An official website of the United States government Texas — An attempt to transport a shipment of counterfeit cigarettes valued at more than $729,000 went up in smoke as U.S Customs and Border Protection officers at Laredo Port of Entry intercepted and seized the shipment this weekend After a shipment of cigarettes from Vietnam arrived at the U.S CBP officers placed a hold on the shipment and detained it once it arrived in Laredo After conducting a thorough examination and review of the shipment CBP officers and import specialists assigned to the Agriculture Center for Excellence and Expertise determined that 17,500 cartons of cigarettes bore counterfeit marks the total Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price value of the shipment would have been $729,400 “Our CBP officers and import specialists continue to maintain their vigilance and exercise due diligence to ensure that fake goods do not enter U.S commerce,” said Port Director Albert Flores experience and information from the registered trademark owners to authenticate imported merchandise and when they encounter counterfeits to promptly detain and seize such items The commercial importation of cigarettes falls under the import/entry team assigned to the Agriculture CEE The Laredo Port of Entry has representation covering all 10 CEEs located onsite at the port CBP has the authority to detain, seize, forfeit, and ultimately destroy imported merchandise if it bears an infringing trademark or copyright that has been registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office or the United States Copyright Office and has subsequently been recorded with CBP through the e-Recordation program https://iprr.cbp.gov/s/ Other violations can include misclassification of merchandise Trade in counterfeit and pirated goods threatens America’s innovation economy national security and the health and safety of consumers It is also against the law to import counterfeit or pirated merchandise and individual consumers may be liable for a fine even if they did not intend to import counterfeit or pirated merchandise If you have information about counterfeit merchandise being illegally imported into the U.S., CBP encourages you to submit an E-Allegation The E-Allegation reporting tool provides a means for the public to anonymously report to CBP any suspected violations of trade laws or regulations related to the importation of goods into the U.S CBP has established an educational initiative to raise consumer awareness about the consequences and dangers that can be associated with the purchase of counterfeit and pirated goods. Information about the Truth Behind Counterfeits campaign can be found on the The Truth Behind Counterfeits page Follow the Director of CBP’s Laredo Field Office on X at @DFOLaredo on Instagram at @dfolaredo and also U.S. Customs and Border Protection at @CBPSouthTexas for breaking news Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is America's frontline: the nation's largest law enforcement organization and the world's first unified border management agency The 65,000+ men and women of CBP protect America on the ground lawful travel and trade and ensure our country's economic prosperity We enhance the nation's security through innovation View a complete list of local and regional CBP social media accounts Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInLAREDO In a special edition of Beyond the Headlines we unpacked the results of the City of Laredo’s highly anticipated bond election and even within the chambers of city government the vote concluded with an exclamation point All four bond propositions were soundly rejected by voters five “Against” votes were cast for every single “For” vote The closest margin—Proposition D—still saw a 60-percentage-point landslide defeat There was little room to read that message any other way the city put out a statement thanking voters for showing up and promising to keep working to meet the community’s needs But they also made it clear: they’re not dropping the projects just yet they say they’ll be looking at other ways to move forward with what was originally proposed in the bond The city’s statement pointed to a renewed focus on transparency and getting real input from the community as they figure out what comes next The City of Laredo extends its deepest gratitude to all residents who participated in the 2025 Bond Election Your vote is a vital part of shaping the future of our city and we respect the outcome of this democratic process While the bond propositions were not approved by voters the City acknowledges that the challenges outlined in the bond — including infrastructure improvements and public health investments — continue to affect our community and so does our commitment to finding solutions City leadership and staff will now begin exploring alternative funding options and potential partnerships that can help advance the projects and goals originally proposed in the bond This election has sparked important conversations and the City of Laredo is committed to continuing those discussions with the public and your ongoing involvement in building a stronger There was also a swift response from city leadership He emphasized that the city must now take time to reflect and begin the hard work of regaining the trust of its residents His remarks captured the sentiment of a public that may not have rejected the concept of improvement but clearly doubted the current path forward The Chamber of Commerce’s support for the bond existed The Laredo Chamber of Commerce endorsed the bond proposal But they were clear: support was conditional “We urge the city to take concrete steps to rebuild trust—not just with the business community “I think it’s been over the course of many years This isn’t something that happens overnight That’s why our community feels the way they do Joining us for our special edition of Beyond the Headlines for his perspective on what the results mean moving forward Also part of the discussion was Fernando Baldazo a leader in the campaign opposing the bond Chairwoman of the Laredo Chamber of Commerce to explore the broader implications of the vote—and where the city goes from here For more headlines, click here (KGNS) - The Laredo Boys and Girls Club plans to host its 2025 Summer Program providing children with various fun opportunities during the summer The program begins on June 2 and runs Monday