Good morning, Laredo.

Heavy traffic was reported along Hwy 83 in East Laredo on Oct.

9 — causing delays for many drivers.

The LCUAS invites local residents to join Food Town—an October series of events celebrating Laredo’s local culinary culture.

On October 16, a landscape architect—Mitch Wright—will lead a discussion on creating a food forest, and a workshop on Laredo’s culinary heritage is scheduled for October 23.

Laredo’s Marine Corps & Mayor Dr. Victor Trevino launched the Toys for Tots campaign on October 9 to help ensure every child in the community receives a Christmas gift.

Officials said drop-off locations are set up to collect new, unwrapped toys for those in need.

The Laredo Community Development Department launched the Lafayette Tiny Homes Project to build nine tiny homes with a living room, bedroom, kitchen and bathroom available for around $575 per month for veterans and others in need + a community center offering mental health services is included as the project is financed by the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development to help people transition into stable housing.

Falcon Bank will host the Texas Banks Community Day of Service on October 13 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. — community members can donate items such as blankets, dog food and canned goods — with collected items set to support United Way, Laredo College’s Palomino Pantry and Dusty's Food Pantry at TAMIU.

Texas A&M International University’s IBC Bank and Commerce Bank Keynote Speaker Series will host Jason Marczak from the Atlantic Council who will speak about U.S. and Latin America relations in a talk titled 'A Turning Point in the U.S. and Latin America Relationship: What Might Be on the Horizon?' scheduled for October 29 at 6 p.m. in the TAMIU Student Center Ballroom — the event is free and will be broadcast live on Microsoft Teams.

TAMIU’s MPA Program will celebrate its 25th anniversary on Oct.

16 from 6 to 8 p.m.—the event will include reflections on the program’s history and recognition of alumni contributions and local partnerships in the Killam Library’s Helen Richter Watson Gallery.

Yesterday, fifty TAMIU students from business and arts programs attended Opera San Antonio’s production of The Magic Flute after a luncheon and a Banking and Finance Career Panel — where local bank professionals shared insights on leadership and growth.

The event at the Tobin Center’s Feik Family Rotunda also featured a music professor who linked opera performance to professional excellence.

TAMIU Ph.D. students Carlos Alvarez, Lupe Garza and Vanessa Almaraz presented research on juvenile involvement in organized crime along the Texas-México border at the European Society of Criminology Conference held in Athens in September.

The study—using Texas Department of Public Safety data from Webb, Zapata, Starr and Hidalgo counties—found Webb County had more migrant smuggling offenses while Hidalgo registered more drug crimes.

Texas A&M International University Dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Dr. Elda Ramírez, was elected to the American Academy of Nursing Board of Directors on October 09 + she said her experience as an emergency nurse practitioner will help guide future health policy efforts.

The Laredo Chamber Foundation is hosting the elevate Laredo program from December through August to offer monthly seminars that teach residents about local history and leadership.

Applications are open for both new and experienced community leaders—participants will build skills to strengthen Laredo’s future.

At a city council meeting on October 6, officials said Laredo will soon allow online payment for fees using Naviline for services at the Library, Bridge System, Municipal Court, Police Department & Parks & Recreation.

The update noted that the Library and Parks & Recreation systems will finish their digital upgrades in about a month.

Value and Talent Job Fair

10:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. — Workforce Solutions for South Texas — Free to attend — Discover local employment opportunities and connect with potential employers.

Food Town Laredo

11 PM - 1 AM — 800 Garden St, Laredo, TX — Free entry — Celebrate Laredo's culinary heritage with engaging discussions and workshops on local food culture.

Laredo Coffee Fest

11 AM – 4 PM — The Shoppes at Laredo — Free entry — Celebrate local coffee culture with tastings and unique brews.

Dia De Los Muertos Art Gala & Auction

5-8:30 p.m. — DoubleTree by Hilton Laredo — $110 per ticket — Celebrate Dia De Los Muertos with an art auction, fine dining, and live entertainment.