As part of this collaboration, a $10,000 gift from the Pine Gate Community Impact Fund on behalf of the Grapefruit Solar Project in Hildalgo County will support an evening drive-thru food distribution in July. Image for illustration purposes
Texas Border Business
PHARR, Texas – The Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley is proud to announce a special summer partnership with the Pine Gate Community Impact Fund, the charitable arm of renewable energy company Pine Gate Renewables. As part of this collaboration, a $10,000 gift from the Pine Gate Community Impact Fund on behalf of the Grapefruit Solar Project in Hildalgo County will support an evening drive-thru food distribution in July.
This timely initiative will help provide much-needed meals for families and children across the Rio Grande Valley during one of the most critical times of the year. Summer is the busiest season for the Food Bank, as thousands of children are home from school and missing school meals, while families continue to feel the strain of the current economy.
The distribution will take place in the evening at the Food Bank RGV located at 724 N. Cage Blvd. in Pharr, offering fresh produce and shelf-stable food items to approximately 1,000 households in need. Employees from Pine Gate Renewables will volunteer during the event, lending their time and energy to personally support the effort.
“Summer is one of the hardest times for families struggling to make ends meet,” said Libby A. Saenz, CEO of Food Bank RGV. “We are deeply thankful for this meaningful partnership with Pine Gate Renewables and the Pine Gate Community Impact Fund. Their generous $10,000 gift and willingness to serve alongside us will make a real difference in our community.”
“The Grapefruit Solar Project team at Pine Gate Renewables values the essential work the Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley does to support families in need,” said Brian Munger, Development Project Manager at Pine Gate Renewables. “We are honored to support the Food Bank and look forward to connecting with community members during the July food distribution event.”
Details on the date and time of the distribution will be announced soon. To learn more about how you can support the Food Bank RGV’s summer hunger relief efforts, visit www.foodbankrgv.com.
McAllen has commenced early planning and preliminary engineering efforts for a prospective Brackish Groundwater Desalination Facility. The facility would be located at the site of the existing Northwest Water Treatment Plant on North Bentsen Road. The conceptual project would include multiple Brackish Groundwater Wells along with the Desalination Facility.
The project could potentially provide the City of McAllen with an additional 6 to 10 million gallons a day of water to help supply existing and future customers. Early work has commenced which includes the installation of multiple test wells.
The test wells will help obtain water quality and quantity data that is needed to advance design of the overall facility. The McAllen Public Utility is working with both the Texas Water Development Board as well as the Bureau of Reclamation on funding assistance for this project.
For more information, contact the McAllen Public Utility Engineering Department at 956-681-1770.
Open to all PSJA ISD students, these free enrichment camps provide students with engaging weekly adventures designed to keep them learning and growing through the summer months. Image courtesy of PSJA ISD
Texas Border Business
PHARR, Texas – Thousands of students across Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District (PSJA ISD) are engaging in hands-on learning and exploration through the district’s 2025 Summer Enrichment Days, happening now through June 27 and again from August 4-15 at all PSJA schools.
Image courtesy PSJA ISD
Open to all PSJA ISD students, these free enrichment camps provide students with engaging weekly adventures designed to keep them learning and growing through the summer months. Each week features a unique theme, including:
· Camping Adventure – June 9-13
· Beach Adventure – June 16-20
· Nature Adventure – June 23-27
· Space Adventure – August 4-8
· Safari Adventure – August 11-15
Camp Hours
· Elementary Schools – 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM
· Middle & High Schools – 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM
“Research shows that when students have a large gap, like in the summer where no academic or even fun learning is happening, they lose points in reading and in math,” said PSJA Community Liaison Laura Farias. “During these enrichment camps our students are able to stay engaged, not only academically but socially so they’re better prepared and equipped come the new school year.”
Image courtesy of PSJA ISD
In addition to academic activities like STEM, robotics, art, and music, students also get to enjoy team sports, fine arts, and interactive experiences that spark curiosity. During the camps, transportation, breakfast, and lunch are provided free of cost, ensuring students are fueled and ready to make the most of their day.
Enrollment for the camps is still open! Families can learn more and sign up by visiting: https://www.psjaisd.us/camps.
