Category Archives: Industry

Data Center Possibility Draws Scrutiny

Community News Technology Comments
Data center companies are often recruited by local economic development corporations, but opposed by local residents despite the opposition voiced in some communities about their construction. (Courtesy)

The rampant online speculation about the construction of a data center in Harlingen has come into clearer focus as the Cameron County judge and the city’s mayor acknowledged such an interest exists while emphasizing no formal proposals are under consideration. The property site for a possible data center is an 1,800-acre space adjacent to Valley International Airport and just outside of Harlingen’s city limits. This means any possible approval of…

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Dentists Provide Care Across RGV

Healthcare News Comments
Rodeo Dental is a committed Dentists Who Care partner. The company’s CEO, Dr. Saam Zarrabi, serves as president of the board.

A mobile unit rolled into towns across the Rio Grande Valley in 1996 and made children healthier along the way.  A small group of local dentists applied for funding from the Community Development Block Grant program and gathered donations in launching Dentists Who Care, a nonprofit group. They also gathered a group of volunteer dentists committed to “Bridging Smiles. Transforming Lives,” a motto seen on dentistswhocare.org. The dentists took time…

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McAllen Celebrates Year of Growth

Community Government Comments
McAllen Next Is Now is the city’s new motto and highlights the community’s dynamic growth and development. (Courtesy)

McAllen Mayor Javier Villalobos gave his fifth State of The City Address in February and described his community as having “movement, energy and success.” Villalobos was exuberant in giving the address before a crowd of 1,300 at the McAllen Convention Center. The mayor walked around a large stage with a wireless headset microphone and enthusiastically ran down a list of accomplishments and projects achieved in 2025. Villalobos often cited the…

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Public Input Sought on Proposed Hunting Regulation

e-Brief Features Government News Comments

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is accepting public comment until March 26 for proposed changes to the 2026-27 Statewide Hunting and Migratory Game Bird proclamations. Migratory Game Bird Regulations Change the South Zone dove hunting season structure during the first segment to include an earlier regular season opening date (Sept. 1 – Oct. 25, 2026), eliminate the Special White-winged Dove Days, and institute standardized daily bag limits across all days in…

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Historic Sales Tax Allocation Highlights McAllen’s Economic Influence

Community e-Brief Features Government News Comments

The City of McAllen has shattered its all-time sales tax record, receiving $12.6 million in February’s allocation for December collections, (2025 vs 2024) a 5.31-percent increase over the same period last year. This milestone surpasses the previous high of $11.9 million. “McAllen is no longer simply participating in regional growth. We are defining it,” said Mayor Javier Villalobos. “As more people choose to visit, invest and shop here, the numbers…

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Pharr EMS Expands Prehospital Care

e-Brief Features Healthcare News Comments
Pharr EMS and TRAUMAGEL

Pharr EMS has introduced TRAUMAGEL into its emergency medical response system, becoming the first EMS service in the Rio Grande Valley and south of Houston to use the innovative, life-saving technology. TRAUMAGEL is a plant-based hemostatic gel designed to control moderate to severe bleeding in seconds. Applied directly to a wound, the gel conforms to the injury site to rapidly control bleeding, helping stabilize patients until they receive advanced medical…

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Millennial Couple Making Brownsville Shine

Featured Food & Entertainment News Comments

It was more the opportunity to restore a historic building than starting a business that was the initial inspiration for Hector Zavala when he saw a 1860s-era building in Downtown Brownsville. Zavala was in his mid-20s at the time when spotting an old botica building on the corner of 11th and Washington streets. The over 160-year-old pharmacy building that also housed doctors’ offices and a clinic had been left vacant…

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Mid-Valley Growth Lifts Entrepreneurs

Food & Entertainment News Comments
O’s Burgers & More are a welcome new addition to the food court at the Rio Grande Valley Premium Outlets.

The growth of a small business can come from the result of well-crafted planning – or sometimes by happenstance. Norma Ozuna and her husband Eddie, with years of experience in working for corporate restaurant chains, made the move in 2021 to open their own business along Expressway 83 in Mercedes. O’s Burgers & More is located adjacent to the emerging Shops At Mercedes. The latter is a 250,000-square-foot retailing development…

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STC Campuses Set to Host VITA

Community e-Brief Features Government News Comments
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program has returned to South Texas College, offering free tax preparation services to qualifying residents across the Rio Grande Valley ahead of the April 15 filing deadline. VITA offices are available at both STC’s Pecan Campus and Mid-Valley Campus, concluding March 12 at Mid-Valley and March 14 at Pecan. Services at the Pecan Campus will be offered Monday through Thursday from noon to 4 p.m.…

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