MCALLEN

Multiple law enforcement agencies are at an attorney’s McAllen home investigating a decades-old homicide, according to the Brooks County Sheriff’s Office. Attorney Al Alvareze, who purchased the property in 2012, confirmed the State Fire Marshal is at his residence investigating an arson. Well, they gave me notice at 8 that they were going to be there in 10 minutes,” Alvarez said. He said he opened the gate for them and let them in at 8:30 a.m.Brooks County Sheriff Benny Martinez said authorities are investigating a 2002 homicide of a woman that involves the Mexican Mafia. The person who responded on behalf of the Brooks County Sheriff’s Office is an individual that agency uses because of his expertise in finding missing migrants who have died in the brush.

The McAllen school district finally relented this month and agreed to pay six employees at Morris Middle School a total of $18,000 over online education work they did during the pandemic without being compensated. Those teachers, the union said, ended the year without a $3,000 stipend they understood they would be paid. The district notified AFT that its members at Morris would get that money on March 3. “I do feel that justice has been done,” McAllen AFT President Sylvia Tanguma told The Monitor. Tanguma says AFT is not presently pursuing similar payments at other schools in the district.

Chicken tenders anyone? Cowboy Chicken has added the fried favorite to their menu as of Monday. The restaurant is known for its wood-fired rotisserie chicken. 100, and will have the tenders available in the family, kids and adult meals on their menu. The Dallas-based Cowboy Chicken was founded in 1981 and is a recognized chain, garnering various industry awards over the years.

This morning when my wife and I left to do some errands, it felt like I was driving in Houston. We now know that none of these Russian collusion events ever happened and the claims against former President Trump were false. Now we are discovering that the COVID virus probably did originate in a Wuhan China lab, a claim that got President Trump cancelled from Twitter. And remember the drug hydroxychloroquine? LETTERS — Limit letters to 300 words; all letters are subject to editing.

Two dogs died in McAllen, Texas last week after getting attacked by Africanized honey bees, or killer bees, which some say are not typically aggressive unless spooked.

A highly unusual bee attack claimed the lives of two pet dogs at a South Texas home late last week, according to a report from Valley Central.

A 27-year-old Alamo man will be facing murder and other charges after two people were stabbed and died at the Motel 6 in McAllen early Saturday morning.

A dog in McAllen died after it was attacked by Africanized honey bees from a large hive in a vacant home, according to the assistant city manager.

The name Jack Cawood was halfway magic in McAllen 40 years ago. “He had three passions: his love of real estate, his love of country and his love of the community,” Paul said. “Real estate was always his passion, but it wasn’t the passion.”Cawood’s real passion, perhaps, was people. He was in it to leave McAllen better than he’d found it, whether that meant official civic involvement or unofficial volunteerism. “His friends — his contemporaries — would call him Jack,” Paul said.

If you've been injured in an accident in McAllen, Brownsville, Edinburg, or anywhere else in the Rio Grande Valley[...]

Governor Greg Abbott has reappointed the CEO of Performance Therapeutics to the Texas Board of Physical Therapy Examiners. Omar Palomin, of McAllen, will serve in that capacity until Jan. 31, 2029. Palomin is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association, the American Physical Therapy Private Practice Section and the Texas Physical Therapy Association. “Additionally, he is a member of the McAllen Independent School District School Health Advisory Council,” the release stated. The Board licenses and regulates physical therapy practice in the state.

At least three groups are planning candidate forums for the May 6 McAllen school board election. Candidates will have ample opportunities to speak before the public, the first of which is a forum for Aleman and Rivera hosted by the McAllen Rotary Club slated for Wednesday. The Rotary Club is also planning on holding additional forums in early April for the other contested board races. Partnering with Aim Media, the McAllen Citizens League and the League of Women Voters RGV, Futuro’s forum is slated to begin at 7 p.m. Sylvia Tanguma, JPCC board member, says that event is slated for April 11 at Nikki Rowe.

EMS calls are billed to insurance companies, Medicare, Medicaid, private pay or are just uninsured. McAllen, Edinburg and Mission have opted for private EMS companies that compete for the most lucrative markets — some with public subsidies. Metro areas have high call volumes that allow them to choose private, public or nonprofit delivery options. If La Joya were large enough and highly insured, several profit-motivated companies would vie for the business. La Joya will begin running its own EMS by this month.

