by Legislative Media | May 31, 2016 | Politics

Featured, from left: Mack Brown, former football Head Coach of the Texas Longhorns, and Oliver Luck, Executive Vice President of Regulatory Affairs for the NCAA, accompanied by Manny Mantrana, Head Coach of the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley baseball team, on Thursday, May 19, 2016. Brown and Luck participated in throwing out the ceremonial first pitches at UTRGV Baseball Stadium in Edinburg.
Photograph By JÉSICA GONZÁLEZ
Mack Brown and Oliver Luck, two national college and professional sports figures, are helping guide a special football feasibility study committee, organized by Dr. Guy Bailey, UTRGV President, and Chris King, UTRGV Director of Athletics, which held their first session, behind closed doors, to meet with and hear from the UTRGV leadership and the blue-ribbon group that will have a major say on the prospects for a NCAA college football team for the university.
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by Legislative Media | May 26, 2016 | Politics

Featured: The Congressional Gold Medal, which is one of the nation’s highest civilian honors, will be bestowed to Korean War veteran Antonio “Tony” Muñiz of Falfurrias, who has deep ties to Edinburg, announced Rep. Terry Canales, D-Edinburg. Canales will present the Congressional Gold Medal during a public ceremony on Monday, May 30 – Memorial Day – in the Brooks County Courthouse, 100 E. Miller Street in Falfurrias, beginning at 2 p.m.
Image Courtesy Coinworld.com
Antonio “Tony” Muñiz was with the 3rd Recon Company, which was attached to the 65th Infantry Regiment – known as The Borinqueneers – during the Korean War. The 65th Infantry Regiment is the first Hispanic Unit and the sole Unit from the Korean War to receive the Congressional Gold Medal. The regiment is also credited with the last battalion-sized bayonet assault in army history.
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by Legislative Media | May 24, 2016 | Politics

Featured: With his image on a big screen, Mayor Richard García delivers his State of the City Address before a full house at the Edinburg Conference Center at Renaissance on Thursday, May 19, 2016. The entire State of the City Address is available for viewing on the City of Edinburg web page – http://www.cityofedinburg.com.
Photograph By DIEGO REYNA
Add a new nickname to Edinburg – “Destination City”. As the city has undergone tremendous changes in just one generation – about 20 years – it has proudly been known for being a “Gateway to the Future” city, a “university city”, a “three-time All-America City”. Now, with so much positive growth going on in his beloved hometown, Mayor Richard García is promoting the latest moniker, which he came up with, for Edinburg – “Destination City.”
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by Legislative Media | May 23, 2016 | Politics

Featured: Councilmember David Torres, Mayor Richard García, and Mayor Pro Tem Richard Molina, at the Edinburg Conference Center at Renaissance on Thursday, May 19, 2016, following the mayor’s State of the City Address about Edinburg to about 300 area residents in attendance and thousands more who viewed it on the Edinburg Cable Network.
Photograph By DIEGO REYNA
Edinburg’s unemployment rate for April 2016 of 4.5 percent marked the fourth consecutive month that the city posted a monthly figure of less than five percent, the Edinburg Economic Development Corporation has announced, The April 2016 figure of 4.5 percent is the best showing for that month in almost a decade, when the city posted a 4.0 percent unemployment rate in April 2008. According to the Texas Workforce Commission, there were 36,636 people employed in Edinburg during the month of April 2016. That performance represents an increase of 758 jobs in Edinburg when comparing the employment figures for April 2016 (36,636) and April 2015 (35,878).
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by Legislative Media | May 18, 2016 | Politics

Texans are approaching the day they will have the option to carry a virtual version of their driver license on their smartphone, as illustrated in this image, as a result of a state law by Rep. Terry Canales, D-Edinburg, that is now in the development stage by the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Photograph By MORPHO TRUST TECHNOLOGY
“Under my legislation, which was contained in Senate Bill 1934 and became law on September 1, 2015, the Texas Department of Public Safety was required to conduct a study concerning the use of a digital mage for identification and proof of licensure purposes,” Canales reported. “As a result, five major proposals on how to achieve this goal have been submitted for the first time to the DPS.” Canales’ idea would result in Texas developing a system where such digital driver licenses could become a reality in Texas within the next few years.
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by Legislative Media | May 16, 2016 | Politics

Featured, from left: Karina Cardoza, Governmental Relations Consultant, Pharr Economic Development Corporation; Keith Patridge, President and CEO, McAllen Economic Development Corporation; Hidalgo County Commissioner Precinct 4 Joseph Palacios; Hidalgo County Commissioner Precinct 3 Joe M. Flores; Hidalgo County Judge Ramón García; Hidalgo County Commissioner Precinct 2 Eduardo “Eddie” Cantu; Hidalgo County Commissioner Precinct 1 A.C. Cuellar, Jr.; Cynthia Garza, Director of Business Development & Infrastructure, Pharr Economic Development Corporation; and Sergio Contreras, Executive Director, Pharr Economic Development Corporation. In honor of the 90th anniversary of the International Economic Development Corporation, the Commissioners Court designated May 8-14 as Economic Development Week in Hidalgo County.
Photograph Courtesy JULIA BENÍTEZ SULLIVAN
Construction and related building activities in Edinburg totaled almost $17 million for April 2016, bringing the total value of construction activities in the city to more than $82 million during the first four months of the year, the Edinburg Economic Development Corporation has announced. The latest positive data comes as the Hidalgo County Commissioners Court on Tuesday, May 10, 2016, designated May 8-14 as Economic Development Week in Hidalgo County. This year represents the 90th anniversary of the International Economic Development Corporation.
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