Rio Grande Guardian's Podcast

HARLINGEN, Texas - Cameron County Drainage District No. 5 is partnering with the City of Harlingen to improve drainage.

The first drainage project is the widening of the North Main Drain that the drainage district owns. 

The City and CCDD5 held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to kickoff the project.

At the event, CCDD5 President Steve Jennings gave the Rio Grande Guardian an exclusive interview. He said that his home has flooded four times in the four decades he has lived there. He said that is sort of inevitable when the land is flat and rises o...

BROWNSVILLE, Texas - Jesse Acevedo just completed a pipefitting course at Texas Southmost College.

In an interview with Ron Whitlock of Ron Whitlock Reports he said he would recommend the program to anyone because pipefitters are in big demand and the wages are good. 

Acevedo is about to start work for Bechtel at the Port of Brownsville. The company is building a liquefied natural gas export terminal for NextDecade.

Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

PALMVIEW, Texas - U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz spoke about congressional redistricting and Mexico’s water debt to the U.S. at a top GOP dinner in Palmview.

The event - titled the Lincoln-Reagan Dinner - was hosted by Hidalgo County Republican Party and held at the Stallion Event Center. De La Cruz introduced the keynote speaker, U.S. Senate candidate Ken Paxton.

De La Cruz recalled a time she met President Trump and the two were looking at a map of Texas and the Gulf of America. 

“He turns to me an...

PALMVIEW, Texas - U.S. Senate candidate Ken Paxton says he wants to take to the Washington the same sort of creativity and courage he has shown as Texas attorney general. 

Paxton was keynote speaker at the Hidalgo County Republican Party’s Lincoln-Reagan Dinner. The event was held Aug. 21 at the Stallion Event Center in Palmview.

“I want to bring something different to Washington. The kind of creativity that I'm trying to bring to my job here, I want to take that to Washington. The kind of courage we’ve had...

PHARR, Texas - Dub Taylor is COO of Texas PACE Authority. He recently spoke at an event hosted jointly by the Pharr Economic Development Corporation and the Rio Grande Valley Partnership. It was titled the Pharr Commercial & Investment Summit and it was held at the Pharr One Center.

At the event, Taylor gave a presentation that included slides showing where a PACE project had worked in Texas. There were lots of examples shown in East Texas, the Panhandle and Central Texas. But there were no examples from the Texas-Mexico border region. The nearest were...

MISSION, Texas - The Greater Mission Chamber of Commerce held the latest in its Buenas Tardes Luncheon series on Aug. 13, 2025. 

It centered on a panel discussion titled “The State of Current Business.” 

There were six panelists: Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez; Rick Carrera, director of economic development for the Council for South Texas Economic Progress; Joe Quiroga, president of Texas National Bank; Juan Francisco Ochoa, Jr., CEO of Taco Palenque Group; Dante Galeazzi, CEO and President of Texas International Produce Association; and state Rep. Sergio Muñoz of Mission. 

MISSION, Texas - The Greater Mission Chamber of Commerce held the latest in its Buenas Tardes Luncheon series on Aug. 13, 2025. 

It centered on a panel discussion titled “The State of Current Business.” 

There were six panelists: Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez; Rick Carrera, director of economic development for the Council for South Texas Economic Progress; Joe Quiroga, president of Texas National Bank; Juan Francisco Ochoa, Jr., CEO of Taco Palenque Group; Dante Galeazzi, CEO and President of Texas International Produce Association; and state Rep. Sergio Muñoz of Mission. 

MISSION, Texas - The Greater Mission Chamber of Commerce held the latest in its Buenas Tardes Luncheon series on Aug. 13, 2025. 

It centered on a panel discussion titled “The State of Current Business.” 

There were six panelists: Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez; Rick Carrera, director of economic development for the Council for South Texas Economic Progress; Joe Quiroga, president of Texas National Bank; Juan Francisco Ochoa, Jr., CEO of Taco Palenque Group; Dante Galeazzi, CEO and President of Texas International Produce Association; and state Rep. Sergio Muñoz of Mission. 

MISSION, Texas - The Greater Mission Chamber of Commerce held the latest in its Buenas Tardes Luncheon series on Aug. 13, 2025. 

It centered on a panel discussion titled “The State of Current Business.” 

There were six panelists: Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez; Rick Carrera, director of economic development for the Council for South Texas Economic Progress; Joe Quiroga, president of Texas National Bank; Juan Francisco Ochoa, Jr., CEO of Taco Palenque Group; Dante Galeazzi, CEO and President of Texas International Produce Association; and state Rep. Sergio Muñoz of Mission. 

MISSION, Texas - The Greater Mission Chamber of Commerce held the latest in its Buenas Tardes Luncheon series on Aug. 13, 2025. 

