In a letter to Congress this week, the Chamber laid out the priorities for the business community for the rest of the year. Image for illustration purposes
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U.S. Chamber of Commerce
In a letter to Congress this week, the Chamber laid out the priorities for the business community for the rest of the year.
Why it matters: The current Congress has plenty of work to do before the new Congress arrives in January. This includes preventing a rail strike and tax increases, as well as passing much-needed permitting reform.
Be smart: The remaining work falls into two buckets: Items with January 3 deadlines, when the current Congressional session ends; and items that have made significant, often bipartisan, progress that would have to be restarted by the next Congress.
Items with Pre-January 3 deadlines:
· Prevent a rail strike
· Prevent stealth tax increases
· Finish the National Defense Authorization Act
· Pass full-year appropriations bills
· Extend the 737 Max certification deadline
Finish bipartisan action:
· Finalize permitting reform
· Combat organized retail theft
· Enact retirement security reforms
· Protect pregnant workers and employers
· Expand educational opportunities and close the skills gap
And: Certainty is needed on issues like the potential termination of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals programs and an increase in the debt limit.
Bottom line: Congress should not lose the opportunity to produce much-needed results for American workers and job creators.
The Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD (PSJA ISD) School Board of Trustees hosted the swearing-in ceremony of recently re-elected board member Carlos Villegas and new trustees Yolanda Castillo and Diana Serna. Image Courtesy of PSJA ISD
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PHARR, Texas – The Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD (PSJA ISD) School Board of Trustees hosted the swearing-in ceremony of recently re-elected board member Carlos Villegas and new trustees Yolanda Castillo and Diana Serna, as part of a special called school board meeting held at PSJA Southwest Early College HS Auditorium Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022.
Newly elected Trustees Diana Serna (Place 2) and Yolanda Castillo (Place 3) are the fifth and sixth women to serve respectively on the school board in its history. They will all be starting 4-year terms.
Rick Pedraza, who served as President for the 2021-2022 school year was given a special plaque during the ceremony to commemorate his tenure. Pedraza thanked his fellow board members and family for their support.
“I would like to thank God for this opportunity, my wife for supporting everything that I do, and my family for their support,” said Pedraza during his outgoing remarks. “I want to thank the PSJA ISD community and taxpayers for their confidence and trust in me as a trustee for the last four years. I am not going anywhere I will still be advocating for public education in our community.”
PSJA ISD looks forward to continuing the work and districtwide efforts to serve all students, parents, and staff under the continued leadership of the School Board of Trustees, according to Superintendent Dr. Jorge L. Arredondo.
“It is my honor and pleasure to be part of this historic moment. These three ladies here are paving the way for other women to advance women’s equality as well as the decision-making for the district, community, and region. They are a rising generation of activists and advocates and leaders who are picking up the mantle, taking the baton, and they are moving things forward,” said Dr. Arredondo. “With their addition to our very competent professionals of diverse career background of Board Members, it will bring strength to our A-rated district, and I look forward to inspiring our PSJA family to even higher levels and continuing the strength of the Spirit of PSJA.”
During the meeting, the school board also elected new leadership with Cynthia Gutierrez as President, Carlos Villegas as Vice-President, Diana Serna as Secretary, and Yolanda Castillo as Treasurer.
“I thank God because he put me on the PSJA ISD School Board as a Trustee,” expressed Diana Serna who will serve in Place 2. “I want to thank my kids for that constant support thank you all so much. My heart is very grateful. I am elated to be part of a Board where there are three women. In 105 years there have only been five women to serve at PSJA ISD. We’ll now add two more.”
For Trustee Yolanda Castillo, a proud lifetime educator and former PSJA ISD principal, getting to now serve her PSJA ISD Family in this capacity is a great honor.
“In 1968 my parents immigrated from Mexico in search of the American Dream. Today I tell them that they are looking at it,” said Castillo who served as Principal at Graciela Garcia Elementary. “Thank you to everyone who supported us, we did it together. To my fellow Board Members, I want to work together so that we can enhance our beloved PSJA. We’re going to take this district to the next level.”
The PSJA ISD School Board of Trustees look forward to continuing the legacy of excellence at PSJA ISD and its mission of preparing all students to compete and excel in today’s global society.
“Tonight is historical because these two wonderful women are going to be serving you,” said new School Board President Cynthia Gutierrez. “I want to invite all Board Members to work together so that we can move forward and work for our community.”
The South Padre Island Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce Small Business Season! Image Source: googlemaps
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SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas – The South Padre Island Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce Small Business Season!
Throughout the holiday shopping season, the Chamber is encouraging consumers to “Think Small” and earmark at least part of their holiday spending in support of local small business.
