Rio Grande Guardian's Podcast

BROWNSVILLE, Texas - Jesse Acevedo just completed a pipefitting course at Texas Southmost College.In an interview with Ron Whitlock of Ron Whitlock Reports he said he would recommend the program to anyone because pipefitters are in big demand and the wages are good. Acevedo is about to start work for Bechtel at the Port of Brownsville. The company is building a liquefied natural gas export terminal for NextDecade.Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

PALMVIEW, Texas - U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz spoke about congressional redistricting and Mexico's water debt to the U.S. at a top GOP dinner in Palmview.The event - titled the Lincoln-Reagan Dinner - was hosted by Hidalgo County Republican Party and held at the Stallion Event Center. De La Cruz introduced the keynote speaker, U.S. Senate candidate Ken Paxton.De La Cruz recalled a time she met President Trump and the two were looking at a map of Texas and the Gulf of America. “He turns to me and he says, well, Congresswoman, where are you from? I hear you're from South Texas, but where exactly? And we're looking at the Gulf of America. And I said, Sir, I am from right here, Mr. President. And I point right there to the very most southern tip of Texas. And he looks at me and says, well, you barely got in though, didn't you?” De La Cruz recalled.She said she responded: “I'm proud to be here. I'm proud to be in Texas.”The Edinburg Republican knew she would not have much time with the president and so she had to make the most of it. “There's a clock. You've only got 30 seconds. You'd better say something good, and you better say something fast. And so I turned to the President. I said, Mr. President, I have urgent news. He says, What's that? Take a deep breath. Mexico is screwing us. President Trump, Mexico is screwing us with water. And he goes, Mexico's screwing us. He goes, James, get over here. Why is Mexico screwing us? Tell him. Tell him.”De La Cruz said Trump told her that Mexico will deliver on its water treaty obligations. “And you know what? He kept his promise. We've got water from Mexico. We're holding back money from the Mexican government, and we are getting South Texas farmers the water that they need and they deserve. And I'm so grateful for President Trump for listening to what we needed in South Texas and actually doing it.”De La Cruz then spoke about successes she has had with the federal budget.“We've been able to bring $1 billion right here to the Rio Grande Valley, (and) $280 million in a carve out from the disaster emergency fund. That has never been done before. And no other district got that money,” De La Cruz said.Editor's Note: To read the full story go the Rio Grande Guardian website.Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

PALMVIEW, Texas - U.S. Senate candidate Ken Paxton says he wants to take to the Washington the same sort of creativity and courage he has shown as Texas attorney general. Paxton was keynote speaker at the Hidalgo County Republican Party's Lincoln-Reagan Dinner. The event was held Aug. 21 at the Stallion Event Center in Palmview.“I want to bring something different to Washington. The kind of creativity that I'm trying to bring to my job here, I want to take that to Washington. The kind of courage we've had to exhibit in Texas, I want to take that to Washington, because we don't see it,” Paxton said.“In most of our US senators, I don't see it, including the one I that I'm running against. I go around the state and I say, what has our senator accomplished for you? I have a really hard time getting an answer.“And, after 23 years, that's four terms… first of all I am convinced no one should be running for five terms. That's 30 years as a U.S. senator. John Cornyn has been in office since I was in college. I'm 62 years old. So, just for that alone, it's time for a change.”Paxton then explained what he believes is lacking in Washington.“We need creativity. We need somebody that will go to Washington, like a Ted Cruz, who will say, enough, the budget deficit is out of control. We don't need Second Amendment gun restrictions that John Cornyn helped Joe Biden pass and was congratulated by him and criticized by Donald Trump. “We need somebody who will fight for border security, which we haven't had. And we need somebody who will work with Donald Trump, not just because he's in a primary. And so I want to take the same kind of hope, same kind of courage, the same kind of characteristics that you exhibit to Washington. And I want to have the opportunity change the culture. And I know that sounds sometimes impossible, but I've watched what we've been able to do for the Texas Attorney General's office, and we've had an impact.”Here are Paxton's remarks in full.Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

