Briefs: 3 suspects charged with aggravated robbery

HARLINGEN - Three suspected dog-knappers were charged Wednesday with first-degree felonies of aggravated robbery after one pulled a knife on a local homeowner.
The incident occurred while the three men attempted to steal a brown boxer from the man's fenced-in yard, police said.
Rafael Martinez Jr., 19, Baldemar Ruelas, 23, and Brian Aaron Flores, 20, had the dog with them when police found them minutes later near Ona and E streets.
The 38-year-old dog owner told police that he confronted the suspects as they were stealing the dog and one of the men pulled a knife and threatened him, a police news release stated.
The dog was returned to the owner and no injuries were reported, police said.
All three men were arraigned Wednesday morning by municipal court judge Travis Bence.
Their bail was set at $30,000 each.

HMC to host blood drive
HARLINGEN - Harlingen Medical Center will host a blood drive from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today in the hospital's main lobby.
The drive is in response to an urgent call for type-O blood. United Blood Services will accept donated blood of all types.
United Blood Services of the Rio Grande Valley reported last week that it had an immediate need for type-O blood.
Donors must be at least 18 years of age, should eat before they donate, must provide proper identification at registration and be in good health.
For more information, call HMC's marketing department at 956-365-1848 or at 365-1888.

Reimbursements slowly coming in
BROWNSVILLE -  Cameron County's reimbursement from FEMA for Hurricane Dolly damage and expenses is trickling in.
As of Tuesday, the county had received $396,000 of about $7.3 million in reimbursements from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the state of Texas for cleanup and repairs of the July 23 storm.
"It's coming in spurts," County Judge Carlos H. Cascos said Tuesday.
Cascos acknowledged that the county had expected the money to arrive sooner, but added that officials are glad to see reimbursements.
"Obviously we are two or three months behind where we should be, but I think at the same time (government officials) want to make sure that they don't have the same thing that occurred during other storms," when reimbursements were mishandled, Cascos said.
He expects more money in a timely manner.