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MEXICO
‘El Chapo’ captured Peña Nieto says drug lord has been found By E. EDUARDO CASTILLO AND MARK STEVENSON ASSOCIATED PRESS
MEXICO CITY — The world’s most-wanted drug lord was captured for a third time in a daring raid by Mexican marines Friday, six months after he tunneled out of a maximum security prison in a made-for-Hollywood escape that deeply embarrassed the government and strained ties with the United States. Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto announced the capture of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman using his Twitter account: “mission accomplished: we have him.” Few had thought Guzman would be taken alive, and few now believe Mexico will want to try to hold him a third time
in Mexican prisons. He escaped from maximum-security facilities in 2001 and on July 11, 2015, the second breakout especially humiliating for the Pena Nieto administration, which only held him for less than 18 months. The capture had top Mexican officials at a Foreign Ministry event gleefully embracing and breaking into a spontaneous rendition of the national anthem after Interior Secretary Miguel Osorio Chong delivered the news. No sooner than Guzman was apprehended, calls started for his immediate extradition to the U.S., including from a Republican presidential candidate, Florida Sen. Mark Rubio.
See ‘EL CHAPO’ PAGE 11A
FEDERAL COURT
Roma man indicted Allegedly smuggled immigrants near Zapata By CÉSAR G. RODRIGUEZ THE ZAPATA TIMES
TNS Photo
An image provided by an anonymous source on Jan. 8, 2016 shows Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman Loera handcuffed after his detention in a part of Mexico not yet determined by authorities of the country. Guzman has been recaptured months after his prison escape.
A man from Roma was indicted Tuesday for guiding illegal immigrants at a ranch near Zapata, according to federal court records. A grand jury charged Rigoberto Garcia with one count of conspiracy to transport undocumented people within the United States and three counts of attempt to transport undocumented people for financial gain. Garcia, a U.S. citizen, has arraignment Jan. 14. U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Zapata Border Patrol Station apprehended Garcia and 15 illegal immigrants in the area of Dominguez Ranch near Zapata on Dec. 16. With the assistance of air support, agents detained the group after responding to suspi-
See INDICTED PAGE 11A
US DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
CARRIZO CANE STILL OUT OF CONTROL Cuellar seeks federal funding to nip stalks By KENDRA ABLAZA THE ZAPATA TIMES
Photo courtesy of the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board
Invasive Carrizo cane consumes water resources, does not provide any food sources or nesting habitats for native wildlife and actually increases riverbank erosion and flooding on the Rio Grande.
Stalks of Carrizo cane — which can grow about 20 feet in a year — have been a longtime hindrance for U.S. Customs and Border Protection because they reduce visibility, making it more difficult for agents to catch drug smugglers and immigrants entering the CUELLAR country illegally. State and federal officials are working together to eventually get rid of the non-native stalks, which cover some 1,255 miles along the Rio Grande. U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, said Carrizo cane stalks also consume a lot of water, which could damage the ecological function and biodiversity of the Rio Grande. The plants also do not provide food sources or nesting habitats for native wildlife. They can increase erosion and flooding
along the Rio Grande, according to a statement from Cuellar’s office. The congressman announced Thursday he is seeking help from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security this year to control the growth of Carrizo cane and other invasive species along the Rio Grande. Cuellar said he has been working on this project since 2006. “(Carrizo cane) grows fast (and) very thick,” Cuellar said. “… In either the day or nighttime, you can hide there very easily.” Last year, the Texas Legislature directed the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board to work on an action plan with other agencies. The U.S. House of Representatives’ fiscal year 2016 omnibus appropriations bill also directs CBP to work with Texas Conservation Board and other federal, state and local stakeholders to
See CARRIZO PAGE 11A
FAIRFAX, VIRGINIA
Obama mocks ‘conspiracy’ at forum on gun control By KATHLEEN HENNESSEY AND KEVIN FREKING ASSOCIATED PRESS
FAIRFAX, Va. — President Barack Obama mocked conspiracy theorists and tore into the National Rifle Association for pushing “imaginary fiction,” as he described his plans to tighten gun control rules as modest first steps toward tackling gun violence in America. In a prime-time, televised town hall meeting Thursday, Obama
fielded tough questions from highprofile gun control opponents and supporters alike, often answering with sympathy and without confrontation as he tried to reassure Americans there is a middle ground on a fiercely divisive issue. The town hall featured several well-known figures in the gun debate. Former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who was shot in 2011, stood as her husband, Mark Kelly, asked Obama about confiscation theo-
ries. Taya Kyle, whose late husband was depicted in the film “American Sniper,” asked the president about why he doesn’t highlight falling murder rates. Cleo Pendleton, whose daughter was shot and killed near Obama’s Chicago home, asked about his proposals to stop gun trafficking across state lines. Kimberly Corban, an NRA supporter, told Obama she’d been
See OBAMA PAGE 11A
Photo by Pablo Martinez Monsivais | AP
President Barack Obama, left, during a CNN televised town hall meeting hosted by Anderson Cooper, right, at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., Thursday.
PAGE 2A
Zin brief CALENDAR
SATURDAY, JANUARY 9, 2016
AROUND TEXAS
TODAY IN HISTORY
SATURDAY, JANUARY 9
ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Northside Farmer’s Market will be in the parking lot of North Central Park on International at 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The market will feature free reusable bags and 2016 calendars (as long as they last.) There will also be children’s tent with activities.
Today is Saturday, Jan. 9, the ninth day of 2016. There are 357 days left in the year. Today’s Highlight in History: On Jan. 9, 1916, the World War I Battle of Gallipoli ended after eight months with an Ottoman Empire victory as Allied forces withdrew. On this date: In 1788, Connecticut became the fifth state to ratify the U.S. Constitution. In 1861, Mississippi became the second state to secede from the Union, the same day the Star of the West, a merchant vessel bringing reinforcements and supplies to Federal troops at Fort Sumter, South Carolina, retreated because of artillery fire. In 1913, Richard Milhous Nixon, the 37th president of the United States, was born in Yorba Linda, California. In 1914, the County of Los Angeles opened the country’s first public defender’s office. In 1931, Bobbi Trout and Edna May Cooper broke an endurance record for female aviators as they returned to Mines Field in Los Angeles after flying a Curtiss Robin monoplane continuously for 122 hours and 50 minutes. In 1945, during World War II, American forces began landing on the shores of Lingayen Gulf in the Philippines as the Battle of Luzon got underway, resulting in an Allied victory over Imperial Japanese forces. In 1968, the Surveyor 7 space probe made a soft landing on the moon, marking the end of the American series of unmanned explorations of the lunar surface. In 1987, the White House released a Jan. 1986 memorandum prepared for President Ronald Reagan by Lt. Col. Oliver L. North showing a link between U.S. arms sales to Iran and the release of American hostages in Lebanon. In 1997, a Comair commuter plane crashed 18 miles short of the Detroit Metropolitan Airport, killing all 29 people on board. Ten years ago: Confirmation hearings opened in Washington for Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito. “The Phantom of the Opera” leapt past “Cats” to become the longest-running show in Broadway history (a record that still stands). Five years ago: Federal prosecutors brought charges against Jared Loughner, the man accused of attempting to assassinate Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., and killing six people at a political event in Tucson the day before. One year ago: French security forces shot and killed two al-Qaida-linked brothers suspected of carrying the rampage at the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo that had claimed 12 lives, the same day a gunman killed four people at a Paris kosher grocery store before being killed by police. Today’s Birthdays: Author Judith Krantz is 88. Football Hall-of-Famer Bart Starr is 82. Sportscaster Dick Enberg is 81. Folk singer Joan Baez is 75. Rock musician Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin) is 72. Actor J.K. Simmons is 61. Nobel Peace laureate Rigoberto Menchu is 57. Rock singer-musician Dave Matthews is 49. Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, is 34. Actress Nina Dobrev is 27. Thought for Today: “Love me when I least deserve it, because that’s when I really need it.” — Swedish proverb.
MONDAY, JANUARY 11 Chess Club at the LBV-Inner City Branch Library, 202 W. Plum, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Free for all ages and all skill levels. Basic instruction is offered. Call John at 795-2400 x2521 for more information. Knitting Club at the LBV-Inner City Branch Library, 202 W. Plum, from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Learn how to knit scarves, crochet hats and much more. Knit at your own pace. Instruction is available and supplies are limited. Call John at 795-2400 x2521 for more information. Intermediate computer class at McKendrick Ochoa Salinas Branch Library, 1920 Palo Blanco St., from 10:30-11:30 a.m. Learn to create an account on Facebook, add friends and post to your timeline. Basic computer proficiency is required. Mouse practice and keyboard confidence class at McKendrick Ochoa Salinas Branch Library, 1920 Palo Blanco St., from 2-3 p.m. Learn to use the mouse and perfect your typing skills. No prior computer experience is required. Open language lab class at McKendrick Ochoa Salinas Branch Library, 1920 Palo Blanco St., from 4-5 p.m. Learn a language by using the Mango Online Language Learning System. Choose from more than 70 languages. Library card preferred. Deadline to pre-order tickets for “The Messenger” screening at 1:30 p.m. January 18 at Cinemark Theater, Mall Del Norte. Su Rynard’s wide-ranging and contemplative documentary explores our deep-seated connection to birds and warns that the uncertain fate of songbirds might mirror our own. View trailer and purchase tickets at https://tugg.com/events/81897. To bring this groundbreaking documentary to Laredo for a one time only screening, 73 tickets need to be sold by January 11.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 12 Computer Basics class at the Laredo Public Library, 1120 E. Calton Rd., from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. in Classroom B on the second floor. Classes are free. Seating is limited and first come first served. No registration required. Call 795-2400 x2242 for more information. Rock wall climbing at LBV Inner City Branch Library, 202 W. Plum St., from 3:30 – 5:30 p.m. For more information, call 956-795-2400 x2520. Join the MOS Library Knitting Circle at McKendrick Ochoa Salinas Branch Library, 1920 Palo Blanco St., from 1-3 p.m. Please bring yarn and knitting needles. For more information, contact Analiza Perez-Gomez at analiza@laredolibrary.org or 795-2400 x2403. Crochet for Kids at McKendrick Ochoa Salinas Branch Library, 1920 Palo Blanco St., from 4-5 p.m. Please bring yarn and a crochet needle. For more information, contact Analiza Perez-Gomez at analiza@laredolibrary.org or 795-2400 x2403. Science demonstrations for kids at McKendrick Ochoa Salinas Branch Library, 1920 Palo Blanco St., from 5-6 p.m. For more information, contact Analiza Perez-Gomez at analiza@laredolibrary.org or 795-2400 x2403.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13 The Laredo Vet Center (part of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs) will be hosting an Open House from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at North Town Professional Plaza, Laredo Vet Center, 6999 McPherson Road, Suite 102. This event is meant to inform the community of mental health services available to eligible veterans and their families.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 14 Preschool Read & Play at McKendrick Ochoa Salinas Branch Library, 1920 Palo Blanco St., from 11 a.m.–12 p.m. Story time and crafts for preschoolers. For more information, contact Priscilla Garcia at priscilla@laredolibrary.org or 795-2400 x2403. Family Story Time & Crafts at McKendrick Ochoa Salinas Branch Library, 1920 Palo Blanco St., from 4-5 p.m. For more information, contact Priscilla Garcia at priscilla@laredolibrary.org or 795-2400 x2403. The Laredo Area Retired School Employees Association will hold its monthly meeting.
Photo by Rodger Mallison | New York Times
Tonya Couch, mother of the Texas teenager known for using an “affluenza” defense in a fatal drunken-driving case, appears in court before state District Judge Wayne Salvant, in Fort Worth, Texas, Friday. Couch was arraigned on a charge of hindering apprehension before Salvant, who scheduled another hearing for Monday.
‘Affluenza’ mom complains By EMILY SCHMALL ASSOCIATED PRESS
FORT WORTH — A “woman with means” who was arrested at a Mexican beach resort city with her fugitive teenage son who invoked “affluenza” as a defense after killing four people in a drunken-driving wreck has complained about the conditions of her Texas jail cell, a sheriff said Friday. “She expressed a slight displeasure about her accommodations, and I told her this was a jail and not a resort,” Tarrant County Sheriff Dee Anderson said at a news conference. Tonya Couch, 48, and her 18-year-old son, Ethan Couch, have been the objects of derision since Ethan was sentenced to probation, rather than jail time, for the 2013 wreck. The case drew renewed rancor when
the mother and son fled to Mexico after a video surfaced that appeared to show Ethan Couch, fresh from a rehabilitation center, at a party where people were drinking. If Couch drank alcohol, he violated the terms of his probation. Tonya Couch made an initial appearance in a Texas courtroom Friday on a charge of hindering the apprehension of a felon. She did not enter a plea because her attorney was not present for the arraignment. Tarrant County Judge Wayne Salvant advised Couch of the charge against her and asked whether she understood. The mother, wearing a yellow jail jumpsuit, said she did. Salvant set bond at $1 million and Couch’s attorney, Stephanie Patten, filed a motion asking for the bond to be reduced. “We think anything $25,000 or under would be fair,” Patten told reporters.
