagingwhat we’re doing locally.”

Sandlin said he doesn’tagree with those whocontend that it’s not viableto have a “patchwork ofregulation.” There aresome cities, for instance,that may be comfortablewith urban oil devel-opment, but there areothers that aren’t.

“Government closest tothe people tends to be themost responsive,” he said.

The tendency of statelawmakers to slap downlocal laws goes beyondTexas. The ArkansasLegislature has enacted alaw aimed at preventingcities and counties frompassing anti-discrim-ination measures thatinclude sexual orientationor gender identity.

Texas lawmakers championlocal control, to a pointBy David WarrenASSOCIATED PRE SS

Stephen Spillman / AP

In a May 6 photo, Ryan Murphy and Lindsey Joneslook for the Uber they requested on 4th Street inAustin, Texas.

Page 4: The Zapata Times 5/11/2016

Laredo Morning Timesdoes not publish anony-mous letters.

To be published, lettersmust include the writer'sfirst and last names aswell as a phone number toverify identity.

The phone number ISNOT published; it is usedsolely to verify identity andto clarify content, if neces-sary.

Identity of the letterwriter must be verifiedbefore publication. Wewant to assure our readersthat a letter is written bythe person who signs the

letter. Laredo MorningTimes does not allow theuse of pseudonyms.

This space allows forpublic debate of the issuesof the day.

Letters are edited forstyle, grammar, length andcivility. No name-calling orgratuitous abuse is al-lowed. Also, letters longerthan 500 words will not beaccepted.

Via email, send lettersto [email protected] or mail them toLetters to the Editor, 111Esperanza Drive, Laredo,TX 78041.

LETTERS POLICY

DOONESBURY | GARRY TRUDEAU

OTHER VIEWS

We all know why itexists, but the grade-pointaverage is one of the moredestructive elements inAmerican education.

Success is about beingpassionately good at oneor two things, but stu-dents who want to getclose to that 4.0 have to beprudentially balancedabout every subject. In lifewe want independentthinking and risk-taking,but the GPA system en-courages students to bedeferential and riskaverse, giving their teach-ers what they want.

Creative people aregood at asking new ques-tions, but the GPA re-wards those who cananswer other people’squestions. The moderneconomy rewards thosewho can think in wayscomputers can’t, but theGPA rewards people whocan grind away at mentaltasks they find boring.People are happiest whenmotivated intrinsically,but the GPA is the motherof all extrinsic motiva-tions.

The GPA ethos takesspirited children andpushes them to be hardworking but complaisant.The GPA mentality meanstremendous emphasis hasnow been placed on grit,the ability to trudgethrough long stretches ofdifficulty. Influenced bythis culture, schoolsacross America are busyteaching their students tobe gritty and to have“character” — by whichthey mean skills like self-discipline and resiliencethat contribute to careersuccess.

Angela Duckworth ofthe University of Penn-sylvania is the researchermost associated with thestudy and popularizationof grit. And yet what I likeabout her new book,“Grit,” is the way she ispulling us away from thenarrow, joyless intona-tions of that word, andpointing us beyond theway many schools arenow teaching it.

Sure, she starts thebook by describing grit aspersevering through un-pleasantness. She de-scribes Beast Barracks,the physical ordeal thatfirst-year West Point ca-dets have to endure.

She writes about highschool students who grindaway at homework forhours and athletes capa-ble of practicing in themost arduous way pos-sible.

And yet Duckworthnotes that moral purposealso contributes to grit.People who are motivatedmore by altruism thanpersonal pleasure scorehigher on grit scales. Shealso notes that having ahopeful temperamentcontributes to persever-ance.

Most important, shenotes that the quality ofour longing matters. Grit-

ty people are resilient andhardworking, sure. Butthey also, she writes,know in a very, very deepway what it is they want.

This is a crucial leap. Itleads to a very differentset of questions and ap-proaches. How do we helpstudents decide what theywant? How do we im-prove the quality andardor of their longing?

The GPA mentality isbased on the suppositionthat we are thinking crea-tures. Young minds haveto be taught self-disciplineso they can acquireknowledge. That’s partlytrue, but as James K.A.Smith notes in his ownbook “You Are What YouLove,” human beings areprimarily defined by whatwe desire, not what weknow. Our wants are atthe core of our identity,the wellspring whenceour actions flow.

At the highest level, ourlives are directed towardsome telos, or vision ofthe good life. Whether weare aware of it or not,we’re all oriented aroundsome set of goals. As Da-vid Foster Wallace put itin his Kenyon commence-ment address, “In theday-to-day trenches ofadult life, there is actuallyno such thing as atheism.There is no such thing asnot worshipping. Every-body worships.” Someworship money, or poweror popularity or nursingor art, but everybody’s lifeis organized around somelonging. The heart is botha driving engine and acompass.

I don’t know about you,but I’m really bad at beingself-disciplined aboutthings I don’t care about.For me, and I suspect formany, hard work andresilience can only hap-pen when there is a strongdesire. Grit is thus down-stream from longing.People need a powerfulwhy if they are going to beable to endure any how.

Duckworth herself hasa very clear telos. As shedefines it, “Use psycholog-ical science to help kidsthrive.” Throughout herbook, you can feel herpassion for her field andsee how gritty she hasbeen in pursuing her end.

Suppose you were de-signing a school to helpstudents find their ownclear end — as clear asthat one. Wouldn’t youwant to encourage stu-dents to be obsessiveabout worthy things?

In such a school youmight even de-emphasizethe GPA mentality, whichputs a tether on passion-ate interests.

David Brooks is a columnistfor the New York Times.

COLUMN

Putting gritin its place

“DAVID BROOKS

Folks at small townnewspapers for anylength of time have beensubjected to “microphonethrusters” at Friday nightfootball games.

Over the years, I havefound that small townradio stations are facedwith some of the sameproblems as countrynewspapers, principally ashortage of help that leadsto a lot of double duty.And, despite some natu-ral enmity, bred by thecompetitiveness to be thebest news medium inyour town, there comes anatural tendency to latchonto a little help from“the enemy” in certainsituations. That enmitynever seemed to spill overinto real war. Some evenconceded that helpingeach other out neverseemed to be impeded bythe competitiveness.

Having never beeneaten up with hearing myown voice, I was takenaback when, early on inmy country newspapercareer, broadcasters inlittle towns had no com-punction about thrustinga microphone under mynose whenever the “need”struck them. At first, theidea of “aiding the ‘ene-my’” was just a tad both-ersome, but then when

you view it as a little freepublicity and exposure ona competing medium, thatsomehow makes it palat-able, particularly whenthey let me say, “And, youcan re-live the game via adetailed description inThe Ol’ HometownNews.”

We didn’t have a radiostation in my hometown.After two years of college,I returned to Ol’ Home-town to be the news edi-tor of the weekly paper.Prior to my sitting in theeditor’s chair there, Ibecame acquainted with aguy who was in the furni-ture business but wassigned up to record aplay-by-play of the gameand broadcast it via aneighboring town’s radiostation on Saturdaymorning. We sat next toeach other in the “pressbox” at the Friday nightgame and every so often J.Ernest would suddenlythrust the microphoneunder my nose with a“tell us what happened onthat play, Willis.”

He and I got to be pals,

and at each game, heseemed to rely more andmore on commentaryfrom me to help flesh outhis broadcast. And, Ilearned to be ready withsome descriptive andexplanatory commentsthat began to seem quitenatural, that is, after Ilearned to expect themike at measured in-tervals, because J. Ernest’svoice would get tired.

In another town in mynomadic newspaper me-anderings, a station own-er who’d mouthed deroga-torily about my newspa-per, found himself askingme to explain some playor another because, frank-ly, he didn’t know enoughabout football to bebroadcasting play-by-playmuch less sensibly com-menting on any aspect ofthe game. And, I hadbegun my career writingsports because I wantedto be the World’s GreatestSportswriter, the nextGrantland Rice, acknowl-edged as The Greatest inthe first half of the 20th

Century.Early on in my small

town publishing career, Ifound that small townradio station owners hadlittle detailed knowledgeabout the game…usuallyjust enough to get by

calling the contest in asmall market. And, manydidn’t hesitate to call onalmost anyone in the“press box” (a loose de-scription in many littletowns) to issue statementsabout the football game.Ultimately, I did publishin a couple of townswhere the station owner/manager hired someoneknowledgeable enough todo play-by-play and alsosomeone who could doanalysis and commentaryon the grid contest.

Part of that was “mov-ing on up” to markets thathad a radio station thatcould do a game broad-cast much more profes-sionally and microphoneswere no longer thrustunder my nose for quickcommentary.

And, just when Ithought I’d become pro-fessional enough behindthe mike to sound like aprofessional game ana-lyst.

Plus, no one ever paidme one thin dime for my“broadcast contribu-tions.”

Willis Webb is a retiredcommunity newspapereditor and publisher of morethan 50 years experience.He can be reached by emailat [email protected].

OPINION

Thoughts on microphone thrusters

ZopinionA4 | Wednesday, May 11, 2016 | THE ZAPATA TIMES

Bernie Sanders is stilltelling supporters he canwin the Democratic presi-dential nomination, buthis practical goal is slight-er: to win concessions onthe party platform andnominating rules for fu-ture elections.

Sanders, according topeople close to him, realiz-es he’s not likely to be thenominee. He wants toleave a mark on the partyand agenda without caus-ing general-election prob-lems for Hillary Clinton,

the presumptive nominee.He’s not interested, theysay, in weighing in on herselection of a runningmate.

Sanders is runningcompetitively in the big-gest remaining primarystate, California, and maydo well in West Virginiaon Tuesday and in Oregonon May 17. Clinton, alreadyclose to commitmentsfrom the majority of dele-gates, will be favored onJune 7 in New Mexico andNew Jersey, and will wrapup the contest soon.

On the party platform,which usually is drafted

and then forgotten, bothsides have reason to beflexible. Clinton needs theenthusiasm of Sanderssupporters, who must feelthey got something out ofthe contest. Yet she iswary of being accused ofsuccumbing to unreason-able demands of a Ver-mont socialist.