If your Spring Break plans this year include spending the week at home, there are plenty of events happening in Mission and McAllen to keep families entertained. Quinta Mazatlan in McAllen will hold a “Keep Kids Wild” program with five events scheduled Tuesday through Saturday. The cost is $3 for adults, $2 for children and children ages two and younger get in free. “Children need to have fun and enjoy their spring break, which is why we have created this event. Instead, they can visit the park closest to them and enjoy plenty of activities.

Candidates for the only contested race in the city of McAllen’s municipal election expanded on their platform during a candidate forum held Thursday evening. McAllen City Commissioner for District 4 Rodolfo “Rudy” Castillo and his challenger, Javier Salazar, participated in the forum hosted by Futuro RGV. “If you don’t live in my district, you would probably have the perception that everything is OK with McAllen when it’s not,” Salazar said. “We’re third in the nation of the safest (cities) so I think our fire department, our police department are doing their best,” Castillo said. “I’m sorry, the numbers don’t correlate, at least not in my district,” Salazar said.

A 40-year-old Roma man who pulled a loaded gun on McAllen police officers in 2021 before accidentally shooting himself during the struggle was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Tuesday.

The McAllen school district last week celebrated a ribbon cutting for its Culinary Arts Teaching Facility at Achieve Early College High School.

The Children’s Bereavement Center-Rio Grande Valley has extended its reach from where it started in Cameron County to a new location in Hidalgo County.

South Texas Health Systems hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony Thursday morning to celebrate the grand opening of its newest clinic here.

McAllen is set to welcome a new restaurant from renowned restaurateur Jaime Muriel, who will open the doors to his latest addition in North McAllen this month. The “globally-inspired” menu will offer meat, fish, seafood and vegetable dishes inspired by Argentinian, Peruvian and other South American countries. “We’re excited to bring a new high-end dining experience to North McAllen,” Muriel stated in a news release. “Our goal is to provide our guests with an unforgettable culinary experience, exceptional service, and a warm and inviting atmosphere. “Spanning over 6,200 square feet, the space is grand yet inviting,” the news release stated.

It may have rained on McAllen’s holiday parade, but that didn’t prevent thousands of people from attending the annual celebration in December.

McALLEN — The Hidalgo County Head Start Program outdoor learning project originally slated to get underway in 2021 appears to once again be back on track, albeit with a significantly reduced budget. First, Peña said, Hidalgo County Head Start and the county cut the project’s budget down to about $2.8 million, redirecting a good chunk of the original $5.5 million in federal funds to personnel. Head Start went through a separation with former director Flores in September of last year. “I contacted the Office of Head Start, but the problem was if we were going to submit a change of scope, we would not have met the deadline,” she said. A rendering shown to the council still depicts it as, essentially, a large outdoor learning space with a parking lot.

McAllen police arrested a man from Wetherford, Texas, after he coerced a minor to flee to Mexico with him where they “planned on conceiving a child together.”

McALLEN — The Boys and Girls Club of McAllen held a press conference Wednesday morning to celebrate a $2 million infusion of funds that will go toward the construction of a new community center in south McAllen. The club’s goal is to provide children in low income areas a place to participate in extracurricular activities outside of school. “We’re really excited because the Boys and Girls Club of McAllen will be having a really strong presence in south McAllen to make sure that we meet the needs of children all across McAllen,” Gonzalez-Alcantar said. The new facility will bring similar services to south McAllen, including academic interventions, food security, sports programs as well as mental health programs. According to U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, the funds for the center come from the Community Project Funds that were allocated to each congressional district in which he received $23.7 million.

A 36-year-old McAllen man was sentenced to prison last Friday after he shot and killed a man during a deal gone wrong in July of 2017.

Following Friday’s deadline to file for a place on the ballot, the McAllen general election in May is shaping up to be a rematch of sorts of the special election held last year. The only contested race in the McAllen May general election is for the District 4 seat on the city commission and it will pit current Commissioner Rodolfo “Rudy” Castillo, a business owner, against Javier Salazar, a real estate agent. “I think my district has been neglected, I think there needs to be more communication with our city directors when it comes to my district,” Salazar said. “Either for me or for the other candidate, as long as they come out and vote,” Castillo said. The McAllen election is scheduled for May 6.

In a news release, police said Eduviges Villanueva’s voluntary absence was reported to the McAllen Police Department at approximately 1:09 p.m. on Monday.

