81 bills by Sen. Zaffirini, D-Laredo/Starr County, ranging from COVID-19 to Winter Storm Uri, to become law on Wednesday, September 1, 2021
FEATURED, FROM LEFT: Opal Lee of Ft. Worth, a civil rights champion known as the “Grandmother of Juneteenth”, and Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, pose in the Texas Senate on Thursday, July 22, 2021, after Lee was honored by the Texas Senate for her lifetime of activism. According to the Washington Post, on Thursday, June 17, 2021, President Biden signed legislation establishing a new federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery.
Photograph Courtesy SENATE MEDIA SERVICES
•••••
read more…Area lawmakers praise DHR Health’s partnership with Driscoll Children’s Hospital to build an eight-story, state-of-the-art medical facility in Edinburg to serve South Texas
FEATURED: Rep. R.D. “Bobby” Guerra, D-McAllen, on Tuesday, May 18, 2021, visiting with fellow Texans on the grounds of the Capitol in Austin. Guerra, who serves as Vice-Chair, House Committee on Public Health, welcomed the recent announcement regarding the upcoming construction of Driscoll Children’s Hospital Rio Grande Valley on the campus of DHR Health in Edinburg. “Our children deserve the healthy start with A+ care that the Driscoll Children’s Hospital will provide,” said Guerra. “I’m proud to have this collaborative success between DHR Health and Driscoll in my (legislative) district and look forward to the positive outcomes it brings to our families and community.”
Photograph Courtesy REP. R.D. “BOBBY” GUERRA FACEBOOK
•••••••
read more…Former Rep. Verónica Gonzáles, D-McAllen, recognized as “2021 Woman of Distinction in Government” by Rio Grande Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
FEATURED: Former State Rep. Verónica Gonzáles, D-McAllen, Senior Vice President, Governmental and Community Relations, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, on Wednesday, June 9, 2021, was recognized by the Rio Grande Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce as “2021 Woman of Distinction in Government”.
COURTESY PHOTOGRAPH
read more…Gov. Abbott approves plan authored by Sen. Hinojosa, sponsored by Rep. Guerra, supported by DHR Health, to significantly improve regional emergency medical service trauma system
FEATURED, FROM LEFT: John Paul Barajas, News Correspondent, KRGV News, interviews Raúl Barreda, MD, Trauma Surgeon, Acute Care Surgery, DHR Health, at the Edinburg Conference Center at Renaissance, on Wednesday, May 1, 2019, following a press conference where DHR Health officials announced they now featured the region’s first and only Functioning Level I Trauma Center.
Photograph Courtesy DHR HEALTH FACEBOOK
••••••
read more…Congress considering pro-news media “Local Journalism Sustainability Act” and “Journalist Protection Act”, reports attorney Omar Ochoa
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
••••••
read more…UT System may buy almost 38 acres for expansion of UTRGV and its medical school into McAllen, announces Rep. Terry Canales
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
••••••
read more…Telemedicine bill to improve access to health care – authored by Rep. Guillén, coauthored by Rep. Canales, Rep. Guerra, and Rep. Martínez, cosponsored by Sen. Hinojosa and supported by DHR Health – signed into law by Gov. Abbott
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
••••••
read more…Final stage of funding for $260 million, 365 Tollway Project, which will handle heavy commercial international truck traffic in Hidalgo County when constructed, approved by Texas Transportation Commission
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
••••••
read more…Gov. Abbott approves House Bill 2509 – authored by Rep. Lucio, III, Rep. Martinez, Rep. Muñoz, sponsored by Sen. Hinojosa and supported by DHR Health – to provide state funding for medical residencies for UTRGV podiatry program
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
•••••••
read more…New law shaped by Rep. Longoria, Sen. Hinojosa, Rep. Guillén, and Rep. Muñoz financially protects government-employed first responders who are quarantined as a result of COVID-19 or other contagious diseases, reports attorney Omar Ochoa
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
••••••
read more…
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