Rio Grande Guardian's Podcast

BROWNSVILLE, Texas - Dr. Mostafa Malki is a professor at UT-Rio Grande Valley and executive director for business development at America's Additive Foundry Center for Advanced Manufacturing Innovation and Cyber Systems. He is also the founder of Aaron Economic Consulting.Malki was a panelist for a discussion titled “Additive Manufacturing and Industrial Reshoring in the RGV.” The discussion, held at the eBridge Center for Business & Commercialization, part of RGV StartUp Week.During his remarks, Malki acknowledged he might offend some people when speaking about the importance of manufacturing over retail.  “Science technology, engineering and mathematics are what create wealth. All the others industries, although important, are not self-sustaining without a very strong industrial base,” Malki said.“So I understand, and maybe I'm going to offend some people but I'll go ahead and say it. One of the largest employers or industries in the Valley are the school districts. How we fund schools, education, is through property taxes. So somebody has to pay those taxes to be able to have quality education. That somebody has to be manufacturing.”Malki elaborated on his thought:“It has to be industries, because they are the one generating value. I don't want to give a lecture on economics, but I'll give you a very short explanation. When you manufacture something, most of the stuff that you manufacture is not going to be sold and consumed locally, it will be exported. So you export the value that you have produced and bring back cash that allows activity in that economy. It allows for a thriving entertainment industry, real estate, schools and so on.”Malki then contrasted retail with manufacturing.“I don't want to pick on retail,” he said, explaining that much of the profit created from retail activity leaves the region.“Only manufacturing does that because it brings money in and takes products out. Other areas (such as retail), they take money out, and that's what you're trying to avoid. So you're bleeding the region in that sense.”Malki said, economic development officials “cannot just say no, we're not going to do retail, because we still need retail.” But, he said, “we should not really focus on retail.”Malki continued: “We need to focus on manufacturing and industry, whether it's advanced or traditional manufacturing, because that's what creates wealth in the community. You look at Chicago, you look at L.A., there are very strong manufacturing bases there and that's the reason why they are considered successful, big, thriving communities. It's because there is wealth being generated there.”In other parts of his remarks, Malki spoke about additive manufacturing and how the Valley could learn a lot from studying the success of Sweden. Editor's Note: Here is an audio recording of everything Dr. Malki said on the Additive Manufacturing and Industrial Reshoring in the RGV panel.Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

PHARR, TEXAS - Victor Perez, president of Pharr Economic Development Corporation, has welcomed COMCE to the city.COMCE stands for Consejo Empresarial Mexicano de Comercio Exterior, Inversión y Tecnología (Mexican Business Council for Foreign Trade, Investment and Technology). It is a non-profit organization representing the Mexican private sector in international affairs, particularly focusing on promoting foreign trade, investment, and technology. COMCE Nacional has announced a new satellite office in Pharr at the Pharr Global Business Hub. Its leaders did so during a two-day tour of the Pharr area. The trip included a visit to the Pharr International Bridge and the Mexican Consulate's Office in McAllen, along with meetings with the Food & Drug Administration (FDA), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and UT-Rio Grande Valley.“We signed a Memorandum of Understanding with COMCE National a couple of months back. And when we sign an MOU we want to make sure that we follow up. We want to make sure that we continue the collaboration, we continue the communications with those entities or organizations that we have signed an MOU with,” Perez told Ron Whitlock Reports.“So, today, we're officially designating the Pharr Global Business Hub as a headquarters of COMCE National in the Rio Grande Valley.”Asked why the MOU is important, Perez said: “Because the Pharr Global Business Park is a key component, a commercial gateway into the US market, into the Texas market.”Perez said he expects other foreign entities to sign MOUs with Pharr EDC in order to make use of the Pharr Global Business Hub.“The word is getting around, on both sides of the border, that Pharr is the place to be,” Perez said.“We are moving forward rapidly. And with the new bridge coming in, we expect more business, more trade, and more investors.”Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

BROWNSVILLE, Texas - The Rio Grande Valley is becoming no different than some of the bigger metros in Texas, says Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation CEO Gilberto Salinas. “Austin-San Antonio is really one big area, Houston is just a huge monster when it comes to people, numbers and cities around it, DFW? DFW is kind of like McAllen-Brownsville. It's becoming that one huge region, one super region. And it takes a SpaceX coming in and then telling us, a region is 100 miles,” Salinas said. Salinas made his remarks in an exclusive interview with Ron Whitlock of Ron Whitlock Reports. The interview took place before Salinas made his highly successful presentation at the Cross Border Industrial Opportunities summit in Monterrey. “Sometimes in Brownsville, we think regional is 20 miles. McAllen, I think it's 30 miles. But it takes a SpaceX, one of the most forward-thinking companies, really in the history the planet, to come and tell us, that no, regional for us is 100 miles,” Salinas told Whitlock. “And that's just from a supplier network to a labor and talent pool, because they (SpaceX) pull from well outside of 100 miles. And again, it goes to show that the Brownsville-McAllen super metro area is becoming a huge draw.” Salinas added: “You know, outside of Texas, all eyes are on this place that we call the Rio Grande Valley.” Asked what the state of industry and the jobs market is currently like Brownsville and Cameron County today, Salinas said: “The state of jobs and industry is like never before. That's the one thing that I have seen since I've come back, the number of projects that we have in the pipeline, the number of leads, the companies that are opening up here. It's different from 10 years ago, even from five years ago,” Salinas said. “And a big fish draws all the big fish… SpaceX, the two LNG plants. There's a refinery plant looking at the Port (of Brownsville), and some other major operations looking at the Port. We have, like, $3 billion in the pipeline just for the Brownsville from the GBIC side. All these companies are coming in as a result of the success of a SpaceX and the LNGs. So those big fish are drawing in other big fish, and that's what's setting us apart from everybody else right now. That level of activity is raising eyebrows across the entire state of Texas.” Asked if there are any big projects in the works that he can talk about, Salinas said: “Well, no different than most other EDOs, we are on the cusp of announcing some major projects. We just cannot disclose those yet. But, between our top 10 projects, we're looking at about $3 billion in capital investment. Hopefully we can announce at least one of those here in the next coming weeks.” Salinas said he likes to call these big projects game changers. “Those projects that we have are, again, what I like to call game changers, very similar to a SpaceX and the LNGs in the energy sector. To everybody's somewhat surprise, it is just going to put Brownsville… Brownsville is already on the map because everything that has happened. But those projects are just going to make that dot on the map bigger.Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

BROWNSVILLE, Texas - Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño, Jr., has made the case for a “yes” vote on the Cameron County Arena project.In an in-depth audio interview with the Rio Grande Guardian, Treviño points out that property taxes will not be used to fund the project. Rather, he said, much of the money will come from an existing venue tax source.“Let's go back. In the November 2016 election, the voters of Cameron County approved what we call the venue tax. But I think it should more aptly be named the visitor tax,” Treviño said.“Basically, that visitor venue tax is paid by anyone who stays in a hotel or short term rental or rents a motor vehicle here in Cameron County. That visitor taxes is collected by the short term owner and/or vehicle rental company, so that 2% is a visitor tax, it is not a property tax.”Treviño gave two examples of projects that have come about as a result of the venue tax - the Isla Blanca Amphitheater on South Padre Island, and the South Texas Ecotourism Center Project at Laguna Vista. He said the tax can only be spent on economic development or tourism related projects. “That's it. You can't use it to fix your potholes. You can't use it to fix drainage. You can't fix it to do anything that's not tourism or economic development related.”Treviño said there has been a lot of “misinformation put out there” that a yes vote is going to impact property taxes, etc. “The resolution that the County Commissioners Court approved sets out that this particular project, while it may have other funding sources, the property tax will not be the source of that.”Asked why the new arena is needed, Treviño said: “The reality is Cameron County is growing at a very, very extreme rate right now, thanks to the development and the expansion of SpaceX, thanks to the commitment at Starbase. And then now you've got the LNG industry taking full force at the Port (of Brownsville), along with other potential projects, steel industry related projects, other economic development projects and master planned development. Cameron County as a whole is growing by leaps and bounds.”Treviño said a new arena in Cameron County will have the potential to be more of a destination venue that the two arenas in Hidalgo County - State Farm in the city of Hidalgo, and Bert Ogden in Edinburg.“The difference we've got here is it would be part of a master planned development. The plan is to develop hotels, restaurants, retail, commercial in that area, kind of a mini La Cantera-type situation, so that if you want to go to an event, a concert…  and you don't want to be driving back and forth, you want to be able to have a few drinks… you can stay on site at a hotel or whatever, or you can walk to the restaurants before or after a particular event. That's what I think is going to set this project apart.”Treviño said that in addition to misinformation about property taxes being used to pay for the arena, some people are saying the county commissioners are going to benefit financially from the project. “That's disappointing, because that's not how I how I run my life. I would never be in public office, and certainly not for any long, extended, period of time, if that's how I did things,” he said.Treviño added that he has been in touch with UT-Rio Grande Valley and its leadership is interested in being part of the arena. He said building a new arena would make it more likely that UTRGV would hold its graduation ceremonies in Cameron County.Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

AUSTIN, Texas - Dan Diorio is senior director of state policy for the Data Center Coalition. Via a zoom, Diorio recently gave an update to the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service on the legislation he is tracking in Austin. He was joined on the zoom by Guillermo Aguilar of Blackstone Consultants.The Data Center Coalition's website explains what data centers are.“Data centers are the foundation of the digital infrastructure on which our modern society and economy are built. Data centers are physical locations that organizations use to house their critical applications and data. Anything that takes place online “in the cloud” is powered by a data center,” the coalition stated, on its website. “Data centers aggregate our collective computing demands – everything from sharing photos with friends and family to streaming our favorite shows to supporting online learning and storing important medical and financial information – efficiently and securely in one location.” The coalition added: “Previously, these types of computing resources were dispersed across businesses, which was far less efficient and secure. In 2010, nearly 80 percent of data center computing was done in smaller traditional computer centers, largely owned and operated by non-technology companies. By 2018, approximately 89 percent of data center computing took place in larger cloud data centers.”Diorio brings over 16 years of experience in state and federal government affairs and public policy. He began his career in the Massachusetts State Legislature where he served as legislative director to State Senator Scott P. Brown. Diorio followed Brown to Washington, DC, and the United States Senate where he worked as a Legislative Assistant handling a large portfolio of issues including energy and the environment, education, labor, immigration, and transportation.Diorio next handled state and federal government affairs for a Boston-based demand response provider. While there he helped form the Advanced Energy Management Alliance, a national trade association for demand response companies and end-users. Upon moving out west for sunshine and dry weather, Diorio covered election administration policy for the National Conference of State Legislatures.Diorio was also the vice president of legislative affairs for Colorado for the GoWest Credit Union Association. He advocated for credit unions and managed legislative campaigns in both Colorado and Wyoming. Most recently he was chief of staff of Strategic Affairs for C6-Zero, a start-up advanced manufacturing company, where he led public affairs, government affairs and organizational development.Diorio received his Bachelor of Arts in History from Boston College and has a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Colorado Denver. He lives in Denver with his wife and two children.On the zoom, Diorio spoke about the legislation his group is tracking and how some pieces of legislation related to data centers have good and bad parts to them.Together with Aguilar, Diorio spoke about the chances of South Texas landing major data center projects. Here is an audio recording of the zoom.Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

