Laredo Sector Border Patrol agents halted a human smuggling attempt at the I-35 checkpoint. USCBP Image
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LAREDO, Texas – Laredo Sector Border Patrol agents halted a human smuggling attempt at the I-35 checkpoint.
On Nov. 8, Border Patrol agents encountered a tractor-trailer at the primary inspection when a Service canine alerted to the trailer. Border Patrol agents referred the driver to secondary. After further inspection, Border Patrol agents discovered people hidden inside the trailer. A total of 27 individuals were removed from the trailer.
Record checks revealed that the individuals were in the country illegally. They were from the countries of Guatemala and Mexico. The driver and undocumented individuals were taken into custody and were 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.
Speaking of gifts, that’s one of the more exciting parts of Christmas, isn’t it? Starting today, text the word Southpole to 956-474-6767 to get a chance to win a bevy of prizes. Image courtesy of the City of Mcallen.
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With only 24 days left to go until the largest illuminated holiday and helium balloon parade in Texas steps off on Saturday, December 3, 2022 from McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium at 6 PM, McAllen Holiday Parade, presented by H-E-B and powered by Bert Ogden Auto Group still have a plenty of announcements and great features to get the community engaged, excited and rewarded about this year’s presentation of the annual holiday tradition. Aside from a special sweepstakes that includes a bevy of prizes, with a special prize package from Bert Ogden Auto Group, and additional parade route seating options that benefit local organizations, two additional Dallas Cowboys legends were added to the roster of former Super Bowl Champions joining the team of players making an appearance, including #24 cornerback Larry Brown and #58 strongside linebacker Dixon Edwards. If that wasn’t enough, iHeart Radio national syndicated morning show Host Tino Cochino will also be a part of this year’s celebrity appearances.
“Christmas is all about holiday wishes coming true and for the thousands and thousands of Dallas Cowboys fans here in the Rio Grande Valley, having these legends here for our amazing parade is like a holiday wish coming true on Christmas morning in a sea of blue and silver,” said McAllen City Manager Roel “Roy” Rodriguez, P.E. “I love it.”
Echoing that sentiment was Marsha Green, Vice-President of Marketing for the Bert Ogden Auto Group, highlighting how proud the auto group is to be the power behind pulling the 60 floats in the parade.
“This parade is magical. It embodies the spirit and wonder of Christmas, where fantasies and fairy tales come true as dazzling, animated and illuminated displays on the various floats, all pulled by a Bert Ogden vehicle no less,” said Green. “The floats, the lights, the balloons, the bands, and the entire team that puts this event together, help to give our entire Rio Grande Valley community and beyond a Christmas gift that will last a lifetime: the memory of this delightful parade, right here in McAllen.”
Speaking of gifts, that’s one of the more exciting parts of Christmas, isn’t it? Starting today, text the word Southpole to 956-474-6767 to get a chance to win a bevy of prizes, including:
$1 thousand dollars in holiday cash
two round trip tickets to Las Vegas or Orlando
iPhone 14
various gaming systems, including Nintendo Switch, XBox Series X, or a PS5
H-E-B gift cards
65-inch TV
And other great and amazing prizes.
Additionally, one special prize that will be given away is the Bert Ogden Prize Package, which includes McAllen Holiday Parade stadium tickets, Meet & Greet passes and – this one is an absolutely a gem – a parking pass for the day of the parade!
Also making a celebrity appearance is Tino Cochino, iHeart Radio’s national syndicated morning show host, who will serve as the DJ for the South Padre Island Vuelta Zone, where those giant helium balloons will make the famous 360-degree Vuelta, which doesn’t happen anywhere in the world, except at the McAllen Holiday Parade.
Additional ticketed seating options, which help benefit the community, were also announced. Chair seating along the parade route, for only $10, are being sold by 11 organizations, as a fundraiser for their group, including the McAllen High School Booster Clubs, for McHi Baseball; McHi Soccer; McHi Basketball; McHi Cheer; Havoc Baseball; Choose to Change; Mustang Cheer; Sanchez Elementary PTO; Road Runners; Nikki Rowe Softball; and the McAllen Parks & Recreation Senior Living Program. Contact any of these groups individually to purchase tickets or purchase at any of the McAllen community centers, including: Lark Community Center, 2601 Lark Ave.; Las Palmas Community Center, 1921 N. 25th St.; or Palmview Community Center, 3401 Jordan Rd.
As a reminder, anyone wishing to be a part of this year’s parade can do so in a variety of ways, including, submitting an entry for the McAllen Holiday Shoebox Parade; or volunteering as a banner carrier or balloon handlers.
