Stephanie Molina is the neighborhood reporter for West Nueces County and Kleberg County ROBSTOWN, Texas — The Robstown Volunteer Fire Department has been serving the community for around 110 years asked life-long Robstown residents what their thoughts are on the Robstown Volunteer Fire Department “I think they do a wonderful job,” Sylvia Aenzalbua I mean they're gonna be there and work on you until you're safe,” Krystal Garza Many residents are proud of the department they’re in need of new dedicated volunteers “There's not a lot of people that wanna volunteer because they got stuff to do but we're trying to bring at least 10 or 15 more to at least help us out,” Javier Zapata Fire Chief Zapata said they currently only have 8 volunteer firefighters and can max up to 40 volunteers they can't operate a function of fire just with the minimum people they have,” Edwin Benavides Benavides said he joined when he was 18 years old after being invited to attend one of the department's weekly Thursday meetings by his friends “I didn't know if I was gonna like it or not but I ended up liking it and I stayed 13 years in,” Benavides said The department understands the difficulty it is to be a volunteer and have a full-time job but they mention that volunteering can be rewarding “We always help somebody on their worst day The requirements to be a volunteer is to be at least 18 years old “Come out here and see what we do come help your community maybe you'll like it Maybe one day you'll even become one of the one of our guys and will be located at the Robstown Volunteer Fire Department (516 E Ave B This story was updated to add new information Robstown police have arrested a girls basketball coach who works for the Robstown Independent School District after finding out the coach was allegedly having a relationship with a student According to an announcement released by the Robstown Police Department on Feb on Tuesday morning on a charge of one count of an improper relationship between an educator and a student - a second-degree felony in the state of Texas “Although the Robstown Police Department is the primary law enforcement agency for this investigation we are working alongside and in coordination with the Robstown Independent School District to ensure the safety of their students,” said Robstown Police Chief Mike Tamez in the announcement Barron has committed this or a similar crime in the past please contact the Robstown Police Department at 361-387-3531.” Robstown ISD sent an announcement the same day before officials issued an indictment for Barron stating that a suspect was in custody and that the district “will begin implementing administrative leave procedures.” “The safety and well-being of our students are our highest priorities,” the announcement said “Due to the sensitive nature of this matter and to protect the privacy of the student and family involved we are limited in the information we can share regarding the allegations and arrest Please be assured that we are taking this situation seriously and remain committed to maintaining a safe and secure learning environment for all students.” According to a probable cause affidavit the Caller-Times obtained from Nueces County Robstown police began investigating after a detective with the department talked with the student and her mother at the Child Advocacy Center in Corpus Christi The student made an outcry that she had been feeling depressed because she was having a relationship with a coach at the high school The student told police that the coach messaged her on several different occasions to meet him at the locker room in the gymnasium he put his hand inside of her pants and penetrated her with his fingers After police took Barron to the police department he was Mirandized and admitted to the allegations that police described in the report Barron is the head of the Varsity Girl’s basketball team at Robstown Early College High School The Robstown Police Department was not available for comment when this story published More information will be reported when it is available More: Robstown ISD adds police department for security, law enforcement classes for students More: Agua Dulce teacher arrested for child grooming, sexual assault More: Former London ISD teacher Amber Prince arrested for violating probation graduated from TAMUCC in 2019 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Myra and the KRIS 6 Digital Team recently won an Edward Murrow Award in May 2024 Editor's note: This article has been updated to include information from a probable cause statement obtained by KRIS 6 News A Robstown Independent School District basketball coach has been arrested and charged with two counts of an improper relationship with a student according to a statement released by Robstown ISD Robstown Police Chief Mike Tamez said Austin Barron the head Varsity Girls' Basketball Coach for Robstown High School was arrested at the Robstown Police Department on Tuesday Tamez said the investigation began after the 17-year-old victim made an outcry "We did bring him in and gave him an opportunity to speak to our officers he was placed under arrest for two counts of improper relationship with a student," Tamez said According to a probable cause statement obtained by KRIS 6 News that student made an outcry while at the Child Advocacy Center in Corpus Christi the student had been feeling depressed because she was having a relationship with Barron "Student advised that Barron would message her on several different occasions to meet him at (the) gym locker room Student stated on one occasion Barron put his hand inside her pants and penetrated her (redacted) with his fingers Barron was brought to (Robstown) PD where he was Mirandized and consequently admitted to the above allegation," according to the statement Chief Tamez said their relationship spanned over a few months The victim is a 17-year-old girl who attends Robstown High School Officials do not suspect other victims are involved at this time The Robstown Independent School District also sent a letter to parents and staff the morning of Barron's arrest with the following statement: ROBSTOWN — Practicing on low-voltage machines Robstown Early College High School students are learning the basics of pressure The pieces of equipment in his classroom are like "mini-refineries," instrumentation instructor Tyler Brownlee said If they stick with the program through three total semesters and 31 college credit hours they'll be eligible for an industrial instrumentation installer Level I Certificate It only takes 20 more credit hours for a Level II