It centered on a panel discussion titled “The State of Current Business.” 

There were six panelists: Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez; Rick Carrera, director of economic development for the Council for South Texas Economic Progress; Joe Quiroga, president of Texas National Bank; Juan Francisco Ochoa, Jr., CEO of Taco Palenque Group; Dante Galeazzi, CEO and President of Texas International Produce Association; and state Rep. Sergio Muñoz of Mission. 

MISSION, Texas - Joe Quiroga is president of Texas National Bank. He was one of six panelists at a Greater Mission Chamber of Commerce event on August 13 titled “Buenas Tardes Luncheon.

The panel discussion was titled The State of Current Business. 

In his remarks, Quiroga said there were positive and negative things to report about the current Rio Grande Valley economy. 

Here are his remarks. 

Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news video...

HARLINGEN, Texas - The Council for South Texas Economic Progress recently hosted a  Lunch & Learn session at Texas State Technical College. 

The event focused on RFI Best Practices and was organized by COSTEP’s director of economic development, Ric Carrera.

Carrera said RFI Best Practices is a crucial for driving smart growth and meaningful investment across the Rio South Texas region.

“We were thrilled to welcome a full house of regional economic development professionals to our latest Lunch & Learn session,” Carrera said after the event ha...

LAREDO, Texas - The 32nd Annual Pathways For Trade Symposium takes place at the Laredo County Club on Thursday, Aug. 28. The evening before a reception will take place titled the Trade Ambassador’s Dinner.

The symposium is being hosted, as always, by the Laredo Economic Development Corporation, which has served Los Dos Laredos for 58 years. 

This year, the symposium’s title is “The New Era of Trade: Perspectives & Opportunities.” The symposium will explore the latest trends, policies, and challenges shaping global trade. A big focus this year will be the appli...

BROWNSVILLE, Texas - On Friday, Aug. 1, the City of Brownsville and their outside consultants, Freese and Nichols, hosted a community information session about their new Downtown Renaissance Master Plan.

Longtime Brownsville-based realtor Larry Jokl was sitting in the audience. At the end of the presentation Jokl got up and walked to the podium. After being given the microphone, he said he could not understand why the city planners and outside consultants had not discussed the planned Renaissance Park.

“We have not heard one word about what could become the la...

EDINBURG, Texas - Pam Bentsen Havens and her mother, Marge Bentsen, have explained why they donated land for a million gallon water tower in north Edinburg.

They said it was the right thing to do for the community. Here is the interview:

The Bentsens gave the Rio Grande Guardian an exclusive interview at the conclusion of a ribbon-cutting ceremony the City of Edinburg held to unveil the new water tower.

The new water tower cost $5 million to build. The money came from the City...

WESLACO, Texas - The Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council set up the Small Cities Coalition in 2011 and, potentially, 46 cities could participate.

Unfortunately, not all do, said LRGVDC Executive Director Manuel Cruz, at a recent meeting of the group.

But that does not stop the LRGVDC from providing great services to the small cities, Cruz said. These include programs to help with economic development, job creation, infrastructure, and tourism. 

Here is an audio recording of Cruz’s presentation to the Small Cities Coalition.

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WESLACO, Texas - Hidalgo County Regional Mobility Authority Chairman Robert L. Lozano has made a plea for unity when it comes to transportation projects across the region.

Lozano made his comments at a special meeting of the Rio Grande Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization policy board. He is a board member of the MPO.

HCRMA did not get its proposal for more funding for Segment 4 of the Hidalgo County Loop project passed yet Lozano, in n effort to show unity, still voted for the staff recommendation of RGVMPO.

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MCALLEN, Texas - Julio Salinas is chairman of Texas Young Democrats. 

On Saturday, July 12, 2025, Salinas took state Rep. Gene Wu of Houston on a tour of key locations in Hidalgo County. Wu is minority leader in the Texas House of Representatives. 

Following the tour, Hidalgo County Young Democrats met with Wu. They spoke about the “devastating impact” ICE raids were having on Valley communities. And they impressed upon Wu the need for more investment in the Democratic Party in the Rio Grande Valley. 

Salinas said he would like to see Texas House members come do...

MCALLEN, Texas - The minority leader of the Texas House says he is going to ensure Hidalgo County Democratic Party gets the funding it needs to be competitive in the 2026 election.

State Rep. Gene Wu of Houston visited the Valley recently to hear from Young Democrats and grassroots progressives. In a meeting at the Hidalgo County Democratic Party HQ in McAllen, the young activists told him they felt the region had been neglected by the state and national party, thereby allowing Republicans to make significant inroads. 

Hidalgo County Democratic P...

René Xavier González, head of new business development and marketing for Sidee Industrial Development in Matamoros, has given a Mexican perspective to the idea of a bi-national auto cluster initiative.

