35 family members of Uvalde shooting victims throw their support behind Beto OโRourke ahead of debate
In a news conference ahead of the only gubernatorial debate, 35 family members of Uvalde school shooting victims said they would support OโRourke because of Gov. Greg Abbottโs inaction on gun control measures.
Voters anticipate Gov. Abbott, OโRourke will discuss abortion during debate
Republican Governor Greg Abbott and Democratic Gubernatorial candidate Beto OโRourke are set to debate Friday in Edinburg. Voters are hoping both gubernatorial candidates address the complexities of abortion to give voters a clear sense of where they stand before election day.
More people in Texas are hospitalized for COVID-19 than at any other time during the pandemic
The COVID-19 unit at Doctors Hospital at Renaissance Health System in Edinburg in June. Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas TribuneThe Texas Department of State Health Services reported Monday a pandemic high 11,351 hospitalizations from COVID-19. This hospital data does not account for people who are hospitalized but have not gotten a positive test, and DSHS says some hospitals may be missing from the daily counts. As of Monday, the state is also reporting 49 deaths from COVID-19, a lagging indicator of the extent of transmission rates, and more than 12,800 new confirmed COVID-19 cases. Across the state, COVID-19 patients occupy 17.8% of the state's hospital beds, and only 745 staffed ICU beds are still available.
Film documents history of Underground Railroad in South Texas
EDINBURG, Texas โ A little known chapter of Civil War history makes for a dramatic story told in โJust a Ferry Ride to Freedom,โ a documentary produced by the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley. The film is based on the choice made by runaway slaves prior to the Civil War, to head south instead of north, to Mexico using another Underground Railroad. The route to freedom would be longer over treacherous terrain between the Nueces and Rio Grande Rivers. Instead, she relied on oral histories with the descendants of those who helped or decided to stay in South Texas, many of whom are now buried in the Rio Grande Valley. They helped other people.โBoth he and Bacha-Garza said the people of the Rio Grande Valley should be proud of its history.
Texans who are over 65 or have certain medical conditions are next in line for COVID-19 vaccine
Syringes for the COVID-19 vaccine at Doctors Hospital at Renaissance in Edinburg on Dec. 19, 2020. Credit: Jason Garza for The Texas TribuneNeed to stay updated on coronavirus news in Texas? Texans who are 65 years old and older, and those who are at least 16 with certain chronic medical conditions will be next in line for the COVID-19 vaccine, the Texas Department of State Health Services announced on Monday. There are nearly 1.9 million Texans in that group, so it will likely take a few weeks before the state transitions to the next phase, state health officials said. More than 42,000 doses of the vaccine had been administered in Texas as of Monday, state data shows. Qualifying conditions for the next phase of the vaccine include, but are not limited to:
South Texas high school football player attacks referee after being ejected from game
EDINBURG, Texas โ A South Texas high school football player charged onto the field and bowled over a referee Thursday night, angered after being ejected from the game. Senior defensive lineman Emmanuel Duron of Edinburg High School came running from the sideline area after the referee announced the ejection, slamming into the official during the first half of the zone play-in game against Pharr-San Juan-Alamo. The Monitor of McAllen reported the referee was evaluated for a concussion by medical personnel at the stadium. The game resumed after a delay, with Edinburg winning 35-21 to advance to the playoffs. The District 31-6A Defensive Player of the Year last season, Duron also is the Bobcatsโ kicker and punter and a star wrestler.
Hidalgo County reports 4 new West Nile cases, 3 new Dengue Fever cases
EDINBURG, Texas โ Hidalgo County health officials reported four new West Nile Virus cases and three new cases of Dengue Fever on Monday. In September, 18 Texas counties reported having a case of West Nile virus, including Bexar County, according to state data. According to Olivarez, the West Nile cases were found in the Mercedes, Weslaco and Edinburg areas. County officials said that additionally, three other cases were reported to Hidalgo County a week ago. To protect yourself against either West Nile or Dengue, you must protect yourselves against mosquitoes.