In a news release, police said Eduviges Villanueva’s voluntary absence was reported to the McAllen Police Department at approximately 1:09 p.m. on Monday.

The meteor traveled at about 27,000 miles per hour and was likely 1,000 pounds as it hurled toward Earth.

Experts believe the meteor measured about two feet in diameter and weighed about one-thousand pounds.

Exciting things are happening in Brownsville; a drive around the city offers a glimpse of new businesses that have opened or are under construction.

NASA confirmed that a nearly half-ton meteor crashed into the ground near McAllen, Texas on Wednesday causing a sonic boom that was captured on camera.

NASA confirmed that a nearly half-ton meteor crashed into the ground near McAllen, Texas, on Wednesday, causing a sonic boom that was captured on camera.

The McAllen’s mayor’s mother and sister died Friday night in a car crash in Dimmit County.

The city of McAllen recorded its largest monthly sales tax remittance in history this past December. “We’ve been riding this wave now for a couple of years,” McAllen City Manager Roel “Roy” Rodriguez said Friday. Rodriguez said that influx in sales tax is something that the entire region is benefiting from. He said that the entire Rio Grande Valley is experiencing an uptick in sales tax revenue. There just isn’t very much that you have to go outside of the Rio Grande Valley to find.”

This week, McAllen city commissioners discussed discontinuing firework permits for private events such as weddings or allowing them, but raising the fees associated with them.

A 34-year-old McAllen man pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court to a McAllen carjacking. Fidel Garza Jr. was arrested in December 2021 after stealing an SUV and fleeing the scene. Once they had complied, Garza got in the SUV and fled the scene. Authorities tracked him to a rural location in Edinburg where he was arrested and admitted his role in the robbery, according to the release. Garza is also facing a state charge of aggravated robbery along with the five other men who include 54-year-old Mission resident Fidel Garza Sr.; 22-year-old Edinburg resident Julio Garcia; 18-year-old Mission resident Fernando Garza de la Fuente; 18-year-old Edinburg resident Ruben Andrew Alexis Garcia; and 26-year-old McAllen resident Irvin Gallegos Garza.

Most of South Texas has been in a frenzy as of late after a reported meteorite caused loud booms on Wednesday, February 15.

A mysterious object crashed into Texas this week, shaking neighborhoods near McAllen in the southern part of the state near its border with Mexico.

A flash of light reported in the skies near McAllen on Wednesday night is thought to be a meteorite, according to speculation on social media.

Hidalgo County Sheriff J.E. “Eddie” Guerra said Wednesday evening on Twitter that federal authorities confirmed Houston Air Traffic Control received reports from two aircrafts that saw a meteorite west of McAllen.

Hidalgo County Sheriff J.E. “Eddie” Guerra said Wednesday evening on Twitter that federal authorities confirmed Houston Air Traffic Control received reports from two aircraft that saw a meteorite west of McAllen.

An alpaca found roaming wild in the middle of McAllen before being corralled under the McHi water tower was claimed by and reunited with its owners last week. Melissa Molina said she was pulling up to her mother-in-law’s house on Redwood when she saw the alpaca sitting in a neighbor’s front yard. The alpaca, she said, crossed the canal and dashed across Bicentennial Boulevard before trotting along the south side of McHi’s campus. Eventually the crowd managed to corner the thing under the water tower before Torres came to pick it up. If it’s still in the area, it appears to be keeping a low profile.

A 29-year-old Pharr man received a five-year sentence Monday after pleading guilty to a fatal McAllen hit-and-run in 2020. At the scene, investigators discovered different vehicle parts and witnesses indicated they saw a vehicle hit Gutierrez. At 2:46 a.m. on Nov. 6, 2020, police pulled over the Dodge Caravan driven by Turrubiates. “McAllen Police Officers detained the Maroon Dodge Caravan and discovered it had damaged (sic) consistent with the accident and was missing vehicle parts that had been found at the scene,” the affidavit stated. Court records indicate Turrubiates did not reach a plea deal with the state and also show that prosecutors have no recommendation on either being for or against parole.

Federal authorities made an arrest in a McAllen theft ring where the thieves targeted trucks which were smuggled into Mexico and on at least one occasion, later found by authorities there outfitted with armored plating and ballistic glass.

The deadline to file for a place on the ballot for the McAllen school board election is 5 p.m. Friday. Four seats are up for election: places one, two, four and five. The district was not able to provide filing information to The Monitor on names for candidates who have already signed up to run. A spokesperson did note, however, that candidates’ names will be posted on the district’s website after 5 p.m. Friday. Election Day is May 6.