On June 21, 2025, President Donald J. Trump announced via his TRUTH Social platform that the United States had carried out a military strike targeting three nuclear facilities in Iran. According to the President’s post, the attack focused on the sites at Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan, which he described as nuclear. He stated that a full payload of bombs was dropped on the primary site, Fordow, and confirmed that all U.S. aircraft involved in the operation had exited Iranian airspace and were returning safely. President Trump praised the U.S. military, referring to them as “great American Warriors,” and concluded his message with a call for peace.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott released a public statement the same evening in response to the announcement. He characterized the strike as a “decisive action” by the President and affirmed Texas’s support for national security efforts. Governor Abbott indicated that, as a precautionary measure, the state was increasing readiness levels of the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas National Guard. These measures include enhanced patrols around high-risk locations within Texas.
Governor Abbott emphasized that there is currently “no need to worry,” but he noted the importance of vigilance to maintain public safety and reaffirmed the state’s support for the President and U.S. military personnel.
Reuters reported that Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi (formerly Araghchi) described the U.S. attack as “outrageous” and a “grave violation” of the UN Charter, international law, and the Nuclear Non‑Proliferation Treaty. He stated that Iran “reserves all options” to defend itself and warned of “everlasting consequences”
Texas Border Business had the opportunity to speak with Suzannah Swanson, a 22-year-old graduate of South Texas College. She was born with spina bifida, a birth defect that affects the development of the spinal cord. Her life story is the driving force behind one of South Texas’s most impactful charity cycling events: the SB250.
“So, we are setting up for the SB250, a charity bike ride that we have celebrated for 15 years,” said Suzannah. “Fifteen years ago, we started this to raise money for children and families affected by spina bifida.”
Cyclists gather at the Edinburg ACE Center on Thursday, June 19, to pick up their packets ahead of the SB250 ride—a 250-mile cycling challenge from Edinburg to San Antonio. Now in its 15th year, the event unites participants to support spina bifida awareness and fundraising efforts that benefit families across Texas. Courtesy image
Suzannah’s parents, Casey and his wife, began the event after discovering how few resources they had when their daughter was born with Myelomeningocele, the most severe form of spina bifida. With help from Spina Bifida Texas and guidance from other families, they found the strength to navigate a new world and support others entering it.
The SB250 is a 250-mile cycling challenge from Edinburg to San Antonio held annually in the summer heat. More than 100 riders participated this year, braving the Texas sun to support the spina bifida community. “It’s like a big family at this point,” Suzannah said. “I love doing it every year with my parents and seeing all the cyclists.”
Although Suzannah doesn’t ride herself, she and her mother manage a key part of the operation. “My mom and I have a little crew of our lunch ladies that provide the food for the cyclists at the stops,” she explained. “We have to make sure to beat them to the stop, set up everything, and have the food ready so they can just come in and eat and cool down a little bit.”
Using a wheelchair full-time, Suzannah has never allowed her condition to limit her ambitions. “Yes, I’ve adapted. I’m 22 now, so there’s always a learning curve, but you work around it and have to,” she said. She recently earned her degree in sign language interpreting and is preparing for certification. “I hope to get a job very soon,” she added. “With my degree in interpreting, I hope to become an interpreter.”
The SB250 has evolved into more than just a fundraiser—a movement. Numerous sponsors, including the Edinburg Economic Development Corporation (Edinburg EDC), support the event. Raudel Garza, Executive Officer of Edinburg EDC, has been a long-time rider and supporter, participating in the SB250 for twelve years. The City of Edinburg and its economic development office support the cause.
“I hope to spread the message of our foundation and about spina bifida to more people as the years go on,” Suzannah said, reflecting on the future of the initiative that grew from her family’s journey into a community-wide effort.
The SB250 culminated on Saturday, June 21, 2025, with a finish-line celebration in San Antonio. Once again, the event demonstrated what a family, community, and a determined young woman can accomplish together.
On Saturday, June 21, 2025, more than 100 cyclists pushed into the second day of the grueling SB250 cycling event, a 250-mile journey from Edinburg to San Antonio designed to raise awareness and funding for spina bifida. Riders, sponsors, and volunteers gathered as early as 4:30 a.m. in Freer, Texas, preparing for a 110-mile stretch through the South Texas heat—an intentional challenge reflecting the day-to-day obstacles faced by families affected by spina bifida.
The event, now in its 15th year, was founded by Casey Swanson and has grown into a major initiative under the Suzannah Smiles organization. Swanson, a contractor and real estate broker, started the event after his daughter, Suzannah, was born in 2003 with Myelomeningocele, the most severe form of spina bifida. Initially organized under Team McAllen Cycling, the SB250 was designed to mirror the physical and emotional resilience required by families living with this rare spinal birth defect.
