Category Archives: News

McAllen Library Wins Awards

Featured Government News Comments
McAllen Public Library awards

McAllen Public Library is celebrating being a recipient of two notable awards. The library is the 2018 recipient of the Texas Municipal Library Directors Association Achievement of Excellence in Libraries Award as well as a Texas Library Association Branding Iron Award. Each year, TMLDA confers awards for outstanding contributions to public libraries. To receive the Achievement of Library Excellence Award, the applicant must exhibit excellence in providing services to underserved…

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McAllen Students Win National Awards

Education News Comments
Students from McAllen ISD’s Video Production course at the Student Television Network National Contest held March 27-31. KMAC won two first-place awards and one fourth-place prize.

McAllen ISD’s KMAC, the video production students at McAllen ISD, recently returned from Seattle, Wash., with three awards from a national competition. Nineteen KMAC students were in competition with approximately 3,500 other students at the annual Student Television Network National Contest. Here, students from across the country competed in multiple film and journalism categories. Each category had 60 or more teams competing. Awards going to McAllen ISD students returning with awards are…

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Trail Park Planned for Elsa

Featured Government News Recreation & Tourism Comments
City of Elsa Community Trail Park

An abandoned railroad property that runs through the center of town will soon face a transformation into the $1.25 million City of Elsa Community Trail Park. On March 20, the project became closer to reality thanks in part to a $500,000 grant from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission. The city government will be providing $250,000 in local funds for the park. They are further expecting to receive $500,000 from the…

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McAllen, Aeromar and Mexico Stronger Together

Events Government News Comments
McAllen representatives in Mexico CIty

The City of McAllen recently participated in key government and business meetings in Mexico City. Officials traveled to the area to forge stronger tourism and ties, while also increasing awareness of Aeromar Airlines’s non-stop flights. The meetings provided an opportunity for preliminary discussions to begin the process of forging Sister City ties with Mexico City. City of McAllen officials visited Mexico’s capitol city to continue promoting Aeromar’s non-stop route from McAllen…

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Serrano Adds Boost to Weslaco EDC

e-Brief Features Moving On Up News Comments
Juan Jose Serrano, new EDC board member

The Weslaco Economic Development Corporation recently filled a vacancy on its board during a time when the city is experiencing robust growth and planning for additional development. Juan Jose Serrano was recently appointed by the City Commission. He fills the vacancy left as a result of the passing of businessman Rudy Cisneros. In his facility leader position as the H-E-B Retail Support Center in Weslaco, Serrano oversees 250 employees. The…

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Lemonade Day Seeks Business Locations

Events News Comments
Lemonade Day McAllen

Lemonade Day McAllen is currently seeking business locations to host youth-run lemonade stands May 4. Businesses must have a location within the City of McAllen. They must also be open during the community event hours of 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., providing restrooms to participants. The ability to host two or more stands is also a must. The young entrepreneurs will take care of the rest, including setting up their…

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All-American City Right Here in the RGV

e-Brief Features Featured News Comments
Mission is one of only 20 finalists for the 2019 All-America City Award.

The City of Mission is at an elite level of American cities in becoming a finalist for the 2019 All-America City Award. Mission is one of 20 finalists which include cities from all parts of the United States. In addition, it is one of only five Texas cities in the running for the 10 winners to be chosen in June. Neighboring Edinburg, along with Houston, San Antonio and El Paso…

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STC and Hidalgo ISD Receive TWC Grants

Education Featured Healthcare Manufacturing/Industrial News Comments
STC, Hidalgo ISD and TWC representatives come together for a check presentation benefiting students in manufacturing and healthcare.

South Texas College, Hidalgo Independent School District and Texas Workforce Commission united for a check presentation benefiting student workforce training for careers in manufacturing and healthcare March 28. The grant provides both equipment and instruction for students in manufacturing and pharmacy technology career fields. More than $166,000 came from TWC in the form of the High Demand Job Training Grant and the Jobs and Education for Texans Grant. In partnership with TWC and…

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McAllen Library Holds Amnesty Month

Events Featured Government News Comments
McAllen Library Amnesty Month

April is McAllen Public Library’s fourth annual Amnesty Month with removal of fines for overdue items returned to branches. Throughout the month, returns of overdue books, CDs, DVDs and Blu-Rays may be made at any of MPL’s three locations. All items regardless of how overdue, qualify for removal of fines from a patron’s account. “Amnesty Month has two goals: returning overdue items to our shelves and welcoming people back to the library…

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Growth of a Spirited Business

News Retail Comments
To stay competitive, Holiday Wine and Liquor owner David Hernandez’s Rio Grande Valley business evolved from selling cold beer to a chain of full-service liquor stores. (VBR)

Fresh out of college at 23 years of age, David Hernandez saw an opportunity and then seized it. With $30,000 in hand from his relatives, Hernandez used it as seed money to open the first of what would become 12 Pop-A-Top stores in the Rio Grande Valley. The yellow stores with blue trim became ubiquitous across the region. “Coldest Beer In Town” was the Pop-A-Top signature line and Hernandez meant…

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