WEBB COUNTY, Tex. (KGNS) - The National Weather Service has put out a Tornado Watch until 7 a.m. Thursday, June 20, for parts of South Texas.

The watch covers these 15 counties: Aransas, Bee, Calhoun, Duval, Goliad, Jim Wells, Kleberg, La Salle, Live Oak, McMullen, Nueces, Refugio, San Patricio, Victoria, and Webb.

Cities in the watch area include Alice, Aransas Pass, Beeville, Benavides, Calliham, Corpus Christi, Cotulla, Cross, Flour Bluff, Freer, Fulton, George West, Goliad, Holiday Beach, Ingleside, Kingsville, Laredo, Loma Alta, Loyola Beach, Magnolia Beach, Mathis, Orange Grove, Port Lavaca, Portland, Realitos, Refugio, Ricardo, Riviera, Rockport, San Diego, Sinton, Taft, Three Rivers, Tilden, Tynan, Victoria, and Woodsboro.

Residents in these areas are advised to stay alert for changing weather conditions and to have a plan in place in case a tornado warning is issued. Stay tuned to weather updates for the latest information.

WEBB COUNTY, Tex. (KGNS) - The Texas Department of Transportation’s Laredo District issued a traffic alert for Wednesday, June 19, around 6 p.m. following a serious accident involving two tractor-trailers on I-35.

The southbound lanes of I-35 are closed at mile marker #24 due to the crash, which happened near mile marker #18.

Drivers are being rerouted to SH 255 (Camino Colombia Road) to US 83 North for continued travel. Expect delays as cleanup and investigations are underway.

For updates, visit the Texas Department of Transportation’s X account.

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - Two milligrams—which is the size of a grain of salt—could be enough fentanyl to cause an overdose.

The DEA Fentanyl Summit is the newest addition to a multi-governmental approach to deter fentanyl-related deaths and overdoses in Laredo.

The summit will attempt to reach out to the younger demographic, a rising target with fentanyl distributors.

The summit promotes education from learning to apply Narcan to hearing testimonials from family members who have felt the effects of a fentanyl overdose.

Currently, Webb County and Laredo have 29 fentanyl-related overdoses, according to Assistant Special Agent Robert Kennedy with the Drug Enforcement Administration.

“It’s a 30% decrease from where we were last year,” Kennedy reports. “And when we look at the projections that we had estimated for 2023, we actually came in for the city of Laredo [about] 33% under what we were projecting which was a great task, but it’s still not anything to brag about.”

Kennedy explains drugs from Mexico, primarily produced by several cartels, are making their way to the United States fueled by chemicals coming from China, worsening the proliferation of fentanyl.

“You may think that you’re taking one drug, but you may be taking another, and that’s why we don’t call it an overdose,” Kennedy says. “We actually call it a poisoning, and so when you hear us talk, we will say fentanyl poisoning-linked deaths. And that’s because people are being poisoned.”

The DEA has a drug overdose task force within Laredo combined with multiple departments including the Laredo police, Border Patrol, Homeland Security, and others charged with investigating overdoses that occur.

They then begin the search for those responsible for distributing the drugs bringing forth federal criminal charges.

Locally, Francisco Adame, the South Texas MAT Program Director at SCAN offers resources ranging from counseling to medication-assisted treatment to combat opioid addiction. Adame says, “One of the things that we’re seeing here is just there’s an increase in clients that are coming in for services, and when they come in for services, it’s not just cocaine, it may be cocaine laced with fentanyl.”

Adame adds that within the Drug and Alcohol Commission, there has been a push to obtain fentanyl test strips—illegal within the state of Texas—as a harm reduction strategy.

Kennedy explains the law currently leaves those decisions up to the states.

The summit will be taking place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, June 21, at the Tamiu Student Center ballroom, and it’s open to the public.

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - Gilbert Jerry Mendez has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for killing his father, Samuel Mendez Sr., and his brother, Samuel Mendez, Jr.

The sentencing, held at the 49th District Court on Tuesday, June 18, involved concurrent sentences of 30 years for each murder, to be served at the same time.

Family members spoke directly to Mendez. He pleaded guilty on June 10 after being in custody since his arrest in 2021, nearly three years after the crime.

During the hearing, Mendez’s aunts shared how deeply the crimes have affected their families. Mendez appeared visibly moved, wiping away tears and looking down as his family spoke in court.

The case dates back to October 2021, when Laredo Police responded to a shooting at Olive Street’s 200 block, finding both victims with fatal gunshot wounds. Mendez was arrested four days later and charged with murder and aggravated assault.

WEBB COUNTY, Tex. (KGNS) - Three weeks after a severe thunderstorm struck Webb County, many residents are still feeling the effects. As the community braces for possible thunderstorms this week, people reflect on the aftermath and prepare for what might come next.

On the night of May 28, a thunderstorm hit Laredo, catching many by surprise. The torrential rains and lightning caused street flooding, fallen trees, and led to several power outages. Laredo was not the only city affected; the nearby cities of Rio Bravo and El Cenizo, about 15 miles south, were also hit hard. Many residents in these areas lost their homes.

“It hasn’t been easy,” said Liliana Rivera, a resident of El Cenizo. “People have been going through their houses, our animals are missing, and it’s bad.”

Rivera’s property suffered significant damage during the storm. Her concrete wall collapsed, leaving her home vulnerable not only to the elements but also to crime.

“We had chickens and roosters, we had a pug, but they are missing now,” Rivera said. “That wall was our protector from people crossing over, and now we’re having trouble.”

With more storms expected on Wednesday, June 19, and Thursday, June 20, Rivera and her family are preparing as best they can.

“We are just trying to stay safe inside at home, buy groceries in time, and stuff in time,” she said. “But when it comes to things outside, it’s just putting it in God’s hands to keep us safe.”

El Cenizo Mayor Carina Hernandez has been monitoring the weather forecasts and has set up a plan of action, including opening the city’s recreation center as a shelter for residents.

In Rio Bravo, Mayor Amanda Perez Aguero has also made preparations.

“Our city hall will be open,” Aguero said. “The American Red Cross has graciously handed us some items that will help us with whatever comes our way, and as far as the city being prepared, we are.”

Efforts to reach Rio Bravo residents for their preparation plans were unsuccessful.

Despite the uncertainty of the weather, Rivera stresses the importance of being prepared. “People should be ready for anything, even if the sky starts falling,” she said.

Residents in need of assistance due to the weather are urged to contact their local officials. Rio Bravo residents can call 956-790-9500, and El Cenizo residents can call 956-523-5382.

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - On June 15, 2024, around 12:56 a.m., police responded to a domestic disturbance call at the 5700 block of Saint Emma Drive. When officers got there, they saw a man speeding off in a black Lincoln.

Shortly after, a crash was reported nearby on the 5700 block of Saint Amy Drive, where officers found the black Lincoln crashed into a gray pickup truck, both sustaining significant damage. The driver of the Lincoln, identified as 29-year-old Fernando Guadalupe Villarreal, showed signs of intoxication, according to police.

It all began when the caller, returning home, found Villarreal, her ex-boyfriend, who allegedly arrived and became verbally aggressive, demanding to see their daughter. Concerned, she called the authorities.

Villarreal was arrested and charged with Driving While Intoxicated (DWI).

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - Gilbert Jerry Mendez, who confessed last week to murdering his father Samuel Mendez Senior and his brother Samuel Mendez Junior in 2021, is scheduled for sentencing Tuesday, June 18.

Mendez, facing a 30-year prison term, awaits the court’s decision on whether impact statements will be presented during the sentencing hearing. The proceedings are slated to begin at 1:30 p.m. at the 49th District Court.