Palomas, a small frontier settlement, has one of the worst murder rates in Mexico. Even at funerals, violence runs rampant. The village straddles a main contraband route across the Mexican-U.S. border. Historically, the settlement has been a preserve of cattle rustlers, liquor, marijuana and gin smugglers long before cocaine rode into town.

Yesterday, the Sheriff’s Association hosted a tribute to their fallen deputies at Founders Square. Organizers and observers were surprised that Sheriff Lupe Valdez was a no show at the ceremonies.

Rumors had it that she was out of town, attending a conference.

Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest oil exporter, will increase crude production in June in response to rising demand from its customers and a request by U.S. President George W. Bush to ease the strain of soaring oil prices.

People fleeing from hurricanes near the Texas-Mexico border in south Texas must still show their immigration paperwork to federal authorities.

According to the Houston Chronicle, “U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials said Thursday the plan to continue checking the citizenship of people at inland highway checkpoints about 75 miles north of the border in the event of a hurricane evacuation.”

Strong storms knocked down several large trees at the Texas state Capitol and blew out windows in the dome.

The Houston Chronicle reports that, “seven trees, including a large live oak, were uprooted and destroyed, and more than a dozen others took light to heavy damage in the storms that pummeled central Austin with heavy rain, hail and strong winds late Wednesday night and early Thursday.”