Rep. Óscar Longoria selected for Young Alumnus Award by UT School of Law, joining distinguished list of previous honorees that includes Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush and Daniel Hodge, the former Chief of Staff for Gov. Greg Abbott
Featured, from left: Rep. Óscar Longoria, D-La Joya, Vice-Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, Rep. Gary VanDeaver, R-New Boston, Rep. Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, and Rep. Will Metcalf, R-Conroe gather during a break on the floor of the Texas House of Representatives during the Regular Session of the Texas Legislature during Spring 2017.
Photograph By HOUSE PHOTOGRAPHY
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Texas Cook ‘Em: High Steaks in Edinburg, South Texas International Film Festival each receive $20,000 in financial support from Edinburg EDC
Featured: The Edinburg Chamber of Commerce celebrated Leadership Edinburg Class XXIX graduation on Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at the Edinburg Conference Center at Renaissance. Eleven graduates from the city’s business community were honored for completing the nine-month program. From left: Johnny Rodríguez (Bert Ogden Auto Group–Public Relations); Abel Garza (Wells Fargo); Marivel Valdez (Open Range Enterprises); Nydia M. Treviño (Memorial Funeral Home); Erica Pérez (RGV Town Planner); Mónica Ann Vega (Oceangate Hospitality); Robert C. Vackar (Bert Ogden Auto Group); Edinburg Mayor Richard Molina; Mary Lou Escobedo (Escobedo & Cárdenas, LLP); Maricruz Z. Nieto (Townplace Suites by Marriott); Priscilla C. Whiteaker (Farmers Insurance); Joe A. Delgado (Halff Associates); and John Mark Atchley (South Texas Health System Edinburg). Vackar and Molina were special guests for the graduation ceremony.
Photograph By RONNIE LARRALDE
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For fourth consecutive month, city’s retail economy shows improvement over same period last year, with April 2018 figure up almost 10 percent over April 2017, reports Edinburg EDC
Featured, from left: University of Texas Rio Grande Valley education students Jimena Gamboa of La Feria, Clarissa Rodríguez of Weslaco, Kasandra Salinas of La Feria, and Clarissa Guerra of Edinburg, are among seven UTRGV students named recipients of the Charles Butt Scholarship for Aspiring Teachers, under the Raise Your Hand Foundation. For this inaugural cohort, 100 students from 10 partnering universities in Texas were chosen from a pool of 350 candidates by means of a competitive selection process, which included a written application, interviews, group activities and demonstration of a teaching lesson. Each student receives an $8,000 scholarship each year for up to four years, as well as ongoing training, mentorship and networking opportunities facilitated by the Raise Your Hand Texas Foundation. Not shown are recipients Raquel Pérez of Edinburg, Brenda Olvera of Brownsville, and Cristina Ortiz of Laredo. The Edinburg Mayor and Edinburg City Council, along with the Edinburg Economic Development Corporation and its Board of Directors, lobby the Texas Legislature and the UT System Board of Regents on matters that benefit and protect UTRGV and its School of Medicine, which have major campuses in the city.
Photograph By PAUL CHOUY
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South Texas College, South Texas Health System, Texas Workforce Commission, Geofencing Campaign, South Texas Film Festival, and Texas Cook’ Em – High Steaks are among 14 items up for review and possible action by Edinburg EDC Board of Directors at 6 p.m on Tuesday, May 29
The UTRGV HEB Planetarium celebrated its 55th Anniversary with staff, faculty, and guests, along with Ms. Yvonne Loflin from HEB.
A presentation within the planetarium was followed by entertainment by the UTRGV Pep Band and refreshments.
Ms. Loflin videos the UTRGV Pep Band as she exits the planetarium.
UTRGV Photo by David Pike
Featured: The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley H-E-B Planetarium in Edinburg celebrated its 55th anniversary with a celebration on April 27, 2018, attended by staff, faculty and guests and Yvonne Loflin, Public Affairs Specialist representing H-E-B, shown here shooting video of the UTRGV Pep Band in front of the planetarium. The Edinburg Mayor and Edinburg City Council, along with the Edinburg Economic Development Corporation and its Board of Directors, lobby the Texas Legislature and the UT System Board of Regents on matters that benefit and protect UTRGV and its School of Medicine, which have major campuses in the city.
Photograph By DAVID PIKE
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For third consecutive month, Edinburg registers Valley’s lowest unemployment rate – 4.6 percent in April 2018 – an increase of 845 jobs compared with April 2017 figure
Featured: Dr. William F. Strong, Communications Professor at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and creator of the radio program “Stories from Texas,” is currently adapting “Stories” into a book. The audiobook is currently in production, and the radio show continues to air on 88FM (the Rio Grande Valley’s National Public Radio affiliate), as well as on other NPR and cable stations. The Edinburg Mayor and Edinburg City Council, along with the Edinburg Economic Development Corporation and its Board of Directors, lobby the Texas Legislature and the UT System Board of Regents on matters that benefit and protect UTRGV and its School of Medicine, which have major campuses in the city.
