Mayor Javier Villalobos presented his address on McAllen’s State of the City 2023 before fellow commissioners, residents, sponsors, friends, and family. He welcomed distinguished guests, which included senators, congressmen, mayors, consuls, federal and state judges, council members, trustees, and university leaders.
Throughout the event, the ‘Power of McAllen’ during 2022 was lauded for making the city safer and healthier. After the economy of the year 2021 and the effects of the pandemic, the city faced rising fuel costs, inflation, and problems with the supply chain.
Mayor Villalobos said, “The power of McAllen to turn challenges into opportunities created a year of innovative solutions and hard-earned achievements.”
The year 2022 proved to be a very different one for the city as the retail segment grew and their sales tax revenue increased exponentially. Read more details about the City’s efforts and successes inside.
Alert! – The Texas Health and Human Services Commission is receiving an increase in reports of scams targeting clients who use Lone Star Cards and is urging Texans who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits to monitor purchases on their Lone Star Card through the Your Texas Benefits mobile app.
“We hope these resources and outreach efforts will minimize the fraud we’re seeing in Texas,” said Texas HHS Access and Eligibility Services Deputy Executive Commissioner Wayne Salter. “We encourage clients to take immediate action to secure their benefits.” Learn more on how Texans using Lone Star Cards and/or receiving SNAP and TANF benefits can protect their benefits inside.
Another Alert came from Hidalgo County District Clerk Laura Hinojosa who warns citizens to remain vigilant of any jury scammers who continue to target citizens with false jury service claims and threatening arrest for a missed jury summons. The callers, impersonating court officials or other law enforcement officers, will typically contact random victims to try to convince them to pay a fine to avoid arrest for failing to appear for jury duty. The scammers will further insist that their victims either pay over the phone with a credit card or bring cash or prepaid credit cards to the courthouse where they arrange to meet them.
“Jury scams continue to exist and have become more elaborate over the years making it more difficult for citizens to quickly identify its fraudulent nature,” said Hinojosa. “We want to ensure the public is aware that the courts or law enforcement will never call anyone to arrange payment of fines over the phone for failure to appear for jury duty, for outstanding warrants, or for any other infraction.” Read more details inside.
On another note, Governor Greg Abbott announced a statewide model security plan for Texas state agencies to address vulnerabilities presented by the use of TikTok and other software on personal and state-issued devices.
“The security risks associated with the use of TikTok on devices used to conduct the important business of our state must not be underestimated or ignored,” said Governor Abbott. “Owned by a Chinese company that employs Chinese Communist Party members, TikTok harvests significant amounts of data from a user’s device, including details about a user’s internet activity. Other prohibited technologies listed in the statewide model plan also produce a similar threat to the security of Texans. Read the complete story inside.
For the 5th consecutive year, Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD (PSJA ISD) was named the winner of the Large School District Category of the statewide It’s Time Texas Community Challenge sponsored by H-E-B with more than 7.7 million points. The City of Pharr also earned 1st Place in the Mid-Sized Community Category. Courtesy Image for illustration purposes
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PHARR, Texas – For the 5th consecutive year, Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD (PSJA ISD) was named the winner of the Large School District Category of the statewide It’s Time Texas Community Challenge sponsored by H-E-B with more than 7.7 million points. The City of Pharr also earned 1st Place in the Mid-Sized Community Category.
The It’s Time Texas Community Challenge is an annual statewide competition that unites cities, school districts, businesses, and organizations with the common goal of transforming their community’s health. Hundreds of communities across the State of Texas competed this year from Jan. 9 through March 5, 2023.
Throughout the competition thousands of PSJA ISD employees, students, parents, and community members through a collaboration with the cities of Pharr, San Juan, and Alamo took on the health competition participating in daily exercises, hosting outdoor walks, weekly fitness classes, and even participating in a community walk kick-off event.
As part of the competition, PSJA ISD hosted its 5th Annual Healthy School Challenge where the district’s 43 schools competed and logged their healthy activities. The winners are as follows:
Elementary
Amanda Garza-Pena Elem with 948,800 points (3rd year in a row). The campus also earned the most points in the state of Texas.
