INSIDER
Trump’s near sweep of Texas border counties shows a shift to the right for Latino voters
Read full article: Trump’s near sweep of Texas border counties shows a shift to the right for Latino votersThe former president captured 55% of Latino voters in the state, according to exit polls. He also won 14 out of the 18 counties within 20 miles of the border, a number that doubled his 2020 performance in the Latino-majority region.
Adam Hinojosa flips Texas Senate seat, becomes first Republican to represent Rio Grande Valley district since Reconstruction
Read full article: Adam Hinojosa flips Texas Senate seat, becomes first Republican to represent Rio Grande Valley district since ReconstructionHinojosa won the only competitive seat in the Texas Senate this cycle, besting Sen. Morgan LaMantia two years after she narrowly defeated him.
Mexico is offering water to South Texas. But there’s a catch farmers aren’t happy about.
Read full article: Mexico is offering water to South Texas. But there’s a catch farmers aren’t happy about.Farmers say they want the water, but not if it goes against the allotment they need for the spring planting season.
From Denton to Edinburg, Texas cities are spooking their residents and tourists this Halloween
Read full article: From Denton to Edinburg, Texas cities are spooking their residents and tourists this HalloweenDenton has renamed itself Halloween, Texas, and has planned 31 days of events to drive up tourism and family entertainment.
Vicente Gonzalez and Mayra Flores clash in fiery South Texas congressional debate
Read full article: Vicente Gonzalez and Mayra Flores clash in fiery South Texas congressional debateIn their only debate before Election Day, Gonzalez and Flores traded jabs over the economy, immigration and abortion, and regularly spoke over each other.
Texas agriculture commissioner’s new executive order aims to provide water for Rio Grande Valley farmers
Read full article: Texas agriculture commissioner’s new executive order aims to provide water for Rio Grande Valley farmersRio Grande Valley farmers' concerns about a lack of water are being addressed in a new executive order issued by state agriculture commissioner Sid Miller’s office.
KSAT Explains: Mexico’s lack of adherence to decades-old treaty leaves Rio Grande Valley farmers in peril
Read full article: KSAT Explains: Mexico’s lack of adherence to decades-old treaty leaves Rio Grande Valley farmers in perilA 1944 water-sharing treaty between the United States and Mexico is back in the spotlight and Rio Grande Valley farms are hanging in the balance.
Laredo enters its sixth day of a boil-water notice after E. coli is discovered in water system
Read full article: Laredo enters its sixth day of a boil-water notice after E. coli is discovered in water systemThe South Texas city is the latest to grapple with aging water infrastructure, which officials suggested could have been the cause for the E. coli outbreak.
Animal welfare advocates will plead with Texas lawmakers to help cities control stray pet population
Read full article: Animal welfare advocates will plead with Texas lawmakers to help cities control stray pet populationOne group estimated more than 568,000 cats and dogs entered shelters in 2023. About 82,000 cats and dogs were euthanized.
Takeaways from the Texas Tribune-Associated Press report on 24 hours along the Texas-Mexico border
Read full article: Takeaways from the Texas Tribune-Associated Press report on 24 hours along the Texas-Mexico borderReporters from both organizations spent a day documenting the reality on the border. Here’s a summary of what they found.
Many Americans say immigration is out of control, but 24 hours on the Texas-Mexico border showed a new reality. Will it last?
Read full article: Many Americans say immigration is out of control, but 24 hours on the Texas-Mexico border showed a new reality. Will it last?The Texas Tribune and The Associated Press visited five locations along the 1,254-mile span to separate the facts from the political narrative during a heated election year.
At this South Texas political convention, everyone has a voice, regardless of legal status
Read full article: At this South Texas political convention, everyone has a voice, regardless of legal statusInspired by the work of Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta, the biennial “cumbre” helps South Texans organize for political change.
Democrats hope anti-voucher campaign will help win back South Texas House seat
Read full article: Democrats hope anti-voucher campaign will help win back South Texas House seatThe first-term Republican defending her seat said a private school voucher program will help her community, especially students from low-income families.
