Travis Whitehead
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Past articles by Travis:
Board taps Alicia Noyola for superintendent
HARLINGEN — The Harlingen school board has named Alicia Noyola as sole finalist for the superintendent position. The position is currently held by Arturo Cavazos who announced his retirement last month effective June 30, 2021. The school board named Noyola its lone finalist this week. “With her vast and wide array of experience in education … → Read More
New COVID-19 therapies being tested in Valley
BROWNSVILLE — Want to help find new treatments for COVID-19? Sign up for one of the new clinical trials being conducted by a research facility that just opened a new office. PanAmerican Clinical Research has launched 10 clinical trials right here in the Valley to test new therapeutics developed by major companies. “PanAmerican Clinical Research … → Read More
Harlingen schools superintendent will retire at end of school year
HARLINGEN — Superintendent Art Cavazos will retire at the end of this school year. He made the announcement at Tuesday’s school board meeting. Cavazos, 55, has worked in public education for more than 30 years, with more than 20 of those with the Harlingen district. His retirement will be effective June 30, 2021. “I have … → Read More
Pandemic forcing people to stay home for the holidays
HARLINGEN — “Oh, there’s no place like home for the holidays …” Ever since Perry Como recorded those heartwarming lyrics in 1954, they have celebrated a time of year when everyone looks forward to the joyous comfort of friends and family. This year, however, “home for the holidays” means something quite different amid the COVID-19 … → Read More
Masks still serve as effective tool against virus
HARLINGEN — With Halloween around the corner, many kids are thinking about masks. But masks have taken on a whole new role this year. Instead of serving to scare people at Halloween parties or trick or treating, they’re now saving lives. The COVID-19 pandemic has compelled everyone to wear face masks to prevent infection, and … → Read More
Teacher sings parody to live COVID-19 blues
HARLINGEN — “You say quarantine is draining and you can’t go onnnnnnnn!” A grieving “King George,” a.k.a Alfonso Gonzalez, pouts, puts his hand up and cocks his head back in mock misery, singing his heart out on YouTube. Gonzalez, an assistant choir director at Harlingen High School, posted his parody of “You’ll Be Back” from … → Read More
Front line physician prepared for pandemic
HARLINGEN — He’s taken the road less traveled, and it’s paying off — for many. Dr. Christopher Romero is on the COVID-19 front lines at Valley Baptist Medical Center, combating a crisis he never thought would happen in his own back yard. “I took a less traditional path in medicine and did both my medical … → Read More
Biden-Harris supporters gather for car caravan in Lower Valley
HARLINGEN — For Democracy, he said. That’s why Chris Pauley said he showed up Saturday for a pro-Joe Biden parade through town. “I feel like he’s possibly our last hope to save Democracy,” Pauley said. “He’s not a serial liar and he respects the Democratic process.” Pauley, 66, and more than 100 other supporters of … → Read More
Trump supporters rally in Harlingen for re-election campaign
HARLINGEN — For the love of country, she said. That’s why Lisa Hernandez, leader of the Cameron County Conservatives, said she attended a pro-Trump re-election rally Saturday in the Valle Vista Mall parking lot. “We’re just showing our support for our country and Trump and everything he stands for,” said Hernandez, 42. “He’s pro-life and … → Read More
Doctor: COVID causing strokes in younger population
HARLINGEN – The stroke incidents keep increasing, but the hospital visits keep falling. Since the COVID pandemic struck several months ago, hospitals have seen fewer stroke cases. However, that doesn’t mean fewer people are having strokes. Quite the contrary, says Dr. Ameer Hassan, head of the neuroscience department at Valley Baptist Medical Center. “It’s actually … → Read More
Expert: Blood oxygenation level determines severity of virus patients
If COVID-19 has severely depleted your oxygen level, get to the hospital immediately. The virus has so overloaded local hospitals they can only accept the most severe cases, said Dr. Ameer Hassan, head of the neuroscience department at Valley Baptist Medical Center. “You don’t need to be in the hospital if you have COVID symptoms,” Hassan said. “You only need to be in the hospital if your… → Read More
Local expert says young COVID-19 patients more prone to suffer a stroke
If you’re a young person infected with COVID-19, you’re more prone to have a stroke, experts say. Young COVID-19 patients who begin experiencing the customary stroke signs of numbness or vision problems should get to the hospital immediately, according to experts. Now more than ever it’s imperative you do so, says Dr. Ameer Hassan, head of the neuroscience department at Valley Baptist Medical… → Read More
STISD approaches COVID-19 with time-proven system
Life in the time of corona requires a flexibility of thought and action unparalleled by common occurrences. South Texas Independent School District has embraced that concept with impressive results. “We actually started with what we call flexible learning the week after Spring Break,” said Amanda Odom, spokesperson for the district. STISD has an enrollment of about 4,200 students at six campuses… → Read More
UTGRV School of Medicine graduates first class
It started with a piece of legislation years ago. Now the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine has just graduated its inaugural class of 39 physicians. “It’s very exciting,” said Dr. John Krouse, dean of the School of Medicine. “We have been planning for this date for quite some time,” Krouse said. “We are happy to see our students graduate and go on to their residencies.”… → Read More
Bahamian kids weathering life's storms with courage
HARLINGEN — First came the hurricane, then came the pandemic. Taryn Carroll, 17, and her cousin Rocky Thompson, 16, have been marooned here since October when Hurricane Dorian devastated their sunny Bahamian island of Abaco in September. They’d planned to return home in June, but then the COVID-19 pandemic hit them. “It’s like a double whammy, it’s like back to back,” said Rocky, a junior at St.… → Read More
Trade students having to learn remotely
Boring. That’s how Sandra Lopez, a 17-year-old welding student, describes her typical day. While she’s echoing the sentiment of many, hers is especially painful to hear because she likes to work with her hands in the welding shop, and she can’t. Like all classes in the Harlingen school district — and the country — the welding class at Harlingen High School South is closed in response to the… → Read More
Students, teachers adjust to distance learning
Not your typical day. With COVID-19 now in control of everything, there are no more typical days for parents, children, teachers, and certainly not for Camryn Hale, a junior at Harlingen High School. “I wake up when my first Zoom session starts, usually around 8:30 in the morning,” said Camryn, 17, one of more than 18,000 Harlingen students now attending School@Home. Read the full story at… → Read More
Rio Grande City students dominate Regional Spelling Bee
“D-E-H-Y-D-R-A-T-I-O-N.” Krishna Miana, 13, spoke each letter clearly for the judges, making her the winner of the Rio Grande Valley 32nd Annual Regional Spelling Bee. “I feel really proud of myself,” said Krishna, an eighth grader at Ringgold Middle School in Rio Grande City. Read the full story at themonitor.com → Read More
New surgical residency to begin at Harlingen hospital
A recent multimillion-dollar grant will soon train more physicians who will stay and fill a critical shortage. The Valley Baptist Legacy Foundation’s $38 million grant to the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine will facilitate the creation of a general surgery residency program at Valley Baptist Medical Center. Read the full story at themonitor.com. → Read More
Honoring the heroes of Iwo Jima
Walter Fleming remembers only too well his five days on Iwo Jima. “I was in a Higgins vehicle evacuating wounded off the beach,” said Fleming, 91, who will attend the 75th Anniversary Iwo Jima Memorial Parade on Wednesday at Marine Military Academy. Read the full story at themonitor.com. → Read More