Sanders is likely toinsist that at the party’sJuly convention in Phila-delphia, the Democratsshould declare a commit-ment to a $15-an-hourfederal minimum wage.Clinton favors raising it toa lower figure from its

present level of $7.25.Sanders will look forexpanded health carecoverage, though heknows it will fall wellshort of the government-run universal insurancehe has advocated.

Those close to him alsosay he expects a boldclimate-change plank andwill push for a ban onfracking. Clinton is likelyto resist that as it mighthurt her in November inimportant states likePennsylvania. Sanderswants a carbon tax, whichClinton will probablyoppose.

OP-ED

Sanders still thinks he can winBy Albert R. HuntBLOOMBERG NEWS

Page 5: The Zapata Times 5/11/2016

THE ZAPATA TIMES | Wednesday, May 11, 2016 | A5

INTERNATIONAL

RIO DE JANEIRO — Therollercoaster ride that is theimpeachment process againstPresident Dilma Rousseff tookanother hairpin turn Tuesdayafter the acting speaker of thelower chamber of Congressreversed his own decision fromjust hours earlier that wouldhave plunged the process intouncertainty.

The reversal by Waldir Ma-ranhao put the impeachmentprocess back on track, a dayafter he sparked chaos andsowed further discord amongBrazil’s fractious political classby annulling an April 17 voteby the Chamber of Deputiesfor impeachment. The movehad put in doubt a crucial voteon the matter that was sched-uled in the Senate for Wednes-day.

Debate broke out over thelegality of the move, and thehead of the Senate declared heintended to ignore Maranhao’sannulment and move fullsteam ahead with the process.

But late Monday, just over 12hours after the initial an-nouncement, Marahnao’sspokesman Marcos Albertosaid the acting speaker hadgone back on his decision, forunknown reasons.

Such reversals are a staple ofBrazilian politics, and the im-peachment drama has beenfilled with such dramatic turnsover the last several months.News reports suggested thatMarahnao received extremepressure from members of hisProgressive Party who want tosee Rousseff impeached.

By Tuesday afternoon, lead-ers of several parties werediscussing ways to removeMarahnao from his interimpost, underscoring the cut-throat nature of Brazilian poli-tics and high emotions over the

potential ouster of Rousseff. Maranhao took over the

reins in the Chamber of Depu-ties after former Speaker Ed-uardo Cunha, who was thedriving force behind the im-peachment effort, was sus-pended over corruption andobstruction of justice allega-tions against him.

Marahnao’s change of heartcleared the way to restoreWednesday’s vote in the Senateon whether to accept the im-peachment case against Rous-seff and put her on trial forallegedly breaking fiscal rulesin her management of the na-tional budget. If a simple ma-jority of the country’s 81 Sena-tors decides in favor, Rousseff

will be suspended and VicePresident Michel Temer willtake over until a trial is con-ducted.

Maranhao had argued thatthe lower house vote lastmonth was riddled with irreg-ularities, including party lead-ers telling members how tovote. Maranhao had votedagainst impeachment.

Rousseff supporters dis-played their frustration onTuesday, with rallies held incities in more than a dozenstates. Protesters occupiedroads and highways, blockeduniversity entrances andburned tires.

In Vitoria, about 310 miles(500 kilometers) northeast of

Rio de Janeiro, one protesterkicked and swung punches atthree local journalists, whowere treated for minor in-juries. The attacks were caughton camera by Globo news.Police broke up crowds withtear gas, and said the man hadbeen identified and would bearrested.

In a last-ditch attempt tostop the process, the govern-ment appealed to the SupremeFederal Tribunal, the highestcourt, on the grounds that lastmonth’s vote in the Chamber ofDeputies was riddled withirregularities. While the possi-bility of court intervention ispossible, by the full court oreven an individual justice, so

far the court has mostlysteered clear of direct involve-ment in the impeachment pro-cess.

Luis Almagro, secretarygeneral of the Organization ofAmerican States, visited Bra-zil’s Chief Justice Ricardo Le-wandowski to express con-cerns with the process.

Lewandowski replied thatthe country’s top court has sofar ruled on the formalities ofthe proceedings, not on itsmerits.

“It would be premature (forthe Supreme Court) to makeany declarations at this mo-ment,” Lewandowski wasquoted as saying on the court’swebsite.

The political fight comes asBrazil is grappling with itsworst recession in decades, acontinuing corruption probethat already has ensnared toppoliticians and prominentbusinessmen, and an outbreakof the Zika virus. At the sametime, the country’s showcasecity, Rio de Janeiro, is gearingup to host the Olympics inAugust.

Rousseff is battling impeach-ment over allegations that hergovernment violated fiscalrules, in what critics say was abid to artificially bolster thecountry’s flagging economy.Rousseff has said that priorpresidents used such fiscalmaneuvers and that the im-peachment effort amounts to a“coup” aimed at removing herand her left-leaning Workers’Party, which has governed thecountry for 13 years.

Rousseff ’s once-overwhelm-ing public support has erodedwith the onslaught of badnews, with her approval rat-ings dipping into the singledigits in recent months. Whilepolls have suggested broadpublic support for her im-peachment, they have alsopointed to widespread worryabout who might replace her.

Annulment in Brazil’s presidentimpeachment drama is reversedBy Jenny Barchfield andMauricio SavareseASSOCIATED PRE SS

Silvia Izquierdo / AP

A demonstrator holds a sign that reads in Portuguese "Coup" during a protest against theimpeachment of Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday.

Page 6: The Zapata Times 5/11/2016

ZfronteraA6 | Wednesday, May 11, 2016 | THE ZAPATA TIMES

RIBEREÑA EN BREVESTAAR

El miércoles 11 de mayose aplicará el examenSTAAR de ciencia a al-umnos del 5o y 9o grados;igua

lmente el de Algebra II.El jueves 12 de mayo se

aplicará el examen STAARde ciencias sociales a al-umnos del 8o grado.

El martes 21 de junio sevolverá a aplicar el examende matemáticas a los al-umnos del 5 y 8 grados; elmiércoles 22 de junio, sereaplicará el examen delectura para alumnos del 5y 8 grados.

El 11 de julio se aplicará elexamen de Inglés I y el 12 dejulio el de Biología e Histo-ria de EU. El 13 de julio sehará lo propio con Inglés II yel 14 de julio el de Algebra I.

CONCURSO DE DIBUJOEl Sistema DIF de Miguel

Alemán, México, invita alquinto Concurso de Dibujosobre Trabajo Infantil. Ha-brá dos categorías (Catego-ría A para niños y niñas de 6a 12 años de edad; y, Cate-goría B, para niños y niñasde 13 a 17 años de edad).

El dibujo se debe realizaren media cartulina blanca(35cm x 50cm), utilizarcolores de madera, plu-mones, óleo, acuarela ocolores de cera, y anexar enun sobre una descripcióncon una propuesta paraeliminar las peores formasde trabajo infantil. La pro-puesta debe ser de dos acuatro párrafos en letra demolde legible.

Incluir al reverso deldibujo su título, nombrecompleto del participante(como indica el acta denacimiento), edad, gradoescolar, nombre de la es-cuela, teléfono, domicilioparticular, y municipio.

La fecha límite paraentregar el trabajo es el 13de mayo en las oficinas delDIF-Miguel Alemán, callePuerto de Chetumal # 130en la Colonia Jardines deSan Germán. Más informa-ción llamando al 972-0155.

CONSULADO MÓVILEl Consulado General de

México informa que brinda-rá el servicio de ConsuladoMóvil a los residentes delCondado de Duval, en elCivic Center de la ciudad deSan Diego, Texas, ubicadoen 510 E. Gravis Ave, de 9a.m. a 2 p.m., el 14 de mayo.

Se proporcionarán servi-cios básicos como exped-ición de Matrícula Consular(ID mexicana), Pasaporte,así como prestar asesoríalegal y orientación al públi-co en el ámbito de Protec-ción. Además se llevará acabo una Feria de Saluddonde se proporcionaránalgunos servicios de saludde manera gratuita (tomade glucosa, presión arterial,índice de masa corporal) yse proporcionará informa-ción sobre higiene dental,entre otros temas.

Para mayor informacióncomunicarse al teléfono(956) 723-0990 o travésdel Servicio Mexitel parahacer citas y solicitar requi-sitos, llamando al teléfono:1-877-639-4835 Llamandodesde Estados Unidos

RELEVO POR LA VIDAEl evento Relay For Life

of Zapata County (Relevopor la vida del Condado deZapata), se llevará a caboen la Placita del Condadode Zapata sobre la Carrete-ra 83 y calle 7a., de 6 p.m. a12 a.m., el 20 de mayo. Eltema será “Pinta tu mundode morado”.

REUNIÓN SOCIEDADGENEALÓGICA

La Sociedad Genealóg-ica Nuevo Santander ce-lebrará su reunión el sába-do 21 de mayo a las 2 p.m.en el Zapata County Muse-um of History. Los oradoresinvitados para esta ocasiónson Del & Marsha Shum-way, así como Viqui Uribe,con el tema “BúsquedaFamiliar” (Family Search).

MEMORIAL DAYLa Cámara de Comercio

del Condado de Zapataanuncia que el lunes 30 demayo las oficinas permane-cerán cerradas por la ce-lebración de Memorial Day.

CIUDAD DE MÉXICO — Unjuez federal consideró proce-dente la extradición del lídernarcotraficante Joaquín “ElChapo” Guzmán a Estados Un-idos, con lo cual se avanzó unpaso más en un proceso que aúndebe tener el aval de la cancille-ría mexicana.

El juez consideró que se cum-plieron los requi-sitos legales en eltratado de extrad-ición entre Méx-ico y EstadosUnidos, informóel lunes en uncomunicado elConsejo de laJudicatura Feder-al.

