Marissa Gómez-Martínez, MD, Edinburg’s 2021 Woman of the Year, a distinguished symbol of DHR Health professionals who lead by example
FEATURED, FROM LEFT: Ronnie Larralde, Executive Director, Edinburg Chamber of Commerce; Marissa Gómez-Martínez, MD, the Edinburg Chamber of Commerce’s 2021 Woman of the Year; and former Rep. Verónica Gonzáles, D-McAllen, immediate Past President, Board of Directors, Edinburg Chamber of Commerce. Gómez-Martínez, a Board Certified Family Physician affiliated with DHR Health, received the annual top honor from the business organization on Thursday, October 14, 2021 during its Under The Neon Moon Installation and Awards Banquet, held at the McIntyre Promenade in Edinburg.
Photograph By NAYELI ZENTEÑO
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read more…Ysmael Fonseca and Aaron Peña – Republican candidates for 13th Court of Appeals with ties to the Texas Legislature – among 17 GOP hopefuls to be showcased during Republican Candidate Dinner Forum hosted by Rio Grande Valley Republican Women on Wednesday, February 9
FEATURED: Former 464th District Court Judge Ysmael Fonseca (wearing glasses), an appointee of Gov. Greg Abbott, and former House District 40 state representative Aaron Peña, R-Edinburg, are the two candidates on the March 1, 2022 Republican Party Primary election for Justice, Place 3, 13th Court of Appeals, which holds court hearings in Edinburg and in Corpus Christi. The winner will face incumbent Justice Leticia Hinojosa, D-McAllen, during the November 2022 statewide election.
Photograph COURTESY YSMAEL FONSECA, AARON PEÑA FACEBOOKS
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read more…“Public Information Act Handbook 2022”, authorized by Attorney General Ken Paxton, now available online, reports attorney Omar Ochoa
FEATURED: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, center, uses the the Interior Stairway at the Texas Capitol during a visit on Thursday, July 15, 2021, during the Special Session of the Texas Legislature that was called a week earlier by Gov. Greg Abbott.
Photograph Courtesy OFFICE OF THE TEXAS ATTORNEY GENERAL
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read more…CLEAT, the largest police labor organization in Texas, presents Rep. Canales with leadership award for his work on behalf of law enforcement and endorses him for reelection
FEATURED, FROM LEFT: Texas Speaker of the House Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont; and Erica E. Canales and her husband, Rep. Terry Canales, D-Edinburg. The Speaker of the House, who is one of the three most powerful offices in the Texas Legislature, was in Edinburg on Thursday, December 16, 2021 to meet with the Canales, Rep. Armando “Mando” Martínez, D-Weslaco, and other elected city and county leaders.
Photograph By ALEX RÍOS
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read more…Hidalgo County’s five state representatives endorse Morgan LaMantia, a Democrat, to succeed retiring Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr., D-Brownsville
FEATURED: Morgan LaMantia of South Padre Island, an attorney with law offices in Harlingen and McAllen, has been endorsed in her bid for State Senator, District 27 – currently being held by retiring Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr., D-Brownsville – by the five Democratic state representatives from Hidalgo County.
Photograph Courtesy Morgan LaMantia Facebook
read more…What DHR Health’s Level One Trauma Center achievement means for South Texas: “No trauma patient should have to be transferred north any more.” – Jeffrey Skubic, D.O., Medical Director
FEATURED: Jeffrey Skubic, D.O., Medical Director, DHR Health Trauma Center, on Friday, June 11, 2021, announces the creation of a trauma resuscitation unit – a first for the Rio Grande Valley – which provides dedicated space and medical personnel for the most seriously-ill cases that come to the emergency room. (https://trauma.dhrhealth.com/templates/home.aspx)
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read more…Dr. Hans Mark, UT System Chancellor who helped bring Pan American University into the University of Texas System, remembered following his death
FEATURED, FROM LEFT: Gov. Bill Clements and Dr. Hans Mark, former Chancellor, The University of Texas System, in this image from the 1980s. Mark passed away on Saturday, December 18, 2021, at the age of 92.
Photograph Courtesy THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM
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read more…Texas social media law, promoted by Gov. Abbott, blocked from taking effect until broader court hearing is set, reports attorney Omar Ochoa
FEATURED: Gov. Greg Abbott shares a high five with Romilly Young, as her parents, Tobi and Evan Young, look on. This image was taken at the Texas Capitol on Wednesday, November 10, 2021, following the swearing in by the governor of Evan Young as a Justice to the Texas Supreme Court. Young replaces former justice Eva Guzmán, who resigned in June to run for attorney general in the March 1, 2022 Republican Party primary.
Photograph Courtesy GOVERNOR ABBOTT FACEBOOK
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read more…DHR Health’s Level One Trauma Center is “lifting the entire area because 1.4 million people deserve the best” medical care – Carlos Cárdenas, MD
FEATURED: Carlos Cárdenas, MD, Chair, Board of Managers, DHR Health. “This Level One Trauma designation is a reflection upon the work and the belief and the vision that all of you have had,” he said at the Edinburg Conference Center at Renaissance on Wednesday, September 8, 2021, shortly after Gov. Greg Abbott announced that DHR Health had been designated as the top trauma center south of San Antonio. “I have come before many of you many times over the years and talked to you about our vision here at DHR Health. It’s always been a vision of transformation. It’s not just about of the delivery of health care, but lifting up an entire area because 1.4 million people deserve the best.”
Photograph Courtesy DHR HEALTH FACEBOOK
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read more…Rep. Óscar Longoria seeking reelection to sixth two-year term in the Texas House of Representatives
FEATURED, FROM LEFT: Medal of Honor recipients Gary Burnell Beikirch, Gary Michael Rose, and Clarence Eugene Sasser – veterans of the Vietnam War – pose with Rep. ÓscarLongoria, D-Mission, in this Spring 2019 image taken in the House of Representatives Chamber at the Texas Capitol.
Photograph By HOUSE PHOTOGRAPHY
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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