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business

The end of a music era. Columbia House mail-order club is going out of business

(Gray News) – It’s the end of a music era. Columbia House, a mail-order club that offered a dozen CDs for a penny each (if you committed to buying more at full price later) is closing for good. The club was famous for its ads promising “10 CDs for a penny” and its nostalgic “One ...

KGNS — SitewideAug 20, 2026

parks

Bulky waste drop-off event set for Saturday

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - Residents can drop off bulky items at no cost during a city-hosted event. The bulky waste drop-off event will take place Saturday, Aug. 22, at Father McNaboe Park. It runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Residents will need to unload items themselves. They must also b...

KGNS — Top NewsAug 20, 2026

government

Laredo City Council to hold budget workshops

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - Laredo City Council will hold budget workshops Thursday, Aug. 20, and Friday, Aug. 21. The workshops will begin at noon at the Joe Guerra Public Library multi-purpose room, located at 1120 East Calton Road. During the workshops, council members will review t...

KGNS (NBC/ABC affiliate) — Local NewsAug 20, 2026

News

New vaccine appears to prevent recurrence of the deadliest form of skin cancer

(Gray News) - Moderna and Merck say a new vaccine appears to prevent the recurrence of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. The companies say the vaccine is for people who have had melanoma. The vaccine, called Intismeran, is designed to be tailored to individual patients...

KGNS — SitewideAug 20, 2026

government

Random drawing sets ballot order for Laredo’s November election

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - The deadline to file for a spot on the ballot has passed, and a random drawing at City Hall determined the order for 15 local candidates in November’s election. The drawing took only a few minutes, with a random number pull determining the order for the cand...

KGNS — Top NewsAug 20, 2026

News

Mother, boyfriend indicted in 8-year-old’s bathtub drowning death

MOULTRIE, Ga. ( WALB /Gray News) — A mother and her boyfriend were indicted in connection with the drowning death of the woman’s 8-year-old son. Julie Hurst and Dalton Johnson both face charges of murder and cruelty to children in connection with the boy’s death. Authorities said...

KGNS — SitewideAug 20, 2026

safety

Summer days

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - Extreme Heat Warning and heat advisory in North and central Texas. Hot and sunny with highs in the 100s. Major to Extreme heat related impacts , heat index values 105-115. Elevated fire weather risk continues to be a concern. Little overnight relief from the...

KGNS (NBC/ABC affiliate) — Local NewsAug 20, 2026

safety

2 college sophomores dead, 7 injured after car strikes cyclists on training ride

HAMPTON, Tenn. ( WVLT /Gray News) - Authorities in Tennessee responded to a deadly crash involving a car and a group of bicyclists Wednesday morning. Sixty-nine-year-old John Benfield, of North Carolina, was arrested in connection with the crash, according to District Attorney St...

KGNS — SitewideAug 20, 2026

government

Laredo soccer complex to be renamed for Roque Vela Sr.

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - A section of the Bartlett Soccer Complex will be renamed in honor of Roque Vela Sr. , a veteran, advocate, former commissioner and Laredo ISD board member who died last month. Many said the decision to honor Vela reflects the impact he made in the Laredo com...

KGNS — Top NewsAug 20, 2026

government

Florida primaries produce upsets as matchups set for November

WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - A handful of states held primary elections Tuesday to determine which candidates will move on to November’s midterms, including Florida, where results on both sides of the aisle pointed to a different kind of election year. State Rep. Angie Nixon, a progres...

KGNS — SitewideAug 20, 2026

Local

Hot Air remains in Full Control of our Weather

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - Cooler airmasses are tracking through the central and northern Great Plains and through the Tennessee Valley to the east. This leaves Texas in a very hot and dry airmass with our 105F afternoon heat persisting. A shallow layer of humid gulf air will arrive l...

KGNS — Top NewsAug 19, 2026

safety

Laredo police history exhibit nears end of run at Laredo College

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - Laredo College is wrapping up the Laredo Police Department’s “Frontier to Future” exhibit next Friday, Aug. 28. The exhibit features major cases, advances in police technology and a memorial honoring fallen officers. Because of gaps in the archives, the depa...

KGNS (NBC/ABC affiliate) — Local NewsAug 19, 2026

government

Laredo council votes to grow water pipe repair budget

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - Laredo city leaders say they need more money to fix the city’s water pipes, on top of a multimillion-dollar project that started after years of breaks and boil-water notices. The pipe repair budget has already grown to more than $130 million. City Manager Jo...

KGNS (NBC/ABC affiliate) — Local NewsAug 19, 2026

safety

Fewer domestic violence victims seeking help from Laredo police

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - Fewer domestic violence victims are asking Laredo police for help this year, and investigators believe fear of deportation is why. Authorities believe undocumented migrants are afraid to come forward because of nationwide immigration enforcement. Victim serv...

