EL PASO TIMES: Federal agents are looking for more possible victims of a 39-year-old former U.S. Customs Service inspector accused of defrauding more than 50 people out of thousands of dollars. Agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations arrested Federico "Freddy" Garcia last week on charges of fraud and misuse of visas, permits and other documents. Agents arrested Garcia at his home in the 1500 block of Bob Hope Drive in East El Paso.

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EL PASO TIMES: U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke was a keynote speaker Thursday in Washington, D.C., for the Drug Policy Alliance, which released its federal legislative guide, "An Exit Strategy for the Failed War on Drugs." The guide was presented at a forum on Capitol Hill that was co-sponsored by O'Rourke, D-El Paso, and U.S. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., both of whom the alliance said fought for drug policy reform at the local level before running for Congress and winning.

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EL PASO TIMES: Ambrosio Guillen, an American hero from El Paso who was awarded the Medal of Honor by Congress for his bravery in battle in the Korean War, was given another award on Thursday. Guillen, described as a man full of integrity and honor, received a diploma posthumously from Bowie High School 60 years after his death.

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THE MONITOR: The McAllen City Commission and Public Utility Board canvassed and certified the May 2013 election results Wednesday afternoon. Mayor Pro Tem Aida Ramirez presided over the 5-minute meeting, which made McAllen’s election results official. The City Secretary’s Office determined a provisional ballot from District 1 should be counted. Otherwise, the unofficial results didn’t change.

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THE MONITOR: The recent spate of 13 dogs killed by apparent antifreeze poisoning has led an animal rights advocate to offer a $2,500 reward for information that leads to the responsible party’s arrest. Clues have been scarce in leading police to any suspects since they began discovering the dogs’ corpses Sunday, said Peñitas police Chief Roel Bermea.

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VALLEY MORNING STAR: Gary Maley, owner of Advanced Pest Control in Harlingen, said he’s had five calls in the last six days to remove bee hives, after receiving no calls in the last four months. Two of the hives he removed were Africanized bee colonies, but none of these calls involved bee attacks.

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VALLEY MORNING STAR: The status of one of the government’s main witnesses against Armando R. Villalobos, and the close relationships with assistant U.S. attorneys was dissected Thursday in the trial of the former Cameron County district attorney.

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BROWNSVILLE HERALD: State Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr., D-Brownsville, wants all state elected officials to submit to drug screenings. Thursday, the Senate Committee on State Affairs approved a bill sponsored by Lucio that, if passed into law, would require state elected officials to submit to drug testing upon taking office.

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BROWNSVILLE HERALD: The Rio Grande Valley’s delegation reached a compromise late Thursday on legislation that would create a regional medical school and university, likely ending a dispute over location that threatened to derail the concept. Every House and Senate member from the Valley signed off on the compromise that will be offered Friday as an amendment to the legislation pending in the House. If the compromise is accepted by two-thirds of the entire House, it will be signed off on by the bill’s Senate sponsors Saturday and sent to Gov. Rick Perry.

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