With highways, airways, waterways, and railways vital to economic prosperity and safety in Texas, the House Committee on Transportation is “ready, willing, and able” to move forward with major legislation in 2019 and beyond, says Rep. Canales
Featured: Rep. Terry Canales, D-Edinburg, recently made Texas history by being appointed as the first Mexican American to serve as Chair of the powerful House Committee on Transportation. In this image, taken on Thursday, September 20, 2018, Canales addresses the news media at Edinburg City Hall after being named a Transparency Champion by the Texas Press Association for his record of supporting the Texas Open Meetings Act and the Texas Public Information Act.
Photograph By LUIS LARRAGA
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Pharr shows best rate of improvement in retail economy among major Valley cities for December 2018; Sen. Hinojosa prepares for action on Monday on the Property Tax Reform Act of 2019
Featured: Pharr Mayor Ambrosio Hernández, M.D., during his third annual State of the City Address on Thursday, January 17, 2019. According to the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, Pharr’s retail economy showed the best rate of improvement among the major Valley cities for December 2018.
Photograph By ERNESTO RIVERA
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DHR Health and the Border Health Political Action Committee (BHPAC) “have been very effective in doing good things for South Texas,” says Congressman Vicente González, D-McAllen
Featured: As the Texas Legislature and Congress in 2019 began a new year of work, DHR Health and the Border Health Political Action Committee (Border Health PAC) will continue to develop and support state and federal legislation that benefit deep South Texas, according to Congressman Vicente González, D-McAllen. He is featured in this image on Saturday, December 9, 2017, at a major event held in the Embassy Suites in McAllen on behalf of his supporters, who brought Christmas toys to be distributed to low-income children in his district.
Photograph By MARK MONTEMAYOR
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Political power in Austin and Washington, D.C., fair share of $800 billion in annual federal funds, to be focus of Rio Grande Valley’s four county judges during February 7 Public Affairs Luncheon sponsored by Edinburg Chamber of Commerce
Featured: Ronnie Larralde, Executive Director, Edinburg Chamber of Commerce, addresses elected officials, business executives, and other community dignitaries soon after his selection on Monday January 7, 2019 by the local business lobby group as its top administrator. One of Larralde’s first major projects for this year as executive director will take place on Thursday, February 7, 2019, with the chamber’s RGV Census Forum, which will bring together the four county judges from the Rio Grande Valley to emphasize the importance of U.S. Census Day, which is April 1, 2020.
Photograph By LUIS LARRAGA
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Hidalgo County EMS/South Texas Air Med providing superior life-saving resources and expert medical personnel for Rio Grande Valley
Featured: As Texas lawmakers in Austin this spring look for ways to provide funds for the creation of additional Level I Comprehensive Trauma Centers throughout the state – including in deep South Texas – Hidalgo County EMS/South Texas Air Med are providing superior life-saving resources and expert medical personnel for the Rio Grande Valley. Hidalgo County EMS/South Texas Air Med professionals performing their duties in this image are Jessica Busby, RN, and Luis Corbiel, EMPT, FCP.
Photograph By TONY GARZA
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South Texas College Trustee Gary Gurwitz: 25 years later, it’s still about the students
Featured: Gary Gurwitz, Member, Board of Trustees, South Texas College, was first appointed by Gov. Ann Richards in 1993, and has been elected and re-elected ever since, resulting in a career as a board member that spans an impressive five terms. Gurwitz currently serves as Chair, Facilities Committee, and Member, Education and Workforce Development Committee, Board of Trustees, South Texas College. He formerly served as Chair, Vice Chair, and Secretary, Board of Trustees, South Texas College. Gurwitz is featured in this image during the Wednesday, August 17, 2016 groundbreaking ceremony of the $24 million expansion of Dr. Ramiro B. Casso Nursing and Allied Health Campus in McAllen.
Photograph By BENJAMIN BRIONES
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Brownsville and McAllen post largest employment numbers in the Valley for December 2018, while McAllen and Edinburg have lowest unemployment rates, announces Texas Workforce Commission
Featured: The new year brought with it two new members of the Hidalgo County Commissioners Court: County Judge Richard Cortéz of McAllen and Precinct 4 County Commissioner Ellie Torres of Edinburg. Among their most notable first actions are that Drainage District No. 1, which is composed of the judge and four county commissioners, now meet at 9:30 a.m. every Tuesday, followed by the Commissioners Court meeting, which will begin at 10 a.m., except on the fourth Tuesday of each month, when the Commissioners Court will meet at 2 p.m. The meeting schedule is available by logging on to https://www.hidalgocounty.us. From left: Precinct 1 County Commissioner David Fuentes of Weslaco; Precinct 2 County Commissioner Eduardo “Eddie” Cantú of Pharr; Cortéz; Precinct 3 County Commissioner Joe M. Flores of Mission; and Torres.
Photograph By Christian Möller
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Sen. Hinojosa reappointed Vice Chair of Senate Finance Committee; signs up as co-author of legislation to provide $5,000 teacher pay raise
Featured, from left: City Commissioner Eleazar Guajardo, City of Pharr, and Vice President, Pharr Economic Development Corporation; Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, D-McAllen; Víctor Pérez, Executive Director, Pharr Economic Development Corporation; and Mario Lizcano, Administrator of Corporate Affairs, DHR Health, and Treasurer, Board of Directors, Pharr Economic Development Corporation. This image was taken on Thursday, August 2, 2018 as part of the celebration marking the completion of the Owassa Road project that improves traffic between Pharr, Edinburg and McAllen.
Photograph By MIRNA SAPALICIO
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Pharr Mayor Hernández’ State of the City Address: “Imagine coming from nothing and becoming an example of what hard work and education can get you. Imagine the possibility.”
Hundreds of local leaders, business partners, and other community organizations were in attendance as Pharr Mayor Ambrosio Hernández, MD, hosted the third annual State of the City Address on Thursday, January 17, 2019. Hernández, a pediatric surgeon, began his address by announcing that, as Pharr’s primary care provider, “the diagnosis of the state of the City of Pharr is healthy, vibrant and flourishing,” and that “its prognosis is excellent and expected to move forward on a continued path of success.”
Photograph By MICHELLE VILLARREAL-CASTILLO
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Mayor Darling calls on McAllen City Commission to help monitor Gov. Abbott’s Twitter and “make sure that the public is aware of what’s going on”
Featured, from left: Dr. Carlos Margo, Associate Dean, Office of Industry Training and Economic Development, South Texas College; Paul Rodríguez, Chairman, Board of Trustees, South Texas College; McAllen Mayor Jim Darling; Dr. Shirley E. Reed, President, South Texas College; and McAllen City Commissioner Joaquín “J.J.” Zamora, on Thursday, December 6, 2018. The McAllen Economic Development Corporation on that date presented STC with a $259,440 job-training grant to provide customized education related to advanced manufacturing within the city’s boundaries.
Photograph By BENJAMIN BRIONES
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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