Ron Whitlock
Rio Grande Guardian
Texas, United States
Contact Ron
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 Ron:
Sepulveda: I am confident Harlingen will find a replacement for United Launch Alliance
HARLINGEN, Texas – Harlingen Mayor Norma Sepulveda says she is making good progress in finding another manufacturing company to take over the United Launch Alliance facility at Valley International Airport. As first reported in the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service, ULA, a rocket manufacturer and launch service provider co-owned by Lockheed Martin Space Systems […] → Read More
Funeral of RGV icon Frank Boggus takes place in Harlingen on Saturday, Feb. 11
HARLINGEN, Texas – The funeral of Rio Grande Valley icon Frank Boggus takes place 10 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 11, at Wesley United Methodist Church, 1406 East Austin, Avenue, Harlingen. A reception will take place immediately following the funeral service at Boggus Ford, Harlingen. Boggus died Feb. 4, 2023, aged 94. The tributes for the legendary […] → Read More
Video: Cortez gives update on Prosperity Task Force, looks ahead to legislative session
MCALLEN, Texas – In a short video interview, Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez has given an update on his Prosperity Task Force and explained his top agenda item for the upcoming legislative session. The task force has been set up to address the high level of poverty in the county. Cortez gave the interview soon […] → Read More
Podcast: Benavidez gives update on incredible growth occurring in Starr County
RIO GRANDE CITY, Texas – The Rio Grande City Economic Development Corporation and Rio Grande Valley Partnership recently co-hosted the Rio Grande City EDC Commercial & Investment Tour at UTRGV Starr Campus. Rose Benavidez, president of Starr County Industrial Foundation, gave updates on the projects her group is currently involved in. These include building an […] → Read More
Audio: Mendez: DHR can have as big an impact on Brownsville as it has had on Edinburg
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Trey Mendez wants DHR Health to have the same impact in Brownsville as it has had in Edinburg. The Brownsville mayor spoke recently at a check signing ceremony that saw $1.7 million awarded to the hospital system for workforce training initiatives in his city. The funding is coming from the Texas Workforce […] → Read More
Podcast: Everything O'Rourke said about truck inspections at a cold storage facility in Pharr
PHARR, Texas – Joined by trucking company owner and a cold storage facility owner, gubernatorial candidate Beto O’Rourke held a news conference near the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge last week. The news conference was held inside the Keystone Cold facility on South Keystone Drive in Pharr. Keystone Cold LLC is an independent third party logistics and […] → Read More
After a ten year wait, RGV legislative delegation adds a woman to its ranks
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – The Rio Grande Valley legislative delegation in Austin will have a woman in its ranks for the first time in a decade. That is because Brownsville attorney Erin Gamez won the open Texas House District 38 seat in Tuesday’s Democratic Party primary. No Republican ran so Gamez will succeed the retiring state […] → Read More
VIDEO: Sen. Lucio plans to distribute even more turkeys next Thanksgiving
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – State Sen. Eddie Lucio says he plans to expand his popular turkey distribution program next Thanksgiving. This year he and his team have distributed around 800 turkeys to nonprofits, church groups, homeless shelters, government housing projects, veterans organizations, and a couple of hospices, in the counties of Cameron, Hidalgo and Willacy. He […] → Read More
Podcast: Mendez: Elon Musk is having an impact on house prices in Brownsville
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – House prices are starting to shoot up in Brownsville and Elon Musk is part of the reason. So says Brownsville Mayor Trey Mendez. Asked if Musk’s recent tweet telling people to “move to Brownsville” was having an impact on houses prices, Mendez said: “It is true, actually. Part of it is demand. […] → Read More
NavyArmy expands its footprint in the Rio Grande Valley
MCALLEN, Texas – NavyArmy Community Credit Union held a topping out ceremony for its new Rio Grande Valley regional branch last week. The branch is being constructed by Noble Texas Builders at 9100 N. 10th Street in McAllen. “This is going to be our flagship branch in the Valley. We are just excited about it. […] → Read More
Podcast: New COVID 'Step Down' facility opens in Harlingen
HARLINGEN, Texas – The City of Harlingen’s environmental health director has thanked Gov. Greg Abbott for helping to fund a new COVID-19 “step down” facility at the Harlingen Municipal Auditorium. The facility will house patients who have been treated for the coronavirus in hospital but are not yet ready to return home. “We are thankful […] → Read More
McNulty: SPI could not enforce beach closure even if we wanted to
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas – Unlike Galveston, the South Padre Island beach will not be closed for Fourth of July. Although Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño, Jr., has closed the county’s beach access points, those operated by South Padre Island will remain open. SPI Mayor Patrick McNulty said the city council does not have the […] → Read More
Podcast: Cameron County officials concerned about hospitals overflowing with COVID-19 cases
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A top doctor in Cameron County’s public health department says if the current spike in COVID-19 cases continues there will not be enough hospital beds for infected patients. Dr. James Castillo gave the warning at a news conference held Wednesday with Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño, Jr. “Hospitalizations are going up. If […] → Read More
Sen. Lucio forced into a runoff
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Veteran state Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr., must face a runoff against challenger Sara Stapleton Barrera in the Democratic primary election for Senate District 27. Lucio, a former teacher from Brownsville, won 30,849 votes, or 49.8 percent of the vote. Stapleton Barrera, a trial lawyer who was born in Harlingen but has made … → Read More
SD 27 candidates are asked their views on charter schools
HARLINGEN, Texas – The future of charter schools in Texas came up at a recent series of candidate forums hosted by Raise Your Hand Texas. This nonprofit was set up by HEB’s Charles Butt to support public education in Texas. One of the forums featured candidates running for Texas Senate District 27. The question posed … → Read More
Lucio: This is not the year to be electing freshmen
McALLEN, RGV – State Sen. Eddie Lucio says that with redistricting coming up in 2021, this is not the year to be electing freshmen to the Texas Legislature. Lucio, a Democrat from Brownsville, spoke at a McAllen Chamber of Commerce governmental affairs committee meeting on Thursday. The other invited guest, state Rep. R.D. ‘Bobby’ Guerra, … → Read More
Podcast: Rio Grande Valley Partnership Review of 2019
BROWNSVILLE, RGV – The outgoing chairman of the Rio Grande Valley Partnership says 2019 was an outstanding one for the group as it continued its advocacy for the region and the local business community. Lee Reed gave a presentation on the major projects of the RGVP over the past 12 months at a Christmas Party … → Read More
Gonzalez not opposed to classifying drug cartels as terrorist organizations
U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez says he is not opposed to classifying Mexican drug cartels as terrorist organizations, claiming the violence they inflict on Mexican citizens is no worse than violence in the Middle East. Gonzalez, D-McAllen, spoke about insecurity in Mexico during a news conference with U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar in Mission on Monday. For … → Read More
UTRGV reports huge increase in research dollars
The amount of research dollars flowing into UT-Rio Grande Valley is growing exponentially, McAllen Economic Development Corporation board members have learned. Dr. Parwinder Grewal, executive vice president for research, graduate studies and new program development, gives a monthly update to McAllen EDC. In his most recent report, Grewal said research investment has gone up from … → Read More
CCRMA is having to revise funding strategy for 2nd SPI Causeway
MCALLEN, RGV – Cameron County Regional Mobility Authority is going to have to change the funding mechanism for a second causeway to South Padre Island if it wants to access state monies for the project. Up until now, the plan had been to make the causeway a toll project. However, at a recent forum in … → Read More