A South Texas school district received a request to remove 676 books from its libraries
Read full article: A South Texas school district received a request to remove 676 books from its librariesThe request came from a local pastor who is part of a group that trains people to “defend their freedom and liberty.” Other faith leaders have pushed back.
Federal court orders regulators to fix process, reconsider gas export projects in South Texas
Read full article: Federal court orders regulators to fix process, reconsider gas export projects in South TexasThis week’s ruling was the latest twist since cities and groups in Texas’ Rio Grande Valley sued to block the projects.
Texas’ floating barrier in the Rio Grande can stay for now, appeals court says
Read full article: Texas’ floating barrier in the Rio Grande can stay for now, appeals court saysAfter Texas deployed the barrier, a panel ordered it removed. The full appeals court says it can stay while a lower court hears a case on the merits.
The Rio Grande Valley’s pet population is out of control. Will a proposed limit in one city help?
Read full article: The Rio Grande Valley’s pet population is out of control. Will a proposed limit in one city help?Local leaders began debating a household limit on the number of pets after two residents were arrested for having 93 dogs and a cat in their home.
Attorney for former Delia’s Tamales employees speaks days after 3 restaurants were raided
Read full article: Attorney for former Delia’s Tamales employees speaks days after 3 restaurants were raidedDelia’s Tamales locations in San Antonio and the Rio Grande Valley were the focus of FBI raids earlier this week.
As the Rio Grande runs dry, South Texas cities look to alternatives for water
Read full article: As the Rio Grande runs dry, South Texas cities look to alternatives for waterMany of the solutions are costly, putting them out of reach for small towns. But the region's most populous cities are getting innovative.
‘I could feel numbness’: Woman bitten by shark on South Padre Island describes moments before, after attack
Read full article: ‘I could feel numbness’: Woman bitten by shark on South Padre Island describes moments before, after attackA woman who was one of four people attacked by a shark off South Padre Island on Independence Day shared what she experienced the moments before she was attacked.
Rio Grande Valley leaders hope to rebrand region as “RioPlex” to attract investment
Read full article: Rio Grande Valley leaders hope to rebrand region as “RioPlex” to attract investmentAfter years of competing with each other for new businesses, Valley cities want to present a united front to highlight the region’s assets.
Carlos Cascos, former Texas secretary of state and political leader in Rio Grande Valley, dies at 71
Read full article: Carlos Cascos, former Texas secretary of state and political leader in Rio Grande Valley, dies at 71Cascos began his political career as a Democrat but later flipped to the Republican Party.
South Texas needs rain. Tropical Storm Alberto didn’t deliver enough.
Read full article: South Texas needs rain. Tropical Storm Alberto didn’t deliver enough.The region's two major reservoirs are at record-low levels and agriculture leaders are worried the citrus industry could be devastated this summer.
Rio Grande Valley chef wins Best Chef: Texas in 2024 James Beard Awards
Read full article: Rio Grande Valley chef wins Best Chef: Texas in 2024 James Beard AwardsSan Antonio chefs may have been left out of the winners list for the 2024 James Beard Awards, but the Lone Star State was represented by a Rio Grande Valley woman who won Best Chef: Texas.
In Texas’ Rio Grande Valley, a push for more direct democracy
Read full article: In Texas’ Rio Grande Valley, a push for more direct democracyGround Game Texas, a group that has pushed for progressive policies in cities across the state, is working to make it easier for McAllen residents to change local laws.
Meatless in South Texas: Thousands flock to vegan festival in Rio Grande Valley
Read full article: Meatless in South Texas: Thousands flock to vegan festival in Rio Grande ValleyFrom brisket to carne asada, Texas is known for meat, making this annual gathering in a small Rio Grande Valley town stand out.
Former South Texas HS football player who tackled referee avoids jail sentence, pleads no contest
Read full article: Former South Texas HS football player who tackled referee avoids jail sentence, pleads no contestA former South Texas high school football player who tackled a referee in 2020 after being ejected from a Texas high school football game pleaded no contest to a charge of assault-causing bodily injury on Tuesday morning, according to CBS 4 News.
