We're covering all of a country. Straight ahead on Pro8 News at 6, the man accused of
sending a judge a sexually explicit letter could face another decade in prison. Plus,
the war of words continues between the two gubernatorial candidates over their advertising
strategies. And why did some downtown commuters hear some strange bird calls this morning?
The news is next. Pro8 News at 6, coverage you can get on. Good evening and thank you
for choosing Laredo's top rated newscast. I'm Audra Schrader. And I'm Tim Gutierrez,
a man behind bars may have gotten himself into more trouble and may have more time added
to his sentence now. Joshua Burkett is serving time for a robbery but is now facing new charges.
Michelle Lockhart joins us live in the story. Audra Tim, the district attorney's office
says Burkett allegedly sent Judge Ender a letter that was sexual in nature and threatened
her. This is video of 27 year old Joshua Burkett. He is currently serving 10 years behind bars
for a robbery but may now be facing even more time. That's because he allegedly sent Judge
Ender the threatening letter while he was behind bars. Burkett was formally charged
today for retaliation. He entered a not guilty plea but Judge Ender isn't the only judge
who received similar letters in the mail. He has sent out, allegedly sent out six letters
to other judges threatening harm, threatening to kill in some situations. Now the pretrial
hearing for Burkett is set for September 19th. The sentencing for retaliation can range anywhere
between 2 to 10 years and can include a $10,000 fine. Reporting live in the newsroom, Michelle
Lockhart, Laredo's Pro8 News. Alright thanks a lot Michelle. A man accused of three counts
of injury to a child and 12 counts of sexual assault was sentenced today. 23 year old Jorge
Silva Balderas pleaded guilty to four of the 15 charges. The other charges were dismissed.
Balderas will now be serving seven years behind bars for those four counts. A Laredo woman
found out the hard way today that it doesn't help to cheat on your tax return. Martha Martinez
was charged by the U.S. Attorney's office with 26 counts of tax fraud, allegedly committed
between 1996 and 1997. In addition to tax fraud, Martinez also is being charged with
making false statements on her tax return as well as aiding in preparing a false tax
document. If convicted of all the counts that she faces, she could serve a maximum penalty
of 11 years in prison and a fine of $600,000. A murder suspect who has been a no show in
court must face a psychological exam. 18 year old John Kepler is accused of killing Diego
Franco. The judge for the county court at law number one ordered an evaluation of Kepler
but his attorney disagreed and filed a complaint with the fourth court of appeals in San Antonio.
The court sided with the judge. Kepler is scheduled to be back in court on Thursday
for his psychological evaluation. Kepler skipped a court, ordered an appointment last month.
Now there is a warrant out for his arrest. Two parents accused of injury to a child were
no shows in court today. 27 year old Rosa Elvira Morales and 34 year old Jeremios Rene
Cano Chavez were charged back in April. Now this isn't the first time the couple has been
in trouble with the law. They recently got their four kids back after Child Protective
Services says they took them away for abuse and neglect. This case is still under investigation.
The two are still on the run. Police believe they may be in Mexico. Across the border now
two men are arrested for transporting seven undocumented immigrants. The undocumented
immigrants are from Honduras. They were caught by authorities after the men smuggling them
failed to stop at the Nuevo Laredo checkpoint. The suburban they were riding in was later
pulled over on the highway. One Mexican national and an Honduran were arrested in that case.
Also in our sister city a 27 year old mother is dead while riding in the car with her husband
and young daughter. The victim from Piedras Negras was killed instantly when her husband
lost control of the vehicle they were riding in, hit a street light, then crashed into
a cargo truck. The husband was taken into custody. He was not been charged with her
death. As for the nine month old she escaped the accident without any injury. Only half
of the presenters expected at the El Metro Advisory Committee today showed up and that
left many asking questions. There were four items on the agenda with half of them planned
to be presented by the Texas Department of Transportation but they were not at the meeting.
TxDOT was scheduled to report on the ongoing street construction and the border inspection
stations. Although the Traffic Safety Department was at the meeting to answer questions with
only half of their presenters on hand, the committee has some concerns.
What about the Milo interchange? They seem to have had some problems moving that project
along and it's important to find out what the status is.
Putting speed humps in the plantation subdivision that's resting on Country Club Drive but
you also have to take into consideration that you have a country club there and you can
slow down traffic.
This advisory board is only advised to make recommendations to City Council but cannot
make a policy. Therefore they may have to wait until their next meeting on the morning
of August the 29th before any action could be taken.
