Category Archives: e-Brief Features

IMAS Invites McAllen Residents To Back To School Bash

IMAS Educator Edgar Cortez gives a Science on a Sphere presentation to McAllen ISD students.

The International Museum of Art & Science and McAllen Public Utility host the Back to School Bash on Aug. 19 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The immersive event celebrates the new school year with a fusion of art, science and community engagement, and will feature a wide range of activities and community partner booths for attendees of all ages. In addition to the engaging activities, the Back to School…

Read More

Arts Studio Offers Everything ‘Under One Roof’

An indoor mural highlights the diversity of arts programs offered at the RGV Arts Studio.

A view across the social media presence of the Rio Grande Valley Arts Studio reaffirms its founder’s assertion of having everything “all under one roof.” There’s a “beach dance camp” to go with galleries of colors featuring the artwork of children. There are photos of teenage girls immersed in a sewing workshop in preparing for a fashion show. Little ballerinas in another image are in poses they just took during…

Read More

Rio Grande Regional Hospital Earns Distinction For Surgeries

Dr. Jaime Villarreal, cardiothoracic and vascular surgeon, and Dr. Adriana Gomez, chief medical officer, of Rio Grande Regional Hospital.

Rio Grande Regional Hospital has earned a distinguished three-star rating from The Society of Thoracic Surgeons for its patient care and outcomes in aortic valve replacement combined with coronary artery bypass grafting. The three-star rating, which denotes the highest quality category, places RGRH among the elite for AVR+CABG surgery in the United States and Canada. Rio Grande Regional Hospital is the only hospital in south Texas to currently hold a…

Read More

STC Police Academy Cadets Graduate With Guaranteed Jobs

STC 30th Police Academy

The South Texas College 30th Police Academy recently celebrated the graduation and recruitment of every single graduating cadet in a ceremony joined by friends and family at the Regional Center for Public Safety Excellence in Pharr. For the first time in program history, all students were offered conditional job offers from the Hidalgo County Sherriff’s Office weeks before completing the 22-week program. Sherriff J.E. “Eddie” Guerra attended the ceremony and…

Read More

Quinta Mazatlan Holds Youth Nature Photo Contest

Quinta Mazatlán Nature Photo Contest

Quinta Mazatlán is currently hosting a free Summer Youth Nature Photo Contest along with nature photo workshops designed for children. In partnership with The Valley Land Fund, the center encourages children to get creative and explore nature with a camera and/or smartphone. Kids ages 5 to 18 are invited to take nature photos anywhere in the eight most southern counties of Texas this summer. Each child can enter up to six…

Read More

Texas State Parks Among the Nation’s Best

Texas State Parks is competing against three other state park systems to receive 2023 National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management. Presenters for the award are the National Recreation and Park Association along with the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration. “I’m proud to have the hard work of our Texas State Park staff recognized for building one of the best state park systems in…

Read More

City of McAllen Offers Cooling Centers

McAllen Public Library, McAllen cooling centera

As temperatures and heat indexes continue to soar, the City of McAllen would like to remind the public that many city facilities are open and available to the community as cooling centers. McAllen Community Centers are open for patrons to come in and cool off. Seats are available in the lobby as well as access wi-fi and areas to recharge phones. In north McAllen, the Lark Community Center at 2601…

Read More

Edinburg Hosts 10th Annual FridaFest

10th annual FridaFest

The City of Edinburg invites the community to its 10th annual FridaFest on July 15 at Edinburg City Hall, 415 W. University Drive. Some indoor pre-festival events begin at 5 p.m. with the outdoor community festival hours being 7-11 p.m. A Women’s Empowerment Panel kicks off the evening at 5 p.m. at Edinburg Municipal Auditorium (behind city hall). This empowerment panel showcases local women who have excelled in their careers…

Read More

Nurse’s Healing Opens Doors

Stephanie Johnson

Throughout life, we all make choices. We also face barriers on the way to goals. As Stephanie Johnson looks back on the point where she turned her life around, she sees the two intersecting. “I made choices that put barriers in my way,” said Johnson. Born in Minnesota, Johnson and her family moved around the Midwest throughout her childhood, making their way to Texas when she was 10, first to…

Read More

Tips to Stay Safe During the Summer Heat

summer safety

With the soaring summer temperatures Texas State Parks is sharing seven tips to help Texans enjoy time outdoors safely. Last year, 47 state parks reported 141 heat-related illnesses in humans and pets. Since Jan. 1, 77 heat-related incidents have already been reported, compared to 64 reported by this time last year. Here are the top seven heat hacks recommended for park visitors: Hydrate – It’s important to drink at least…

Read More