Casey Swanson, founder of the SB250 ride, poses with his wife and daughters—including Suzannah, seated—during packet pick-up on Thursday, June 19, at the Edinburg ACE Center (Arts, Culture, and Events Center), located at 315 W. McIntyre St., in Edinburg, Texas. The family remains at the heart of the event’s mission to support those affected by spina bifida. Photo by Roberto Hugo González
“In 2003, our daughter Suzannah was born with Spina Bifida,” said Swanson. “We didn’t know anything about it at the time. Spina Bifida Texas became our lifeline, connecting us with resources and other families. This ride is a way of giving back.”
Multiple sponsors and community stakeholders, including the Edinburg Economic Development Corporation, support the SB250. Raudel Garza, executive officer of the EDC, has been participating in the ride for twelve years. Both the City of Edinburg and the EDC continue to actively support the event actively, recognizing its profound impact on fundraising and community solidarity.
Saturday’s schedule included a breakfast sponsored by Aries Tortillas, a watermelon break hosted by Power Watt Coaching in Tilden, and a midday lunch at Jourdanton Methodist Church courtesy of Frank “WOOHOO” Cano. Riders were grouped by pace and escorted by support vehicles to ensure safety and coordination across the long rural stretches.
At 2:00 p.m., all groups staged at Texas A&M San Antonio before riding to Rancho El Chema for a finish-line celebration organized by InterMat and Spina Bifida Texas. The event will conclude with a barbecue and a ceremonial check presentation sponsored by Arroyo Vista Ranch.
Since its inception, the SB250 has raised significant funds and established a vital network for spina bifida families. Scholarships, equipment grants, and direct support continue to reach individuals through Suzannah Smiles, which added a second event—Shred de Roots, a mountain bike race in Huntsville—in 2022 to extend its mission further.
“It’s a hard ride,” Swanson said. “But that’s the point. We ride through the heat and the exhaustion because these families live with constant challenges. If this ride helps even one family feel supported, it’s all worth it.”
Individuals are encouraged to visit the event website for more information or to get involved. https://www.suzannahsmiles.org/
The Lone Star tick is possibly the most iconic human biting tick and is recognizable for its iridescent spot on the back of a female adult tick. (Michael Miller/Texas A&M AgriLife)
Texas Border Business
Texas A&M AgriLife
As temperatures rise and Texans spend more time outdoors, the risk of tick bites increases across the state. It’s important to know how to spot, avoid and remove ticks in Texas, whether you’re hiking, camping, ranching or gardening.
Lone Star ticks are most active in late spring and throughout the summer. However, the Gulf Coast species is active year-round, especially in South Texas. Thus, these tick species are most active when outdoor activities are at their highest.
“Perhaps the most iconic human biting tick for Texas is the Lone Star tick, which gets its name from a single iridescent spot on the back of the adult female,” Teel said.
This tick has a wide host range, including many wildlife species and humans.
“You’ll most often encounter ticks when you enter their natural habitats,” Teel said. “This includes hiking, camping, trail riding or even ranching.”
Ticks are surprisingly good at finding their next host. “They can detect heat, carbon dioxide, shadows and vibrations,” Teel said.
The first stage after being hatched from eggs is the larval stage. The six-legged larvae, which can swarm in big groups, may leave tiny red spots that are so small they go unnoticed.
Nymphs and adults are eight-legged and slightly larger than larvae, making these stages easier to see. However, they can still transmit disease-causing pathogens if they are not removed.
Teel recommends the following prevention steps to spot, avoid and remove ticks:
Wear light colored clothing to help spot ticks.
Tuck pants into boots or socks when walking through tall grass or brush.
Consider using masking tape barriers made by folding tape lengthwise and wrapping around your tucked pant legs with the sticky side facing out to trap ticks as they crawl.
Apply EPA-approved tick repellent.
Conduct inspections for attached ticks.
Properly remove attached ticks and hold them for observation.
“Always perform a tick check after outside activities. This can be for humans and your furry loved ones,” Teel said.
He explained a proper tick check inspection includes behind the ears, on the scalp, the waistline and under the arms.
How to safely remove a tick
“When removing a tick, it is important to not twist, jerk, burn or douse with chemicals because this may cause the tick to spit pathogens into the bite, causing a tick-borne illness,” Teel said.
Instead, he recommended following these steps:
Use fine-tipped tweezers or a tick-removal tool to grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible.
Pull straight out with steady, even pressure.
Clean the area with an alcohol swab or antiseptic after removing the whole tick.
