City of Laredo Labor Day Closure Notice

All City of Laredo administrative offices will be closed on Monday, September 7, 2009, in observance of Labor Day. Protective and emergency services will be operational.  

There is no regular scheduled garbage or recycling pick-up on that day.   The City of Laredo Landfill will be open on Labor Day, but closed on Saturday, September 5.  

In observance of Labor Day, the Laredo Public Library be closed Monday, September 7, and reopen on Tuesday, September 8.  The Bruni Library Branch will be closed on both Monday and Tuesday and reopen on Wednesday, September 9.  The City of Laredo Municipal Court will also be closed on Monday, September 7. Individuals scheduled to appear in court that day have a minimum of 10 working days to call and make an appearance. Contact Municipal Court for more information at 794-1680.

El Metro bus service will run on regularly scheduled bus routes.

City of Laredo administrative offices will re-open on Tuesday, September 8, 2009, during normal business hours, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Congressman Henry Cuellar to Participate in Town Hall Meeting @ TAMIU

Congressman Henry Cuellar will participate in a town hall meeting on Thursday August 27, hosted by Mercy Ministries of Laredo . Congressman Cuellar invites residents to attend the event and participate in conversations and dialogue as Congress considers health care reform. This is the third town hall meeting Congressman Cuellar participates in his Congressional district, having partaken in similar events in the northern and southern parts of the district. Doors open at 11:30am and town hall meeting begins at 12:30pm @ the TAMIU Student Center Ballroom.

Laredo Bucks to Host “Free Family Fun Day” on Aug 8th!!

The Laredo Bucks will have a hockey equipment sale at the “FREE Family Fun Day” event on August 8th. The event, which is FREE and open to the public, will run from 10am-5pm at the Laredo Entertainment Center.

The Bucks will be selling skates, game pants, gloves, new helmets and more. Prices will start at just $10, and will be on a first come, first serve basis.

Bucks President/General Manager and Head Coach Terry Ruskowski will be on hand at the FREE Family Fun Day, as will several Bucks players to sign autographs and take pictures with fans.

There will be lots of games for the kid’s, including potato sack races, musical chairs, pin the tail on Bucky, and many more! The Bucks will also have several large inflatable games set up, as well as face painting, and dancing.

The Junior Bucks will also be playing floor hockey games with Bucks players on hand, and showing off their skills with Bucky.

The Laredo Animal Protective Society Animal Shelter will be present at the event once again this year. Last year over 20 dogs and cats found new homes at the Bucks open house. For more information on the Laredo Animal Shelter contact them at (956)-724-8364.

The Bucks staff will be on hand giving fans a chance to view available seats for season tickets, purchase new Bucks merchandise, as well as inventory clearance items, including specialty jerseys. At the event fans can also purchase single-game, season, and group tickets, and the Bucks staff will answer any questions you may have about payment plans and options.

The Bucks will start their eighth season in the Gateway City in October, and will host the 2010 CHL All-Star game January 13th. Season tickets start at under $6.50 per game. Call 718-BUCK (2825) to order.

For ticket information call 718-BUCK (2825).

City of Laredo:Health Dept. Issues Swimming Pool Precautions

Laredo, TX -The City of Laredo Health Department would like inform the public that we have seen an increase of bacteria in swimming pools, particularly in apartment complex pools and hotel/motel pools.  In large part this has been due to the unusually high numbers of persons swimming as a way to cool-off in these extremely high temperatures. While we want the public to enjoy themselves in recreational waters we caution the owners and the public to take extra precautions to avoid a potential risk of exposure to bacteria that can cause one to get ill.  

For General Users of Swimming Pools:

*Make sure to rinse before entering into a swimming pool and after.

*Wash hands before eating or drinking anything after swimming.

*Children in diapers should not be allowed in public pools.

*Everyone must wear appropriate swim wear no street clothes.

*No person with diarrhea should be allowed to swim.

*Always follow all safety rules

*For owners of Swimming pools (includes Water parks):

*Chlorine levels should be maintained and checked regularly,

*Samples of water can be submitted to the City of Laredo Health Department for bacteriological quality control purposes (there is a cost for this).

*Make sure to scoop up any floating debris.

*Make sure swimmers rinse before entering and only allow appropriate swim wear—no street clothes.

*Staff should test and evaluate water for fecal matter, ph and chlorine levels.  Make sure to check and change filters often and/or as needed. 

