Governor Greg Abbott today announced the OneStar Foundation has created a one-stop webpage for donations to support the victims’ families, teachers, and the Uvalde community during this time of healing following the shooting earlier this week. Image Source onestarfoundation.org/uvalde for illustration purposes
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AUSTIN, Texas – Governor Greg Abbott today announced the OneStar Foundation has created a one-stop webpage for donations to support the victims’ families, teachers, and the Uvalde community during this time of healing following the shooting earlier this week. The OneStar Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, will give 100% of the donations to the Robb School Memorial Fund, which was established by the First State Bank of Uvalde to ensure immediate financial support is given to those impacted by the horrific tragedy at Robb Elementary School. Funds will be used to cover immediate needs, such as healthcare expenses, flights and travel for families and loved ones, and funeral expenses, as well as long-term needs to support the community’s recovery.
“As the Uvalde community grieves this terrible crime, we have seen an outpouring of support from Texans and people around the country offering to help during this heartbreaking time,” said Governor Abbott. “Donations of any amount to the OneStar Foundation webpage will go a long way in letting these grief-stricken families, teachers, and loved ones know that they are not alone as they begin the long and difficult process of piecing their lives back together. The true spirit of the Lone Star State is Texans helping Texans, and we must continue supporting those working to heal in the weeks and months ahead.”
The Robb School Memorial Fund accepts donations on a one-time or monthly basis. Visit onestarfoundation.org/uvalde for more information on donating to support the families and the Uvalde community affected by the tragedy at Robb Elementary School. All donations will be held locally through the Robb Elementary Memorial Fund at First State Bank of Uvalde.
Attorney General Ken Paxton is warning Texans to be aware of scammers amid the Uvalde tragedy. Image for illustration purposes
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AUSTIN, Texas – Attorney General Ken Paxton is warning Texans to be aware of scammers amid the Uvalde tragedy.
Texans have come together in the wake of the tragic killings at Robb Elementary, to comfort and aid one another in this time of unspeakable grief. Texans are giving blood, and anxious to do whatever they can to alleviate the suffering. Unfortunately, there are some individuals who may try to take advantage of tragedy to perpetrate scams. We caution all charitable givers to be aware and informed, and we warn any would-be scammers that the Texas Attorney General will not tolerate anyone taking advantage of the goodwill and large-heartedness of our fellow Texans.
Texans who wish to give money or services to assist their fellow Texans impacted by the Uvalde tragedy should take steps to ensure that their charitable dollars are going to the intended recipients and to legitimate causes.
Follow the below best practices to avoid scams:
Do not wire money or confirm financial or personal information, including bank account, credit card, or Social Security numbers.
Give through legitimate charitable funding platforms like GoFundMe that have committed to banning fraudsters.
CharityWatch, formerly known as The American Institute of Philanthropy, is a charity watchdog group which helps donors make informed choices.
Guidestar gathers data on millions of IRS-recognized non-profits.
Do not trust a name or phone number. Scammers often use fake names and phone numbers to disguise their identity and area code.
You can put your number on the Texas Do Not Call Registry (by visiting www.TexasNoCall.com or by calling toll-free at 1-888-309-0600) and the National Do Not Call Registry (by visiting www.donotcall.gov or by calling toll-free at 1-888-382-1222 (TTY 1-866-290-4236)).
The City of McAllen passes along a message of condolences and hope concerning the tragedy in Uvalde. We must protect all children because we are all created in the image of God.
The grant opportunities come has South Texas mourns the lives of 21 residents at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. Image for illustration purposes
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The grant opportunities come has South Texas mourns the lives of 21 residents at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.
Please see below for the following grant opportunities. Please note that these have deadlines that are fast approaching. Please reach out to Alicia Seagraves at Alicia.seagraves@mail.house.gov for any additional support.
Project description: The OJJDP FY 2022 Enhancing School Capacity To Address Youth Violence program supports targeted efforts to address youth violence through implementing evidence-based prevention and intervention efforts in a school-based setting (K – 12th grade only). The goals of the program are to: (1) reduce the incidence of school violence through improved school safety and climate and (2) prevent youth violence, delinquency, and victimization in the targeted community.
There are two categories of funding available under this solicitation.
Category 1: Project Sites. This program supports the efforts of eligible applicant organizations to develop or enhance their capacity to address youth violence and victimization through school-based programming and interventions targeting student and community needs.
Category 2: Training and Technical Assistance. In addition to supporting program implementation and direct service activities, the initiative will fund a training and technical assistance provider to support the Category 1 project sites.
