Podcasts about Hidalgo County

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.

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

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

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

RIO GRANDE CITY, Texas - The eagerly anticipated State Loop 195 project in Starr County is now a priority for the Texas Department of Transportation, Gov. Greg Abbott has announced. The 17.4 mile State Loop 195 project is located in Starr County and traverses the limits of Rio Grande City, the City of Escobares and the City of Roma. The project consists of constructing a new location 4-lane divided highway beginning at FM 755, which is 2.5 miles northeast of US 83 in Rio Grande City and ending approximately one mile West of Loma Blanca Road along US 83. The project was listed as a priority for TxDOT's Pharr District in a press release from Gov. Abbott that highlighted a record $148 billion in total investment for Texas' transportation infrastructure. The press release stated: “In the TxDOT Pharr District, priority projects include State Loop 195 in Starr County, a U.S. 83 relief route from Roma to Rio Grande City; the International Bridge Trade Corridor (IBTC), a proposed non-tolled, four-lane divided highway that would provide direct interstate access for several international ports of entry; and upgrading US 281 (Hidalgo County) and US 77 (Kenedy County) to interstate standards.” It also stated: “The Pharr District is also prioritizing the development and construction of a second South Padre Island Causeway and currently providing upgrades and pavement improvements for the existing SH 4 between Brownsville and Starbase Texas (SpaceX).”  TxDOT Pharr District Engineer Pete Alvarez said: “State Loop 195 is a relief route in Starr County, basically from Loma Blanca, where this project begins, back to FM 755, north of Rio Grande City. Why is that important? This relief route will provide an alternative route for US 83 so that the trucking industry and others will be able to utilize this relief route. The idea here is basically to move the trucking component of this to north of the urbanized area.” Abbott said this investment includes the unanimous adoption of the more than $104 billion ten-year transportation plan by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to improve safety, address congestion and connectivity, and preserve roadways for Texas drivers. He said it also includes over $43 billion for development and routine maintenance. This is a $5.6 billion increase in total investment from the previous year. “Strengthening our roadways and transportation infrastructure is critical for Texas to remain the Best State for Business in the nation,” Abbott said. “With the adoption of this record-breaking $148 billion transportation investment, Texas will continue to meet the needs of Texans in rural, urban, and metropolitan communities while also improving roadway congestion and safety. People come to Texas because we provide the freedom and opportunity they can't find anywhere else, and that's why we're investing in the future of Texas roads. Projects like this will ensure our products and people can move quickly to keep the Texas economy booming. Together, we are building a bigger, better Texas for years to come.” Texas Transportation Commission Chairman J. Bruce Bugg, Jr., agreed. He said: “With a booming population and economy, TxDOT is meeting the moment with a record investment in our state roadway system to ensure Texas remains the preferred destination for families and businesses. Thanks to the vision of Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Legislature, this historic transportation investment focusing on safety and congestion relief will help meet the needs of Texans for years to come.”Editor's Note: Go to the Rio Grande Guardian to read the full story.Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

EDINBURG, Texas - The median U.S. renter has $6,300 in net wealth. The median U.S. homeowner has $254,000 in net wealth.Edinburg-based Viva Home Team wants to reduce that gap by helping renters."At Viva, we are a mission-driven team dedicated to closing the 40X renter wealth equity gap. We believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to build wealth and achieve financial stability, regardless of their housing status,” said Viva CEO Michael Barnes.“We strive to empower renters by providing access to essential benefits - resources, tools, and support to help them improve wealth and well-being - to achieve lasting financial resilience. Our goal is to bridge the gap between renters and homeowners, fostering a more equitable and inclusive society.”The Rio Grande Guardian conducted an audio interview with Barnes to ask how Viva is going about this. In the interview, Barnes said homebuyers in Hidalgo County are missing out on more than $5 million in free grants every month, with each family potentially losing out on over $5,000 in grant money when purchasing a home. Barnes said this “alarming trend” means that, in a year, homebuyers in Hidalgo County could collectively miss out on $60,000,000. “Why spend $5,000 cash at closing when this money could be saved for emergencies or essential home renovations after the purchase?”In the interview, Barnes said Viva has uncovered that a significant majority of Rio Grande Valley homebuyers - more than 90 percent - qualify for a time-limited grant worth $5,250. He said this grant, backed by Fannie Mae, can be accessed directly through their Viva Home Team program.Editor's Note: Go to the Rio Grande Guardian website to read the full story.Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

MCALLEN, Texas - Rashmi Chandran, executive director of AltaCair Foundation, says her group is going to focus on unserved colonia residents, rather than the underserved.  On a Rio Grande Guardian podcast, Chandran said “very helpful” research conducted by UT-Rio Grande Valley has helped AltaCair identify the colonias that need the most help. “Living in cities like Edinburg, McAllen, we don't feel like there will be areas (close by) where the houses are made of plywood, but that research actually brought to the surface that there are really bad areas where no one can go in. So, those are the areas where we want to,” Chandran said. Chandran acknowledged that there has been a lot of good work done in Rio Grande Valley colonias by other nonprofits. “It just so happens when there is a help center at one place, it is just that ten-mile radius that keeps getting served over, and over again. But there are other areas in the perimeter which do not get touched. So, we want people to expand their services there. So that's why that is our mission to touch the unserved.” During the podcast, Guardian editor Steve Taylor recalled an AltaCair “cluster meeting” where Eduardo Olivarez, Hidalgo County's public health director, said the biggest impediment to health was substandard living conditions. Taylor said Olivarez painted this very graphic picture of houses in some colonias where the houses consist of nothing but tarpaulin sheets, pallets and plywood. “Especially when there is weather turbulence. Like, right now, the preparations that we're doing for Hurricane Beryl. Imagine those places. Like, what are they going to do with one sandbag? Like they live in in such fragile conditions,” Chandran said. “What are they going to do? They don't even have a vehicle that they can just get into and escape should things get bad. Those roads are so bad that you probably cannot even drive properly on that (road).”  Referring to the proliferation of colonias, Chandra said: “There are just like so many things that are unresolved and that exists right around us, maybe just one or two blocks away. And we're not aware.”Editor's Note: Go to the Rio Grande Guardian website to read the full story. Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

EDINBURG, Texas - All the stucco on the outside of the new Hidalgo County Courthouse has to be taken off and replaced, County Judge Richard Cortez has revealed.The reason is that water is leaking in between the stucco and the outer wall. Cortez says the stucco cannot be replaced at the moment because we are in hurricane season.Cortez first revealed the problem publicly on a Rio Grande Guardian podcast with anchor Mark Hanna. He then gave more information in an interview with veteran broadcaster Ron Whitlock of Ron Whitlock Reports. Cortez said he hopes the stucco issue will not delay the timeline for getting a certificate of occupancy from the City of Edinburg's health and safety department. However, he does not know when that certificate will be issued. He said certificate of occupancy has to be granted before Texas Jail Standards officials can give the green light to county inmates being housed on the bottom floor of the new courthouse.Construction problems have dogged the new courthouse for years. County leaders had hoped to have moved in to the new facility years ago. “The best information that I can give you is information given to me because I don't have first hand knowledge of the status of the roof and the status of other construction,” Cortez told Hanna. “So, I am relying on the information that has been given to me. The information given to me is that the courthouse is finished enough where all of the life and safety issues are taken care of. We're looking now at other things that need to be fixed. But all those life and safety issues have been have been completed. That's the good news. “The bad news is that one of the things that isn't completed correctly and properly as it was designed, was the stucco. If it were to rain there would be water falling between the hard wall on the courthouse and the stucco.”“We think it would be unwise to start fixing the stucco knowing that we could be interrupted with a hurricane,” Cortez told Whitlock.Asked by Whitlock if he knows how much the overall cost of the new courthouse will be, Cortez said, not yet. “That is still a moving target.”To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

EDINBURG, Texas - All the stucco on the outside of the new Hidalgo County Courthouse has to be taken off and replaced, County Judge Richard Cortez has revealed.The reason is that water is leaking in between the stucco and the outer wall. Cortez says the stucco cannot be replaced at the moment because we are in hurricane season.Cortez first revealed the problem publicly on a Rio Grande Guardian podcast with anchor Mark Hanna. He then gave more information in an interview with veteran broadcaster Ron Whitlock of Ron Whitlock Reports. Cortez said he hopes the stucco issue will not delay the timeline for getting a certificate of occupancy from the City of Edinburg's health and safety department. However, he does not know when that certificate will be issued. He said certificate of occupancy has to be granted before Texas Jail Standards officials can give the green light to county inmates being housed on the bottom floor of the new courthouse.Construction problems have dogged the new courthouse for years. County leaders had hoped to have moved in to the new facility years ago. “The best information that I can give you is information given to me because I don't have first hand knowledge of the status of the roof and the status of other construction,” Cortez told Hanna. “So, I am relying on the information that has been given to me. The information given to me is that the courthouse is finished enough where all of the life and safety issues are taken care of. We're looking now at other things that need to be fixed. But all those life and safety issues have been have been completed. That's the good news. “The bad news is that one of the things that isn't completed correctly and properly as it was designed, was the stucco. If it were to rain there would be water falling between the hard wall on the courthouse and the stucco.”“We think it would be unwise to start fixing the stucco knowing that we could be interrupted with a hurricane,” Cortez told Whitlock.Asked by Whitlock if he knows how much the overall cost of the new courthouse will be, Cortez said, not yet. “That is still a moving target.”To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

