by Legislative Media | Oct 20, 2009 | Politics
Sen. Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa, D-McAllen, receives two Senate proclamations from his colleague, Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, establishing a scholarship in his honor at the University of Texas-Pan American and honoring the longtime state lawmaker for his many contributions to his constituents and all Texans. The presentations, including a proclamation from the McAllen City Commission, were made on Thursday, October 15, at La Quinta Mazatlán in McAllen as part of an appreciation event hosted on his behalf by the McAllen City Commission, the McAllen Public Utilities Board, the McAllen Economic Development Corporation, and the McAllen Chamber of Commerce. See story later in this posting entitled Best of the Texas Legislature – 2009.
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Former Rep. Roberto Gutiérrez, D-McAllen, featured right, is congratulated by Sen. Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa, D-McAllen, on Thursday, October 15, for Gutiérrez’ role in 2001 in passing legislation that allows the University of Texas-Pan American to establish the Starr County Upper-Level Center in Rio Grande City. Earlier that day, Gutiérrez, along with other area legislators and city and county officials, participated in the groundbreaking ceremony for the planned facility. When complete, this structure will provide students in the western Rio Grande Valley with a state-of-the-art educational center. The new building will have approximately 21,000 square feet of computer labs, classrooms, office space, math and science labs, smart or technology-enhanced classrooms and a resource center. UTPA’s temporary center in Rio Grande City consists of four portable buildings with a total area of approximately 2,000 square feet. See story later in this posting.
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The Wells Fargo Foundation recently donated $5,000 to South Texas College’s Valley Scholars Program to provide scholarships for deserving students. “STC is a vital part of the Rio Grande Valley community, offering students a solid foundation upon which to build their careers and lives,” said Alma Ortega Johnson, president for the Upper Rio Grande Valley Division of Wells Fargo. “We are proud to increase our support of the program and look forward to seeing the program flourish and grow, especially as more and more families recognize the importance and value of a college education.” Featured, from left: Roberto Gutiérrez, STC fundraising associate; Anahid Petrosian, STC assistant to the vice president for academic affairs; Alma Ortega Johnson, president for the Upper Rio Grande Valley Division of Wells Fargo; and Marie Olivarez, STC Valley Scholars Program coordinator. See story later in this posting.
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The University of Texas System Board of Regents on Monday, October 12, named Dr. Robert S. Nelsen as the sole finalist for the presidency of The University of Texas – Pan American. The board announced Nelsen, currently the associate vice president for academic affairs at Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi, after considering recommendations of an advisory committee that reviewed nominations and applications for the position. "The search advisory committee worked diligently to find these exceptional candidates, all of whom possess impressive credentials and experience in administration at leading universities," said Regent Janiece Longoria, a Houston lawyer who is formerly from Pharr. "We are confident Dr. Nelsen has the mix of skills that will make him the right fit to push UT Pan American to the next level of excellence.” Under state law, university governing boards must name finalists for a presidency at least 21 days before making an appointment. In a related development, Sergio Muñoz, Jr., D-Palmview, a Democratic state representative candidate for House District 36, has pledged to work closely with Dr. Robert S. Nelson, to protect and promote the legislative interests of one of South Texas’ largest public higher education systems. "I have some big plans in store in the Texas Legislature for UT-Pan American, South Texas College, and Texas A&M," said Muñoz. "The bottom line is that I won’t be satisfied until the Valley has all of the resources, from undergraduate degrees to law and medical degrees, now available to the people who live in Austin and San Antonio." See lead story later in this posting.
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by Legislative Media | Aug 11, 2009 | Politics
Thousands of U.S. military families who come the Lone Star State will no longer have to pay the more expensive out-of-state tuition and fees to attend any of Texas’ public colleges and universities, and any student whose parent is deployed into a combat zone will pay no tuition and fees while the parent serves in harm’s way, according to Rep. Ismael "Kino" Flores, D-Palmview, who served as a sponsor of the law. In this portrait, taken in Houston with Flores featured second from left, Perry signs into law a related measure that contains language drafted by Flores which will give up to a 100 percent exemption from all home property taxes for Texas veterans who are disabled as a result of physical and mental wounds suffered as a direct result of their U.S. military service. On November 3, Texans will participate in a statewide election regarding Proposition 8 – another measure passed last spring by Flores – which is designed to speed up the state’s involvement in bringing a Veterans Administration Hospital to South Texas. Senate Bill 297, sponsored by Flores, which lowers tuition and fees for many veterans and their families, is the latest round in a series of major laws authored or sponsored by Flores last spring that will help many of Texas’ estimated 1.7 million veterans. See story later in this posting.