*If fecal matter is found in a swimming pool the standard protocol is to shut the pool and hyper chlorinate, flushing the lines. 

*For those with repeat testing because of bacteria presence we recommend shocking of the pool water, taking extra chlorine testing samples, changing filters more often, making sure all greenery, shrubs, etc. around pools are kept cut, trim and clean, also keep all pets away from any potential drainage or runoff into the pool area

*Manual chlorine and PH testing should be done every 2-3 hours, keeping a log to record chlorine and PH levels.

*All equipment and water systems should be monitored for proper function on a daily basis and cleaned routinely.  This includes pumps, chlorinator, holding tank etc.

*It is highly recommended that staff monitor and enforce water safety, use of appropriate swim wear, and to safeguard the facilities. 

 We want the public to be aware and utilize the precautions mentioned above.  There is no need to be alarmed but the public should be cautious.  For more information about pool safety please call the Environmental Services Program at (956) 795-4904.

Mayor Raul Salinas to appear on Good Morning America

Laredo Mayor Raul G. Salinas will appear on ABC’s Good Morning America this upcoming Wednesday

May 13 @  between 7-9am central time on the ABC network. Mayor Salinas will be interviewed by reporter

Jonathon Clark regarding recent stimulus package funding for border ports, which seems to have left off the

Port of Laredo, the nation’s largest inland port, while favoring instead smaller ports along the Canadian border

who sometimes see only two cars a day. Mayor Salinas talks positively about wanting an improved formula

method for awarding funding, especially for land ports, while highlighting the importance of Laredo’s port

as the nation’s first line of defense.  

Two H1N1 Flu Suspects confirmed in Webb County

The City of Laredo Health Department (CLHD) has received confirmation from the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) on two (2) positive Influenza A H1N1 suspect cases. Both students, 13 and 14 years of age attend Washington Middle School. Both have fully recovered and there are no secondary cases as all preventive treatment and precautions were provided.
Since both students were out during their infectious period due to the school closing, there is no concern on additional spread at this time. We will remain vigilant working closely with school officials excluding any student that is sick as is normal and customary. Parents at Washington Middle School will be provided information through their school officials. If any parent has any questions they can call the Health Department as well. All schools will continue to work with the Health Department to monitor all flu like illness.

Public health officials will continue to monitor vulnerable and susceptible populations to ensure positive outcomes if someone is exposed and/or infected. Again knowing what we now know, this novel Influenza A H1N1 virus now seems to be acting just like seasonal Flu. Because of the widespread throughout the United States, as well as the region, it now seems as if there is another flu season with this new H1N1. Therefore, all should remain cautious and alert, but not alarmed or panicked.

Individuals should continue practicing preventive measures with hygiene and respiratory precautions (cover mouth when cough and wash hands, cover with tissue and wash hands, cough into your elbow and wash hands, wash before and after using bathroom facilities and before you handle food). Schools are no longer any more at risk than the rest of the community however school officials and nurses have been advised to continue monitoring for flu like illness and if meets the case definition,we ask that you exclude children from school for 7 days as per CDC/DSHS guidance.
Summary of H1N1 Laredo activities:

… Received alert on April 24, 2009 from the Texas Department of State Health Services.
… Notified and provided status to city, county, state and federal partners, entities, and leadership.
… Notified and provided ongoing recommendations and guidance to schools, hospitals, and physicians
… Opened and MOC/Incident command.
… Answered and/or screened over 2000 persons at the Health Department.
… Gave out 350 doses of antivirals
… Distributed 125 rapid tests, culture media, N95 masks for medical personnel for both Laredos.
… Had instant radio communication with Dr. Campbell from Nuevo Laredo.
… All physicians and hospitals saw a major rise of the worried well, medical community provided a
great service to address patient care and report to the Health Department.

Backlog in testing for Laredo.

24 (sent Monday, April 27, 2009)

Verbal Confirmation Received Wednesday, May 6, 2009:
13 samples-unable to test 11 Negative

Additional Samples based on priority (received late Saturday, May 9, 2009):
2 confirmed
3 pending to be tested
32 Negative

Total: 62 samples–Includes 1 probable (pending confirmation from CDC and was sent from
Baylor Medical Center to DSHS)

All preventive and precautionary measures have been taken to prevent secondary spread of any suspect.

For further information please contact our hotline at (956) 795-4921.