MCALLEN, Texas - Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez recently sat down for an in-depth conversation about county matters with Rio Grande Guardian anchor Mark Hanna.Among the topics discussed were the Hidalgo County Prosperity Task Force, the RioPlex marketing initiative, the new Hidalgo County Courthouse, and utilizing jail space for county inmates in Willacy County.Here is an audio recording of the podcast.To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

MCALLEN, Texas - The CEO Group, which comprises business leaders, entrepreneurs and bankers from across the Rio Grande Valley and North Tamaulipas, has confirmed its brand name for the region - Rioplex. The announcement was made at a meeting at McAllen Country Club on Wednesday, June 19, with white T-shirts bearing the brand being distributed to everyone present. The marketing effort has the support of elected officials also, such as Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez, Brownsville Mayor John Cowen, and Congressmen Vicente Gonzalez. The ad-hoc CEO Group, part of the Hidalgo County Property Task Force, may now rebrand itself as the Rioplex Alliance, to promote the region on marketing trips abroad. The group hopes to get buy-in from cities and economic development organizations across the Valley. It already has the support of the leaders of the Council for South Texas Economic Progress and the Rio Grande Valley Partnership. Both Adam Gonzalez, of COSTEP, and Daniel Silva, of the RGVP, attended the meeting. Joaquin Spamer, president of Commodities Integrated Logistics, leads the CEO Group. He made an impassioned plea for the new marketing effort at the meeting. “We're trying to make sure that all of us entrepreneurs, bankers and businessman, that we help in the efforts to unite this region,” Spamer said. Spamer said the Valley's economic development organizations (EDOs) have been doing a good job sticking to their mandates. “They're trying to accomplish their goals. The problem is that they're doing it separately. We can accomplish a lot more by being united.” Spamer then ran through the numbers on how much Valley's EDOs combined spend on marketing. He said it topped $115 million a year. “If you put it all together, the amounts are huge.” Spamer said that with a much smaller budget, Avocados of Mexico achieve a much bigger bang for their buck. Their $55 million gets them national commercials during the Super Bowl and name recognition across the world. “So, what is our problem? The problem is that we are spending a lot of money. We have a lot of people involved in economic development. We are not working synchronized. Everybody is working differently from each other. And that's what we're trying to accomplish today.” Helping Spamer with his marketing pitch was Sergio Gracia Badiola, president of Mexico Industry. In a powerpoint presentation, Badiola showed a map of the Rioplex region. “What we're going to do with Sergio is basically define our region because we have an identity problem. The Valley works like a 15-year-old with an identity crisis. We don't even know who we are,” Spamer said.Editor's Note: Go to the Rio Grande Guardian to read the full story.To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

Some top politicos are sensing that, for the first time in decades, this could be the year Texas sends a Democrat to the U.S. Senate.Texas lawmakers are lining up to clamp down on hemp-based products like Delta 8 and Delta 9 being sold statewide.Last fall, Edinburg City Council Member David White won re-election by just […] The post Hidalgo County election overturned after being decided by handful of votes appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

From growing up in the farmlands of Hidalgo County to becoming one of the few Asian American county judges in Texas, Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai, as he puts it, has always followed the path least taken. In this episode of Texas County Voice, Judge Sakai shares his unique journey and how his family history, including his father's four-year stay in a Japanese internment camp during World War II, shaped his dedication to public service.

HIDALGO, Texas - The first cohort of students have graduated from Valley View High School with a high school diploma and a minor in Spanish from UT-San Antonio. Valley View, one of the smallest school districts in Hidalgo County, used to have a similar tie-up with UT-Pan American and then UT-Rio Grande Valley. But these days, the emphasis on helping students that excel in Spanish is being championed by UTSA. “We're so very happy to receive and celebrate this first group of eight students who are graduating with a Minor in Spanish,” said Glenn Martinez, dean of the College of Liberal and Fine Arts at UTSA. “Our director of dual credit always says that dual credits are about more than credit. Dual credit is about creating a relationship, creating a sense of identity with the university. We want these students to feel that they're Road Runners from 10th grade all the way through graduate school. So, we look forward to receiving them on our campus and living in our dorms, eating in our cafeteria, enjoying our sports and our student life that we have prepared for them.” Asked how the connection between Valley View and UTSA came about, Martinez said: “It came about from a personal relationship. I was employed at UTPA for nine years and began this program with Mr. David de Leon. I was recruited away from UTPA to the Ohio State University. I was there for eight years and then was recruited back to UTSA. And when I came back the first person that I looked up was David de Leon.” David de Leon is a Spanish language teacher at Valley View. At a school awards ceremony, de Leon awarded Seal of Biliteracy certificates to the eight students. They are Mia N. Cruz, Learsey A. Escamilla, Pedro Espinoza, Sugey N. Gonzalez De La Llave, Sadrach Mancha, Orlando Martinez Cabriales, Nicole Montoya, and Jesus A. Treviño.Luisa Saenz has been an advisor to Valley View on the Spanish Minor program from the beginning, back when the high school worked with UTPA. In an audio interview with the Rio Grande Guardian, Saenz explained how the program about, giving a lot of credit to Valley's View's De Leon. Here is the interview.Editor's Note: Go to the Rio Grande Guardian news website to read the full story.To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

MCALLEN, Texas - Public health official Eduardo 'Eddie' Olivarez says the biggest impediment to a healthy population in Hidalgo County is substandard housing in unincorporated areas. Hidalgo County's chief administrative officer for health and human services made an impassioned plea for tougher minimum housing standards at a recent AltaCair Foundation event. The “cluster meeting,” featuring dozens of healthcare professionals and academics, focused on ways to improve the quality of life of colonia residents. Olivarez said two environmental issues would help - public transportation and better housing. “We need a public transit system that's functional, we are desperate for that,” Olivarez said. But he spoke at much greater length about housing. “We need a minimum housing standard. You're saying what does that have to do with health care? If you don't have a minimal housing standard, the county does not have building codes. We have no building codes. And the State of Texas Constitution does not allow that,” Olivarez said. Inside city limits, stricter rules are in place, Olivarez said. “You got to have a frame house… elevated off the ground. In the county, there are no rules,” Olivarez said. “So, how are we going to improve the quote, unquote, colonias in our community? By developing a minimum housing standard. We cannot get healthcare any better without that, and I'm not talking about a big, fancy, subdivision, or a big house. Just four walls, composition roof, adequate sewer, either septic system or main sewer line, adequate water supply. But the main thing is the composition of the home, four walls, a roof.” Olivarez said when there are severe storms, his team has to go and rescue families living in a house made of pallets and a tarp. Poor quality walls allow mosquitos to enter a home, leading to Dengue Fever, he said. “If we get the rules in place for a minimum housing standard, our health care, our health future, will be astronomically increased because you're not living in those sub-poverty conditions,” Olivarez said. Olivarez said the Legislature should allow counties above a certain population, say 500,000, to set minimum housing standards. He said he has tried for years to get such legislation passed but to no avail. Former state Rep. Veronica Gonzales, now a senior vice president at UT-Rio Grande Valley, agreed with Olivarez that developers have always been able to thwart legislation aimed at setting tougher minimum housing standards. Here is an audio recording of Olivarez's remarks about minimum housing standards at the AltaCair event.To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

EDINBURG, Texas - Recently, Hidalgo County Prosperity Task Force invited Rolando Pablos, former leader of Borderplex Alliance, to participate in a zoom conversation about regional collaboration.Borderplex links the cities of El Paso, Texas, Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, and Las Cruces, New Mexico and brings in hundreds of millions of dollars of investment to boost their region. In his remarks, Pablos acknowledged there was some resistance at first to setting up such a broad, regional, group, in part because it meant collapsing other organizations. Adam Gonzalez, CEO of the South Texas Council for Economic Progress (COSTEP), was on the zoom call. After listening to Pablos' remarks, Gonzalez warned against completely adopting the Borderplex model. “So, the idea that Rolando Pablos mentioned about collapsing all the rest of the organizations, I think it's going to be a lot more of a difficult task for us because it wouldn't just be collapsing COSTEP or collapsing the (Rio Grande) Partnership and joining in one organization,” Gonzalez said.“Just in Hidalgo County, as the judge (Richard Cortez) said, you have 22 municipalities, potentially 22 EDOs (economic development organizations) that we would need to agree to collapse and merge into one. And that's just one county.”Gonzalez said it is a challenge to create economic development unity in a region as big as the Rio Grande Valley and North Tamaulipas. However, he said he was confident it could be achieved.“I think it can be done. And I think we need to take baby steps. And I think the fact that we are creating a regional brand that everybody's going to embrace, I think is the first step.”Here are the remarks Gonzalez made on the zoom:To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

