Area News

This article originally appeared in the Friday Aug. 30, 2019 issue of the Progress Times. Two members of “Los Mickys,” a rotating cast of criminals that robbed drug traffickers in Hidalgo County, took the case against them to trial Monday. Testimony in the case against Marin Macrin “Filtro” Cerda, 32, of Mission and Jose Miguel…

This article originally appeared in the Friday Aug. 23, 2019 issue of the Progress Times. Over one century ago a parish was established in deep South Texas that would shape the religious and cultural landscape in the Valley for years to come. Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church (located at 620 N. Dunlap Ave. in…

This article originally appeared in the Friday Aug. 23, 2019 issue of the Progress Times. In order to create new incentive programs for local businesses, $275,000 was transferred into the Mission Economic Development Corporation general fund. This Wed. Aug. 20, 2019, three meetings were held at the Mission Center for Education and Economic Development for…

This article originally appeared in the Friday Aug. 23, 2019 issue of the Progress Times. Palmhurst residents relying on public transportation will feel some relief as they wait for their bus once the city installs a bus shelter. At their Monday meeting, city commissioners voted to purchase a $14,800 bus shelter for the city’s bus…

The Pharr Police Department arrested a former Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office administrator Tuesday on forgery and credit card abuse charges. Investigators arrested former Sheriff’s Office Cmdr. Jose A. Padilla, 59, of Weslaco — a key player in the scandal that sent former Sheriff Lupe Treviño to federal prison — on Tuesday afternoon. Padilla and two…

The La Joya Housing Authority may select a new executive director during the next few weeks — potentially the fourth person to hold the position in less than a year. Applicants include former Rio Grande City Mayor Ruben O. Villarreal, housing authority Interim Executive Director Claudia Alcazar, former Sullivan City Manager Juan Cedillo and Weslaco…

This article originally appeared in the Friday Aug. 23, 2019 issue of the Progress Times. Aiming to prepare 130 local students for a career in computer science, the Mission Economic Development Center marked the return of their “CyberMission” program last week. The program is set to begin next month and will train 130 students through…

This article originally appeared in the Friday Aug. 23, 2019 issue of the Progress Times. The Sullivan City Commission plans to keep the current property tax rate. Members of the City Commission voted 3-0 on Tuesday to recommend that Sullivan City keep the property tax rate at 50 cents per $100 of taxable assessed valuation…

This article originally appeared in the Friday Aug. 23, 2019 issue of the Progress Times. With assistance from a prominent San Antonio attorney, the Agua Special Utility District board is preparing for a switch to single-member districts. Senate Bill 2552, which the Texas Legislature passed in May, requires the utility board to switch from seats…

This article originally appeared in the Friday Aug. 23, 2019 issue of the Progress Times. After suffering through a seemingly endless four-hour meeting filled with questions, bickering, snide comments and a visit from the Mission Police Department, Mission Housing Authority Chairman Romeo De La Garza had a question. “Can we move on?” Fellow Commissioner Irma…