A South Texas town may have just seen the hottest May temperature in Texas history 🥵
Read full article: A South Texas town may have just seen the hottest May temperature in Texas history 🥵According to the Weather Prediction Center, La Puerta, Texas reach 116 on Thursday. After sifting through records, this may be the hottest May temperature in Texas history.
Mayra Flores raises twice as much as U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez in bid to unseat him this November
Read full article: Mayra Flores raises twice as much as U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez in bid to unseat him this NovemberNational Republicans are investing heavily in Flores’ bid to unseat U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez in South Texas.
South Texas farmers are in peril as the Rio Grande Valley runs dry — again
Read full article: South Texas farmers are in peril as the Rio Grande Valley runs dry — againWith the hottest days still ahead, local leaders have declared emergencies. And farmers are lobbying for the U.S. government to pressure Mexico to release water.
Some South Texas school employees could be barred from holding elected office after fraud investigation
Read full article: Some South Texas school employees could be barred from holding elected office after fraud investigationA state-appointed board of managers overseeing the La Joya Independent School District is set to consider the policy this week.
Company helping immigrants in detention ordered to pay $811M+ in lawsuit alleging deceptive tactics
Read full article: Company helping immigrants in detention ordered to pay $811M+ in lawsuit alleging deceptive tacticsA company that provides services for immigrants in federal detention has been ordered to pay more than $811 million in restitution and penalties in a lawsuit alleging it used deceptive and abusive tactics.
1.7 million Texas households are set to lose monthly internet subsidy
Read full article: 1.7 million Texas households are set to lose monthly internet subsidyThe Affordable Connectivity Program provides a $30 monthly subsidy to help low-income households pay for internet service. The program is slated to run out of money at the end of the month.
Texas woman charged with murder for self-induced abortion sues Starr County district attorney
Read full article: Texas woman charged with murder for self-induced abortion sues Starr County district attorneyThe Starr County district attorney dropped the improper charges, but the fallout “forever changed the Plaintiff’s life,” a new federal lawsuit says.
Vicente Gonzalez compares Latino Trump supporters to “Jews for Hitler”
Read full article: Vicente Gonzalez compares Latino Trump supporters to “Jews for Hitler”The South Texas Democrat said Latinos who support former President Donald Trump are voting against their self interest, but Republicans recoiled at the comparison.
Texas’ only sugar mill shuts down after 50 years due to water shortage
Read full article: Texas’ only sugar mill shuts down after 50 years due to water shortageThe Texas Farm Bureau said the Rio Grande Valley Sugar Growers mill no longer had adequate water to sustain operations, an issue the bureau blames on ongoing water issues with Mexico under the 1944 Water Treaty.
Texas border cities offer Biden and Trump different backdrops for dueling visits
Read full article: Texas border cities offer Biden and Trump different backdrops for dueling visitsPresidential visits to the border are usually short on substance and long on political theater and symbolism, starting with the choice of location.
Biden administration asks Supreme Court to allow border agents to cut razor wire installed by Texas
Read full article: Biden administration asks Supreme Court to allow border agents to cut razor wire installed by TexasThe Biden administration is asking the Supreme Court to allow Border Patrol agents to cut razor wire that Texas installed on the U.S.-Mexico border, while a lawsuit over the wire continues.
CBP agents find 34 migrants in tractor-trailers during two human smuggling attempts in Laredo
Read full article: CBP agents find 34 migrants in tractor-trailers during two human smuggling attempts in LaredoFederal agents in Laredo stopped two human smuggling attempts this week when they found more than 30 migrants and a bag of fentanyl pills in two tractor-trailers.
Ex-Texas attorney pleads guilty to pocketing $1,500 from defendant’s mother in extortion case, feds say
Read full article: Ex-Texas attorney pleads guilty to pocketing $1,500 from defendant’s mother in extortion case, feds sayA former Rio Grande Valley attorney recently pleaded guilty to extorting $1,500 from a defendant’s mother after she sought him out for help, federal authorities say.
