Area News

After two years of tightly restricting access to public records, the La Joya school district plans to start making documents from school board meetings available upon request. In September 2017, when someone provided documents from the school board meeting packet to a local businesswoman, the school district limited access to just a handful of administrators.…

This article originally appeared in the Friday Oct. 18, 2019 issue of the Progress Times. Despite its characterization as more of an issue in northern states, the opioid epidemic has spread throughout the country, and the data in South Texas is lacking. Last Thurs. Oct. 10 the Hidalgo County Health and Human Services Department along…

This article originally appeared in the Friday Oct. 18, 2019 issue of the Progress Times. Tenant Commissioner Jose Armando Salinas may be removed from the La Joya Housing Authority board for failing to attend meetings. Jose Armando Salinas represents housing authority tenants on the five-member board. He hasn’t attended a board meeting since Sept. 4.…

This article originally appeared in the Friday Oct. 18, 2019 issue of the Progress Times. State lawmakers presented the Valley View school district with a proclamation Monday, congratulating students and teachers on winning the prestigious National Blue Ribbon School award — again. The U.S. Department of Education announced in September that Wilbur E. Lucas Elementary…

Former La Joya City Administrator Mike Alaniz pleaded guilty Tuesday to a federal theft charge. Alaniz admitted to arranging for the city of La Joya to buy a piece of property — which he apparently owned — for an inflated price. “Administratively, I should have been more careful, your honor,” Alaniz said, according to an…

Community members in western Hidalgo County gathered at North Mission Church of Christ Tuesday for family fun and an opportunity to interact with local law enforcement agencies. The City of Palmhurst held its 8th annual National Night Out event, a nationwide celebration between members of the public and law enforcement agencies. Though the National Night…

This article originally appeared in the Friday Oct. 18, 2019 issue of the Progress Times. Moments before a state trooper arrested him at 2:31 a.m. Saturday, Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office Inv. Jesse Sandlin made a phone call. Sandlin, who was off-duty, had been drinking alcohol, according to the criminal complaint against him. He dialed the…

Safety incidents are on the rise nationally and in order to deliver the best education La Joya Independent School District continues to maintain safety a top priority. La Joya ISD Board of Trustees and Administration are committed to the safety of students and staff. Board of Trustees have approved projects that will increase safety measures.…

The city will be spending about $86,000 less on the Mission Tennis Center. This Monday, Oct. 14, the city of Mission held a regular council meeting. A change order was presented during the meeting that broke down how the removal of various portions of the existing equipment on the property will result in a cost…

This article originally appeared in the Friday Oct. 18, 2019 issue of the Progress Times. A former U.S. Border Patrol agent found himself in court Tuesday, shackled and seated with the smugglers he once arrested. Wearing gray athletic pants and a black t-shirt emblazoned with the words “Shots Fired,” former Border Patrol Agent Daniel Polanco,…