2 killed when police chase ends in head-on crash
Man lived with dead mom since Thanksgiving
Retail gasoline prices in Texas stay at $1.76
MIDLOTHIAN — A police chase ended in a head-on collision between the pursued van and a pickup truck that left both drivers dead. Police say officers were pursuing a van stolen Friday from a construction site when it veered across a median on U.S. 287 near Midlothian, slammed head-on into the oncoming truck and burst into flames.
HOUSTON — A Houston-area man has told authorities that he lived with the body of his elderly mother since her death around Thanksgiving. Harris County sheriff ’s deputies on Thursday night located the woman’s body after another relative learned of the death and contacted law officers. Investigators are trying to determine when and how the woman died.
COPPELL — Retail gasoline prices across Texas this week remain the same as last week, at $1.76 for a gallon of unleaded fuel. AAA Texas on Thursday reported that the statewide average is 19 cents less per gallon than last year. AAA Texas said that drivers in Dallas are paying the most on average at $1.83 per gallon.
LUBBOCK — Texas Tech University President M. Duane Nellis will step down this month but remain on the faculty. Texas Tech University System Chancellor Robert Duncan on Friday announced the resignation of Nellis, effective Jan. 22. No reason was given for the decision by Nellis to quit as head of the school in Lubbock, a job he’s held since June 2013.
CORPUS CHRISTI — A Texas thrift store worker must serve 60 years in prison for producing child pornography by recording customers changing clothes in dressing rooms. Prosecutors say Aleman in 2014 attached a small video recorder to a shopping cart. Aleman positioned the cart under the bottom gap of the dressing room door.
FORT WORTH — A Fort Worth-area father has been found guilty of using a box cutter to carve a pentagram into his 6year-old son’s back in 2012. Forty-two-year-old Brent Bartel, of Richland Hills, was convicted Thursday of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon on a family member and injury to a child. — Compiled from AP reports
Texas Tech University president resigns
Thrift store worker gets 60 years for child porn
Father carved pentagram into son’s back
AROUND THE NATION Sheriffs meet with leaders of Oregon occupation BURNS, Ore. — Three Oregon sheriffs met with leaders of an armed group to try to persuade them to end their occupation of a federal wildlife refuge after many local residents made it plain that’s what they want. But it was unclear whether the meeting Thursday at a snowy intersection in southeastern Oregon would lead to an end of the occupation by Ammon Bundy’s group any time soon. “There are some positives that could come out of this,” Harney County Sheriff David Ward, accompanied by colleagues from two other counties, told Bundy and his group. “Before this thing turns into something negative, which would ruin all of that, I think we need to find a peaceful resolution to help you guys get out of here,” Ward said. Bundy said his group poses a
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Ryan Bundy, one of the sons of Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy, walks through the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge Friday, near Burns, Ore. He is the leader of a small, armed group occupying a national wildlife refuge in Oregon. threat to no one. He also said his demands that federal land in Harney County be turned over to local residents to manage are being ignored. “I didn’t come to argue,” Ward said. Bundy said neither had he. Ward offered to escort Bundy
and his followers out of the refuge, which Bundy scoffed at. “I’m not afraid to go out of the state,” Bundy told reporters after the meeting. “I don’t need an escort.” — Compiled from AP reports
SUBSCRIPTIONS/DELIVERY (956) 728-2555 The Zapata Times is distributed on Saturdays to 4,000 households in Zapata County. For subscribers of the Laredo Morning Times and for those who buy the Laredo Morning Times at newsstands, the Zapata Times is inserted. The Zapata Times is free. The Zapata Times is published by the Laredo Morning Times, a division of The Hearst Corporation, P.O. Box 2129, Laredo, Texas 78044. Phone (956) 728-2500. The Zapata office is at 1309 N. U.S. Hwy. 83 at 14th Avenue, Suite 2, Zapata, TX 78076. Call (956) 765-5113 or e-mail thezapatatimes.net
Local and State
SATURDAY, JANUARY 9, 2016
THE ZAPATA TIMES 3A
Clays for Kids tournament SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
Schedule of events
The Boys & Girls Club of Zapata is hosting its 9th Annual Clays for Kids skeet shooting tournament Saturday, Jan. 30. Along with the skeet competition, there will also be a barbecue cook-off. The Boys & Girls Club is looking for sponsors for this event. To be a Caregiver Sponsor is $1,000 and includes one shooting team and one station sponsor. To be a Youth Station Sponsor is $500 and includes one Youth Shooting Team and Station Sponsor. Please make all checks payable to Boys & Girls Club of Zapata. Participants may register at bgcazapata.com.
7-7:45 a.m.: Check-In & Late Registration 8 a.m.: 1st Flight 11 a.m.: 2nd Flight 2 p.m.: 3rd Flight
Top shooters of each class (Lewis Class A, B, C, D) receive a prize
Lewis Class scoring system
Sporting clay information
In the case of tie, a shootoff will determine top shooter honors.
Entry fee: $120/shooter: 5 man teams $60/shooter: youth 5 man teams (youth teams must have a coach or sponsor present) All participants must be signed in by 7:30 a.m.
Main course
Sporting clay awards 1st Prize: $1,500 2nd Prize: $1,000 3rd Prize: $500
12 stands with 100 birds Youth course: 6 stands with 100 birds Practice course all day: $25 for 50 birds Shooters are required to provide their own ammo (7 1⁄2, 8 or 9 only) ATVs and golf carts are recommended but will not be provided. Firearm safety will be
observed (actions when not on line).
open
Cook-off information Entry fee: $200 Per Team BBQ pits can be set up Friday, Jan. 29 from 12 to 5 p.m. BBQ pits must be set up by 8 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 30. Main entrée: Fajitas: 10 pounds Chicken: 10 whole Pork ribs: 10 whole Sides: Pan de campo Beans
Cook-off overall awards Cooking champion: $1,000 Second place: $600 Third place: $400
Judge shot, seeks answers ASSOCIATED PRESS
AUSTIN — A judge shot in the driveway of her Austin home has returned to a county courthouse to seek answers about why she and other judges weren’t warned they might be in danger. District Judge Julie Kocurek went to the Travis County criminal courthouse Thursday for the first time since she was attacked outside her home Nov. 6. She and other judges say they did not find out about a threat called into District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg’s office three weeks before Kocurek was shot. They met privately with Lehmberg and Sheriff Greg Hamilton on Thursday for two hours. District Judge Brenda Kennedy, who called the meeting, said it became
Investigators with Lehmberg’s office looked into the threat and wrote a report that said they thought the potential target was a male judge involved in a hearing outside the county, based on the tip. clear that Lehmberg and Hamilton weren’t told about the threat by their staffs. The judges are also seeking to establish a more formal protocol on how future threats are handled. “There is a recognition that nothing like this has ever happened before,” Kennedy said. Prosecutors say Chimene Onyeri, who is charged in a Houston-area fatal shooting, is the lone suspect in Kocurek’s shooting, though he has
not been charged. His attorney said he has been framed by an ex-girlfriend and had no motivation to harm a judge. Investigators with Lehmberg’s office looked into the threat and wrote a report that said they thought the potential target was a male judge involved in a hearing outside the county, based on the tip. The caller said Onyeri was threatening to hurt a judge, but the investigators learned his case was in Kocurek’s court. According to the inves-
tigative report, the caller also said the threat was the result of a hearing two or three weeks earlier, but the investigators said it had been two years since Onyeri appeared in Travis County. An investigator said in the report that he didn’t believe there was a “credible threat to any Travis County district judge.” A Travis County Sheriff ’s Office spokesman said judges weren’t notified because investigators deemed the threat not credible.
Ranching presentation set for today SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
Nuevo Santander Genealogical Society will be hosting a presentation by Ms. Pamela Sheeran today at 2 p.m. at the Zapata County Museum of History, 805 N. U.S. Hwy 83. An avid history buff, Sheeran enjoys researching the history of South Texas ranching communities. She is quite familiar with the Texas Family Land Heritage Program sponsored by the Texas Department of Agriculture, according to a news release. The Family Land Heritage Program honors families who have owned and operated a continuous agricultural operation for 100 years or more. Every year TDA hosts a ceremony at the Texas State Capitol to celebrate and commemorate the families who have passed down their proud Texas legacy from generation to gener-
ation. Sheeran will present a short history of the Texas Family Land Heritage Program. She will also review the requirements that are necessary to qualify for the program. She will review each item of the application including the questions, and how to locate the necessary documents to support the family’s ranching history of 100 years or more. There will also be displays of awards received by previous Texas Family Land Heritage Award recipients. Landowners/managers who have property that has been in the family for over 100 years and are currently operating it for agricultural purposes are encouraged to attend this meeting and see how we can assist you in applying for this recognition. For more information, contact Amparo Montes Gutierrez at 956-765- 8538.
Mountain bike challenge slated SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
Next Saturday, Jan. 16, experienced bikers and novices alike are invited to participate in the Rio Mountain Bike Challenge in Rio Grande City. Registration is now open for both adult and youth races. The adult category is a 12-16 mile mountain bike course. The youth race is
on a 3-mile course. Kids age 7-14 qualify. The entry fee is $25 for adults and $10 for kids. There will also be music and food at the event. Register online at cityofrgc.com or on site the day of the race. For more information, contact Sara M. Hernandez, tourism director for Rio Grande City, at 956487-0672.
PAGE 4A
Zopinion
SATURDAY, JANUARY 9, 2016
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR SEND YOUR SIGNED LETTER TO EDITORIAL@LMTONLINE.COM
OP-ED
OTHER VIEWS
Guns are our shared responsibility By BARACK OBAMA NEW YORK TIMES
The epidemic of gun violence in our country is a crisis. Gun deaths and injuries constitute one of the greatest threats to public health and to the safety of the American people. Every year, more than 30,000 Americans have their lives cut short by guns. Suicides. Domestic violence. Gang shootouts. Accidents. Hundreds of thousands of Americans have lost brothers and sisters, or buried their own children. We’re the only advanced nation on earth that sees this kind of mass violence with this frequency. A national crisis like this demands a national response. Reducing gun violence will be hard. It’s clear that common-sense gun reform won’t happen during this Congress. It won’t happen during my presidency. Still, there are steps we can take now to save lives. And all of us — at every level of government, in the private sector and as citizens — have to do our part. We all have a responsibility. On Tuesday, I announced new steps I am taking within my legal authority to protect the American people and keep guns out of the hands of criminals and dangerous people. They include making sure that anybody engaged in the business of selling firearms conducts background checks, expanding access to mental health treatment and improving gun safety technology. These actions won’t prevent every act of violence, or save every life — but if even one life is spared, they will be well worth the effort. Even as I continue to take every action possible as president, I will also take every action I can as a citizen. I will not campaign for, vote for or support any candidate, even in my own party, who does not support commonsense gun reform. And if the 90 percent of Americans who do support common-sense gun reforms join me, we will elect the leadership we deserve. All of us have a role to play — including gun owners. We need the vast majority of responsible gun owners who grieve with us after every mass shooting, who support common-sense gun safety and who feel that their views are not being properly represented, to stand with us and demand that leaders heed the voices of the people they are supposed to represent. The gun industry also needs to do its part. And that starts with manufacturers. As Americans, we hold consumer goods to high standards to keep our families and communities safe. Cars have to meet safety and emissions requirements. Food has to be clean and safe. We will not end the cycle of gun violence until we demand that the gun industry take simple
actions to make its products safer as well. If a child can’t open a bottle of aspirin, we should also make sure she can’t pull the trigger of a gun. Yet today, the gun industry is almost entirely unaccountable. Thanks to the gun lobby’s decades of efforts, Congress has blocked our consumer products safety experts from being able to require that firearms have even the most basic safety measures. They’ve made it harder for the government’s public health experts to conduct research on gun violence. They’ve guaranteed that manufacturers enjoy virtual immunity from lawsuits, which means that they can sell lethal products and rarely face consequences. As parents, we wouldn’t put up with this if we were talking about faulty car seats. Why should we tolerate it for products — guns — that kill so many children each year? At a time when manufacturers are enjoying soaring profits, they should invest in research to make guns smarter and safer, like developing microstamping for ammunition, which can help trace bullets found at crime scenes to specific guns. And like all industries, gun manufacturers owe it to their customers to be better corporate citizens by selling weapons only to responsible actors. Ultimately, this is about all of us. We are not asked to perform the heroism of 15-yearold Zaevion Dobson from Tennessee, who was killed before Christmas while shielding his friends from gunfire. We are not asked to display the grace of the countless victims’ families who have dedicated themselves to ending this senseless violence. But we must find the courage and the will to mobilize, organize and do what a strong, sensible country does in response to a crisis like this one. All of us need to demand leaders brave enough to stand up to the gun lobby’s lies. All of us need to stand up and protect our fellow citizens. All of us need to demand that governors, mayors and our representatives in Congress do their part. Change will be hard. It won’t happen overnight. But securing a woman’s right to vote didn’t happen overnight. The liberation of African-Americans didn’t happen overnight. Advancing the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans has taken decades’ worth of work. Those moments represent American democracy, and the American people, at our best. Meeting this crisis of gun violence will require the same relentless focus, over many years, at every level. If we can meet this moment with that same audacity, we will achieve the change we seek. And we will leave a stronger, safer country to our children.
