Who is Mayra Flores? As the San Benito Republican campaigns to return to Congress, that question is gaining frequency — and importance. Voters should consider the question, and the circumstances surrounding it, as they make their choices this election season. Flores’ likely opponent, U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-McAllen, calls Flores the George Santos of the RGV. Santos, a New York Republican, was ousted from Congress last month following two indictments on nearly two dozen alleged cases of fraud and a report by the House Ethics Committee that found multiple violations.  Flores has not ..read more

SWEETWATER, Texas — Victoria is not a real patient, but “she” does play a vital role in the training of Texas State Technical College’s Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) students. Victoria is a medical manikin that simulates a full range of obstetrical events to facilitate teamwork and deepen critical thinking skills for nursing students, according to Gaumard, her manufacturer. “Being able to provide this type of training is important for our students,” said Wendy Proctor, interim director of the ADN program in Sweetwater. “Our students are only able to watch deliveries during clinicals. This ..read more

VALLEY HS BOYS BASKETBALL SCHEDULE Tuesday’s Games – Jan. 2 District 30-5A Rio Grande City 76, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln 53 Laredo Nixon 69, Roma 28 La Joya Palmview 74, Mission Veterans 41 District 31-5A McAllen High 77, Sharyland High 52 McAllen Memorial 64, McAllen Rowe 56 PSJA Memorial 54, PSJA Southwest 39 PSJA North 59, Valley View 50 Edinburg Vela 73, Sharyland Pioneer 49 District 32-5A Brownsville Veterans 61, Brownsville Pace 37 Brownsville Lopez 76, Brownsville Porter 44 Weslaco East 81, Edcouch-Elsa 70 Harlingen South 61, Donna High 30 Mercedes 53, Donna No ..read more

WESLACO — Weslaco High’s Rae Medina, the lone senior on the team, dropped 16 while Drya Arredondo chipped in with 10, Tori Trevino also had 10 and Flash Magallanes scored eight as the Panthers defeated the defending District-32-6A champs Harlingen High Friday night 51-43 at Weslaco High. Panthers head coach Griselda Fino said her team did what they needed to do Friday night, despite being relatively young, and also praised the ability of Medina for playing a key role in the win and being a leader of the program. “She has had to raise my freshmen and sophomores, guide them,” Fino said. “She is ..read more

BROWNSVILLE — State or bust. That has been the mentality for Brownsville ISD schools since Brownsville Lopez captured the Valley’s first boys soccer state title in 2004. This year is no different, with the Brownsville-area schools gearing up for another run at a state title. While state titles are won in April, the annual BISD Soccer Showcase is a good measuring stick for where teams stack this year, with more than a handful of the RGV’s top teams competing. Two of the area’s teams looked the part of state contenders during Day 2 of the showcase, with Brownsville Lopez and Brownsville Rivera e ..read more

The Hidalgo Coin Club will hold its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 8, at the conference room at McAllen Chamber of Commerce, 1200 Ash Ave., at the corner of Broadway and 12th streets. The 64-year-old club — among the oldest in the state — hosts a lively coin auction immediately after the business part of the meeting. The public and guest at the meeting may bid on coins and related items sold by members. Memberships for 2024 are available at this meeting. Anyone interested in joining the club may do so this Monday. Yearly dues are $25 and come with lots of perks. The club hosts its Frid ..read more

The city of South Padre Island holds a special election Feb. 3 to fill Place 5 on the City Council following the death on Dec. 1 of Eva Jean Dalton, first elected to the seat in November 2018. The four candidates in the special election are, in the order they’ll appear on the ballot, Brad Robinson, Jennifer Stout, Tally Ragsdale and Lisa Graves. Ragsdale ran unsuccessfully for Place 4 on the City Council in the Nov. 7 general election. Jan. 4 was the last day to register to vote in the election, according to the Cameron County Elections Department. The first day of early voting is Jan. 17, whi ..read more

Road construction is coming to International Boulevard/State Highway 4 in Brownsville for more than two years, according to the Texas Department of Transportation. A three-phase, $20 million TxDOT project to convert more than 4,300 feet of the major artery from I-69E Frontage Road to Magnetek Drive is scheduled to begin Jan. 15, according to a TxDOT spokesman, who said federal and state highway funds are paying for 100% of the project. The first phase will involve converting the pavement from asphalt to concrete, building continuous sidewalks, adding new signs and pavement markings, and upgrad ..read more

Also known as Epiphany, “Dia de los Reyes” is meant to honor the Three Wise Men, or Three Kings, who were said to have visited the infant Jesus and brought him gifts. The day marks the end of the Christmas season. In the Rio Grande Valley, the occasion is marked by heavenly aromas and baby Jesuses, as well as a feeling of festiveness that began at Christmastime and continues well beyond the New Year. La Mexicana Bakery in Edinburg is no stranger to said smells and joys as the eatery gets into the holiday spirit and stays there well beyond Dia de los Reyes passes, as customers continue to make ..read more

Surveillance footage is seen of an aggravated robbery attempt at a Stripes convenience store in San Benito on Jan. 1, 2024. (Courtesy of the San Benito Police Department)Reynaldo Lugo IV A judge ordered a 27-year-old San Benito man held on $150,000 bail after charging him with the early New Year’s Day aggravated robbery during which he allegedly pointed a gun a convenience store clerk. The judge charged Reynaldo Lugo IV with the first-degree felony in connection with the 3:54 a.m. Jan. 1 robbery of a Stripes convenience store at Williams Road and the Interstate 69 frontage road, officials stat ..read more