La decisiónjudicial se anun-

ció dos días después de que elhombre considerado como líderdel cartel de Sinaloa fuera trans-ferido a una prisión cerca de lafrontera con Texas y desataraespeculaciones sobre si el movi-

miento tendía que ver con suposible entrega al país vecinodel norte, algo que rechazó elgobierno.

La cancillería tiene ahora 20días para determinar si concedeo no la extradición de Guzmán yluego la defensa del capo aúnpuede interponer un juicio deamparo para intentar frenar suenvío, lo cual puede retrasar

semanas o incluso meses suposible entrega a las autori-dades de Estados Unidos.

La procuradora general deEstados Unidos, Loretta Lynch,dijo el lunes que no es posibledecir cuándo podría ocurrir laextradición y que tampoco se hadeterminado en qué jurisdicciónsería procesado.

“No puedo darle un cronogra-

ma o una predicción de cuándopodría ocurrir”, dijo la funcio-naria a periodistas en EstadosUnidos.

El narcotraficante enfrentaacusaciones de siete fiscalíasfederales en Estados Unidos,incluidas las de Chicago, NuevaYork, Miami y San Diego.

Guzmán fue notificado de ladeterminación del juez la nochedel domingo en la nueva prisiónen que se encuentra, dijo a TheAssociated Press una autoridadjudicial, no autorizada a seridentificada por políticas in-ternas que le impiden dar de-talles de los procesos en curso.

Analistas coincidieron el finde semana en que no habríaningún vínculo entre el cambiode cárcel y el proceso de extrad-ición.

“No reubican de antemano aalguien... El no fue reubicado enJuárez para echarlo al otro ladode la frontera”, dijo el domingoa la AP Michael Vigil, ex jefe deoperaciones internacionales dela agencia antidrogas estadouni-dense (DEA, por sus siglas eninglés).

JOAQUÍN ‘EL CHAPO” GUZMÁN

Procedería extradiciónPor E. Eduardo CastilloASSOCIATED PRE SS

Foto por Raymundo Ruiz | Associated Press

Elementos del Ejército Mexicano realizan guardia afuera delCefereso No. 9 en las afueras de Ciudad Juárez, México, el lunes.El líder del Cartel de Sinaloa, Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, fue

transferido durante el fin de semana al citado penal.

Joaquin “El Chapo”

Guzman Loera

Tres candidatos del PRI,quienes buscaban la presidenciamunicipal de igual número deciudades en Tamaulipas, fueronexpulsados al existir presuntosvínculos con la delincuenciaorganizada.

En un comunicado de prensaemitido durante el fin de sema-na, el líder del Partido Revolu-cionario Institucional, Manlio

Fabio Beltrones,informó que seprocederá a lacancelación delregistro ante auto-ridades electoralesde los aspirantes alas alcaldías deHidalgo, Maineroy Villagrán, Méx-ico.

“Los tres candi-datos que fueronamenazados ocomprados por elcrimen en Tamau-lipas, y que hemosdecidido expulsar,apoyan abierta-mente al PAN”,dijo Beltronesdurante un eventoen Tampico, Méx-ico. “El PRI no seprestará para darvotos a quienesceden o están colu-didos con el cri-

men.Los abanderados del PRI eran

Reyes Zúñiga Vázquez, para lapresidencia municipal de Hidal-go; Gustavo Estrella Cabrerapara Villagrán; y, Luis CesáreoAldape Lerma, para Mainero.

Beltrones también conminó alos demás partidos políticos aactuar en consecuencia y quitar-le el registro a aquellos candida-tos que no se identifiquen con loque quieren los tamaulipecosque es la paz y la tranquilidad.

De acuerdo con el reporte delPRI, los tres candidatos fueronamenazados o comprados porlos delincuentes “para que sepusieran al lado de ellos”.

“No queremos tener ningúncontubernio con la delincuen-cia”, agregó Beltrones. “Actuare-mos igual en cualquier caso quese presente en todos los esta-dos”.

Igualmente sostuvo que elpartido preferirá carecer decandidato en las tres ciudadesmencionadas.

“Preferimos no tener candida-tos en ninguno de esos tresmunicipios a concederles unvoto de legitimidad a los 'malos'que están atrás de ellos", con-cluyó.

ELECCIONES 2016

ExpulsancandidatosCancelan registroTIEMP O DE ZAPATA

Aldape

Estrella

Zúñiga

Nota el Editor: Esta es la prim-era de dos historias relacionadasa inmigrantes indocumentados ysu travesía para cruzar a EU.

REYNOSA — Merlen Gon-zález se situó entre dos filas deliteras vacías, mirando como suhija jugaba en el suelo del refu-gio para inmigrantes.

Después de tres meses, Gon-zález, de 21 años, había perdidola cuenta de las madres y losniños que habían ocupadobrevemente las camas del refu-

gio. Tarde o temprano, todosunieron sus destinos a un con-trabandista con la promesa deun paso seguro a Texas, mien-tras que González se quedóatrás.

Había confiado en un contra-bandista que perdió el controlde una camioneta repleta deinmigrantes. Varias personasmurieron en el accidente y suhija de 4 años de edad, Jennifer,resultó herida cuando salióexpulsada del vehículo. Laimagen de verla caer y darvueltas en una carretera deTamaulipas quedó grabada en

su memoria.“No podemos regresar, por-

que no hay nada para nosotrosen Guatemala, pero tengo mie-do de seguir adelante”, dijoGonzález, cuya hija se estárecuperando de las lesionesque incluían una herida en elbrazo.

Más de 32.000 familias deinmigrantes, la mayoría deellos procedentes de los paísesdel Triángulo del Norte, con-formado por El Salvador, Gua-temala y Honduras, fuerondetenidos entrando ilegalmentea los EU entre octubre y marzo.

INMIGRACIÓN

MIGRACIÓN DE MENORES

Foto por Bob Owen / San Antonio Express-News

Marlen Gonzalez, madre de Jennifer Gonzalez, de 4 años, de Guatemala, ha permanecido en elAlbergue Senda de Vida en Reynosa, México, durante tres meses, sanando de las heridas de unaccidente automovilístico en el que estuvieron involucradas durante su intento por cruzar lafrontera a los EU.

Detienen a miles de centroamericanosPor Aaron NelsenSAN ANTONIO EXPRE SS-NEWS

Nota del Editor: Toda ciudadposee rincones modestos. Estos aveces guardan verdaderos secre-tos.

Una pequeña plaza de formatriangular, con escasos metroscuadrados, es escenario dondeocurre escándalo que sacude lavida política de Tamaulipas.

Se ubica a las puertas delviejo casco de Tampico, Méx-ico, y frente a ella, las callesAltamira y Álvaro Obregóndesembocan en la avenidaHidalgo. Cuando crean la plazala denominan 5 de Mayo, comohomenaje al triunfo obtenidoen Puebla sobre invasores

franceses.Por la época de que habla-

mos, el área luce embellecidacon prados y plantas de ornato.En la parte central funcionamagnífica fuente. Recién con-cluida, sostiene en lo alto unglobo terráqueo.

Durante la mañana, el do-mingo 20 de noviembre de 1927,el presidente Tomás R. Mo-rales, inaugura el nuevo con-junto recreativo. A cargo delmensaje oficial, el regidorFrancisco H. Mattar anuncia“que en lo sucesivo el jardín yla fuente inaugurados llevaránel nombre de El Mundo”, pe-riódico que financia las obras.

El gobernador tamaulipecoEmilio Portes Gil, se molesta

porque ese órgano de prensa,“que […] publica artículos in-juriosos y groseros de NemesioGarcía Naranjo, de (José) Vas-concelos y de otros escritores”,textos “en que se insulta a laRevolución Mexicana y secalumnia al presidente de laRepública, es indigno” delproyectado honor remarca enun telegrama.

Peor aún, él considera in-tolerable quitarle al espaciorecreativo la denominación querecuerda “una fecha gloriosapara nuestra patria”. Losmunicipios renuncian al po-lémico nombre y subsiste como“la plaza del 5 de Mayo”.

(Con permiso del autor, publi-cado en La Razón, el 15 de abril)

COLUMNA

Nombre de plaza genera polémicaPor Raúl Sinencio ChávezTIEMP O DE ZAPATA

Page 7: The Zapata Times 5/11/2016

Sports&OutdoorsTHE ZAPATA TIMES | Wednesday, May 11, 2016 | A7

LAS VEGAS — Thegood news for boxing fansis the fight they reallywant to see may actuallyhappen before they growtoo old to enjoy it.

Even better news isthat it has nothing to dowith Floyd Mayweather

Jr., or new-ly electedFilipinosenatorMannyPacquiao.

Circlethe date ofSept. 17, butdon't planon buyingtickets justyet. This isboxing,after all,and a ton ofgood fightsthat shouldhave hap-penednever have.

Still, Canelo Alvarezsays he wants it. CountGennady Golovkin in, too.

Two big sluggers withone loss between them forall the middleweight titlesthey can bring to the ring.

"It's one of those fightswe can make," said TomLoeffler, who promotesGolovkin. "Clearly it's thebiggest fight that can bemade in boxing and itseems pretty clear Canelowants the fight."

That was evident Sat-urday night when Alvarez

Alvarez come to an agree-ment to fight Golovkinwithin 15 days of the Khanfight or he will bestripped of the title.

"I'm pretty sure we canmake a deal," Loefflersaid. "There was abso-lutely no reason for Cane-lo to invite Gennady intothe ring the other nightunless he really wantedthe fight."

The fight should proveattractive, even to casualfans who felt burned bypaying $100 to watchMayweather and Pac-quiao in the richest fightever. It won't do the re-cord 4.6 million pay-per-view buys that fight gen-erated, but should dogood enough numbers tomake both fighters mil-lions.

Both fighters areknockout artists, so thereis little risk that the fightwill be tough to watchlike Mayweather-Pac-quiao was.

"Everyone knows withGennady's style and Ca-nelo's style people aren'tgoing to be disappointedwith the action in thering," Loeffler said. "Theyare two machismo war-riors."