through Friday from 9 a.m It requires a $10 membership for children ages six to 12 and parents may drop off their child at any time Children will have the opportunity to participate in learning programs as well as STEAM activities and adventure events Joe Garza with the Laredo Boys and Girls Club added that one of their award-winning activities will be available this year “One of the bigger activities that we have planned is our astronaut camp We partner with TAMIU for a week-long camp they graduate and we take them to the TAMIU planetarium where an actual astronaut will speak to them.” and this year they are expanding to around 50 or 60 The program is taking place at the following locations: According to Maggia Zavala with the organization “Any member who registers has their own cards that allow us to know that they are members.” She continued For more information, you can call (956) 723-5223, and to register, click here Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInWEBB COUNTY (KGNS) - Communities across Webb County are preparing for Easter with a full slate of events and activities and some city office closures Here’s a list of celebrations and service changes by date For more info on specific events or services, visit the City of Laredo website or call 3-1-1 even stating that he “used the courts to achieve some political ends.” a Webb County judge dismissed the lawsuit due to a lack of standing a case that even Casso regarded as a long shot “The reason I filed this lawsuit is to educate the public by exposing what the city was doing illegally Casso filed the suit on April 24 during early voting I used the courts to achieve some political ends but I had to go through this so I could kill the bond election.” The lawsuit alleged that the city had engaged in unlawful advocacy for the May bond election a claim that Laredo City Attorney Doanh “Zone” Nguyen denied “He should not be able to file a lawsuit that had no merit and no standing and wave it around in public,” Nguyen said He adds that Casso did not have the right to bring the suit into that specific court “We asked the court to dismiss the case for lack of standing because we need to establish standing in order to defend and prosecute the case the case was dismissed due to lack of standing; however the judge provided additional reasons for some of Casso’s claims One claim made by Casso regarding an election violation must be filed as a criminal matter with the district attorney “He does not have the ability to sue by himself for all these allegations; there has to be the right avenue,” Nguyen added Casso stated that the reasons for pausing the bond elections were based on the potential impact that tariffs might have on Laredo’s economy you can’t just sue because someone else is hurt or there might be potential harm for you in the future; you have to show there is harm Victor Trevino and Councilmember Ruben Gutierrez Petition by kgnscares Exhibits 1-8 by kgnscares Exhibits 9-11 by kgnscares Exhibit 11 cont. by kgnscares Petition by kgnscares Exhibits 1-8 by kgnscares Exhibits 9-11 by kgnscares Exhibit 11 cont. by kgnscares (KGNS) - A Laredo organization is stepping up during Stroke Awareness Month to remind the community that support is available for stroke survivors and their caregivers serving as a hub for outreach and resources while hosting fundraising events throughout May and June explains that strokes are often misunderstood while a heart attack is a clot in the heart Cortez emphasizes that stroke impacts more than just the individual—it affects the entire family That’s why the Laredo Stroke Support Group has been serving the community for over 13 years offering free services to help survivors and their caregivers improve their quality of life a son—anybody can come into the group and be welcomed,” Cortez added Several fundraising and awareness events are planned throughout May and June Experience big flavor and bigger savings with BOGO burritos and free chips and queso IRVING, TX (April 29, 2025) –7-Eleven, Inc. is turning up the heat for Cinco de Mayo with sizzling offers that dial up both flavor and fun. On May 5, customers can enjoy festive favorites with exclusive deals from Laredo Taco Company® restaurants and the 7NOW® Delivery app get one offer on any burrito of their choice* like the Chicken Fajita Burrito or the new Creamy Chipotle Shrimp Burrito customers can enjoy free chips and queso** the 7NOW Delivery app is bringing the feast straight to customers’ doorsteps Get 50% off Laredo Taco Company orders of $20 or more – perfect for feeding a hungry crew or just a party of one “Cinco de Mayo is a time to come together around delicious food and shared traditions,” said William Armstrong Senior Vice President of Restaurant Operations at 7-Eleven “At Laredo Taco Company locations and across our 7-Eleven family of brands we’re dedicated to bringing customers the bold tastes they love plus deals that make it easy to join in on the festivities.” Corona and Dos Equis.*** From food to drinks 7-Eleven has everything to make this Cinco de Mayo memorable *** Valid on 5/5/25 on select large packs in participating stores and where legal.©2025 7-Eleven Read More Read More Read More Email us:media@7-11.com Email us:GM-financials@7-11.com Contact Us:Help Portal General questions and FAQs This site is intended for residents of the U.S All rights reserved.This is not an offer to sell a franchise An offer can only be made in applicable states with authorized documentation.7-Eleven Inc. (KGNS) - May is Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness Month and with over 6 million Americans diagnosed each year melanoma and other forms of skin cancer are a growing concern — and May is the time to raise awareness dermatologist with The Skin Clinic of Laredo and Nurse Practitioner Jackie Vidaurri recently shared key insights on prevention Belk emphasized the critical importance of early detection noting that catching melanoma early significantly reduces the risk of death the rate of melanoma is about 4 cases per 100,000 people Belk says he diagnoses one to two cases a week melanomas in Latino individuals often appear in unexpected areas — such as the soles of the feet and other places not typically exposed to sunlight I didn’t expect to see this many melanomas We see a lot of non-melanoma skin cancers too — probably 20 a day,” Dr For more information and full interview highlights