Teel said once the tick is removed, consider placing it in a closed bottle or bag and saving it. Ticks removed from Texas citizens can be submitted for identification and for tick-borne pathogen testing for free of charge to the Texas Department of State Health Services.
“Awareness and prompt action go a long way in preventing a tick-borne illness,” Teel said. “Know how to avoid ticks and how to properly remove them.”
More tick talk
To learn more and see maps of where tick species live in Texas and across the U.S., visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s page about where ticks live.
A Mexican national and the co-founder of the armed, violent, and prolific Los Cuinis drug cartel was sentenced to 30 years in prison for his role in a major drug trafficking conspiracy. Image for illustration purposes
Texas Border Business
U.S. Department of Justice
A Mexican national and the co-founder of the armed, violent, and prolific Los Cuinis drug cartel was sentenced to 30 years in prison for his role in a major drug trafficking conspiracy.
According to court documents, Jose Gonzalez-Valencia, 49, of Michoacan, Mexico, was one of the top leaders — alongside his brothers, Gerardo Gonzalez-Valencia and Abigael Gonzalez-Valencia — of Los Cuinis, a major Mexican drug cartel responsible for trafficking multiple tons of cocaine from South America, through Mexico, into the United States. Los Cuinis financed the founding and growth of the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), which traffics hundreds of tons of cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl into the United States and other countries, and is known for extreme violence, murders, torture, and corruption.
In February 2025, President Trump designated CJNG a foreign terrorist organization. According to court documents, the top leader of CJNG, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, also known as “El Mencho,” is the brother-in-law of the Gonzalez-Valencia brothers. Closely allied, Los Cuinis and CJNG form one of the most violent and prolific transnational criminal organizations in the world, responsible for sending staggering amounts of drugs into the United States and inflicting extreme violence to further that objective.
Also today, as part of the Department of Justice’s focus on dismantling CJNG, another Mexican national, Cristian Fernando Gutierrez-Ochoa, also known as “El Guacho,” a high-ranking CJNG member and El Mencho’s son-in-law, pleaded guilty to one count of international money laundering conspiracy.
“Today, the Criminal Division dealt two more devastating blows to CJNG and Los Cuinis through the sentencing of Jose Gonzalez-Valencia and the conviction of Cristian Fernando Gutierrez-Ochoa,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “These men and the cartels they led are responsible for immeasurable death and destruction in the United States and Mexico. The Justice Department will continue to dismantle CJNG, Los Cuinis and all other transnational criminal organizations that flood our streets with dangerous drugs and engage in extreme violence to control their operations.”
“CJNG is one of the most powerful, influential, and ruthless criminal organizations to threaten our public safety and national security. Each leader and associate of CJNG who faces justice within the United States brings us one step closer to dismantling this terrorist organization,” said Acting Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Administrator Robert Murphy. “DEA will continue to use all available resources to disrupt CJNG’s drug trafficking and money laundering operations and systematically destroy their network.”
From at least 2006 to 2016, according to court documents, Jose Gonzalez-Valencia directed and coordinated numerous multi-ton shipments of cocaine destined for the United States using air, land, sea, and underwater methods. In 2007 the U.S. Coast Guard seized one shipment from a semi-submersible vessel that was transporting at least 4,000 kilograms of cocaine from Colombia to Mexico for further distribution into the United States.
As one of Los Cuinis’ top leaders, Jose Gonzalez-Valencia directed acts of extreme violence in furtherance of drug trafficking activities, including the murder of an individual who allegedly stole a shipment of approximately 1,000 kilograms of cocaine from Los Cuinis, according to court documents. Jose Gonzalez-Valencia personally carried firearms in furtherance of his drug trafficking activities and supplied weapons and ammunition to the CJNG.
In 2015, Jose Gonzalez-Valencia went into hiding in Bolivia — a country that did not extradite anyone to the United States from 2001 to 2023, despite an existing extradition treaty — and resided there for over two years under a fictitious identity. In 2017, Jose Gonzalez-Valencia was arrested in Brazil while on vacation and was subsequently extradited to the United States. Brazil’s extradition treaty required that the U.S. Government not recommend more than a 30-year sentence.
