Active and retired teachers and public school employees, and their families, urged by Rep. Canales, D-Edinburg, to “turn out in record numbers” in November 2018 state elections
Featured, from left: Alfredo Álvarez, President, Texas State Teachers Association Region 6 and Donna TSTA Treasurer; René Zamora, President, Edinburg Texas State Teachers Association; Rep. Terry Canales, D-Edinburg; and María “Maggie” Inglett, President, Harlingen Texas State Teachers Association, and Officer, TSTA Region 6. On Wednesday, April 28, 2018, in the First National Bank Ballroom in Mercedes, Canales, the House District 40 leader, was the only Rio Grande Valley member of the Texas Legislature who received the prestigious “Friend of Education” award by the Texas State Teachers Association (TSTA) – Region 6.
Photograph By ALEX RÍOS read more…
Construction activities in city approach $37.5 million for first three months of 2018, reports Edinburg Economic Development Corporation
Featured, from left: Letty Rodríguez, Escrow Officer/Sales Representative, Edwards Abstract & Title Co.; Elva Jackson Garza, Vice President & Marketing Manager, Edwards Abstract & Title Co.; Keely Lewis; Mayor Richard Molina; and Byron Jay Lewis, President & CEO, Edwards Abstract & Title Co. The area leaders posed for this portrait following the conclusion of the 14th Annual State of Real Estate Forum, coordinated by Edwards Abstract & Title Co., which took place on Thursday, March 8, 2018 at the Edinburg Conference Center at Renaissance. The State of Real Estate Forum is presented as a public service of Edwards Abstract and Title Co., and focuses on the national, state and local economic outlook.
Photograph By ROBERTO GONZÁLEZ
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For second consecutive month, Edinburg registers Valley’s lowest unemployment rate – 4.7 percent in March 2018 – an increase of 1,056 jobs compared with March 2017 figure
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine on Wednesday, April 25, 2018 hosted a grand opening of its UT Health RGV Pediatric Specialty office, located at 4150 Crosspoint Blvd. in Edinburg. The specialty office aims to close gaps in access to general and specialty care for children, with services that include general pediatrics, pulmonary, developmental, and metabolic and genetic disorders. The grand opening included tours of the facility and a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by Rep. Terry Canales, D-Edinburg, Edinburg Mayor Richard Molina, Mayor Pro Tem David Torres, Councilmember Gilbert Enríquez and other community and university leaders. Molina, the Edinburg mayor, expressed the community’s excitement about the pediatrics practice bringing much-needed care to the region. “Families are not going to have to travel anymore to Corpus Christi or San Antonio or Houston,” he said. “Now they can come to UT Health RGV Pediatric Specialty Clinic and get the very best medical care close to home. As your mayor, I couldn’t be more proud to say, it’s one more step toward a healthier community.” 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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Edinburg’s retail economy in February 2018 registers more than 11 percent improvement over same month in 2017, according to Edinburg Economic Development Corporation
Featured: As Dr. Lino García, Jr., Ph.D., approached his 84th birthday in January, the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Professor Emeritus of Spanish Literature said change is what keeps him motivated. García has ridden waves of major change in the Rio Grande Valley’s higher education offerings, going back to his college days in the 1960s at Pan American College, to UTRGV and its sprawling distributed-campus university that serves some 28,000 students throughout the Valley and beyond. He started working at Pan American College in 1967 as a Spanish instructor. Fifty years later, he is still teaching with the same enthusiasm for his students and their success. 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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Small Business Incentive Program highlights agenda items up for consideration on Tuesday, April 24 by the Edinburg EDC Board of Directors
Featured: Edinburg Mayor Richard Molina, left, welcomes Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, D-McAllen, on Thursday, April 19, 2018, following the mayor’s State of the City Address, which took place in the Edinburg Municipal Auditorium, located at 415 W. McIntyre Street.
