The McAllen Independent School District is the home of the Regional Day School Program for The Deaf and has long played a key role in the education of hard-of-hearing students. The McAllen program got its start in 1979 as the Regional School for the Deaf. An Easter Seals donation came to the program in the form of an audiometric booth for conducting student audiological examinations. On March 24, McAllen’s regional…
The development of open spaces along Expressway 83 between Pharr and Harlingen is accelerating as developers look to fill gaps and bring brand names in retailing and restaurants to smaller communities. Cities like Donna and Mercedes were formerly excluded from the Rio Grande Valley’s rapid growth of the last two decades. The same was once the case for San Juan. In the early 2000s, San Juan was a community that…
When Donna Jo Pena applied to Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement in late 2021, it wasn’t déjà vu that came over her. Rather, she experienced actual memories from 2004-2005 when VIDA played a significant role in helping her become a licensed vocational nurse. VIDA, a nonprofit organization serving the Rio Grande Valley for over 25 years, provides financial assistance and support services, removing the barriers that often prevent Valley…
The City Nature Challenge is back for the eighth year, inviting Texans to explore nature in their immediate surroundings. The friendly community competition takes places April 28 – May 1 among 15 Texas metropolitan areas, including the Lower Rio Grande Valley. The program is the product of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department through the Texas Nature Trackers program, encouraging people to explore outside their front doors, in their yard or…
Nearly 200 workforce leaders and educators from across the state recently gathered for South Texas College’s second annual Workforce Summit. The event provided attendees an understanding of how STC is impacting the region and its workforce while also serving as a chance to engage the community and seek input on current workforce needs. “The future of tomorrow is here today,” said STC President Ricardo J. Solis. “We are the college…
UTRGV and the City of Edinburg are hosting The Wall that Heals, a 375-foot-long replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall now through April 23 at the Ebony Hills Golf Course. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund chose Edinburg as a stop on the 2023 national The Wall That Heals tour. It includes the three-quarter scale replica wall and a mobile Education Center exhibit that tells the story of the Vietnam War,…
Highly skilled aircraft technicians are in short supply, and the aviation maintenance program at Texas State Technical College is training students in an effort to meet demand for them across Texas. Isaac Pena of Rio Grande City is a second-semester Aircraft Powerplant Technology student at TSTC. He said the technician shortage creates a promising outlook for upcoming aviation maintenance graduates. “It’s beneficial because there’s more demand, opportunities and potentially increased pay,” he said. “As I’m…
Leadership Edinburg Class XXXIV will host a Kentucky Derby-themed fundraiser “Derby at the Depot” on May 6, transporting guests to the world-famous horse race. Organizers say the event promises to be an exciting and entertaining afternoon. The fundraiser will feature a live screening of the Kentucky Derby, along with a silent auction, raffle and live music. Food and drinks, including traditional Mint Juleps, are on the menu. Attendees are encouraged to…
Standout students enrolled in Career and Technical programs at South Texas College have received a significant financial boost through the annual John G. and Maria Stella Kenedy Memorial Foundation grant. Fifteen students have each been awarded $1,000 in scholarships, which for the last 13 years have helped to cover the cost of courses as well as the purchase of tools and equipment. To qualify, students are required to submit impactful…
For the past 10 months, the City of McAllen has been developing an updated comprehensive plan, by hosting community meetings and online surveys and asking for input from residents, businesses, community stakeholders and others. The draft plan is now final and the community is once again invited to give feedback on what is being proposed for McAllen’s future growth and development for the next 20 to 30 years. Areas up…