Middle School
Murphy MS with 588,600 points (4th year in a row)
High School
PSJA Collegiate School of Health Professions with 595,850 points
This year PSJA ISD set a district record with more than 7.7 million points earned throughout the competition.
In addition, the cities of Pharr, San Juan, and Alamo also placed in their respective categories. The results were as follows:
City of Pharr – Mid-Sized Community Winner
City of San Juan – Small Community 2nd Place
City of Alamo – Small Community 4th Place
“Thank you to all PSJA ISD students, parents, staff, and community members that joined us for this year’s Community Challenge,” said PSJA Interim Superintendent Dr. Alejandro Elias. “Seeing our community, including our tri-city partners, come together to improve their health and wellness is something to be thrilled about. Staying healthy plays a vital role in the educational success of our students and community.”
Ramos is a proven leader in educational policy, racial/ethnic equity and school board governance. Courtesy Image for illustration purposes
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HOUSTON , Texas – Sibme, a leading education technology platform empowering educators through personalized professional development and coaching, today announced the appointment of Jacinto “Cinto” Ramos Jr. as Account Executive to serve schools in Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. Ramos is a proven leader in educational policy, racial/ethnic equity and school board governance. He will use his 20 years of experience to further drive Sibme’s mission to increase student success through growing educators.
“It is up to us as educators to ensure that the adults in the room have the culturally competency to serve our children, and to see them as worthy of investment rather than problems to be solved,” said Ramos. “In all my time working in education, I have been committed to ensuring different communities gain greater access to resources and professional development practices. My new role at Sibme will allow me to reach more schools through coaching and ultimately improve student outcomes at a greater scale.”
Before joining Sibme, Ramos worked with the Council of the Great City Schools (CGCS) to improve education outcomes for inner-city children. He is the immediate past chair of the 2019-2021 Council of Urban Boards of Education (CUBE) and the immediate past president of the Mexican American School Boards Association to assist urban school boards with creating strong district leadership. Bridging the silos of activism, leadership, and community engagement, Jacinto earned a spot on the Fort Worth Independent School District’s School Board of Trustees in June 2013. Two years later, he reached an historic milestone becoming the youngest board president in FWISD. He began his career as a formerly certified juvenile probation officer in Texas and a gang interventionist for the Boys and Girls Clubs of America.
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) reintroduced his proposed constitutional amendment that would ensure only nine justices could serve on the U.S. Supreme Court at a time. Image Source: Senate Democrats, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons. Sen. Cruz: Facebook
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) reintroduced his proposed constitutional amendment that would ensure only nine justices could serve on the U.S. Supreme Court at a time. The amendment is co-sponsored by Sens. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Cotton (R-Ark.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Josh Hawley(R-Mo.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Kennedy (R-La.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), and Mike Braun (R-Ind.).
Once approved by Congress, the amendment would go to the states for ratification. Sen. Cruz previously introduced this amendment in 2021.
About the amendment, Sen. Cruz said:
“The Democrats’ answer to a Supreme Court that is dedicated to upholding the rule of law and the Constitution is to pack it with liberals who will rule the way they want. The Supreme Court should be independent, not inflated by every new administration. That’s why I’ve introduced a constitutional amendment to permanently keep the number of justices at nine.”
Sen. Hawley said:
“For years the left has been desperate to pack the court to promote their radical agenda. We must ensure that we stay true to the court’s founding principles, maintain the precedent of nine justices, and keep the Democrats from their brazen attempts to rig our democracy.”
Sen. Kennedy said:
“The effort to pack the Supreme Court and turn justices into politicians in robes would delegitimize and destroy one of the most important institutions in America. Congress must protect the judicial branch from political expedience by safeguarding its current structure.”
Sen. Cotton said:
“The progressive left will do anything to gain power, including packing and expanding the Supreme Court with judges that share their radical ideology. This bill will help permanently protect the Court’s integrity from partisan threats.”
Sen. Marshall said:
“I am proud to stand with my colleagues and fight against the radical Left’s attempts to pack the courts. The Keep Nine Amendment is crucial in protecting the integrity and independence of our United States Supreme Court. We will continue to shield our highest courts from political campaign promises that directly undermine our judicial process and our Constitution.”
