PHARR

Pharr-San Juan-Alamo school district trustees on Monday approved the scope and estimated cost for the first portion of an impending forensic audit. It’s estimated to cost the district $182,500 to conduct the audit’s first phase, Elias said. The board did not discuss the audit in depth, and also did not approve an estimated cost and scope for phase two. Calls for a forensic audit among trustees followed an election that saw a new majority gain power on the board. On Monday, however, the Zambranos voted unanimously with the rest of trustees to approve the audit’s scope and cost estimate.

According to the Hidalgo County Regional Mobility Authority, there will be a temporary nine-month road closure near south Pharr.

According to the Hidalgo County Regional Mobility Authority, there will be a temporary nine-month road closure near south Pharr. As of today, traffic will be detoured onto Jackson Road through Thomas/Whalen Road due to traffic being blocked off along south McColl Road, according to the city’s news release. The closure is scheduled to run until Nov. 10, 2023, while the project’s prime contractor, Pulice Construction Inc., installs a “proposed overpass bridge at this intersection,” the release stated. For more information contact the HCRMA Construction Office at (956) 402-4763 or the Administrative Office at (956) 402-4762. One can also visit their website at www.HCRMA.net.

Pharr-San Juan-Alamo school board members will discuss the cost and scope of a prospective forensic audit Monday. In January the board tapped firm Weaver and Tidwell LLP to conduct that audit. Two incumbent trustees lost their seats to challengers in November 2022, which signaled a power shift on the board and directly preceded the district’s move toward conducting a forensic audit. That power shift also preceded the abrupt exit of former superintendent Jorge Arredondo. Forensic audits have served as catalysts for change at Rio Grande Valley school districts in recent years, often leading to high level personnel changes and directional shifts.

EDINBURG – A little over one year following the vigilante killing of their 42-year-old stepfather, the Pharr brothers accused of his beating death appeared in court Wednesday morning. According to the probable cause affidavit, she then told Quintanilla to leave the residence and he left on foot. The juvenile told police that Alejandro and Melendez both jumped out of the vehicle upon arrival and joined Christian in the beating, according to the affidavit. The juvenile told investigators that he could hear him moaning in pain and “snoring very loud,” the affidavit stated. As for the Christian and Alejandro, they both remain jailed on $150,000 in bonds.

A little over one year following the vigilante killing of their 42-year-old stepfather, the Pharr brothers accused of his beating death appeared in court Wednesday morning.

Pharr Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez and the city commission were notified more than a year ago about sexual harassment allegations made against the city’s then-top administrative official.

A La Porte resident scored the winning prize in a Texas Lottery scratch ticket game, the $1 million Crossword, after buying the ticket from a Pharr convenience store. The winner of the lottery ticket elected to remain anonymous. The ticket was purchased at the Stripes convenience store located at 100 W. Nolana Loop in Pharr. This was one of eight top prizes with a total of $289.2 million in prize money for this game.

A Pharr man has been sentenced to prison after he shot and killed a 19-year-old woman at a drive-thru in rural Mission in 2021 when he went to confront his ex-girlfriend who worked at the business. Juan Jose Trevino, 21, was convicted on Wednesday of murder for the Oct. 29, 2021, shooting that killed Wendy Acosta Escobedo at the El Paraiso Drive-Thru located at 6 Mile Line and La Homa Road. The probable cause affidavit stated that Trevino showed up at the drive-thru to confront his ex-girlfriend who was an employee there. After a verbal altercation with another woman, Trevino drove away while shooting at several people at the drive-thru. Now that he has been sentenced, authorities will transfer Trevino to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

The city of Pharr’s annual State of the City address was a spectacle of lights, smoke machines, musical numbers and an opportunity for Mayor Ambrosio Hernandez to announce his intent to seek re-election.

A Pharr man accused of driving drunk and killing a man after crashing into him failed to appear at his court hearing Wednesday is now a wanted man after the judge signed an order for his arrest, court documents show.

