FEATURED: Omar Ochoa, who has served as the Edinburg City Attorney for more than five years, will be leaving his position in the near future to dedicate his professional time as founding attorney of the Omar Ochoa Law Firm in McAllen. Reflecting on the longtime city attorney’s tenure, Mayor Ramiro Garza Jr. on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, expressed gratitude to Ochoa for his exemplary service to the city. “Omar’s leadership and legal expertise have been invaluable assets to the City of Edinburg. We are grateful for his unwavering dedication and wish him all the best in his future endeavors. The council will now explore the possibility of transitioning to an in-house full-time attorney, and this matter will be deliberated at our next city council meeting.”
FEATURED: “Government For A Day”, which is free and open to the public, will take place at the Palmview Community Center, located at 3401 Jordan Avenue in McAllen, on Saturday, April 6, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. “We created ‘Government for a Day’ to inform our community who they have to call for any situation or problem they may face, such as how to get passports, water and garbage services, public safety, serving on city boards, career opportunities, and so on,” said District 4 McAllen City Commissioner Rodolfo “Rudy” Castillo. “All these departments and more, people can call and get information. That’s one of the main things we will be doing – letting the people know.”
FEATURED: John Hawkins, CEO, Texas Hospital Association, was the keynote speaker on Monday, March 4, 2024, during the inaugural COVID-19 Heroes and Memorial Day state observance, held at the Edinburg Conference Center at Renaissance. “This day is critical because it establishes a clear moment in time to honor and recognize the contributions and sacrifices of Texans who played crucial roles during the COVID-19 pandemic,” he explained. “March 4 also marks a time for us to memorialize the nearly 100,000 people in Texas who have lost their lives to COVID-19 since March 4, 2020 – the date the disease was first diagnosed in Texas. A day we will never forget.” Also shown in this image is, seated, Sen. Morgan LaMantia, D-South Padre Island.
FEATURED: Janet and Robert Vackar speak to reporters on Thursday, March 21, 2024, following the announcement that the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Stadium, located in Edinburg and which will be home to the UTRGV Vaqueros football team beginning in 2025, has been named in their honor. Video of the event is available online at: https://www.facebook.com/utrgv/videos/429408102888197
FEATURED, FROM LEFT: Alma Uribe, District Director, and Karla Ponce, District Aide, both with the House District 40 Office in Edinburg for Rep. Terry Canales, D-Edinburg, were among several hundred persons on Thursday, March 7, 2024, in attendance at the Region One Education Service Center, 1900 W. Schunior Street, for the Edinburg 2024 State of the City Address by Mayor Ramiro Garza, Jr. Through separate video presentations prior to the mayor’s address, Canales and Sen. Juan Hinojosa, D-McAllen, praised the city’s achievements and plans for the future.
FEATURED: On Monday, March 4, 2024, Texas will observe for the first time COVID-19 Heroes and Memorial Day as a result of a new state law developed by Rep. R.D. “Bobby” Guerra, D-McAllen, seen here with Pharr Mayor Dr. Ambrosio Hernández, MD, who serves on the Board of Managers, DHR Health, and as Chief Compliance Officer, DHR Health. Guerra’s House Bill 2166, approved by the Texas Legislature in 2023, establishes a uniform statewide date to honor Texans who put their own health and safety on the line, especially during the worst periods of the coronavirus pandemic, to keep society from falling apart. In addition, COVID-19 Heroes and Memorial Day will be a time to memorialize an estimated 95,000 people in Texas who have lost their lives to COVID-19 since March 4, 2020 – the date the infectious airborne disease was first diagnosed in the state. This image was taken on Thursday, January 18, 2024, during the Pharr mayor’s State of the City Address, held at the Pharr Events Center.
FEATURED: Serenity Alamia awaits with anticipation with her father, Dr. Luis “Louie” G. Alamia, PT, DPT, for the announcement at Edinburg City Hall on Thursday, February 15, 2024, that her late paternal grandfather, Luis Antonio Alamia, Jr., was one of 13 Edinburg residents who were being honored for their “extraordinary public service or exemplary contribution.” The videotape of the ceremony is available online at:
FEATURED: Alma Alisia Arévalo with her husband Gilbert Tagle, Jr., in this June 21, 2020 image. Tagle, 68, a longtime Valley journalist passed away on Friday, February 2, 2024 at Knapp Medical Center in Weslaco. He leaves behind a legacy of speaking truth to power, and fighting for the underdog.
FEATURED: Business owner Michelle Vallejo of Alton and Attorney John Villarreal Rigney of Edinburg, the two candidates in the Tuesday, March 5, 2024 Democratic Party primary for Texas Congressional District 15, will participate in a forum sponsored by Futuro RGV on Thursday, February 15, 2024, to be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the McAllen Public Library, 4001 North 23rd Street. The event is free and open to the public. It will also be broadcast live, and remain available on videotape online until the party primary election day at: https://www.facebook.com/FuturoRGV/. A forum is a place, situation or group in which people exchange ideas and discuss issues. Candidate Forums are arranged when 2 or more candidates for a contested race on the ballot respond to the invitation. For the Primary Election, it must be a contested race on the ballot for the particular party.
Photograph Courtesy VALLEJO and RIGNEY CAMPAIGNS, RESPECTIVELY
FEATURED: The top leadership of the athletics program at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley will be the featured guests at the Public Affairs Luncheon, set for Tuesday, February 13, 2024, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Edinburg Conference Center at Renaissance, the Edinburg Chamber of Commerce has announced. Tickets for tables of eight and for individual tickets are available for purchase through 5 p.m. on Monday, February 12, 2024, by calling 956/383-4974 to make reservations.
