HIDALGO COUNTY

The city of Mission is now looking into terminating its contract with an energy savings company that is at the center of a federal investigation into a bribery scheme involving several elected officials from western Hidalgo County.

Seven deaths, 457 people hospitalized and 385 more cases make up the new COVID-19 activity reported in Hidalgo County Wednesday.

He has had two rounds of the COVID-19 vaccines.

During a court hearing Tuesday over the city of Mission’s contract with an energy savings company, City Manager Randy Perez acknowledged the identity of city officials that were involved in a federal investigation that has already led multiple officials from western Hidalgo County to plead guilty to bribery. Among those officials was Armin Garza, a board trustee for the La Joya school district. He influenced those school district employees with promotions or pay raises, and he admitted he received at least $234,500 in bribes from the company and their subcontractors. O’Caña was employed with the La Joya school district, where Armin Garza served on the school board, until he retired in 2019. Ortega Ochoa, O’Cana’s niece, is still employed at the school district.

The deadline for residents to pay their 2019 property taxes is just a week away. Property taxes are due on Jan. 31, Hidalgo County Tax Assessor-Collector Pablo “Paul” Villarreal Jr. is reminding residents. Property taxes can be paid online at www.hidalgocountytax.org or by mail by sending the payment to the Hidalgo County Tax Office, P.O. If they do pay at the bank, residents are required to bring their original light green statement or online statement. For more information, residents can visit the county website at www.hidalgocountytax.org or call their Edinburg Main Office at (956) 318-2157.

Hidalgo County announced Tuesday afternoon that county Judge Richard F. Cortez tested positive for COVID-19 earlier in the day, the second time he has contracted the coronavirus. “I was feeling a little under the weather and a routine COVID test came back positive,” Cortez said in a news release. The news about Cortez came hours after the county reported one COVID-19 related death and 248 new cases of the virus Tuesday morning. The county has had a total of 129,400 positive cases, including 74,271 confirmed, 51,923 probable and 3,206 suspected cases. The county also reported 842 new cases among students and 101 new cases among staff in county schools.

Despite the latest spike in COVID-19 cases in Hidalgo County, new mask requirements for local students appear unlikely. Education and health leaders not currently supporting a strong mask requirement give a variety of reasons for doing so. Greg Abbot and the state related to an executive order prohibiting mandates for face coverings and instituted in-house mask requirements. The Monitor reported on three sizable districts in the county that decided, one way or another, to proceed without a firm mask requirement. It also appears unlikely that local districts who don’t have a firm mask requirement will institute one.

Hidalgo County reported 446 new cases of the coronavirus Monday along with five deaths related to it. Three of the five who died were vaccinated, a county release said. The death toll in Hidalgo County is now 3,584. Schools continued to add COVID-19 data to the county’s total Monday, reporting 58 positive staff and 273 positive student cases. So far Hidalgo County schools have recorded 2,419 employee and 8,466 student infections.

Two brothers are in jail in Hidalgo County accused of beating their stepfather to death for sexually abusing their 9-year-old sister.

After a traffic stop, a man told a Hidalgo County sheriff's deputy he had a small amount of personal use cocaine.  That statement resulted in his and a woman's arrests on accusations that they had a little more than 93 pounds of cocaine.

A small, unsupervised space heater caused a family to lose their mobile home in northern Hidalgo County late Saturday night, according to the county fire marshal.

A family in northern Hidalgo County saw their home engulfed in flames Saturday evening as firefighters worked to put out the fire. Over a dozen public safety vehicles lined the highway road around 10 p.m. while the smoke billowed from the home. No family members were injured, according to one of the young men who lived at the house. The family huddled nearby as they watched the efforts of the first responders to extinguish hot spots around 11 p.m. Neighbors took them blankets and food to help them withstand the cold temperatures, which felt like the 40s amid a chilling drizzle.

Hidalgo County school districts are continuing to struggle with widespread staffing shortages caused by the return of students and teachers to campuses during the latest spike in COVID-19.

Twenty-seven people have died from COVID-19 this week in Hidalgo County, according to county data, in addition to 1,210 people testing positive for the virus.

