Area News
Politiquero pleads guilty in Edinburg corruption case
A politiquero who bribed members of the Edinburg City Council pleaded guilty Monday. Miguel Angel Garza, 52, of Edinburg pleaded guilty to bribery Monday afternoon during a hearing before U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo. As part of his plea, Garza admitted that he accepted money from a local businessman. Garza told the businessman he…
Read MoreFormer correctional officer at East Hidalgo Detention Center pleads guilty to bribery
A former correctional officer at the East Hidalgo Detention Center pleaded guilty to bribery on Monday. Jose Martin Espinoza Jr., 35, of Mercedes pleaded guilty to bribery Monday afternoon during a hearing before U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo. During the hearing, Espinoza confessed to smuggling phones into the East Hidalgo Detention Center in exchange…
Read MoreFormer trustee challenges Place 2 incumbent on SISD board
Once again, Alejandro Rodriguez and Julio Cerda face off in the Place 2 race for the Sharyland ISD board of trustees election. But this time, the roles are reversed. Rodriguez, the incumbent, unseated Cerda in the 2020 trustee election after Cerda held the position for six years. Now, both men hope their reputations on the…
Read MoreTwo first-time candidates compete for SISD Place 1 trustee
With longtime Sharyland trustee Ricky Longoria vacating his seat on the SISD school board, Meagan Sullivan and Sergio Saenz go head-to-head to take over Place 1. The two candidates entered the election race with differently focused campaigns. Saenz has a platform rooted in safety and security, while Sullivan made communication and transparency the bedrock of…
Read MoreHighlights from the Sharyland trustee forum
The four candidates in the upcoming Sharyland ISD election assembled at Futuro RGV’s forum to discuss their priorities for the district and views on hot topics in Texas education. The Place 1 race consists of Sergio Saenz and Meagan Sullivan — the former, a business owner and the latter, an educator. While Saenz made safety…
Read MoreLawsuit claims Peñitas city administrators rigged auto auctions
Former Fire Chief Leroy Salinas filed a lawsuit against Peñitas last week, claiming the city rigged auto auctions — and fired him after he attempted to raise the alarm. Salinas sued Peñitas on April 13 for wrongful termination and political retaliation. “The political majority in Peñitas, who have famously called their own city ‘Cartel City’…
Read MoreLa Joya and Palmview approve affiliation agreements for EMT training
La Joya and Palmview plan to partner with a vocational program to train emergency medical technicians. The La Joya City Council and the Palmview City Council approved affiliation agreements with RGV Vocational Services during meetings on Monday and Tuesday. Under the agreements, students may ride along with EMTs on local ambulances — a requirement to…
Read MoreJudge signs restraining order against La Joya ISD in fight over insurance contract
After filing three lawsuits against the La Joya Independent School District over the course of just 11 days, a local insurance agent finally convinced a judge to sign a restraining order against the school district last week. Alberto “Bob” Treviño of Pharr, who owns Workplace Benefit Advisors LLC, sued La Joya ISD on April 3,…
Read MoreSecurity guard at Anzalduas Park accused of abducting migrant woman and soliciting her for sex
A security guard accused of abducting a migrant woman, soliciting her for sex and attempting to hold her for ransom pleaded not guilty Tuesday. Ernesto Gaona-Gonzalez, 59, of Mission worked for MLG Protection Services, a company hired by Hidalgo County to provide security at Anzalduas Park. “He adamantly denies the allegations made by the government…
Read MoreDrainage bond to be on the upcoming ballot
Voters in Hidalgo County have the opportunity to address long-standing drainage issues in the upcoming election without raising their taxes. The $195 million drainage bond that will be on the May election ballot will not increase the tax rate. Hidalgo County Drainage District No. 1 representatives said they have managed their debt, so they can…
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