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Lions Club leaders and members recently finalized an agreement with South Texas College administrators to set up new student chapters at three campus locations in McAllen, Weslaco and Rio Grande City. Featured, seated from left: Lions Club member Salvador Claflin, who is a STC assistant professor of government; Joe Treviño, Lions Club District 2-A3 Governor; STC President Shirley A. Reed; and Lions Club P.D.G. Ernesto De Léon. Featured standing, middle row, from left: William Serrata, STC Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management; Joe Guerra, Lions Club member; Mark Alvarado, Second Vice District Governor; Raúl Leal, Lions Club member; and Jesús Rodriguez, McAllen Palm City Lions Club President. Featured standing, back row, from left: Juan Mejia, STC Vice President for Academic Affairs; Jerry Inmon, Lions Club Member; Mike Shannon, STC Dean of Student Life; and Armando Ponce, STC Coordinator of Student Activities. See story later in this posting.
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The McAllen Hispanic Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, August 12, will host its Legislative “Report Card” Dinner beginning at enter time at the McAllen Country Club. State legislators, including (from left) Rep. Ryan Guillen, D-Rio Grandey City, Rep. Verónica Gonzáles, D-McAllen, and Rep. Armando "Mando" Martínez, D-Weslaco, will have the opportunity to mingle and talk with members of the community and give a report on the recently concluded legislative session and plans for the legislative interim and next session. There is a fee to attend, however: sponsorships for the event include the following rates: Presidential $3,000; Governor $2,000; Statesman $1,000; and Civic Leader, $500. All sponsors will get to sit with an elected official. Individual tickets are $35. For more information on the Legislative Dinner and/or to buy tickets, call the McAllen Hispanic Chamber at 928/0060. Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr., D-Brownsville, Rep. Aaron Peña, D-Edinburg, and Rep. Ismael "Kino" Flores, D-Palmview, are also scheduled to participate.
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McAllen construction magnate Alonzo Cantú, featured right with Sen. Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa, D-McAllen, was successful in helping convince the Edinburg City Council to invest more than $2 million towards the construction of a planned $14 million Edinburg Medical Conference Center, which will be owned by Doctors Hospital at Renaissance. Cantú, who is a leader of the DHR Board of Directors, says the state-of-the-art medical facility will have many benefits for the region and the city, including creating almost 300 new jobs, and could help bring to Hidalgo County a planned University of Texas medical school authorized by legislation co-authored last spring by Hinojosa. The site for the medical school, which is scheduled to begin construction in 2015, will be determined by the UT System Board of Regents. See the lead story on the Edinburg Medical Conference Center later in this posting.
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by Legislative Media | Jul 22, 2009 | Politics
Area congressional leaders and officials with the U.S. State Department on Tuesday, July 21, met in Washington, D.C., to review a proposed legal settlement involving passport applications of U.S. citizens whose births were delivered by midwives and birth attendants, rather than by doctors or at U.S. hospitals. Under the proposed settlement in the federal case, Castelano v. Clinton, the plaintiffs claimed the State Department was improperly processing the passport applications of persons whose births were assisted by midwifes or birth attendants in Texas and along the U.S. – Mexico border. Over the years, a large number of midwives and birth attendants filed birth certificates in Texas for people who were not born in the United States. However, the lawsuit asserted that this fact did not justify the State Department’s practices for processing these applications. The State Department denied the allegations in June 2009. The settlement is not an admission of wrongdoing or an indication that any law was violated. Featured from left, facing State Department officials, are: Congressman Rubén Hinojosa, D-Mercedes; Congressman Silvestre Reyes, D-El Paso; Congressman Solomon Ortiz, D-Corpus Christ; and Congressman Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo/McAllen. See story later in this posting.
