Rio Grande Guardian's Podcast

WESLACO, Texas - With its one industrial park almost full, Weslaco Economic Development Corporation is developing another 15 acres of land for manufacturing, warehousing and distribution.  Around $9 million worth of Infrastructure improvements are being made on the land off of FM 1015 and Mile 9. Steve Valdez, executive director of Weslaco EDC , recently gave an exclusive interview to the Rio Gran...

UT-Rio Grande Valley is to purchase 38 acres of land in McAllen in order to double the size of its medical school. The land, part of the 495 Commerce Center development just south of Pecan Boulevard between Jackson and McColl, will be home to UTRGV’s planned McAllen Academic Medical Campus. News of the purchase was announced by Dr. Parwinder Grewal, executive vice president of research, innovation...

EDINBURG, Texas - The chief medical officer for DHR Health says it is “very disheartening” to see a large number of people not take the Covid-19 vaccine. Dr. Robert Martinez gave an in-depth interview on how his hospital is coping with the latest surge in Covid-related cases. He said DHR is not faced with the “wartime medicine” situation it saw in the summer of 2020. Nonetheless, things are still...

WASHINGTON, D.C. - On August 10th and 11th the Border Trade Alliance sponsored a virtual two-day conference called Building a Competitive U.S.-Mexico Border, hosted by the Mexico Institute at the Wilson Center in Washington, D.C. Each year the border conference brings together policymakers, business leaders, and local elected officials for a dialogue that focuses on improving border management to...

HARLINGEN, Texas - Michael Reeser says the next Tesla factory training center could be built in Harlingen.  The chancellor and CEO of Texas State Technical College spoke about the possibilities of the Rio Grande Valley being attractive to Tesla at a recent breakfast event held at TSTC in Harlingen. “Tesla is growing like weed in Texas. They are selling more and more units all the time. And we are...

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar says he learns more about border policy from the Mexican government than he does the Biden Administration. The Laredo Democrat’s criticism of the White House’s approach to border security and immigration was voiced in a keynote address he gave at the Mexico Institute’s 7th Annual Building a Competitive U.S.-Mexico Border Conference. In a Q&A following...

EDINBURG, Texas - On Aug. 7, 2021, Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez held a news conference to give an update on the increased hospitalization rate for Covid-19 and the increase in asylum seekers that have the coronavirus. Cortez said the increase in Covid cases in the community could not be attributed to asylum seekers. He said it was down to not enough people getting vaccinated. Other speakers...

MISSION, Texas - A news conference was held Aug. 5, 2021, at Anzalduas Park in south Mission to announce a new temporary shelter for asylum seekers that have Covid-19. The new shelter is in Anzalduas Park, next to the Rio Grande.  Among the speakers were Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez, Bishop of Brownsville Daniel Flores, McAllen City Manager Roy Rodriguez, and Hidalgo County Precinct 3 Commi...

EDINBURG, Texas - The four biggest cities in Hidalgo County have joined forces to tackle the No. 1 infrastructure problem in the Rio Grande Valley - flooding and building an adequate drainage system.  The mayors of the cities of McAllen, Edinburg, Mission, and Pharr held a news conference on Aug. 4 to announce the formation of the Hidalgo County Municipal Drainage Committee. The committee wants to...

HARLINGEN, Texas - In his latest commentary about taxes, Rev Torres explains to listeners what to do if they receive an unexpected letter from the IRS. “First of all, do not panic. You should read the letter carefully and see what it says,” Torres said.  An important point, he said, is to pay close attention to any deadlines provided in the IRS letter.  “If you miss the IRS deadline, stated on the...

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas held a news conference in Washington, D.C., on Friday, July 30, 2021.  The two had earlier held a conference call with community leaders from Congressman Cuellar’s district. The conference call focused on asylum-seeking migrants being released into border communities by the Department of Homeland Sec...

The recent actions and statements of state and local leaders restricting the ability to assist and care for recently-arrived immigrant families fills me with great sadness. In these difficult times, when so many are struggling, our work as a community must be one of treating all human life with compassion. It is more vital now than ever to follow the example of our savior Jesus Christ who noted: “...