PHARR, Texas - Dub Taylor is COO of Texas PACE Authority. He recently spoke at an event hosted jointly by the Pharr Economic Development Corporation and the Rio Grande Valley Partnership. It was titled the Pharr Commercial & Investment Summit and it was held at the Pharr One Center.At the event, Taylor gave a presentation that included slides showing where a PACE project had worked in Texas. There were lots of examples shown in East Texas, the Panhandle and Central Texas. But there were no examples from the Texas-Mexico border region. The nearest were in San Antonio. In an interview with the Rio Grande Guardian, Taylor after his presentation, Taylor said that is why he was in Pharr - to spread the word about the benefits. The Pace website states: "Property Assessed Clean Energy (TX-PACE) is a proven financial tool that incentivizes Texas' property owners to upgrade facility infrastructure with little or no capital outlay. Approved by State legislation and established by local governments, TX-PACE programs enable owners to lower their operating costs and use the savings to pay for eligible water conservation, energy efficiency, resiliency, and distributed generation projects. Owners gain access to private, affordable, long-term (typically 20-30 years) financing that is not available through traditional funding avenues." Here is an audio recording of Taylor's presentation at the Pharr event. Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

MISSION, Texas - The Greater Mission Chamber of Commerce held the latest in its Buenas Tardes Luncheon series on Aug. 13, 2025. It centered on a panel discussion titled “The State of Current Business.” There were six panelists: Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez; Rick Carrera, director of economic development for the Council for South Texas Economic Progress; Joe Quiroga, president of Texas National Bank; Juan Francisco Ochoa, Jr., CEO of Taco Palenque Group; Dante Galeazzi, CEO and President of Texas International Produce Association; and state Rep. Sergio Muñoz of Mission. The moderator was Kimberly Selber, associate dean of community engagement in the College of Liberal Arts at UT-Rio Grande Valley. Here is an audio recording of everything Rep. Muñoz said at the event. Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

MISSION, Texas - The Greater Mission Chamber of Commerce held the latest in its Buenas Tardes Luncheon series on Aug. 13, 2025. It centered on a panel discussion titled “The State of Current Business.” There were six panelists: Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez; Rick Carrera, director of economic development for the Council for South Texas Economic Progress; Joe Quiroga, president of Texas National Bank; Juan Francisco Ochoa, Jr., CEO of Taco Palenque Group; Dante Galeazzi, CEO and President of Texas International Produce Association; and state Rep. Sergio Muñoz of Mission. The moderator was Kimberly Selber, associate dean of community engagement in the College of Liberal Arts at UT-Rio Grande Valley. Here is an audio recording of everything TIPA's Galeazzi said at the event. **Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

MISSION, Texas - The Greater Mission Chamber of Commerce held the latest in its Buenas Tardes Luncheon series on Aug. 13, 2025. It centered on a panel discussion titled “The State of Current Business.” There were six panelists: Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez; Rick Carrera, director of economic development for the Council for South Texas Economic Progress; Joe Quiroga, president of Texas National Bank; Juan Francisco Ochoa, Jr., CEO of Taco Palenque Group; Dante Galeazzi, CEO and President of Texas International Produce Association; and state Rep. Sergio Muñoz of Mission. The moderator was Kimberly Selber, associate dean of community engagement in the College of Liberal Arts at UT-Rio Grande Valley. Here is an audio recording of everything Taco Palenque's Ochoa said at the event. Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

MISSION, Texas - The Greater Mission Chamber of Commerce held the latest in its Buenas Tardes Luncheon series on Aug. 13, 2025. It centered on a panel discussion titled “The State of Current Business.” There were six panelists: Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez; Rick Carrera, director of economic development for the Council for South Texas Economic Progress; Joe Quiroga, president of Texas National Bank; Juan Francisco Ochoa, Jr., CEO of Taco Palenque Group; Dante Galeazzi, CEO and President of Texas International Produce Association; and state Rep. Sergio Muñoz of Mission. The moderator was Kimberly Selber, associate dean of community engagement in the College of Liberal Arts at UT-Rio Grande Valley. Here is an audio recording of everything COSTEP's Carrera said at the event. Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