Sen. Tillis said:
“There is absolutely no reason to add additional Supreme Court justices to the bench other than liberals trying to pack the court in their favor. It is unfortunate that a constitutional amendment is needed to prevent Democrats from packing the Supreme Court and turning justices into legislators who will rubber-stamp far-left policies that erode the economic and religious freedoms of North Carolinians. That is why I co-sponsored this constitutional amendment, and I call on my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to do the same to protect the legitimacy of the Supreme Court and ensure justices base their rulings on the Constitution and not politics.”
Read the amendment here. Read the Point of Order Against Court Packing here.
Paul Summers, Chair of The Keep Nine Coalition, said:
“We thank Sen. Cruz for his leadership in the Keep Nine Amendment effort to preserve an independent Supreme Court that will protect our democratic elections process and Constitutional rights for future generations.”
Richard Manning, President of Americans for Limited Government:
“Those who seek to pack the Supreme Court are seeking to subvert the will of the people. Amending the Constitution to establish the number of Justices at nine, secures the independence of the judiciary from political coercion. Senator Ted Cruz’ Constitutional amendment is needed now to insure the future independence of the Judicial branch regardless of its philosophical make-up.”
Bob Carlstrom, President of AMAC Action:
“On behalf of our over 2 million conservative 50+-aged Americans, we strongly support the “Keep Nine” Constitutional Amendment as essential to preserve the integrity of the Supreme Court and be a permanent block against political “court packing” strategies of any Congress. Given both earlier and more recent efforts of some political leaders to enlarge the membership of the Supreme Court for political, and indeed, partisan purposes, this proposed amendment is necessary for the protection of our Constitution’s separation of powers and the integrity of the United States Supreme Court.”
Liberty Counsel, an international nonprofit legal organization that has been substantially involved in defense of First Amendment rights for over three decades, said:
“We are committed to ensure that forthcoming generations are gifted an independent Supreme Court beholden only to the Constitution and its principles of governance. We thank Sen. Cruz for his leadership on the Keep Nine Amendment effort to preserve an independent Supreme Court.”
Grover Norquist, Founder and President of Americans for Tax Reform, said:
“President Joe Biden wrote a completely unconstitutional tax on unrealized capital gains into his budget. Taxpayers Beware: Biden will now be looking to change the court to legalize this tax grab. Another reason to enact the ‘Keep Nine’ amendment protecting against an FDR style court packing.”
Ann Schockett, Immediate Past President of the National Federation of Republican Women, Senior Fellow of the Madison Coalition and Advisor to Keep Nine, said:
“Protecting our structure of government is protecting the future of our nation. I have been proud to generate, participate and oversee vigilant national grassroots efforts to educate fellow citizens and our elected officials at all levels about the risks of court packing. The successful results so far of the work of dedicated people of different political beliefs to educate and advocate on this vital issue indicate that the plurality of Americans recognize that court packing endangers our nation’s constitutional order of the separation of powers between the three branches of government. We the People are speaking up on behalf of our country and our rights. We believe that an independent judiciary safeguards that the rule of law is followed and that our justices would not be influenced by political pressure and can make unbiased decisions, therefore resulting in defending our fundamental freedoms – from religious liberty to free speech. Passing an amendment that keeps the number of Supreme Court justices to nine prevents the perils of court packing and safeguards the future of our Republic for us and generations to come.”
The Eagle Forum said:
“We live in a Representative Democracy comprised of three branches of government – the legislative branch that makes the laws, the executive branch that enforces the law and the judicial branch that interprets the law. This framework of the separation of powers with its important checks and balances between the branches is a hallmark of our great constitutional system. These checks and balances naturally lead to frustrations and impediments in policy and politics. This is not a flaw in our system but part of its design.
“Attempts or threats to ‘pack the Court’ have occurred in the past when a President or political party sought to use the Supreme Court to rubber stamp or impose policies that belong in the legislative domain or lack constitutional basis. Increasing the number of justices to dilute the judicial philosophy of a current court is dangerous when done by any political party or ideology. Packing the Court with ideological allies turns the justices into unelected legislators and could lead to an ever-expanding body as each party sought to increase the number for their own gain. Most important, it violates the separation of powers balance that is so important to our Nation.
