As the Rio Grande runs dry, South Texas cities look to alternatives for water
Many of the solutions are costly, putting them out of reach for small towns. But the region's most populous cities are getting innovative. Full Story
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Berenice Garcia is a regional reporter covering the Rio Grande Valley. She works at the Tribune as a corps members with Report for America. She previously covered local government, crime, healthcare and general assignments for The Monitor in McAllen where she was born. Though she's spent the majority of her life in the Valley, she traveled east to attend New York University where she studied journalism and politics. While there, she interned at the New York Daily News, the Daily Beast and NBC News. When she’s not working, she enjoys fighting for her life at the gym. Berenice is based in McAllen.
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![A crew works on upgrading pipes and valves at a North Alamo Water Supply Corporation water plant in Donna on Thursday, July 18, 2024. In order to increase the amount of water the plant is able to distribute, pipes were upgraded and replaced, connect to the plant’s existing facility with the newly expanded infrastructure.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
With new legislation, Ted Cruz and John Cornyn aim to pressure Mexico to send water to Texas
Mexico owes Texas 900,000 acre-feet of water. But a regional drought is complicating the binational agreement. Full Story
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![Large amounts of dry lakebed surround the shoreline of the Falcon International Reservoir in Starr County on May 15, 2024. Water levels at the reservoir are at historic lows. On the 15th of May the water level was at 8.8% full. The Falcon Reservoir straddles the border between Mexico and the USA in deep south Texas and is the primary source of water for the Rio Grande Valley which has an estimated population of 2.67 million. 1.3 million people south of the Rio Grande and 1.29 million north of the international border.]()
Credit: Carlos Kosienski/Sipa USA via Reuters -
Beryl power outage updates: More than 98,000 Texas electricity customers remain without power a week after Beryl
Tens of thousands of households and businesses aren’t expected to have electricity for most of this week. Full Story
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![Governor Greg Abbott, speaks about Centerpoint Energy during a press conference at Gallery Furniture, Houston, Thursday, Sunday July 14,2024. Doug Sweet Jr. for Texas Tribune]()
Credit: Douglas Sweet Jr. for The Texas Tribune -
Tropical Storm Beryl is on a path to hit the Texas coast as a hurricane Monday
At least two counties, Nueces and Refugio, have issued mandatory evacuation orders. Full Story
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![NOAA graphic shows current position of Tropical Storm Beryl as of 7:00 p.m. Central Time on July 7, 2024, along with its projected path towards the Texas coast and beyond.]()
Credit: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration -
Rio Grande Valley leaders hope to rebrand region as “RioPlex” to attract investment
After years of competing with each other for new businesses, Valley cities want to present a united front to highlight the region’s assets. Full Story
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![Pedestrians walk in downtown McAllen on Oct. 31, 2021.]()
Credit: Jason Garza for The Texas Tribune -
Carlos Cascos, former Texas secretary of state and political leader in Rio Grande Valley, dies at 71
Cascos began his political career as a Democrat but later flipped to the Republican Party. Full Story
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![Secretary of State Carlos Cascos of Brownsville gives his inaugural speech on March 7, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Fastest growing group in Texas: Asian Americans
A new Census Bureau report shows the Asian American population went up 5.5% in one year, outpacing overall state growth. Full Story
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![The Texas Capitol in downtown Austin on June 20, 2017.]()
Credit: Austin Price/The Texas Tribune -
South Texas needs rain. Tropical Storm Alberto didn’t deliver enough.
The region's two major reservoirs are at record-low levels and agriculture leaders are worried the citrus industry could be devastated this summer. Full Story
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![A citrus orchard in the Rio Grande Valley between the towns of Santa Rose and Combes in 2021.]()
Credit: Jason Garza for The Texas Tribune -
U.S. Supreme Court blocks the state’s Rio Grande water deal with New Mexico
Water law experts say the Supreme Court's recent decision will set a precedent for the federal government to intervene in water conflicts between states moving forward. Full Story
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![The Rio Grande at the New Mexico-Texas border on Monday, December 9, 2013 in El Paso.]()
Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribune -
In South Texas, one woman is leading an agricultural renaissance
Texas is losing an estimated 1,000 acres of farm land a day, mostly to other industries. The Rio Grande Valley is losing land at a faster clip. Full Story
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![Diana Padilla at Yahweh’s All Natural Farm and Gardens in Harlingen on June 15, 2024. Diana and her husband Saul Padilla own Yahweh’s and the non-profit HOPE (Holistic Organic Practical Education for small farm sustainability).]()
Credit: Michael Gonzalez for The Texas Tribune