“Bobby” Guerra, D-McAllen, announced this week the filing of five new bills. “The bills are part of my robust legislative package intended to advance the priorities and improve the lives of my constituents in the Rio Grande Valley and the residents of our great state of Texas,” Guerra said in a Thursday news release. “Geothermal energy creates diversity in our energy production portfolio; it will maintain and create new jobs in the energy production sector; and once tapped, this source of energy is truly reliable and uninterruptible,” he said. “It’s a win-win; the state could potentially bring in additional revenue, and our communities would experience more art,” he said. “My commitment to make Texas the best place to live never ends, and these newly filed bills provide Texans the opportunity for their deserved success,” Guerra said.

The cities of McAllen and Mission each opened a new playground in their parks, both with accessible activities. McAllen officials, in partnership with Hidalgo County Precinct 2, welcomed a new accessible playground at Los Encinos Park. The playground includes surfacing to provide mobility for wheelchairs and walkers with ramps. Additionally, the playground includes a We-Go Swing, an all-inclusive swing that can accommodate wheelchairs. However, there are five accessible activities on the ground level including the “10 Spin,” a sensory panel, two single-seat pods, a bell and a crunch station.

McAllen police are asking the public for help in identifying the driver or owner of a suspect vehicle involved in the theft of construction material. According to a McAllen Police Department news release, the vehicle was caught on surveillance video and appears to be a blue jeep towing a flatbed trailer. The alleged theft happened at 8:32 a.m. on Tuesday in the 14000 block of Aqualina Way. Police are asking anyone with information about the location of the vehicle or the identity of the driver or owner of the vehicle to call McAllen Crime Stoppers at (956) 687- 8477.

Sports betting could soon become legal in Texas if a gamble made by a few state senators pays off. Texas Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, D-McAllen, along with state Sen. Lois Kolhorst, R-Brenham, co-authored and filed Senate Bill 715 and Senate Joint Resolution 39 earlier this week. If passed, the bill will let voters choose on whether sports betting should be legal in Texas. “If these bills are passed, the state would be able to regulate, license and tax sports betting activity, which would bring us in line with 36 other states,” Hinojosa continued. It is only right that we give Texans a voice on this important issue.”

McALLEN — Its ongoing projects, record-breaking revenues, continued investment and overall growth were all highlights in Mayor Javier Villalobos’ state of the city address Wednesday. “McAllen rose through the ranks of the nation’s top 20 cities in total sales tax revenue and ranked number four in total sales tax per capita,” Villalobos said. District 2 Commissioner Joaquin “J.J.” Zamora spoke of the city’s investment into the acquisition of land — 1,288 acres of land — for industrial growth and future expansion. Tony Aguirre, commissioner for District 1, highlighted city’s partnerships that enabled improvements to McAllen International Airport, ports of entry and helped form sister-city agreements. He said the department is also aiming to build splash pads in every city district and improve the city’s walking and biking trails.

They never received the second of those payments and say they weren’t originally told they wouldn’t be getting it. Based on communication obtained by the AFT, a clarification that there would be no second $3,000 payment didn’t reach teachers at Morris until well into the second semester. Local grievance policy requires employees to file grievances within 15 days of them becoming aware of the situation prompting it. McAllen AFT President Sylvia Tanguma, who pleaded the teachers’ case Monday, largely scoffed at the timeliness argument. It should have never been there.”Tanguma said those Morris teachers — some of whom were in the audience — were depending on their second payment, and that siding against them would impact morale.

The McAllen school board voted Monday to bump a level three grievance filed by the district’s American Federation of Teachers back down to level two, meaning it’s now in the hands of administration.

Tensions are rising among the growing numbers of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border ahead of upcoming changes to U.S. asylum policies.

After finally flipping the Democratic district, Monica De La Cruz vowed to “represent all of South Texas” and likely will be influential on border issues.

De La Cruz defeated Democrat Michelle Vallejo, a political newcomer who ran on a platform of progressive social policy and close family ties to the region.

Whole Woman’s Health, which owned the building for nearly two decades, said they were “duped” after the doctors who bought the building sold it to the McAllen Pregnancy Center.

The two-time Democratic presidential candidate visited Central Texas and South Texas amid concerns that young and working-class voters are not mobilized enough for the midterm election.