Indeed, it's a fight thatsounds almost too good tobe true. And, unlike May-weather-Pacquiao it won'ttake five years go make.

Remember, though, it'sstill boxing. And thatmeans don't count on ithappening until the tick-ets actually go on sale.

"I invited him becauseI'm not afraid," Alvarezsaid. "And I wanted toprove to him I'm notafraid."

De La Hoya reachedout to Loeffler on Sunday,and the two planned tobegin negotiations Tues-day. Loeffler said he andDe La Hoya worked to-gether for Golovkin's fightwith David Lemieux lastOctober, and will have noissues working togetherfor a Sept. 17 fight.

Adding to the pressureto make the fight is themandate by the WBC that

the ring with him.There also was an issue

with weight. Alvarezholds a middleweighttitle, but fought at a catchweight of 155 poundsagainst Khan. Golovkinsays any title fight he haswill be at the 160-poundmiddleweight limit.

But Alvarez and De LaHoya now say weight isnot an issue. And theinvitation by Alvarez forGolovkin to join him inthe ring after the Khanfight dispelled any notionthat he wasn't eager tofight.

Hoya, who promotesAlvarez. "That's howseriously he takes gettinga Canelo fight."

Up until Alvarez land-ed the right hand thatflattened Khan and thencalled out Triple G itseemed like the fight wasnot going to happen, atleast anytime soon. Alva-rez is De La Hoya's big-gest attraction, and theword among boxing in-siders was that he didn'twant to risk him in a fightagainst Golovkin, whohas walked through ev-eryone who has gotten in

laid out Amir Khan witha vicious right hand, thenused the same hand tomotion Golovkin, whowas watching at ringside,to get in the ring himself.

Another interestedobserver at ringside wasDallas Cowboys ownerJerry Jones, who wouldlike nothing better than tosteal a big fight fromVegas and fill his stadiumfor the biggest fight sinceMayweather and Pac-quiao put on a snoozefestlast May.

"I invited him person-ally," said Oscar De La

BOXING

Boxing's next big fightAll signs point to Canelo Alvarez taking on Gennady GolovkinBy Tim DahlbergASSOCIATED PRE SS

David Becker / Getty Images

After Canelo Alvarez recently knocked out Amir Khan during a WBC middleweight title fight, his focus hasshifted to unbeaten fighter Gennady Golovkin, also known as Triple G.

Alvarez

Golovkin

ARLINGTON — Ple-nette Pierson has nowbeen part of all threeversions of the three-timeWNBA champion fran-chise that is now calledthe Dallas Wings.

Pierson, who hasplayed in the league 13years, has two champi-onship rings from her fiveseasons with the DetroitShock (2005-09). The6-foot-2 post player wasan All-Star for the firsttime last season when sherejoined the Shock for thefranchise’s final year inTulsa before it becamethe first WNBA team inDallas-Fort Worth.

“This is the best mar-ket, I think, for theWNBA,” said Pierson, aTexas native who playedat Texas Tech. “Just ex-panding our brand, wewant this league to besustainable, and I thinkbeing in Dallas makesthis league sustainable.”

In its 20th season, theWNBA has made it toNorth Texas. The Wingswill play on a collegecampus only about twomiles from the homestadia of the Dallas Cow-boys and Texas Rangers,and about 20 miles fromdowntown Dallas, wherethe NBA’s Mavericks play.

The 7,000-seat arenaon the University of Tex-as-Arlington campus ishalfway between Dallasand Fort Worth, an areawith 7 million residents.

One of the guards isthird-year player OdysseySims, who before beingan All-American at Bay-lor played at nearby Ir-ving MacArthur High.

There hasn’t been ahigh-profile women’sprofessional basketballteam in the area sinceOlympian and Hall ofFamer Nancy Liebermanplayed for the DallasDiamonds in their twoseasons in the Women’sProfessional BasketballLeague (1979-81). Lieber-man was also on Dallas’team for its lone season inthe Women’s AmericanBasketball Association in1984.

The Wings will playtheir first three games onthe road before the homeopener May 21 against theWNBA’s other Texasteam, the San AntonioStars.

The Detroit Shock wasone of the WNBA’s firstexpansion teams in 1998,and won league titles in2003, 2006 and 2008.

WNBA: DALLAS WINGS

Wings readyfor debut

Tony Gutierrez / AP

Plenette Pierson and theWings play Saturday.

By Stephen HawkinsASSOCIATED PRE SS

ST. LOUIS - This seriesdeserves a Game 7.

From the intriguingbattle of different styles, tothe entertaining chatterbetween the two coaches,to the surges in momen-tum almost too fast tocomprehend, this battlebetween the Stars andBlues has come to onefinal game.

Dallas grabbed a 3-2win at Scottrade Centeron Monday - the fourthwin for a road team in thesecond round series - andcreated the need for Game7 Wednesday at AmericanAirlines Center.

"This feels right," saiddefenseman Jason Dem-ers. "I think this seriesshould go seven games.We’re definitely happy tobe going there."

The Stars should behappy. They survived ahuge push from the Bluesand got Kari Lehtonen’sbest game of the playoffs.The veteran goalie cameup with 35 saves, includ-ing 26 in the second twoperiods when the Starswere sitting in a shelltrying to defend a 3-0lead.

"It’s so hard when youdo that, because it’s a goodand bad thing to be upthat quick," Stars centerJason Spezza said. "It’slike the Minnesota game.You tell yourself to not siton it, but they start push-ing hard and you don’t

want to make a mistake,and it just happens."

Dallas got up 4-0 inGame 6 against the Wildin the first round, andthen had to hold on for a4-3 win. It was frantic,and the Stars said theywould learn from it.

"You think you do,"Demers said. "And thenyou get out there and seewhat the other team istrying to do."

Dallas scored goals 20seconds apart in the firstperiod and grabbed a 3-0lead after the opening 20minutes. The Stars wereaggressive at counter-attacking and creatingchances. Valeri Nichush-kin hit Mattias Janmarkwith a stretch pass for thefirst goal, and then Colton

Sceviour found VernonFiddler at the net for a tipin. It was a bang-bangstart fueled by depth play-ers and hunger.

"You have to get scoringthroughout the lineup,"said Fiddler, who scoredon his 36th birthday withhis parents in the crowd."We all want to contrib-ute, and we all need tocontribute."

Spezza then added hisfifth playoff goal as hescored on the power play.It was only the secondman advantage tally forthe Stars in this series,and it proved to be thegame-winning goal.

That’s because the Starswent into a defensive shelland put just seven shotson goal for the remainder

of the game. The Bluespoured on a relentlessattack and cut the lead to3-2 with 11:01 remaining inthe third period, butcouldn’t get the tying goal.

Now, they get what theywanted - a Game 7 athome. Dallas won homeice away from St. Louis onthe last day of the regularseason, so this is the re-ward for that accomplish-ment.

"We haven’t been agood team with a three-goal lead . even with afour goal lead," Ruff jok-ingly said in reference tothe Minnesota game."We’re a team that’s stilllearning. A lot of players,this is their first kick atthis. I think we’ll be betterin Game 7."

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE: DALLAS STARS

How the Stars foughtback to force Game 7

Dilip Vishwanat / Getty Images

The Dallas Stars won in St. Louis on Monday night 3-2 forcing a deciding Game 7of their Western Conference Semifinal matchup with the Blues.

By Mike HeikaTHE DALLAS MORNING NEWS

Page 8: The Zapata Times 5/11/2016

A8 | Wednesday, May 11, 2016 | THE ZAPATA TIMES

NATIONAL

There was a showdownin Houston last fall. Thisspring, North Carolinabecame the battleground.By now, confrontationshave flared across thecountry over whether toprotect or curtail the rightof transgender people touse public restrooms inaccordance with theirgender identity.

The upshot, in virtuallyevery case, has been emo-tional debate over privacy,personal safety and preju-dice.

Many of those whofavor limiting transgenderrights contend that ex-panding anti-bias protec-tions to bathrooms andlocker rooms raises therisk of sexual predatorsexploiting the laws tomolest women and girlson those premises.

Transgender-rightsadvocates consider thisargument malicious andfalse. They say that 18states and scores of citieshave experienced no sig-nificant public safetyproblems linked to theirexisting laws allowingtransgender people to usebathrooms based on thegender they considerthemselves to be.

On Monday, the U.S.Justice Departmentweighed in, suing to over-turn North Carolina’s newlaw restricting trans-gender bathroom accessand warning that anysimilar measures else-where in the countrycould also face challengeson grounds they violatefederal nondiscriminationrules. North Carolina hassued to keep the law inplace.

Washington state isamong the many juris-dictions with ongoingdebate over bathroomaccess. Conservative activ-

ists are gathering signa-tures with hopes of put-ting a measure on theNovember ballot thatwould override state andlocal protections againstgender-identity discrim-ination in public accom-modations and requirepublic schools to restricttransgender students’bathroom and lockerroom access.

“Stand with us as westand to protect womenand children from thisdangerous rule,” says agroup pushing the ballotmeasure, in its onlineappeal for volunteers anddonations. The group iscalled Just Want Privacy,reflecting the view thatopposition to the lawsgoes beyond safety con-cerns for some.

Among those support-ing the current rules andopposing the ballot initia-tive is John Lovick, formersheriff of SnohomishCounty.

“We’ve protected gayand transgender peoplefrom discrimination inWashington for 10 years,with no increase in publicsafety incidents as a re-sult,” he said. “It’s impor-tant to remember thatindecent exposure, voy-eurism, and sexual as-sault, are already illegal,and police use those lawsto keep people safe.”

A current sheriff, JohnUrquhart of the Seattlearea’s King County, alsodefends the existing law.“I’m the father of twodaughters. I’m not con-cerned,” he says.

On the other side of thecountry, similar argu-ments are percolating inMassachusetts, which —despite its liberal ten-dencies — is not amongthe states banning dis-crimination against trans-gender people in rest-rooms and other publicaccommodations.