COLUMN
Ted Cruz had the worst week By CHRIS CILLIZZA THE WASHINGTON POST
WASHINGTON — Everything was going exactly according to plan for Ted Cruz and his presidential campaign. Until, suddenly, the question of whether he could actually serve as president — an issue that’s percolated around Cruz for years but had remained on the back burner during the campaign — boiled over. Cruz was born in Canada. Calgary, to be specific. His mother was and remains an American citizen. That makes Cruz a citizen.
But does it also mean he fits the definition of a "natural born citizen," as the Constitution requires America’s presidents to be? That is the question that Donald Trump — of course — raised this past week, first in an interview with The Washington Post and then in roughly 2 million follow-up interviews. "Republicans are going to have to ask themselves the question: Do we want a candidate who could be tied up in court for two years?" Trump said. "That’d be a big problem." Later in the week Trump tweeted this
advice to Cruz: "Go to court now & seek Declaratory Judgment." Thanks, Donald! Cruz initially tried to laugh the whole thing off, tweeting a video of Fonzie from "Happy Days" jumping the shark — Internet-speak for when something has passed its sell-by date, culturally speaking. But then he put out a more serious statement insisting that "people will continue to make political noise about it, but as a legal matter, it’s quite straightforward." That didn’t stop Sen. John McCain, long at dag-
gers drawn with the senator from Texas, from twisting the knife during a radio interview. "I am not a constitutional scholar on that, but I think it’s worth looking into," he said of Cruz’s eligibility. Fighting back against insinuations that he might present a problem for Republicans if he is the nominee was not the way Cruz wanted to spend a week this close to the Iowa caucuses. Ted Cruz, for being birthered by the master, you had the worst week in Washington. Congrats, or something.
COMMENTARY
New deportation raids unfair By HASSAN AHMAD TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE
The Department of Homeland Security has begun launching raids against undocumented immigrants, including many women and children, and is rushing them into deportation proceedings. As many as 121 asylum-seekers have been taken into custody in Georgia, North Carolina and Texas. The raids were announced two days before Christmas, and families began being targeted right after New Year’s Day. The government has been deploying female officers accompanied by medical
staff, using police cruisers equipped with car seats — a clear indication of the "threat level" the targeted immigrants pose. Why is DHS targeting families fleeing horrific violence in Central America, people who had no choice but to run? According to a Jan. 4 statement by DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson, the crackdown is a response to a spike in the number of asylum-seekers presenting themselves at the border. "Our borders are not open to illegal migration," he said. "If you come here illegally, we will send you back consistent with our laws and values." He said the current raids target those
with "final orders of removal." But his statement is profoundly misleading. First of all, presenting oneself at the border to claim asylum is not "illegal immigration." A person fleeing persecution is supposed to present herself to an immigration officer to claim asylum. Following the law is not illegal. Secondly, it has been a matter of longstanding policy and practice to treat recent entrants with no criminal record as a low priority for removal. But the 2016 raids are indeed focusing on recent entrants, wrongly treating them as if they were a national security threat or people with exten-
sive and felonious criminal records. This flies in the face of common sense. And even more troubling is that these orders of deportation — supposedly final — are being issued with levels of due process one might expect to see in a country like Saudi Arabia. Common features include mislabeled notices, improper service, coercion and woefully inadequate legal representation. Many of the recipients may well qualify for asylum or other protection — but are not given a chance to fairly make their case. What, then, is DHS trying to prove, going after children and families?
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CLASSIC DOONESBURY (1985) | GARRY TRUDEAU
SATURDAY, JANUARY 9, 2016
THE ZAPATA TIMES 5A
PÁGINA 6A
Zfrontera ‘EL CHAPO’
Ribereña en Breve
Logran captura
SOCIEDAD GENEALÓGICA
La Sociedad Genealógica Nuevo Santander informa que se reunirán hoy sábado 9 de enero a las 2 p.m. en 805 N Main St/ US Hwy 83. El tema será “Texas Land Heritage Award”. Se tendrá una presentación a cargo de Pamela Sheeran. La sociedad indica que se invita especialmente a quienes tienen una granja o rancho que ha funcionado más de 50 años.
RETO RIO MTB
El sábado 16 de enero se realizará el Rio MTB Challenge en el Rio Grande City Trails de Rio Grande City. La cuota de participación es de 25 dólares, para adultos, y 10 dólares para niños (de 7 a 14 años de edad). Habrá música, comida y más. Inscríbase en cityofrgc.com.
SÁBADO 9 DE ENERO DE 2016
POR MARK STEVENSON ASSOCIATED PRESS
MÉXICO — El presidente mexicano, Enrique Peña Nieto, informó el viernes en su cuenta de Twitter que Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán fue recapturado, siete meses después de que el capo del narcotráfico escapó de una cárcel de máxima seguridad el pasado mes de julio. “Misión cumplida: lo tenemos. Quiero informar a los mexicanos que Joaquín Guzmán Loera ha sido detenido”, indicó Peña Nieto. Guzmán fue localizado después de un enfrentamiento de presuntos delincuentes y la Marina en la ciudad de Los Mochis, en su estado natal de Sinaloa, en el noroccidente de México, confirmó un funcionario federal que pidió el anonimato por no
estar autorizado a dar declaraciones. Horas antes de que el presidente mexicano diera la noticia vía twitter, la Marina había informado de ese operativo pero se limitó a decir que cinco sospechosos habían resultado muertos en un operativo en el que también fue herido un militar. En un comunicado, señaló que los hechos ocurrieron cuando las fuerzas armadas, ante una denuncia ciudadana, acudieron a una vivienda de Los Mochis donde fueron agredidos con armas de fuego desde el interior. Al repeler el ataque, cinco atacantes murieron y seis más fueron detenidos. Además fueron incautados cuatro vehículos, ocho armas largas, un arma corta, municiones y un lanzacohetes.
Foto por Marco Ugarte | AP
En la imagen de archivo del 16 de julio de 2015, se observa un anuncio de recompensa por la captura del capo mexicano Joaquín ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán, cuya detención fue anunciada el viernes.
COMUNIDAD
TIRO AL DISCO
TRADICIONES
El Boys and Girls Club of Zapata invita al Noveno Torneo de Tiro al Disco (Sporting Clay) que se realizará el sábado 30 de enero. La cuota de entrada es de 120 dólares para equipos con 5 tiradores adultos y 60 dólares para equipos con cinco tiradores jóvenes – equipos juveniles deben contar con un entrenador o patrocinador presente. Participantes deben estar registrados para las 7:30 a.m. el día del evento, y deberán llevar sus propias municiones 7 ½, 8 y 9 solamente. El horario de actividades será de 7 a.m. a 7:45 a.m. el registro; 8 a.m. primera etapa; 11 a.m., segunda etapa; 2 p.m., tercera etapa. Puede inscribirse en el sitio bgczapata.com. Habrá premios.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Foto de cortesía | Sociedad Genealógica Nuevo Santander
La imagen muestra una colección de la Sociedad Genealógica Nuevo Santander. El grupo se reúne hoy para presentar el tema Family Land Heritage. Se analizarán los requisitos para participar en programa del Capitolio.
Honrarán a familias centenarias TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
L
as familias con años de tradición en el área agrícola tendrán la oportunidad de ser reconocidas por el Departamento de Agricultura de Texas (TDA, por sus siglas en inglés). Como cada año, a través del programa “Family Land Heritage” de TDA, se reconocerá a las familias que han sido propietario/ operadores de una granja o rancho por 100 años o más, durante una ceremonia en el Capitolio.
Este evento tiene como finalidad celebrar y conmemorar a las familias que han pasado el legado tejano a las nuevas generaciones. Con motivo de este evento, la Sociedad Genealógica Nuevo Santander, realizará una exposición sobre los requisitos para ser candidatos del reconocimiento durante su primera reunión hoy sábado 9 de enero a las 2 p.m. en 805 N Main St/ US Hwy 83. La exposición contará con la participación de Pamela Sheeran, ávida aficionada de la historia y espe-
FERIA CONDADO ZAPATA
La Feria del Condado de Zapata elegirá a sus representantes de belleza a inicios del 2016. El Certámen de Belleza para Jr. Royalty se celebrará el 7 de febrero; en tanto que el Concurso para Reinas de la Feria del Condado de Zapata se celebrará el 28 de febrero. Ambos eventos se realizarán a las 2 p.m. en el Auditorio de Zapata High School.
PERIODO DE REGISTRO
Agricultores y ganaderos son invitados a participar en el periodo general de inscripción para el Programa de Reserva de Conservación (CRP, por sus siglas en inglés) que está vigente actualmente y concluye el 26 de febrero. Para más información sobre los programas de conservación del FSA visite una oficina FSA de su localidad o bien el sitio www.fsa.usda.gov/conservation.
Sentencian a ex entrenador de Donna HS POR KRISTIAN HERNANDEZ
IMPUESTO PREDIAL
El gobierno municipal de Nueva Ciudad Guerero, México, informa que es tiempo de realizar el pago del impuesto predial correspondiente al año en curso. Por tal motivo se estarán ofreciendo descuentos que aplicarán de la siguiente manera: 15% de descuento por pronto pago en el impuesto del corriente año, durante los meses de enero y febrero. 8% de descuento por pronto pago en el impuesto del corriente año, durante los meses marzo y abril. 100% de descuento en los recargos generados en predios que tienen tiempo sin pagar impuestos, durante los meses de enero y febrero, exclusivamente. Representantes de la oficina igualmente visitarán Nuevo Laredo, México, del 25 al 29 de enero a fin de atender a contribuyentes que viven en esa ciudad.
CONDADO DE HIDALGO
cializada en el programa Family Land Heritage. Sheeran presentará una breve reseña del programa Texas Family Land Heritage. Igualmente hablará de los requisitos necesarios para calificar al programa. Ella revisará cada requisito, aclarará dudas y responderá preguntas. La sociedad indica que se invita especialmente a quienes tienen una granja o rancho que haya funcionado por más de 50 años. Para más información llame a Amparo Montes Gutiérrez, al (956) 7658538.
EDINBURG— Un ex entrenador de Donna High School fue condenado y sentenciado a cinco años de libertad condicional y una multa de 1.000 dólares, por haber mantenido relaciones sexuales con una estudiante de 17 años de edad. Guillermo Arriaga, de 39 años, se declaró culpable de relación inapropiada entre un educador y una estudiante, un delito de segundo grado, ante el Juez de la Corte de Distrito Romeo Flores. Arriaga enfrentaba hasta 20 años en prisión y una fianza de 10.000 dólares, pero la Oficina del Alguacil de Distrito del Condado de Hidalgo le ofreció una reducción de sentencia a cambio de una declaración de culpabilidad. “Este caso fue tratado de manera diferente en cuanto a la negociación de la declaración de culpabilidad”, dijo la Fiscal de Distrito Asistente, Savannah González. “La víctima era mayor de edad cuando ocurrió la relación y a pesar de que él trabajaba en la misma escuela, no era su maestro y no hubo actividad sexual en el interior de la escuela”. El mismo caso fue tratado por la División de Crímenes Especiales de la oficina del fiscal. González dijo que se reunieron con los padres de la
adolescente, quienes concordaron con la oficina gubernamental en este caso. Los padres aún tienen un caso pendiente en la corte federal en relación a las acusaciones contra Arriaga y el distrito escolar el año pasado. Los padres de la adolescente llamaron a la policía el 16 de enero de 2015, después de encontrar una puerta abierta y huellas alrededor de su casa, en la cuadra 400 de Pepper Tree, que llevaban a la habitación de su hija. Los padres preguntaron a la adolescente, quien admitió haber tenido relaciones con Arriaga alrededor de cinco veces en diferentes lugares, incluyendo su residencia, señala la querella. “La mañana del 16 de enero de 2015, fue la ocasión más reciente en la que ella tuvo relaciones sexuales con Arriaga”, señala la querella. “Los encuentros comenzaron después de su cumpleaños en noviembre”. González dijo que Arriaga y la joven se conocieron durante un gimnasio de verano en la escuela, pero no comenzaron a tener relaciones sexuales hasta el cumpleaños 17 de la joven. Debido a que Arriaga no fue condenado por un crimen sexual, no se le pidió que se registrara como agresor sexual, dijo González. (Escriba a Kristian Hernandez a khernandez@themonitor.com)
COLUMNA
Tamaulipas sirve de campaña para Mina POR RAÚL SINENCIO CHÁVEZ ESPECIAL PARA TIEMPO DE ZAPATA
Con tan solo medio año en pie de lucha, Xavier Mina se convirtió en insurgente de primera línea. Es el actual territorio de Tamaulipas el cual sirve de plataforma a una de las campañas más emblemáticas de la gesta emancipadora. El ejército estaba compuesto por 300 internacionalistas, quienes viajaban a bordo de diversas embarcaciones. La primera de ellas, “Cleopatra”, llega al río de las Palmas el 11 de abril de 1817. Viene a bordo el joven Mina, que con el cuerpo rebelde ocupa Soto la Marina. Algunos deponen las armas, mientras varios lugareños deciden enrolarse. Durante el trayecto tie-
rra adentro acumula triunfos que reavivan la llama independentista. Alcanza el Bajío y forma mancuerna con Pedro Moreno. Ambos infligen consecutivos reveses a las huestes virreinales. Consiguen prevalecer y toman el rancho del Venadito, donde Moreno muere. Xavier muere fusilado el 11 de noviembre de 1817.
