Category Archives: News

STC Introduces AI Curriculum

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence courses are arriving at South Texas College as soon as this fall. For the first time ever, STC’s Bachelor of Applied Technology Degree in Computer and Information Technologies program will be incorporating the basics of AI. CITP has installed a curriculum established by Amazon Web Services called “Machine Learning Foundations” into the program’s CITP 3310 Survey of Programming Languages course this fall. Machine Learning combines Computer Science with…

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Unwavering Support Connects To Promising Career

Brownsville resident Oscar Castillo had a job at the Brownsville South Padre Island International Airport working as a cashier for the parking vendor, earning $10 an hour. He knew he needed to develop his skillset if he ever hoped to be independent and financially secure, so he enrolled in the electrical program at Texas Southmost College. At TSC, Castillo heard about Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement, a nonprofit organization…

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Avalos Joins DHR Health Heart Institute

Dr. Christian D. Avalos

DHR Health has welcomed Dr. Christian D. Avalos to its team of cardiologists at the DHR Health Heart Institute. In his role as an interventional cardiologist, Avalos will specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of heart and blood vessel conditions using advanced catheter-based techniques and specialized imaging methods. Avalos’s expertise extends to addressing coronary artery disease, heart valve disorders, and congenital heart ailments, as well as preventing heart disease and…

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City of Pharr Appoints Assistant City Managers

During last week’s city commission meeting, Dr. David D. Friedlein was appointed as Pharr’s new assistant city manager and Hilda Pedraza was reappointed as assistant city manager by Interim City Manager Dr. Jonathan B. Flores. Both Friedlein and Pedraza have a long history of public service, community relations and will work closely alongside Flores to continue the city’s exceptional growth. “The City of Pharr is continuing to expand our services,…

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Pharr Police Department Hiring Police Officers

The Pharr Police Department is currently accepting applications for the position of police officer. The deadline to apply is Aug. 18 at noon. As a member of the department, officers have the chance to explore and excel in various specialized units, including the Mental Health Unit, K-9 Unit, Motorcycle Division, Mounted Patrol, Criminal Investigation Division and more. “Pharr PD is dedicated to providing a supportive and dynamic work environment,” Chief…

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STC Receives Millions To Break Digital Barriers

South Texas College, with funding from the U.S. Department of Commerce Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program and awarded by U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar, received a $2.8 million National Institute of Standards and Technology grant to increase digital capabilities for its students. “Thanks to this grant and Henry Cuellar, it is possible for South Texas College to continue upgrading and transforming the college to be in the 21st century in terms…

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UTRGV To Offer Physical Therapy Doctoral Program

UTRGV will begin offering a new Doctor of Physical Therapy starting Summer 2025. (photo UTRGV)

UTRGV will offer a new Doctor of Physical Therapy program starting summer 2025 to increase the number of trained therapists in the Rio Grande Valley and access to therapy services.  The program, under the UTRGV Department of Physical Therapy in the College of Health Professions, will have an anticipated cohort of 40 students per year.  The 113-hour program was approved by both Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Southern Association of Colleges and…

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Texas State Bankshares Announces Definitive Agreement with Estrada Hinojosa & Company

Texas State Bankshares Inc.

Texas State Bankshares Inc., the registered bank holding company for Texas Regional Bank headquartered in Harlingen, announced this week it entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Dallas-based investment banking group Estrada Hinojosa & Company Inc. pending receipt of all required regulatory and shareholder approvals. TRB’s acquisition of Estrada Hinojosa will add a team of 48 individuals and offices in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Austin, Edinburg, Miami, Chicago and New…

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McAllen Named to Great Places To Live

McAllen is one of the top seven great places to live in Texas, according to an article on Kiplinger.com, a personal finance website. The author of the article, Brittany Leitner, a Texas native, points out the features of Texas which makes it attractive to new residents. She then lists seven cities, which includes Amarillo, Austin, Corpus Christi, Houston, McAllen, San Antonio and Waco, and highlights the unique characteristics for each…

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UTRGV Receives Another PhD Program Approval

UTRGV Engineering Building in Edinburg. (photo UTRGV)

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has approved the first Ph.D. program for the UTRGV College of Engineering and Computer Science. The new Doctor of Philosophy degree program in Materials Science and Engineering is the ninth doctoral program to be approved for the university since its inception in 2015. It is also the seventh to be implemented in the past two years. Overall, the new program bumps the number of Ph.D. degrees…

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