At Texas border, pandemic’s high toll lays bare gaps in health and insurance
René Kladzyk, Phil Galewitz and Elizabeth Lucas
El Paso Matters and Kaiser Health News
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El Paso Alfredo “Freddy” Valles was an accomplished trumpeter and a beloved music teacher for nearly four decades at one of the city’s poorest middle schools.
He was known for buying his students shoes and bow ties for their band concerts, his effortlessly positive demeanor and a suave personal style “he looked like he stepped out of a different era, the 1950s,” said his niece Ruby Montana.
While Valles was singular in life, his death at age 60 in February was part of a devastating statistic: He was one of thousands of deaths in Texas border counties where coronavirus mortality rates far outpaced state and national averages.
Pride Month closes in Laredo
June 27, 2021
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Gateway City Pride Association team members lead the Pride Parade on Iturbide St. on June 26.Jessica Rodriguez /Laredo Morning TimesShow MoreShow Less
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Large crowd cheers and celebrate as they walk in the Pride Parade on Iturbide St. on June 26.Jessica Rodriguez /Laredo Morning TimesShow MoreShow Less
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Members hold signs in support of the LGBTQ+ community as they walk in the Pride Parade on Iturbide St. on June 26.Jessica Rodriguez /Laredo Morning TimesShow MoreShow Less
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What is a celebration without a grand parade?
The members of the Gateway City Pride Association made sure to cap off Pride Month celebrations as they hosted a large parade downtown on Saturday night.
At Texas border, pandemic s high toll lays bare gaps in health and insurance columbian.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from columbian.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX), whose district is on the U.S.-Mexico border, said Vice President Kamala Harris' visit to El Paso on Friday fell short of what she needed to do