Area Breaking News
Mission 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 MorePeñitas sends out alert for missing teen
Person of interest said to have violent tendencies Monday afternoon, the city of Peñitas issued a missing person’s report for 16-year-old Kimberly Silva, who went missing Sunday night. Luis Fernando Hernandez, a 25-year-old from Pharr, is a current person of interest according to the city police department. Investigator Oscar Barron said that Kimberly left her…
Read MoreLa Joya school board votes to keep Leo Elementary and Benavides Elementary open for another year
It’s official: The La Joya Independent School District will keep Leo J. Leo Elementary School and Rosendo Benavides Elementary School open for another year. During a meeting on Wednesday afternoon, the school board voted 7-0 to keep Leo Elementary and Benavides Elementary open. Both campuses, however, must boost enrollment to 410 students and maintain 95%…
Read MoreOne more falls in Western Hidalgo corruption scandal
The ongoing corruption scandal in the West has now added one more person to the list of defendants. A federal grand jury indicted Veronica O’Caña on Tuesday. She was arrested the following day. According to the indictment, Veronica O’Caña stands accused of witness tampering, violating the travel act, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. She…
Read MoreRichard Molina found not guilty on indictment of election fraud and illegal voting
After nearly five years, Richard Molina’s fate in the 2017 Edinburg Municipal Election charges has been decided. After two days of deliberations, the jury found the defendant not guilty on one charge of engaging in election fraud and 11 of illegal voting. Visiting Judge Carlos Valdez read the verdicts aloud to a full court, giving…
Read MorePeñitas mayor pleads guilty in public corruption case
Peñitas Mayor Rodrigo “Rigo” Lopez pleaded guilty to a federal theft charge on Thursday. During a hearing on Thursday afternoon, Lopez “admitted that in 2018 he aided and abetted the La Joya Independent School District (LJISD) athletic director in committing fraud against the district,” according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for…
Read MoreEarly Voting Results: del Barrio may win Palmhurst mayoral race without a runoff
Businessman Fred del Barrio may win the Palmhurst mayoral race without a runoff, according to preliminary results published by the Hidalgo County Elections Department on Wednesday. del Barrio won nearly 57% of 475 ballots cast by mail and during the 11-day early voting period, according to the preliminary results. He defeated former City Councilman Israel…
Read MoreMission businessman pleads not guilty to witness tampering in western Hidalgo County corruption case
A businessman accused of tampering with a witness in the western Hidalgo County corruption case pleaded not guilty Wednesday. Jorge O’Caña Jr., 43, of Mission — the nephew of Mayor Armando “Doc” O’caña and the brother of Hidalgo County Court-at-Law Judge Patricia “Patty” O’Caña-Olivarez — pleaded not guilty on Wednesday. During a hearing on Wednesday…
Read MoreFBI arrests Peñitas mayor on theft charges
The FBI arrested Peñitas Mayor Rodrigo “Rigo” Lopez on federal theft charges Monday. Rodrigo “Rigo” Lopez, 38, of Peñitas paid a La Joya Independent School District employee to approve purchases from his company, Xizaka LLC, according to the indictment against him. In response to a request for comment, the FBI released a statement. “The FBI…
Read MoreFormer City Councilwoman Norie Gonzalez Garza will be Mission’s next mayor
Former City Councilwoman Norie Gonzalez Garza will become the next mayor of Mission. Gonzalez Garza defeated Mayor Armando “Doc” O’caña during a runoff election on Saturday, according to preliminary results published by the Hidalgo County Elections Department. Nearly 56% percent of about 7,000 people who cast ballots supported Gonzalez Garza. O’cana won about 44%. “I’m…
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