Certificate and then an additional nine credit hours for an associate degree from Del Mar College These credentials will help qualify students for jobs in automation "It's a good path for the future," sophomore Conrad Villanueva said "We learn a lot here for different paths." The school is currently undergoing a transition partnering with Del Mar College and Tesla Gulf Coast Lithium Refinery another potential future employer for students in the Robstown industrial instrumentation program Robstown Independent School District currently operates an "early college high school," offering students the chance to pursue an associate degree while still in high school But amid efforts to expand career and technical education the district is now introducing a Pathways in Technology Early College High School program This will increase focus on career and technical education programs though students will still be able to pursue academic dual credit opportunities The district is already offering numerous career and technical education and dual credit opportunities but the first class of P-TECH students will start next school year A Pathways in Technology Early College High School Students who take advantage of P-TECH programs might graduate with up to 60 hours of college credit industry-based certification or even an associate degree P-TECH programs are aimed at historically underserved students, including at-risk or economically disadvantaged students who are unlikely to attend college, according to the TEA's website school districts must spend a year planning After their P-TECH application is approved new programs hold a provisional designation for four years and are assessed based on student outcomes Robstown's program is currently in its planning year The school began considering the switch due to student interest the campus was already offering many career and technical programs "It was a kind of natural progression for us because we were kind of functioning like a P-TECH anyway but we were under that early college model," Spivey said Spivey said that the P-TECH model provides a better balance between preparing students for higher education and preparing students for the workforce "It's hard for students to come out of high school at 18 years old with an associate's degree and two years of college under their belt and to walk into a four-year degree plan and not truly know what it is they want to do when all they've done is school," Spivey said "They haven't had that real life experience." But the P-TECH model's focus on career and technical education means that students can try out a career field and get an idea of whether it's the right path for them "We have students that are in the education and training program," Spivey said every single day they go over to one of our elementary schools or junior highs and they work in a classroom with students." They see what it feels like to be in a classroom and what it's like to interact with kids "They'll know if that's truly the pathway they want," she said The school is working with Del Mar College to offer dual credit career and technical education programs. Tesla, which opened a lithium battery factory in Robstown in 2023, is serving as an industry partner for welding and instrumentation P-TECH programs According to a November memorandum of understanding between the Tesla refinery and the Robstown high school the company will endeavor to offer work-based learning experiences including facility visits career information sessions or internships depending on "resource availability and operational considerations." Additionally refinery employees could serve as mentors to students and P-TECH students would have the opportunity to interview for available positions "for which they are qualified" depending on job availability Back in 2022, the district also approved a tax abatement agreement with Tesla Robstown Early College High School Assistant Principal Benito Portillo said that Tesla representatives have visited campus and the company has provided some funding for students Portillo said that since the opening of the Tesla refinery student interest in instrumentation has tripled In addition to instrumentation and welding health science and teaching and training will also be included as P-TECH programs in the coming years the school also offers career and technical education courses in agricultural technology and mechanical systems All P-TECH programs are open-enrollment, but students must apply in order to enroll. The district's student P-TECH application opened in January and closes Aug In order to take a college-level dual credit course students must first earn passing scores on the Texas Success Initiative Assessment Most classes are housed on site at the Robstown school though some dual credit courses are offered online and some of the upper-level career and technical education courses include visits to Del Mar College's Windward Campus in Corpus Christi to train with more advanced equipment including academic and career and technical education courses potentially saving them thousands in college expenses Portillo said that the school hopes that students will leave the classroom prepared to join the workforce This is a real concern at Robstown Early College High School where about 87.5% students are categorized as "economically disadvantaged." This means that they meet federal income guidelines to qualify for free and reduced-price lunch and might not have the same family financial support to fall back on as they enter adulthood as peers from wealthier backgrounds Data from the Texas Education Agency reflecting the college or career readiness of high school graduates is slow to publish with the most recent data coming from the class of 2023 But that data shows that in the 2022-23 school year 73.6% of Robstown graduates met the state's criteria for college according to the school's Texas Academic Performance Report That includes nearly 57% of graduates who were "college ready." Just over 52% of 2023 graduates finished with an approved industry-based certification Close to 10% graduated with a Level I or Level II Certificate What is the recipe to restore Baffin Bay? Ask these scientists and residents. Robstown ISD basketball coach arrested on charge of relationship with student 'Water emergency' may eventually be ahead for Corpus Christi Texas — Some animals in Robstown are getting the help they need That's thanks to a college student who saw Neighborhood News Reporter Stephanie Molina's story about the need for critical supplies at Robstown Animal Control Robstown Animal Control said they