Edinburg Mayor Omar Ochoa summarizes his city’s rapid growth as being one of “relentless progress” and has the numbers to prove it. The city’s population is expected to reach nearly 115,000 residents by 2028, an expected gain of 15,000 over the 2020 Census. The 15 percent population growth over the last six years makes Edinburg the Rio Grande Valley’s fastest growing city of any community with over 25,000 residents. At…
An elementary school rose on Edinburg’s east side in 1926 and its purpose during times of segregation was made clear. “The Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District established Stephen F. Austin Grade School for Mexican students,” states a Texas Historical Commission plaque that was recently placed in front of the century-old school. “They chose a site at E. Kuhn and N. 21st Streets near many of Edinburg’s Mexican families.” Stephen F.…
Meteorologists and hurricane forecasters see a “Super El Nino” forming in the Pacific Ocean, a weather phenomenon that usually means a reduced number of hurricanes forming in the Atlantic basin. It is from that basin – which includes the Caribbean Sea and the warm waters of the Gulf – from which hurricanes form that pose a threat to the Rio Grande Valley. It has been six years since the last-named…
Brownsville is celebrating a succession of big announcements and developments that are powering a thriving local economy – and the city’s mayor says there’s more big news on the way. At a recent State of the City address, Mayor John Cowen said another “multi-billion-dollar investment” at the Port of Brownsville will soon be confirmed and made public. It would add to the recent announcement of a new refinery being built…
Gabriel Ozuna likens local preservation and historical committees to the planning and zoning boards found in many cities. The members of both types of commissions are usually appointed by local City Commissions. Each board sets forth rules and guidelines on development. The goal is to ensure orderly growth and development in the local community. The P&Z boards have long been essential components of local governments, but the same cannot be…
Jesse Flores looked down the block on north Commerce Street in Harlingen and saw an empty 6,500-square-foot building whose origins go back to the 1920s. Flores had renovated a next-door building and repurposed it to a multi-use structure that houses a variety of businesses. Might he do the same with the available building just a stone toss away? “I don’t want it,” Flores recalled telling the owner of the large…
The dean of South Texas College’s math and science programs sees a Rio Grande Valley emerging as a technology-driven region where education and workforce development must work together. “We have no other choice than educating our students about what is happening in our region,” said Ali Esmaeili, the STC dean, in a college media office report. “The growth in STEM is going to transform our region, but we haven’t scratched…
A French-based global automotive supplier has broken ground on a 226,000-squre foot facility in McAllen in what its president of North American operations says is a start of a partnership “that will span decades.” Jeffrey Shay, an executive for Valeo, said his company’s $225 million investment “is a ground-breaking moment for the city of McAllen.” Valeo designs, manufactures and sells advanced components, systems and software to major automakers in the…
Joey Lopez took office in 2019 as Cameron County’s Precinct 2 commissioner. He took office with $500,000 for park development as made available from a successful 2012 bond vote. The funds, Lopez said, were just sitting there and not being utilized in his northwest county precinct. Lopez began scouting for landowners who could donate tracts of land to the county for park development. The county commissioner set his focus on…
The first new refinery to be built in the United States in 50 years is coming to the Rio Grande Valley at the Port of Brownsville and local officials say it will make the region a hub for energy logistics and growth. America First Refining with the financial backing of India-based Reliance Industries will construct the facility on the southside of port’s shipping channel. It will take up to seven…