A bill to do that is ad-vancing through the statelegislature this spring.The state’s Republicangovernor, Charlie Baker,has not committed tosigning the bill if it reach-es his desk but has said heopposes discrimination inany form.

To assuage critics whosay male sexual predatorsmight take advantage ofthe proposed change byclaiming to identify asfemale, language has beenadded to the House ver-sion of the bill to allowlegal action against any-one who makes an “im-proper” claim of genderidentity.

Some critics of the billwere unimpressed by theaddition, citing concernsabout privacy.

“It still offers no protec-tions to women and chil-dren who don’t want to beeyed by or exposed tonaked men in lockerrooms or other intimatespaces,” said JonathanAlexandre, legal counselfor the MassachusettsFamily Institute.

In South Carolina,lawmakers considered —but did not approve — abill that would have re-quired transgender peopleto use public bathrooms

based on their biologicalsex. In opposing the bill,Richland County SheriffLeon Lott said it ad-dressed “a nonissue.”

Elsewhere, the bath-room debate has flared onthe local level. In the Dal-las suburb of Rockwall,city councilors rejectedthe mayor’s push to blocktransgender people fromusing the public bath-rooms of their choice. InOxford, Alabama, the citycouncil approved such arestriction, complete withcriminal penalties, thenrepealed it a week later.

The issue jumped intothe spotlight last fall, afterthe Houston City Counciladopted a wide-rangingnondiscrimination ordi-nance that included pro-tections for transgenderpeople using restroomsbased on gender identity.

Opponents of the ordi-nance gathered enoughsignatures for a repealreferendum, then mount-ed a campaign using theslogan “No Men in Wom-en’s Bathrooms.” By amargin of 61 percent to 39percent, the anti-biasordinance was repealed.

In March, the NorthCarolina legislature —reacting to a Houston-style nondiscrimination

ordinance adopted by thecity of Charlotte — hastilypassed a law which limitsprotections for LGBTpeople and requires trans-gender people to use pub-lic bathrooms correspond-ing to the sex on theirbirth certificate. The lawhas been assailed by gay-rights groups, businesses,sports leagues and enter-tainers, and is now thesubject of the dueling stateand federal lawsuits.

Among those defendingthe new law is Phil Berger,Republican leader of thestate Senate, who con-tends that the Charlotteordinance was dangerous.

“Ill-intentioned, non-transgender individuals,some with criminal pasts,have used similar ordi-nances elsewhere in thecountry to gain legal ac-cess to changing facilities

and bathrooms of minorsof the opposite sex,” Berg-er wrote in an April 19letter to business exec-utives.

Asked for examples ofsuch cases, Berger’s officeprovided links to a fewrecent news articles. Oneconcerned a man whoreportedly entered a wom-en’s locker room in a Seat-tle park, started undress-ing and said, when askedto leave, “The law haschanged and I have a rightto be here.”

The man eventually leftafter being confronted bypark employees; nocharges were filed.

Other cases cited byBerger and his allies in-volve voyeurs and peepingtoms who tried to film orphotograph women inrestrooms or dressingrooms.

Debate over transgender bathroom accessspreads nationwide, back to TexasBy David CraryASSOCIATED PRE SS

Joyce Marshall / Fort Worth Star-Telegram/AP

Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick talks to the media beforea FWISD Board meeting in Fort Worth, Tuesday.

Page 9: The Zapata Times 5/11/2016

THE ZAPATA TIMES | Wednesday, May 11, 2016 | A9

BUSINESS

STOCKS OF LOCAL INTEREST YTDName Div Yld PE Last Chg %Chg

YTDName Div Yld PE Last Chg %Chg

AT&T Inc 1.92 4.9 16 39.31 +.45 +14.2

AEP 2.24 3.4 23 65.05 -.24 +11.6

BkofAm .20 1.4 11 14.30 +.31 -15.0

B iPVixST ... ... ... 14.84 -.77 -26.2

Caterpillar 3.08 4.2 18 72.51 +1.73 +6.7

ChesEng ... ... ... 4.30 +.20 -4.4

CCFemsa 1.23 1.5 ... 83.11 +1.11 +17.4

CmtyHlt ... ... 10 14.09 -.62 -35.5

ConocoPhil 1.00 2.3 ... 42.87 +1.22 -8.2

Dillards .28 .4 10 68.05 -.39 +3.6

DirDGldBr ... ... ... 1.46 -.16 -91.2

EmpIca ... ... ... .73 +.03 -5.2

ExxonMbl 3.00 3.3 29 89.99 +1.42 +15.4

FordM .60 4.4 6 13.49 +.17 -4.3

GenElec .92 3.0 39 30.48 +.61 -2.2

HP Inc .50 4.3 11 11.61 +.18 -1.9

HomeDp 2.76 2.0 25 137.51 +1.27 +4.0

iShJapan .13 1.1 ... 11.82 +.29 -2.5

iShEMkts .84 2.5 ... 33.03 +.62 +2.6

Intel 1.04 3.5 13 30.14 +.34 -12.5

IntlBcsh .58 2.2 13 26.10 +.53 +1.6

IBM 5.60 3.7 11 149.97 +2.63 +9.0

LendingClb ... ... 46 4.10 -.52 -62.9

Lowes 1.12 1.5 23 76.99 +1.15 +1.2

Lubys ... ... ... 5.05 +.06 +13.0

MetLife 1.60 3.6 11 43.91 +.99 -8.9

MexicoFd 1.81 ... ... 17.00 +.11 +2.3

Microsoft 1.44 2.8 36 51.02 +.95 -8.0

Modine ... ... ... 10.50 +.20 +16.0

NokiaCp .16 3.0 ... 5.31 -.38 -24.4

Penney ... ... ... 8.09 -.34 +21.5

S&P500ETF 4.13 2.0 ... 208.45 +2.56 +2.2

SanchezEn ... ... ... 8.36 -.11 +94.0

Schlmbrg 2.00 2.7 27 74.26 +1.49 +6.5

SearsHldgs ... ... ... 13.47 -.21 -34.5

SonyCp ... ... ... 24.77 +.84 +.7

UnionPac 2.20 2.6 16 86.10 +1.47 +10.1

USSteel .20 1.2 ... 16.61 +.38 +108.1

UnivHlthS .40 .3 19 135.05 -.02 +13.0

VanEGold .12 .5 ... 24.40 +.88 +77.8

WalMart 2.00 2.9 15 68.79 -.16 +12.2

WellsFargo 1.52 3.1 12 49.40 +.52 -9.1

STOCK MARKET INDEXES

MONEY RATES CURRENCIES

MUTUAL FUNDS

GAINERS ($2 OR MORE)

Prime Rate

Discount Rate

Federal Funds Rate

Treasuries

3-month

6-month

5-year

10-year

30-year

DAILY DOW JONES

18,351.36 15,370.33 Dow Industrials 17,928.35 +222.44 +1.26 +2.89 -.77

8,807.61 6,403.31 Dow Transportation 7,831.97 +93.44 +1.21 +4.31 -9.46

672.40 539.96 Dow Utilities 663.03 +.29 +.04 +14.75 +14.70

11,254.87 8,937.99 NYSE Composite 10,424.10 +132.51 +1.29 +2.77 -6.20

5,231.94 4,209.76 Nasdaq Composite 4,809.88 +59.67 +1.26 -3.94 -3.34

947.85 809.57 S&P 100 924.40 +11.86 +1.30 +1.42 +.21

2,134.72 1,810.10 S&P 500 2,084.39 +25.70 +1.25 +1.98 -.70

1,551.28 1,215.14 S&P MidCap 1,469.73 +16.61 +1.14 +5.09 -2.97

22,537.15 18,462.43 Wilshire 5000 21,530.12 +253.70 +1.19 +1.71 -2.88

1,296.00 943.09 Russell 2000 1,128.83 +10.58 +.95 -.62 -8.46

52-Week YTD 12-moHigh Low Name Last Chgg %Chg %Chg %Chg

3.50 3.50

1.00 1.00

.25-.50 .25-.50

0.23 0.19

0.34 0.38

1.21 1.25

1.76 1.80

2.61 2.66

Last PvsWeek

THE MARKET IN REVIEW

AB GlbThmtGrA m WS 474 83.30 -0.8 -9.4/D +1.1/E 4.25 2,500

Columbia ComInfoA m ST 2,601 52.93 -4.3 -1.9/B +9.2/B 5.75 2,000

Eaton Vance WldwHealA m SH 904 11.24 +1.7 -7.7/B +14.9/D 5.75 1,000

Fidelity Select Biotech d SH 10,357 169.38 -3.8 -27.6/E +20.8/A NL 2,500

Fidelity Select BrokInv d SF 334 59.21 +4.7 -18.0/E +5.2/D NL 2,500

Fidelity Select CommEq d ST 172 27.02 -2.5 -13.6/E +0.3/E NL 2,500

Fidelity Select Computer d ST 383 63.51 -6.2 -18.6/E +3.7/E NL 2,500

Fidelity Select ConsFin d SF 93 11.92 +6.1 -7.9/C +10.7/B NL 2,500

Fidelity Select Electron d ST 1,416 70.50 -3.3 -5.8/D +9.8/A NL 2,500

Fidelity Select FinSvc d SF 1,110 82.46 +4.6 -7.5/C +7.1/C NL 2,500

Fidelity Select SwreITSvcs d ST 3,209 120.69 +2.1 +7.1/A +14.8/A NL 2,500

Fidelity Select Tech d ST 2,922 114.70 -1.9 -3.5/C +8.2/C NL 2,500

T Rowe Price SciTech ST 2,957 33.10 0.0 -1.6/B +9.0/B NL 2,500

Vanguard HlthCare SH 11,031 202.38 +1.2 -4.8/A +16.9/B NL 3,000

Waddell & Reed Adv SciTechA m ST 2,983 12.29 -1.0 -16.8/E +8.9/B 5.75 750

Total Assets Total Return/Rank Pct Min InitName Obj ($Mlns) NAV 4-wk 12-mo 5-year Load Invt

CA -Conservative Allocation, CI -Intermediate-Term Bond, ES -Europe Stock, FB -Foreign Large Blend, FG -ForeignLargeGrowth, FV -Foreign Large Value, IH -World Allocation, LB -Large Blend, LG -Large Growth, LV -Large Value, MA -Moderate Allocation, MB -Mid-Cap Blend, MV - Mid-Cap Value, SH -Specialty-heath, ST - Technology, WS -World Stock, TotalReturn: Chng in NAV with dividends reinvested. Rank: How fund performed vs. others with same objective: A is in top 20%, Ein bottom 20%. Min Init Invt: Minimum $ needed to invest in fund. Source:Morningstar.