Photograph By ROBERTO GONZÁLEZ
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Protecting Texas’ justice system by attracting and keeping best individuals to serve as judges to be reviewed by Rep. Canales and Sen. Hinojosa
Featured, members of the Texas Supreme Court in 2017. Seated, from left: Justice Paul W. Green; Chief Justice Nathan L. Hecht; and Justice Phil Johnson. Standing, from left: Justice John Phillip Devine; Justice Debra H. Lehrmann; Justice Don Willett; Justice Eva Guzmán; Justice Jeffrey S. Boyd; and Justice Jeff Brown. Helping protect Texas’ justice system by keeping and attracting the best qualified individuals to serve as judges, from district courts to the Texas Supreme Court, will be considered by a special legislative panel that includes Rep. Terry Canales, D-Edinburg, and Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, D-McAllen.
Photograph Courtesy TEXAS SUPREME COURT
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Edinburg registers Valley’s lowest unemployment rate – 4.9 percent in February 2018 – an increase 0f 1,080 jobs compared with February 2017 figure
Featured, from left: Ofira Guerra, Zafira Castillo, and Carlos X. Guerra were among scholarship donors and recipients who gathered at the Edinburg Campus of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley on Thursday, March 29, 2018. Castillo was one of the recipients of the Rafael and Carmen Guerra Honors Program Fund. 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 also has a major campus in the city.
Photograph By SILVER SALAS
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Edinburg’s retail economy in January 2018 registers 9.29 percent improvement over same month in 2017, according to Edinburg Economic Development Corporation
Featured: The Edinburg Rotary recently honored the top eight students from the Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District’s Fine Arts Department during its luncheon meeting at the Echo Hotel in Edinburg. “It’s great that the Rotarians recognize our students from the visual arts, band, choir, orchestra, musical arts, mariachi and theater for their achievements,” Edinburg North High School Band Director Chad Dempsey said. The students’ recognition is part of the Edinburg Rotary’s Student of the Month Program, which highlights two senior students from each high school. “All of these students are going to be highly successful in music or any of the arts that they have done,” Dempsey said. “Their work ethic will carry them way past their high school years.” From left: Edinburg High School senior Keyla Contador; Edinburg High School senior Abraham Vergara; Edinburg North High School senior Maegan Carithers; Edinburg North High School senior Mathew Salinas; Economedes High School senior Alejandra Ibarra; Economedes High School senior César Tovar; Vela High School senior Grace Sexton; and Vela High School senior Miguel López. Miguel “Mike” Farías, Vice President, Board of Directors, Edinburg Economic Development Corporation, also serves as a member of the ECISD Board of Trustees.
Photograph By MARK MONTEMAYOR
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Rep. Canales urges Gov. Abbott to call special session of the Legislature to save failing state health insurance program for retired teachers and retired public school employees
Featured: Rep. Terry Canales, D-Edinburg, prepares to read from “Fox in Socks”, which is part of the famous Dr. Seuss series of books for children, to students at Lyndon B. Johnson Elementary School in Edinburg on Friday, March 2, 2018. Canales, whose support for public education in the Texas Legislature is one of his highest priorities, is asking Gov. Greg Abbott to call a special session to help the more than a quarter-million retired Texans and their dependents struggling with higher monthly premiums and less coverage through the Teacher Retirement System’s TRS-Care.
Photograph By ALEX RÍOS
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Mayor Molina promoting regional partnerships as part of strategies to increase business and jobs growth in the city, announces Edinburg EDC
Featured, from left: Newly-elected McAllen District 1 City Commissioner Javier Villalobos, McAllen Mayor Jim Darling, and Edinburg Mayor Richard Molina, following the Monday, March 12, 2018 swearing-in ceremony for Villalobos, which took place in the City Commission Chamber at McAllen City Hall. Villalobos represents District 1, which includes northeast McAllen and borders Edinburg’s southwest region, which features Doctors Hospital at Renaissance Health System and South Texas Hospital System.
Photograph By ROBERTO GONZÁLEZ
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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