STEM Nation 2025 is a student conference organized by the Rio Grande Valley Philanthropic Foundation. STEM stands for Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics. The conference takes place at the Bert Ogden Arena on Tuesday, May 29, 2025. Diane Milliken Garza, executive director of RGV Philanthropic Foundation says the conference is important because while Hispanics comprise 20 percent of the population across the nation, only two percent of Hispanics work in STEM fields. This podcast features Milliken Garza and her good friend, Kathryn Lueders, general manager of Starbase. Lueders will be one of the keynote speakers at the conference. Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

BROWNSVILLE, Texas - When he appeared as a panelist at RioPlex's Texas Port to the Stars FDI Summit in Houston, Brownsville Mayor John Cowen, Jr., said this is the best time ever to be the leader of his city. Cowen said: “I think we have an extremely strong value proposition. I always tell people it's the greatest time ever to be mayor the city of Brownsville. We have over $40 billion of capital investment projects in our area. And what I'm most proud of is, for example, NextDecade, which is building their $18.4 billion liquefied natural gas plant,  they're hiring 70 percent local talent. SpaceX, they have over 3,200 direct employees. Over 70 percent local talent. That says that we have the human capital needed for companies to be successful in our region.”Cowen gave similar remarks in an interview with Ron Whitlock Reports at Rally in the Valley 4.0, an event held recently at the Brownsville Events Center by the Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation. Asked by veteran broadcaster Ron Whitlock about the state of the Brownsville economy, Cowen said:“I always tell everyone that this. This is the best time ever to be mayor of Brownsville. We've got so much growth happening in Brownsville and outside of Brownsville. I think we've been able to showcase our workforce with with SpaceX and with Bechtel, and NextDecade at the Port (of Brownsville). Each of those huge projects have been able to use over 70 percent local workforce. So I think that shows that we have the skilled workforce needed for large scale industrial projects to be successful.”Cowen said the key thing now is for the city to work with local educational institutions to ensure that the pipeline continues. “I think we're doing a great job of that. And I think, you know, we'll have some more announcements later, more projects that are coming to Brownsville, and we're excited to continue that growth.”Whitlock also interviewed Rafael Vela, executive director of Workforce Solutions Cameron at Rally in the Valley. Vela praised GBIC for hosting the event. He said there needs to be more such events across the region. “There can never be enough of these events. As important as this is, there should be a dozen of these events throughout the Valley. So what we hope to do is expand with our partner, GBIC, and get other communities in the area to do the same thing. Not just in our service area, not just in Cameron County, but really the whole Valley,  because it can be so impactful.”Whitlock agreed. He said every panelist seemed to have a “little nugget of important information” that was disseminated to the 400-plus students present. “One was, don't be afraid to fail. You'll learn more from failure than you do from success. That was just one of the nuggets that was disseminated here today,” Whitlock said.Whitlock also interviewed Joe Esparza, the commissioner representing employers on the Texas Workforce Commission. “We are here at Rally in the Valley because we support initiatives that encourage students to get more involved with internship opportunities. We also support employers with resources on like a cost-sharing program, through our cooperation with the (Texas) Higher Education Coordinating Board,” Esparza said.“It's important because we're developing our next generation of workforce, and exposing students to as many industries as possible. That gives them a better grasp of where they want to be and how they're going to find success.”Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

Carlos Ealy is assistant secretary of state for Mexican and Border Affairs in the Office of the Texas Secretary of State. Ealy spoke at a reception held for the Texas Port to the Stars FDI Summit hosted by RioPlex at the Westin Galleria in Houston. Here are his remarks from the stage.Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

HOUSTON, Texas - Valerie G. Segovia is vice of president of investor relations for the Texas Economic Development Corporation.Segovia spoke at a reception held for the Texas Port to the Stars FDI Summit hosted by RioPlex at the Westin Galleria in Houston. Here are her remarks from the stage.Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

PHARR, Texas - The Pharr EDC Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing scholarship opportunities for graduating students residing in the city of Pharr.  The foundation supports both college and trade school career paths.  One of the foundation's main fundraisers is an annual Casino Night. This year's event will be held at the Regency Hall in Pharr on April 17. To learn more about the foundation, the Rio Grande Guardian interviewed one of its founding board members, Veronica Gonzales.   “The Pharr EDC Foundation was a spin-off of the Pharr EDC, but the intent of the foundation was simply to raise money for students that are from the Pharr area, so that they can continue their education, whether that means going on to a two-year school, a technical school, a four-year school. We just want them to have the skills that they need to have a better quality of life,” Gonzales said. “And so that's why the organization was formed. And it's been around since 2021, right after the pandemic, or the tail end of the pandemic. And it's been very successful. Already it has benefited over 515 students and given away more than $1.3 million in scholarships.” Gonzales continued: “As time goes by, you kind of learn what works best. We have really firmed up the criteria for students that want to apply. They have to be from the Pharr area or at our high school. They have to be a high school senior. They have to also engage in some community service, at least 15 hours of community service, because we truly believe that when students get engaged in their community at an early age, that they're going to make it a habit in their lives to do that. And we want these students to be very well-rounded students, so either have an internship or 15 hours of community service, and then a grade point average of about 2.5 or higher.” Gonzales says the Pharr EDC Foundation has two big fundraisers every year.  “We have a Golf Tournament that we do in the summer, and we also have a Casino Night, and our Casino Night is actually coming up. It's going to be on April the 17th, at the Regency Hall in Pharr. It's a lot of fun. You walk in, you think you've gone into a casino, and it's not a bunch of speeches. It's about having fun, having a little bit to eat and drink, and then just getting to play some fun games and networking with others in the community. But every dollar that we raise through the Casino Night goes to support these scholarships. And the scholarships are, I think, very good scholarships. They are $2,000 scholarships for students, $1,000 in the fall, $1,000 in the spring. And like I mentioned, we've given 515 of them away. So, the more you contribute at the Casino Night, the more goes to help these students and they can continue their education.” Asked if there was anything else she wanted to add, Gonzales said: “I want to thank Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez, because he's the one that initially had the idea of doing this. And Victor Perez at the EDC. The city helped with funds at the beginning, but now we are becoming self-sustaining by doing these fundraisers. So, I do want to give a shout out to the mayor, to the city commission for being very supportive of this program, and, of course, to everyone over at the EDC Foundation, the staff who work very hard to make these events a success.”Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

LAREDO, Texas - Legendary workforce development leader Blas Castañeda has been mentoring high school students for 49 years. The retired president of CTA Global Solutions will join with Area Health Education Center to hold his Annual Scholarship Awards Ceremony on March 27.This event recognizes the exceptional academic accomplishments of students participating in CTA's mentorship career development program.The ceremony takes place at Falcon Event Center, 7718 McPherson Road in Laredo, starting at 6:00 p.m. on March 27.“The mentorship career development program pairs experienced community leaders with high school seniors to provide career preparation, foster personal growth, and develop essential skills for university success. Through guidance, support, and networking opportunities, the program aims to assist students in successfully navigating the university admission and enrollment process,” said Blas Castañeda told the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service.“CTA Global Solutions and AHEC are committed to empowering the next generation of leaders by providing scholarships to deserving students who have demonstrated academic excellence and a dedication to their future careers,” Castañeda said.Castañeda became a well-known figure along the Texas-Mexico border when he chaired the Texas Border Coalition's education and workforce development committee. His career included more than three decades in the higher education realm as chief external affairs/economic development officer at Laredo Community College. Gov. Rick Perry appointed him to the Texas Workforce Investment Council. Gov. Ann Richards appointed him to the Texas Council on Workforce and Economic Competitiveness. He holds a Master's and Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in International Trade. His resume includes an eight-year tenure as Laredo city councilmember and he was an active member of the Eagle Ford Consortium Tri-Chair Workforce of South Texas.The Guardian secured an in-depth phone interview with Castañeda. The Guardian asked him why he started a mentoring program.“In the neighborhood where I grew up, barely anyone going to college. The whole reason for that was mom and dad didn't have the money to pay for the college. So that was one of the reasons. The other reason was, when I was growing up, everybody had to go work. We used to go up north and work every year for, oh, maybe close to 20 years, working in the fields picking tomatoes and corn and lettuce and cherries and even pick up cotton. So we there was a major inopportunity to go to school,” Castañeda said.Castañeda added: “Over the years I have helped tons of students get to university. Today, they're engineers, they're nurses, they're bankers, they've got their own business, all over the place. A lot of them are here in Laredo, but a lot of them went out, and they're in different parts of the country. So, I'm very happy that my 49 years of community service really paid off for a lot of people.”Here is an audio recording of the Guardian's in-depth interview with Castañeda:Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas - Veteran broadcaster Ron Whitlock, of Ron Whitlock Reports, recently interviewed U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar about Mexico's water debt to the U.S.Whitlock asked Cuellar if the U.S. should withhold water from Mexico in California, in retaliation for Mexico not releasing water into the Rio Grande. He also asked the Laredo congressman if he would support Laguna Madre Water District in its efforts to build a desalination plant that would provide potable water to the residents of South Padre Island.Under a 1944 water sharing treaty, Mexico is committed to providing 350,000 acre feet of water a year. Mexico is badly in arrears in the current five year cycle. It owes the U.S. 1.3 million acre feet of water. The result has been devastating for South Texas farmers and ranchers. Texas' last remaining sugar mill, in Santa Rosa, closed its doors last year due to insufficient water.Here is an audio recording of the interview Whitlock secured with Rep. Cuellar.Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

MISSION, Texas - Many of the state lawmakers that participate in next week's Texas Water Day at the Capitol will likely know about the dire water crisis facing the Rio Grande Valley.Certainly those that traveled the region as part of the Rio Grande Valley Partnership's recent 2025 RGV Legislative Tour will be aware.That is because they heard twice from Dante Galeazzi, president and CEO of the Texas International Produce Association. He spoke once during a panel discussion that focused on water availability challenges. That was held at the Center for Education & Economic Development in Mission. He also gave a speech at the Wonderful Citrus warehouse, also in Mission. At both events Galeazzi was blunt. The Valley has a “water crisis” on its hands, he said. “We've got a series of challenges that are driving the water situation here in South Texas,” Galeazzi said. Of our two international reservoirs,  Falcon Dam is at 14% capacity. It's never been that low. And Amistad Dam is at 26%.”Galeazzi pointed out that only 58 percent of the water in those dams can be used in the Valley. “Ninety percent of our fresh water here in the Valley comes from the river,” Galeazzi said, And Mexico owes more than a million acre feet (of water) under an international treaty.”Galeazzi continued: “Talking about all of the inflows, every bit of water that's supposed to be coming to the Rio Grande Valley, or into the Rio Grande River, is down over the last 30 years. It's trending 30% down and more. So we have a dire situation.”Galeazzi said more than 50% of the 1.3 million citizens that live in the Valley reside in unincorporated towns. As a result, he said, they depend on water districts to get their water. “The water districts don't have water. Those guys aren't going to be able to turn on water and get it out of the faucets.”Although the 1944 U.S.-Mexico Water Treaty is a federal issue, there are things the State of Texas can do to help the Valley, Galeazzi said. “We're here at a very difficult time. I don't want to understate it. It is doom and gloom time,” Galeazzi said. “We are in a position where we have got to figure something out and the time to act is now. We can't postpone things until the next session. We can't kick this ball down the road.”Editor's Note: Go to the Rio Grande Guardian website to read the full story.Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