were running out of food for the animals at the shelter so Sydney Hilliard started a "Change the World for the Better" project at school She raised $1,500 worth of dog food and toys for those animals in need The Annaville Fire Department agreed to serve as a collection site For the latest local news updates, click here, or download the KRIS 6 News App. Catch all the KRIS 6 News stories and more on our YouTube page A 28-year-old man is dead tonight after his motorcycle collided with a pickup truck in Robstown on E Ave J near 1st Street Early reports say that speed may have played a factor in the accident Roads are closed in that are and motorists are urged to avoid the area KRIS 6 has a reporter on the scene and we will have more information as it becomes available.For the latest local news updates, click here, or download the KRIS 6 News App. is the Neighborhood News reporter for San Patricio County alongside Victoria Balderama Tx — Residents along Bauer Road and Highway 77 in Robstown have waited more than four decades for the city to deliver on promises made during their 1981 annexation—basic utilities like water who have lived in their Bauer Road home for 50 years remain without gas service despite requesting it when lines were installed years ago "We just got to live with it," Myrtis Noble told 6 Investigates "No need to fight the city because you ain't going to get nowhere with it." Joe Ocanas has been without functioning showers or toilets since his septic tank collapsed during the 2021 Texas freeze forcing him to rely on friends and neighbors for basic necessities "When are you going to act on your promises?" Ocanas asked the city "We have been paying taxes all these years—year after year When Ocanas brought his concerns to a city council meeting Other affected residents declined to speak publicly fearing retaliation after years of "futile" efforts to secure services While Mayor David Martinez expressed sympathy he pointed to budget constraints as the barrier to action though he promised to prioritize improvements if future finances allow Chapter 43 of the Texas Local Government Code required municipalities to provide full services to annexed areas within 2.5 to 4.5 years with the service plan valid for 10 years until 1991 The window for legal complaints closed decades ago Some residents argue that ongoing tax collection creates a continuing obligation to provide services put it: "We have been paying taxes all these years Get more 6 Investigates here. is your Calallen and Northwest Corpus Christi Neighborhood Reporter has been a popular event venue in Robstown since 1966 neighbors were still trying to hold gatherings here “We were going to hold my nephew’s graduation party," Robstown Resident Brenda Saenz said many neighbors will now have to look elsewhere A post from a Robstown neighbor on Facebook gained traction from others as they spoke about the hall closing last month and now they are asking them to refund their deposits This abrupt closure and news have left many neighbors confused and frustrated during this time they should have reached out to the people who were closer to having their parties," Saenz said we would have been able to save more money.” As for the state of the hall and the refunds KRIS 6 News reached out to workers there and spoke with the hall's president Rosendo Espinoza He said that the hall is closed due to being on sale and their last event was held this past weekend he mentions that they will be working on paying back neighbors as soon as they can “The first person I talked to told me we have to wait until they sold the place," Saenz said "Recently we spoke to somebody else and they said they are trying to get our money back other neighbors who spoke to KRIS 6 News are hoping they will receive their refunds so they can book another venue for their events wants voters to elect him to a spot on the Robstown Independent School Board of Trustees Gilbert Cervantes is one of three candidates running for the district's Place 4 seat asking us to investigate his criminal history and eligibility to serve on this board KRIS 6 News began digging and learned that Cervantes's criminal background is one of several issues with his candidacy He submitted his application for a place on the ballot in July and checked the box certifying "I have not been finally convicted of a felony." Court records reveal this statement to be false was convicted of several drug-related felonies dating as far back as 2009 According to the Texas Election Code and Texas Education Code "a candidate for school board election must not have been finally convicted of a felony from which the person has not been pardoned or otherwise released." Cervantes also failed to meet the requirement that he is a registered voter in the city before the filing deadline were notified of these allegations by the Nueces County Clerk and a concerned citizen at the end of September Nueces County Clerk Kara Sands told 6 Investigates that when she was notified of his criminal background by a concerned citizen she contacted the district immediately and provided it with the applicable election law She said it is the responsibility of the district to validate Election law prohibits her from removing a candidate from the ballot 6 Investigates asked Robstown ISD Superintendent Marc Puig what actions the district had taken to investigate these claims we really started to move forward with working with the school board there's some questions around your eligibility,'" Puig said He said the district conducted its own investigation and provided Cervantes with a notice giving him until noon on October 11 to respond to allegations that he is ineligible to run That deadline passed without a response from Cervantes certainly does have options to pursue any kind of declaration if need be and act accordingly with respect to any ineligibility," Puig said 6 Investigates asked Puig why the district does not do background checks on people seeking these positions He said election law prohibits the district from running background checks unless there is a credible complaint 6 Investigates also asked the district why it did not verify Cervantes was registered to vote and why it had not collected an application fee "The district does not have an application fee" "we are looking into the matter and thank you for bringing this to our attention." KRIS 6 News also learned Cervantes has not submitted any campaign finance reports The school board will discuss Cervantes's eligibility during Monday's school board meeting While the school board president has the option to declare him