Texas' count of coronavirus deaths jumps 12% after officials change the way they tally COVID-19 fatalities
After months of undercounting coronavirus deaths, Texas formal tally of COVID-19 fatalities grew by more than 600 on Monday after state health officials changed their method of reporting. The revised count indicates that more than 12% of the states death tally was previously unreported by state health officials before Monday. The Texas Department of State Health Services is now counting deaths marked on death certificates as caused by COVID-19. State health officials said Monday that the policy change would improve the accuracy and timeliness of their data. As of July 26, state officials said about 5,030 people who tested positive for the virus had died.
Five U.S. Navy teams deploy to Rio Grande Valley, other Texas coronavirus hot spots
The U.S. Navy has deployed teams to help deal with coronavirus surges in the Rio Grande Valley and other Texas hot spots. Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas TribuneMedical professionals from the U.S. Navy were deployed Sunday to aid hospitals in four cities across southern Texas and the Rio Grande Valley, according to Gov. Early on in the pandemic, hot spots were mainly tied to outbreaks in enclosed spaces, like meatpacking plants and nursing homes. Five U.S. Navy teams were sent to four locations across Texass southern region: Harlingen, Del Rio, Eagle Pass, and Rio Grande City. Ambulance operators in the Rio Grande Valley area described wait times of up to 10 hours to deliver patients to packed emergency rooms.
Virus cases jump in worst-hit trio of US, Brazil and India
The virus is showing no signs of slowing in the worst-affected countries: the United States, Brazil and India. The U.S. reported nearly 59,000 new daily cases, just short of the record 60,000 cases set a day earlier, as President Donald Trump insisted that schools reopen in the fall. Brazil reported nearly 45,000 new cases. The virus has also been spreading rapidly in South Africa, which reported nearly 9,000 new cases in its latest daily update. He complained that his own public health officials safety guidelines are impractical and too expensive.
Texas bans elective surgeries in more than 100 counties as coronavirus hospitalizations keep climbing
Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas TribuneNeed to stay updated on coronavirus news in Texas? With cases of the new coronavirus and related hospitalizations rising at alarming rates, Gov. Greg Abbott on Thursday expanded his ban on elective medical procedures to cover more than 100 counties across much of the state. "We are freeing up more resources to address upticks in COVID-19 related cases, Abbott said in a statement. Hospital capacity is currently most taxed around the states biggest cities, as well as most of South Texas.
Nearly 14% of new U.S. COVID-19 cases are recorded in Texas
On Tuesday, the Texas Department of State Health Services reported more than 10,000 new cases representing nearly 20% of the nations new cases for the day. There has never been a higher risk of getting COVID-19 in Texas, the states public health agency wrote on Twitter on Tuesday. #COVID19TX update: https://t.co/ofycOLqWQZCurrent #COVID19 hospitalizations continue to increase. There has never been a higher risk of getting COVID-19 in #Texas. We are going to be in a situation where we have to seriously consider sheltering in place again, said Dennis Perrotta, a former Texas state epidemiologist.
Ten out of the 12 hospitals in Texas' Rio Grande Valley are now full
Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas TribuneHospitals in the Rio Grande Valley sounded the alarm Saturday as their beds filled to capacity with COVID-19 patients and some began transferring patients elsewhere. The local and Valley hospitals are at full capacity and have no more beds available, Starr County Judge Eloy Vera said in a statement. Hospitals in Starr County were also transferring patients, with at least two severely ill patients flown to Dallas and San Antonio, Vera added. As COVID-19 cases have exploded across Texas, health officials in other areas are also expressing concern about hospital capacity. Greg Abbott, who began allowing Texas businesses to reopen on May 1, expanded his June 25 ban on elective surgeries to counties in South Texas on Tuesday to preserve hospital capacity.
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.
Officials: More than $700K worth of marijuana seized in two separate incidents
EDINBURG, Texas โ Rio Grande City station agents said more than $700,000 worth of marijuana was seized in two separate incidents over the last two days. Officials received a report of multiple drug smugglers running north of the Rio Grande near Garceno on Wednesday night. After conducting a search of the vehicle, authorities said they found nearly 350 pounds of marijuana, valued at more than $275,000. On Thursday morning, RGC agents in La Rosita reported several smugglers loading โbundles of marijuanaโ into a Chevrolet Suburban. After searching the vehicle, authorities said they found more than 580 pounds of marijuana, valued at $465,000.