“Eagle Forum supports the ‘Keep Nine’ amendment and applauds Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) and co-sponsors for introducing this resolution to preserve the judicial independence of the Supreme Court. For over 150 years, the number of justices has been nine and this amendment will prohibit any future President or Congress from manipulating the size of the Supreme Court for political gain. The independence and integrity of the Supreme Court to serve as a neutral interpreter of the Constitution must be preserved. By passing the ‘Keep Nine’ amendment, Congress will be ensuring that any future reform to the number of justices will only occur with overwhelming bipartisan support and will end the threat of ‘Court-packing’ as a political wedge issue.”
With the Don’t Mess with Precinct 3 Reward Program, witnesses who report illegal dumping can receive a $500 reward. Image for illustration purposes
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MISSION, Texas – Hidalgo County Precinct 3 is launching a new program that will provide monetary rewards to witnesses who report illegal dumping in Precinct 3 county areas. With the Don’t Mess with Precinct 3 Reward Program, witnesses who report illegal dumping can receive a $500 reward.
“We hope that this sends a strong message that Precinct 3 will not tolerate illegal dumping in our neighborhoods and along our streets,” said Precinct 3 Commissioner Everardo “Ever” Villarreal.
“Illegal dumping is not a victimless crime,” states Commissioner Villarreal. “Illegal dumping detracts from the beauty of our community and negatively impacts the quality of life for residents whose neighborhoods are being turned into dumping grounds. Coming forward to safely report illegal dumping allows residents who care about our community to work with our office to stop this bad behavior.”
How does illegal dumping impact our community?
Illegal dumping can disrupt natural processes on land and in the water. Dumping can interfere with the natural flow of water. Areas are more susceptible to flooding when waste blocks ravines, creeks, culverts, and drainage basins. In rural areas, burning at dump sites can cause forest fires and severe erosion as fires burn away trees and undergrowth. The run-off from improper disposal of toxic substances such as motor oil or household cleansers can contaminate lakes, streams, and drinking water supplies.
Don’t Mess with Precinct 3 Reward Program
Precinct 3 residents can help stop illegal dumping by reporting violators. If your tip turns into an arrest or citation, you may be eligible for a $500 reward.
Here’s how:
Report the violator’s physical description: Gender, age, hair color, clothing, etc.
Report the vehicle: License plate number, color, make and model
Report the incident: Time and date, location and type of materials
Report any other identifying or incriminating evidence
Only reports of materials dumped in Precinct 3 areas are eligible for a reward (not within city limits).
The reward does not apply to materials dumped on private property.
Littering does not qualify for illegal dumping rewards.
Abandoned vehicles do not qualify as illegal dumping.
County employees or family members of COunty employees are not eligible to receive rewards.
*Reward Program Disclaimer: Prosecution and a final judgment must occur before any reward issuance. County employees and their family members are not eligible for rewards. All rewards will be sponsored directly by Commissioner Everardo “Ever” Villarreal and will have no cost to Hidalgo County Precinct 3.
For more information on this program, please visit Precinct 3’s Program Page or contact Precinct ‘s office at (956) 585-4509.
Small business owners applaud the Senate’s passage of (SB 5) which would provide meaningful tax relief for local job creators. Image for illustration purposes
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AUSTIN, Texas – Small business owners applaud the Senate’s passage of (SB 5) which would provide meaningful tax relief for local job creators. Introduced by Sen. Tan Parker (R-Flower Mound), SB 5 increases the inventory tax exemption and offers a credit toward the franchise tax. NFIB has made cutting the inventory tax a top priority for the 88th Legislature, with paid statewide radio and digital advertisements to encourage legislators to provide needed tax relief to Texas small businesses.
Following the Senate’s passage of SB 5, NFIB State Director Annie Spilman said:
“This is the first tax relief measure of its kind to combine both inventory tax relief and a franchise tax credit to help businesses of all sizes, but particularly our small businesses. In the past three years, our local job creators have faced enormous challenges, and with our state’s $33 billion budget surplus, there’s no question they deserve meaningful tax relief this legislative session. This tax relief will allow small business owners to invest in their employees, meet their customers’ needs, and contribute to our communities. We look forward to working with lawmakers to get this tax relief across the finish line and to Governor Abbott’s desk for signature.”
