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The outdoor college graduations that became hallmarks of community life in Brownsville ended abruptly in late 2024. Brownsville Mayor John Cowen was not pleased when learning that UTRGV was moving all graduation ceremonies – including those of its Brownsville-based students – to Bert Ogden Arena in Edinburg. What made it worse for the mayor was that he first heard of the move as “a rumor prior to…
John Cortino was in the construction business in the Rio Grande Valley of the 1960s when he got home from work one day and made an announcement to his wife Mary. “We’re going to build a restaurant next door,” he said. It was 1966 and the Cortinos were living on Highway 83 in Mercedes with the Weslaco of that era miles away. The highway was the Rio Grande Valley’s regional… Read More The post…
Harlingen has been named by the National Civic League as an All-America City for its efforts in civic engagement and inclusiveness in solving local problems. For Harlingen, it is the second time the city has received the All-America honor, with its first designation being in 1992. Seven other cities in the Rio Grande Valley have received the honor since the 1960s, and they are Brownsville,…
The story of Gilbert Perez’s start in military service began like many young men and women looking to make their mark to get established in adult life. A recent graduate of Kingsville High School, Perez joined the U.S. Army amid some challenges in his personal life at the time, he recalled. His time in a Junior ROTC program during high school gave Perez a preliminary perspective on military life.…
Starr County Health Care Gets Boost Healthcare in Starr County recently received a major boost through internship grants for students pursuing careers in medical fields while completing their clinical training. A $100,000 Healthcare Internship Fund Grant with resources provided by the Texas Workforce Commission will offer stipends of up to $900 for Starr County students seeking health care…
The Scent Sanctuary of Harlingen markets “a custom fragrance journey” with customers blending their own aromas to create individualized perfumes. The stylish boutique by Expressway 83 is owned by sisters Abby Maciver and Erica Martinez. It is the sort of niche business establishing itself among crowded fields. The sisters guide their customers through a creative process that utilizes the sense of…
The corporate jets lined up tip-tip on a Brownsville South Padre Island International Airport runway after SpaceX filed the legal paperwork to begin the transition to becoming a publicly traded company. Investors from around the world flew into Brownsville in April as they traveled to SpaceX’s nearby Starbase to assess the company’s business model and growth plans. The Brownsville airport has…
The city of McAllen’s Fourth of July parade is nearing its 100th birthday as the nation celebrates its 250th anniversary. The convergence of the two is adding an extra element to this year’s early July celebrations in McAllen. The city has perhaps the most event-filled July 4th of any Rio Grande Valley city. The longstanding parade down Main Street got its start in 1928 and is a mainstay event in……
Hidalgo County Commissioner David Fuentes admired the completed project of a neighboring colleague and knew he wanted the same for his precinct. It was 2020. The Precinct 2 commissioner, Eddie Cantu, invited Fuentes and other county and community leaders to view the finishing touches on his nearly eight-mile-long hike-and-bike trail that connects McAllen, Pharr and San Juan. “I told Eddie, ‘I’m…
Retired Mercedes school district administrator Sylvia Flores calls it “a widening” of knowledge when a younger generation learns about those who came before them. “Every generation has been different,” said Flores, who recently turned 90. “It’s important for the younger ones to know that their ancestors had to go through a lot of problems to pave the way for them like those that came before us.”…
