CHECK IT OUT: February meteorites found in South Texas now on display at the Witte Museum
Five of these meteorites are now on display at the โWelcome to Earthโ 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!
In McAllen, Gov. Greg Abbottโs border inspections meant late deliveries, rotten produce and lost business
The delays caused by the stateโs inspections are the latest blow to farmers and produce businesses in the Rio Grande Valley recovering from the pandemic and losses from last yearโs winter storm.
International trade halted at Texas border crossings as truckers protest Greg Abbottโs new inspections
Commercial traffic at the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge stopped Monday and a similar protest affected traffic into and out of El Paso. The blockades could impact the flow of produce to restaurants and grocery stores.
Beto OโRourke targets South Texas in bid to win back Democratic voters heโll need to beat Gov. Greg Abbott in 2022
OโRourke has ground to make up after his own underwhelming performance with voters there in 2018 when he ran for U.S. Senate โ and turning out more Latino voters has long been key to Democratic hopes statewide.
U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez will run for a different House seat in 2022 after redistricting made his more competitive
Texas lawmakers made Gonzalezโs current 15th Congressional District more competitive for Republicans. The representative now plans to run in the 34th District, which is safer for Democrats.
Infighting in Gulf cartel blamed for shooting that killed 19 on Mexico border
The top prosecutor in Mexico's border state of Tamaulipas says infighting between rival factions of the Gulf drug cartel was the apparent motive behind weekend shooting that killed 19 people, 15 of them apparently innocent bystanders.
Texas lawmakers to tour Texas-Mexico border in Rio Grande Valley on Wednesday
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar and U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales will tour the Texas-Mexico border in the Rio Grande Valley on Wednesday to get an update on the migrant surge in the region. The congressional delegation from Texas will be joined by Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona.
Gov. Greg Abbott says Texas beginning to see decrease in demand for COVID-19 vaccinations
MCALLEN, Texas โ Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said Thursday that heโs hoping to increase the number of Texans getting COVID-19 vaccines after seeing a drop in people showing up for the shot. โWeโre beginning to see a decrease in demand for vaccinations,โ Abbott said at a news conference Thursday in border city of McAllen. โSeniors who contract COVID are the people who are most likely to either be hospitalized or lose their life because of COVID,โ Abbott said. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 3.3 million Texans have completed their vaccinations.
Watch: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott holds news conference on statewide senior vaccination program
Texas Gov Greg Abbott speaks during a news conferenced about migrant children detentions Wednesday, March 17, 2021, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)SAN ANTONIO โ Texas Gov. Greg Abbott will hold a press conference on the statewide โSave Our Seniorsโ COVID-19 vaccination initiative on Thursday in McAllen. The governor first announced the program in February during a stop in Corpus Christi. Through this program, Texas Department of Emergency Management and the Texas Military Department work alongside local jurisdictions to set up a central drive-through vaccine clinic in each community or administer directly to homebound seniors.
Asylum seekers navigate new future in the U.S. after months in Mexico
MCALLEN, Texas โ Some asylum seekers have spent more than a year and a half living in tent cities in Matamoros, Mexico, during the Trump administration. The Trump administrationโs Remain in Mexico Policy forced asylum seekers to wait in distressed conditions for months at a time. The Biden administration has ended the policy, allowing thousands of asylum seekers to enter the country and move forward. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials report an increase in illegal border crossingsKSATโs Jonathan Cotto is in Mcallen, Texas talking to activist groups about the situation as it unfolds. Read also:Biden lifts Trump-era ban blocking legal immigration to USChild migrant facility reopened by Biden administration in South Texas draws criticism from immigration advocatesAdDemocrats consider piecemeal approach to immigration reform
Rio Grande Valley teenager writes Gov. Abbott letter as a last effort to help his mother survive COVID-19
Erika Calderon, 48, tested positive for COVID-19 on Dec. 29 and was hospitalized on Jan. 4, 2021. Calderon, a single mother to son Emilian Sosa, needs extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, or ECMO therapy, which relieves the stress of the lungs and heart. Emilian quickly acted after learning his mother could be taken off life support, so he wrote a letter to Gov. With the help of Nim Kidd, the Chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management & Dr. Zerwas, the equipment his mother needs was located. @TDEM https://t.co/dzgRby52ms โ Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) January 27, 2021Doctors are waiting for Calderonโs status to stabilize before transferring her to a Houston hospital.
