A. Colleen DeGuzman
monitornews
Contact A.
Discover and connect with journalists and influencers around the world, save time on email research, monitor the news, and more.
| Recent: |
|
| Past: |
|
Past articles by A.:
Valley COVID-19 hospitalization rate may affect business occupancy
Businesses might have to drop to 50% capacity because Friday marked the eighth day more than 15% of people at local hospitals were fighting COVID-19, according to Dr. Emily Prot, regional medical director for the Department of State Health’s Services Region 11. Under an executive order enacted by Gov. Greg Abbott in October, regions that … → Read More
Oncologist, fire chief stress safety of COVID vaccine for cancer patients
It’s safe for cancer survivors and patients undergoing chemotherapy to take the COVID-19 vaccine, according to a local specialist. DHR Health oncologist Dr. Lee Drinkard emphasized that those currently fighting cancer are at a higher risk of succumbing to COVID-19 symptoms if they contract the virus since cancer and some related treatments can weaken a … → Read More
Sunshine vitamin observed to lower coronavirus risks
Several studies conducted recently by national health organizations observed that people with low levels of vitamin D are more likely to contract COVID-19 and suffer from more severe virus symptoms compared to those who aren’t. It was also found that the COVID-19 death rate nearly quadruples for those deficient in the “sunshine vitamin.” According to … → Read More
Disney’s beloved characters return to Payne Arena following pandemic hiatus
Disney on Ice is inviting Rio Grande Valley families to be their guest at their newest show, “Dream Big” this holiday season. And it’s some of Disney’s most beloved characters making the request: Miguel from “Coco,” the genie from “Aladdin,” along with several princesses, including Moana, Jasmin, Ariel, Belle and Cinderella. After a seven-month pause … → Read More
22,000 Moderna vaccines bound for Valley
More than 22,000 doses of the most recently approved COVID-19 vaccine made by Moderna will be shipped to the Rio Grande Valley this week. Most of the doses, 15,300 of them, will be sent to Hidalgo County locations, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services, while Cameron County is set to receive 6,600, … → Read More
UTRGV film student’s documentary selected for Moscow film festival
Sitting in the living room of her house, McAllen native Joann González was trying to decide what story she wanted to tell in a documentary assignment for her summer filmmaking workshop. The only requirement was to make a short documentary about the COVID-19 pandemic, and the then-University of Texas Rio Grande Valley film student wanted … → Read More
DHR Health stresses need for Type O plasma
The DHR Health Institute for Research & Development in Edinburg is urging local COVID-19 survivors to step forward and donate plasma, a component of blood that contains specific antibodies which can help others fight the virus. Over the weekend, the regional and national supply of plasma from the Type O blood group ran out, according … → Read More
Some of the first to be vaccinated in RGV reporting mild side effects
A medication that does not come without a side effect doesn’t exist, not leaving out the two COVID-19 vaccines recently approved by the Food and Drug Association for emergency use authorization. Some local residents who have received the first shots of the vaccine to be distributed in the region have reported mild symptoms — all of … → Read More
STC counselors lead virtual ‘12 Days of Wellness’
The best gift this holiday season is a sound and healthy mindset. During this time of year, streets are lined with lights and radio stations play classic Christmas songs all day long, all of which foster cheer and good tidings. However, for some, these can serve as triggers for seasonal depression and stress, also known … → Read More
Valley car clubs, enthusiasts rev up holiday giving efforts
EDINBURG — Lovers of lowriders and all things classic cars and pickup trucks gathered here Sunday afternoon to put their polished vehicles and generosity on display. The men hopped off their vehicles — some with painted flames — carrying boxes of bubbles or dolls in their hands to donate to the eighth annual Car, Truck, Bike … → Read More
‘Selena’ series actor: She ‘had my heart since’ boyhood
When his parents weren’t looking, young Carlos Alfredo Jr. would take a few quarters from his family restaurant’s cash register to cue a few songs in the jukebox in the dining area. Four quarters bought him three songs, and more often than not, the CD’s in the brown music machine would stop flipping at Selena … → Read More
Edinburg native records album inspired by SpaceX
From his home studio in Edinburg, Joe Steven composed an instrumental soundtrack he hopes will take listeners on an intergalactic expedition. Steven’s inspiration for the 10-song album, “Starman: Mission to Mars” sparked on the day he visited the SpaceX Launch Facility in Boca Chica for the first time on an October day in 2019. He’s … → Read More
National study to include 375 RGV seniors
Local residents have the opportunity to take part in the largest study the National Institute of Health has ever conducted for seniors, which will assess whether medications that lower cholesterol also work to prevent cognitive disabilities such as dementia, and heart diseases. DHR Health Institute for Research and Development and DHR Health in Edinburg was … → Read More
Dancers will be masked, attendees social distanced
The longest-running-show in the Rio Grande Valley will look a little different this year. The Nutcracker, a beloved holiday show put on by the Rio Grande Valley Ballet company, will put on its 48th annual performance this weekend, and to abide by social distancing precautions amid the pandemic, all 60 performers will be wearing masks. … → Read More
Interest for adoptions increase amid pandemic
After the strike of a gavel, two children in Hidalgo County who were previously under the custody of the state of Texas were officially and gleefully grafted onto another family tree. It didn’t matter to the kids that they heard the gavel through the speakers of a phone or laptop, or that instead of hugs, … → Read More
Healthcare, bioscience industry has brought billions to RGV
The expanding healthcare and bioscience industry in the Rio Grande Valley is leading the region’s overall economic advancement, according to a report recently published by two local organizations. RGV Partnership and Workforce Solutions collaborated on a comprehensive report detailing the contribution of healthcare and bioscience establishments to the Valley’s growing economy over the past… → Read More
McAllen junior, cancer survivor publishes novel
Not only is 17-year-old Abel Ramirez proud to call himself a cancer survivor, but now he also gets to say he’s an author. The McAllen James “Nikki” Rowe High School junior recently published his first novel, “The Young Killer,” which follows the adventures of a sly murderer who goes by the pseudonym “Tilwood” and targets … → Read More
Unable to perform live, Valley Symphony Orchestra films show, releases concert videos
McALLEN — The soft, ethereal yet ominous chimes and timbres of the Valley Symphony Orchestra’s percussionist floated through the hall of the McAllen Performing Arts Center earlier this month, but only for an audience of no more than a dozen: two organizers, a pair of journalists and a few cameramen. Even for novice listeners, it … → Read More
PSJA graduate now directing in Chicago
Gliding her small hands over the faux yellow brick wall, Denise Serna knew as a first grader that she had a heart for theater. More than two decades ago when Serna was 6 years old, her elementary school visited Pharr-San Juan-Alamo High School to watch its production of “The Wizard of Oz,” and she was … → Read More
RGV officials urge diligence as Texas surpasses 1M virus cases
Texas exceeded 1 million cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, making it the first state in the nation to surpass the grim milestone. The state has recorded 1,010,364 virus cases, according to John Hopkins, with 61,778 being residents of Hidalgo and Cameron counties. On Tuesday, 10,856 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed, a new daily record … → Read More