WESLACO, Texas - Famed businessman Alonzo Cantu has thrown his support behind the work of the Rio Grande Valley Broadband Coalition. The RGVBC unveiled its RGV Broadband and Digital Opportunity Plan at the offices of the Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council. The coalition noted that the Valley still lacks reliable internet access, holding the region back in a world that increasingly depends on digital tools. The coalition says its plan is a “bold initiative to ensure every home, business, and community anchor institution in the region has access to affordable, reliable high-speed internet.”Cantu, president and CEO of Cantu Construction and Development, had a front row seat for the coalition's presentation. He was seated next to Sergio Contreras, CEO of Atlas, Hall & Rodriguez, LLP., Both Cantu and Contreras are members of the Texas Broadband Development Office's Board of Advisors.To advance digital development in the region, the RGV Broadband and Digital Opportunity Plan focuses on:Expanding broadband infrastructure to connect unserved and underserved communitiesIncreasing digital skills training to help residents navigate online education, work, and servicesPreparing a local workforce for in-demand, high-wage technology jobsEnhancing tele-health access to improve healthcare outcomes and lower costsSupporting small businesses in adopting digital tools to grow, compete, and better serve their customersJordana Barton-Garcia, director of the RGV Broadband Coalition, said the plan has been developed through a multi-sector partnership of local governments, internet providers, schools, healthcare institutions, small businesses, and nonprofits. She said the plan addresses long-standing connectivity gaps that have limited education, jobs, healthcare access, and economic growth across the region.“Broadband is the foundation for opportunity in today's economy,” Barton-Garcia said. “This plan represents a turning point, ensuring that all residents — no matter who they are or where in the Rio Grande Valley they live — can access the connectivity they need to thrive.”At the conclusion of the, Barton-Garcia thanked all the stakeholders that had come together to agree on a plan of action. She said the coalition is already working to implement some of the plan's activities and is actively seeking partners and funding opportunities to put the full plan into action and accelerate digital opportunity efforts.It was at this point that Cantu asked if he could speak.Editor's Note: Go to the Rio Grande Guardian's website to read the full story.Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

MCALLEN, Texas - During his 2025 State of the City Address, McAllen Mayor Javier Villalobos said he is often asked why he spends so much time in Mexico. “Simple,” Villalobos said, answering the question. “Mexico believes in McAllen. Mexico embraces McAllen. Mexico invests in McAllen. Quiero que sepan mis amigos Mexicanos. Que McAllen entra alla a Mexico. And we depend on each other for trade and commerce, and tourism. And many times, we are just family. A todos mis amigos Mexicanos. To all my Mexican friends, please stand and be recognized.” In his remarks, Villalobos spoke about the networking opportunities presented at McAllen's annual MxLAN Summit. He said the 2024 event welcomed over 40 businesses and 90 participants from Mexican states such as Aguascalientes, Chihuahua, Durango, Jalisco, Tamaulipas and more. “The summit helped build more than 37 emerging business partnerships and new opportunities for McAllen,” he said. Villalobos also pointed to McAllen's decision to set up a Department of International Relations. “It has had an immediate impact,” the mayor said, running through some of the cities and countries that have sent representatives to McAllen thanks to the outreach of the new department. He said diplomats from Ireland and France have visited the city, along with the governor of San Luis Potosí, and sister city delegations from Apodaca, Puerto Vallarta, Reynosa and Monterey. He said they also welcomed delegations from the departments of state in Aguascalientes, Chihuahua, Durango, Oaxaca, Puebla, Quintana Rio, Tabasco, Veracruz, and Zacatecas. “In Mexico City we hosted McAllen Day, and in Monterrey we secured agreements with World Trade Center Monterrey, with the Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo León, and with COMCE Noreste, the Mexican council for foreign aid,” Villalobos said. “And we just signed a trade agreement with a state of San Luis Potosi and a reaffirmation of sister city agreements with San Luis capital. And McAllen's first friendship partnership agreement with Tampico. “McAllen's agreements will push economic growth, help develop new businesses, build cultural connections, and bring our nation and people closer.” Editor's Note: The attached audio also includes Mayor Villalobos' remarks on the Anzalduas International Bridge. For the full story go to the Rio Grande Guardian International News website.Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

MCALLEN, TEXAS - The Institute for Leadership in Capital Projects (I-LinCP) is partnering with the Rio Grande Valley Partnership to present its inaugural program in the Rio Grande Valley.Building the Valley - Uniting for RGV Regional Growth will highlight the significant of organizations like the RGV Partnership and UT-Rio Grande Valley in shaping the region's future. The program will also explore the opportunities in the region for AEC (architecture, engineering, and construction) and allied professionals. The event takes place Thursday, Feb. 13, between 11:00 and 2:30 p.m. at the Embassy Suites by Hilton McAllen Convention Center. The target audience is AEC and allied professionals, public sector leaders, developers, financiers, and investors, community leaders and stakeholders.One of the speakers at the event will be I-LinCP founder Carol Warkoczewski The mission statement of I-LinCP is to “evolve the capital projects industry though sharing of knowledge for optimized leadership, delivery and performance.”Warkoczewski believes attendees will gain insights into upcoming projects, selection processes, and project delivery methods, as well as foster partnerships that drive RGV engagement and economic growth.A past president for I-LinCP is Shea Johnson, senior vice president for development at South Texas Facility Partnership. STFP is title sponsor of the event.Johnson's colleague at STFP, Brian Godinez, gave the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service a preview of what to expect at Building the Valley - Uniting for RGV Regional Growth.“Strong partnerships lead to lasting growth. Join I-LinCP, the RGV Partnership, UTRGV, and other industry leaders as we explore the critical role of partnerships and best practices in driving success in the Rio Grande Valley,” Godinez said. “Discover the opportunities, challenges, and impactful initiatives shaping the future of the RGV.”Here is an audio recording of an interview the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service secured with Godinez about the event:Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

AUSTIN, Texas - State Sen. Juan Hinojosa has given a shoutout to retiring Texas A&M System Chancellor John Sharp for his critically-acclaimed Bordering the Future report.Sharp published “Bordering the Future: Challenge and Opportunity in the Texas Border Region” in 1998 whilst he was Texas State Comptroller. The report gave an in-depth assessment of the economic, political, and social condition of the Texas border counties. The report showed that if the 43-county region stretching from El Paso to Brownsville were a state unto itself, it would rank first in the nation in poverty, first in unemployment, and first in the percentage of residents without a high school diploma.“One of the biggest impacts you had, besides statewide and all the different programs pushing A&M to a much higher level, was in the Rio Grande Valley,” Hinojosa told Sharp.“You will recall, in 1999 you released a report about the challenges and opportunities that the border area offered to the state. And from that report you suggested and recommended certain initiatives. And we implemented those initiatives. They have made such a difference in taking the Valley out of poverty, making it into an economic success.”Hinojosa made his comments during a Senate Committee on Finance hearing at the state Capitol. Sharp was there to testify on Texas A&M's funding requests for the next biennium.“People don't realize the impact that Chancellor Sharp has had throughout our state and the nation, and for that, we are very grateful and thankful for what he did,” Hinojosa said.Sharp penned a guest column about Bordering the Future for Texas Monthly in September 1999, after he had left the Comptroller's Office. He said:“As a son of South Texas—I was born and raised in Victoria—I confess to a certain bias. I think the challenges of the border region demand our attention now, not later. I think the future of our state, even those areas that are far removed from the international boundary itself, will increasingly be subject to the ups and downs of the border. “The Texas workforce of the future will be drawn largely from this region, where a huge and growing population of young people gives us a comparative advantage envied by other states. If we continue to shirk our responsibility to provide them with the best possible education, those young people will be a liability large enough to drag down the rest of us. But if we offer them the educational and training opportunities they deserve, they will drive a future prosperity so strong that it will make the books of the past look like a barn dance.”Editor's Note: Go to the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service website to read the full story.Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

WESLACO, Texas - President Trump said he would pause his planned 25 percent tariff duty on imported goods from Mexico due a “very friendly” telephone conversation with his Mexican counterpart, Claudia Sheinbuam.Trump said the tariffs would be put on hold for month while further discussions with the Mexican president take place. Trump's tariffs were scheduled to take effect Tuesday, with a 25 percent duty on all imports from Mexico and most from Canada. Energy products from Canada would have had a ten percent tariff imposed. He also plans a ten percent tariff on Chinese goods.Trump explained his decision to hold off on tariffs for Mexican imports on his social media platform, Truth Social. He wrote: “I just spoke with President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico. It was a very friendly conversation wherein she agreed to immediately supply 10,000 Mexican soldiers on the border separating Mexico and the United States, These soldiers will be specifically designated to stop the flow of fentanyl, and illegal migrants into our country.“We further agreed to immediately pause the anticipated tariffs for a one month period during which we will have negotiations headed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent, and Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, and high-level representatives of Mexico. I look forward to participating in those negotiations, with President Sheinbaum, as we attempt to achieve a “deal” between our two countries.”Sheinbaum for her part said Trump has agreed to a long-standing request from Mexico to get serious about stopping illegal weapons going south into Mexico. According to the Mexican government, more than 90 percent of guns seized in Mexico come from the United States.U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez has another theory as to why Trump halted the implementation of the tariffs - stock markets around the world were tanking at the thought of trade wars between the United States and its top three trading partners - Mexico, China, and Canada. Asked to respond to reports that Trump had paused the imposition of tariffs due to a telephone conversation with Sheinbaum, Gonzalez said:“Well, I don't know what how productive a short phone call might have been, but I do think that the dropping of futures yesterday, the dropping of the stock market today, just on speculation of tariffs, had a very deep impact on the administration and what was coming. I think that woke up the president and probably the administration and economic advisers to not go through with the tariffs.”Gonzalez said the imposition of tariffs would have been “devastating” for the country.  “It would have been devastating for the state of Texas more than any other state in the country, because Texas is the most reliant on trade with Mexico, and obviously in South Texas, in the Rio Grande Valley, it would have been devastating. It would have had a direct impact on our small businesses and our local economy,” Gonzalez said. Gonzalez made his comments in an exclusive interview with Ron Whitlock of Ron Whitlock Reports. Here is an audio recording of the interview:Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

AUSTIN, Texas - The Texas Association of Business is launching a new coalition, Texas Leads Trade, to ensure Texas businesses have a strong voice in the upcoming US-Mexico-Canada Agreement renegotiations.The Rio Grande Guardian International News Service broke the story through an exclusive telephone interview with TAB President Glenn Hamer.“We're trading more than ever with Mexico and Canada. The Texas economy is at the strongest point it has ever been and is gaining strength is that we're far and away the country's top export leader,” Hamer said.Hamer pointed out that with over $800 billion in annual trade, the Texas-Mexico border is a lifeline of the Texas economy. As discussions around USMCA heat up, Hamer said TAB will bring together business leaders, policymakers, and trade experts to protect and expand North American commerce.Hamer provided the Guardian with some of the latest key trade statistics:Texas exports totaled over $444.6 billion in 2023, accounting for nearly 22% of all U.S. exports.In 2021, exports from Texas and American owned companies supported an estimated 1 million jobs.In 2023, Texas trade totaled $272 billion with Mexico and $71 billion with Canada, our top two trading partners.The Texas-Mexico border is the busiest trade gateway in North America, handling 68% of all trade between the United States and Mexico. This critical corridor facilitates $24 million in trade every hour.Texas ports of entry facilitated nearly $799 billion of US trade with Mexico in 2023.Here is an audio recording of the Guardian's interview with Hamer.Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

