FEATURED: Dr. Fred Farías III of McAllen, Chairman, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, speaks during the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley’s Spring 2024 Commencement on Saturday, May 11, 2024 in Edinburg. On that day, UTRGV President Guy Bailey presented Farías with the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley President Medal of Honor – the university’s highest tribute – bestowed upon those whose extraordinary contributions and exemplary dedication have profoundly impacted the university.
FEATURED, FROM LEFT: Letty Flores, Member, Board of Trustees, Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District; Dr. Luis “Louie” G. Alamia, PT, DPT, Secretary, Board of Trustees, ECISD; and Carmen González, President, Board of Trustees, ECISD. Alamia has announced that Edinburg could see more advancements in construction, sports and medicine when the UT System Board of Regents meets in Austin on Wednesday, May 8 and Thursday, May 9, 2024, to consider approving for the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in Edinburg a $135.5 million Student Housing and Dining project, $9 million in field renovations of the recently-acquired Robert and Janet Vackar Stadium, and plans to seek state approval for an optometry program, reports Dr. Luis “Louie” G. Alamia, PT, DPT. This image was taken at the Edinburg CISD Scholarship Golf Tournament held in late April 2024.
FEATURED: Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, Chair, Senate Committee on Health and Human Services, is featured on the floor of the Texas Senate in 2023. Her committee has been assigned by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick to study major topics relating to the following major health-related issues: Children’s Mental Health; Access to Health Care; Health Insurance; Cancer Prevention; COVID Vaccine Mandates; Five-Year Plan for Family Support Services; Nursing Education, Scholarships; Mental and Behavioral Health Programs; Background Checks on Certain State Employees; Medicaid Fraud; and Medicaid Managed Care. The Senate Committee on Health and Human Services will submit a report with its specific findings and policy recommendations to Patrick before December 1, 2024, according toDHR Health.
FEATURED, FROM LEFT: Rep. Sergio Muñoz, Jr., D-Mission; Sen. Juan Hinojosa, D-McAllen; and Julián Álvarez, Executive Vice President-Director of Community Relations, Lone Star National Bank, on Monday, February 19, 2024, at an event in the Jackson Medical Plaza in McAllen. Improving border security, stopping child predators from using deepfake and artificial intelligence to harm or exploit minors, further cutting property taxes, and improving broadband infrastructure in Texas are among the major state legislative issues to be examined by Sen. Juan Hinojosa, D-McAllen, and other state senators during the coming weeks and months.
FEATURED: Omar Ochoa, who has served as the Edinburg City Attorney for more than five years, will be leaving his position in the near future to dedicate his professional time as founding attorney of the Omar Ochoa Law Firm in McAllen. Reflecting on the longtime city attorney’s tenure, Mayor Ramiro Garza Jr. on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, expressed gratitude to Ochoa for his exemplary service to the city. “Omar’s leadership and legal expertise have been invaluable assets to the City of Edinburg. We are grateful for his unwavering dedication and wish him all the best in his future endeavors. The council will now explore the possibility of transitioning to an in-house full-time attorney, and this matter will be deliberated at our next city council meeting.”
FEATURED: “Government For A Day”, which is free and open to the public, will take place at the Palmview Community Center, located at 3401 Jordan Avenue in McAllen, on Saturday, April 6, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. “We created ‘Government for a Day’ to inform our community who they have to call for any situation or problem they may face, such as how to get passports, water and garbage services, public safety, serving on city boards, career opportunities, and so on,” said District 4 McAllen City Commissioner Rodolfo “Rudy” Castillo. “All these departments and more, people can call and get information. That’s one of the main things we will be doing – letting the people know.”
FEATURED: John Hawkins, CEO, Texas Hospital Association, was the keynote speaker on Monday, March 4, 2024, during the inaugural COVID-19 Heroes and Memorial Day state observance, held at the Edinburg Conference Center at Renaissance. “This day is critical because it establishes a clear moment in time to honor and recognize the contributions and sacrifices of Texans who played crucial roles during the COVID-19 pandemic,” he explained. “March 4 also marks a time for us to memorialize the nearly 100,000 people in Texas who have lost their lives to COVID-19 since March 4, 2020 – the date the disease was first diagnosed in Texas. A day we will never forget.” Also shown in this image is, seated, Sen. Morgan LaMantia, D-South Padre Island.
FEATURED: Janet and Robert Vackar speak to reporters on Thursday, March 21, 2024, following the announcement that the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Stadium, located in Edinburg and which will be home to the UTRGV Vaqueros football team beginning in 2025, has been named in their honor. Video of the event is available online at: https://www.facebook.com/utrgv/videos/429408102888197
FEATURED, FROM LEFT: Alma Uribe, District Director, and Karla Ponce, District Aide, both with the House District 40 Office in Edinburg for Rep. Terry Canales, D-Edinburg, were among several hundred persons on Thursday, March 7, 2024, in attendance at the Region One Education Service Center, 1900 W. Schunior Street, for the Edinburg 2024 State of the City Address by Mayor Ramiro Garza, Jr. Through separate video presentations prior to the mayor’s address, Canales and Sen. Juan Hinojosa, D-McAllen, praised the city’s achievements and plans for the future.
FEATURED: On Monday, March 4, 2024, Texas will observe for the first time COVID-19 Heroes and Memorial Day as a result of a new state law developed by Rep. R.D. “Bobby” Guerra, D-McAllen, seen here with Pharr Mayor Dr. Ambrosio Hernández, MD, who serves on the Board of Managers, DHR Health, and as Chief Compliance Officer, DHR Health. Guerra’s House Bill 2166, approved by the Texas Legislature in 2023, establishes a uniform statewide date to honor Texans who put their own health and safety on the line, especially during the worst periods of the coronavirus pandemic, to keep society from falling apart. In addition, COVID-19 Heroes and Memorial Day will be a time to memorialize an estimated 95,000 people in Texas who have lost their lives to COVID-19 since March 4, 2020 – the date the infectious airborne disease was first diagnosed in the state. This image was taken on Thursday, January 18, 2024, during the Pharr mayor’s State of the City Address, held at the Pharr Events Center.