Texas Tribune health and human services reporter Karen Brooks Harper will moderate a conversation with public health leaders from Hidalgo, Angelina and El Paso counties.

With last year's winter freeze fresh on the minds of Rio Grande Valley residents, Hidalgo County Judge Richard F. Cortez is reminding the public to take precautions for what may be a severe weather weekend, and citrus and vegetable growers are doing their part to protect the crops from the devastation incurred in 2021.

A total of 13 COVID-19 related deaths were reported in Hidalgo County on Thursday along with 119 new cases while hospitalizations continued to climb. Their deaths raise the county’s total number of COVID deaths in the county to 3,573. The 119 new cases reported Thursday include 60 confirmed and 59 probable cases. In hospitals throughout the county, the number of people hospitalized due to COVID-19 continues to rise. The county reported 409 people were hospitalized due to COVID-19 up from the 380 reported on Wednesday.

A probable cause affidavit has revealed more details about a shooting that killed one man and injured two others. Deputies found three three male subjects with gunshot wounds, as well as a Mercury Grand Marquis with bullet holes. In speaking with the two survivors, deputies learned that the shooting took place at a raspa stand located in the 600 block of Canton Road in rural Donna. Sheriff’s investigators descended upon both scenes and gathered evidence, including surveillance footage from the raspa stand. They also arrested three juveniles for their alleged roles in the shooting on Saturday, Jan. 15.

Republican hopefuls for Hidalgo County judge had their shot to address issues posed during a candidate forum Monday night. GOP candidates include Esmeralda Flores, who is running for office for the first time, and Jane Cross, who is making her second bid for county judge. Salinas, himself a former county judge, asked the candidates about numerous important topics for Hidalgo County, like drainage, infrastructure and new laws, including one concerning mail-in ballots. Her greatest concern are coronavirus mandates from Hidalgo County, even though most of which have since been rescinded. The moderator also asked them what role they believe the county judge plays in the immigration debate.

The Hidalgo County District Attorney’s Office has recommended that a 42-year-old McAllen man accused of kidnapping and murdering his ex-wife spend the rest of his life in prison. “The video showed that as soon as Ms. Banda arrived at the home, Mr. Ford approached her from behind and grabbed and covered her mouth,” the affidavit stated. Banda began to kick and scream and Mr. Ford continued to wrestle with her until he got to the Dodge Journey. Mr. Ford is seen shoving Ms. Banda in the backseat and he gets into the driver seat.”Sheriff J.E. “Eddie” Guerra previously said investigators believe Ford killed Banda less than an hour after the abduction by cutting her throat.

Hospitalizations in Hidalgo County have gone from an alarming increase over time to now soaring, with 380 people with COVID-19 being treated in local hospitals compared to the 266 the county reported just one day ago. In addition to the sharp rise in hospitalizations, the county also reported 407 new cases of COVID-19 and six more deaths, five of whom were vaccinated. The new cases, composed of 72 confirmed and 335 probable cases, raise the county’s overall tally to 128,178, of which there have been 73,709 confirmed, 51,273 probable and 3,196 suspect cases since the start of the pandemic. Cases in schools have also increased significantly with 654 students and 218 staff members testing positive in Hidalgo County campuses, raising overall totals to 6,551 and 1,909, respectively, since those numbers started being tracked in August 2021. Of the 380 people in hospitals with COVID, 35 are pediatric patients.

Democratic candidates for Hidalgo County judge joined a forum Monday evening hosted by the advocacy group Futuro RGV, and addressed a wide range of issues and visions for the region. The forum was moderated by former Hidalgo County Judge J.D. Salinas, who began the hour-long forum by asking the candidates what they believe Hidalgo County’s biggest asset is and to identify the community’s single greatest asset. However, she says to fully utilize this asset Hidalgo County’s perception in the rest of the country needs to change. The biggest concern from Tania’s perspective is her belief that the Rio Grande Valley and Hidalgo County do not work together.