Resistencia En Soto la Marina dejó improvisada fortificación. Al mando del catalán José Sardá, auxiliándolo fray Servando Teresa de Mier, su reducido destacamento enfrenta, hacia mediados de junio, el sitio de 1.600 oponentes. No obstante, con menos de 40 efectivos protagonizan heroica resis-
tencia, pese a la superioridad numérica de los sitiadores. Aparte de los necesarios pertrechos, el guerrillero desembarca, desde Inglaterra, una imprenta, que para esa época era “portátil”. Hecha con piezas de madera y hierro, reúne también gran cantidad de letras o caracteres en distintos tipos y tamaños. En virtud de las muchas restricciones impuestas por la corona española, resulta novedoso el invento de Gutenberg y se le llega a considerar la primera imprenta operada en Tamaulipas, Nuevo León, Coahuila y Texas. Según parece, la máquina funciona primero durante una escala realizada en Galveston, manejándola J. M. Lares. Funge de ayudante el bostoniano Sa-
muel Bangs, de aproximadamente 18 años de edad. Instruido por Lares, semanas adelante Bangs el único impresor que se identifica al calce de los textos. Amigo de fray Servando, en Soto la Marina cae prisionero de los realistas con todo y equipo.
Documentos Xavier Mina identifica al grupo expedicionario que comanda como “División Auxiliar de la República Mexicana” y evita utilizar el título oficial de Nueva España, aún vigente. Esto revela las proclamas reproducidas por Lares y Bangs. En documentos generados en altos círculos de la insurgencia, ninguno explicita la forma republicana de gobierno. Ni siquiera lo
hace la carta magna de Apatzingán o “Decreto constitucional para la libertad de la América Mexicana”, dictado en Apatzingán el 22 de octubre de 1814. De manera específica respecto de la monarquía absoluta, resalta la naturaleza progresista del sistema republicano en cualquier variante democrática y popular conocida. Incluso con los matices que se quieran ponerle, el joven navarro asimismo lo asocia por vez primera al nombre del futuro país soberano. Porque esa nación a la que presta invaluables servicios, termina convertida precisamente en la República Mexicana. (Con permiso del autor, según fuera publicado en La Razón, Tampico, Tamps. el 2 enero 2016)
Entertainment
SATURDAY, JANUARY 9, 2016
THE ZAPATA TIMES 7A
Best Bieber asked to leave Mayan ruin site sellers in books By MARK STEVENSON ASSOCIATED PRESS
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Hardcover fiction 1. “The Girl on the Train” by Paula Hawkins (Riverhead) 2. “Rogue Lawyer” by John Grisham (Doubleday) 3. “See Me” by Nicholas Sparks (Grand Central Publishing) 4. “Cross Justice” by James Patterson (Little, Brown) 5. “The Bazaar of Bad Dreams” by Stephen King (Scribner) 6. “The Guilty” by David Baldacci (Grand Central Publishing) 7. “Tom Clancy Commander in Chief ” by Mark Greany (G.P. Putnam’s Sons) 8. “The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto” by Mitch Albom (Harper) 9. “Go Set a Watchman” by Harper Lee (Harper) 10. “Ashley Bell” by Dean Koontz (Bantam)
Hardcover nonfiction 1. “The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Dinnertime” by Ree Drummond (Morrow Cookbooks) 2. “Between the World and Me” by Ta-Nehisi Coates (Random/Spiegel & Grau) 3. “Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli Pirates” by Brian Kilmeade and Don Yeager (Sentinel) 4. “Killing Reagan” by Bill O’Reilly (Holt) 5. “The Whole 30” by Hartwig/Hartwig (HMH) 6. “Presence” by Amy Cuddy (Little, Brown)
MEXICO CITY — A Mexican official said Friday that Canadian pop star Justin Bieber and his entourage were asked to leave the Mayan archaeological site of Tulum after he apparently tried to climb onto or among the ruins. The official of the National Institute of Anthropology and History spoke on condition of anonymity because he or she was not authorized to be quoted by name. Bieber was visiting the seaside ruins on Thursday when the incident occurred. The official could not specify which of the site’s structures Bieber allegedly had climbed, but said he was “asked to leave.” Visitors can climb some pre-Hispanic pyramids in
Photo courtesy of All Tour Native Expeditions | AP
In this Tuesday handout photo provided by the press office for All Tour Native Expeditions, Justin Bieber and members of his entourage pose for a photo with Jungla Maya Park employees. Mexico, but officials rope off or place ’no entry’ signs on some ruins that are considered vulnerable or unstable. Bieber has apparently been on vacation in the Tulum area, on Mexico’s Caribbean coast south of Cancun, for several days. Despite the singer’s reputation for getting out of
line, the representative of a native Maya ecotourism camp that Bieber visited near Tulum several days before described him as “completely respectful.” Nathalie Le*lhand*o, the spokeswoman for AllTournative, a cooperative effort with Maya communities at a camp called the Jungla Maya Park, said Bieber vis-
ited Jan. 5 and “expressed a lot of interest in the work we do to preserve the environment.” “He was completely respectful, and he participated in the welcoming ceremony performed by a local shaman,” said Leno. “He even ate some of the traditional food prepared by local communities,” she noted. Bieber has been involved in several incidents in Latin America in recent years. In 2013, Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto denied a tweet by Bieber saying the singer met with the leader and his family prior to a show. Apparently, Bieber was confused about whether the president was there or not. Bieber later wrote in a tweet, “correction. I met the presidente’s family and all their friends in the pri-
vate meet and greet with all their security. They were very nice.” That same year, Bieber faced two criminal complaints and demands for refunds in Argentina, in addition to trouble with police for allegedly spraying graffiti in Brazil. Bieber angered Argentines by abandoning a concert after less than an hour and not showing up for a photo-op that some fans paid hundreds of dollars extra for. The singer’s manager said Bieber came down with food poisoning after a concert. One Argentine lawyer accused Bieber of sending bodyguards to attack a photographer outside a Buenos Aires nightclub. Another accused him of defiling the national symbol by dragging two Argentine flags off stage with his feet in River Plate stadium.
State
8A THE ZAPATA TIMES
Terror-related arrests By DON THOMPSON ASSOCIATED PRESS
A man in California encouraged a fellow Iraqi refugee in Texas to join the civil war against the Syrian government and promised to teach him how to fight, federal authorities said Friday, a day after terrorism charges against the men were revealed. A criminal complaint filed against 23-year-old Aws Mohammed Younis AlJayab of Sacramento details the social media communication he had with 24year-old Omar Faraj Saeed Al Hardan of Houston. Al Hardan is the person identified as “Individual I” in the complaint, according to Lauren Horwood, a spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney in Sacramento. “O God, grant us martyrdom for your sake while engaged in fighting and not retreating; a martyrdom that would make you satisfied with us,” Al-Jayab wrote to Al Hardan in
Photo by Bob Levey | AP
Omar Faraj Saeed Al Hardan, left, is escorted by U.S. Marshals from the Bob Casey Federal Courthouse on Friday, in Houston. April 2013. The complaint says AlJayab, who already had fought in Syria, promised to provide weapons train-
ing to Al Hardan and advised him on how he would be assigned to the battlefield once he arrived in Syria.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 9, 2016
SATURDAY, JANUARY 9, 2016
THE ZAPATA TIMES 9A
Virgin Mexican oil fields lure wildcatters By ADAM WILLIAMS BLOOMBERG
MEXICO CITY — While more than 180,000 onshore wells are producing oil in Texas, only 8,250 have been drilled by Petroleos Mexicanos across the border in Mexico. Welcome to the land of opportunity. Bidders for 25 Mexican fields auctioned on Dec. 15 say the promise of untapped resources, and not necessarily the low bidding costs, drove a 100 percent success rate in getting the parcels sold at a time of 11-year lows in international crude prices. While fracking has changed the face of U.S. oil production — driving the nation’s output up by more than 60 percent since 2010 — Mexico hasn’t "even scratched the surface on the unconventional side," according to Craig Steinke, chief executive officer of Renaissance Oil Corp., which won rights to develop three onshore fields in last month’s auction. "The drilling density in Mexico is vastly, vastly underdeveloped as it relates to the rest of North America," he said. Stefan Olivier, CEO of London-based MX Oil Plc, said his company bid on the Mexican fields, winning rights to drill on four, because it believes Mexico’s reserves are significantly larger than the numbers quoted by Pemex. "That’s really the attraction," he said. After a slow start in the country’s first-ever private oil auctions last year, Mexico awarded 22 oil production and service companies rights to explore and extract crude from onshore fields throughout the country. New local companies, some which have no prior experience, will be the first to tap into Mexico’s onshore resources, where Pemex estimates 13 trillion cubic meters (460 trillion cubic feet) of unexploited shale oil and gas worth as much as $2.2 trillion sit in the rock formations beneath its soil. "If you compare what’s been drilled north of the border to what’s been drilled south of it, we’re practically talking about virgin acreage," said Olivier, whose company won development rights as part
of a bidding group with Geo Estratos SA. West Texas Intermediate crude fell to a 12-year low of $33.27 a barrel Thursday, and was trading at $32.94 at 10:37 a.m. Friday. Prices are down by more than two-thirds since June 2014 as OPEC pumped at near-record levels, focusing on holding on to market share in the face of surging output from countries including Russia and the U.S. In that period, the Standard & Poor’s index of oil and gas exploration companies sank 58 percent. Peak production at the 25 onshore fields auctioned in December will hit 77,000 barrels a day and require a total investment of $1.1 billion, according to Juan Carlos Zepeda, head of the National Hydrocarbons Commission. Mexico also auctioned five offshore oil areas last year, forecast to add more than 100,000 barrels of daily output in as soon as five years. "We hope to have production soon," Matt McCarroll, president and CEO of Fieldwood Energy LLC, said at an event Thursday in Mexico City. Houston-based Fieldwood Energy, which paired with Petrobal, a newly formed company backed by billionaire Alberto Bailleres, is soon to begin the appraisal process to start drilling its first well in Mexico, McCarroll said. The anticipated oil production from private producers has been heralded as the remedy to halt the country’s 11-year decline in crude output. While Mexico has been successful in developing its oil industry outside of Pemex, contribution by private producers to the country’s overall crude output is still years away, said Luana Siegfried, an energy research associate at Raymond James Financial Inc. in Houston. "We see the contribution to Mexico’s total production coming in the long term, meaning like 5 to 10 years," Siegfried said by phone. "Doing so immediately is very difficult." "We believe the opportunity in Mexico is worldclass," said Renaissance Oil’s Steinke. "It is one of the top three places in the world to be exploring for oil and gas."
Photo by Mark Lennihan | AP
Gregory Rowe, left, with Livermore Trading Group, keeps an eye on stock prices at the New York Stock Exchange, Friday.
Stock market drops again By MARLEY JAY ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK — A wave of late selling pummeled U.S. stocks Friday and pushed the market to its worst week in four years. The dismal start to the new year comes as investors worry that China’s huge economy is slowing down. That has helped send the price of oil plunging to its lowest level since 2004, the latest blow to U.S. energy companies. Industrial and technology companies such as Boeing and Apple that do a lot of business in China have also fallen sharply this week. Mining companies such as FreeportMcMoRan plunged as copper prices have fallen. China is a major importer of copper. Stocks started the day higher, driven in part by news of an encouraging burst in hiring last month by U.S. employers. China’s stock market also rose 2 percent overnight, recovering somewhat after steep drops earlier in the week triggered trading halts. Indexes wavered between small gains and losses for most of the day, but took a decisive turn lower in the last hour of trading. That made this the worst week since September 2011, when the market was roiled by the fight over the U.S. debt ceiling and Standard & Poor’s move to cut the credit rating of the U.S.
government. The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 167.65 points, or 1 percent, to 16,346.45. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index fell 21.06 points, or 1.1 percent, to 1,922.03. The Nasdaq composite index shed 45.80 points, or 1 percent, to 4,643.63. The Dow and S&P 500 are each down about 6 percent for the week. The Nasdaq composite fell even more, 7.3 percent. That index is heavily weighted with technology and biotech companies, both of which were highfliers last year. The largest losses on Friday went to financial stocks. JPMorgan Chase lost $1.35, or 2.2 percent, to $58.92 and Citigroup fell $1.43, or 3 percent, to $46.13. Health care stocks slumped, led by drug companies. Energy stocks also skidded as the price of oil, already at decade lows, continued to fall. European stocks also rose early in the day, but couldn’t hang on. The FTSE 100 index of leading British shares declined 0.7 percent while Germany’s DAX lost 1.3 percent. The CAC-40 in France slid 1.6 percent. The same pattern held in the U.S. In its monthly jobs report, released before the stock market opened, the Labor Department said U.S. employers added 292,000 jobs in December, far more than economists had forecast. That’s the latest sign
the U.S. economy is still growing. On average employers added 284,000 jobs per month in the fourth quarter, the best rate in a year. Michael Fredericks, portfolio manager for BlackRock Multi-Asset Income Fund, said the labor market is healthy and wages could improve this month. “These are unusually strong job creation numbers,” he said. Fredericks said the low wage growth and limited inflation will make the Federal Reserve proceed cautiously as it raises interest rates. In December the Fed raised rates for the first time in nine years, but interest rates are still very low. Throughout the week, worries about China’s economy and shocks to its markets have canceled out positive news from the U.S. and Europe. While China’s economy is still growing, that growth isn’t as fast as it has been. That could hurt sales of everything from iPhones to oil and heavy machinery. Oil prices also lost ground. U.S. crude fell 11 cents to close at $33.16 a barrel in New York and Brent crude, a benchmark for international oils, declined 20 cents to $33.55 a barrel in London. Exxon Mobil lost $1.54, or 2 percent, to $74.69 and Tesoro fell $5.41, or 5 percent, to $101.62. This week retailers started disclosing their holiday-season results.