EDINBURG, Texas - Jaime Longoria is executive director of Hidalgo County Community Service Agency.Recently, Longoria participated in a zoom meeting organized by Hidalgo County Prosperity Task Force. The task force was set up by Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez to address poverty in the county.In his remarks on the zoom call, Longoria spoke about an event he organized to help around 500 workers who are about to lose their jobs at the sugar mill in Santa Rosa. The cooperative that runs the sugar mill is closing operations due to a lack of irrigation water.The meeting Longoria set up was held at the city hall in La Villa. It was held to launch Operation Soft Landing and was billed as the Rio Grande Valley Sugar Growers Resource Fair. “So, we put together under the auspices of the Prosperity Task Force, really a kind of a strike team of agencies that went out… it wasn't just a resource fair, it wasn't just where we offer people benefits as we like to call them in social services. But, we actually offered them opportunities to apply for jobs on the spot,” Longoria said.The local workforce board was present, along with different social service agencies, and educational institutions like South Texas College and Texas State Technical College.“We offered, really, hope for many of those families that came in,” Longoria said. "We hope to head off what I called it in the paper the bumps and bruises associated with unemployment and being displaced.”Longoria said that even after the event he still had employers calling his office offering positions and assistance to the displaced workers, be they trained or unskilled. “We're really excited about that,” Longoria said.Here is an audio recording of the remarks Longoria made at the Hidalgo County Prosperity Task Force zoom meeting.To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

The Texas Majority PAC, a political action group backed by high-profile philanthropist George Soros, seeks to shift the color of Texas' political landscape from red to blue this year. Soros, as a significant patron of the Democrats and with a fortune of $6.7 billion, is funding part of the PAC's operations, which includes a team of consultants from Beto O'Rourke's gubernatorial campaign. As per records noted by the Texas Tribune, the PAC has raised an impressive $2.25 million since it originated following the midterm elections in 2022. Soros, through his participation with the group, has been a key contributor, providing notable amounts to Democrats in locations such as Dallas County, Cameron County, and Hidalgo County. Katherine Fischer, the acting deputy executive director of the group, expressed the PAC's ambitious plans during an interview with the Texas Tribune. 'It's a colossal undertaking that will require a lot more funding and a greater expansion of our full-time staff,' Fischer said, outlining the PAC's extensive strategy and mission across the state. Parallel to these efforts, Voto Latino, a progressive organization, is also determined to tip Texas towards the Democrats - intending to leverage the state's diverse demographics bolstered by rising immigration rates. In a commentary piece for Democracy Docket, Maria Teresa Kumar, CEO of Voto Latino, appealed to Democrats to utilize the country's persistently high lawful immigration levels - noting that every year sees the arrival of over a million legal immigrants. Recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau supports Kumar's argument. The numbers confirm that the Latino population in Texas now outnumbers non-Hispanic whites - a demographic evolution decades in the making, with far-reaching implications for the future politics of the state. This critical change is largely attributed to the disproportionately younger Latino demographic. In the context of Texas, almost one-fourth of the state's population under the age of 18 identifies as Latino. The state has seen over 800,000 Latino individuals reach voting age since 2020. This young, burgeoning demographic forms the backbone of the state's future voter base, with their potential sway echoing the promise of momentous political transformations. However, the significance of their potential influence must not be underestimated or presumptuously taken for granted. Equally important within Texas' landscape are the state's residents born outside the U.S., who tend to favor Democratic candidates. Specifically, the Indian American community, comparable in influence to the Black American voting bloc, comprises a considerable portion of this population. Research conducted in October 2020 revealed that over 452,000 Indian Americans reside in Texas, trailing only California, which boasts over 815,000 Indian Americans. In the lead-up to the 2020 presidential elections, a survey showed that 65 percent of Indian Americans in Texas expressed their support for the then-Democratic candidate, Joe Biden, over then-President Donald Trump - a demographic trend mirrored by about 70 percent of the Indian American population. Recently, Texas Governor Greg Abbott visited Mumbai, India, with the intent of enticing Indian businesses to expand their operations and talents to Texas. This strategy, critics argue, could augur increasing immigration from India to Texas, thereby possibly influencing the state's political inclination. Over the past few years, the Democrats have established the lofty objective of assisting one million legal immigrants with becoming naturalized American citizens ahead of the upcoming Presidential election. This initiative aligns with their strategy of garnering increased electoral support to enhance their party's prospects. Numerous studies have consistently found a correlation between the extent of a region's foreign-born population and its predilection to vote Democrat over Republican. Ronald Brownstein, from The Atlantic, reported in 2019 that around 90 percent of House congressional districts with a foreign-born populace surpassing the national average were won by Democrats—implying that districts with over 15 percent foreign-born population have a 90 percent propensity to elect Democrats. Such demographic transformations executed through amplified immigration have been identified by several platforms, including the Washington Post, the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, the Atlantic, Axios, and the Wall Street Journal, as pivotal factors tipping the national political scales. Axios pronounced in 2019 that, 'The single biggest threat to Republicans' long-term viability is demographics.' The U.S., with its wide-ranging immigrant acceptance policies, already boasts the most extensive immigration system globally. Predictions suggest that by 2044, the system will welcome approximately 15 million new foreign-born electoral members. Around eight million of these voters are projected to arrive by legal 'chain migration,' where newly naturalized citizens can sponsor an unlimited number of foreign relatives to immigrate to the U.S. Given the steady march of demographic shifts and immigration, the national political scene stands on the precipice of considerable change. Population changes continue to be an influential factor in originating new voting blocs, with the potential to redefine the country's future political landscape. The sublime power of demographic shifts is not lost on either political party - while Republicans are apprehensive of losing to these numbers, Democrats, on the other hand, are capitalizing on these demographic transformations in an attempt to gain a stronger foothold. But as the proverbial dust settles, Latinos, Asian Americans, Indian Americans, and numerous other immigrant groups will continue to exercise their democratic rights in their new home. Their collective decisions have the potential to shape not only their futures but also the future of an entire nation. As the scenario continues to unfold, chilly November elections will serve as sobering reminders of the ever-changing American demographic landscape, awaiting the dawn of a new era where 'the numbers simply do not lie.' 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ELSA, Texas - It may be hard to believe when Elsa's population is 5,680, but the city's biggest store, Walmart, pulls in two million visits a year. This is the point Elsa Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Daniel Rivera wants potential investors to know.Rivera gave a powerpoint presentation on current and future plans for Elsa at a Rio Grande Valley Partnership Commercialization and Investment Tour. One of the projects that has been resurrected, Rivera said, is development of a new industrial park.“The first question I get from someone who hasn't been to Elsa, who does not know Elsa is, what's the population? That's the wrong question. The question is not what is the population. The population of Elsa, if you Google it, is 5,680,” Rivera said.“The real question is, what is your retail impact? What is the what's going on in Elsa. So this is a heat map of Walmart. This is where people travel to come to our Walmart. We have two million visits every 12 months. That doesn't happen with a population of 5,600.”Rivera said the Walmart heat map “paints a better picture” of what's happening in Elsa right now. Elsa is based in Hidalgo County but Rivera said the city's catchment area spreads into the counties of Cameron and Willacy also.Rivera acknowledged that in comparison to McAllen, Edinburg or Mission, Elsa is a small town. “But this small town for the past few years has annexed over 100 acres of property. I think that's a testament to our growth. I think that's a testament to the amazing team here and everyone's working really hard to make the city a great city and a better place.”The Rio Grande Guardian International News Service interviewed Rivera after his presentation. He was asked what was the key message he wanted to get across to the realtors, bankers and land developers that were in the audience.“First, look in this direction. I know that a lot of people don't normally travel through here unless they have family but there's a lot of stuff happening and unless you kind of turn your attention towards what's happening over here you probably won't be aware of it,” Rivera said. “And so, I am hoping that this message and the message of the growth that is happening here spreads across the Valley as these people go into their networks and their offices. This is not the Elsa people remember from 30 years ago.”Rivera was also asked about a project that would be a real game changer for not only Elsa but the entire Delta area: TxDOT's plans to build another east-west corridor in the north of the Valley. Its project title is the I-69 Connector because it will connect I-69 Central with I-69 East.“We're already seeing some expansion out that way. Without these announcements, subdivisions are kind of popping up around that area. We have a lot of room to grow towards the north and I think the industrial park or the commercial park that we're trying to highlight is right along that corridor,” Rivera said.Here is the audio interview the Guardian secured with Rivera at the RGV Partnership event.To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

