Area News
County proposes rural trash service
The Hidalgo County Commissioners Court hopes to solve the illegal dumping problem in rural areas with a trash collection program for residents outside the city limits. The county has not implemented the program yet, but precinct leaders seek feedback from the community. The commissioners court is holding four sanitation hearings so residents may provide their…
Read MoreLa Joya ISD employees win seats on Agua SUD board
Two La Joya school district employees won seats on the Agua Special Utility District board on Tuesday. Jose Luis Ochoa Jr., a teacher at HOPE Academy, trounced Peñitas police Inv. Oscar Barron Jr., according to preliminary results published by the Elections Department on Tuesday night. La Joya Independent School District administrator Adriana Flores-Villarreal, meanwhile, defeated…
Read MoreLa Joya ISD headed for shakeup after three ‘My 5’ candidates win seats on school board
The school board in La Joya is headed for a shakeup. Agua Special Utility District board President Esmeralda Solis and Hidalgo County administrator Anthony Uresti — who campaigned together as part of team “My 5 for La Joya ISD” — won seats on the school board Tuesday, according to preliminary results published by the Hidalgo…
Read MoreFormer President Clinton shows support for candidate Michelle Vallejos prior to election day
By Maria Ruiz Former president Bill Clinton spoke todemocratic voters Monday evening at the Edinburg Conference Center at Renaissance, serving as a guest speaker for Michelle Vallejos’ last rally before the Nov. 8 election. Vallejo, running for the 15th House District against Republican opponent Monica De La Cruz, said she’s fighting to represent accessibility for the…
Read MoreShary Elementary parking lot to undergo construction
The traffic congestion at John H. Shary Elementary has been an ongoing issue for years, but Sharyland ISD is in the process of correcting the matter. At the Oct. 24 board of trustees meeting, the school board unanimously approved a contractor to complete work on the parking lot and bus drive to alleviate the problems. …
Read MoreNew CEO to lead Mission’s economic development
When Teclo Garcia had the opportunity to take on the CEO position of the Mission Economic Development Corporation, he said he couldn’t turn it down. After working in other larger cities, Garcia wanted to help guide Mission in its new venture into international commerce. And as of Oct. 24, Garcia hit the ground running as…
Read MoreOwner of western Hidalgo County water park sentenced to 1 year in prison for smuggling migrants
A western Hidalgo County businessman who smuggled migrants across the Rio Grande on a speedboat was sentenced to a year in prison and fined $150,000 last week. Jose Luna, 43, of Palmview — a wealthy businessman who owns a water park near Palmview High School — pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport aliens within the…
Read MoreProsecutors say middlemen in Weslaco water treatment plant corruption case should forfeit nearly $1 million
The federal government wants two middlemen in the Weslaco water treatment plant corruption case to forfeit nearly $1 million in ill-gotten gains. Former Hidalgo County Commissioner Arturo “A.C.” Cuellar Jr., 68, of Progreso Lakes should forfeit about $947,000, according to a motion filed Tuesday by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas.…
Read MorePalmview cancels public relations contracts
The Palmview City Council decided to part ways Tuesday with two public relations consultants. During a meeting on Tuesday afternoon, the City Council agreed to stop paying $3,000 per month to KM International and $1,500 per month to MAP Entertainment Media for public relations. The City Council agreed to stop paying the consultants after Palmview…
Read MoreStarr County Sheriff’s Office investigator charged with driving while intoxicated
The Palmview Police Department charged a Starr County Sheriff’s Office investigator with driving while intoxicated on Sunday. Palmview police Cpl. Leroy Martinez stopped Jose David Saenz, 33, of Roma — an investigator with the Starr County Sheriff’s Office — for speeding at 4:01 a.m. Sunday. Saenz was driving about 94 mph in a 65 mph…
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