Gap and American Eagle both reported disappointing sales. Gap stock dropped $3.83, or 14.3 percent, to $22.91, its lowest in almost four years. American Eagle tumbled $2.64, or 16.6 percent, to $13.24. Department stores were among the biggest losers on the S&P 500. Their holiday sales have been hurt by the unusually warm winter weather. Kohl’s fell $2.98, or 5.9 percent, to $47.88 and Macy’s lost $1, or 2.7 percent, to $35.89. The Container Store reported a surprise thirdquarter loss and disappointing sales, and its stock plunged $2.96, or 41.2 percent, to $4.22. The company went public in November 2013 with an IPO that priced at $18 per share and it finished its first trading day at $36.20. The price of gold fell $9.90, or 0.9 percent, to $1,097.90 an ounce. Silver declined 42.6 cents, or 3 percent, to $13.918 an ounce. Copper was unchanged at $2.022 a pound. The euro fell to $1.0903 from $1.0927 and the dollar edged up to 117.67 yen from 117.50 yen late Thursday. Bond prices rose. The yield on the 10year Treasury note edged down to 2.12 percent from 2.15 percent. In other energy trading, wholesale gasoline fell 1.8 cents to $1.128 a gallon, heating oil fell 1.4 cents to $1.052 a gallon and natural gas rose 9 cents to $2.472 per 1,000 feet.
National
10A THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, JANUARY 9, 2016
Powerball soars to $800M By SCOTT MCFETRIDGE ASSOCIATED PRESS
DES MOINES, Iowa — With Powerball sales breaking previous records, the odds are growing that someone will win Saturday night’s $800 million jackpot — but if no one matches all the numbers, the next drawing is expected to soar past $1 billion. For this weekend’s record drawing, about 65 percent of the possible number combinations will have been bought, officials with the Multi-State Lottery Association, which runs the Powerball game, said Friday. That percentage could rise if the jackpot estimate is increased — but even lottery officials say they don’t know what to expect. “You can throw out the logic. You can throw out the statistics,” said Gary Grief, executive director of the Texas Lottery. “We’ve never seen jackpots like this. It’s a new experience for all of us.” Since Nov. 4, the Powerball jackpot has grown from its $40 million starting point as no one has won the jackpot. Grief is more certain what will happen if no one matches the numbers on five white balls and the one red Powerball this time. “It will definitely go past $1 billion if we roll past this Saturday,” he said. This kind of huge jackpot was just what lottery officials hoped for last fall when they changed the odds of matching all the Powerball numbers, from about one in 175 million to
Photo by Jen Siska | AP file Photo by Alex Brandon | AP
Jay Suthar works the lottery machine at Pine Liquors in Fort Washington, Friday. With Powerball sales doubling previous records, the odds are growing that someone will win Saturday’s $800 million jackpot, but if no one matches all the lottery numbers, next week’s drawing is expected to soar past $1 billion. one in 292.2 million. By making it harder to win a jackpot, the tougher odds made the ever-larger prizes inevitable. The bigger prizes draw more players, who in turn make the jackpots even bigger. So many people were buying Powerball tickets in Iowa that lottery spokeswoman Mary Neubauer said some stores were running out of paper for tickets, leaving lottery workers scrambling to resupply the outlets. The odds are a matter of statistics and probability, but they’re facts that most players may not completely understand, said Ron Wasserstein, executive director of the Alexandria, Virginiabased American Statistical Association.
“Once you get numbers that size, it’s hard for people to wrap their minds around them,” Wasserstein said. It’s not like players ever had a great shot at winning a jackpot, but by lengthening the odds, he said, “you take odds that were really, really small before, and now they’re nearly twice as small as they were before.” Players in Lincoln, Nebraska, said they don’t expect to win, but most noted that eventually, someone will take home all that money. Gary Diaz of Lincoln said he’s bought one or two Powerball tickets every week since a group of his coworkers won a lottery jackpot in 2004. “Ever since then, I go, hell, if it happened once, it’s gotta happen again,” Diaz
said. “It’s all by chance.” Bashir Rahman, a chef from Moscow, Idaho, who was traveling through Nebraska, said he decided to buy a couple tickets at a Casey’s gas station in Lincoln, but he realizes it’s a long, long shot. “You buy more than two, you’re just stupid,” he said. Wasserstein said he understands why so many people buy Powerball tickets, calling it a small price for a chance to dream of immense riches. But Wasserstein said he and his colleagues know too well the nearly impossible odds to plunk down even $2 for a ticket. “I can assure you,” he said, “there is no office pool for the lottery at the American Statistical Association.”
Gunman shoots Philly cop By ERRIN HAINES WHACK ASSOCIATED PRESS
PHILADELPHIA — A man using a gun stolen from police said he was acting in the name of Islam when he ambushed an officer sitting in his marked cruiser at an intersection, firing more than a dozen shots at point-blank range, authorities said Friday. The officer and the man were wounded during the barrage of gunfire, they said. The man, 30-year-old Edward Archer, also pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group when he was questioned after his arrest in the shooting late Thursday, police said. Archer’s mother, Valerie Holliday, told The Philadelphia Inquirer he had been hearing voices recently and had felt targeted by police and the family asked him to get help. Police Commissioner Richard Ross described the attack on Officer Jesse Hartnett, captured on a police surveillance camera, as an attempted assassination. “He just came out of nowhere and started firing on him,” Ross said. “He just started firing with one aim and one aim only, to kill him.” Police said there was no indication anyone else was involved. Ross said Archer told police he believed the police department defends laws that are contrary to Islam. Though Archer “clearly gave us a motive,” Ross said, it’s up to police to see what the evidence shows. “It wasn’t like laying it out completely, chapter and verse for us,” he said.
Photo courtesy of Philadelphia Police Department | AP
In this frame from a Jan. 7 video provided by the Philadelphia Police Department, Edward Archer runs with a gun toward a police car driven by Officer Jesse Hartnett in Philadelphia. Archer, using a gun stolen from police, said he was acting in the name of Islam. “We’re left to say, ‘OK, he’s leaving a trail for us. Where’s it going to lead us, if anywhere?”’ Federal agents joined local police in searching two Philadelphia area properties associated with Archer, including the home where his mother lives in suburban Yeadon, authorities said. Capt. James Clark said Archer told investigators: “I follow Allah. I pledge my allegiance to the Islamic State, and that’s why I did what I did.” Archer’s mother described him as a devout Muslim. Jacob Bender, the executive director of the Philadelphia chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, an advocacy group, said he contacted about five inner-city mosques and found no one who knew of Archer. He said the motive for the ambush still appears to be conjecture. “I think the important point is not to lay the blame for this on the entire Islamic community,” he said. The gunman fired at least
13 shots toward Hartnett, getting up next to the car and reaching through the driver’s-side window, investigators said. Despite being seriously wounded, Hartnett got out of his car, chased the shooter and returned fire, wounding his attacker in the buttocks, police said. Other officers chased Archer and apprehended him. Hartnett, 33, was shot three times in an arm and will require multiple surgeries; he was listed in stable condition. Archer was treated and released into police custody. Ross called it “absolutely amazing” that Harnett survived. “It’s nothing short of miraculous, and we’re thankful for that,” he said. Last March, Archer pleaded guilty to firearms and assault charges stemming from a 2012 case but was immediately released and placed on probation, court records show. Records also show he was scheduled to be sentenced Monday in suburban Philadelphia in a
traffic and forgery case. The attorney who represented him in the firearms case was unavailable to comment Friday because he was in court, his office said. A message for his lawyer in the forgery case was not immediately returned. Surveillance footage of the attack showed the gunman dressed in a white, long-sleeved tunic. When asked if the robe was considered Muslim garb, Ross said he didn’t know and didn’t think it mattered. The 9mm pistol used by Archer was recovered at the scene of the shooting, police said. It had been stolen from an officer’s home in October 2013, investigators said. Officials said they were trying to figure out how Archer got the weapon and whether it passed through other people’s hands after the theft. Hartnett was in good spirits, said his father, Robert Hartnett. “He’s a tough guy,” he said. Hartnett served in the Coast Guard and has been on the Philadelphia force for four years. He always wanted to be a police officer, his father said. When Hartnett called in to report shots fired, he shouted, “I’m bleeding heavily!” into his police radio. Jim Kenney, in his first week as mayor of the nation’s fifth-largest city, called Archer’s actions “abhorrent” and “terrible” and said they have nothing to do with the teachings of Islam. “This is a criminal with a stolen gun who tried to kill one of our officers,” he said. “It has nothing to do with being a Muslim or following the Islamic faith.”
In this image provided by Jen Siska, Raymond "Shrimp Boy" Chow, is seen posing for a portrait in San Francisco in July 2007.
Jury convicts ‘Shrimp Boy’ of crimes By SUDHIN THANAWALA ASSOCIATED PRESS
SAN FRANCISCO — A one-time gang tough nicknamed “Shrimp Boy” who insisted he had changed his ways through meditation and become a role model for wayward youth was convicted Friday of racketeering, murder and scores of other crimes in a major organized crime investigation in San Francisco’s Chinatown that also brought down a state senator. The conviction of Raymond “Shrimp Boy” Chow was largely the work of an undercover FBI agent who posed for years as a foul-mouthed East Coast businessman with mafia ties, as he infiltrated the fraternal group that Chow led. The group was among dozens of active tongs, or family associations, in Chinatown, one of the most popular and visible tourist attractions in the city. Authorities said Chow and some other members of the group engaged in drug trafficking, money laundering and the sale of stolen cigarettes and topshelf liquors Johnny Walker Blue Label and Hennessey XO. Jurors convicted Chow of all 162 charges against him, including racketeering, murder and conspiracy to commit murder. One of the victims was Allen Leung, the former leader of the fraternal group, who was shot and killed at his business in 2006 as his wife looked on. Chow, sporting dapper suits and a beaming smile, told jurors at his trial he renounced his drug-dealing and gangster ways after leaving prison in 2003 and turning to meditation. He also was working on a biography, he said. The smile disappeared Friday, when he stared straight ahead and showed little reaction to the guilty verdicts that could bring life in prison when he is sentenced on March 23. “It’s clear the jury didn’t believe a thing about what Chow’s defense said,” said Rory Little, a law professor at the University of California, Hastings and a former federal prosecutor. The verdicts marked a big victory for prosecu-
tors, who have now secured convictions against two of the most prominent defendants among the more than two dozen people indicted in the case. California state Sen. Leland Yee was suspended before pleading guilty in July to a racketeering count involving bribes. He is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 10. “This conviction represents a just and final end to Mr. Chow’s long running and deadly criminal career,” San Francisco FBI Special Agent in Charge David Johnson said in a statement. Chow’s defense attorneys said they plan an appeal, claiming Senior District Judge Charles Breyer unfairly limited their case by refusing to let a number of witnesses testify. They also said Breyer appeared not to be paying attention during the trial. Breyer did not immediately return a call seeking comment. Defense attorney J. Tony Serra said Chow was “noble in his acceptance of defeat” and told his attorneys they would prevail in the next round. One of the prosecution’s main witnesses against Chow was the undercover FBI agent, who testified under a false name that he wined and dined Chow and his associates for years. Chow willingly accepted envelopes stuffed with thousands of dollars in cash for setting up various crimes, the agent said. Serra argued that the government had set up his client by foisting the envelopes on him and courting him with expensive dinners and liquor purchased with public money. Chow denied involvement in the slayings and other crimes and said he was given the money because the agent was showing his respect, not in exchange for criminal activity. During her closing argument, federal prosecutor Susan Badger urged jurors to disregard claims that Chow was a changed man, saying deception was part of his nature. “He is not the victim here,” Badger said during her nearly four-hour presentation. “He is not the world’s most misunderstood criminal.”
