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Area News

Former Princess Annas vying for queen

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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…

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Mission to become no-kill city for pets

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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…

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SISD to install fencing at elementary campuses

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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…

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McAllen budgets $21 million to expand City Hall

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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…

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Former police corporal who sued Palmview receives $33,000 settlement

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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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Affidavit reveals new details about case against IDEA Mission teacher accused of improper relationship with student

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When the Mission Police Department started investigating whether or not a teacher at IDEA Mission had sex with a student, the teacher asked the student to “delete all the messages and pictures between them,” according to an affidavit filed with the Mission Municipal Court. The affidavit, which a police investigator filed on Jan. 18, reveals…

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Pharr sues Texas Attorney General’s Office, attempts to stop sexual harassment complaint against deputy city manager from becoming public

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The city of Pharr sued the Texas Attorney General’s Office last week to keep a sexual harassment complaint against Deputy City Manager Edward M. Wylie secret. When they filed the lawsuit, however, attorneys for the city inadvertently made the sexual harassment complaint public. The complaint revealed that Wylie was accused of sexual harassment in September…

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Former state trooper plans to plead guilty in federal drug trafficking case

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A former state trooper accused of assisting his father’s drug trafficking organization plans to plead guilty. Attorneys made the announcement Tuesday morning, when former state Trooper Pablo Talavera Jr., 35, of Pharr appeared before U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez for a pre-trial hearing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jesse Salazar said Talavera planned to plead guilty. Attorney…

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Low-income housing on track for demolition

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Mission’s affordable housing community Anacua Village is on course for demolition pending approval from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). And if all goes as planned, by 2025, there will be a new mixed-income development with more units in the same location.  According to Mission Housing Authority Executive Director Arnold Padilla, the…

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