The SPI Chamber’s President/CEO Alita Bagley shared, “Small business is the backbone of our economy. 64% of our new jobs in the US come from small business. When people spend their dollars locally, more money stays local. On average, for every $100 spent locally, $68 of that stays here.”
“By implementing Small Business Season, we hope to encourage people to patronize all sorts of small businesses this holiday. In addition to our wonderful retail options, there are dining establishments, personal service providers, even local artisans that need our support. Small Business Season is a way to help our residents develop a better appreciation for how their spending affects our area and quality of life.”
The SPI Chamber is encouraging all businesses to participate in its efforts to raise awareness of how supporting small business improves the quality of life for the entire community. Dianna Harvill, SPI Chamber Marketing Director stated “All businesses need one another. There’s a symbiotic relationship. But small business is the most endangered because many small businesses don’t operate with large cash reserves. When costs skyrocket, they feel it.”
The SPI Chamber is challenging everyone in the area to support small business this holiday season.
Governor Greg Abbott today announced Gardner Pate as Chief of Staff, effective today. This announcement follows the departure of the Governor’s Chief of Staff of over five years, Luis Saenz. Image Source: Pate: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gardner-pate-90b32b7/; Abbott: texas.gov
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AUSTIN, Texas – Governor Greg Abbott today announced Gardner Pate as Chief of Staff, effective today. This announcement follows the departure of the Governor’s Chief of Staff of over five years, Luis Saenz.
“As Chief of Staff, Gardner Pate’s remarkable wealth of knowledge, unparalleled Capitol experience, and devotion to the State of Texas will strengthen our efforts to keep Texas the best place to live, work, and raise a family,” said Governor Abbott. “Luis Saenz has been an invaluable part of my team for the past five years, and I am grateful for his exceptional leadership and for his tireless service to all Texans. Working side by side through times of crisis as well as the daily responsibilities of state leadership, I am proud of the work Luis and I have been able to achieve for the people of our great state.”
Gardner Pate will serve as Chief of Staff within the Office of the Governor. Pate previously served as Deputy Chief of Staff within the Office before joining Governor Abbott’s 2022 re-election campaign as Campaign Chairman. Pate also served as the former Director of Policy and General Counsel for Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen and former partner at Locke Lord LLP before starting his own practice. Pate is a proud native of Corpus Christi and graduate of the University of Texas School of Law and the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin.
Governor Greg Abbott today directed the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and Texas school superintendents that the COVID-19 vaccine cannot be mandated as part of school entry requirements. Image for illustration purposes
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AUSTIN, Texas – Governor Greg Abbott today directed the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and Texas school superintendents that the COVID-19 vaccine cannot be mandated as part of school entry requirements. Instead, Texas law overrides a recent recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) that added the vaccine to immunization schedules for adults and school-aged children. In letters to TEA Commissioner Mike Morath and school superintendents statewide, the Governor explains that his Executive Order GA-39, issued on August 25, 2021, allows Texas parents to opt out of the COVID-19 vaccine for their children and further empowers parents to be the primary decisionmakers in their children’s health care. Also, the Texas Legislature has enabled parents to opt out of vaccinating their children for health reasons and reasons of conscience through a number of statutes, including Texas Education Code § 38.01(c)(1), Texas Health & Safety Code §§ 161.004(d), 161.0041, and Texas Human Resources Code § 42.043(d).
“Despite attempts at federal overreach into the health care decisions of Americans, in Texas we continue to honor and defend the freedom of parents to choose what is best for the health and well-being of their families,” reads the letter. “Regardless of what the CDC may suggest, in Texas, the COVID-19 vaccine remains voluntary. Texas schools shall not require students to receive the COVID-19 vaccine for any reason.”
Although the recent CDC recommendations do not create a federal vaccine mandate, many schools rely on CDC guidance to craft school entry requirements for students. Governor Abbott’s letters to TEA leadership and school superintendents reaffirm his Executive Order prohibiting vaccine mandates and vaccine passports, as well as the Texas laws enabling parents to opt out of vaccines for health or religious reasons.
Laredo Sector Border Patrol agents working together with Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) disrupted a human smuggling operation at a stash house in Laredo, Texas. USCBP Image for illustrationpurposes
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LAREDO, Texas – Laredo Sector Border Patrol agents working together with Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) disrupted a human smuggling operation at a stash house in Laredo, Texas.
On Nov. 15, Border Patrol agents assigned to the Laredo North Station working together with DPS, arrived at a residence in central Laredo. When they entered the home, they discovered a total of 13 people that were being held inside the home.
