Knapp Medical Center in Weslaco, a member of the Prime Healthcare Foundation, is the only hospital in the Rio Grande Valley to receive a five-star rating in the latest hospital ratings report from the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The five-star rating is the highest possible rating (on a scale of one to five). It reflects exceptional quality care being provided to Valley patients by physicians, nurses and…
The McAllen Chamber of Commerce board recently voted unanimously to name Elizabeth Suarez the new president and CEO of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce. “Elizabeth’s extensive experience, her effective leadership, and her deep roots in the community, make her an ideal candidate to lead our organization,” said Stephan Wingert, chairman of the board for the McAllen Chamber of Commerce. “We are excited to welcome Elizabeth to the Chamber of Commerce.…
Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement has received a Blue Impact grant from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, an award reflecting BCBSTX’s dedication to community-based organizations that prioritize the well-being of children and families. The grant recognizes the crucial role of local organizations in fostering positive change, tackling underlying factors that influence health, including socio-economic challenges, and promoting economic opportunities. Since its launch in early 2023, BCBSTX has allocated…
A fast-growing sport is expanding in the Rio Grande Valley with plans to construct a 21,500-square-foot venue for padel ball and pickleball players. The RGV Padel Club is making a $2.7 million investment to construct the new facility at 2513 Victoria Drive in Mission. Construction is projected to start within three months and be completed in the fourth quarter of 2024. Estimates are the RGV Padel Club will support 52…
Mandatory stage 2 water restrictions are now in effect for McAllen residents and businesses. Stage 2 restricts sprinkler system irrigation to only two days a week, during specific hours for each of the six zones of the city. When the water supply from Amistad and Falcon Dam reach less than 25 percent capacity, this triggers Stage 2. “McAllen Public Utility is a responsible steward of our water and during the…
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley on Monday started the 2023-24 academic year as the No. 1 university in Texas, based on Washington Monthly magazine’s annual college guide and rankings. According to Washington Monthly, instead of rewarding schools for their prestige, wealth and exclusivity, its rankings give points to universities that help non-wealthy students earn remunerative degrees, encourage students to vote and serve their country, and produce the scholars…
The Chronicle of Higher Education recently released the Fall 2023 issue of the Almanac of Higher Education 2023, where for the sixth year in a row, UTRGV is ranked as one of the top 10 fastest-growing public doctoral institutions in the United States. The latest rankings in the almanac reflect the overall enrollment during the decade of 2011-2021. While the nation’s overall enrollment declined during that period, UTRGV surged and was ranked as the third-fastest growing institution…
Roberto Silva is a Mission native and University of Texas-Pan American graduate who left his hometown area before returning in recent months to provide behavioral therapy services for children. Silva began his career teaching special-education students in Mission and La Joya. He enjoyed working with special needs children. Silva yearned to serve them in a different way. He wanted to specialize in applied behavior analysis, a research-based behavioral therapy for…
Mohamed Sharaf’s initial business visit to the Rio Grande Valley was one of getting a feel for a region where he wanted to build and open a travel center. The concept is one of a modern-day truck stop with lots of floor space for food, snacks and beverages with extra-large bathrooms. Think Buc-ee’s with a different variation of a similar template as designed by Sharaf’s Victron Energy Corporation. One of…
A freshly surfaced pocket parking lot by Boggus Ford in Harlingen offers a clue of something new afoot by the Arroyo Colorado. Take a left from an existing trail of two decades into a new section of the Arroyo Colorado Hike and Bike Trail. It descends to the arroyo and then back toward Expressway 77. The new extension runs 1.6 miles, going under an expressway bridge on a trail lined…