Eligibility:
State governments
Independent school districts
Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
For profit organizations other than small businesses
Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
Others (see text field entitled “Additional Information on Eligibility” for clarification)
Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
Project description: The goal of the COPS Hiring Program (CHP) is to provide funding directly to law enforcement agencies to hire and/or rehire additional career law enforcement officers in an effort to increase their community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts. Anticipated outcomes of CHP awards include engagement in planned community partnerships, implementation of projects to analyze and assess problems, implementation of changes to personnel and agency management in support of community policing, and increased capacity of agency to engage in community policing activities.
Eligibility:
State governments
Others (see text field entitled “Additional Information on Eligibility” for clarification)
Project description: The program seeks to increase school safety by implementing: training that will improve school climate using school-based behavioral threat assessments and/or intervention teams to identify school violence risks among students; technological solutions such as anonymous reporting technology that can be implemented as a mobile phone-based app, a hotline, or a website in the applicant’s geographic area to enable students, teachers, staff, and community members to anonymously identify threats of school violence; or other school safety strategies that assist in preventing violence.
Eligibility:
State, local, and university or college law enforcement agencies
Project description: The COPS Office School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP) provides funding directly to states, units of local government, Indian tribes, and their public agencies to improve security at schools and on school grounds in the recipient’s jurisdiction through evidence-based school safety programs. Pursuant to 34 U.S.C. § 10551(b)(5)-(9), SVPP funding is authorized and available under the following purpose areas:
Coordination with local law enforcement
Training for local law enforcement officers to prevent student violence against others and self
Placement and use of metal detectors, locks, lighting, and other deterrent measures
Acquisition and installation of technology for expedited notification of local law enforcement during an emergency
Any other measure that, in the determination of the COPS Office Director, may provide a significant improvement in security
Eligibility:
County governments
Others (see text field entitled “Additional Information on Eligibility” for clarification)
Project description: The JAG Program provides states, tribes, and local governments with critical funding necessary to support a range of program areas including law enforcement, prosecution, indigent defense, courts, crime prevention and education, corrections and community corrections, drug treatment and enforcement, planning, evaluation, technology improvement, and crime victim and witness initiatives and mental health programs and related law enforcement and corrections programs, including behavioral programs and crisis intervention teams.
Eligibility:
States
City or township governments
County governments
Application due date: This program is not currently accepting applications but will be opening soon
In light of the tragic events of this week in Uvalde, Texas, the County Attorney’s Office wants to remind our community of the seriousness of making false threats of school violence on social media. Image for illustration purposes
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EL PASO, Texas – In light of the tragic events of this week in Uvalde, Texas, the County Attorney’s Office wants to remind our community of the seriousness of making false threats of school violence on social media.
Under Texas Penal Code Section 42.06, false threats which place a person in fear of imminent bodily injury or cause a law enforcement agency to respond and involve a school campus, are a state jail felony.
The County Attorney’s Office takes threats of violence against our schools, teachers, and children very seriously and prosecutes the cases referred to our office to the fullest extent of the law.
According to the Texas Penal Code Section 42.06, a person commits a crime when:
(a) A person commits an offense if he knowingly initiates, communicates or circulates a report of a present, past, or future bombing, fire, offense, or other emergency that he knows is false or baseless and that would ordinarily:
(1) cause action by an official or volunteer agency organized to deal with emergencies;
(2) place a person in fear of imminent serious bodily injury; or
(3) prevent or interrupt the occupation of a building, room, place of assembly, place to which the public has access, or aircraft, automobile, or other mode of conveyance.
(b) An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor unless the false report is of an emergency involving a public or private institution of higher education or involving a public primary or secondary school, public communications, public transportation, public water, gas, or power supply or other public service, in which event the offense is a state jail felony.
We are also urging residents to report threats of violence against students or teachers calling the school police or 9-1-1, and to save the evidence by taking a picture or video.
“This is one of the first things people flying into our city see,” said Mayor Villalobos. “I want it to look beautiful, inviting and clean, to look like the rest of the city does.” Courtesy Image
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McAllen Mayor Javier Villalobos Courtesy Image
“This is one of the first things people flying into our city see,” said Mayor Villalobos. “I want it to look beautiful, inviting and clean, to look like the rest of the city does.”
The Bicentennial and Frontage Beautification Project and creation of the Urban Forest includes 1,200 feet of panel fencing and 210 feet of three-rail fencing..
