Courtesy Roberto Treviño,
Every first grader attending Alma Pierce Elementary, Bruni Elementary, Zaffirini Elementary, and  Bonnie Garcia Elementary, will be given a free prevent tooth decay kit on Wednesday, February 2. A healthy teeth lesson for the children, along with kit distribution, will take place at the times and locations listed below.  A total of approximately 640 kits are being distributed as part of the Fantastic Teeth Fan Club, a program of Masonic Children & Family Services, to prevent children from suffering with toothaches, reduce missed school days due to dental problems, …

Courtesy Raul Leal,
 
LAREDO, Tx- The following street-lane closures are in effect for US 83 (Guadalupe-Chihuahua Sts.) between Monterrey Ave. and Cedar Ave. in Laredo/Webb County:  
 

NEW Sanders and Marcella Avenue, between  Chihuahua and Rosario , was CLOSED Monday, January 31, 2011 and will re-open by the end of the day on Tuesday February 1, 2011. The Sub-Contractor (Ellis & Ellis) will tie into an existing waterline.

Chihuahua St., one outside eastbound lane, between Maryland and Lexington Avenue CLOSED 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday – Friday. Merge to open lane.

Chihuahua St., one outside eastbound lane, from …

Courtesy Xochitl Mora,
Earlier today, City of Laredo Mayor Raul G. Salinas was joined by District VI Council Member Charlie San Miguel and members of the Diocese of Laredo to help proclaim the week Catholic Schools Week.  Laredo Catholic Schools Superintendent Dr. Rosa Maria Vida, along with principals and students of all of the Laredo Catholic schools were present today, as Mayor Salinas congratulated the teachers, principals, parents and students for giving students not only a strong academic, but also, spiritual foundation as they help to not educate and shape tomorrow’s …

Courtesy Lesley Lopez,
 
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX 28) announced his committee assignments for the 112th Congress.  He will continue to serve as an active member on the Homeland Security and Agriculture Committees.
 
Congressman Bennie Thompson, Homeland Security Committee Ranking Member, named Congressman Cuellar as Ranking Member of the Border and Maritime Security Subcommittee, making him the most influential Democrat within the subcommittee. In the 111th Congress, he served as chairman of the subcommittee, formerly called the Border Maritime and Global Counterterrorism Subcommittee.
 
“Protecting our nation and our border communities …

Courtesy Joe Baeza,
 Chief Carlos Maldonado had a busy work and travel schedule last week while visiting our state’s capital in Austin with the City delegation and then also traveling up to our nation’s capital in Washington, D.C. to attend an International Chiefs of Police conference.  His first stop was in Austin where Chief Maldonado visited, along with city officials, several State directors and elected officials in order to remind them about the vital role in funding additional security resources along the Laredo and Nuevo Laredo border.  With imminent budget cuts looming, …

Courtesy Maru De La Paz,
 Laredo, Texas (Webb County) – In his efforts to continue to keep Webb County safe, Sheriff Martin Cuellar shared some of his forfeiture monies with Crime Stoppers by presenting a check for the amount of $10,000.00, during the 16th annual Menudo Bowl.
 “Menudo Bowl is an important event because it is the largest fundraiser for Laredo Crime Stoppers.  It not only brings families together, but it also promotes our Laredo culture and tradition.  The presentation of the $10,000.00 is my humble way to let the Laredo Crime …

Courtesy Lesley Lopez,

  Prescription Drug Cost Relief As A Result of Health Reform

WASHINGTON , D.C. – Today, Congressman Cuellar announced that, to date, more than 3 million seniors and other Medicare beneficiaries have received ‘donut hole’ checks to begin to close their prescription drug coverage gap. A total of 193,301 seniors and other Medicare beneficiaries in Texas have received a ‘donut hole’ check so far. 
Under the Affordable Care Act, seniors whose prescription drug costs were so high that they fell in the Medicare prescription drug ‘donut hole’ coverage gap in 2010 …

 
Courtesy U.S. Customs and Border Protection,
 EAGLE PASS, TEXAS – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Eagle Pass Port of Entry have seized $2.2 million in cocaine and apprehended a previously deported MS-13 member in separate, unrelated law enforcement actions this week.   The most recent apprehension occurred Jan. 26 at Eagle Pass International Bridge (I) during an outbound examination. CBP officers encountered a 23-year-old male pedestrian, a Salvadoran citizen from Usulután , El Salvador with no valid entry documentation. During secondary examination, CBP officers discovered that the man, an …

Courtesy Will Krueger,
(AUSTIN) – Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst on Monday (Jan. 24) reappointed Senator Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, to the Senate Finance Committee.
“I am grateful to Lt. Governor Dewhurst for the opportunity to continue to serve on this important committee,” Senator Zaffirini said. “I look forward to working with him and my colleagues to address the difficult fiscal challenges facing our state.”
Senator Zaffirini has served on the Senate Finance Committee since 1991. As Vice Chair of Finance from 2003 to 2007, she advocated fiscal responsibility in the budgeting process and …

Courtesy TxDot,
 
AUSTIN – Today marks another milestone in planning the I-35 corridor in Texas . Citizens spoke and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) listened. A comprehensive mobility plan, known as MY 35, was presented to the Texas Transportation Commission and TxDOT Thursday to guide future I-35 corridor development. The I-35 Corridor Advisory Committee and four segment committees were responsible for the plan’s creation, which includes near, mid-range and long-range initiatives.
 
The Texas Transportation Commission created the I-35 Corridor Advisory Committee and the four segment committees in 2008 in response to …