The Donna school district Monday joined a growing number of Hidalgo County school systems that have approved additional paid leave for employees isolated because of COVID-19 since the beginning of the spring semester. The resolution greenlit by Donna’s board approved up to seven days of isolation because of COVID-19 and is retroactive as of Jan. 3. Donna ISD Superintendent Angela Dominguez said in an email that the resolution approved by the board resembles a COVID-19 leave policy the district had in place last year. “We offer testing for staff and students and monitor academic supports for students who need to quarantine through remote conferencing. All employees in Donna ISD are helping to cover where needed and it is truly a team effort.

Hidalgo County reported two COVID-19 related deaths and 275 new cases Tuesday morning. The county reported two men in their 60s from Edinburg and Weslaco died due to complications related to COVID-19. The county has now had a total of 127,771 positive cases, including 73,637 confirmed cases, 50,938 probable cases, and 3,196 suspected cases. The county also reported 49 new cases among students and 15 new cases among staff in county schools. Hidalgo County has administered a total of 763,030 COVID-19 tests, and 634,471 of those tests had negative results.

Hidalgo County Tax Offices have made operational changes and will have the Alamo substation closed throughout this week. The substation will be closed through Friday while the San Juan location is now operational again, Hidalgo County Tax Assessor and Collector Pablo Villarreal Jr. said in a news release. Taxpayers are encouraged to visit the San Juan substation or other locations around the county, and to use alternative payment methods. Credit cards and e-checks can be used to pay for property tax payments online. Residents can also mail tax payments and vehicle renewals to P.O.

Hidalgo County reported five COVID-19 related deaths and 421 newly reported positive cases Friday morning. Friday’s positive cases include 201 confirmed cases, 217 probable cases, and three suspect cases. Hidalgo County has now had a total of 127,496 positive cases, including 73,507 confirmed cases, 50,798 probable cases, and 3,191 suspect cases. The county also reported 142 new cases among students and 29 new cases among staff in county schools. The county reported an additional 1,119 people were released from isolation Friday, raising that total to 123,116.

Hidalgo County confirmed another eight cases of the omicron variant were detected in the county, in addition to the five cases of the variant that were previously reported. While there have only been 13 cases of omicron recorded in the county so far, the county said omicron was considered the predominant variant among current cases. The confirmation of more omicron cases comes as COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to rise throughout the entire Rio Grande Valley. Three of those individuals were not vaccinated, the county reported in a news release issued Thursday. Starr County reported 113 confirmed cases and 32 probable cases on Thursday while Willacy County reported 30 confirmed cases and three probable cases, according to DSHS data.

If you own the cutest dog in the area and want your friends, family and strangers to know it, then Hidalgo County has just the contest for you. The contest was created by Hidalgo County Judge Richard F. Cortez’s office in advance of February’s Responsible Pet Owners month. Photographs of puppies and puppies at heart can be entered into four categories: Best Dressed, Golden Oldie, Cutest Dog, and Most Beautiful Eyes. Pet parents can submit photos of their four-legged family members into each category, as long as a different picture is used for each category. The winner with the highest number of interactions will be revealed at the Paws at the Park event on Feb. 5 and will be published on the county judge’s social media pages.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is opening a drive-thru testing site in Edinburg next week. FEMA will be holding a drive-thru testing site at the Edinburg Municipal Park beginning on Jan. 19 in partnership with Hidalgo County, the city of Edinburg and the Texas Division of Emergency Management, according to a news release issued Thursday. Health officials expect to administer about 1,000 COVID-19 tests per day and the testing site will be open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. until Feb. 4. “I commend state and federal officials for assisting our Hidalgo County residents by providing thousands of free COVID-19 tests,” Hidalgo County Judge Richard F. Cortez said in the release. “We welcome the opportunity to partner with state, federal and county officials to bring these much needed tests to our community.”

Hidalgo County reported six COVID-related deaths Thursday as hospitalizations in the county increased by 34. Three of those individuals were not vaccinated, the county reported in a news release issued Thursday. The county also reported 320 new cases, including 111 confirmed, 207 probable and two suspected cases. COVID-19 hospitalizations throughout the county went up to 253, a more than 15% increase from the 219 hospitalizations reported the previous day. Of the 253 hospitalizations reported Thursday, 206 are adult patients and 47 are pediatric patients.

