Isaias Pena stood out as a high school student when participating in welding competitions held at the Texas State Technical College campus in Harlingen. Pena represented La Joya High School and TSTC instructor Raul Saldivar recalls a student who was always a top three finisher in the SkillsUSA welding competitions. Pena’s attention to detail and the ability to visualize demonstrations and apply them to practical applications has always been evident,…
Frank Limon looks over a May calendar of graduation parties, school awards banquets and the wedding and quinceanera celebrations that are the staples of his Diamond Moon Events. The Iraq War combat veteran found the outlet he was looking for with an event planning business that takes him from Brownsville-to-Edinburg. His work includes big affairs like state-of-city events to family gatherings celebrating important milestones. In May alone, Limon and his…
Program Features Aviation Training South Texas College in partnership with Mid Valley Airport and Hidalgo County Precinct 1 is set to launch a new Avionics Technician Program in Weslaco. College and local officials gathered in mid-May to formally announce the program’s anticipated start at Mid Valley Airport in the fall of 2026. It is the only program of its kind in the Rio Grande Valley. The college’s Center for Advanced…
An elementary school rose on Edinburg’s east side in 1926 and its purpose during times of segregation was made clear. “The Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District established Stephen F. Austin Grade School for Mexican students,” states a Texas Historical Commission plaque that was recently placed in front of the century-old school. “They chose a site at E. Kuhn and N. 21st Streets near many of Edinburg’s Mexican families.” Stephen F.…
Meteorologists and hurricane forecasters see a “Super El Nino” forming in the Pacific Ocean, a weather phenomenon that usually means a reduced number of hurricanes forming in the Atlantic basin. It is from that basin – which includes the Caribbean Sea and the warm waters of the Gulf – from which hurricanes form that pose a threat to the Rio Grande Valley. It has been six years since the last-named…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…