Courtesy Larry Sanchez,
(Laredo, Tx)- Webb County Commissioner Jaime Canales will be treating a group of students to an afternoon of bowling and  pizza as a reward for demonstrating good character and excelling in their academics. Many of these students are victims of poverty, drug addiction, and family violence.
For their efforts, Commissioner Canales will be taking approximately 45 students and staff to the Jett Bowl Wednesday, May 23.  The event starts at 11 a.m.

By the CNN Wire Staff,

(CNN) — Robin Gibb, one of three brothers who made up the group the Bee Gees behind “Saturday Night Fever” and other now-iconic sounds from the 1970s, died on Sunday, according to a statement on his website.
He was 62.
Gibb “passed away today following his long battle with cancer and intestinal surgery,” said the statement, which was attributed to his family. He died in England at 10:47 a.m. (5:47 a.m. ET), according to a post on his official Twitter feed.  (Read More)

Courtesy Xochitl Mora,
Art, essay, poetry and photography divisions garner multiple winners
 (Laredo, TX ) “Ain’t no stoppin’ us now!” has quickly become the theme song for St. Peter’s Memorial School.  In the past four years, the school had proudly boasted a few winners in various contests.  This year, however, the famed historical downtown school is busting at the seams with winners of various local, national and international contests.   Catholic Daughters of America; Laredo Public Library’s 9th Annual Poetry Festival; Holy Cross Ministries Try Prayer! It Works!; and Pentel’s 42nd International Children’s …

Courtesy Roberto Treviño,
(Laredo, Tx)- The Dr. Dennis D. Cantu Health Science Magnet School received a $105,000 grant donation from the Lamar Bruni Vergara Foundation Trust on Thursday, May 9. LBV trustees J.C. Martin III and James Pearl presented the check to Cantu Health Science Magnet School teachers and students during a ceremony held at the Tiger’s Den on the Martin High School campus.
 The grant donation will be used to expand programs at the magnet school says director, Gerri Arredondo. The school will be purchasing an ambulance simulator, which will provide real-life, …

Courtesy Xochitl Mora,
Annual Family Fest will help benefit the South Texas Food Bank
 (Laredo, TX )  The City of Laredo is once again hosting this year’s annual 4th of July Family Fest celebration and thanks to their partners, including: V Parade Company; R Communications; Budweiser; AB Cattle co, by Ana & John Galo; Dannenbaum Engineering; Casa Raul, Cricket; Lone Star Autoplex; and UETA, this event promises to be a sizzling celebration. 
 For only a $1.00 suggested donation entrance fee, which will benefit the South Texas Food Bank, attendees will be able to …

(Laredo, Tx)-In September as students began their school year within the Laredo Independent School District (L.I.S.D), Sheriff Martin Cuellar presented a pilot program that would motivate students of six L.I.S.D. schools to increase attendance numbers.  The School Attendance Matters Program (SAM) of the Webb County Sheriff’s Office kicked off and throughout the year, students were eligible to earn points for their attendance and accumulate the points for five six weeks period.  Now, as the school year comes to an end, students at participating schools in L.I.S.D. are now eligible to …

Courtesy Xochitl Mora,
Initiative hosted by City of Laredo Environmental Services and Health Departments,  in cooperation with United I.S.D., intended to cut down on vector-borne diseases
 (Laredo, TX)  Dengue, other potential health hazards Unsightly brown field dumping sites. Overpowering odors.  Sometimes even, degradation of the river’s water quality. 
 These are just a few of the potential health hazards that the city of Laredo faces when old tires are dumped in empty lots, in the river or creek beds, or along streets and highways, instead of being properly disposed.  In an effort to help clean up …

Courtesy Xochitl Mora,
(Laredo, Tx)-Mayor Pro Tempore Cindy Liendo Espinoza and District VII Council Member Jorge Vera welcomed the Laredo Crime Stoppers as well as local law enforcement to City Hall to kick-off the annual Battle of the Badges BBQ Cook-Off and Motorcycle Scavenger Hunt.  Joining them in the announcement of all event details (attached) were:  Deputies from Webb County Sheriff Martin Cuellar’s Office, including Deputy Carlos Camarillo and Deputy Barney Garcia; Mingo Medina, of L&F Distributors, a major sponsor of the event; Estella Quintanilla, LCS Board Member; Carolyn Leyendecker LCS …

Courtesy Xochitl Mora,
Mayor Pro Tempore welcomed representatives from Doctors Hospital, Laredo Medical Center and Laredo Specialty Hospital to kick off National Hospital Week with a proclamation, highlighting the great work that all three do, taking care of the Laredo community to nurse them back to health.
 Laredo Medical Center CEO Tim Schmidt and Doctors Hospital CEO Elmo Lopez look on while MPT Liendo Espinoza reads from the proclamation.

Courtesy Xochitl Mora,
After four years at helm, Maldonado highlights crime rate reduction, efficiencies in department and increased federal awareness
 (Laredo, TX )  After four years as Chief of Police for the City of Laredo Police Department, Chief Carlos R. Maldonado has submitted his letter of intent to retire, effective June 22, 2012. Maldonado, a native New Mexican, began his career in Law Enforcement in the New Mexico State Police as a patrolman in 1981.  A long and storied career, including a stint at the FBI Academy, various roles in state law …