There are now 219 people with COVID-19 being treated in local hospitals in Hidalgo County, according to a news release Wednesday morning that also confirmed nearly 500 new cases of the virus and four deaths. The county confirmed 495 new cases Wednesday, of which 280 are confirmed and 215 probable. Hidalgo County’s current case tally is 126,755, with 1,633 net active cases as of Wednesday. In local schools, 148 students and 41 staff members tested positive for COVID-19. Earlier this week, Hidalgo County health officials said that as many as 18,000 new cases of COVID-19 were seen locally over a two-week period, which does not reflect daily case numbers from the county, and cited backlogging as an issue.

Hidalgo County reported one COVID-19 related death and 530 newly reported positive cases Tuesday morning. Tuesday’s 530 new cases include 245 confirmed cases, 283 probable cases, and two suspect cases. The new cases raised the county’s total number of positive cases to 126,260, including 72,894 confirmed cases, 50,178 probable cases, and 3,188 suspect cases. The county also reported 96 new cases among students and 29 new cases among staff in county schools. Since the start of the pandemic, Hidalgo County has administered 756,738 COVID-19 tests, and 629,773 of those tests yielded negative results.

Though Hidalgo County health officials have been reporting hundreds of COVID-19 cases on a daily basis, the number of new positive cases is actually a lot higher with more than 18,000 positive tests having been reported to the county over the last two weeks. Because of the backlog in data, the county has actually had more than 18,000 positive cases from Dec. 23 to Jan. 10 as opposed to the approximately 3,000 cases the county has reported during that time. “So our daily count does not necessarily reflect the actual positive tests.”On Monday, Hidalgo County reported 442 new cases of COVID-19. County health officials also reported that they are working with local school districts to coordinate vaccine clinics for students. Cameron County health officials reported 2,011 new cases — 1,358 confirmed and 653 probable cases.

Hidalgo County reported 442 new cases of COVID-19 Monday along with one death related to the virus. Local schools continued to report pandemic data Monday, adding 33 staff cases and 133 student cases to their totals. Area hospitals are treating 163 adults and 15 pediatric patients with the virus; 43 of the adults and two of the pediatric patients are in intensive care units. The county reported 371 individuals released from isolation Monday, bringing it to a total of 120,331 released from isolation. Hidalgo County health officials reported Monday that they are working with local school districts to coordinate vaccine clinics for students.

Hidalgo County sheriff’s deputies reunited a kangaroo with its owner Saturday after it got loose in Mercedes, according to the sheriff’s office.

It’s not an animal you would expect to see in Texas, but for residents in Hidalgo County, this animal sighting had some calling local authorities.

Despite rising coronavirus hospitalizations and cases, jury trials will continue in Hidalgo County, but all in-person hearings that are not absolutely necessary are on hold.

More than 1,500 people tested positive for COVID-19 this week in Hidalgo County, with 471 cases on Friday alone.

Hidalgo County schools reported another 662 new cases of the virus Thursday as Rio Grande Valley schools continue to grapple with a return to in-person instruction amid a surge of infections and staffing shortages. There were 216 new cases among school staff and 446 cases among students, according to Thursday’s data from Hidalgo County health officials. That brings the total number of positive cases at schools to 1,468 among staff and 5,041 among students since August 2021. The 398 new positive cases include 150 confirmed cases, 147 probable cases and one suspected case. Those cases include 72,056 confirmed cases, 49,579 probable cases, and 3,182 suspected cases.

Three Mission residents were charged with failing to report Hidalgo County’s first homicide of the year, and the gunman is expected to face charges Thursday.

Hidalgo County COVID-19 hospitalizations increased by 60% in a single day, according to data the county reported Wednesday showing a jump of 56 more people in local hospitals from day to day.

Nereida Lopez-Singleterry has dedicated her career to advocating for people from all walks of life to give them a fighting chance when navigating the complicated justice system. Through her work as an attorney, public defender, and judge, Nereida has acquired the experience, work ethic, and strong ties to the community needed to transform the Hidalgo County District Attorney’s office into one that is always accessible, fair, and effective.

