McAllen Municipal Court’s Teen Court Program has opened applications for local teens to volunteer as teen attorneys and jurors beginning in July and through December. McAllen Municipal Court’s Teen Court Program allows teenage offenders to dispose of their citations in a court of their peers. In lieu of a conviction and fees, the teens are represented by teen attorneys and the case is tried to teen jurors. As long as…
The Brownsville Navigation District has awarded 34 graduating high school seniors the 2025 Port of Brownsville Scholarship, recognizing academic excellence, community service and leadership. Each recipient will receive a $1,000 scholarship upon enrollment at a college, university or technical school. Students were selected based on their academic achievements, extracurricular involvement, community engagement, work experience and a personal essay. Recipients represent 17 public and private high schools within the navigation district.…
Quinta Mazatlan and The Valley Land Fund are currently hosting the annual nature photography contest for kids, Southern Exposures. The contest offers prizes for every child who enters, including cash and a photo feature in the Award Winning Exhibit. Photographs should have a nature or wildlife theme and must be taken in the Rio Grande Valley. “Observing and photographing nature is an enriching hobby that helps your child learn in…
South Texas College leadership recently celebrated the expansion of the Starr County campus by officially opening its newest facility, a brand-new $2.5 million 3,272 square-foot Starr County Building Q Automotive Lab expansion. STC President Ricardo Solis also announced an increase of more than $6 million in Starr that will include more than 13,000 square feet of additional lab and lecture space for technical programs and resources. “This is a long-awaited…
The McAllen Police Department is now accepting applications for its next Citizens’ Police Academy. Starting Aug. 14 and running through Oct. 15, the 10-week academy will meet every Thursday evening from 6-9 p.m. There is no cost to apply and selected applicants must be 21 years of age or older, able to attend all classes, work or reside in McAllen, and turn in a completed application by July 25. “The…
The Public Utility Commission of Texas is urging all Texans to stay alert and informed during the 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season, which began this week and extends through Nov. 30. Texans can track potential power outages and restoration times using the PUCT’s Storm Resources webpage. “Every Texan should take time to create or review their severe weather plans and prepare their families and property for a potential storm,” PUCT Chairman…
Michelle Rivera is the new deputy city manager for the City of McAllen, effective June 1. Rivera brings to the role a 30-year career in public service across the Rio Grande Valley, with experience in the cities of Harlingen, Mercedes and McAllen, where she has served as assistant city manager since 2014. Known for her collaborative leadership, business-minded approach, and results-driven strategies, Rivera has built a legacy of innovation, fiscal…
The Port of Brownsville is now 41st in the ranking of 150 U.S. maritime ports for waterborne cargo tonnage. According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ most recent annual report, in 2023, the port’s waterways handled more than 11.2 million tons of cargo. This is a 23 percent increase from 2022’s 9.1 million tons, launching the port from 50th position to 41st in the nation. This latest ranking signifies…
Pharr resident Maria “Mily” Moreno found herself at a crossroads in life. Divorced and the mother of two sons — ages 25 and 15 — she knew she needed to find a new path. Moreno resigned from her dead-end job and accepted a position as a part-time contract employee for the Texas Juvenile Justice Department. This move cut her income by $20,000 a year. One day, Moreno encountered a South…
VA Texas Valley Coastal Bend Health Care System invites veterans, their families, and caregivers to the Whole Health and Caregiver Summit on May 17 at Tropical Texas Behavioral Health Conference Center. Attendees will gain insights into VA’s whole health and wellness delivery system and the caregiver program, both of which support health and well-being. The summit takes place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the back of the building…