Area News
Trial postponed in western Hidalgo County corruption case
An engineer charged in the western Hidalgo County corruption case will not head to trial until after Election Day. Jury selection in the case against Mariano Garcia, 49, of Mission had been scheduled for Nov. 2. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas, however, filed a “Sealed Agreed Motion for Continuance of…
Read MoreTexas Gov. Greg Abbott holds ‘get out the vote’ rally in Mission
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, flanked by Republican candidates from across the Rio Grande Valley, held a campaign rally Thursday in Mission, where he urged voters to “turn the RGV red.” So many people showed up at Ranch House Burgers on Bryan Road that Abbott had to move the rally from the restaurant to the parking…
Read MoreVehicle Turnover
Smuggling vehicle turnover leaves 11 injured and one dead By Maria Ruiz PRECINCT 3 – At approximately 10:45 a.m. today, La Joya Police, Precinct 3 Constable Larry Gallardo, and EMS responded to a call of a crash on 107 and west of Tom Gill Rd. that left one victim dead. According to Constable Gallardo, police…
Read MoreTexas schools deploy threat assessment program
To improve student and staff safety on school campuses, the Texas School Safety Center developed a formal program that guides districts in conducting threat assessments. In 2019, Texas lawmakers passed Senate Bill 11, requiring public schools to conduct behavioral threat assessments and collect relevant data on their efficacy. In tandem with SB11, the Texas Education…
Read MoreMission raises utility rates, expands services
With the new growth Mission continues to experience, city leaders said it was necessary to adjust the rates of some city services and utilities to make up for the additional maintenance. At the Oct. 24 Mission City Council meeting, the mayor and council unanimously voted to increase the water, sewer, drainage and brush rates. The…
Read MoreTaylor Road, Lions Park and more Mission projects
The City of Mission has several infrastructure and capital improvement projects in the pipeline in addition to the seven drainage projects the city has already begun. From the all-inclusive park to traffic signal testing and police and fire, Missionites will see many changes throughout the next 12 months. TAYLOR ROAD The long-awaited Taylor Road expansion…
Read MoreIn interview, former Pharr police Chief Andy Harvey tells his side of the story
In mid-September, when Pharr police Chief Andy Harvey abruptly resigned, the city released a curt statement. “We thank Andy for his dedicated work to the City of Pharr during his two years as Chief, and we wish him the best in his future endeavors,” Mayor Ambrosio “Amos” Hernandez said in the statement, which didn’t explain…
Read MoreJudge sentences former Donna police sergeant to nearly 15 years in prison for protecting drug shipments
A former police sergeant who escorted drug shipments through Donna in exchange for cash was sentenced to nearly 15 years in prison on Friday. U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez sent former Donna police Sgt. Alejandro “Alex” Martinez, 43, of Hidalgo to federal prison during a hearing on Friday afternoon. “I know I violated my oath,”…
Read MoreSullivan City censures councilman over Facebook post
The Sullivan City Council censured City Councilman Julian Peña on Monday for criticizing other members of the City Council on Facebook. Mayor Alma Salinas said the Facebook post, which contained inaccurate information, had created animosity in the community. “If you’re posting something, well, it needs to be the truth,” Salinas said. During a meeting on…
Read MoreUnder new management, La Joya Housing Authority focuses on recovery agreement
The La Joya Housing Authority is under new management. Executive Director Ruben Villarreal left on Oct. 7, when his employment contract expired. Rather than replace him, the La Joya Housing Authority board approved a management agreement with the Kenedy Housing Authority, which fired all the remaining employees last week. Chairman Jaime Gaitan said the board…
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