US employers hire at robust pace, defying trends By CHRISTOPHER S. RUGABER ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON — The U.S. economy is motoring ahead despite slowing global growth that caused upheavals in financial markets around the world this week. Employers added a robust 292,000 jobs last month, and the unemployment rate stayed low at 5 percent, the Labor Department said Friday. Job gains in the October-December quarter averaged 284,000, the best three-month increase since last January. The strong hiring underscores the resilience of the United States
at a time of slow global growth and financial turmoil. Healthy consumer spending, modest gains in home construction and an uptick in government spending should offset drags from overseas and bolster growth this year, economists said. The report “immediately puts to rest a lot of the worries that the U.S. economy will come undone due to the intensifying global headwinds coming out of China and the Middle East,” said Mark Vitner, an economist at Wells Fargo. For all of 2015, employers added 2.65 million jobs, a monthly average of 221,000. That made 2015 the
second-best year for hiring since 1999, after 2014. The unemployment rate has held at 5 percent for the past three months, despite the solid job gains, because nearly 1 million more Americans have begun seeking work since September. Wages were the one weak spot in December, as average pay slipped a penny to $25.24 an hour. Hourly pay has risen 2.5 percent in the past year, only the second time since the Great Recession ended in mid-2009 that it’s reached that level. Yet pay growth remains below the roughly 3.5 percent pace typical of a healthy economy. The U.S. “is uniquely positioned
among the major industrial economies to withstand a global slowdown,” Vitner said. Global trade accounts for just about 30 percent of U.S. economic activity, one of the lowest such percentages in the world, according to Patrick O’Keefe, director of economic research at the consulting firm CohnReznick. A resilient U.S. economy will probably help some other countries by drawing in more imports, especially as a higher-valued dollar holds down the prices of foreign goods. The World Bank said this week that Mexico and emerging markets in Central America should fare better than the rest of
South America because of their proximity to the healthier U.S. economy. Still, the effect could be limited if Americans’ spending remains concentrated in services — from restaurants to health care — rather than factory goods. At the same time, Friday’s solid jobs report could make it more likely that the Federal Reserve will further raise rates after announcing its first increase in nearly a decade last month. Steady hiring would reduce the supply of people seeking jobs, which could lead to higher pay and possibly help lift inflation closer to the Fed’s 2 percent target.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 9, 2016
THE ZAPATA TIMES 11A
JOSE ANCIRA July 7, 1936 – Jan. 4, 2016 Jose Ancira 79, passed away on Monday, Jan. 4, 2016 at Laredo Medical Center in Laredo, Texas. Mr. Ancira is survived by his wife, Delia L. Ancira; sons, Jose L. (Sandra) Ancira, Rosmal (Monica) Ancira; daughters, Maria D. (Victor M.) Guzman, Irasema (Marco Antonio) Nava; grandchildren, Daniel L. (Perla) Ancira, Carlos Ancira, Daniela Ancira, Monica Ruby (Wander) Lantigua, Victor M. Jr. (Amanda) Guzman, Delia C. Guzman (Adam Morgan), Joel U. Nava, Lesly E. Nava, Julian A. Nava; great-grandchildren, Ruy Armando Sanchez, Victor Guzman, III, Julie Guzman and by numerous other family members and friends. Funeral services will be held in Rosenberg, Texas.
Constitutional convention eyed By PAUL J. WEBER ASSOCIATED PRESS
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Rose Garden Funeral Home Daniel A. Gonzalez, Funeral Director, 2102 N. U.S. Hwy 83 Zapata, Texas.
AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott sought to lure Republican support Friday for calling the first U.S. constitutional convention since 1787, a new a priority for his administration that has bemoaned federal courts blocking state laws over gay marriage, abortion restrictions and voting rights. Conservative calls for states to get together and ratify new amendments to the Constitution are hardly new. Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio has even vowed to push for a convention if elected, though the idea is generating little buzz in the 2016 presidential race. Abbott is now hoping
INDICTED Continued from Page 1A cious activity. Garcia allegedly agreed to make post-arrest statements to authorities, records state. “Garcia stated that an unknown man approached him at Riverview grocery store in Roma, Texas, and
offered to pay him to guide undocumented (people),” states the criminal complaint filed Dec. 18. “Garcia stated he was going to get paid $100 … for each person … he guided from the lake to
Highway (U.S.) 83. After being placed under oath, Garcia willfully admitted that he was guide of the group.” (César G. Rodriguez may be reached at 728-2568 or cesar@lmtonline.com)
Photo by Rebecca Blackwell | AP
Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto arrives for a press conference following the capture of fugitive drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, in Mexico City, Friday. Peña announced that Guzman had been recaptured six months after escaping from a prison.
‘EL CHAPO’ Continued from Page 1A “Given that ’El Chapo’ has already escaped from Mexican prison twice, this third opportunity to bring him to justice cannot be squandered,” Rubio said. According to the U.S. Justice Department, the U.S. submitted full extradition requests after he was arrested in February 2014. But Guzman’s lawyers already filed appeals on those and were granted injunctions that could substantially delay the process. Mexico said after the first capture of the cartel boss that he would be tried in his home country first, with officials promising they would hang on to him. After his escape in July, the talk on Friday about keeping and trying Guzman almost as a matter of national pride wasn’t so overt. Pena Nieto gave a brief live message Friday afternoon that focused heavily on touting the competency of his administration, which has suffered a series of embarrassments and scandals in the first half of his presidency. “The arrest of today is very important for the government of Mexico. It shows that the public can have confidence in its institutions,” Pena Nieto said. “Mexicans can count on a government decided and determined to build a better country.” Guzman was apprehended after a shootout between gunmen and Mexican marines in Los Mochis, a seaside city in Guzman’s home state of Sinaloa, said a federal official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to be quoted by name. He said Guzman was taken alive and was not wounded. Five people were killed and one Mexican marine wounded in the clash at a house in an upscale neighborhood of Los Mochis. It was unclear if Guzman was there or nearby when the raid was underway. A law enforcement official who was not authorized to be quoted by name said Guzman was captured at a motel on the outskirts of
Los Mochis. That official said Friday’s raid on the house was related to the later capture of Guzman at the hotel. Guzman may have been at the house and fled while his gunmen and bodyguards provided covering fire from the house, the official said. Marines checked the storm drain system, though it was unclear if Guzman had once again fled through the drains. In 2014, he escaped capture by fleeing through a network of interconnected tunnels in the drainage system under Culiacan, the Sinaloa state capital. After his first capture in Guatemala in June 1993, Guzman was sentenced to 20 years in prison. He reportedly made his 2001 escape from the maximum security prison in a laundry cart, though some have discounted that version. His second escape last July was even more audacious. He slipped down a hole in his shower stall in plain view of guards into a mile-long tunnel dug from a property outside the prison. The tunnel had ventilation, lights and a motorbike on rails, illustrating the extent to which corruption was involved in covering up the elaborate operation. In the United States, the Drug Enforcement Administration hailed the capture as proof of the close relationship between the two countries. “The arrest is a significant achievement in our shared fight against transnational organized crime, violence, and drug trafficking,” a DEA statement said. The U.S. Justice Department commended the working relationship as well. “I salute the Mexican law enforcement and military personnel who have worked tirelessly in recent months to bring Guzman to justice,” Attorney General Loretta Lynch said. The Mexican law enforcement official said authorities located Guzman several days ago, based on reports he was in Los Mochis. Pena Nieto gave no details
in his televised speech, saying only that “careful and intensive intelligence work was carried out for months” leading up to the arrest. The Mexican Navy said in a statement that marines raided the home after receiving a tip about armed men at the home. They were fired on from inside the structure, it said. Five suspects were killed and six others arrested. The marine’s injuries were not life threatening. Marines seized two armored vehicles, eight rifles, one handgun and a rocketpropelled grenade launcher at the home, the statement added. Photos of the arms seized showed that two of the rifles were .50-caliber sniper guns, capable of penetrating most bullet-proof vests and cars. The grenade launcher was found loaded, with an extra round nearby. An assault rifle had a 40-mm grenade launcher and at least one grenade. Some in Mexico had doubted Guzman would allow himself to be captured alive, and others doubted that Mexico’s government — given the successive embarrassments of his two escapes from prison — would want to hold him again in a Mexican prison. “Many people had doubted he could be recaptured,” Mexican security analyst Raul Benitez said. “It is a big success for the government.” The United States filed requests for extradition for Guzman on June 25, before he escaped from prison. In September, a judge issued a second provisional arrest warrant on U.S. charges of organized crime, money laundering drug trafficking, homicide and others. Former Mexican Attorney General Jesus Murillo Karam had bragged earlier that Mexico wouldn’t extradite Guzman until he had served his sentences in Mexico. Benitez said such bragging “makes me ashamed.” “It would be better for the Americans to take him away,” he said.
his weight as governor of the nation’s biggest conservative state can revive momentum in an enduring but perennially unattainable dream of some Republicans. His vision also goes beyond the most common GOP desire for a convention — to tack a federal balanced budget amendment onto the Constitution — and outlines a flurry of new state protections that would nullify federal laws and weaken the U.S. Supreme Court. One of his nine proposals would require a supermajority of seven justices — out of nine — to invalidate any state law. “The Supreme Court is a co-conspirator in abandoning the Constitution,” said Abbott, the state’s former attorney general and
a former Texas Supreme Court justice. “Instead of applying laws as written, it embarrassingly strains to rewrite laws like Obamacare.” Texas in recent years has been a recurring defendant in major cases before the Supreme Court. In March, the court will hear oral arguments over the state’s sweeping abortion restrictions that would leave Texas with fewer than 10 abortion providers, down from more than 40 in 2012. Abbott unveiled his plan to a friendly audience of conservative policymakers in Austin, but outside, others called the prospect of a convention farfetched. “There is no remote possibility that is going to
take place,” said Lino Graglia, a conservative professor of constitutional law at the University of Texas at Austin. “Just to get any constitutional amendment is virtually impossible.” For states to call an assembly, it would require approval from 34 legislatures. Over the past four decades, 27 states have endorsed the idea at one time or another, including Texas at a time when the state was controlled by Democrats. Convention proposals were also introduced or discussed in about three dozen legislatures last year. Shortly after Abbott took office last year, the Texas Legislature failed to endorse a more narrowly focused convention on conservative ideals.
CARRIZO Continued from Page 1A draft an action plan, which will be presented to congress some time in April. Cuellar said he would not know the cost of the project nor how long it will take to get rid of the Carrizo cane until a plan is in place. Johnny Oswald, program administrator of the Rio Grande Carrizo Cane Eradication Program, which is led by the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board, said in a statement that the program will need funding from various sources. Cuellar says the plan will include project strategies; how stakeholders can work together to make progress on the project; and propose how the U.S. can work with the Mexican government to address Carrizo cane on the Mexican side of the river. According to the Department of Homeland Security’s website, Carrizo cane traveled from Europe’s Iberian Peninsula to the U.S.-Mexico border several hundred years
The U.S. House of Representatives’ fiscal year 2016 omnibus appropriations bill also directs CBP to work with Texas Conservation Board and other federal, state and local stakeholders to draft an action plan, which will be presented to congress some time in April. ago. Carrizo cane also chokes waterways, erodes banks and water canals, damages bridges and inhibits biodiversity, the department says. This effort is not the country’s first to get rid of Carrizo cane along the border. Cuellar said around 2006 state and federal agencies decided to release a specific breed of wasps into areas where Carrizo cane flourished, but the wasps did not do enough damage to annihi-
late the cane stalks, he said. In 2008, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security planned to annihilate Carrizo cane with imazapyr, an herbicide meant to tackle a broad range of weeds. The herbicide would have been sprayed onto the plants from helicopters, but the plan didn’t sit well with Laredo locals, who sued. The spraying scheme later died. (Kendra Ablaza can be reached at 728-2538 or kablaza@lmtonline.com)
OBAMA Continued from Page 1A raped by an intruder and now feels that owning a gun “seems like my basic responsibility as a parent ... I refuse to let that happen again.” Obama didn’t hold back when asked by CNN moderator Anderson Cooper about the notion that the federal government — and Obama in particular — wants to seize all firearms as a precursor to imposing martial law. He blamed that notion on the NRA and like-minded groups that convince its members that “somebody’s going to come grab your guns.” “Yes, that is a conspiracy,” Obama said. “I’m only going to be here for another year. When would I have started on this enterprise?” Obama defended his support for the constitutional right to gun ownership while arguing it was consistent with his efforts to curb mass shootings. He said the NRA refused to acknowledge the government’s responsibility to make legal products safer, citing seatbelts and child-proof medicine bottles as examples. Taking the stage at George Mason University, Obama accused the NRA of refusing to participate in the town hall despite having its headquarters nearby. “Since this is a main reason they exist, you’d think that they’d be prepared to have a debate with the president,” Obama said. NRA spokesman Andrew Arulanandam said beforehand that the group saw “no reason to participate in a public relations spectacle orchestrated by the White House.” Several NRA members were in the audience for the event, which was organized and hosted by CNN. And the NRA pushed back on Twitter in real time, noting at one point “none of the president’s orders would
The plan has drawn intense criticism from gun rights groups that have accused the president of trampling on the Second Amendment and railroading Congress by taking action on his own without new laws. have stopped any of the recent mass shootings.” The White House has sought to portray the NRA, the nation’s largest gun group, as possessing a disproportionate influence over lawmakers that has prevented new gun laws despite polls that show broad U.S. support for measures like universal background checks. Last year, following a series of mass shootings, Obama pledged to “politicize” the issue in an attempt to level the playing field for gun control supporters. The American Firearms Retailers Association, another lobby group that represents gun dealers, did participate Thursday. Asked how business had been since Obama took office, Kris Jacob, vice president of the group, replied: “It’s been busy.” “There’s a very serious concern in this country about personal security,” he added. Obama’s actions on guns have drawn major attention in the presidential campaign, with the Democratic candidates backing Obama and the Republicans unanimously voicing
opposition. Donald Trump, addressing a rally in Vermont just as Obama was holding the town hall, said he would eliminate gunfree zones in schools on his first day if elected to the White House. “You know what a gunfree zone is for a sicko? That’s bait,” Trump told the crowd. Obama’s broadside against the NRA came two days after his unveiling of a package of executive actions aimed at keeping guns from people who shouldn’t have them. The centerpiece is new federal guidance that seeks to clarify who is “in the business” of selling firearms, triggering a requirement to get a license and conduct background checks on all prospective buyers. The plan has drawn intense criticism from gun rights groups that have accused the president of trampling on the Second Amendment and railroading Congress by taking action on his own without new laws. Just after his 2012 re-election, Obama pushed hard for a bipartisan gun control bill that collapsed in the Senate, ending any realistic prospects for a legislative solution in the near term. Ahead of the town hall, Obama put political candidates on notice that he would refuse to support or campaign for anyone who “does not support common-sense gun reform” — including Democrats. All the candidates running for the Democratic presidential nomination support stricter gun laws, so Obama’s declaration in a New York Times op-ed isn’t likely to have an impact on the race to replace him. Instead, it appeared aimed at Democratic congressional candidates from competitive districts who might want Obama’s support on the campaign trail this year.