MISSION, Texas - The Greater Mission Chamber of Commerce held the latest in its Buenas Tardes Luncheon series on Aug. 13, 2025. It centered on a panel discussion titled “The State of Current Business.” There were six panelists: Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez; Rick Carrera, director of economic development for the Council for South Texas Economic Progress; Joe Quiroga, president of Texas National Bank; Juan Francisco Ochoa, Jr., CEO of Taco Palenque Group; Dante Galeazzi, CEO and President of Texas International Produce Association; and state Rep. Sergio Muñoz of Mission. The moderator was Kimberly Selber, associate dean of community engagement in the College of Liberal Arts at UT-Rio Grande Valley. Here is an audio recording of everything Judge Cortez said at the event. Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

MISSION, Texas - Joe Quiroga is president of Texas National Bank. He was one of six panelists at a Greater Mission Chamber of Commerce event on August 13 titled “Buenas Tardes Luncheon.The panel discussion was titled The State of Current Business. In his remarks, Quiroga said there were positive and negative things to report about the current Rio Grande Valley economy. Here are his remarks. Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

HARLINGEN, Texas - The Council for South Texas Economic Progress recently hosted a  Lunch & Learn session at Texas State Technical College. The event focused on RFI Best Practices and was organized by COSTEP's director of economic development, Ric Carrera.Carrera said RFI Best Practices is a crucial for driving smart growth and meaningful investment across the Rio South Texas region.“We were thrilled to welcome a full house of regional economic development professionals to our latest Lunch & Learn session,” Carrera said after the event had concluded.“Special thanks to Mr. Sean Ferguson, from the Texas Office of Economic Development & Tourism, for his clear and valuable perspective, and to Mr. Michael Camden from Ryan, for making the trip south and offering a sharp view from the site selector's seat,” Carrera said.“Our sincere gratitude to Harlingen EDC for hosting us in their space, and as always, to our Board of Directors and generous Sponsors, whose continued support powers everything we do.”Here is an audio recording of everything Ferguson and Camden said at the event.Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

LAREDO, Texas - The 32nd Annual Pathways For Trade Symposium takes place at the Laredo County Club on Thursday, Aug. 28. The evening before a reception will take place titled the Trade Ambassador's Dinner.The symposium is being hosted, as always, by the Laredo Economic Development Corporation, which has served Los Dos Laredos for 58 years. This year, the symposium's title is “The New Era of Trade: Perspectives & Opportunities.” The symposium will explore the latest trends, policies, and challenges shaping global trade. A big focus this year will be the application of Artificial Intelligence in the logistics and manufacturing sectors.David A. Stedman, president and CEO of Laredo EDC, says he cannot think of a year when the symposium was more important. “I don't think there has ever been a time where international trade is more on the national topic and horizon, with the advent of the America First trade policy from the Trump administration,” Stedman told the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service.“We have to be very astute and conscious of our supply chain, at a time when nearshoring is taking on a whole new dimension. We're basically reinventing the American supply chain as we go.”Stedman said he is pleased with the lineup of speakers assembled.“What we have done here with this symposium is bring together a collection of experts to give people an ongoing explanation of all the things that are going to happen and have happened with respect to our trade, not only with Mexico, but with Canada. We have a nice collection of local and national experts to give clarity to the situation, which is very volatile and very important to the future of the American economy.”Here is an audio podcast featuring LEDC leaders that previews the symposium.Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