Photograph by DAVID PIKE
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Construction activities in city total more than $43.5 million for first third of 2018, reports Edinburg Economic Development Corporation
Featured: Sixteen University of Texas Rio Grande Valley students have been awarded Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarships this year that will take them around the world for Study Abroad courses this summer. The students are from across the Valley. Countries in this year’s studies abroad include Ireland, Brazil, Germany, China, Spain, Japan, South Korea, Italy, Peru and the United Kingdom. Shown are UTRGV Gilman recipients, professors and program administrators. From left, front row: Dr. Yanina Hernández, Lecturer, Writing & Language Studies; Lizette Leal, Specialist, International Programs & Partnerships; Raisa Ramírez; Alexandra Torres; Dr. Ping Xu, Assistant Professor of Art; Dr. Robert Gilbert, Associate Professor of art; Emily Rivas; Stephanie Torres; Myrine Barreiro-Arévalo; and Lorelei López. From left, back row: Maraya García; Samantha Bustillos; Dr. Robert Bradley, Associate Professor of Art; Gerardo Segundo; Alan Earhart, Director of International Programs & Partnerships; Ricardo Carrillo; Omar Nedzelsky Jr; Samuel Cavazos; and Dr. Robert Hoppens, Associate Professor of History. Not pictured are Gilman recipients Kristopher Price, Valeria Treviño, Jose García and Raul Martínez. The Edinburg Mayor and Edinburg City Council, along with the Edinburg Economic Development Corporation and its Board of Directors, lobby the Texas Legislature and the UT System Board of Regents on matters that benefit and protect UTRGV and its School of Medicine, which have major campuses in the city.
Photograph By PAUL CHOUY
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Uncertainty about U.S. immigration laws’ impact on Valley residents being transported by EMS at Border Patrol checkpoint in Falfurrias to be addressed in Edinburg on Friday, May 18
Featured: Med Care EMS (https://www.facebook.com/medcare911/) holds transportation contracts for major hospital systems in deep South Texas, including Doctors Hospital at Renaissance, South Texas Health Systems, Mission Regional Medical Center, and Knapp Medical Center.
Image Courtesy of MED CARE EMS
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Edinburg’s retail economy in March 2018 showed best improvement among all major Valley cities, up almost 12 percent over same month in 2017
Featured, from left: University of Texas Rio Grande Valley students and triplets Zachary, Victoria and Joshua Pérez from Edinburg who have shared every graduation since kindergarten. But their Saturday, May 12, 2018 commencement ceremony probably was their last together. All three are biology majors, but each had chosen a different path for the future. Zachary is pursuing a Master’s Degree in Biology at UTRGV; Victoria will continue at UTRGV to pursue a Master’s Degree in Manufacturing Engineering; and Joshua will attend the UT-Austin College of Pharmacy. On Friday, May 11, 2018 and Saturday, May 12, 2018, UTRGV held two days of the Spring 2018 Commencement ceremonies honoring 3,100 graduates. The Edinburg Mayor and Edinburg City Council, along with the Edinburg Economic Development Corporation and its Board of Directors, lobby the Texas Legislature and the UT System Board of Regents on matters that benefit and protect UTRGV and its School of Medicine, which have major campuses in the city.
Photograph By PAUL CHOUY
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In bid for powerful chairmanship of House Insurance Committee, Rep. Muñoz wants “Texas Rainy Day Fund” to help improve benefits, reduce costs of TRS-Care for 270,000 retired educators
Featured, from left: Danny Díaz, Financial Aid Specialist, La Joya Independent School District; Myriam Téllez, Director, Guidance and Counseling Program, La Joya Independent School District; Rep. Sergio Muñoz, D-Mission; and Steve Chapa, Director, Student Outreach, the University of Texas at Austin. The House 36 state legislator was participating in Decision Day on Friday, May 4, 2018 at Palmview High School, where seniors were committing to attend colleges or universities of their choice.
Photograph By PETER SALINAS
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29 building permits for construction projects valued at least $1 million each have been issued in Edinburg between January 2017 and March 2018
Featured: Mayor Richard Molina shows off a championship boxing belt during his State of the City Address, held on Thursday, April 19, 2017 at the Edinburg Auditorium, in part to symbolize the power of the city’s economy. “Here’s the bottom line: more people are moving to Edinburg,” the mayor proclaimed. “They know this is the best place to live, work and learn. We expect the population to continue to grow because of everything this city has to offer.”
Photograph By LUIS LARRAGA
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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