FEATURED, FROM LEFT: Edinburg Mayor Omar Ochoa; Edinburg First Lady Leah Wise; Congresswoman MónicaDe La Cruz, R-Edinburg; Erica Canales, Elected Member, Board of Directors, Hidalgo County Appraisal District, and her husband, Rep. Terry Canales, D-Edinburg. A landmark state law, led by Sen. Juan Hinojosa, D-McAllen, and Rep. Terry Canales, D-Edinburg, that in 2013 created the University of Texas School of Medicine, continues to bring major advances to deep South Texas, with a plan in the works to build a $160 million biomedical research center in Edinburg, Mayor Omar Ochoa has announced.
FEATURED, FROM LEFT: Erica Canales, an elected member of the Hidalgo County Appraisal District, and her husband, Rep. Terry Canales, D-Edinburg, in February 2026, at a function benefitting the Boys & Girls Club of Edinburg/Rio Grande Valley. Rep. Terry Canales is joining the effort to continue a $7.4 million federal grant for HOPE for Small Farm Sustainability, a nonprofit organization that seeks to close the local food system gaps by providing training and education to low-income and disadvantaged families, small-scale farmers, and individuals interested in growing, preparing and selling their own organic food to meet the essential needs for families and communities.
FEATURED: Maricela “Mari” De León, MPA, CPM, whose extensive public service credentials also include more than 20 years of professional experience in the Texas Legislature, higher education, and economic development, on Monday, March 9, 2026 was selected Executive Director, Rio Grande Valley LEAD (Linking Economic and Academic Development). RGV LEAD (pronounced “/li?d/” and rhymes with “feed”) is a nonprofit corporation, headquartered in Weslaco, linking employers to support both opportunities for students and economic development. She is featured here at the Region One Education Service Center in February 2025.
FEATURED, FROM LEFT: Gabriel and Sylvia Espinoza of Edinburg lost an 18-year-old son, Jeremy (featured in the framed portrait), in March 2003, when he was killed as a passenger in a car accident. Incredibly, two weeks before his tragic death – in a pronouncement that showed he was wise beyond his young age – Jeremy had told his family that he always wanted to help people. He convinced them to donate his organs in the event of his passing – and as a result, Jeremy saved five lives. His parents are seen here on Friday, February 27, 2026, at the Edinburg Conference Center at Renaissance for a flag signing event for the upcoming Transplant Games of America that will be held in June in Denver, Colorado.
FEATURED: Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo/Starr County, addresses a reception held at Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) in Laredo on Wednesday, November 19, 2025 to announce the 2025 recipients the Senator Judith Zaffirini Teachers’ College Student Loan Debt Grant Program. The program honors Zaffirini and supports Laredo educators, with 2025 honorees including representatives from TAMIU, Laredo College, United Independent School District, and Laredo Independent School District.
Photograph Courtesy TEXAS A&M INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY
