Good morning, Laredo.

Pets Alive Laredo will launch a two-week pet food drive from Sept.

18 to Sept. 30 to support low-income seniors and families ahead of Pet Hunger Awareness Day (donations of dog and cat food are accepted at various local spots).

Nuevo Laredo celebrated Mexican Independence Day on Sept.

15 with the traditional 'El Grito' ceremony. The mayors of Laredo and Nuevo Laredo joined local residents, who enjoyed live music during the festivities.

Retired CBP officers (a monthly meetup group) donated over 300 books on Sept.

16 to Laredo students through partnerships with local school districts to boost learning in English and Spanish.

LISD opened RISE Academy (a vocational campus for special needs students) at the former Cigarroa Middle School at 2600 Palo Blanco to offer training in culinary arts, floral arranging, and hospitality for those aged 18–21; students helped cater the campus ribbon cutting.

Laredo students are set to explore different career options at the Youth Career Expo (at a local venue) as local experts share insights on future job paths.

Laredo veterans committee is set to secure an empty lot near the airport to build a one-stop shop for veteran benefits, with funds earmarked to arrive in December or January; the committee also plans to expand health services for women at local VA clinics.

The City of Laredo Utilities Department has been repairing a water main in District 4's Westgate Dr. Subdivision since Tuesday, Sept.

15 (and crews expect to finish restoring water service soon).

The Laredo Animal Protective Society seeks a new home for Lulu, a 2-year-old Chihuahua mix who has been at the shelter for three months.

Adoption, fostering and volunteer applications are accepted at LAPS (open Wednesday through Sunday) (11 a.m. to 6 p.m.).