Bill DeBrooke’s family referred to him as a “Grandpa Grumpy Pants” with a scruffy appearance and coarse demeanor who was unconventional and yet highly successful in making projects flourish. DeBrooke’s look and style could be misleading. He possessed a genius for problem solving and built “a Monopoly-like real estate empire from scratch.” The empire in this case refers to Downtown Harlingen. It’s where he and his family acquired dozens of…
The rampant online speculation about the construction of a data center in Harlingen has come into clearer focus as the Cameron County judge and the city’s mayor acknowledged such an interest exists while emphasizing no formal proposals are under consideration. The property site for a possible data center is an 1,800-acre space adjacent to Valley International Airport and just outside of Harlingen’s city limits. This means any possible approval of…
McAllen Mayor Javier Villalobos gave his fifth State of The City Address in February and described his community as having “movement, energy and success.” Villalobos was exuberant in giving the address before a crowd of 1,300 at the McAllen Convention Center. The mayor walked around a large stage with a wireless headset microphone and enthusiastically ran down a list of accomplishments and projects achieved in 2025. Villalobos often cited the…
A new partnership between the Center for Advanced Training and Apprenticeships at South Texas College, La Joya Independent School District and regional industry leaders is creating a pipeline from the classroom to the jobsite for local high school students. Twelve students from La Joya ISD recently visited Crawford Electric Supply in Mission as part of CATA’s Construction Technician Apprenticeship program, which is enabling the students to receive training as well…
The Rio Grande Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce will host its signature annual celebration, Noche De Gala 2026 “Arabian Nights” on May 14 at the Corinthians Event Center in Mission. The evening will honor leaders and businesses whose impact has strengthened the Rio Grande Valley’s economic and cultural landscape. The chamber is now accepting nominations for its 2026 awards and encourages the public to submit outstanding candidates. Awards to be…
February at South Texas College means hundreds of education professionals from across the nation gather at South Padre Island for the college’s annual Dual Credit Summit, in collaboration with the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships. This year, nearly 300 K-12 and post-secondary education leaders, advisors and counselors attended the three-day event that included keynote speakers, breakout sessions and networking opportunities. Rebecca De Leon, Ed.D., STC associate vice president of…
The Rio Grande Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce has appointed Tom Castañeda as chairman, reinforcing the organization’s commitment to regional advocacy and economic growth. Castañeda, system director of marketing and public relations for South Texas Health System, brings experience in journalism, marketing and communications. A Rio Grande Valley native, he has led marketing, advertising, community engagement and public relations for the system’s 12 facilities since 2020. “The RGV Hispanic Chamber,…
The City of McAllen has shattered its all-time sales tax record, receiving $12.6 million in February’s allocation for December collections, (2025 vs 2024) a 5.31-percent increase over the same period last year. This milestone surpasses the previous high of $11.9 million. “McAllen is no longer simply participating in regional growth. We are defining it,” said Mayor Javier Villalobos. “As more people choose to visit, invest and shop here, the numbers…
DHR Health will host its free 16th annual Community Health Fair on Feb. 21 from 8 a.m. to noon at the Edinburg Conference Center at Renaissance (118 Paseo del Prado). The morning includes free health screenings, health education talks led by medical experts, and a variety of booths offering health resources from DHR Health and community partners. By bringing together healthcare professionals and local organizations, the event helps connect individuals…
The Rio Grande Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce will soon be recognizing 10 area women representing various social and professional fields with the 2026 Women of Distinction Awards. The presentation will take place during the annual Hats Off to Women of Distinction Awards & Expo on March 5 at the Mission Event Center (200 N. Shary Road). The Women of Distinction Awards celebrate women whose leadership, innovation and service are shaping…