The idea has been proposed by the Council for South Texas Economic Progress.

González said some companies may need convincing about the data they share but he thinks there will be buy-in.

“Sometimes there are issues about confidentiality and security. A lot of companies would rather kind of keep kind of a low profile,” González...

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas - South Padre Island City Council Member Kerry Schwartz wants to see an Eco Center District established to capitalize on the amount of interest there is in ecotourism.

Schwartz made his case at a special workshop meeting the council held to discuss expansion of the island’s convention center.

“Our mission really should be about ecotourism, because ecotourism is huge. I'd like to see us form an SPI Eco Center District. We already have an entertainment district for our beaches and all that,” Schwartz said.

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MISSION, Texas - Hidalgo County Commissioner Ever Villarreal has announced what he says is an “amazing” transportation project that will help transform the western part of the county.

Villarreal said the county, working with the City of Mission, is going to become “project sponsor” for two sections of the proposed county loop between Granjeno and Penitas and turn them into non-toll projects. 

By becoming project sponsor, Villarreal said, the county, working with the City of Mission, can help find funding for the two sections, ensuring they get built much faster. 

“It is an amazing proj...

MCALLEN, Texas - The former editor and publisher of El Periódico USA has launched a new binational Spanish language media project called Debate X Media, LLC.

The plan, says Jose Luis B. Garza, is to highlight the potential and accomplishments of the Hispanic population in the Rio Grande Valley and become a binational news agency.

“We have to project the importance of this region because it's totally different to other regions in the country,” Garza said.

In an in-depth audio interview with the Rio Grande Guardian, Garza spoke about his time at El Pe...

WESLACO, TEXAS - A spokesperson for MHP Salud says no staff member has lost their job because of federal funding cuts to the Affordable Care Act Navigator Program.

Heather Morgan is vice president of communications and business development for MHP Salud. She oversees brand development and management, reputation, communications, and positioning. In an email to the Rio Grande Guardian, she did confirm that the Weslaco-based non-profit has been informed of federal funding cuts to the Navigator program.

“MHP Salud has a long-standing history in the RGV. We provide multiple se...

EDINBURG, Texas - The director of Hidalgo County’s Community Service Agency (CSA) says Rotarians from across South Texas were shocked when he told them the extent of the cuts his agency is facing, should Congress adopt President Trump’s budget proposals.

Jaime R. Longoria met recently with Rotarians from across the Rio Grande Valley, Laredo, and the Coastal Bend.

Specifically, Longoria spoke about cuts to the Low-Income Household Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), a utility assistance program designed to assist low-income households in meeting their immediate energy needs. 

Longor...

BROWNSVILLE, Texas - The director of research for the Bespoke Group says that as the world becomes less unipolar, the United States is going to have to work much more closely with Mexico.

Jacob, L. Shapiro holds a master’s degree with distinction from Oxford University and a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University. He was guest speaker via a video link at an international relations forum hosted by the Mexican Consulate’s Office in Brownsville. 

Held at the eBridge Center for Business & Commercialization, the forum was titled, “Brainstorming Dialogue...

WESLACO, Texas - Unidos Contra la Diabetes’ collective impact director, Moises Arjona, Jr., has discussed the Rio Grande Valley’s health clinic concerns after recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids.

Arjona gave an update during a recent Hidalgo County Prosperity Task Force webinar on Tuesday.

Unidos Contra la Diabetes is a collective impact initiative working to prevent and reduce and type two diabetes in the Valley by 10 percent by 2030. The initiative works with clinic and nonprofit health care centers such as Family Clinic, El Milagro, Proyecto Juan Diego and o...

MISSION, Texas - Mission Economic Development Corporation CEO Teclo Garcia gave the opening remarks at a Commercial & Investment Tour event before moderating a panel discussion.

The event was held at the Center for Education & Economic Development and co-hosted by the Rio Grande Valley Partnership. 

In his opening remarks, Garcia spoke about the growth of his city, both in population terms and industrial, commercial, and residential development. Here are his remarks.

Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch t...

BROWNSVILLE, Texas - Dr. Mostafa Malki is a professor at UT-Rio Grande Valley and executive director for business development at America’s Additive Foundry Center for Advanced Manufacturing Innovation and Cyber Systems. He is also the founder of Aaron Economic Consulting.

Malki was a panelist for a discussion titled “Additive Manufacturing and Industrial Reshoring in the RGV.” The discussion, held at the eBridge Center for Business & Commercialization, part of RGV StartUp Week.

During his remarks, Malki acknowledged he might offend some people when speaking about the importance of manufacturing over r...

PHARR, TEXAS - Victor Perez, president of Pharr Economic Development Corporation, has welcomed COMCE to the city.