Now to decision 2002, a federal judge referenced in a new commercial aired by Governor Rick
Perry's campaign says the ad takes his words out of context. The Republican governor spots
his federal judge, Harry Lee Hudspeth, confirmed Democrat Tony Sanchez's Soto savings and loan
wired millions of laundered drug dollars. The spot also contends Sanchez didn't fully
cooperate with a federal investigation of the laundering. Hudspeth says that his ruling
had nothing to do with Laredo but rather with the first city national bank of El Paso. He
says the Perry ad expands far beyond its proper boundaries.
Meanwhile Governor Rick Perry continues to lead the polls in Texas but his Democratic
challenger is closing the gap so we wanted to hear why both candidates want your vote.
Tonight at 10 we start a Pro 8 News special report in which we go one on one with both
candidates. First we start with the governor and an only on 8 interview. Rick Perry talks
about the differences between him and Sanchez including why he thinks Sanchez is not being
truthful about where his money is coming from and holding back some of his financial reports.
I think you have to be open and honest about your personal finances. That's the reason
we've asked Mr. Sanchez to be open and honest about his personal finances. He refuses to
do that. Hear more from the governor in an exclusive interview new at 10 tonight. Perry
talks education, transportation and border issues. Then stay tuned tomorrow for an exclusive
with Tony Sanchez and why he thinks Perry has sold out the governor's office. Join us
for Pro 8 News at 10. Audra? Tim, city leaders are defending their tax increase or proposed
property tax increase they want to put in place for the next fiscal year. The city staff
presented a total budget of more than 240 million dollars yesterday to the Laredo City
Council. The dollars will help fund 110 new jobs for the city police and fire departments.
The proposed tax increase would then hike up to 4.4 cents for every 100 dollars. That
would amount to 44 dollars a year for the owner of a 100 thousand dollar home. What
is it worth to you to make sure you have an ambulance if you have a heart attack and that
an ambulance is available? What is it worth to you if you have a break in or somebody
breaking into your house while you're in there for there to be a police response? What is
it worth? The city's current property tax stands at.58 cents for every 100 dollars.
And now to the craziest story of the day. Two downtown visitors become jail birds tonight
after police caught them pecking around a Laredo Plaza. Police responded to calls concerning
these two emus early this morning. Neighbors reportedly saw them walking through St. Peter's
Plaza and down Santa Rita Avenue around 5 a.m. Animal control picked up the birds and took
them to the animal shelter. They think the emus walked here themselves along the river
banks or someone dropped them off. If you know anything about the birds call animal
control at 795-2485. We're told the owner could be cited for allowing livestock here
in the city limits. And those birds are probably pretty happy that they're now or they have
been captured and now they're at the animal shelter in some shade. Because it was pretty
hot out there today. Very hot. Let's check in with Chief Meteorologist Heatwave Birder
live in the Weather Center with more. He went. It's 99 right now and it looks like we're
in store for a breezy evening, a warm evening. At 10 o'clock we'll still be a little bit
over 90. I'll have all the weather in a few minutes. And still ahead on Pro8 News at 6
find out why a driver used his 18-wheeler to plow into a tire store. Plus there's more
bad news tonight for air travelers. We're covering all of eight country including Los
Dos Laredos, Mirando City and Asherton. You're watching Pro8 News at 6 coverage you can count
on. Pro8 News continues with Tim Gutierrez and Audra Schrader. Covering Texas tonight
a wrecker driver now faces aggravated assault charges for allegedly using his truck for
revenge. Police say the driver plowed into this tire store yesterday evening in Houston.
Witnesses tell police the tow truck driver was aiming for another driver from a competing
tow truck company. He's now being detained as police investigate that incident. The two
victims who were hit are in fair condition tonight. And two teenagers suspected of stealing
several new cars are now being held in custody. The thefts took place at the Rail Yard Distribution
Center in Mesquite, Texas. Authorities say the suspects knocked down a chain link fence
before stealing the cars. In all as many as 10 new Dodge vehicles were stolen with four
of them recovered in Dallas and one recovered in Mesquite. Police suspect the boys may have
been working with a group of teenagers. And luckily nobody was hurt today when an 18-wheeler
hauling a load of beer crashed, spilling some of the cargo onto the street. Houston police
say it appears the driver took a turn too fast and the rig went over. Crews spent several
hours cleaning up the spilled beer there. On the business front tonight the leaders of
three telecom titans say their financial turmoil won't cause major phone or internet disruptions.
The chairman of the FCC also reassured Congress that we are not facing a communications crisis.