A Pharr man accused of driving drunk and killing a man after crashing into him failed to appear at his court hearing Wednesday is now a wanted man after the judge signed an order for his arrest, court documents show. Damian Rodrigo Martinez, 23, is charged with intoxicated manslaughter and accident involving death for allegedly killing 51-year-old Juan Carlos Silva who Martinez crashed into on April 24, 2021. Court records indicate Martinez was supposed to appear in court on Wednesday for a final pre-trial hearing but failed to show up, which resulted in the judge issuing a warrant for his arrest. Officer Joel Garcia, who was directing traffic at the time, observed a Civic matching the description turning northbound on Cage Boulevard. Once detained, Garcia observed Martinez to be displaying signs of intoxication such as slurred speech, red bloodshot eyes and a strong odor of alcohol emitting from his breath or person, according to the affidavit.

The city of Pharr appointed former Hidalgo County District Attorney Ricardo Rodriguez Jr. to the position of deputy city attorney and prosecutor during a city commission meeting Monday.

The city of Pharr appointed the former Hidalgo County District Attorney to the position of deputy city attorney/prosecutor during a city commission meeting Monday. Ricardo Rodriguez Jr. and the Ricky Rod Law Group were unanimously approved during the meeting. “Mayor, commissioners, councilor and city manager, thank you very much for this opportunity to serve the city of Pharr,” Rodriguez said. “My name is Ricardo Rodriguez Jr., and I’ve been around for a while. Rodriguez’s uncle, Toribio “Terry” Palacios, defeated Juan Tijerina, a defense attorney, by nearly 30,000 votes in the Nov. 8 election and was sworn in as Hidalgo County District Attorney on Jan. 2.

A Pharr woman was sentenced to prison on Tuesday after she admitted to trafficking cocaine from Hidalgo County to other states with her husband and others involved with the Texas Chicano Brotherhood.

A Pharr woman was sentenced to prison on Tuesday after she admitted to trafficking cocaine from Hidalgo County to other states with her husband and others involved with the Texas Chicano Brotherhood.

The Texas Department of Transportation in Pharr is starting the new year with fresh lane closures.

Two 19-year-olds charged in a fatal Thanksgiving hit-and-run confessed after they surrendered to Pharr police, according to probable cause affidavits filed against them.

Pharr police said a man and woman, both 19, who were sought in a hit-and-run death on Thanksgiving night turned themselves in to authorities Saturday. Manuel Canchola of San Juan and Natalie Monique Carreon of Pharr turned themselves in after allegedly being involved in a fatal auto-pedestrian incident that left a 54-year-old man dead on Thanksgiving night. Witnesses at the scene told police that a vehicle had struck the man and then fled the scene. Canchola was charged with accident involving death while Carreon was charged with failure to report a felony. Both were arraigned Saturday at the Pharr Municipal Court where Canchola’s bond was set at $100,000 and Carreon’s at $20,000, according to a city spokesperson.

McALLEN — A man who allegedly helped steal more than $1.5 million in border wall panels from a construction site in Pharr last fall was freed on $30,000 bond Wednesday. Gonzalez and another man, Juan Nestor Rojas, are accused of stealing approximately 215 border wall panels from Strong Structural Steel between August and December 2021. The theft first came to light when Strong Structural Steel Vice President of Business Jerry Ring noticed that 110 border wall panels were missing last December, according to Monitor archives. Surveillance video obtained from a nearby business by Pharr police appeared to show four pickup trucks towing flatbed trailers near Strong Structural Steel just before 5:30 a.m. on Dec. 5, 2021. Gonzalez is next set to appear in court on Jan. 3, 2023, before U.S. District Judge Ricardo H. Hinojosa.

Pharr-San Juan-Alamo school board members voted Monday to solicit proposals for a firm to conduct a forensic audit.

A 39-year-old Pharr man will spend 18 years in prison for his role in the beating death of a 54-year-old man in McAllen more than two years ago.

A 39-year-old Pharr man will spend 18 years in prison for his role in the beating death of a 54-year-old man in McAllen more than two years ago.

Pharr police arrested two men after one of them called police to tell them they were abandoning a tractor-trailer with 22 people inside at a specific gas station, a criminal complaint states.

Valley AIDS Council will be holding an event Tuesday to commemorate National Coming Out Day and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community at the Main Event Center in Pharr.

