Category Archives: News

Independence Day Celebration Invites Community Participation

News Comments
Independence Day

The City of McAllen is inviting the community to take part in all of the patriotic festivities of the McAllen Independence Day Celebration, presented by H-E-B. The 95th annual Independence Day Celebration will take place on July 4 with an early morning 4K race, a patriotic program, the Main Street Parade and the Freedom Festival, a family-friendly festival held at Archer Park.  Music, food and games will be highlights of the…

Read More

Texas Labor Force and Number Employed Reach Record Highs

e-Brief Features News Comments
labor force

Texas is once again eclipsing records for the largest civilian labor force and greatest number of people employed in state history. The state achieved 26 consecutive months of growth in total nonfarm employment in April 2023. The seasonally adjusted civilian labor force increased by 62,184 to reach a series-high 14,960,308 people, while the unemployment rate held steady at 4.0 percent. Texas added 33,300 positions to reach another series-high job count…

Read More

TPWD Urges Boaters to “Clean, Drain and Dry”

e-Brief Features News Recreation & Tourism Comments
Zebra mussels

Memorial Day weekend is here, meaning Texans will be heading out to the water for holiday celebrations. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department urges boaters and paddlers who enjoy water recreation to do their part to protect Texas lakes from aquatic invasive species. “Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial kick-off to boating season in Texas, and while we want everyone to have a great time, we also want them to…

Read More

Long, Winding Road Leads To A New VIDA

Community e-Brief Features Featured News Comments
Marvelia Saldana

Sometimes a path is straight and narrow; other times it can be winding, making the journey longer but allowing us to see sites and have experiences we would otherwise have missed. Such was the path for Brownsville resident Marvelia Saldana. Being a military wife meant “bouncing around from one state to another,” according to Saldana. With four small children, she didn’t have the time — or, likely, the energy —…

Read More

Port of Brownsville Honors High School Graduates

Community Featured News Comments
2023 Port of Brownsville Scholarship recipients

Thirty-two local high school graduating seniors will receive $1,000 scholarships from the Brownsville Navigation District via the 2023 Port of Brownsville Scholarship. The program is in support and encouragement to the pursuit of higher education for students within the district. The scholarship winners – selected for their academic performance, community involvement, extracurricular activities, and work experience, as well as for essays penned as part of their applications – attend 16…

Read More

UTRGV Creates Local Economic Partnerships

Community Featured News Comments
A workforce and economic development satellite office opens in Harlingen at its EDC space. (Courtesy)

With a mission to advance regional economic, workforce and business development, UTRGV’s Office of Workforce and Economic Development is expanding its network and reach to cities across the Rio Grande Valley through satellite offices. UTRGV opened its third office in the City of Mission on May 12, which will be housed in the Center for Education and Economic Development at 801 Bryan Road.  “Establishing these hubs in our partner cities…

Read More

South Texas College Establishes Foundation

Education Featured News Comments
South Texas College has established a new Foundation and Foundation Board to continue providing an affordable education for all.

In its pursuit of innovation and growth, South Texas College has established a new Foundation and Foundation Board to continue striving at providing an affordable education for all. The mission of the new foundation is to raise funds to support student educational endeavors by means of grants and scholarships. Between 2020 and 2021, STC awarded more than $1 million dollars in scholarships. More than 80 percent of STC’s traditional students…

Read More

World’s Largest Green Hydrogen Hub Will Boost Economy

Community e-Brief Features News Comments
green hydrogen production and storage

South Texas has always played a critical role in supporting our state’s economy and our critical energy production and transportation capabilities. Now, the recent announcement that Green Hydrogen International is planning to develop the world’s largest green hydrogen production and storage hub in Texas will help us continue to create a stronger, more sustainable and truly 21st-century economy. This exciting new development will show the world that Texas is not just…

Read More

Port of Brownsville Among Leading Ports for Waterborne Cargo

e-Brief Features Manufacturing/Industrial News Comments
Port of Brownsville

The Port of Brownsville continues to gain national prominence among the leading maritime ports in the United States. According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ most recent annual report ranking 150 maritime ports nationwide, the Port of Brownsville rose to 55th position in the country for the movement of waterborne cargo in 2021, a significant leap from 66th place in 2020. Throughout 2021, 8.9 million tons of cargo were…

Read More

STC Introduces Tuition Waiver For First Responders

e-Brief Features Education News Comments
STC Fire Science and Law Enforcement associate degree programs

Beginning fall 2023, a new state waiver will make the Fire Science and Law Enforcement associate degree programs at South Texas College more affordable and accessible. A new tuition model introduced by STC will waive 90 percent of student fees for eligible local, licensed law enforcement professionals and firefighters. The first 100 personnel who take advantage of this offer for fall 2023 will get the few remaining fees paid off…

Read More