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Rep. Verónica Gonzáles, D-McAllen, featured center, first row, recently participated in a Hispanic leaders roundtable at the Texas Capitol with U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, seen here, first on left, at the podium. The meeting, hosted by the Mexican American Legislative Caucus (MALC), included discussions on health care, education, the economy, immigration, and the current Supreme Court nomination, as well as other important issues. In addition to the McAllen Democrat, other participants included: Rep. Trey Martínez Fischer, D-San Antonio and MALC chairman; Rep. Diana Maldonado, D-Round Rock; Rep. Solomon Ortiz, Jr., D-Corpus Christi; Rep. Abel Herrero, D-Corpus Christi; Mayor Mike González of Kyle; Blanca García, Chair of the Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; and Andy Martínez, President and CEO of the Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, among others.
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The University of Texas-Pan American recently was host to the Migrant University Summer Experience for the second consecutive summer. MUSE served up to 100 rising Rio Grande Valley junior and senior migrant students. “This is a great opportunity to experience university life and to learn about valuable resources offered at the university,” said Jeanette Broshears, associate dean of students. MUSE was created in 2008 to offer migrant students the opportunity to gain university level experience, while attaining two high school credits. Some are given the opportunity to earn college credit. In addition, students received on-campus college residential experience, paid professional workplace internships and college readiness and leadership seminars. Pictured are MUSE students Nelley Cruz-Garza, PSJA High School student, and Valerie García, Palmview High School student, during their internship at the UTPA Student Union. See story later in this posting.
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President Barack Obama chats with Apollo 11 astronauts, from left, Buzz Aldrin, Michael Collins and Neil Armstrong, on Monday, July 20, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing. He called the Apollo 11 astronauts "American heroes" and praised the entire NASA family for making that iconic flight possible. He also noted how the men’s accomplishment served as inspiration for a generation, and reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to math and science.
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Walter Cronkite, longtime reporter and news anchor, died July 17, 2009, at the age of 92. Cronkite attended The University of Texas at Austin in the 1930s and worked as a student reporter at The Daily Texan. His papers reside with the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History at the university. In this file photo provided by NASA, the legendary newsman speaks in February 2004 at a ceremony at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington honoring the fallen astronauts of the STS-107 Columbia mission. See story later in this posting.
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by Legislative Media | Jul 14, 2009 | Politics
Dr. Blandina “Bambi” Cárdenas, second from right, is congratulated by members of The North American Advanced Manufacturing Research and Education Initiative (NAAMREI) leadership team, who recently honored her with their first Leadership Award. Featured, from left: Leticia Flores, Office of the Governor’s Economic Development and Tourism; Carlos Margo of South Texas College; Dr. Miguel A. González, The University of Texas-Pan American College of Science and Engineering; Bonnie González of WorkFORCE Solutions; Blas Castañeda of Laredo Community College; President Cárdenas; Keith Patridge, McAllen Economic Development Corporation; and Wanda Garza, STC and NAAMREI. Other members of the NAAMREI leadership who were present for the Sunday, June 7 ceremony, but not included in this shot, were: Pat Townsend Jr., Mission Economic Development Authority and Greater McAllen Alliance; Dr. Charles Sorber of UTPA; Angie González of Texas State Technical College in Harlingen; Héctor Quintanilla, The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College; and Dr. John Lloyd of UTPA’s Rapid Response Manufacturing Center. See story later in this posting.
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Gov. Rick Perry, featured second from left during a June 26 swing through the Valley, on Friday, July 10 emphasized accomplishments made during the 81st legislative session that provide resources and assist law enforcement officials in protecting Texans. The governor is touting House Bill 2086, an omnibus gang bill that provides state and local law enforcement agencies with additional tools to combat the threat of transnational gangs. These resources include electronic monitoring of criminal gang members who have two or more convictions; penalties for engaging in organized crime activity in gang free zones; and enhanced surveillance capabilities, among others. Sen. Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa, D-McAllen, and Rep. Aaron Peña, D-Edinburg, are shown here, second and third from right, respectively, during Perry’s visit to Peñitas. Letty Garza, KRGV-TV anchorwoman, was leading the group with the Pledge of Allegiance. See story on the governor’s anti-gang legislation later in this posting.