Mission police have identified the 31-year-old man found dead with a gunshot wound on Monday as Edgar Treviño. Police spokesman Art Flores said his death is being investigated as a homicide, Hidalgo County’s first of 2022. The investigation remains ongoing and Flores said police will provide updates as they are available. Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the Mission Police Department at (956) 584-5000. Those wishing to provide information anonymously can call Mission Crime Stoppers at (956) 581-8477.

Hidalgo County reported three COVID-19 deaths and 474 new cases of the virus Tuesday as hospitalizations are approaching 100. The 474 new cases include 215 confirmed, 257 probable and two suspected cases. They raised the county’s total number of positive cases to 124,199, including 71,785 confirmed, 49,232 probable and 3,182 suspected cases. The county also reported no new cases among students and three new cases among staff in county schools. As of Tuesday morning, Hidalgo County has administered a total of 746,781 COVID-19 tests, and 621,795 of those tests yielded negative results.

However, her one claim to the title is her role as municipal judge with the city of Granjeno, where no active municipal court currently exists. In her campaign to be the next county judge, Ramirez touted her position as a judge, adding the title before her name on campaign signs and including it as a nickname when she filed with the secretary of state’s office. Ramirez was appointed municipal judge for Granjeno in late August 2021. She is the first municipal judge for the town which, in 2019, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated had a population of 418. The Texas Municipal League referred The Monitor to the Texas Municipal Courts Education Center which referred to the Texas Local Government Code, which did not clearly state whether a municipality could have a municipal judge without an active municipal court.

“There are no plans currently for Hidalgo County to disrupt commerce with any type of closure,” the judge wrote. “Decisions regarding local schools are properly being made by administrators and school boards overseeing those schools; Hidalgo County is providing statistical data to aid in those decisions but is not involved in any final determination regarding schools,” Cortez wrote. McAllen, Edinburg, PSJA, Mercedes, Donna and Edcouch-Elsa school districts all advertised testing and vaccination locations. Most districts are offering testing in-house, testing that may become more important due to longer lines at off-campus sites. These delays also caused the cancellation of COVID-19 testing at IDEA Public Schools in the county.

Other districts — many of which will see students return Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday — appear to be sticking with their planned schedule while plugging vaccine and testing opportunities. McAllen, Edinburg, PSJA, Mercedes, Donna and Edcouch-Elsa school districts all advertised testing and vaccination locations. The rise in COVID-19 cases has led to longer lines and wait times at testing sites across the Valley. Most districts are offering testing in-house, although some have indicated that their testing capacity may be limited. “This afternoon we were notified by our health partner that due to unforeseen shipping delays in COVID-19 testing supplies, we are unable to offer COVID testing tomorrow, January 3, at our school-based testing sites,” a statement from IDEA McAllen read.

Other districts — many of which will see students return Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday — appear to be sticking with their planned schedule while plugging vaccine and testing opportunities. McAllen, Edinburg, PSJA, Mercedes, Donna and Edcouch-Elsa school districts all advertised testing and vaccination locations. The rise in COVID-19 cases has led to longer lines and wait times at testing sites across the Valley. Most districts are offering testing in-house, although some have indicated that their testing capacity may be limited. “This afternoon we were notified by our health partner that due to unforeseen shipping delays in COVID-19 testing supplies, we are unable to offer COVID testing tomorrow, January 3, at our school-based testing sites,” a statement from IDEA McAllen read.

There were six COVID-related deaths and a total of 1,347 people tested positive for the virus this week in Hidalgo County.

There were six COVID-related deaths and a total of 1,347 people tested positive for the virus this week in Hidalgo County.

The Hidalgo County Commissioners Court on Tuesday approved the creation of the Hidalgo County Adult Sexual Assault Response team.

Hidalgo County reported two more residents died due to COVID-19 and another 600 people tested positive. Their deaths raise the county’s total number of COVID fatalities to 3,528. The 600 new cases reported Thursday is the largest single-day increase in cases in Hidalgo County since September, according to Hidalgo County’s COVID-19 dashboard. The new cases include 377 confirmed cases and 223 probable cases. The 88 patients include 75 adults and 13 pediatric patients.