PHARR, Texas - How does Pharr punch above its weight to secure state and federal funding for transportation projects, not just in the city but the Rio Grande Valley as a whole.Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez gave his assessment in his 2024 State of the City address.“The City of Pharr is proud to have spearheaded and played a monumental role in our regional historical transportation infrastructure accomplishments. Now how does the city achieve or even influence this type of success?” Hernandez asked.“Well, the real magic occurs behind the scenes, working diligently with our state officials, RGV mayors and county leadership as we continue to capitalize and work diligently through our city departments with our state partners to see all transportation projects through completion.”The State of the City address was held Jan. 18 at the Pharr Events Center. Mayor Hernandez led with a recap of his administration's accomplishments in transportation and international bridge accomplishments.Hernandez said that 2015, the city commission was “instrumental” in securing more than $700 million in state and federal funding for major transportation projects. “These vital transportation projects within our city limits alleviate traffic, congestion and improve the flow of transportation, freight and indeed commerce. But ultimately benefiting the entire Rio Grande Valley.”Another big thing the City Pharr was “instrumental” in, Hernandez said, was the “historic” merger, in 2019, of three Rio Grande Valley metropolitan planning organizations. The merger of the three entities led to the creation of the RGV MPO. “We now have a seat at the table with the big boys, giving us access to billions of dollars in funding to improve and expand roads and transportation infrastructure that was previously inaccessible to the RGV,” Hernandez said, proudly. “Reflecting back on that it was an honor to have served as the inaugural chairman of the RGV MPO.”Spurred by the creation of the RGV MPO crucial transportation projects in Pharr have become a reality, the mayor boasted. One of the flagship projects spearheaded by the RGV MPO was the I-69 interchange expansion, he said. “The I-69 C or better known to us as the 281 Exchange Interstate project, is a prime example of Pharr's many impactful transportation projects and I'm proud to say that our Pharr leadership spearheaded this amazing project.”Hernandez said more than $300 million has been allocated by the Texas Transportation Commission, through TxDOT and the RGV MPO. “This (281 Exchange Interstate) project was one of the major achievements during our administration. This monumental project will lead to change for the betterment of South Texas. That's what we call impactful.”Another project Hernandez spoke proudly of is the International Bridge Trade Corridor. “IBTC has been a top legislative priority for the city since 2015. This massive infrastructure haul is the main fragment that will provide a direct connection for all commercial trucks to eventually act as a sole corridor. This project is fully funded with $287 million and is now a TXDOT sponsored project and is designated as State Highway 68 and Spur 81,” Hernandez said.Hernandez also spoke about the State Highway 365 Tollway. He said this new state highway in Hidalgo County is being developed by Hidalgo County Regional Mobility Authority specifically for heavy commercial vehicles. The Pharr leadership helped the RMA secure $295 million for the project, Hernandez said. HCRMA is a “true Pharr partner,” he said. To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

MISSION, Texas - Mission Economic Development Corporation board member Noel Salinas says he was saddened to be removed from the organization.This happened at this week's Mission City Council meeting. Salinas served on the MEDC board at the pleasure of the council.Salinas said he believes he was removed for speaking out about a certain city council action. Namely, failing to send the EDC its rightful share of sales tax revenues for many months. Salinas, the CEO of a healthcare company, said he believes the residents of Mission deserve to know where their tax dollars are being spent. He spoke out publicly when the Progress Times, which covers the western side of Hidalgo County, asked what he thought of the money not being transferred.Salinas was then criticized by Mission Mayor Norie Gonzalez Garza for confirming to the newspaper that the City of Mission held back more than $3 million in sales tax revenues over seven months that should have gone to the EDC. Since the news broke, the City has started paying the EDC back.Salinas spoke to the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service the day after he was removed from the EDC board.“It's sad, but I guess we're will keep on getting involved as resident and citizen of Mission,” Salinas said, when asked about his removal from the EDC board. “I think I can still be involved without having to be on a committee.”Asked if anyone either from the EDC or the city council had called you to explain why he was being removed, Salinas said: “No, nobody. I haven't gotten a call from anybody since the day that I talked about the situation. I would have thought that they somebody would want to know or discuss or even explain something but nobody, nobody reached out.”Asked why he thinks he lost his slot on the board, Salinas said: “I feel that it's because I talked about the situation of the EDC not getting the sales tax revenue. But, as the (Progress Times) article said, the mayor's claiming that she had already thought of replacing me. The thing that I don't understand, or I would like to ask is, there are five other members or six other members. Why me?”Salinas said he has never had any disciplinary problems while serving on the EDC board. Asked if he was ever told he was not doing a good job, Salinas said: “Never. If they look at the voting record, I don't think I ever opposed any of the things that we voted on.”In a previous interview with the Guardian, Salinas said he was looking forward to the next EDC board meeting, scheduled for later this month, so he could ask questions about the EDC funds not being transferred by the city administration.“My concern was that we had approved inaccurate documents and I guess that's not important. Because that would be one of the things that I would, if I were the other board members, I would be concerned with. We don't know when this started, but the monthly financials showed that we had cash on hand and according to staff, we didn't have that money, and we still approved those documents.”Editor's Note: To read the full story go to the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service website.To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

MCALLEN, Texas - Hidalgo County Prosperity Task Force is likely to recommend the establishment of a rapid transit authority, Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez has confirmed.The subject came up at a summit the task force hosted jointly with Futuro RGV at South Texas College's Pecan Campus last Friday. The summit was titled, “CEOs Unite: Let's Get Uncomfortable.”Interviewed later, Cortez told the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service: “One of the barriers and obstacles that we have is moving people from areas, from where they live to where they work. And, as you know, a lot of households only have one vehicle. So, when the husband works and the wife works and what do you do when you only have one vehicle or the husband is gone and the wife needs to go shopping or go to the doctor or whatever is,” Cortez said.“Transportation is very important. In larger communities such as Austin, Houston, San Antonio, they have a transit authority, that's basically a taxing body to provide for transportation. I think that we're at the size already in Hidalgo County that we need to start looking into that and see if that fits our needs. And everything takes a long time. So we better start looking at it now and start to prepare for it.”Cortez said he is also concerned about the traffic count in his county.“We have a lot of people out there on the roads. If we can reduce some of those cars from being on the roads because they have another form of transportation that helps us there also.”Asked if a rapid transit authority could be part of the final recommendations of the task force, Cortez said:“Absolutely. No, we're already looking into it. The Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council already has done some work. We just took it off the shelf and started looking at it again.”Editor's Note: Here is an audio recording of the Guardian's interview with Judge Cortez, as well as the analysis of Thomas Ray Garcia, one of the lead coordinators of the Hidalgo County Prosperity Task Force. Editor's Note: Go to the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service website to read the full story.To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

MISSION, Texas - In their program notes, Western Governors University and AltaCair explained they co-hosted the recent Accelerator 2023 RGV Health Equity Conference.“The research-backed program leverages the power of coopetition (collaboration with competitors, thought leadership, and action-oriented mindset to drive discussions around the socio-economic and environmental factors contributing to health disparities. “The investment coaches health systems, community-based organizations, accountable care organizations, workforce entities, and education alliances into a policy and advocacy group. “The vision is to think beyond geographical borders and develop a scalable model, with replicable results, to optimize the overall health equity structure of rural America.”The key themes for discussion at Accelerator 2023, which was held at the Mission Event Center, were:Access to healthcare and value-based careInnovative, high-quality health and nurse education programsNutrition securityPrevention careThe program pointed out that, according to the US Census Bureau, 9.8 percent of people under the age of 65 do not have health insurance nationwide, but the percentages for the four poorest counties in the RGV are much higher:Hidalgo County: 33.1 percentCameron County 29.9 percentStarr County 28.9 percentWillacy County 24.1 percentTo learn more about the conference, Rio Grande Guardian International News Service reporters Steve Taylor and Patricia Martinez interviewed four of the key players at the conference:Eric Weaver, executive director of the Institute for Advancing Health ValueKimberly Kelly-Cortez, senior associate dean and director of programs at WGU's Leavitt School of HealthKeith Smith, senior vice president at WGU's Leavitt School of HealthEdwin F. Estevez, co-founder and principal at AltaCair and market president at Prominence HealthIn this, the first of a four-part audio series, the Guardian interviewed Weaver, Smith, and Kelly-Cortez:To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

MISSION, Texas - Physicians can determine someone's health more by their zip code than their genetic code.That was one of the comments AltaCair co-founder and principal Edwin F. Estevez made in an exclusive interview with the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service at the Accelerator 2023 RGV Health Equity Conference. The conference was co-hosted by Western Governors University and AltaCair and held at Mission Event Center. “We can determine someone's health more likely by their zip code than their genetic code and that's troubling in a community like ours,” Estevez said.Estevez was interviewed with three of the other organizers of the conference. The other three were Eric Weaver, executive director of the Institute for Advancing Health Value; Kimberly Kelly-Cortez, senior associate dean and director of programs at WGU's Leavitt School of Health; and Keith Smith, senior vice president at WGU's Leavitt School of Health.In their program notes, WGU and AltaCair explained they co-hosted the recent Accelerator 2023 RGV Health Equity Conference.“The research-backed program leverages the power of coopetition (collaboration with competitors, thought leadership, and action-oriented mindset to drive discussions around the socio-economic and environmental factors contributing to health disparities. “The investment coaches health systems, community-based organizations, accountable care organizations, workforce entities, and education alliances into a policy and advocacy group. “The vision is to think beyond geographical borders and develop a scalable model, with replicable results, to optimize the overall health equity structure of rural America.”The key themes for discussion at Accelerator 2023, which was held at the Mission Event Center, were:Access to healthcare and value-based careInnovative, high-quality health and nurse education programsNutrition securityPrevention careThe program pointed to US Census Bureau statistics which show 9.8 percent of people under the age of 65 do not have health insurance nationwide. But, the percentages for the four poorest counties in the RGV are much higher:Hidalgo County: 33.1 percentCameron County 29.9 percentStarr County 28.9 percentWillacy County 24.1 percentIn this, the second of a four-part audio series, the Guardian interviewed Weaver and Estevez:To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

