HIDALGO COUNTY

Hidalgo County health officials are urging residents to get their influenza vaccine with a dozen individuals being treated at a local hospital for influenza, the county reported Thursday on its Facebook page. According to health officials, two of the individuals are in the intensive care unit at the hospital. The influenza season usually begins in October and continues through May. Flu symptoms include fever or feeling feverish with the chills, cough, sore throat, a runny nose, muscle or body aches, headaches and fatigue. The health department is offering flu vaccines at its clinics, and residents can call (956) 383-6221 for more information.

Hidalgo County surpassed more than 4,000 deaths due to COVID-related complications among their residents with their report of three additional deaths on Tuesday.

For the third time in several weeks, authorities have busted smugglers using Hidalgo County airports to try to fly people in the country illegally to northern cities.

McALLEN — Recent upheaval within the city of Pharr’s ambulance service, known as Pharr EMS, may have implications in a federal lawsuit currently pending against the city and its commission. But now those allegations find themselves on shaky footing after the rebranded Pharr EMS began falling apart in recent weeks. On Friday, Pharr EMS Chief Daniel Ramirez notified 40 of his employees that they would be laid off effective Oct. 5. As first reported by the Progress Times, Pharr EMS lost nearly $7 million in its first year of operation. The pace at which Pharr EMS is shrinking has the federal judge who is presiding over Med Care’s lawsuit wondering if there will be a Pharr EMS left to sue.

McALLEN — A member of Hidalgo County Head Start’s Policy Council almost saw himself voted off the board the same evening the council terminated former executive director Teresa Flores earlier this month. “There have been, since April, different complaints that have been reached out to me, under conduct in executive session,” Segovia said. “I just tell you what it is: I think you’re wrong.”The council has been severely divided for the past two months, arguing heatedly about bylaws regarding elected council representative’s eligibility and Flores’ termination. For wider political context, Segovia is a La Joya Independent School District employee appointed to the council by Commissioner Ever Villarreal. And you lack a professional conduct…” Segovia told Padron.

Flores’ administration removed elected parent representative Sasha Espinoza from the council in early August, saying Espinoza no longer met requirements to serve. The council voted to reinstate that parent after a good deal of fighting later that month, and last week Espinoza joined a majority of the council in voting for Flores’ termination. The council reached a state of obvious dysfunction during the fight over Espinoza’s temporary removal and Flores’ termination. “That parent then forfeited their position on the policy council because they no longer had a child enrolled. In a split decision, the council voted to allow Espinoza to serve out her term and request clarification on eligibility from the regional Head Start Office in Dallas.

EDINBURG — A severe rat infestation at a child care center here concerned Hidalgo County Head Start leaders so much that they held a special meeting to specifically address the problem and come up with a program-wide plan to handle rodents. According to administrators, the monthslong infestation was largely mitigated by August, although the results of a Hidalgo County Health Department visit that was slated for this month are not clear. The rest of the group’s leadership very clearly termed it a rat infestation at its “Edinburg V” child care center on F.M. Edinburg V was not the only pest-infested location. Then-executive director Teresa Flores told representatives that a three-classroom modular location in Mission was being permanently closed because a flea infestation there could not be successfully treated.

The city of Pharr laid off about 40 EMS employees on Friday, according to a letter obtained by The Monitor. The news follows the termination of an interlocal agreement between the city and Hidalgo County.

The city of Pharr laid off about 40 EMS employees on Friday, according to a letter obtained by The Monitor. The news follows the termination of an interlocal agreement between the city and Hidalgo County.

The city of Pharr laid off about 40 EMS employees on Friday, according to a letter obtained by The Monitor. The news follows the termination of an interlocal agreement between the city and Hidalgo County. “Therefore, effective September 30, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. we will cease operations in both Hidalgo County Precinct 3 and Hidalgo County Emergency Service District 2 areas. The city of Pharr previously canceled its agreement with the county to provide emergency medical services in rural areas. On Tuesday, Hidalgo County commissioners accepted the letter of termination during a regular meeting.

The division became publicly apparent last week, when the policy council recommended Flores’ termination to the Hidalgo County Commissioners Court. On Wednesday it named Irma Peña interim executive director. “I didn’t agree with what was happening here, I don’t agree with the steps you took. Attempts to reach Peña were unsuccessful, but a beefy four-page resume shows that she worked for the Hidalgo County Head Start Program for 35 years before leaving in 2015. At the time of her appointment, Peña served as a Head Start Federal Reviewer consultant and as the social services director of Amara Hospice in Edinburg.