MCALLEN, Texas - Futuro RGV, a citizenry group dedicated to improving quality of life in the Rio Grande Valley, recently held an in-depth discussion of the region's water crisis.The RGV Water Solutions Forum was held at Rio Bank's corporate headquarters in McAllen.The panel discussing the water crisis consisted of former McAllen Mayor Jim Darling, former Hidalgo County Irrigation District No. 2 Manager Sonny Hinojosa, and Mark Vega, general manager of McAllen Public Utility.Both Darling and Hinojosa are members of Region M Planning Group. Region M works with state agencies and local stakeholders to develop and update a Regional Water Plan, which guides the development and stewardship of the region's water resources. The moderator of the discussion was Futuro RGV's incoming President Mark R. Murray. Nedra Kinerk, the founder of Futuro RGV, said the forum “brought together community leaders, experts, and passionate advocates to address critical water challenges facing the Rio Grande Valley.”Here is an audio recording of the forum:Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

EDINBURG, Texas - The agricultural industry of the Rio Grande Valley has great supporters in Congress but needs more help at the state level.This is the view of Dante Galeazzi, president and CEO of the Texas International Produce Association. In an exclusive interview with Ron Whitlock Reports, Galeazzi said state leaders could help by providing half the money needed to line the Valley's irrigation canals.“We mean we have fantastic federal support,” Galeazzi said, referencing the work of U.S. Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, along with U.S. Reps. Monica de la Cruz, Henry Cuellar, Vicente Gonzalez, and Tony Gonzales. “All six of them have been advocates, champions for us for the last 18 months. They have been wherever we need them. But what we need is the state. We need the state to step up and put skin in the game.”Galeazzi said the state of Texas should match the federal government's investment.“We need the state to match what the federal government can do. Because it's a huge price tag just to line the 3,500 miles of canals that are responsible for moving 85 percent of the water in the Rio Grande Valley,” Galeazzi said. “It is going to cost $5 billion. That's a huge price tag for anybody. But if we can get the state to take half and the federal government to take the other half out of the Infrastructure Bill, those monies… now you're talking about a very different figure. Now you're talking about something that can have an impact.'Galeazzi continued: “If we were to line all those canals, that could give us anywhere between 300,000 to 900,000 acre feet of water saved every single year. That is a huge savings.”Galeazzi pointed out that the Valley's canal system was largely developed in the 1940s.“It has largely not been updated. You've had a few pockets where you've had some improvements, but a vast majority of that 3,500 miles are still earthen canals. With this money, we can create immediate savings, and in the next two to four years, we could see a significant impact to the Valley, enough so that I believe it would get us to a point where we would we would have some savings that would allow us the time we need for big projects like salt water desalination, larger brackish water treatment, reverse osmosis.”Galeazzi added: “This has to be a multi -pronged approach, but most importantly, it has to start today. The longer we delay, the worse this issue gets, and more importantly, the more expensive correcting this issue becomes.”Here is an audio recording of the interview Dante Galeazzi gave Ron Whitlock Reports:Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

WESLACO, Texas - Javier Guerra, Channel 5 News morning co-anchor, gave the introductory remarks at the Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council's first ever State of the COG.COG stands for Council of Government. LRGVDC represents Hidalgo, Cameron and Willacy counties.Guerra pointed out that the gathering represents an evolution of the LRGVDC's annual report, a meeting traditionally held during the second week of January. “Historically, the LRGVDC would convene its board members in this very room to review the outcomes of the current year and outline performance goals for the year ahead,” Guerra said.He said it would also present the group's fiscal budget as a testament to the sound stewardship of the finance department. “This new format elevates that tradition, fostering greater transparency and offering a platform to showcase how the LRGVDC continues to thrive, innovate and serve the Rio Grande Valley through its various programs and collaborative efforts,” Guerra said.“The LRGVDC remains steadfast in its mission to act as a conduit - a conduit between our communities and the state and federal agencies working within our region.”Guerra added: “Today marks a significant step in the strengthening of our commitment to improving the lives of Valley residents and regional development as well. This event is the first of its kind, and it serves as a springboard for the broader community engagement, not only with municipalities, but also directly with the residents of the Rio Grande Valley.”Editor's Note: Here is an audio recording of Guerra's introductory remarks:Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Area residents Daniel Garcia and Joel Tijerina have been thinking about doing business with the state government for some time.In particular, they would to sell their services and/or products to one of the Lone Star State's biggest buyers of goods and services but don't know how to go about.But this week, the two are among a group of 20 people attending a Business in Development Academy hosted by the Prairie View A&M University Cooperative Extension Service, held at the eBridge Center for Business and Commercialization in downtown Brownsville.The academy is an eight-day course to prepare the participants to be certified in what is known as Historically Underutilized Businesses to do contracts with the government.A HUB applies to person who owns at least 51 percent of a businesses and is economically disadvantaged and/or is a member of minority group, including Asian, Black, Hispanic and Native American.Women and service-disabled veterans with a service-related disability of 20 percent also fall in this category.But to do business with the government each and every one of them must be HUB certified.“Anybody with a product or a service to sell to the state qualifies,” Megan Rodriguez, the academy instructor and extension agent for Willacy and Cameron Counties, said. “The State of Texas wants you to be certified by offering this free program.”But in order to that, each participant is required to miss no more than one class and pass a sort of test to graduate.The academy covers an array of topics such as procurement threshold, tips for completing a HUB application, and an applicant requirement and checklist review, among other things.In Texas and for HUB purposes, all the counties are divided into 25 geographical highway districts.This region of South Texas falls in District 21, which includes Brooks, Cameron, Jim Hogg, Kenedy, Starr, Willacy, and Zapata.Rodriguez said no one should include a county outside District 21 if he or she is not ready to take up a bigger responsibility.For Garcia, the academy could provide him a better understanding on how to do business with the state.“I am interested in the starting a drone-type of operation,” he said, “to work in agriculture.”Tijerina, founder of Brown Rock Builders LLC, would like to do likewise.After all, there is a lot of money to be made out there.According to data provided during the academy introductory session held Tuesday, Jan. 7, of the $25 billion the government spent on goods and services in 2024, $2.9 billion was spent with HUBs.Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

MCALLEN, Texas - Kathryn Lueders, general manager of Starbase says the local community means a big deal to SpaceX. Lueders gave the keynote speech at the Vistas from Texas seminar co-hosted by UT-Rio Grande Valley's Center for Border Economic Studies and the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. Her presentation was titled: “SpaceX's presence and impact on the RGV economy.” The event was held at Rio Bank's headquarters in McAllen. “We're vested, right? We are here to stay, and we will be looking forward to many, many launches off of Boca Chica and really understanding and being part of this community,” Lueders said. In a power-point presentation, Lueders showed what she said was one of her favorite pictures, taken from the harbor. “If you go to Starbase, none of that hardware happens without the people that are there. When I started a little bit over a year ago, less than 2,000 SpaceXers were there. We're now up to about twenty-five, twenty-six hundred.” Depending on how the company's construction and maintenance contracts go, another 700 to 800 workers could be added, she said. “You can be a rocket scientist, an engineer from the Rio Grande Valley and stay in the Rio Grande Valley. But this is a community endeavor. We're not doing this without huge investment from the community and creating places where our people want to stay and live and continue to live… this is going to take all of us to really be able to grow this enterprise, to be able to conduct all the missions that we want to do.” Lueders continued: “So community is like a big deal for us. Sometimes you can be so focused on work. But I tell people, wear your SpaceX shirt out in the community. Now, behave yourself when you're wearing your SpaceX shirt out in the community. If you're going to go out to parties, maybe leave your shirt home for that day. But I am proud of the fact of how many people are out there and living in the community, and that we actually do a lot of things to be able to get the community to understand that we do care about the community.” Lueders ran through some of things SpaceX does to integrate its workers in the community. “We have a third Saturday, where employees… there's a new area where we go. Marisela (Cortez) finds this place, across the whole Valley, spreads it out, because it is important for us to be able to show up and show that we do care and want to help,” Lueders said. Marisela Cortez is external affairs manager at Starbase. She was present for Lueders' presentation at the Vistas from Texas seminar. “We also do this thing once a month where we invite employees to work with a local restaurant, and we kind of we pick their day off and so that all their revenues on that day off are from SpaceXers. And we kind of then allow the folks to be able to go experience a new restaurant, like in Harlingen or Brownsville,” Lueders said. “Sometimes when we have people from out of state… it's just getting them to that first place and feeling comfortable, and then they can start exploring the community themselves. We specifically do that type of event with our Starbasers at least once a month.” Lueders added: “We also look at, what are the other community and support organizations (we can help)? Obviously, Marisela doesn't have an unlimited budget for support, but she looks around. What are the key things that most impact communities, and how do we make sure that we are showing a presence there? Because obviously, we want people to understand we do feel like part of this community.”Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

BROWNSVILLE, Texas - In our latest episode on how to avoid the next coronavirus, through the lens of Dr. Madhavan A. Pisharodi, we discuss bats and rats.Pisharodi is a neurosurgeon who has been practicing in Brownsville, Texas for the last 31 years. Although a medical physician, some people might mistake him for an engineer, given the number of patents he has been issued. Outside of the medical field, he has been issued four patents for solar panels, nine for designing an energy saving and device-protecting battery charger, and two for a sub-mechanical vibration device for pain management. He has several patents pending for renewable energy systems such as wind turbine and hydroelectric projects. Dr. Pisharodi's current focus is defeating the next coronavirus pandemic. He says this will not be done by sticking to “band aid” solutions such testing, counting, forcing lockdown, social distancing and wearing masks. He has penned a book on the subject, titled “Corona: Be Not Proud.” He has given the Rio Grande Guardian a series of in-depth interview about the book and his four and half years of research.In the latest episode, via an audio podcast, Pisharodi discusses bats and rats.“One of the chapters (in my book) is the revenge of the bats, how we invaded their housing,” Pisharodi said.“Bats and rats together form about 50 percent of the mammalians on this planet, rats and bats. And the rats are more than the bats. “But anyway, bats have the unique quality of being very resistant to the viruses, and 30 percent of their viral load is coronavirus. And so we went and irritated them by doing things, experimenting with them, and they are having a revenge on us now. So that's what one of the chapters is all about.”Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