International
12A THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, JANUARY 9, 2016
‘Mein Kampf’ on sale in Germany, a new first By MICHAEL FAULHABER AND GEIR MOULSON ASSOCIATED PRESS
MUNICH — An annotated edition of “Mein Kampf,” the first version of Adolf Hitler’s notorious manifesto to be published in Germany since the end of World War II, went on sale Friday in an effort to demystify the book and debunk the Nazi leader’s writing. The Munich-based Institute for Contemporary History worked for several years on the plain-covered volume, officially titled “Hitler, Mein Kampf: A Critical Edition.” It launched the book days after the copyright of the German-language original expired at the end of 2015 — 70 years after Hitler’s death. Over the years, Bavaria’s state finance ministry had used its copyright on the book to prevent the publication of new editions. The book wasn’t banned in Germany, though, and could be found online, in secondhand bookshops and in libraries. The new edition is 1,948 pages, roughly double the original, and sets Hitler’s text amid extensive comments by historians that are meant to contradict and deflate his writing. The new edition “sets out as far as possible Hitler’s sources, which were deeply rooted in the German racist tradition of the late 19th century,” said Andreas Wirsching,
Photo by Matthias Schrader | AP
A copy of "Hitler, Mein Kampf – A critical edition" is presented prior to a news conference in Munich, Germany, Friday. The annotated edition of "Mein Kampf" is the first version of Adolf Hitler’s notorious manifesto to be published in Germany since the end of World War II. the Munich institute’s director. “This edition exposes the false information spread by Hitler, his downright lies and his many halftruths, which aimed at a pure propaganda effect.” Hitler wrote “Mein Kampf” — or “My Struggle” — after he was jailed following the failed 1923 coup attempt known as the Beer Hall Putsch. The rambling tome set out his ultranationalist, antiSemitic and anti-communist ideology, which would culminate in the Holocaust and a war of conquest
in Europe. It is considered an important source for understanding the history of the Nazi regime. “The problem with this book is that it isn’t just a historical source — it’s also a symbol,” said Christian Hartmann, who led the team putting together the annotated edition. “And our idea was to lay bare this symbol once and for all.” Millions of copies were printed after the Nazis took power in 1933, and it was published after the war in several other countries. “At a time when the well-known
formulae of far-right xenophobia are threatening to become ... socially acceptable again in Europe, it is necessary to research and critically present the appalling driving forces of National Socialism and its deadly racism,” Wirsching said. German authorities have made clear that they won’t tolerate any new editions without commentary, though none is known to be in the works. Incitement laws are likely to be used against any such publications. Germany’s main Jewish group, the Central Council of Jews, said it has no objections to the critical edition but strongly supports ongoing efforts to prevent any new “Mein Kampf” without annotations. Its president, Josef Schuster, said he hopes the critical edition will “contribute to debunking Hitler’s inhuman ideology and counteracting anti-Semitism.” Jewish opinion has been divided, however. One of Schuster’s predecessors, Charlotte Knobloch, has said she worries the new edition will simply awaken interest in the original, not the commentary. The president of the World Jewish Congress, Ronald Lauder, said it’s right to study the book, but he underlined his opposition to a new edition. “I don’t see the need for a critical edition,” he said. “Unlike oth-
er works that truly deserve to be republished as annotated editions, ‘Mein Kampf’ does not. Already, academics, historians and the wider public have easy access to this text.” German authorities are broadly supportive of the annotated edition. “I think one shouldn’t pretend the book doesn’t exist,” Education Minister Johanna Wanka told n-tv television. “Such taboos can sometimes be counterproductive. It’s important that people who want to debunk this book have the appropriate material.” Ian Kershaw, a Briton who is a leading biographer of Hitler, joined Friday’s book presentation and said it was “high time for a rigorously academic edition of ‘Mein Kampf”’ to be made available. “For years, I have considered the lifting of the ban on publication long overdue,” Kershaw said. “Censorship is almost always pointless in the long term in a free society and only contributes to creating a negative myth, making a forbidden text more mysterious and awakening an inevitable fascination with the inaccessible.” Michael Lemling, the manager of the Lehmkuhl bookshop in Munich, said “Mein Kampf” was “probably the worst thing we’ve ever had here — the text is antiSemitic, racist and militarist.”
SATURDAY, JANUARY 9, 2016
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NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Wild-card rematch Photo by Gary Landers | AP
AJ McCarron and the Bengals face the Steelers for the third time this season in the wild-card round on Saturday in Cincinnati.
AFC North battle
Bengals host Steelers By JOE KAY ASSOCIATED PRESS
Photo by David J. Phillip | AP
J.J. Watt had six tackles for loss with two sacks and three quarterback hits when the Texans lost 27-20 in the season opener against the Chiefs.
Texans open playoffs at home against Kansas City By KRISTIE RIEKEN ASSOCIATED PRESS
HOUSTON — The previous time the Kansas City Chiefs won a playoff game Bill Clinton was President and Tonya Harding’s ex-husband had just been arrested for hiring someone to attack figure skating rival Nancy Kerrigan. Kansas City (11-5) has lost eight postseason games since that win over the Oilers in Houston on Jan. 16, 1994, and will return to the city to face the Texans on Saturday in the wild-card round, looking to snap this lengthy skid. The Chiefs, who have won a franchiserecord 10 straight games, insist they won’t
be thinking about their years of playoffs woes when they line up to meet the AFC South champion Texans. “I don’t think this team’s carrying that weight, to be honest,” quarterback Alex Smith said. “Those were the other 22 years and 22 teams. This is us.” So instead of thinking about playoff failures that include Lin Elliott’s three field-goal misses against Indianapolis in 1995 and the 28-point lead they blew against the Colts two years ago, they’re simply focusing on the challenge of dealing with Houston. “Since 1-5, it’s been a playoff atmosphere,” Kansas City linebacker Derrick Johnson said. “It was kind of a win or go
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
home type deal. We’ve been winning for 10 weeks straight — that doesn’t guarantee us an 11th win, but we do have some momentum ... (but) we have to play our best game if we’re going to win in Houston.” The Texans are perhaps this season’s most improbable playoff team after winning seven of their last nine games to rebound from a terrible start to finish 9-7 and return to the postseason for the first time since 2012. They did it with four different quarterbacks and after losing star running back Arian Foster to a season-ending Achilles
See TEXANS PAGE 2B
CINCINNATI — All week long, they played nice. The Bengals and the Steelers went out of their way to curb their comments about how they really feel about each other. Umm, let’s talk about something else. Treat it like just a game. Forget that rivalry stuff. “All that stuff’s over when you get into the playoffs,” Bengals left tackle Andrew Whitworth said. “It really doesn’t matter who it is or what division they’re from.” Sorry. Nobody’s buying it. The Ohio River rivals have such a deep dislike for each other that they traded nasty words and tweets before they met at Paul Brown Stadium on Dec. 13, and then scuffled on the field during pregame warmups. There were so many personal fouls during the game that the league handed out more than $100,000 in fines.
See NORTH PAGE 2B
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE: DALLAS STARS
Stars extend GM Jim Nill ASSOCIATED PRESS
Photo by Joe Mahoney | AP
Oakland’s Khalil Mack became the first player in NFL history to earn All-Pro honors at multiple positions in the same season as he was selected at both defensive end and outside linebacker in the awards released Friday.
Khalil Mack makes history in awards By BARRY WILNER ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK — Khalil Mack has made All-Pro history. Mack’s versatility and relentlessness earned him selection at two positions on the 2015 Associated Press All-Pro Team, an NFL first. The second-year Oakland Raiders defensive end and out-
side linebacker drew enough support Friday from a panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the league to make the squad both spots. Others, including Houston’s J.J. Watt last year, have been chosen first team at one position and second at another. Watt was
See ALL-PRO PAGE 2B
FRISCO — General manager Jim Nill has been given a fiveyear contract extension from the Western Conference-leading Dallas Stars, who are off to the best start in franchise history. The extension announced Friday goes through the 2022-23 season. Nill is only halfway through the five-year contract he got when he became the Stars GM in April 2013, after the team had missed the playoffs five consecutive seasons. “In just over two years, Jim has helped instill a culture of excellence within our organization and extending that partnership to 2022-23 is vital for the direction of the hockey club,” owner Tom Gaglardi said. “From the day he stepped into this role, he has displayed tremendous decision-making in the re-tooling of our group and we’re excited to build upon the foundation that has been laid.” The 57-year-old Nill hired veteran coach Lindy Ruff, and has since dramatically reshaped the Stars roster with a series of trades and acquisitions. Before coming to Dallas, Nill spent 15 years as an assistant GM with the Detroit Red Wings, a team that hasn’t missed the playoffs since 1990. One of Nill’s key early moves was a seven-player deal with Boston that first summer that brought young standout center Tyler Seguin. The Stars traded for center Jason Speeza in 2014 offseason, then last summer traded for three-time Stanley Cup champion Patrick Sharp while signing free agent defen-
Photo by Tony Gutierrez | AP
The Dallas Stars agreed to a five-year contract extension with general manager Jim Nill on Friday. seman Johnny Oduya and goaltender Antti Niemi. Seguin and Jamie Benn are tied for the NHL lead with 24 goals each, and were selected NHL All-Stars this season. Ruff will coach the Central Division during All-Star weekend. “I’ve said over and over again, just how special of a group we have here in Dallas, and developing and maintaining a winning organization is something I look forward to over the next seven years,” Nill said. “My wife, Bekki, and I love the area and we truly call it our home.” The Stars are 29-10 with four overtime losses this season, for a West-leading 62 points. They
are 110-72-25 overall since Nill was hired. Dallas beat Winnipeg 2-1 in a shootout Thursday night to end a three-game losing streak, the first time the Stars had lost consecutive games this season. They had the NHL’s best record before that. “Jim Nill was on everyone’s short list for a long time and being able to hire to him to lead the hockey department was monumental for the Dallas Stars,” said team President Jim Lites, who in his first stint with the Stars was part of their 1999 Stanley Cup championship and their return to the final the next season. “He’s brought a stability to our franchise.”
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Zsports
SATURDAY, JANUARY 9, 2016
Aggies hire offensive coordinator ASSOCIATED PRESS
Photo by Tim Sharp | AP
Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett and the rest of the staff will coach the North team in the Senior Bowl on Jan. 30.
Cowboys coaching North team ASSOCIATED PRESS
MOBILE, Ala. — Dallas coach Jason Garrett and his staff will coach the North team in the Senior Bowl, with Jacksonville’s Gus Bradley leading the South for the third straight year. It will be the first time the Cowboys have coached in the annual college allstar game since 1965, the last of four straight years involving Tom Landry’s staff. The game is Jan. 30. The Cowboys (4-12) and Jaguars (5-11) never were
in serious playoff contention, but both owners have already said their head coaches will return. Dallas is a year removed from winning the NFC East at 12-4, but never recovered after losing seven straight games without quarterback Tony Romo. Bradley has coached the South all three years with the Jaguars, who haven’t had a winning season since 2007. Mike Utley, Derrick Brooks, Troy Davis join Hall of Fame
SCOTTSDALE, Arizona — Former Washington State offensive lineman Mike Utley, who suffered a spinal cord injury during an NFL game and was paralyzed, is one of 14 players to be selected for induction for the College Football Hall of Fame. Florida State’s Derrick Brooks, Iowa State’s Troy Davis and Purdue’s Rod Woodson also join this year’s class. The latest group, which will be inducted in December, was announced Friday by the National
Football Foundation. The rest of the class includes LSU’s Bert Jones, UNLV’s Randall Cunningham, Ohio State’s Tom Cousineau, North Carolina’s William Fuller, Wisconsin’s Tim Krumrie, Harvard’s Pat McInally, Colorado’s Herb Orvis, Georgia’s Scott Woerner, Ashland’s Bill Royce and Nebraska Omaha’s Marlin Briscoe. The two new Hall of Fame coaches are Bill Bowes of New Hampshire and Frank Girardi of Lycoming.