Hidalgo County commissioners appointed an interim elections administrator on Tuesday following the retirement of Yvonne Ramon. The Hidalgo County Commissioners Court named Hilda Salinas as interim elections administrator during its regularly called meeting on Tuesday. Salinas has served the county’s elections department as its assistant director, as well as an elections analyst. After three years, she transferred to the Elections Department, where she has continued to serve to this day. The interim elections administrator said voters should feel confident in the county’s elections process — a feeling that she intends to maintain throughout her tenure as the elections administrator.

A lawyer for recently dismissed Hidalgo County Head Start Program Executive Director Teresa Flores said Monday that his client has authorized him to move toward litigation after the Hidalgo County Commissioners Court declined to discuss her termination during a meeting Monday.

EDINBURG — Divisions on the Hidalgo County Head Start Programs Policy Council that culminated in the potential removal of Executive Director Teresa Flores last week are primed to explode at the Hidalgo County Commissioners Court meeting Tuesday morning. Can the commissioners court countermand Head Start’s leadership’s decision? It’s governed by its Policy Council, made up of representatives picked by county commissioners and the county judge, along with representatives elected by parents. Ricardo Gonzales, the program’s lawyer, declined to comment on council divisions, action taken on Flores’ position, or anything at all, really. “We have never had such a disorderly meeting as this one in the 20 years I have been the Executive Director,” she wrote.

Another 10 Rio Grande Valley residents died due to COVID-related complications, county officials reported this week, bringing Hidalgo County near 4,000 total COVID deaths. Hidalgo County reported six more residents died due to COVID-19, raising their total number of COVID-related deaths to 3,993. This brings their total number of COVID-related deaths to 2,297. Cameron County health officials reported 542 new cases this week including 236 confirmed cases, 296 probable, and 10 self-reported cases. Last week, COVID-19 hospitalizations throughout the entire Valley were trending down but continued to see small spikes.

Recent rains over the last month have removed drought conditions throughout the Rio Grande Valley and the deep South Texas Ranch and Brush Country, according to the National Weather Service in Brownsville.

A 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.

A new tool was unveiled Wednesday designed to help people with disabilities navigate the Hidalgo County website, which officials hope can aid during emergencies. Hidalgo County website visitors can now use the ‘Recite Me’ toolbar by selecting the blue “Accessibility” button on the lower right hand of the website. The toolbar can be used to enlarge or shrink the size of text. Richard F. Cortez, the Hidalgo County judge, said his office worked with the Disability Advisory Committee for Emergency Preparedness and Communication to promote inclusivity in the county’s website, especially for emergency situations. It’s the red button that’s found as the last icon on the right side of the toolbar.

The city of Pharr is terminating its interlocal cooperative agreement to provide emergency medical services to portions of western Hidalgo County. The options include proposals for the county to pay between $1.72 million and $2.3 million for the city’s emergency medical services. The clock began the day the city sent the county the letter. Pharr Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez said that to his knowledge, the county has yet to respond to the letter. The city of Pharr is not going to be paying for other people’s services outside the city limits.”

There are now a total of six cases of monkeypox in Hidalgo County, the county health department said in a news release Monday.

The opening of Hidalgo County’s new courthouse has again faced a delay toward opening to the public, but the $177 million price-tag has not increased. Because of this, the substantial completion date was scheduled for Aug. 27, but instead reached the target date by Aug. 30. “As it stands now, the building can effectively be used,” Sanchez said. As of now, Sanchez said the goal is to begin moving everyone from the old courthouse into the new courthouse in mid-October. The current auditorium used in the old courthouse for jury selection only seats around 175 people.

Democratic candidates are asking a local organization to reconsider their recent decision to scale back an all-day forum after a majority of invited Republican candidates failed to sign up for the event. Futuro RGV originally planned to host Futuro Fest which was an all-day forum featuring Democratic and Republican candidates in as many as 12 races, but only three Republicans responded. Two Democrats also failed to respond, but as a result the forum was scaled down to host only three of the 12 forums. Gonzales pointed out that no local candidates replied to Futuro RGV’s invitation, only Republicans for state races. Nedra Kinerk, president of Futuro RGV, previously expressed dissatisfaction in the lackluster response.

For many Hidalgo County residents, access to health care is often out of reach, but on Friday those services came to them in Edinburg with another planned for Saturday. Close to 80 people went to the health fair hosted at ARISE Adelante’s community center nestled in a neighborhood in east Edinburg. Miranda didn’t realize her health was in jeopardy. “I had high blood sugar from diabetes, and I didn’t even know. Proyecto Azteca, the organization which put together the event, will be hosting another health fair on Saturday.