BROWNSVILLE, Texas - On Friday, Aug. 1, the City of Brownsville and their outside consultants, Freese and Nichols, hosted a community information session about their new Downtown Renaissance Master Plan.Longtime Brownsville-based realtor Larry Jokl was sitting in the audience. At the end of the presentation Jokl got up and walked to the podium. After being given the microphone, he said he could not understand why the city planners and outside consultants had not discussed the planned Renaissance Park.“We have not heard one word about what could become the largest single project in Downtown Brownsville, and that is the Renaissance Park. Nothing has been said yet,” Jokl said. He proceeded to explain the project.“This project is a collaborative effort between the city and the county. They're going to put together an inter-local agreement, which will be managed by a TIRZ board. That organization will administer what is going to become what we hope will be the largest single project you will see downtown.”TIRZ stands for Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone.“It (the interlock agreement) is going to come, hopefully, into fruition here in the next couple of weeks,” Jokl said. Jokl asked if Brownsville Mayor John Cowen, Jr., was in the audience. Cowen had earlier spoken about the Downtown Renaissance Master Plan. Cowen was still at the event. Jokl proceeded to ask Cowen to nod his head if what he was saying was correct. Mayor Cowen nodded his head.“He (Cowen) is going to meet with the judge,” Jokl said, referring to Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño. “This is something that… I'm not going into the particulars, other than it will put downtown Brownsville, all of it, on the map for years to come.”Jokl continued: “The project could consist totally of about $500 million, which would be the largest thing that this city has seen in a long time downtown. So I'm very hopeful that I'm going to meet with some of these people, we're going to bring the developer and the stakeholders back into this.”Jokl said he could not go into great detail about the project at this stage.“It's all still being worked on at this moment. But we want to begin to hear an awful lot about what's going to happen with this project and Downtown Brownsville.” Jokl said. “It's going to help all of the owners of properties in the area. There will be all kinds of new and additional developments, which will take place over the next few years. You're going to have a riverfront that is going to be totally different.”Jokl added: “They're going to remove a lot of the area between St. Francis and the old bridge. It's going to be something similar to a River Walk. And if this gets started here soon, Matamoros wants to do the same thing. So, hopefully, everybody will begin to hear about it. I wanted to get in front of you because I heard absolutely nothing about it at this meeting.”Editor's Note: Here is an audio recording of Jokl's remarks at the City of Brownsville event. Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

EDINBURG, Texas - Pam Bentsen Havens and her mother, Marge Bentsen, have explained why they donated land for a million gallon water tower in north Edinburg.They said it was the right thing to do for the community. Here is the interview:The Bentsens gave the Rio Grande Guardian an exclusive interview at the conclusion of a ribbon-cutting ceremony the City of Edinburg held to unveil the new water tower.The new water tower cost $5 million to build. The money came from the City of Edinburg and Edinburg Economic Development Corporation.Edinburg Mayor Ramiro Garza described the new water tower as a “major infrastructure project” that “reflects the continued growth and resilience” of the city. “Today we celebrate the completion of this new water tower, an investment that will strengthen our city's water system, help us meet the demands of our growing population and ensure that our residents and businesses continue to receive the reliable service they deserve,” Garza said.“This project is more than just the concrete and steel that you see behind me. It's about planning for the future and ensuring that our infrastructure keeps pace with the progress we are seeing across our community.”Garza continued: “As we continue to welcome new families, new businesses and new developments, we also recognize the importance of reinforcing the systems that support daily life. Clean, dependable water is one of the most critical services that we can provide, and this water tower is an essential commitment to that.”Garza thanked the Bentsen family and the Edinburg Economic Development Corporation for its investment in the project.“This is yet another step forward in our efforts to build a stronger, smarter Edinburg. And, we're not done. We will continue investing in infrastructure, improving services, and making sure that Edinburg remains a city we can all be proud to call home,” Garza added.Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

WESLACO, Texas - The Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council set up the Small Cities Coalition in 2011 and, potentially, 46 cities could participate.Unfortunately, not all do, said LRGVDC Executive Director Manuel Cruz, at a recent meeting of the group.But that does not stop the LRGVDC from providing great services to the small cities, Cruz said. These include programs to help with economic development, job creation, infrastructure, and tourism. Here is an audio recording of Cruz's presentation to the Small Cities Coalition.Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