WATCH LIVE: Kamala Harris visits Rio Grande Valley, Fort Worth and Houston in last day for early voting
AUSTIN, Texas โ Democratic presidential nominee Joe Bidenโs running mate, California Sen. Kamala Harris, is in Texas Friday with visits scheduled in Fort Worth, Houston and McAllen. Just four days before Election Day, itโs precious campaign time on a crucial state far later than any major national Democrat in decades. Her 12:45 p.m. remarks at a voter mobilization event in Fort Worth will be livestreamed in this article. Delays are possible; if there is not a livestream available, check back at a later time. A livestream of the 4:25 p.m. event in McAllen and the 7:35 p.m. event in Houston will also be livestreamed in this article.
Kamala Harris to visit Rio Grande Valley, Fort Worth and Houston during Texas campaign swing Friday
Kamala Harrisโ trip to Texas on Friday will include three stops across the state, including in the Rio Grande Valley, according to Democratic presidential nominee Joe Bidenโs campaign. Bidenโs running mate is set to visit to Fort Worth, Houston and McAllen. Fort Worthโs Tarrant County was the stateโs most populous county that Republican President Donald Trump won in 2016. Further details on her stops were not immediately available, but they are expected to mirror events she has done recently in other states to mobilize early voters. Harrisโ visit is not the only notable activity by the Biden campaign this week in Texas.
TribCast: More discrepancies with state coronavirus data and voting issues in the courts
A COVID-19 testing site at the Nomad Shrine Club in McAllen. July 2, 2020. Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune(Audio unavailable. Click here to listen on texastribune.org.) In this week's TribCast, Matthew speaks with Ross, Emma and Shannon about another change in how Texas reports its coronavirus data and the legal fights related to voting that have reached the state Supreme Court.
Heineken to release hard seltzer inspired by classic Mexican flavors in Rio Grande Valley market
SAN ANTONIO โ A new hard seltzer brand is joining the mix; however, this one in particular has quite a flavor twist! Heineken US will bring its signature hard seltzer, Canijilla, originally created in Mexico, to the U.S. in select areas for a limited time. One of those areas will be McAllen, Texas, according to an article by the Brownsville Herald. The hard seltzer is inspired by classic Mexican flavors. To see where you can purchase the hard seltzer, log on to us.canijilla.com/.
Watch: Gov. Greg Abbott in McAllen Convention Center Health Care Facility
Greg Abbott will be in McAllen Tuesday afternoon to receive a briefing on the convention center, which was recently converted into a healthcare facility amid a COVID-19 surge in the Rio Grande Valley. The McAllen Convention Center was turned into makeshift hospital that can treat up to 250 patients at one time. Weeks ago, Hurricane Hanna made landfall near the region, leading to widespread damage in the area. As we work to slow the spread of COVID-19, it is vital that we take the necessary action to ensure abundant hospital capacity in the Rio Grande Valley. Abbott assured the public that there is enough PPE to meet schools demands as some plan to open up as early as August.
Hidalgo County posts single-day high record of COVID-19 related deaths
MCALLEN, TX โ Hidalgo County health officials reported a single-day high record of 64 deaths due to complications related to COVID-19 on Tuesday, bringing the total number of fatalities to 531. Hidalgo County Health officials reported a single day high record of 64 deaths due to complications related to COVID-19 bringing the total number of fatalities to 531. For full release: https://t.co/Vpdb1K5DO7 pic.twitter.com/l4MWYRlJvs โ Hidalgo County (@HidalgoCounty) July 29, 2020โI am saddened by the passing of our Hidalgo County residents. Read the countyโs full announcement below:Related: Hidalgo County judge tries slowing coronavirus, but Gov. Greg Abbott has limited his optionsRelated: Hidalgo County: New order issued Monday includes shelter at home, curfew
With 1,000 new coronavirus fatalities in Texas in just 6 days, the state's death count is rising faster
According to state data released Sunday, 5,038 people in Texas have died from the virus. Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas TribuneTexas reached another grim milestone Sunday when it surpassed 5,000 deaths from the new coronavirus. In doing so, the state reported 1,000 deaths in six days, four days faster than it took to hit that total the previous time. According to state health data released Sunday, 5,038 people in Texas had died from the virus. In the past week alone, state data appears to show new daily infections leveling off, albeit at nearly record highs.
