Area News

City Managers prepare for 2025   As the valley experiences exponential growth in various sectors, people are working behind the scenes to ensure that growth sustains the region for years to come. These individuals, known as city managers, are responsible for hiring city employees, shepherding infrastructure improvements and other special projects, communicating with the public,…

A new development promising to bring retail, restaurants and hotels broke ground recently on the long-derelict property on South 10th that used to be the site of the McAllen Civic Center.     In 2016 the city of McAllen closed the old Civic Center and had it demolished.   The vacated property was predicted to…

The Progress Times’ online readers were most interested in stories dealing with crime, legal controversy and Hidalgo County’s school districts this year — particularly stories about personnel changes at those school districts.     The 10 stories with the most views on the Progress Times’ website almost entirely deal with those subjects.   A story…

With the school year halfway complete, the superintendents of the surrounding districts were eager for the winter break, and have their goals set for the new year. The superintendents of La Joya ISD, Mission CISD and Sharyland ISD are all new to the leadership positions in their respective districts. As the calendar year comes to…

Mayors share their plans for 2025   Transparency and accessibility are cornerstones of any healthy democracy. Without them, the public’s trust is lost, and governing is an impossibility. Citizens within a representative democracy are owed accountability from their elected officials because the power of an elected official is derived from the consent of the governed.…

On Saturday, December 14th, the City of Alton hosted its annual Christmas Parade and Toy Giveaway, a festive event that brought the community together for a day of celebration, joy, and holiday spirit. From the parade to the toy distribution, the event showcased the collective efforts of local organizations, schools, and city departments, making it…

Pioneer High School’s BBQ Club held their inaugural event this past Tuesday, a barbecue cook-off that brought together local high school teams and community partners for a day of competition, camaraderie, and Texas tradition. Despite a timeline of just two weeks to prepare, the event proved to be a smoking success, showcasing the hard work…

The annual tradition of laying wreaths at the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) State Veterans Cemetery suffered from a lack of donations this year, and some headstones will remain bare this Christmas.   George Rice, the on-site representative of the Veterans Land Board under the Texas General Land Office, said 2024 is the first year there…

Less than a minute after it finalized the hiring of internal auditor Guillermo Reyna, CPA, the Mission Audit Committee went into executive session for several hours to review with him the 2023 draft financial report and discuss the process to audit city departments.   Reyna’s contract rate of $110 per hour and $50 per hour…