Area News

Alton, Peñitas and Sullivan City will cancel their May elections after every candidate ran unopposed. Nobody challenged incumbents in Alton and Peñitas. Sullivan City Mayor Leonel “Leo” Garcia and City Councilwoman Sylvia Castillo didn’t run for re-election, allowing two political newcomers to replace them. “I believe in God and I don’t believe in coincidences,” said…

The president of the La Joya school board sent profanity-laced text messages in October, insulting Hidalgo County Precinct 3 Commissioner Ever Villarreal and promising to fire his wife, a local insurance agent, after Election Day. School board President Oscar “Coach” Salinas won the election and apparently followed through. The school board fired Ruth Villarreal on…

1,016 new cases of COVID-19 were reported by Hidalgo County health officials on Monday. Hidalgo County health officials announced that the county now has a total of 68,586 known cases of the virus. Of those cases, 2,423 remain active. The county reported 12 new deaths related to the disease. 368 county residents who are COVID-19 positive…

RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Department of Intercollegiate Athletics is shocked and saddened to announce that men’s basketball head coach Lew Hill passed away on Sunday at the age of 55. “Words cannot describe how any of us feel right now. Everyone in our department is devastated by…

The Agua Special Utility District will save millions in paying back several loans that go as far back as 1995. The water agency announced they refinanced seven loans totaling $17,470,500 into one loan totaling $12,995,000. The original loans had an average interest rate of about 5% each. The new, single loan has an interest rate…

By Jamie Treviño Glittering ball gowns were accompanied by matching face masks at this year’s Royal Reception for the Texas Citrus Fiesta. The Royal Reception took place at Balli’s Terrace Event Center on Sat. Jan. 23, 2021. The guest list was kept strictly to the participants, their immediate family, Texas Citrus Fiesta board members and…

For the 84th annual TCF, the year marked one full of changes for the celebration. For one thing, the Mission school district – which hosts the organization’s coronation to crown King Citrus and Queen Citrianna at the Mission High School Gym – declined to host the event due to concerns regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. The…

As is tradition in every annual coronation, the Texas Citrus Fiesta names the members of the Royal Court for the festivities set for the following year to give them enough time to prepare their royal gowns. Following in Kaylee Ann Silva’s footsteps was Duchess of Live Oak Brianna Lee Villasano of Lin-San Manuel who was…

Those who have had a substantial impact on the educational opportunities for students across the Rio Grande Valley will be recognized by a national non-profit later this spring. Teach For America announced the recipients of their third annual Honor Roll Gala that is set for later this spring at the Mission Event Center. The three…

Work on several major energy-savings projects at the La Joya Independent School District will be completed in February. La Joya ISD hired Indiana-based Performance Services Inc. to upgrade air conditioning systems, install solar panels and replace high school fields with artificial turf. “We expect to be fully complete, based on deliveries and installation, by the…