NYSE10,424.10 +132.51

NASDAQ 4,809.88 +59.67

Volume

Name Vol (00) Last ChgApple Inc 328673 93.42 +.63

SolarCity 258984 17.82 -4.69

SiriusXM 243796 3.98 +.05

Facebook 221967 120.50 +1.26

Microsoft 219428 51.02 +.95

Cisco 218017 27.03 +.52

SanDisk 193467 76.57 +1.06

MicronT 192961 10.09 +.22

Intel 165448 30.14 +.34

PeopUtdF 159785 15.21 +.08

MOST ACTIVE ($1 OR MORE)

LOSERS ($2 OR MORE)

Name Last Chg%ChgChemoCntx 2.99 +.89 +42.4

RXI Phr rs 2.26 +.67 +42.1

Crocs 10.26 +2.53 +32.7

Marketo 26.77 +5.30 +24.7

SodaStrm 18.22 +3.49 +23.7

PowerSolu 13.45 +2.53 +23.2

CVD Eqp 7.59 +1.32 +21.1

Akorn hlf 27.29 +4.56 +20.1

CecoEnv 7.82 +1.29 +19.8

Dermira 28.69 +4.23 +17.3

Name Last Chg%ChgNewLink 11.45 -5.05 -30.6

Hardinge 10.21 -3.29 -24.4

SolarCity 17.82 -4.69 -20.8

PRA Grp 25.04 -5.77 -18.7

FiestaRst 26.55 -6.05 -18.6

Arotech 3.09 -.67 -17.8

ZebraT 51.46 -11.12 -17.8

ApldOptoel 8.49 -1.77 -17.3

Omeros 10.51 -2.05 -16.3

ArgosTher 5.86 -1.05 -15.2

DIARYAdvanced 1,838

Declined 933

Unchanged 169

Total issues 2,940

New Highs 57

New Lows 63

1,699,271,263

Name Vol (00) Last ChgLendingClb 914798 4.10 -.52

ChesEng 689304 4.30 +.20

BkofAm 578400 14.30 +.31

NokiaCp 450760 5.31 -.38

ValeantPh 346679 27.91 -.16

Gap 301176 19.30 -2.51

Vale SA 277094 4.55 +.24

GenElec 268126 30.48 +.61

WeathfIntl 264507 5.43 +.16

FrptMcM 254048 10.86 +.34

MOST ACTIVE ($1 OR MORE)

GAINERS ($2 OR MORE)

LOSERS ($2 OR MORE)

Name Last Chg%ChgNautilus 20.25 +2.95 +17.1

YingliGr rs 3.42 +.40 +13.2

Unit 13.63 +1.52 +12.6

MaxLinear 18.47 +2.04 +12.4

PlatfmSpc 9.58 +1.05 +12.3

DenburyR 3.92 +.40 +11.4

TransDigm 249.50+23.83 +10.6

E-CDang 6.27 +.59 +10.4

StifelFin 34.23 +3.17 +10.2

AtlasR pfD 3.78 +.34 +9.9

Name Last Chg%ChgGenesisHlt 2.03 -.63 -23.7

StonegtMtg 4.19 -.62 -12.9

InvenSense 6.22 -.87 -12.3

ChesGranW 2.20 -.30 -12.0

DxSPOGBr s 7.96 -1.07 -11.8

Gap 19.30 -2.51 -11.5

LendingClb 4.10 -.52 -11.3

PrUShBrz s 31.40 -3.77 -10.7

PumaBiotc 21.87 -2.62 -10.7

DemndMda 5.65 -.61 -9.7

DIARYAdvanced 2,351

Declined 715

Unchanged 94

Total issues 3,160

New Highs 254

New Lows 19

3,499,743,414Volume

STOCK EXCHANGE HIGHLIGHTS

Stock Footnotes: g=Dividends and earnings in Canadian dollars .h= Doe not meet continued- listings tandards lf = Latefiling with SEC. n = New in past 52 weeks. pf = Preferred. rs = Stock has undergone a reverse stock split of at least 50 per-cent within the past year. rt = Right to buy security at a specified price. s = Stock has split by at least 20 percent within thelast year. un = Units. vj = In bankruptcy or receivership. wd = When distributed. wi = When issued. wt = Warrants. Mutual Fund Footnotes: b = Fee covering market costs is paid from fund assets. d = Deferred sales charge, or redemptionfee. f = front load (sales charges). m = Multiple fees are charged. NA = not available. p = previous day’s net asset value. s= fund split shares during the week. x = fund paid a distribution during the week. Source: The Associated Press. Sales figures are unofficial.

Australia 1.3592 1.3662

Britain 1.4435 1.4411

Canada 1.2927 1.2965

Euro .8795 .8780

Japan 109.30 108.48

Mexico 18.0018 18.1170

Switzerlnd .9757 .9709

Last Pvs Day

British pound expressed in U.S. dollars. Allothers show dollar in foreign currency.

uu uu

15,200

16,000

16,800

17,600

18,400

N MD J F M A

17,560

17,840

18,120Dow Jones industrialsClose: 17,928.35Change: 222.44 (1.3%)

10 DAYS

DALLAS — Two U.S. senators say oneway to reduce long airport security linesthis summer is for airlines to drop theirfees on checking luggage.

It’s the latest suggestion for dealing withwhat could be a hellish summer at thenation’s airports. Airlines are alreadywarning passengers to arrive at least twohours early to get through security andcatch their flights.

Massachusetts Democrat Edward Mar-key and Connecticut Democrat RichardBlumenthal said Tuesday they asked exec-utives at 12 airlines to drop checked-bagfees this summer.

The senators say suspending the feeswon’t eliminate lines but it’s a start.

A spokeswoman for the nation’s largestairlines called the senators’ proposal amisguided attempt to re-regulate airlinesand warned it could make airline travelmore expensive — fares would rise tooffset the loss of income from fees.

Jean Medina of Airlines for Americasaid it would be better if the Transporta-tion Security Administration had morestaffing at the busiest airports and encour-aged more travelers to sign up for Pre-Check, a program that lets known trav-elers zip through security faster withoutremoving shoes, belts, jackets and laptops.Last week her group encouraged travelersto post pictures of long lines on socialmedia with the hashtag (hash)IHateThe-Wait.

Bag fees have grown rapidly since 2008,when American Airlines became the firstbig carrier to charge for checking even onebag. It was a tool that the then-financiallytroubled industry used to deal with risingfuel prices.

Since then, fuel prices have fallen andairlines have earned record profits. Thebag fees have remained; they brought in$3.8 billion last year, according to govern-ment figures.

Many passengers avoid the fees by car-rying more luggage on the plane, leading tocompetition for limited space in the over-head bins.

Markey and Blumenthal said the TSAtold them that passengers using check-points near airlines that charge bag feeshave 27 percent more rolling carry-on bags.

Medina, the industry spokeswoman,said her group has seen no data to supportthe TSA’s claim. TSA declined to comment.

Long lines aren’t limited to airportswhere the main airlines charge bag fees.Recently passengers tweeted pictures oflong TSA lines at Baltimore and otherairports that are dominated by SouthwestAirlines, which does not charge for thefirst two bags.

Spokesmen for American and Delta AirLines said their airlines were loaningworkers to help TSA with non-screeningduties like handling bins and managingthe lines at checkpoints and even offeringrecommendations for redesigning check-points for better flow.

Senators toairlines:Drop bagfees toshortenairport linesBy David KoenigASSOCIATED PRE SS

Walt Disney Co. reignitedthe fears of jittery mediainvestors with second-quar-ter results that missed ana-lysts’ estimates as profitfrom the ABC broadcastoperation fell and the com-pany shut down its Infinityvideo-games division.

Profit excluding someitems totaled $1.36 a share,compared with a projectionof $1.40, the average of esti-mates compiled by Bloom-berg. It was the first shortfallagainst analysts’ projectionsin five years, according todata compiled by Bloomberg.Disney shares fell 4.7 percentto $101.62 in extended trad-ing.

Disney’s results renewedinvestor concern over theoutlook for broadcast andcable television companies,which have lost viewers andadvertising dollars to onlinemedia. Chief Executive Offi-cer Robert Iger is makingdeals to carry channels likeESPN on online-streamingproviders such as Sling TVto make up for decliningsubscriptions through tradi-tional cable.

“The miss by the medianetworks segment playsupon investors concerns forthis stock,” said Paul Swee-ney, a Bloomberg Intelligenceanalyst. “If the pay-TV bun-dle is fraying and affiliatefees are at risk, then Disneymay be the most exposedsince ESPN is the highestpriced cable network.”

ESPN profitsWhile ESPN kept losing

subscribers in the quarter,the network’s profits rosebecause it has been able todemand higher fees from itsdistributors. The A&E cablenetworks, in which Disneyowns a stake, had smaller

profits than a year earlierbecause of lower ad salesand higher spending onprogramming designed tomake the channels essentialfor cable operators to main-tain in their lineups.

Overall, profit at thecompany’s cable networksrose 12 percent, in part be-cause ESPN spent less onprogramming. The sportsnetwork carried fewer col-lege football games in thequarter, resulting in lowerad sales and also sharplylower costs.