ineligible the deadline to remove him from the ballot has passed This means if he is found ineligible any vote cast for Cervantes simply wouldn't count 6 investigates reached out to Cervantes for comment but he ended the call when asked about his felony convictions KRIS 6 has confirmed he is an employee with Nueces County Water Control and Improvement District 3 As KRIS 6 has previously reported, the water district has entered into a contract with Avina Clean Hydrogen which is looking to build an ammonia plant near Robstown Avina plans to seek Chapter 403 tax breaks from the school district before moving forward with the project near Robstown ROBSTOWN, Texas — Texas Commission on Environmental Quality released a 69-page document regarding their decision of the permit application of the proposed ammonia plant by Avina Clean Hydrogen on March 12, 2025. According to the document obtained by KRIS 6 News it states that Avina’s permit application meets the legal requirements KRIS 6 News has followed up with Robstown and Calallen neighbors since the beginning in 2024 when it was found out the proposed ammonia plant was being built there Neighbors now are making their final push to make sure their voices are being heard by sending letters to the TCEQ “And it's not like we can choose to walk away from it,” Myra Alaniz a member of Facebook group Concerned Citizens of Robstown & Calallen said Alaniz has called Robstown her home for about 30 years and like all other neighbors in the area she is still fighting to stop the proposed ammonia plant “And what's very concerning is that it's leading right now,” Alaniz said “The wind is heading directly towards the football field in Robstown and those children are out there exercising breathing the particulate matter that it's gonna be released by Avina.” the TCEQ’S executive director decision does not satisfy neighbor's concerns we're contained to only fight this air permit when it's not just an air permit we're fighting,” Marie Lucio another member of Concerned Citizens of Robstown & Calallen said “We're fighting for the safety of our communities Alaniz and Lucio are two active members in the community pushing to get more letters sent to the TCEQ to express how much this will impact everyone “We have two forms of submitting letters reconsideration or contested,” Alaniz said but of course by the time we got these letters we really only had about 3 weeks to do this.” Alaniz said there are still many who haven't been able to voice their opposition to the plant She told Neighborhood News reporter Stephanie Molina they had less than a month to gather those members of the community “Lots of community members here are elderly or just don't have access to computers and that's impossible for them to do,” Alaniz said “People have seen this for the first time yesterday because we brought it to their attention KRIS 6 News reached out to Avina for an interview or statement it doesn't matter because you're still going to be exposed to particulate matter that's gonna increase your health condition or increase your chances of getting cancer,” Alaniz said The safety hazard that the proposed ammonia could bring to the community is what many residents have on their mind “Avina needs to pick a different site,” Lucio said “This does not belong between two communities but we struggle to get our elected officials to stand up with us and say this does not belong here.” Alaniz said the best way to stay informed on the group's efforts and how to send a letter is through their Facebook group. Texas — Hurricane season is just a month away and the city of Robstown is taking proactive steps to help residents prepare for potential storms and flooding Studies show that 4,426 properties in Robstown are at risk of flooding representing a staggering 88.5% of all properties in the area the city is working with Public Works and Nueces County Drainage District 2 to distribute sandbags to residents we have a couple of areas that are flood zones," said Bob Mata Public Works Street & Drainage Director The sandbag distribution is an annual project for the city with approximately 1,000 bags given out each year to help residents protect their homes and businesses and residents just drive by and we throw them in their trucks and the back of their cars," Mata explained The initiative is particularly important for older properties in the area that sit at lower elevations "A lot of residents have these older houses that are very low the sandbags can prevent costly damage to property which is going to cause more problems," Mata added City leaders will announce on social media when and where they'll distribute the sandbags as hurricane season approaches This story was reported by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy Texas — The Robstown Animal Control tells KRIS 6 News they are at full capacity and are running low on dog food there are 25 dogs at the shelter with dogs coming in and out daily maybe for about another month,” Jenny Bryant we're gonna need more than just what we have to help out the community in case they don't have dog food or the stores run out and stuff like that." who joined the department about six weeks ago is already working on networking with other organizations to seek assistance for their shelter "We're taking the proper measures one day at a time so just reaching out is our main goal and so far it's working," Bryant said The shelter is currently caring for several puppies and a bag of dog food can last them up to a week bigger dogs tend to go through supply faster we're looking at about maybe 2-3 days max," Bryant said said it's not the dogs fault they ended up homeless "They deserve to be able to run free and happy and helping us be able to just feed them and volunteers coming in to play with them gives them that little bit of hope to Robstown Animal Control is asking the community for help with donations or even if they decide they wanna do monetary they can make checks payable to the city of Robstown in care of animal shelter," Bryant said Bryant said they will gladly accept any kind of dog food that is donated To see how the Robstown Animal Control progresses or to see how to help in other ways, you can follow them on Facebook Tx — The owner of a Robstown tow company has been arrested He is charged with two counts of theft of property 6 Investigates began looking into fees charged by some Robstown towing companies following the decision by the council to stop using the city's impound lot earlier this year In July, that investigation turned to Galvan Towing after an intern with KRIS 6 News provided 