Shoebox parade entries must be on a shoebox, and can include any type of arts & crafts, toys, holiday decorations, lights or countless elements to celebrate “South Pole & Beyond,” the theme of both the shoebox and the big parade. The winning shoebox float entry will be made into an actual float for the 2023 edition of the McAllen Holiday Parade.
See the link below to get your entry Forms:
Entries are due no later than Wednesday, November 23, 2022 by 3:00 p.m. to the City of McAllen Office of Communications, McAllen City Hall, 1300 W. Houston Ave., 3rd Floor. For more information, visit www.mcallen.net.
Balloon handler volunteers must be 18 years or over, while banner carriers must be 16 years or over. All volunteers must go through a background check and will receive gloves, t-shirt and snacks. Call 956-681-3350 for more information or sign up at pardvolunteers@mcallen.net.
The parade will step off at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 3, 2022 from the McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium, 2001 N. Bicentennial Blvd. Ticket prices start at $10, plus service fees for stadium; SPI Vuelta Zone; Skybox Fan Experience; or any of the community group chair seating for the parade and can be purchased at www.ticketmaster.com; at the McAllen Performing Arts Center Box Office, 801Convention Center Blvd or from any of the community groups. There is also plenty of free seating along the parade route, on a first come basis.
For the past four years, the McAllen Holiday Parade has been named the Best Parade in the World, and this year, earned the Grand Pinnacle Award from the International Festivals and Events Organization. The McAllen Holiday Parade has also been named the Best Parade in Texas for the past five years by international and state event industry organizations.
The McAllen Holiday Parade is presented by H-E-B and powered by Bert Ogden Auto Group and proudly sponsored by Reliant, McAllen International Airport and South Padre Island CVB. Other sponsors for the 2022 presentation of the McAllen Holiday Parade include Budweiser, McAllen International Bridge System; McAllen Public Utility; Metro McAllen; South Texas Vo-Tech; Matt’s Building Materials; PepsiCo.; Windfield Communities; South Texas College; McDonald’s; Valley Aids Council; Driscoll Children’s Hospital; Chick-fil-A Rio Grande Valley; AEP Texas; JP Morgan Chase; IBC; Lacks; McAllen Chamber of Commerce; Hermes; McAllen I.S.D.; Linebarger Attorneys at Law; General Mills; PNC Bank; O’Reilly Auto Parts; University of Texas-RGV; McAllen Economic Development Corp.; Peña Eye Institute; Doña Lula; Tres Lagos Master Planned Community; Pollux Castor Creative; McAllen Public Works; Explore McAllen; Plains Capital Bank; KSA Engineers; Cigna; Taco Palenque; Halff Associates; Carollo Engineers; S&B Infrastructure; Raba Kistner Consultants, Inc.
An interfaith delegation of 20 leaders and organizers from the West/Southwest Industrial Areas Foundation met with him to share their collective work of broad based organizing at a time when the Pope is guiding the global church in a historic Synod listening process. Courtesy Image
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On Friday, October 14, 2022, Valley Interfaith and IAF had the rare opportunity to visit with Pope Francis at the Vatican.
An interfaith delegation of 20 leaders and organizers from the West/Southwest Industrial Areas Foundation met with him to share their collective work of broad based organizing at a time when the Pope is guiding the global church in a historic Synod listening process.
The Holy Father sat side by side with the group at his residence, thanking them for inconveniencing themselves to come see him. What ensued was a true dialogue, a 90-minute conversation in Spanish with a lot of back and forth engagement. The encounter was filled with many graced moments about both the joys and the struggles of their work, and the work of the Church, past, present, and to come.
This invitation to meet was in large part due to the recognition of the groups work by local Bishops, in particular those involved with the Recognizing the Stranger strategy, which is dedicated to formation and leadership development of immigrant parishioners. As well, their involvement to support the Synod process in multiple dioceses has helped to bring those in the margins to the center of the synodal dialogue.
Meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican. Courtesy Image
As experiences of organizing were shared, they were struck by how carefully he listened, asked questions, and engaged with a lot of humor. Early on, he reflected to them, “Usaron mucho las palabras ‘ver’ y ‘escuchar,’… Me impresiona que ninguno de ustedes es parte de alguna teoría. Ninguno dice ‘leí un libro y me interesó eso.’” (You constantly use the words “to see” and “to listen.. I am impressed that none of you start with any theory. No one says ‘I read a book and that interested me.’) “El peligro es intelectualizar el problema” (The danger is when you intellectualize a problem.)
He stressed the importance of being with people and paying attention to their reality, emphasizing Amor Concreto, love concretely in action, saying that he understood our work as seeing and hearing of injustice in the real lives of our people, acting to change the situation, and being changed themselves as a result. He expressed his appreciation for the groups focus on what they are doing, rather than to complain about what is not being done or to disparage anyone. “Ustedes no menospreciaron a nadie.”
