Area News
Mission Animal Shelter distemper free, critically full
When the RGV Humane Society took over operations of the Mission Animal Shelter in February, they unknowingly walked into a distemper outbreak. But after weeks of testing and euthanizing the infected, the shelter reported all animals clear of the deadly disease. The next step is ensuring surges like this never happen again. Distemper is a…
Read MoreTeachers’ Rights Bill passes, moves to House
Texas senators passed a $1.6 billion education bill that would provide pay raises for teachers and support for better working conditions. Senate Bill 9 includes explicit recommendations from the Teacher Vacancy Task Force that Gov. Greg Abbott put together to address teacher retention and recruitment. And although the bill is divisive among educators, it has…
Read MoreInsurance agent sues La Joya ISD — twice
An insurance agent filed two lawsuits against the La Joya Independent School District last week, claiming the school board is part of a “civil conspiracy” against him. Pharr-based Workplace Benefit Advisors LLC, which is owned by Alberto “Bob” Treviño, sued La Joya ISD on April 3 and April 6. The lawsuits claim La Joya ISD…
Read MoreAfter 36 years with La Joya ISD, superintendent announces her retirement
Superintendent Gisela Saenz, who steered the La Joya Independent School District through a turbulent four-year period marked by the pandemic, declining enrollment and a major corruption case, announced her retirement on Wednesday. Saenz started her career with La Joya ISD in 1987, when she became a kindergarten teacher at Rosendo Benavides Elementary School in Sullivan…
Read MoreRattlers send off to state
On Wednesday morning, the students, staff, and parents of Sharyland High School gathered with posters and signs to send off their state tournament-bound boys’ soccer team. The Rattlers took photos and were serenaded by the high school Mariachi group as they were given one last show of support from the Sharyland ISD community. The team…
Read MoreJudge sends former La Joya school board president to jail for using cocaine while awaiting sentencing for extortion
A judge sent former La Joya school board President Oscar “Coach” Salinas to jail Wednesday after he confessed to using cocaine. Oscar “Coach” Salinas, 53, of Sullivan City pleaded guilty to a federal extortion charge last year. He posted bond — $30,000 with no cash deposit required — and remained free while he awaited sentencing.…
Read MoreGame rooms may return to Sullivan City
Sullivan City approved regulations for game rooms last week but refused to release any details about the decision. During a meeting on April 3, the City Council unanimously approved regulations for game rooms “subject to legal review and as directed during executive session.” City Attorney Frank Garza said he couldn’t discuss what, exactly, the City…
Read MoreHouston man pleads not guilty in Jalisco New Generation Cartel smuggling case
When a grand jury indicted Eron Otero in March, federal prosecutors knew where to find him. Otero had just arrived at Federal Correctional Institution Three Rivers to start serving a 30-year prison sentence for selling methamphetamine. The U.S. Marshals Service picked him up and brought Otero to McAllen, where prosecutors had indicted him on nearly…
Read MoreFormer Starr County attorney pleads not guilty to bribery, extortion and theft charges
When he appeared in federal court on Monday, former Starr County Attorney Victor Canales Jr. looked at his family and fought back tears. Canales had spent Easter at the East Hidalgo Detention Center in La Villa. After swapping his orange jail uniform for street clothes, Canales appeared in court Monday for arraignment on bribery, extortion…
Read MoreIDEA claims former CFO used corporate credit card to pay for condoms
“This article appeared in the April 7 issue of the Progress Times.” Former IDEA Public Schools Chief Financial Officer Wyatt Truscheit abruptly resigned in 2020 after the charter school system discovered he paid for condoms with a corporate credit card, according to documents filed Saturday in federal court. Truscheit worked for IDEA from 2009 to…
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