LATEST NEWS

Female security guard injured following shooting at San Antonio mall


By WOAI

Published: Nov. 1, 2023

SAN ANTONIO, TX . (WOAI) - A security guard was injured following a shooting at a mall in San Antonio on Tuesday.

The incident happened at around 8 p.m. at the North Star Mall at Macy’s

Police say a man in his 40s and a woman were attempting to shoplift when a loss prevention officer confronted them at the entrance of the store.

The man then shot the officer in the leg and fled.

Officers located the loss prevention officer inside a storage room.

She was taken to a San Antonio hospital where she is said to be in stable condition.

Both attempted shoplifters remain at large.

Laredo welcomes founder’s statue to downtown


By Roger Uvalle

Published: Oct. 31, 2023


LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - On Tuesday, October 31, Laredo commemorated a momentous occasion as the long-anticipated statue of the city’s founder, Don Tomas Sanchez, was officially installed near the heart of downtown. The statue now stands at the entrance of Laredo, extending a warm welcome to visitors, particularly those arriving from Mexico through the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge.

In 1755, Tomas Sanchez, a Spanish captain and veteran, not only founded Laredo but also established Nuevo Laredo.

The selected site for this significant monument lies near the historic San Agustine District and the iconic San Agustine Cathedral.

Crafted by artist Armando Hinojosa, the statue stands ten feet tall, is cast in bronze, and weighs 2,500 pounds. Viviana Frank, a representative from Able City and Abrazo Partners, expressed her delight, saying, “It’s a beautiful day for the city of Laredo. The artist, Mr. Hinojosa, did a fantastic job on this beautiful statue. It’s an homage to the city. He put a lot of love into it, and we should all be proud.”

The installation of this monument comes as part of the first phase of the “Boulevard of the Americas” project. This comprehensive master plan aims to create a more pedestrian-friendly downtown area by widening sidewalks, revitalizing the area, and fostering business growth.

Inspect Halloween candy for safety, Laredo health experts say


By Christian Del Rio

Published: Oct. 31, 2023


LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - Halloween is a festive time for kids who eagerly collect bags of candy while trick-or-treating. However, medical experts are cautioning parents to carefully examine the treats before indulging in the sugary delights, especially since the Halloween candy stash can last for weeks.

Family Nurse Practitioner Amada Roxana Gallardo emphasizes the importance of thorough candy inspection, stating, “We don’t want to ingest any candy where the wrapping is semi-open. If you see a little box, like ‘Nerds’ that has been opened, and you see it has tape on top of it, do not eat that candy, just toss it. Do not eat it. It might mean that it has been manipulated with something, and we do not know that. There’s a lot of bad out there, and we just want to take care of our children for their safety.”

In addition to the risk of tampered candy, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is warning the public about a dangerous drug known as “Rainbow Fentanyl.” This synthetic opioid is a staggering 50 times more potent than heroin and a staggering 100 times more potent than morphine. Rainbow Fentanyl is designed to resemble candy, coming in various vibrant colors, shapes, and sizes. The DEA underscores the lethality of this drug, noting that just two milligrams of Fentanyl, equivalent to 10-15 grains of table salt, can be a lethal dose.

Family Nurse Practitioner Gallardo further advises moderation when it comes to candy consumption, especially for children at higher risk of diabetes. She suggests, “Obviously not a lot of candy is good, especially for kids that are at higher risk of diabetes because their parents are diabetic or grandparents who have that symptom. We do want to be moderate and consume those candies in moderation.”

Apart from the candy inspection, parents should also consider food allergies. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends checking candy labels to ensure allergens are not present, ensuring the safety and well-being of all trick-or-treaters throughout the year.

City cemetery extending hours of operation for “Dia de los Muertos”


By KGNS Staff

Published: Oct. 31, 2023

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - As the “Day of the Dead” Holiday approaches, the City of Laredo Cemetery is announcing they are extending their hours of operation for Wednesday, November 1st and Thursday, November 2nd.

The cemetery will be open from 7:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. for both days, and the city says they understand the importance of the holiday and the community’s need to pay respect to their departed loved ones.

However, there are some rules the public must abide by for both days.

Noraida Negron, City of Laredo Communications Manager, says, “It will be prohibited to have alcoholic beverages or barbecues on site. So we’re asking people to be very respectful but to also come and pay their respect to their loved ones.”

On Friday, November 3rd, the cemetery will go back to its regular schedule of 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Sleepy driver facing charges after crashing into patrol unit, police say


By Roger Uvalle

Published: Oct. 30, 2023


LAREDO, TX (KGNS) - A man is facing charges after allegedly fell asleep behind the wheel and caused damage to a police unit and a pillar.

The driver, identified as Eliseo Solis, 30, was arrested and charged with a DWI.

Laredo Police responded to the drive-thru of a restaurant located at 4515 San Bernardo Avenue.

When the authorities arrived, they found Solis asleep behind the wheel.

Officers attempted to wake him up, which is when Solis stepped on the gas, veered off the curb and crashed into a police unit.

Despite the crash, the driver continued to nod off and eventually crashed into a pillar inside the parking lot.

Solis was apprehended without incident.

18-year-old injured in south Laredo shooting


By KGNS Staff

Published: Oct. 30, 2023

LAREDO, Tx. (KGNS) - A young man is injured following a shooting in south Laredo over the weekend.

The incident happened on Saturday morning at around 2:40 a.m. when police were called out to a house party at the 5300 block of General Franco.

The 18-year-old was taken to a nearby ER and is listed in serious but stable condition.

Laredo Police believe a heated discussion is what led to the shooting.

“Investigators are speaking to witnesses, it was a large congregation of people,” said Investigator Joe Baeza. “People who were related to one another. So for right now, we are trying to break down who it was and who was involved in the shooting. It was some sort of argument that broke out and escalated to gunfire and that’s what we know as of right now. And it’s still under investigation.”

No arrests have been made.

Houston teenager apologizes following park attacks


By CNN

Published: Oct. 30, 2023

HOUSTON, TX (CNN) - A teenager from Houston, caught on video sucker-punching random people at local parks, has expressed regret for his actions, acknowledging he made a mistake.

The video, first shared via the Nextdoor app, shows Alford Lewis striking a man from behind.

Lewis claims that he shook the man’s hand and hugged him afterward, but this cannot be verified.

Law enforcement is investigating the incidents, and the victims may need to file charges in order for the case to proceed.

Lewis hopes his experience serves as a lesson for others to think before engaging in harmful actions.