Area News

La Joya lost millions in state funding last month after the city botched a loan application for the new wastewater treatment plant. The Texas Water Development Board ranked the wastewater treatment plant first among 99 infrastructure projects and invited La Joya to apply for a loan in January. After reviewing the loan application, the Water…

Mission added an accolade to its resumé when it was dubbed one of the Better Cities for Pets — a program created by Mars Petcare to help cities become more pet friendly. The city unveiled a new bone-shaped emblem at Bannworth Dog Park during a “paw-ty” on Monday. Community members and their pets attended to…

Updated 10.15.21, 3:49 p.m.: In an earlier version of this article, Progress Times named the Facebook page Red’s Voice in the defamation lawsuit. This has since been corrected to the Facebook page Voters Against Sexual Assault. The creator of Red’s Voice has no affiliation with Voters Against Sexual Assault. “This article appeared in the October…

When he appeared before U.S. District Judge Ricardo Hinojosa on Friday morning, Guillermo “Don Gio” Morales apologized. Morales — the leader of a drug trafficking organization affiliated with the Gulf Cartel — faced 30 years to life in federal prison. “I would like to apologize to you, your honor,” Morales said, speaking through a translator.…

  Texas Gov. Greg Abbott blamed President Joe Biden for creating a “crisis on the border” and touted a Republican plan to fix the problem Wednesday during a news conference near Mission. Flanked by fellow Republican governors, Abbott warned that Texas will not wait for Washington to act. “It’s time for the Biden administration to…

A federal judge on Monday delayed the sentencing of former La Joya Mayor Jose A. “Fito” Salinas until December. Salinas, 83, of La Joya participated in a scheme to award a public relations contract to his daughter’s friend. The friend — a local teacher named Sylvia Garces Valdez — received a $12,000 retainer after Fito…

On Sept. 15, when they heard the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration had arrested Justice of the Peace Roel Valadez, the men at Star Barbershop couldn’t believe it. The owner, Jessie Cesar, had known Valadez since high school. After he became a barber, Valadez would stop by for haircuts. “I would never charge him because he…

IDEA Public Schools filed a lawsuit against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton last month, attempting to block the release of expense reports and other documents that reveal spending by former executives. The Progress Times filed two public information requests with IDEA in 2020. After delaying the requests for nearly a year, IDEA asked the Attorney…

Alton hosted the final session of the ‘Disaster Aware, Alton Prepared’ event, where attendees received tips on home protection and personal safety measures for cold weather. The ‘Disaster Aware, Alton Prepared’ six-month community event has educated the public on safety measures of natural disasters, severe weather, and beautification of the city with personal responsibility. All…