As Valley state representatives renew push for law school resources for South Texas, president of Texas Southern University opposes Houston lawmaker’s bill to separate it from its law school
Featured: Dr. Austin Lane, President, Texas Southern University in Houston, which includes Thurgood Marshall School of Law, one of the most diverse law schools in the nation.
Photograph Courtesy TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY
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Sen. Hinojosa files Senate Bill 858 to help first responders receive compensation for work-related injuries or health issues
Featured: Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, D-McAllen, at the podium addressing leaders with DHR Health, the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and its School of Medicine, the City of McAllen, and South Texas news media on Wednesday, October 26, 2016, at the DHR Health campus on East Dove Avenue in McAllen, during the groundbreaking ceremony for the University of Texas Health Rio Grande Valley Biomedical Research, which will have its official ribbon-cutting later this year.
Photograph By PAUL CHOUY
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Measures to help protect and improve pensions for state government and public school employees, improve health insurance for retired teachers and dependents, filed by Rep. Canales
Featured: Rep. Terry Canales, D-Edinburg, who serves as Chair of the House Committee on Transportation, at Edinburg City Hall on Thursday, February 14, 2019.
Photograph By MARK MONTEMAYOR
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Omar Ochoa: Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, Texas Legislature taking actions involving transparency in governments throughout state
Featured: Omar Ochoa, owner, Omar Ochoa Law Firm (https://omarochoalaw.com) in McAllen, as a public service is providing updates on key legislation that affects transparency in government in Texas.
Photograph By DAVID PEZZAT
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“They Call Me Güero”: Dr. David Bowles novel celebrates Mexican-American culture and youth
Featured: Dr. David Bowles, an associate professor in the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Department of Literatures and Cultural Studies, with his book, “They Call Me Güero”, a novel in verse filled with slice-of-life poems illustrating life as a border kid – something for which 430,000 children in the Valley can relate.
Photograph By PAUL CHOUY
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Hidalgo County EMS/South Texas Air Med finalizing a plan to provide helicopter air ambulance service to area hospitals; resource needed for Level I trauma center hopes for Valley
Featured, from left: Paul M. Vazaldua, Jr., Vice President of Organizational Leadership and Government Affairs for Hidalgo County EMS/South Texas Air Med; Rep. Terry Canales, D-Edinburg; David de Los Santos, EMT-P, Business Development Manager, Hidalgo County EMS/South Texas Air Med; and Shawn Snider, Fire Chief, City of Edinburg. This portrait was taken on Thursday, February 14, 2019, during an event hosted by the Edinburg Mayor and Edinburg City Council at Edinburg City Hall to congratulate Canales for his recent appointment as Chair of the House Committee on Transportation.
Photograph By MARK MONTEMAYOR
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DHR Health becomes only hospital south of San Antonio to receive the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® as a Comprehensive Stroke Center – the highest designation for hospitals
Featured: Marissa Castañeda, Chief Operations Officer, DHR Health, provides information about the DHR Health Neuroscience Institute Stroke Program during the Thursday, December 20, 2018 State of the Hospital Address held at the Edinburg Conference Center at Renaissance.
Photograph Courtesy DHR Health
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Rep. Terry Canales, Chair of House Committee on Transportation, set to meet and greet South Texans during public reception at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 14, at Edinburg City Hall
Featured: A day after hearing from the leaders of Texas’ major public transportation leaders, Rep. Terry Canales, D-Edinburg, left, who is Chair of the House Committee on Transportation, will be informally meeting with his constituents and other South Texans on Thursday, February 14, 2019, during a reception – which is free and open to the public – to be held at 3:30 p.m. at Edinburg City Hall, 314 W. University Drive. The gathering is being hosted by the Edinburg mayor and Edinburg City Council. Shown with Canales in this image, which was taken on Thursday, August 16, 2018, is former Hidalgo County Judge J.D. Salinas, III, who is Director, External Affairs, A&TT, in San Antonio.
Photograph By ALEX RÍOS
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Omar Ochoa, native son of Edinburg, brings his nationally-renowned legal successes and top academic credentials as his hometown’s new City Attorney
Featured: On Tuesday, November 27, 2018, the Edinburg Mayor and City Council unanimously appointed Omar Ochoa as Interim City Attorney, and on Wednesday, January 23, 2019, removed the Interim label and voted to make Ochoa Edinburg’s permanent City Attorney.
Photograph By DAVID PEZZAT
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Dr. Stephanie Álvarez and Dr. Joy Esquierdo receive two-year grant for University of Texas Rio Grande Valley project to help Valley elementary school teachers expand on region’s local history
Featured: Dr. Stephanie Álvarez, left, Associate Professor for Mexican American Studies and Director, Center for Mexican American Studies, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, and Dr. J. Joy Esquierdo, Professor for Bilingual and Literacy Studies and Director, Center for Bilingual Studies, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, have received a two-year grant for their “Social Studies through Authentic and Relevant Content” (SSTARC) program, which will help equip educators to teach regional history. They are shown here on the UTRGV Edinburg Campus.
Photograph Courtesy MARCI CALTABIANO
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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