The Boys & Girls Club of Pharr-San Juan received an AmeriCorps Grant that will be beneficial to multiple clubs throughout Hidalgo County in addressing mental health issues and learning loss resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hidalgo County reported eight COVID-related deaths this week. The county also reported 1,902 new cases this week including 739 confirmed cases and 1,163 probable cases this week. There have now been a total of 228,937 recorded cases of COVID in the county including 144,919 confirmed, 80,859 probable and 3,159 suspected cases. Cameron County health officials reported three residents died due to COVID including one individual who was fully vaccinated and two who were not. There were also 1,299 new cases of COVID in Cameron County this week including 463 confirmed, 829 probable cases and seven self-reported cases.

The Hidalgo County Health and Human Services department confirmed a second and third case of the virus in a news release Monday.

Hidalgo County’s elections administrator is retiring after 14 years on the job. Yvonne Ramón announced her retirement Monday morning.

The Texas Veterans Commission presented $3.45 million in grants to 16 organizations that serve South Texas veterans in the Rio Grande Valley and Corpus Christi areas.

The Texas Veterans Commission presented $3.45 million in grants to 16 organizations that serve South Texas veterans in the Rio Grande Valley and Corpus Christi areas. According to a news release, the grants will help provide funding for services to more than 3,000 South Texas veterans, their spouses and dependents. The grants were approved by TVC commissioners in May as part of a larger grant that totals nearly $31.5 million. Since 2009, the commission has awarded more than $234 million in funding to an estimated 400,000 Texas veterans and their families. “The grants support a wide range of services from emergency financial assistance to transportation, legal services to family support services and home modification to rental and mortgage assistance,” the news release said.

Hospitalizations for people positive for COVID-19 remained relatively steady this week across the Rio Grande Valley.

Hidalgo County Health Authority Ivan Melendez said Tuesday that monkeypox is very unlikely to pose a significant public health situation in local schools and cautioned against the community using its experience with COVID-19 to understand the more recent public health threat it's facing.

Hidalgo County confirmed its first case of monkeypox Monday.

Severe overcrowding at the Hidalgo County jail will most likely force officials to dip into the county’s reserves in order to offset a nearly $19 million budget shortfall for the 2022-23 fiscal year. “Just the jail is taking $24.7 (million),” Damaris San Miguel, division manager for the county’s budget management division, said via phone Friday. The 19-year-old Edinburg man, Brayan Gonzalez, had been in the Starr County jail since April on minor drug charges and one weapons charge, Hidalgo County Sheriff J.E. The sheriff further stated that overcrowding at his facility has forced Hidalgo County to house inmates as far as Jim Hogg and Brooks County jails. “We have other resources that we can use to minimize the impact to our General Fund fund balance,” San Miguel said.

A need for more emergency medical technicians that arose during the COVID-19 pandemic has prompted a new partnership between Hidalgo County and Workforce Solutions officials to create more job opportunities for EMTs in the Rio Grande Valley.

Although the threat of a tropical storm forming in the Gulf of Mexico is now lessened after the National Weather Service in Brownsville announced it’s disorganizing Saturday, cities across Hidalgo County are continuing with plans to distribute sandbags to its residents.

A 19-year-old Hidalgo County inmate being held in the Starr County Jail collapsed in his cell and later died early Saturday morning, prompting a Texas Rangers investigation.

A tropical storm warning remains in effect Saturday for Cameron, Willacy and the southern half of Hidalgo County, the National Weather Service in Brownsville/Rio Grande Valley reports. Landfall of tropical cyclone four is expected late Saturday afternoon or early Saturday evening along the Tamaulipas coast, about 40 to 60 miles south of Brownsville. Tropical storm winds, in the form of gust will be about 40 mph, with 45 mph wind expected in stronger squalls or across water or open land. The tropical cyclone is located about 230 miles south, southeast of the mouth of the Rio Grande. Surf waves could be dangerous on the beach by Saturday afternoon, with a high risk of rip currents in effect.

At least two Hidalgo County cities are distributing sandbags Saturday in anticipation of severe weather as a potential tropical cyclone nears the Rio Grande Valley and may drench the region over the weekend.

In Texas, married couples generally can claim only one such exemption, meant to provide some tax relief on properties considered “principal residences.” Homestead exemptions cannot typically be claimed on commercial properties, second homes or income properties.

Hidalgo County health officials began administering a limited number of the monkeypox vaccine on Wednesday to high-risk populations.

Residents from Hidalgo County are invited to participate in a back-to-school health fair to be held Saturday morning in Peñitas. The Hidalgo County Health and Human Services Department and Hidalgo County Precinct 3 will be hosting the fair at St. Anne’s Parish Hall located at 17117 Coconut Drive in Peñitas. All county residents are encouraged to participate free of charge. Free school supplies and barbecue plates will be handed out while supplies last. “As the school year approaches, we are excited to provide the community with back-to-school vaccines and school supplies,” Everardo “Ever” Villarreal, Hidalgo County Pct.

