Category Archives: Industry

Hidalgo County Names Public Affairs Director

Carlos Sanchez

Carlos Sanchez is now the public affairs director and spokesman for Hidalgo County with appointment from Hidalgo County Judge Richard F. Cortez. “I’m honored to serve as spokesman for Hidalgo County,” said Sanchez. “Developing a strong communications blueprint between the county and the community at large is my priority.” Sanchez is a 37-year veteran of the news industry. He was recently a senior editor for Texas Monthly magazine in the…

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Mere Coincidence or Serendipitous?

Maria Herrera, an RN at Edinburg Regional Medical Center, with Tony Aguirre after their serendipitous meeting.

For a week in early February, McAllen businessman and City of McAllen Public Utilities Vice Chairman Tony Aguirre spent countless hours at Edinburg Regional Medical Center where his mom was a patient. He watched TV with her and sang conjunto songs playing on his phone’s Pandora app with her. He monitored her vitals while she slept and had conversations with all of the medical professionals treating her. One of the…

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New Dual Credit Program Readies For Cybersecurity

STC’s new Dual Credit Cybersecurity Program provides students from partnering area high schools the opportunity to pursue a Certificate in the field of Cybersecurity. (photo STC)

The first cohort of students are now making their way through South Texas College’s Dual Credit Cybersecurity Program. The program provides students from partnering area high schools the opportunity to pursue a certificate in the field of cybersecurity.   Students participating in the Career and Technical Education pathway are on track to complete their Cybersecurity Specialist Certificate. Completion will come by the end of their senior years in high school.…

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Pharr Mayor Joins CPRIT Oversight Committee

CPRIT

Pharr Mayor Dr. Ambrosio Hernandez is now part of the the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas Oversight Committee in Austin. His oath of office took place Feb. 19 with Presiding Officer Donald “Dee Margo” at CPRIT’s meeting. “I am honored to be a part of this committee and am especially proud to join my colleagues as we lead the statewide effort to cure cancer. With my background as…

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McAllen Students Host U.S. Senate Candidate Forum 

Candidates and students pose for a photo after the forum. Back row, Jack Daniel Foster Jr., Michael Cooper, Chris Bell, Jonah Riojas; front, Amanda Edwards, Victor Hugo Harris, Sema Hernandez, Karolina Vargas, Alexis Alvarado and Chloe Jerez.

McAllen ISD students recently hosted a community candidate forum for those running for the U.S. Senate in the 2020 May primary elections. Those in attendance were Chris Bell, Michael Cooper, Amanda Edwards, Jack Daniel Foster Jr, Victor Hugo Harris and Sema Hernandez.  Students Jonah Riojas (McAllen High School), Karolina Vargas (Nikki Rowe High School), and Alexis Alvarado (Memorial High School) were the panelists asking questions to the candidates. Chloe Jerez…

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Local Engineering Firm Racks Up Awards

The team from SWG Engineering LLC accepts the 2019 Innovative Project of the Year award. Randall Winston, center, holds the 2019 Civil Engineer of the Year award from the American Society of Civil Engineers Rio Grande Valley Branch.

SWG Engineering LLC, a local civil engineering firm, was recently distinguished by two national organizations for the solutions it provided Rio Grande Valley municipalities in 2019. The American Society of Civil Engineers Rio Grande Valley Branch presented SWG with the 2019 Innovative Project of the Year award. The recognition comes for the firm’s canal-to-pipeline conversion for the Delta Lake Irrigation District. SWG turned the A-20 open canal into 4.5 miles…

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Public Education Retirees Meet for Legislative Agenda

A group of public-school employees and retirees recently met recently in McAllen to establish a legislative agenda for the 2021 legislative session in Texas. Seen here are, back, retirees Chris Ardis, Kathy Johnson, Debbi Benson, Jerry Albrecht and Herb Trevino; front, retirees Chiqui Guerra and Torchie Champion with current public-school employee Norma Guerra.

A group of retired public school employees, along with two current employees nearing retirement, recently met in McAllen to begin working on a legislative agenda for the 2021 Legislative Session. Their agenda will address the critical needs of Teacher Retirement System of Texas retirees. Addressing health care First on the group’s agenda is health care. In 2017, the Texas legislature raised the health-insurance deductible for TRS retirees under the age…

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Aeromar Offers Mexico City Special

Aeromar

Aeromar is offering a limited promotion for $250 round-trip airfare from McAllen to Acapulco via Mexico City. The promotional fare will connect McAllen International Airport via Mexico City International Airport to Acapulco International Airport. Flights to Mexico City from McAllen operate five times weekly with a connection to Acapulco. Departure days from McAllen include Monday, Wednesday, Thursda, Friday and Sunday with afternoon departure times. The promotional fare can be found only…

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Bringing Vitality & Versatility To Downtown Harlingen

Girls Of All Trades offers a wide variety of tea flavors and mixes.

Belle Gonzalez-Myers has a variety of talents and is confident in utilizing all of them. She is a serious baker of all sorts of pastries and cakes. Gonzalez-Myers is also handy with a hammer. “I’m not afraid to build things,” she said.  Her range of skills could earn a distinction of “Jack of all trades,” but she says that label does not fit her. “I’m not a Jack,” she said. “I’m…

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Modern-Day Pioneers – a Celebration

With March being Women’s History Month, we celebrate the brave, bold and fearless women who are influencing the Rio Grande Valley. The RGV is home to so many individuals who have dreams and aspirations to create something to call their own. In this feature, VBR picks the minds of the women pioneering what entrepreneurship looks like in the modern era – from mindset to the key to success. The Brave…

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