Helen Ramirez was 29 years old when she first applied for a city manager’s opening. She recalled thinking that her chances were slim of actually getting an offer for the job. Ramirez did it for the experience of formally seeking such a job. And she saw it as the beginning of honing her pitch and building confidence that such jobs were within her reach. Fast forward to 2022 and Ramirez…
Rene Jackson is a La Joya native and a nearly 30-year veteran of the U.S. Army with an expertise in logistics and the transportation of goods and products. “Ammunition and missiles,” Jackson said when asked in a television interview what materials he supervised shipping. “We would bring in all of the support sustainment stuff for the war fighters doing the actual fighting.” Jackson would rise to the rank of lieutenant…
A social media tagline for Con Ganas Mija gets to the essence of the organization and its energetic founder. “A network of women from the RGV who hustle!” Mija is a term of endearment in Spanish for a girl or daughter. Ganas can translate to “giving it your all,” or “doing your best.” Natalie Garza certainly does both and then some. In early 2024, she opened a storefront in downtown…
McAllen is a leader – not a follower – is how McAllen City Commissioner Seby Haddad welcomed guests to the 2025 MXLAN International Economic Summit. The May 9 summit at the McAllen Convention Center kicked off the annual three-day cultural arts and music festival. Hosting the conference were the City of McAllen, the McAllen Economic Development Corporation and the McAllen Chamber of Commerce. The Summit welcomed leaders in higher education,…
Downtown Edinburg has lost much of its luster with aging infrastructure and block after block of lawyers’ offices filling up what were once retail spaces. For one day at least, on May 1, downtown was buzzing again. It was the day when the new Hidalgo County Courthouse celebrated its much-delayed completion and the venerable Citrus Theater marked its rebirth with a grand reopening event. Frustrations mounted in recent years over…
The urban forests found throughout McAllen and at its wildlife sanctuary are creating new habitats to help counter dwindling butterfly populations in the region and across the country. The efforts to do so have become a citywide initiative with educational programs at the Quinta Mazatlan sanctuary and a butterfly garden at McAllen City Hall. At local schools, students gather for tree-planting events at the urban forests and develop awareness of…
As Memorial Day weekend approaches, Texas Game Wardens are gearing up for a busy summer on lakes, rivers and coastal waters to keep boaters safe. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is urging boaters to make wearing life jackets, sober operation of boats and common-sense safety their top priorities. Operators of personal watercraft should also be aware that these vessels have unique safety laws, including always wearing a life jacket and operating in…
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…