They will fight for lower gas prices and to lower taxes. But what they fail to mention is how they will lower gas prices. Will you vote with the MAGA Republicans or will you vote for your country and uphold the Constitution? Why did the city of Pharr’s current City Commission buy a bankrupt EMS company whose owner pleaded guilty to bankrupt fraud? Did former Pharr city manager and police chief Andy Harvey get paid two checks for two jobs” Why did current Pharr Deputy City Manager Ed Wylie authorize the payment of $5,700 for cookies made by a local bakery?

Pharr police charged a 21-year-old Alamo man with manslaughter after he allegedly ran a stop sign and then a red light, causing a crash that ultimately killed his passenger. The two-vehicle crash happened near the intersection of North Veterans Boulevard and East Nolana Loop in Pharr about 1:38 a.m. Sept. 25. A witness at the scene told police that Angel Uriostegui, who was driving a white 2022 Nissan Sentra, was traveling south on Veterans Boulevard and disregarded a stop sign before reaching the intersection at East Nolana Loop. At that intersection Uriostegui also ran a red traffic light and crashed into a 2008 Ford Escape, according to the affidavit. Uriostegui was in and out of consciousness when police arrived, and the passenger, 21-year-old Milton Aguero of San Juan, was unresponsive.

The two companies awarded contracts on Thursday will erect border barriers in Del Rio and the Rio Grande Valley.

Pharr police arrested two brothers on Sunday after they allegedly kidnapped another man and threatened to kill his family because, according to a criminal complaint, one brother felt disrespected that the man’s friend brought a gun into his home.

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.

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 Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley announced the addition of a refrigerated truck to its current fleet, as well as additional funding to assist with mobile food distributions.

Three seats are up for reelection on the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD School Board this November, and each incumbent in those seats will face competition. Place 1 incumbent Carlos Villegas, a retired Pharr resident, will run against Joshua Benavides, a San Juan resident who’s in real estate. Meanwhile, Place 2 incumbent and current board president Ricardo “Rick” Pedraza will face two challengers. Pedraza, a licensed engineer from Pharr, will run against retired Pharr resident Diana Serna and Lupe Chavez, Jr., a community advocate for Las Milpas, who is also from Pharr. Villegas and Trustee Cynthia Gutierrez form a vocal minority on the board, often sparring sharply with Board President Predraza or Trustees Jorge and Jesse Zambrano.

The 27-year-old Pharr woman accused of murder after what authorities say to have been an alcohol-fueled chase which resulted in a fatal crash killing a Progresso teen in April will be arraigned Tuesday morning.

Prosecutors on Thursday dismissed murder and tampering with evidence charges against a 29-year-old Pharr man after he pleaded guilty to possession of marijuana, court records indicate. State District Judge Letty Lopez signed off on the deal Thursday and officially dismissed the murder and tampering with evidence charges. He told police he shot two armed men that had broken in and demanded drugs, according to a probable cause affidavit. Garza shot at Morales and Morales returned fire. Investigators noted they found blood splatter in and around the assault rifle’s barrel.

A Pharr man who shot and killed a McAllen man at a Motel 6 parking lot after an argument was sentenced to 35 years in prison on Monday.

The city of Pharr announced the appointment of an acting police chief following the resignation of former Chief of Police Andy Harvey on Monday.

Pharr Chief of Police Andy Harvey resigned from his post on Monday — about a week after he resigned as city manager.

Pharr Chief of Police Andy Harvey resigned from his post on Monday — about a week after he resigned as city manager.

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.”

I love politics but I cringe when certain elected RGV officials are indicted and found guilty of serious crimes. Many RGV residents don’t want to vote because they always say why vote, because all politicians are bad. I say, please check out the candidates’ history before voting. I met and talked to Mr. Ricardo Rodriguez Sr. about his family when his son ran for office along with current District Judge Renee Betancourt, who is his daughter, and they got my vote. I’m thinking of running for the Pharr City Commission in 2023, so I welcome you asking me tough questions about my candidacy.

The city of Pharr is asking a federal judge to dismiss an excessive force lawsuit filed by a man who police shot more than two years ago.