7 people shot at nightclub in Rio Grande Valley; deputies release images of alleged shooter
Read full article: 7 people shot at nightclub in Rio Grande Valley; deputies release images of alleged shooterSeven people were shot on Sunday morning at a nightclub in the Rio Grande Valley, according to the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office.
Texas mother dies from fungal meningitis linked to outbreak in border clinics; 10 deaths reported
Read full article: Texas mother dies from fungal meningitis linked to outbreak in border clinics; 10 deaths reportedMore deaths have been linked to a fungal meningitis outbreak at two clinics on the Texas-Mexico border, including a Rio Grande Valley mother who died this week after being hospitalized for months.
27 bodies found hacked up in Mexican border city of Reynosa
Read full article: 27 bodies found hacked up in Mexican border city of ReynosaSearchers have found 27 corpses in clandestine graves in the Mexican border city of Reynosa, across from McAllen, Texas, and many of them were hacked to pieces, volunteer searchers said Wednesday.
Democrats confident U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez will keep his South Texas seat in 2024 election
Read full article: Democrats confident U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez will keep his South Texas seat in 2024 electionRepublicans recently announced Mayra Flores’ comeback effort with great fanfare, but Democrats argue that a redrawn district — and Flores’ voting record — are hurdles the GOP can’t clear.
CHECK IT OUT: February meteorites found in South Texas now on display at the Witte Museum
Read full article: CHECK IT OUT: February meteorites found in South Texas now on display at the Witte MuseumFive of these meteorites are now on display at the “Welcome to Earth” exhibit at the Witte Museum. You can check them out through the summer months and even touch a 4.56 billion-year-old meteorite that was discovered in Morocco back in 2000!
SUV driver hits crowd at Texas bus stop near border; 8 dead
Read full article: SUV driver hits crowd at Texas bus stop near border; 8 deadPolice in Brownsville, Texas, are preparing to arrest the hospitalized driver of an SUV that slammed into a crowd, killing eight people waiting for a bus Sunday outside a migrant shelter in the border city.
Texas likely will spend billions fixing its water systems. Will it reach these forgotten colonias?
Read full article: Texas likely will spend billions fixing its water systems. Will it reach these forgotten colonias?An estimated 500,000 people live in thousands of colonias along the Texas-Mexico border. Largely built between the 1950s and 1980s, these communities have been promised water — but it has never come.
Texas DPS seizes over 3.1 million lethal doses of fentanyl, officials say
Read full article: Texas DPS seizes over 3.1 million lethal doses of fentanyl, officials sayThe Texas Department of Public Safety seized over 3.1 million lethal doses of fentanyl in a South Texas city Monday, according to officials.
Park officials share update on ‘mystery animal’ caught on camera in Rio Grande Valley
Read full article: Park officials share update on ‘mystery animal’ caught on camera in Rio Grande ValleyTexas state park officials may have figured out what kind of “mystery creature” was spotted lurking around at night in the Rio Grande Valley area.
‘Mystery animal’ caught on camera wandering around Rio Grande Valley area. Any guesses?
Read full article: ‘Mystery animal’ caught on camera wandering around Rio Grande Valley area. Any guesses?Texas state park officials are scratching their heads, trying to identify a “mystery animal” recently spotted lurking around the Rio Grande Valley area at night.
Congressional District 28 election results, Henry Cuellar vs. Cassy Garcia, for Texas midterms on Nov. 8, 2022
Read full article: Congressional District 28 election results, Henry Cuellar vs. Cassy Garcia, for Texas midterms on Nov. 8, 2022Henry Cuellar vs. Cassy Garcia; results below beginning at 7 p.m.
Rio Grande Valley abortion clinic bought by anti-abortion pregnancy center
Read full article: Rio Grande Valley abortion clinic bought by anti-abortion pregnancy centerWhole Woman’s Health, which owned the building for nearly two decades, said they were “duped” after the doctors who bought the building sold it to the McAllen Pregnancy Center.