KGNS — Top NewsAug 19, 2026

safety

Supreme Court weighs legality of White House ballroom construction

WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - The Supreme Court is considering whether construction of a ballroom at the White House is within the president’s power, as historic preservation groups seek to block the project on an emergency basis. Justices heard arguments Tuesday on the case. Lawyers fo...

KGNS — SitewideAug 19, 2026

safety

Father charged after 1-year-old son dies in hot car at strawberry farm, police say

EAST WINDSOR, Conn. ( WFSB /Gray News) - A father in Connecticut was charged after his 1-year-old son died in a hot car at a strawberry farm, according to authorities. Kevin Pell, 47, is charged with risk of injury to a minor. His attorneys told a judge they are cooperating with ...

KGNS — SitewideAug 19, 2026

Local

City continues to warn against non-flushable items amid sewage blockages

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - Items not meant to be flushed down toilets are piling up at Laredo’s wastewater treatment plant, according to the Laredo Utilities Department. Socks, plastic toys, T-shirts and pieces of wood were found in a pile that came from toilets flushed around north L...

KGNS — Top NewsAug 19, 2026

government

Peltola leads incumbent Sullivan in Alaska Senate primary

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Gray DC) - Democrat Mary Peltola was the top vote-getter in Tuesday’s Alaska Senate primary, besting incumbent Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan. Peltola, a former Alaska congresswoman, received about 48% of the vote in a 16-person race. Sullivan, who is seeking a t...

KGNS — SitewideAug 19, 2026

News

Trump pauses new Canada tariffs, citing last-minute deal

WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - President Donald Trump temporarily halted new tariffs against Canada late Tuesday, citing a last-minute deal. The 50% tariffs, scheduled to take effect at midnight, would have impacted about $20 billion worth of Canadian imports. “They called yesterday and ...

KGNS — SitewideAug 19, 2026

safety

Man charged with murder after allegedly starting a house fire that killed his mother

KANSAS CITY, Mo. ( KCTV /Gray News) - A Kansas City man has been charged with murder after allegedly starting a house fire that killed his mother. Ryan Willis, 36, is facing charges that include second-degree felony murder and first-degree arson following a deadly house fire on T...

KGNS — SitewideAug 19, 2026

safety

Police called to family home of Hayden Panettiere’s boyfriend, officials say

GREENVILLE, S.C. ( WHNS /Gray News) — Police officers were called to Hayden Panettiere’s boyfriend’s family home in Greenville on Wednesday morning, city officials said. According to the city, officers with the Greenville Police Department were at Brian Hickerson’s family home to...

KGNS — SitewideAug 19, 2026

business

Mind Your Business #18: United Way

Sponsored - The following content is created on behalf of International Bank of Commerce and does not reflect the opinions of Gray Media or its editorial staff. To learn more about International Bank of Commerce , visit www.ibc.com In this episode of Mind Your Business, presented...

KGNS — SitewideAug 19, 2026

Local

Pet of the Week: Meet Uma!

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - The Laredo Animal Protective Society (LAPS) is looking for a home for Uma, a four-year-old dog. Sofi Juarez with LAPS said Uma had heartworms when she first came to LAPS but was treated and is now healthy. Juarez said she fostered Uma for two days. “She gets...

KGNS — Top NewsAug 19, 2026

News

CAUGHT ON CAMERA: Deck collapses underneath US Marshals serving a warrant

HUNTSVILLE, Mo. ( KCTV /Gray News) - Some deputy U.S. marshals and other law enforcement officers in Missouri were injured after the deck they were standing on collapsed. A task force consisting of the Moberly Area SWAT Team, the U.S. Marshals Service and other law enforcement ag...

KGNS — SitewideAug 19, 2026

safety

Laredo woman accused of shoving disabled client at day care

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - A Laredo woman faces a felony charge after police said she shoved a disabled client out of her wheelchair at an adult day care. Police said 34-year-old Jeanette Medina was caught on surveillance video allegedly pushing the woman, causing her to fall back and...

KGNS (NBC/ABC affiliate) — Local NewsAug 19, 2026

safety

FBI warns scammers are impersonating its cybercrime complaint center

( InvestigateTV ) — The FBI is warning the public that scammers are impersonating employees of its Internet Crime Complaint Center, known as IC3, to target victims a second time. IC3 is where people who have been scammed online can report the crime. Paul Keener, a cybersecurity s...

KGNS — SitewideAug 19, 2026

parks

Laredo Stroke Support Group to host F.A.S.T. 5K run and walk

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - The Laredo Stroke Support Group is hosting a F.A.S.T. 5K run and walk. The race starts at 8 a.m. on Sept. 12, 2026, at North Central Park, according to Maria Garcia, the group’s newly hired executive director. On-site registration begins at 6:30 a.m. Online ...

