Area News

A Sullivan City financial audit belatedly accepted by council last month found significant lacking financial controls and persistent issues.   The audit, which covers the fiscal year that ended Sept. 2022, was only completed in December.   City Manager Richard Ozuna, who started the same month, says he’s not sure when that audit should have…

The Mission city council voted unanimously last week to terminate its contract with the RGV Humane Society after community members spoke out on allegations of abuse at the animal shelter.   Mission resident Dendea Balli, executive director of Paws Fur Help, implored the council to take action as she emotionally described the conditions of the…

The Edinburg school board agreed to a corrective action plan last month handed down by the state after a Texas Education Agency review found that the district likely violated the law by suspending homeless students during the 2023-2024 school year.   The McKinney-Vento Act is a federal law that prohibits educational entities from suspending homeless…

The Hidalgo County Commissioners Court Tuesday called for May elections that would give voters the opportunity to create two new emergency services districts in Precinct 3.   Emergency services districts are local political subdivisions and taxing entities.     The prospective new districts —District #5 and #6 — would provide emergency medical services and fire…

Hidalgo County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Sullivan City Councilman Ruben Villalon last Friday for allegedly selling cocaine at a tire shop he owns last year.     Villalon, 52 is charged with two felony counts of manufacture or delivery of controlled substances.   According to a probable cause affidavit, in August an Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office…

For the next three school years, La Joya ISD plans to invest up to an additional $1.5 million into the students and staff of Garza and Seguin elementaries.  Last month, the board of managers voted to close Zapata Elementary and divide the students between Garza and Seguin — two campuses that will undergo a rigorous…

La Joya ISD Superintendent Dr. Marcey Sorensen said her overall goal is to increase the percentage of students attending A and B campuses by 6% before Aug. 2029. During the Jan. 29 board meeting, the district leader proposed her goal, which she called the North Star Goal for La Joya ISD. A North Star strategy…

A new cohort of young women will represent the Texas Citrus Fiesta as members of the 89th Royal Court. The City of Mission celebrated the annual Citrus Fiesta, where area residents honor the local citrus industry. During the gala, TCF named Ximena Lopez Queen Citrianna, Sofia Garza the Princess of Grapefruit Blossom and Aaliyah Sarabia…

The Mission City Council voted unanimously to promote interim fire chief Mike Silva to the permanent post at its meeting held on January 27.     City manager Mike Perez recommended Silva to the council for the chief position after working closely with him over the last two months.   “His knowledge of the department, addressing…

A variance request by a Mission property owner that would have allowed immediate development at Bryan Road and Griffin Parkway (495) without widening the north side of the intersection was denied by the city council at its January 27 meeting. Mayor Norie Gonzalez Garza then directed staff to look for alternative solutions at this busy…