MCALLEN, Texas - Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez has committed an additional $60,000 in American Rescue Funds to help HOPE Family Health Clinic build a larger network of mental health professionals.A press release from Cortez's office says the health professionals will collaborate in, guide, and practice trauma therapy in order to “strengthen the skills of mental health professionals in Hidalgo County in order to address the trauma of the COVID-19 pandemic for individuals.”Roxanne Ramirez, executive director of HOPE Family Health Center, hosted a press conference to announced the news. Judge Cortez was slated to attend but could not make it. Ramirez thanked Cortez and Hidalgo County for providing funding for the training.The health professionals are learning a mental wellness technique known as EMDR therapy, Ramirez explained. The aim is to help non-profits better serve their clients in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.“So far, 50 mental health specialists affiliated with area school districts have completed their EMDR therapy certification and are already serving students on local campuses,” the press release stated. “Another 50 mental health professionals affiliated with local non-profits are registered to take advantage of this additional opportunity.”Ramirez said: “We received tremendous feedback from the first group of professionals who learned this technique and we are excited to offer this training to more mental health professionals."The press release from Cortez's office said Hispanics were particularly hard hit by the pandemic, accounting for nearly one in four of the initial job losses. The press release said the latest training session represents a marriage of two Hidalgo County initiatives: the Hidalgo County Prosperity Task Force and the Hidalgo County Mental Health Coalition. “Both groups seek to assist low income residents, which make up as much as 40 percent of the population. The idea is to provide additional mental health services to those identified as suffering from recent trauma associated with the pandemic,” the release said.“We remain concerned about the mental wellness of all residents who lived through the trauma of the pandemic,” said Judge Cortez. Here is an audio interview with Ramirez, conducted by KRGV-TV and the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service.To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

MISSION, TEXAS - The program notes for a recent healthcare conference in the Rio Grande Valley pointed out that the region's “expensive and tough-to-access” healthcare system came under the microscope in 2009 thanks to a landmark article in The New Yorker by Dr. Atul Gawande.The article, titled “The Cost Conundrum” became “mandatory reading during the debate surrounding President Obama's Affordable Care Act in 2010,” the program stated.Gawande's article was referenced a number of times by the conference's keynote speaker, Aneesh Chopra, president of Care Journey and former U.S. chief technology officer.The conference was titled Accelerator 2023, RGV Health Equity. It was hosted jointly by Western Governors University and AltaCair. It was held at Mission Event Center. In their program notes, WGU/AltaCair explained why they hosted the conference.“The RGV region has 24.7 percent of familiars living below the poverty level, nearly triple the percentage for the United States, according to the RGV Health Connect Organization. The population struggle with diabetes, obesity, and cervical cancer among other health issues. “The Rio Grande Regional Hospital states that an estimated 76,000 people in the region have diabetes. The COVID-19 pandemic further augmented the challenges of RGV with economic depressions and heightened inequities. The four RGV counties – Starr, Hidalgo, Willacy, and Cameron counties – are among the poorest counties in the nation and access to healthcare is unaffordable for many residents.”According to the US Census Bureau, 9.8 percent of people under the age of 65 do not have health insurance nationwide. But, the percentages for the four counties in the Valley are much higher:Hidalgo County: 33.1 percentCameron County: 29.9 percentStarr County: 28.9 percentWillacy County: 24.1 percent.Here is an audio recording of everything Aneesh Chopra said at the Accelerator 2023, RGV Health Equity Conference.To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

EDINBURG, Texas - Thomas Ray Garcia, lead coordinator for the Hidalgo County Prosperity Task Force, has provided more information on the RGV Recompete Coalition.The Coalition, consisting of the four counties of the RGV, along with various higher education institutions, has made an application to the US Department of Commerce to secure an $85 million grant under the Recompete Pilot Project. According to the Department of Commerce, the Recompete Pilot Program will invest $200 million toward projects that spur economic activity in geographically diverse and persistently distressed communities across the country. Specifically, the program targets areas where prime-age (25-54 years) employment significantly trails the national average. The program aims to close this gap through by utilizing EDA's place-based approach and delivering large, highly flexible grants based on community-driven strategies to address unique workforce and economic development needs of individual communities or regions.”“The idea is to get residents out of poverty through a systemic process of getting them educated, getting them trained, getting them counseled and mentored, and then getting them gainful employment,” Garcia said. “That also means working at the back end and trying to systemically ensure that the jobs are there. So what we've tried to do at the Prosperity Task Force is both match job seekers to jobs, plus get new jobs here in Hidalgo County.”Garcia added: “That's a big part of what this Recompete grant would help us do. We are still in the process of putting together the framework of doing the things that we set out to do in the Recompete grant, even in the case we don't get it. But, the Recompete grant would make reality a lot of what we're aiming to do by eradicating poverty in Hidalgo County, and by working collaboratively across all of our different sectors, and in this case, a regional effort. What helps Hidalgo County we hope will also help Starr County, Cameron County, Willacy County to make sure we're not competing, but we are indeed one region, one voice.”To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

EDINBURG, Texas - The four counties of the Rio Grande Valley have come together to apply for what could be the biggest federal grant ever awarded to the region - $85 million.Brief details of the $200 million Recompete Pilot Program were referenced by Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez during a press conference held by U.S. Sen. John Cornyn at the Edinburg Conference Center at Renaissance on Monday, Oct. 9. And in a later interview with the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service, Cortez said the Valley entities that have come together to apply for the Recompete grant are hoping to secure $85 million. He said the entity taking the lead on the grant application is UT-Rio Grande Valley and specifically its associate vice president for workforce and economic development, Ron Garza.The Guardian learned about the Valley's application for the Recompete grant after reporter had asked Cornyn if he could help Cortez with one of the top issues identified by the Hidalgo County Prosperity Task Force - improving public transportation in the Valley's colonias. The task force is addressing the high level of poverty in the county. Cornyn appeared to misunderstand the question and started to talk about immigration. The reporter pointed out that the question was not about immigration but rather infrastructure. So, Cornyn asked Cortez to answer it.“The Senator has said the government cannot do everything and we have to look at ourselves to do things. One of the things we're going to do here in Hidalgo County, Cameron County, Willacy County and Starr County is invest in ourselves,” Cortez said.Cortez said the Prosperity Task Force's studies have shown that part of the problem in getting the people of Hidalgo County trained to have a good education is lack of transportation. “We're not going to solve the problem here today,” Cortez said. “But, I can tell you that this Senator, right next to me here, is always willing to sit down with us and help us. “He was he was approached earlier today about the Recompete grant that's coming up with the Department of Commerce. So please take a look at that and help us with that because we made an application for that grant. That would go a long way in helping us with the problem (public transportation in the Valley's colonias) that you just mentioned.”Cornyn responded:  “We're happy to help, Judge.”Editor's Note: Click here to read the full story in the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service.Editor's Note: The audio recording below features Sen. Cornyn and Judge Cortez discussing the possibility of public transportation in Valley colonias; an interview with Cortez about the Recomplete Pilot Program; and an interview with Cortez at an affordable housing project groundbreaking ceremony with Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham where he confirms that public transportation in colonias is a top priority for the Hidalgo County Prosperity Task Force.To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

In this episode, we are joined by Judge Renee Rodriguez-Betancourt, the 449th District Court Judge in Hidalgo County. She presides over juvenile cases and provides youth with an opportunity for rehabilitation while simultaneously ensuring the general public's safety. Judge Rodriguez-Betancourt introduces us to her newly decorated trauma-informed courtroom, which is designed to create a more physically welcoming environment for youth as well as prioritize the manner in which they are spoken to. See photos of the courtroom here. If you have an innovation in mental health that you'd like to see on the podcast, email JCMH@txcourts.gov with the subject line "Reimagining Justice." *Disclaimer: The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker's own and do not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of the JCMH, the Supreme Court of Texas, or the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. The material and information presented here are for general information purposes only.

