Area News
La Joya ISD releases 90-day plan to strengthen district foundation
Last week, the La Joya Independent School District released a 90-day administration plan to restore the educational foundation of the district following the appointment of a new Board of Managers and Superintendent by the Texas Education Agency. “My initial 90-day plan is just the beginning of our collaborative journey,” said Superintendent Marcey Sorensen. “It’s an…
Read MoreLa Joya ISD sticks with Peñitas polling site
La Joya ISD announced Friday that despite the regime change, the district doesn’t intend to renege on a commitment to let Hidalgo County use Peñitas’ John F. Kennedy Elementary as a polling site. In a split vote two months ago, La Joya ISD’s school board opted to OK a request from the Hidalgo County Elections…
Read MoreMission city attorney resigns
This article has been updated to include comments from the former city attorney. The Mission City Council accepted City Attorney Victor Flores’ resignation Monday. Council unanimously approved Flores’ resignation, which was effective that night. He served as city attorney for a little over a year. Both Flores and the city describe the parting of ways…
Read MoreThree Mission parks to get restrooms
The City of Mission approved the construction of new restroom facilities in three parks — Astroland, Catholic War Veterans (CWV) and Oblate. Each recreational area will have two family-style restrooms and two water fountains. Although Oblate and Astroland are smaller parks (known as neighborhood parks) and do not usually have restrooms, Director of Parks and…
Read MoreMission to paint homes for residents in need
The Paint Mission Beautiful initiative is part of Mission’s ongoing effort to enrich the city’s façade. Leadership created the program to help low-income, elderly and disabled families revamp their homes at no cost. With the help of volunteers and donors, the city will spend Saturdays painting homes and landscaping yards for Mission residents in need. …
Read MoreInternal auditor position on Mission’s ballot
Mission constituents will vote on 24 propositions in the May charter election. The 24 propositions were recommended by the Charter Review Committee — a group of residents that city council assembled to examine Mission’s charter and amend it fully for the first time in 37 years. Among the propositions is an amendment establishing the internal…
Read MoreIDEA settles with former CEO
IDEA Public Schools settled last month a lawsuit with previous CEO and cofounder JoAnn Gama. Gama, who replaced Tom Torkelson as CEO in 2020 after criticism over exorbitant district spending on things like San Antonio Spurs tickets, a boutique hotel and a private jet, found herself out of the district the next year after what…
Read MoreMission City Council to discuss attorney’s resignation, replacement
The Mission City Council may accept its city attorney’s resignation Monday and discuss appointing someone to replace him with. Mission hired Victor Flores as city attorney in January of 2023 after the resignation of Gus Martinez. Flores said Friday evening that he and Mayor Norie Gonzalez Garza had talked the previous afternoon about his resignation,…
Read MorePeñitas flower shop owner faces second arrest
A Peñitas flower shop owner faces a state felony charge after being arrested again for theft. Rosa Barrera, owner of Rossy Floreria, had a victim come forward not too long after her December arrest, where she stole $58,323.32 from a customer. The Peñitas Police Department arrested the former floral shop owner on February 1, 2024,…
Read MoreMcAllen ISD board approves schoolyard forests agreement with city, Quinta
After some pointed questions for Quinta Mazatlan Executive Director Colleen Hook, the McAllen Independent School District Board of Trustees approved Monday an interlocal agreement with the city and Quinta that could pave the way for $2.7 million worth of trees coming the district’s way. That money would come from a Texas A&M Forest Service grant…
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