Before concluding, he thanked them for the visit, saying that although he had never known of IAF before, he was glad that he knew us now, and he welcomed further conversation around our continuing work with the Synod process.
Some in our delegation were able to meet also with others at the Vatican, including leadership in the Dicastery for Integral Human Development, the General Secretariat of the Synod, and the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. It was a trip that opened many doors.
The group is grateful to the support of this historic visit. Many contributed with prayers, advice, encouragement, and financial investment. The group spent a full day in advance of the meeting with Pope Francis by conducting their own synodal process. They all felt an obligation to you and those who came before us in making this pilgrimage possible.
We teach that power recognizes power. Pope Francis said, “el verdadero poder es el servicio,” (“true power is service”). Recounting the Good Samaritan, he clearly stated that the Gospel cannot be understood without acting with those who are suffering. He recognized the leaders and organizations of the IAF and the powerful work that is happening every day at the margins. He referred to the IAF as “Good News for the United States.”
The group is humbled to represent the many decades of work from those who preceded them, and are encouraged in the continuation of their work into the future.
Valley Interfaith leaders along with industry partners founded VIDA in 1995 as a workforce development model to serve the Rio Grande Valley’s economically disadvantaged residents achieve career success. They remain active in workforce development initiatives, with currently 6 of VIDA’s board members representing Valley Interfaith leaders.
Laredo Sector Border Patrol agents assigned to the Laredo South station working together with local law enforcement agencies closed on an apartment complex used as a stash house in Laredo, Texas. USCBP Image for illustration purposes
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LAREDO, Texas – Laredo Sector Border Patrol agents assigned to the Laredo South station working together with local law enforcement agencies closed on an apartment complex used as a stash house in Laredo, Texas.
On Nov. 7, Border Patrol agents working together with CBP Air and Marine Operations, Webb County Constables from Precinct 2 and Webb County Attorney’s Office arrived at an apartment complex located west of Laredo. Border Patrol agents discovered a total of 17 people found inside the apartment.
All were illegally present in the U.S. All subjects were taken into Border Patrol custody and processed accordingly. Record checks revealed they were from the countries of Mexico and Guatemala.
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.
U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to Del Rio Sector recently arrested two convicted sex offenders for illegally entering the United States. USCBP Image for illustration purposes
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DEL RIO, Texas – U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to Del Rio Sector recently arrested two convicted sex offenders for illegally entering the United States.
Oct. 30, Eagle Pass agents apprehended Jimmy Palacio-Ramirez, 48, a Nicaraguan national. Record checks revealed Palacio-Ramirez was convicted of assault to commit rape, in San Jose, California, in 1995. He was sentenced to one year confinement and two years probation. He was most recently removed from the United States in 2011.
Nov. 1, Eagle Pass agents conducting line watch operations encountered 11 subjects attempting to avoid detection near Eagle Pass. All apprehended subjects were transported to the Eagle Pass processing center, where record checks revealed that Pedro Valdez-Garcia, 55, a Mexican national, was convicted of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, in Ottawa, Illinois, in 2005. He was sentenced to 180 days imprisonment and most recently deported in 2007.
As convicted felons, they faces charges of 8 USC § 1326 – Re-entry after Deportation, which carries a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison.
All subjects are processed in accordance with U.S. Customs and Border Protection policies.
To report suspicious activity, call the Del Rio Sector’s toll-free number at 1-866-511-8727.
Bridge of the Americas methamphetamine load. USCBP Image
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EL PASO, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the Bridge of the Americas border crossing in El Paso, Texas intercepted 26 pounds of methamphetamine and 10 pounds of fentanyl in a single failed smuggling attempt.
“Most smuggling cases involve a single type of drug,” said CBP El Paso Port Director Ray E. Provencio. “Seeing large amounts of two hard drugs being smuggled together is notable. This was an excellent find by our CBP Officers who remain focused on their drug interdiction mission.”
The interception occurred on Nov. 6, when CBP officers encountered an 18-year-old male U.S. citizen who arrived from Mexico via the vehicle lanes. A CBP officer referred the man for a secondary inspection of the vehicle which included a non-intrusive inspection (x-ray) exam. After anomalies were detected, a thorough search was conducted leading CBP officers to locate 25 bundles concealed within the vehicle. 21 of the bundles contained 26.23 pounds of methamphetamine and four of the bundles contained 10.09 pounds of fentanyl.
The narcotics and vehicle were seized by CBP. No arrested were immediately made as the case remains under investigation.
