Category Archives: News

UTRGV Ranks For Awarding Degrees To Hispanics

Education Featured News Comments
The Fall 2022 semester at UTRGV saw a first-day enrollment of more than 32,000 students. (photo Paul Chouy, UTRGV)

Hispanic Outlook on Higher Education Magazine has ranked UTRGV second in the country for awarding bachelor’s degrees to Hispanic/Latino students in its annual “Hispanic Outlook Top 100 Colleges and Universities for Hispanics” edition. The magazine also notes that while UTRGV ranks second, it still had the largest percentage of bachelor’s degrees specifically awarded to Hispanic/Latino students, with 93 percent. UTRGV places fourth for total master’s degrees awarded to Hispanic/Latino students and…

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McAllen To Celebrate South Pole Illuminated Festival

Community Community Events e-Brief Features News Comments

The City of McAllen will celebrate the South Pole Illuminated Festival, presented by H-E-B, Nov. 30 through Jan. 1. The 33-day event at the McAllen Convention Center will unveil the tallest RGB Christmas Tree in America, spanning over 10 stories tall. The digital red, green, blue color light model tree will be just one aspect of helping guests to experience a walking journey through millions of lights. The South Pole…

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Brownsville Bakers Find Sweet Spot With H-E-B

e-Brief Features Featured Food & Entertainment News Comments
Manuel Alvarez and his wife, Nadia Escalante, sit at their display at H-E-B offices in highlighting their Japanese cheesecakes. (Courtesy)

Manuel Alvarez and his wife, Nadia Escalante, started out with an at-home bakery in Brownsville, creating their Pastel Japones. Said another way, they are Japanese cotton cheesecakes. The popularity of the fluffy sponge-looking cake would take off. In part it was due to the uniqueness of the product in the Rio Grande Valley market. It’s a region filled with pan dulce shops and custom cake bakeries.  It’s difficult to find…

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TWC Looks To Increase Child Care To Military Families

e-Brief Features Government News Comments

Texas Workforce Commission is partnering with the Department of Defense on the Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood-PLUS program to increase access to child care for military families. Through the program, DOD provides fee assistance to eligible military families to offset the cost of child care when there is no availability on base. In October, MCCYN-PLUS expanded into Texas, home to 15 active duty military installations with an economic impact of over $100…

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Salvation Army Red Kettles Return

Community Featured News Comments
Salvation Army Red Kettle

The familiar The Red Kettle Campaign of The Salvation Army will soon be in full swing in Harlingen. The Christmas season represents the organization’s busiest and most important fundraising time of the year. Every dollar raised through the iconic Red Kettle Campaign remains in the community. The donations makes it possible for The Salvation Army to deliver life changing programs and services throughout the year. “From its humble beginnings in…

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McAllen Day in Austin Takes Place Feb. 15-17

Featured Government News Comments

The McAllen Chamber of Commerce is currently coordinating McAllen Day in Austin during the upcoming 88th legislative session. The capitol visit will take place Feb. 15-17, 2023, with an entire day at the capitol on Feb. 16. During this time, the group has the opportunity to make personal visits with every Texas legislator. The group will divide into teams and visit with assigned legislators so they get to meet with…

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Farm Fest Launches Efforts To Raise Historical Awareness 

Community Events e-Brief Features Featured News Comments
Farm Fest on Nov. 5 will highlight the community’s connection to agriculture.

Farming and ranching history and heritage runs deep in Mercedes. The city was founded in 1909 by a land company which built some of the first canals in the Rio Grande Valley to irrigate farm fields and attract agricultural interests from the Midwest. The Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show would find its home in Mercedes in the late 1930s and continues running strong to the present. The Farm Fest this…

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STC’s Benavidez Named ACCT Chairwoman

e-Brief Features Education Moving On Up News Comments
Rose Benavidez

South Texas College Board of Trustee Chairwoman Rose Benavidez was recently inaugurated in New York City as the chairwoman of the Association of Community College Trustees board of directors. She is the first Latina to hold this distinguished position in the organization’s more than 50-year history. The Starr County native will serve on the national stage, working with leadership from the White House to Congress and the U.S. Department of…

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Chamber Seeks Vendors For Weslaco Holiday Market

Community Events e-Brief Features News Comments

The Weslaco Area Chamber of Commerce is currently accepting vendors for its Holiday Market taking place Dec. 1. The market takes place from 6:30-9:30 p.m. after the tree lighting ceremony, which also includes school performances, light displays and more. The Holiday Market will be held in the Weslaco City Hall parking lot at 500 South Kansas Ave. Booth fees are $35 and food truck fees are $55. Weslaco Chamber member discounts…

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STC Filling Gaps In Mid-Valley

Education Featured News Comments

The Rio Grande Valley communities between McAllen and Brownsville for much of their history lacked a local higher education option to college campuses a long commuter drive away. Donna, Mercedes, Weslaco and surrounding Mid-Valley communities with their high school graduates may have seen a college education, or technical training, as being out of reach. In the late 1990s, the gap began to be addressed with the launch of the Mid-Valley…

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