The second oldest of five girls, Marisol Munoz has always felt, and embraced, the responsibility to serve as a role model to her younger sisters. When she graduated from the Academy of Health Science Professions in La Joya ISD, Munoz felt the true weight of that responsibility. Daughter of immigrant parents. First-generation college student. The pressure was on. In high school, Munoz completed training as a certified nurse assistant and…
The road to Isla Blanca Park being named USA Today’s Best Beach in Texas for 2024 began decades before when the South Padre Island park’s old pavilion featured a lean-to metal roof and an open view to the Gulf of Mexico. Isla Blanca Park for decades was the place for Rio Grande Valley families to gather with homestyle picnics. The venue provided a fun and inexpensive getaway. The amenities were…
The first time Lamar Jones saw his bottles of gourmet barbecue sauce lined up on the shelves of an H-E-B store he felt like a musician hearing one of his songs on the radio for the first time. “It was surreal to see it,” Jones recalled of that 2016 memory. “To see something I started making in my kitchen and then developing it to a brand being sold at H-E-B,…
A mid-summer day in 2022 started out like any other for Cris Moreno and was supposed to conclude with a joyful night out with his mother and an uncle and aunt visiting from California. It was during that outing when another vehicle slammed into Moreno’s GMC truck. He was badly injured and rushed to DHR Health hospital in Edinburg. Moreno is a mechanic who has owned and operated an auto…
This summer, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is offering a special incentive to incoming graduate students, aimed at jumpstarting their academic journey toward an advanced degree. The new Summer 2024 Grad Incentive will grant up to $2,000 toward the education of new students entering any academic program within the UTRGV Graduate College. This award, provided through grants or scholarships, is available on a first-come, first-serve basis until funds are exhausted. To…
South Texas College’s Regional Center for Public Safety Excellence will host its annual Public Safety and First Responders Expo on April 26, welcoming community members to explore career opportunities and academic pathways as first responders. Free and open to the public, more than 400 students from school districts across the Rio Grande Valley and community members are invited to the event, where a total of 40 local, state and federal…
McAllen International Airport welcomed representatives from Delta Air Lines to launch their first nonstop flight to Austin on April 22. “McAllen has made travel between the Valley and Austin easier than ever,” said City of McAllen Mayor Javier Villalobos. Nonstop flights between McAllen and the state capital now depart daily from McAllen International Airport. “A growing Rio Grande Valley needed a non-stop flight with multiple frequencies a day connecting to…
Texas Valley Coastal Bend Health Care System is participating in the DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, also known as the DUMP Opioids Act, on April 26. Locally, VA Harlingen Health Care Center will take back prescription drugs for free from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Individuals (not only veterans) can use the VA facility to dispose of unused controlled substance prescription medications. VA holds Medication Take Back Days…
The City of McAllen Passport Division Facility will be open on April 13 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the City of McAllen Passport Facility, located in the Downtown Parking Garage at 221 S. 15th Street. “Passport processing times vary depending on the volume and we want to make sure that anyone wishing to travel has their required documents on time,” said Yasminda Garza, passport facility administrator. Appointments are…
South Texas College has become one of only six institutions across Texas to receive a Military Friendly School Gold Award and Military Friendly Spouse School recognition for the 2023-2024 school year. The recognition comes from VIQTORY, a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business, which publishes the annual Military Friendly rating for schools nationwide. The awards affirm STC’s commitment, effort and success in creating opportunities for the military community on all its campuses.…