RIO GRANDE CITY, Texas – Congressman Henry Cuellar has pointed to heat maps to prove his point that border walls are ineffective in deterring migrants seeking asylum. In a webinar with reporters, Cuellar said the heat maps show more crossings in areas where border fencing has been erected. He noted that migrants can ask for asylum once they touch the riverbank on the north side of the Rio Grande. So, what good is a border wall a quarter of a mile or more inland from the river, he asked. “I was able to convince them (Republicans in the U.S. House), to say, listen, if somebody touches a riverba ..read more

LA FERIA, Texas – La Feria residents are getting closer to receiving fast and reliable Internet services from an improved tower along FM 506 south of town. The project is the latest initiative from Raymondville-based internet service provider VTX1 as it continues to expand coverage in Cameron County. The company is utilizing an existing 900 feet tall tower by investing more than $150,000 in improvements. About a dozen devices, each about the size of a small tablet, were installed on several sections of the metal structure that will pick up fiber optic signals to be transmitted over an 8 ..read more

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Eight small business owners have been recognized for their contribution to the economy. Each represents different sectors and their years of career productivity range from three to 60. They all are from three of the four Rio Grande Valley counties – Cameron, Hidalgo, and Starr. The distinctions were given during an award presentation held Thursday, May 2, at the Brownsville Events Center. It was part of this year’s National Small Business Week, which is a nationwide event held to honor the top entrepreneurs each year. The eight awardees are: –      ..read more

Yes, she said it. Who? Xóchitl (meaning “flower” in Nahutl), or Bertha Xóchitl Gálvez Ruiz—now, simply, Xochitl, politician, and businesswoman. She was mayor of Miguel Hidalgo (borough of Mexico City) from 2018 to 2023. Xóchitl served as a Senator in the LXIV and LXV Legislatures of the Mexican Congress. (Her message: “ovaries” or women, are needed to confront gangs and violence). Sixty-one years old, Xóchitl is from Tepatepec, of Indigenous origins through her father. She studied Engineering at the National University (UNAM). She the current candidate of the opposition party, Fuerza y Coraz ..read more

ELSA, Texas – UT-Rio Grande Valley is to open a new satellite location for its Office of Workforce and Economic Development in Elsa. Details were announced at a signing ceremony and logo unveiling held at the offices of Elsa Economic Development Corporation. Ron Garza, UTRGV’s associate vice president for workforce and economic development, spoke in depth about the work his office does and how small business owners in the Delta can benefit from the department’s new satellite presence. The Rio Grande Guardian International News Service will bring more details of Garza’s presentation in two upc ..read more

PHARR, Texas – The biggest warehouse in the region – covering 700,000 square feet – will soon be announced in south Pharr, says Victor Perez, president of Pharr Economic Development Corporation. Perez broke the news in an exclusive interview with the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service following a meeting with visiting site selectors.  “This is going to be great year for us. We have some retail and commercial, some restaurants coming hopefully this year. We have a couple of projects that we’ve been talking about, a million square feet facilities,” Perez said. “We have a 700,00 ..read more

EDINBURG, Texas – Edinburg is now the 12th fastest growing city in the nation, visiting site selectors were told. Two representatives from Edinburg Economic Development Corporation spoke about the growth of their city at an event hosted by the Council for South Texas Economic Progress. They were Executive Director Raudel Garza and Project Manager Carlos Garza. After the meeting had ended, the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service secured an exclusive interview with Raudel Garza. “Edinburg, residential-wise, is growing very, very quickly,” Garza said. “Of course, commercial, and indus ..read more

HARLINGEN, Texas – U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez believes the $2.3 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law signed into law by President Biden in November 2021 will transform America. Gonzalez voted for the legislation. Otherwise known as the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act, or HR 3684, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides new funding for infrastructure projects such as roads, bridges, and major projects; passenger and freight rail; highway and pedestrian safety; public transit; broadband; ports and waterways; airports; water infrastructure; power and grid reliability and resiliency ..read more

We are writing to express our concern about the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)’s impending funding and operations lapse in mid-May 2024. The ACP plays a vital role in the lives of individuals and families across the communities we proudly represent. High-speed internet access is a necessity for individuals and families across our states and districts, serving as a lifeline in education, work, telehealth, and communication. The ACP provides millions of households nationwide with more affordable internet access. The program has become indispensable for everyday life and connects communit ..read more

The dynamic Texas economy and its growing population (and hot summers) require increases in electric generation and transmission capacity well beyond what was expected even a few years ago. Basic patterns of business expansion have been in place for decades. However, there are profound and unanticipated changes underway which are shifting power demand growth into an entirely new gear.  There has recently been a surge in electricity-intensive industries. Data centers supporting remote work, streaming, and now AI need massive megawatts to operate. Crypto mining is another major user. Elect ..read more