Area News

With the tension surrounding the possibility of school shootings, Executive Director Dr. Daniel King at Region One Education Service Center felt it was time to assemble school district leaders in the RGV to discuss campus safety. Region One held a meeting on June 6 and invited superintendents and law enforcement representatives to discuss future conferences,…

A patrolman resigned from the Mission Police Department last month after being accused of shoplifting. Officer Ryan I. Rosa, 28, of Rio Grande City resigned on May 24. “Effective immediately, I am resigning from my Patrol Officer position and employment with the Mission Police Department due to personal reasons,” Rosa wrote to police Chief Cesar…

The Agua Special Utility District burned through cash, racked up debt and ran deficits for the past few years, according to a financial report the utility board reviewed on Monday. During a meeting on Monday afternoon, the utility board reviewed a report that showed the amount of unrestricted cash in Agua SUD bank accounts —…

The executive director of the Peñitas Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone abruptly resigned last week. Peñitas hired former McAllen City Manager Mike Perez in November, when the TIRZ needed an experienced manager to handle a major economic development project. The project — an Amazon fulfillment center — fell through after the company re-evaluated plans to expand.…

ALA distributes 1.55 million in COVID emergency relief to 77 U.S libraries Mercedes, TX– There is great news for the City of Mercedes. The Dr. Hector P. Garcia Memorial Library has been awarded $20,000 to support library services and operations through the American Library Association (ALA) COVID Library Relief Fund. ALA has provided $1.55 million…

The La Joya Independent School District invited former Superintendent Roberto Zamora back to the boardroom on Tuesday. During a meeting on Tuesday afternoon, the school board voted 5-0 to appoint Roberto R. Zamora, 76, of rural Palmview to Place 5. “He’s well respected by the community. He’s a mentor of mentors. He’s served at all…

A local engineer charged in the western Hidalgo County corruption case pleaded not guilty to theft on Tuesday. Mariano Garcia, 49, of Mission — the owner of M. Garcia Engineering — allegedly paid nearly $250,000 to Andres “Andy” Morales, a major player in western Hidalgo County politics. In exchange, Garcia received a contract with the…

An engineer was arrested Monday in the western Hidalgo County corruption case. Mariano Garcia of McAllen-based M. Garcia Engineering is accused of paying nearly $250,000 to Andres “Andy” Morales — a major player in western Hidalgo County politics — in exchange for a contract with the Agua Special Utility District. “Defendant gave approximately $249,839.13 to…

The McAllen Public Utility plans to install nearly 47,000 new water meters during the next two years as part of a major infrastructure project. Members of the Public Utility Board approved the $18.7 million project in May after more than four years of discussion. “We did our due diligence to do it right,” said utility…