MCALLEN, Texas - Dante Galeazzi, president and CEO of the Texas International Produce Association (TIPA), worries that some of the smaller RGV cities will have their water supply rationed just like it was in Monterrey and Reynosa. And it will be for the same reason - because water that should be coming to South Texas and Tamaulipas under a 1944 international water sharing treaty is being held back by the state of Chihuahua. Galeazzi spoke in depth about the Valley's current water supply crisis when he appeared on panel at UT-Rio Grande Valley's Vistas from Texas seminar in October. It was held at UTRGV's corporate headquarters inside the Rio Bank HQ in McAllen. “The water shortage is not only impacting the Rio Grande Valley, but also dramatically impacting our friends in Tamaulipas and Nuevo Leon,” Galeazzi. “Look at what happened in Monterrey, Mexico, and Reynosa, Mexico, just these last two summers. They have been on severe water restrictions. It has been so bad that Reynosa this year shut off water to 260 different communities, and they basically put them on water schedules. I think was every third day that you got water, or every second day, something like that.” Galeazzi continued: “And so what was happening was, people had scheduled days they could get water. Both in Monterrey and Reynosa. You had to be ready on time, on your day, with buckets, or both days, to fill your bathtub and fill up enough water for three days for your family. That's what could happen here in the U.S. That's what's going to happen in those little cities if we don't invest in what's happening in water.” Galeazzi said there are a lot of water projects in the works in the Valley but many of them are focused on conservation. “We need to be looking at new water development. This is important. A lot of our smaller communities in our irrigation districts, specifically small towns, etc., are unable to access federal monies for water projects because it requires a 50 percent cost share,” Galeazzi said. “Our communities are not holding on to stockpiles of millions of dollars for projects.”Editor's Note: Go to the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service website to read the full story.Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

HARLINGEN, Texas - The Port of Harlingen will try again to expand its overweight corridor route in the 89th Legislature starting in January.As in the 88th session, the legislation will be carried by state Rep. Janie Lopez, R-San Benito.The legislation failed to make it into law in 2023, in part because of opposition from the Texas Department of Public Safety.But, says Port of Harlingen Executive Director Walker Smith, the legislation has merit because it would improve safety on the road. In an exclusive interview with Ron Whitlock Reports, Smith explained that three entities in the Rio Grande Valley have the authority to issue permits for shippers to use overweight corridors in the Rio Grande Valley - Hidalgo County Regional Mobility Authority, the Port of Brownsville, and the Port of Harlingen.He said trucks weighing no more than the Mexican Legal Weight Limit or 125,000 pounds can use an overweight corridor. On a regular corridor they can only carry 80,000 pounds.“If we're able to connect these corridors, it provides flexibility to the transportation system and dedicates those overweight trucks to these dedicated routes,” Smith said.“So, we're going to be looking to extend our overweight corridor from FM 509 to the Hidalgo County-Cameron County line, a 13-mile strip.“The legislation would essentially designate this route, FM, 509, US Highway 281, to the Hidalgo County and Cameron County lines. And at that point, the Hidalgo County RMA corridor would pick up and carry the cargo into the Pharr Bridge, or vice versa.”Editor's Note: Go to the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service website to read the full story. Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

RIO GRANDE CITY, Texas – The Rio Grande Valley Partnership held its latest Commercial & Investment Tour in Rio Grande City. It was hosted by the Rio Grande City Economic Development Corporation. One of the sponsors was McAllen-based ERO Architects. The CEO of ERO, Brian Godinez spoke about the work of ERO, plus a new company he has co-launched, South Texas Facility Partnership. Here is an audio recording of his presentation.Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

Dr. Mostafa Malki is a professor at UT-Rio Grande Valley and executive director for business development at America's Additive Foundry Center for Advanced Manufacturing Innovation and Cyber Systems. He is also the founder of Aaron Economic Consulting. Dr. Malki recently gave a presentation about business opportunities tied to additive manufacturing at the eBridge Center for Business & Commercialization in downtown Brownsville. During the presentation he said there is a great opportunity for the Rio Grande Valley to forge partnerships with manufacturing and technology companies from Sweden. The Rio Grande Guardian interviewed Professor Malki at the conclusion of his presentation.  Asked to tell Guardian readers and viewers about Sweden, Malki said: “Where should I begin? There's so much to say about Sweden.” Malki said Sweden is a relatively small country, population wise, but area wise, is very big. It has a population of about ten million. “It has very low population density, but it has also very big presence in terms of industries and innovation and so on. It's one of the top countries in the world in terms of innovation and entrepreneurship and so on,” Malki said. “If we can calculate a ratio of multi-billion-dollar corporations per capita, they are probably the number one country. There are a lot of very big companies that are household names, Volvo, IKEA and Ericsson and so on that are Swedish companies. There are some that are also very big multinational companies, but they're not very well known because they do business to business type of work.” Malki visits Sweden a lot. “It's a very fascinating country, for a very small country to be able to be a major player in manufacturing industry and innovation,” he said.Editor's Note: Go to the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service website to read the full story.Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

EDINBURG, Texas - Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez has been named honorary Field Marshal for the War on Poverty in Hidalgo County. The award was bestowed by Hidalgo County's Community Service Agency (CSA) at the group's inaugural Access to Success Program Banquet, held Dec. 12 at Monza Social Event Center in Edinburg. “We have amongst us someone who walked the walk and said we're going to do this (wage a battle against poverty). And this is an important award because this is our inaugural event,” said CSA Director Jaime R. Longoria. Cortez could not be present to accept the award because he was out of town on business. So, Longoria presented the award jointly on Cortez's behalf to Hilda Salinas, who assists Cortez in the Hidalgo County Judge's Office, and Mario Reyna, coordinator for the Hidalgo County Prosperity Task Force. The task force was set up by Judge Cortez to tackle poverty.  From the podium, Longoria pointed out that although Hidalgo County's Community Service Agency was started in the 1970s it has its roots in President Johnson's War on Poverty initiative of the 1960s. “The War on Poverty was declared 60 years ago in 1964. Sixty years ago, LBJ came up with this idea of taking federal money and moving it to the local level and allowing the local communities to spend the money the way they saw fit and develop programs for people that were living in poverty, to make decisions about how best to address poverty,” Longoria said. Longoria said that is what Hidalgo County does every day. “We have local control of these two million dollars to assist families. Part of the money is for emergency services, families that are in (a) domestic violence (situation) or lose their house to a fire or something like that. Part of the money actually goes to running this particular program.” Longoria paid tribute to President Johnson.  “So back in '64 this whole idea of bringing federal money to a local level was kind of novel. It was new. And so, the community action agencies were formed to administer these dollars. We are the direct descendants of LBJ's war on poverty.” A president may declare war on poverty but at the waterfront, a nation still needs people to wage that war, Longoria said. “We need people to plan for it. We need people to be visionaries, to motivate, to direct and to defend the water. We need leaders dedicated to winning the war,” Longoria said. “We need to have someone, a champion, who says we can win this war. Even 60 years later, we need to be reminded that the war is important to fight.” That person in Hidalgo County has been Judge Cortez, Longoria said. Editor's Note: To read the full story go to the Rio Grande Guardian website.Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

MCALLEN, Texas - The new 125-acre McAllen South Industrial Park is not yet finished but already the owners have sold lots to companies from abroad. The park, with a buildable area of about 1.8 million square feet, is being going up off Military Highway between 10th and 23rd streets in south McAllen. “Already, we've got an Asian firm that is purchasing property. We've got a Mexican firm that's purchasing property,” said Michael Fallek, in an exclusive interview with the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service. The Guardian interviewed Fallek at the end of a groundbreaking ceremony. From the podium, Fallek thanked several partners, giving special praise to McAllen Economic Development Corporation. “MEDC has been instrumental in connecting us with potential users, buyers, interested parties. They have absolutely been a big part of what we've been doing here,” Fallek said. He also thanked the McAllen city leadership, the McAllen Chamber of Commerce, Brandon Wallace of Alamo System Industries (ASI), and Octavio Cantu and Brian Godinez of ERO Architects. “Brandon's team is out here doing all the all the dirt work and installing the utilities. ERO have done a lot of work on the master plan,” Fallek said. Fallek said everyone is aware of the shortage of industrial warehouse space, logistics space, and manufacturing space in the city of McAllen. “Thankfully, we're here. We're going to be building a number of facilities. You'll see that there is up to about 1.8 million square feet of buildable area that we can put in the park,” Fallek said. “It's very large. We're very excited about everything that's going to go in here.” Fallek said it is hard to overestimate the importance of what manufacturing and warehousing can do for the city of McAllen and the Rio Grande Valley. “This is going to be a real difference maker for the city and for the region, with up to 1.5 to 1.8 million square feet in the park. This project will mean hundreds of millions of dollars in economic activity for the region. There will be hundreds of new jobs created. There will be new industries that will locate here in the park. It's going to make an enormous difference to the opportunities present here in McAllen and the Valley. We're incredibly excited.”  Editor's Note: Go to the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service to read the full story.Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

In an exclusive interview with the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service, land developer Michael Fallek said McAllen South Industrial Park is master planned and divided into ten lots.   “That is the way things are being utilized, sold and marketed,” he said.  “But there are different conversations going on. We have four or five of the lots that are spoken for. We are going to end up building ourselves about 355,000 square feet. And then there are other parcels that we're selling off. It might be land leases or building suites, but it's really to attract business from Central and South America, from Europe or from Asia, whatever the case may be.“Already, we've got an Asian firm that is purchasing property. We've got a Mexican firm that's purchasing property. It is for end users are coming in to create their own space for their own logistics and distribution needs. A great amount of warehousing that will take place.”Asked how long the project has been planned, Fallek said: “We've actually been working on this project about five years now. It started pre-COVID, if you can actually believe that. So, we're very excited to be at this stage because once you come to the park and you drive the park, you'll see that everything is pretty much in place.”Asked about the timeframe, Fallek said: “Probably by the end of the first quarter of '25 there will be new buildings under construction, going vertical. It'll take a little bit of time to get the park fully built out, but in 2025 we expect to see a lot of activity going vertical here.”It was put to Fallek that if planning for the park predates the Covid pandemic his company was not influence by the current nearshoring phenomenon.“That is true. We did kind of think, though, if you're if you can recall back, there was a lot of conversation about the need to change up some of the supply chain because of the issues that were already going on in Asia and other parts of the world,” Fallek said.“So, no question, you're absolutely correct that we started this project prior to the COVID pandemic, the real supply shortages and what everybody understands as the nearshoring phenomenon. But we could see that the Rio Grande Valley and South Texas and northern Mexico was going to be a real focus for international trade. We wanted to get in on that opportunity.”Fallek said his company also wanted the park to be built in McAllen.“We wanted it happening here in the city of McAllen, in the Rio Grande Valley, because we have so much talent here in McAllen and the RGV. We feel like this has got to be the headquarters for where all the opening of the doors into the United States happens.”So, no question the demand is there, Fallek was asked.“We're still going through the entire permitting process; the planning process and so actual sales haven't yet happened. But yes, we have four out of the ten parcels committed. We have talks going on for a couple of the others. We are not concerned that this is not going to work out for the city and the region. We're just excited about the new opportunities that we're going to be able to provide to our community.”Fallek added: “This industrial park is going to create hundreds of millions of dollars in economic activity. It's going to create hundreds of jobs for those living here in the region. We're excited about the opportunities that this is bringing to the community.”  Editor's Note: Go to the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service to read the full story.Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

