He was at the time a 20-something Brownsville lawyer seeking to become Cameron County’s district attorney. A turn of events in the fall of 1988, including the sudden death of the county judge, propelled Tony Garza into a different direction. Garza would shift over to running for county judge as a Republican. He appeared to be a longshot in a Democratic-leaning region. What appeared to be improbable then became a…
Ready to cook, taste and compete for the top outdoor chef spots all for a good cause? If so, head to the Los Fresnos Rodeo Grounds this weekend for the annual Cowboy Cook-Off Nov. 15-16. Up to $5,000 in prizes will be up for grabs for the best entries in several categories. This includes fajitas, brisket, pan de campo, chicken, spare ribs and tasty frijoles a la charra. But the best…
Willacy County has a reputation as a farming region of the state. Thousands of acres of land contain sugarcane and sorghum, cotton, corn and sesame seeds. One can drive for miles and miles and see nothing but fields covered with crops during the growing season. But in the last 10 years, one thing has drastically been changing the rural landscape in Willacy and parts of Cameron County. It is the proliferation…
AMIkids Rio Grande Valley is a one-of-a-kind program rehabilitating young felons. At the same time, it gives them the chance to become certified welders. The program has been in operation in eastern Cameron County for quite some time. AMIkids Rio Grande Valley is the only one in the Lone Star State and one of 44 AMIkids programs nationally. The organization works with at-risk youngsters ages 15 through 18. With roots in…
The Texas Workforce Commission is accepting applications for Disaster Unemployment Assistance as a result of severe storms and flooding. Under Presidential Disaster Declaration (FEMA 4454-DR), workers who lost their jobs and self-employed individuals who have been unable to work due to damage sustained from flooding may be eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance benefits. Individuals affected by the recent severe storms and flooding in Cameron, Hidalgo, and Willacy Counties can apply…
The old railroad tracks heading northward from Brownsville were removed 10 years ago, crossing over some of the city’s busiest streets and setting off a decade-long debate between developers and emerging exercise enthusiasts. The debate at times grew heated between those wanting to create a new north-south thoroughfare and proponents advocating for a hike-and-bike trail to add to the miles of such trails currently crisscrossing all parts of the city.…
The South Port Connector Road Project is advancing to the construction phase after receiving environmental clearance April 24 from the Texas Department of Transportation Pharr District Office. The project is part of the Cameron County Regional Mobility Authority’s East Loop Corridor plan. When complete, the two-mile road will connect Ostos Road at the Port of Brownsville with State Highway 4. The project will enhance the port’s intermodal connectivity. This will…
Deep South Texas is expected to see economic growth again this year, although the increases in activity may be a little smaller than the numbers for 2018, according to an economic forecast compiled by Salvador Contreras, director of the Center for Border Economic Studies at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. “Texas had a strong 2018,” Contreras said. “This year may not be as strong but we will have…
The Port of Brownsville is the recipient of a $1.5 million Rider 45 grant from the Texas Department of Transportation. The grant will enhance the port’s intermodal connectivity, further facilitating domestic and international trade in the Rio Grande Valley. The funds will aid in constructing the South Port Connector Project. The port connector road will span two miles and connect Ostos Road at the port with Highway 4. The Port of…
One of three liquified natural gas facilities proposed for the Port of Brownsville has cleared another regulatory hurdle that keeps the project on track for the company to make a final investment decision in about a year. NextDecade Corp. has announced that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has issued a draft environmental impact statement for its Rio Grande LNG project, as well as the associated Rio Bravo Pipeline. “We appreciate…