Berenice Garcia
monitornews
McAllen, TX, United States
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Past articles by Berenice:
Valley lawmakers hopeful for Medicaid expansion
With the focus on health care growing stronger due to the COVID-19 pandemic, state legislators representing the Rio Grande Valley are hopeful that Medicaid expansion will have enough support among lawmakers this legislative session which is set to begin Tuesday. State Rep. R.D. “Bobby” Guerra, D-McAllen, said he intended to file a bill that would … → Read More
Starr County attempting to acquire more vaccines for mass distribution
In an attempt to distribute the COVID-19 vaccine to more people, Starr County officials are hoping to obtain more doses from the state to hold mass vaccinations like those already held in neighboring Hidalgo County. Starr County Judge Eloy Vera said during a news conference Friday morning that he was in talks with state officials … → Read More
COVID-19 hospitalizations reaching levels seen during summer
COVID-19 hospitalizations in the Rio Grande Valley have reached levels not seen since August. As of Tuesday, COVID-19 hospitalizations in the Lower Rio Grande Valley Trauma Service Area were at 607, an 37% increase from two weeks prior and an 80% increase from one month prior. The last time hospitalizations in the Valley were in … → Read More
Roma police chief laid to rest after succumbing to COVID-19
ROMA — As the cold January winds shifted toward the area, family and community members shared in the warmth of their love and admiration for Police Chief Jose H. Garcia, who died Monday from complications due to COVID-19. Mourners came together for a small service held at Roma High School’s Gladiator Arena on Wednesday evening. … → Read More
Roma police chief dies from COVID-19
Roma Police Chief Jose H. Garcia died due to complications from COVID-19 on Monday. Garcia’s family first reported he had tested positive for COVID-19 on social media in early December but his condition quickly worsened, the city holding a prayer on Dec. 9 for him and others who had fallen ill to the disease. “We’re … → Read More
Gocha Ramirez sworn in as new Starr County district attorney
RIO GRANDE CITY — It was two years in the making but after a hard-fought campaign, Gocha Ramirez stood on the steps of the Starr County courthouse on Friday to take the oath office as the new 229th judicial district attorney. Ramirez has now officially taken over the 229th judicial district attorney’s office which prosecutes cases … → Read More
Roma city manager to retire in June
After more than 20 years with the city, Roma City Manager Crisanto Salinas is set to retire when his contract expires in June. Salinas, 62, confirmed his retirement last week, citing health problems. “I don’t feel I’m productive enough,” Salinas said, adding that he’s been unable to attend functions. “If I can’t be productive … … → Read More
RGV COVID-19 hospitalizations on the rise, up 50% since Halloween
COVID-19 hospitalizations in the Rio Grande Valley continue to fluctuate but they are undoubtedly on the rise, having increased by 32% since Thanksgiving and 56% since Halloween. As of Monday, COVID-19 hospitalizations in the Valley were at 389, according to data from the Texas Department of State Health Services. Just a week prior, on Dec. … → Read More
Roma employees partake in plan to raise vitamin D to combat COVID-19
Employees with the city of Roma are participating in a health initiative to raise vitamin D levels as a way to combat the symptoms of COVID-19. The new initiative, which involves taking vitamin D3 on a daily basis for several days, was promoted by Dr. Raymond Mussett, a Roma-based family medicine doctor, and Dr. Jeff … → Read More
Judge grants Mission protective order in Espericueta open records case
A state district judge granted a protective order in an open records case related to a fatal shooting that left a Mission police officer and another man dead. Last week, state District Judge Fernando Mancias ordered the city to turn over information regarding the 2019 incident during which Mission police Cpl. Jose Espericueta was killed. The people seeking the information were the family of Juan… → Read More
Starr County health authority encourages providers to vaccinate as many as possible
Following criticism of state Sen. Eddie Lucio who was photographed over the weekend receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, the Starr County Health Authority came to the senator’s defense and said providers shouldn’t shy away from vaccinating individuals who aren’t necessarily first in line under state guidelines. As Starr County prepares to receive doses of the Moderna … → Read More
Escobares city attorney resigns following council resignations
ESCOBARES — The city’s legal attorney resigned from her position Monday making them the latest in a string of resignations from the city that began last week. Newly appointed Mayor Pro-Tem Lorena Cantu confirmed the resignation of City Attorney Allison A. Bastian-Rodriguez with Austin-based Denton Navarro Rocha Bernal & Zech P.C. No reason was given … → Read More
Starr Co. to get Moderna vaccine as health officials address concerns
As COVID-19 cases continue to mount, Starr County is set to receive their first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine as part of the state’s second week of allocations. The county is set to receive 700 doses of the vaccine manufactured by Moderna which was approved for emergency use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration … → Read More
Escobares unable to pay staff following council resignations
The abrupt resignation of the mayor and the mayor pro-tem has disrupted regular city business to the point that city staff didn’t receive their pay this week. The city issued a news release Friday stating the resignation of Mayor Ruperto B. Escobar on Monday and Mayor Pro-Tem Alfredo Escobar on Friday placed the city in … → Read More
Rio Grande City scraps bids for wastewater project
Rio Grande City is going back to the drawing board in its search for an engineer for their wastewater treatment plant project. The city commissioners, during a city meeting held Wednesday, unanimously voted to re-advertise a Request for Qualifications for a project to expand Rio Grande City’s wastewater treatment plant. The project has been at … → Read More
Rio Grande City CISD repays federal funds following 2012 FCC violation
Faced the withholding of federal funds, the Rio Grande City Consolidated Independent School District agreed to pay back more than $20,000 for a 2012 violation of Federal Communications Commission rules. In October 2019, Universal Service Administrative Co., an FCC-designated nonprofit that helps to provide internet services across the country, reached out to the school district … → Read More
Mission ordered to turn over records regarding fatal police shooting
The city of Mission is ordered to turn over all information regarding a man who died after he fatally shot Cpl. Jose Luis Espericueta on June 20, 2019. State District Judge Fernando Mancias ruled in favor of Juan Carlos Chapa Jr.’s family who, on Oct. 5, filed a petition against the city and Hidalgo County … → Read More
Family living in underserved community faces unemployment, disability
RANCHO VIEJO — Raising four spirited young boys is a difficult responsibility for any parent, but providing for their health and well-being has been even more difficult this year for Martha Gutierrez. When her husband lost her job in April, the Gutierrez family lost their only source of income, leaving them to rely on his … → Read More
Texas Citrus Fiesta to go forward with safety precautions
The events of the annual Texas Citrus Fiesta will go on as scheduled next month, though with some modifications in the face of the continued coronavirus threat. On Monday, the Mission city council approved plans presented by the Citrus Fiesta organization for traditional events like the fun fair, the carnival and the Parade of Oranges. … → Read More
Feds reinstate funding for Starr Co. HIDTA task force
After suspending funding for the Starr County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area task force in June, South Texas HIDTA agreed to reinstate funding beginning next month. The South Texas HIDTA executive board voted to reinstate the funding during a board meeting in San Antonio on Dec. 9, during which incoming 229th District Attorney Gocha Ramirez, … → Read More