Category Archives: News

Valley Regional Medical Center Named to Top 100 Hospitals

e-Brief Features Healthcare News Comments

Valley Regional Medical Center has been recognized as a top performing hospital in the 2026 Modern Healthcare 100 Top Hospitals program powered by Premier. “We are extremely proud of and grateful to our colleagues and clinicians on our medical staff whose dedication made this achievement possible,” said Joe Hernandez, CEO of Valley Regional Medical Center. “Our commitment to best practices helps us deliver high-quality care with our patients at the…

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McAllen Accepting Teen Court Program Applications

Community e-Brief Features News Comments

The McAllen Municipal Court is continuing its long-standing Teen Court Program and is taking applications now through May 15. The Teen Court Program initiative has positively impacted local youth for years while helping shape the next generation of community leaders. It gives students hands-on courtroom experience, strengthening leadership, public speaking, and real-world skills that support both academic success and future career goals. It is one of the many ways the…

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Search is On for Top Texas Nature Photographer

Arts e-Brief Features Featured News Comments

Wildlife in Focus is currently seeking its Texas Wildlife & Nature Photographer of the Year. The nonprofit conservation organization is accepting photography submissions statewide until June 7. “Our mission has always been to use photography as a bridge to conservation,” said Miles Phillips, photo contest director for Wildlife in Focus. “This new Photographer of the Year contest invites every Texan to tell the story of our state’s wildlife, from prairies…

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City Grows With Purpose & Prosperity

Community News Comments
Brownsville’s mayor says Starbase on Boca Chica Beach plans on having 25 rocket launches per year. (Courtesy)

Brownsville is celebrating a succession of big announcements and developments that are powering a thriving local economy – and the city’s mayor says there’s more big news on the way. At a recent State of the City address, Mayor John Cowen said another “multi-billion-dollar investment” at the Port of Brownsville will soon be confirmed and made public. It would add to the recent announcement of a new refinery being built…

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RGV Cities Highlight Local History

Featured Government News Comments
The old Cameron County Courthouse was vacant for years before being renovated in the early 2000s to serve as a county administration building. (Courtesy)

Gabriel Ozuna likens local preservation and historical committees to the planning and zoning boards found in many cities.  The members of both types of commissions are usually appointed by local City Commissions. Each board sets forth rules and guidelines on development. The goal is to ensure orderly growth and development in the local community. The P&Z boards have long been essential components of local governments, but the same cannot be…

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EDC Program Inspires ‘Majestic’ Comeback

Community News Comments
The Majestic Event Center will be ‘a one-of-a-kind' events center in Harlingen.

Jesse Flores looked down the block on north Commerce Street in Harlingen and saw an empty 6,500-square-foot building whose origins go back to the 1920s. Flores had renovated a next-door building and repurposed it to a multi-use structure that houses a variety of businesses. Might he do the same with the available building just a stone toss away? “I don’t want it,” Flores recalled telling the owner of the large…

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Astronaut Touts Opportunities In RGV

Education News Comments
Opportunities in engineering and advanced manufacturing are looking up with new companies and industries in the Rio Grande Valley. (Courtesy)

The dean of South Texas College’s math and science programs sees a Rio Grande Valley emerging as a technology-driven region where education and workforce development must work together.  “We have no other choice than educating our students about what is happening in our region,” said Ali Esmaeili, the STC dean, in a college media office report. “The growth in STEM is going to transform our region, but we haven’t scratched…

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McAllen Lands Major Auto Tech Facility

Manufacturing/Industrial News Comments
McAllen Mayor Javier Villalobos, left, and Valeo President Jeffery Shay share the spotlight at the company’s groundbreaking ceremony in late March. (Courtesy)

A French-based global automotive supplier has broken ground on a 226,000-squre foot facility in McAllen in what its president of North American operations says is a start of a partnership “that will span decades.” Jeffrey Shay, an executive for Valeo, said his company’s $225 million investment “is a ground-breaking moment for the city of McAllen.” Valeo designs, manufactures and sells advanced components, systems and software to major automakers in the…

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Craftsman Finds Calling In Leathers

News Retail Comments
Ramiro Paz displays one of his decorative leather masks. Each part of the mask is handcrafted to create a unique treasure.

There exists an important difference between the many purses found in stores and those purchased from Ramiro Paz.  Store-bought purses, even those from iconic brands, are made of canvas coated with polyvinyl chloride. Paz’s purses are handcrafted with genuine leather, as are his wallets, belts, money pouches, and knife sheaths. His journey to being a craftsman took him through active military duty in the U.S. Navy, then becoming a schoolteacher…

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Resilient Texas Job Market Shows Industry-Specific Growth

e-Brief Features News Comments
employment

The total number of nonfarm jobs in Texas registered at 14,354,600 after decreasing by 8,500 positions in February. Over the year, the state added 73,800 jobs for an annual nonfarm growth rate of 0.5 percent, outpacing the national growth rate by 0.4 percentage points. Texas’ civilian labor force registered at 15,941,800 after decreasing by 13,400 over the month. Over the year, Texas’ civilian labor force has added 121,200 people. The…

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