Influenza “Swine” Flu in Texas

Although at this time there are no confirmed cases of “Swine” Flu in Laredo, TX, there have been 20 cases of “Swine” Flu confirmed in the U.S. spanning 5 states, one of which is Texas. The CLHD will be issuing information as it becomes available to us. Additionally, we are recommending that the public stay informed with the latest information. Presently, there are no additional precautions or travel restrictions.
The City of Laredo Health Department is taking all the necessary precautions. We have enhanced surveillance monitoring and are continuing to investigate any new cases.
Currently, in both Laredo, Texas and Nuevo Laredo, Mexico we have not seen any increase in respiratory illnesses nor confirmed any “flu” cases. However, we want to inform the public on normal respiratory precautions and flu symptoms.

Signs & Symptoms:
Fever greater than 101, dry cough, extreme muscle aching, headache and lethargy, lack of appetite. If someone has these symptoms, they should see their physician immediately and report it to the Health Department.

The Health Department is strongly encouraging everyone who has not been vaccinated with their regular flu vaccine to do so. Currently, there is no swine flu vaccine. Additionally, we recommend taking the following precautions recommended by the Center for Disease Control.

1. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
2. Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
3. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
4. Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

People with flu-like symptoms stated above should stay home to avoid infecting colleagues or classmates and parents should try to keep babies and young children away from people who have flu-like illnesses. School children who have “flu” symptoms should be excluded from school until they see their physician and has verified it is not “flu”.

The Texas Department of State Health Services has a flu hotline in place for the general public. The number is 888-777-5320. Additionally, the City of Laredo Health Department has created a Hotline providing information about the “swine” flu. To reach the hotline, please call 956-795-4954 or call 956-795-4951.

Update:

The swine flu hotline phone number for the City of Laredo Health Department has changed.  If anyone has questions, concerns or needs clarification regarding swine flu, symptoms, preventive measures or other issues, please call (956) 795-4921.

The Texas Department of State Health Services has a flu hotline in place for the general public.  The number is 888-777-5320.

Mayor Salinas to have Full Schedule in D.C.

Salinas will be staying with his daughter as a means to avoid costly hotel bills in Washington.  His current plans have him returning to Laredo on inauguration day due to his obligations as mayor.

This Sunday: The Obama Inagural Celebration

Bono(U2), Beyonce have united with Bruce Springsteen to participate in the inagural celebration of president elect Barack Obama. They will offer a free concert at the Lincoln Memorial in  Washington D.C. next sunday January 18 at (7:00-9:00 p.m. ET/PT) televised exclusively by HBO. Besides Bono, Beyonce, and Springsteen other musical performers scheduled for the event include Mary J. Blige, Garth Brooks, Sheryl Crow, Renee Fleming, Josh Groban, Herbie Hancock, Heather Headley, John Legend, Jennifer Nettles, John Mellencamp, Usher Raymond IV, Shakira, James Taylor, Will.i.Am, and Stevie Wonder.  Among those reading historical passages will be Jamie Foxx, Martin Luther King III, Queen Latifah and Denzel Washington. The event will be free and open to the public, kicking off the most open and accessible Inauguration in history. We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration is the theme of this historical event.

Councilman Mike Garza hosts shopping spree for kids

Times are tough, but they will be tougher for some of our fellow Laredoans this year. That’s why we’re glad to see our politicians doing something good for our kids, and are willing to help them in these tough economic times. Thanks to the donations and fundraising  by Friends of Council Member Mike Garza,  needy students from his district will get new shoes and a jacket for the holidays. The children have already been selected, but this Saturday December 20, they will be embarking on a shopping spree at Wal-Mart. If you’re at the Wal-Mart Supercenter on HWY 83 between 10am-noon on Saturday, make sure you stop by to shake Council Member Garza’s hand and thank him for caring for these kids. Mike Garza helped students at the beginning of the school year with a shopping spree for school uniforms too, and hopefully he’ll do it again in 2009.

Mayor Salinas received a Key to the City of Lazaro Cardenas

City of Laredo Mayor Raul G. Salinas recently returned from a trip to Lazaro Cardenas, Michoacan, Mexico, where he, City Secretary Gustavo Guevara, Mayor Pro Tempore Jose A. Valdez, Jr. and City of Nuevo Laredo Mayor Ramon Garza Barrios met with the Mayor of Lazaro Cardenas, Mariano Ortega Sanchez, and other city and port offiicials to discuss the pending Sister City’s agreement between Laredo and Lazaro Carenas.  The Sister City Agreement will be officially signed here in January, during the Laredo International Sister Cities Festival & Exposition.