BROWNSVILLE, Texas - Although Cameron County had a relatively new slate of legislators going into the 88th legislative session, it did not suffer from inexperience.That is the view of state Rep. Oscar Longoria of La Joya. Longoria represents District 35, which is the only constituency in the Rio Grande Valley that straddles both Cameron and Hidalgo County. Indeed, it stretches all the way from La Joya, Longoria's hometown, all the way to the edges of Brownsville. Longoria says he likes representing such a broad swathe of the Valley because it him him to think regionally. “I love that it encompasses the entire Valley and takes a little snippet of every single city,” Longoria said, at the recent Brownsville Chamber of Commerce 88th Legislative Update Luncheon.On the new-look Cameron County legislative delegation, Longoria said:“So I found myself going into session with all new colleagues, right. We have a new senator, Senator LaMantia, who does a phenomenal job. We have two new representatives, Rep. Gamez, who sits in front of me, and Rep. Lopez, who sits to the left of me. I felt like the new kid in class trying to get acclimated to everyone and working together. And I want to give them a round of applause because it was their first session, but they acted like senior legislators. They made sure that their districts were provided for and they did a phenomenal job. So I really think everybody needs to give them a round of applause for the situation we put them in.”Longoria went on to list the funding he brought back to District 35.“It is always important whenever you can to bring home the bacon,” Longoria said. “You don't say earmark but you kind of want to make sure you can kind of, you know, pigeonhole it (the funding).” “So, for House District 35… we got $625,000 for parks and recreation. For Monte Alto, $250,000 for a multipurpose community center. And for Cameron County and this is important: $625,000 for Lions Park in La Feria, which will include for courts and be able to house our EMS center, $1 million for a new park in Santa Maria to replace the old one that had closed, and $2.5 million for Olmito Nature Park, which is a massive new project from Cameron County, which includes RV sites, canoeing, fishing, and hike and bike trails. So, I think the District did really well. Cameron County did incredibly well.”Longoria said if Texans look at the new state budget they would see little bullet points where those direct appropriations went. “I think there could have been 10 or 11 direct appropriations in the entire state. The majority of them came to South Texas, and a portion of those came to Cameron County.”Here is an audio recording of everything Rep. Longoria said at the Brownsville Chamber event.To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

PHARR, Texas - Steve Valdez executive director of Weslaco Economic Development Corporation, says plans are being developed to bury a canal so that the runway of Mid-Valley Airport can be extended by 1,000 feet.According to Weslaco Mid-Valley Airport website, the airport currently has a 6,000 x 80 foot lighted runway.Valdez announced the plans when he spoke at IWS2, the industrial warehouse summit hosted by Pharr Bridge Board and held at Pharr Development and Research Center. The theme for the summit was, “Building a Competitive Border Region for Near-Shoring and Industrial Growth.”Valdez said: “We have a what we believe is the fourth largest airport (in the Rio Grande Valley), behind Harlingen, McAllen and Brownsville. Recently we were awarded with a $5.7 million grant for additional hangars. We just finished about six hangars and so we seem to be growing in terms of the airport.”Valdez then pointed to a slide in a powerpoint presentation.“If you can see it… at the very top of the airport there's a canal and the City is looking at ways to cross that canal. Bury the canal process so that you can extend another 1,000 feet for our airport runway.”Leaders from across Hidalgo County recently attended a press conference to hear the announcement of the $5.7 million grant. Valdez said that the press conference.“During the announcement of the $5.7 million we went to the Payne Auto Group hangar, a 10,000 square foot hangar that sits about six airplanes, a beautiful location,” Valdez said at IWS2.“If you get a chance to stop by there at some point, it is a really nice expansion to our airport. On site (customs) inspections, as you can see. Within one hour, if you call ahead of time, you could have Customs Border Protection be there as well for your inspections.”The grant for the new hangars came from state and federal resources. State lawmakers appropriated $5 million with Hidalgo County adding $750,000 from its American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. Editor's Note: Go to the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service to read the full story.To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

MISSION, Texas - Mission community leader Ester Salinas has announced that final settlement in the long-running lawsuit filed by families impacted by the highly toxic Hayes Sammons agricultural pesticides mixing and receiving plant against numerous chemical companies has been reached.“We won. After 25 years, we're finally getting the final settlement letters from the Hayes Sammons contamination lawsuit. You know we started this case in 1998 and filed our lawsuit in 1999. We've been fighting this for 25 years,” Salinas said.Salinas said 1,300 letters have been sent out as part of the final settlement. She said people have been asked to read the letters and notify the special master in the case - Gil Perales - if their addresses or phone numbers have changed. “I can report there were 1,905 original plaintiffs. Ninety of these were dismissed. An additional 450 are deceased. But, there is still a lot of confusion among the plaintiffs. Many have a lot of questions. The letter says do not make contact with the attorneys.”Salinas said the first settlement, which came through around 18 years ago, resulted in payments to residents totaling between $4 million and $6 million. She said the second settlement was worth between $5 million and $8 million.Salinas is regarded as the Erin Brockovich of the Mission Superfund story, one of the darkest stains in the city's rich history. She first learned that chemicals from the Hayes Sammons site could have seeped into the water system on the south side of the city when she saw men in white Hazmat suits conducting surveys at the mixing and receiving plants.Determining that there was a cancer cluster around the Hayes Sammons plant, Salinas led a team of church goers and community activists in signing up 3,500 residents who either worked at or lived closely to the agricultural pesticides plant, which was situated on the Mexican side of the railroad tacks. The residents signed affidavits that they had family members who had either died of cancer, had brain tumors or miscarriages.In the course of her investigation, Salinas learned the Hayes Sammons plant was listed as a Superfund site at both the national and state level. “In other words it was highly toxic,” Salinas said. Salinas took her evidence first to Mission attorney Mauro Reyna and later Edinburg attorney Ramon Garcia. “Mr. Garcia gave me 30 minutes to pitch my case. After 30 minutes he told me stop. He got three other attorneys and a clerk to come in and start taking notes. The meeting went on for about three hours. He said, I can't believe what you're telling me. I said, I can't believe what I'm witnessing, what I'm learning now.”Garcia filed the lawsuit, which was known as Alicia Acevedo, et al vs. Union Pacific Railroad Company, et al. It was filed in the 332nd Judicial District Court of Hidalgo County in 1999. It was settled out of court a few years later.“I cannot understand why it has taken so long to get the final payments out to the long suffering families of Mission. I think we all need, and deserve, an explanation, either from the judge, the special master or the attorneys, ” Salinas said.Editor's Note: To read the rest of the story go to The Rio Grande Guardian International News Service website.To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

EDINBURG, Texas - On Friday, July 21, U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez joined Hidalgo County Precinct 4 Commissioner, Ellie Torres in Edinburg to celebrate a groundbreaking for the North Main Drain project. Congressman Gonzalez secured funding for the project in the Fiscal Year 2022 Government Spending Bill. Torres said the project will expand the North Main Drain to enhance the drainage capacity of a significant portion of both unincorporated and urbanized areas in Hidalgo County, protecting homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure.“This project is going to make a major improvement in our drainage system that is pretty much outdated and a little too small for the size of our county,” Torres said.Gonzalez said he secured $3.7 million for the project through an earmark. Here are audio highlights from the news conference Gonzalez and Torres hosted.To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

WESLACO, Texas - State Rep. Terry Canales recently brought good news to the Rio Grande Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization.At an RGVMPO board meeting, the chairman of the House Committee on Transportation spoke about a large infusion of funds for the eagerly-awaited International Bridge Trade Corridor (IBTC), a project that will ensure a safer route for trucks going to and from the Pharr International Bridge and the Donna International Bridge.“It was at the forefront of my legislative agenda to secure that funding, especially with a budget surplus of over $30 billion,” Canales said, in an exclusive interview with the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service. Canales said he fought to secure $200 million for the IBTC project. He ended up with $150 million, for which the Hidalgo County Regional Mobility Authority is grateful. He said he won support in the legislature by stressing that developing the IBTC was good for border security.“Earlier this week we got the news that the Governor was making an announcement that they were going to pull $150 million out of the discretionary funding, which would bring us this go round in the UTP (Unified Transportation Plan) to almost $3.6 billion. When you look at that in the grand scheme of things, the Valley in its entirety used to get about $600 million. We are over 500 percent from $600 million to 3.6 billion. It's an incredible leap in funding.”Canales said one of the reasons the Valley is now getting more transportation dollars was the creation of a unified MPO. Previously there were three, Hidalgo County, Brownsville, and Harlingen-San Benito.“We are now the fifth largest MPO. We are fifth in line for funding. It creates a funding stream like we've never seen.”Editor's Note: To read the full story go to the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service website. To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

MCALLEN, Texas - Telecommunications giant Spectrum recently awarded a Digital Education Grant worth $10,000 to Leap for STEM. They also donated 30 new laptops. Leap for STEM is a small nonprofit based in south McAllen that teaches digital literacy.Among those to attend a news conference to announce the grant were Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez, City of McAllen Assistant City Manager Michelle Rivera, and Tania Ortega, senior manager of regional communications for Spectrum in Texas.Here are their views on the work of Leap for STEM, the Spectrum investment, and the importance of tackling the digital divide in the Rio Grande Valley. Editor's Note: To read the full story go to the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service website.To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

WESLACO, Texas - If people thought state Rep. Terry Canales was only going to delivering good news at yesterdays RGV Metropolitan Planning Organization monthly meeting, they were wrong. Yes, the chairman of the House Committee on Transportation had positive information to share. He said he had helped pass legislation designating Pharr as a metro district. This, he said, will mean more resources and staff for TxDOT's Pharr District.Canales also spoke about the $150 million that is going towards the building of the International Bridge Trade Corridor (IBTC). This new funding was announced by Gov. Greg Abbott earlier this week.And, Canales said he had helped secure an additional $20 million for the Pharr International Bridge expansion project. The Edinburg Democrat predicted the the bridge's second span would be constructed fast.But, Canales said he also had to deliver some hard truths that many in the room would not like. In fact, he acknowledged his remarks “may not be politically prudent or popular.” He proceeded to tear into Hidalgo County commissioners, saying they needed to be stripped of some of their powers.“The reality is Brownsville and Cameron County are moving at light speed compared to Hidalgo County and that's because we have a divided system in Hidalgo County,” Canales said.Editor's Note: To read the full story go to the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service website. To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

