On Aug. 18 the Brownsville City Commission approved a proposal to significantly expand the boundaries of the Mitte Cultural District, the aim being to help boost the city’s chances of winning a “cultural district” designation from the Texas Commission on the Arts. The Austin-based Roy F. and Joann Cole Mitte Foundation, which in 1998 donated …

Cresenciano Oliva was 77 years old when he passed away on Aug. 11. His daughter reported that staff at the Carrizales-Rucker detention center transported Oliva to the hospital three weeks prior to be treated for chest pain, weakness, and shortness of breath. His cause of death —complications of COVID-19 — was confirmed in the custodial …

The Association of School Business Officials International has awarded the Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting to the Brownsville Independent School District for meeting the association’s high standards for financial reporting and transparency. By participating in the Certificate of Excellence program, school districts demonstrate their committment to financial transparency. Applicants submit their CAFR for review …

Dismayed by the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, local personal injury attorney, Jesse Gonzalez, is lending his support to two disparate groups – graduates and the news media. Gonzalez, Founder and Chief Managing Member of JGonzalez Injury Attorneys, is sponsoring The Monitor’s “Show us your prom Attire” campaign. The promotion invites Valley high school …

The Rio Grande Council of the Boy Scouts of America will be holding a fundraising event next week to help support the local scouting programs. The Friends of Scouting Annual Giving Campaign is scheduled for Thursday, Sep. 10 at 6:30 p.m. It will be held virtually this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “Normally we …

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 …

A group of local volunteers seeking to assist with food insecurity issues is searching for a new home for its communal refrigerator, which had initially been located at the McAllen Food Park but was shut down by the city’s Chamber of Commerce Thursday due to safety and sanitary concerns. It was the sixth day the …

HARLINGEN — One month after July gains buoyed hopes of a sustained state economic recovery from the impact of COVID-19, August sales tax collection numbers are bound to disappoint. Comptroller Glenn Hegar released figures this week which showed July gains were largely reversed, with August down 5.6 percent from a year ago. While overall sales …

Cameron County reported 57 deaths related to COVID-19 in addition to 91 new positive cases of the virus, county Judge Eddie Trevino Jr announced in a news release Saturday.  The youngest among the deaths reported was an individual 10 or under; the eldest in their 90s. The death toll in the county increased to 758, …

United in Prayer, a live telethon for all Catholic churches in the Rio Grande Valley will take place from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday and will be streamed via Facebook and YouTube. According to a press release sent by the organizations, the program will include moments of prayer, a variety of interviews, guest …