Rio Grande Valley Sector (RGV) Border Patrol agents arrested 29 migrants and two drivers from two tractors pulling a grain hauler style trailer and a refrigerated trailer. USCBP Image for illustration purposes
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EDINBURG, Texas – Rio Grande Valley Sector (RGV) Border Patrol agents arrested 29 migrants and two drivers from two tractors pulling a grain hauler style trailer and a refrigerated trailer.
On November 7, Kingsville Border Patrol Station agents working at the Javier Vega Jr. Checkpoint apprehended 14 migrants from a tractor trailer. Agents referred the vehicle to the secondary inspection area and discovered the migrants in the grain hauler style trailer with a tarp over the top. The driver, and migrants who were unlawfully present in the U.S., were placed under arrest. All subjects were in good health.
On November 5, Falfurrias Border Patrol Station agents at the Falfurrias Checkpoint referred a tractor trailer to the secondary inspection area following a canine alert. Agents discovered 15 migrants inside the trailer. The migrants were medically evaluated and did not require additional medical services. The driver, and migrants who were unlawfully present in the U.S., were placed under arrest.
“These human smuggling incidents highlight the extreme measures smugglers take to maximize profits regardless of the lives they endanger,” stated RGV Sector Chief Patrol Agent Gloria I. Chavez. “Incredibly proud of the work our Border Patrol agents do around the clock to keep our communities and those we encounter safe.”
Paul and Sony were a great selection. Man of the Year Paul R. Rodriguez is the President and CEO of Valley Land Title Company, a real estate title insurance agency with offices in McAllen, Mission, Edinburg, and Weslaco.
Woman of the Year restaurant entrepreneur and creator of Santa Fe Steakhouse Wine Classic and University Drafthouse Beer Festival, Sony Rego, is the 2022 McAllen Chamber Woman of the Year.
It was November 3, 2022, at Embassy Suites located at the McAllen Convention grounds, where this great event occurred.
It is important to point out that the McAllen Chamber of Commerce has celebrated the Man and Woman of the Year since 1955. It is essential to say that the McAllen Chamber has never missed a bit when it comes to the selection of outstanding pillars of the community. Congratulations to all!
Just a few of your winers from the 2022 election. Left to Right: Vicente Gonzalez, Monica de la Cruz, Dan Patrick, Gregg Abbott, Sid Miller, Richard Cortez and Morgan LaMantia. Images for illustration purposes only. Sources: Twitter, texas.gov, hidalgocounty.gov, ballotpedia.org
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Select the document below to see the results of some of the notable races in Texas.
The US economy is currently facing notable challenges, but I think we’ll see things improve once we get through the immediate hurdles. Image for illustration purposes
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Dr. M. Ray Perryman President and Chief Executive Officer of The Perryman Group
Gazing out over the next few decades, I see at least three major challenges confronting the US economy. First, we have to overcome the consequences of the lingering effects of the pandemic, including getting inflation under control, dealing with the inevitable fallout that effort will involve, and working through ongoing supply chain disruptions. Second, we must confront the chronic worker shortages. Third, we need to fashion a realistic energy policy which both meets climate goals and provides for future essential resources (more on that another time).
The pandemic’s disruptions understandably wreaked havoc across a broad spectrum. A federal funds rate of 0% and aggressive quantitative easing helped to avoid a catastrophic downturn, but now must be (somewhat painfully) unwound. Federal stimulus packages flooded households with cash which increased demand even as disruptions curtailed supply, contributing to price escalation. Combined with the war in Ukraine, shutdowns in China, weather disruptions, and tight labor markets, and you have the makings of stubborn inflation.
Unlike the late 1970s and early 1980s, the factors driving this phenomenon are not structural in nature and not permanently baked into the system. Pressures are not rapidly dissipating, though prices for many things are stabilizing and some (including housing) are beginning to notably decline. If we avoid turning inflation into a self-fulfilling prophesy, it bodes well for long-term growth and stability.
The US economy is currently facing notable challenges, but I think we’ll see things improve once we get through the immediate hurdles. There are many underlying features of the US economy that bode well for expansion and sustainability. Our most recent long-term projections indicate that, over the 2021 to 2050 period, real gross product is expected to increase from an estimated $19.5 trillion to $41.4 trillion, a 2.64% compound annual rate of growth. Employment is forecast to rise by 1.58% per year on average over this time horizon, leading to the creation of 84.3 million net new jobs and total wage and salary employment of 230.4 million by 2050.
A slowdown in the pace of growth over the next year or so seems unavoidable at this point and uncertainty abounds on many fronts, but the long-term outlook for the national economy remains decidedly positive. Stay safe!
Dr. M. Ray Perryman is President and Chief Executive Officer of The Perryman Group (www.perrymangroup.com), which has served the needs of more than 3,000 clients over the past four decades.
