Article credited to Texas Monthly: http://www.texasmonthly.com
MEANWHILE, IN TEXAS…
Border Tragedy
A U.S. Border Patrol agent was killed on duty near Big Bend on Sunday, according to the San Antonio Express-News. While agent Rogelio Martinez and his partner were patrolling near the Van Horn Station about 120 miles east of El Paso on Sunday morning, they responded to unspecified activity and were injured. Both agents were taken to a hospital, and Martinez, a 36-year-old who lived in El Paso, died from his injuries. The other agent is still hospitalized and in serious condition. The FBI is investigating the incident and has confirmed that there was no shooting, though few other details have emerged. The agency told the Express-News that a full account of the incident will be released on Monday. “Our condolences and prayers go out to the family and friends of Border Patrol Agent Rogelio Martinez, who was killed this morning in the line of duty,” Senator Ted Cruz said in a statement. “We are also praying for the full recovery of his partner, who was also attacked.” President Donald Trump, meanwhile, used the incident to renew his call for a border wall on Twitter. “Border Patrol Officer killed at Southern Border, another badly hurt. We will seek out and bring to justice those responsible. We will, and must, build the Wall!”
Most Altuvaluable
Houston Astros star second baseman José Altuve won the American League MVP award on Friday, according to the Houston Chronicle. The award capped a historic season for the Astros, after Altuve led the team to its first World Series title in franchise history, batting a Major League-best .346 with 24 home runs, 81 RBI, 112 runs, and 32 stolen bases. He came through in the clutch, too, hitting .310 with seven home runs through eighteen playoff games. Only one Astro has won MVP before Altuve—Jeff Bagwell in 1994—and only ten second basemen have won an MVP award since 1931. The 5’6″ Altuve is also tied with Yankees shortstop Phil Rizzuto and Philadelphia Athletics pitcher Bobby Shantz as the shortest MVP ever. Altuve received 27 of 30 possible first-place votes, beating out Yankees slugger Aaron Judge by a significant margin despite earlier speculation about a close race.
Late Apology
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was in hot water this weekend after a video surfaced showing him making racist comments at a 2013 wedding. At the Warwick Melrose Hotel in Dallas, a man asked Jones to give a congratulatory speech to his new fiancée as he was walking out of the bar. “Jennifer, congratulations on the wedding,” Jones said to the camera. “Now, you know he’s with a black girl tonight, don’t you?” Jones then laughed. Now that the video has been released to the public, Jones has apologized. “That comment was inappropriate,” Jones told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “It’s not who I am, and I’m sorry.” The video comes as the NFL and team owners, in particular, grapple with a league-wide protest movement among many African-American players, who have kneeled during pre-game national anthems in protest of racial injustice and police brutality. Jones has threatened to benchCowboys players who kneel during the anthem.