Pursuant to his plea agreement, Gutierrez-Ochoa admitted that he was a member of CJNG who was connected to CJNG’s top leadership. He also admitted that from at least 2023 until his arrest in 2024, he and other CJNG operatives used sophisticated money laundering methods involving real estate transactions, shell companies, and international money transfers to launder CJNG’s drug trafficking proceeds. For example, Gutierrez-Ochoa and others completed two wire transfers totaling $1.2 million of CJNG’s drug proceeds to purchase a luxury residence in Riverside, California, titled in the name of a Mexican entity owned and controlled by CJNG. When Gutierrez-Ochoa was arrested in November 2024, he was living at that property under a fictitious identity and possessed two untraceable and illegal firearms, approximately $2.2 million of CJNG’s drug proceeds, and numerous luxury items purchased with CJNG’s drug proceeds, including jewelry, watches, and vehicles.
Gutierrez-Ochoa is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 7 and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine his sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Today’s sentencing of Gonzalez-Valencia and conviction of Gutierrez-Ochoa follow several recent strikes into CJNG’s most inner circle.
El Mencho’s older brother, Antonio Oseguera Cervantes, and Erick Valencia Salazar, an alleged co-founder of CJNG and El Mencho’s close advisor, were among the 29 wanted cartel leaders taken into U.S. custody on Feb. 27, 2025.
Shortly after, on March 7, 2025, El Mencho’s son, Ruben Oseguera-Gonzalez, known as El Menchito, was sentenced to a term of life in prison plus 30 years to run consecutively and ordered to forfeit over $6 billion in drug trafficking proceeds. Before his arrest, Oseguera-Gonzalez was CJNG’s second-in-command and led CJNG for nearly seven years. He is responsible for trafficking more than 50 metric tons of cocaine and supervising drug labs that produced more than 1,000 metric tons of methamphetamine in Mexico. In 2013, he was one of the first contributors to the fentanyl epidemic in the United States, pledging to “do it big” and build an empire from counterfeit oxycontin pills laced with fentanyl. As the evidence at trial showed, he also committed heinous acts of violence. According to statements made in court and trial testimony, Oseguera-Gonzalez ordered the murder of more than 100 people, some of whom he murdered himself.
The DEA and the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section have been systematically dismantling the leadership of the CJNG and Los Cuinis at the highest level. To date, the ongoing investigation has led to indictments of approximately 30 high-value CJNG and Los Cuinis command-and-control targets, including seven Consolidated Priority Organization Targets (CPOTs), the top drug trafficking command-and-control leaders. As of June 2025, 12 defendants have been convicted, including two at trial.
A number of indicted leaders of CJNG and Los Cuinis remain fugitives, including El Mencho, whose capture reward was recently increased to $15 million under the State Department’s Narcotic Rewards Program. Abigael Gonzalez-Valencia, another top leader of Los Cuinis and El Mencho’s brother-in-law, was arrested in 2015 by Mexican authorities pursuant to the U.S. indictment but since then has been fighting extradition to the United States.
The DEA Los Angeles Field Division investigated the cases. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided critical assistance with obtaining foreign evidence and securing Jose Gonzalez-Valencia’s extradition to the United States.
Trial Attorneys Lernik Begian and Douglas Meisel of the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section are prosecuting the cases.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forcesand Project Safe Neighborhood.
DPS special agents discovered more than 390 bundles of methamphetamine. The methamphetamine has an estimated street value of more than $2.4 million. Photo: Texas DPS
Texas Border Business
AUSTIN — Governor Greg Abbott, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), and the Texas National Guard continue to work together with the Trump Administration to secure the border; stop the smuggling of drugs, weapons, and people into Texas; and prevent, detect, and interdict transnational criminal activity between ports of entry.
Since the launch of Operation Lone Star, the multi-agency effort has led to over 533,800 illegal immigrant apprehensions and more than 54,300 criminal arrests, with more than 45,800 felony charges. In the fight against the fentanyl crisis, Texas law enforcement has seized over 735 million lethal doses of fentanyl—enough to kill every man, woman, and child in the United States, Mexico, and Canada combined during this border mission.
Operation Lone Star continues working to undo the damage done by the Biden Administration. Every individual who is apprehended or arrested and every ounce of drugs seized would have otherwise made their way into communities across Texas and the nation due to open border policies.
On Tuesday, Governor Abbott highlighted President Donald Trump’s success at securing the border and safeguarding the country, as border agents did not release a single illegal immigrant into America last month.
Texas will keep working with President Trump and Border Czar Tom Homan to secure the border.
Last week, Governor Abbott shared photos on X, formerly known as Twitter, of DPS brush teams assisting federal partners to arrest, detain, and deport human smugglers.
Texas continues to work closely with the Trump Administration to secure the border to keep Texas and America safe.
Last week, Governor Abbott took to X to highlight DPS agents arresting illegal immigrants and human smugglers attempting to illegally enter the United States.
