Nayelli Valdemar was ebullient on a sun-splashed September morning in looking out the windows of her newly expanded business. Valdemar’s Funky Flower Shop in Mercedes enjoyed a chamber of commerce ribbon cutting in mid-September to commemorate a doubling of the square footage of her business. The new floor space of Funky Flower at 400 square feet may not register much excitement at the H-E-B stores where she once worked. It…
McAllen Public Library is partnering with South Texas College to offer free GED and English as a Second Language classes beginning Oct. 13. Classes will take place at MPL locations and are open to qualifying students seeking to improve their English or earn a high school equivalency diploma. “Hosting these classes is one more way we can connect our community to free educational opportunities,” said Kate Horan, Library Director. “We…
The City of McAllen recently earned 49 awards, including an international designation and a coveted industry honor, at the Pinnacle Awards and the World Festival & Event City Awards during the 70th Annual International Festivals & Events Association Convention, Expo and Retreat in Palm Springs, Cali. The awards recognize the outstanding accomplishments, top-quality creative, promotional, operational and community outreach programs produced by events around the world. The professional competition drew…
The City of McAllen earns national recognition, ranking 20 in the U.S. News & World Report’s 2025-2026 Best Places to Live. McAllen joins six other Texas cities to round out the top 20: Pearland (3), League City (6), Leander (8), Flower Mound (14), Pflugerville (15) and Sugar Land (16). The annual ranking evaluates 250 cities across the United States based on affordability, job market strength, desirability and overall quality of…
Texas had 14,347,700 total nonfarm jobs after adding 17,600 positions over the month in August. Over the year, the state added 195,600 jobs for an annual nonfarm growth rate of 1.4 percent, outpacing the national growth rate by 0.5 percentage points. Texas’ civilian labor force registered at 15,857,300 after adding 8,600 people over the month and reaching a new record high level for the series. Over the year, Texas’ civilian…
For the second consecutive year, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley has been recognized as one of the Great Colleges to Work For. UTRGV is among only 76 institutions across the country awarded the 2025 Great Colleges to Work For distinction, based on direct feedback from faculty and staff. The Great Colleges to Work For program, now in its 18th year, highlights colleges that receive top ratings from employees…
Plumbing and Pipefitting, a program new to Texas State Technical College’s Harlingen campus, recently welcomed its first cohort of students as the fall semester got underway. Among those students are Ricardo Cantu, David Martinez and Fernando Ochoa. Cantu, of Lyford, is pursuing a Plumbing and Pipefitting – Tradesman certificate of completion. He said his goal is to mirror the skill and expertise demonstrated by his instructors. “I want to learn…
Applications are now being accepted for the Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation’s Quality of Life Grants for Fiscal Year 2026. Nonprofits, public agencies and eligible community partners are encouraged to bring forward projects that make daily life in Brownsville better, more active and more connected. Eligible activities include community infrastructure and beautification, recreational and sports facilities, health and wellness initiatives, safety and accessibility, environmental sustainability, destination amenities that support tourism, technology and…
The Rio Grande Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce will host the second annual “Manual for Success” Men’s Conference and Expo on Nov. 5. The one-day professional development experience is designed to equip men with the tools to thrive personally and professionally. “Investing in yourself — both personally and professionally — is one of the smartest moves a man can make,” said Armando Villarreal, director of membership and events. “Our Men’s…
On Aug. 27, the 2025 Luna Awards Luncheon – Rio Grande Valley Region honored the achievements of women, women-owned businesses and advocates in the architecture, engineering and construction industries. State Rep. Erin Elizabeth Gámez delivered the keynote address and Harlingen Mayor Norma Sepulveda provided opening remarks, highlighting the impact of women leaders on the region’s built environment. 2025 Award Recipients are: A/E/C Firm of the Year: Karla Goldammer, D&J Site…