There is nothing more important to our communities, our families and the future of our children than a strong public school system. Our dedicated La Joya ISD teachers and staff work tirelessly and do an excellent job preparing our students for success. Recently, a crucial policy change took place with La Joya ISD that signals a significant step toward preventing corruption and minimizing conflicts of interest. The Board of Managers made a bold move to prohibit district administrators from holding an elected position. This policy is tailored to positions that oversee employees or manage the fin ..read more

HARLINGEN — There’s a crisis in the middle of the night and suddenly a woman’s grandchildren have filled her small home. She did not know this would happen and so she has no preparations to accommodate her grandchildren — no beds, no playpens, no car seats. Such a sudden upending of a woman’s quiet life can be frightening and hard to comprehend, but fortunately a system of churches is on standby ready to help. Welcome to CarePortal, launched in 2015 by The Global Orphan Project. The platform has expanded across the United States, engaging child welfare agencies, schools, pregnancy centers, chu ..read more

The Coast Guard seized 350 pounds of illegally caught red snapper from Mexican fishermen on Thursday, April 25, 2024. (Courtesy of the U.S. Coast Guard) Boat crews with Coast Guard Station South Padre Island and air crews with Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi have been busy in April. In all, authorities have reported seizing 1,650 pounds of illegally caught red snapper from Mexican fishermen this month and brought federal charges against one lancha captain who tried to outrun them to the safety of Mexican waters. The latest seizure was on Thursday. In a news release, the Coast Guard said boat ..read more

Noe Jonathan Garza Cameron County sheriff’s investigators on Wednesday tracked down a man they accuse of posing as a stranded motorist before assaulting a good Samaritan and stealing his vehicle. The sheriff’s office said via Facebook that the alleged robbery occurred on March 30 in the area of Houston Road and Sinaloa Drive in Brownsville. Deputies made contact with a 39-year-old man who said he was on his way home in the late evening hours after work when he came across a stranded motorist. “The victim reported he stopped to assist the stranded motorist since he is a mechanic by trade,” the ..read more

Seven-year-old Daniella Garcia holds winning art and writing at Macedonia Christian Academy in Alamo. Pictured from left behind Garcia is school administrator James Mendoza, Garcia’s mother Jessica Alba Garcia and Carey Kinsolving, co-founder of South Texas Children’s Arts Festival. (Courtesy photo) Seven-year-old Daniella Garcia had her fingers crossed on both hands as Carey Kinsolving announced that he came to her class to award a South Padre Island family vacation. Garcia’s fingers quickly uncrossed when Kinsolving announced she had won a vacation for her family at Holiday Inn Beach Resort ..read more

McAllen High’s Azura Murad misses a catch in the outfield on a hit by Brownsville Lopez during a Region IV-5A bi-district game at McAllen High softball field Friday, April 26,2024 in McAllen. (Delcia Lopez| dlopez@themonitor.com)Brownsville Lopez’ Amanda Garcia rolls on top of the ball during a steal to 2nd base as McAllen High’s Koraima Izaguirre plays defense during a Region IV-5A bi-district game at McAllen High softball field Friday, April 26,2024 in McAllen. (Delcia Lopez| dlopez@themonitor.com)McAllen High’s Azura Murad, left, tags out Brownsville Lopez’ Alma Lezama, right as she slides ..read more

A year ago public entities across the Rio Grande Valley and throughout Texas were excited about a record $32.7 billion budget surplus sitting in the state’s coffers as the legislative session began. Today, many of those same entities are hurting. In the Valley alone, the McAllen public school district has bowed out of cooperative agreements that involved investments with the city, University of Texas RGV and other partners. The Brownsville school board recently voted to close three elementary campuses, consolidating their students into other schools. Cities, counties and other offices are canc ..read more

As we approach Mother’s Day, it’s essential to recognize and celebrate the incredible contributions of mothers who have served in the U.S. military and those who have supported their family members in uniform. These women embody courage, sacrifice and resilience, often sacrificing their comfort and security for their country’s and loved ones’ greater good. Mothers who have served in the military represent a unique blend of strength and compassion. They bravely step forward to defend our nation, leaving behind the warmth of home to serve in faraway lands, often facing danger and uncertainty. Ye ..read more

LA VILLA — Years in the making. That’s how officials described two major infrastructure projects that were unveiled in eastern Hidalgo County this week. “Back in 2017, we talked about this project and it’s taken that long to get to this point,” Hidalgo County Precinct 1 Commissioner David Fuentes said Thursday morning. Fuentes was speaking of a first-of-its-kind project for the state of Texas — a water reclamation facility that will one day be able to take stormwater runoff and turn it into safe drinking water. Fuentes said he first got the idea for the project after he and other officials pai ..read more

Seen Thursday, April 18, 2024, are Beverly Skloss, a nursing consultant for education at the Texas Board of Nursing; Maritza R. Padilla, chief of staff and EVP at DHR Health; Elizabeth Diaz, director of employee education, DHR Health; Nori A. Zapata, VP of nursing education and professional development, DHR Health; Dr. Annabelle Palomo, president and CEO of RGV College; Desi Holmes, apprenticeship director at the Texas Workforce Commission; Joel Mario Ramos, MSN-ED, RN, CGRN, director of nursing-ADN Program, RGV College; Maria E. Williams, BSN, RN, executive director of curriculum and instruct ..read more