Top executives from WorldCom, Global Crossing and QWest Communications testified before
the Senate Commerce Committee this afternoon. WorldCom filed the biggest corporate bankruptcy
in history earlier this month. Global Crossing is also bankrupt and QWest Communications
disclosed its own accounting errors on Sunday. The Justice Department and the SEC are currently
investigating all three telecom companies for accounting irregularities. And Vanguard
Airlines today suspended operations as it prepares to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
protection. The Kansas City-based discount carrier also says it plans to lay off most
of its employees. Vanguard served 17 destinations including Austin and Dallas-Fort Worth. The
Air Transportation Stabilization Board today announced it had rejected a request that the
federal government guarantee an $8 million loan for that airline. We've had such a mild
summer that anytime we hit above 100 people start to complain saying it's too hot. You
ask He-Way and he says this is mild. Yeah, this is great, He-Way would say. We're just
getting into really the territory that we would normally occupy as far as temperatures
are concerned. 100 degree weather, we got up to 101. Nights do continue warm this year.
80, the average has worked out to be 76 for this day. Three years ago it was 110. I'll
be right back. It's summer 2002, the International Year of Two. And to celebrate, Pizzahead is
continuing the 2002 for deal. Right now you can get two large one-topping pizzas fully
loaded for only $15.99. Incredible we know, but wait, there's more. You'll also get a
two-liter Pepsi free. You got that? I'm talking two large pizzas with one topping of your
choice, $15.99. And you get a two-liter Pepsi free and nothing beats free. The summer 2002
for deal, only at Pizza Hut. Perfect. Pro8 News continues with chief meteorologist, Richard
Heatway Berler, who has a seal of approval from the American Meteorological Society.
Good evening. I'm looking at heat to date tonight. Ordinarily Laredo has more 90 degree
weather than any other major metropolitan area in the country. And so far this year,
that's pretty much been the case. 110 days so far over 90. We've had 36 days over 100.
Just up the road in San Antonio, they've had only 63 days as high as 90. And so far they
haven't even had a single day to hit 100 degrees. Comparing this to almost as much 90 degree
weather as we've had, but they're way ahead of us as far as 100 degree heat. They've had
67 days. You're wondering what it's like to go to Disneyland in Florida, Disney World.
Orlando's had 51 days over 90 so far. Less than half of what Laredo's had. No 100 degree
heat. And in the north central portion to the Great Plains, their heat season isn't
nearly as long as at our latitude. They've only had 42 days over 90. But they can get
some pretty good heat when it does get hot in the middle of June, July and August. They've
had 17 days over 100. Tonight I'm expecting a warm night, upper 70s, maybe another night
of 80 degree weather. The pollen counts are right on the border between low and medium
and that should be the case tomorrow as well for grass and elm. 99 right now. Southeasterly
winds at 16 miles per hour. The temperatures at this point around 100 degrees right along
the Rio Grande as you go to the east towards the coast. A little bit cooler. It's 87 degrees
in Corpus San Antonio. Another day where it failed to hit 100 over there. They are now
90. The central portions of the Great Plains though, I showed you how Phillip in South
Dakota has had 100 degree weather. They made it to 100 degrees today. They're still well
up in the 90s and even in Boston at this hour, 90 degrees. So it's hot over most of the US.
All the cool air is bottled up in Canada. A dry and fairly stable air mass. Showers did
get as close by as Dimit County last night. But it's a dry, sinking air mass and if anything
expanding as we go through time. So all the clouds are starting to back off to the west
and it looks as if we'll have generally fair skies for the next several days. Looking at
our next graphic, I'm expecting tomorrow to start out in the upper 70s. 90 by midday,
100 or so by the end of the afternoon. So practically the same type of weather that
we had today. Every air disturbance which extends from Del Rio into northern Texas will
come no closer to us than where it is now. And another system over the Gulf of Mexico
is pretty much being blocked by high pressure from moving to the west at least any time
soon. So at least through Friday and perhaps even into Saturday. Pretty much the same type
of weather as what we have going right now. Pretty much what you would expect for July.
Upper 70s to around 80 for the overnight low and for the five days. I think we'll continue
to see the 100 degree weather. 101 or so upper 70s at night. If Gulf of Mexico moisture is
to break through into the area, it would probably wait until we get to Sunday or Monday. And
any time you make a five day forecast, by the time you get to the end of the five day
period you can't have a whole lot of confidence in that. But Sunday looks like it would be
the next chance of a shower. So things could change. It could. Okay, thanks E-Wave. And
now turning to sports. Tecos are still in the running for it aren't they? That's right.
You know with 62 wins they did lock up the playoff spot. We're going to tell you who
they're going to be playing in the playoffs coming up next in sports. Plus is Terry Porter
coming back for his 18th NBA season? The answer is yes, but it's also no. I'll explain next
in sports.