MISSION, Texas - Recognizing that the city of Mission is in Hidalgo County not Bell County, Mission city leaders say they are going to amend their Historical Preservation Ordinance.Quite how Bell County snuck into the ordinance is not clear. But, when the document was approved by Mission City Council on June 14, 2021, the wrong county was listed. It stated: “Upon designation of a historic landmark or historic district by the City Council, the designation shall be recorded by legal description on the City's official zoning maps, in the records of real property of Bell County, and with the tax appraisal office.”The Bell County reference is not the only error in the Historical Preservation Ordinance. At a Mission Historical Preservation Commission meeting on June 19, Mission City Attorney Victor Flores said a portion of the ordinance came from the City of Plano's historical preservation ordinance.Editor's Note: To read the full story go to the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service website. To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

Welcome to another episode of "The Sesh" with your host, Joshua Moroles. In this episode, we're honored to have a very special guest – Judge Richard Cortez, the County Judge of Hidalgo County, Texas. Judge Cortez, with a distinguished career in public service, has been leading the county since 2019, dealing with a range of challenges from public health crises to economic development. Judge Cortez has a storied history of public service, including holding multiple elected positions in the City of McAllen, Texas, the largest city in Hidalgo County. He has shown a strong commitment to the county, particularly evident in his leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic. His dedication extends to initiatives aiming to improve mental health services in the community and economic growth strategies for Hidalgo County. In this episode, we'll delve into some of the most pressing issues facing the Rio Grande Valley. From the COVID-19 pandemic's impact to the economic prospects of the region, from mental health concerns to the digital divide affecting the community, we're going to tackle it all. With Judge Cortez's insight, we'll explore the challenges and discuss potential solutions. So, whether you're a longtime resident of the Rio Grande Valley, interested in public service, or someone who wants to understand the complex issues that communities face, this episode has something for you. Tune in, join the conversation, and let's dive deep into the heart of Hidalgo County together. Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe to our channel for more insightful discussions. See you in "The Sesh"! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/joshuamoroles/support

MISSION, Texas – The CEO of Mission Economic Development Corporation has taken to LinkedInto sound the alarm bell about a lack of available industrial warehouse space in the Rio Grande Valley.“We need more industrial and logistics warehousing in Hidalgo County but it's not getting built,” said Teclo Garcia.In an interview with the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service, Garcia said he was prompted to speak out after reading a CBRE report that said the vacancy rate for industrial warehouses in the upper Valley is only 1.3 percent. Garcia said that is “unbelievably low.”Soon after posting his message, Garcia said he received an inquiry from a developer who wanted to know if he had 500,000 to 700,000 square feet of warehousing available. He said he had to, unfortunately, say, “no.”Here is what Garcia (pictured above) posted on LinkedIn:“We need more industrial and logistics warehousing in Hidalgo County but it's not getting built.“The McAllen Industrial Market (McAllen, Pharr, Mission, Edinburg), in 2023 Q1 posted the lowest industrial vacancy rates in at least a dozen years and new record high price per square foot, according to real estate giant CBRE. Editor's Note: Click here to read the full story in the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service.To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

ALAMO, Texas - While listening to an incredible story from North Alamo Water Supply Corporation board member Anna Flores, Rio Grande Guardian reporter Steve Taylor stopped his interviewee to ask if she had heard of the Hidalgo County Prosperity Task Force.Flores said, “no.” Taylor responded, “I think this group will want to hear from you.”The Prosperity Task Force, set up by Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez, is trying to address Hidalgo County's high rate of poverty. As part of her work in the healthcare arena, Flores visits colonias. In her interview, Flores said more and more colonias are popping up in the rural parts of Hidalgo County. She said many of the houses, if they can be called that, lack electricity, potable water or sewer system. “We run into it all the time, guys, people who don't have light, don't have water, people who have homes that are literally made out of plywood," Flores said. "It's incredible how it's still happening."Taylor put it to Flores that surely that was an issue that got addressed 20 to 30 years ago. “No,” Flores responded, “it is still happening. I can take you there.”To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

EDINBURG, Texas - State Rep. Terry Canales, the chairman of the House Committee on Transportation, let rip when he spoke at the most recent Rio Grande Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization policy board meeting.The Edinburg Democrat blasted the group, accusing them of passing up the opportunity to move on shovel-ready transportation projects in favor of projects that are going to take years to complete. He said the situation is particularly bad in Hidalgo County. As a result, he said, hundreds of millions of dollars are sitting in the bank not being used. “When they don't move, we don't get extra funding,” Canales said.The RGVMPO is the conduit for all the federal and state transportation dollars that flow to the Rio Grande Valley.There were no reporters present at the MPO meeting, which took place Dec. 14, 2022. However, a partial recording of Canales' remarks is available on the group's Facebook page. The attached audio file is a recording of Chairman Canales' remarks at the MPO meeting.Canales' remarks were resurrected by RGVMPO Executive Director Andrew Canon at last week's McAllen Economic Development Corporation board meeting. In his monthly report to the directors of MEDC, Canon said the RGVMPO had received $400 million in Category Seven funding.Canon said: “Things are looking up. We are receiving more funds to the Valley since we did the merger. It's not as much as some would like but it is more than we have gotten previously. The task that we have now… last month we had Chairman Canales come and speak at the policy board. It is (all about) letting projects, getting projects out the door. We have lots of projects that are sitting on the shelves and lots of projects that need right of way acquisition, a lot of projects that need utility adjustments and so forth and so on. The task that we have at hand is we've asked for more but we have to start spending the day lights out of it. It is a little hard to go up to our state representatives and senators and say ‘woe is me, I need more money,' when we've got a lot of money in the bank that we haven't spent. So, we're shifting gears and starting to focus on that more, to start trying to get more projects out the door for our partners and with TxDOT. So, hopefully we'll see an increase on the number of projects letting over the next year or so.”To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

EDINBURG, Texas - Research shows that when a community has policies and investments to help those in poverty, it not only helps those in need, but it also helps government and ultimately the taxpayer.So said Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez at a recent Prosperity Task Force meeting, held at Hidalgo County Commissioners Court. Cortez set up the task force to tackle his county's high rate of poverty. “According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics… our poverty rate is 29 percent. We think they're wrong. We think that amount is really too low,” Cortez told members of the the task force, in his opening remarks.Cortez proceeded to give evidence that suggests the bureau's numbers are low.“We rely on evidence not subjective belief to tell us that we're more likely right than wrong. What is that evidence? Thirty three percent of our people are receiving public assistance. Forty six percent of the people that are working in Hidalgo County are earning low wages, below poverty. Only 32 percent of the people that live in Hidalgo County have access to health insurance,” Cortez said.Cortez continued to rattle off the statistics.“Another alarming statistic is that according to reports by Co-Step, 8.89 percent of boys and girls between the ages of 16 and 19 are classified as disconnected. Meaning that they're neither working or going to school. So what is the next natural progression of that group of people? They're going to have babies, okay. So, the cycle of poverty continues.”Cortez said 37 percent of children in Hidalgo County are food insecure. “That number was 2020. In 2018, it was 27 percent. It is pretty alarming when you go from 27 to 37 in two years.”Cortez said if one speaks with school superintendents they will tell you that 75 to 80 percent of school children qualify for free meals or reduced meals. “So that is also an indication that that 29 percent is really, possibly, too low.”Cortez painted a grim picture: “So many of our people are unable to afford really basic necessities, which results in homelessness, hunger, they have health issues, and sometimes unfortunately, even revert to crime.”Editor's Note: To read the full story go to the Rio Grande Guardian website.To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

Texas inmate escapes ties to Mexican Mafia. #GonzaloLopez #MexicanMafia #Texasinmate #Marshalls — On the heels of an 11-day statewide manhunt in Alabama that ended with a car chase, crash and the death of a female corrections officer, another manhunt is underway for a dangerous escaped inmate — this time in Texas. Investigators are searching for Gonzalo Lopez. The Texas Department of Public Safety identified Lopez as an affiliate of the Mexican Mafia, a violent gang often in control of other gangs to the point of “taxing” them for being on their territory. THE ESCAPE According to the Texas Department of Justice, Lopez made his escape Thursday while on his way from Gatesville, Texas, to a medical appointment in Huntsville, Texas. Somehow as the prison bus was traveling along State Highway 7 in Leon County, officials say Lopez got out of his handcuffs and shackles and went for the driver's area of the prison bus. The driver of the bus put up a fight. But officials say Lopez stabbed the officer in the hand before the officer pulled the bus to the side of the road. Lopez and the officer jumped out of the bus and kept fighting, while another officer in the back of the bus fired two gunshots into the back tires of the bus. From there, the Texas Department of Justice says Lopez hopped back on the bus and drove it full of 15 other inmates another mile down the road. Eventually, investigators reported that Lopez lost control of the bus and ran into a cow pasture. Fortunately, no other inmates escaped custody. Texas inmate escapes by stabbing prison bus driver LOPEZ HISTORY Gonzalo Artemio Lopez, 46, is on the Texas 10 Most Wanted Fugitives List. He is now wanted for escape and aggravated assault of a public servant. In 1996, the Texas Department of Public Safety says Lopez was convicted of two counts of aggravated assault and sentenced to eight years in prison. In 2006, he was convicted of capital murder and aggravated kidnapping in Hidalgo County and sentenced to life in prison. The following year, he received a second life sentence after being convicted of attempted capital murder in Webb County. Investigators report that Lopez is from the Rio Grande Valley area and has ties to Weslaco, Mercedes and San Antonio. The Texas Department of Public Safety said he is an affiliate of the Mexican Mafia. Lopez is described as being 6 feet tall, about 185 lbs. with tattoos on his back, abdomen and chest. Authorities also say he has a burn scar on the right side of his neck. INVESTIGATION Texas authorities are continuing to investigate how Lopez escaped his shackles and handcuffs and took over the prison bus. The manhunt for Lopez continues. Officers were on horseback Sunday scouring rural areas for him as investigators are narrowing their search area. They believe Lopez may still be hiding in the brush somewhere. A $50,000 reward for information leading to Lopez's arrest has been offered. To be eligible for the reward, the Texas Department of Safety says tipsters must give authorities information in one of the following ways: Call the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-252-TIPS (8477). Submit a web tip through the DPS website by selecting the fugitive you have information about and then clicking on the link under their picture. Submit a Facebook tip by clicking the “SUBMIT A TIP” link (under the “About” section). Texas 10 Most Wanted fugitives are considered armed and dangerous. Anyone who sees Lopez is urged not to approach him, but instead call 911. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/otcpod1/support