WESLACO, Texas - Hidalgo County Regional Mobility Authority Chairman Robert L. Lozano has made a plea for unity when it comes to transportation projects across the region.Lozano made his comments at a special meeting of the Rio Grande Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization policy board. He is a board member of the MPO.HCRMA did not get its proposal for more funding for Segment 4 of the Hidalgo County Loop project passed yet Lozano, in n effort to show unity, still voted for the staff recommendation of RGVMPO.“My message is the same one that I started with many months ago, it's a message of unity,” Lozano said.The special meeting of the RGVMPO policy board was called because the group is facing a hard deadline. If it does not spend the money it has accrued soon it runs the risk of losing future funding from the Texas Department of Transportation. The MPO has carried over $102 million in what is known as Category 7 funds. Year after year the MPO carries over the funds because many of the projects on its to do list are not shovel ready. In his remarks, Lozano pointed out that HCRMA does not normally seek Category 7 funding from the MPO. He said they made a pitch for funding for a particular segment of the County Loop because the MPO found itself in a “use it or lose it” situation.  “If the (RGVMPO) TAC (Technical Advisory Committee has a project and they know, they understand, that there's a unified desire to move this project forward, then I think that should influence the recommendation that the TAC is giving to the policy board, because they understand that in that community, in that area, that is what is being requested. That's what the need is. And the need is bubbling up in a unified fashion,” Lozano said.Lozano then answered his own question. Why did the RMA bring forward its proposal for Category 7 funding.“First, use it or lose it. Second, it's my understanding that the RMA historically has not requested Category 7 funds. However, all of y'all were witness to… the strong desire to accelerate Section A, 1 and 2,” Lozano 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 minority leader of the Texas House says he is going to ensure Hidalgo County Democratic Party gets the funding it needs to be competitive in the 2026 election.State Rep. Gene Wu of Houston visited the Valley recently to hear from Young Democrats and grassroots progressives. In a meeting at the Hidalgo County Democratic Party HQ in McAllen, the young activists told him they felt the region had been neglected by the state and national party, thereby allowing Republicans to make significant inroads. Hidalgo County Democratic Party Chairman Richard Gonzales was at the meeting. He said he has warned every local Democratic Party elected official to expect a Republican challenger at the next election. “The Republicans are well-funded,” Gonzales said. In an in-depth interview with the Rio Grande Guardian, Wu said:“In my time as caucus chair, I've talked a lot of communities, and talked a lot of communities that say they've kind of been left behind, kind of been forgotten. And, I thought about this. I thought about South Texas, I thought about the Rio Grande Valley. And I wanted to make sure that they were not forgotten, that there are people who remember who they are and realize that they're important. And I want to make sure that that my actions reflect that.”Asked what he had learned from both a tour of Hidalgo County and a meeting with Young Democrats, Wu said:“I learned that this is a beautiful community that wants to move ahead, that wants to do better. But, because we didn't put in the resources, we didn't put in the time and the investments - and we're not just talking about the state, we're not just talking about Democrats, we're talking about everybody - we left this place behind. And that is a shame, because this is such a wonderful place with such wonderful people.”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 - Julio Salinas is chairman of Texas Young Democrats. On Saturday, July 12, 2025, Salinas took state Rep. Gene Wu of Houston on a tour of key locations in Hidalgo County. Wu is minority leader in the Texas House of Representatives. Following the tour, Hidalgo County Young Democrats met with Wu. They spoke about the “devastating impact” ICE raids were having on Valley communities. And they impressed upon Wu the need for more investment in the Democratic Party in the Rio Grande Valley. Salinas said he would like to see Texas House members come down to the Valley for an “unvarnished” tour, to see the sights the Rio Grande Valley Partnership does not take state lawmakers to when they do their bi-annual Valley Legislative Tour. At the conclusion of the meeting, Salinas gave an interview to the Rio Grande Guardian. Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

René Xavier González, head of new business development and marketing for Sidee Industrial Development in Matamoros, has given a Mexican perspective to the idea of a bi-national auto cluster initiative.The idea has been proposed by the Council for South Texas Economic Progress. González said some companies may need convincing about the data they share but he thinks there will be buy-in. “Sometimes there are issues about confidentiality and security. A lot of companies would rather kind of keep kind of a low profile,” González said. “But the fact that everybody's here, the fact that everybody is representing all the individual EDCs is already a huge win for COSTEP. Cobifer is here. We're representing CODEM, the Matamoros business community. It is very encouraging to see.” Gonzalez continued:  “From the Matamoros side, we're in. We just need steps. Like, okay, give us a data registry, make sure that it's in Spanish. My job would be to talk to the 30 members of CODEM, sell them on the idea and make sure that this is something viable, something that benefits their individual business.  “So, for example, in order to become part of the cluster, the individual manufacturing companies have to be have to register and pay a fee. So, for example, my job with the three automotive manufacturing companies that I have in my industrial park, I have to go tell them, this is why this benefits you. You have to sign up for this. So, the more informed that we all are, the better that we can actually help sell (the project). Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas - South Padre Island City Council Member Kerry Schwartz wants to see an Eco Center District established to capitalize on the amount of interest there is in ecotourism.Schwartz made his case at a special workshop meeting the council held to discuss expansion of the island's convention center.“Our mission really should be about ecotourism, because ecotourism is huge. I'd like to see us form an SPI Eco Center District. We already have an entertainment district for our beaches and all that,” Schwartz said.“But when you think about it, you've got the World Birding Center there, and you've got Sea Turtle Rescue. Turn that into an eco tourism center, a nature center, adding the theater and exhibition annex to the convention center,” Schwartz said. In his presentation, Schwartz said “environmental hazards” are being created both by the development of liquefied natural gas export terminals at the Port of Brownsville plants and SpaceX.Here is an audio recording of his remarks:Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