Fencing: 1200 Ft of panel fence and 210 ft. of 3-rail fencing
The plants and trees that are included at the Bicentennial Median sevenCrepe Myrtle; two Comas; six Jatrophas; six Mexican Fan Palms (Washingtonian); one Retama; and two Wild Olives (Nacahuitas).
The plants and trees that are included along the Frontage are one Retama; five Wild Olives (Nacahuitas); three Cedar Elms (Olmos); five Fiddlewood; eight Texas Persimmons (Chapote); three Mexican Fan Palm (Washingtonian);and two Comas.
Courtesy Image
The plants and trees that are included in the westside landscape include 14 Crepe Myrtles; eight Butterfly Milkweed; 10 Firebush (Hamelias); and 10-Durantas.
The total project cost was $115,748. The project was completed by McAllen Parks & Recreation crews, saving $101,897 as a result of doing the work in-house.
WHO: Mayor Javier Villalobos and McAllen City Commission
City of McAllen Administration
McAllen Parks & Recreation
WHAT: Bicentennial Blvd. beautification unveiling
WHEN & Thursday, June 2, 2022 10:30 a.m.
WHERE: Frontage Park, 1901 Oakland Ave., McAllen
WHY: One of Mayor Villalobos’ goals when first elected as mayor was the beautification of Bicentennial Blvd. along the McAllen International Airport.
Some volunteered and some were drafted, but they all courageously answered the call to serve our country and died for our freedom and the freedom of others. Image for illustration purposes
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Courtesy Image
By Senator Hinojosa
On Memorial Day we honor and remember the men and women who have given their lives in service to the United States. These fallen heroes put their country, their neighbors, their friends before themselves and made the ultimate sacrifice defending our liberties. Some volunteered and some were drafted, but they all courageously answered the call to serve our country and died for our freedom and the freedom of others.
On this day we must make time to remember the past and present. Sadly, the bodies of these heroes have fallen throughout Europe, Southeast Asia, the South Pacific, the Middle East, and even here at home. It is imperative that we not just remember and honor the sacrifices of these individuals, but remember their families who live with the reality that mom, dad, brother, or daughter no longer sit at the kitchen table or celebrate tomorrow’s birthday.
The men and women of our armed forces serve all Americans — Democrats and Republicans, conservatives and liberals. At a time when it feels like we cannot be more divided, we should look to those in uniform as models for how we can fight for a shared goal, be on the same team, even if we do not all agree on everything. Today, we are united in our appreciation of their patriotism, courage, and commitment to our country.
On this Memorial Day, a sacred day, we must remember not to take our liberty and our nation’s independence for granted – freedom requires sacrifice. As a Vietnam veteran for the United States Marine Corps, I understand the difficult sacrifices that our military members and their families endure on a daily basis. Every day of my life as I smell the flowers, hear the birds sing, feel the wind and enjoy my freedom, I am grateful for my safe return home. However, I also forever live with the constant memory and scars of those battlefields decades ago and remember my fellow Marines who did not return home. In Vietnam I lost several high school classmates — Jesus Martinez, Walter Merle Langford, and Leonel Buentello — I am grateful to them for their service and sacrifice.
This Memorial Day, I encourage us all to take a minute and think of the tremendous work and sacrifice required so that we may continue to enjoy our liberty and way of life. Today, honor the patriotism, courage, and valor of those who died defending this great nation of ours, the United States of America.
Six Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD (PSJA ISD) Seniors were awarded the National DreamUS Scholarships of up to $33,000 for their post-secondary education. Image for illustration purposes
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PHARR, Texas – Six Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD (PSJA ISD) Seniors were awarded the National DreamUS Scholarships of up to $33,000 for their post-secondary education.
TheDream.US is the nation’s largest college access and success program for DREAMers. Scholarships are awarded to students who have demonstrated the academic potential and determination needed to succeed in college and life.
The National Scholarship Award will cover tuition and fees up to a maximum of $16,500 for an Associate Degree and $33,000 for a Bachelor’s Degree, at a partner college.
The scholarship recipients were as follows:
Miguel Cruz Porras, PSJA North ECHS
Asly Molina Maldonado, PSJA North ECHS
Jeymi Pineda Urbina, PSJA North ECHS
Alexia Vazquez, PSJA Memorial ECHS
Rey Coronado, PSJA Southwest ECHS
Cynthia Cazares, PSJA T. Jefferson T-STEM ECHS
Seniors were recognized in front of their peers and loved ones during a recent School Board Meeting held Monday, May 23, 2022.