Pro 8 Sports continues with Tim Sear.
Good evening everybody. The Tecos are busy at La Junta Park right about now as I speak.
For the first time in seven years the Tecos are in the playoffs. And they will take on
the Salteo Salaferos in the opening round of the Mexican League playoffs. Tecos open
on the road, but their home games will be August 6th at La Junta and they'll play on
August 7th at Veterans Field in this best of seven series. The Tecos finish with 62
wins. That's four less than Salteo and that is the number of games they've got to win
to advance to the next round. They really could use your support next week at La Junta
or Veterans Field. It is also time for the running of the polls at Cigarroa. All athletes
must pick up their paperwork for their physicals. All athletes of incoming freshmen to seniors
this year need to go and get their physicals done. The coaches office is open tomorrow
from 8am to 5pm at Cigarroa. Also, LBJ students can get their physicals at LBJ this Friday
along with Salvador Middle School and Los Obispos. So get your physicals done or you
will not be allowed on the field. Well most people would say that here in Laredo you can't
find a golfer that's as good as Tiger Woods. But I've got proof. At the Battle of Big Horn,
let me explain this. Tiger is 150 yards out with a nine iron and Tiger is a good shot
right? Everybody knows that. Watch how close he comes at a pin. This ball lands approximately
5 feet away so everybody thinks he's the best in the world. However, do you remember Jorge
Arechiga? Here he is juggling the ball at Casablanca just like Tiger. He hit his nine
iron 150 yards out and do you remember what he did? He got even closer than Tiger Woods.
So is it safe to say that he's better than Tiger right? I don't think so but Tiger and
Nicholas won the battle at Big Horn by two holes over Sergio and Trevino. Well a San
Antonio Spurs, a San Antonio Spurs that never won an NBA crown is now a king. After playing
in the NBA for 17 seasons, Terry Porter couldn't get a ring so he gave the Kings a ring and
he's now going to be one of their assistant coaches. Porter was drafted in the first round
by Portland back in 1985. He spent 10 years there. He also played for three other NBA
teams. The 39 year old guard was instrumental this year in teaching Tony Parker and Antonio
Daniels. He'll be remembered in San Antonio for all his charity work that he did with
the Boys and Girls Club so maybe now he can have a little bit more time to get this, watch
his favorite movie, The Godfather. Bet you didn't know that. Well with the Rocket getting
in some side work on the side last night, Kenny Rogers the gambler, he gambles against
Posada and cash it in right there on the box cause Yanks up for Zip. Yanks weren't done
yet. Rondell White would also take Rogers downtown. Yankees up five nothing but the
White's bought for the Texas Rangers last night. Carl Everett is still hot. He hammers
this peach deep, deep into the night and it's definitely not playable. But if you want to
see some good defense, here's the player of the night, Derek Jeter. Off the bat, Rafael
Palmeiro. Check him out in the hole across his body. Although the Rangers lost nine to
two, you just gotta love watching Jeter play some defense. Here he is again, Nelly Palmeiro.
The same two teams played tonight at seven o'clock so it's not looking good for them.
They play the Yankees now and then they play the Red Sox this weekend so it's not gonna
get easy for the Rangers. It'll be tough. Thanks a lot Tim. Well you've heard of the Golden
Egg but today someone is the proud owner of a golden coin that's coming up. It started
out as an empty bucket until you opened your wallets and your hearts. The table was clear
until many of you stepped forward and brought in school supplies. And it's for the kids
so it's a good cause. We want to make sure that all the kids here in Mareto get back
to school with brand new school supplies. Thanks A Country for making Back to School
a little easier for some area youngsters. Thank you sir. Thank you. We brought out the
buckets and you didn't let us down. KGNSTD and the Friends of the Family, we're proud
to continue serving a country. Armadillo Homes introduces a new coin. And finally from us,
what is believed to be a one of a kind gold coin was auctioned off by the US government
today. It is expected to sell for more than any gold coin ever has. The coin is a 1933
Double Eagle 20 dollar gold coin and has never been legally available for public ownership
until today. The Double Eagle will be sold at New York's Sotheby's Auction House. It's
expected to sell in the range of 4 to 6 million dollars. The coin has never circulated because
all 1933 Double Eagles were ordered to be destroyed when President Roosevelt took the
US off the gold standard that same year. Amazing that little coin worth almost up to 6 million
dollars. First I thought it was Michael Jackson but I saw two gloves. Then I thought it was
Mickey Mouse. It's a Hans model. David Copperfield. Maybe so. That's all the time we have for
right now. Thanks for joining us everyone. Friends is coming up next. Have a good night.
I'm Todd Olden. Nice to meet you.