HARLINGEN, Texas - The vice president of international sales and global development for Frontier Airlines says the Rio Grande Valley has great potential as a tourist destination. Alfredo Gonzalez gave an in-depth interview to the Rio Grande Valley International News Service at a recent news conference held at Valley International Airport in Harlingen.  The news conference was held to announce a ne...

MCALLEN, Texas - The director of McAllen Aviation Airport says her airport is “doing phenomenally well” following the downturn in flights caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Elizabeth Suarez gave her analysis to the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service at a news conference held to announce a $5.4 million grant from the federal government. The money is being used to cover maintenance and...

PHARR, Texas - Directors with the Pharr Economic Development Corporation have recognized Vanguard Academy students for successfully completing a summer internship program with local businesses. The program came about thanks to a grant received by Vanguard. Vanguard in turn asked Pharr EDC to help place the students. The program was administered by Victor Perez and Karina Lopez of Pharr EDC and Mon...

EDINBURG, Texas - Hidalgo County and McAllen leaders recently held a news conference to announce that thousands of maquiladora workers from Reynosa would cross into the U.S. to be given a COVID-19 vaccine. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is being administered within the Hidalgo International Bridge compound. Maquila workers are bused across the bridge and receive the vaccine from nurses whilst s...

SAN JUAN, Texas - Texas Democratic Party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa recently spoke at a luncheon hosted by Hidalgo County Tejano Democrats and LUPE Votes. The event was organized to show support for Democrats in the Texas House of Representatives who have broken quorum in the current special session in Austin. Most of the 58 Democrats are now in Washington, D.C., to urge U.S. senators to pass a fe...

BROWNSVILLE, Texas - Josh Mejia caught everybody by surprise at the recent BTX Developers luncheon by casually mentioning that the Musk Foundation was donating another million dollars to downtown revitalization in Brownsville. Mejia, executive director of the Brownsville Community Improvements Corporation, was one of the keynote speakers at the event. Co-sponsored by the Rio Grande Valley Partners...

BROWNSVILLE, Texas - The executive director of the Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation says a huge jobs fair she organized last month was one of the highlights of her career. Helen Ramirez noted that the event, titled Careers and Coffee, was the largest of its type ever held in the Rio Grande Valley. It featured more than 1,500 job opportunities with various organizations, including the Cit...

BROWNSVILLE, Texas - Texas Democratic Party Chairman Gilbert Hinojosa says it is a “brilliant” idea to allow Matamoros residents to come over to Brownsville to have their COVID-19 vaccines. Hinojosa, a former Cameron County Judge, said he will take the idea to the Biden Administration and U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela. The idea of pilot program that would see Matamoros residents cross the Gateway Interna...

BROWNSVILLE, Texas - The potential benefits to Brownsville in particular and the Rio Grande Valley as a whole of expanding their presence in the NewSpace economy were discussed at the recent BTX Developers Event. The event was hosted by the Rio Grande Valley Partnership in conjunction with Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation and the City of Brownsville. The even comprised a luncheon attende...

BROWNSVILLE, Texas - The Rio Grande Valley Partnership recently held the BTX Developers Event in conjunction with the City of Brownsville, Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation, and Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation. The event attracted real estate developers and investors, both to a luncheon held at Brownsville Events Center and a bus tour. In fact, there were two bus tours, one...

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – When it comes to building a second causeway to South Padre Island, the state legislature failed the Rio Grande Valley this legislative session.  Cameron County leaders were hoping state lawmakers would find $3 million so that an environmental impact statement could be produced. It did not happen. And now, because local leaders came away empty handed, Valley residents are going...

WASHINGTON, D.C. - On June 30, 2021 the Wilson Center's Mexico and Canada Institutes joined a conversation with the trade ministers from the United States, Mexico, and Canada.  This event focused on the biggest lessons learned from the first year of USMCA, as well as on the top priorities for North American collaboration in the years ahead.  The webinar was introduced by Patrick J. Ottensmeye...

BROWNSVILLE, Texas - Helen Ramirez, deputy city manager of Brownsville and CEO of the Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation, says there are some specific reasons Paragon VTOL Aerospace chose to relocate to her city. “Brownsville was selected from over 50 cities in Texas because of our attributes - our open mindedness, our innovation, and because of you, the community,” Ramirez said, at a news...