COMCE stands for Consejo Empresarial Mexicano de Comercio Exterior, Inversión y Tecnología (Mexican Business Council for Foreign Trade, Investment and Technology). It is a non-profit organization representing the Mexican private sector in international affairs, particularly focusing on promoting foreign trade, investment, and technology. 

COMCE Nacional has announced a new satellite office in Pharr at the Pharr Global Business Hub. Its leaders did so during a two-day tour of the Pharr are...

BROWNSVILLE, Texas - The Rio Grande Valley is becoming no different than some of the bigger metros in Texas, says Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation CEO Gilberto Salinas.

“Austin-San Antonio is really one big area, Houston is just a huge monster when it comes to people, numbers and cities around it, DFW? DFW is kind of like McAllen-Brownsville. It's becoming that one huge region, one super region. And it takes a SpaceX coming in and then telling us, a region is 100 miles,” Salinas said.

Salinas made his remarks in an exclusive interview with R...

BROWNSVILLE, Texas - Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño, Jr., has made the case for a “yes” vote on the Cameron County Arena project.

In an in-depth audio interview with the Rio Grande Guardian, Treviño points out that property taxes will not be used to fund the project. Rather, he said, much of the money will come from an existing venue tax source.

“Let’s go back. In the November 2016 election, the voters of Cameron County approved what we call the venue tax. But I think it should more aptly...

STEM Nation 2025 is a student conference organized by the Rio Grande Valley Philanthropic Foundation. STEM stands for Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics. The conference takes place at the Bert Ogden Arena on Tuesday, May 29, 2025. Diane Milliken Garza, executive director of RGV Philanthropic Foundation says the conference is important because while Hispanics comprise 20 percent of the population across the nation, only two percent of Hispanics work in STEM fields. This podcast features Milliken Garza and her good friend, Kathryn Lueders, general manager of Starbase. Lueders will be one of the keynote speakers at the conference. 

Go to www.r...

AUSTIN, Texas - Dan Diorio is senior director of state policy for the Data Center Coalition. 

Via a zoom, Diorio recently gave an update to the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service on the legislation he is tracking in Austin. He was joined on the zoom by Guillermo Aguilar of Blackstone Consultants.

The Data Center Coalition’s website explains what data centers are.

“Data centers are the foundation of the digital infrastructure on which our modern society and economy are built. Data centers are physi...

BROWNSVILLE, Texas - When he appeared as a panelist at RioPlex’s Texas Port to the Stars FDI Summit in Houston, Brownsville Mayor John Cowen, Jr., said this is the best time ever to be the leader of his city. 

Cowen said: “I think we have an extremely strong value proposition. I always tell people it's the greatest time ever to be mayor the city of Brownsville. We have over $40 billion of capital investment projects in our area. And what I'm most proud of is, for example, NextDecade, which is building their $18.4 billion liquefied natur...

Carlos Ealy is assistant secretary of state for Mexican and Border Affairs in the Office of the Texas Secretary of State. 

Ealy spoke at a reception held for the Texas Port to the Stars FDI Summit hosted by RioPlex at the Westin Galleria in Houston. 

Here are his remarks from the stage.

Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

HOUSTON, Texas - Valerie G. Segovia is vice of president of investor relations for the Texas Economic Development Corporation.

Segovia spoke at a reception held for the Texas Port to the Stars FDI Summit hosted by RioPlex at the Westin Galleria in Houston. 

Here are her remarks from the stage.

Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

PHARR, Texas - The Pharr EDC Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing scholarship opportunities for graduating students residing in the city of Pharr. 

The foundation supports both college and trade school career paths.  

One of the foundation’s main fundraisers is an annual Casino Night. This year’s event will be held at the Regency Hall in Pharr on April 17.

To learn more about the foundation, the Rio Grande Guardian interviewed one of its founding board members, Veronica Gonzales.  

“The Pharr EDC Fo...

LAREDO, Texas - Legendary workforce development leader Blas Castañeda has been mentoring high school students for 49 years. 

The retired president of CTA Global Solutions will join with Area Health Education Center to hold his Annual Scholarship Awards Ceremony on March 27.

This event recognizes the exceptional academic accomplishments of students participating in CTA’s mentorship career development program.

The ceremony takes place at Falcon Event Center, 7718 McPherson Road in Laredo, starting at 6:00 p.m. on March 27.

“The mentorship career develo...

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas - Veteran broadcaster Ron Whitlock, of Ron Whitlock Reports, recently interviewed U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar about Mexico’s water debt to the U.S.

Whitlock asked Cuellar if the U.S. should withhold water from Mexico in California, in retaliation for Mexico not releasing water into the Rio Grande. He also asked the Laredo congressman if he would support Laguna Madre Water District in its efforts to build a desalination plant that would provide potable water to the residents of South Padre Island.

Under a 1944 water sharing treaty, Mexico is co...