KGNS — Top NewsAug 19, 2026

safety

Laredo to host 3rd annual 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - The Laredo Fire Department and Firefighter’s Association Local 872 are hosting the city’s 3rd Annual 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb to honor first responders who died in the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. The event honors the 343 firefighters killed in the attac...

KGNS (NBC/ABC affiliate) — Local NewsAug 19, 2026

schools

Vaccine exemptions rise as Laredo districts follow state guidelines

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - Parents in the U.S. are opting out of providing their children certain vaccines for non-medical reasons, according to the CDC. The CDC says more than 4% of kindergartners had a vaccine exemption this school year, up from last year. Both Laredo school distric...

KGNS (NBC/ABC affiliate) — Local NewsAug 19, 2026

safety

Endless Summer Vibe

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - Increasing clouds and hot temperatures this afternoon, highs in the 100s. Moderate to extreme heat related impacts with heat index values of 105-113. Elevated fire weather concern continue this week. Breezy southeasterly winds gust 22-25 mph. Overnight lows ...

KGNS (NBC/ABC affiliate) — Local NewsAug 19, 2026

safety

Mother charged after 6-year-old found with loaded gun on school bus

COLUMBIA, S.C. ( WIS /Gray News) - A mother has been arrested after her 6-year-old was found Tuesday with a loaded gun on a school bus, according to authorities in South Carolina. The Richland County Sheriff’s Department said a resource officer at JP Thomas Elementary School was ...

KGNS — SitewideAug 19, 2026

safety

School bus carrying 42 students crashes into South Carolina home

ORANGEBURG COUNTY, S.C. ( WIS /Gray News) - A school bus carrying more than 40 students crashed into a vacant mobile home in Orangeburg County on Tuesday morning, officials said. The bus had 42 students from Clark Middle School and Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School on board, accor...

KGNS — SitewideAug 19, 2026

government

State, county officials urge ranchers to watch for screwworm

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - Texas has four active screwworm cases. Webb County has no screwworm cases , but state and county leaders are reminding ranchers of steps to keep their livestock safe. Dr. Sandra Leyendecker, Laredo regional director for the Texas Animal Health Commission, sa...

KGNS — Top NewsAug 18, 2026

government

Box of bones belonging to at least 5 people found in home, investigators say

KINGSTON, Tenn. ( WVLT /Gray News) - Property managers in Tennessee say they discovered something unexpected when cleaning out a vacated rental property over the summer. Authorities say the crew reported finding a cardboard box containing a collection of bones in July. A newly re...

KGNS — SitewideAug 18, 2026

Local

Hotter Than Average Heat Continues

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - A hot airmass over the western U.S. will merge with the southern Great Plains hot airmass by the end of this week. This will mean no end to our hotter than average weather during the 7 day time frame, perhaps well into next week. Dry air above will continue ...

KGNS (NBC/ABC affiliate) — Local NewsAug 18, 2026

Local

Tecolotes pioneer Rodríguez Meza dies at 90

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - Don Cuauhtémoc Rodríguez Meza, known as Chito, has died, the Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos announced in a statement issued today. He was 90. Rodríguez Meza pitched for the Tecolotes in the late 1950s before building his reputation in the front office. He won ...

KGNS — Top NewsAug 18, 2026

safety

Woman wanted in deadly human smuggling case arrested

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - A woman wanted in a deadly human smuggling case is in custody. Federal records show Karina Garcia was arrested Sunday. She is one of 11 people indicted in July on charges accusing them of using shipping containers to smuggle migrants farther into the U.S. Pr...

KGNS — Top NewsAug 18, 2026

safety

Suspect faces aggravated assault charge in Laredo shooting

DISCLAIMER : LPD initially reported the suspect’s name as Juan Antonio Vergara, but directed name clarification to the Webb County Sheriff’s Office, which lists the suspect as Juan Antonio Vergara-Nieto Jr. LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - A gun was fired inches from a teenager’s head, and ...

KGNS (NBC/ABC affiliate) — Local NewsAug 18, 2026

parks

Candlelight vigil to address suicide prevention

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - Border Region Community Health Center invites community to gathering at Jovita Idar Park The Border Region Community Health Center is inviting the community to a candlelight vigil to reduce stigma and strengthen suicide prevention. The gathering will be held...

KGNS (NBC/ABC affiliate) — Local NewsAug 18, 2026

safety

Man pleads guilty in deadly Laredo smuggling case

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - A Laredo smuggling case that turned deadly has ended in a guilty plea. Gerardo David Zarate Martinez, 19, pleaded guilty Monday, Aug. 17, to helping smuggle migrants into the United States for cash. In January, police tried to stop a car packed with people. ...

KGNS — Top NewsAug 18, 2026