Background:
Texas is one of nine states to fully tax inventory. The current exemption is $2,500, up from $500— which only recently increased in 2021. Before it was increased during the 87th Legislative Session, the exemption had not increased since 1995. Business owners haven’t seen franchise tax relief since 2015.
In December 2022, Spilman penned an op-ed for the Dallas Morning Newsoutlining why property tax relief is crucial for small businesses and the Lone Stars’ economic recovery. CLICK HERE to read excerpts of the op-ed.
In January 2023, NFIB launched the ‘Cut the Inventory Tax’ campaign, a paid effort including statewide radio and digital advertisements encouraging legislators to provide needed relief for Texas small businesses. Additionally, several NFIB members, including Andy Ellard, Tim Green, and Bud Walters, have been featured in local news coverage on the issue. To learn more, visit NFIB.com/TexasTaxCut.
During his State of the State address, Governor Abbott listed property tax relief as his first emergency item for the legislature.
About NFIB:
For nearly 80 years, NFIB has been the voice of small business, advocating on behalf of America’s small and independent business owners, both in Washington, D.C., and in all 50 state capitals. NFIB is nonprofit, nonpartisan, and member driven. Since our founding in 1943, NFIB has been exclusively dedicated to small and independent businesses and remains so today. For more information, please visit www.NFIB.com.
Left to Right: Gregg Booth, Julissa Federman, Clay Wright at the new location in Cypress, Texas. Courtesy Image
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HOUSTON, Texas – Texas Regional Bank (TRB) has opened its newest banking center located in Cypress, TX. This is the latest addition to their network of 28 banking centers expanding their reach to include Northwest Harris County.
The new TRB banking center, located on Louetta Road in the Vintage Park area, offers a full range of services that includes personal and business checking and savings accounts, loans, mortgages, wealth management and insurance services. TRB also offers digital banking services to make banking more accessible and convenient.
Gregg Booth, Houston Co-Regional President of Texas Regional Bank says, “We are thrilled to open our new banking center in Cypress and expand our services to the Northwest Harris County area.” Booth has been a Cypress resident for 15 years.
Julissa Federman, Banking Center Operations Manager, expressed her excitement for the positive impact TRB will have on the Cypress community, “Last year our bank employees spent 3,700 hours volunteering in local communities. I’m ready to see the positive impact TRB will have on the Cy-Fair area.” Federman has been a Houston resident for 31 years and is actively involved in Cy-Fair ISD.
Clay Wright, Houston Market President, also shared his enthusiasm for the new branch, stating, “Opening a new facility for Texas Regional Bank in the Vintage Park development will create tremendous opportunities for Cypress, Tomball, Spring, and all of N.W Harris County.” Wright, a Cypress resident since 1989, volunteers for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo every year.
TRB is committed to building long-lasting relationships with its customers and believes in supporting the local community. Texas Regional Bank looks forward to being the people you know in Cypress.
For more information on the new Cypress location or to learn more about TRB’s banking services, visit their website at www.texasregionalbank.com or stop by their new location at 10635 Louetta Rd., Houston TX 77070.
A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held on Tuesday, April 25th from 4:00PM – 6:00PM
About Texas Regional Bank
As of December 31, 2022, Texas Regional Bank has assets of $2.63 billion and 28 banking centers across the Rio Grande Valley, the Texas Hill Country, Houston and DFW Metroplex. Texas Regional Bank is a wholly owned subsidiary of Texas State Bankshares, Inc. with equity more than $151 million and more than 850 shareholders across Texas. TRB is a full-service financial institution, offering core banking services, trust services, wealth management services, mortgage services, international banking, insurance, foreign exchange, and public finance.
Jonah Goldberg, senior associate athletic director for Communications and Championships with UTRGV Athletics. (Courtesy photo)
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By Amanda A. Taylor-Uchoa
EDINBURG, Texas – Jonah Goldberg, senior associate athletic director for Communications and Championships with UTRGV Athletics, is the primary media contact for athletics. He worked part time at legacy institution UT Pan American as a radio broadcaster and communications assistant in 2007, only to return in 2011 as a full-time employee in the athletics department.
