FEATURED: Beginning in 2024, every March 4 in Texas will be observed as “COVID-19 Heroes and Memorial Day” under a new state law developed by Rep. R.D. “Bobby” Guerra, D-McAllen, seen here on the floor of the House of Representatives in January 2021. His House Bill 2166 establishes a uniform statewide date to honor Texans who put their own health and safety on the line, especially during the worst periods of the coronavirus pandemic, to keep society from falling apart. In addition, “COVID-19 Heroes and Memorial Day” will be a time to memorialize the almost 95,000 people in Texas who have lost their lives to COVID-19 since March 4, 2020 – the date that airborne disease was first diagnosed in Texas.
FEATURED, FROM LEFT: Manny Vela, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Higher Education Center at McAllen, Texas A&M University; and John Sharp, Chancellor, The Texas A&M University System. Vela will be one of the keynote speakers during FuturoRGV: Building a Thriving RGV/The Hidalgo County Prosperity Task Force Forum, which is set for Thursday, July 13, 2023, from 8 a.m. to noon at South Texas College in McAllen.
FEATURED, FROM LEFT: Former longtime Edinburg Mayor Joe Ochoa; Sen. Juan Hinojosa, D-McAllen; and attorney Omar Ochoa, a son of Joe Ochoa, at the Edinburg Conference Center at Renaissance on Wednesday, November 16, 2022. This summer, congressional debate in Washington, D.C. is building over a federal proposal known as the “AM for Every Vehicle Act”, as major automakers plan to eliminate AM radio in vehicles in the coming years, reports attorney Omar Ochoa.
FEATURED: New Texas mothers who are Medicaid recipients would receive better access to primary and preventative care – for up to 12 months instead of the current two months after giving birth – under a measure supported by Valley legislators and DHR Health leaders that was signed into law on Sunday, June 18, 2023 by Gov. Greg Abbott. The governor is shown here on Monday, June 12, 2023 at the Texas Capitol.
FEATURED: Gov. Ann Richards and Rep. Roberto Gutiérrez, D-McAllen, help lead the way for the creation of South Texas Community College, now known as South Texas College, in 1993. In a matter of weeks, on September 1, 2023, South Texas College will celebrate the 30th anniversary of its existence. Gutiérrez and Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr., D-Brownsville, carried the legislative measure, known as Senate Bill 251, which authorized the establishment of South Texas Community College, which was later renamed South Texas College. Richards signed Senate Bill 251 into law on Monday, May 31, 1993.
Photograph Courtesy ROBERTO AND CECILIA GUTIÉRREZ FAMILY
Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo/Starr County, on Wednesday, May 10, 2023, is congratulated by Sen. Morgan LaMantia, D-South Padre Island, for Zaffirini achieving a Texas and U.S. record: her 70,000th consecutive vote in the Texas Senate.
FEATURED: Dr. Luis “Louie” G. Alamia, PT, DPT, reports that the Rio Grande Valley State Legislative Delegation recently voted for House Bill 1002, which is designed to protect public and private high school student-athletes who have suffered a concussion during sports activities. The measure is awaiting Gov. Greg Abbott’s approval, who is likely to sign it into law.
FEATURED: Rep. Terry Canales, D-Edinburg, said on Saturday, May 27, 2023, that he was one of 121 state representatives to vote to impeach Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican. “The allegations against Paxton include bribery, abuse of office, and obstruction. No one is above the law, and public officials must be held to the highest standard of integrity and ethics,” he said. This image was taken on Tuesday, November 23, 2021 at an event hosted by the Hidalgo County Bail Bond Association.
Photograph Courtesy HIDALGO COUNTY BAIL BOND ASSOCIATION
FEATURED: Pharr Mayor Dr. Ambrosio Hernández played a key role in helping secure a $6 million state grant, announced on Friday, February 24, 2023, that will help launch the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine’s South Texas Center of Excellence in Cancer Research. This image was taken on Wednesday, August 3, 2022.
FEATURED, FROM LEFT: Former McAllen Mayor Jim Darling; Dr. Nedra Kinerk, President, Futuro RGV, and McAllen Mayor Javier Villalobos. This image was taken on Thursday, June 16, 2022 at the Radison Hotel McAllen Airport, following a Futuro RGV event.
