2 men charged with bribing Border Patrol agent
Two men bribed a U.S. Border Patrol agent to allow unauthorized migrants through the Falfurrias checkpoint, according to an indictment unsealed Wednesday. Edwin Alejandro Castillo, 22, of Sullivan City and Jose Luis Duran, 25, of Mission paid the Border Patrol agent $2,000 on June 11, according to the indictment. Three days later, they participated in…
Read MoreTexas Chicano Brotherhood ‘enforcer’ sentenced to 10 years in prison
A federal judge sentenced a former Starr County gangster to 10 years in prison Monday. U.S. District Judge John D. Rainey sentenced Hector “Pelon” Guerra, 41, of La Rosita — a former “ranking member” of the Texas Chicano Brotherhood in Starr County — during a hearing Monday afternoon in Victoria. Guerra pleaded guilty to conspiracy…
Read MoreFormer mayor sues Mission over ‘energy savings’ contract
Former Mayor Norberto “Beto” Salinas sued the city of Mission on Tuesday, attempting to stop a nearly $17 million “energy savings” project. Beto Salinas — who plans to run against Mission Mayor Armando “Doc” O’caña in 2022 — filed the lawsuit on Tuesday afternoon. The lawsuit claims Mission didn’t follow procurement and competitive bidding procedures,…
Read MorePalmview to conduct third-party review of Agua SUD sewer project
The Palmview City Council wants to know why the Agua Special Utility District sewer project went bad. Construction started in March 2017. More than five years later, the $42 million project still isn’t finished — and the City Council is frustrated. During a meeting on Tuesday, the City Council authorized City Manager Michael Leo and…
Read MoreAgua SUD plans to partner with Peñitas and Palmview to test fire hydrants
The Agua Special Utility District plans to work with the city of Peñitas and the city of Palmview to test fire hydrants in western Hidalgo County. Under the plan, Agua SUD — which provides water in much of western Hidalgo County — would partner with local firefighters to test hydrants. Agua SUD and Peñitas approved…
Read MoreMission mulls proposal to start city-run ambulance service
The Mission City Council is weighing a proposal to lease ambulances and create a city-run EMS service. Emergency Management Coordinator James Cardoza briefed the City Council on the proposal during a workshop Monday afternoon. Fire Chief Gilbert Sanchez said he supported the idea. “It’s time for our city to go into this service,” Sanchez said.…
Read MoreWestern Hidalgo County mayors, police chiefs meet with county judge about influx of migrants
Hidalgo County Judge Richard F. Cortez met with mayors and police chiefs Wednesday at La Joya City Hall, where they discussed how to handle the large number of migrants being released by Border Patrol. Cortez — joined by Sheriff J.E. “Eddie” Guerra and Precinct 3 Commissioner Everardo “Ever” Villarreal — discussed the situation with La…
Read MoreMission attorney confesses to providing drug traffickers with court records
A local attorney confessed Monday to providing members of a drug trafficking organization with court records in exchange for cash. Eric Samuel Jarvis, 48, of Mission provided criminal complaints to members of a drug trafficking organization at least eight times between July 2017 and May 2021, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s…
Read MoreLawsuit claims La Joya ISD re-assigned employees for political reasons
Six employees filed a lawsuit against the La Joya Independent School District last month, claiming the school board retaliated against them for supporting rival candidates during the November 2020 election. The employees sued La Joya ISD, school board President Oscar “Coach” Salinas and school board Vice President Armin Garza on June 30. They claim La…
Read MoreMCISD earns Board of the Year award
The Region One Education Service Center selected Mission CISD’s board of trustees as the 2021 Regional School Board of the Year. The members of the 2020-2021 school board are President Minnie Rodgers, Vice President Jerry Zamora, Secretary Veronica “Betty” Mendoza, Petra Ramirez, Juan Gonzalez, Iris Iglesias and Roy Vela. “I know that we have had…
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