“Every day is different, which is one of the things I love about working here,” he said.
He believes there is no such thing as an average day in athletics and attributes his love for his job not only to his passion for athletics, but also to the “amazing team” he collaborates with every day.
WHAT IS YOUR ROLE AT UTRGV?
I serve as the primary media contact for athletics with specific sports responsibilities, currently including baseball, men’s basketball, football, women’s swimming and diving, and volleyball. I handle play-by-play duties for our ESPN+ broadcasts of baseball, volleyball and men’s and women’s basketball and soccer. I also oversee the process of bidding on and hosting championship-level events, such as the 2022 Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Volleyball Tournament at the UTRGV Fieldhouse, and the 2023 WAC Swimming & Diving Championships at the City of Pharr Natatorium.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU WORKED HERE?
I initially worked as the baseball and basketball radio broadcaster and part-time communications assistant for UTPA in 2007-08. I then returned as a full-time employee in November 2011. So, this time around, I’ve been here for about 11 and a half years. We can call it 12 years if we include my first stint.
DESCRIBE YOUR AVERAGE DAY:
There’s no such thing as an average day working in athletics. Every day is different, which is one of the things I love about working here. There’s a lot of writing involved. We pitch a lot of stories to the media and facilitate interviews. We plan.
But I think the most consistent thing I do is collaborate with an amazing team of co-workers. My communications staff includes three other full-timers – Claire Cruz, Danny Elizondo and Mikey Rodriguez; a part-timer, Julissa Martinez; student-experience intern Nathan Garza; and two student workers, Matthew Gonzalez and Brandon Garcia. And all of them are tremendous. I couldn’t have asked for a better team, and this Unsung Heroes recognition is simply a reflection of their hard work.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF THE JOB?
Seeing what our athletics department means to other people. One of my favorite parts of the job is working with the Hall of Fame Committee. I have had the honor of being the first point of contact with numerous inductees over the years, and hearing their excitement and their stories of their time just makes my day.
DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE MEMORY, OR STORY, ABOUT YOUR TIME HERE?
May 11, 2014 – it was the final home game of baseball season, also known as Senior Day. This often means that seniors get to play, and that year, we had a few seniors who didn’t play much get an opportunity. We had five senior pitchers toss five hitless innings of relief against the top team in the league – Sacramento State. We get to the ninth inning and the game is scoreless. A fifth-year senior getting an opportunity, Jonathan Garza, singled.
That brought up Andy Fortuna. Something to know about Andy is that he was raised by his grandma. This was Mother’s Day. His grandma was watching him play collegiately in person for the first time. Something else to know about Andy – he had not hit a home run since his senior year of high school. In fact, in four years here, he only had one extra-base hit – a double as freshman. In fairness, he was also a backup outfielder who didn’t get a lot of at-bats. The best closer in the conference was on the mound. Fortuna hit a walk-off home run. It was the most incredible thing I’ve ever seen. Tears were flowing in the dugout, not just because we won, but because of who had done it. Fortuna is an incredible human being. It was great to see him go out that way.
TELL US SOMETHING MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU:
I am the descendant of Holocaust survivors. My mom’s parents and two of her uncles survived and made it to the United States. My great Uncle Joe, who lived until the age of 95 and only recently passed away, was forced to attend school about how to make bricks when he got to Auschwitz. He acted out in class, so, in the dead of winter, the Nazis threw freezing water on him and left him outside to freeze to death. They failed. They made him endure the Death March. He lived. He jumped from a train. They stopped to look for him. They couldn’t find him.
My grandma was forced to act as a nurse in the camps. She snuck medicine from the Nazi side and saved the lives of prisoners. Had she been caught, she would’ve been shot. She was a hero. My grandfather was a tailor and was forced to fix the boots and uniforms of the Nazis. When he was being transferred to another camp, he too jumped from a train and escaped. My grandparents met in a displaced persons camp. My Uncle Joe acquired the diamond for the engagement ring by trading a gallon of peanut butter for it.
We named our daughter after my grandma. We taught her the origin of her name at a young age, and by the time she was in kindergarten, she could go into her classroom and tell everyone the story about my grandma – how she risked her life for others, and how 6 million Jews were systematically murdered in the Holocaust.
