Area News
Local ISDs attempt to change legislation, relieve taxpayers
For decades taxpayers in Willacy, Cameron and Hidalgo counties have unknowingly been paying double taxes. But at least 20 school districts across the three counties banded together to ensure that does not happen anymore. It recently came to light that residents in three of the Valley counties have been paying taxes to their home districts…
Read MoreMission CISD stadiums sport new turf
The fields at Tom Landry Hall of Fame Stadium and Veterans Memorial Patriot Stadium reached substantial completion last week for the turf installation projects. Both fields received new artificial grass after nearly 10 years. And for the first time since about 2017, Tom Landry stadium has no ongoing or upcoming construction. Although the turf on…
Read MoreMission City Council — EMS, contracts, construction
During the Jan. 23 Mission City Council meeting, the mayor and council approved an amendment regarding administrative pay for the fire-based EMS program. Previously, the local law regarding base pay and incentives only pertained to the various EMT certification holders. However, firefighters with Mission FD have experienced a more strenuous workload since the department adopted…
Read MoreFormer Santa Maria school board trustee pleads not guilty to federal drug trafficking charges
A former Santa Maria school board trustee pleaded not guilty to federal drug trafficking charges on Tuesday. Oscar Saldivar Jr., 56, of Weslaco appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge J. Scott Hacker by videoconference on Tuesday afternoon. Wearing an orange jail uniform, Saldivar said he understood the charges and wanted to plead not guilty. “His only…
Read MoreLa Joya ISD plans to close 2 campuses, cut nearly 140 jobs
Faced with a slow, steady decline in enrollment, the La Joya Independent School District plans to close two campuses and eliminate nearly 140 jobs when the school year ends. La Joya ISD plans to shut down Leo. J. Leo Elementary School in Palmview and Rosendo Benavides Elementary School in Sullivan City. The district also plans…
Read MoreFormer Princess Annas vying for queen
Only twice in Texas Citrus Fiesta history has a Princess Anna gone on to covet the title of Queen Citrianna. This year, two former princesses are vying for the crown. Iyslah Flores and Mia Ayala were crowned the 62nd and 65th Princess Annas, respectively. Both come from families intertwined in TCF history. Ayala’s aunt was…
Read MoreMission to become no-kill city for pets
This article originally ran in the Jan. 27 issue of the Progress Times. In about 90 days, Mission will be a safer place for sheltered animals. The city joined the no-kill movement Monday night when the mayor and council approved a contract with the Rio Grande Valley Humane Society. With the contract, Mission retains ownership…
Read MoreSISD to install fencing at elementary campuses
Following a request from the Sharyland ISD Board of Trustees, administration has plans to install guard shacks and fences to cover all eight elementary campuses and parking lots. The district is still in the early stages, but according to Executive Director of Maintenance Mark Dougherty, SISD is looking at installing 6-foot ornamental fencing. The new…
Read MoreMcAllen budgets $21 million to expand City Hall
The city of McAllen may spend $21 million to expand City Hall. During a meeting on Monday afternoon, the City Commission voted to budget $21 million for the project. “Traditionally, for an expansion of this magnitude — for a project like this — we would borrow money,” said City Manager Roy Rodriguez. “Except that, in…
Read MoreFormer police corporal who sued Palmview receives $33,000 settlement
A former police corporal who sued the city of Palmview for “unlawful gender/sex discrimination” received a $33,000 settlement in November. Palmview settled with police Cpl. Jorge Padron in November but admitted no wrongdoing. “Mr. Padron will always appreciate the opportunity to serve and protect the residents of Palmview,” his attorney, Mauro F. Ruiz of McAllen,…
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