Last Monday, DPS special agents responded to a call for assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents at the Pharr Port of Entry.
CBP agents had conducted a commercial vehicle inspection and suspected the driver of a gray 2012 Freightliner truck tractor of smuggling narcotics. While conducting a secondary inspection, DPS special agents noticed a false compartment in the vehicle’s trailer area.
Inside, DPS special agents discovered more than 390 bundles of methamphetamine. The methamphetamine has an estimated street value of more than $2.4 million.
DPS special agents adopted the case and arrested the driver, Luis Fernando Sa
rinana Matias, 28, of Reynosa, Mexico. He is charged with possession of a controlled substance.
DPS Border Mounted Patrol Unit Assist Border Patrol Agents With Illegal Immigrant Apprehensions
Photo: Texas DPS
Earlier this month, DPS’ Border Mounted Patrol Unit assisted Border Patrol Agents in apprehending two illegal immigrants attempting to evade capture on a private ranch in Brackettville.
Through strong state-federal collaboration, both illegal immigrants, from Mexico, were located and taken into custody.
Last week, a DPS trooper was approached by a concerned citizen at a truck stop along IH-37 in George West regarding a minor crash that occurred in the parking lot. The trooper made contact with the driver of a white 2005 International box truck. The driver indicated that she was driving to Houston, Texas after picking up mattresses in Alton, Texas.
During the interaction, the trooper suspected inconsistencies in the driver’s travel plans and requested consent to search the truck. The trooper, with assistance from the George West Police Department, then discovered 25 illegal immigrants crammed inside a small corner of the box truck attempting to conceal themselves behind 30 mattresses and inside a crawl space within the box truck wall. There was little-to-no ventilation.
The group of 25 illegal immigrants included 12 males, 12 females, and an 11-year-old child. All were from Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Mexico, and Venezuela. The 25 illegal immigrants were immediately removed from the truck for medical evaluation and then referred to U.S. Border Patrol.
The driver, Silvia Patricia Santamaria, 43, of Houston, Texas, was arrested and charged with 25 counts of smuggling of persons. She was booked into the Live Oak County Jail.
Earlier this month, a DPS trooper stopped a Ford F-150 towing a trailer with hay bales on US-277 in Val Verde County.
During the stop, the trooper requested consent to search the trailer, but the driver, Christopher Ortiz, of San Antonio, declined. The trooper then requested assistance from a Border Patrol K-9, who was deployed and alerted to the trailer. The trooper and agents discovered two illegal immigrants hiding underneath the hay bales.
Ortiz was arrested and charged with two counts of smuggling of persons with the likelihood of serious bodily injury or death. The two illegal immigrants, from Mexico, were referred to Border Patrol.
Texas National Guard, Department Of Defense Collaborate On Cybersecurity Tactics
Photo: Texas Military Department
Last week, senior leaders from the Texas National Guard hosted U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Chief Information Officer Katie Arrington to discuss state-federal collaboration on cyber defense and technologies to secure the southern border and critical infrastructure from foreign threats.
“In today’s threat environment – where challenges to our border and critical infrastructure are growing more complex – interoperability and coordination between federal and state agencies are essential,” said Lieutenant Colonel Chris Winnek.
During her visit to Camp Mabry, Ms. Arrington met with Texas National Guard leadership to discuss emerging DoD policies affecting network infrastructure, cyber defense, and information technology across the full spectrum of military operations.
With summer temperatures climbing in the Rio Grande Valley, Reliant is scaling its statewide Beat the Heat program to McAllen with three public locations to serve as cooling centers to help residents stay cool. Image for illustration purposes
Texas Border Business
With summer temperatures climbing in the Rio Grande Valley, Reliant is scaling its statewide Beat the Heat program to McAllen with three public locations to serve as cooling centers to help residents stay cool. The centers will provide a safe, air-conditioned place where residents can rest and cool off, while enjoying water, snacks and activities, with resources and information available to help residents keep cool at home while conserving energy.
In addition to this year’s expansion in McAllen, the Reliant Beat the Heat program also supports residents in Corpus Christi, Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth and Lubbock.
Across the Lone Star State, Reliant has provided more than $18 million to help Texans who need assistance with electricity costs through the CARE (Community Assistance by Reliant Energy) program since 2002. Anyone who needs help paying their electricity bill this summer can call 2-1-1 within Texas or visit 211texas.org. Reliant customers can also contact us 24/7 through a number of convenient ways, including at 1-866-222-7100, via online chat, or on the Reliant app.
