The Texas Supreme Court may decide whether or not Mission must hold a new mayoral election. Former Mayor Norberto “Beto” Salinas filed a petition with the Supreme Court on May 6, asking the justices to review a decision by the 13th Court of Appeals. “While the record contains undisputed evidence demonstrating orchestrated voter fraud, the…

The Hidalgo Independent School District election trial ended Wednesday with a cliffhanger. After three days of testimony, which featured more than 50 witnesses and nearly 100 exhibits, state District Judge Federico “Fred” Hinojosa Jr. announced he wouldn’t hand down a decision Wednesday. He asked the attorneys to submit briefs and prepare for closing arguments on…

This article originally appeared in the Friday May 10, 2019 issue of the Progress Times. Officials prayed for Peñitas, La Joya ISD, the county and law enforcement alike at the Peñitas Public Library last Thursday morning. In honor of National Day of Prayer, cities across the Rio Grande Valley gathered in different locations united with…

This article originally appeared in the Friday May 10, 2019 issue of the Progress Times. Prosecutors dropped all charges last month against a former volunteer firefighter accused of threatening the Peñitas city manager and bringing a loaded pistol to work. The Hidalgo County District Attorney’s Office dropped two misdemeanor charges against Marlowe Munoz, 40, of…

Hidalgo school board Trustee Ben Arjona faced a barrage of questions Monday about where, exactly, he lived. Attorney Gilberto Hinojosa grilled Arjona for about 36 minutes Monday, when he took the witness stand in the Hidalgo Independent School District election trial. Gilberto Hinojosa represents Mentor Cantu, who lost the November 2018 school board election by…

This article originally appeared in the Friday May 10, 2019 issue of the Progress Times. José Ramirez loves this country. 91 years old with a cowboy hat donned on his now grey-haired head, he continues to make it out to the Ramirez Viejo Ranch in Peñitas every chance he can. Ramirez looks at his birthright,…

This article originally appeared in the Friday May 10, 2019 issue of the Progress Times. Following the flood in June 2018 that left 80 percent of Mission underwater, the county and city are taking action to prepare for hurricane season. A joint meeting was held with the city council and the new drainage committee in…

Hidalgo City Councilman Rudy Franz had just arrived at Al’s Restaurant on Saturday morning when a woman walked through the door — and headed straight for him. She tossed a subpoena on the table. “Mr. Franz, you’ve been served,” said Mildred Escobedo Flores, who founded Election Integrity Advocates, an all-volunteer organization that fights voter fraud.…