RAYMONDVILLE, Texas - Working with Willacy County Navigation District, leaders of the Texas Youth Hunting Program have helped quell the once sizable deer population in the Port Mansfield area. The Texas Youth Hunting Program, administered by Texas Parks & Wildlife, helps teach young people how to hunt responsibly, with safety to the fore.  “We're helping Fort Mansfield. They were having a little trouble with the deer population inside the city limits,” explained TYHP organizer Gabe Lozano, III.  “The deer were eating too much corn that the people were taking out and they were beginning to founder, which means their hooves start growing up. And they had lost their wild nature. They were no longer grazing. They were just waiting for corn. They were waiting for the candy all the time.” Founder, also known as laminitis, is a condition that causes a deer's hooves to grow beyond normal, resulting in long hooves. It occurs when the sensitive tissue that connects the hoof wall to the pedal bone, called the laminae, is damaged. This can happen for a number of reasons, including diet. A sudden change in diet to high-carb, high-starch, or high-protein foods, especially corn, can cause a nutritional imbalance. This can lead to a buildup of acid in the deer's system. Lozano said TYHP and the navigation district brought in the Texas Animal Commission to address Port Mansfield's deer problem.  “Today, people cannot bring corn anymore and feed the animals here in Willacy County, because they know it's hurting the animals' grazing. It's hurting what they're doing. You can drive out there now, and they're not all standing around the pad. They're in the fields eating. Instead of them sitting around the pad, waiting and getting fat, they're out grazing again.” In addition to helping address Port Mansfield's deer issue, young people are being trained how to become responsible hunters, Lozano said. “So, these kids get to take it home and eat what they harvest,” he explained.  TYHP are doing four deer hunts at Port Mansfield this year, Lozano said. One of them concluded this weekend. The next will take place in January.  “With the help of the State of Texas, we have a $3 million liability insurance plan, which covers the ranches that these kids are hunting on, that these youth are hunting on. This allows the local ranches a chance to let these kids learn to hunt, which means what? (It means) we're going to have a whole new generation of hunters.” In a podcast with Ron Whitlock Reports, Gabe Lozano, III, discussed the Texas Youth Hunting Program and the need for safety in hunting. Here is the podcast.Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

EDINBURG, Texas - Raudel Garza, executive director of Edinburg Economic Development Corporation, says he expects great things from UT-Rio Grande Valley's highly anticipated Workforce Economy Research and Community (WERC) Complex. The complex sits next to I-69 Central in Edinburg. Back in the day it used to be the old Haggar Clothing Company building. Later it became UT-Pan American's Community Engagement and Student Services (CESS) office.The WERC project came about thanks to a $2.4 million grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration. The EDC grant will fund part of the $8.9 million project, with UTRGV providing an additional $6 million. The remaining $500,000 came from funds secured by U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz in this year's appropriations bill for the college.“I think that (the WERC) is going to have a real big impact on business development and small business development in the near future for the entire region,” Garza said, in a recent interview with Ron Whitlock Reports.“They (UTRGV) are consolidating a lot of the business resources that they have now spread out in the (Edinburg) campus and other locations into this one facility.”As the Rio Grande Guardian previously reported, construction has been master-planned and involves completely gutting and transforming the 126,000-square-foot building. “Of that space, approximately 15,000 square feet will be dedicated to classrooms; 10,000 square feet for a manufacturing incubator and commercialization activities; and 10,000 square feet to research and development laboratories specifying in manufacturing and prototyping,” the Guardian reported.“The complex will also include an environmentally controlled dry room, a high security area for government contract work, and office space for the Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center. The goal is to be a one-stop shop for businesses and students to research, design, and manufacture products – from start to finish – for market consumption.”Raudel Garza told Ron Whitlock Reports that UTRGV has “a great support system” to help small businesses and businesses in general.“Ron Garza is going to be setting up quite a few exciting things out there, including, possibly, an incubator for advanced manufacturing, so companies that are (thinking of) coming into the Valley and trying to set up shop can get a lot of assistance from all the different organizations that are within the university, under one roof,” Raudel Garza told Ron Whitlock Reports.“And so I think it's going to be very good for the entire region, and it's great that it's in Edinburg.”Ron Garza (no relation) is UTRGV's associate vice president for workforce and economic development. He is spearheading the project.Ron Garza previously told the Rio Grande Guardian:“What this does that's new and different is it takes all that service that we do and it's also going to add significant square footage for R&D [research and development] laboratories,” said Garza. “We have some on our campuses, but we don't have enough volume specifically for industry. We have a lot of industry partners … They're all asking for the physical space for research commercialization. This will be that space.”Editor's Note: Ron Whitlock secured an interview with Raudel Garza following the recent Edinburg Commercial Tour. The Tour was co-sponsored by Edinburg EDC and the Rio Grande Valley Partnership. Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

RIO GRANDE CITY, Texas - Rose Benavidez, president of Starr County Industrial Foundation, won warm applause when she provided telling statistics that show a vastly improved economic and educational picture in her county. Benavidez gave the wrap-up remarks at SCIF's 50th Anniversary Dinner, held at Julabe Reception Hall No. 2 in Rio Grande City on Nov. 21. Benavidez said that, 30 years ago, Starr County had an unemployment rate of 50 percent. Today it is 8.2 percent, she said, to applause from the audience. Thirty years ago, educational attainment, as measured by those with a high school diploma, was 20 percent, she said. Today it is over 60 percent. Applause. Thirty years ago, over 60 percent of Starr County children lived in poverty, Benavidez explained. Today, 67 percent of the county's children “have an opportunity to be touched in some shape or form by higher education,” she said. Yet more applause.The last part of the evening was titled, “Reflecting on 50 Years: A Journey of Impact.” Benavidez was given the task of providing the reflection. She said she had been charged with “trying to put together a message that somehow encapsulates 50 years of great things.” The statistics she gave helped illustrate those great things. “What I can tell you is that we're incredibly fortunate and humbled to be afforded the opportunity to serve the community. It's an honor of a lifetime. And in this capacity, we have had the opportunity to share the story of this community,” Benavidez said. “For instance, we've been able to tell the story of how some individuals, 50 years ago, came together as visionaries and understood that the only way that this community could progress was ensuring that there was a united effort from every corner of this county to work selflessly to ensure that every single person in this community had the same opportunity to do better.” Benavidez paid tribute to SCIF's board of directors, past and present. Among those she acknowledged were Sam Vale, Noel Benavidez, Richard Gutierrez, Sam Ramos, and Romero Lopez. "The list is countless. But what they all had in common was the willingness to sacrifice their time and make our community a little better,” she said.  Benavidez admitted that, given the audience, she did not really have to run through all the positive statistics she gave. “You will know those stories because you have been instrumental in ensuring that those statistics (happened),” she said. But the work is not finished, she explained.“We can't stop, because the work is never done. We must continue to collaborate to ensure that we make this community better, that we make this state better, that we make we make this country better, that we make this world better, because that is the true marker of the success of any organization.” No single organization has been responsible for the turnaround, Benavidez said, as she concluded her remarks. “So, we want to end tonight simply by saying, thank you. By telling you how fortunate we are to be part of the effort to make Starr County - the place that we call home - a better place for us now. And for those that came before us, it has been one hell of a ride these last 50 years. But trust me when I tell you, the best is yet to come. Here's to another Great 50. Good night.”Editor's Note: Go to the Rio Grande Guardian website to read the full story. Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

RIO GRANDE CITY, Texas - Starr County Judge Eloy Vera has praised the work of Starr County Industrial Foundation.Vera spoke at a dinner held to celebrate group's 50th Anniversary. It was held at Julabe Reception Hall in Rio Grande City on November 21.“It is truly an honor and privilege to be here to speak to such an outstanding group of people, and also to welcome you to the 50th Anniversary celebration of the Starr County Industrial Foundation,” Vera said, as he kicked off the event. “It is truly amazing to see how the Industrial Foundation has evolved into the go-to industry for economic growth and economic development. These people have done an outstanding job, and it shows. You can drive around Starr County and, over the last ten years, the change is drastic.”Vera said the change in Starr County's fortunes did not happen by accident.“I want to thank Rose and Nilda, because the Industrial Foundation, with very limited resources and a very small staff, has been able to accomplish miracles,” Vera said.He was referring to Rose Benavides, SCIF's president, and Nilda Elizondo, public relations and marketing coordinator for the group.“You know, they compete with all the bigger cities, the bigger counties, and yet they've been successful in getting some of the businesses to look our way,” Vera said.“I cannot thank Rose enough for the work that she has helped myself, personally, and the Commissioners Court with. It is her that has really been an instrument helping us, me and the Commissioners Court, in negotiating all the contracts and abatements with all the Green companies that have a footprint in our county.”Vera concluded his remarks by thanking those in the audience for attending.“I do want to thank you all for being here this evening,” Vera said. “Have fun, enjoy yourselves, and welcome to the celebration. And welcome to Starr County. Thank you all for coming.”Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

RIO GRANDE CITY, Texas - Sam Vale, chairman of the Starr Camargo Bridge Company, has given an update on plans to expand the Starr-Camargo Bridge in Rio Grande City.Vale said his partner on the project will be Eduardo A. Garza Robles, owner of Nuevo Laredo-based Uni-Trade Group.“We've been we've been friends for several years and we've decided that we're going to do a joint venture on the expansion,” Vale said. “We are going to be moving forward at a very brisk pace. We have already got contracts, things that we're going to be doing, so we will be spending it on an additional parts of the port of entry,” Vale made his comments during a speech at Starr County Industrial Foundation's recent 50th Anniversary celebrations. He invited Garza Robles to the stage to say a few words also.“We're getting the state-of-the-art electronic equipment that can examine a truck in three minutes, and if it didn't pass the three minute test, it has to physically be examined.”Vale, chairman of the board for the Starr Camargo Bridge Company, said his bridge will be one of the first in the nation to have electronic inspections for southbound traffic. He said this will help catch the illegal entry into Mexico of cash and weapons.Vale took a trip down memory lane at his speech at the SCIF 50th Anniversary celebrations. He paid tribute to the founders of the organization, pointing out that there were a lot of people in the audience that were part of some very important SCIF activities. He also spoke about the building of the Starr-Camargo Bridge. “I was working with (now South Texas College President) Ricardo Solis and (future US Ambassador to Mexico) Tony Garza from Cameron County. We built that bridge in three years from start to finish.”Editor's Note: Here is an audio recording of the remarks Vale and Garza Robles made at the SCIF 50th Anniversary celebrations. Vale is introduced by Rose Benavidez, president and CEO of SCIF:Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

In our early days of travels to Mexico George Gause and I spent several 20 de Noviembres in Mexico City and other places commemorating the start of the Mexican Revolution in 1910.On November 20, 2024, I was all smiles at the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the Arts, Culture and Event Center (ACE) in Edinburg. For my longtime library and arts colleague Letty Leija it was the culmination of a long time dream. It was the public celebration of the hard work by her and her colleagues.Letty credits that dream beginning about 2009. During that year Letty, Evana Vleck and I used to sit around and strategize about what we could do in the Arts if we only had money, because we certainly had the programming ideas! At that time Evana was working at Edinburg Chamber of Commerce focusing half her time on Marketing and the other half on Events. She had already done some fabulous events on at IMAS, including a monumental one day Book Festival. I had been working since 2006 with my ArtsRGV centralized events calendar which attempted to list events in Hidalgo, Cameron, Starr, and Willacy Counties. And Letty and I had worked since the mid 1990s on library events. And we all had been involved with Dr. Dahlia Guerra as she founded FESTIBA.At the ribbon cutting Letty credited Evana Vleck and myself and as being members of her original Dream Team. Editor's Note: The above commentary was penned by retired UT-Pan American librarian Virginia Haynie Gause to commemorate the opening of the Arts, Culture and Events (ACE) Center in Edinburg. It first appeared on Haynie Gause's social media pages. Go the Rio Grande Guardian website to read the full commentary. Editor's Note: Here is an audio recording of City of Edinburg librarian Letty Leija at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Arts, Culture and Events (ACE) Center:Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