Bernie Sanders tours Texas hoping to amp up progressive turnout, including in key South Texas race
Read full article: Bernie Sanders tours Texas hoping to amp up progressive turnout, including in key South Texas raceThe two-time Democratic presidential candidate visited Central Texas and South Texas amid concerns that young and working-class voters are not mobilized enough for the midterm election.
6 men plead guilty after RGV search yields 15 kilos of cocaine, $320K+ in cash
Read full article: 6 men plead guilty after RGV search yields 15 kilos of cocaine, $320K+ in cashSix men have pleaded guilty after a search in Rio Grande Valley yielded 15 kilograms of cocaine and more than $325,000 in cash.
Uvalde parents demand stricter gun laws ahead of Abbott, O’Rourke gubernatorial debate
Read full article: Uvalde parents demand stricter gun laws ahead of Abbott, O’Rourke gubernatorial debateBefore the gubernatorial debate between Greg Abbott and Beto O’Rourke in the Rio Grande Valley, the parents of Robb Elementary students stepped up to the microphone to voice their opinions on one of the state’s most divisive topics: gun control.
McAllen respite center serving as a model for other cities, including San Antonio
Read full article: McAllen respite center serving as a model for other cities, including San AntonioWashington D.C., New York City, Chicago, San Antonio seek advice from director of Catholic Charities RGV for migrant response.
Business on the border a concern for those in the Rio Grande Valley
Read full article: Business on the border a concern for those in the Rio Grande ValleyIt has been nearly six months since the trucker-blockade at the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge in response to Governor Greg Abbott’s additional inspections. Alicia Barrera is back in the Rio Grande Valley to see what's changed since the order was lifted.
Watch: Republicans gain ground all along the Texas-Mexico border by emphasizing border security
Read full article: Watch: Republicans gain ground all along the Texas-Mexico border by emphasizing border securityIn these historically Democratic border areas, some voters are turning to the Republican party, while others remain unmoved.
Rio Grande Valley teacher charged after 5-year-old nephew dies in hot car, reports say
Read full article: Rio Grande Valley teacher charged after 5-year-old nephew dies in hot car, reports sayA teacher in the Rio Grande Valley has been arrested a month after a 5-year-old boy died because he was left inside a vehicle on campus, according to media reports.
High-poverty schools struggle to earn Texas’ highest rating. Some in the Rio Grande Valley break that trend.
Read full article: High-poverty schools struggle to earn Texas’ highest rating. Some in the Rio Grande Valley break that trend.The Texas Education Agency has dismissed the notion that the accountability ratings are a poverty rating. As evidence, they point to districts like those in the Rio Grande Valley, which have achieved high marks while serving a high number of economically disadvantaged students.
Gov. Greg Abbott accepts debate invitation in Rio Grande Valley, Beto O’Rourke pushes for more forums
Read full article: Gov. Greg Abbott accepts debate invitation in Rio Grande Valley, Beto O’Rourke pushes for more forumsIf both candidates agree, Abbott and O’Rourke will square off in Edinburg on Sept. 30
Texas lawmakers discuss where Rio Grande Valley voters stand on abortion, gun rights and health care
Read full article: Texas lawmakers discuss where Rio Grande Valley voters stand on abortion, gun rights and health careThe national Democratic Party needs to stop taking voters in the Valley for granted and better understand their values, Texas lawmakers said during a Texas Tribune event Wednesday.
Texas needs to do more to help Hispanic students graduate from college, university leaders say
Read full article: Texas needs to do more to help Hispanic students graduate from college, university leaders sayIn a Texas Tribune event Tuesday, university leaders discussed why Hispanic students finish higher education programs at a lower rate than the state average but have better performance in the Rio Grande Valley and El Paso.
To stay in Congress, Mayra Flores bets Democratic South Texas is ready for an outspoken conservative
Read full article: To stay in Congress, Mayra Flores bets Democratic South Texas is ready for an outspoken conservativeA Mexican immigrant who worked in cotton fields to pay for school supplies, Flores is a source of hope for Republicans looking to gain ground in the Rio Grande Valley. But her staying power will be put to the test this November.
