Local News

After the floods

damage assessments begin

ALLEN ESSEX/Valley Morning Star

MERCEDES — The worst is over, but crop damage and other agricultural losses from floodwater releases will be staggering in the Rio Grande Valley, local farmers and ranchers say. They are only beginning to tabulate the costs. Although only poo... Full story

City contract spurs debate

ANDRIELLE FIGUEROA/Mid-Valley Town Crier

WESLACO — A discussion over professional service contracts and agreements turned into a heated analysis of the city’s contract awarding process during a budget advisory committee workshop on Wednesday. Officials’ arguments became h... Full story

Weslaco officials question hotel tax spending

ANDRIELLE FIGUEROA/Mid-Valley Town Crier

WESLACO — The City Commission in a workshop on Tuesday raised concerns over whether hotel/motel and non-municipal tax dollars were being properly spent by the city entities that receive funding through those sources. Those tax dollars help fun... Full story

Airport expansion

ANDRIELLE FIGUEROA/Mid-Valley Town Crier

WESLACO — Expansion at Mid-Valley Airport will add heightened security and will act as a dollar booster to the city’s commercial infrastructure, Economic Development Corporation Hernan Gonzalez said. The Mid-Valley Airport is mainly in u... Full story

Respected auto dealer Van Burkleo dies

JARED JANES/The Monitor

James “Jimmy” Van Burkleo, who started in the parts department on his path toward owning a car dealership and eventually forged a reputation in the auto business for his professionalism and honesty, died Saturday. He was 86. The son of e... Full story

Skills most important asset in job hunt

JARDE JANES/The Monitor

Job listings for administrative and support positions at South Texas College are in short supply as its campuses limit hiring due to the state’s precarious and uncertain budget situation. Human Resources Director Shirley Ingram estimates her o... Full story

Weslaco officer charged with DWI

By LINDSAY MACHAK/The Monitor

DONNA — Texas Department of Public Safety officials arrested a Weslaco police officer Friday on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. Juan Antonio Abrego was given a field sobriety test at the Farm-to-Market Road 493 and Expressway 83 interc... Full story

‘Reading’ a success

Library to start first ever Winter Reading Program in December

ANDRIELLE FIGUEROA/Mid-Valley Town Crier

WESLACO — The Weslaco Public Library had a successful run with its Summer Reading Program with at least 1,000 participants, library Director Arnoldo Becho, said. He now looks forward to the future and hopes the library’s first Winter Rea... Full story

Dissent over budgeting

ANDRIELLE FIGUEROA/Mid-Valley Town Crier

WESLACO — Two city meetings on Tuesday were fraught with controversy and dissent as the City Commission and ad hoc citizen budget advisory committee tackled budget issues, possible EMS privatization, employee buyouts and the sale of the city&rs... Full story

Hidalgo County Precinct 1 ballot set

JARED JANES/The Monitor

EDINBURG — The question over what type of election will fill former Hidalgo County Precinct 1 Commissioner Sylvia Handy’s seat is settled unless the state Supreme Court intervenes on the county’s last-chance appeal. But after a tum... Full story

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