Local customer Maria Luisa Moreno, center, looks over jewelry at the Gold Coin, Inc. on Convent Avenue in downtown Laredo, Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012. Helping her out is Lupita Paredes, right. Cleaning jewelry is Denise Ventura, left. Downtown businesses have suffered with sales due to various factors including the drug war across the Rio Grande in Nuevo Laredo and difficulties in crossing the U.S. Customs checkpoints according to storeowners. Photo: Jerry Lara, San Antonio Express-News / © 2012 San Antonio Express-News
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