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South Texas College and Texas A&M University Kingsville leaders on Friday, July 10, celebrated the signing of an agreement to ease student transfer between the institutions. Seated are TAMUK President Steven Tallant and STC President Shirley A. Reed. Standing from left are: Mike F. Desiderio, TAMUK Chair for Education; Margaretha Bischoff, STC Division Dean of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences; Marilyn J Bartlett, TAMUK Dean of the College of Education; and Juan Mejia, STC Vice President for Academic Affairs. Not featured, but also present at the event, are Ali Esmaeili, STC Dean for Bachelor Programs and University Relations, and William Serrata, STC Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management. See story later in this posting.
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by Legislative Media | Jun 23, 2009 | Politics
Every year, Texas Monthly publishes much-anticipated reviews of some of the state’s best medical, legal, and community leaders, based on a strict and independent research process that identifies Texans who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Dr. Larry Balli, one of the area’s most influential dentists, has long enjoyed a stellar reputation in Edinburg. Late last year, he was bestowed the coveted honor of "Super Dentist" by Texas Monthly, a major statewide magazine with a national following. Now comes news that his professional and civic contributions to the region have earned him praise from Gov. Rick Perry and the Texas Legislature, which have approved a legislative resolution publicly recognizing him for his efforts in the Lone Star State. See lead story later in this posting.
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As the veto period came to a close on Sunday, June 21, Sen. Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa, D-McAllen, featured here during a McAllen Chamber of Commerce legislative update on Wednesday, June 17, announced final approval of 59 measures that he authored or sponsored. Hinojosa’s legislative package includes bills on transportation, natural resources, criminal justice, infrastructure, and health care issues, benefitting South Texas and the entire state. See story later in this posting.
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SOCIALIFE News Magazine, the five-year-old creation of South Texas entrepreneur Pepe Cabeza de Vaca, featured here with Rep. Verónica Gonzáles, D-McAllen, has been honored by the Texas House of Representatives for its vital role of promoting a positive image of the Rio Grande Valley and by helping charitable organizations in the state and nation. The honor, contained in House Resolution 2283 filed by Rep. Verónica Gonzáles, D-McAllen, was unanimously approved by House of Representatives on May 25. See story later in this posting.
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The laboratories at McAllen Heart Hospital and McAllen Medical Center were accredited by the College of American Pathologists (CAP) after site inspections on April 1 and May 1. Both laboratories received complimentary remarks by CAP inspectors on the quality of patient testing, documentation and organization. The laboratories also received exemplary marks on their standard of laboratory practices. Featured here are some of the employees of McAllen Medical Center and McAllen Heart Hospital who are instrumental to the quality of care and services the laboratories provide. From left, first row: Dr. Feliberto Cavazos, pathologist; Sobie Treviño, system assistant director; Grace Garza, system lab director; and Robert Tamez, hospital administrator. Second row, from left: Dr. José Luis Valencia, pathologist; Norma Rodríguez; and Lester Alvarado. Third row, from left: Denisha Niño; Aida Galván; Diana Villarreal; Janice Milford; and Jennifer Ríos. Four row, from left: Elisa Díaz; Mylene Trasmonte; Becky Flores; and Sylvia Aguinaga. Fifth row, from left: Virgil Zuñiga; Robert Hockaday; Alejo Romero; Andy Romero; and Aydee García. See story later in this posting.
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Hundreds of future South Texas College graduates, such as these featuring during this spring’s commencement exercise, will benefit from a major grant, to be dispersed over the next three years, for expanded development education programs. On Monday, June 22, STC leaders announced that the college has been named as one of 15 national recipients – and only four in Texas – of a new grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and MDC, Inc. Together the groups are giving $16.5 million to community colleges across the nation, $743,000 of which will come directly to South Texas College. “At STC we are so happy to receive the funds because it will help us institute a change to the respective course contents in our developmental programs to create learning connections for students among the three developmental education disciplines through contextualization of the curriculum,” said Dr. Ali Esmaeili, dean of developmental studies for STC. “We plan to implement a robust case management student support framework to ensure a consistent and reliable contact experience for all of our developmental students.” See story later in this posting.
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