Category Archives: News

Edinburg EDC Announces Historic Downtown Renovation

Community e-Brief Features News Comments
221–225 E. University Drive and 115–119 N. 13th Avenue

The Edinburg Economic Development Corporation recently announced its support and approval of a major downtown renovation led by LEWIS Building LLC. The project will restore and repurpose a historic 1925 building located at 221–225 E. University Drive and 115–119 N. 13th Avenue. The renovation will be completed in phases. Phase 1 will deliver six “white-box” commercial rental spaces — move-in-ready units featuring finished walls, lighting and essential infrastructure. The spaces…

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STC Names 2025 Faculty of the Year

e-Brief Features Education News Comments
Sharon O’Leary

Sharon O’Leary was hired at South Texas College in 1999 to start the college’s music program. Now, 26 years later, the program is going strong, and she has been named Faculty of the Year for largely contributing to its growth. “I cried when saw I had been named Faculty of the Year,” said O’Leary. “Since 2008, my Department Chair Daniel Cather has been nominating me and this year, I told…

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Learn about the State of the 956

Community Events e-Brief Features Government News Comments
Legislative Luncheon

The Rio Grande Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the City of Edinburg, will host the 2026 State of the 956 Legislative Luncheon on Jan. 21. The annual State of the 956 luncheon brings together regional leaders, policymakers, business owners and community stakeholders to discuss public affairs and issues affecting the Rio Grande Valley. Attendees will hear from elected officials representing the region on legislative priorities, economic development initiatives and…

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STC Supports Vets Making Transition

Education News Comments
Javier Cardenas, center in white shirt, and STC’s Student Veterans Affairs office work to bring representatives of the military and veterans’ organizations to campus. (Courtesy)

Going from active military service with its intensity of duties to normal civilian life can be jarring. “It’s a radical overnight change,” said Javier Cardenas, a VA certifying official at South Texas College in McAllen. “It has the potential to be catastrophic.” Cardenas would know. The McAllen native joined the Marines two weeks after graduating from high school. He would serve four years in the Marines and admits to feeling…

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Vet Finds Purpose Abroad & New Mission In RGV

News Professional Services Comments
An employee for Six Shooter Softwash reaches high to clean a commercial building at a worksite in the Valley. (Courtesy)

Sixto Garza Jr. joined the U.S. Army four days after graduating from Edinburg High School in 1982. Like many youngsters reaching adulthood, Garza knew he wanted to do something beyond the confines of his hometown. He just didn’t know what or where.  “I didn’t really have a sense of direction,” Garza said. “The military gave me that structure. It gave me a career.” He would become immersed and trained to…

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Veteran Helps Businesses Find ‘Roadmaps’

Featured News Professional Services Comments
Cristina Wilson, center, who has held high leadership ranks in the U.S. Army, receives an award from the Rio Grande Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. (Courtesy)

Cristina Solis Wilson’s 26 years in the military have imbued her with the values of the U.S. Army and ones that serve as the foundations of coaching business owners to success. Purpose, motivation and direction are the principles learned in a military life that have seen her rise to the ranks of being a command sergeant major and representing the pinnacle of enlisted ranks in the Army. Only a small…

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Attention To Detail Spices Up Vet’s Salsa

e-Brief Features Food & Entertainment News Comments
David Carter stacks up his array of salsa products at a Rio Grande Valley street market. (Courtesy)

David Carter grew up a Kansas kid experiencing some of the more extreme weather fluctuations seen in the United States. There are severe winter storms and blizzards to go with severe thunderstorms over the Midwest plains. Then there are the tornadoes. Kansas averages over 80 tornadoes a year and the big storms of the state became immortalized in “The Wizard of Oz.” “I grew up in southwest Kansas and I…

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‘Veteran Way’ Guides RGV Business

e-Brief Features News Professional Services Comments
Every November, Armored Painting and a group of 50-plus volunteers paint a local veteran’s home as part of Operation Veteran Paint Project. (Photo Armored Painting)

Nelson Martinez and Joe Robledo met in fifth grade and from that point on seemed to live parallel lives. They lived one mile apart in Las Milpas in southern Pharr. Both men graduated from Hidalgo High School and each went on to serve two combat tours in Iraq. Martinez served in the Army and Robledo is a Marine. They are each college-educated with bachelor’s degrees in business administration.  Their friendship…

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Vet Finds Mission In Training Dogs

e-Brief Features Featured Government News Professional Services Comments
Daniel Villarreal connects with Fajo, who is among the elite type of dogs used for detection work.

Daniel Villarreal’s exit from the U.S. Army came in 2006 and he knew the next mission ahead. He wanted to train dogs for law enforcement and detection work and to help fellow veterans who need service dogs. Villarreal had received an introduction to the world of dogs and how they are trained before enlisting in the Army. He was eager to do that work full time in his post-military life…

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“Manual for Success” Key to Upcoming Men’s Conference

Community Events e-Brief Features Featured News Comments
Ramiro A. Cavazos

The Rio Grande Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce will host Ramiro A. Cavazos, president and CEO of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, as its keynote speaker for the second annual “Manual for Success” men’s conference and expo on Nov. 5 at the Memorial Event Center in Edinburg. Cavazos leads the nation’s largest business advocacy organization for Hispanic communities, bringing decades of experience in business development, leadership and community…

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