AUSTIN, Tex. (KGNS) - A push by Texas’ hard right to widen control in the state Capitol fell short Tuesday after House lawmakers rejected its choice for the powerful speakership amid a Republican feud accelerated by the historic impeachment of Attorney General Ken Paxton.

Instead, new House Speaker Dustin Burrows won the job with the support of Democrats, who favored him over a challenger backed by the GOP’s emboldened right.

The outcome is a victory for Texas’ shrinking establishment wing, though it’s possible that Burrows could still lose influence in the coming months. The race deepened divisions within the GOP, partly driven by Republicans who say an agenda that includes some of the toughest laws in the U.S. over abortion and immigration doesn’t go far enough.

“He’s a leader who will at least have a conversation,” Democratic state Rep. Toni Rose said in a nomination speech for Burrows.

Burrows was challenged by state Rep. David Cook, who pledged to block Democrats from running committees in the House — a longstanding bipartisan tradition in a chamber that has historically been a more moderate balance to the hard-right-leaning Senate.

Burrows will lead one of the state’s highest offices after a dramatic bowing-out of the former House speaker, Dade Phelan, who lost favor with the hard-right faction of his party after Paxton’s impeachment. The state Senate ultimately acquitted Paxton, who in recent weeks campaigned against Republicans who sought to deny Cook’s victory.

The newly elected speaker has few ideological distinctions between himself and Cook, but his opponent came to be the choice of some Republicans who believe Democrats have too much control over the House.

The House’s failure to approve taxpayer funds for private schools in 2023 also intensified Republican squabbles in the run-up to November’s elections, when Republicans expanded their already commanding majority and gained ground on the U.S.-Mexico border.

Texas in recent years has passed some of the nation’s toughest restrictions on abortion, immigration and voting. Republicans this year have proposed bans on public funds for gender-affirming care for adults and giving in-state college tuition for students without legal status in the U.S.

LAREDO, Tx. (KGNS) - Laredo Police are investigating a shooting that left two people dead Tuesday morning

The incident was reported at around 1:30 a.m. near the 1800 block of Barrios Street.

Police say they found a 49-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman dead from apparent gunshot wounds.

So far no arrests have been made and the investigation remains ongoing.

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - The Laredo International Airport has officially started its new direct flight connecting Laredo to Monterrey, Nuevo León.

Details about the new travel opportunity were shared during a press conference and ceremony at the Laredo airport on Monday, January 13.

The service, operated by Aerus, will run from Monday through Friday, with one flight to Monterrey and one returning flight to Laredo per day.

A one-way flight is expected to cost $100, while a roundtrip is estimated to cost $200.

This is the first time Laredo has offered a direct flight to Monterrey.

According to the CEO of Aerus, Javier Herrera Garcia, “Unfortunately, due to some operational issues, we couldn’t start on those dates. Now, we are starting on January 13, and all passengers who were affected are covered on these new dates or have been reimbursed.”

Garcia says that the new flight will decrease travel time as it currently takes five hours with layovers to get to Monterrey.

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - Governor Greg Abbott requested a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster declaration for Webb County after Laredo’s boil water notice in October.

The request was submitted on Monday, January 13, and concerns the recent water connection issues in Laredo.

Abbott released a statement on the matter that reads:

“Since last October, when Laredo was impacted by prolonged boil water notices, Texas continues working with local officials to ensure there are no unmet needs for Texans in Webb County and the surrounding area.” Abbott continued, “To help our fellow Texans in South Texas, I issued a disaster declaration in October to surge all available resources to the impacted border communities, including more than 60 truckloads of bottled water. We must do more to provide support to Texas businesses still working to recover. That is why I requested a disaster declaration from the U.S. Small Business Administration to ensure Texans in Webb County have access to low-interest loans to help their business financially move forward.”

A survey of affected businesses determined that a qualifying number of small businesses in Webb County suffered significant economic harm due to the disaster and require financial assistance that is not otherwise available on reasonable terms.

If approved, the SBA will offer low-interest loans to qualifying small businesses affected by the situation through its disaster programs.

Abbott had previously issued a disaster declaration in October after traces of E. coli were discovered in Laredo’s water system.

In response to the disaster, Texas sent more than 60 truckloads of bottled drinking water and activated the Texas A&M Public Works Response Team to help local officials restore services.

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - A man has pled guilty to murder after a high-speed chase ended in a deadly crash.

The Webb and Zapata County District Attorney’s Office said Jose Oscar Infante-Reyes entered the plea on January 9, 2025, in the 341st District Court.

The case began on August 13, 2022, when a Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) trooper saw a red Ford Expedition with flashing lights, chrome wheels, and a fake temporary tag on McPherson Avenue. DPS tried to stop the vehicle, but Infante-Reyes sped away, according to reports.

According to the District Attorney’s office, Infante-Reyes led officers on a chase, reaching speeds of 80 to 90 mph in a 45 mph zone. He drove recklessly, hit a Ford F-150, and then crashed head-on into a Chevrolet Tahoe, the press release states.

The people in the Tahoe were badly hurt, and one later died from her injuries.

Authorities said Infante-Reyes admitted he had been drinking the night before, was intoxicated during the chase, and drove recklessly to escape police.

He is scheduled to be sentenced on February 7, 2025.

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - The Webb County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about a phone scam in the area.

Scammers are calling people, claiming there is a warrant for their arrest. They demand payment over the phone, saying a deputy will arrest them if they don’t pay.

The Sheriff’s Office says this is fake and reminds people that they never ask for payment over the phone.

“If you get a call from someone claiming to be from the Sheriff’s Office, or if the number appears to be ours, be cautious,” said Commander Federico Calderon. “If you have doubts, tell the caller you will hang up and call them back at the office. That call will be routed to the Sheriff’s Office, and we can clear up any misunderstandings.”

Anyone who gets these calls is urged to report them to the Sheriff’s Office at 956-523-4500.

The Sheriff’s Office continues to remind the public to stay alert and avoid falling for scams.

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) has arrested Edwin Cuevas, 22, of El Cenizo, for his role in a deadly street racing crash in Laredo. Cuevas was taken into custody on Tuesday, December 31, 2024.

He faces charges of evading arrest, racing on a highway, deadly conduct, tampering with evidence, and engaging in organized criminal activity. DPS says Cuevas was driving a Dodge Charger racing against a Chevrolet Camaro before the crash.

The crash happened early on December 18, 2024, at around 1:40 a.m. on U.S. Highway 83. According to DPS, Ernesto Javier Martinez, 20, of Laredo, was driving the Camaro when he crashed into a cement barrier near the Guatemozin Street overpass.

DPS says Martinez was speeding and trying to get away from a DPS trooper who responded to reports of street racing. DPS said that during the chase Martinez turned off the car’s lights.

Authorities also arrested another individual linked to the incident earlier in the investigation. On December 26, DPS announced that Christopher Arnulfo Rene Rodriguez had been taken into custody after executing a search warrant. Rodriguez was charged with racing on a highway, deadly conduct, and evading arrest with a vehicle.

Rodriguez was booked into the Webb County Jail on a $35,000 bond.