The city of Pharr named former Assistant City Manager Anali Alanis to the position of interim city manager this week following the resignation of Andy Harvey. He had served as city manager since April 22 after former City Manager Ed Wylie stepped down. “They said, ‘We want to congratulate Miss Alanis for being the first female ever in the history of the city of Pharr as the city manager.’ It kind of just hit me like cold water. In 2015, Alanis was named director of human resources before being promoted to assistant city manager in 2019. It’s a plus that she’s been in a leadership role with the city, now as a fulltime city manager, and just happens to be the first female city manager for the city of Pharr.

A therapy dog with the city of Pharr’s Public Safety and Communications Department has gone missing, and the city is seeking the public’s help in getting her back safely.

State transportation officials said Thursday that in 2021 there have been nearly 200 traffic crashes involving pedestrians that left dozens dead and even more injured in the Pharr district. The billboards will run Thursday, Sep. 8 from 3 to 7 p.m. on 10th Street, Nolana, and Trenton Road in McAllen. According to TxDOT, the Pharr district had a total of 198 traffic crashes involving pedestrians that resulted in 32 deaths and 50 serious injuries as well as 92 crashes involving bicyclists. Here are Texas laws to follow while on the road:If you’re driving:>> Stop and yield for pedestrians, bicyclists and other vulnerable road users in crosswalks. If you’re riding a bike:>> Always stop at red lights and stop signs.

As I write this letter I’m listening to Fats Domino singing his No. 1 hit “Ain’t That a Shame,” because I just finished reading where another RGV elected official pleaded guilty to stealing money. It’s a real shame when a person runs for office to enrich his wallet and not to serve honestly to his constituents.

A Pharr man accused of killing a woman before dumping her body at a Donna parking lot is being held in custody on a $750,000 bond.

A Pharr man accused of killing a woman before dumping her body at a Donna parking lot is being held in custody on a $750,000 bond.

The Donna Police Department arrested a Pharr man who confessed to killing a woman whose body was found in an open parking lot on Saturday, according to a news release police sent Tuesday. Police arrested Andrew Stephen Scavnicky, 51, after authorities say he confessed during an interview with Donna investigators to the murder of 43-year-old Monica Coronado DeLeon. Authorities say DeLeon’s body was found at the 1000 block of W. Frontage Road this weekend. Since the investigation remains ongoing, few details about the case were released. Scavnicky is expected to appear before a Donna Municipal Court judge sometime Tuesday.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection called the state inspections ordered by Gov. Greg Abbott “unnecessary” and said commercial traffic at the Texas-Mexico border has dropped 60% since they began.

A man accused of driving tanker filled with liquid meth in South Texas was cleared of all criminal charges, federal officials told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram earlier this week.

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

Police officers in the Rio Grande Valley discovered more than 700 gallons of liquid meth worth at least $10 million inside a tanker trailer.

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.

One of the companies being considered previously built a 3-mile barrier that is at risk of falling into the Rio Grande.

District officials said even if they had decided not to remove the football team from the playoffs, the University Interscholastic League would have still taken the same course of action. The UIL has made it clear to Interim Superintendent Gilbert Garza Jr. that UIL would have removed the football team from the playoffs if the district did not withdraw the team. In connection with the incident, the UIL released the following statement: The UIL strongly condemns the unsportsmanlike behavior displayed in the Edinburg vs. PSJA high school football game on December 3, 2020. In 2015, two John Jay High School football players hit a referee in the middle of a play. READ MORE FROM KSAT.COM:South Texas high school football player booked in jail after blindsiding refereeSouth Texas high school football player attacks referee after being ejected from game

CIUDAD VICTORIA – A Mexican man killed himself on a bridge connecting Reynosa, Mexico and Pharr, Texas, temporarily shutting down a portion of the bridge, Mexican officials said Thursday. U.S. Customs and Border Protection confirmed only that a man had collapsed and died on the Mexican side of the bridge on Wednesday evening. Mexico's National Immigration Institute confirmed that the man was Mexican. U.S. officials at bridges open to pedestrians have been limiting how many people can cross to request asylum on a given day. The U.S. confirmed this week that it planned to begin sending Mexican asylum seekers to Guatemala under a bilateral agreement with that country.