Washington, D.C.: Customs and Border Protection (CBP) today announced that it will re-evaluate and postpone some of the previously planned furloughs and de-authorization of overtime for agents.  The 2013 fiscal year appropriations bill mitigates to some degree the impacts to the agency by the sequester and allowed  this re-evaluation and postponement. “I’m glad that the men and women in the Border Patrol will get some breathing room from the poor budgetary decisions previously enacted,” said Congressman Pete Gallego (TX-23).

The South Texas Blood and Tissue Center will be conducting a community blood drive this Thursday April the 4th from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. The blood drive will be located in the parking lot of Danny's Restaurant on 2557 N. Veteran's Blvd. All donors will receive a $10 gift card, a chance to win a Donor Getaway package, a T-shirt and a mini-physical. Anyone who is 16 years old weighing 120 pounds (with a parental consent form), or at least 17 years old weighing 110 pounds and in good general health can donate blood. Donors must present photo ID, last four digits of their social security number and their birth date. For further information,please contact Mayra Murray at 830-335-9916 or 830-513-9299.

A.D. Ibarra

-Del Rio, TX

Sheriff Tom Schmerber will be representing Maverick County at the Texas Sheriff's Coalition Conference which will be held in Del Rio on April 4th and 5th where South Texas sheriffs will descend on the Queen City to discuss items of interest in terms of the latest in information viable to departments across the state. Schmerber informed The News Gram that sheriffs from as far as Houston may be there to get the latest information on Federal and State grants available to assist county departments as well as to listen to the expertise of guest speakers who will be attending. "It will be a good opportunity to get together with my colleagues on the border," stated our sheriff as he added that the Texas-Mexico Border is always well represented at these meetings. Schmerber also informed us about the upcoming plans for the 2013 Special Olympics which they will be participating in with the MCSD Explorer group as they will be selecting a group from the approximately 300 applications they have received from both high schools to assist them in community events such as this.