U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, during a roundtable Tuesday said he remains optimistic that U.S. Department of Homeland Security officials could “partially lift” travel restrictions for non-essential travelers during the holiday season. In a letter dated Oct. 6 to DHS, Cuellar requested the agency “establish and implement a community-based program to partially lift COVID-19 travel… Read more »

There's a renewed push to lift travel restrictions at the Mexican border before the busy holiday shopping season. U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar wants to allow border cities to decide if they want bridges open. Bridges are closed to non-citizens, but that measure expires on the 21st. The Laredo Democrat's plan calls for two layers of coronavirus screening, one by Customs… Read more »

Starr County leaders are discussing the possibility that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will lift some coronavirus-related travel restrictions at international bridges. After the coronavirus pandemic started, the Department of Homeland Security restricted non-essential travel between the United States and Mexico. The restrictions stopped Mexican shoppers and tourists from… Read more »

The Trump administration has been trying to convince state and local officials that the worst fears of the COVID-19 pandemic should be behind us and we should start returning to normalcy, especially with regard to business operations. We hope federal officials heed their own words, and begin taking steps to reopen our border ports of entry to “non-essential” travelers. After all, one of… Read more »

As TAMIU celebrates its 50th anniversary, Laredo Morning Times took a detailed look back at the history of the university. This is Part 3 of 12. After 20 years sharing a campus with Laredo Junior College, TAMU acquired its own property to bring all its international and local students together in one physical space. The university secured 200 acres of land — which eventually was… Read more »

LAREDO, Texas – A border congressman believes land port of entries could be partially re-opened on Oct. 21 to allow in Mexican shoppers and tourists – if border communities want them to be. U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar has devised a plan that appears to have the backing of Customs and Border Protection. The plan includes two health screenings for Mexican visa holders, one conducted by Customs… Read more »

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - Laredo’s congressman weighed in on Trump’s diagnosis of COVID, saying since the announcement was made White House officials have become a bit more open to working on a relief bill. Congressman Henry Cuellar said on Monday that the house has been ready since this past May in delivering another COVID stimulus package, but both the senate and the White House had… Read more »

A bipartisan push is being made appealing for the federal government to reopen the international bridges Laredo shares with Nuevo Laredo and Colombia, Nuevo Leon to Mexican tourists. Rep. Henry Cuellar (TX-28) and U.S. Sen. John Cornyn led a bipartisan letter to Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf expressing concern with continued travel restrictions at the southern ports… Read more »

In late September, the Rio Grande Valley hardly looks short on water. Sugarcane fields are electric green against a mottled gray sky, threatening a downpour. Orange groves are heavy with fruit. At Mike England’s five-thousand-acre farm in Mercedes, about twenty miles east of McAllen, Brahman cattle lumber through muddy paddocks. But even when rain leaves the Valley lush, England says,… Read more »

East Central, Randolph Field, Judson and North East independent school districts will receive more than $30.6 million in combined federal funding. The funds are being allocated by the Department of Education based on the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. The act aims to provide financial assistance to school districts for services to improve teaching and learning for children at… Read more »