The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Annual Report features the Port of Brownsville’s ascension to 50th position among 150 U.S. maritime ports for waterborne cargo. In 2022, the port handled 9.1 million tons of cargo, up from 8.9 million tons in 2021, moving from 55th to 50th place. The port’s comprehensive logistical network comprised of rail, trucking lines, vessel and barge services and pipeline connectivity are key to the transportation…
The South Texas Alliance of Cities launched in 2023 with the goal of fostering greater cooperation and collaboration among communities in addressing key issues. The partnership appears to be off to a good start. The majority of the communities in the pact are in the Rio Grande Valley although it does extend to San Antonio. That city’s mayor, Ron Nirenberg, has attended some of the alliance’s quarterly meetings. The focus…
The UTRGV School of Medicine has opened of its new, state-of-the-art Center for Human Genetics, headquartered on the Brownsville Campus. The new facility is dedicated to cutting-edge research that addresses major public health concerns in the Rio Grande Valley, including diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, liver cancer, Alzheimer’s disease and depression. The 17,246-square-foot facility, funded by a Valley Baptist Legacy Foundation grant and support from the UT System Permanent University Fund, will…
The Texas Master Naturalist program is teaming up with H-E-B for a new Pollinators for Texas initiative. As part of this new partnership, H-E-B is providing $50,000 to the TMN program to fund the initiative. TMN chapters across the state will have the opportunity to apply for project awards of up to $3,000 each to support large-scale community-based projects that enhance native pollinator populations and their habitats. “We are proud to partner…
Texas’ labor market achieved new record highs in September in terms of the job count and number of people in the civilian labor force. Texas’ seasonally adjusted total nonfarm employment increased to 14,289,900 after 29,200 jobs were added over the month. Texas added 327,400 jobs from Sept. 2023 to Sept. 2024. Texas’ annual nonfarm growth rate currently sits at 2.3 percent, outpacing the U.S. growth rate by 0.7 percentage points.…
The International Museum of Art & Science is launching its new IMAS After Dark with “Fright Night” on Oct. 31, providing a new way for adults to take in the museum. With themed evening events throughout the year, the series provides an exclusive opportunity for adults (21+) to explore the museum’s art and science exhibits in a lively atmosphere. Each night features complimentary beverages, interactive activities and social experiences that…
DHR Health will host its 14th annual International Behavioral Medicine Conference on Nov. 8 and Nov. 9, focusing on various mental health issues while providing informational access to leading authorities in the field of behavioral medicine. The conference will take place at the Edinburg Conference Center at Renaissance and is open to all medical professionals. This includes physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses, social workers, licensed professional counselors, psychologists and mental…
The McAllen Public Utility will host the first-ever Rio Grande Valley Utility Conference at the McAllen Convention Center from Nov. 6-8, bringing together utility professionals, industry leaders and exhibitors from across the region. Attendees will have the opportunity to connect with key stakeholders, engage with industry experts, and explore the latest in utility technology and solutions. The conference, while open to the general public, focuses mainly to individuals in the…
For the third consecutive year, Los Pinos Hardware is giving a portion of its October sales to the Renaissance Cancer Foundation in support of breast cancer awareness. Since their campaign’s inception, Los Pinos Hardware has raised over $30,000 for the Edinburg-based charity. The Renaissance Cancer Foundation is a non-profit organization who, since 2008, has provided financial assistance to underserved cancer patients in the Rio Grande Valley. “Once again we are…
While in the Vocational Nursing Program at Texas State Technical College in Harlingen, Yvette Garcia attended an informational session conducted by the Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement. Little did she know that day how much this session would impact her life. Founded nearly 30 years ago through a collaboration between Valley Interfaith and business leaders from across the Rio Grande Valley, VIDA has remained true to its original mission.…