Iger has said his goal is tomake ESPN availablethrough many differentpay-TV providers, and he

said Tuesday on a confer-ence call with investors thatdiscussions with online-streaming companies havebeen “quite productive.” Thecompany announced a legalsettlement Tuesday withVerizon CommunicationsInc. that lets the telephonecarrier continue to market aless- costly basic pay-TVpackage that doesn’t includeESPN.

The company reiterated itsforecast for a mid-single-digit rate of growth in cableprofit for the four yearsending in fiscal 2016.

The closing of the Infinitygame unit, part of the com-pany’s consumer division,resulted in a $147 millionexpense as Disney wrote offits investment in the busi-ness and recorded costs forjob cuts. Infinity combinedcomputer or console gameplay with collectible figu-rines. The closing marks aretreat from the company’sefforts to make consolegames on its own.

Iger said on the call withinvestors that he lost confi-dence in the video-gamebusiness. The division hastwo more games to releasethis month and in June.

Disney reignites investors’fears as results fall shortBy Christopher PalmeriBLOOMBERG NEWS

Patrick T. Fallon / Bloomberg

Vehicles exit The Walt Disney Co. Studios in Burbank,California, on Monday.

NEW YORK — U.S.stocks surged to their biggestgain in two months on Tues-day after the Chinese govern-ment moved to stimulate theworld’s second-largest econo-my. That gave a big boost toenergy, chemicals and ma-chinery companies.

For months investors haveworried about the state ofChina’s economy, which isslowing down after a quar-ter-century of rapid growth.The prospect of greater salesto China lifted companiesthat make basic buildingmaterials, chemicals, build-ing and mining equipment,and aircraft. The price of oilmatched a six-month highand companies that drill foroil and refine it also rose. All10 industrial sectors of theStandard & Poor’s 500 indexfinished higher.

Investors have been takingmoney out of stocks lately,said Bob Doll, chief equitystrategist and senior port-folio manager at NuveenAsset Management. He saidthey were glad to see China’sgovernment do somethingabout its economy.

“It’s just another small

step on the way of Chinaattempting to address theissue,” he said. “This is a rayof sunshine which is need-ed.”

The Dow Jones industrialaverage jumped 222.44points, or 1.3 percent, to17,928.35. The Standard &Poor’s 500 gained 25.70points, or 1.3 percent, to2,084.39. The Nasdaq com-posite index rose 59.67points, or 1.3 percent, to4,809.88.

Stocks overseas tradedmostly higher after China’scabinet approved measuresto boost exports as Beijingstruggles to reduce gluts in

many industries and reversean export decline that threat-ens to cause job losses. Themoves include more banklending, greater tax rebates,and support for export cred-its.

General Electric picked up61 cents, or 2 percent, to$30.48 and aerospace giantBoeing rose $2.62, or 2 per-cent, to $134.72. Companiesthat make chemicals andother basic materials alsorose. Dow Chemical gained70 cents, or 1.4 percent, to$51.54 and Martin MariettaMaterials rose $5.60, or 3.1percent, to $187.85.

U.S. crude rose $1.22, or 2.8

percent, to $44.66 a barrel inNew York. Brent crude, thebenchmark for internationaloil prices, gained $1.89, or 4.3percent, to $45.52 a barrel inLondon. That canceled outlosses for oil on Monday, andU.S. crude matched its high-est price in six months.

Among energy companies,Exxon Mobil added $1.42, or1.6 percent, to $89.99 andHess climbed $3.24, or 5.9percent, to $57.71.

Economic news from theU.S. was mixed. The LaborDepartment said job open-ings in March rose by thelargest amount in eightmonths, but total hiringslowed down. The agencysaid job openings grew 2.7percent to about 5.8 million.However the slower pace ofhiring suggests employerswere more reluctant to fillopen positions as the econo-my grew at a slow pace.

Amazon reached an all-time high after it launched aself-publishing video plat-form called Video Direct.The move could make moneyfor Amazon and buddingfilmmakers in the same wayYouTube has created a com-munity of online celebrities.Amazon climbed $23.50, or3.5 percent, to $703.25.

US stocks make biggest leap since MarchBy Marley JayASSOCIATED PRE SS

Richard Drew / AP file

This Dec. 11, 2014 file photo shows Renaud Laplanche,founder & CEO of Lending Club, as he arrives on thefloor of the New York Stock Exchange.

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ENTERTAINMENT

CHANHASSEN, Minn.— A Minnesota doctorsaw Prince twice in themonth before his death,including the day beforehe died, and prescribedhim medication, accordingto contents of a searchwarrant that were re-vealed Tuesday even asauthorities revisited themusician’s estate.

Dr. Michael Todd Schu-lenberg treated Prince onApril 7 and April 20, andhe prescribed “medica-tions and prescriptions”for the musician, accord-ing to the warrant, whichwas filed Thursday inHennepin County andobtained by at least twonews outlets before au-thorities moved to ensureit was sealed.

Investigators inter-viewed Schulenberg andsearched a suburban Min-neapolis hospital where heworked. The warrant didnot specify what medica-tions were prescribed forPrince or whether he tookthem.

Contents of the warrantwere revealed the sameday that authorities re-turned to Prince’s PaisleyPark home and studio insuburban Minneapoliswhere he was found deadApril 21. A sheriff’s vehicleentered through the gatesof Paisely Park on Tues-day afternoon, followed byabout a dozen unmarkedvehicles. Asked why in-vestigators had returnedto Paisely Park, CarverCounty Sheriff’s ChiefDeputy Jason Kamerudtold The Associated Pressby phone that they were

“being thorough.” Kamerud said he could

not answer questionsabout the search warrantthat names Schulenbergbecause it was supposedto be sealed.

The warrant was car-

ried out at North Memori-al Medical Center in theMinneapolis suburb ofRobbinsdale.

Lesa Bader, a spokes-woman for North Memo-rial Medical Center, saidSchulenberg was a prima-

ry care physician at itsMinnetonka clinic but thathe no longer works for thehealth care system. No oneanswered the door at thedoctor’s home on Tuesdayand a phone message leftfor him wasn’t immedi-ately returned.

Schulenberg’s April 7treatment of Prince camethe day he canceled showsin Atlanta citing illness.He played makeup showsApril 14, then fell ill on theflight home and was takenby ambulance from theplane during an emergen-cy landing Moline, Illinois.

A law enforcementofficial has told the APthat investigators arelooking into whetherPrince died from an over-dose and whether a doctorwas prescribing himdrugs in the weeks beforehis death. The law en-

forcement official hasbeen briefed on the in-vestigation and spoke tothe AP on condition ofanonymity because he wasnot authorized to speak tothe media.

The search warrantnaming Schulenberg seeks“any and all medical re-cords, documents, reports,charts, photographs, pre-scriptions, doctor notesand medical images forPrince Rogers Nelson.”The warrant, signed byCarver County Sheriff’sDetective Chris Nelson,also seeks any and all legalrecords attached to thosefiles.

Schulenberg told Nel-son that tests were per-formed on Prince and thathe had gone to PaisleyPark to drop off the re-sults when he came on thedeath scene.

Minnesota doctor saw Prince, prescribed drugsBy Amy ForlitiASSOCIATED PRE SS

Chris O'meara / AP file

In this Feb. 4, 2007 file photo, Prince performsduring the halftime show at the Super Bowl XLIfootball game at Dolphin Stadium in Miami.

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THE ZAPATA TIMES | Wednesday, May 11, 2016 | A11

FROM THE COVER

any criminal activity athis property and wasunaware of previousillicit activity, recordsstate.

Alaniz allegedly al-lowed state and federalagents to search the prop-erty. The search yieldedpackaging materials in-side the home and in thegarbage bin, records state.

“These packaging ma-terials, plastic wrap andtire wheel grease are

materials consistentlyused by narcotics traffick-ers for concealing narcot-ics to evade canine detec-tion,” states the com-plaint.

Shortly after, agentsdiscovered a large piece ofluggage in the brushbeyond the property’sfence line, records state.Authorities said the lug-gage contained 50 brick-shaped bundles contain-ing cocaine worth$1,573,600. Records al-leged Alaniz agreed to acustodial interview withauthorities.

“Alaniz told agents hewas paid $1,000 to utilizehis property to housenarcotics. Alaniz claimedownership of the narcot-ics that were in the lug-gage behind the proper-ty,” states the complaint.

“Alaniz also stated thatprior to the arrival of lawenforcement, an un-known male subject ap-peared at the residence,took the luggage contain-ing the narcotics from thehouse and placed it in thebrush behind the proper-ty to conceal the narcot-ics.”

COCAINEFrom page A1

still very unclear, Morenosaid.

“No. 1, we need to findout the financial status ofthe city. No. 2, we have torestore trust and dignityand respect. Not just forthe council, but for thecity as a whole,” he said.

A special election willalso have to be set to fillthe two council vacan-cies.

Moreno, 73, said heknows of two vendors

who together are owedalmost $800,000 by thecity but that he has noidea of the city’s otherfinancial liabilities.

One of the council’sfirst tasks will be to hirean interim city managerto replace Jonas. He iscurrently suspendedwithout pay but has notbeen fired, for fear oftriggering an expensiveseverance clause.

“No one has seen acopy of his last contractworked out by him andthe former council. Untilwe see it, I wouldn’t close

that chapter,” Morenoadded.

He said the only cer-tainty is that putting thecity’s affairs back in or-der will not be quick oreasy.

“It’s gonna take time.There’s a lot of work thatneeds to be done. Whenwe find out where we are,we’ll let the communityknow, and by the sametoken, the media, whichhas been very influentialabout getting the infor-mation out about howbad our status was,” hesaid.

RECALLFrom page A1

advocates for child wel-fare.

Emails obtained by TheTexas Tribune show thespecial masters and theirstaff arranged meetingswith state officials for lateApril. Jack approved payfor McGovern and Ryanat $345 per hour, accord-ing to the court record.