6 Investigates with documents and recordings of her interactions with Galvan and connected us with a woman experiencing similar issues Both women had their cars stolen and eventually recovered by Robstown PD These vehicles were then towed by Galvan Towing Those documents and recordings reveal the difficulty both individuals had in gaining access to their vehicles and both were quoted fees beyond what was allowed by city ordinance Galvan also said that both of these vehicles were totaled and told one she should just abandon it at the tow yard Statements that both women learned were not true 6 Investigates spoke with Robstown Police Chief Mike Tamez and his department launched a criminal investigation into these allegations "They are operating well outside the bounds of that city ordinance," Tamez said in July "We are not going to re-victimize victims of crime "If something like this happened to my daughter Tamez also immediately re-opened the city's impound lot to help ensure victims of crimes were not re-victimized Robstown PD also immediately suspended its partnership with Galvan Towing An intersection near the Robstown Tesla plant is causing concerns to neighbors and drivers alike in the Lost Creek area Robstown resident Tabetha Treme recorded a video earlier this week showing why she believes some drivers are putting her in danger "People aren't paying attention to the road," Treme said speaking on resident's frustrations It's really scary driving to class every morning and driving my kids." The Robstown mother of three kids gave KRIS 6 News the video showing car after car blowing through stop signs near county roads 30 & 79 near the Tesla plant "They were on their way to school or to a school field trip," she said "She was bringing her son and one of the Tesla workers ended up totaling her car and they had to go to the hospital." Treme said she's reported the speeders to law enforcement with her most recent call made after an accident on Tuesday She gave KRIS 6 News a picture of a car that was totaled in the crash I've been calling the sheriff's department I think we have to call the non-emergency line since we're out of city limits." Treme said she could not get the help she needed Neighborhood News reporter Tyrese Boone reached out to the Nueces County Sheriff's Office A spokeswoman for the sheriff's office said there is "no record" for complaints about drivers at County Roads 30 and 79 because of the woman's concern and our email deputies will increase patrols in the area is your neighborhood reporter for Alice and the western viewing areas.<br/> People all over South Texas mourn the loss of Alice and Robstown Former Police Chief Rex Ramon Ramon served 30 years with the Alice Police Department Alice residents said integrity and relationships were his priorities Raul David Valadez is a longtime friend and colleague to Ramon They met in 1990 when Valadez was a security guard and Ramon was on patrol at Alice PD “One thing you’ll learn - know about Rex - he was always straightforward.” Valadez attended the Ramon wedding and the Ramon’s visited him after his stroke The friendship continued and so did the police work They both worked at Robstown PD and Kleberg County Sheriff’s Department Ramon told Valadez he had stage 4 kidney cancer “That he waited till I got there was special he holds on to the memories of their friendship Everything was always the same whether he was a police officer or the guy you met down the street,” Valadez said Neighborhood news reporter Melissa Trevino got to know Ramon and his wife JoAnn said in a written statement to Trevino - "From his girls—Our hearts are heavy as we say goodbye to a man whose strength and resilience carried him through every challenge He fought with everything he had until his very last breath showing us all what true courage looks like Though words will never be enough to express how much we will miss him we find comfort in knowing that his legacy will live on guarding the gates of heaven with the same honor and dedication he carried throughout his life.” Alice Police Chief Eden Garcia also shared memories of Rex Ramon Garcia met Ramon when he was just starting his career as an investigator And he really believed in what he did,” Garcia said Not just for the city but for his family and everyone else As any good father would do or any good man would do." We will miss him and he was a great friend.” Rex Ramon’s rosary and funeral will be held at Trevino Funeral Home in Alice TEXAS — The Robstown community came together for its third annual Autism Awareness Walk celebrating inclusion and support for individuals on the spectrum Organized by the Robstown Police Department and Robstown ISD first responders and local sponsors for a day of connection and understanding director of special education at Robstown ISD told KRIS 6 News the walk’s inclusive atmosphere sets it apart "Most traditional events are set up in a very traditional fashion It’s a great opportunity for them to be celebrated." The event highlighted the progress of students with autism especially younger children who thrive with routine "You see a magical transformation from the beginning of the year to the end," Blanton said "For them to participate in an event like this Officer Dominic Vargas of the Robstown Police Department who helped revive the walk three years ago emphasized its role in fostering familiarity between first responders and the autism community "We want kids to see our vehicles during happy times "The community coming together fire departments "Seeing this support for inclusion and acceptance The walk also served as a platform to educate attendees Zapata highlighted the importance of understanding autism’s spectrum: "Each person is different A business on Old Robstown Road was damaged from a grass fire that broke out the afternoon of Sunday The Corpus Christi Fire Department received a call to a fire at 12 p.m. It took just 30 minutes to extinguish the blaze firefighters found a brush fire behind a building that had spread to the inside Neighborhood News reporter Tyrese Boone spoke with Battalion Chief Matthew Charbonneau about what happened with the second blaze which is auto parts and repair shop," Charbonneau said "There's a lot of overgrown brush on the outside that was on the building as well and involved that too." The cause of the fire is under investigation check back with KRIS 6 News for more details is the Neighborhood News reporter for Robstown and western Nueces County Tx — The birth of a baby is known as the happiest day of a parent's life Samantha Garza gave birth to her son Giancarlo