General Interest

WASHINGTON D.C. — Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) and Congressman Michael McCaul (TX-10) have introduced the Cross-Border Trade Enhancement Act of 2012, which will allow U.S. Customs and Border Protection the authority to enter into public-private partnerships with either local governments or private sector entities to fund improvement of services and facilities at land-border ports of entry, with the goal of speeding the traffic flow at the ports.

Read more: Legislation to allow CBP to seek alternate sources of funding

Here’s a quick rundown of July 4 events in the Rio Grande Valley:

South Padre Island

If you’re looking to spend July 4 on South Padre Island get started at 10 a.m. at Beach Access 22 with a parade, which will end at Beach Access 17. There will be water and watermelons at the end of the parade as well as free beads and kazoos. If you stay through the day and into the night, be sure to check out the fireworks that start at 9:15 p.m. The best viewing is bayside between Palm and Red Snapper Streets. For more information call the SPI Convention & Visitors Bureau at (956) 761-6433.

Read more: Independence Day celebrations planned

The University of Texas-Pan American's Mariachi Aztlán headed to Washington, D.C. this week to perform at the 2012 Smithsonian Institution’s Folklife Festival in Washington, D.C. The 16-member group has been scheduled to perform outdoors on the National Mall, between the Smithsonian museums, twice daily June 27-July 1 and July 4-8.

UTPA was among 21 universities chosen out of more than 100 grant applications for the coveted performance spot in the Smithsonian’s commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the founding of land-grant universities and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The fair takes place for two weeks every summer overlapping the Fourth of July holiday. Free to the public, like other Smithsonian museums, the festival typically draws more than one million visitors yearly.

Read more: UTPA’s Mariachi Aztlán selected to perform in Washington

State agencies emphasize recent change in law

 AUSTIN – This week the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) will place special enforcement emphasis on the addition of tow trucks to the Move Over/Slow Down law, which requires motorists to move over or slow down when certain vehicles are stopped on the side of the road with emergency lights activated. To remind the public of this important safety measure, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) will activate electronic signs this week, which will read: If Tow Truck Stopped Ahead, Move Over or Slow Down, It’s The Law.

Read more: DPS urges drivers to move over, slow down for tow trucks

Summer heat indexes are hitting 110 degrees and above according to daily weather reports. Awareness of the dangers the rising temperatures can have on individuals or pets left in a parked vehicle becomes critical when hypothermia, a condition where the body absorbs more heat than it can handle, quickly sets in.

In the last year, the Mission Fire Department has responded to approximately 48 calls of a child locked in a vehicle. Most incidents occurred at area Wal-Marts and H-E-Bs, according to Deputy Chief Rene Lopez Jr. He said none of the incidents were life threatening, but the potential is always there.

Read more: Children, pets and hot cars don’t mix

The Upper Valley Art League is hosting a series of summer camp art classes, “Celebrating Nature through Art,” at the 100-acre National Butterfly Center (NBC) in Mission. UVAL members will be the instructors.

The classes are for ages 5 through 12. UVAL instructors will guide the youth in self-expression of nature through drawing, watercolor and crafts. They should bring their own snack and water each day.

All classes are held Tuesday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to noon, and the cost for each student is $40 per week. The upcoming sessions will be June 26 to 29, July 10 to 13, July 24 to 27 and August 7 to 10.

Read more: UVAL hosts summer camp at NABA

LA JOYA – The La Joya Independent School District school board discussed retention and graduation of students on June 11. School board members were given numbers from a cohort group of freshmen students at each high school from 2008-2009 and what their status was as of May 31.

The question board members wanted answered was how to get the students to stay in school and see them walk across the stage accepting their diplomas.

Assistant Superintendent for Student Services Adriana Villarreal told the board they are identifying needs and target areas where more work needs to be done to keep these students in school and help them graduate.

Read more: LJISD talks graduation rates

MISSION — A national non-profit organization cemented its status in the community last month, bringing in elected officials to talk with the group and the community about education and immigration with a focus on the economy and how Hispanics can help.

The LIBRE Initiative is a national non-profit that aims to increase awareness of and support for the principles of economic freedom among Latinos.

Read more: LIBRE focusing on economic freedom