Throughout life, we all make choices. We also face barriers on the way to goals. As Stephanie Johnson looks back on the point where she turned her life around, she sees the two intersecting. “I made choices that put barriers in my way,” said Johnson. Born in Minnesota, Johnson and her family moved around the Midwest throughout her childhood, making their way to Texas when she was 10, first to…
The National Science Foundation Improving Undergraduate STEM Education: Hispanic-Serving Institutions has awarded a $199,838 grant to the UTRGV Center for Teaching Excellence’s Students as Learners and Teachers program. The SaLT program encourages collaboration between trained students in teaching with instructors who teach undergraduate core mathematics coursework, which could assist in retention and student success efforts. This innovative teaching approach also could enhance high-quality, equitable instructional practices in undergraduate mathematics classes. The grant, set to…
The City of McAllen Police Department is currently accepting applications for the position of police officer. Applicants must submit their applications to the City of McAllen Civil Service Department at McAllen City Hall (1300 Houston Ave.) no later than Aug. 9 by 5 p.m. Candidates can also obtain further information and the application form by visiting the City of McAllen’s website at www.mcallen.net/jobs or by contacting the Civil Service Department…
High school students will be getting first-hand experience into cutting-edge technology through South Texas College’s first-ever camp dedicated to designing, programming and simulating robotics used in industry. STC’s Advanced Manufacturing program will host its robotics summer camp for high school juniors and seniors July 10-14. The camp is tuition free thanks to a grant from STC industry partner Panasonic Automotive that is sponsoring the camp for nontraditional students, such as…
Reynaldo Avila was nothing if persistent and so was his cause to find a proper home for a vast collection of conjunto music memorabilia. Avila toiled for over two decades to locate a permanent home for the Conjunto Music Hall of Fame & Museum. In the 2010s, the museum was shoehorned into a 650-square-foot space in a San Benito city-owned building shared with other historical collections. Avila was promised that…
The McAllen Police Department is now accepting applications for its next Citizens’ Police Academy. Starting Aug. 17 and running through Oct. 19, the 10-week academy will meet every Thursday, from 6-9 p.m. This academy will be the 17th McAllen PD Citizens’ Police Academy. There is no cost to apply and selected applicants must be 21 years of age or older; must be able to attend all classes; work or reside…
After nine months of hard work, the Edinburg Chamber of Commerce celebrated the Leadership Edinburg Class XXXIV graduation in early June 2023 at Castle Hill Bistro. Leadership Edinburg Class XXXIV completed several classes including a leadership retreat and sessions that focused on education, healthcare, history, media, economics, government, quality of life and community service. Each Leadership Edinburg Class selects a project that they work on together and complete within one…
For the first time in history, the Texas seasonally adjusted civilian labor force crossed the 15 million threshold, adding 49,000 people over the month to reach 15,009,300 in May. Though the unemployment rate increased slightly to 4.1 percent, the number of employed also reached a new record high at nearly 14.4 million. Texas total nonfarm employment increased by 51,000 positions over the month — adding more jobs than any other…
The McAllen Chamber of Commerce recently announced the South Texas Chess Federation has selected McAllen as its host city for the 2024 Pan American Intercollegiate Team Chess Championship. Organizers expect the January 2024 tournament to draw more than 400 visitors to the McAllen Convention Center, potentially generating an economic impact of over $315,000. Throughout the year, the McAllen Chamber’s Tourism Department ‘Convention & Visitors Bureau’ diligently facilitates conferences that attract…
The Texas City Managers Association recently recognized two City of McAllen administrators, City Manager Roel “Roy” Rodriguez and Assistant City Manager Joe Vera, as recipients of two 2023 TCMA Professional Awards at the TCMA Annual Conference Awards Luncheon in Allen, Texas. Rodriguez is the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award, which recognizes city management professionals who have made significant contributions to the field of local government management for more than…