LAREDO, TX. (KGNS) - The expansion to one of the busiest bridges between the United States and Mexico is one step closer to becoming a reality.

On Thursday morning, U.S Senator Ted Cruz made a visit to the City of Laredo to announce the recent signing of the presidential permit needed to complete this 20 year old project.

Over 800 billion dollars in trade and commerce goes through the World Trade Bridge, which is one of four bridges along the Laredo border.

With the increase in traffic, expanding the lanes is necessary to keep with the demand but before that can be done, a presidential permit is required.

On Thursday Senator Cruz and Congressman Henry Cuellar along with stakeholders spoke about the passage they work on, part of the National Defense Authorization Act signed by President Biden that is one step closer to allowing the construction of the project to start.

Typically, presidential permits are required for construction projects at border crossings.

Obtaining a permit requires an environmental review, often taking years to complete.

Congressman Cuellar said these changes to the presidential permitting process will ensure that proposed construction projects not only happen at the World Trade Bridge but also at the Laredo-Colombia Solidarity International Bridge, and other bridges along the U.S.-Mexico border.

“This is good news because last year there was more than 360 billion dollars between the U.S. and Mexico,” said Cuellar. “This area took about 40-percent about the trade in U.S and Mexico, so we need to expand the World Trade Bridge, we need to expand the Colombia Bridge, we need to look at the 4-5 bridge and there’s three new areas to be looking at, and keeping Laredo as number one.”

The state department has less than 60 days to submit any bridge building permit to the president.

After the permit is filed, the president has a 60-day period to grant his seal of approval, but if the department is the only entity that files for the recommendation and the president does not sign it, according to Senator Cruz, another step is taken, the permit is automatically granted “By operation-of-law”.

“Unfortunately, these 4 bridge projects have been stalled for the last three years because the Biden administration had put unnecessary bureaucratic roadblocks in the way of building or expanding,” Senator Cruz. “By April of this year we will have the presidential permit to move forward, that means more jobs for Texas, for South Texas and the entire state.”

During the press conference, KGNS asked lawmakers about the current migrant situation along the Texas border.

Senator Ted Cruz declined to comment.

Representatives involved in this expansion include Congressmen Victor and Tony Gonzalez, Congresswoman Monica de la Cruz, and Texas Senator John Cornyn.

LAREDO, TX. (KGNS) - The new year brings some new goals and projects that the City of Laredo is working on.

Laredo Mayor Dr. Victor Trevino has plenty of projects in the works for the City of Laredo.

Mayor Trevino sat down with KGNS News Anchor Ruben Villarreal Thursday morning to go over some of the ideas he has for the future.

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - A former U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer, who previously served at a Laredo port of entry, is facing charges of smuggling migrants, as announced by a U.S. Attorney.

Emanuel Celedon, 36 years old, was indicted and scheduled to make his initial court appearance in Laredo on Friday, December 29. The charges stem from allegations of illegally smuggling four undocumented migrants from Mexico into the United States.

This is not Celedon’s first encounter with the law, as he had previously faced charges related to bribery and drug trafficking.

According to the indictment filed on Wednesday, December 27, Celedon is accused of four counts of bringing undocumented migrants into the United States on two separate occasions in September and November 2023.

If convicted on the new human smuggling charges, Celedon could face up to 40 years in federal prison.

LAREDO, TX. (KGNS) - One lucky person is starting the year with some extra money to burn after winning Monday night’s Powerball drawing.

The Texas Lottery made the announcement on their Facebook page saying a $2 million dollar winning ticket was sold in Laredo.

According to the Texas Lottery website, the ticket was sold at the Murphy Express store located on 10714 International Blvd.

Congratulations to the lucky winner!

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - Three siblings from Laredo have confessed to orchestrating a plot involving the purchase, transportation, and concealment of 7,000 rounds of ammunition to smuggle it into Mexico.

The trio, consisting of 26-year-old Rolando Herrera and his sisters, 22-year-old Ashley Herrera, and 21-year-old Yamileth Herrera, all U.S. citizens with residences in Laredo and Nuevo Laredo, pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to smuggle ammunition.

