Area News

The city of Palmhurst filed a lawsuit against two people affiliated with a self-styled “animal rescue” organization Tuesday. Palmhurst sued Jesus Meave, the founder of the Franklin All Animal Rescue Team, and his landlord, Ramon Garcia of Mission. The organization — known to supporters as “FAART” — operates from a home on Stewart Road, where…

The La Joya City Council, concerned that a series of corruption scandals had damaged trust in local government, adopted a code of ethics on Tuesday. Mayor Isidro Casanova and the City Council unanimously approved the code of ethics, which takes effect in January. “I’m excited about it,” Casanova said. “I think it’s something that is…

The drunken driving case against former state District Judge Robert Garza was dismissed last week after he completed a pretrial diversion program. Judge Romero Molina — a visiting court-at-law judge who handled the case — dismissed two misdemeanor charges against Garza on Dec. 10. “This is the way the program works,” said attorney Artemio De…

The city of McAllen is preparing to draw new City Commission districts based on data from the 2020 census. Assistant City Attorney Austin Stevenson briefed the City Commission on the process Monday during a workshop at City Hall. “I think we’re in really good shape,” Stevenson said. “We have outside counsel coming in to help…

The owner of Danny’s Pawn and Sporting Goods pleaded not guilty Thursday to selling ammunition to people without legal status in the United States. Daniel Gallegos, 67, of McAllen pleaded not guilty to five counts of unlawfully selling ammunition to a prohibited person during a hearing Thursday morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge Juan F. Alanis.…

  Sullivan City parted ways with police Chief Joseph D. Cordova on Monday. During a meeting on Monday night, the Sullivan City Council voted to “accept recommendation of city manager to terminate the employee as directed in executive session.” City Councilman Rene “Cuate” Peña, who made the motion, didn’t identify the employee by name. The…

IDEA Public Schools received more than 70 reports during the past six months through a system designed to solicit information from whistleblowers. The system, which includes both a website and a whistleblower hotline, received 72 reports from June 24 to Dec. 6, said Director of Internal Audit Javier Campos, who briefed the IDEA Audit Committee…

The Agua Special Utility District board picked a new president on Monday. Members replaced President Homer Tijerina with Esmeralda H. Solis, who joined the utility board in November 2020. “I know I’ve only been on the board for a year,” Solis said. “But I guarantee that I will do my very best — to do…

Former Superintendent Alda T. Benavides became the president of the La Joya school board on Wednesday. Benavides — who retired from the La Joya Independent School District in June 2019 and joined the school board in November 2020 — accepted the position during a meeting on Wednesday night. “I’m still learning my role as a…

Officers arrested an off-duty Palmview Police Department investigator Saturday on a misdemeanor assault charge. Daniel Camacho, 48, of Mission — an investigator with the Palmview Police Department — allegedly pushed a woman Saturday morning. The Mission Police Department charged Camacho with assault-family violence, a Class C misdemeanor. He pleaded not guilty. “I don’t know exactly…