Author Archives: VBR

Pharr Emergency Medical Services Chief Daniel “Danny” Ramirez has been appointed to the Governor’s EMS & Trauma Advisory Council. Governor Greg Abbott made the announcement via a news release on April 7. GETAC was established in 1999 to advise and make recommendations on the development and implementation of Texas Emergency Healthcare System Rules. GETAC’s mission is to promote, develop and advance an accountable, patient-centered Trauma and Emergency Healthcare System. Ramirez…

McAllen Named In Top 10 Safest Cities in America

April 12, 2022

VBR

Community Featured News Comments

McAllen now ranks sixth in Safest Cities in the United States according to SmartAsset.com. The financial website analyzes a core set of common safety factors to identify and rank the safest cities in America, looking at data from 200 of the largest cities. Since the last study, crime in the United States has continued its upward trend. In McAllen, however, crime decreases continued as the city moved up three spots…

Improving Water Quality In The Rio Grande Valley

April 11, 2022

VBR

Community Featured News Comments

Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas Inc. recently announced a new partnership with Texas A&M University School of Public Health to conduct a two-year study of arsenic and other toxic contaminants that occur in residential drinking water within border colonia communities in the Rio Grande Valley. The event highlighted the importance of a new partnership between Methodist Healthcare Ministries and Texas A&M as they work together to address and potentially…

Abbott Highlights Port In Texas’ Booming Energy Industry

April 9, 2022

VBR

Featured Manufacturing/Industrial News Comments

Texas Governor Greg Abbott recently highlighted the Port of Brownsville as a key component of Texas’ booming energy industry and as a critical asset to the Lone Star State’s economic success. The news came during an economic roundtable discussion with industry leaders and key stakeholders at the port March 30. “Ports are the gateway to the might of the Texas economy and the Port of Brownsville is vital infrastructure for…

City of Pharr Hosts Pharr Hub Phestival April 9

April 8, 2022

VBR

Community Events Featured News Comments

The City of Pharr hosts its biggest event of the year, the Pharr Hub Phestival, April 9 in downtown Pharr. The “Country Boots, Tejano Roots” themed event pays homage to the city’s roots. The evening includes family-friendly fun with carnival rides, food vendors, live entertainment, a bbq cook-off and more. The event will also feature a car/bike show from 4-7 p.m. and a BBQ Cook-Off from 10 a.m. to 4…

SBA Revises Small Business Size Standards

April 7, 2022

VBR

e-Brief Features Government News Comments

The U.S. Small Business Administration issued four final rules to modify revenues-based small business size standards in 16 North American Industrial Classification System sectors that will increase small business eligibility for SBA’s federal contracting and loan programs for approximately 59,000 additional firms. The final rules are part of the second five-year review of size standards, as required under the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010. As part of the review process, the…

McAllen’s Sunset Live Returns Saturday

April 6, 2022

VBR

Community Events e-Brief Features Featured Comments

After a brief pause for two years, McAllen’s Sunset Live outdoor music festival returns in its full capacity April 9. The concert series features local musical groups, as well as other regional and national bands. Kicking off the festival is a Tex-Mex Country R&B musical celebration at the McAllen Convention Center Oval Park. This will be the 43rd concert for Sunset Live, making it the leader in outdoor live music events…

UTRGV Ranks Nationally In Student Economic Mobility

April 5, 2022

VBR

Education Featured News Comments

UTRGV was recently ranked fourth nationally among the Top 10 schools that offer the most economic mobility for their students. Third Way, a national nonprofit think tank, announced the ranking in a recent report, “Out With the Old, In With the New: Rating Higher Ed by Economic Mobility.” Third Way developed the economic mobility ranking by examining which schools enroll the highest proportion of students from low and moderate backgrounds…

Caroline Miller To Serve As 82nd TIFT Hostess

April 4, 2022

VBR

Featured News Recreation & Tourism Comments

The executive board of the Texas International Fishing Tournament has chosen Caroline Miller, daughter of James and Becky Miller of Harlingen, as the 2022 T.I.F.T. Hostess. Miller is a fourth-generation T.I.F.T. participant and has been involved with the tournament since she was an infant. She attended her first tournament at two-and-a-half months old and took part for the first time at 15 months. “When I think of the Texas International…

TPWD Awards Grants To Local Parks

April 3, 2022

VBR

Community Featured News Comments

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission approved more than $12.5 million in Local Park Grants statewide to help create and enhance outdoor recreational opportunities. More than $2.6 million goes locally to Cameron and Hidalgo counties and Port Isabel. The Cameron County Parks and Recreation Department is the recipient of a $750,000 non-urban outdoor grant for the Olmito Nature Park project. This project will include land acquisition as well as developments…