A Texas woman got ready for Halloween with some Harry Potter decor, but her neighbor’s reaction triggered a now-viral TikTok.

Six men have pleaded guilty after a search in Rio Grande Valley yielded 15 kilograms of cocaine and more than $325,000 in cash.

Washington D.C., New York City, Chicago, San Antonio seek advice from director of Catholic Charities RGV for migrant response.

Three people have been arrested and accused of trying to transport smuggled migrants into interior of the United States by air, bypassing Border Patrol checkpoints.

A delegation of Republican senators led by Ted Cruz and John Cornyn of Texas will pay a visit to the Rio Grande Valley on Thursday and Friday to survey the current state of the U.S.-Mexico border.

Texans on both sides of the abortion debate marched, rallied and chanted after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.

A South Texas mayor has been arrested after a federal indictment accused him of committing bribery and fraud.

Olivia and Liam are once again America’s most common baby names.

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.

Texas has led the legal fight against the Biden administration’s immigration policies, filing numerous lawsuits that have led to judges overturning or altering those policies.

The delays caused by the state’s inspections are the latest blow to farmers and produce businesses in the Rio Grande Valley recovering from the pandemic and losses from last year’s winter storm.

Commercial traffic at the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge stopped Monday and a similar protest affected traffic into and out of El Paso. The blockades could impact the flow of produce to restaurants and grocery stores.

The governor is pushing for more border security measures, some of which he acknowledges will slow traffic across the Texas-Mexico border.

The Republican governor officially announced his reelection campaign Saturday in McAllen, while likely Democratic opponent Beto O'Rourke campaigned in El Paso.

O’Rourke has ground to make up after his own underwhelming performance with voters there in 2018 when he ran for U.S. Senate — and turning out more Latino voters has long been key to Democratic hopes statewide.

Update:

The U.S. Justice Department is in talks to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to each child and parent who was separated under a Trump-era practice of splitting families at the border.

Texas lawmakers made Gonzalez’s current 15th Congressional District more competitive for Republicans. The representative now plans to run in the 34th District, which is safer for Democrats.

Designed more than a century ago, the Rio Grande Valley’s canal system in South Texas was built to irrigate the booming agricultural industry that once dominated the local economy.

Gov. Greg Abbott will sign Senate Bill 576 into law and meet with local officials on Wednesday in McAllen.

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

A lot of the news from the last few days — about the Legislature, about COVID-19 and about immigration — has a real déjà vu quality to it. And there’s a good reason for that.

A commando of men dressed in military-style gear and carrying rifles burst into a jail in the Mexican border city of Reynosa, across the border from McAllen, Texas, and freed the local leader of the Gulf cartel.

A U.S. Border Patrol Agent was arrested Friday on charges that allege the 22-year-old was helping smuggle cocaine through a checkpoint in Falfurrias.

The top prosecutor in Mexico's border state of Tamaulipas says infighting between rival factions of the Gulf drug cartel was the apparent motive behind weekend shooting that killed 19 people, 15 of them apparently innocent bystanders.

The top prosecutor in Mexico's border state of Tamaulipas says infighting between rival factions of the Gulf drug cartel was the apparent motive behind weekend shooting that killed 19 people, 15 of them apparently innocent bystanders.

A Fort Hood soldier and a Pennsylvania National Guardsman stationed at the Central Texas installation have been charged with smuggling two migrants into Texas from Mexico.

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar and U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales will tour the Texas-Mexico border in the Rio Grande Valley on Wednesday to get an update on the migrant surge in the region. The congressional delegation from Texas will be joined by Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona.

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.

Texas Gov Greg Abbott speaks during a news conferenced about migrant children detentions Wednesday, March 17, 2021, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)SAN ANTONIO – Texas Gov. Greg Abbott will hold a press conference on the statewide “Save Our Seniors” COVID-19 vaccination initiative on Thursday in McAllen. The governor first announced the program in February during a stop in Corpus Christi. Through this program, Texas Department of Emergency Management and the Texas Military Department work alongside local jurisdictions to set up a central drive-through vaccine clinic in each community or administer directly to homebound seniors.

