MISSION — To raise money for abused and neglected children, art teacher Isabel Link from Sharyland High School and her art students created artwork that will be donated to a silent auction.

The silent auction is to be held at the Blue Ribbon Fashion Show Gala hosted by the Angels of Love Foundation, a McAllen non-profit organization created to help children who are neglected or abused around the Rio Grande Valley.

Read more: SHS students donate artwork to Angels of Love Foundation

Thursday, April 21 has been designated as an early release day for Mission CISD (Consolidated Independent School District) schools. Pre-k students will be released at 10:30 a.m. All other elementary grades will dismiss at 12 p.m. (noon). Junior high schools and high schools will dismiss students at 1 p.m. on this day. Afternoon pre-k students will not attend school on April 21. The early release time for pre-k is needed to allow for proper busing procedures for the elementary schools on the early release day.

Read more: Mission CISD announces early release for Easter weekend

Hidalgo County Precinct 3 Constable Lazaro "Larry" Gallardo Jr. poses with his family and Hidalgo County Commissioners at Tuesday's Commissioners' Court where Gallardo was presented with a resolution honoring his 2010 Constable of the Year award with the National Constables Association, which was held last month. Gallardo is the first south Texas constable to receive the honor, along with the state-association award.

Important developments in the recent falling out between the Mission City Council and the organization that has served as the city’s economic development facilitator for 22 years.

Jul. 24, 1989 – City of Mission authorizes formation of MEDA (Mission Economic Development Authority) to conduct economic development activities on behalf of the city.

August 1994 – Due to legislation changes affecting sales tax revenues, the city of Mission forms MEDC (Mission Economic Development Corporation) to administer the portion of city sales tax revenues designated for economic development and quality of life improvements. The MEDC board has no staff, but approves city sales tax funds going to MEDA. MEDA staff still handles the day-to-day economic development activities for the city.

Read more: MEDA Timeline

EDINBURG — January 28, 2011 is etched in my memory. It was the day my mother began chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer.

On the drive to the Cancer Center at Renaissance, she held my hand and asked a series of questions: Will it burn? Will I lose my hair immediately? Will I still be the same person? How sick will it make me? Will you be there with me? Is it wrong if I’m scared?

Read more: ‘Cancer is not a sentence’

Monday – almost six weeks after the Mission City Council cut off all funding to MEDA – the council rescinded the authority of MEDA (Mission Economic Development Authority) to conduct any economic development activities on behalf of the city, effectively immediately.

Tuesday, Mission City Manager Julio Cerda visited with the employees of MEDA, asking them to go to work for the city. This was a limited time opportunity.

Read more: Mission rescinds MEDA’s authority, hires its employees, except Townsend

BROWNSVILLE - The Gladys Porter Zoo announced the first birth of the zoo’s first endangered addax antelope on March 22. The healthy female calf was delivered by zookeepers and veterinary staff and is now under her mother's care. This birth is significant because in their native Africa the population of addaxes is dwindling.

Read more: Gladys Porter Zoo welcomes new arrivals

The Mission City Council has rescinded the authority of MEDA (Mission Economic Development Authority) to conduct any economic development activities on behalf of the city. The action taken in the Monday, March 28, city council meeting repealed, effective immediately, the resolution that authorized MEDA to serve as the city’s economic development arm in 1989.

Read more: Council strips MEDA’s authority