This week, Hidalgo County also reported six more residents died to COVID-19 related complications including two people who were unvaccinated. The county reported 1,481 new cases this week including 899 confirmed cases and 582 probable cases. This brings the county’s total number of cases to 223,259 total cases which includes 142,665 confirmed cases, 77,435 probable cases, and 3,159 suspected cases. Cameron County reported 1,290 new cases this week including 491 confirmed cases, 794 probable cases, and five self-reported cases. Starr County reported 65 confirmed cases and 66 probable cases while Willacy County reported 35 confirmed cases and 19 probable cases, according to DSHS data.

Hidalgo County will begin making monkeypox vaccinations available next week after receiving doses from the state on Thursday.

Hidalgo County Judge Richard F. Cortez declared a state of disaster for the county on Thursday due to the ongoing drought.

The state will begin sending a limited supply of the monkeypox vaccine to the Rio Grande Valley, Hidalgo County officials announced Thursday.

RAYMONDVILLE — Rio Grande Valley leaders are launching the second phase of one of the region’s biggest drainage projects whose price tag’s projected to climb to about $400 million.

The Hidalgo County Community Service Agency announced new funding available for families that have been approved for rental assistance just days after having to return nearly $1 million in federal aid

That’s after sheriff deputies arrested 25-year-old Alton resident James Guerrero after he allegedly tried to cash two fake Hidalgo County Jail Inmate Trust Account checks with the forged signature of Hidalgo County Sheriff J.E. Guerra c/o Hidalgo County Jail Inmate Trust Account, who did not authorize the act.”There are two alleged checks, one for $1,489.92 and another for $921.57. “No records were found of Mr. Guerrero receiving any check from the Hidalgo County Jail inmate account,” the affidavit stated. Guerrero was aware that the checks were fake when he cashed or attempted to cash the checks,” the affidavit stated. He remains held in the Hidalgo County Adult Detention Center on a total of $9,000 in bonds.

Just as the number of applications for rental assistance reached a fever pitch this summer, Hidalgo County was forced to turn over nearly $1 million that went unused by the federal government’s deadline.

RAYMONDVILLE — Four months after shutting it down, Willacy County commissioners might be getting closer to reopening a 582-bed prison that helped drive the local economy for 20 years. On Friday, County Judge Aurelio Guerra said commissioners are waiting to determine whether Hidalgo County proposes leasing the prison. On Tuesday, Hidalgo County commissioners agreed to secure documents such as appraisals, inspections and surveys as they consider leasing the prison. For at least 20 years, Hidalgo County officials have struggled with their county jail’s overcrowding. Weighing optionsOn March 31, Willacy County commissioners shut down the prison after Management and Training Corp., a national operator that ran the prison holding U.S.

A visiting senior judge on Thursday dismissed capital murder charges against a 36-year-old Mexican man in what is likely Hidalgo County’s oldest unajudicated homicide case. Prosecutors filed motions to dismiss two counts of capital murder of multiple persons and a count of capital murder by terror threat due to a witness’ unavailability for trial because of a pregnancy. Margarito’s attorneys had also asked Senior Judge J. Manuel Banales to dismiss the charges because of speedy trial violations, which Banales denied. While Margarito pleaded not guilty to the capital murder charges, he has since continued to maintain his innocence in the federal kidnapping case. A federal judge denied that motion.

Firefighters discovered a partially burned body early Friday morning. Hidalgo County Sheriff J.E. “Eddie” Guerra said on Twitter that deputies initially responded to a grassfire east of Mile 13 1/2 North at approximately 4:23 a.m.After the Weslaco Fire Department put out the fire, a captain discovered the body, Guerra said. The sheriff said the man appears to be in his early 20s and that crime scene investigators are treating the death as a homicide.

Cheap regulated and unregulated medication is available over the counter at Mexican pharmacies, including abortion-inducing drugs that are strictly regulated in the U.S.

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

In some voting locations where a party’s appointed polling judge didn’t show up, election officials allowed the other party’s judge to operate both parties’ voting machines in an effort to keep the polling place running.

Public health officials have played a crucial role in vaccination efforts and tracking the spread of the virus. But different needs from their communities and insufficient aid have complicated the work.

A petition addressed to Gov. Greg Abbott to release a teenage trio accused of murdering 42-year-old Gabriel Quintanilla is quickly gaining momentum online.

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

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.

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.