Former Edinburg city councilman plans to plead guilty to bribery
McALLEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Former Edinburg City Councilman Jorge “Coach” Salinas plans to plead guilty to a federal bribery charge. Attorney O. Rene Flores of Edinburg, who represents Salinas, informed a federal judge about his client’s decision on Friday....
https://rgv.news/former-edinburg-city-councilman-plans-to-plead-guilty-to-bribery-19887.html
Bazan: Pharr Bridge Second Span should be ready by Jan. 2026
The construction workers are about to start working nights, says Pharr Bridge Director Luis Bazan. The post Bazan: Pharr Bridge Second Span should be ready by Jan. 2026 appeared first on Rio Grande Guardian.
https://rgv.news/bazan-pharr-bridge-second-span-should-be-ready-by-jan-2026-19879.html
Texas cities, counties may face new limits on raising property taxes
Republican state lawmakers want to curb property tax bills by further limiting how much can be collected by cities and counties.
https://rgv.news/texas-cities-counties-may-face-new-limits-on-raising-property-taxes-19878.html
Prosecutors may drop money laundering charges against former Rio Grande City secretary
McALLEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Prosecutors may drop the case against former Rio Grande City Secretary Melissa Garza, who is accused of laundering drug money for her husband. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration arrested Melissa Anne Garza, 55, of Rio...
https://rgv.news/prosecutors-may-drop-money-laundering-charges-against-former-rio-grande-city-secretary-19870.html
Clear the Shelters campaign underway
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Clear the Shelters is back for its annual pet adoption and donation campaign. The nationwide initiative, now in its 11th year, has helped over 1 million pets find forever homes. From July 15 through September...
https://rgv.news/clear-the-shelters-campaign-underway-19868.html
Some rural Texans see THC as a lifeline for their health and economy
As lawmakers continue to debate banning hemp-derived THC, some rural Texans say it helps ease addiction, health concerns and economic woes that hit their communities the hardest.
https://rgv.news/some-rural-texans-see-thc-as-a-lifeline-for-their-health-and-economy-19865.html
Cameron Park now boasts ‘A Cultural Center of Hope’
Cameron County's park director, Joe Vega, says La Esperanza is the first “universal” park in South Texas. The post Cameron Park now boasts ‘A Cultural Center of Hope’ appeared first on Rio Grande Guardian.
https://rgv.news/cameron-park-now-boasts-a-cultural-center-of-hope--19864.html
Top two Kerr County emergency officials say they were asleep as July 4 floods struck
Their statements to state legislators marked the first time county officials have spoken publicly about what they were doing the morning of the disaster that killed more than 100 people in the county.
https://rgv.news/top-two-kerr-county-emergency-officials-say-they-were-asleep-as-july-4-floods-struck-19849.html
Bechtel is hiring more workers for the big Rio Grande LNG project
The project management company is looking to hire pipefitters, ironworkers, welders, scaffold builders, crane operators and bull riggers, and more. The post Bechtel is hiring more workers for the big Rio Grande LNG project appeared first on Rio Grande...
https://rgv.news/bechtel-is-hiring-more-workers-for-the-big-rio-grande-lng-project-19848.html
San Benito begins construction on long-awaited park restrooms
SAN BENITO, Texas (ValleyCentral) — San Benito city officials broke ground on Thursday for bathroom facilities at Landrum Park. City Manager Fred Sandoval told ValleyCentral the restroom for the park was a long time coming. "At the end of...
https://rgv.news/san-benito-begins-construction-on-long-awaited-park-restrooms-19847.html
STHS Behavioral encourages parents to focus on their children’s mental health
STHS Behavioral encourages parents to focus on their children's mental health to help prepare them for a return to the classroom. The post STHS Behavioral encourages parents to focus on their children’s mental health appeared first on Rio Grande...
https://rgv.news/sths-behavioral-encourages-parents-to-focus-on-their-children-s-mental-health-19844.html
‘Shaky’ Audio Series Is a Messy, Real Look at Disabled Life
There are many words you could use to describe Nicole Tompkins, the disabled protagonist of “Shaky,” Audible’s recent 9-part comedy audio series: passionate, wild, talented, messy. But she’s also kind of an asshole. That’s not a role that disabled...
https://rgv.news/-shaky-audio-series-is-a-messy-real-look-at-disabled-life-19834.html
Customer who ate maggots from croissant wants answers from bakery
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — In this week's Food 4 Thought, the Food Patrol did a follow-up to a bakery with significant issues. The Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office, attorneys, the health department, and the Food Patrol are all investigating a...
https://rgv.news/customer-who-ate-maggots-from-croissant-wants-answers-from-bakery-19828.html
Texas House Republicans unveil new congressional map that looks to pick up five GOP seats
The first draft of the lower chamber’s new redistricting map targets Democratic members of Congress in the Austin, Dallas and Houston metro areas and in South Texas.
https://rgv.news/texas-house-republicans-unveil-new-congressional-map-that-looks-to-pick-up-five-gop-seats-19803.html
From racism claims to a $725,000 settlement, a UNT professor's lawsuit mirrors Texas' shifting views on free speech
Professor Timothy Jackson was accused of making racist remarks at the height of the racial reckoning that followed George Floyd's murder. His free speech suit against the university comes to an end in the era of DEI bans.
