Category Archives: Featured

Texas Civilian Labor Force Reaches Record 15 Million People

Featured News Comments
employment

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…

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South Texas Chess Federation Selects McAllen For Championship

e-Brief Features Featured News Recreation & Tourism Comments
chess

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…

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TCMA Recognizes McAllen City Administrators

Featured Government News Comments
McAllen City Manager Roel “Roy” Rodriguez and Assistant City Manager Joe Vera. (Courtesy)

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…

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UTRGV School of Medicine Receives Final Accreditation

Education Featured Healthcare News Comments
UTRGV School of Medicine Commencement 2023 (UTRGV archival photo)

The UTRGV School of Medicine recently completed the final stage of accreditation required by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education. UTRGV President Guy Bailey said this significant milestone, while expected, is also important for the Rio Grande Valley. Moving forward, the school can now increase the number of students it is able to admit each year. Being able to develop and train more future doctors will also allow the School of…

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Reaching A Greater Goal With VIDA

e-Brief Features Education Featured Healthcare News Non-Profit Comments
Victoria Rivera

In fourth grade, Victoria Rivera moved in with her grandparents. Despite financial struggles, they provided their granddaughter with a home, stability and love.  In 2017, Rivera graduated from Brownsville Early College High School. She took advantage of the opportunity to take college courses while in high school, graduating with a high-school diploma and dual-enrollment credit from The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.  Unlike many high-school graduates today, Rivera did…

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Pharr Appoints Juan F. Gonzalez as Chief of Police

Featured Government News Comments

The City of Pharr recently appointed Juan F. Gonzalez as chief of police for the Pharr Police Department. Since Sept. 2022, Gonzalez has served as the acting chief of police. Gonzalez has served the Pharr Police Department for over 16 years starting as a patrol officer in 2007. Since then, Gonzalez has worked in the Criminal Investigations Division, SWAT team, the South Texas Auto Theft Task Force, and has served as…

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SBA Accepting Small Business Lending Company License Applications

Featured Government News Comments
loan, grant money ,funding

A window is now open by the U.S. Small Business Administration for new applications for Small Business Lending Company licenses for the first time in over 40 years. New applicants may apply between between now and July 31. SBA approves Small Business Lending Company Licenses for selected non-depository lenders to increase responsible small business lending. An SBLC license allows the lending organization to utilize government guarantees when underwriting small business…

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Brownsville ISD Launches Free Summer Meal Program

Community Featured News Comments
(photo fns.usda.gov)

The Brownsville Independent School District’s Food and Nutrition Services Department is now offering free breakfast and lunch meals over the summer. The Seamless Summer Option Program provides nutritious free meals for children ages 0 to 18 and is sponsored by the United States Department of Agriculture. In order to participate, families only have to find a site during breakfast and/or lunch. Breakfast begins at 7:30 a.m. and lunch begins at 11:30…

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STC, Hidalgo County Combat Poverty With New Partnership

Community Featured News Comments
STC President Ricardo J. Solis and Hidalgo County Judge Richard F. Cortez sign a Memorandum of Understanding to create a Youth Leadership Academy with the goal of decreasing poverty in the region. (Courtesy)

South Texas College President Ricardo J. Solis and Hidalgo County Judge Richard F. Cortez have signed a Memorandum of Understanding in a partnership that will create a Youth Leadership Academy with the goal of decreasing poverty in the region. This collaboration closely follows an STC Board of Trustees’ unanimous decision that the college and its leadership would be working closely with the Hidalgo County Prosperity Task Force, led by Judge…

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UT Health RGV Opens New San Carlos Primary Care Annex

Featured Healthcare News Comments
(Photo Paul Chouy, UTRGV)

The community partnership between the UTRGV School of Medicine, UT Health RGV and Hidalgo County Precinct 4 hosted a ribbon-cutting last week for the new UT Health RGV AHEC Primary Care Annex Building. The new annex clinic will open its door to patients on May 30, increasing availability for primary healthcare for the underserved San Carlos community.  ‘Extremely Successful’ Six years ago, in 2018, the Hidalgo County Precinct 4 and the…

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