MISSION, Texas - Hidalgo County Commissioner Ever Villarreal has announced what he says is an “amazing” transportation project that will help transform the western part of the county.Villarreal said the county, working with the City of Mission, is going to become “project sponsor” for two sections of the proposed county loop between Granjeno and Penitas and turn them into non-toll projects. By becoming project sponsor, Villarreal said, the county, working with the City of Mission, can help find funding for the two sections, ensuring they get built much faster. “It is an amazing project of not just for the City of Mission, but for the City of McAllen also. That is because the City of McAllen, as you know… they are part owner of the Anzalduas Bridge,” Villarreal said. “And it would be amazing, not just for McAllen and Mission financially, but also for our neighbors on the west side of the county, for the growth this amazing project can usher in.”Here is an interview the Rio Grande Guardian secured with Commissioner Villarreal.Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

MCALLEN, Texas - The former editor and publisher of El Periódico USA has launched a new binational Spanish language media project called Debate X Media, LLC.The plan, says Jose Luis B. Garza, is to highlight the potential and accomplishments of the Hispanic population in the Rio Grande Valley and become a binational news agency.“We have to project the importance of this region because it's totally different to other regions in the country,” Garza said.In an in-depth audio interview with the Rio Grande Guardian, Garza spoke about his time at El Periódico USA, the growth of Hispanic-owned news media publications, and his plans for Debate X. El Periódico USA is a newspaper published in McAllen that initiated in 1986, focusing on the South Texas community. Jose Luis Garza worked at El Periódico USA, initially as an advisor and worked his way up the media company. “They gave me a lot of satisfaction, experiences and big opportunities to understand how the Spanish media works in this country,” Garza said. “Initially around the 90s, the Hispanic population, Hispanic marketing, Hispanic publications, were not so important. But after that, soon we were growing in the country.”Garza said the growth of Hispanic publications allowed him to participate with the National Association of Hispanic Publications, an advocacy organization for Spanish language publications. He said he was vice president of the organization and national president in 2013. Garza was born in Gustavo Diaz Ordaz, Mexico and said many people from his birthplace are now living in the Rio Grande Valley. He was previously chairman of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce's International Committee.After leaving El Periodico USA, Garza said he founded Debate X, an agency for expanding Hispanic news coverage. He said his company strives to give advice to other newspapers and he has the support of his family and friends on the project. He said he chose the name of the news agency, Debate X, because it translates the same in both English and Spanish. Garza will be working on the project with Luis Cantu, former vice president for international business and community development for McAllen Chamber of Commerce. “We are reporting, we are doing work on both sides of the world,” Garza said. “This is a national project.”Garza said he founded Debate X after leaving El Periodico USA because his company strives to give advice to other expanding news companies in the form of a news agency. He said he met with about 15 congressmen at the end of April in Washington D.C., and spoke with the communications team at the White House. Garza said Congress was receptive to Debate X's plans to play an active role in aiding the Hispanic newspaper community.“We need to let the rest of the country, the rest of Texas, Mexico, know who we are, what we are doing, and the potential of this area,” Garza said. “This is an extraordinary area, we have problems like any other ones, but we have extraordinary opportunities here.”Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