Hidalgo County: New order issued Monday includes shelter at home, curfew
MCALLEN, TX โ Hidalgo County issued a new county order Monday mandating all individuals to stay at home and shelter in place as cases in Hidalgo County spike significantly. Additionally, the order mandates a curfew for all persons ages 18 and over from 10 p.m.-5 p.m., imposing essential travel limitations and requiring residents to wear facial coverings pursuant to the governorโs executive order issued July 2. The county reported 524 additional positive cases Monday and noted that 34 people died after contracting COVID-19, bringing the countyโs death toll to 318. Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez said he offered his deepest sympathies and asked the community to do their part to mitigate the spread of the virus. Please continue to Shelter-at-Home, wear facial coverings and limit mass gatherings.โTo date, Hidalgo county has reported 12,263 cases of COVID-19 since the beginning of the outbreak.
Hidalgo County judge tries slowing coronavirus, but Gov. Greg Abbott has limited his options
As the Rio Grande Valley grapples with an onslaught of coronavirus infections and hospitalizations, Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez is pushing hard for residents to stay at home. But the emergency order he issued Monday mandating that people shelter in their residences, restricting travel and limiting gatherings remains an unenforceable recommendation, according to Gov. In the new Hidalgo emergency order, it also is โhighly encouraged and recommended that all commercial businessesโ cease their activities, unless they are essential, like activities related to health, safety or necessary supplies. โHowever, this order does not force businesses to shut down in the Rio Grande Valley.โCortez did not immediately respond to requests for comment Monday. U.S. Navy teams were deployed Sunday to the Rio Grande Valley, a region that includes Hidalgo County.
Two McAllen police officers killed in the line of duty, officials say
MCALLEN, Texas โ Two McAllen police officers were killed in the line of duty on Saturday, according to officials. The department posted on Facebook, and said they are mourning the loss of Officer I. Chavez and Officer E. Garza. Our condolences to the families of our fallen brothers and the McAllen Police Department. Posted by McAllen ISD Police Department on Saturday, July 11, 2020In a brief statement, the department said, โOur condolences to the families of our fallen brothers and the McAllen Police Department. Officials said both of the officers were rushed to area hospitals but they later succumbed to their injuries.
โHow many more are coming?โ What itโs like inside hospitals as coronavirus grips Texasโ Rio Grande Valley
The Rio Grande Valley has seen a surge in coronavirus cases, and the patients arrive daily. Similar scenes are playing out in hospitals across the Rio Grande Valley. Then itโs into the infectious disease unit, where staff members who worked during the day pass patient information on to those whoโll care for them overnight. The unit has a disinfection section where protective equipment is stripped off and discarded, or set aside to be cleaned and reused, and an area where medical staff members can shower before leaving. Another patient on the wayLate Tuesday in the DHR Health coronavirus ward, medical staff members tried to put a needle into the artery of one of nurse Christian Ramirezโs patients.
Texans struggle to find work in the Rio Grande Valley, where unemployment has nearly tripled
And in the Rio Grande Valley, the lack of jobs is even more pronounced. In February, before the pandemic gripped Texas, the Rio Grande Valley's unemployment rate was 6.5%. Salvador Contreras, a professor of border economics at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, said that in Texas, Black and Hispanic workers saw larger declines in employment than white employees. So this clearly had an impact on the number of Mexican visitors into the Rio Grande Valley, Contreras said. So we know that the retail sector is very important to the economy of the Rio Grande Valley.
