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Monday – almost six weeks after the Mission City Council cut off all funding to MEDA – the council rescinded the authority of MEDA (Mission Economic Development Authority) to conduct any economic development activities on behalf of the city, effectively immediately.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The Mission City Council has rescinded the authority of MEDA (Mission Economic Development Authority) to conduct any economic development activities on behalf of the city. The action taken in the Monday, March 28, city council meeting repealed, effective immediately, the resolution that authorized MEDA to serve as the city’s economic development arm in 1989.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

Editor’s note: For more news about the standoff between MEDA and the Mission City Council, see the web-only story about last Thursday’s MEDA meeting. Look for the headline “MEDA board tells council, ‘slow down’” at www.progresstimes.net.

After rebuffing the Mission City Council’s push to replace their entire board of directors with a council-appointed board, MEDA (Mission Economic Development Authority) accepted the resignations of seven board members Tuesday evening.

Read more: MEDA rebuffs city takeover of board

Last week, a group of youth from the San Antonio Covenant Presbyterian Church (SACPC) spent their spring break helping hurricane victims in the Rio Grande Valley.

The group arrived here through the Faith Community Disaster Relief (FCDR) that is affiliated with the First United Methodist Church in McAllen. FCDR assists families and organizations in need. This year, over 40 people were here to repair hurricane damage from Dolly and Alex, help non-profit organizations and assist other families.

Read more: Spring breakers help repair damage by Dolly, Alex

MERCEDES — Several students from local school districts participated in the 72nd annual Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show over the last two weeks, coming home with a number of awards.

Sharyland Independent School District Sharyland 4-H winners include: Daniel Hinojosa, grand champion medium wool market lamb; Evan Acevedo reserve grand champion Brahman heifer; Meaghan Welch reserve champion market goat division; John Kroeker reserve champion market goat in the medium to heavy weight division; Sarah Labus, second place market goat.

Read more: Local FFA students win big at RGVLS