EDINBURG, Texas - At a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the City of Edinburg's new Arts, Culture and Events (ACE) Center, Mayor Ramiro Garza made a point of singling out for praise Letty Leija.The director for the office of library and cultural arts played a big role in the project from the very beginning, the mayor said. “I want to take this moment to highlight the extraordinary contributions of a lady named Letty Leija. We all know who she is. Her dedication and work were vital in bringing this dream to fruition,” Garza said."Ms. Letty, I just want to tell you on behalf of myself - and I don't think I'll be off the wall here to speak on behalf of even former leaders here that are in the audience - your leadership has been a driving force behind this project. Your efforts made a lasting impact in Edinburg's cultural future, and we are forever grateful to you.”Garza said Leija would no doubt pay tribute to the team she had around her and the many volunteers that played their part. “But you were the driving force. And yes, there are a lot of people here, lot of volunteers that have been behind this, but you were the driving force. And I just want to say thank you for all that you have done and for making sure that no matter who was in office, you guys are pushing and pushing to make this happen. So let's give her a hand please.”There was loud applause from the audience. The ACE Center is located at 315 W. McIntyre in Edinburg, next to City Hall. The 36,000-square-foot venue is a $14 million joint investment by the City and Edinburg EDC. It's designed to be a hub for creativity, discovery, and artistic growth.“Let me just mention real quick what this facility is about. This is a hub for artistic expression, cultural celebration and community connection. It's a place where creativity has no boundaries, welcoming all ages with programming that reflects the diversity and richness of our evolving culture,” Mayor Garza said."This state of the art facility features spaces for dance, theater and music, studios for painting, a digital and graphic arts computer lab and gallery spaces to showcase the talent of local, national and international artists. It will serve as a home for theater performances, creative workshops, and, of course, as a heartbeat to all our Edinburgh many festivals.”Editor's Note: Go to the Rio Grande Guardian website to read the full story.Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

EDINBURG, Texas - Pharr businessman Robert Lozano, CEO of F&P Brands, and his wife Laurie are to donate $1 million from the Robert & Laurie Lozano Family “Life Currency” Endowment to benefit Driscoll Children's Hospital in the Rio Grande Valley.Driscoll's leadership says the funding will ensure children in the Valley will always have access to world-class care while supporting Driscoll's healthcare workers.F&P Brands run the Dairy Queen franchise in the Valley. Dairy Queen RGV said:“Together with Driscoll Children's Hospital, we announced the $1 million Robert & Laurie Lozano Family “Life Currency” Endowment. This fund will support Driscoll Healthcare workers and ensure that local children can always access world-class medical care. A portion of the funds will provide monetary incentives to frontline staff, while the rest will support the Driscoll Way program, offering training and development opportunities.“F&P Brands believes that “Life Currency” are those intangible gifts like learning and personal development that are provided to team members through programs like the Driscoll Way, which enrich their lives personally and professionally and extend beyond the hospital walls. “We're incredibly grateful to our team and fans for their unwavering support. Your contributions are making a real difference in the lives of countless children and families and allows us all to be a part of something bigger than ourselves. “Together, we are Miracle Makers. Together, We Heal.”Here is an audio recording of the remarks Robert and Laurie Lozano made at a press conference held to announce the donation.Editor's Note: Go to the Rio Grande Guardian website to read the full story.Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

MCALLEN, Texas - A former U.S. Ambassador to Mexico says chambers of commerce and the business community in general can help turn down ugly political rhetoric.Antonio Garza was asked if political rhetoric hampers trade negotiations and good trade policies. He was asked this question by Cynthia Sakulenzki, president and CEO of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, during a recent webinar that RGVHCC organized.“I'm kind of glad you asked that one, because I do think it gives me an opportunity to say something to the role that the Rio Grande Valley Hispanic Chamber can play, and other private sector (entities can play) as we prepare for the (USMCA) sunset review process - whether it initiates on day one of the new administration, or whether you have a more institutional process that allows for some time to think about it,” Garza said.“I think, typically, the rhetoric coming out of really all three countries (the United States, Mexico, and Canada), at times acts as a headwind. That outsized rhetoric makes it hard for people to sit at the table and work towards solutions and the ability for the private sector to help shape the debate, drive the debate, inform the debate is very good.”Garza said he is of the view that the notion of political leadership is almost an oxymoron."You get more leadership out of the private sector. And office holders, if they know that the private sector is active and engaged, are more likely to listen and more likely to be responsive. So, it can create kind of a virtuous thing, but I think it has to be driven by the private sector,” Garza said.“Without the private sector involvement, the political rhetoric tends to be kind of loud, not as well informed, and acts as a headwind to actually getting good and constructive things done.”Garza noted that while the question from Sakulenzki was asked in relation to trade matters between the United States and Mexico, it could just as easily apply to immigration policy.“Immediately, the political class injects kind of a level of rhetorical excess that makes it hard, because people are locked down and take positions before you get into the nuances of, what does reform mean? What do we need in terms of our economy? what do we need in terms of our security? What do we need? And you don't have those conversations if the rhetoric gets too loud and the private sector isn't at the table saying, turn down the volume. Let's try to get something done. “So, I do think chambers and individual businesspeople play an enormous role in offsetting or at least muting some of the potential harm that outside rhetoric can cause.” The webinar took place just before the U.S. presidential election.Editor's Note: Go to the Rio Grande Guardian website to read the full story.Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

AUSTIN, Texas - Viva Benefits, which was co-founded by former Rio Grande Valley teacher Michael Barnes, has announced a $2.2 million pre-seed fundraising round led by Chingona Ventures. Viva Benefits is a network of affordable housing partners that helps renters access essential benefits like health, education, and financial wellness.  Chingona's motto is: Investing in the founders of tomorrow at the beginning stages of today. Samara Hernandez, founding partner at Chingona Ventures, said the new funding will accelerate Viva's mission to make renter benefits mainstream and help bridge the 40X wealth equity gap between renters and homeowners. “We are excited to invest in Viva because the founding team understands the real estate and property technology market and Viva has a clear path to scale,” said Samara Hernandez, founding partner at Chingona Ventures. With the cash infusion, Hernandez has become a member of Viva's board of directors. While Chingona has led the fundraising effort, additional investors include Graham & Walker, Techstars Ventures, Altari Ventures, Everywhere Ventures, Vitalize Angels, and Atlanta Technology Angels. Notable angel investors including PadSplit CEO Atticus LeBlanc, and Bob Simpson, founder of the Multifamily Impact Council.  In an interview with the Rio Grande Guardian, Barnes, Viva's CEO co-founder, said the median net wealth for a renter is approximately $10,000. He said this compares to $400,000 for the median homeowner. “This is primarily due to home equity. Viva addresses the 40X disparity by empowering housing partners to offer life-changing renter benefits,” said Barnes, a former classroom teacher turned software engineer.“We are ready to help make renter benefits as commonplace as employer benefits, and for our housing partners to reap the same rewards employers do – from increased retention to reduced expenses.” Barnes explained that Viva enables renters — including primarily diverse, low- to middle-income families — to access essential benefits such as health, education, and financial wellness. He gave examples such as telehealth, virtual tutoring for kids, cash back in a high-yield savings account, and pre-qualification for grants to buy a home. “This helps renters to stay healthy and happily employed, so they can pay their rent, maintain a stable home, and build wealth to make forward progress on their personal goals, like homeownership.”Editor's Note: Go to the Rio Grande Guardian website to read the full story,Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

AUSTIN, Texas - The Texas Transportation Commission has appointed Teclo J. Garcia, CEO of the Mission Economic Development Corporation, to two advisory committees.They are the Border Trade Advisory Committee (BTAC) and the Freight Advisory Committee (FAC). Both make recommendations to the Texas Department of Transportation.TTC Commissioner Alejandro “Alex” Meade nominated Garcia. Meade said both committees are instrumental in developing policy recommendations and initiatives aimed at streamlining trade and freight transport across Texas, particularly along the U.S.-Mexico border.“Texas needs leaders who understand the importance of a robust, efficient transportation network, and Teclo is exactly the kind of advocate who will help us build on our strengths and support economic growth across the state,” Meade said. “His expertise in economic development and deep understanding of the region's trade dynamics brings a vital perspective to these committees, where decisions made impact the flow of goods across Texas' highways and ports.”Garcia said his appointment reflects Mission EDC's commitment to positioning South Texas as a leader in efficient trade, strengthening the local economy, and addressing infrastructure needs that support business growth and public safety."It's a tremendous honor to join the Border Trade and Freight Advisory Committees,” Garcia said. “This is a valuable opportunity to represent not only the City of Mission but the entire South Texas region. I look forward to working with Commissioner Meade and the TxDOT team to develop infrastructure solutions that advance economic resilience and growth for our communities. I also want to thank Secretary of State Jane Nelson and TxDOT Executive Director Marc D. Williams for their leadership in supporting Texas' trade and transportation priorities.”In an audio interview with the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service, Garcia thanked Meade and the Mission EDC board of directors. Mission EDC Board President Richard Hernandez commended Garcia for his dedication to advancing public policy.“We are incredibly proud of Teclo's appointment and what it means for our organization and community,” Hernandez said. “This recognition by Commissioner Meade affirms Teclo's strategic leadership and our commitment to a thriving South Texas economy.”Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

PHARR, Texas - DHR Health has held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new public-private behavioral health facility it is building in north Pharr. The hospital campus will be located at 4800 North Jackson Road in Pharr and will include a new 161,000 square foot building. The City of Pharr is providing the land. Following an appropriation by the Texas Legislature last session, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission is providing a $85 million dollar grant for the state-of-the-art project. The City of Pharr is providing the land. “This morning, we are here to mark a major milestone, a very meaningful step going forward in addressing mental health needs, not only here in the Rio Grande Valley, but throughout the state of Texas,” said Marissa Castañeda, senior executive vice president, at the start of the groundbreaking ceremony. “This day would not be possible without the invaluable support of our partners across the region. We are especially grateful for the City of Pharr. DHR Health's new behavioral hospital will soon be built. This partnership has truly helped bring our vision to life.” Yuri Gonzalez, the City of Pharr's news director agreed. “I'm truly honored to be here representing everybody that works with the great City of Pharr. This project really represents our shared commitment in improving mental health services, but also building a stronger, healthier, more resilient community, and that's what we plan to do,” said Gonzalez, who shared emceeing duties with Castañeda. “I'm truly inspired and seeing our leaders with the City of Pharr and just other great leaders coming together, making sure that this project, but most importantly, that this vision becomes a reality. So once again, congratulations to everyone involved in this great project,” Gonzalez said. DHR Health currently operates an 87-bed inpatient behavioral hospital in Edinburg. The DHR Health Behavioral Hospital will have 100 beds, with a focus on providing a comprehensive approach to mental health care for pediatric, adolescent, adult, and geriatric patients. The hospital will also house intensive outpatient therapy programs. “What an honor it is for me to stand before you this morning at what I call a transformational change in healthcare that is going on at the greater bedside that is our community. We as physicians are trained to heal and to treat patients and take those powers and knowledge and wisdom to be able to assess and then properly treat an individual mind, body and soul,” said Dr. Carlos Cardenas, MD, chairman of the board of DHR Health, in his remarks from the podium. “Today, we stand at a crossroads. DHR health has been at the forefront of transforming healthcare in South Texas. It has been a transformational journey. One point four million people deserve the same level of healthcare to any other similar sized metropolitan area. And that is us.” Piece by piece, DHR has been adding to the jigsaw puzzle, Cardenas said. “Today, we break ground on a tremendous piece of that puzzle that has come forth as a cooperative, corroborative, public-private venture between DHR Health, the City of Pharr, the State of Texas, and our greater community at large. This is how great things happen. It's how transformation happens.” The new hospital is expected to open in the summer of 2026 and will represent Pharr's first hospital. Pharr Mayor Dr. Ambrosio Hernandez, MD, said the new hospital is “a transformative milestone” for Pharr and the Rio Grande Valley because it will bring critical mental health services directly to the community. Editor's Note: Go to the Rio Grande Guardian website to read the full story.Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