One Hidalgo County resident died due to COVID-19 while 400 more people tested positive, the county reported Wednesday. A McAllen man over 70 years old, who was unvaccinated, is the latest COVID-related death for the county, which brings the county’s total COVID death toll to 3,526. The 400 new cases include 245 confirmed and 155 probable cases. Hidalgo County now has a total of 123,125 recorded cases since the start of the pandemic. That includes 71,181 confirmed cases, 48,763 probable cases, and 3,181 suspected cases.

Amid the heated rhetoric around an increase in migrants, people on opposite ends of the Texas-Mexico border see the problems — and solutions — differently.

The executive order allows DPS troopers to reroute vehicles back to their origin point or a port of entry. Critics say citing the coronavirus as justification is hypocritical since the governor won't let local officials require masks in public.

Many local officials and business leaders along the border say that the rhetoric is misplaced and that the broader needs of their communities can often get lost.

Three medical professionals discuss what they have learned about where Texas is — and where it is going — in the COVID-19 pandemic.

A man is charged with manslaughter after Hidalgo County sheriff’s deputies said he fatally shot his 21-year-old cousin last week.

MCALLEN, Texas – Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said Thursday that he’s hoping to increase the number of Texans getting COVID-19 vaccines after seeing a drop in people showing up for the shot. “We’re beginning to see a decrease in demand for vaccinations,” Abbott said at a news conference Thursday in border city of McAllen. “Seniors who contract COVID are the people who are most likely to either be hospitalized or lose their life because of COVID,” Abbott said. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 3.3 million Texans have completed their vaccinations.

Need to stay updated on coronavirus news in Texas? The first known case of a new and possibly more contagious coronavirus strain has been reported in Texas, in an adult male resident of Harris County who had no history of travel, according to the state health services department and Judge Lina Hidalgo. It does not cause a more severe disease and vaccines “are expected to be effective against it,” the health services department said of the variant. But “the fact that this person had no travel history suggests this variant is already circulating in Texas,” said Dr. John Hellerstedt, commissioner of the state’s health services department. The case is being investigated by the state health services department and Harris County Public Health.

HIDALGO COUNTY – More than 2,000 people in Hidalgo County have died as a result of COVID-19. They’re now a part of a photo collage on the billboards for the entire Rio Grande Valley to see and to remember. Three billboards in Hidalgo County memorialize hundreds of COVID-19 victims. The billboard is a... Posted by Hidalgo County on Monday, December 21, 2020Cortez is no stranger to coronavirus, having recently tested positive himself. Three billboards in Hidalgo County memorialize hundreds of COVID-19 victims.

Among these cases, nearly 3 in 10 people were charged only for the emergency order violation, the district attorney said. In the initial month of the virus’ spread in Texas, orders were coming out every few weeks or even days. Fines pile up, and cases are dismissedOutcomes for violating COVID-19 orders varied from community to community in the Valley. Daisy Alvarado was one of more than 340 people cited by Cameron County sheriff’s deputies for violating COVID-19 orders. The virus’ toll hasn’t changed Alvarez’s opinion that rules like the emergency orders need to be applied cautiously.

(Hidalgo County (Texas) Sheriff's Office, via AP)BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A Canadian woman accused of mailing packages containing the deadly poison ricin to the White House and several Texas law enforcement agencies has been indicted on new federal charges of making interstate threats and violating prohibitions on biological weapons. A grand jury in Brownsville, Texas, on Monday handed up sixteen counts against Pascale Ferrier, court records show. In September, Ferrier pleaded not guilty to making threats against President Donald Trump by mailing a package containing ricin to the White House after she was arrested at the U.S.-Canada border. Ferrier is also alleged to have sent ricin to six detention centers and law enforcement agencies in the Rio Grande Valley in Texas. The package was intercepted before it reached the White House.

Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston received COVID-19 vaccine supply kits in December. El Paso County Judge Ricardo Samaniego said he’s concerned about community spread continuing as the vaccine begins to be administered. The pandemic has disproportionately affected El Paso and Hidalgo counties compared to areas of similar or larger sizes in Texas. As of Wednesday, there had been more than 91,000 cases recorded in El Paso County, the fourth-highest total in the state. This is an exciting time,” said Mielke, the University Medical Center of El Paso spokesperson.

