LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - July is here, and it’s time to celebrate Park and Recreation Month, a time when communities flourish and grow. Laredo has officially designated this month as Parks and Recreation Month, emphasizing the department’s crucial role in creating strong communities.

On Thursday, July 6, a proclamation ceremony took place at North Central Park Pool to mark the official commencement of this celebratory month. With the theme “Where Community Grows,” the Laredo Parks and Recreation Department showcased the various ways in which residents can actively contribute to building a strong, vibrant, and resilient community.

During the ceremony, city officials and community members gathered to recognize the significance of parks and recreation in fostering community well-being and engagement. The event served as a platform to highlight the department’s mission to create an environment where individuals can thrive and where community bonds are strengthened.

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - On Thursday, July 6, U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar and Laredo Mayor Victor Treviño discussed what they consider a momentous achievement in the pursuit of infrastructure reform. Congressman Cuellar announced the successful inclusion of language in the Fiscal Year 2024 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs House appropriations bill that would streamline the Presidential permit process for bridge construction, with a specific focus on the World Trade Bridge expansion project in Laredo.

Currently, obtaining permits for border crossing projects involves navigating through lengthy environmental reviews, causing delays. However, the proposed language aims to alleviate these hurdles by directing the President to issue conditional permits while the environmental reviews are still ongoing. This approach seeks to expedite the approval process and facilitate timely infrastructure development.

The Border Trade Alliance and Laredo Mayor Victor Treviño praised the proposal’s potential and recognized its positive impact on trade and commerce. Mayor Treviño highlighted the urgency of the project, stating, “We need to expedite this because if commerce comes in a rapid way, we won’t be ready. So, this is crucial for us. The idea is to expand all the bridges in the Mexico-U.S. border because the commerce that’s coming will be something we have never seen before. It’s going to be a positive impact, but we have to be ready and prepared.”

The expansion of the World Trade Bridge, a critical artery for trade between Mexico and the United States, would involve the addition of eight lanes.

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - The Utilities Department of Laredo has issued a Boil Water Notice to the community following the discovery of a line break that has led to low distribution pressure between Oil Patch Road and Pueblo Nuevo on IH 359. The department’s crews are already working on the issue.

Residents and customers in the affected area are strongly advised to boil the water before using it for consumption purposes such as washing hands and face, brushing teeth, and drinking.

In response to the situation, the city is actively working on establishing a water distribution site specifically catering to those impacted by the low distribution pressure. Additional details regarding the location and operation of the distribution site will be communicated through an upcoming press release.

EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) – Old wounds bled anew inside a West Texas courtroom where relatives of those who died in a 2019 mass shooting told a federal judge how the loss of their loved ones tore apart their lives.

“It’s hard to put into words what I’m dealing with,” said Kathy Johnson, the widow of David Johnson, one of the 23 people killed at an El Paso Walmart on the morning of Aug. 3, 2019. “This tragedy has shattered me in every way: mentally, physically, and emotionally. Some days I cannot even get out of bed.”

David Johnson was one of 23 people fatally shot at the Walmart near Cielo Vista Mall. He was gunned down by Patrick Wood Crusius while reportedly protecting his wife and 9-year-old granddaughter.

Senior U.S. Federal District Judge David C. Guaderrama on Wednesday heard from the widow and about a dozen relatives of the victims during the sentencing phase of Crusius’ trial. Investigators said the North Texas resident procured an automatic rifle and drove 10 hours to El Paso with the intent of “killing Mexicans.”

Crusius in February pleaded guilty to 90 federal hate-crime charges and is expected to be sentenced by Guaderrama to 90 consecutive life terms in prison. His state murder trial is pending.

Crusius appeared detached from the proceedings – at times moving sideways in his swivel chair and at other times rocking back and forth. He sat in handcuffs in the courtroom while relatives of the victims told him how they felt.  At one point, one of the witnesses lashed at him saying, “roll your eyes if you want, it doesn’t bother me.”

Some witnesses said they felt deeply hurt but found relief from their anger through their faith in God and the support of their family.

“I cannot have anger, that’s not what your son needs to learn,” said Gilbert Anchondo, brother of murder victim Andre Anchondo.

Some said they don’t even mention Crusius’ name when they talk amongst themselves about the tragedy.

“If you knew the Lord, you would not have done that and hurt so many families,” said Bertha Patricia Benavides, the widow of Arturo Benavides. “It will take a long time to recover from this loss. You left children without their parents, wives without their husbands. […] Why did you do it?”

But others were not so forgiving.

A male relative of Johnson cussed at Crusius and at his family. “You monster. You have taken away my freedom. I cannot go to a public area without looking for places to hide if a (expletive deleted) psycho like you comes in,” the relative said.

Others told him he failed in his “mission” to stop the Hispanic invasion of Texas, a statement that investigators said he made in an online manifesto. Most of his victims were U.S.-born citizens, one was a German and Johnson was “a NASCAR-watching, bass-fishing white man,” according to Wednesday’s testimony.

The sentencing hearing continues on Thursday.

SAN DIEGO (Border Report) — Currency exchange houses along San Ysidro Boulevard are offering less than 17 pesos for every U.S. dollar for the first time since December 2015.

According to Bloomberg, the U.S. dollar has lost about 10 percent of its value versus the Mexican Peso since the beginning of this year.

People like Silvia Solorio have noticed.

“I exchange money regularly,” said Solorio. “I get pesos to go shopping, to go out to restaurants and to wash my car in Tijuana.”

The San Diego resident said she has seen a steady drop in the number of pesos she gets whenever she exchanges currency, making things more expensive south of the border.

“Even the street tacos cost more now,” she said.

Solorio stated her yearly vacation with her husband to Mexico is going to cost them more this summer.

“We’re going to pay 5,000 pesos more when compared to last year.”

If you do the math, that’s $306 more.

According to the New York Times, Chinese companies along with American corporations have been investing more resources and money in Mexico contributing to the strength of the Mexican economy and the Mexican peso.

The rise in U.S. interest rates is also said to be a factor in the peso’s gains against the dollar.

But analysts with Bloomberg and others expect the dollar to regain its strength against the peso by the end of the year.

“The strengthening of the peso has already exhausted its strength, and unless a very important unforeseen event does happen in favor of the Mexican currency, we will have a strengthening of the dollar in the coming weeks and months,” said Swiss Bank Analyst Rodrigo Aguila.