Update on escaped prisoner in Leon County Texas #GonzaloLopez #Texas #Wantedprisoner #Escapee The authorities in Texas were searching early Friday for a convicted murderer who, they said, had escaped from a correctional bus the day before after stabbing the driver in the hand and forcing the vehicle off a highway into a cow pasture. The authorities deployed dogs and helicopters in the search for the inmate, Gonzalo Artemio Lopez, 46, who had been serving a life sentence for killing a man with a pickax. “As you can see from his record, he is very dangerous,” Robert Hurst, a public information officer for the state's Department of Criminal Justice, said in a phone interview on Thursday night. Multiple police agencies joined the search for the inmate at an intersection of two major highways in a rural area of Leon County near the city of Centerville, Texas, which sits halfway between Dallas to the north and Houston to the south. News footage of the manhunt showed police officers, some on horseback, searching farmland near the crash site, inspecting a fence and stopping vehicles. Mr. Lopez escaped on Thursday afternoon as the long white bus, which was transporting several prisoners, traveled east along Highway 7. It was taking him from a prison in Gatesville, Texas, to a medical appointment in the city of Huntsville, Mr. Hurst said. “Somehow — we don't know how — he manages to get out of his restraints and then manages to get into the driver's compartment of the bus,” which was separated from the passenger area by a door, Mr. Hurst said. Mr. Lopez had an altercation with the driver, Randy Smith, stabbing him in the left hand with a weapon and forcing the bus off the highway, Mr. Hurst said, adding that the prisoner escaped as an officer on the bus, Tommie Brinegar, fired shots at him. He said the authorities did not know what type of weapon Mr. Lopez had used to stab the driver. The other 15 inmates on the bus were in restraints and did not leave the bus, Mr. Hurst said. The driver's wound was not life-threatening, he added. Mr. Lopez was convicted of capital murder for killing a man in Hidalgo County 17 years ago after kidnapping him and trying to extract a ransom from the victim's wife, Mr. Hurst said. His record includes eight other offenses in Texas, including attempted capital murder and aggravated assault, all but one in Hidalgo County, prisoner files show. Mr. Hurst said that Mr. Lopez had been convicted of attempted capital murder for firing shots at a sheriff's deputy in Webb County. “The most notable thing is that he killed a guy with a pickax,” he added. Mr. Lopez's first parole review is in April 2045, the prisoner files show. His projected release date was not available. The escape occurred about a mile west of Centerville and about two-thirds into the 160-mile journey from Gatesville to Huntsville. A section of the highway was later closed, and the Leon County Sheriff's Office warned residents nearby to keep their doors and vehicles locked. Mr. Hurst said that prisoner escapes were rare in Texas, and that the authorities planned to continue the search for Mr. Lopez within a roughly 10-square-mile area that is somewhat hilly and includes farmland, forests and creeks. “We will not call off the search until we find him,” he said. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/otcpod1/support

Welcome back everyone! Thank you for joining me today as we look into some mysterious disappearances of some very infamous fugitives. We look into the ways they escaped prison and what it is exactly that they were running from. Also, I give you an update on the young Trevino brothers who are being held in Hidalgo County jail following the death of their stepfather. Here are the ways you can help: https://www.change.org/p/greg-abbott-justice-for-alejandro-christian-and-juan Reach out to the judge overseeing this case: His name is Rodolfo Martinez. Here is his direct link with all of his contact information: https://www.texasbar.com/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Find_A_Lawyer&template=/Customsource/MemberDirectory/MemberDirectoryDetail.cfm&ContactID=225385 You can also reach out to the governor of Texas as well: https://gov.texas.gov/contact If you see something, say something. Even if it seems insignificant to you. Sometimes, we do not have enough power to do things ourselves, so here are some ways you can help: Child Protection Hotline: Dial 132111 or visit childwelfare.gov Suicide Hotline: 1-800-273-8255 National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) Let me know your guys' thoughts and opinions! DM me on Instagram: @delaneyzyn Email Me: zyniewiczdelaney@gmail.com Thank you for listening! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/delaney-zyniewicz/support

Thank you for joining me again today as we look into the absolutely heartbreaking murder of a 13-year-old girl named Tristyn Bailey. We look into the details and the timeline of her death, as well as, the days leading up to her death. Also, I give you an update on the young Trevino brothers who are being held in Hidalgo County jail following the death of their stepfather. Here are the ways you can help: https://www.change.org/p/greg-abbott-justice-for-alejandro-christian-and-juan Reach out to the judge overseeing this case: His name is Rodolfo Martinez. Here is his direct link with all of his contact information: https://www.texasbar.com/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Find_A_Lawyer&template=/Customsource/MemberDirectory/MemberDirectoryDetail.cfm&ContactID=225385 You can also reach out to the governor of Texas as well: https://gov.texas.gov/contact Here is the direct gofundme link for Tristyn's family: https://www.gofundme.com/f/tristyn-bailey-memorial-fund If you see something, say something. Even if it seems insignificant to you. Sometimes, we do not have enough power to do things ourselves, so here are some ways you can help: Child Protection Hotline: Dial 132111 or visit childwelfare.gov Suicide Hotline: 1-800-273-8255 National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) Let me know your guys' thoughts and opinions! DM me on Instagram: @delaneyzyn Email Me: zyniewiczdelaney@gmail.com Thank you for listening! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/delaney-zyniewicz/support

Host Ruben Navarrette interviews Carlos Sanchez, director of public affairs for Hidalgo County, TX, and a former journalist who worked — over 37 years — in several newsrooms including those at the Washington Post and Texas Monthly.Guest: Carlos Sanchez, Director of Public Affairs for Hidalgo County TX and former journalist

Chris goes one on one with Athens, GA Mayor Kelly Girtz, Former FDA Commissioner Mark McClellan, and Hidalgo County, TX Health Authority Dr. Ivan Melendez.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Chris goes one on one with Athens, GA Mayor Kelly Girtz, Former FDA Commissioner Mark McClellan, and Hidalgo County, TX Health Authority Dr. Ivan Melendez.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

October 31, 1988. Hidalgo County, New Mexico. 29-year old David Stone, a stock market analyst from California, is seen wandering through the desert and exhibiting strange behaviour. Two days later, David's abandoned car is discovered next to the highway, but David himself is nowhere to be found. Search efforts uncover a number of cryptic clues David left behind to suggest he was on some sort of spiritual journey related to the New Age movement. Over three years later, David's remains are discovered in the desert, but the exact circumstances of his death remain unknown. May 28, 1995. Coconino County, Arizona. 28-year old Devin Williams, a long-haul truck driver from Kansas, recklessly drives semi-trailer truck into Tonto National Forest before it becomes stuck in some mud. After Devin exits the truck, witnesses see him displaying bizarre behaviour before he takes off into the woods and disappears. Devin had been in the midst of transporting a shipment from California to Kansas until he drove over 60 miles off-course for unknown reasons. Two years later, Devin's skull is discovered near the bottom of a cliff, but no one can figure out his cause of death or why he wound up in the forest to begin with. In this month's first Halloween-themed episode of “The Trail Went Cold”, we explore two odd cases in which a victim went missing after acting strangely before they were subsequently found dead. This episode of “The Trail Went Cold” is sponsored by the app game Best Fiends. Download it for free on the Apple App Store and the Google Play store. Additional Reading: https://unsolvedmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/David_Stone “The Prescott Courier” (April 14, 1992) https://unsolved.com/gallery/devin-williams/ https://web.archive.org/web/20140817081532/http://cjonline.com/stories/051697/skull.html https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/archive/index.php/t-157772.html “The Trail Went Cold” is on Patreon! Visit www.patreon.com/thetrailwentcold to become a patron and gain access to our exclusive bonus content. The Trail Went Cold is produced and edited by Magill Foote. All music is composed by Vince Nitro.