Cortez Igartua on Sept Just a few days later at a pediatrician appointment Samantha told the doctor one of her other children had tested positive for COVID and pneumonia and she was nervous her newborn baby would contract it just about an hour after getting home from that appointment and Samantha quickly took her son to the emergency room where he stopped feeding and was severely dehydrated At 7:30 the next morning nurses panicked stating his temperature was low and saw blood in his stool while changing his diaper A surgeon performed an exploratory surgery on the infant after discovering a blockage in the intestines via an X-ray Giancarlo was diagnosed with malrotation of the intestines surgeons come in and share the most heartbreaking news ever," Samantha said they measure at only one centimeter and there was no blood flow." Malrotation of the intestines is a birth defect in which a baby's intestines do not completely rotate within the womb and can become twisted or blocked leading to serious complications According to KidsHealth.org 1 in 500 babies are born in the United States with this birth defect The condition is undetectable prior to birth The condition is deadly if not treated quickly The doctors discovered there was little blood flow when trying to untangle the intestines and decided to leave him open so they could monitor his intestinal health After 48 hours of being fed through IV nutrition doctors informed Samantha that there was a 50/50 chance that Giancarlo's small intestines had survived being twisted for so long The surgeon decided to give it another 48 hours because the intestines were grey wanting to monitor the situation to see if anything changed Samantha and her husband were called into a private room where they were given a nightmare scenario and let him pass away from natural causes or perform a risky surgery The surgery involved the newborns dead intestines being cut out and the reattaching the working part to the colon Doing this would mean the infant would live the rest of his life in a hospital Living this way leaves you at risk of continuous infections The parents had just five minutes to make that impossible choice “They told me you have 5 minutes to decide because we left your son on the operating table and we need to know what to do right now," Samantha said The parents decided not to go through with the surgery The now eight-week-old has not eaten since he was five days old and has only received proper nutrients through IV nutrition Many doctors in Texas do not do bowel transplants leading Samantha to seek held elsewhere for her warrior son Nebraska at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and the latest update KRIS 6 News received was that after doctors evaluated Giancarlo they discovered he went from having very little small intestine left to a favorable amount and most likely will get to live a normal life his parents were told he needed a transplant to survive Samantha said a family friend took their newborn son to Driscoll Children's Hospital after he started projectile vomiting similar to Giancarlo The staff there was able to properly diagnose the baby and save his small intestine due to their experience treating Giancarlo ROBSTOWN — Kindergartner Jaxson Cedillo peeked through a crack in the red wrapping paper obscuring a large box placed near the entrance of San Pedro Fine Arts Academy Students including first grader Marvin Salinas jostled around whispering about the new addition to the school and trying to take a peek "It's a book vending machine," Cedillo exclaimed Robstown Independent School District Superintendent Marc Puig confirmed Cedillo's statement — each Robstown elementary school celebrated the unveiling of book vending machines April 11 Salinas was one of the lucky students chosen to receive one of the first books out of the machine The vending machines are the result of a grant from the Robstown ISD Education Foundation with the district pitching in additional funds to cover the purchases placed prominently near the front entrances at Robert Driscoll Jr San Pedro Fine Arts Academy and Lotspeich Leadership Academy contains a selection of books for elementary-aged readers chosen by school librarians students will purchase books with gold coins earned for their achievements at school The books from the vending machines are theirs to keep The "Dog Man" series proved popular at the three schools as did books from the "Dork Diaries," "Wings of Fire" and the "Pokémon: Sun and Moon" book series with multiple students selecting these titles Librarians selected titles that students check out often the schools are including books that are "culturally relevant" to students such as a children's book about musician Selena Quintanilla RISD assistant superintendent of teaching and learning as well as little lending libraries outside the building where community members can take and leave books But the vending machines will allow students to help establish their own personal libraries at home "I know how important reading was to me and going into the library and choosing books that wasn't a part of my environment," Velasco said Each school is establishing guidelines for how the coins will be distributed to students The aim of the initiative is to encourage literacy is very important and that's what we do," San Pedro Fine Arts Academy Principal Jaime Velasco said "Every day," San Pedro Fine Arts Academy students said Velasco decided to choose five students from the school population at random to receive the first books from the school's machines drumming up enthusiasm from students across the campus STEM Academy chose students with high reading achievement Stevens chose an installment from the "Sugar Plum Ballerinas" series Lotspeich Leadership Academy chose students from the school's student ambassador program to receive the first books from the vending machine "It's going to help a lot of students learn how to read," Lotspeich third grader Anthony Martinez said According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the adult literacy rate in Nueces County is lower than the state average According to Robstown ISD's annual performance report from the Texas Education Agency in 2024 only 46% of third graders in the district scored at the "approaches grade level or above" performance level on the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness exam The "approaches" level is considered passing and indicates that students are likely to succeed in the next grade with targeted academic intervention Third grade is the grade when students typically start using their reading