Now hiring: Deliaโs Tamales is close to opening its first San Antonio location
SAN ANTONIO โ A family business in the Rio Grande Valley has become a popular place for tamales for almost 30 years. Deliaโs Tamales has locations in McAllen, Mission, Edinburg, Pharr, San Juan and now very soon in San Antonio. Itโs official: Deliaโs to open San Antonio locationWhile an exact opening date has not been released, the company posted on their Facebook page that they are close to opening their new location and are looking to hire. The San Antonio location will be located at 13527 Hausman Pass. Papaโs Burgers set to open new location in spide of COVID-19 pandemicIf interested in applying you can fill out an application online at deliastamales.com/jobs.
Project Lifeline caravan headed to McAllen detention center to bring supplies, provide support
SAN ANTONIO โ Physicians, faith leaders and immigrant advocates, among others, will be part of a caravan leaving Saturday for a detention center in McAllen, where immigrant families and unaccompanied minors are initially held. The caravan, which will be loaded with donated supplies, is part of Project Lifeline, a nonprofit organization that offers detainees various levels of support, especially as they face the possible prospect of being held indefinitely. After they children are released, Kahn said, they can suffer from depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety. Kahn said that, later in life, the children can develop heart disease, diabetes, hypertension and other chronic illnesses. Click here for the latest figures of the status of children separated at the border.
Grannies on mission to support immigrant families
Several caravans of grandmothers across the country are headed to McAllen to lend a voice to immigrant families seeking asylum. Some of them are traveling from as far away as Portland, Oregon, and New York to protest family separation and current immigration laws. "(We want) to stand for the children and the families, and say 'this cannot happen,'" said Cindi Fisher, who traveled from Vancouver, Canada. "We must unite the families, and families belong together and free." The grandmothersโ plan to meet with groups from the East Coast about an hour outside of McAllen to make a unified arrival.
Billboards pushing for migrant family reunifications as deadline nears
MCALLEN, Texas โ Less than 24 hours is left for the federal government to reunite migrant children who were separated from their parents due to the Trump administrationโs โzero-toleranceโ policy. On June 26, federal judge Dana Sabraw imposed a series of deadlines for the administration, giving the government a month to reunite hundreds of children with their families. Less than a week after the ruling, national nonprofit organization American Civil Liberties Union posted four billboards -- two in English and two in Spanish -- directed toward the U.S. Border Patrol in McAllen, Texas. SERIESโก๏ธhttps://t.co/cyhXtWpDZR #KSATBorderJourney pic.twitter.com/Ij9kAdCFht โ Adrian Garcia (@adrianrolgarcia) July 23, 2018โBorder Patrol: Children belong with families, not in jails,โ the billboards say. AdThe ACLU has been vocal on its social media pages, calling the family separations โcruel and inhumane policies.โThe Trump administration faces a deadline of this Thursday, July 26, to reunite all children separated by the administrationโs cruel and inhuman policies.
Volunteers focus on families affected by zero tolerance policy
McALLEN, Texas โ A group of volunteers from California are trying to help families recently affected by the zero tolerance policy. This past weekend, a dozen volunteers from San Mateo, California accompanied U.S. Rep. Jackie Speier to McAllen, Texas, after hearing about the separation of families. Related: Group goes on hunger strike to protest immigrant families separatedThe volunteers worked and collected needed items: a total of 21 bags and 50 boxes, all before traveling to the Rio Grande Valley. But we know we can't do that so this is the next best thing we can provide," Rey said. "We are tired of wringing our hands and just not sleeping at night," Rey said.
Democratic leaders experience RGV detention centers firsthand
Democratic leaders and members of pro-immigration organizations gathered in the Rio Grande Valley on Saturday. Democratic members of Congress spoke with Border Patrol agents and still have no clear picture of when the rest of the children will be with their parents. They expressed their feelings after a tour of detention centers earlier in the day. Many of the leaders described the conditions the people inside were staying in as inhumane. As city leaders across the country continue learning details of the issue, they are taking action.