https://rgv.news/from-racism-claims-to-a-725-000-settlement-a-unt-professor-s-lawsuit-mirrors-texas-shifting-views-on-free-speech-19800.html
$2.8M worth of cocaine found in soda shipment at Roma Bridge
ROMA, Texas (ValleyCentral) — United States Customs and Border Protection officers seized more than $2.8 million worth of cocaine. On July 28, CBP officers at the Roma International Bridge referred a tractor-trailer hauling a shipment of sodas for an...
https://rgv.news/-2-8m-worth-of-cocaine-found-in-soda-shipment-at-roma-bridge-19787.html
‘The Search Committee’ Is a Subtle Rebuke of the Border Literary Canon
The opening pages of José Skinner’s new novel The Search Committee seem to promise readers a merciless academic satire set in Texas’ Rio Grande Valley. The first character introduced is a cringey assistant professor, William Quigley, originally from Minnesota...
https://rgv.news/-the-search-committee-is-a-subtle-rebuke-of-the-border-literary-canon-19785.html
DA seeks death penalty for accused shooter in drug deal gone wrong
DONNA, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Hidalgo County District Attorney Toribio 'Terry' Palacios is seeking the death penalty for a Donna man accused of fatally shooting a teenager in what authorities have called a drug deal gone wrong. Geoffrey Jay Luna,...
https://rgv.news/da-seeks-death-penalty-for-accused-shooter-in-drug-deal-gone-wrong-19781.html
Former Brownsville Museum of Fine Art to transform into cultural hub
BROWNSVILLE, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Brownsville is sprucing up its downtown area by bringing new life to a former museum. On Monday, the city, along with the Mitte Cultural District, announced a new partnership. The Mitte, a cultural hub of...
https://rgv.news/former-brownsville-museum-of-fine-art-to-transform-into-cultural-hub-19767.html
Brownsville Museum of Fine Arts building to become Mitte Arts and Cultural Center
BROWNSVILLE, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The City of Brownsville and the Mitte Cultural District have announced a 40-year lease and operation agreement that will transform the former Brownsville Museum of Fine Art building into "The Mitte: Arts and Cultural Center"....
https://rgv.news/brownsville-museum-of-fine-arts-building-to-become-mitte-arts-and-cultural-center-19755.html
Rules of the Robe
M ichael Van Deelen’s home office, on the second floor of his neat two-story house in a north Harris County suburb, sprawls across two studies, each equipped with desks and computers. One contains a library chock full of books,...
https://rgv.news/rules-of-the-robe-19750.html
The guerilla campaign to save a Texas prairie from "silent extinction"
Students and naturalists have been sneaking onto private land to extricate threatened native plants: “This is a war between us and the developers, and nobody’s calling uncle.”
https://rgv.news/the-guerilla-campaign-to-save-a-texas-prairie-from-silent-extinction--19749.html
Texas buys land for new state parks that will be developed using $1 billion voter-approved fund
The fund opens a new era of public land acquisition and park development for Texas, which ranks 35th nationally in state park acreage per capita.
https://rgv.news/texas-buys-land-for-new-state-parks-that-will-be-developed-using-1-billion-voter-approved-fund-19748.html
Smith: The Demographics of Immigration
The birthrate in the US is predicted to be 1.79 births per woman in 2025, below the replacement rate of 2.1, writes border chronicler Morgan Smith. The post Smith: The Demographics of Immigration appeared first on Rio Grande Guardian.
https://rgv.news/smith-the-demographics-of-immigration-19746.html
Multiple people have been stabbed at a Walmart in Michigan and a suspect is in custody
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) — Multiple people were stabbed at a Walmart in Traverse City, and a suspect was in custody, authorities said Saturday. The Michigan State Police said the local sheriff’s office is investigating the incident and details...
https://rgv.news/multiple-people-have-been-stabbed-at-a-walmart-in-michigan-and-a-suspect-is-in-custody-19740.html
Police raise awareness on hot car safety, prevention
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Harlingen Police Department is raising awareness on hot car safety and the deadly outcome of leaving a child inside a hot car. Earlier this month, two hot car death cases were reported in the...
https://rgv.news/police-raise-awareness-on-hot-car-safety-prevention-19724.html
Texas GOP Rep. Giovanni Capriglione admits affair, denies abortion allegations
A conservative news site published an interview with a woman who alleges a 17-year affair with the Southlake representative, who said this week he wouldn’t seek reelection.
https://rgv.news/texas-gop-rep-giovanni-capriglione-admits-affair-denies-abortion-allegations-19719.html
Garza: A transformative moment, or simply more turmoil.
Economists do anticipate that the U.S. economy will slow substantially in 2025, though the extent of that contraction is not yet known, writes Antonio Garza, the former U.S. Ambassador to Mexico. The post Garza: A transformative moment, or simply...
https://rgv.news/garza-a-transformative-moment-or-simply-more-turmoil--19716.html
August increase in Mexico tariffs could strain Texas economy
A vast majority of trade between Mexico and the U.S. has been exempt from tariffs for months. That could change on Monday.
https://rgv.news/august-increase-in-mexico-tariffs-could-strain-texas-economy-19712.html
An interview with the Jesuit priest who claimed ‘kangaroo courts’ are operating in the RGV
Jesuit priest Brian Strassburger works for Del Camino Jesuit Border Ministries, a project that visits camps and shelters in northern Tamaulipas and South Texas to celebrate mass. The post An interview with the Jesuit priest who claimed ‘kangaroo courts’...
https://rgv.news/an-interview-with-the-jesuit-priest-who-claimed-kangaroo-courts-are-operating-in-the-rgv-19709.html
