Faced with financial problems, Pharr EMS may stop responding to 911 calls in rural parts of Hidalgo County. Pharr sent Hidalgo County a termination letter on Monday, informing the county that Pharr EMS would stop responding to 911 calls in Precinct 3 — the western part of Hidalgo County — unless the county paid at…

A child died Thursday after being found in a car outside an elementary school near Mission. On Thursday afternoon, the La Joya Independent School District Police Department responded to a call about “an unresponsive child in a car” outside Dr. Americo Paredes Elementary School, according to a news release from La Joya ISD. Medical personnel…

Faced with declining enrollment, the La Joya Independent School District should consider eliminating more than 250 teaching positions, according to a report prepared by the Texas Association of School Boards. The school board reviewed the report during a work session on Wednesday afternoon. “We’re not making recommendations right now,” said Superintendent Gisela Saenz. “We’re just…

The Peñitas City Council appointed a new mayor on Monday. During a meeting on Monday afternoon, the City Council accepted Mayor Rodrigo “Rigo” Lopez’s resignation and appointed City Councilman Ramiro Loya to replace him. “It’s truly an honor to be the mayor of Peñitas, the city that I love so much,” said Loya, 72, a…

The city of La Joya may increase water rates in October to pay for two major infrastructure projects. During a meeting on Wednesday afternoon, the City Council discussed water rates with Jeff Snowden, the owner of Frisco-based Capex Consulting Group. Snowden told the City Council that La Joya couldn’t afford to build a new wastewater…

Former Peñitas Mayor Rodrigo “Rigo” Lopez paid nearly $35,000 in restitution last week after he confessed to defrauding the La Joya Independent School District. Rigo Lopez pleaded guilty on Aug. 11. His attorney, Tony Torres of Edinburg, delivered a check for $34,923.70 to O’Hanlon, Demerath & Castillo — a law firm that represents La Joya…

Peñitas abruptly terminated Fire Chief Leroy Salinas in June after the city manager concluded they couldn’t work together, according to documents released last week. City Manager Humberto “Beto” Garza III fired Leroy Salinas on June 22. “The City of Peñitas would like to thank you for your service to our community,” according to a letter…

A jury on Tuesday determined state Rep. Sergio Muñoz Jr. must pay $1.2 million in damages after losing a legal malpractice lawsuit. After a two-day trial at the federal courthouse in McAllen, the jury took less than an hour to reach a verdict. “I’m just happy it’s over,” said George Prussin, 77, of Florida, who…

After losing a legal malpractice lawsuit, state Rep. Sergio Muñoz Jr. took the witness stand Monday to defend himself against claims he cost a client $1.2 million. Muñoz lost the lawsuit in 2017, when U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez signed a nearly $3 million judgment against him. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, however,…

The Agua Special Utility District approved a redistricting plan Monday that didn’t make any major changes to the existing districts. During a meeting on Monday afternoon, the Agua SUD board approved a redistricting plan drafted by attorney Rolando L. Rios of San Antonio. “Once every 10 years, pursuant to the latest census, every governmental entity…