Despite the horrors my family had to endure, I am always struck by how happy they were and the kindness they always showed toward others. I try to take what I learned from them and use it in my life. As my Uncle Joe always said, “Be kind to one another. And always remember.”
WHAT IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE UTRGV COMMUNITY?
We have a great community at UTRGV. I am fortunate to count a number of people from other departments as my friends. I always enjoy collaborating with people across campus, as well, because everyone brings such distinct perspectives to everything. I attend a lot of meetings, but one of my favorites is with the UTRGV Newsroom. This is my opportunity to hear about some of the amazing stories there are around campus and also talk with fellow communicators.
On Tuesday, March 21, 2023, Governor Greg Abbott appointed Texas Regional Bank’s Executive Vice President Alex Meade to serve on the Texas Transportation Commission which governs the Texas Department of Transportation, commonly known as TXDOT. Courtesy Image
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On Tuesday, March 21, 2023, Governor Greg Abbott appointed Texas Regional Bank’s Executive Vice President Alex Meade to serve on the Texas Transportation Commission which governs the Texas Department of Transportation, commonly known as TXDOT. Created in 1916, TXDOT is responsible for construction and maintenance of the state’s immense state highway system and the support of the state’s aviation, rail, and public transportation systems.
“I want to express my appreciation to Governor Abbott for having appointed me to serve on the Transportation Commission. I am grateful for the opportunities to serve on previous boards that have allowed me to better understand the needs of the State of Texas”, said Meade.
Texas Regional Bank is committed to supporting the economic development efforts of the State of Texas, of which improving the transportation infrastructure is key.
“Alex is perfect for this role. All his efforts at Texas Regional Bank have been dedicated to building relationships between the public and private sectors and will contribute immensely to the improvement and investment in mobility throughout the State. Congratulations to Alex for his impeccable reputation and the success he brings to everything he does and to Governor Abbott for choosing one of the outstanding leaders from “the people you know” at Texas Regional Bank” stated Michael Scaief, Chairman and CEO of Texas Regional Bank.
As of December 31, 2022, Texas Regional Bank has assets of $2.63 billion and 28 banking centers across the Rio Grande Valley, the Texas Hill Country, Houston and DFW Metroplex. Texas Regional Bank is a wholly owned subsidiary of Texas State Bankshares, Inc. with equity more than $151 million and more than 850 shareholders across Texas. TRB is a full-service financial institution, offering core banking services, trust services, wealth management services, mortgage services, international banking, insurance, foreign exchange, and public finance.
“Having Newsmax back on the air is a victory for free speech over powerful corporations that want to put their thumbs on the scale of the national conversation,” said Ranking Member Ted Cruz (R-Texas). Image Source: Facebook for illustration purposes
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Ranking Member Ted Cruz (R-Texas) issued the following statement in response to DirecTV’s decision to re-platform Newsmax:
“Having Newsmax back on the air is a victory for free speech over powerful corporations that want to put their thumbs on the scale of the national conversation,” said Ranking Member Ted Cruz (R-Texas). “This outcome speaks to the power of citizens and their elected representatives working to stop viewpoint discrimination. I’m grateful to my colleagues, Senators Lindsey Graham, Mike Lee, and Tom Cotton, for joining me in this fight. Our democracy’s health depends on free speech, which is why I will keep using my perch as the Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Committee to stop the silencing of conservatives whether it occurs with Big Media or Big Tech.”
Background:
On February 1st, Ranking Member Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Sens. Mike Lee (R-Utah), and Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) sent a letter to the CEOs of DirectTV and its controlling shareholders, AT&T and TPG, voicing deep concerns about DirecTV’s recent decision to drop conservative news network Newsmax. The letter demanded answers and information about the decision.
As the Senators noted, DirecTV dropped two of America’s largest conservative news networks, Newsmax and One America News Network (OANN), during the past two years.
“In January 2022, DirecTV dropped One America News Network (OANN), less than a year after Democrat leaders in Congress sent a letter pushing the CEO of AT&T, DirecTV’s largest shareholder, to stop carrying OANN, Newsmax, and Fox News. These three networks were the three largest conservative news networks in America, and now—in less than a year—DirecTV has de-platformed two of them.”