Cornyn, Cruz among GOP senators visiting Texas-Mexico border on Friday
Read full article: Cornyn, Cruz among GOP senators visiting Texas-Mexico border on FridayA delegation of Republican senators led by Ted Cruz and John Cornyn of Texas will pay a visit to the Rio Grande Valley on Thursday and Friday to survey the current state of the U.S.-Mexico border.
Border Patrol opens new processing facility in Eagle Pass, influx of migrants continues
Read full article: Border Patrol opens new processing facility in Eagle Pass, influx of migrants continuesLess than 24 hours after opening new processing facility in Eagle Pass, Border Patrol agents say its almost at capacity.
Former UT-Brownsville President Juliet García to receive Presidential Medal of Freedom
Read full article: Former UT-Brownsville President Juliet García to receive Presidential Medal of FreedomGarcía served as the president of the University of Texas at Brownsville until it merged with the University of Texas-Pan American to become the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. She is the first Mexican American woman to lead a college or university in the United States.
’It’s not worth it’: Border Patrol sends message to migrants trying to cross illegally into US
Read full article: ’It’s not worth it’: Border Patrol sends message to migrants trying to cross illegally into USBorder Patrol hosts security event Tuesday morning in the Rio Grande Valley. The event is aimed to cast a light on dangers undocumented immigrants face when entering the US.
As they target South Texas, Republicans say one Democratic county isn’t maintaining campaign finance records
Read full article: As they target South Texas, Republicans say one Democratic county isn’t maintaining campaign finance recordsStarr County, one of the four counties that make up the Rio Grande Valley, has not been able to produce campaign finance reports that it is required to maintain, according to a GOP group targeting the area.
North Texas student arrested after gun found in vehicle; RGV authorities find rifle, list of targeted students
Read full article: North Texas student arrested after gun found in vehicle; RGV authorities find rifle, list of targeted studentsA day after an 18-year-old man opened fire at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, killing 19 students and two teachers, law enforcement in North Texas and the Rio Grande Valley said they intercepted guns and credible threats against schools.
Moderate Democrats win two key South Texas runoffs, while another is too close to call
Read full article: Moderate Democrats win two key South Texas runoffs, while another is too close to callU.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar’s too-close-to-call runoff got most of the attention, but three other primary runoffs Tuesday carried big stakes for Democrats as they try to defend South Texas from a new GOP offensive.
DHS Secretary commits to ending Title 42, but ‘that does not mean that the border is open’
Read full article: DHS Secretary commits to ending Title 42, but ‘that does not mean that the border is open’United States Secretary of Homeland Alejandro Mayorkas is in the Rio Grande Valley as he gets an update on border security efforts.
With Roe v. Wade on the line, some Texans look south of the border for abortion drugs
Read full article: With Roe v. Wade on the line, some Texans look south of the border for abortion drugsCheap regulated and unregulated medication is available over the counter at Mexican pharmacies, including abortion-inducing drugs that are strictly regulated in the U.S.
‘He just got really sick’: Texas mom says infant died after consuming formula that was later recalled
Read full article: ‘He just got really sick’: Texas mom says infant died after consuming formula that was later recalledA Rio Grande Valley mother claims her infant son died from a bacterial infection after consuming powdered infant formula that was later recalled.
If Roe v. Wade is overturned, Texas district attorney offices would become a new battleground
Read full article: If Roe v. Wade is overturned, Texas district attorney offices would become a new battlegroundThe full and often unchecked power of the prosecutor was on display when a South Texas woman was charged with murder for a self-induced abortion.
Under Texas’ strict abortion law, McAllen clinic sees patients seeking medication across the border
Read full article: Under Texas’ strict abortion law, McAllen clinic sees patients seeking medication across the borderThe law went into effect in September, a week before Mexico’s Supreme Court dissolved a Coahuila state law that made abortion a crime. Now some Texans further along in their pregnancies are going there for abortion-inducing drugs.