Bill DeBrooke’s family referred to him as a “Grandpa Grumpy Pants” with a scruffy appearance and coarse demeanor who was unconventional and yet highly successful in making projects flourish. DeBrooke’s look and style could be misleading. He possessed a genius for problem solving and built “a Monopoly-like real estate empire from scratch.” The empire in this case refers to Downtown Harlingen. It’s where he and his family acquired dozens of…
The walk up to La Sal Del Rey gives hints of what lays ahead in glimpses of white between the thick and thorny green stands of South Texas brush. Then it opens in full view, a stunning expanse of an ancient lakebed with four million-plus tons of salt under shallow waters that reflect like mirrors to the clouds above. In dry months, the water recedes and then is completely gone.…
The rampant online speculation about the construction of a data center in Harlingen has come into clearer focus as the Cameron County judge and the city’s mayor acknowledged such an interest exists while emphasizing no formal proposals are under consideration. The property site for a possible data center is an 1,800-acre space adjacent to Valley International Airport and just outside of Harlingen’s city limits. This means any possible approval of…
A mobile unit rolled into towns across the Rio Grande Valley in 1996 and made children healthier along the way. A small group of local dentists applied for funding from the Community Development Block Grant program and gathered donations in launching Dentists Who Care, a nonprofit group. They also gathered a group of volunteer dentists committed to “Bridging Smiles. Transforming Lives,” a motto seen on dentistswhocare.org. The dentists took time…
A new partnership between the Center for Advanced Training and Apprenticeships at South Texas College, La Joya Independent School District and regional industry leaders is creating a pipeline from the classroom to the jobsite for local high school students. Twelve students from La Joya ISD recently visited Crawford Electric Supply in Mission as part of CATA’s Construction Technician Apprenticeship program, which is enabling the students to receive training as well…
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is accepting public comment until March 26 for proposed changes to the 2026-27 Statewide Hunting and Migratory Game Bird proclamations. Migratory Game Bird Regulations Change the South Zone dove hunting season structure during the first segment to include an earlier regular season opening date (Sept. 1 – Oct. 25, 2026), eliminate the Special White-winged Dove Days, and institute standardized daily bag limits across all days in…
The Rio Grande Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce will host its signature annual celebration, Noche De Gala 2026 “Arabian Nights” on May 14 at the Corinthians Event Center in Mission. The evening will honor leaders and businesses whose impact has strengthened the Rio Grande Valley’s economic and cultural landscape. The chamber is now accepting nominations for its 2026 awards and encourages the public to submit outstanding candidates. Awards to be…
February at South Texas College means hundreds of education professionals from across the nation gather at South Padre Island for the college’s annual Dual Credit Summit, in collaboration with the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships. This year, nearly 300 K-12 and post-secondary education leaders, advisors and counselors attended the three-day event that included keynote speakers, breakout sessions and networking opportunities. Rebecca De Leon, Ed.D., STC associate vice president of…
The Rio Grande Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce has appointed Tom Castañeda as chairman, reinforcing the organization’s commitment to regional advocacy and economic growth. Castañeda, system director of marketing and public relations for South Texas Health System, brings experience in journalism, marketing and communications. A Rio Grande Valley native, he has led marketing, advertising, community engagement and public relations for the system’s 12 facilities since 2020. “The RGV Hispanic Chamber,…
The City of McAllen has shattered its all-time sales tax record, receiving $12.6 million in February’s allocation for December collections, (2025 vs 2024) a 5.31-percent increase over the same period last year. This milestone surpasses the previous high of $11.9 million. “McAllen is no longer simply participating in regional growth. We are defining it,” said Mayor Javier Villalobos. “As more people choose to visit, invest and shop here, the numbers…