In May 2023, the siblings placed orders for the ammunition at a local sporting goods store. Ashley initiated the scheme with an order of 3,000 rounds, subsequently followed by another order of 3,000 rounds under a different name, delivered to the siblings’ parents’ home. Yamileth later ordered and picked up an additional 1,000 rounds.

The entire cache of 7,000 rounds remained concealed until Rolando decided to transport it to Mexico.

The trio is set to face sentencing in April, with the possibility of serving up to ten years in federal prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 each.

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - U.S. Senator Ted Cruz visited Laredo on Thursday, January 3, 2024, to announce the recent signing of the presidential permit required for the expansion of the World Trade Bridge, a crucial crossing along the U.S.-Mexico border. With over $800 billion in trade flowing through the bridge, the expansion aims to address the increasing demand for lanes to facilitate commerce.

The expansion, a 20-year-old project, received a significant boost with the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act, signed by President Biden. This legislation brings the expansion closer to realization, requiring a presidential permit for construction at border crossings.

Sen. Cruz, along with Congressman Henry Cuellar and stakeholders, highlighted the changes in the presidential permitting process that would expedite construction projects at the World Trade Bridge, the Laredo-Colombia Solidarity International Bridge, and other bridges along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Congressman Cuellar emphasized the economic significance: “Last year, this area accounted for about 40% of the trade between the U.S. and Mexico, making it imperative to expand the World Trade Bridge and other key crossings.”

The State Department now has less than 60 days to submit the bridge building permit to the President. After filing, the President has a 60-day period to approve. Sen. Cruz noted that if the President does not sign, the permit is automatically granted by “operation-of-law.”

The World Trade Bridge expansion project, stalled for the past three years, is expected to create more jobs for Texas and South Texas. Regarding the current migrant situation along the Texas border, Sen. Cruz declined to comment during the press conference.

Representatives involved in the expansion project include Congressmen Victor and Tony Gonzalez, Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz, and Texas Senator John Cornyn.

Below is the original story:

The expansion project to one of the busiest bridges between the United States and Mexico is one step closer to becoming a reality.

On Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, and Congressman Henry Cuellar made a stop in Laredo to announce the recent signing of the presidential permit needed for the next step.

Both Cruz and Cuellar call this a celebration for border communities.

During their visit, the two lawmakers spoke about the recent passage of their proposal to reform permitting processes for border bridges.

President Joe Biden recently signed the proposal into law in the National Defense Authorization Act for the fiscal year 2024.

The language in it directs the president to issue conditional permits for projects while environmental reviews.

Typically, presidential permits are required for construction projects at border crossings, obtaining a permit requires an environmental review, often taking years to complete.

The two lawmakers spoke about how this will directly benefit our area.

Cuellar said these changes to the presidential permitting process will ensure that proposed construction projects at the world trade bridge, Laredo-Colombia Solidarity International Bridge, and other bridges along the U.S.-Mexico Border avoid unnecessary construction delays.

“This is good news because last year there was more than 360 billion dollars between the U.S. and Mexico, this area took about 40-percent about the trade in U.S and Mexico, so we need to expand the World Trade Bridge, we need to expand Colombia Bridge, we need to look at the 4-5 bridge and there’s three new areas to be looking at, and keeping Laredo as number one,” said Cuellar.

Cuellar adds this would specifically expedite the World Trade Bridge Expansion Project in Laredo.

The proposed world trade bridge expansion project will add ten lanes to the world trade bridge, bringing the total to 18 lanes and enabling more trade with Mexico.

Cruz considers this a winning situation for local, state, and federal economies

LAREDO, TX. (KGNS) - A man is dead after he was reportedly hit by a vehicle in south Laredo.

According to Laredo Police, the auto pedestrian crash was reported at around 7:55 p.m. near Cuatro Vientos Road and Aguanieve. The man was transported to LMC where he succumbed to his injuries.

The Laredo Police Department’s Crimes Against Persons Team is investigating the crash.