Author Archives: VBR

South Texas College and partners in education La Joya and Weslaco Independent School Districts and Vanguard Academies Mozart, Beethoven and Rembrandt are the recipients of a total of $4,718,866. The funds come through nine Jobs and Education for Texans grants from the Texas Workforce Commission. “This is a significant accomplishment that took much coordination and effort with La Joya ISD, Weslaco ISD and Vanguard Academy, these funds will help continue…

STC Introduces AI Curriculum

August 17, 2023

VBR

e-Brief Features Education Featured News Comments

Artificial Intelligence courses are arriving at South Texas College as soon as this fall. For the first time ever, STC’s Bachelor of Applied Technology Degree in Computer and Information Technologies program will be incorporating the basics of AI. CITP has installed a curriculum established by Amazon Web Services called “Machine Learning Foundations” into the program’s CITP 3310 Survey of Programming Languages course this fall. Machine Learning combines Computer Science with…

Avalos Joins DHR Health Heart Institute

August 17, 2023

VBR

e-Brief Features Healthcare News Comments

DHR Health has welcomed Dr. Christian D. Avalos to its team of cardiologists at the DHR Health Heart Institute. In his role as an interventional cardiologist, Avalos will specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of heart and blood vessel conditions using advanced catheter-based techniques and specialized imaging methods. Avalos’s expertise extends to addressing coronary artery disease, heart valve disorders, and congenital heart ailments, as well as preventing heart disease and…

City of Pharr Appoints Assistant City Managers

August 16, 2023

VBR

Featured Government News Comments

During last week’s city commission meeting, Dr. David D. Friedlein was appointed as Pharr’s new assistant city manager and Hilda Pedraza was reappointed as assistant city manager by Interim City Manager Dr. Jonathan B. Flores. Both Friedlein and Pedraza have a long history of public service, community relations and will work closely alongside Flores to continue the city’s exceptional growth. “The City of Pharr is continuing to expand our services,…

Texas Hunting, Fishing Licenses on Sale Aug. 15

August 14, 2023

VBR

Featured Government Recreation & Tourism Comments

Current-year Texas hunting and fishing licenses (except the Year-from-Purchase All-Water Fishing Package) expire at the end of August. Licenses for the 2023-24 season go on sale Aug. 15. Texans purchase more than 2.7 million hunting and fishing licenses annually, directly funding a multitude of conservation efforts and recreational opportunities. Some of the many projects made possible by license sales include fish stocking, wildlife management, habitat restoration, public hunting leases, river…

Pharr Police Department Hiring Police Officers

August 12, 2023

VBR

Featured Government News Comments

The Pharr Police Department is currently accepting applications for the position of police officer. The deadline to apply is Aug. 18 at noon. As a member of the department, officers have the chance to explore and excel in various specialized units, including the Mental Health Unit, K-9 Unit, Motorcycle Division, Mounted Patrol, Criminal Investigation Division and more. “Pharr PD is dedicated to providing a supportive and dynamic work environment,” Chief…

STC Receives Millions To Break Digital Barriers

August 10, 2023

VBR

e-Brief Features Education Featured News Technology Comments

South Texas College, with funding from the U.S. Department of Commerce Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program and awarded by U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar, received a $2.8 million National Institute of Standards and Technology grant to increase digital capabilities for its students. “Thanks to this grant and Henry Cuellar, it is possible for South Texas College to continue upgrading and transforming the college to be in the 21st century in terms…

UTRGV To Offer Physical Therapy Doctoral Program

August 10, 2023

VBR

e-Brief Features Education Healthcare News Comments

UTRGV will offer a new Doctor of Physical Therapy program starting summer 2025 to increase the number of trained therapists in the Rio Grande Valley and access to therapy services. The program, under the UTRGV Department of Physical Therapy in the College of Health Professions, will have an anticipated cohort of 40 students per year. The 113-hour program was approved by both Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Southern Association of Colleges and…

Texas State Bankshares Announces Definitive Agreement with Estrada Hinojosa & Company

August 9, 2023

VBR

Finance/Banking News Comments

Texas State Bankshares Inc., the registered bank holding company for Texas Regional Bank headquartered in Harlingen, announced this week it entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Dallas-based investment banking group Estrada Hinojosa & Company Inc. pending receipt of all required regulatory and shareholder approvals. TRB’s acquisition of Estrada Hinojosa will add a team of 48 individuals and offices in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Austin, Edinburg, Miami, Chicago and New…

McAllen Named to Great Places To Live

August 4, 2023

VBR

Community Featured News Comments

McAllen is one of the top seven great places to live in Texas, according to an article on Kiplinger.com, a personal finance website. The author of the article, Brittany Leitner, a Texas native, points out the features of Texas which makes it attractive to new residents. She then lists seven cities, which includes Amarillo, Austin, Corpus Christi, Houston, McAllen, San Antonio and Waco, and highlights the unique characteristics for each…