This article appeared in the Aug. 12 issue of the Progress Times.   A man accused of kidnapping a 13-year-old McAllen girl pleaded guilty last week. Brandon Galvez, 23, of Chalmette, Louisiana, met the girl on Snapchat in June 2020, according to McAllen Municipal Court records. Less than two weeks after they started talking, Galvez…

The former owner of Danny’s Pawn and Sporting Goods pleaded guilty to unlawfully selling ammunition last month. Daniel Gallegos, 67, of McAllen sold more than 5,800 rounds of ammunition to an informant during a sting operation. “Danny’s my friend,” said attorney Crispin “CJ” Quintanilla of McAllen, who represents Gallegos. “And it’s a sad situation.” Gallegos…

Peñitas Mayor Rodrigo “Rigo” Lopez quietly resigned on Thursday, when he pleaded guilty to a federal theft charge. The city of Peñitas didn’t announce the mayor’s resignation. Asked on Thursday if Lopez had resigned, City Manager Humberto “Beto” Garza III declined to comment. Lopez’s attorney, however, provided state Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa with a copy…

Businessman Fred del Barrio won the four-way race for mayor of Palmhurst on Wednesday. del Barrio won 52% of 642 ballots cast during the special election, according to preliminary results published by the Hidalgo County Elections Department on Wednesday afternoon. He defeated former City Councilman Israel Silva, who received nearly 33%; attorney Ricka Tijerina, who…

Palmview police Chief Gilberto Zamora agreed to resign Monday after the City Council offered him a $45,000 severance package.   The City Council approved the severance package during a meeting on Monday afternoon. Zamora submitted his resignation letter hours later. “It was a mutually agreed separation,” said attorney Javier Peña of Edinburg, who represents Zamora.…

Faced with higher costs for electricity, chemicals and fuel, the McAllen Public Utility plans to discuss a major rate increase next month. The Public Utility Board plans to discuss proposals to increase water and sewer rates during budget workshops in August. While the board is always reluctant to increase rates, the utility simply can’t absorb…

The state Public Safety Office lifted a financial hold on Peñitas Police Department and Peñitas Fire Department grants last month. Texas slapped Peñitas with a financial hold on June 15 — two days after the FBI arrested Mayor Rodrigo “Rigo” Lopez on federal theft charges. “PSO has four active grants with the City of Penitas.…

Palmhurst will start the process of picking a new mayor next week. Monday marks the start of early voting in Palmhurst, where four candidates are vying to replace former Mayor Ramiro J. Rodriguez Jr. “We’ve never had this type of election, with so many candidates running for the same spot,” said City Councilman Robert A.…