ALL-PRO Continued from Page 1B a unanimous pick at defensive end for this season’s team, as was Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson. “I do whatever I can to help the team win. I’m a team guy,” said Mack, who had 15 1/2 sacks (five in one game), behind only Watt in the league. “Whether it’s dropping in coverage or rushing the passer. I can do either. I think they (voters) saw that.” What the voters also saw was the superb work by the Carolina Panthers. Carolina, with an NFLbest 15-1 record, had the most All-Pros with six: quarterback Cam Newton, fullback Mike Tolbert, center Ryan Kalil, linebackers Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis, and cornerback Josh Norman. Kuechly led the Panthers contingent with 49 votes. “He has fulfilled everything we thought he could be,” Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman said of Newton. “And he’s just had a great year. Again, the franchise quarterbacks make everybody better — that’s what they do.”
Newton was especially happy to join Kuechly on the team; the linebacker has made it in three of his four pro seasons. “That’s big, man,” Newton said, adding with a laugh, “I’m just trying to be like Luke Kuechly man, that’s it — Captain America, man. He sets the tone.” Five teams — New England, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Arizona and St. Louis — had two All-Pros each. Steelers receiver Antonio Brown drew 49 votes; teammate David DeCastro made it at guard. The Patriots were tight end Rob Gronkowski and kicker Stephen Gostkowski. From Cincinnati, it was DT Geno Atkins and OT Andrew Whitworth. Arizona, in a measure of the strength of its secondary, had cornerback Patrick Peterson and safety Tyrann Mathieu. St. Louis’ All-Pros were DT Aaron Donald and punter Johnny Hekker. One rookie, Seattle kick returner Tyler Lockett, was selected. “It means a lot,” Lockett said. “There are a lot of
great players who come in to the NFL and do an exceptional job and have a great career, but they’re never able to make it on the All-Pro team. It’s nothing that they did, just other players may have had a better season. To be a rookie to be able to come in, it’s a crazy experience and a crazy accolade to have.” In all, 15 NFC players and 12 from the AFC were chosen. The other All-Pros: Tampa Bay RB Doug Martin, Atlanta WR Julio Jones, Cleveland OT Joe Thomas, Baltimore G Marshal Yanda, Denver OLB Von Miller, San Francisco ILB NaVorro Bowman, and Kansas City S Eric Berry. For Berry, 2015 was a particularly special season. He was diagnosed with lymphoma and this time a year ago was undergoing chemotherapy. He returned in spectacular fashion, helping the Chiefs win their final 10 games this season to make the playoffs. “It’s an incredible honor. It means a lot to me,” said Berry, who also made the
2013 team. “Football’s a team game, so I have to give credit to those guys around me as well. We’ve been hungry from the getgo. I don’t know how to explain it, but I think you see it throughout our play. I think our play speaks for itself.” Bowman is another player coming off a courageous comeback from a major knee injury sustained in the 2013 NFC title game. He only returned to the field this season after being an All-Pro in 2011, ’12 and ’13. Newcomers to the team along with Mack and Lockett are Newton, Norman and Davis among the Panthers, plus Jones, Whitworth, Martin, DeCastro, Donald and Mathieu. “That’s another goal check off my list,” Norman said. “It really is. It went from Pro Bowl to All-Pro to hopefully Defensive Player of the Year. Sheesh. “That is all personal goals, though. The Super Bowl is the granddaddy of them all. I’m working so hard toward that right now. All of these other accolades will fall into place.”
TEXANS Continued from Page 1B tendon injury in October. Houston got a boost from a defense led by NFL sack leader J.J. Watt that finished strong, allowing a league-best 12.7 points a game in its last nine games. Saturday’s game will be the season’s second meeting after a 27-20 win by the Chiefs in the opener. “We were down 27-9 in the first half. That’s not going to win any playoff games,” coach Bill O’Brien said of that first meeting. “I think we have to look at it to learn from some of the things we did there. But ... we have to make sure we know both teams are very different.” Some things to know about the Chiefs-Texans playoff game. SAVORING THE MOMENT Houston’s youngest player, 21-year-old rookie receiver Jaelen Strong, knows to appreciate being in the playoffs because there’s no guarantee of returning. If he wasn’t already savoring the moment, he was reminded to do so by the story of 39year-old punter Shane Le-
chler, who hasn’t been to the postseason since 2002 with the Oakland Raiders. Strong was in elementary school that year. “As a rookie, I just want to do what they tell me to do, do my job and work as hard as I can because I know there are guys that haven’t been to the playoffs since I was probably like 8 years old,” Strong said. Lechler shook his head when told Strong was only 8 the last time he reached the postseason. “I told the guys ...: ’Don’t take this stuff for granted. These chances don’t come around too often,”’ Lechler said. “I had veteran guys like Rich Gannon, Jerry Rice and Tim Brown tell me that and I didn’t listen. I took it for granted my first three years and it took me a long time to get back.” SACK ATTACK IS BACK Chiefs linebacker Justin Houston will play for the first time since Nov. 29, when he hyperextended his knee in a game against Buffalo, and fellow pass rusher Tamba Hali
will not be limited after playing a handful of snaps last week following surgery on his broken thumb. That means the Chiefs’ defense — allowing 17.9 points, third-best in the NFL — should be even better. “I know he’s excited about the opportunity to get back out there,” defensive coordinator Bob Sutton said of Houston, an All-Pro last season. “He’ll be ready to roll.” ALSO RETURNING This time a year ago, Eric Berry was in the middle of chemotherapy treatment for lymphoma. Now, the Pro Bowl safety is anchoring the Kansas City secondary as it prepares for DeAndre Hopkins and Co. “There’s more at stake, more on the line. But we just keep raising the level,” he said, “and go about it that way.” DYNAMIC DUO Watt had 17 1/2 sacks this season and outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus finished with 12 to give Houston the only duo with at least 12 sacks each in
the NFL and give the Texans two players with at least 10 for the first time in franchise history. Mercilus finished the regular season strong, piling up 5 1/2 sacks, with one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one pass defensed in December to earn AFC defensive player of the month honors. REDEMPTION FOR HOYER? Houston quarterback Brian Hoyer had two turnovers in the first meeting with the Chiefs before he was benched in the fourth quarter in favor of Ryan Mallett. Hoyer is back to starting for the Texans after returning last week following his second concussion in less than a month. Despite those struggles early against the Chiefs, he doesn’t view this game as a chance at redemption. “It’s not a personal vendetta of me versus the Kansas City Chiefs,” Hoyer said. “They played us tough, and it was tough for us to have success against them. So I think if anything that’s a challenge, again, to go against these guys.”
COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Texas A&M has hired Noel Mazzone as offensive coordinator. The Aggies said Friday that the contract is pending approval by university President Michael K. Young and the Texas A&M system board of regents. The 58-year-old Mazzone spent the past four seasons as UCLA’s offensive coordinator after two seasons at Arizona State. He was recently hospitalized for a blood clot in his lung and worked UCLA’s Foster Farms Bowl loss to Nebraska from the press box instead of his usual spot on the field. Mazzone replaced Jake Spavital at Texas A&M. Mazzone was the New York Jets’ wide receivers coach from 2006-08 and spent the 2009 season as a personnel consultant for the franchise. Mazzone also has coached at Mississippi, Auburn, North Carolina State, Oregon State, Minnesota, TCU and Colorado State and was a graduate assistant as his alma mater of New Mexico. He played
quarterback for New Mexico and led the Lobos in passing in 1976 and 1977. Washington’s Scott Woodward named AD at Texas A&M COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Scott Woodward has been named Texas A&M’s new athletic director after serving in that same position at Washington since 2008. Texas A&M President Michael Young announced the hiring Friday, three days after Eric Hyman announced he was stepping down from the position. Woodward will be formally introduced in College Station next week. Young took over as Texas A&M president in May. He was Washington’s president before that, with Woodward as AD. Hyman joined Texas A&M in 2012, helping the Aggies make the transition from the Big 12 to the Southeastern Conference. Before Washington, Woodward from 2000-04 was director of external affairs at LSU, his alma mater. He worked then with LSU President Mark Emmert, who has since become NCAA president.
NORTH Continued from Page 1B Four weeks later, the only difference is that the stakes are higher. The Bengals (12-4) are putting their 25-year streak of playoff futility on the line against the Steelers (10-6) on Saturday night, trying to do a better job of keeping their cool. They got caught up in the emotion and suffered a meltdown four weeks ago, a 33-20 defeat that basically cost them a playoff bye and their starting quarterback. Andy Dalton was leading the league in passer rating when he broke his thumb while making a tackle during an interception return. AJ McCarron took over and threw a pair of interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown. And the trash talking went on endlessly, getting so out of hand that Bengals coach Marvin Lewis and Steelers coach Mike Tomlin talked about it by phone the following day. Television monitors in the Bengals locker room this week had the usual schedule of activities, plus a quote from franchise founder Paul Brown: “The key to winning is poise under stress.” Translation: Cool it. And that goes for the Steelers, too. Right tackle Marcus Gilbert tweeted — and later deleted — after the win four weeks ago: “All I want for Christmas is the Bengals. Would love to see them in the playoffs where they choke. The talking is done between the lines.” They’re saving it for Saturday. “We left that behind us,” Gilbert said. “I know those guys, they’re not trying to get suspended or lose any money out of their pockets the third go-round. ... All that stuff that happened weeks back is out of the window. We’re trying to get this win as badly as they are.” Five things to watch on Saturday night at Paul Brown Stadium: THE HISTORY Cincinnati hasn’t won a playoff game since the 1990 season, the sixth-longest streak of postseason futility in NFL history. Coach Marvin Lewis is 0-6, tied with Jim Mora for most consecutive playoff losses to start a career. The Steelers and Bengals have met only once in the playoffs, and that was 10 years ago when Carson Palmer got his knee torn up on his first pass and Pitts-
burgh won 31-17. The Steelers are 14-3 all time at Paul Brown Stadium, which opened in 2000. McCARRON’S BIG MOMENT McCarron hasn’t thrown an interception in his three starts in Dalton’s place, leading the Bengals to a 2-1 mark. He won two national championships at Alabama and thinks his experience in big games should help on Saturday. History is against him: No quarterback with so little NFL starting experience has won a playoff game since Gifford Nielsen led the Houston Oilers over the Chargers in the 1979 season. SHUTDOWN DEFENSE Cincinnati gave up 279 points, the fewest in franchise history and the fewest in the AFC. The Oilers won that game in 1979 with an inexperienced quarterback because Houston’s defense picked off Dan Fouts five times. The Bengals intercepted Ben Roethlisberger three times for a 16-10 win at Heinz Field on Nov. 1. READY TO RUN? A year ago, the Steelers entered the playoffs without their top running back. This season, it’s even worse, as both Le’Veon Bell and DeAngelo Williams are out. That leaves unproven Fitzgerald Toussaint and welltraveled Jordan Todman as the top options against one of the NFL’s best run defenses. Toussaint and Todman combined for 64 yards in limited action this fall. Last year Pittsburgh signed Ben Tate off the street and gave him a crashcourse for a wild-card game against Baltimore. Tate managed 19 yards on five carries, with a fumble mixed in. “I think we’ve got guys that have stepped up all year and don’t see why this should be any different, whether it’s Todman, Fitz, Will Johnson,” Roethlisberger said. “Whoever it is at running back the good thing is they’ve been here all year. They know the system. They know what to do and we expect them to step up and be up to speed.” CHALLENGING MARTAVIS Roethlisberger called out talented but inconsistent second-year wide receiver Martavis Bryant during the week, saying on his radio show that Bryant needed to “toughen up” after he managed just two receptions for 6 yards over the final two games.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 9, 2016
Dear Heloise: This hint is for DADS AND GRANDFATHERS on outings with their little girls. I’m not comfortable taking my daughter into a men’s room, because you never know what you’ll find there. Furthermore, they’re often filthy. Here’s my work-around: I open the ladies’ room door, bang on it and shout: “JANITOR! COMING IN!” That’s nonthreatening to most people. If anyone is inside, they’ll let me know, and I usually can arrange for a woman to assist. If it’s empty, I take my daughter inside, get her set up and then stand in the doorway of the ladies’ room until she is finished. –– Frank in Birmingham, Ala. Frank, you are a good father, and there are many, many like you! It’s not easy today, is it? Look for a “family” restroom where you can go in with your daughter, lock the door and it’s only one room. As you said, the good: most women are happy to help; the bad: yuck –– some
THE ZAPATA TIMES 3B
“
HELOISE
men’s restrooms are filthy! Do men act that way at home? –– Heloise TWO FOR ONE Dear Heloise: Here’s my solution to prevent powdered laundry detergent from clumping. I pour it into a garbage bag and twist it tight so moisture can’t get in. It also keeps spills inside the bag when dipping out some for a load of laundry. No mess on the floor or washer. Also, I use the store carryout bags to line my small trash cans. They fit perfectly. I usually put three or four at a time inside each can, and I don’t have to replace them so often. In our locale, the bags are called “Appalachian tumbleweeds,” because too many people throw them out the car window. –– Dave A., New Boston, Ohio
4B THE ZAPATA TIMES
SATURDAY, JANUARY 9, 2016