WESLACO, TEXAS - A spokesperson for MHP Salud says no staff member has lost their job because of federal funding cuts to the Affordable Care Act Navigator Program.Heather Morgan is vice president of communications and business development for MHP Salud. She oversees brand development and management, reputation, communications, and positioning. In an email to the Rio Grande Guardian, she did confirm that the Weslaco-based non-profit has been informed of federal funding cuts to the Navigator program.“MHP Salud has a long-standing history in the RGV. We provide multiple services to the community to provide families and individuals with health education, child health and developmental support, health insurance education and application assistance, and much more,” said Heather Morgan, vice president of communications and business development for MHP Salud.“Our programming array includes Parents as Teachers, Familias Saludables, Silver Connections, Connecting Kids to Coverage, and the Navigator program.”Morgan continued: “While MHP Salud has received notice that funding for the Navigator program will be reduced, we will receive funding to continue serving the RGV through the Navigator program, as well as our other programs.”Morgan added: “Moreover, while the funding reduction will impact staffing, final decisions have not yet been made, and no one was informed that August 31 will be their last day of employment.”Morgan wrote to the Guardian following comments made by Moises Arjona, collective impact director for Unidos Contra la Diabetes. During a webinar hosted by Hidalgo County Prosperity Task Force, and in a subsequent interview with the Guardian, Arjona spoke about the impact of federal funding cuts to the Affordable Care Act.Morgan said Arjona does not work for MHP Salud and does not speak for the nonprofit. Asked if he would like to respond, Arjona said: “What I shared (at the Hidalgo County Prosperity Task Force webinar) was that from the community health workers who are employed at MHP Salud, those who reached out and provided me with information regarding funding and who were looking for open job positions.”Arjona continued: “We value MHP Salud as a partner in the community and they do great work, but as they have stated in their email, funding is being reduced and that will affect the work that is being done in the community.”Arjona added: “MHP Salud is a provider for the Affordable Care Act and many of our folks in the community depend on MHP Salud to continue to help them navigate the Market Place during open enrollment. Our population is not tech savvy and needs help, especially during open enrollment.”Here is part of an interview Arjona gave the Guardian.Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

EDINBURG, Texas - The director of Hidalgo County's Community Service Agency (CSA) says Rotarians from across South Texas were shocked when he told them the extent of the cuts his agency is facing, should Congress adopt President Trump's budget proposals. Jaime R. Longoria met recently with Rotarians from across the Rio Grande Valley, Laredo, and the Coastal Bend. Specifically, Longoria spoke about cuts to the Low-Income Household Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), a utility assistance program designed to assist low-income households in meeting their immediate energy needs.  Longoria said that in President Trump's budget, $8 million that comes to Hidalgo County for LIHEAP “would disappear.” He said: “That's $8 million to assist about 8,000 families across Hidalgo County afford utilities.” Longoria continued: “Now, those 8,000 families, I know we like to villainize… I spoke at a meeting of the Rotarians across South Texas, and I mentioned, we like to villainize the vulnerables, that, well, these are people that maybe don't want to work. These are people that are of another country.  “But in reality, about 45 percent of those 8,000 are people over the age of 60. About 30 percent of those families, those individuals that come to us are children under the age of 18. So that's 75 percent of our population that is either elderly or are under the age of 18.  “So, these stereotypes that we have of who we're helping, who CSA is helping, it does not hold a lot of water. I know that the Rotarians were shocked when they heard those numbers. And these are Rotarians from Corpus Christi, Victoria, and Brownsville to Laredo, all of the Rio Grande Valley. They were shocked. “And I said, you know, don't believe the narrative. These are actual people. I can show you the numbers. That $8 million would go away.” Longoria made his comments in a webinar hosted by Hidalgo County Prosperity Task Force. The webinar comprised officials from numerous nonprofits who stand to lose funding under the so-called “Big, Beautiful Bill.” Longoria said that while this bill includes cuts to Medicaid and SNAP, his agency had to remain focused on President Trump's “skinny” budget. “What our program is really concerned about is the proposed zeroing out of the Community Services Block Grant, the zeroing out of LIHEAP, which is our utility assistance program, and the zeroing out of our AmeriCorps program.” Longoria said the President's “skinny” budget is different from the “Big, Beautiful Bill.” “All of our programs are zeroed out. So, what does that mean, financially? That's $2 million in CSBG funding. So that is the disaster funding that I talked about in Commissioners Court today, which helped us respond to the flood, which helps us respond to fires, domestic violence on a daily basis, which helped us respond during COVID so quickly, to put people in shelter and buy food for people in shelter. That $2 million would be gone.” Longoria said the CSBG funding has been in place since 1980, and its forerunner has been in place since 1968. “So, that money has been in place for 60 years to help address poverty the way Hidalgo County sees fit.” He said Cameron County would lose a little over a million dollars in CSBG funding, while Starr County would lose about $700,000. Editor's Note: Here is an audio recording of the remarks Longoria made during the Hidalgo County Prosperity Task Force webinar.  Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