The Edinburg High School senior defensive linemen who knocked a referee to the ground for ejecting him from the game was booked into jail Friday, Hidalgo County records show. Duron was tossed from the game Thursday night during the matchup between the Edinburg High School Bobcats and the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Bears. Unfortunately this type of blind-sided assault on an official while working on the field is not new to Texas Football,” the statement read. In 2015, two John Jay High School football players hit a referee in the middle of a play. READ MORE FROM KSAT.COM:Edinburg High School pulls out of football playoffs after player attacked refereeSouth Texas high school football player attacks referee after being ejected from game

HIDALGO COUNTY, Texas – Hidalgo County became the second Texas county keeping its polling locations open an extra hour, until 8 p.m. Central, after technical problems slowed voting early in the day. The county’s elections department said 10 of their locations experienced technical issues. "Making sure our voters have the opportunity to cast their ballot is our utmost priority," said Hidalgo County Elections Administrator Yvonne Ramón in a statement. “Extending the closure of the polls to 8 p.m. will provide that opportunity to the voters of Hidalgo County.”The elections department said the problems were due to “laptop check-in issues.” Although currently all 74 county polling locations are operating, several of them had to postpone opening this morning, according to the Texas Civil Rights Project. — Juan Pablo GarnhamRELATED:

EDINBURG, Texas – 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.

As daily case counts and hospitalizations across Texas tick upward, local health officials are cracking down on Halloween. If families still choose to go trick-or-treating, Austin health officials are asking that they only go with household members, keep 6 feet from others and use hand sanitizer between houses. “This year, we are encouraging families to make new traditions,” said Austin Public Health director Stephanie Hayden. “There’s some [parents] that are screaming and yelling about how can we keep their children from enjoying Halloween traditions, and there’s some that say thank you for keeping us safe,” Cortez said. It’s not quite the same, but it’s hopefully good enough to give him a little bit of a Halloween experience.”

The lawsuit alleges that injuries he sustained from an early morning arrest on April 12, and lack of care after his arrest, led to his death. The deputies named in the lawsuit are Steven Farias and Marco Guerrero, along with two unidentified deputies referred to as John Doe 1 and 2. Deputies approached Zuniga “and when they discovered he lived elsewhere they told him to go home.”A statement from Hidalgo County Sheriff J.E. A photograph provided in the lawsuit shows Zuniga prior to his release from the hospital on June 5. Photograph from a wrongful death lawsuit shows the condition of Jorge Zuniga immediately prior to his release from the hospital.

But he’s frustrated as he struggles through his online classes at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley when he should be sitting in the front row, he said, where he learns best. In fact, Rio Grande Valley cities consistently rank near the top of nationwide surveys of households without internet. The situation is similar throughout the Rio Grande Valley, which also includes Harlingen and McAllen, among other cities. She took a full load of classes online over the summer while working two jobs. Disclosure: University of Texas Rio Grande Valley has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors.

HIDALGO COUNTY, Texas – Hidalgo County reported its first COVID-19 related pediatric death on Friday, according to county officials. The child’s death is one of the 20 deaths related to COVID-19 complications announced Friday. This brings the total number of cases in Hidalgo County to 21,806. To learn more about the COVID-19 numbers in Hidalgo County, click here. RELATED: Bexar County adds 150 new COVID-19 cases

MCALLEN, TX – 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 — Hidalgo County (@HidalgoCounty) July 29, 2020“I am saddened by the passing of our Hidalgo County residents. Read the county’s 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

Elisa Soliz, front right, sat with her sisters in Hidalgo County in May. Her oldest sister, Beatriz Gonzalez, front left, died from the new coronavirus later that month. Courtesy of Elisa Soliz(Audio unavailable. Elisa Soliz lost her sister to the new coronavirus in late May and says at least nine other family members have tested positive. The 63-year-old school bus driver lives in Hidalgo County in the Rio Grande Valley an area thats been devastated by the pandemic.

