Ramiro Garza’s calling cards in his successful mayoral run were advocating for a code of ethics and pledging to rid City Hall of conflicts of interest. Once in office in late 2021, Garza faced another challenge as freshly released U.S. Census figures showed Edinburg grew faster than any other city in the Rio Grande Valley. The city’s population in 2020 showed a 39 percent growth over the 2010 count. At…
Md Salman Rahman’s big idea involves artificial intelligence and systems which allow patients to upload their medical reports. Rahman envisions his product, HealthAl, training people how to use algorithms to read the reports in helping to detect diseases. It’s a brilliant concept with soaring ambitions but Rahman, a UTRGV graduate student, lacked the entrepreneurial and business experience to take such a technological-heavy product to the marketplace. Rahman’s product development got…
Conrad Gonzales and his crew were constructing the last of the pens that will house the hundreds of cows, pigs, sheep and a variety of other animals on exhibit at the upcoming Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show. It will be the 83rd edition of the annual spring affair in Mercedes. On a recent sun-splashed and crisp February morning, Gonzales was motoring around on a golf cart, checking on projects and…
The UTRGV Department of Occupational Therapy has transitioned its master’s program into a doctoral program. As part of the university’s College of Health Professions, the OT program provides student-centered instruction. The curriculum prepares future practitioners for working with people who need physical, sensory or cognitive assistance. This new program replaces UTRGV’s Master of Occupational Therapy in an effort to meet unique demands in healthcare. It will also create entry-level clinical doctoral…
The UTRGV Foundation is allocating $1 million to the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley to help support campus life initiatives that were approved last year by a student referendum. Last November, UTRGV students voted to approve an athletics fee increase to help fund the expansion of spirit programs. Funds will also go towards the establishment of a marching band, women’s swimming and diving, and football. The allocation by the…
Alexandra Arevalo is the new interim director of the McAllen Convention & Visitors Bureau, also known as Visit McAllen. Arevalo has been with the bureau for two years, previously as a convention sales manager and currently as CVB McAllen director of sales. Prior to Arevalo’s time with the Convention and Visitors Bureau, she worked for the City of McAllen as an event coordinator for the Convention Center and Performing Arts…
Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez and the Hidalgo County Commissioners Court have pledged $2 million to fund salaries for South Texas Colleges Nursing and Allied Health nursing instructors. The funding is an effort to increase enrollment while also doubling the number of nurses graduating from STC. Cortez and others gathered Feb. 14 at STC’s Nursing and Allied Health Campus to celebrate the funding. Joining Cortez for the check signing were…
The Pharr EDC Foundation is now accepting applications from 2021-2022 graduating seniors for its Foundation Scholarship. The scholarships benefits students in Pharr who are enrolling in a qualifying post-secondary institution. Deadline to apply is 5 p.m. March 14. The scholarship offering is in partnership with the Pharr Economic Development Corporation and the City of Pharr. “We are excited to open the Pharr EDC Foundation Scholarship to our Pharr community for…
Loaves and Fishes in Harlingen is hosting a blood drive on Feb. 21 to help alleviate a critical blood shortage. According to organizers, Vitalant currently has less than a four-day supply of most blood types available. It has even less when it comes to typo O blood with less than a two-day supply. Blood donations are being distributed to hospital patients faster than donors are giving, therefore help is needed…
Robert Andes teaches and trains future generations of artists at Texas Southmost College. He also practices what he lectures as an award-winning Rio Grande Valley artist, with a current exhibit at Puente Art Gallery in Brownsville. Andes said this is his first solo art show and he is honored. “When I got the invitation, I was speechless,” said the TSC art instructor. “As an artist, a solo show is the…