BROWNSVILLE, Texas - The director of research for the Bespoke Group says that as the world becomes less unipolar, the United States is going to have to work much more closely with Mexico.Jacob, L. Shapiro holds a master's degree with distinction from Oxford University and a bachelor's degree from Cornell University. He was guest speaker via a video link at an international relations forum hosted by the Mexican Consulate's Office in Brownsville. Held at the eBridge Center for Business & Commercialization, the forum was titled, “Brainstorming Dialogue: Navigating the New Era of US-Mexico Trade in the RGV Border.”“If we think about the US-Mexico relationship from just a very apolitical, cold-hearted geopolitical perspective, this is a relationship in which both sides need each other. The United States very much needs Mexico, and Mexico needs the United States,” Shapiro said.“And I think the thing that has changed, really, in the last five to ten years, in which will continue to change, I think, in Mexico's favor, is that… for much of the last century plus the United States has had most, if not all, of the leverage. And Mexico has not had the leverage.”Shapiro says he always references a quote attributed to former Mexico President Porfirio Diaz: "Poor Mexico - So Far from God, So Close to the United States."Shapiro predicts Mexico's leverage with the United States will only increase.“As the world becomes less unipolar, where the US is not the dominant power in the world, where the US cannot simply say what it wants to happen and have those things happen, it's going to need a greater emphasis on local and regional supply chains, on local alliances and on local trade normalization.”Dr. Judith Arrieta Mungia Mexico's consul in Brownsville, moderated the forum. At the conclusion of Shapiro's remarks, Arrieta applauded enthusiastically. Here is an audio recording of Shapiro's remarks in full.Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

WESLACO, Texas - Unidos Contra la Diabetes' collective impact director, Moises Arjona, Jr., has discussed the Rio Grande Valley's health clinic concerns after recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids.Arjona gave an update during a recent Hidalgo County Prosperity Task Force webinar on Tuesday. Unidos Contra la Diabetes is a collective impact initiative working to prevent and reduce and type two diabetes in the Valley by 10 percent by 2030. The initiative works with clinic and nonprofit health care centers such as Family Clinic, El Milagro, Proyecto Juan Diego and other clinics in the area. In an exclusive interview with the Rio Grande Guardian, Arjona said he is worried about a decline in the number of patients that come to health fairs hosted by Unidos Contra la Diabetes.The initiative's health fairs include a series of community health clinic partners that also provide educational services. RGV Food Bank provides food and vegetables for the event. The health fairs typically receive an attendance of 300 people but according to Arjona Jr. their last health fair, March 26, “barely had 100 people.” “Ever since the current administration started talking about ICE raids, our population is fearful and does not feel comfortable going out,”Arjona said. “We have to also understand that we have mixed-status families in our community, so maybe grandma, who might be undocumented, is the one that is the babysitter or drives the kids and drops them off at school.”Arjona said the initiative has been told by partners there has been an increase of patients wanting to do doctor's sessions over the phone. Patients are also asking for more prolonged prescriptions for their refills, and an overall absence in patients at the clinics, Arjona said. “It is going to be an impact for emergency rooms and urgent care, which then causes them to spend more money on health care, because it could have been prevented,” Arjona said. “It is going to be a ripple effect for us, and it is kind of scary.”Here is an audio recording of Arjona's remarks during the Prosperity Task Force's webinar.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.

MISSION, Texas - Mission Economic Development Corporation CEO Teclo Garcia gave the opening remarks at a Commercial & Investment Tour event before moderating a panel discussion.The event was held at the Center for Education & Economic Development and co-hosted by the Rio Grande Valley Partnership. In his opening remarks, Garcia spoke about the growth of his city, both in population terms and industrial, commercial, and residential development. Here are his remarks.Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

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.