skills to learn other subjects It's also the earliest grade level when Texas students take STAAR tests 59% of Robstown ISD students scored at "approaches grade level or above" in reading and English Language Arts STAAR assessments in 2024 Views, sculptures, study spaces: Del Mar College unveils 'crown jewel' White Library Kemp's ridley nesting season is here. Here's how Texas beachgoers can protect sea turtles Veronica "Ronnie" Flores-Herrera is the Real-Time Desk Manager for KRIS 6 News The Emmy-nominated journalist has been covering news in the Coastal Bend since 1997 Tx — A woman was rushed to the hospital after state troopers say she crashed into a tree near Robstown Monday morning According to Jim Hildreth with the Texas Department of Public Safety a man in a pickup was traveling south on FM 1889 between Robstown and Calallen near Robstown Memorial Park the woman in the SUV behind him decided to try to pass him up when she accidentally side-swiped him The impact caused her to lose control of her vehicle and crash into a fence in someone's front yard before slamming into the tree Hildreth said she suffered minor injuries and was taken to Christus Spohn Shoreline Hildreth said the driver of the SUV will likely receive a ticket ROBSTOWN, Texas — March is Women's History Month and some of the strongest girls are in Robstown. The Lady Cotton Pickers are going back to the Texas High School Women's Powerlifting Association 4A-DII powerlifting State Championship "I thank God a lot because it is such a blessing that I have been surrounded by not just a few strong girls but we have had enough strong girls in Robstown Texas to win three in-a-row," Robstown senior powerlifter Leaya Alaniz said Alaniz is one of 10 Robstown girl powerlifters advancing to State She placed third her freshman year and won gold the last two seasons Now she's stepping up to the 123 lb weight class looking to break the squat record at 405 pounds which she surpassed at Regionals lifting 410 Her biggest supporter is her twin sister Taylor who will join her at UTSA in college but sometimes I'll get burnt out and I'll take a break My biggest motivation is I've got to get back to it because I cannot let her catch up to me." Senior lifter Jianna Olguin did not lift her freshman year and if it wasn't for her cousin Olivia Morales they both might have missed out on this historic dynasty "The coaches really wanted her to do it," Olguin said."At first she didn't want to She ended up doing it and that's how I got into it." Olguin finished 10th overall her sophomore season and ninth last year in the 148 pound weight class "It's honestly a blessing to be able to be in this kind of sport lifting this much weight with these amazing strong girls that I compete with," Olguin said The Alaniz twins parent's almost said no their freshman year "I've had girls come up to me and tell me you're the reason I want to keep pushing myself," Alaniz said "It means a lot to me because I know that every time I'm on the platform I need to give it all I've got so I can show the younger lifters what it takes." Robstown will compete in the THSWPA 4A-DII State Meet on Friday at 8 a.m The San Diego Lady Vaqueros are also chasing a 4-peat Their 3A-DI State Meet is scheduled for Thursday at 1:30 p.m The Beeville Lady Trojans are looking to defend their title They'll compete in 4A-DI on Friday at 1:30 p.m Good luck to all Coastal Bend powerlifters Texas — Updated school speed limit signs in Robstown are in effect at 15 mph starting from 7:15 a.m The change came after a local resident in the area noticed something was wrong “Once we did see the signs,” Robstown Police Department Chief Mike Tamez said “We quickly realized that they're illegal.” Chief Tamez said the wrong speed limit signs were brought to his attention after Councilmember Mary Ann Saenz received a complaint from her constituent “The signs said that the school zone was all day,” Councilmember Saez said when we were leaving for lunch since we only have a 30 minute lunch it was kind of hard to go 15 miles an hour through there it was a joint effort to make sure everything was up to date “(I) notified Chief Tamez and I said ‘Sir is this common or can it be changed or how can we what kind of answer can I give to the gentleman that called me,’” Councilmember Saenz said sure enough next day he calls me and he said ‘Good news Ms After reflecting on the correct Texas Administrative Code 25.22(d) (3)(a) Chief Tamez got with the Robstown Independent School District to find out when their earliest school opened and their latest school closed “It's not where it's school zone specific,” Chief Tamez said “It's very broad throughout the entire city so it gives the exact same time so we can start getting folks into a rhythm.” The updated school speed limit signs at the moment will be in the following locations: just pay attention to those traffic control devices,” Chief Tamez said make sure they obey those signs at 15 miles an hour because we will be out enforcing school zones a lot more.”Chief Tamez also mentioned that there will be more speed limit signs changed and implemented to help the flow of traffic I'm hoping that the community of Robstown will feel comfortable enough with myself or any other council person to bring up issues like this,” Councilmember Saenz said a region grappling with a historic drought Tesla's planned lithium refinery in Robstown raises critical questions about water resources and sustainability Initial estimates of the facility's water needs have dramatically escalated drawing scrutiny from water experts and residents What began as a projection of 400,000 to 800,000 gallons per day has reportedly grown to between 1.1 and 3 million gallons daily, with the potential to reach 8 million gallons if the plant expands, according to documents obtained by KRIS 6 News via a Public Information Request. Sources close to the project dispute those figures Documents obtained by KRIS 6 News also revealed Tesla began operations without an official water contract—utilizing water during the construction phase expressed significant concerns about the project is there enough water to provide for that use and what's the impact going to be on the local users," Eckstein said while also warning that a water-intensive facility of that nature could place substantial strain on an already stressed water system The South Texas Water Authority (STWA), which receives approximately 2 million gallons daily from Corpus Christi, has been slow to provide definitive answers. As of September, the company contracted by STWA was still completing a water