MCALLEN, Texas - Dr. Guadalupe Correa-Cabrera, Ph.D., still calls the Rio Grande Valley home, even though she is now a professor at the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University.The renowned scholar taught for many years at UT-Rio Grande Valley in Brownsville. She came back to the region recently for two speeches. One was titled “Beyond Boundaries: A Dialogue on U.S.-Mexico Border Security.” The other was titled, “Frontera: The Rio Grande Valley Advantage.” Both were held at South Texas College's Pecan Campus in McAllen.In her remarks, Correa-Cabrera said the United States' policies on illegal drug consumption, immigration, and asylum had all failed. “More drugs are consumed in the United States than ever in the history of this country. Billions of dollars have been spent in drug prevention, in the administration and in collaboration with countries of the Americas. And we're not solving this problem,” Correa-Cabrera said.“The same way with immigration policies. Operation Hold The Line, all the money that has been spent on enforcement on both sides and militarization of both sides of the border, spending on more on boots on the ground. And the reality is that we are still seeing that the immigration system is broken, the asylum system is broken.”Correa-Cabrera said these issues are not being addressed in the appropriate way. “Everything is being focused on the border, when really the problems and the root causes are not on the border. They can be solved in the places where this problem originated, such as addiction or drug consumption,” Correa-Cabrera said.“Why do we have to focus on the border to solve a problem that originated in different cities of the United States. In a society that cannot offer the promised dream… the American Dream is not anymore for a number of people. What is driving the drug epidemic in United States are not the cartels. Therefore this proposal of declaring a war on Mexican cartels is completely out of place.”The first of Correa-Cabrera's presentations at STC came the day before the U.S. presidential election. The second came on Election Day morning, before the results were known. Correa-Cabrera acknowledged that the election would have far reaching implications."We're going to see a major change in terms of discourse if one candidate wins and some type of continuity if the other candidate wins. We know what we're talking about,” Correa-Cabrera said.Correa-Cabrera noted that some Republican leaders have proposed direct action by the US military on Mexican soil in order to thwart the Mexican cartels. “This will have a very important effect on US-Mexico relations,” she said.Correa-Cabrera currently lives in Mexico. “I'm doing research on human smuggling and criminal networks,” she explained. “It's really worrisome what I am observing in terms of the criminal dynamics.”Editor's Note: Here is an audio recording of the first of Correa-Cabrera's presentations at STC. It was titled: “Beyond Boundaries: A Dialogue on U.S.-Mexico Border Security.”Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

HARLINGEN, Texas - Eugenio Marín, CEO of Fundación México-Estados Unidos para la Ciencia (FUMEC), gave an in-depth presentation on the semiconductor industry at Texas State Technical College in Harlingen on Nov. 5.The "Friends of COSTEP" event was titled “Navigating the Growing Semiconductor Industry.” It was co-hosted by the Council for South Texas Economic Progress and Harlingen Economic Development Corporation and drew economic development leaders from Matamoros, Harlingen, and McAllen.Here is an audio recording of Marín's presentation, along with a Q&A that followed. Marín is introduced by COSTEP Economic Development Director Rick Carrera.Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

MCALLEN, Texas - Former U.S. ambassador to Mexico Antonio Garza recently appeared on a webinar hosted by the RGV Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. In his remarks, Garza gave his predictions about future US-Mexico relations and what the new presidency of Claudia Sheinbaum in Mexico might mean. Garza also spoke about violence in Mexico and international trade.The first question was posed by RGVHCC board member Julian Alvarez. He asked what the US and more specifically the border region can expect from Sheinbaum's administration. This audio recording features Garza's answer to this. Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

BROWNSVILLE, Texas - U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez has presented a $2 million-plus check to Brownsville Public Utilities Board  to support the city's Resaca Restoration Project.In his remarks at the check presentation, Gonzalez said he wished other cities in his district had the beautiful resacas that Brownsville had. “It's always a pleasure to bring money home, right, to celebrate with our constituents,” Gonzalez said. “But we would not have been able to do it without all the local support.”And he acknowledged more funding is needed for the project. He said he will work on this. Gonzalez said his job is made easier when he has excellently run cities to work with. He said Brownsville is unquestionably one such city.Here, attached, is an audio recording of Congressman Gonzalez's remarks at the check presentation event. Go to the Rio Grande Guardian website to watch video interviews from the event. Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

PHARR, Texas - An expert in manufacturing told students from Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD and IDEA Public Schools about the benefits of working in the industry.Mike Willis, executive director of the South Texas Manufacturers Association, managed a maquiladora plant in Reynosa for 26. He was one of the keynote speakers speakers at Pharr Economic Development Corporation's 4th Annual Manufacturing Day in Pharr. The event was held at The Forum by Regency.“We have about 16,000 people working in manufacturing in the (Rio Grande) Valley at over 500 businesses. They range from size to one or two people doing custom word sign shops, print shops, boot shops, all the way up to Space X and Seatrium AmFELS with 3,000 to 4,000 employees each,” Willis said. “I like to say in the Valley, we make everything from tortilla chips to rocket ships.”The average wage for manufacturing workers in Hidalgo County, Willis said, is $1,040 a week. “That is about 26 bucks an hour. That's an average. A lot of the entry level jobs, or low skilled jobs, are below that. A lot of the higher skilled jobs are above that.”In United States there are 13 million people working in manufacturing, Willis reported. He said Texas has almost a million of those 13 million. “So, Texas is the manufacturing powerhouse in the United States.”As for the STMA, Willis said the trade association has around 100 manufacturing companies as members. “A lot of the maquilas (in Reynosa) also belong. And a lot of them have manufacturing plants on this side of the river. And if they don't have manufacturing plants, most of them have pretty good sized distribution centers where the finished product comes over here to be shipped.”The big trend in manufacturing is automation, Willis revealed. “We've always used technology and embraced constant improvement, continuous improvement, but it's really accelerated the last five to seven years. Now we're looking at things like robots, automated assembly machines that talk to each other, unmanned, guided vehicles. There's a lot of changes coming in the industry.”This trend is going to make manufacturing more competitive in the United States, Willis predicted.“If you can use more automation, and you have higher skilled workers that can operate that more technical machinery, repair and maintain all that machinery, there's not as much labor cost,” Willis explained.“So, the cost of labor in Mexico or China is less of a factor when companies decide where to put their plants. So, I like to say that we're what we need today in manufacturing is strong minds, not strong backs.”Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

BROWNSVILLE, Texas - To coincide with Breast Cancer Awareness Month, DHR Health Brownsville has unveiled its newest mammogram unit.Aida Coronado-Garcia, DHR Health Brownsville executive vice president and chief operating officer, said the new unit - a Siemens Mammomat Revelation - represents the latest in breast imaging technology, allowing for enhanced screening and diagnostic services. “Early detection through regular mammograms are the most important tools in the fight against breast cancer, and with the advanced technology now available, we can offer our patients even greater peace of mind,” Coronado-Garcia said. According to DHR, the new mammography software, Volpara, provides an advanced Al software platform that enables a high-quality, optimized and personalized cancer screening experience. The health system says Volpara collects and analyzes information to better understand a patient's personalized breast cancer risk and provides in-depth patient education and technologist analytics for performance improvement.“At DHR Health Brownsville, we are dedicated to providing the highest level of care to our patients, and this new mammogram unit is a testament to that commitment,” said Marissa Castañeda, DHR Health senior executive vice president.Soon after the new mammogram unit was unveiled, DHR Health Brownsville held a press conference to emphasize the importance of regular breast cancer screenings.Among those to speak at the press conference was Dr. Karen Brooks, an experienced general and breast surgeon who has been serving the Cameron County community for well over 20 years. Brooks encouraged attendees to prioritize their health and take advantage of the life-saving screenings services available at DHR Health Brownsville. She pointed out that early detection dramatically increases survival rates.Other speakers at the press conference included Coronado-Garcia, Castañeda, and Esmy Villarreal, president of Brownsville Chamber of Commerce. Villarreal said she wished she had had a mammogram earlier.Editor's Note: Here is an audio recording of the DHR Health Brownsville press conference, featuring the remarks of Dr. Brooks, Castañeda, and Villarreal. They are introduced by Coronado-Garcia.To schedule a mammogram at DHR Health Brownsville or at any DHR Health imaging location, call the hospital system's radiology centralized scheduling phone number at (956) 362-7503. A doctor's referral is needed for mammogram services.To schedule a mammogram at DHR Health Brownsville or at any DHR Health imaging location, call the hospital system's radiology centralized scheduling phone number at (956) 362-7503. A doctor's referral is needed for mammogram services.Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

PHARR, TEXAS David Ortiz, director of UT-Rio Grande Valley's Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center, has encouraged high school students to consider manufacturing as a career. Ortiz spoke to students from Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD and IDEA Public Schools at Pharr Economic Development Corporation's 4th Annual Manufacturing Day in Pharr. The event was held at The Forum by Regency. “There's a myth that manufacturing is boring, that it's very industrial, but it's actually exciting,” Ortiz told the students. “It is always exciting because there is always innovation. happening at a manufacturing site. There's always problem solving happening with great people and great teams. There's always technology developing.” Ortiz included a slide showing the development of manufacturing in the auto industry in the United States. He said when Ford Motors created the Model T, which effectively replaced the horse and cart, they were able to mass produce it and get one vehicle built every 47 hours. Today, he pointed out, the vehicles are largely assembled by robots. “I know it sounds a bit cheesy but (manufacturing) is an opportunity to change the world,” Ortiz said. By way of example, Ortiz pointed to SpaceX. His presentation included a slide showing SpaceX using its famous “chopsticks” to capture a rocket booster as it returned to earth. Ortiz said he has visited SpaceX's Starbase at Boca Chica. He said he was proud to see UTRGV alum working as engineers at the assembly plant. “For the first time in human history SpaceX was able to do that. How cool is that?” Ortiz asked. Ortiz added: “There's no limit in manufacturing. There are so many great companies, so many great people and opportunities.”Editor's Note: Go to the Rio Grande Guardian website to read the full story.Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.