Area News

This article originally ran the Dec. 24, 2021 issue of the Progress Times.  Irma Gomez, the mother of 8-year-old Usiel, came forward to speak on her son’s experience with Sharyland ISD’s “discriminatory” dress code after learning another boy in the district went through a similar experience as her son around the same time.  Earlier this…

In an extremely unusual decision, U.S. District Judge Ricardo Hinojosa said Tuesday that he made a “clear error” by sentencing a local attorney to 45 months in prison — and slashed his sentence to just 30 months. Hinojosa sentenced attorney Eric Samuel Jarvis, 48, of Mission to 45 months in prison during a hearing on…

Last month Mission CISD implemented a new temporary dress code that focused on the comfort and mobility of students and staff, according to district leaders. When Superintendent Dr. Carol Garza and Deputy Superintendent for Support Services Lorena Garcia presented the changes, they explained the move was to provide the opportunity for students and staff to…

Faced with termination, a La Joya Independent School District police officer resigned on Wednesday. Officer Jose Luis Ramirez Jr., 32, of Sullivan City resigned on Wednesday, three weeks after the Texas Department of Public Safety caught him buying drugs, according to documents released under the Texas Public Information Act. “We are aware of the arrest…

  The Mission City Council confirmed the appointment of police Chief Cesar Torres on Monday, clearing the way for him to take over the Mission Police Department on May 1. During a meeting on Monday afternoon, the city manager recommended Cesar E. Torres, 54, of McAllen for the job. The City Council voted 5-0 to…

The Texas Education Agency plans to conduct a “Special Investigation” after receiving complaints about the La Joya Independent School District. Superintendent Gisela Saenz and school board President Alda T. Benavides received a letter about the investigation last month. “Multiple complaints allege members of the LJISD Board of Trustees and administration engaged in fraud, conflict of…

Two former and longtime Mission CISD employees go head-to-head for place 6 on the Mission CISD board of trustees. Dolores Reyna looks to unseat Petra Ramirez, who has held the spot for eight years.   Ramirez, 73, worked in Mission for about 29 years before retirement. She’s been a local for 45 years and describes her…

Mayor Pro Tem Jessica Ortega is confident she will retain her place 1 position on Mission City Council but two candidates are fighting to unseat her — Navy veteran Moises Iglesias and healthcare administrator Noel Salinas. Ortega, a life skills coach at La Joya ISD, has held the seat on the council for two terms…

Three candidates challenge Mayor Armando O’Caña to be the city of Mission’s next leader — current Councilwoman Noralinda “Norie” Gonzalez Garza, former Mayor Norberto “Beto” Salinas, and Missionite Victor Anzaldua. With two weeks until Election Day, it’s crunch time for the contenders. THE COUNCILWOMAN At 15 years, Norie Gonzalez Garza is currently the longest-sitting member…