Category Archives: News

Los Pinos Hardware Helps Local Cancer Patients

e-Brief Features Giving Back News Retail Comments
Los Pinos Hardware

For the third consecutive year, Los Pinos Hardware is giving a portion of its October sales to the Renaissance Cancer Foundation in support of breast cancer awareness. Since their campaign’s inception, Los Pinos Hardware has raised over $30,000 for the Edinburg-based charity. The Renaissance Cancer Foundation is a non-profit organization who, since 2008, has provided financial assistance to underserved cancer patients in the Rio Grande Valley. “Once again we are…

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Local Nurse Receives Career Stepping Stone with VIDA

e-Brief Features Education Featured News Non-Profit Comments
Yvette Garcia

While in the Vocational Nursing Program at Texas State Technical College in Harlingen, Yvette Garcia attended an informational session conducted by the Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement. Little did she know that day how much this session would impact her life. Founded nearly 30 years ago through a collaboration between Valley Interfaith and business leaders from across the Rio Grande Valley, VIDA has remained true to its original mission.…

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McAllen Reschedules City Manager Public Reception

Community Government News Comments
Isaac Tawil

Originally planned for Aug. 26, the City of McAllen will host a public welcome reception for its new City Manager Isaac Tawil on Oct. 17 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. The location has also changed from McAllen City Hall to the McAllen Chamber of Commerce at 1200 Ash Ave. Those wishing to attend the event are asked to RSVP to Anabel Aranda at the chamber via membership@mcallenchamber.com or 956-682-2871. Tawil has more…

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Registration Open for Pharr Veterans Day Parade

Community Events e-Brief Features News Comments

Registration is now open for the City of Pharr Salute to Veteran’s Parade and Fireworks Show taking place on Nov. 9. The community celebration honors veterans and their service to our country. Local businesses, organizations and individuals may join the parade by registering online. All entries are welcome and early registration is encouraged. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. in Downtown Pharr (200 S. Cage Blvd.). The festivities will kick…

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McAllen Chamber to Honor 2024 Man & Woman of the Year

Community Events e-Brief Features News Comments
Roel "Roy" Rodriguez and Natasha A. Del Barrio

McAllen Chamber of Commerce will honor Roel “Roy” Rodriguez and Natasha A. Del Barrio at the 69th Annual Man & Woman of the Year Awards on Nov. 7 at the McAllen Convention Center. Since 1955, the McAllen Chamber has honored two exceptional individuals each year, recognizing their outstanding contributions and commitment to the City of McAllen. Roel “Roy” Rodriguez With more than 35 years of public service, Rodriguez holds an…

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McAllen Ranks in Best U.S. Cities for Small Businesses

Community e-Brief Features News Comments

In a new report from CoworkingCafe, McAllen ranks nine in the top 20 best places for small businesses nationwide. CoworkingCafe analyzed 136 cities across 11 key metrics such as GDP growth, number of business applications, labor costs and more.  “This recognition as one of the best cities in the U.S. for small business speaks to the strength of our local economy and the hard work of our entrepreneurs,” said McAllen Mayor…

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Pooches Goes ‘From Ground Up’ To Success

News Professional Services Comments
Dogs are always welcome at Pooches Corner in Harlingen. (Courtesy)

El Paso native Michelle Franco-Mar fell in love in the aughts and moved to the Rio Grande Valley in 2009. “I married a Valley boy,” Franco-Mar said of her husband, Greg, who is from Brownsville.  Once here, the former newspaper graphic artist sized up her job possibilities, and wondered, “What can I do here?” Her new husband, an accountant, advised Michelle to do something she liked and to think about…

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McAllen Adds Flights, Sets Passenger Records

News Transportation & Travel Comments
McAllen International Airport opened in the mid-1990s and its growth in passenger traffic has led to a study looking at facility expansion. (Courtesy)

The McAllen International Airport is looking to build out its 150,000-square-foot-plus terminal during a time when the airfield is setting all-time total traveler records on a monthly basis. In July, 114,694 passengers utilized the McAllen airport, which set an all-time monthly traveler record. The July traveler number marked an eight percent improvement over June, which at the time with 105,508 passengers represented a new monthly record. In all, for 2024,…

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Zoo Doubling In Size With Land Buy

News Recreation & Tourism Comments
The Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville houses a diversity of animals and attractions and will be expanding over the next five years. (Courtesy)

The Gladys Porter Zoo opened in 1971 as a gift from a foundation to the city of Brownsville.  The Earl C. Sams Foundation envisioned the only zoo south of San Antonio as a place to feature endangered species and to give Brownsville a distinction of its own. The 31-acre site on Ringgold Street in central Brownsville has more than proven its worth to the city. It has become a prime…

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TSTC Program Meeting Mechatronics Demand

Education News Comments
Mechatronics program team lead Carlos Reyes views a completed electrical box that is a requirement to complete the TSTC Program.

Carlos Reyes opens an empty electrical box in one of the labs of the mechatronics technology program at Texas State Technical College. The box represents something of a starting point for students in the program. As the program progresses, students will be tasked with filling those empty boxes with the circuits, sensors and other components to make it a fully functional electrical unit.  “We build them up from scratch,” said…

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