FEATURED: Edinburg City Attorney Omar Ochoa on Wednesday, March 10, 2021, in the City Council Chamber at Edinburg City Hall. On Friday, August 6, 2021, Ochoa shared details about federal legislation in Congress, titled the Local Journalism Sustainability Act and the Journalist Protection Act.
Photograph Courtesy CITY OF EDINBURG FACEBOOK
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FEATURED: Rep. Terry Canales, D-Edinburg, signals for an “Aye” vote in the Chamber of the Texas House of Representatives on Monday, May 31, 2021. Canales, Chair, House Committee on Transportation, passed 21 major bills and many key amendments during the 140-day regular session of the Texas Legislature, which took place from Tuesday, January 12, 2021, to Monday, May 31, 2021.
Photograph By HOUSE PHOTOGRAPHY
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FEATURED, FROM LEFT: Rep. Tom Oliverson, R-Houston, Rep. Four Price, R-Amarillo, and Rep. Trent Ashby, R-Lufkin, participate in a news conference in the Speakers Committee Room at the Texas Capitol on Wednesday, April 7, 2021. Price was the author of House Bill 4, which will provide delivery of health care services under Medicaid and other public benefit programs by using telecommunication or information technology. Rio Grande Valley lawmakers were part of the leadership team which helped Price pass House Bill 4 into law. DHR Health, headquartered in Edinburg, supported House Bill 4.
Photograph By HOUSE PHOTOGRAPHY
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FEATURED: Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, D-McAllen, whose Senate District 20 includes Corpus Christi, and Barbara Canales, the great-niece of American GI Forum founder Dr. Hector P. García, are shown here on Tuesday, November 14, 2017, during a legislative appreciation luncheon hosted by Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Canales is now County Judge for Nueces County, of which Corpus Christi is the county seat.
Photograph Courtesy TEXAS A&M CORPUS CHRISTI
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FEATURED, FROM LEFT: Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr., D-Brownsville; Miriam Cepeda, Governmental Relations, CMAX Foundation; San Juan Mayor Mario Garza; San Juan First Lady Heather Garza; and Rep. Armando “Mando” Martínez, D-Weslaco. This image was taken on Thursday, July 1, 2021, during the swearing-in ceremony of the mayor, held at the Amigos de Valle San Juan Center.
Photograph Courtesy CITY OF SAN JUAN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT
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FEATURED, FROM LEFT: McAllen Mayor Javier Villalobos, and Rep. Sergio Muñoz, Jr., D-Mission, participated in McAllen’s Independence Day celebration on Saturday, July 3, 2021, in advance of the July 4, 2021, national holiday. Muñoz’ House District 36 includes about 25 percent of McAllen.
Photograph By PETER SALINAS
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UT System Board of Regents authorize negotiations to buy The Monitor’s home facility in McAllen as newspaper plans to downsize and relocate, reports South Texas attorney Omar Ochoa
Texas Legislature approves measure by Sen. Juan Hinojosa to help create new source of drinking water from potential floods in deep South Texas
Open Government Hotline that provides Texans with information about open records laws would be improved under House Bill 4990 by Rep. Canales, says South Texas attorney Omar Ochoa
News media outlets want authority from Texas Legislature to allow journalists to use aerial drones for video and photographs as part of their news gathering, reports South Texas attorney Omar Ochoa
Kendall Scudder, new Chair, Texas Democratic Party, to meet with Valley residents and news media journalists at McAllen Public Library from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 12, 2025
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley honored at Texas Capitol ahead of its 10-year anniversary
Valley’s three state senators vote for $3 billion Dementia Prevention and Research Fund, which is supported by DHR Health; measure now before the Texas House of Representatives for its action
At least two proposals by Valley State Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, would increase government transparency, reports South Texas attorney Omar Ochoa
Sen. Hinojosa credits Texas A&M Chancellor John Sharp for influencing University of Texas System to create UT Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine
Proposed purchase of more than 26 acres for future UTRGV campus expansion in Edinburg, which may include more parking for Robert and Janet Vackar Stadium, set for action by the UT System Board of Regents on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, reports attorney Omar Ochoa