analysis for Tesla Nueces County Precinct 3 Commissioner and STWA's Executive Director emphasized the importance of thorough water planning "There's typically a water analysis that's done on any request big or small," Marez stated "You could ultimately say we've got the water but not until that analysis is done would you really truly know if we can give you the capacity that you need." The local water situation remains critical is maintaining Stage 3 drought restrictions will ensure that we have capacity," Marez added The City of Corpus Christi issued an official statement underscoring the challenges Eckstein said companies may not sufficiently prioritize water resource verification "My sense is that these companies don't put a high enough value on confirming if there's going to be adequate water for their operations," he said As the region continues to grow and industrial demands increase the tension between economic development and water conservation becomes increasingly apparent Tesla has not responded to multiple requests for comment Marez told 6 Investigates the STWA would release a statement clarifying Tesla's water needs Tx — The Robstown Police Department is seeing positive changes with crime in the city down in the previous year Police Chief Mike Tamez attributes much of this progress to new initiatives designed to address both the root causes of crime and improve officer visibility throughout the community made it clear that he wanted to overhaul the department’s culture right from the start “They have been tremendous force multipliers even though we were short five officers,” he said “Visibility has done wonders for the city as a whole,” Tamez said acknowledging that having officers more present on the streets has made a significant difference this increased presence isn’t just about patrolling—it’s about engaging with the community and addressing the needs of residents directly The work of Robstown’s officers has been critical in driving down crime Despite being short-staffed by five officers for the first half of the year Tamez credits his team for stepping up and making a significant impact “Those things were tremendous force multipliers,” Tamez said “We still did almost the exact same work we did the previous year." According to the data provided by Robstown PD the city saw a 41% reduction in assaultive crimes such as robbery and murder The two major crimes that were affecting the city The data shows that property theft took a 21% reduction from 2023 Another statistic the department tackled head-on in 2024 was drugs and drug-related crimes We’re going to come after you,” Tamez warned Through partnerships with local organizations the department has also been able to tackle drug and similarly related crimes from a different angle counselors from the Coastal Bend Wellness Foundation ride along with Robstown officers and providing connections to services like drug rehabilitation and helping them get the resources they need,” Tamez explained crime reduction isn’t just about numbers; it’s about making a lasting impact on the lives of the people in Robstown “We’re about helping our citizens get off drugs Tamez is optimistic about continuing to build on these successes With the addition of dedicated office space for the wellness foundation at the police department and a focus on making services more accessible with hopes for a safer and healthier community overall Tx — The race to fill the seats for Nueces County Commissioner for Drainage District #2 is finally over were elected as Commissioners for Drainage District #2 The final seat was filled by Balde Torres III 'Bluebonnet' is a subdivision area near Robstown Early College High School and has faced flooding issues for years. In 2020 citizens voted on a bond to fix drainage issues in the area but the money has been sitting in an escrow account leaving the project at a standstill The latest update was back in October when a $48 million bond was proposed on the November ballot to address the drainage issues KRIS 6 NEWS asked Willie Garcia about the rejection of the bond the 5.5 million that passed four years ago and lets get the ball rolling," Garcia said Garcia said it was important for him to run because he is a Bluebonnet resident and has personally been affected by the flooding issues and thats only with five to seven inches of rain," Garcia said "Imagine if we get a CAT 1 or a Tropical storm This will be the first time in almost a year that three seats will be filled for Drainage District #2 then-commissioner David 'Petey' Martinez resigned to become the mayor of Robstown Robert Gonzalez said he's glad the commission is back to a three-member board “I want to be able to work with the other two commissioners in office and have an understanding that what we’re doing is going to be for the people 13 was "for the girls" at the Coastal Bend Women in Industry career and education expo in Robstown Held by an organization named "This One's For The Gals" about 500 area students and teachers learned about careers from skilled trades to STEM "Maybe they want to go straight into the workforce Nobody really talks to them about those careers," This One's For the Gals founder Stephanie Hajducek said "I really like to say 'Today is a day about talking to girls about careers that not a lot of people talk to girls about." featuring panels of expert women who have made their careers in different industries "This is really enjoyable," Sophomore Presley Howe said "Of course a day off from school that's going to get you learning about things we're 100% interested in "This One's For the Gals" holds its next event on Feb Several Coastal Bend school districts have sent out letters this week to parents, advising them what to do if students were confronted by border patrol agencies. Earlier this week, Alice ISD referenced the possibility of what to do if agents stopped school buses Residents were concerned with the implications of the letter which sparked a flurry of phone calls to local police departments the Robstown Police Department issued a statement on their Facebook page to put the community at ease "Nothing has changed with Border Patrol's authority or mission regarding checkpoint operations," Robstown PD Chief Mike Tamez said so it's important that we share accurate information." The post listed false tactics that had been circulating online campuses or schools to search for undocumented individuals Chief Tamez also stated he spoke with Border Patrol for the correct information before making the post Alice ISD has sincetaken down their original letter and has issued a new statement