AUSTIN, Texas While some big cities in Texas are reporting signs that an alarming surge in cases of the coronavirus may be leveling off, officials in counties along the border with Mexico said Tuesday that the outlook there remains bleak. Greg Abbotts past mandates that do not allow local officials to set their own stay-at-home restrictions. Texas on Tuesday reported more than 9,300 confirmed new cases and 131 deaths, the states second deadliest day of the pandemic. Meanwhile, Texas is pressing ahead with plans for high school football this fall. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.

MCALLEN, TX – 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 governor’s 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 county’s 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.”To date, Hidalgo county has reported 12,263 cases of COVID-19 since the beginning of the outbreak.

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 “highly encouraged and recommended that all commercial businesses” cease their activities, unless they are essential, like activities related to health, safety or necessary supplies. “However, this order does not force businesses to shut down in the Rio Grande Valley.”Cortez 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.

SAN ANTONIO – Officials in Hidalgo County on Tuesday put a hold on in-person instruction for students on the same day that more than 30 COVID-19 deaths were announced for the county. Dr. Ivan Melendez, the chief physician of the Hidalgo County Local Health Authority, has ordered that all school districts, both public and private, must keep campuses closed to students until after Sept. 27. The schools can provide virtual or remote learning until then, the Hidalgo County Commissioners Court said in a release. “I commend Dr. Melendez for putting the safety of our students, teachers and district staff first,” Hidalgo County Judge Richard F. Cortez said. San Antonio doctor, teacher, psychologist weigh inDue to the alarming increase in COVID-10 cases, deaths and hospitalizations, Texas Gov.

HIDALGO COUNTY, Texas – Hidalgo County, Starr County, and Valley Baptist Health System hospitals have now reached capacity due to the influx of COVID-19 cases in the area, according to a report from KRGV. The Valley Baptist Health System has reached its capacity as well with COVID-19 patients, according to a report from KRGV. KRGV reports the Valley Baptist Medical Center-Harlingen had 141 COVID-19 related patients as of Friday afternoon, and Valley Baptist Medical Center-Brownsville had 97. According to KRGV’s report, every hospital in the Valley is full and patients are being taken to other parts of Texas. As of Friday, the county announced a new daily high of COVID-19 cases with 1,334, totaling 14,212 cases total in the community.

More than a third of Texans speak a language other than English at home, according to census data. In Austin, city officials regularly post updates and infographics on Facebook and Twitter in Spanish, Vietnamese and Chinese. A third of people in the capital city speak languages other than English at home, according to census data. Unlike Texas' Spanish speakers, who can depend on a handful of local Spanish-language TV news and radio stations, Burmese speakers have fewer options. Thats information officials should be communicating to their constituents, said Josephine Lopez Paul, lead organizer for Dallas Area Interfaith.

HIDALGO COUNTY, Texas – A Texas man is now behind bars after officials say he killed a puppy that wasn’t his “out of boredom.”According to the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office, Claudio Gomez, 21, was arrested Wednesday after a concerned citizen reported seeing a video on Facebook of a man torturing a dog. Upon further investigation, officials reviewed the video, claiming it showed a man hanging a small puppy by its neck from a tree, resulting in its death. Media Release-Cruelty to Non-Livestock Animals The Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office has arrested 21-year-old, Claudio... Posted by Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office on Friday, February 14, 2020Deputies were able to find the address of where the video was recorded and met with Gomez, who admitted to hanging the dog out of boredom, authorities say. Gomez was arrested and taken to the county jail. The investigation is still ongoing and anyone with more information on the case is urged to contact the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division at 956-383-8114.

HIDALGO COUNTY – The Border Patrol Rio Grande Valley Sector remains the busiest in the county with more than 14,000 apprehensions just last month. While on a ride along with the RGV Sector, Border Patrol agents spotted a group of immigrants who had crossed over the Rio Grande illegally to the United States. Border Patrol agent Marcelino Medina found a man who eventually walked out of the brush he was hiding in and surrendered to the agents. Often times, we refer that as potential threats in the mix … wanted for murder, MS-13 (gang) members (or) 18th Street gang members," Medina said. According to the Department of Homeland Security, the number of apprehensions along the Southwest border was more than 34,000 in June.