Mission optimistic about in-house EMS operations transition
This article originally ran in the April 19 edition of the Progress Times. City of Mission officials think their new fire-based EMS is performing well, though there’s not a particularly empirical way to tell and the financial implications of the program remain unclear. The city terminated its contract with MedCare EMS in January and has…
Read MoreTWU plants only Valley outpost in Mission
Denton-based Texas Woman’s University officially opened its only physical location in the Rio Grande Valley on April 18, an outreach center in Mission officials say will help local students explore educational opportunities and give resident women entrepreneurs an edge. The center, located in Mission’s Center for Education and Economic Development building, will provide prospective TWU…
Read MoreMission finance director resigned “in lieu of termination”
City of Mission Finance Director Angie Vela quit her job earlier this month instead of being fired so she could keep her unemployment benefits, according to her resignation letter. Vela submitted her resignation to Assistant City Manager Andy Garcia on April 9. “Please accept this letter as my formal notice of resignation, in lieu of…
Read MoreMercedes ISD places superintendent on leave
The Mercedes Independent School District Board of Trustees voted to place Superintendent Maria Chavez on administrative leave with pay after five hours of discussion behind closed doors in executive session Tuesday night. The board named Jeanne Venecia, the district’s student services and college readiness director, interim superintendent. It’s not clear why the board placed Chavez…
Read MoreRowe boys baseball coach placed on leave
McAllen ISD put James “Nikki” Rowe Head Baseball Coach Michael Segovia on administrative leave Thursday just three weeks after the University Interscholastic League placed the school on probation for player eligibility violations in its basketball program. The district confirmed in a statement Friday that it placed Segovia on leave but said he remained an employee.…
Read MoreCity of Mission tapped to name TIRZ interim director
The Mission Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone Board of Directors voted Monday to authorize negotiations under which the city will name an interim executive director for the position. That agreement cannot exceed 90 days or $6,000 a month for services provided. Last week the board moved toward hiring recently retired City Manager Randy Perez for that…
Read MoreCrime rate fell almost a quarter last year, Mission PD says
Accorinding to the Mission Police Department, the city of Mission’s crime rate fell by an astonishing 23.99% in 2023 and continued to fall in early 2024. The department included that statistic as part of its first annual crime report, which was based on information from the National Incident-Based Reporting System and released in February. The…
Read MoreMcAllen ISD weighing personnel, student shuffle to close Crockett
McAllen ISD may finally move staff out of David Crockett Elementary after over a decade of failing to do so. Last month school board trustees heard a presentation from the district’s administration that, through a somewhat complicated series of staff and student relocations, would ultimately result in the couple dozen administrators who work out of…
Read MoreMission says it lacks plan, fiscal understanding of city-run EMS in union talk
City of Mission representatives say the municipality has virtually no plan for its new in-house emergency medical service and that it doesn’t even fully understand the fiscal implications of that service. That lack of planning somewhat hampered negotiations Tuesday between the city and Mission Fire Fighters Association Local 3609 over a 10-article meet and confer…
Read MoreLa Joya ISD hires chief of staff
La Joya Independent School District’s superintendent announced at Wednesday’s board meeting that she’s hired a chief of staff. Superintendent Marcey Sorensen says Joseph Niedziela will start in that role on April 2. La Joya ISD doesn’t presently have a chief of staff on the payroll and it’s not clear that it’s ever had one. The…
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