After record checks were conducted it revealed that all the people inside the home were in the country illegally. They were from the countries of Mexico and Guatemala. They were taken into Border Patrol custody and processed accordingly.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection welcomes assistance from the community. Citizens are encouraged to report suspicious activity to the U.S. Border Patrol while remaining anonymous by calling 1-800-343-1994.
The Texas Association of Counties (TAC) has selected Hidalgo County Clerk Arturo Guajardo, Jr. to receive a scholarship and participate in Leadership 254. Courtesy Image
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EDINBURG, Texas – The Texas Association of Counties (TAC) has selected Hidalgo County Clerk Arturo Guajardo, Jr. to receive a scholarship and participate in Leadership 254.
The 14-month-long leadership development program is designed specifically for county officials to help them meet the unique challenges of their duties. Guajardo will be a part of the 2023-2024 class, which will begin the first of four training modules in February 2023.
“I am honored to have been selected by TAC to take part in this unique and enriching program,” said Guajardo. “I look forward to learning new skills and expanding my knowledge, which will make me an even more effective official for the residents of Hidalgo County.”
The program’s theme is “Reflect, Grow and Transform.” Leadership 254 curriculum will challenge participants to grow as leaders through skills assessments, discussion, theory building, self-examination and experiential learning.
Module materials will focus on exploring new dimensions of one’s self and relating to others; decision making, integrity and consideration; leading others; and transformational leadership.
Ambrosio Guillen, Medal of Honor recipient, was born at La Junta, Colorado, and entered military service at El Paso, Texas. Image in the Public Domain.
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GUILLEN, AMBROSIO (unknown–1953). Ambrosio Guillen, Medal of Honor recipient, was born at La Junta, Colorado, and entered military service at El Paso, Texas. Staff Sergeant Guillen was a member of Company F, Second Battalion, Seventh Marines, First Marine Division near Songuch-on, Korea, on July 25, 1953, when he and his platoon were participating in the defense of an outpost forward of the main line of resistance. At night over unfamiliar terrain and in the face of hostile fire, he maneuvered the platoon into fighting positions. When pinned down by an estimated enemy force of two battalions, he exposed himself to heavy mortar and artillery fire to direct his men and supervise the care and evacuation of the wounded. He was critically wounded during the battle but refused medical treatment and continued to direct his men until the enemy was defeated. He succumbed to his wounds a few hours later. His outstanding valor was directly responsible for his platoon’s repelling a numerically superior enemy force. Guillen is buried in Fort Bliss National Cemetery at El Paso, Texas.
Biography by Art Leatherwood, Handbook of Texas Online
Published by the Texas State Historical Association
Laredo Sector Border Patrol agents halted two human smuggling attempts at the I-35 checkpoint. USCBP Image for illustration purposes
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LAREDO, Texas – Laredo Sector Border Patrol agents halted two human smuggling attempts at the I-35 checkpoint.
On Nov. 14, Border Patrol agents encountered a tractor that was pulling two additional tractors when it approached the primary inspection lane. A Service canine alerted the canine handler, subsequently sending the trailer through the non-intrusive scanner at checkpoint. Border Patrol agents discovered anomalies in the back of the sleeper area. The scan revealed several people inside. After further inspection, Border Patrol agents discovered a total of 14 people hiding in the sleeper compartment of the tractors that were in tow. Record checks revealed that they were all from Mexico and in the country illegally. The driver and undocumented individuals were taken into custody and were processed accordingly.
On Nov. 15, a tractor-trailer approached the primary inspection lane. Agents conducted an immigration inspection of the driver when agents asked the driver to go through the non-intrusive scanner at checkpoint. The scan revealed anomalies in the sleeper area of the tractor. Agents discovered a total of five individuals in the sleeper compartment of the tractor.
Record checks revealed that they were all from Mexico and in the country illegally. The undocumented individuals along with the driver were taken into custody to be processed accordingly.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection welcomes assistance from the community. Citizens are encouraged to report suspicious activity to the U.S. Border Patrol while remaining anonymous by calling 1-800-343-1994.
Laredo Sector Border Patrol agents apprehended a convicted gang member in Laredo, Texas. USCBP Image for illustration puprposes
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LAREDO, Texas – Laredo Sector Border Patrol agents apprehended a convicted gang member in Laredo, Texas.
On Nov.15, agents assigned to the Laredo South Station apprehended several undocumented individuals in south Laredo. After record checks were conducted, one of the subjects identified as Luis Andres Flores-Camacho, a 42-year-old male Mexican national, an active gang member of the Paisa gang, with prior felony convictions for Aggravated Robbery in 1998 and 2017.
He will be processed accordingly.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection welcomes assistance from the community. Citizens are encouraged to report suspicious activity to the U.S. Border Patrol while remaining anonymous by calling 1-800-343-1994.