Ryan also hired fourstaff members to assisthim: Deborah Fowler,Eileen Crummy, LisaTaylor and MargaretMcHale. McHale receivedcourt approval to charge$305 per hour; the otherthree staff could charge$325 per hour, accordingto an email from staff atthe Texas Department ofFamily and ProtectiveServices.

Ryan and McGovern

declined through aspokesman to commenton this story.

“Special masters arenot permitted, by courtorder, to speak with themedia without priorcourt approval,” saidLonny Hoffman, one ofthe attorneys suing thestate, in an email.

State officials con-firmed the meetings tookplace, over a total of 22billable hours. A spokes-man for the Departmentof Family and ProtectiveServices said the agencyhas not yet been billed forthe work.

This isn’t the first timethe state has been on thehook for the costs of anexternal review of thestate's child welfare sys-tem. In 2014, the statepaid The Stephen Groupto review the operationsof the state’s Child Pro-tective Services agency.

The initial $750,000 con-tract has been renewedtwice, for a total cost of$2.7 million.

In this case, however,state lawmakers had nochoice in approving thecost of the special mas-ters. Lawyers for the stateare appealing Jack's rul-ing but must comply withher orders as the appealprogresses. Republicanleaders have challengedJack’s ruling as an affrontto states' rights.

A spokesman for Gov.Greg Abbott said thecourt ruling was forcingthe state to spend moneyit could have otherwiseused to improve childsafety, such as hiringmore staff. Much of Jack’sruling criticized the statefor failing to hire enoughcaseworkers to keep trackof vulnerable children.

“It’s unfortunate anddisappointing that mil-

lions of dollars that couldhave gone to servingyouth in the Texas fostercare system and hiringmore caseworkers willnow be spent towards thelegally baseless specialmaster process,” Abbottspokesman John Wittmansaid in a prepared state-ment.

First-year caseworkerpay is between $32,000and $36,000 per year,according to the TexasDepartment of Familyand Protective Services.The agency estimates itcosts about $54,000 totrain each caseworker.

Democrats have wel-comed the court’s involve-ment, seeing it as achance to shore up astruggling system. Jackwrote in her ruling thatthe reforms could savethe state money in thelong run.

State Sen. José Rodrí-

guez, D-El Paso, toldcolleagues at an Aprilhearing of the SenateHealth and Human Ser-vices Committee that thestate was simply payingon the back end for itsfailures to offer preven-tive care.

“Every time we have afederal court telling usthat we’re not complying,it ends up costing usmoney. That’s just theway it is,” he said. “Iknow we’re all concernedabout cost, but we alwaystalk about how some-times, prevention that wecould’ve done could’vesaved us a lot of money.”

A spokesman for theDepartment of Familyand Protective Servicessaid the $43,000 estimatewill likely grow becausehe expects the agency tobe billed for some workprior to the orientationsessions. "The special

masters began their workin earnest on April 1,"Patrick Crimmins, thespokesman, said in anemail.

The estimated cost ofthe orientation does notinclude any hours billedfor preparation work ortravel expenses.

Paul Yetter, the leadattorney suing the state,said the special masterswere "gathering the in-formation that theyneed."

"I think the process isgoing very well, and sofar both sides are cooper-ating," he said. "The spe-cial masters are makinglots of progress."

In an email sent April 6to the court, Yetter wrotethat Jack was “hesitant togenerate too much infees” and "expects allinvolved to avoid exces-sive lodging/meal expens-es."

BILLSFrom page A1

MEXICO CITY — Withinweeks of the September 2014disappearance of 43 collegestudents, Mexican authoritieshad rounded up scores of sus-pects and announced they hadsolved the case.

At a hastily called news con-ference, prosecutors showedvideo of drug gang membersconfessing to taking the stu-dents from police, then slaugh-tering them and incinerating thebodies at a junkyard and dump-ing the evidence in a river.

Two independent, interna-tional teams of experts sub-sequently cast doubt on theofficial investigation. Now, thegovernment case has sufferedanother blow: Accusations oftorture.

In previously unseen courtdocuments obtained by TheAssociated Press, 10 of the sus-pects described a chillinglysimilar script: First the ques-tions, then the punches, electricshocks and partial asphyxia-tions with plastic bags; then,finally, the threats to kill theirloved ones unless they con-fessed to stories that backed upthe government’s line.

Some said they were givenplanted evidence or prefabricat-ed stories to support the govern-ment’s conclusions.

Medical reports publishedlast month by the Inter-Amer-ican Human Rights Commissionappear to confirm the allega-tions of torture. Of the 10 casefiles obtained by the AP, thegroup reviewed five, and itfound credible evidence of tor-ture in all of them.

“They were giving me electricshocks in the testicles and allover my body,” one of the sus-pects, Patricio Reyes Landa, agang member who was detaineda month after the students van-ished, told a judge in July, ac-cording to the documents ob-tained by AP. “All this time, itwas about two and a half hours,I was blindfolded and they werehitting me.”

“A person came up and tookoff my blindfold and showed mea photo of my family — my twodaughters, my wife and mybrother,” he said. “He said if Ididn’t do everything they toldme to, they were going to rapemy daughters. ... I told them Iwas going to do everything theyasked.”

Reyes Landa’s testimony iscrucial to the government casebecause he was among the firstto confess to killing the students

and burning their bodies at adump in the town of Cocula,before their charred remainswere tossed in the nearby SanJuan River. Apart from thoseconfessions and a single bonefragment that was linkedthrough DNA testing to one ofthe students, the prosecutionhas almost no other evidence.

Under Mexican law a confes-sion obtained by torture is notadmissible in court.

“If the confessions are tossedout and there is no other evi-dence, basically there is nocase,” said Denise Gonzalez, aspecialist in human rights andinternational law at Mexico’sIbero-American University.

The widely held belief thatMexican security forces usetorture in drug crime investiga-tions was reinforced by video ofan unrelated case circulated onsocial media last month. Itshowed a female soldier and afederal police officer interrogat-ing a young woman while theysmothered her with a plasticbag until she nearly passed out.The army confirmed the authen-ticity of the footage, which itsaid occurred during a massiveFebruary 2015 troop deploymentto combat drug cartels.

In the case of the missingstudents, the torture allegationsinvolve federal police or govern-ment troops who arrested thesuspects on suspicion of ties tothe notoriously violent Guerre-ros Unidos drug cartel. Prosecu-tors say gang members killedthe students after they were

handed over by local police whohad arrested them in the city ofIguala.

Medical reports among thedocuments seen by the AP sup-port the torture allegations.

One, by prosecution doctorswho examined Reyes Landa twomonths after he was detained,said he had bruises, scrapes,scabs and “lesions made by apointed object, similar to thosecaused by the application ofelectric devices to his abdomenand thighs.”

Just as chilling are claims byalleged Guerreros Unidos gangleader Sidronio Casarrubias,who said a detective with theprosecutors’ office abused himfor hours after his arrest inFebruary 2015.

“This man here was one ofthe first to torture me,” Casarru-bias said, according to the docu-ments as he pointed to the de-tective, Gabriel Valle Campos.

“He sat on my stomach andasphyxiated me with blackplastic bags. And he raped mewith a metal object,” Casarru-bias said. “He threatened totorture my family, my children,the same way he was doing tome.”

Eber Betanzos, an assistantprosecutor who is overseeingthe government’s case, said hecould not comment on the alle-gations, adding that it’s up tojudges to evaluate a battery ofpsychological and physical as-sessments undertaken by some90 suspects who claim theywere tortured. A total of 136

suspects were arrested, chargedand are undergoing trials.

Betanzos said 32 of the caseshave enough evidence to startcriminal investigations, mostlyinvolving accusations of torture“against arresting agents otherthan the prosecutors’ office” —meaning federal police or gov-ernment troops.

He said the attorney general’soffice has opened nine investiga-tions so far, mostly involving“injuries that leave marks,”including bruises and abrasions.

Attention has focused onAgustin Garcia Reyes, the firstsuspect to identify the San JuanRiver as the location where thestudents’ charred remains weredumped — and where the lonepiece of physical evidence linkedto the students was said to havebeen found.

The international group ofexperts raised questions abouthis testimony after videos andphotos surfaced showing GarciaReyes walking around the riverwith Tomas Zeron, the head ofthe detectives’ agency, the daybefore prosecutors said bonefragments were found there.

That led to suspicions theevidence was planted. Amid theaccusations of dirty tricks, Ze-ron released a video of his ownshowing himself at the crimescene with Garcia Reyes but notremoving or finding any bones.That was in line with prosecu-tors’ claims that the remainswere found the next day bydivers.

In the documents obtained by

the AP, however, Garcia Reyessaid he was tortured for hoursand coached on what to confesswhen he was taken to the riverabout a month after the studentsdisappeared.

“They put a bag over my headand they began to hit me, and Itold them I didn’t know any-thing,” Garcia Reyes said in thecourt document. “They said,‘You’d better tell us where theyare, because if you don’t we’regoing to kill your wife, your sonand you too.”’

“They took me to the river,and in the truck on the waythere they said, ‘Now, you’regoing to act like you threw thebags (of remains) into the river,and if you don’t, we’re going tokeep hitting you.”’

“We reached the spot andthey were taping it, and I actedas if I had thrown the bags intothe river, and then they took meto where there were some plas-tic bags, and I pointed to themas if I was familiar with them.”

Despite his accusations oftorture, however, Garcia Reyescan be seen walking normally inthe prosecutors’ video, withoutany visible signs of abuse.

Gonzalez, the university hu-man rights specialist, acknowl-edged that it’s possible somesuspects might make up storiesof torture.

But, she added, “in the con-text of Mexico, where torture isgeneralized ... every allegationshould be investigated because,given the context, it is very pos-sible they are true.”

In case of 43 missing students inMexico, suspects allege tortureBy Mark StevensonASSOCIATED PRE SS

Rebecca Blackwell / AP file

In this April 26 file photo, family members and supporters of 43 missing teachers college students carry pictures of the students asthey march to demand the case not be closed and that experts' recommendations about new leads be followed, in Mexico City.

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