MCALLEN, Texas – Some asylum seekers have spent more than a year and a half living in tent cities in Matamoros, Mexico, during the Trump administration. The Trump administration’s Remain in Mexico Policy forced asylum seekers to wait in distressed conditions for months at a time. The Biden administration has ended the policy, allowing thousands of asylum seekers to enter the country and move forward. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials report an increase in illegal border crossingsKSAT’s Jonathan Cotto is in Mcallen, Texas talking to activist groups about the situation as it unfolds. Read also:Biden lifts Trump-era ban blocking legal immigration to USChild migrant facility reopened by Biden administration in South Texas draws criticism from immigration advocatesAdDemocrats consider piecemeal approach to immigration reform

Erika Calderon, 48, tested positive for COVID-19 on Dec. 29 and was hospitalized on Jan. 4, 2021. Calderon, a single mother to son Emilian Sosa, needs extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, or ECMO therapy, which relieves the stress of the lungs and heart. Emilian quickly acted after learning his mother could be taken off life support, so he wrote a letter to Gov. With the help of Nim Kidd, the Chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management & Dr. Zerwas, the equipment his mother needs was located. @TDEM https://t.co/dzgRby52ms — Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) January 27, 2021Doctors are waiting for Calderon’s status to stabilize before transferring her to a Houston hospital.

AUSTIN, Texas – Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden’s running mate, California Sen. Kamala Harris, is in Texas Friday with visits scheduled in Fort Worth, Houston and McAllen. Just four days before Election Day, it’s precious campaign time on a crucial state far later than any major national Democrat in decades. Her 12:45 p.m. remarks at a voter mobilization event in Fort Worth will be livestreamed in this article. Delays are possible; if there is not a livestream available, check back at a later time. A livestream of the 4:25 p.m. event in McAllen and the 7:35 p.m. event in Houston will also be livestreamed in this article.

Kamala Harris’ trip to Texas on Friday will include three stops across the state, including in the Rio Grande Valley, according to Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden’s campaign. Biden’s running mate is set to visit to Fort Worth, Houston and McAllen. Fort Worth’s Tarrant County was the state’s most populous county that Republican President Donald Trump won in 2016. Further details on her stops were not immediately available, but they are expected to mirror events she has done recently in other states to mobilize early voters. Harris’ visit is not the only notable activity by the Biden campaign this week in Texas.

A COVID-19 testing site at the Nomad Shrine Club in McAllen. July 2, 2020. Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune(Audio unavailable. Click here to listen on texastribune.org.) In this week's TribCast, Matthew speaks with Ross, Emma and Shannon about another change in how Texas reports its coronavirus data and the legal fights related to voting that have reached the state Supreme Court.

SAN ANTONIO – A new hard seltzer brand is joining the mix; however, this one in particular has quite a flavor twist! Heineken US will bring its signature hard seltzer, Canijilla, originally created in Mexico, to the U.S. in select areas for a limited time. One of those areas will be McAllen, Texas, according to an article by the Brownsville Herald. The hard seltzer is inspired by classic Mexican flavors. To see where you can purchase the hard seltzer, log on to us.canijilla.com/.

Greg Abbott will be in McAllen Tuesday afternoon to receive a briefing on the convention center, which was recently converted into a healthcare facility amid a COVID-19 surge in the Rio Grande Valley. The McAllen Convention Center was turned into makeshift hospital that can treat up to 250 patients at one time. Weeks ago, Hurricane Hanna made landfall near the region, leading to widespread damage in the area. As we work to slow the spread of COVID-19, it is vital that we take the necessary action to ensure abundant hospital capacity in the Rio Grande Valley. Abbott assured the public that there is enough PPE to meet schools demands as some plan to open up as early as August.

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

According to state data released Sunday, 5,038 people in Texas have died from the virus. Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas TribuneTexas reached another grim milestone Sunday when it surpassed 5,000 deaths from the new coronavirus. In doing so, the state reported 1,000 deaths in six days, four days faster than it took to hit that total the previous time. According to state health data released Sunday, 5,038 people in Texas had died from the virus. In the past week alone, state data appears to show new daily infections leveling off, albeit at nearly record highs.

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.

MCALLEN, Texas – Two McAllen police officers were killed in the line of duty on Saturday, according to officials. The department posted on Facebook, and said they are mourning the loss of Officer I. Chavez and Officer E. Garza. Our condolences to the families of our fallen brothers and the McAllen Police Department. Posted by McAllen ISD Police Department on Saturday, July 11, 2020In a brief statement, the department said, “Our condolences to the families of our fallen brothers and the McAllen Police Department. Officials said both of the officers were rushed to area hospitals but they later succumbed to their injuries.