“Lazaro Cardenas is such an important city for the City of Laredo, in terms of future trade opportunities,” said Mayor Salinas.  ”Its position to service the Pacific Rim, and to be able to bring goods and imports from the Far East and Mexico into the United States via Laredo is going to be such a positive impact to our economy, it is important that we capitalize on all aspects of our relationship now, so that we are in a position to really maximize those opportunities when they come,” he concluded.

Mayor Salinas received a Key to the City of Lazaro Cardenas from Mayor Ortega Sanchez as Mayor Garza Barrios looks on.  A trade route leading from Lazaro Cardenas to Laredo and beyond highlights the future trade possibilities.

Drug gangs resort to random shootings in Mexico to instill fear

This is definitely not the type of stuff I like posting on this site, but I just came across this article on Reuters about the new scare tactic drug gangs are using in Tijuana.  Apparently, masked gunmen are randomly shooting innocent people at bars, restaurants, and shopping malls in Tijuana and so far they have killed at least 50 people, including 10 children. These so-called “hit squads” are part of the Arellano Felix cartel who’s using violence to show security forces and rival gangs it is still a force to be reckoned with. It’s sad to see what’s happening in Mexico during these drug wars.

Anyway, just wanted to give you guys a heads up in case you hadn’t heard about this new low in the bordertown drug war. Here’s a excerpt from the article:

In one recent attack, gunmen in body armor and armed with assault rifles stormed into Tijuana’s popular Crazy Banana pool hall and opened fire on customers, killing four men and a woman.

“We were playing pool and these masked men came in shouting and started firing at everyone,” said day laborer Juan Miguel at the scene, wiping blood from his head after the attack. He declined to give his surname.

“Anyone close to them was immediately killed,” he said.

Via Reuters

Photo via Flickr

Results are in!

Palin in a Bathing Suit?! Biden Plagiarizing?!

Obama or McCain? Palin or Biden?

The presidential race increasingly shifts from Obama to McCain to Palin to Biden. I’ve never before seen a race like this where the vice-presidential nominees are such an integral part of our election. Although typically these two fade in the shadows of our presidential nominees, this year, both are vital to the election and interesting too.

The vital part is possibly because of our two presidential nominees, obviously, one is a minority whom the United States may not be exactly ready for, and the other is a bit on the older side, so there’s always the concern for his well-being. Thus, we hope to ensure that we can trust our Vice-President to assume office if need be.

If you’ve kept up with CNN and other popular news channels for the last two days, they have not stopped reporting on Sarah Palin’s appearance on Saturday Night Live this past weekend, during which she condoned spoofs of herself by Tina Fey. She has been widely criticized by the media for allowing this, and some are even worried that her disposition to such ridicule actually hurt the Republican ticket. A former beauty pageant contestant, I’m not sure that Palin has much more to offer than her looks. If you are not convinced and are interested, you may view a video of the potential female VP in a bathing suit here.

On the other hand, upon planning a lesson for a class on avoiding plagiarism, I accidentally stumbled upon a plethora of articles accusing our Democratic Vice-Presidential Candidate Joseph Biden of once plagiarizing both in past campaign speeches and in school.

Plagiarism, in case you don’t know, is considered an exceedingly serious offense that scholars must work diligently to avoid because of the serious consequences that could arise from copying another’s written or spoken words or ideas. It is perfectly avoidable if one does not fail to cite the sources of their information.

Joseph Biden has a history of being amid important presidential elections. Little did I know that he was actually a front runner for the 1988 Democratic nomination which he lost to Michael Dukakis. Eventually, Dukakis lost the nomination to the first George Bush, then-V-P to Ronald Reagan.

Biden did not lose the 1988 Democratic nomination, however, without first winning the embarrassment of being accused of stealing words from a British Labor leader- a certain Kinnock. Dukakis’ campaign team at the time launched this video of Biden and eventually, he was forced to withdraw from the Democratic nominee race. The video exposes that not only did he plagiarize various campaign speeches, but also that Biden was accused of plagiarizing papers in law school.

 With so much to consider about our candidates, how will Laredo vote this November?

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