Zapata Chamber of Commerce cover-up allegations, City officials clarify SB-4 steps amid legal woes

Zapata—our neighbors to the south and the home of nearly 15,000 people—has seen better days.

For some, the days of small-town life, charm, and trust are gone.
If you follow the money—or the lack of a paper trail—you can understand to see why.

One organization has a lot of explaining to do, and many residents have many questions that don’t have that many answers.
The KGNS On Your Side team released its full-length investigation into the Zapata Chamber of Commerce in a two-part series last Wednesday and Thursday.

In part one, investigative reporter Brenda Camacho looks at how documents turned over to the Zapata County Commissioners Court allegedly showed the chamber misused public funds and then tried to cover it up.
These allegations have been swirling around for several years and are now surfacing due to one person’s efforts to bring, what they think, is the truth to the county’s commissioners court.

In part two, we introduce viewers to an anonymous source from the Zapata County Chamber who dug into a treasure trove of documents.
Our panel discusses the implications these actions have on Zapata citizens, the role of a chamber of commerce, and what comes next—all while applauding the heroics of the one whistleblower who made it all possible.
Then, it was the law of the land until it wasn’t.

Despite back-and-forth verdicts from the Supreme Court and U.S. Fifth Court of Appeals, City of Laredo officials stressed they will continue to collaborate with state, federal, and bi-national law enforcement agencies.
Laredo Police Chief Miguel Rodriguez also took time to address the department’s position, and also clear up what the law is and what it isn’t.

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